l I say? Father, save me from this hour."

Now, these who are here in the text invited to come unto Christ,--you see
them described to be labouring and heavy laden persons. "Come unto me, all
ye that labour," &c. At least it seems to hold forth a previous
qualification and condition of believing, without which we may not venture
to come unto Christ. Indeed it is commonly so taken, and mistaken. Many
conceive that the clause is restrictive and exclusive, that is to say,
that this description of burdened and wearied sinners is a limitation of
the command of believing, and that it circumscribes the warrant of coming
to Christ, as if none might lawfully come unto him but these that are thus
burdened, and thus it is supposed to be a bar, set upon the door of
believing at which sinners must enter in to Christ, to hold out, and shut
out all those who are not thus qualified for access, which I truly
conceive is contrary to the whole strain and current of the dispensation
of the gospel. Therefore I take it to be rather declarative, or
ampliative, or both. I say, it is partly for declaration, not of the
warrant to come, but of the persons who ordinarily do come to Christ. It
declares not simply and universally who should come, but those who
actually do come unto Christ. Take it thus then. All persons who hear the
gospel are invited to come unto our Saviour without exception, the blind,
the lame, those on the highways, not only the thirsty and the hungry,
(Isa. lv. 1.) but those who have no thirst or hunger for righteousness,
but only for things that do not profit (ver. 2), not only the broken
hearted, that desire to come near to righteousness, but even the stout
hearted that are far from righteousness. Such are commanded to hearken,
and incline their ear, Isa. xlvi. 12, lv. 2, 3. Now, this command that
reaches all, gives an immediate actual warrant and right to all to come,
if they will. For what is required previous to give warrant to obedience,
but the command of obedience? And therefore the Jews were challenged,
because they would not come to Christ that they might have life. Now then
there is no bar of seclusion set upon the door of the gospel, to keep out
any soul from entering in. There is no qualification or condition
prescribed by the gospel, and without which if he come, he is actually
welcomed and received by Christ, whatsoever you suppose he wants. It is
true, men's own security and unbelief will exclude them from Christ