Thus do the Promifes gloriously ferve one another and us, in this their harmonious Agree

ment.

Now the Promife under Confideration, is an bfolute Promife: All that the Father giveth me, hall come to me.

This Promise therefore is, as is faid, a bigbellied Promife, and hath in itself all thofe Things to bestow upon us, that the conditional calleth for at our Hands. They fhall come! Shall they come? Yes, they fhrall come. But how if they want thofe Things, thofe Graces, Power, and Heart, without which they cannot come? Why, Shall-come anfwereth all this, and all Things elfe that may in this Matter be objected. And here I will take the Liberty to amplify Things.

Objection 1.

But they are dead, dead in Trefpaffes in Sins, how fhall they then come?

Anf. Why, Shall-come can raise them from this Death. The Hour is coming, and now is,' that the Dead fhall hear the Voice of the Son of God, and they that bear fhall live. Thus therefore is this Impediment by Shall-come removed out of the Way. They shall heal, they fhall live.

Objection 2

But they are Satan's Captives; he takes them Captives at his Will, and he is stronger than they: How then can they come?

Anf. Why, Shall-come hath alfo provided an Help for this. Satan hath bound that Daughter of Abraham fo, that the could by no means lift up herfelf; but yet Shall-come fet her free both in Body and Soul. Chrift will have them turned D

from

from the Power of Satan to God. But what! Muft it be if they turn themselves, or do fomewhat to merit of him to turn them? No, he will do it freely, of his own good Will Ala's! Mán whofe Soul is poffeffed by the Devil! Is turned whitherfoever that Governor lifteth, is taken captive by him, notwithstanding its natural Powers at his Will; but what will he do? Will he hold him when Shall-come puts forth itself (will he then let him) for coming to Jefus Chrift? No, that cannot be ! His Power is but the Power of a fallen Angel, but Shall-come is the Word of God? Therefore Shall come must be fulfilled; and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against him.

14

There were feven Devils in: Mary Magdalen, too many for her to get from under the Power of; but when the Time was come, that Shall-come was to be fulfilled upon her, they gave Place, fly from her, and he comes (indeed) to Jefus Chrift. according as it is written: All that the Father giveth me, fhall come to me.

The Man that was poffeffed with a Legion, Mark 5. was too much by them captivated, for him by human Force to come; yea, had he had (to boot) all the Men under Heaven to help him, had he that faid, He fhall come, with-held his mighty Power: but when this Promife was to be fulfilled upon him, then he comes; nor could all their Power hinder his coming. It was also this (Shall come) that preferved him from Death; when by thefe evil Spirits he was hurled hither and thither; and it was by the Virtue of (Shallcome) that at laft he was fet at Liberty from them," and enabled, indeed to come to Chrift. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me. Big - (boli il casoM on yd olewa 5.3 Lad),ola dod and vad si eugos-Hauld say and t what ora 21 W ‛tཡ }}

Objection

Objection 3.

They fhall (you fay) but how if they will not; and if fo, then what can Shall-come do?

Anf. True, there are fome Men fay, We are Lords, we will come no more under thee, Jer. 2. 31. But as God fays in another Cafe, (if they are concerned in Shall come to me) They shall know auhofe Words fhall ftand, mine or theirs, Jer. 41. 28. Here then is the Cafe, we muft now fee who will be the Liar; he that faith, I will not, or he that faith, He hall come to nie. You shall come, fays God: I will not come, faith the Sinner. Now as fufe as he is concerned in this Shall-come, God will make that Man eat his own Words'; for I will not, is the unadvifed Conclufion of a crazy-headed Sinner;, but Shall-come, was fpoken by him that is of Power to perform his Word. Son, go Work to Day in my Vineyard, faid the Father But he anfwered, and faid, I will not come. What now? Will he be able to fand to his Refufal? Will he purfue his defperate Denial? No, be afterwards repented and went. But how came he by that Repentance? Why, it was wrapped up for him in the abfolute Promise; and therefore notwithstanding he faid, I will not, be afterwards repented and went. By this Parable Jefus Chrift fets forth the Obftinacy of the Sinners of the World, as touching their coming to him; they will not come, though threatened; yea, though Life be offered them upon Condition of coming.

But now, when Shall-come, the abfolute Pro mife of God, comes to be fulfilled upon them," then they come; becaufe by that Promise a Cure is provided against the Rebellion of their Will Thy People fhall be willing in the Day of thy Power," Pfal, 110. 3. Thy People, what People? Why,

D 2

the

the People that the Father hath given thee. The Obftinacy and Plague that is in the Will of that People, fhall be taken away: And they shall be made willing, hall-come will make them willing to come to thee.

He that had seen Paul in the Midst of his Outrages against Chrift, his Gofpel, and People, would hardly have Thought that he would ever have been a Follower of Jefus Chrift, especially fince he went not against his Confcience in his perfecuting of them. He thought verily that he ought to do what he did. But we may see what (Shall-come) can do, when it comes to be fulfilled upon the Soul of a rebellious Sinner, he was a chofen Veffel, given by the Father to the Son; and now the Time being come, that (Shall-come) was to take him in Hand, behold he is over mastered, aftonished, and with Trembling and Reverence, in a Moment becomes willing to be obedient to the heavenly Call, Acts 9.

And were not they far gone (that you read of, Acts 2.) who had their Hands and Hearts in the Murder of the Son of God; and to fhew their Refolvedness never to repent of that horrid Fact, faid, His Blood be on us and our Children? But muft their Obftinacy rule? Must they be bound to their own Ruin, by the Rebellion of their ftubborn Wills: No, not Thofe of These the Father gave to Chrift, wherefore at the Times appointed, Sball-come breaks in among them; the abfolute Promife takes them in Hand; and then they come indeed, crying out to Peter and the reft of the Apostles, Men and Brethren what fall we do? No Stubbornness of Men's Will can fland, when God hath abfolutely faid the Contrary; Shall-come can make them come as Doves to their Windows, that had afore refolved never to come to him.

The

The Lord fpake onto Manaffeth, and to his People (by the Prophets) but would he hear? No, he would not: But fhall Manaffeth come off thus ? No, he shall not. Therefore, he being alfo one of thofe whom the Father hath give to the Son, and fo falling within the Bounds and Reach of Shallcome; at laft Shall-come takes him in Hand, and then he comes indeed. He comes bowing and bending; he humbles himself greatly and made Supplication to the Lord, and prayed unto him, and he was entreated of him, and had Mercy upon him, 2 Chron. 3. 33.

The Thief upon the Cross, at first, did rail with his Fellow, upon Jefus Chrift; but he was one that the Father had given to him, and therefore, Shall-come muft handle him and his rebellious Will. And behold, so foon as he is dealt withal, by Virtue of that abfolute Promife, how foon be buckleth, leaves his Railing, falls to fupplicating of the Son of God for Mercy; Lord, faith he, Remember me when thou comeft into thy Kingdom, Mat. 27. 41. Luke, 23. 40, 41, 42%

Objection 4.

They fhall come, fay you, but how if they be blind, and fee not the Way? For fome are kept off from Chrift, not only by the Obftinary of their Will, but by the Blindness of their Mind: Now, if they be blind, how shall they come?

Anfw. The Queftion is not, Are they blind? But are they within the Reach and Power of Shall come? If fo, that Chrift that faid, They fhall come, will find them Eyes, or a Guide, or both, to bring them to himself. Muft, is for the King. If they shall come, they fhall come: No Impediment fhall hinder.

The Theffalonians Darkness did not hinder them from being the Children of Light; I am come,

D 3

faid