Page:Comer's conflict, or, The beginner's battle with the devil, when essaying to come to Christ by faith.pdf/4

 4 The Comer's Conflict ; or, I. We are to ſpeak a little of coming to Chriſt. The are only two things I notice here. Coming to Chriſt fi help imports, 1. A view that vain is the help of man; vain is the hel of creatures; vain is the help of miniſters, means and ord nances of themſelves. Thus it was here with the father the child, I beſought thy diſciples, but they could not be So they that come to Chriſt find all refuges fail them. E cxlii. 40; other phyſicians were of no value. None con to Chriſt till they can do no better; yet he is content wi ſuch comers, as ſee there is no other ſhift for them. 2. This coming to Chriſt imports a putting the work his hand; Maſter, I beſeech thee look upon my ſon ; He praj and he brings him to Chriſt at the Lord's call. They th truly come to Chriſt for help, they put the work in his han and give him employment in his ſaving offices, looking him as able, and willing, and ready to ſave; the diſeaſe half cured when it is laid at Chriſt's feet: Happy they come thus to him, and truſt him with their fouls, and tr him with their caſes: Commit thy way unto the Lor truſt alſo in him, and he will bring it to paſs, Pf. xxxvii. II. The ſecond head propoſed, was, to enquire in wt reſpects matters may grow worſe with people, even why they are thus coming to Chriſt. Here two things are corded, The devil threw him down, and he tare him. 1. They that come to Chriſt, before they get the liverance that is inſured to them, may meet with dor caſting providences, The devil threw him down : may be caſt down with diſcouragement and diſpondel for a while, caſt down with fears and doubts, caſt de with jealous apprehenſions, and unbelieving thoughts. lieving ſouls, after their coming to Chriſt, much 'mon they are coming at firſt, may be greatly caſt down with O my God, my ſoul is caſt down within me, Pſal. xlii They may be caſt down with a multitude of perplex thoughts, deſpairing thonghts, and manifold object and ſcruples their minds raiſes, or rather unbelief fra within them. 2. They may not only be thrown down, but torn the way ; The devil threw him down and tare Whenever a man begins to come to Chriſt, and the I fears he ſhall loſe his poſſeſſion, then he rages againſt