Christ: The Way, the Truth, and the LifeBrown, John
Religion
Christ: The Way, the Truth, and the Life
Brown, John
Bible. John XIV, 6 -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.; Jesus Christ; Justification (Christian theology); Sanctification
And, further, to encourage poor souls to come unto him, all things are
so well ordered in the gospel, as that nothing occurreth that can in the
least prove a stumbling-block or a just ground of excuse for their
forbearing to believe and to accept of his offers. All objections
possible are obviated to such as are but willing; the way is cast up,
and all stones of stumbling cast out of it; so that such as will not
come can pretend no excuse. They cannot object the greatness of their
sins: for the greater their sins be they have the greater need of one
who is sent to take away sin, and whose blood purgeth from all sin, 1
John i. 7. What great sinner did he ever refuse that came to him, and
was willing to be saved by him? Is there any clause in all the gospel
excluding great sinners? Nor need they object their great unworthiness;
for he doth all freely for the glory of his free grace. None ever got
any good of him for their worth; for no man ever had any worth. Nor need
they object their long refusing and resisting many calls; for he will
make such as are willing welcome at the eleventh hour; him that cometh
he will in no case put away, John vi. 37. Nor can they object their
changeableness, that they will not stand to the bargain, but break and
return with the dog to the vomit; for Christ hath engaged to bring all
through that come unto him; he will raise them up at the last day, John
vi. 40; he will present them to himself holy and without spot or
wrinkle, or any such thing, Eph. v. The covenant is fully provided with
promises to stop the mouth of that objection. Nor can they object the
difficulty or impossibility of believing; for that is Christ's work
also, he "is the author and finisher of faith," Heb. xii. 1. Can they
not with confidence cast themselves upon him; yet if they can hunger and
thirst for him, and look to him, he will accept of that; "look to me,"
says he, "and be saved," Isa. xlv. 22. If they cannot look to him, nor
hunger and thirst for him, yet if they be willing, all is well. Are they
willing that Christ save them in his way, and therefore willingly give
themselves over to him, and are willing and content that Christ, by his
Spirit, work more hunger in them, and a more lively faith, and work both
to will and to do according to his own good pleasure, it is well.
But it will be said, that the terms and conditions on which he offereth
himself are hard. Answer--I grant the terms are hard to flesh and blood,
and to proud unmortified nature; but to such as are willing to be saved,
so as God may be most glorified, the terms are easy, most rational and
satisfying: for,
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