, but
that is no retraction on the gospel's part. It is a bar set on a man's own
heart, that shuts him up from coming to the patent entry of the gospel.

Therefore I take it thus, that though all ought to come to Christ, and
none that are indeed willing are debarred for the want of any supposed
condition, yet none will actually and really come, till they be in some
measure sensible of the weight of their sins, and the wrath of God, till
they are labouring under the feeling of their own misery and desperate
condition. And whatsoever be the measure of this, if it give so much
uneasiness to a man that he can be content with rest and ease in Christ,
he may, and certainly ought, to come unto Jesus, and cast all his burdens
upon him. I think then, that way that is in so frequent use among
Christians, to sit down, and essay to bring our hearts to some deep
humiliation, and so to prescribe and order it, as we will deliberately
delay, and suspend the thoughts of believing, till we have attained
something of this,--I say, this way crosses the very intention of Christ in
uttering these words, and such like. For certainly he meant to take away
impediments, and not to cast delays in our way. And therefore I said the
word was rather for ampliation, that is, rather to encourage these who
accounted themselves excluded, than to exclude any who desire to come.
"Come unto me, every one, but especially you that labour, ye should make
the greatest haste. Come unto me even though ye apprehend the wrath of God
to be intolerable, and have foolishly wearied yourselves in seeking rest
by other ways. Ye that are most apprehensive of your sins, and so are apt
to doubt of any acceptation,--you that think yourselves worse than any, and
so to have least warrant to come to me,--yet come, and I will by no means
cast you out, but give rest to your souls." So that it is not intended to
exclude those who are most ready to think themselves excluded, because
they see so much sin in themselves.

Therefore, my beloved, without further disputing about it, let me exhort
you in the name of Jesus Christ, who here invites and commands you, that
you would at once put a period to this, and bring it to some conclusion.
Since you are diseased and disquieted in yourselves, and cannot find rest
in your own bosoms, I beseech you come here, where it is most likely to be
found, and it is most certain, if you come you shall find it. Do not
continue wrangling and contesting