"on me the wedding garment, prepare, receive and "welcome me."

Object. Some may fay, they are only the children of Ifrael, who, in the text, are bid go forward; and we are afraid we are none of these. Anf All are bidden, without exception, come to Chrift; yea, even the ftout hearted are called to go to him. Now, if you come to Chrift, it will be a fure proof of your being Ifrael's children, and among those who are bid go forward. Minifters indeed have a special commiflion to fpeak to the children of Ifrael, that they go forward to his table; whoever ftay back, they ought not.

Queft. Who are thofe that may be numbered among Ifrael's children, or the feed of Jacob? Ans. The children of Jacob or Ifrael, if they be of the true kind, will be like their father, particularly in these things; first, Jacob was a great wrestler with God in prayer, and hence he got the name of Ifrael, he wept and made fupplications at Bethel, and prevailed as a prince with God, which is the meaning of the name of Ifrael. Now, if you be wrestlers with God, you are Ifrael's children, and called to go forward. Second, Jacob was a plain man, fo he is called, Gen. xxv. 27. that is, a fingle hearted man: It was by this character that Chrift describes a true Ifraelite, John i. 47. Behold an Ifraelite indeed, in whom is no guile. Now, if you ftudy godly fincerity, and plain dealing in your behaviour both to God and man, you are Ifrael's children, and called to go forward. Third, Jacob had faith in Christ, and believing views of him as the glorious Shiloh, he waited for his coming, drew his comfort from it, and rejoiced in the gathering of the people to him: If it be fo with you, then we bid you go forward. Fourth, Ifrael and his children were God's covenanted people; they chufed God for their God, and gave themselves up to him: If it be fo with you, you are Ifrael's children, go forward. Fifth, Jacob was zealous for reformation, both with refpect to him.felf and his family, and caused them to put away all their idols, and cleanse

themselves, and change their garments, when going to renew covenant with God, Gen. xxxv. 2. Now, if you study fincerely to follow his example, you are among the children of Ifrael, to whom God warrants ministers to speak, and bid them go forward to his table. Now, if you have any of the forefaid five characters, in Chrift's name we can promife you welcome to his table. Go forward to it then with hearts burning with love to Christ and to his people; go with thankfulness and praife to God for providing fuch a Saviour and fpiritual feast for you; and go with hunger and thirst to partake of it. Go forward with humility and selfdenial, renouncing all confidence in your preparations and performances, and depending only upon Chriff's mediation for acceptance with God.

ADVICE XII.

From John xii. 32. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will

draw all men unto me.

As the facrifices under the law were heaved and lifted up before the Lord, fo Chrift, the antitype must be lifted up on the crofs as the atoning facrifice for our fins. The Jews were not more willing to lift him up, than he was to lift himself up; he readily undertook to be lifted up, Lo, I come, faid he; he willingly carried his cross to the place, that he might be lifted up on it. He diffuaded the woman to weep for him. Why? Because I am going to be lifted up a facrifice to justice for your fins, and to draw your fouls unto me.

Queft. But how doth he draw all men, when Satan keeps many ftill faft in his grip? Ans. Chrift was lifted up to obtain drawing offers and invitations to all men without exception, and accordingly gives drawing calls to all men in his word; and if they be not drawn to him it is their own fault. But though many be called, and multitudes flock to the word, yet there are

none effectually drawn to Chrift but the elect; and thefe may be called all men, as they are gathered out of all nations, kindreds, and languages, ages, fexes, and qualities. All men, Gentiles as well as Jews: All forts of men, finners of all fizes, greater as well as leffer. Queft. But how doth the lifting up of Christ draw finners effectually to him? Anf. By the merit of his lifted up facrifice he obtained the removal of all hindrances of their coming to him, such as, the guilt of their fins, the enmity of their natures, the power of their corruptions, their unbelief, hardness, blindness, and difcouraging fears. And likewife, by it he purchased all the means requifite for drawing man to him, fuch as the preaching of the gospel, fanctified rods, the grace of faith, and, above all, powerful influences of the Holy Spirit. As Chrift was lifted up on the cross, fo he must be alfo lifted up on the pole of the gofpel, for drawing finners to him. Thus the brazen ferpent was lifted up in the wildernefs, for drawing the ftung Ifraelites about it, and it proved moft effectual for that end; fo a crucified Jefus held out, and evidently fet forth in the gofpel, as he was lifted up on a bloody crofs, with his pierced hands ftretched out to embrace loft finners, is furely the most attractive and drawing fight in the world. This wonderful loadftone hath drawn thousands of hard iron hearts to it at once. A natural loadstone though it draw iron to it, yet it may be drawn away from it again; but a crucified Chrift draws the heart fo powerfully and clofely to him, that they can never be feparated again. Never was there fuch a drawing engine in the world as this! A lifted up ftandard or enfign draws numbers of fcattered foldiers unto it, but it is feen by few; but a crucified Jefus lifted up in the gospel, is an enfign to draw great multitudes in different nations under the banner of his

love, Ifa. xi. 10. The first experiment that was made of its virtue in Jerufalem by the apoftle Peter, three thousand fouls were drawn to Chrift at once, and after that many nations, that knew him not, did run unto

him. Come then, O finners, admire and experience the power of this lifted up enfign; let your iron hearts be drawn by this loadftone; it hath loft nothing of its virtue to this day. Thousands of hearts in other places do ftill feel its power: We are fometimes refreshed with the welcome news of their being drawn off from the vanities of time, and the love of fin, to glorious Chrift: Why then do not your hearts alfo yield to the power of this bleffed loadftone, Chrift crucified, lifted up in the word and facrament? It hath the fame virtue here as elsewhere, were but the eyes of faith opened to behold it, according to that alluring call, Ifa. xiv. 22.

When Chrift was lifted up on the crofs, his face was turned to the Gentiles, for the Jews, out of malice, (as feveral write,) would have him crucified with his face towards the weft, as reckoning him unworthy to look to the temple and the holy city, that ftood on the east fide of mount Calvary; but Christ had a loving defign in it to us Gentiles, and to accomplish that word, Pfal. lxvi. 7. His eyes behold the nations. Behold, O finners, Chrift turned his face to you on the cross, to draw you unto him; there he bowed his head towards you to draw you; there he opened a cleft in his fide to draw you; there blood and water flowed from his heart to draw you to him! And now he hath fent his word and Spirit to draw you; now he difplays his blood and wounds in the facranient to draw you; now he is cafting his cords of love about your heart to draw you to him; now the devil is holding and Chrift is drawing: Chrift and the devil are now ftruggling for your hearts; the eyes of many are on you, the eyes of the glorious Trinity, the eyes of angels, the eyes of minifters and faints are on you, to fee what the iffue of the combat fhall be, which of them fhall gain the prize. Satan indeed is the strong man, but, glory to God, Christ is ftronger than he. O that he may prevail, the heart is his by right, furrender it to him without delay. He will not enter without your confent; his people must all be made willing in the day of his power. Oh, if the

will were once conquered, the day were Chrift's, and the field were won for ever.

Would you then haye Satan's defeat, your biafed will overcome, and your fouls favingly brought to Chrift, O look up and cry for a draught of Chrift's power. You have neither ftrength nor will to come to a crucified Chrift, unless he draw you. Ordinances or providences cannot draw you, the word or facraments cannot draw you, judgments or mercies cannot do it; yea, neither minifters nor angels can draw your dead and heavy hearts. O then look beyond them all to a lifted up Emmanuel, draw me, Lord, and I will run after thee. The ordinance you have in view can never be a drawing ordinance, if Chrift put not forth his virtue with it; the facrament will be lifeless, and the adminiftrators lifelefs, if Chrift draw you not. The most powerful fermons, the most alluring calls, will all be loft, if he draw not. You will fit ftill in the Sodom of a natural and a wrathful state, if he draw not you will be eternally damned, if Christ draw you not to him. You can never overcome the ftrong and fubtle temptations Satan cafts in your way, you can never deny felf, forfake beloved lufts, renounce juftification by works, quit all confidence in your own doings, go naked and empty to Chrift, be content to live wholly upon his righteoufnefs, and receive grace, life, ftrength, and glory, as a free gift from Chrift, without the drawing virtue of a lifted up Saviour. Oh, if you were once acquainted with this drawing power, you might go with comfort to his table, and feed upon his purchase.

Queft. How fhall I know if I have yet been drawn effectually to a lifted up Jetus.

Ans. Try it by these marks: Have you discovered his matchlefs excellency fo as to draw off your heart from fin, and the perifhing things of the world? Have you felt the cords of his love about your heart and will, constraining you to yield yourfelf wholly to him? Is your heart drawn out in love and affection to a crucifi