Come & Welcome to Jesus Christ

p. 3Come, & Welcome, TO JESUS CHRIST.

All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.

A Little before in this Chapter you may read, That the Lord JESUS walked on the Sea to go to Capernaum, having sent his Disciples before in a Ship: But the Winds was contrary, by which means the Ship was hindred in her Passage: Now about the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came Walking upon the Sea, and overtook them; at the sight of whom they were afraid.

p. 4Note, When Providences are black and terrible to Gods People, the Lord Jesus shews himself to them in wonderful manner, the which, somtimes they can as little bear, as they can the things that before were terrible to them. They were afraid of the Wind, and the Water; they were also afraid of their Lord and Saviour, when He appeared to them in that State.

But He said, be not afraid, it is I. Note, That the End of the appearing of the Lord Jesus unto his people, (though the manner of his appearing be never so terrible) is to alay their fears and perplexities.

Then they received him into the Ship, and immediately the Ship was at the Land whether it went.

Note, When Christ is absent from his people, they go on but slowly, and with great difficulty; but when he joyneth himself unto them, Oh! how fast they stear their course, how soon are they at their Journies end!

The people now among whom he last preached, when they saw that both Jesus was gon, and his Disciples, they also took shipping and came to Capernaum seeking for Jesus. And when p. 5they had found him, they wonderingly asked him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? But the Lord Jesus, slighting their complement, answered, Verily, Verily, ye seek me, not because ye saw the Miracles, but because ye did eat of the Loaves and were filled.

Note, A People may follow Christ far, for base ends, as these went after him beyond - Sea for Loaves; a mans belly will carry him a great way in Religion: yea, a mans belly will make him venture far for Christ.

p. 5Note again, They are not feigning complements, but gracious intentions that crowns the work, in the eye of Christ: Or thus, It is not the toyl, and business of professors, but their love to him, that makes him approve of them.

Note again, When men shall look for friendly entertainment at Christ's Hand (if their hearts be rotten) even then will they meet with a check and rebuke: Ye seek me not because ye saw the Miracles, but because ye did eat of the Loaves, and were Filled.

Yet observe again, He doth not refuse to give, even to these, good counsel; he bids them Labor for the meat that endureth to eternal Life. O how willingly p. 6would Jesus Christ have even those Professors that come to him with pretences only, come to him sincerely, that they may be saved.

The Text, you will find, is after much more discourse with, and about this people; and it is uttered by the Lord Jesus as the conclusion of the whole, and intimateth, that since they were Professors in pretence only; and therefore such as his soul could not delight in as such, that he would content himself with a Remnant that his Father had bestowed upon him. As who should say, I am not like to be Honoured in your Salvation; but the Father hath bestowed upon me a people, and they shall come to me in Truth; and in them will I be satisfied. The Text therefore may be called Christ's repose; in the fulfilling whereof, he resteth himself content, after much Labor, and many Sermon spent, as it were, in vain. As he saith by the Prophet: I have Labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain, Isa. 49. 4.

But as there he saith, my Judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God: So in the Text, he saith, All the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and them that cometh to me, I will in no wise p. 7cast out. By these words therefore, the Lord Jesus comforteth himself under the consideration of the dissimulation of some of his followers.

He also thus betook himself to rest under the consideration of the little effect that his Ministry had even in Capernaum, Corazin and Bethsaida. I thank thee O Father, said he, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes: even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight, Matt. 11. 25. Luke. 10. 21.

p. 7The Text, in the general standeth of two parts, and hath special respect to the Father, and the Son: As also to their joynt management of the Salvation of their People. All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.

The first part of the Text, as is evident, respecteth the Father and his gift; the other part, the Son and his reception of that gift.

First, For the gift of the Father, there is this to be considered about it; to wit,

The gift it self, and that is a gift of p. 8certain persons to the Son. The Father giveth, and that gift shall come; And Him that cometh. The gift then is of Persons▪ the Father giveth Persons to Jesus Christ.

Secondly, Next, you have the Sons reception of this gift, and that sheweth it self in these particulars.

1. In his hearty acknowledgment of it, to be a gift: The Father giveth me.

2. In his taking notice, after a solemn manner, of All, and every part of the gift: All that the Father giveth me.