an intire Christ every Thing in him it is not only Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Except ye drink his Blood too ye have no Life in you Joh. 6.53 It is not meant of a corporal Drinking him Sacramentally as the Papists say that he speaks of in this Chapter as under the former particular it was hinted to be neither spoken of a Sacramental Eating of his Flesh for then except ye partook every one of the Lords Supper ye could not be saved whereas it might so happen that no space is given at least to all after Conversion to partake of any other Lords Supper than the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb in Heaven Besides it is principally to be considered that the Lord's Supper was not instituted till afterwards and therefore could not be here intended Indeed it is most evidently a Truth that we have Blood both ways to drink that is we have it spiritually to receive by Faith when the Soul ventures out to fetch in all that it needs from the Efficacy and vertue of this Blood and we have it also Sacramentally as represented under the Element of Wine while Love that bled drops the earnest into our Hearts and seals it up in us this Consideration will fall in more properly under the Cup of Consolation We are now to consider the Blood of Christ as it notes the special Application of it to the Soul for the Being and Support of a New Creature And thus it is rendred infinitely richer to the believing Soul than any vinous Liquor to make it fat and flourishing Drinking of the Blood of Christ implyes an Act of Faith in the Soul which receives all into it that was wrought by the Blood of Christ without it or takes hold of the Vertue of this Blood and applyes it to the proper Use and End which God himself hath given it To make it more plain it is Blood to (a) 1 Joh. 1.7 Rev. 1.5 Rev. 7.14 cleanse Faith steps out to this Blood and brings in a cleansing vertue from it it is Blood to (b) Isa 34.3 soften Faith makes out to it and receives in the foftning Influence of this Blood till the Stone dissolves and (c) Ezek. 36.26 mountains are melted with it it is Blood to * Col. 1.20 atone Faith runs for the Blood of Atonement hither It is Blood to (d) Acts 20.28 Eph. 1.7 Col. 1 14. Rev. 5.9 redeem Faith takes in the Redemption by it and knows that the †Job 19.25 Redeemer lives It is Blood to justifie Rom. 5.9 Faith rests here for absolution from Guilt and real Imputation of a Perfect Righteousness without to appear at the Bar of God in It is Blood to confirm Zech. 9.11 Faith believes it shall be even as God hath spoken and under its cloud looks up to the Blood of the Covenant and sees this Bow in it In a word it is Blood to save Rom. 5.9 10. and Faith makes readily out to it 1 Tim. 6.12 to lay hold upon Eternal Life It is every way as the Scripture speaketh abundantly of this Precious Blood 1 Pet. 1.19 that Faith drinks it in The manifold Benefits of this Blood of Christ do make it a Generous Drink to Faith that as his Flesh is Meat so his Blood is Drink indeed Joh. 6.55 Blood under the Law was forbidden Gen. 5.4 but lo here is Flesh with the Life Lev. 17.10 11. that is with the Blood thereof allow'd us Faith must receive it in the Antitype tho' Sense was to refrain it under the Type we must in all our Food have a recourse to the Mediatour and when we eat of his Banquet drink his Blood also Job 31.17 We must never eat of our morsel alone without the * Heb. 12.24 pt Blood of Sprinkling Indeed it could not have been a Banquet without Blood Our Feast had been otherwise spoil'd and all our fair Hopes spilled Oh! Blessed yea for ever Blessed be the Master of our Feast for this One Thing among the All Things ready even the †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alludes both to the Sacrifices and the Place of the Sprinkling the Blood Charnock Vol. 2d p. 896. Propitiation which we have thro' Faith in his Blood Rom. 3.25 A Propitiation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Grateful Offering unto God that every way pleas'd him It was thro' the Scent of Blood this perfumed Blood of Christ in the Nostrils of Jehovah that God was well pleased In whom we have Redemption thro' his Blood according to the Riches of his Grace Eph. 1.7 * In effusione Sanguinis fuit complementum Satisfactionis Davenant in Ep. ad Col. ch 1.14 p. 91. Satisfaction to Justice was compleated when he had filled the Ephah with his Blood for the measure of our sins Christ came not by Water only tho' a Fountain to wash in or a Well to drink of but he came by Water and Blood 1 Joh. 5.6 swimming htro ' two Seas at once Water may signifie his coming to sanctifie Vs and Blood to satisfie God for us Our Holiness springs from one as he is made of God to us sanctification and our Happiness flowes from the other as he is made both our Righteousness and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 The maintaining of Justification as a * Charnock 2d Vol. p. 1186. Great man observes by this Blood seems to be the Great contest between the True Church and the Antichristian State It hath many Enemies especially those two Bands of Warriours the Papists and Socinians 2 Pet. 2.1 that carry away the Beauty of the Cross by denying the Lord that bought them It seems to be the more deformed in the Latter because they have renounced many Romish Abominations but will still retain the Greatest And yet the Socinians to take off the Efficacy of Christs Blood on the Cross positively assert that he now maketh the Expiation where he maketh the Intercession Christ makes our Peace say they now in Heaven by the * Virtute Potestate plenâ absolutâ quam à Patre consecutus est Cateches Racov. mihi 16o. An. 1651. Absolute Power he hath with the Father there which if true must shut him wholly out of Heaven as a Mediatour of the Covenant to admit him in as the Second Person only in the Godhead But our High-Priest hath not entred into the Holy of Holies without Blood Heb. 9.7 which he once offered for the Errours of the People nor yet as the High Priests of Old with the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy Place †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he had found out or obtained a Redemption for us it must not be construed in the present Tense having obtained Eternal Redemption for us Heb. 9.12 so that our Redemption is by his Blood and was accomplished antecedently to his ascending into Heaven and sitting
David's Guard to break first thrô an Host that encamps against us Psa 27.3 Joh. 4.28 This is a Well where we may leave our water-pot since when we have drank of the Water we carry a well away with us v. 14. It is the Lamb's Fountain and thou mayst wring more out of this Fleece than Gideon's a Judg. 638 Bowl full or Hagar's b Gen. 21.15 bottle or Elijah's four c 1 Kings 18.33 barrels of water This is none of the bitter water that causeth the d Num. 5 22. curse but a Blessing when it comes into the e Ps 109. â—â— Bowels like water Our other Drink is f Hos 4 1â— soâ—â—r but this is a Fountain that yieldeth sweet water g Jam. 3 11 This Precious Liquor this incomparable and true Aqua vitae was set abroach upon the Tree of the Cross when one of the Souldiers with a Spear pierc'd his side and there forthwith came out Blood and (h) Joh. 19.34 water And lo he continues still as a pure River of the water of life running plentifully down the Gospel by his Guests at the Table side In a word he is water to cleanse our Filth Rev. 22.1 and water to quench our Thirst besides 5. Flesh to eat When the mixed multitude in the Wilderness fell a lusting it was to eat Flesh Num. 11.4 insomuch that the Children of Israel wept again and said who shall give us Flesh to eat and can he provide Flesh for his People Psa 78.20 last words But lo he that commanded the Clouds rained down Flesh upon them as Dust and feathered Fowls like as the sand of the Sea v. 27. Who indeed would have looked for such a Shower for when they tempted God in the Desert one might rather have feared he should have turned them to grass with their Flocks and Herds than have rained Flesh out of the Clouds upon them Yet tho' they had provoked God in the day of Temptation in the wilderness he tells them on the morrow ye shall eat Flesh Num. 11.18 But alas what was their Flesh tho' the Flesh of Quails to the Flesh of Jesus Christ What was the Flesh he gave unto all this People in comparison of the Flesh of the Son of God which he gives the Soul to feed upon by Faith Jesus Christ yields a variety to the Faith of God's Elect Num. 21.5 and it doth not follow that their Soul like those Israelites doth loath him as light Bread because their Soul also longeth for his Flesh to eat But we may here lawfully put in that wish in Job Oh! Job 31.31 that we had of his Flesh God doth not call you to eat the Flesh of your Sons Jer. 19.9 but the Flesh of His nor the Flesh of your Friend Zech. 13 7 but the Flesh of the man that is his Fellow What strange Flesh was that which the Poor Woman in Samaria had when she boiled her own Son for meat 2 Kings 6.29 Isa 13.18 She parted with the Fruit of her Womb being stricken thrô for want of the Fruits of the Field Lam. 4.9 But 't is a more astonishing wonder that God parted with the Son of his Bosom that we might eat the Flesh of this Sacrifice And there is no fear of making our Brother to offend by eating this Flesh while the World standeth 1 Cor. 8 1â— This mysterious Delicate the Flesh of Christ contains the Benefits of the Gospel which make up this Royal Entertainment that he purchas'd by his Death and Sufferings in the Flesh when he was put to Death in the Flesh 1 Pet. 3.18 but quickned by the Spirit This Doctrine of the Flesh of Christ given for meat unto our Faith is a further Exposition of the True Bread Joh. 6.51 And the Bread that I will give is my Flesh Now God must be first manifest in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 Rom. 8.3 and in the likeness of sinful Flesh and in this Flesh of ours die to prepare meat for us for as the Creatures that have Life die that we a while in our Bodies by their Death might live so it is the very Flesh of Christ and him crucified that must give Life unto our Souls His Flesh suffer'd his Flesh was pierc'd he was hung upon that Flesh book of the Cross when God gave him to be meat unto us His Flesh was powdered in the very Grave where other Things corrupt but his Flesh did not see Corruption Acts 2.31 to be made ready as a sweet and Dainty Morsel for us The wrath of God broke forth upon the Body he had prepared Heb. 10.5 and kindled a Fire in his Anger that even boil'd him as Flesh within the Caldron Mic. 3.3 and roasted him that his Flesh might be meat indeed for us Joh. 6.55 his Flesh was bor'd thro' and thro' tho' not a Bone of him should be broken Thus was he bruised for our Iniquities Isa 53.5 or there should no Flesh be saved Hence he hath spoken Matth. 24.22 Joh. 6.57 last words He that eateth me even he shall live by me This may serve to answer either the Jew's or the unbelieving Gentile's Question Joh. 6.52 How can this Man give us his Flesh to eat it being not to be understood of a Sacramental eating as the Rhemists gloss it but a spiritual by Faith alone Oh! how may we stand amaz'd at the Provisions in Him whose Name is VVonderful Isa 9.6 This is the Fifth Dish the Flesh of Jesus Christ 6. Blood to drink Perhaps our Ignorant squeazy old man may loath it as the Egyptians did to drink of the water of the River Exod. 7.18 after it was smitten with the Rod of Moses and turned into Blood but our New-man redeemed by Blood will take great Delight in it Alas we have sinn'd our selves into such a Feavour that our own common Drink inflames we have kindled a Burning which nothing but Blood the Blood of Christ will quench if man tryes to put the Fire out by any Works of Righteousness which he hath done Tit. 3.5 the sweat of his Brows will drop in and like Oil still increase the Flame Nay it is not VVater barely separate from Blood will quench our Anguish tho' we trusted that we could Job 40.23 with the Behemoth draw up Jordan into our mouths we must still have Blood to drink Oh! it requires great Faith in the Son of God to see it for otherwise Corruption will make us too nice to be entertain'd with Blood Faith and Faith alone is kept alive by it it cannot it needs not live upon a more Generous and Sprightly Liquor than this pure Blood of the Grape Deut 32.14 last words 1 Pet. 1.2 pâ—â—t it makes every Morsel of the Banquet Savoury that 't is sprinkled with the Blood of Jesus Christ Flesh as before and Blood now do include the whole Body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
a Heavenly Nectar is this Cup of Consolation you may drink it at Ordinances in the Golden Vessels of the Temple Dan. 5.2 Esth 5.6 where there needs at this Banquet of wine to be no * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inspectores vini Weemse Christian Synagogue pag. 209. Inspectours or Overseers set to mind you least you prove Spiritual wine-bibbers at these Vessels filled up to the Brim no †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Godwins Hebrew-Rites pag. 45. Song 5 1. Eyes of the Feast to see you do not drink too much as is reported to have been customary at the Oriental Feasts among the Jews and Persians But you may drink abundantly of the Love of Christ and yet not be drunk with Wine This Cup of Consolation is most excellently represented in the Cup of Blessing 1 Cor. 10.16 Mat. 26.27 where at the Communion of the Blood of Christ he saith unto his Friends Drink ye all of it Lo Prov. 23.31 1 Cor. 11 26. there it is seen how it giveth its colour in the Cup and moveth it self aright by shewing forth the Lord's Death until he come even a second time to Judgment The Gospel is like those water-pots that stood in Cana at the Marriage-Feast Joh. 2.7.9 they yielded water at the beginning but afforded wine unto the Guests before they rose up So as Christ was represented first by water his Love is now shed abroad like VVine Oh! Blessed is the Benjamin in whose Sack this Silver Cup is found Gen. 44.12 These Consolations of our God abound Psa 23.5 my Cup runneth over Oh! the Depth of these Streams of Love when we swim in the Rivers of his Pleasure how incomparable is the Wine of the Kingdom Dent. 32.14 beyond any other Blood of the Grape 23. The continual Diet of Perseverance 'T is said of Jehoiachim that he was so provided for by the King of Babylon that he did continually eat Bread before him all the Days of his Life and for his Diet there was a continual Diet given him of the King of Babylon every Day a Portion untill the Day of his Death all the Days of his Life Dan. 1.5 Jer. 52.33 34. So in the Gospel there is a Daily Provision of the King's meat Grace to feed thee every Day for new work fresh He will persevere to relieve thee on thy way that thou mayst persevere to come thy Journeys-End home He will continue thy Meat because he will not have thee to break thy Work off before thou hast made a Full end of it He will feed thee because Grace will finish what Grace hath once begun He that hath begun a good work in you shall also confirm you unto the end Phil. 1.6 1 Cor. 1.8 Thou shalt not be kept upon the Corn of Heaven for one Day only or ten Dayes or Twenty Days Num. â—â— 19 or a whole Month as they did eat of the Quails in the Israelitish Camp but thou shalt have Grace to stablish strengthen settle thee to thy Live's end and keep thee on thro' Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 5.10 1 Pet. 1.5 24. Lastly Rev. 2.7 The Fruit of the Tree of Life Fruit is wont at Entertainments to be last served in and so I place it last for Glory which is the Fruit of the Tree of Life shall begin where Grace here ends There may be indeed some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 19.9 some Foretasts of the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb and it is enough for an Israelite so long as in the Body Num. 13.23 to have a Cluster or some few at most from the Edge of Canaan he must be caught up into Paradise before he can gather the Full Vintage 2 Cor. 12.4 he must take possession of that better Countrey before he can eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God Rev. 2.7 It is fit my Brethren that both you and I should be now content with Grace tho' I have been enabled to lay before you the Meat and Drink which will enable us to do the Will of God Joh. 4.34 yet I cannot climb the Tree of Life for you Rev. 3.12 Rev. 22.2 to bring down out of the New Jerusalem any one of those Twelve manner of Fruits which grow in Plenty upon this Tree of Life above It will be the work of Eternity when our Days are as the Days of Heaven Psa 89.29 to behold these Precious Things that are put forth by the Sun Deut. 33.14 Mal. 4.2 1 Cor. 2.9 the Sun of Righteousness in Heaven for Eye hath not seen them here save the Eye of Faith only And therefore so much may suffice us at the Threshold of our Father's House Joh. 7.37 on this Great Day of the Feast The Fifth General Thing propounded was to shew what Excellent Properties there are in the Provisions of this Great Supper 1. Transforming 1 Property There is a marvellous Efficacy put into these Provisions that begets a Divine Likeness Ye shall be like God not in that bad lying sence the Devil intended it when he deceived our first Parents with a Deceitful Godlikeness Gen. 3.5 Ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil whenas it only transformed them and their Posterity into the Black and Filthy Image of the Devil We are by Nature Partners with that which entred into the VVorld Rom. 5.12 and defileth but by Grace are made Partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 When it is said of the Poor they have the Gospel preached to them Mat. 11.5 last words the Original expresseth it in the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Passive are Gospellized transformed into the Image of the Truths they hear made other sort of Creatures Thus the Provisions of the Gospel Feast have an efficacious converting influence thrô the Operations of the Holy Ghost that by our Participation 2 Cor. 3.18 we are changed into the same Image of God we see 2. VVholsom Other Diet 2 Property if we eat it we may prove the worse after in killing hunger it may create Diseases but this is for your health Acts 27.34 The Gospel is wholsom in every part of it The Guests at this Entertainment may safely feed of any Dish that God hath set before them Psa 68.21 Indeed wicked men that are resolv'd to go on still in their Trespasses may cry out like those Sons of the Prophets 2 Kings 4.40 Oh thou man of God! there is Death in the pot But if God throws in Meal or mixeth his Loving Kindness and mercies with it let others throw in their Lap full of wild Gourds there is still no harm in the Pot. 2 Kings 4.39 40. Every Guest may adventure safely it is Food that will need no Physick unless we abuse our Morsel and play the wanton with it It is wholsom and never hurts any but such as provoke the wrath of
at the Right Hand of God It is the Merit of his Blood he carried up with him and which he still in his Intercession as a Priest pleads there So that the Notion of Christs reconciling us to God by an absolute Power in Heaven without any reference to his Blood shed on Earth is a Socinian Dream which with every one that is awake and stands up from the Dead will vanish The Gospel had been a Dry Feast whatever Socinians think of it if He that made it had not given us Blood to drink In a word Phil. 3.18 they are Enemies to the Cross of Christ who will not know him Crucifyed And we must contend earnestly for the Faith Jude 3. and for the Faith in his Blood since a whole * Vt priùs School of Prophets would rob us of the Cup of the New Testament in Christs Blood considered meritoriously Luk. 22.20 as well as a Colledge of Jesuites deprive us of the same Sacramentally by denying the Cup in the Lords Supper 7. The Lamb of God Christ is still represented in the Scripture by a copious variety at his Supper of the Parable As we have the Blood of Christ provided so it is of the Lamb * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 immaculate 1 Pet. 1.19 a Lamb without Blemish and without Spot The word signifies one so perfectly every way accomplisht that a carping Momus which finds fault with every thing or the very Herodians that lye in wait to catch him shall yet find out no Righteous Charge against him this Dish at our Feast was Typically represented by the Paschal Lamb For so we read in the Institution of the Jewish Passover Exod. 12.8 That all the Congregation of Israel were to take every man a Lamb Exod. 12.5 according to the house of their Fathers a Lamb for a house This male of the first year taken out from the Sheep or from the Goats was a very apt representation of the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the World as we read in the Salutation of John when he seeth Jesus Joh. 1.29 In the Passover the Lamb was entire and undivided in the Gospel it is a whole Christ prepared his entire Humane Nature united to the Godhead his whole Body and his whole Blood set forth collectively under one as before we had him all distributively under two that is Bread and Water Flesh and Blood apart We may behold him here in the Lamb as an entire mess that is served all in at once We read it particularly express'd that when Samuel entertained Saul and his Servant there was a single joynt provided 1 Sam. 9.24 and indeed one was enough for Saul who had no portion with David The Cook took up the shoulder and that which was upon it and set it before Saul but God required the Jews to make ready their Lamb as it consisted of every joynt whole not so much as the Legs or Appurtenances thereof excepted Exod. 12.8 to signifie a Redeemer that was not to be parted but to be given all away This is the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World Rev 13.8 latter part that is he was determinately slain in the Counsel and Fore-knowledge of God being infallibly ordained to it and therefore lookt upon by God that hath yesterday to day and for ever always present before him as if it had been done from thence actually and he was slain virtually for Adam had the benefit thereof from the beginning when God promised the seed Gen. 3.24 before he drove out the man as much as if the Act had passed Well the Table of the Gospel hath this most Glorious Provision on it of the Lamb slain and slain actually for the Entertainment in these last Days Heb. 1.2 Lo God hath pitied the Lost Sinner like that poor wayfaring man and hath not spared to dress of the Lamb that lay in his own Bosom for him 2 Sam. 12.3 This Lamb of the first year this Firstling of the Flock is brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter to be serv'd up in meat for them to whom it is the Fathers good pleasure to give the Kingdom Isa 53.7 Luk. 12.32 This Lamb was a richer present from the King of Heaven thô One than that which the King of Moab rendred unto the King of Israel in one hundred Thousand Lambs 2 King 3.4 and as many Rams with the Wooll It is true of Believers on Earth as well as spoken of such in Heaven the Lamb shall feed them Rev. 7.17 8. The Fatted Calf for Prodigals The Gospel and the Blessings of it by Christ in the sumptuous Provisions made ready are set forth in a Parable by Christ under the very same Resemblance We need not be any ways asham'd of Christ or his words Mark 8.38 in this adulterous and sinful Generation nor think it low Divinity to preach or speak as Christ teacheth us He tells us Luke 15.13 of a younger Son that gathered all together and took his Journey into a far Countrey and there wasted his Substance with Riotous living and that he had * V. 14. spent all tho' he went off at first with never so great a Stock and he began to be in want but yet afterwards when he * v. 20. arose and came to his Father his Father when he was yet a great way off saw him hath compassion on him embraceth him bringeth him into his House and presently ordereth a sumptuous costly Entertainment to treat him at coming home * v. 23. Bring hither the Fatted Calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry This is the Parable this is the Letter but let us see how the Spirit giveth more life 2 Cor. 3.6 last words The Great God in the dispensation of the Gospel deals after the same way with Sinners We Foolish Gentiles were once like this younger Son happy and wanting nothing in our Father's House God made man upright Jews and Gentiles were both in Adam perfect But we quickly grew Prodigal and run into a great excess of riot Eccl. 7.29 we sought out many Inventions Acts 11.18 But nevertheless under a new Covenant God hath granted Repentance unto Life Heb. 2.10 in the bringing of many Sons and Daughters unto Glory and he hath brought forth an Entertainment upon his receiving of poor Gentiles home These tender mercies of our God were displeasing to the Elder Son Luk 1.78 and grievous in the sight of the Jews These had tho' the Parable doth not expresly note it Gen. 21.11 12. been taken first after the Revolt in Adam into their Father's House they had been brought into a Church-state a great while before and treated so well with the Fatness of the Olive they had forgot the Poverty and Distress of the younger Brother and grew angry to see how these Gentiles are treated with the Riches of the Gospel Rom. 11.17 whereas he had
Dickson upon the Epistles all how shall he not with Him freely give us all Things Rom. 8.32 When God provided his Son he would to magnifie this unspeakable Gift 2 Cor. 9.15 bestow a House-full of all other good that his Family should have Plenty and every Day variety When he parted with his Jewel he purchased All Things with it The Price of that dear Blood could not procure less than to buy in all Provision The Pouring out of Christ's Blood made the Cup of Salvation brim full Psal 116.13 So that when we receive of Christ's Merits we receive a full Reward 2 Joh. 8. we shall not be kept upon Gospel-Grace with Part when we have Christ that fully paid for All. 3. There be all Things Reas 3 because they all spring from God's abundant Love and Goodness What he gives he gives with all his Heart 1 King 4.29 and he that hath a Largeness of Heart infinitely more than the Sand upon the Sea-shore is large in Communicating and in his Gifts doth not bestow Little Matters on us Eph. 2.4 But God who is rich in Mercy for the great Love wherewith he loved us He put forth his Heart and then he put forth both Hands for us The Act of his Will to love us awakened and call'd up the Mercy of his Nature to appear for us and from hence where he sets his Love as Psal 91.14 He hath set his Love upon me there he provides All Things to shew it It was such a manner of Love 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us that when it appears makes no less matters of it All Love overlookt our Defects and did not think All Things too many The Largeness of the Divine Love in making such a Feast ready may be heightened by a Consideration of his Bounty in Common Mercies to us It is a Royal Act of Grace that affords us any thing from Court He is a Benefactor that prepares our own Tables but the Riches of his Grace proclaim him more Bountiful to furnish the Table of the Lord Mal. 1.12 and make the Gospel of his Son ready for us It was Love and Bounty that filled our Cup to the Brim with common Mercies Psa 116.13 but it was a larger Love than this that made the Cup of Salvation overflow It was Love and Bounty that gave us Corn that we ever see or hear of the Shocks of it to come in in their Season Job 5.26 in the Appointed Weeks of the Harvest Jer. 5.24 but it was a Larger Love that hath given us of the Corn of Heaven Psa 78.24 It was Love and Bounty that he hath given for the Use of Man to drink of the pure Blood of the Grape as Wine is called among that Inventory of the Good Things of Men Deut. 32.14 but it was infinitely more that he gave us Blood to drink Rev. 16.6 even the Blood of Jesus Christ Oh! what a Large Love was that Isa 63.3 to give us one that should tread the Wine-press of his Father's Wrath This was infinitely beyond the common Bounty that made our Presses to burst out with New Wine Prov. 3.10 Oh! Love Emphatical God so loved the VVorld that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting Life Joh. 3.16 If God had not left it upon Record with a so he loved us we had never had no nor ever heard of such a Royal Entertainment as the Riches of his Grace in Christ Herein is Love 1 Joh. 4.10 not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins Oh! what a Present what a Gift of Love 2 Cor. 9.15 what an unspeakable Gift is here we may call the Gospel with an Emphasis a Love-Feast a Feast filled infinitely more with Love than those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those other Feasts of Charity Jude v. 12. which were no more than * Banquets of Love The Ground of these Ancient Love-Feasts was Provision for the Poor Brethren and preserving mutual Love among themselves Jenkyn upon Jude Fol. pag. 111 112. * These were Suppers used in the Primitive Times either to manifest their Brotherly Union or for the Comfort and refreshing of the Poor in Obedience to Christ's Injunction Luk. 14.12 13. Dr. Manton on Jude p. 407. Entertainments used in the Apostle's Days and the early Times of the Gospel to express a Love in the Primitive Christians and all this was but the Love of Creatures to one another But the Gospel is a Feast of Charity that is filled with the Love of a Merciful Creator 1 Pet. 4.19 and a Faithful Redeemer to us His Bowels opened and he shut up nothing from us His Affections rolled towards us and so brought in all to make a full Provision for us It was a Large Love and therefore a Little Flock feeds in large Pastures He was a God * Psa 86.5 v. 15. Psa 103.8 plenteous in Mercy Hab. 1.16 and therefore we have plenteous Meat 4. It is the result of the whole Counsel of God Reas 4 and therefore no wonder to see the Feast large The Apostle not only calls it VVisdom but the †Multiformis vel ut alij reddunt multi â—aria Sapientia Bodius in loc p. 368. col 1. Manifold VVisdom of God Eph. 3.10 The Infinite Wisdom of God did exert it self in such a wonderful variety of wise and mysterious Operations that he hath laid before us a Vniversal Entertainment Manifold Wisdom contriving what Dishes to provide must needs find out Dainties and prepare a great many He that was wonderful in Counsel is also excellent in working Isa 28.29 He who doth all Things according to the Counsel of his own Will Eph. 1.11 was a God that could search this out Psa 44.21 even a Spiritual Feast with All Things ready The Apostle argues it Eph. 1.8 9. VVherein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence according to his Good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself * Inculcat nihil hìc temerè nihil inconsulto neque fortuitò contigisse Idem pag. 369. col 2dâ The Lord did nothing rashly or unadvisedly or by chance but carried on the whole Platform of the Gospel by Wise and Prudent Counsels The Wisdom of God had the management and ordering of all that was ever made known by the Foolishness of Preaching to us 1 Cor. 1.21 And this was sufficient to find out All Things for us that his understanding was infinite Psa 147.5 A Divine Contrivance could find out all the Dainties that any Poor Soul could ever want or wish I VVisdom dwell with Prudence and find out Knowledge of witty Inventions Prov. 8.12 Wisdom searcheth and discovers to us how his ways are past finding out Rom. 11.33 5. It is a Provision against All Evils
of yours should have been filled with the sweetness of the Honey and the Honey-comb are there not some of you have thrown aside the Cup of Salvation and taken up the Cup of the Drunkards have you not changed the Glory of all that Holy Bill of Fare to shame yea into such a shame thro' your own beastly Intemperance as the Prophet expresseth by a shameful Spewing Hab. 2.14 Oh! how sad is it with you while you come and look upon the Provisions here and as soon as you have turn'd your Backs and are gone Week after Week should be found in the Devil's Company or about the Devil's Work again eating and drinking your own Damnation dare any of you thus to prophane the Table of the Lord And you that are Scoffers ridicule the Provisions make his Meat contemptible Again How do you think after this Plenty that God takes it at your Hands you that break the Third Command and customarily take his Name in vain Exo. 20.7 irreverently wickedly and prophanely in your mouths upon every slight Occasion blaspheming and dishonouring that worthy Name which should only have been praised for his Bounty and Goodness to us Would you thank that Guest who should go away reproaching and ungratefully vilify your own Names after you had either kindly entertain'd him or offered courteously to treat him I trow not And what Luk. 17.9 shall the Great God of Heaven and Earth be dishonoured in his Name after he hath created preserved and provided all and spread so large a Table with Blessings of Heaven above Gen. 49.25 and Blessings of the Deep that lieth under Further dare any of you be Disobedient to Parents and tho' you have heard of so much at God's Table yet continue as cursed Slips instead of Olive-Plants round about Their Table Psa 128.3 Surely miserable is the Congregation of the Wicked and sad is your state that have the Opportunities of Gospel-Grace and yet do but see it with your Eyes and never eat thereof and that hear of Heaven but must never if you be not changed enter in there Rev. 21.27 for there shall in no wise enter into it any Thing that desileth Let those words 1 Cor. 6.9 10. dwell much upon you Know ye not that the Vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived neither Fornicaters nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Remember all these Things must pass away and there must be nothing of them remain but only to testifie of the Grace of God that such were some of you 1 Cor. 6.11 12 Inf. 12. Continuance in Vnbelief and a Refusal of these All Things is Dreadful The State of Unbelievers must be miserable that hath no Portion in these Things and the Sin of Unbelievers must needs become provoking that keeps them from laying hold upon them Did you believe Rom. 6.1 you dare not trifle or continue in sin when Grace thus abounds You dare not grow loose if you did believe or joyn with this Grace that was made to knit our Hearts to Christ Oh! your Unbelief which carries all your other sins in the Belly of it is a Monster big with Aggravation Let me represent the Dreadfulness of your Sin in two or three Instances 1. You refuse the only Remedy You sin against Grace and Works cannot save you These all things are for the reconciling you unto God Col. 1.21 and yet you prefer to be Enemies in your Minds and in your ways by wicked Works They are for sanctifying and renewing your Abominable polluted Natures and yet you choose to remain Filthy still Rev. 22.11 They are for healing you and yet you will die of your Wounds before They are for feeding and cloathing you and yet you will be starv'd and then turn'd out naked to the Judgment Seat of God! In one Word they are for saving you and yet you will die and be damn'd for ever Prov. 8.36 He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own Soul all they that hate me love Death 2. You rebell against the Light You have heard you have seen enough to cast you if you do not quickly cry for Mercy and if Jesus the Son of God have not mercy on you Mark 10.47 48. Oh! where will you flee to hide when Christ lays this Sin at your Door that you had been inform'd of the Provisions made for Sinners and the more you knew the more you hated God's Offers made to you See John 15.24 If I had not done among them the Works which none other Man did they had not had sin i. e. nothing in comparison of what they now have but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father You have heard of what Importance this Feast is and therefore it is a Rebelling against the Light to make light of it 3. You trample upon Distinguishing Grace that comes with outward Peace to you God might have kept a Market with the Enemy Psal 44.11 and given you as Sheep appointed for meat Asaph enditeth a sad Complaint of this nature Psal 79.1 2. O God the Heathen are come into thine Inheritance thy Holy Temple have they defiled they have laid Jerusalem on heaps the Dead Bodies of thy Servants have they given to be meat unto the Fowls of the Heaven the Flesh of thy Saints unto the Beasts of the Earth And v. 3. Their Blood have they shed like Water round about Jerusalem Consider others have been fain to break thro' the Hosts of the Mighty to come at Bread or fetch a supply of Living Water but you are offer'd Both in a Day of Gracious Liberty when you need not get your Bread with the Peril of your Lives Lam. 5.9 Oh! come and see the Works of the Lord abroad Psa 46.8 what Desolations he maketh in the Earth while he provides a Sanctuary for You that is not desolate for the Lord's sake Dan. 9.17 How do Wars ruine and eat up the Countries round you while you have Peace in your Borders Ps 147.14 and meat to eat which they know not of Oh! the Distinguishing Grace of God that he should on you be raining Mannah when on so many Thousands in the World he has been seen raining Blood Ah! Could you have lookt into Neighbouring Countries and seeen the Frights the Perplexities the Distress of Nations Luk. 21.25 the Groans of Dying wounded Men the Revenge of Armies boiling in their Blood the Thunder of the Captains and the shouting Could you see that Supper which God hath been making beyond the Seas for the Fowls upon slain Carkases as the Holy Ghost signifieth when he speaks of an Eagle flying in the Sun Rev. 19.17 18. and crying with a loud voice saying to all the Fowls that fly in the midst of Heaven Come and gather your selves together
speak all the mind freely and Access with Confidence by the Faith of Him Eph. 3.12 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With Confidence in a gracious and well-grounded perswasion of kind Acceptance with him I speak this only to you that have been mourning like the Doves of the Valley for the manifestation of the Love of Christ to you And thus you have had an account of the Third Term our selves we must come off from before we can come to the Gospel Invitation 4. This present Evil World is a Term from which we must come before we comply with God's Invitation The World it self as well as sin and our selves and the god of this World will try to draw us from Christ tho' it be but with Cords of Vanity Indeed this Temptation from the World be it twisted with never so small a Thread is enough to pull the Corruption of our Natures down-Hill But neither must the World be a Hinderance if we fall in with the In-Invitation of our God and close with Gospel-Grace Let me open this of the World briefly as to the Things and the Persons of it 1. In coming off from the World we must come from the Things that keep us off from Christ the Profits Pleasures and Applause or vain Esteem of Men. 1. You must come off from the sinful Profits of the World These do either eat you out with Cares or press you down with the Carriage or scatter and divide your minds with Covetousness and may put you upon unlawful means to gain it You must come off therefore in your Minds and Affections and hang loose upon all Earthly Profits Thô the Gospel will allow you to buy and sell and get gain yet if you embrace the Truth as it is in Jesus you must come from such Bargains where you have put Conscience to sale and not strike your Hands in Cases where God hath smitten His. Behold therefore (e) Percussi manum meam Tigur vers complosi manum meam Jun. I have smitten my Hand at thy Dishonest Gain which thou hast made Ezek. 22.13 When you are putting the World into your Scale take heed lest the over-weight press you down to Hell for what is a Man profited if he shall gain the whole World and lose his own Soul or what shall a Man give in exchange for his Soul 2. You must come off from the sinful Pleasures of the World You must leave off your Stolen Waters if you take of the Free Gift of God You must not come nigh these Foul Cisterns or resolve to taste a Corrupt Spring if you drink of the true Fountain-water Ye have lived in Pleasure on the Earth and been Wanton ye have nourished your Hearts as in a Day of Slaughter Jam. 5.5 And the Apostle Peter expresseth it by their counting it a Pleasure to riot in the Day-time 2 Pet. 2.13 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. The Original reads it counting Riot in the Day a Pleasure The Word Riot in Divinity signifies an effeminate Softness of the Mind contracted by much Wickedness in Pleasure that even †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 luxus deliciae a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 frango Pasor breaks and un-mans us and if it destroys the Man it will surely Mar the Christian There is much of this Riotous Living in the World among them that count it a Pleasure not only to be seven Years but if it were possible seventy times seven serving divers Lusts and Pleasures Now if you come to Christ you must first come away from These You must depart out of their Track who are described 2 Thes 2.12 to have had pleasure in Vnrighteousness before you can tread in the Paths of Wisdom and take in New Delights 3. You must come off from the Applause and vain Esteem of Man You must step over this Threshold before you come into God's House to Feast for how can ye believe saith Christ which receive Honour one of another and seek not the Honour that cometh from God only Joh. 5.44 It hath put by many that have seem'd to approach towards Christ's School but never threw out any that were truly entered to upbraid them with This we are Moses's Disciples we know that God spake to Moses as for this Fellow we know not from whence he is Joh. 9.28 29. it hath likewise overthrown the Faith of some but never shook the Faith of God's Elect to be told that Great Men have disown'd God's way have any of the Pharisees the Doctors of the Chair or the Rulers believed on him Joh. 7.48 But if you will come under the Sun of Righteousness you must not be frighted with this Shadow that cometh betwixt 2. In coming off from the World we must come from the Persons that keep us off from Christ 1. Sinful Companions If we have Fellowship with these Works of Darkness we can have none with the Father of Lights for what Fellowship hath Righteousness with Vnrighteousness and what Communion hath Light with Darkness and what Concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that believeth with an an Infidel and what Agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16 17. So Eph. 5.11 And have no Fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reprove them i. e. convince them both by Life and Argument for a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed Prov. 13.20 2. Carnal Relations You must first shake off their Objections before you will yield to Christ thô we should produce our Causes for your Duty and bring forth our strong Reasons for it It was a Carnal Relation Luk. 14.20 in him that had Married the Wife and could not come to Christ for had she been a Spiritual Yoke-fellow she had put her Husband forward We must be brought into a Hatred of Evil Counsel thô from our own Flesh and Blood before We can be brought into True Love to Christ see Luk. 14.26 If any Man come to me and hate not Carnal Relations may be willing you should come to Christ a little but they are ready to put in Pharaoh's Condition ye shall not go far away Therefore saith Christ it is not enough to come if you do not come to purpose notwithstanding such Relations if any Man come to me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters all that would keep him off from Christ yea and his own Life also he cannot be my Disciple You must hate their Advice thô never hate or disrespect their Persons that hereby you may have the Person of Christ as you ought in chiefest Admiration 3. Other Evil Counsellors Thô there be not Relations as a Bar in your way to Christ yet there may be a conferring with other Flesh and Blood which the Apostle would not entertain Gal. 1.16 Immediately I conferred not with Flesh