109SermonsbyJCRyle (continued)
who is a brother born for adversity, and the Prince of peace—a friend who never fails nor forsakes, and a husband who never dies.
3. Let me, in the next place, offer an affectionate ENTREATY to all who want peace and know not where to find it.
You want peace! Then seek it without delay from Him who alone is able to give it—Christ Jesus the Lord. Go to Him in humble prayer, and ask Him to fulfill His own promises and look graciously on your soul. Tell Him you have read His compassionate invitation to the "laboring and heavy-laden." Tell Him that this is the plight of your soul, and implore Him to give you rest. Do this, and do it without delay.
Seek Christ Himself, and do not stop short of personal dealings with Him. Rest not in regular attendance on Christ's ordinances. Be not content with becoming a communicant, and receiving the Lord's supper. Think not to find solid peace in this way. You must see the King's face, and be touched by the golden scepter. You must speak to the Physician, and open your whole case to Him. You must be closeted with the Advocate, and keep nothing back from Him. Oh, remember this! Many are shipwrecked just outside the harbor. They stop short in means and ordinances, and never go completely to Christ. "Whoever drinks of this water shall thirst again." (John 4:13.) Christ alone can satisfy the soul.
Seek Christ, and wait for nothing. Wait not until you feel you have repented enough. Wait not until your knowledge is increased. Wait not until you have been sufficiently humbled because of your sins. Wait not until you have no raveled tangle of doubts and darkness and unbelief all over your heart. Seek Christ just as you are. You will never be better by keeping away from Him. From the bottom of my heart I subscribe to old Traill's opinion, "It is impossible that people should believe in Christ too soon." Alas, it is not humility—but pride and ignorance that make so many anxious souls hang back from closing with Jesus. They forget that the more sick a man is, the more