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The Caufe, Truth, and Manner of the
Coming of a Sinner to JESUS CHRIST;
with his happy Reception, and bleffed
Entertainment.

And they hall come which are ready to perish.
Ifa. xxvii. 13.

BIBI

OTH

LONDON:
PRINTED for E. JOHNSON, at No. 16, in

LUDGATE-STREET. MDCCLXXIV

101.9.266.

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them in wonderful Manner; the which, fometimes they can as little bear, as they can the Things that were before terrible to them. They were afraid of the Wind and Water; they were also afraid of their Lod and Saviour, when he appeared to themin that State. But he faid, Be not afraid, it is I.

Note, that the End of the appearing of the Lord Jefus unto his People (though the Manner of his Appearance be never fo terrible) is to allay their Fears and Perplexities.

Then they received him into the Ship, and immediately the Ship was at Land whither it went.

Note, When Chrift is abfent from his People, they go on but flowly, and with great Difficulty; but when he joineth himself unto them, Oh! how faft they fteer their Courfe; how foon are they at their Journey's End.

The People now among whom he laft preached, when they faw that both Jefus was gone and his Difciples, they alfo took Shipping, and came to Capernaum, feeking for Jefus. And when they had found him they wondering asked him, Rabbi, when cameft thou hither? But the Lord Jesus flighting their Compliment, anfwered, Verily, verily, ye feek me, not because ye faw the Miracles, but becaufe ye did eat of the Loaves and were filled.

Note, A People may follow Chrift far for base Ends, as thefe went after him beyond Sea for Loaves; A Man's Belly will carry him a great Way in Religion: Yea, a Man's Belly will make him venture far for Chrift.

Note again, They are not feigning Compliments, but gracious Intentions, that crown the Work in the Eye of Chrift: Or thus, It is not the Toil and Bufinefs of Profeffors, but their Love to him, that makes him a,pprove of them.

Note again When Men fhall look for friendly Entertainment at Chrift's Hand (if their Hearts be rotten) even then will they meet with a Check and

Rebuke:

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Rebuke: Ye seek me not because ye faw the Miracles, but because ye did eat of the Loaves, and were filled.

Yet obferve again, He doth not refuse to give, even to thefe, good Counsel; He bids them labour for the Meat that endureth to eternal Life. O how willing would Jefus Chrift have even those Profeffors that come to him with Pretences only, come to him fincerely that they may be faved.

The Text, you will find, is after much more Difcourfe, with and about this People; and it is utterred by the Lord Jefus, as the Conclufion of the Whole; and intimateth, that fince they were Profeffors in Pretence only, and therefore fuch as his Soul could not delight in, as fuch, that he would content himself with a Remnant that his Father had bestowed upon him. As who fhould fay, I am not like to be honoured in your Salvation; but the Father hath bestowed upon me a People and they fhall come to me in Truth, and in them will I be fatisfied The Text before may be called Chrift's Repofe; in the fulfilling whereof he refteth himfelf content, after much Labour and many Sermons spent, as it were in vain. As he hath by the Prophet, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my Strength for nought, and in vain, Ifa. 49. 4.

But as there he faith, My Judgment is with the Lord, and my Work with my God; fo in the next Text he faith, All the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. By thefe Words therefore, the Lord Jefus comforteth himself under the Confideration of the Diffimulation of fome of his Followers. He alfo thus betook him felf to reft under the Confideration of the little Effect that his Ministry had in Capernaum, Corazin, and Bethfaida; I thank thee, O Father, faid he, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because thou haft hid thefe Things from the Wife and Prudent, and haft revealed them to Babes; even fo, Father, B 2

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