"1. That this Offer is real. Christ doth not deceive, or dissemble with sinners, but really he doth desire they should have Liberty. Men sometimes make offers of good things to one another, but they are not sincere in them. But it is not so with Christ; He is a real well-wisher to sinners souls. He hath expressed it all the ways that can be desired. Would you believe his reality, if he does woo sinners? Why, so he does, Luke 14:23. compel them to come in, viz. by importunate entreaty. Would you believe his reality, if he does wait for sinners? Why, so he does, Rev. 3:20. Behold I stand at the door, and knock, &c. Would you believe his reality if he does weep for sinners? Why, so he does, He wept over Jerusalem, Luke 19:41, 42. Would you believe his reality if he does die for sinners? Why, so he did, Rom. 5:8. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Nay, would you believe his reality if he should be damned for sinners? Why, so he was, tho not in respect of the place, yet in respect of the pains of Hell: He was made a curse for us, Gal. 3:13. What would you have Christ to say or do more than he has said and done, to convince you, that he would have sinners to be partakers of this Freedom. Has he not said so in his word? Has he not sealed it with his blood? Has he not accepted and embraced from time to time, whoever came unto him? Does he not engage himself by his faithful promise, to do so still to the end of the World, That he will in no wise cast out such as come to him, John 6:37. And yet what a wonder is it, that the World is so unbelieving still? and so hard to be persuaded, that Christ has any loving thoughts or purposes towards them? Oh this cursed unbelief, and hardness of heart, that is in men and women, that makes them, that they will not come to Christ that they might have life!"
Nathanael Ball, Spiritual Bondage and Freedom. Or, A Treatise Containing the Substance of Several Sermons Preached on that Subject from John VIII. 36. (London: Printed for Jonathan Robinson, at the Golden Lion in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1683), 36–38.
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