greatest misery, so thou art unworthy of the least crumb of mercy. 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 receive Christ into thy house, how much more worthy art thou to entertain Christ in thy heart?-Now the remedies against this device are these:

un

Remedy 1. Against this device of Satan, seriously 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 one word that represents God, as requiring any worthiness in the creature, before the soul believes and rests upon Christ for happiness and blessedness; and why then should that be an 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 for 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 him, and believe in him, and you are happy for ever. John vi. 40, 47.

Rem. 2. Wisely consider, that none did receive and embrace Christ, and obtain mercy and pardon from him, but such as felt themselves unworthy. Pray what worthiness was there in Matthew, Zaccheus, Manasseh, Paul, and Lydia, before their coming to Christ, or 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 faint, do not despair; but patiently and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

Rem. 3. Consider, that if the soul will keep from Christ till it be worthy, it will never come to him; it will never embrace, nor be one with Christ, and so it must lie down in everlasting sorrow. Is. l. 11. God hath laid up all worthiness in Christ, that the creature may know where to find it, and seek after it. There is no way on earth for unworthy souls to become worthy, but by believing in Christ: believing in Christ will make slaves become worthy sons; enemies, worthy friends. God calls none worthy, nor carries it towards any as worthy, but believers, who are made worthy by the worthiness of Christ's person, righteousness, satisfac tion, and intercession, &c. John i. 12. James ii. 12. Rev. iii. 4.

Rem. 4. Solemnly consider, that if you make a diligent search into your own hearts, you will find that it is the pride and folly of them that inclines you to bring worthiness to Christ. You would fain bring something to Christ that might render you acceptable to him, you are loth to come empty handed. The Lord cries out, Is. lv. 1, 2, " Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye.' Here the Lord calls upon penny-less, 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 will not come, though he freely invite them. Ah sinners! what is more just than that you should perish for ever, who prefer husks among swine, before the milk and wine, the sweet and precious things of the gospel, that are so freely held forth to you, &c. Well, sinners, remember this, it is not so much the sense of your unworthiness, as your pride, that keeps you from embracing the Lord Jesus, as your Saviour.

CHAPTER III.

The third Device that Satan hath to keep poor sinners from believing in, and closing with a Saviour, is,

BY suggesting to them the want of such and such preparations and qualifications. Saith Satan, Thou art not prepared to entertain Christ; thou art not humbled and justified; thou art not heart sick of sin; thou hast not been under horrors and terrors as such and such persons have; thou must stay till thou art prepared and qualified to receive the Lord Jesus, &c.-Now the remedies against this device are these:

Remedy 1. Against this device of Satan, consider, that such as have not been so prepared and qualified, as Satan suggests, have received Christ, believed in Christ, and have been saved by Christ. Matthew was called, sitting at the receipt of custom, and such was the power that went with Christ's call, that he was made to follow him, Mat. ix. 9. We read not of either horrors or terrors, &c. that he was under before he was called by Christ. Pray what preparations and qualifications were found in Zaccheus,. Paul, the Jailor, and Lydia, before their con

version? Luke xix. 9. Acts xvi. God brings in some by the sweet and still voice of the gospel; and usually such who are thus brought into Christ, are the most humble, choice, and fruitful Christians. God is a free agent to work by law or gospel; by smiles or frowns; by presenting hell or heaven to sinners' souls. God thunders from mount Sinai upon some souls, and conquers them by thundering. God speaks to others in a still voice, and by that conquers them. You that are brought to Christ by the law, do not judge and condemn them that are brought to Christ by the gospel: and you that are brought to Christ by the gospel, do not you despise those that are brought to Christ by the law. Some are brought to Christ by fire, storms, and tempests; others by more easy and gentle gales of the Spirit. Thrice happy are those souls who are brought to Christ, whether it be in a winter's night, or a summer's day.

Rem. 2. Dwell upon the following scriptures, which do clearly evidence, that poor sinners who have no qualifications to meet with Christ, to receive and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ, may, notwithstanding that, believe, rest, and lean upon him for happiness and blessedness, according to the gospel. Read Prov. i. 20. ult. and chap. viii. 1,-11. and chap. ix. 1,-6. Ezek. xvi. 1,-14. John iii. 14,-18, 36. Rev iii. 15,-20. Here the Lord Jesus Christ stands knocking at the Laodicean's door; he