6. Consider that he is as able to save us as he is ready and willing to receive us. The testimonies which he hath given us unto his goodness and love are uncontrollable; and none dare directly to call in question or deny his power. Generally, this is taken for granted by all, that Christ is able to save us if he will; yea, who shall ques- tion his ability to save us, though we live in sin and unbelief ? And many expect that he will do so, because they believe he can if he will. But indeed Christ hath no such power, no such ability: he cannot save unbelieving, impenitent sinners; for this cannot be done without denying himself, acting contrary to his word, and destroying his own glory. Let none please themselves with such vain imagina- tions. Christ is able to save all them, and only them, who come to God by him. Whilst you live in sin and unbelief, Christ himself cannot save you; but when it comes to the trial in particular, some are apt to think, that although they will not conclude that Christ cannot save them, yet they do, on various accounts, that they cannot be saved by him. This, therefore, we also give testimony unto in our exhortation to come unto him, — namely, that his power to save those that shall comply with his call is sovereign, uncontrollable, almighty, — that nothing can stand in the way of All things in heaven and earth are committed unto him ; — all power is his ;^-and he will use it unto this end, — namely, the assured salvation of all that come unto him.
7. Consider greatly what hath been spoken of the representation of God, and all the holy properties of his nature, in him. Nothing can possibly give us more encouragement to come unto him ; for we have manifested that God, who is infinitely wise and glorious, hath designed to exert all the holy properties of his nature — his mercy, love, grace, goodness, righteousness, wisdom, and power — in him, in and imto the salvation of them that do believe. Whoever, therefore, comes unto Christ by faith on this representation of the glory of God in him, he ascribes and gives unto God all that glory and honour which he aimeth at from his creatures ; and we can do nothing wherewith he is pleased equal unto it. Every poor soul that comes by faith unto Christ, gives unto God all that glory which it is his design to mani- fest and be exalted in ; — and what can we do more ? There is more glory given imto God by coming unto Christ in believing, than in keeping the whole law; inasmuch as he hath more eminently mani- fested the holy properties of his nature in the way of salvation by
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Christ, than in giving of the law. Tliere is therefore no man who, under gospel invitations, refuseth to come unto and close "with Christ by believing, but secretly, through the power of darkness, blindness, and unbelief, he bates God, dishkes all his ways, would not have his glory exalted or manifested, choosing rather to die in enmity against him than to give glory to him. Do not deceive yourselves; it is not an indifferent thing, whether you will come in unto Christ upon his invitations or no, — a thing that you may put off from one season unto another : your present refusal of it is as high an act of enmity against God as your nature is capable of.
8. Consider that by coming unto Christ you shall have an interest in all that glory which we have proposed unto you; for Christ will become yours more intimately than your wives and children are yours ; and so all his glory is yours also. All are apt to be affected "svith the good things of their relations, — their grace, their riches, their beauty, their power; for they judge themselves to have an interest in them, by reason of their relation unto them. Christ is nearer to believers than any natural relations are to us whatever ; they have therefore an interest in all his glory. And is this a small thing in your eyes, that Christ shall be yours, and all his glory shall be yours, and you shall have the advantage of it unto your eternal blessedness ? Is it nothing unto you to continue strangers from, and uninterested in, all this glory ? to be left to take your portion in this world, in lusts, and sins, and pleasures, and a few perishing trifles, with eternal ruin in the close, whilst such durable substance, such riches of glory, are ten- dered unto you ?
Lastly, Consider the horrible ingratitude there is in a neglect or refusal to come in to Christ upon his invitation, with the doleful, eter- nal ruin that will ensue thereon. " How shall we escape, if we ne- glect so great salvation?" Impenitent unbelievers under the preach- ing of the gospel, are the vilest and most ungrateful of all God's creation. The devils themselves, as wicked as they are, are not guilty of this sin ; for Christ is never tendered unto them, — they never had an offer of salvation on faith and repentance. This is their peculiar sin, and will be the peculiar aggravation of their misery unto eternity. " Hear, ye despisers, wonder, and perish." The sin of the devil is in malice and opposition unto knowledge, above what the nature of man is in this world. Men, therefore, must sin in some instance above the devil, or God would not give them their eternal portion with the devil and his angels: — this is unbelief.