ΤΟ JESUS CHRIST; OF, A PLAIN AND PROFITABLE DISCOURSE ON JOHN vi. 37. SHEWING The Caule, Truth, and Manner of the Coming of TO WHICH IS ADDED, THE ONE THING NEEDFUL; OR, SERIOUS MEDITATIONS ON THE FOUR LAST Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. BY JOHN BUNYAN, AUTHOR OF THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. "And they shall come which were ready to perish." Itaiah xxvi. 1.5. LONDON: Printed for A. MILLA, W. Law, and R. CATER; and ANNO 1798. 141. k. 485. Come and Welcome to Jefus Chrift. ' JOHN vì 37. All that the Father giveth me fhall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wife caft out. A LITTLE before, in this chapter, you may read that the Lord Jefus walked on the sea to go to Capernaum, having fent his difciples be fore in a hip, but the wind was contrary; by which means the fhip was hindered in her paffage. Now about the fourth watch of the night, Jefus came walking on the fea, and overtook them; at the fight of whom they were afra d. Note, When providences are black and terrible to God's people, the Lord Jefus fhews himself to them in a 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 allo afraid of their Lord and Saviour, when he appeared to them in that state. But he laid, Be not afraid it is I. Note, That the end of the appearing of the Lord Jefas unto his people (although the manner of his appearance be never so terrible) is to allay their fears and 3 perplexities. Then they received him into the fhip, and im mediately the fhip was at land whither it went. Note, When Chrift is abfent from his people, they go on but flowly, and with great d difficulty; bat when he joins himself unto them, Oh! how faft they fleer 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 fhipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him, they wondering afked 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 because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled. Note, A people may follow Chrift far for, bafe ends, as thefe, went after him beyond fea for Joaves. 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.compli ments, but gracious intentions, that crown the work in the eye of Chrift, or thus, it is not the toil and bafinefs of profeffors, but their love to bis, that makes him approve of them. Note agein, Where men fall look for friendly entertainment at Chrift's hand, if their hearts be rotten, even then will they meet with a check and rebuke. Ye feek 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 counfel: He bids them laboar for the meat that endureth to eternal life. O how willing would Jefus Chrift have even Hofe 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 uttered 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 foul could not delight in, as fuch, that he would content himfelf with a remuant that his Father had bestowed upon him. As who fhould fay, "I am not like to be honoured in your falvation; but the Father hath bestowed upon me a people, and they shall 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 refleth himself content, after inuch labour and many fermons fpent, as it were, in vain. A's he faith by the prophet, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my frength for nought, and in vain. a. xlix. 4. But as there he faith, My judgment is with the Lord, and my work is with my God; fo in the text he faith, All that the Father giveth m. fhall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wife cat out. By there words, therefore, the Lord Jefus Chrift comfortèth himself under the confideration of the dissimulation of fome of his followers. He alfo thus betook himself to reft under the confideration of the little effect that his ministry had in Capernaum, Churazin, and Bethfaida: I thank thee, O Father, faid he, Lord of heaven and earth, becaufe thou haft hid thefe things from the wife and prudent, and haft revealed them. to babes: even fo, Father, for it fo feemed good in thy fight, Matt. xi. 25. Luke x, 21. The text, in the general, confifts of two parts,. |