Reason 1. Because to that end is there a taste of this grace given, to stirre up the appetite.
2. Because the goodnesse of God it selfe is in a manner contemned and vilified, if it be neglected, after it hath beene once tasted: & therefore in this respect they sinne more grievously, who when they have tasted this grace of God, do little esteem of it, then they, who out of ignorance make no reckoning of it at all.
Use 1. This may serve to reprove those that have left their first love, Apocalypse 2.4.
2. To exhort us, in meditating upon the goodnesse of God in Christ, and from the sense and experience that God hath given us of it heretofore, to inflame our mindes with an earnest desire to have a fuller measure of this grace, and to that purpose religiously to use all meanes, whereby it is usually communicated unto men.
Doctrine 12. The primary duty of Christians, whereby it is also that they are made Christians, is to come unto Christ.
This is gathered out of the fourth verse. Now to come unto Christ, is nothing else but to believe in him. So Iohn 6.35. He that comes unto me, and he that beleeves in me, are made all one. So Iohn 5.40. To come unto Christ, to receive Christ, and to believe in him, are one and the same. And Hebrews 10.22. We are said to draw neere by an assurance of faith.
Reason 1. Because our salvation depends upon that union which we have with Christ: whence it is also, that we are said to come unto Christ, that we may have life, Iohn 5.40.
2. Because by nature we are strangers and far remote from Christ, and salvation obtained by him, yea and after that we are called unto Christ, we are not so perfectly conjoyned.
3. Because all Christian piety is nothing else, but a continuation and renovation of this accesse unto Christ, and by Christ unto God. In the hearing of the word we come unto Christ, as our Teacher; in our prayers we come unto him as our advocate; in the administration of the Lords Supper we come unto him as the Authour of a Kingly mariage feast, Matthew 22. And all other duties do so depend upon these, that looke how we approve our selves in these, such must we needs be in the others also.
4. Because Christ cals and invites us especially unto this, to come unto him, Matthew 11.28. John 7.37.