The Design that I have in my eye is to Treat of the point of Conversion , not pretending to accurateness and curiositie , anxiously inquiring after the method or manner of Gods working ; But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and practically to handle this point unto you .

For as thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit , or how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with Child ; so thou knowest not the works of God , Eccles. 11. 5. nor all the particulars of the methods and wayes wherein God works in the Conversion or Creation of this New man .

This Conversion sometimes denotes the potent and immediate work of God , renewing and converting ; and this is called in my Text Gods drawing of a man to Christ in these words , Except my Father draw him .

Sometimes it denotes the action of man , converting himself to God , by the Faith and Repentance which he doth receive from God ; and this my Text calls mans Coming unto Christ when he is called , in that phrase , No man can come to me except .

In time , these two can hardly be distinguisht ; but in order of causality , they are easie to be distinguished one from another . I mean Gods work , converting or drawing man ; and mans action , converting and coming unto Christ : The act of man in coming to Christ , that 's not first ; but the work of God drawing in to Christ , that is first ; and the act of mans coming must needs follow ; as the Sun must of necessitie first shine upon the wall , before the wall can give or reflect light or heat from it self back again .

Facti sumus opus Dei , We are first made the works or workmanship of God ; there is Gods drawing . Then ( Facimus opera Dei ) we do the work of God , or walk in the works of God which he hath ordained , that we should walk in them , Ephes. 2. 10. There is our coming .

That you may clearly look into every corner of this Text , you shall observe here two things .

First , the doctrine that is here taught by our Saviour .

Secondly , the reason of his teaching it at this time .

The Doctrine here laid forth consists in these three things .

First , the magnifying of the work of God in mans Conversion , to raise up your praises & thanksgivings to God , by whom you are , what you are : for to his Power and Grace , our Saviour Christ assigns the only , or the principal part of it , and that 's exprest in the work of Gods drawing a man to Christ : Therefore this Doctrine is not spoken in a simple form ; he doth not say in plain words , My Father draws man unto me , but it s spoken in an exceptive or exclusive form of words excluding mans power ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , except my Father draws , no man comes to me : So that without the divine traction there is not an ability or power in man to come to Jesus Christ ; for he comes not by a power of his own , but my Fathers drawing .

Secondly , the insinuating of mans duty . For here your duty is implyed in these words , coming unto Christ : Your coming unto Christ is the great charge or duty that lies upon you ; the observation of the Law of God , and every of his commands , that is duty : But it is not duty of absolute necessity unto salvation ; but coming unto Christ is that which is of absolute necessity , you cannot otherwise be saved ; because this contains the great condition of the Covenant of life and salvation , upon which hinge , eternal life doth hang , and the whole work , not only of your Conversion , but of all the means that tend to your salvation do depend upon , and are comprehended causally and eminently in this your coming unto Christ , and therefore it is put for all here , No man can come to me .

Thirdly , the depression of mans pride , or derogation of mans natural ability to faith in Christ , or Conversion . There is none of you but think it is an easie matter to believe ; that you can believe at pleasure , it s very easie to believe Gods promises , God speaking in his word . Here now is the depression of mans pride as to this work : No man can .

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , No man can come to me : Grace and Gods power is here exalted ; exalted to the disparagement and diminution of mans own ability ; and it cannot otherwise be : For as the Sun when it arises with his light , blots out the light of the Moon and Stars that shined before ; so when the Lord Jesus doth appear unto you , and God puts forth his arm to draw you to Christ Jesus , this act of God doth as it were put down , diminish , disparage all the pretended ability of man , his worthiness , and merit . This is the Doctrine that is here taught , or the sum of Christs Doctrine in these words . And then ,

Secondly , the reason of his now teaching it : ( the hearers of Christ they were called Jews ; but indeed were Galileans his Countrymen , that knew his education , about Capernaum , near Nazareth : ) his hearers were observed by him to murmure at this doctrine , as being very offensive to their ears and reason : For Christ having preacht himself quite off those expectations that the Jews had of him , that he should be a great and potent Prince , a King , and a great victorious Conqueror , expectations wherewith they had been prepossest ; and preacht himself to be above that which they saw in him , that he came down from heaven , having preacht such doctrine that was very distasteful to their carnal ears ( for spiritual doctrine is always hateful to carnal ears ) they began to vent their hidden prejudices against him : Say they v. 42. Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph ? Do not we know this mans Fathers and Mother ? for Nazareth , where he lived , was near to Capernaum : how doth he say , I came down from Heaven ? what an assumption is that ? That he called himself bread , is a Metaphorical word , and they used it in their speeches ; this troubled them not : But that he came from Heaven , and nothing appeared in him to be of Heaven more then other men , this was distasteful to them . Now our Saviour answers these prejudices , and tells them , that it did appear that the preventing Grace of God had not toucht their hearts , to fashion and to mould them unto faith in him ; and therefore I find that your prejudices and carnal reasons stick by you still , and continue your pride and obstinacy against me , unto whom indeed no man can come except my Father draw him . Here is the File of the Connexion of the words ; by this thred the words are to be cut out , which shall serve to raise a porch or gate of Entrance into them : And therefore I shall raise thence three Observations .

I pray God that none of you may be offended at this Doctrine : For as I confess these Jews pretended somewhat for the offence they took at Christ Jesus , his meanness and simplicity : for he was mean and of simple appearance : So this Doctrine may be somewhat offensive to you , if you bring your own ears to hear it , if this converting and preventing grace of God have not already began to mould and fashion your hearts to Christ Jesus , and made you resolve to stick to him through thick and thin , notwithstanding all scandals and offences that may appear to be in him .

First , I observe That the Doctrine of Christ himself is entertained with distaste and murmuring by prejudicate and corrupt minds , v. 41 , 42 , 43. The Jews then murmured at him for his doctrine , &c. Murmure not among your selves , saith Christ . Will you take me right in this word that I am now speaking ? Christ is the most scandalous person that ever was : I mean fullest of scandals and offences to corrupt and carnal reason and interest . His person , how mighty scandalous ! his doctrine as well as his person ; his birth very mean ; his conversation while he lived in this world ; the death whereby he died on the Cross ; the administrations of the offices of his Kingdome , as he administers is still , even though he be in heaven glorious : All of these are scandalous , and full of offence unto corrupt reason .

How often hath it been upbraided to Christians , that they believe in an ignominious and crucified Saviour , that hung upon the Cross , which the Apostle calls the scandal of the Cross !

How scandalous are the great afflictions that sit many times heavy and long upon the Church , as if they had no deliverer !

How scandalous are the divisions of the Church , as if they had not one Saviour and one Lord !

How scandalous to Christ are the corrupt and wicked lives of Christians that profess him ! He that will be a Christian indeed , must have ( as they say ) a good swallow : I mean he must swallow these hard morsels ; and a good digestion to digest iron , to run through all the scandals that fleshly reason will lay in his way concerning all things that belong unto Christ .

It s a good observation : A Christian must believe in a stumbling stone , in a rock of offence , Rom. 9. 33. Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling stone . If he had said , I lay a stone of safety , a rock of refuge , that had invited faith to come unto him : But to say , He that will believe in Christ , must believe in a rock of offence , in a stone of stumbling ; this seems rather to alienate the faith of man from Christ , to estrange and throw faith off . Oh how hard a thing , is faith in Christ ! There must be such a faith as may overlook so many scandalous and offensive things , so opposite to carnal reason . That 's the first observation .

Secondly , The more Evangelical the Doctrine , and the sweeter , the more is the offence , and the greater is the dislike of it , ver. 41. because he said , I am the bread that came from heaven ; because he rose high in his Doctrine above what they lookt for in him . And who are these that took offence ? Even disciples , and they that followed him : They say , this is a hard saying ; and they also murmured , nay they take the wing and fly away and leave him , in the 61 , 62 , 63. verses of this Chapter .

Oh Beloved , there are many of the followers of Christ that take offence at this Doctrine ; and it is to us even in our dayes , very scandalous to many men ; and that 's the reason why I insist so long upon the Connexion .

If Christ preach himself the Son of God , that is God : For I pray let me give you warning once for all , that the word frequently used in the Gospel , the Son of God , it means no less then God , that Christ is God , God as it were by nature : It s used eighty eight times , as I think , in the New Testament : The Son of God is God as well as man ; and therefore the Socinian doth but quibble ( as I may so say ) when he comes to distinguish : Christ indeed is the Son of God ( and so are we called too : ) But that phrase doth not imply that he is God . Yes ; for they that heard the words , took it so , in John 10. 33 , 34 , &c. they took up stones to throw at him for his blasphemy ; and that was , In that being man , thou makest thy self God ; they took it in a right meaning .

The purest Gospel-doctrine is most harsh : Christs preaching himself the Son of God , was very unpleasing to these carnal men : We measure Gospel-doctrine by the metwand of our wit and reason , and peradventure by our learning ( which may be of great reach . ) Therefore we are offended . Now let me shew you this , that

The great design of the Gospel , is to advance God , and to lay man low : And I beseech you , carry this along as the great Design of the Gospel , to advance the power and the grace of God , in bringing men unto salvation , and to lay man , and all their parts and reason low : God in the power and freedome of his grace , saving man , is advanced ; man in the power and merit of himself is extenuated and made nothing : The design of the Gospel , in giving all to God , is seen by one Text : In the 1 Cor. 1 Chap. last ver. That he that glorieth , may glory in the Lord ; shewing that the main plot of the Gospel , is the advancement of Grace ; the depression of man , and the derogation of mans abilities may be seen by what is said in Rom. 3. 17. Where is boasting then ? It is excluded ( saith he ) By what Law ? Not by the Law of works , but by the Law of Faith : And that 's the doctrine of the Gospel that takes men off from their own bottoms and hinges : And so I think I have sufficiently proved it unto you .

Of Gospel doctrine , that that advances free Grace , is the most glorious to God , the most full of admiration to them that are godly , and yet the most obnoxious to offence and scandal of man , to ordinary men of reason .

There are in this Doctrine so many offensive principles : I shall instance in eight that I know are scandalous and offensive , and stumbling-blocks to reason : And much ado we have to leap over them , when we come to believe .

First , that the purpose of Gods Election and Chusing any man unto salvation , is not founded on the merit ( that was the old word with the Fathers & Schools ) we say on the Conditiou of Faith and Works foreseen ; but that God hath mercy on whom he will , and whom he will he hardens . This is one scandalous point , Rom. 9. 18.

Secondly , That before they had done either good or evil ( to say before they had actually done it , is a kind of nonsense : ) But before they had done it in foresight or prescience ; or before they were known or seen to do good or evil : Esau and Jacob , equals , that tumbled both in one belly , twins that had both one birth ; for these to be so differenced , that God should say , I have loved the one , and hated the other . This is another point scandalous and offensive to mans reason , laid down in Rom. 9. 13.

Thirdly , That it is Grace that makes the difference and severance of one man from another ; that is , the free grace of God abstracted from the worthiness or unworthiness of man : Who made thee to differ , O man ! sayes the Apostle .

Fourthly , That the Jew , or man , whosoever he be , that follows after Righteousness by the Law or Works , did not artain it , or overtake it , as the word signifies ; and the Gentiles , or other men that are of no name , that follow not after righteousness by the Law or Works , they do attain it , and overtake it by faith in Christ . This is a very hard point , laid down in Rom. 9. 30 , 31.

Fifthly , That a man is not justified by the works that he doth , or his duties , or compliance with the Law ; but by the faith of Christ only , whom he layes hold of , being offered and freely tendered in the Gospel . This is Gospel-doctrine , laid down in Galat. 2. 16.

Sixthly , That the things of God , that is , that the saving things of God should be hid from the wise , the prudent and learned men of the world , that hold up their heads so high as they do ; and that to the poor and simple , and mean , that are meant by babes , he should reveal them , Matth. 11. 25. Father , I thank thee , &c. hard and offensive to Reason ,

Seventhly , That many should be called by the preaching of the Word , and of them that are called by the outward Ministery , but very few chosen : ( Look upon , and consider your selves ) this is hard , Matth. 22. 14. There are many called , and great offers are made in the Gospel , but few chosen and select .

Eighthly , No man can believe , or come to Christ , except it be by the drawing of God . Why sure this is a very hard point to the hearers of the Gospel , that lay in prejudices and obstructions of Reason . You cannot believe , except the Lord draw , and work this faith in you , in John 6. 44 , 65.

There are two things that make the doctrine of the Gospel something contemptuous tomen .

First , because it opposes mens carnal interests . It crosses the lusts of the flesh , and of the world ; it brings men to self-denial .

Secondly , because it is dissonant to reason , to pride and self that is in men , and thereby they are prejudiced .

First , if God measure out his purposes and proceedings by his own soveraign will : So that it is not in him that runs , nor in him that wills , as the Apostle hath delivered it , Rom. 9. 16. but in God that shews mercy : Then why doth God finde fault , or complain of us ? why doth he finde fault with us , that we do not believe , that we stand out in opposition ? Who can help it ? ver. 19 ▪ whose : hand lies it in ? not ours . This is the great offence , Who hath refisted his will ? Nay but O man , ver. 20. Who art thou that repliest against God ? And then the Apostle goes on to clear the doctrine of free grace , according to the method whereby it can be cleared . This seems to me a great scandal , whereat men stumble .

Secondly , if God command and require good works in his holy Word of us , and yet tells me that his election of me to salvation doth not stand upon them , but that the election whereby God hath chosen me to salvation , is firm by his calling , Rom. 9. 11. then if so be these works required and commanded will not serve my turn , will not confirm my Election or Justification , I may follow them , and yet not attain righteousness by them , Rom. 9. 31. This is a great scandal and offence to mans reason .

Thirdly , if God cast so many of the world off , and chuse so few of them that are called , but throws them out as the man that was thrown from the Feast , not having the wedding garment ; This is a miserable offence .

Fourthly , if God require faith of me and repentance , call for a new heart and a new spirit , and saith , Make you a new heart , and yet teaches me that none can come except a divine power draw him , except it be given him , then he requires impossible things . And is not this ( say some ) like to Pharaoh , that will have the full tale of brick , but will not find the people straw .

These are the offences taken by mans reason ; these raise up the murmurings ; these make some men leave the care of their salvation at six and seven ; If I am elected , I shall be saved ; if I am not elected , I cannot : This makes men throw the plow into the hedge-bottom , and let the ship ride before the sea and wind .

Upon all this that I have said , it appears that the doctrine of Christ , and of the free grace of God in Christ , requires an humble heart , a captivated reason ; or else prejudices of pride , and the reason of man , will trouble the whole Scene .

And I may give an instance in a point so resented in the times wherein we live , by our Masters of Reason ( as some call themselves ) as the Gnosticks of old , those damnable Hereticks called themselves the knowing men , who had their opposition of Science falsly so called , 1 Tim. 6. 20.

This is it , That Christs blood is not a blood of Atonement or expiation of sin ; that there is no proper compensation , nor any satisfaction made , or needful to Divine Justice for sin : How then ? God pardons us our sins by an absolute goodness , by an absolute free pardon , without such satisfaction : As a man forgives a delinquent without any satisfaction ; or as a man forgives a debt another man owes him freely for nothing : And this is the great Hinge on which the Socinian Doctrine hangs , which hath leavened and pass'd through so many men in our times : But this free pardon , without satisfaction of Gods justice , ruines and razes the foundations of our Christian Faith ; as if men would not have Christ to do too much for them , were angry at him for his being their surety , for his paying their debt , and freeing them from prison and damnation ; which makes me cry out as the Apostle doth in 1 Cor. 1. 20. Where is the wise ? where is the Scribe ? where is the Disputer of this world ? ( Let them take notice of it , the great learned men that preach Heathenism among us ) Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world ? how ? by the Doctrine of Christ and free grace . And this I preach , that we may listen , and hold the truths that to others are offensive , overlooking all the scandals that may be found in the person and doctrine of Christ .