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Come and Welcome Written By J O H N.B U N Y A N, Author of "THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS." "And they shall come which were ready to perish." –Isaiah 27:13. L O N D O N, 1681. Published seven years before John Bunyan's death. |
[COMING TO CHRIST NOT BY THE POWER OF MAN, BUT BY THE DRAWING OF THE FATHER.]
BSERVATION FIRST. First, then, coming to Christ is not by the
will, wisdom, or power of man, but by the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father.
This observation standeth of two parts. First, The coming to Christ is not by the
will, wisdom, or power of man; Second, But by the gift, promise, and drawing of the
Father.
That the text carrieth this truth in its bosom, you will find if you look into the
explication of the first part thereof before. I shall, therefore, here follow the
method propounded, viz: show,
First, That coming to Christ is not by the will, wisdom, or power of man. This is
true, because the Word doth positively say it is not.
1. It denieth it wholly to be by the will of man. "Not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man" (John 1:13). And again, "It
is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth" (Rom 9:16).
2. It denieth it to be of the wisdom of man, as is manifest from these considerations:
(1.) In the wisdom of God it pleased him, that the world by wisdom should not know
him. Now, if by their wisdom they cannot know him, it follows, by that wisdom, they
cannot come unto him; for coming to him is not before, but after some knowledge of
him (1 Cor 1:21; Acts 13:27; Psa 9:10).
(2.) The wisdom of man, in God's account, as to the knowledge of Christ, is reckoned
foolishness. "Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (1 Cor
1:20). And again, The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (2:14). If God
hath made foolish the wisdom of this world; and again, if the wisdom of this world
is foolishness with him, then verily it is not likely, that by that a sinner should
become so prudent as to come to Jesus Christ, especially if you consider,
(3.) That the doctrine of a crucified Christ, and so of salvation by him, is the
very thing that is counted foolishness to the wisdom of the world. Now, if the very
doctrine of a crucified Christ be counted foolishness by the wisdom of this world,
it cannot be that, by that wisdom, a man should be drawn out in his soul to come
to him (1 Cor 3:19; 1:18,23).
(4.) God counted the wisdom of this world one of his greatest enemies; therefore,
by that wisdom no man can come to Jesus Christ. For it is not likely that one of
God's greatest enemies should draw a man to that which best of all pleaseth God,
as coming to Christ doth. Now, that God counteth the wisdom of this world one of
his greatest enemies, is evident, (a.) For that it casteth the greatest contempt
upon his Son's undertakings, as afore is proved, in that it counts his crucifixion
foolishness; though that be one of the highest demonstrations of Divine wisdom (Eph
1:7,8). (b.) Because God hath threatened to destroy it, and bring it to nought, and
cause it to perish; which surely he would not do, was it not an enemy, would it direct
men to, and cause them to close with Jesus Christ (Isa 29:14; 1 Cor 1:19). (c.) He
hath rejected it from helping in the ministry of his Word, as a fruitless business,
and a thing that comes to nought (1 Cor 2:4,6,12,13). (d.) Because it causeth to
perish, those that seek it, and pursue it (1 Cor 1:18,19). (e.) And God has proclaimed,
that if any man will be wise in this world, he must be a fool in the wisdom of this
world, and that is the way to be wise in the wisdom of God. "If any man seemeth
to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be wise. For the wisdom
of this world is foolishness with God" (1 Cor 3:18-20).
3. Coming to Christ is not by the power of man. This is evident partly,
(1.) From that which goeth before. For man's power in the putting forth of it, in
this matter, is either stirred up by love, or sense of necessity; but the wisdom
of this world neither gives man love to, or sense of a need of, Jesus Christ; therefore,
his power lieth still, as from that.
(2.) What power has he that is dead, as every natural man spiritually is, even dead
in trespasses and sins? Dead, even as dead to God's New Testament things as he that
is in his grave is dead to the things of this world. What power hath he, then, whereby
to come to Jesus Christ? (John 5:25; Eph 2:1; Col 2:13).
(3.) God forbids the mighty man's glorying in his strength; and says positively,
"By strength shall no man prevail;" and again, "Not by might, nor
by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord" (Jer 9:23,24; 1 Sam 2:9; Zech 4:6;
1 Cor 1:27-31).
(4.) Paul acknowledgeth that man, nay, converted man, of himself, hath not a sufficiency
of power in himself to think a good thought; if not to do that which is least, for
to think is less than to come; then no man, by his own power, can come to Jesus Christ
(2 Cor 2:5).
(5.) Hence we are said to be made willing to come, by the power of God; to be raised
from a state of sin to a state of grace, by the power of God; and to believe, that
is to come, through the exceeding working of his mighty power (Psa 110:3; Col 2:12;
Eph 1:18,20; Job 23:14). But this needed not, if either man had power or will to
come; or so much as graciously to think of being willing to come, of themselves,
to Jesus Christ.
Second, I should now come to the proof of the second part of the observation [namely,
the coming to Christ is by the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father], but that
is occasionally done already, in the explicatory part of the text, to which I refer
the reader; for I shall here only give thee a text or two more to the same purpose,
and so come to the use and application.
1. It is expressly said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath
sent me draw him" (John 6:44). By this text, there is not only insinuated that
in man is want of power, but also of will, to come to Jesus Christ: they must be
drawn; they come not if they be not drawn. And observe, it is not man, no, nor all
the angels in heaven, that can draw one sinner to Jesus Christ. No man cometh to
me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.
2. Again, "No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father"
(John 6:65). It is an heavenly gift that maketh man come to Jesus Christ.
3. Again, "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.
Every man, therefore, that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto
me" (John 6:45).
I shall not enlarge, but shall make some use and application, and so come to the
next observation.
[Use and Application of Observation First.]
Use First. Is it so? Is coming to Jesus Christ not by the will, wisdom, or power
of man, but by the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father? Then they are to blame
that cry up the will, wisdom, and power of man, as things sufficient to bring men
to Christ.
There are some men who think they may not be contradicted, when they plead for the
will, wisdom, and power of man in reference to the things that are of the kingdom
of Christ; but I will say to such a man, he never yet came to understand, that himself
is what the Scripture teacheth concerning him; neither did he ever know what coming
to Christ is, by the teaching, gift, and drawing of the Father. He is such a one
that hath set up God's enemy in opposition to him, and that continueth in such acts
of defiance; and what his end, without a new birth, will be, the Scripture teacheth
also; but we will pass this.
Use Second. Is it so? Is coming to Jesus Christ by the gift, promise, and drawing
of the Father? Then let saints here learn to ascribe their coming to Christ to the
gift, promise, and drawing of the Father. Christian man, bless God, who hath given
thee to Jesus Christ by promise; and again, bless God for that he hath drawn thee
to him. And why is it thee? Why not another? O that the glory of electing love should
rest upon thy head, and that the glory of the exceeding grace of God should take
hold of thy heart, and bring thee to Jesus Christ!
Use Third. Is it so, that coming to Jesus Christ is by the Father, as aforesaid?
Then this should teach us to set a high esteem upon them that indeed are coming to
Jesus Christ; I say, an high esteem on them, for the sake of him by virtue of whose
grace they are made to come to Jesus Christ.
We see that when men, by the help of human abilities, do arrive at the knowledge
of, and bring to pass that which, when done, is a wonder to the world, how he that
did it, is esteemed and commended; yea, how are his wits, parts, industry, and unweariedness
in all admired, and yet the man, as to this, is but of the world, and his work the
effect of natural ability; the things also attained by him end in vanity and vexation
of spirit. Further, perhaps in the pursuit of these his achievements, he sins against
God, wastes his time vainly, and at long-run loses his soul by neglecting of better
things; yet he is admired! But I say, if this man's parts, labour, diligence, and
the like, will bring him to such applause and esteem in the world, what esteem should
we have of such an one that is by the gift, promise, and power of God, coming to
Jesus Christ?
1. This is a man with whom God is, in whom God works and walks; a man whose motion
is governed and steered by the mighty hand of God, and the effectual working of his
power. Here is a man!
2. This man, by the power of God's might, which worketh in him, is able to cast a
whole world behind him, with all the lusts and pleasures of it, and to charge through
all the difficulties that men and devils can set against him. Here is a man.
3. This man is travelling to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the
living God, and to an innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men
made perfect, to God the Judge of all, and to Jesus. Here is a man!
4. This man can look upon death with comfort, can laugh at destruction when it cometh,
and longs to hear the sound of the last trump, and to see his Judge coming in the
clouds of heaven. Here is a man indeed!
Let Christians, then, esteem each other as such. I know you do it; but do it more
and more. And that you may, consider these two or three things. (1.) These are the
objects of Christ's esteem (Matt 12:48,49; 15:22-28; Luke 7:9). (2.) These are the
objects of the esteem of angels (Dan 9:12; 10:21,22; 13:3,4; Heb 2:14). (3.) These
have been the objects of the esteem of heathens, when but convinced about them (Dan
5:10,11; Acts 5:15; 1 Cor 14:24,25). "Let each [of you, then,] esteem [each]
other better than themselves" (Phil 2:2).
Use Fourth. Again, Is it so, that no man comes to Jesus Christ by the will, wisdom,
and power of man, but by the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father? Then this
shows us how horribly ignorant of this such are, who make the man that is coming
to Christ the object of their contempt and rage. These are also unreasonable and
wicked men; men in whom is no faith (2 Thess 3:2). Sinners, did you but know what
a blessed thing it is to come to Jesus Christ, and that by the help and drawing of
the Father, they do indeed come to him; you would hang and burn in hell a thousand
years, before you would turn your spirits as you do, against him that God is drawing
to Jesus Christ, and also against the God that draws him.
But, faithless sinner, let us a little expostulate the matter. What hath this man
done against thee, that is coming to Jesus Christ? Why dost thou make him the object
of thy scorn? doth his coming to Jesus Christ offend thee? doth his pursuing of his
own salvation offend thee? doth his forsaking of his sins and pleasures offend thee?
Poor coming man! "Shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before
their eyes, and will they not stone us?" (Exo 8:26).
But, I say, why offended at this? Is he ever the worse for coming to Jesus Christ,
or for his loving and serving of Jesus Christ? Or is he ever the more a fool, for
flying from that which will drown thee in hell-fire, and for seeking eternal life?
Besides, pray, Sirs, consider it; this he doth, not of himself, but by the drawing
of the Father. Come, let me tell thee in thine ear, thou that wilt not come to him
thyself, and him that would, thou hinderest —
1. Thou shalt be judged for one that hath hated, maligned, and reproached Jesus Christ,
to whom this poor sinner is coming.
2. Thou shalt be judged, too, for one that hath hated the Father, by whose powerful
drawing this sinner doth come.
3. Thou shalt be taken and judged for one that has done despite to the Spirit of
grace in him that is, by its help, coming to Jesus Christ. What sayest thou now?
Wilt thou stand by thy doings? Wilt thou continue to contemn and reproach the living
God? Thinkest thou that thou shalt weather it out well enough at the day of judgment?
"Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall
deal with thee," saith the Lord? (Eze 22:14, John 15:18-25; Jude 15; 1 Thess
4:8).
Use Fifth. Is it so, that no man comes to Jesus Christ by the will, wisdom, and power
of man, but by the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father? Then this showeth us
how it comes to pass, that weak means are so powerful as to bring men out of their
sins to a hearty pursuit after Jesus Christ. When God bid Moses speak to the people,
he said, "I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee" (Exo 18:19).
When God speaks, when God works, who can let it? None, none; then the work goes on!
Elias threw his mantle upon the shoulders of Elisha; and what a wonderful work followed!
When Jesus fell in with the crowing of a cock, what work was there! O when God is
in the means, then shall that means —be it never so weak and contemptible in itself
—work wonders (1 Kings 19:19; Matt 26:74,75; Mark 14:71,72; Luke 22:60-62). The world
understood not, nor believed, that the walls of Jericho should fall at the sound
of rams' horns; but when God will work, the means must be effectual. A word weakly
spoken, spoken with difficulty, in temptation, and in the midst of great contempt
and scorn, works wonders, if the Lord thy God will say so too.
Use Sixth. Is it so? Doth no man come to Jesus Christ by the will, wisdom, and power
of man, but by the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father? Then here is room for
Christians to stand and wonder at the effectual working of God's providences, that
he hath made use of, as means to bring them to Jesus Christ.
For although men are drawn to Christ by the power of the Father, yet that power putteth
forth itself in the use of means: and these means are divers, sometimes this, sometimes
that; for God is at liberty to work by which, and when, and how he will; but let
the means be what they will, and as contemptible as may be, yet God that commanded
the light to shine out of darkness, and that out of weakness can make strong, can,
nay, doth oftentimes make use of very unlikely means to bring about the conversion
and salvation of his people. Therefore, you that are come to Christ —and that by
unlikely means —stay yourselves, and wonder, and, wondering, magnify almighty power,
by the work of which the means hath been made effectual to bring you to Jesus Christ.
What was the providence that God made use of as a means, either more remote or more
near, to bring thee to Jesus Christ? Was it the removing of thy habitation, the change
of thy condition, the loss of relations, estate, or the like? Was it thy casting
of thine eye upon some good book, thy hearing of thy neighbours talk of heavenly
things, the beholding of God's judgments as executed upon others, or thine own deliverance
from them, or thy being strangely cast under the ministry of some godly man? O take
notice of such providence or providences! They were sent and managed by mighty power
to do thee good. God himself, I say, hath joined himself unto this chariot: yea,
and so blessed it, that it failed not to accomplish the thing for which he sent it.
God blesseth not to every one his providences in this manner. How many thousands
are there in this world, that pass every day under the same providences! but God
is not in them, to do that work by them as he hath done for thy poor soul, by his
effectually working with them. O that Jesus Christ should meet thee in this providence,
that dispensation, or the other ordinance! This is grace indeed! At this, therefore,
it will be thy wisdom to admire, and for this to bless God.
Give me leave to give you a taste of some of those providences that have been effectual,
through the management of God, to bring salvation to the souls of his people.
(1.) The first shall be that of the woman of Samaria. It must happen, that she must
needs go out of the city to draw water, not before nor after, but just when Jesus
Christ her Saviour was come from far, and set to rest him, being weary, upon the
well. What a blessed providence was this! Even a providence managed by the almighty
wisdom, and almighty power, to the conversion and salvation of this poor creature.
For by this providence was this poor creature and her Saviour brought together, that
that blessed work might be fulfilled upon the woman, according to the purpose before
determined by the Father (John 4).
(2.) What providence was it that there should be a tree in the way for Zaccheus to
climb, thereby to give Jesus opportunity to call that chief of the publicans home
to himself, even before he came down therefrom (Luke 19).
(3.) Was it not also wonderful that the thief, which you read of in the gospel, should,
by the providence of God, be cast into prison, to be condemned even at that session
that Christ himself was to die; nay, and that it should happen, too, that they must
be hanged together, that the thief might be in hearing and observing of Jesus in
his last words, that he might be converted by him before his death! (Luke 23).
(4.) What a strange providence was it, and as strangely managed by God, that Onesimus,
when he was run away from his master, should be taken, and, as I think, cast into
that very prison where Paul lay bound for the Word of the gospel; that he might there
be by him converted, and then sent home again to his master Philemon! Behold "all
things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according
to his purpose" (Rom 8:28).
Nay, I have myself known some that have been made to go to hear the Word preached
against their wills; others have gone not to hear, but to see and to be seen; nay,
to jeer and flout others, as also to catch and carp at things. Some also to feed
their adulterous eyes with the sight of beautiful objects; and yet God hath made
use even of these things, and even of the wicked and sinful proposals of sinners,
to bring them under the grace that might save their souls.
Use Seventh. Doth no man come to Jesus Christ but by the drawing, &c., of the
Father? Then let me here caution those poor sinners, that are spectators of the change
that God hath wrought in them that are coming to Jesus Christ, not to attribute this
work and change to other things and causes.
There are some poor sinners in the world that plainly see a change, a mighty change,
in their neighbours and relations that are coming to Jesus Christ. But, as I said,
they being ignorant, and not knowing whence it comes and whither it goes, for "so
is every one that is born of the Spirit," (John 3:8), therefore they attribute
this change to others causes: as melancholy; to sitting alone; to overmuch reading;
to their going to too many sermons; to too much studying and musing on what they
hear.
Also they conclude, on the other side, that it is for want of merry company; for
want of physic; and therefore they advise them to leave off reading, going to sermons,
the company of sober people; and to be merry, to go a gossiping, to busy themselves
in the things of this world, not to sit musing alone, &c. But come, poor ignorant
sinner, let me deal with thee. It seems thou art turned counsellor for Satan: I tell
thee thou knowest not what thou dost. Take heed of spending thy judgment after this
manner; thou judgest foolishly, and sayest in this, to every one that passeth by,
thou art a fool. What! count convictions for sin, mournings for sin, and repentance
for sin, melancholy? This is like those that on the other side said, "These
men are [drunk with] full of new wine," &c. Or as he that said Paul was
mad (Acts 2:13, 26:24). Poor ignorant sinner! canst thou judge no better? What! is
sitting alone, pensive under God's hand, reading the Scriptures, and hearing of sermons,
&c., the way to be undone? The Lord open thine eyes, and make thee to see thine
error! Thou hast set thyself against God, thou hast despised the operation of his
hands, thou attemptest to murder souls. What! canst thou give no better counsel touching
those whom God hath wounded, than to send them to the ordinances of hell for help?
Thou biddest them be merry and lightsome; but dost thou not know that "the heart
of fools is in the house of mirth?" (Eccl 7:4).
Thou biddest them shun the hearing of thundering preachers; but is it not "better
to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools?" (Eccl
7:5). Thou biddest them busy themselves in the things of this world; but dost thou
not know that the Lord bids, "Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness?"
(Matt 6:33). Poor ignorant sinner! hear the counsel of God to such, and learn thyself
to be wiser. "Is any afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms"
(James 5:13). "Blessed is the man that heareth me" (Prov 8:32). And hear
for time to come, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts
2:40). "Search the Scriptures" (John 5:39). "Give attendance to reading"
(1 Tim 4:13). "It is better to go to the house of mourning" (Eccl 7:2,3).
And wilt thou judge him that doth thus? Art thou almost like Elymas the sorcerer,
that sought to turn the deputy from the faith? Thou seekest to pervert the right
ways of the Lord. Take heed lest some heavy judgment overtake thee (Acts 13:8-13).
What! teach men to quench convictions; take men off from a serious consideration
of the evil of sin, of the terrors of the world to come, and how they shall escape
the same? What! teach men to put God and his Word out of their minds, by running
to merry company, by running to the world, by gossiping? &c. This is as much
as to bid them to say to God, "Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge
of thy ways;" or, "What is the Almighty that we should serve him? or what
profit have we if we keep his ways?" Here is a devil in grain! What! bid man
walk "according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience"
(Eph 2:2).
[Two objections answered.]
Object. 1. But we do not know that such are coming to Jesus Christ; truly we wonder
at them, and think they are fools.
Answ. Do you not know that they are coming to Jesus Christ? then they may be coming
to him, for aught you know; and why will ye be worse than the brute, to speak evil
of the things you know not? What! are ye made to be taken and destroyed? must ye
utterly perish in your own corruptions? (2 Peter 2:12). Do you not know them? Let
them alone then. If you cannot speak good of them, speak not bad. "Refrain from
these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will
come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply ye be found
even to fight against God" (Acts 5:38,39). But why do you wonder at a work of
conviction and conversion? Know you not that this is the judgment of God upon you,
"ye despisers, to behold, and wonder, and perish?" (Acts 13:40,41). But
why wonder, and think they are fools? Is the way of the just an abomination to you?
See that passage, and be ashamed, "He that is upright in the way is abomination
to the wicked" (Prov 29:27). Your wondering at them argues that you are strangers
to yourselves, to conviction for sin, and to hearty desires to be saved; as also
to coming to Jesus Christ.
Object. 2. But how shall we know that such men are coming to Jesus Christ?
Answ. Who can make them see that Christ has made blind? (John 2:8,9). Nevertheless,
because I endeavour thy conviction, conversion, and salvation, consider: Do they
cry out of sin, being burthened with it, as of an exceeding bitter thing? Do they
fly from it, as from the face of a deadly serpent? Do they cry out of the insufficiency
of their own righteousness, as to justification in the sight of God? Do they cry
out after the Lord Jesus, to save them? Do they see more worth and merit in one drop
of Christ's blood to save them, than in all the sins of the world to damn them? Are
they tender of sinning against Jesus Christ? Is his name, person, and undertakings,
more precious to them, than is the glory of the world? Is this word more dear unto
them? Is faith in Christ (of which they are convinced by God's Spirit of the want
of, and that without it they can never close with Christ) precious to them? Do they
savour Christ in his Word, and do they leave all the world for his sake? And are
they willing, God helping them, to run hazards for his name, for the love they bear
to him? Are his saints precious to them? If these things be so, whether thou seest
them or no, these men are coming to Jesus Christ (Rom 7:914; Psa 38:3-8; Heb 6:18-20;
Isa 64:6; Phil 3:7,8; Psa 54:1; 109:26; Acts 16:30; Psa 51:7,8; 1 Peter 1:18,19;
Rom 7:24; 2 Cor 5:2; Acts 5:41; James 2:7; Song 5:10-16; Psa 119; John 13:35; 1 John
4:7; 3:14; John 16:9; Rom 14:23; Heb 11:6; Psa 19:10,11; Jer 15:16; Heb 11:24-27;
Acts 20:22-24; 21:13; Titus 3:15; 2 John 1; Eph 4:16; Phile 7; 1 Cor 16:24).
[FIRST, THE TEXT TREATED BY WAY OF EXPLICATION.]
[SECOND, THE TEXT TREATED BY WAY OF OBSERVATION.]
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