devilish doubts unto them, that if possible he may sink and drown them with the multitude and weight of them. Old Christians, mend up the path for them; take the stumblingblocks out of the way; lest that which is feeble and weak be turned aside; but let it rather be healed. Heb. xii.

CHAPTER XI.

HOW CHRIST DISPELS ALL FEAR.

III. I come now to the next observation, and shall speak a little to that; namely, that Jesus Christ would not have them, that in truth are coming to him, once think, that he will cast them out.

The text is full of this: "And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Now, if he saith, I will not, he would not have us think he will.

This is yet farther manifest by these considerations.

1. Christ Jesus did forbid even them that as yet were not coming to him, once to think him such a one. "Do not think," said he, "that I will accuse you to the Father." John v. 45. These (as I said) were such, that as yet were not coming to him: for he saith of them a little before, "And ye will not come to me:" for the respect they had to honor from men kept them back. Yet, I say, Jesus Christ gives them to understand, that though he might justly reject them, yet he would not, but bids them not once to think that he would accuse them to the Father. So then, if Jesus Christ would not have them that yet will not come to him, think that he will accuse them; then he would not that they should think so, that in truth are coming to him. "And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

2. When the woman taken in adultery (even in the very act) was brought before Jesus Christ, he so carried it both. by words and actions, that he evidently enough made it manifest, that condemning and casting out were such things, for the doing of which he came not into the world. Wherefore, when they had set her before him, and had laid to her

charge her heinous act, he stooped down, and with his finger wrote upon the ground as though he heard them not. Now what did he do by this carriage, but testify plainly that he was not for receiving accusations against poor sinners, whoever accused by? And observe, though they continue asking, thinking at last to force him to condemn her; yet then he so answered, as that he drove all condemning persons from her. And then he adds, for her encouragement to come to him; "Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more." John viii. 1–11.

Not but that he indeed abhorred the fact. But he would not condemn the woman for the sin, because that was not his office: he was not sent into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. John iii. 17. Now if Christ, though urged to it, would not condemn the guilty woman, though she was far at present from coming to him, he would not that they that in truth are coming to him, should once think, that he will cast them out. "And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."

3. Christ plainly bids the turning sinner come: and forbids him to entertain any such thought, as that he will cast him out. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Isa. lv. 7. The Lord, by bidding the unrighteous forsake his thoughts, doth in special forbid, as I have said, those thoughts that hinder the coming man in his progress to Jesus Christ, his unbelieving thoughts.

Therefore, he bids him not only forsake his ways but his thoughts: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts." It is not enough to forsake one, if thou wilt come to Jesus Christ, because the other will keep thee from him. Suppose a man forsake his wicked ways, his debauched and filthy life; yet if these thoughts,

FORSAKE UNBELIEVING THOUGHTS.

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that Jesus Christ will not receive him, be entertained and nourished in his heart; these thoughts will keep him from coming to Jesus Christ.

Sinner, coming sinner, art thou for coming to Jesus Christ? Yes,' says the sinner. Forsake thy wicked ways, then. 'So I do,' says the sinner. Why comest thou then so slowly? Because I am hindered.' What hinders? Has God forbidden thee? 'No.' Art thou not willing to come faster? Yes, yet I cannot.' Well, prithee, be plain with me, and tell me the reason and ground of thy discouragement. Why (says the sinner) though God forbids me not, and though I am willing to come faster, yet there naturally ariseth this, and that, and the other thought in my heart, that hinders my speed to Jesus Christ. Sometimes I think I am not chosen; sometimes I think I am not called; sometimes I think I am come too late; and sometimes I think I know not what it is to come. Also, one while I think I have no grace; and then again, that I cannot pray; and then again, I think that I am a very hypocrite. And these things keep me from coming to Christ.'

Look ye now, did I not tell you so? There are thoughts yet remaining in the heart, even of those who have forsaken their wicked ways; and with those thoughts they are more plagued than with any thing else, because they hinder. their coming to Jesus Christ. For the sin of unbelief (which is the original of all these thoughts) is that which besets a coming sinner more easily than do his ways. Heb. xii. 1-4.

But now since Jesus Christ commands thee to forsake these thoughts, forsake them, coming sinner; and if thou forsake them not, thou transgressest the commands of Christ, and abidest thy own tormentor, and keepest thyself from establishment in grace. "If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established." Isa. vii. 9.

Thus you see how Jesus Christ setteth himself against

such thoughts, that any way discourage the coming sinner; and thereby truly vindicate the doctrines we have in hand, namely, that Jesus Christ would not have them, that in truth are coming to him, once think, that he will cast them out. "And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

I come now to the reasons of the observation.

1. If Jesus Christ should allow thee once to think, that he will cast thee out, he must allow thee to think, that he will falsify his word. For he hath said, "I will in no wise cast out." But Christ would not that thou shouldst count him as one that will falsify his word; for he saith of himself, "I am the truth." Therefore he would not, that any that in truth are coming to him, should once think, that he will cast them out.

2. If Jesus Christ should allow the sinner, that in truth is coming to him, once to think that he will cast him out, then he must allow, and so countenance the first appearance of unbelief; the which he counteth his greatest enemy, and against which he has bent even his holy gospel. Therefore Jesus Christ would not, that they that in truth are coming to him, should once think that he will cast them out. Matt. xiv. 31; xxi. 21; Mark xi. 23; Luke xxiv. 25.

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3. If Jesus Christ should allow the coming sinner once to think, that he will cast him out; then he must allow him to make a question, whether he is willing to receive his Father's gift. For the coming sinner is his Father's gift; as also says the text; but he testifieth, all that the Father giveth him shall come to him; and him that cometh he will in no wise cast out. Therefore Jesus Christ would not have him, that in truth is coming to him, once to think, that he will cast him out.

4. If Jesus Christ should allow them (that indeed are coming to him) once to think that he will cast them out, he must allow them to think, that he will despise and reject the drawing of his Father. For no man can come to him but