life so the meat that is appointed for the natural life if compared with the meat of the Spiritual life is but a very image of meat Christs flesh is real meat 2. In respect of that typical meat which the Jews had lately spoken of v. 31. Our fathers did eat Manna in the desart c. Our Saviour tells them that that is but typical bread but his flesh is bread indeed it is the real substance of which that was but a meere type and shadow Thus for Explication The Observation is this Doct 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ is really and truly the food and meat of beleevers Flesh is here put for the whole person of Christ Jesus Christ as he is held out in the Scriptures is the true real and very meat of beleeving Christians Christ as he is propounded in the Gospel dead broken crucified Christ in all his perfection compleatnesse fulnesse is meat indeed to a true beleever 'T is the very scope of this Sermon from v. 27. to v. 59. in which this truth is inculcated over and over againe and all objections answered which the carnal reason and unbeleefe of mans heart can make against it I shall in the Explication of this Doctrine open these things 1. Prove that Christ is a beleevers meat 2. Shew the Analogy between Christ and other meat 3. How this meat is eaten and received I. That Christ is the soules meat This is proved two wayes First from the types of Christ in the Old Testament The Ceremonial Law had many types of Christ Whatsoever is revealed of Christ in the New Testament was some way or other typified of him in the Ceremonial Law There are foure types which did set out Jesus Christ as the souls meat 1. The Manna in the wildernesse The History of the Manna is set down Exod. 16. the people being in some want of provision in the Wildernesse of sinne began to murmur against Moses and Aaron v. 3. God promiseth v. 4. to raine bread from heaven for them which accordingly was done v. 14 15. That this was a type of the feeding vertue of Christ is plainly discovered by our Saviour in this very Sermon v. 31 32. The Wildernesse did typifie the state of the Church in this world and the Manna was a plaine type of Christ the Churches meat 2. The Shewbread The Law and manner of the Shewbread you have at large Lev. 24. 5 6 7. 8 9. There are two things represented by this Shewbread First the multitude of the faithful presented unto God in his Church as upon a pure table continually serving him made by faith and holinesse as fine cakes and by the mediation of Christ as by incense made a sweet odour unto God Secondly the Spiritual repast which the Church hath from and before God who feedeth them with Christ the bread of life 3. The meat-offerings Concerning this Minchah or meat-offering you may reade at large Lev. 2. 1 c. These meat-offerings were of two sorts some were the meat-offerings of the Congregation some of particular persons of these latter there were several sorts mentioned in that Chapter It 's said v. 3. that Aaron and his sons shall have the remnant of the meat-offering that is all of it but that which is burned upon the Altar for a memorial v. 2. Several things were signified by the meat-offerings Being referred to Christ who by the oblation of his own body was our meat offering Psal 40. 6. Heb. 10. 5. they did shadow out our communion with Christ and participation of his death and resurrection by faith whereby he becomes unto us spiritual meat of which the whole Church are made partakers 4. The flesh of the sacrifices of the peace-offerings and others which were given to the Priests of which you read Lev. 7. 15. they were to be eaten the same day it was killed Now what was meant by the eating of the flesh of these sacrifices and of the flesh of the other sacrifices which were given to the Priests to eat vid. Lev. 10. 12 13 14. Surely Jesus Christ who by his flesh as by precious meat feedeth his people who are spirituall Priests unto everlasting life Secondly from the Sacraments of nourishment both of the Old and New Testament There were Sacraments of implantation or initiation and of growth under the Law Circumcision Passeover under the Gospel Baptisme Supper of the Lord. 1. The Sacrament of nourishment under the Old Testament was the Paschal lamb The Law and rites of this are set down Exod. 12. 3 4 5 c. What did this Paschal Lamb signifie but Jesus Christ our Passeover the Lamb of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world In this Sacrament was Jesus Christ set out as a nourisher He is that precious meat upon which all the true Israel of God feed continually who is therefore called our Passeover 1 Cor. 5. 7. 2. The Lords Supper This is the Sacrament of nourishment under the New Testament And herein clearly Christ is exhibited as our spiritual meat His flesh is the bread the wine is his blood As the body is nourished by bread and wine so is the soule by his body and blood nourished and fed to life eternal II. The Analogy between Christ and corporal meat stands in these three particulars Three great ends of meat 1. Corporal meat is for the preservation of the Susientation natural life The natural life is maintained by meat through the concurrence of Gods ordinary blessing 'T is pabulum vitae Hence bread under which all other provision is comprehended is called the staffe of life Esay 3. 1. Keep the strongest man from meat but a few dayes and the life will extinguish and go out 1 Sam. 30. 12. Jesus Christ is the maintainer and preserver of the spiritual life As he gives it at first so he upholds it 'T is by continual influences from him that the life is kept from expiring If he withdraw his influx never so little the soule is at the giving up of the Ghost even halfe dead 2. Corporal meat is for growth 'T is by meat Vegetation that the body is brought from infancy to childhood from childhood to youth from youth to a perfect man Jesus Christ is he that carries on a Christian from infancy to perfection All the soules growth and increase is from Christ So the Apostle Col. 2. 19. From him the whole body having nourishment ministred c. The branches live and increase by vertue of the sap which is derived from the root Christians grow by vertue of the sap which is to them derived from Jesus Christ Every part growes by Christ 3. Meat is a repayer of natures decayes When Reparation by some violent sicknesse the spirits are consumed the body wasted the strength lost meat fitly and seasonably taken helps through the divine blessing to recover all again 1 Sam. 30. 12. his spirit came to him againe Jesus Christ is the repairer of the soules decayes
feed the inward man Those that have the fattest bodies have not alwayes the fattest soules But Christ is spiritual meat and drink He feeds the soul the conscience the spiritual part His blood purgeth the conscience Heb. 9. 14. it refreshes the conscience it chears the conscience his body strengthens the soul repaires the decayes of the inward man 2. Christ is heavenly meat and drink Joh. 6. 32. My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven Other meat and drink is terrene and earthly Your bread grows out of the bowels of the earth Your wine is the blood of an earthly grape The flesh you eat is fed of the tender grasie that springs out of the earth If the earth should prove barren you would soone feele a famine The King himself is served by the field Eccles 5. 9. 'T is true the blessing comes from heaven but all the materials of meat and drink are earthly But Jesus Christ is the bread of heaven and the wine of heaven The Manna came from the clouds onely but Christ from the beatifical heaven even from the bosome of the Father 3. Christ is incorruptible meat and drink All earthly meat and drink is of a fading perishing nature The best bread grows mouldy in a little time the best flesh in time putrifies and taints the best wine growes eager and sowre in a little time and becomes unfit for the body of man The very Manna it self when it was kept till the morning of the next day contrary to Gods command bred wormes and standk Exod. 16. 20. But Jesus Christ knows no corruption His flesh blood is now as sweet and pleasant after so many Ages as it was the first houre it was eaten and drank John 6. 27. And it will be as farre from corruption at the end of the world as now it is The Manna in the golden pot corrupted not though kept for many Generations Christ is Manna in that golden-pot the humanity in the golden pot of the Divinity shall see no corruption 4. Christ is such meat and drink as preserves from death Other meat and drink cannot keep man from the grave That rich man that fared deliciously every day was not made immortal The rich man died and was buried Luke 16. 22. All that Generation that fed on Manna and drank the water out of the rock died John 6. 49. But Christ preserves the soul from Death John 6. 50. This is the bread of God that came down from Heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die It immortalizes the soule that feeds on it He that beleeveth on me hath eternal life ver 51. And then 5. Christ is soul-satisfying meat and drink He that beleeveth on me shall never hunger and he that cometh to me shall never thirst John 6. 35. There is a hunger of desire and a hunger and thirst of total emptinesse and want He that hath this meat and drink shall never totally want him It is not so with other meat and drink A man may have his belly filled with other meat and drink and may have a good quantity before-hand and yet may at last want a morsel and die for want of a draught of water But he that once hath this spiritual meat and drink though he eat but a little shall never be utterly destitute Jehn 7. 37 38. The widows handful of meal and spoonful of oyle was never spent till God sent raine upon the earth 1 Reg. 17. 16. He that hath but a handful of Christs flesh and a spoonful of his blood shall never see want but shall have enough to satisfie him to all eternity 6. Christ is such meat and drink as gives life to the Dead Other meat and drink cannot preserve a living body from death much lesse can it give life and restore breath to a dead body Put the most delicate meat the strongest drink into the mouth of a dead man and they will not give him life if the soul be quite departed They may recover from a swoon they cannot from death But the flesh and blood of Christ quicken the dead Christ by putting his flesh and blood into the mouth of the dead soul conveys life into it His flesh and blood make the lips of the dead to speak As the Father raiseth the dead and quickneth them so the Son quickneth whom he will John 5. 21. if thou hast any spiritual life in thee thou didst receive it from the enlivening vertue of Christs flesh and blood communicated to thee by the Spirit of life 7. Christ is such meat and drink as will never surset All other meat and drink if it be taken immoderately and unseasonably tends to sicknesse and suâ—fetting The more lushious and delicate they are the sooner do they surfet the body Hence is Solomons advice Prov. 25. 16. drunkennesse and surfeting bring more to their long home then pining famine But the flesh and blood of Christ never surfet A man cannot eat and drink too much of Christ nor can they eat and drink him unseasonably There is no killing no annoying vertue in Jesus Christ this meat and drink will never clog never cloy the stomack Christ is an occasion of death to none but to those that refuse him 8. Christ is such meat and drink as is suitable for all persons at all times Other meat and drink is not fit for all persons nor for the same person in all conditions That that will nourish a man may kill a childe That that strengthens a man in health may kill him in sicknesse There is meat for strong men milk for babes c. But Jesus Christ is meat and drink for all persons for all conditions He is meat for the strong man he is milk for the babe He is proper for the healthful person and he is fit for the sickly person He is the labouring mans food and he is the sick mans diet His blood is Physical drink to him that is sick cooling drink to him that is parched with heat he is strong cordial-drink to him that faints He is a suitable nourishment 9. Jesus Christ is meat and drink that is freely bestowed He is not purchased by our money nor procured by our industry but freely communicated Other meat and drink is procured at dear rates Men must Till and Plow and Sowe their land men must breed up cattel men must plant vines dig springs and fountaines otherwise they can expect neither meat nor drink The Egyptians in a time of famine pawn'd their lands for food they gave their cattel for bread and at last sold their land out-right that they might have food Gen. 47. 15 16 17 18 19 20. But Christ is meat and drink though the most costly in himselfe yet costlesse to us Nothing is required on our part but receiving of him If any should offer money Christ would say as Peter to Simon Magus Act. 8. 20. Thy money perish with thee He that will not take this meat and drink as an
Alms shall famish for want of it Vse 2. For Exhortation I. To such as want Christ My counsel to them is that they would labour for an interest in him you cannot be well without him you will famish your soul if you have not Christ for your meat and drink Quest How may we come to have an interest in him 1. Be thorowly perswaded of your need of him This is the first step to the attainment of him Look upon your natural guilt upon all your sinnes upon the severity of the curse of the Law against disobedience upon the exact justice of God in punishing sinne and upon your own helpless nesse either to satisfie justice or to stand out under the deserved wrath of God and you will be convinced of your need of him 2. Wait upon Jesus Christ in that way in which he gives himself to sinners The publick Ordinances chiefly the preaching of the Word In that Christ makes the tender of himself and by that ordinarily faith is wrought in the heart to embrace that tender Rom. 10. 17. Zacheus obtained Christ by being in the way of Christ Luke 19. 4. the Ordinances are the Sycamore-tree Câ—â—mb up into them and stay and wait till Christ come He is to passe by that way 3. Observe his call and embrace it Prov. 9. init Luke 14. 16 17 18. Mark the impressions of the Spirit the knocking 's of Christ Thus did Zacheus Luke 19. 5 6. Zacheus Come down c. And he made haste and came down c. Beg of Christ that he would give a heart to come down when he sayes come down He is the meat and drink of God He that refuseth him sinneth against his own soule Consider seriously of it When you finde your stomack crave meat and drink think O what shall I do for spiritual meat and drink II. To such as have an interest in Christ who is meat and drink let me commend a few things to you 1. Feed on him Eat and drink of this flesh and blood every day Christians grow weak because they let their meat and drink stand by them 'T is not the flesh in the pot but the flesh in the stomack that gives nourishment 'T is not the drink in the vessel but the drink taken down that revives Stir up spiritual hunger and that will make you feed heartily on Christ Eat and drink Christ by Meditation eat and drink him by Application Let your faith draw in Christ in every Ordinance Keep your Spiritual meals as constantly as you do your other meales Your eating will help you to a stomack Satisfaction and hunger are mutual helps one to another Eating and drinking other meat takes away the appetite but it increaseth the spiritual appetite Fixed times of spiritual feeding every day are marvellous profitable When you have prayed call your heart to account what it hath taken in of Christ When you have been reading ask it what nourishment it hath received from the Word When the Lords Supper is over enquire what refreshment is received Put your selves forward to frequent constant actual feeding It 's pitty such precious meat and drink should stand in corners when the soule hath so much need of it 2. Be thankful for this meat and drink That it is provided for any that it is actually dealt out to you That you have that meat and drink which others want There are many that have no other meat but sinne They drink iniquity like water Job 15. 16. Some eat the bread of violence and drink the wine of deceit Some there are that drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their God Amos 2. 8. They eat the flesh of men and drink their blood like new wine Micah 3. 3. The greatest part of men have no other meat then the pulse of worldly comforts no other drink then the puddle water of created things and thou hast the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ to eat and drink prize and value at an high rate the exceeding riches of this grace We are to blesse God for our corporal meat and drink Jesus Christ gave thanks when he ate and drank John 6. 11 And so did the Apostles Acts 27. 35. and so should all men do It is brutish to eat and drink without Thanksgiving How much more cause have we to blesse God for our spiritual meat and drink The corporall is common to us with others This is peculiar onely to the Elect no other shall taste of this provision 3. Let your growth be answerable to such excellent feeding God expects that our spirituall growth should be proportionable to our spiritual feeding Bos Macer pingui in arvo is prodigious Husbandmen expect that when they put their cattel into pastures that are rich where there is plenty of grasse and abundance of water they expect that their growth should be answerable The Saints of God are highly fed They have Angels meat should they not then do Angels work If you do not grow very fast you will bring up an evil report of Christ as if his flesh were not nourishing meat as if his blood were not nourishing drink as if it were meat in shew and not meat indeed as if it were drink in shew not drink indeed Jesus Christ may repent that his body was broken his blood poured out to be meat and drink for you that are still leane and ill-favoured even dwarfs in grace It 's the Saints priviledge that they shall grow because Christ is their feeder and it is their duty because they have such food to be carefully mindful of growing Every limb of the new man should thrive We should grow lower in humility higher in heavenly-mindednesse broader and thicker in spiritual affections c. you cannot expresse your thankfulnesse for this royal meat and drink any other way so much to the contentment of Christ as by growing abundantly It is that which our Saviour requires as a testimony of our union with him and of thankfulnesse for that feeding vertue we receive from him John 15. 5 8. As he is unworthy of meat that doth not labour so is he more unworthy that doth not grow 4. Shew pitty to others that feed on other meat and drink Endeavour to communicate Christ to those that want him We naturally pity famished men lean cheeks and pale faces work some bowels in a miser in an enemy Commend Christ to others perswade them to embrace him You shall feel no want of meat and drink for your selves by communicating Christ to others Though a thousand eat and drink of him no one shall have the lesse 5. Do not despair of spiritual growth and strength 'T is a dishonour to Christ to think that he should starve you His flesh is strengthning flesh his blood is strengthening blood quickening blood 'T is full of spirits 't is full of life Though thy graces be weak thy spiritual diseases violent yet despair not Thou receivest more from Christ then thou canst lose or spend
fitly taken carries away the defilements that are contracted within the body The blood of Christ is of a cleansing nature 'T is indeed the only cleanser It doth being taken by faith carry away all the filthinesse of the inward Man All the Ceremonial purifications were types of the purifying blood of Christ Heb. 9. 13 14. There ye have the typical cleansings expounded The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sinne 1 John 1. 7 Christ takes away the guilt of sinne by justification and he cleanseth us from the filthinesse of sinne by sanctification You reade in Zech. 13. 1. of a fountaine opened for sinne and for uncleannesse This fountaine is nothing else but the fountain of Christs blood He that drinks daily of this blood shall be cleansed daily 3. Drink is of a reviving nature It recovers from faintings it opens the eyes helps feeblenesse of Spirit vid. Judg. 15. 18 19. Sampsâ—n being tired by that great slaughter of the Philistines found his spirits sink he prayes for drink and when he had refreshed himself with water his spirit came again and he revived Solomon Prov. 31. 6 7. prescribes strong drink to him that is ready to perish and wine to the heavy hearted that they may forget their poverty and remember their misery no more Some drink is called Aqua-vitae because of its usefulnesse and efficacy this way The blood of Jesus Christ is a reviving blood When the soul is in deliquio spirituali when it faints and dies and sinks the sprinklings of this blood will fetch it again a drop or two of this true Aqua-vitae taken down by faith will open the eyes and restore it again This effect it had on Asaph Ps 73. 26. My heart and my flesh faileth c. but thou art the stay of my heart and my portion for ever This was foretold of Christ long before his birth by that Evangelical Prophet Esay 61. 1. and chap. 57. 15. To revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones It is his blood and that alone that healeth the broken in heart 4. Drink is of a cheering nature It doth beget and continue cheerfulnesse The Psalmist tells us that wine maketh glad the heart of man Psalme 104. 15. The blood of Christ is a heart-chearing thing It 's the only foundation and the only preserver of true joy It will make the heart merry in adversity it will create laughter in heavinesse Psal 4. 6 7. Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance c. Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart c. The light of Gods countenance is lifted up onely in and through Jesus Christ Christs blood is the onely medicine for spiritual Melancholy When the Church was drinking in Christs wine-cellar taking down this blood how was her heart cheared Cant. 2. 3 4. I sate down under his shadow c. The Uses of this are 1. For Information in these particulars 1. Take notice of the great mystery of a beleevers union and onenesse with Jesus Christ The Scripture sets this out as by expresse testimonies â—o by natural resemblances as of vine and branches John 15. init of head and members Eph. 1. ult Eph. 6. 30. of husband and wife Eph. 6. 32. of the foundation and superstructory stones Eph. 3. 20 21. and of meat and eaters as in the Text. As there is a union between the meat and the body of him that eats it so there is an intimate union between a beleever and Christ his spiritual meat And indeed ouâ— union with him is the foundation of our feeding on him He could not be our meat if he were not our Head by mystical uâ—im This is the foundation of this eating this makes Christ ours gives us right to eat The Apostle Col. 2. 19. makes our union with him the foundation of our receiving nourishment from him And the souls feeding on him proves the soules union with him So it follows ver 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and â— in him As the meat which we eate is turned into the substance of our body so are we turned into Christ made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone 2. Behold here the fulnesse of Christ Whence shall we have bread in the Wildernesse to satisfie so many say the Disciples to Christ Mar. 8. 4 5. The fulnesse of Christ appears in this that he hath enough in him to feed so many and to feed every one so plentifully He hath sed his people ever since that promise Gen. 3. 15. and he will feed all his Elect to the end of the world and he will feed them all abundantly every kind of way he feeds them with grace feeds them with knowledge feeds them in respect of justification and he feeds them in respect of sanctification c. and yet is there no abatement of his fulnesse Did not the fulnesse of the Godhead dwell bodily in him Col. 2. 9. he could not feed so many so long every way without any diminution of his fulnesse the children have been eating above five thousand years and the loaf is still whole III. Behold the great love of Christ and of the Father in giving us this meat and drink Remember 't is his flesh that is our meat his blood that is our drink He could not have been our meat and drink if he had not been sacrificed the Priests were not to eat of the offerings allowed them till they were sacrificed had not Christ been sacrificed he could have been no food for us The love of Christ and of the Father appear the more in it that he should sacrifice his Sonne to be a meat offering for us and let out his blood to be a drink offering for us wonder to eternity at this love John 3. 16. the Scripture expresses the great love of God to the Israelites that he gave them Manna from heaven Psal 75. 23 24 25. How much greater love doth he expresse in giving his Sonne to the Elect to feed them That Gods onely Sonne should be torn in pieces to be meat and drink for us Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us as to feed us with the body and blood of his own Son IV. Behold here the compleatnesse of Christ The Scripture speaks much of his compleatness and perfection Look upon him in what respect under what notion you please and you will see his compleatnesse Behold him as a Saviour and so he is a compleat he saves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 7 25. he saves the soul the body from all evil unto all good and that for ever Consider him as a Physician and his compleatnesse will appeare He heales the soule the body heales in an instant heales to the bottom c. whatsoever he is compared to he is compleatly and perfectly so Behold him as a Feeder and he is compleat in that notion He is not onely meat nor onely drink but he
is both meat and drink compleat nourishment The body cannot live with meat if drink be wanting nor can it subsist by drink onely without meat Bread without drink would dry up the blood drink without meat would in a little time drown the body A mixture and fit proportion of both keeps it in health Jesus Christ is both these compleat and perfect nourishment Well may the Apostle say that Christians are compleat in him Col. 2. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He is in himselfe every way compleat and those that adhere to him are perfectly compleat in him V Take notice of the truth of Christ humanity Marcion Eutiches Saturnius Maniches hold that Christ was man onely in appearance The Scripture doth both assert the God-head and Man-hood of Christ The two natures are personally united never to be separated His Name shall be called Emmanuel Mat. 1. 23. And the truth of the Man-hood is asserted in many places The Word became flesh and dwelt among us Joh. 1. 14. To us a childe is born Esay 9. 6. As other Scriptures so the Text doth clearly assert his humanity for it makes mention of his flesh and blood The God-head hath neither flesh nor blood but the Man-hood hath both He is perfect God and perfect man of a reasonable soule and humane flesh subsisting VI. How injurious are the Papists to the people of God that deny them his blood They take away from the Laity as they call them the blood of Christ in the Sacrament And by this meanes do in effect deny them nourishment As the body stands in need of meat as well as drink and of drink as well as meat so doth the soul As they wrong Christ in transgressing his institution who appointed the cup as well as the bread Matth. 26. 26 27. so they are very injurious to the Church in taking away the one half of their spiritual food Abhor their Doctrines blesse God you are freed from the sacrilegious soul-robbers They that deprive you of Christs blood depâ—ive you of life for except ye eat the flesh of the Sonne of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you Joh. 6. 53. yea indeed he that takes away Christs blood takes away whole Christ from the soul VII The wickednesse of the Socinian doctrine that makes nothing that Christ did to be meritorious for us but onely exemplary This is a soul-damning doctrine Christ is our meat and drink He died not onely to teach us to suffer but to be meat and drink to keep us from starving yea to feed us up to eternal life VIII The miserable condition of those that want Christ Nothing can keep them from starving who either have not or will not use this meat and drink The condition of Lazarus was sad as to his outward man when he had neither meat nor drink Luke 16. Hagar and her childe were in a miserable condition when the bread was eaten and the bottle empty Gen. 21. 15 16. That condition of that desolate widow of Sarepta 1 Reg. 17. 11 12. was very sad far worse is theirs who want Christ the starving of the soul is worse then the pining of the body IX None fare so delicately as beleevers That rich glutton fared deliciously every day Luk. 16. 19. What were his delicacies to this He had the creatures to feed upon beleevers feed on God himself Nabal it s said when he had his sheep-shearers made a feast like the feast of a King 1 Sam. 25. 36. you read of Ahasureus his great feast Esth 1 4 â— You reade of Solomons daily provision 1 Reg. 4. 22 23. this was very great But the beleeving beggar hath better provision then this What is the flesh of foules to the flesh of Christ What is the blood of the grape to Christs blood This is a beleevers daily food They have not onely panem potum Domini but they have panem potum Dominum X. The folly of those that do either feed themselves or perswade others to feed upon their own works and duties The Papists set mens works and duties before themselves and others as their spiritual meat and drink They make the righteousnesse of man their meat and drink 1 This doctrine is derogatory to Christ To make any thing besides Christ the soules meat and drink is to deny him to be meat at least sufficient and perfect meat He will either be our onely food or not our food at all Christ is incapable of all other mixtures As the Apostle argues about grace and works so may we argue in this matter about Christ and works Rom. 11. 6. If by grace then it is no more of works c. If Christ be our meat and drink then are not works our meat and drink otherwise Christ is no more Christ and if works be our meat and drink then is not Christ our meat and drink otherwise works are no more works 2 This doctrine is prejudicial to the soule It is indeed a soul-starving doctrine Our works cannot feed us The Prophet tells us Esay 44. 20. that the Idolater feedeth on ashes Our best works and duties are not meat and drink but ashes 'T is as impossible that the body should live upon ashes or other such trash as that the soule should live upon its own works Our works have no nourishing vertue in them If a Sonne shall ask bread saith our Saviour of any of you that is a father will he give him a stone Luke 11. 11 12. The Papists are unnatural fathers to their children When they ask them bread they give them a stone when they ask fish they give them a serpent and when they ask an egge they give them a scorpion A mans best works are Stones Serpents Scorpions yea they are poyson to him that makes them his food You reade of a severe threatning of Rabshakeh against the people of God 2 Reg. 18. 27. He would make them eat their own dung c. The Papists put this threatning into practise upon all their followers in a spiritual sense They make them eat their own dung c. Indeed our best works and duties in the account of strict justice are no better Mal. 2. 3. I will spread dung upon your faces even the dung of your solemne feasts A person had better never do any good works then make him his spiritual meat and subsistence XI Behold here the excellency of Jesus Christ He is meat and drink He is indeed compared to all things that are excellent he doth farre excel whatsoever he is compared unto He is as far above all other meat and drink as the best meat and drink are above the coursest pulse and the muddiest water See this excellency in a few particulars 1. Christ is spiritual meat and drink All other meat and drink is onely corporeal 'T is so in its own nature and 't is so in regard of the subject it nourisheth not the soule but the body onely All their delicacies do not
is called That great Shepherd First the parallel between Christ and a shepherd stands in these five particulars viz 1. A shepherd â—â—ed this stock 'T is his work to provide both pasture and water for his sheep Pastour â— Pascâ—ndâ— Ezek. 34. 2. Should not the shepherds feed the flocks A good shepherd will take care that his flock may have both grasse and water When they have eat one place bare he drives them to another when one fountaine is dry he leads them to another he had rather want bread himself then that his sheep should want provision He feeds them with his own flesh and blood John 6 5. Jesus Christ provides sufficient food and nourishment for his sheep Three things 〈…〉 1 He hath provided Ordinanâ—◠〈…〉 very Ordinance is a spiritual 〈…〉 fountaine for the feeding of Chris◠〈…〉 Psalmist speaks of this Psal 23. 2. He 〈…〉 to lie down in green pastures he leadeth me beside the still waters What are those pastures of tender grasse What are those waters of quietnesse but the Ordinances of the Gospel the fields where Christs sheep feed the rivers where they drink The variety of the Ordinances shewes the variety of â—eeding the richnesse and fulnesse of the Ordinances shewes the plentifulnesse of Christs feeding here are many pastures and every pasâ—ure so rich that it can never be eaten bare here are many streames and every streame so deep and broad that it can never be drawn dry the sheep have been eating in these pastures ever since Christ had a Church on earth and yet they are as full of grasse as ever The sheep have been drinking at these streams ever since Adam and yet they are brim full to this very day they will so continue till the sheep be above the use of them in heaven 2 He hath provided shepherdâ— to dâ—spense these Ordinances The sheep can neither feed themselves nor water themselves unlesse they have some to help them The Ministers of the Gospel do by vertue of their office open these pastures and lead the sheep into them they roll away the stone from the mouth of these Wells and draw water for them that they may drink and be satisfied The Apostle tells us that Pastouâ—s and Teachers are given of Christ for the edification of his Church Eph. 4. 11 12. This was the work of the Prophers in their 〈…〉 Apostles and Evangelists in their generaâ—on and of Pastours and Teachers the present Ministers of the Church yea we shall finde how severely Christ bath charged them under the paine of his highest displeasure to be diligent in feeding the flock See 2 Tim. 4. 1 2. and he â—ath allured them by the most glorious promises that they should be careful in this work See 1 Pet. 5. 2 4. and John 21. 15 16. And he furnisheth them with gifts and abilities for this very purpose Vid. Luke 12. 42. 3 He doth by his Spirit blesse the feeding which he hath provided He hath promised to be present with the sheep and shepherds when ever they come to feed in these pastures and drink at these waters he hath promised I say to be present to blesse their foâ—d and water for the good or their soules He promised it Mat. 28. ult and he doth to this day make it good he doth walk and he will walk in the middest of the Golden Candle sticks to bless the seeding of the sheep to the end of the world He hath purchased the Holy Ghost to be bestowed both on the sheep and shepherds for this very purpose 2 A Shepherd kâ—owes 〈◊〉 He knows the number of his sheep and he knows them particularly 〈…〉 sheep Those phrases which are 〈…〉 concerning the sheeps pâ—ssing 〈…〉 rod â— ev 27. 32. and of passing under the 〈◊〉 of him that telâ—eth them Jer. 33. 13. shew â—â—e knowledge that good Shepherds have of their flocks they know one of their own sheep though it be in the midst of a strange flock Jesus Christ knows his sheep exactly He knows his people quâ—t sint quinam sint both the 〈…〉 ticular persons John 10. 11. 〈…〉 dungeons prisons though the 〈…〉 off and the skin torne by persecution yet 〈◊〉 they are within the knowledge of Christ Consider four things First He knows them as they are given to him by the Father in his eternal Election God the Father hath given all the Elect unto Christ from eternity Iohn 17. 6. By vertue of this donation doth Christ know them He hath taken them by number from the Father and he is to surrender them by number to him againe Their names are all written from eternity in the Lambs book of life Rev. 21. 27. while this book continues they cannot wear out of the knowledge of Christ Secondly He knows them as he sees in them his own image Every sheep of Christ doth partake by grace of the image of Christ There is a conformity of likenesse between him and them His Fathers Name is written upon their foreheads Rev. 14. 1. What is this Name of God but that Divine nature which is from Christ communicated to every sheep of the fold So long as this Name abides on their foreheads and it shall abide for ever they cannot weare out of the knowledge of Christ Thirdly He knows them as he sees the sprinklings of his own blood upon them Every sheep of Christ is washed white in the Lambs blood Rev. 7. 14. They are cloathed with his righteousnesse for the justification of their persons They have his merits in which they are invested Now so long as this garment remaines 〈…〉 and it can never be worn off or â—â—ollen off Jesus Christ must needs know them Fourthly He knows them as he remembers the service they have done fox him in the world Every sheep of Christ that hath attained unto years of discretion hath with care served Christ in its generation They have often prayed to him they have often worshipped him they have to their very uttermost laid out themselves for his glory in the world c. Jesus Christ hath recorded and set down all their good actions and as long as he rememberâ— their works he cannot forget or be igâ—orant of their persons This we may gather from that which stands on record Mat. 25. 34 â—5 c. They have fed him in his hungry members they have cloâ—thed him in his naked mâ—mbers c. Christ will never forget these holy actions therefore he can never forget the persons of them by whom they were performed They have both done for him and sufâ—ered for him therefore he knows them and will know them 3. A Shepherd preserves his stâ—ck 'T is the work of â— Shepherd to defend his sheep David bazarded his own liâ—e to deâ—end his sheep from the invâ—ding â—â—on and â—â—venous bear 1. Sam. 17. 34. Shepherds watch their flocks by night as well as by day to preâ—erve thâ—m from the devâ—uring creatures So did Jacob Gen. 31. 40. So did those Shepherds to
an abstersive vertue it did help to get wrinkles out of the skin and so to beautifie the face and make it bright Naomi therefore bids Ruth when she sends her to Boaz to anoint her self Ruth 3. 3. And David speaking of oyle saith it makes the face to shine Psal 104. 15. Warriors of old that they might make their armour glister and so render themselves formidable to their enemies used to anoint them with oyle the Prophet alludes to this Esay 21. 5. Arise ye Princes and anoint the shield The Lord Jesus Christ hath a brightning vertue As he is bright and beautiful in his own person Psal 45. â— so he makes his people beautiâ—ul Christ is very bright in his own person There is no scar no spot no deformity in him That which was said of Absolom is much more true of Christ 2 Sâ—m 14. 25. Though men that are blinde see no beauty in him as the Prophet complain'd long since Esay 53 2. yet in the eyes of God in the eyes of the Angels in the eyes of the Saints he is singularly beautiful And as he is bright in himself so doth he beautifie others All the wrinkles of sinne all the spots of the soul are done away by means of this oyntment This oyntment if it â—e spread upon the soul turnes blackâ—mores into Nazarites All the brightness of the Saints is from hence Ezek. 16. 14. Thou wast comely through my comelinesse which I put upon thee Hereby the old wrinkles of original sin which are as so many deep furrowes 〈◊〉 the soul hereby the latter spots of actual sin are taken away as if they had not been you may read much of the brightnesse and beauty of the Saints Cant. 4. init Cant. 7. init All this beauty iâ— acquired by the application of this beautifying ointment Jesus Christ is the Churches Golden anointing-pot he that would have his spots removed must daily drop this ointment upon his soul This ointment if it be applyed by faith will fetch off the red spots of cruelty the black spots of discontent the blew spots of envy the heat spots of passion it will put a shining luster upon the soul 5. Ointment hath a healing vertue the Samaritan poured into the wounded man wine and oile Luk. 10. 34. Wine for cleansing and Oile for healing your Chyrurgions make much use of ointment search the Dispensatory for the truth of this Jesus Christ hath a healing vertue If the spiritual wounds of the soul though they have been of long continuance be anointed with this ointment they are in a short time finely healed Christ himself was that Samaritan his blood was the wine that cleansed and the Oile that healed those desperate wounds There is no other balme in Gilead besides this ointment that can cure the least sore upon the inward man without the application of this ointment you will certainly dye in your sins 2. For the second Christ is compared to ointment poured forth in three respects 1. To shew his communicativenesse Jesus Christ is ready to make distributions unto his people of all that grace and goodnesse which is in him he doth not keep his grace and vertue within himself but lets it drop down upon his members the â—oâ— of ointment stands continually open that his Elect may take out of it according as they stand in need the ointment which was poured upon the head of Aaron at his Consecration ran down to the very skirts of his cloathing Psal 133. 2. This was to typifie the communicativenesse of Christ Jesus Christ hath received the ointment of the Spirit not for himself but that he might anoint al his members and he is very mindful of the trust reposed in hâ—m he received for his members and he is willing they should receive from him Joh. 1. 6. Many are willing to have the patrimony of others poured into their treasury but they care not to poure out againe but Christ as he was willing God should poure out grace into him so is he as willing to poure it out upon us 2. To shew his exceeding fulnesse Christ hath so much that he can spare for others 'T is poured out and yet it doth not decay there is in Christ an undecayable fulnesse he is like the widowes cruse of oile 2 Kings 4. 6. never leaves running till the soul want a vessel to receive him 3. He is compared to ointment poured forth because the fragrancy and other excellent vertues of ointment are best discovered in the pouring of it forth Ointment in the vessel doth neither smell nor shine so as when it s poured out the excellency of Christ lies in the using of him when we come to poure out his graces then and not till then do we finde the sweetnesse of them Taste and see that the Lord is gracious Psal 34. 8. the graciousness of Christ is not apprehended till it come to be casted 3. For the third how Christ is 〈…〉 The great and ordinary way of 〈…〉 this name of Christ which is â—â— ointment 〈…〉 Ordinances which he hath appoiâ—ted Preachâ—â—g Prayer Sacraments these are the means â—f â—â—â—â—ing forth Christ the Ordinances are as the â—â—blaster Box wherein this precious ointment is kept you read in Zech. 4. Of a golden Candlestick with two Olive-trees standing by it c. the Olive-tree is Christ the Candlestick is the Church the Lamps are the several members of Christ the pipes which convey the Oyle to the Lamps are the Ordinances of grace Christ fills the pipes and the pipes carry the Oyle to the Lamps The Ordinances are the Golden Cruse in which the Oyle is kept and by which it is defused to every particular Saint as he hath need The preaching of the Gospel is called the bearing of his Name before the Gentiles Acts 9. 15. When the Gospel is preached and the Ordinances dispensed then is the ointment poured forth The Apostle gives testimony to this 2 Cor. 2. 14. Thanks be unto God which maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place He that would smell the savour of Christs ointment must wait conscionably upon the Ordinances The Ordinances are the consecrated pipes through which the Oyl runs 'T is true the Spirit of Christ fills these pipes and makes them effectuall to them that are saved but yet the Ordinances are the instrumental Every Prayer every Sermon every Sacrament conveys a drop of this ointment to the soul He that turnes away his face from the Ordinances makes himself uncapable of tasting the ointments of Christ CANT 1. 3. Christ is as an ointment poured forth XXVIII SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. May 22. 1653. FOurthly for the fourth how Christ excels other oyntments I shall open that in these five particulars 1. He excels all other oyntments in worth and value Some oyntments are of great value but none arâ— comparable to Christ That oyntment which 〈◊〉 poured upon tâ—e head of Christ is said to 〈◊〉 â—â—ry costly John 12.