2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 20. 399
his being rich, his being in favour with such or such, what are they ? Fad- ing beings that fail, and himself with them. He stands on the ice. They shp and he sHps with them. What are all beings in death, if a man have not a more stable being in Jesus Christ.
Quest. What comfort is* there then for such a man by the promises in Jesus Christ ?
A)is. This, that while there is life, there is hope to get into Christ, and so to get interest in the promises ; for the promises are free, the word is evauffclia,^' free promise. It is not a promise on this or that condition ; but a free promise out of mere love, a mercy. Then though thou be yet in the state of corruption in old Adam, yet the promise is free.
Oh). But I have no worthiness in me, thou wilt say ; I have no faith, no grace in me at all.
Alls. But remember the promise is fi'ee, the condition is only if thou wilt receive Christ, which is not properly a condition of worth in thee. It is not propounded byway of condition of any worth, but thou must come with an empty hand, with a receiving hand ; as a man must let fall what he hath, before he can hold and take anything. A man must let go other things, he must let go his hold of the creature ; he must not be so proud of the creature, and so confident in it as he was ; he must see the emptiness of the creature, and of all things in the world ; thou must see that, if thou be not in Christ, thou art a wretched, damned creature. The hand of thy soul must be empty, and then a sight of thy unworthiness is all that is required before thou come to Christ, and the promises, a sight of thy unworthiness and a coming to grasp with Christ and the promises ; for what is fiiith but a beggar's hand, empty of all things, coming to receive a benefit ? They are most unworthy f that find themselves most unworthy.
Ohj. But you will say, the promise is made to the poor in spirit, and to those that hunger and thirst.
Ans. It is true, but it is by way of preventing an objection of these men that are cast down in the sight of their unworthiness. As if Christ had said, you think these men the unworthiest men in the world, that are poor, and hungry, and thirsty, you think you are destitute and have nothing ; but you are ' blessed,' you have interest in Christ, and in the promises, they are for you. Let no man therefore be discouraged, the promises are free. Therefore be not rebellious, stand not out against God's command. God lays a command upon thee. Though thou be not in Christ, and hast no right to the promises, he lays a command on thee to believe.
Quest. Thou wilt ask, what ground, or title, or right hast thou to believe, to claim Christ and the promises ?
Ans. This right thou hast, thou hast the offer of God's love in Christ. And thou hast not only God's offer, but his command. God commands thee to do it. As St John saith, 1 John iii. 23, he hath commanded us to believe in his Son Christ, as well as not to commit adultery, or murder. And thou art guilty if thou break this command, as if thou break the other of murder or adultery. And men that live under the hearing of the gospel, they shall be damned more at the day of judgment for disobe3dng this com- mand, for not receiving of Christ, than for the other ; for the breach of all other commands may be forgiven if this were obeyed. Therefore there is an offer of Christ, with a command to receive him, and a promise if thou
* That is, svayy'sXicc. But Sibbes appears to have quoted from memory ; for the word in the text is the cognate and nearly synonymous one ' i'TrayyiXia, — G.
t Qu. ' worthy ? ' — G.
400 COMMENTARY ON
receive him all shall be well, all thy sins shall be forgiven ; is not here cncourngemcnt enough ?
And then there is an invitation, ' Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden,' Matt. xi. 2H. And put case thou hast nothing, yet not- withstanding, ' come and buy without silver,' saith the prophet, Isa. Iv. 1. If thou say thou hast nothing, yet all is free here, ' Come whosoever will, and drink of the water of life.'
And he threatens danniation if thou wilt not, the wrath of God hangs on thee if thou do not come in.
Aye, but I am a sinner.
But where sin hath abounded, ' Grace shall more abound,' Rom. v. 20, So if a man stand out of Christ, and come not in to him, there are many encouragements for him to come, and terrible denunciations of wrath if he come not. ' The wrath of God hangs over his head,' John iii. 86. For if he be not in Christ, he sinks into hell when this short life is ended.