unto, a new command to
come unto the Son, and have life; but after this disobedience of the Son,
you have none. There is nothing after unbelief, but ye are turned over, or
rather left over, in the hand of the law and divine justice. Therefore it
is the most dangerous and damnable thing to disobey this. It is to refuse
the very remedy of sin. Consider also what vanity and uselessness is in
these debates. What an unreasonable and senseless thing is it to dispute
against our own soul, and against our own happiness! All is wrapt up here,
and we do no less than the highest act of self-murder that can be. He that
hateth me, wrongs his own soul. What an unreasonable thing then is it,
because ye are miserable, to refuse mercy; because ye are unclean,
therefore to maintain that ye are not to come to the blessed fountain of
cleansing; because ye have broken the rest of the commands, therefore ye
may not obey this? Is there any sense or reason in such things; because I
am a sinner, therefore I will not come to a Saviour? Alas! to what purpose
was the Son sent and given, and for what end came he? Was it not to seek
and to save such as are lost and undone, and to deliver them from misery?
What do you gain by such questions? For at length you must turn and enter
in at the door of a naked command and promise, when you have wearied
yourselves to find that in your hearts which is not in them, to seek
waters in the wilderness, and springs in the desert, qualifications and
graces in your own hearts to warrant your boldness in coming to the
promise. I say, when you have sought and all in vain, you must at length
come to this fountain in which is all grace and happiness. If you had what
you seek, yet if ye would indeed believe in Christ, you must deny them and
look upon yourselves as ungodly, to be justified by faith. Why then do you
grasp after that which can do you no good, (though you had it), I mean, in
point of your acceptation? Consider it, my beloved, that the honour of God
and your own happiness lies most in this, nay not only that, but your
holiness too, which you pretend to seek after, lies in it. Till you come
to Christ, it is in vain to seek it elsewhere.

Sermon III.

1 John iii. 23.--"And this is his commandment," &c.

There are different tempers of mind among men, some more smooth and
pliable, others more refractory and froward. Some may be persuaded by
love, who cannot be constrained by fear. With some a requ