то JESUS CHRIST; O R, A Plain and Profitable DISCOURSE On JOHN vi. 37. SHEWING, The Cause, Truth, and Manner of the And they shall come which are ready to perish. 100.00.153. LONDON: PRINTED for J. BEw, atNo. 28, PATER- COME and WELCOME A PLAIN and PROFITABLE DISCOURSE A Little before, in this Chapter, you may Note, When Providences are black and terrible B them in 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 also afraid of their Lord and Saviour, when he appeared to them in thatState. But he faid, Be not afraid, it is 1. Note, That the End of the appearing of the Lord Jefus unto his People (though the Manner of his Appearance be never fo terrible) is to allay their Fears and Perplexities. Then they received him into the Ship, and immediately the Ship was at Land whither it went. Note, When Chrift is abfent from his People, they go on but flowly, and with great Difficulty; but when he joineth himself unto them, Oh! how faft they steer 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 Shipping, and came to Capernaum, fecking for Jefus. And when they had found him they wondering afked him, Rabbi, when cameft thou hither? But the Lord Jefus flighting their Compliment, anfwered, Verily, verily, ye feek me, not because ye Jaw the Miracles, but becaufe 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 Sea for Loaves; 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 Compliments, but gracious Intentions, that crown the Work in the Eye of Chrift: Or thus, It is not the Toil and Bufinefs of Profeffors, but their Love to him, that makes him approve of them. Note again, When Men fhall look for friendly Entertainment at Chrift's Hand (if their Hearts be rotten) even then will they meet with a Check and Rebuke; е Rebuke; Ye feek me not because ye faw the Miracles, but becaufe ye did eat of the Loaves, and were filled. Yet obferve again, He doth not refufe to give, even to thofe, good Counfel; He bids them labour for the Meat that endureth to eternal Life. O how willing would Jefus Chrift have even those Profeffors that come to him with Pretences only, come to him fincerely that they may be saved. The Text, you will find, is after much more Difcourfe, with and about this People; and it is utterred 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 Soul could not delight in, as fuch, that he would content himself with a Remnant that his Father had bestowed upon him. As who fhould fay, I am not like to be honoured in your Salvation; but the Father hath bestowed upon me a People, and they fhall come to me in Truth, and in them will I be Jatisfied. The Text before may be called Chrift's Repofe; in the fulfilling whereof he refleth himfelf content, after much Labour, and many Sermons fpent, as it were, in vain. As he hath by the Prophet, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my Strength for nought, and in vain, Ifa. 49. 4. He But as there he faith, My Judgment is with the Lord, and my Work with my God; fo in the next Text he faith, All the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wife caft out. By these Words therefore, the Lord Jefus comforteth himself under the Confideration of the Diffimulation of fome of his Followers. alfo thus betook himfelf to reft under theConfideration of the little Effect that his Ministry had in Capernaum, Corazin, and Bethsaida; I thank thee, O Father, faid he, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because thou haft hid theje Things from the Wife and Prudent, and haft revealed them to Babes; even fo, Father, B 2 for |