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CHRIST’S WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE SINNERS
IT is a pleasing reflection that there is a people secured to Christ, who, having been given to him by the Father, shall, each in his appointed time, “be gathered unto Shiloh,” to be the fruits of his travail, and the spoils of his victory. This pleasure however would be greatly damped, if we believed, that there were any infallibly, and from eternity, given over to perdition, who should be sent into the world for no other purpose than to fill up the measure of their iniquities, and to fit themselves for the place, to which they had been doomed by an eternal and irreversible decree. We confess that we cannot so draw the line between pr æ terition and predestination, as to satisfy in all cases a cavilling, or perhaps a scrupulous mind: but the same difficulties occur, if we attempt to mark the distinct boundaries of free will, and free grace; or to shew how the existence of sin could ever consist with the holiness of God. This however is not our province: we must leave to God to reconcile the difficulties that occur; and receive the truths he declares, not because we can comprehend every thing respecting them, but because they are revealed by an unerring God. That some are secured to Christ appears from hence, that, if they were not, it might eventually happen, that none might come to him; and consequently, that he might shed his blood in vain. We are not however left to found this sentiment on any uncertain reasonings of our own; since our Lord himself, in the very words before the text, says, “All that the Father hath given me, shall come to me.” But are all others therefore of necessity sealed up unto perdition? no; for he adds, “And him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.”
To improve this blessed declaration, let us consider,
I. What we should come to Christ for—
[In general, we answer, that we must come to him for every thing; since all fulness is treasured up in him, on purpose that we may receive out of it according to our necessities. But more particularly, we must come to him for pardon, which we all need; which we cannot otherwise obtain; and which he is exalted to give [Note: Act_5:31.]. We must come for peace, since all peace derived from other quarters, is delusive, and he, as the Prince of peace, has promised to bestow it [Note: Isa_9:6. Joh_14:27. Eph_2:17.]. We must come for strength, since without him we can do nothing [Note: Joh_15:5. 2Co_3:5.], and by him, every thing [Note: Php_4:13.]; and St. Paul himself applied to him in prayer, and obtained from him, as we also shall do, grace sufficient for him [Note: 2Co_12:9.]. Lastly, we must come to him for eternal life and glory; since he frequently claims it as his prerogative to give it [Note: Joh_10:28.], and will surely be the author of it to all them that obey him [Note: Heb_5:9.].]
II. In what manner we should come to him—
[Of course, our Lord meant not that we were to approach him with our bodies; since many thronged him, and pressed upon him, who nevertheless were cast out. It is therefore, not to the motion of our bodies, but to the frame of our minds, that we are to have respect, when we come unto him. We must come unto him empty. If, like the Laodiceans, we think ourselves rich and increased with goods [Note: Rev_3:17.], our application to Christ will be vain and fruitless [Note: Luk_1:53.]. We must be deeply convinced of our own guilt and helplessness; and be thoroughly persuaded that we must perish if be receive us not. We must be like the Prodigal, when dying with hunger, or like the Disciples in jeopardy, crying, Save, Lord, or we perish [Note: Mat_8:25.]. Moreover we must come believing. This is more particularly intended by our Lord, the words “coming” and “believing,” being perfectly synonymous [Note: ver. 35.]. To come filled with unbelief, would be to insult, rather than to honour him. We should be convinced of his suitableness to our necessities, his sufficiency for our relief, and his willingness to receive us. We must regard him as the only way to life, the only door of hope [Note: Joh_14:6; Joh_10:9.]. We must believe in him as appointed of God to be our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption [Note: 1Co_1:30.]; and then we shall find by happy experience that he is “able to save us to the uttermost.”]
III. The encouragement we have to come to him—
[Though our Lord sometimes delayed answering the requests of those who came to him in the days of his flesh, he never finally refused any. Thus, though he may not instantly manifest his acceptance of us, he will not reject any who thus come unto him. No past iniquities shall cause him to reject us. This is evident from many strong and express declarations of Prophets [Note: Isa_1:18.], of Apostles [Note: Act_10:43 and 1Jn_1:7.], of Christ himself [Note: Mat_12:31.]. If it be thought that the sin against the Holy Ghost is an exception, let it suffice to say, that no man, who desires to find acceptance through Christ, can possibly have committed that; since he would in that case have been given over to judicial blindness and obduracy, and consequently, would have continued altogether regardless of his eternal welfare. The same may be proved from manifold instances, wherein the vilest of the human race have found acceptance with him. We need only look at Manasseh [Note: 2Ki_21:16. with 2Ch_33:9; 2Ch_33:12-13.], David [Note: 2Sa_12:9; 2Sa_12:13.], and above all at the Apostle Paul, who was in this particular intended for a pattern [Note: 1Ti_1:16.], and this blessed truth will be established beyond a possibility of doubt. Nor will any present infirmities cause our Lord to reject us. For his Disciples, long after they had found acceptance with him, betrayed manifest symptoms of pride [Note: Mar_9:33-34.], revenge [Note: Luk_9:54.], and cowardice [Note: Mat_26:56.]; and Peter, whose misconduct was by far the most glaring, received by far the most striking tokens of our Lord’s regard [Note: Mar_16:7 and Joh_21:15-17.]. We say not this to encourage sin, but to illustrate the tender mercies of him, who carries the lambs in his bosom, and who, instead of breaking the bruised reed, will bring forth from it the sweetest melody [Note: Isa_40:11; Isa_42:3.].]
Address—
1. Those who are afar off from Christ—
[Can it be supposed, that, if we will not go to Christ, we can ever participate his benefits? Doubtless we cannot: if we keep at a distance from him in this world, there will be an “impassable gulf between us” in the world to come. Let us remember then, that we must go to him or perish. Let not any one object, I cannot go: for the truth is, we will not [Note: Joh_5:40.]. Yet, notwithstanding our past obstinacy, we may go to him, with a full assurance that he will in no wise cast us out. Let us not then delay, lest death seize us, and the door of mercy be for ever closed.]
2. Those who are coming to him—
[We are told of one in the Gospel, whom, when coming to our Lord, the devil cast down, and tare, and left to appearance, dead [Note: Mar_9:20; Mar_9:26.]. Such enmity will Satan discover against us also as soon as ever we attempt to come to Christ. He will raise every obstacle in his power: he will assault us by “fightings without, and fears within.” But the more earnest he is in his endeavours to draw us from Christ, the more determined let us be in going to Christ: so shall we most effectually defeat his malice, and secure beyond a doubt our own salvation.]
3. Those who have come to him—
[Whence is it that so great a difference has been put between you and others? Is it that you were of yourselves more inclined to good, and that you made yourselves to differ [Note: 1Co_4:7.]? No: you were once as far from God as any; nor had the smallest inclination to seek him till God gave you the will [Note: Php_2:13.]; nor could you then have come to Christ, except the Father had drawn you by his Almighty power [Note: Joh_6:44.]. Be careful then to give all the glory of your salvation to God alone. And remember that you are still to be coming to Christ every day you live [Note: 1Pe_2:4-5.]. “All your fresh springs are in him;” and “out of his fulness you must continually receive.” Live then a life of faith on the Son of God; and the communion, which you enjoy with him on earth, shall soon be perfected in the realms of glory.]