4
The Saint's Duty in Evil Times.
cannot behold, behold a wonder which you cannot know, and put forth this queſtion, Iſa.63. 1. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrab? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatneſs of his ſtrength? And his anſwer will be unto you, It is I that ſpeak in righteouſneſs, migh-ty to ſave. Gain-ſay it who will, the pleaſures of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand, he ſhall ſee of the travel of his ſoul, and be ſa-tisfied.
Now methinks I hear you ſaying, All that is true, we can ſet to our ſeals to it; but O, is he willing there is our queſtion. Willing indeed ;' he is not more able than he is willing. What are all his promiſes, but declarations of his free willingneſs? What are all his ſweet invitations, but to tell you that he is wil-ing, and ye are welcome? He that thirſteth let him come, and
whoſoever will let him come, and take of the water of life freely. Ah! what ſay you to it now? Give us your ſeal to his willingneſs alſo. Go, ſay ye, why not? Ye have it. Then come away, there is no more wanting, ſay come; we know he is willing, and we ſet to our ſeal to his willingneſs. But is he willing to receive me? Satisfy me in that, and then all will be right. Ah cheat! ye are taking your word back again now, and lifting off your ſeal; if ye except not yourſelf, he will not except you: His invitation is unto all ; every one come, he that thirſteth, come, he that hath no money, come, Ifa. 55.1. Now, why will ye be ſo ill to your- ſelves, as to debar yourſelves? For he doth not do it; ye may as well, and as rationally ſay, that ye are not a body, as to ſay, he debars yon. His invitation is to every one. Now, aſſent to this, and then, before you except yourſelf out thereof, ye muſt firſt not have a being, neither of ſoul nor body. We ſay, for you to think that he excepts you, it is all one as to deny yourſelf to be one of the children of Adam. Now, o come, come nigard, what aileth thee ? Come, what would ye have, that is not in Chriſt? O that ſweet invitation, come, we cannot tell you what is in it; there is a depth in it that all the angels in heaven cannot fathem; it is no leſs than Jeſus Chriſt, who was delivered for our offences, and was raiſed again for our juſtification, ſpreading forth his arms, and inviting you; he is opening up himſelf, his all-ſufficiency and ſuper-tranſcendent excellency, and calling unto all poor needy things, Come here is enough for you; give in your deſires, and you ſhall have them ſatisfied to the full. What then have ye to ſay to the bargain? Come, come, it is a rich commodity, and there is no ſticking at the price, only receive and have; the eaſieſt of all terms; there is no more required at your hands, But ſay ye, Ha ſir, ye go without your bounds, the invitation in your text is to his people. Ye are all wrong, we are not ſo far out, as ye trow; the invitation is to his people, to enter into their chambers,
and
