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son with himself; and being conscious to himself, that he could give but a bad answer to any of these interrogatories, no marvel if he stood in need first of all of a kiss from his father's lips. For had he answered the first in truth, he must say, 'I have been a hunter of taverns and ale-houses; and as for my portion, I spent it in riotous living; my companions were whores and drabs; as for my preferment, the highest was, that I became a hogherd; and as for my not coming home till now, could I have made shift to stay abroad any longer, I had not been at thy feet for mercy now.'

I say, these things considered, and considering again, how prone poor men are, to give way, when truly awakened, to despondings, and heart-misgivings, no marvel if he did sink in his mind, between the time of his first setting out, and that of his coming to his Father.

But further, methinks I have, for the confirmation of this truth, the consent of all the saints that are under heaven, namely, that they that are coming to Jesus Christ, are ofttimes heartily afraid that he will not receive them.

Quest. But what should be the reason of such fears?'

I will answer to this question thus:

It is not for want of the revealed will of God, that manifesteth grounds for the contrary; for of that there is a sufficiency. Yea, the text itself hath laid a sufficient foundation for encouragement, for them that are coming to Jesus Christ. "And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." It is not for want of any invitation to come, for that is full and plain. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. xi. 28.

Neither is it for want of manifestation of Christ's willingness to receive; as those texts above named, with that which follows, declareth, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." John vii. 37.

It is not for want of exceeding great and precious promises to receive them that come. "Wherefore, come out

from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18.

It is not for want of a solemn oath and engagement to save them that come. "For because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself." "That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before us." Heb. vi. 13–18.

Neither is it for want of great examples of God's mercy, to those that have come to Jesus Christ; of which we read most plentifully in the word.

Therefore, it must be concluded, it is for want of that which follows.

1. It is for want of the knowledge of Christ. Thou knowest but little of the grace and kindness that is in the heart of Christ; thou knowest but little of the virtue and merit of his blood; thou knowest but little of the willingness that is in his heart to save thee; and this is the reason of the fear that ariseth in thy heart, and that causeth thee to doubt, that Christ will not receive thee.

Unbelief is the daughter of Ignorance. Therefore Christ saith, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe." Luke xxiv. 25. Slowness of heart to believe, flows from thy foolishness in the things of Christ; this is evident to all that are acquainted with themselves, and are seeking after Jesus Christ. The more ignorance, the more unbelief: the more knowledge of Christ, the more faith. "They that know thy name, will put their trust in thee." Psalm ix. 10. He therefore that began to come to Christ but the other day, and hath yet but little knowledge of him, he fears that Christ will not receive him. But he that hath been longer acquainted with him, he is strong, and hath overcome the wicked one. 1 John ii. When Joseph's brethren came into Egypt to buy corn, it

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is said, "Joseph knew his brethren, but his brethren knew not him." What follows? Why, great mistrust of heart about their speeding well; especially, if Joseph did but answer them roughly, calling them spies, and questioning their truth and the like. And observe it, so long as their ignorance about their brother remained with them, whatsoever Joseph did, still they put the worst sense upon it. For instance, Joseph upon a time bids the steward of his house bring them home, to dine with him, to dine even in Joseph's house. And how is this regarded by them? Why, they are afraid: "And the men were afraid, because they were brought unto (their brother) Joseph's house." And they said, "He seeketh occasion against us, and will fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses." Gen. xlii. and xliii. What! afraid to go to Joseph's house? He was their brother; he intended to feast them; to feast them, and to feast with them. Ah! but they were ignorant that he was their brother; and so long as their ignorance lasted, so long their fear terrified them. Just thus it is with the sinner that but of late is coming to Jesus Christ: he is ignorant of the love and pity that is in Christ to coming sinners. Therefore he doubts, therefore he fears, therefore his heart misgives him.

Coming sinner, Christ inviteth thee to dine and sup with him he inviteth thee to a banquet of wine, yea to come into his banquet-house, and his banner over thee shall be love. Rev. iii. 20; Song ii. 4. 'I doubt it,' says the sinner. But it is answered, He calls thee, invites thee to his banquet, flagons, apples, to his wine, and to the juice of the pomegranate. 'O I fear, I doubt, I mistrust, I tremble in expectation of the contrary!'-Come out of the man, thou dastardly Ignorance.-Be not afraid, sinner, only believe; he that cometh to Christ, he will in no wise cast out.

Let the coming sinner therefore seek after more of the good knowledge of Jesus Christ. Press after it, seek it as

silver, and dig for it as for hid treasure. This will embolden thee; this will make thee wax stronger and stronger.

"I know whom I have believed," I know him, said Paul; and what follows? Why, "and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him, against that day." 2 Tim. i. 12. What had Paul committed to Jesus Christ? The answer is, he had committed to him his soul. But why did he commit his soul to him? Why, because he knew him. He knew him to be faithful, to be kind, he knew he would not fail him, nor forsake him; and therefore he laid his soul down at his feet, and committed it to him, to keep against that day. But,

2. Thy fears that Christ will not receive thee, may be also a consequence of thy earnest and strong desire after thy salvation by him. For this I observe, that strong desires to have, are attended with strong fears of missing. What man most sets his heart upon, and what his desires are most after, he (ofttimes) most fears he shall not obtain. So that man, the ruler of the synagogue, had a great desire that his daughter should live: and that desire was attended with fear, that she should not: therefore Christ saith unto him, "Be not afraid." Mark v. 36.

Suppose a young man should have his heart much set upon a virgin, to have her to wife. If ever he fears he shall not obtain her, it is when he begins to love. Now thoughts begin to work. Now, thinks he, 'somebody will step in betwixt my love and the object of it; or, they will find fault with either my person, my estate, my condition, or something. She does not like me, or something else.' And thus it is with the soul at first coming to Jesus Christ: thou lovest him, and thy love produces jealousy, and that jealousy ofttimes begets fears. Now thou fearest the sins of thy youth, the sins of thine old age, the sins of thy calling, the sins of thy Christian duties, the sins of thine heart, or something else: thou thinkest something or other will alienate

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the heart and affections of Jesus Christ from thee; thou thinkest he sees something in thee, for the sake of which he will refuse thy soul.

But be content. A little more knowledge of him will make thee take better heart; thy earnest desires shall not be attended with such burning fears; thou shalt hereafter say, "This is my infirmity." Psalm lxxvii.

Thou art sick of love, a very sweet disease, and yet every disease has some weakness attending it: yet I wish this distemper (if it be lawful to call it so) was more epidemical. Die of this disease, I would gladly do: it is better than life itself, though it be attended with fears. But thou criest out, 'I cannot obtain.' Well, be not too hasty to make conclusions: if Jesus Christ had not put his finger in at the hole of the lock, thy bowels would not have been troubled for him. (Song v.)

Mark how the prophet hath it, "They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria." Hos. xi. 10, 11. When God roars (as ofttimes the coming soul hears him roar) what man that is coming, can do otherwise than tremble? (Amos iii. 8.) But trembling he comes, like the jailer of Philippi. "He sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas. Acts xvi.

Should you ask him that we mentioned but now, How long is it since you began to fear you should miss of this damsel you love so? The answer will be, 'Ever since I began to love her.' But did you not fear it before? 'No, nor should I fear now, but that I vehemently love her.' Come, sinner, let us apply it. How long is it since thou began to fear that Jesus Christ will not receive thee? The answer is, 'Ever since I began to desire that he would save my soul. I began to fear, when I began to come: and the