The third device that Satan hath to keep poor sinners from believing, from closing with a Saviour, is,
Device (3). By suggesting to them the want of such and such preparations and qualifications. Saith Satan, Thou art not prepared to entertain Christ; thou art not thus and thus humbled and justified; thou art not heart-sick of sin; thou hast not been under horrors and terrors as such and such; thou must stay till thou art prepared and qualified to receive the Lord Jesus, &c.
Now, the remedies against this device are these:
Remedy (1). The first remedy against this device of Satan is, solemnly to consider, That such as have mot been so and so prepared and qualified as Satan suggests, have received Christ, believed in 4 Christ, and been saved by Christ. Matthew was called, sitting at the receipt of custom, and there was such power went along with Christ’s call, that made him to follow him, Mat. ix. 9. We read not of any horrors or terrors, &c., that he was under before his being called by Christ. Pray, what preparations and qualifications were found im = Zaccheus, Paul, the jailor, and Lydia, before their conversion, Luke 4 xix. 9, Acts xvi. 14, seq. God brings in some by the sweet and still voice of the gospel, and usually such that are thus brought into Christ are the sweetest, humblest, choicest, and fruitfullest Christians. God 1s a free agent to work by law or gospel, by smiles or frowns, by presenting hell or heaven to sinners’ souls. God thunders from mount Sinai upon some souls, and conquers them by thundering. God speaks to others in a still voice, and by that conquers them. You that are brought to Christ by the law, do not you judge and condemn them that are brought to Christ by the gospel; and you that are brought to Christ by the gospel, do not you despise those that are brought to Christ by the law. Some are brought to Christ by fire, storms, and tempests, others by more easy and gentle gales of the Spirit. The Spirit is free in the works of conversion, and, as the wind, it blows when, where, and how it pleases, John 11. 8. Thrice happy are those souls that are brought to Christ, whether it be in a winter’s night or in a summer’s day.
Remedy (2). The second remedy against this device of Satan is, solemnly To dwell upon these following scriptures, which do clearly evidence that poor sinners which are not so and so prepared and qualified to meet with Christ, to receive and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ, may, notwithstanding that, believe in Christ; and rest and lean upon him for happiness and blessedness, according to the gospel. Read Prov. 1. 20-33, and chap. viii. 1-11, and chap. ix. 1-6; Ezek. xvi. 1-14; John ni. 14-18, 36; Rev. 11. 15-20. Here the Lord Jesus Christ stands knocking at the Laodiceans’ door; he would fain have them to sup with him, and that he might sup with them; that is, that they might have intimate communion and fellowship one with another. Now, pray tell me, what preparations or qualifications had these Lao- i diceans to entertain Christ? Surely none; for they were lukewarm, they were neither hot nor cold,” they were wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; and yet Christ, to shew his free grace and his condescending love, invites the very worst of sinners to open to him, though they were no ways so and so prepared or qualified to entertain him.
Remedy (3). The third remedy against this device of Satan is, seriously to consider, That the Lord does not im all the Scripture require such and such preparations and qualifications before men come to Christ, before they believe in Christ, or entertain, or embrace the Lord Jesus. Believing in Christ is the great thing that God presses upon sinners throughout the Scripture, as all know that know anything of Scripture.
Obj. But does not Christ say, Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’? Mat. xi. 28.
To this I shall give these three answers:
(1.) That though the invitation be to such that labour and are heavy laden,” yet the promise of giving rest, it is made over to coming,’ to believing.’
(2.) I answer, that all this scripture proves and shews is, that such as labour under sin as under a heavy burden, and that are laden with the guilt of sin and sense of God’s displeasure, ought to come to Christ for rest; but it doth not prove that only such must come to Christ, nor that all men must be thus burdened and laden with the sense of their sins and the wrath of God, before they come to Christ.
Poor sinners, when they are under the sense of sin and wrath of God, they are prone to run from creature to creature, and from duty to duty, and from ordinance to ordinance, to find rest; and if they could find it in any thing or creature, Christ should never hear of them; but here the Lord sweetly invites them: and to encourage them, he engages himself to give them rest: ‘ Come,” saith Christ, and I will give you rest.” I will not shew you rest, nor barely tell you of rest, but ‘I will give you rest” I am faithfulness itself, and cannot lie, IT will give you rest.” I that have the greatest power to give it, the greatest will to give it, the greatest right to give it, ‘ Come, laden sinners, and I will give you rest” Rest is the most desirable good, the most suitable good, and to you the greatest good. Come, saith Christ, thatis, believe in me, and I will give you rest; I will give you peace with Godand peace with conscience; I will turn your storm into an everlasting calm; T will give you such rest, that the world can neither give to you nor take from you.
(3.) I answer, No one scripture speaks out the whole mind of God; therefore do but compare this one scripture with those several scriptures that are laid down in the second remedy last mentioned, and 1t will clearly appear, that though men are thus and thus burdened and laden with their sins and filled with horror and terror, if they may come to Christ, they may receive and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ.
Remedy (4). The fourth remedy against this device of Satan is, to consider, That all that trouble for sin, all that sorrow, shame, and mourning which is acceptable to God, and delightful to God, and prevalent with God, flows from faith in Christ, as the stream doth from the fountain, as the branch doth from the root, as the effect doth from the cause. Zech. xii. 10, ‘ They shall look on him whom they have l 148 PRECIOUS REMEDIES [2Cor IL 11. pierced, and they shall mourn for him.” All gospel mourning flows from believing; they shall first look, and then mourn. All that know anything know this, that whatever is not of faith is sin,” Rom. xiv 33. Till men have faith in Christ, their best services are but glorious sins.