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 liketh thee
best. "Thou shalt not deliver to his master," says he, "the servant
which is escaped from his master unto thee. He shall dwell with
thee, even among you in that place which he shall choose, in one of
thy gates where it liketh him best; thou shalt not oppress him;"
Deut. xxiii. 15, 16.

This is a command to the church, consequently to the Head of the
church; for all commands from God come to her through her Head.
Whence I conclude, that as Israel of old was to receive the runaway
servant who escaped from a heathen master to them, and should not
dare to send him back to his master again, so Christ's church now,
and consequently Christ himself, may not, will not, refuse that soul
that has made his escape from sin, Satan, the world, and hell, unto
him, but will certainly let him dwell in his house, among his saints,
in that place which he shall choose, even where it liketh him best.
For he says in another place, "And him that cometh to me, I will in
no wise cast out." In no wise, let his crimes be what they will,
either for nature, multitude, or the attendance of aggravating
circumstances.

Wherefore, if thy desires be firm, sound, and unfeigned to become the
saved of Christ, and his servant, fear not, he will not, he will in
no wise put thee away, or turn thee over to thy old master again.

Thirdly, As to they fears, whatever they are, let that be supposed
which is supposed before, and they are groundless, and so of no
weight.