The following is extracted from one of Bunyan’s lesser known works Come, and Welcome, to Jesus Christ. This work (the twenty-sixth of a total of sixty-one) was published in 1681, three years after the first part of The Pilgrim’s Progress. It is an exposition of John vi. 37. “All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me: and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.”
I come now to the second observation, to wit, that they that are coming to Christ, are often heartily afraid that Jesus Christ will not receive them.
I told you that this observation is implied in the text: and I gather it from the largeness and openness of the promise: “I will in no wise cast out.” For had there not been a proneness in us to fear casting out, Christ needed not to have, as it were, waylaid our fear, as he doth by this great expression, “In no wise.” For this word, “In no wise” cutteth the throat of all objection. It is as it were the sum of all promises.
“But I am a great sinner,” sayest thou. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
“But I am an old sinner,” sayest thou. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
“But I am a hard-hearted sinner,” sayest thou. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
“But I am a backsliding sinner,” sayest thou. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
“But I have sinned against light,” sayest thou. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
“But I have sinned against mercy,” sayest thou. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
“But I have no good thing to bring with me,” sayest thou. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
There are two things among others that Satan useth to roar out after them that are coming to Christ. (1). That they are not elected; (2). That they have sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost. I answer briefly touching election. Why, coming sinner, even the text affordeth thee help against this doubt.
First, that coming to Christ is by virtue of the gift, the promise and drawing of the Father, therefore the Father doth give thee, promised thee and is drawing thee to Jesus Christ. Coming sinner, hold to this. Second, Jesus Christ has promised, him that cometh to him he will in no wise cast out. And if he hath said it, will he not make it good? If Satan therefore objecteth, “But thou art not elected,” answer, “But I am coming, Satan, and I am coming to such a Lord Jesus as will in no wise cast me out. Further, Satan, were I not elect, the Father would not draw me.” Therefore thou honest-hearted coming sinner, be not afraid, but come. As to the second objection, about sinning the sin against the Holy Ghost, coming to Jesus lays a man under the promise of forgiveness, but it is impossible that he that hath sinned that sin should ever be put under such a promise. Therefore, he that has sinned that sin, can never have a heart to come to Jesus Christ.
Thy fears that Christ will not receive you, may arise from thine own folly, in inventing, yea, in chalking out to God, a way to bring thee home to Jesus Christ. Some souls that are coming to Jesus are great tormentors of themselves on this account; they conclude, that if their coming to Christ is right, they must needs be brought home thus and thus; as for instance:
- If God be bringing me to Jesus Christ, then he will load me with guilt of sin until he makes me roar.
- If God be indeed bringing me home to Christ, then I must needs be assaulted with dreadful temptations of the devil.
- If God be indeed bringing me to Jesus Christ, then when I have come to him, I shall indeed have wonderful revelations of him.
This is the way some sinners decide for God; but perhaps he will not walk therein; yet he will bring them to Jesus Christ. But because they come not in the way of their own chalking out, they are at a loss. They look for a heavy load and burden; but perhaps God gives them a sight of their lost condition and does not add that heavy weight and burden. They look for fearful temptations of Satan; but God sees that yet they are unfit for them: nor is the time come that he should be honoured by them in such a condition. They look for great and glorious revelations, grace and mercy; but perhaps God only takes the yoke off their jaws and lays meat before them. And now again they are at a loss, yet a coming to Christ; “I drew them with the cords of a man, with the bands of love; I took the yoke from off their jaws and laid meat before them.” Hos. xi. 4.
If God deals more gently with thee than with others, do not murmur at it; refuse not the waters that go softly lest he bring up to thee the waters of the rivers, strong and many, even those two smoking firebrands, the devil and guilt of sin. “For as much as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly . . . Now therefore, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria. Isa. viii. 6, 7. He said to Peter, “Follow me.” And what thunder did Zaccheus hear and see? “Zaccheus, come down.” said Christ, and he came down and received him joyfully.”
Poor creature, thou criest, “If I were tempted I could come faster and with more confidence to Christ.” It is not the over-heavy load of sin, but the discovery of mercy; not the roaring of the devil, but the drawing of the Father that makes a man come to Jesus; I myself know all these things.
True, sometimes, yea mostly, they that come to Jesus come the way that thou desirest; the loading, tempted way, but the Lord leads others by the waters of comfort. If I were to choose when to go a long journey, whether in the dead of winter or in the pleasant spring, I would choose the pleasant spring, because the way would be more delightful and the days longer and warmer. And the very argument thou usest to weaken thy strength in the way, that very argument Christ Jesus uses to encourage his beloved to come to him. “Arise,” he sayeth, “my love, my fair one, and come away; For lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear in the earth, the time of the singing of the birds is come, the voice of the turtle is heard in the land.”
Trouble not thyself, coming sinner: if thou seest thy lost condition by original and actual sin, thou seest thy need of the spotless righteousness of Jesus Christ; if thou art willing to be found in him and to take up thy cross and follow him; then pray for a fair wind and good weather, and come away.