If these be thy desires, and if they be unfeigned, fear not.  Thou art one of those runaways which God has commanded our Lord to receive, and not to send thee back to the devil thy master again, but to give thee a place in his house, even the place which thou likest best.

“But,” you say, “I am afraid I am not elect or chosen to salvation.”

At present, lay the thoughts of thy election by, and ask thyself these questions:  Do I see my lost condition?  Do I see salvation is nowhere but in Christ?  Would I share in this salvation by faith in him?  And would I be thoroughly saved from the filth as well as from the guilt?  Do I love Christ, his Father, his saints, his words and ways?  This is the way to prove we are elect.

Wherefore, sinner, when Satan or thine own heart seeks to puzzle thee with election, say thou, “I cannot attend to talk of this point now; but stay till I know that I am called of God to the fellowship of his Son, and then I will show you that I am elect, and that my name is written in the book of life.”

If poor distressed souls would observe this order, they might save themselves the trouble of an unprofitable labor under these unreasonable and soul-sinking doubts.

Let us therefore, upon the sight of our wretchedness, fly and venturously leap into the arms of Christ, which are now as open to receive us into his bosom as they were when nailed to the cross.

Let me tell thee, soul, for thy comfort, who art coming in to Christ panting and sighing as if thy heart would break, let me tell thee, soul, thou wouldst never have come to Christ if he had not first, by the virtue of his blood and intercession, sent into thy heart an earnest desire after Christ; let me tell thee also, that it is his business to make intercession for thee, not, only that thou mayest come in, but that thou mayest be preserved when thou art come in.

They that are coming to Jesus Christ are ofttimes heartily afraid that Jesus Christ will not receive them.

This word, “in nowise,” cutteth the throat of all objections; and it was dropped by the Lord Jesus for that very end, and to help the faith that is mixed with unbelief.

But I am a great sinner, sayest thou.  I will in nowise cast out, says Christ.  But I am an old sinner, sayest thou.  I will in nowise cast out, says Christ.  But I am a hard-hearted sinner, sayest thou.  I will in nowise cast out, says Christ.  But I have served Satan all my days, sayest thou.  I will in nowise cast out, says Christ.  But I have sinned against light, sayest thou.  I will in nowise cast out, says Christ.  But I have sinned against mercy, sayest thou.  I will in nowise cast out, says Christ.  But I have no good thing to bring with me, sayest thou.  I will in nowise cast out, says Christ.

Fears in coming to Christ.