[December 7th, 1856.]
Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Matt. 11:28. Ye will not come to me that ye might have life, John 5:40. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, John 6:37. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him, v. 44. If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink, John 7:37. Them that come unto God by him, Heb. 7:25. Let him that is athirst come, Rev. 22:17. He that cometh to God must believe that he is, etc., Heb. 11:6.
I. To those who come to Christ rest is promised. All given to him shall come unto him. He will reject none who come. He that comes shall never hunger. Hence it follows:
- That coming to Christ is essential to salvation. 2. That it is the thing, and the precise, definite thing which the awakened sinner should be exhorted to do. He is not to be directed to submit, nor to make choice of God, nor to change his purpose. These are duties, but not the duty any more than giving alms, or attending Church.
II. What is meant by coming? This is often an anxious question. Those exhorted to come do not know what to do. The reasons of this difficulty are, 1. The simplicity of the things to be done.
- The reluctance to do what is involved in the command.
To understand what it is to come, we need only refer to the case of those who came to Christ, literally, i.e., the blind, deaf, leprous, the sick, etc. What did they do? Negatively, 1. They did not remain contented as they were. 2. They did not resort elsewhere for help. 3. They did not postpone application to Christ when the opportunity offered.
Affirmatively. 1. They went to him. But so did others. 2. They went for the purpose of being healed. 3. They went expecting to be healed. 4. They, therefore, made actual application to him. To do this, it was necessary, 1. To feel that they needed healing. 2. That they could not heal themselves, and that help could be obtained from no other quarter. 3. That Christ could and would heal them. 4. That he would heal not only others, but them, and that too when they applied.
This teaches us, first, What in reference to the coming of the soul to Christ is necessary before we come. 1. A sense of want. A conviction that we need spiritual healing, i.e., pardon and deliverance from sin. 2. That we cannot save ourselves. 3. That no one else can save us. 4. That Christ can and will. He that cometh unto God must believe, a. That he is. b. That he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. So we must believe, a. That Christ is what he is, the Son of God, the Saviour of sinners. b. That he will save all who come to him. Secondly, What is meant by coming.
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It is to draw near to Christ as the ever present Saviour, with the desire and expectation of being pardoned and sanctified by him.
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It is actually to apply to him for salvation, believing that he will do it, trusting to his assurance that he will save all who come to him. The evidence of coming is that we receive what we come for. Those who came to Christ on earth received the gift of sight, hearing, speech, health, etc. So if we come, we get rest, pardon, eternal life.
III. Who are to come?
- Not merely sinners who never came before. 2. But also his people, in all times of emergency. Two additional truths are revealed by Scripture on this point. 1. The unwillingness of men to come, and consequently the guilt of not coming. 2. The necessity of being drawn by the Spirit. The Scriptures teach, 1. That all are invited to come. 2. That all the elect do come. 3. That coming is essential. 4. That it is the very thing to be done. 5. That none who come shall be cast out. 6. That the reason why men do not come is their unwillingness. 7. That divine assistance is necessary.
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