Obj. But you will say, what then shall we say unto those who cannot say in particular that Christ loved them and gave himself for them ? What course shall they take who have not this particular assurance and faith ? What grounds have they to come to Christ if they be willing ?
Ans. I answer. Those that have it not should labour to have it by all means whatsoever.
Obj. But what ground have I, who have been a wretched sinner, an unworthy wretch, what ground have I for to meddle with Christ, and to believe that he loved me, and gave himself for me ?
Sol. 1. Consider, even the vilest that can hear me have the gospel ofiered unto them. Again, consider that Christ took thy nature, and how many inducements are there in this, for thee to take degrees of this parti- cular faith, to come to it, that thou mayest be in this estate, to glorify God and to enjoy comfort.
Sol. 2. Hath not Christ taken thy nature, not the nature of angels ? Oughtest not thou to think that he loves mankind, and why not thee, if thou wilt come in and cast thyself upon him ? He is Jesus, a Saviour ; and Christ, anointed of God ; and Immanuel, to reconcile God and man together.
Sol. 3. Besides, thou sayest thou art a sinner. Why, but alas!* what are thy sins ? Is not his righteousness above them ? His righteousness is the righteousness of God-man, of a mediator that is God, therefore far above thy sins. Considering then the excellency of his person, believe that the blood of Christ is able to purge thee from all.
Sol. 4. For a further ground for this particular faith, we may think of this inviting of all those who are unworthy : ' Whosoever will, let him come and drink of this water of life freely,' Rev. xxi. 17 ; yea, those that think themselves farthest ofi" he bids them come : ' Come, all that are weary and heavy laden,' &c.. Mat. xi. 28. If thou findest sin a burden, then Christ invites thee, and sends his minister to beseech thee to be reconciled. * Another example of Sibbes's peculiar use of ' alas ! ' — G.
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Those that stand at the staif 's end, he desires them to lay aside their weapons and come in.
Sol. 5. If that will not do, he lays his charge and command upon you to believe. If you will not believe, you add this sin unto all the rest. This is his commandment, that you should believe, or else you are rebels to his commandment. Nay, he counts it a sin worse than the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, a crying sin, not to come in when the gospel is proclaimed. Therefore never pretend your sins are great and many, but because of his offer, invitation, and command, it being without all restraint of person, sin, and time ; even now, whatsoever thou hast been and art, seeing at what- soever time a sinner repenteth there is no resti-aint of any sin but the sin against the Holy Ghost ; if thou therefore come not in and cast thyself upon Christ, to be ruled by him hereafter, thou hast nothing at all to pretend. It is not the greatness of thy sins, but thy willingness to be still in thy sins, which hinders thee, for the greater thy sins have been, the greater will his glory be in forgiving : ' Where sin abounded, there,' saith the apostle, ' grace superabounded so much the more,' Rom. v. 20. Is it not for the honour of the physician or surgeon, to cure great diseases and sore wounds ? A mighty God and Saviour loves to do mighty things : ' He loved me, and gave himself for me.' Did Paul find mercy '? Who then should despair when such find mercy ? He had sinned against the first table by blasphe- mies, and against the second by oppression and persecution. Who shall despair then when such as he and Manasseh shall find mercy ? Therefore in any case come in, and the greater glory Christ shall have by thy coming. Do not flatter thyself with this, as if thy sins and unworthiness were such as God cannot shew mercy to such a wretch as thou art, or at least will not. No, no ; deceive not thyself. Examine thine own false heart, and thou shalt find thou art in love with thy sins and wilt not leave them ; and this will be alleged at the day of judgment against thee by thine own con- science, that thou wast more in love with thy sins than with the mercies of God in Christ, and therefore didst willingly remain in thy infidelity. This is the true cause, indeed, of thy backwardness, and not the greatness of thy sins. You see then that there is ground sufficient for any sinner to come in and labour for this particular assurance.
Obj. But put the case, I be not one that Christ redeemed, and God elected.
Sol. Away with disputing, and fall to obey. Put this question out of question, by believing and obeying. Come in and stoop unto Christ, and then it will appear that thou art one that Christ died for ; for he gives him- self for all that believe in him. Do thou thy duty, bring thou thy heart to rest upon Christ, and to be ruled by him, and then thou wilt put this ques- tion out of question, that thou art one of God's elect. The devil holds many in a state of darkness by this delusion.