Then & Now · 41 of 44
2. Unworthiness
2. Unworthiness
BY ſuggeſting to them their unworthineſſe.944 Ah ſaith Satan! as thou art worthy of the greateſt miſery, ſo thou art unworthy of the leaſt crum of mercy; what, doſt thou thinke ſaith Satan, that ever Chriſt will owne, receive, or embrace ſuch an unworthy wretch as thou art? no, no, if there were any worthineſſe in thee, then indeed Chriſt might be willing to be entertained by thee; thou art unworthy to entertain Chriſt into thy houſe, how much more unworthy art thou to entertaine Chriſt into thy heart, &c.
- 944. 2 Device. [dropped from the edition]
BY suggesting to them their unworthiness. Ah saith Satan! As thou art worthy of the greatest misery, so thou art unworthy of the least crumb of mercy; what, dost thou think saith Satan, that ever Christ will own, receive, or embrace such an unworthy wretch as thou art? No, no, if there were any worthiness in thee, then indeed Christ might be willing to be entertained by thee; thou art unworthy to entertain Christ into thy house, how much more unworthy art thou to entertain Christ into thy heart, etc‸.
THe firſt Remedie againſt this Device945 of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that God hath no where in the Scripture p. 365 required any worthineſſe in the creature before believing in Chriſt. If you make a diligent ſearch through all the Scripture, you ſhall not find from946 the firſt line in Geneſis, to the laſt line in the Revelation, one word that ſpeaks947 out Gods requiring any worthineſſe in the creature before the ſoules believing in Chriſt, before the ſouls leaning and reſting upon Chriſt for happineſſe, and bleſſedneſſe; and why then ſhould that be a bar and hinderance to thy faith, which God doth no where require of thee before thou comeſt to Chriſt, that thou maiſt have life. Ah ſinners! remember Satan objects your unworthineſſe againſt you, only out of a Deſigne to keep Chriſt and your ſoules aſunder for ever; and therefore in the face of all your unworthineſs reſt upon Chriſt, come to Chriſt, believe in948 Chriſt, and you are happy for ever.
The first remedy against this device of Satan, is, seriously to consider, that God hath no where in the Scripture required any worthiness in the creature before believing in Christ. If you make a diligent search through all the Scripture, you shall not find from754 the first line in Genesis, to the last line in the Revelation, one word that speaks755 out God’s requiring any worthiness in the creature before the soul’s believing in Christ, before the soul’s leaning and resting upon Christ for happiness, and blessedness; and why then should that be a bar and hindrance to thy faith, which God doth no where require of thee before thou comest to Christ, that thou mayest have life? Ah sinners! Remember Satan objects your unworthiness against you, only out of a design to keep Christ and your souls asunder for ever; and therefore in the face of all your unworthiness rest upon Christ, come to Christ, believe in756 Christ, and you are happy for ever.
The ſecond Remedie againſt this Device949 of Satans is, wiſely to conſider, that none never received Chriſt, embraced Chriſt, obtained mercy and pardon from Chriſt, but unworthy ſoules. Pray what worthineſſe was in Matthew, Zacheus, Mary Magdalen, Manaſſeh, Paul and Sydia, before their coming to Chriſt? before their faith in Chriſt? ſurely none. Ah ſinners! you p. 366 ſhould reaſon thus, Chriſt hath beſtowed the choiſeſt mercies, the greateſt favours, the higheſt dignities, the ſweeteſt priviledges upon unworthy ſinners; and therefore O our ſouls doe not you faint, do not you deſpair, but patiently and quietly wait for the ſalvation of the Lord; who can tell but that free grace and mercy may ſhine forth upon us, though we are unworthy, and give us a portion among thoſe Worthies that are now triumphing in Heaven.
- 949. 2 Remedie. [dropped from the edition]
The second remedy against this device of Satan’s is, wisely to consider, that none never received Christ, embraced Christ, obtained mercy and pardon from Christ, but unworthy souls. Pray what worthiness was in Matthew, Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, Manasseh, Paul and Lydia, before their coming to Christ? Before their faith in Christ? Surely none. Ah sinners! You should reason thus, Christ hath bestowed the choicest mercies, the greatest favours, the highest dignities, the sweetest privileges upon unworthy sinners; and therefore O our souls do not you faint, do not you despair, but patiently and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord; who can tell but that free grace and mercy may shine forth upon us, though we are unworthy, and give us a portion among those worthies that are now triumphing in heaven.
The third Remedie againſt this Device950 of Satans is, that if the ſoule will keep off from Chriſt till it be worthy, it wil never cloſe with Chriſt, it will never embrace Chriſt, ‘twill never be one with Chriſt, it muſt lie down in everlaſting951 ſorrow. God hath laid up all worthineſſe in Chriſt, that the creature may know where to finde it, and may make out after it. There is no way on earth to make unworthy ſoules worthy, but by believing in Chriſt: Believing in Chriſt, of ſlaves, ‘twill make952 you worthy ſons; of enemies, ‘twill953 make you worthy friends, &c. God wil count none worthy, nor call none worthy, nor carry it towards none as worthy but Believers, who are made954 worthy by the worthineſſe of Chriſts p. 367 perſon, righteouſneſſe, ſatisfaction, and interceſſion, &c.
The third remedy against this device of Satan’s is, that if the soul will keep off from Christ till it be worthy, it will never close with Christ, it will never embrace Christ, ’twill never be one with Christ, it must lie down in everlasting757 sorrow. God hath laid up all worthiness in Christ, that the creature may know where to find it, and may make out after it. There is no way on earth to make unworthy souls worthy, but by believing in Christ: believing in Christ, of slaves, ’twill make758 you worthy sons; of enemies, ’twill759 make you worthy friends, etc‸. God will count none worthy, nor call none worthy, nor carry it towards none as worthy but believers, who are made760 worthy by the worthiness of Christ’s person, righteousness, satisfaction, and intercession, etc‸.
The fourth and laſt Remedie againſt955 this Device of Satans is, ſolemnly to conſider, that if you make a diligent ſearch into your own hearts, you ſhall find that ‘tis the pride & folly of your own hearts that puts you upon bringing of a worthineſſe to Chriſt. Oh you would faine bring ſomething to Chriſt that might render you acceptable to him, you are loft to come empty handed. The Lord cries out, Ho956 every one that thirſteth, come yee to the waters, and he that hath no money: come yee, buy, and eate, come buy wine and milke without money, and without price.
The fourth and last remedy against this device of Satan’s is, solemnly to consider, that if you make a diligent search into your own hearts, you shall find that ’tis the pride and folly of your own hearts that puts you upon bringing of a worthiness to Christ. Oh you would fain bring something to Christ that might render you acceptable to him, you are loath to come empty handed. The Lord cries out, Ho761 every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money: come ye, buy, and eat, come buy wine and milk without money, and without price.
- 761. Isa 55:‸1, 2.
Here the Lord calls upon money leſſe ſoules, upon penni-leſſe ſoules, upon unworthy ſoules, to come and partake of his precious favours freely: but ſinners are proud and fooliſh, and becauſe they have no money, no worthineſs to bring, they’l not come, though he ſweetly invites them. Ah ſinners! what is more juſt then that you ſhould periſh for ever, that preferre huskes among ſwine before the milke and wine, the ſweet and precious things of the Goſpel p. 368 that are freely and ſweetly offered to you, &c. Well ſinners, remember this; ‘tis not ſo much the ſenſe of thy unworthineſſe, as thy pride that keeps thee off from a bleſſed cloſing with the Lord Jeſus.
Here the Lord calls upon moneyless souls, upon penniless souls, upon unworthy souls, to come and partake of his precious favours freely: but sinners are proud and foolish, and because they have no money, no worthiness to bring, they’ll not come, though he sweetly invites them. Ah sinners! What is more just than that you should perish for ever, that prefer husks among swine before the milk and wine, the sweet and precious things of the gospel that are freely and sweetly offered to you, etc‸. Well sinners, remember this; ’tis not so much the sense of thy unworthiness, as thy pride that keeps thee off from a blessed closing with the Lord Jesus.