Psalm cx. 3; Col. ii. 12; Eph. i. 18, 20. See also Job xlvi. 14. But this needeth not be, if man had either power or will to come, or so much as graciously to think of being willing to come (of himself) to Jesus Christ.

I should now come to speak of the second part of the observation, but that is occasionally done already, in the explanatory part; to which I refer the reader. I shall here only give thee one or two more texts to the same purpose, and so come to the use and application.

It is expressly said, "No man can come unto me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him." By this text, there is not only insinuated, that in man is want of power, but of will, to come to Jesus Christ: they must be drawn; they come not if they be not drawn: and observe, it is not man, no nor all the angels of heaven, that can draw one sinner to Jesus Christ. "No man cometh to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him." John iv. 44.

Again, "No man can come to me, except it were given him of my Father." John vi. 65. It is a heavenly gift that maketh man come to Jesus Christ.

Again, "It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every one therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me." John vi. 45.

I shall not enlarge, but shall make some use and application, and so come to the next observation.

1. Is it so? Is coming to Jesus Christ, not by the will, wisdom, or power of man, but by the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father? Then they are to blame that cry up the will, wisdom, and power of man, as things sufficient to bring men to Christ.*

There are some men who think they may not be contradicted, when they plead for the will, wisdom, and power of

*If it is said, Why then are men blamed (as they are in scripture) for not coming at once to Christ, or believing on him; the conscience of every one will give the true answer-because his faculties are habitually absorbed in sinful pursuits.-J. N. B.

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man in reference to the things that are of the kingdom of Christ: but I will say to such a man, he never yet came to understand, that himself is what the scripture teacheth concerning him: neither did he ever know what coming to Christ is, by the teaching, gift, and drawing of the Father. He is such a one that hath set up God's enemy in opposition to him, and that continueth in such acts of defiance; and what his end without a new birth will be, the scripture teacheth also: but we will pass this.

2. Is it so? Is coming to Jesus Christ, by the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father? Then let saints here learn to ascribe their coming to Christ, to the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father. Christian man, bless God, who hath given thee to Jesus Christ, by promise; and again bless God that he hath drawn thee to him. And why thee? Why not another? Oh! that the glory of electing love should rest upon thy head, and that the glory of the exceeding grace of God should take hold of thy heart, and bring thee to Jesus Christ!

3. Is it so, that coming to Jesus Christ, is by the Father, as aforesaid? Then this should teach us to set a high esteem upon them that are indeed coming to Jesus Christ: I say, a high esteem on them, for the sake of him, by virtue of whose grace they are made to come to Jesus Christ.

We see that when man, by the help of human abilities, doth arrive at the knowledge of things, and brings to pass that which, when done, is a wonder to the world, how he that did it is esteemed and commended; yea, how are his wits, parts, industry, and unweariedness in all, admired! And yet the man, as to this, is but of the world, and his work the effect of natural ability: the things also attained by him end in vanity and vexation of spirit. Further, perhaps in the pursuit of these his achievements, he sins against God, wastes his time vainly, and at the long run loses his soul by neglecting better things: yet he is admired! But I

say, if this man's parts, labor, diligence, and the like, will bring him to such applause and esteem in the world, what esteem should we have of such a one that is by the gift, promise, and power of God, coming to Jesus Christ?

This is a man with whom God is, in whom God works and walks; a man whose motion is governed and steered by the mighty hand of God, and the effectual working of his power. Here's a man!

This man, by the power of God's might which worketh in him, is able to cast a whole world behind him, with all the lusts and pleasures of it; and to charge through all the difficulties that men and devils can set against him. Here's a man!

This man is travelling to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem the city of the living God, and to an innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect, to God the judge of all, and to Jesus. Here's a man!

This man can look upon death with comfort, can laugh at destruction when it cometh, and long to hear the sound of the last trump, and to see the judge coming in the clouds of heaven. Here's a man indeed!

Let Christians then esteem each

you do; but do it more and more. sider these two or three things.

other as such. I know And that you may, con

These are the objects of Christ's esteem. Matt. xii. 48; xv. 22-29; Luke vii. 9.

These are the objects of the esteem of angels. Dan. ix. 21; x. 11; xii. 4; Heb. i. 14.

These have been the objects of the esteem of Heathens, when but convinced about them. Dan. v. 10; Acts v. 15; 1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25.

Let all and each of you then "esteem each other better than themselves." Phil. ii. 3.

4. Again, Is it so, that no man comes to Jesus Christ, by the will, wisdom, and power of man, but by the gift,

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power and drawing of the Father? Then this shows us how horribly ignorant of this such are, who make the men that are coming to Christ the object of their contempt and rage. These are also "unreasonable and wicked men:" men in whom is no faith. 2 Thes. iii. 2.

Sinners, did you but know what a blessed thing it is to come to Jesus Christ, and that it is by the help and drawing of the Father they do indeed come to him, you would hang and burn in hell a thousand years before you would turn your spirits as you do, against him that God is drawing to Jesus Christ, and also against the God that draws him.

But, faithless sinner, let us a little expostulate the matter. What hath this man done against thee, that is coming to Jesus Christ? Why dost thou make him the object of thy scorn? Doth his coming to Jesus Christ offend thee? Doth his pursuing his own salvation offend thee? Doth his forsaking his sins and pleasures offend thee?

Poor coming man! Thou sacrificest the abominations of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone thee? Exod. viii. 26.

But, I say, sinner, why offended at this? Is he ever the worse for coming to Jesus Christ, or for loving and serving Jesus Christ? Or is he ever the more a fool, for flying from that which will drown thee in hell-fire, and for seeking eternal life? Besides, pray sir, consider it; this he doth not of himself, but by the drawing of the Father.

Come, let me tell thee in thine ear, that thou wilt not come to him thyself, and him that would thou hinderest. Thou shalt be judged for one that hath hated, maligned, and reproached Jesus Christ, to whom this poor sinner is coming. Thou shalt be judged too, for one that hath hated the Father, by whose powerful drawing the sinner doth come. Thou shalt be taken and judged, for one that has done despite to the Spirit of grace in him, that is by its help coming to Jesus Christ. What sayest thou now? Wilt

thou stand by thy doings? Wilt thou continue to contemn and reproach the living God? Thinkest thou that thou shalt weather it out well enough at the day of judgment? "Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? saith the Lord." John xv. 18-27; Jude 15; 1 Thess. iv. 8; Ezek. xxii. 14.

5. Is it so, that no man comes to Jesus Christ by the will, wisdom, and power of man, but by the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father? Then this showeth us how it comes to pass, that weak means are so powerful as to bring men out of their sins, to a hearty pursuit after Jesus Christ. When God bade Moses speak to the people, he said, “I will speak with thee." When God speaks, when God works, who can let it? None, none; then the work goes on. Elijah threw his mantle upon the shoulders of Elisha; and what a wonderful work followed? When the look of Jesus fell on Peter with the crowing of a cock, what work was there! O when God is in the means, then shall that means (be it ever so weak and contemptible in itself) work wonders. 1 Kings xix. 19; Matt. xxvi. 74, 75; Mark xiv. 71, 72; Luke xxii. 61, 62.

The world understood not, nor believed, that the walls of Jericho should fall at the sound of rams' horns; but when God will work, the means must be effectual. A word weakly spoken, spoken with difficulty, in temptation, and in the midst of great contempt and scorn, works wonders, if the Lord thy God will say so too.

6. Is it so? Doth no man come to Jesus Christ by the will, wisdom, and power of man, but by the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father? Then here is room for Christians to stand and wonder at the effectual working of God's providence, that he hath made use of, as means to bring them to Jesus Christ.

For although men are drawn to Christ by the power of the Father, yet that power putteth forth itself in the use of