What an honorable thing is it to be fishers of men! How great an honor shouldst thou esteem it, to be a catcher of souls! We are workers together with God, says the apostle. If God has ever so honored thee, O that thou knewest it, that thou mightst bless his holy name, that ever such a poor fool as thee to be a co-worker with him. God has owned thee to do good to those who were before caught. O my soul, bless thou the Lord. Lord, what am I, or what is my father's house, that thou hast brought me to this?
Thou mayest observe first then, O my soul, that it is the Lord Jesus Christ that makes men fishers of men.
It is the duty of all that hear the gospel, upon the revelation of Christ therein, without looking for any previous qualification in themselves, instantly to believe in him for salvation, both from sin and wrath, that only by so doing, will person be enabled in a gospel manner to forsake sin - that it is inconsistent with the method of gospel grace, and absolutely impossible, for a man to forsake his sins, in a way of gospel repentance, (which kind of forsaking can only please God), till the Spirit determine him to come to Christ as a Prince and Saviour exalted to give repentance and remission of sins... The gospel strictly taken, is only a declaration and promise, containing glad tidings of a Saviour, and all of grace, mercy and salvation in him to sinners - that all precepts, particularly those enjoining faith and repentance, belong to the law - that as believers, holiness has no casual influence upon his everlasting happiness as a federal and conditional means thereof; but the perfect righteousness of Christ as a surety, is the believer's plea both with respect to law and justice, and that whether as to purchase, or actual obtaining the possession of everlasting happiness.
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