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the choice of him, notwithstanding all the difficulties which have fallen or can fall under consideration in the mind. When the soul sees that in Christ which preponderates over all sufferings, all losses, and all reproaches, and then determines, I will have Christ though I sacrifice all that is dear to me in the world for him, this is to be truly willing to open to Christ. It is true, the enjoyments of this world are understood by Christians as much as other men; they have a feeling sense of the sweetness of earthly enjoyments; their souls have as much affection to the body as other men; they understand the charming language of the world and their dear relations in it, as well as others; only they see a greater necessity of Christ, and a greater worth in Christ, than they do in these things. You read that in the famine of Jerusalem they gave their pleasant things for meat to relieve their soul-jewels, bracelets, gold, silver, any thing for bread, Lam. 1:11; they understood the worth of these things, knew the cost of them, but they parted with them to preserve life. So it is here-no earthly enjoyment, of what value soever it be, has such an excellency in it, such an absolute necessity to us of enjoying it, as Christ has.

OBJECTION. But 0, saith the soul, who can do this? I am willing to have Christ, and to come up to every term he has laid down in the gospel; I am willing to part with every sin, and to endure any suffering for Christ; but Oh, I tremble to think, if it should come to a prison, to a stake, to an actual separation from all the comforts and relations in the world, what shall I do for strength to go through such difficult work as this? Here is the great difficulty in the way of many souls; they find a willingness, but fear the want of strength.

ANSWER. HOW or where you shall find strength to endure these things for Christ, is not the question now before you. God will take care for that, and it shall be given you in that hour, and so others have found who have had the

same fears you have. I I say, the question is not whether you are able, but whether you are heartily willing. Christ asks but your will; he will provide ability. The greatest believer in the world cannot say, I am able to suffer this or that for Christ; but the least believer in the world must say, I am willing, the Lord assisting me, to endure and suffer all things for his sake.

3. The third thing which perfects the whole act, is an entire choice of Jesus Christ upon all the terms prescribed by him; the entireness of the choice, without halving or dividing, excepting or reserving, makes the consent full and effectual. There is a twofold consent of the will to Christ.

There is a partial consent, which is always hypocritical, defective, and ineffectual; thus the hypocrite consents to the offer of Christ. He is really willing to have the pardon of Christ, and the glory purchased by Christ; but to part with his beloved lusts, and to give up his earthly enjoyments, his will cannot consent.

There is a full and entire consent of the will, called, a believing with all the heart. Acts 8:37. Now this integrity and fulness of the will's choice, is that which closeth the union between Christ and the soul, and frees a man from the danger of hypocrisy. And there are three things which make the consent to and choice of Christ complete.

(1.) We heartily consent to be Christ's, when we give up all we are and have to him; so that after this choice of Christ, we look upon ourselves thenceforth as not our own, but bought with a price, to glorify God in our body and soul, which are his. 1 Cor. 6: 19, 20. Soul and body are all that we are, and both these parts of ourselves do now pass, by an act of our own consent, into the Redeemer's right; we are not to have the disposal of them; that belongs to him who purchased them. You know that in all purchases, property is altered. You did live as your own, followed your

own wills and passions, were under the dominion and at the beck of every lust; but now the case is altered. "We ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures." Tit. 3:3. So many lusts, so many lords. But now we have given ourselves to Christ, no more to be swayed, this way or that, against his word and the voice of our own consciences. Thus our souls and bodies are his, hallowed, dedicated to Christ, temples for God to dwell in. And then all other things follow of course: if I am the Lord's, then my time, my talents, and all that I have are his.

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(2.) As you must give up all to Christ, so you must derive and draw all you want from him; else your choice of Christ is not entire and full. God hath stored up in Christ all that you want, a full supply for every need; and made it all communicable to you: "Who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption." 1 Cor. 1:30. All the believer's springs are in Christ. Have I any difficult business to do that requires counsel? then I must repair to Christ the fountain of wisdom. Am I under guilt? then I must repair to Christ for rightmy soul defiled by corruption? then must I go to Christ for sanctification. Do I groan under troubles of soul or body, temptations, or afflictions? then must I relieve myself by the faith and hope of that complete redemption and final deliverance, procured by Christ from all these. If you consent to bé Christ's, you must not look for justification partly upon his righteousness and partly upon your own graces and duties, but must make mention of his righteousness, even of his only. Psalm 71:16. If there is but one conduit in a town, and not a drop of water to be had elsewhere, then all the inhabitants of that town repair thither for water. In the whole city of God there is but one fountain, and that is Christ; there is not one drop of righteousness, holiness, strength, or comfort, to be had elsewhere.

Then we draw all from Christ, when we live upon him, as the new-born infant doth upon the mother's breast.

(3.) Then is our consent to and choice of Christ entire and full, when we are ready to deny ourselves and part with any thing we have for his sake; reckoning nothing lost to us which goes to the glory of Christ. How dear soever our liberties, estates, or lives are to us, if the Lord have need of them, we must let them go. Thus you read, "They loved not their lives unto the death." Rev. 12:11. These three things show saving faith to be another manner of thing than the world generally understands it to be; and it is impossible for any man's will to open to and receive Christ, upon terms of such deep self-denial as these, until there be a conviction of our sin and misery, and discovery of Christ in his glory and necessity; and the drawing power of the Spirit upon the soul.

Conviction of our sin and misery makes these terms of religion acceptable; sinners stand debating with Christ, excepting and objecting against his terms, until the Lord has shaken them by conviction over hell, and made them see the dreadful danger they are in; and then their cry is, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Acts 2:37; prescribe any means, impose upon us the greatest difficulties; we are willing to comply with them.

Nor will souls ever comply with these terms of the gospel, until a discovery has been made to them of Jesus Christ in his glory and necessity. When a man feels his wants, and sees a complete remedy, his will then complies readily and freely; the convinced sinner sees a full and suitable supply in Christ for all his wants, a complete Saviour, in whom there is nothing defective, but in all respects according to the wants of a sinner's heart. 1 Cor. 1:24.

To all this must be added the powerful drawings of the Spirit, by which the will comes to Christ. "No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw

him." John 6:44. When these things are felt on the soul, it hears Christ's voice, his powerful call, which breaks asunder all the bonds between a man and his earthly enjoyments; and without these things the will is not to be persuaded to comply with the difficulties of religion.

II. We are to show HOW IT APPEARS that Jesus Christ will not refuse to come into the soul of any sinner, be his sins ever so great, when once he is made willing thus to receive Christ upon his own terms. Oh, sinner, what good tidings are these to thy soul, that Christ will not disdain to be in union and communion with thee, vile as thou art, if thy will stand open to him. The tidings are sweet, and I hope thou wilt find them as sure as they are sweet and comfortable, when thou shalt have seriously pondered the following evidences.

EVIDENCE 1. The truth of this assertion is seen in the form and manner of gospel-invitations. They are designedly put into large, free, and most extensive terms, to assure sinners that Christ will not reject the worst sinner in the world, thus made willing to embrace him; they are framed on purpose to anticipate or take away all objections from sinners. No other condition is put in the gospel but this only, Art thou heartily willing to take Christ upon his own terms? The offers of Christ are extended to all that desire and thirst after him, John 7:37, to the greatest of sinners, upon this one condition, that they be willing and obedient. Isa. 1:19. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved." Mark 16:15, 16. The invitation is extended to all nations; for in Christ Jesus "there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free." Col. 3:11. If there is any soul of any condition whatever, under the cope of heaven, whose will is wrought to a hearty compliance with the terms of the gospel, Christ will not be unwilling to come into that soul,

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