and he doth admit them to be members of his church, granting unto them the use of ordinances, and many other external mercies and privileges denied to the Heathen, who are not in covenant with him.

5. Although the greater part of people do foolishly fancy, that they have closed with God in Christ Jesus sincerely and heartily; or, at least, they do, without any ground or warrant, promise a new heart to themselves before they die; yet there be but very few who do really and cordially close with God in Christ Jesus, as he s offered in the gospel; and so there be but very few saved; as is clear: "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be who find it." "Many are called, but few are chosen." If people would believe this, it might help to alarm them.

6. Although none at all do cordially close with God in Christ Jesus, and acquiesce in that ransom found out by God, except only such as are elected: "But the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded;"-and whose hearts the Lord doth sovereignly determine to that blessed choice: "No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him;" yet the Lord hath left it as a duty upon people who hear this gospel, to close with his offer of salvation through Christ Jesus, as if it were in their power to do it; and the Lord, through these commands and exhortations, wherein he obligeth men to the thing, doth convey life and strength to the elect, and doth therein convey the new heart to them, who cordially embrace God's device of saving sinners, and receive Christ in his covenant-rela

tions; or, it is the Lord's mind, in these commands and invitations, to put people on some duty, with which he uses to concur for accomplishing that object between him and them. So then, it is a coming on our part, and yet a drawing on his part: " No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him :" it is a drawing on his part,

and a running on our part: "Draw me, we will run

after thee."

It is an approaching on our part, and yet a "choosing and causing to approach on his part.' It is a believing or receiving on our part: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe o his name;" and yet "it is given us to believe."

CHAP. II.

SECT. I.-What it is to close with God's Device of saving Sinners by Christ Jesus, and that it is a necessary Duty.

HAVING premised these things, I say, If men do not find in themselves the marks of a saving interest in Christ, spoken of in the former part of the Treatise; then, for securing their state, they are obliged, with all diligence, personally and heartily to accept of and close with God's device of saving sinners by Christ Jesus, held out in the gospel.

In handling of this, we shall,

I. Show what it is to accept of and close with that noble plan.

II. We shall show that it is the necessary duty of those who would be in favour with God, and secure their souls.

III. What is previously required of those who perform this duty.

IV. What are the qualifications and properties of this duty, if rightly managed.

V. What are the native consequences of it, if it be performed aright.

I. As for the First, What it is to close with God's device of saving sinners by Christ Jesus, held out in the gospel. Here we must remember, as we showed before, that at first God willed man to abide in his favour, by holding fast his first integrity in

which he was created; but man by his transgression lost God's favour, made void that covenant of works, and put himself into an utter incapacity to regain the Lord's friendship, which he had lost by his sin, and to rescue himself from the curse and wrath now due to him for sin, or any way to procure his own salvation: but the Lord hath freely manifested another way of repairing man's lost estate, that is, by sending his Son Christ Jesus in the flesh, to satisfy his justice for the sins of the elect, and to restore in them his image now defaced, and to bring them unto glory; and he hath made open proclamation in the church, that whosoever will lay aside all thoughts of saving themselves by the covenant of works, or inherent righteousness, and will agree heartily to be saved by Christ Jesus, they shall be restored to a better condition than formerly man was in, and shall be saved. So then, to close with God's device of saving sinners by Christ Jesus, is to quit and forego all thoughts of help of salvation by our own righteousness, and to agree to this way which God hath found out; it is to value and highly esteem Christ Jesus as the treasure sufficient to enrich poor man, and with the heart to believe this record, that there is life enough in him for men; it is to be pleased with this invention, and to acquiesce in it, as the only way to true happiness: it is to point towards this Mediator, as God holds him out in the gospel, with a desire to lay the stress of our whole state on him. This is that which is called faith, or believing, the "receiving of Christ," or "believing on his name." This is that "believing on the Lord Jesus

Christ," commanded to the jailer for his safety; this agreeth to all the descriptions of justifying faith in the Scripture. This doth answer the type of "looking to the brazen serpent lifted up in the wilderness," and this is supposed in all these ordinary actings of faith to which promises are annexed in the Scripture; and will be found in all who have got the new heart from God, and it will be found in none else.

II. As to the Second thing, namely, That this is the necessary duty of all such who would be in favour with God and secure their souls; it appears thus:

1. This closing with God's device, or believing in Christ, is commanded every where in Scripture by the Lord as the condition of the new covenant, giving title and right to all the spiritual blessings of the covenant; for it is, upon the matter, the receiving of Christ. This is commanded, whilst God bids men "come and buy," that is, appropriate all, by closing with that device: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The weary are commanded to come unto him thus, for their rest: "This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." This is enough to prove it a duty incumbent. But further, it is such a duty as only gives title and right to a sonship; for only they who receive him are privileged to be sons: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name."

2. It appears to be the necessary duty of all, thus: No less than this doth give an opportunity for God,