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a smile upon thee； let fall； though it be but one drop of its savour
upon thy spirit； yea； though it stays but one moment with thee？ O
then the day of grace is not past！ The gate of heaven is not shut！
nor God's heart and bowels withdrawn from thee as yet。 Take heed；
therefore； and beware that thou make much of the heavenly gift； and
of that good word of God of the which he has made thee taste。
Beware； I say； and take heed； there may be a falling away for all
this； but； I say； as yet God has not left thee； as yet he has not
cast thee off； Heb。 vi。 1…9。
Secondly； With respect to thy desires； what are they？ Wouldst thou
be saved！ Wouldst thou be saved with a thorough salvation？ Wouldst
thou be saved from guilt and filth too？ Wouldst thou be the servant
of thy Saviour？ Art thou indeed weary of the service of thy old
master the devil； sin； and the world？ And have these desires put thy
soul to flight？ Hast thou through desires betaken thyself to thy
heels？ Dost fly to him that is a Saviour from the wrath to come； for
life？ If these be thy desires； and if they be unfeigned； fear not。
Thou art one of those runaways which God has commanded our Lord to
receive； and not to send thee back to the devil thy master again； but
to give thee a place in his house； even the place which liketh thee
best。 〃Thou shalt not deliver to his master；〃 says he； 〃the servant
which is escaped from his master unto thee。 He shall dwell with
thee； even among you in that place which he shall choose； in one of
thy gates where it liketh him best； thou shalt not oppress him；〃
Deut。 xxiii。 15； 16。
This is a command to the church； consequently to the Head of the
church； for all commands from God come to her through her Head。
Whence I conclude； that as Israel of old was to receive the runaway
servant who escaped from a heathen master to them； and should not
dare to send him back to his master again； so Christ's church now；
and consequently Christ himself； may not； will not； refuse that soul
that has made his escape from sin； Satan； the world； and hell； unto
him； but will certainly let him dwell in his house； among his saints；
in that place which he shall choose； even where it liketh him best。
For he says in another place； 〃And him that cometh to me； I will in
no wise cast out。〃 In no wise； let his crimes be what they will；
either for nature； multitude； or the attendance of aggravating
circumstances。
Wherefore； if thy desires be firm； sound； and unfeigned to become the
saved of Christ； and his servant； fear not； he will not； he will in
no wise put thee away； or turn thee over to thy old master again。
Thirdly； As to they fears； whatever they are； let that be supposed
which is supposed before； and they are groundless； and so of no
weight。
Object。 But I am afraid I am not elected； or chosen to salvation；
though you called me fool a little before for so fearing。
Ans。 Though election is； in order； before calling； as to God； yet
the knowledge of calling must go before the belief of my election as
to myself。 Wherefore； souls that doubt of the truth of their
effectual calling； do but plunge themselves into a deeper labyrinth
of confusion that concern themselves with their election； I mean；
while they labour to know it before they prove their calling。 〃Make
your calling； and so your election； sure；〃 2 Pet。 i。 4…11。
Wherefore； at present； lay the thoughts of thy election by； and ask
thyself these questions： Do I see my lost condition？ Do I see
salvation is nowhere but in Christ？ Would I share in this salvation
by faith in him？ And would I； as was said before； be thoroughly
saved； to wit； from the filth as from the guilt？ Do I love Christ；
his Father； his saints； his words； and ways？ This is the way to
prove we are elect。 Wherefore； sinner； when Satan； or thine own
heart seeks to puzzle thee with election； say thou； I cannot attend
to talk of this point now； but stay till I know that I am called of
God to the fellowship of his Son； and then I will shew you that I am
elect； and that my name is written in the book of life。
If poor distressed souls would observe this order； they might save
themselves the trouble of an unprofitable labour under these
unreasonable and soul…sinking doubts。
Let us therefore； upon the sight of our wretchedness； fly and
venturously leap into the arms of Christ； which are now as open to
receive us into his bosom； as they were when nailed to the cross。
This is coming to Christ for life aright； this is right running away
from thy master to him； as was said before。 And for this we have
multitudes of scriptures to support； encourage； and comfort us in our
so doing。
But now； let him that doth thus be sure to look for it； for Satan
will be with him to…morrow； to see if he can get him again to his old
service； and if he cannot do that； then will he enter into dispute
with him； to wit； about whether he be elect to life； and called
indeed to partake of this Christ； to whom he is fled for succour； or
whether he comes to him of his own presumptuous mind。 Therefore we
are bid； as to come； so to arm ourselves with that armour which God
has provided； that we may resist； quench； stand against； and
withstand all the fiery darts of the devil； Eph。 vi。 11…18。
If； therefore； thou findest Satan in this order to march against
thee； remember then thou hadst this item about it； and betake thyself
to faith and good courage； and be sober； and hope to the end。
Object。 But how if I should have sinned the sin unpardonable； or
that called the sin against the Holy Ghost？
Answer。 If thou hast； thou art lost for ever； but yet before it is
concluded by thee that thou hast so sinned； know that they that would
be saved by Jesus Christ through faith in his blood； cannot be
counted for such。
1。 Because of the promise； for that must not be frustrated： and
that says； 〃And him that cometh to Christ； he will in no wise cast
out。〃 And again； 〃Whoso will； let him take of the water of life
freely；〃 John vi。 37； Rev。 xxi。 6； chap。 xxii。 17。
But I say； how can these scriptures be fulfilled； if he that would
indeed be saved； as before； has sinned the sin unpardonable？ The
scriptures must not be made void； nor their truth be cast to the
ground。 Here is a promise； and here is a sinner； a promise that says
he shall not be cast out that comes； and the sinner comes； wherefore
he must be received： consequently he that comes to Christ for life；
has not； cannot have sinned that sin for which there is no
forgiveness。
And this might suffice for an answer to any coming soul； that fears；
though he comes； that he has sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost。
2。 But again； he that has sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost
cannot come； has no heart to come； can by no means be made willing to
come to Jesus Christ for life； for that he has received such an
opinion of him； and of his things； as deters and holds him back。
1。 He counteth this blessed person； the Son of God； a magician； a
conjuror； a witch； or one that did； when he was in the world； what he
did by the power and spirit of the devil； Matt。 ix。 34； chap。 xii。
24； 25； &c。； Mark iii。