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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
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
which is not washed from their Filthiness Prov. 30.12 But God hath provided that they may be Partakers of his Holiness Heb. 12.10 last words The Gospel will cleanse thee of thy Spot which otherwise tho' thou wash thee with Nitre and take thee much Soap would remain a Spot still with thine Iniquity marked before me saith the Lord God Jer. 2.22 The Gospel brings thee a Laver full of Christ's Blood and this is the Blood that rinseth all clean 1 Joh. 1.7 last words And the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Nitre and Soap either apart or mingled are searching Ingredients you would think to cleanse a Dirty Spot but alas tho' Man seeks out many Inventions Eccl. 7.29 to try to wash himself clean yet it will not do for a Garment spotted with the Flesh Jude v. 23. if God search this out nothing will fetch out Sin 'till we dip in Jordan 2 Kings 5.14 Psal 44.21 Isa 9.5 1 Joh. 5.6 nay not only wash in Water but with our Garments roll'd in Blood i. e. the Blood of Christ who came by Water and by Blood for our Spot to fetch it out clean Rev. 1.5 being said to have loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood The Gospel provideth suitably to our Pollution Heb. 9.13 for it sanctifieth to the Purifying of the Flesh 'till we are made meet for Communion with the God of the Spirits of all Flesh Numb 16.22 even sanctified in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1.2 Eighthly The Gospel hath Rich Provisions for the Poor Saints tho' never so impoverisht lowly in Mind or Poor in Spirit The Gospel abounds with the Liberality of the Grace of God to supply the Poverty and Wants of all Men in Christ Tho' thy Transgressions have beset thee and the Iniquity of thy Heels have compass'd thee about that thou art now like the Man in his way to Jericho that fell among Thieves yea Luk. 10.30 thou may'st cry out with Micah of the Danitâ—'s Plunder Judg. 18.24 They have taken away tho' not my Gods to Complain just like him yet the Image of my God mine Original Perfection as I was made once like him my Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness and what have I more Well be it thus here is enough left thee still to be a poor broken Petitioner at the Throne of Grace crying out for a New Stock to set up with Christ in whom are hid all the Treasures that will make thee Rich agen Col. 2.3 Art thou Poor Luk. 22.21 thou may'st be Rich towards God When thou art got to the Gospel thou art got to God's Treasury which he unlocks to make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles Col. 1.27 Ninthly The Gospel hath Full Provisions suited to the Condition of empty Sinners There be Lengths and Breadths in the Love of God that will give thee full measure Luk. 6.38 pressed down and running over Thou art empty in thy self and till He refresh thee with his Loving-Kindness Prov. 7.18 thou canst not take thy Fill of Love Hast thou ever met with the Emptiers that have emptied thee out Nah. 2.2 The Gospel hath Provisions to come in and fill up all that empty space again Tho' at home thou art like her that is empty and void and wast Nah. 2.10 as Nineveh that was once full of Men Counsel Treasures yet afterwards emptyed out of all so thou hadst once the sensible Manifestations of one that lodg'd in thy House to fill thee but now at home empty and also tho' abroad like Naomi thou hast gone out upon some Oecasions full if thou hast gone to an Ordinance thou hast it may be sometimes carried much of the Presence of Jesus Christ with thee yet the Lord to try thee hath brought thee home again empty Ruth 1.21 yet still the Gospel hath Provisions suited to thee that when most sensible of thine Emptiness thou may'st receive thy measure and not like proud careless Boasters who presume on something when they have nothing * Luk. 1.53 Joh. 1.14 last words be sent empty away Thou hast to do with one that is full of Grace and Truth and with one besides of whose Fulness thou mayst receive Joh. 1.16 even one that will never leave thee empty because he filleth all in all Eph. 1.23 let it be as low with thee in thy Beginning as a sense of Want can make it yet thou shalt never take up the Complaint of Babylon in thy latter End Jer. 51.34 the Lord hath made me an empty Vessel Tenthly The Gospel hath satisfying Provisions suited to the Condition of Longing Souls Matth. 5.6 that hunger and thirst after Righteousness Be thou as Dainty in thy Palate Heaven-wards as possible yet in the Gospel thou hast a God who satisfyeth thy Mouth with good things Psal 103.5 He will not deny Dainties or withhold Mannah or keep back the Fruits that thy Soul lusteth after Rev. 18.14 Thou shalt not be estranged from thy Desire in the things of God Psal 78.30 thô thou wouldst eat his Lambs out of the Flock Amos 6.4 his Calves out of the midst of the Stall v. 6. and drink his Wine in Bowls If six Days common Provision at home hath made thee long for Dainties he hath appointed a Festival upon the Holy Sabbath when thy Flesh longeth for the Courts of the Lord. Psal 84.2 This Longing of the Soul may be reduc'd unto Two Heads Hungring and Thirsting and the Gospel hath suitable Things for Both. 1. It hath Satisfying Provisions suited to Hungry Ones Psal 107.9 For he satisfyeth the Longing Soul and filleth the Hungry Soul with Goodness There is many a Hungry Appetite hath been brought into his Presence and be hath filled the Hungry with good things Luk. 1.53 Perhaps thou art one that hast lost a Meal thro' a Providential Hand of God upon thee and where God sets out Food thou comest the more Hungering thither Some Black Providence may have put on Sackcloth upon thy Soul Nehem. 1.4 that thou hast mourned and fasted certain Dayes and lo a Restraint of the Bread of God whets thee further on Thou canst not forbear crying when thou art Hunger-bitten Prov. 30.15 like those Daughters of the Horse-leech Give Give I have been thus long from an Ordinance detain'd Psal 109.24 and my Flesh faileth of Fatness I must break out to the Supper now I can stay no longer in Well if it be thus the Feast is still meet for thee Christ that Invites thee to sit down 1 Sam. 30.12 will Feast thee with his Love 'till thy Spirit comes again 2. It hath satisfying Provisions suited to Thirsty Ones If thou long'st for some Pleasant Draught yet the Lord doth satisfie such a * Animam sitientem Moller Enarr in Psalmes Longing Soul as some do Expound it of Thirst Psal 107.9 form
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
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
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
walking But however the Gospel provideth to work thine Eye-sight better tho' Pharisees who object in scorn Are we blind also Joh. 8.40 despise such Clay and Spittle Tho' thro' Blindness thou hast wandered far about yet the Gospel provideth to bring thee by a way as Joshua saith unto the Israelites Josh 9.4 which ye have not passed heretofore yea as saith the Spirit by the Prophet Isa 42.16 I will bring the Blind by a way that they knew not I will lead them in Paths that they have not known I will make darkness light before them That Promise indeed as * Arthur Jackson Vol. 4th upon Isai a Judicious Interpreter observes might litterally and then more immediately refer to the Jew's Return out of Babylon who saw nothing of their approaching Deliverance any more than Blind Men and knew not which way to turn themselves But nevertheless spiritually it was a Promise suited to these Times of Refreshing which are come thus far from the Presence of the Lord already Acts 3.19 as to enlighten Blind Eyes and bring Man into the only way of Salvation which he never saw before Nah. 2.5 Tho' thou stumblest in thy Walk for want of Light to guide thee yet God's Word is prepared to be a Lamp unto thy Feet and a Light unto thy Path Psal 119.105 as also the Entrance of thy words giveth light Psal 119.130 it giveth understanding to the simple And his Testimonies are so suited Psal 19.7 that they are sure making wise the simple Tho' thou art a Child of a very low Capacity Jam. 1.17 yet there be Beams of Knowledge from the Father of Lights will reach thee The Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ is made ready for thy need to be a Light shining forth in Darkness The Night it may be puzzles thee to find the way to thy Father's House but God hath made ready something for thee to whom the Night shineth as the Day Psal 139.12 and he prepares to shew thee both as to the Darkness and the Light what thou never sawst before Mal. 4.2 The Sun of Righteousness is ready to pierce thro' all the black and dismal Shades that cover thee and tho' Darkness hath hid thy self as well as God from thee Psa 42.8 yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day-time and find out what thou couldst not in the dark take Notice of thy self Psa 139.12 for the darkness and the Light are both alike to Him Thirdly The Gospel hath Expiating Provisions suited to the Condition of guilty and condemned Souls Expiating that is Reconciling making Peace for thee * Reconciliare nihil aliud est quà m amicitiam offâ—nsione aliquâ gravi diremptam resarcire sic inimicos in pristinam Concordiam reducere Davenant Exposit ad Coloss in versic 20. pag. 126. To reconcile is to piece up a Friendship that hath been broken off by some grand Miscarriage and so to bring Enemies to their old Amity and Accord again This is the state of the Case as it lyes between God and Man from hence it cometh to pass that tho' thou art guilty thro' the Offence of one Rom. 5.15 even the First Adam that involv'd thee and guilty thro' thy own Personal Offence besides yet here is this Provision for thee in the Gospel that thou art to do with a God not imputing Trespasses 2 Cor. 5.19 This account the Scripture gives of it that when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son Rom. 5.10 when we were Enemies or as the words are read * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being Enemies the first Look of Kindness which Heaven cast upon us beheld Enmity in our Hearts and the Weapons of Rebellion in our Hands Yet then were we reconciled by the Death of his Son the Foundation of our actual Reconcilement was then laid that the saving Application of the Death of Christ might be evidenc'd in our Effectual Calling This the Apostle pursues further 2 Cor. 5.19 To wit that God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses unto them Reconciling the World The World is to be understood as * Charnock Vol. 2d p. 1187. a great Divine expounds it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for all Ages all Times of the World as he observes the same to be meant 1 Joh. 2.2 Reconciling the World Tho' the World be a World at Variance with God 1 Joh. 5.19 and a World that lyes in wickedness yet God will be so far reconciled unto this World Gen. 6.12 where All Flesh have Corrupted his way upon the Earth Rom. 3.10 as it is written there is none Righteous no not one that he will find outhis chosen and bring in them to Christ that they in Christ shall be reconciled also unto God The Holy Ghost witnesseth to the same purpose in those words of Peter Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father 1 Pet. 1.2 through sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ Grace unto you you Elect and Peace be multiplied So that when God comes to manifest that thou art one of these by calling thee out from the World by a gracious and mighty Operation of his Spirit he then actually reconciles Thee by the Atonement and shews thou art one to whom this Blood of the Atonment belongs Rom. 5.11 by whom we have Now received the Atonement Now tho' thou art never so sensible of indwelling Enmity convinced that thou art an Enemy by Nature and hast manifested the Carriage of an Enemy a thousand times over yet the Gospel provideth a Pacifying Reconcilement to make God and Thee Friends i. e. To make Reconciliation for Iniquity Dan. 9.24 Thou hast an High-Priest in things pertaining to God that remembred thy Name upon the List among those Few Names in Sardis Rev. 3.4 when he made Reconciliation for the sins of the People Heb. 2.19 This is most excellently and fully described Col. 1.20 Having made Peace through the Blood of his Cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself God was fallen out with the Creation for the Creature 's sin but he looks amicably again in Christ upon an apostate revolted Creature nothing is reconciled but by the Blood of his Cross only Now tho' Guilt and Enmity as considered absolutely in the Creature may both tend to drive thee from God yet while both are pursuing thee Isa 64.5 they drive thee where thou meetest him that rejoyceth to procure thee a gracious Friendship and bring thee back through the Atonement reconciled to God again The Law of God condemns but by Vertue of this Reconcilement in Christ it is God himself justifies Rom. 8.33 It is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is God God hath a Prerogative of Grace upon the Mercy seat to absolve a Trembling Criminal as well as of
sin you do not spy out more in your own Iniquities than you do in the very Grace of God to receive you graciously Hos 14.2 4 and love you freely And beware that you do not fancy a deeper Red different from other Death-colours in your own Body of Death than is seen in the Blood of Jesus Christ An Unacquaintedness with the true Notion of the Gospel is a Hinderance to the Gospel-Feast 3. Remaining Vnbelief in the Actings of slavish Fear Reigning Unbelief indeed is the Property of Sinners but Remaining Unbelief is a great Hinderance hanging in the way of Saints There are Remnants of this Sin to bring you under spiritual Sickness and Infirmities when there be no Ruling Signs-that it is unto Death upon you There is much Fluctuation in our Hearts an unsteddy rolling too and fro like the Waves of the Sea sometimes carried out towards the Shore in Hope then driven back again to Sea in Fears whereas our Rock is the same for ever tho' we roll aside Oh! were our Faith says (z) Dr. Sibb◠Bruised Reed p. 23 24. one as firm as our State in Christ is secure what manner of Men should We be A Saint may be brought many ways low but he shall be brought no ways under Now by how much the less it is you live in the Exercise of Faith 〈◊〉 2.20 i. e. By the Faith of the Son of God by so much the less in your spiritual State will you thrive by Gospel-Grace As you want any measure of Faith to digest the Food of God's Word so much the less of Nourishment and Sweetness you will find in any Morsel of it Jesus said unto him if thou canst believe All Things are possible unto him that believeth Mark 9.23 If you have not Oh weak Christians a stronger Degree a higher Measure of Faith your Fears will make you jealous and suspect the Love of God every time you try to eat and drink in his Kingdom It is observed of Peter he never sank in the Waters 'till he sank first in Fears when he saw the Wind boisterous he was afraid and upon this followeth his beginning to sink Matth. 14.30 Fears will suggest nothing but such wrong and uncomfortable Thoughts as these Well this Feast of the Gospel is too great for such poor Dust and too good for so vile a Worm as I therefore it belongeth not to me But Oh! take heed of this let not Unbelief carry it without a check in thy Soul when it calls the Bread of Life Poyson or tells thee thou art damn'd if thou venturest so far as to meddle with it 4. Lastly Refusing to be Comforted God's People sometimes will not tho' we take his own words be satisfied The Consolations of God are so small with them Job 15.11 that they will not take this Cup of Consolation down Jer. 16.11 Psa 77.2 last words My Soul refused to be comforted let me hear what I would it was all one with me That was Good Asaph's case a while Now what will All Things avail when no thing shall be allow'd to comfort you but you will choose to go down into the Grave mourning Gen. 37.35 What signifies Moses to tell the Children of Israel that God had looked upon their Affliction and Bondage and to assure them of Deliverance that it was now even at the Door Mat. 24.33 whenas they hearkened not unto Moses for Anguish of Spirit and for cruel Bondage Exod. 6.9 It is observable indeed that at the first Newes of their Deliverance which Moses brought them from God they are hugely affected with it Chap. 4.31 The People believed and when they heard that the Lord had visited the Children of Israel and that he had looked upon their Affliction then they bowed their Heads and worshipped Oh! how glad and comforted do they seem that there comes any Relief to alter their Afflicted case at last Well but God will yet try their Patience under their Burdens and Adversity a little longer in the next Chapter Pharaoh comes and He multiplies their Burdens still more and more and lo now the Double Labour of their Bricks and the Stripes of their Task masters upon their Backs beat them quite out of Heart insomuch that at last Moses with all his Arguments and Perswasion could no ways still them for they are resolved to hear to wait to trust no longer they hearkened not c. Thus some of God's Children will seem to be born up notably when God comes first into their Souls with Comfort but alas if God to try them lays them again in the lowest Pit in Darkness Psa 88.6 in the Deeps immediately their Mountain is overturned their Sun is set and the Rainbow of the Covenant blotted out of Their Cloud They refuse to be comforted and seem loth to look out towards the Everlasting Hills again Psa 121.1 Now hence it is that the Gospel hath been very often in part ineffectual for a Time to some of God's own Children To conclude therefore in a word your Meat will not strengthen you to flee as a Bird to your Mountain Psa 11.1 so long as with Ephraim you remain a silly Dove without Heart Hos 7.11 And so much for the Doctrinal Part. The Ninth and last Thing propounded in the General method was the Application of this Doctrine IX The Vses I design to make by God's further Assistance are the Three following Information to discover such Truths Humiliation to bewail such Sins and Exhortation to beswade to such Duties as naturally flow from it First I. Vse by way of Information in these Thirteen Particulars 1. 1 Inf. We may learn the Fitness of Earthly Comparisons to bring down Heavenly Truths to our Capacities I say the Fitness of Earthly Comparisons for in this Body of Flesh we have more Earth than Spirit and need to put on Spectacles to help our weak Eyes It is a piece indeed of condescending Workmanship in our Maker to blow up the very Earth and the Things of it into a Glass and then shew us Heaven and the Things thereof thro' it which made the Apostle use the same Metaphor when he was comparing the Knowledge of Believers here with that perfect Sight they should have in Heaven 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see thro' a Glass darkly but then Face to Face Thus the Holy Ghost declares I have used Similitudes by the Ministry of the Prophets Hos 12.10 (a) Deus se quodammodò transformat in verbo suo in quo non loquitur pro su◠Majestate sed prout congruere videt modulo nostro infirmitati Rivet in loc Vol. 2. p. 774. col 2. ultim Obs When God speaks to instruct us in his Word he doth as it were transform himself not speaking according to his own Essential Majesty but agreeably to the measure of our Frailty The Scripture often instructs us in Metaphors and sets forth our State Priviledges and Duty by
have no cloak for your Sin and therefore now is the Judgment of this World Joh. 15.22 8 Inf. John 12.31 8. It is a mistake of corrupt Flesh and Blood to look back upon the Days of Ignorance Vanity and Sin and yet say the former Days were better than these Alas What were those Days in which we all had our Conversations in Times past the Apostle makes our Births which we brought forth in such a Day Monsters Eph. 2.3 fulfilling the Desires of the Flesh and of the Mind Was it better in our Carnal Security to have Fellowship with Devils than now at a Table to sit in Communion with God Was our Morality better when we only made clean the outside of the Cup and Platter than since we have been at a Feast which must have Vessels clean within Shall there be any that dippeth his Hand in the Dish count it better to run back from Christ and be such a Judas to betray him Are the Days of Darkness better than those when the Sun shines from Heaven and better than the shine of God's Face at Supper Dare any Soul that hath sate in the King's Hall look back into the Devil's Kitchen and say then it was better with me than now Corruption would fain break loose it loves not to sit so long as Grace delights to be at Supper It is a Torment to the Flesh so far as unmortify'd to keep in God's Presence Flesh and Blood savours not the Dainties that came down from Heaven and it would fain return back to be as in Days of Vanity and as in Months past again But surely if we should hearken to these complainings in our Streets Psal 144.14 and say Wherefore are the former Days better than these we should in the worst sense not wisely enquire concerning this Eccles 7.10 The Flesh will be ready to object we were not once put so hard as now to it we need not once have gone so far or took so much Pains to hear and then have had our Faults or every Miscarriage dealt so hardly with We were once as Merry in our Carriage as Light at Heart and free from the Burdens Religion lays upon us as our Neighbours that do but reproach us for being Righteous overmuch Eccl. 7.16 How is it that we are grown Melancholly and Heavy and the Case now alter'd with us Come let us return Num. 14.4 let us make a Captain and go back let us resolve to lay aside our Profession and it will go as well of our side yet again as ever This is exactly such a kind of Revolting Spirit as fell among the Jews when they cast off God and embrac't Idols and when instead of worshipping the Sun of Righteousness they adored the Image of the Moon Jer. 44.16 17. As for the Word that thou hast spoken unto us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee but we will certainly do whatsoever Thing goeth forth out of our own Mouth to Burn Incense unto the Queen of Heaven and to pour out Drink-offerings unto her as we have done we and our Fathers our Kings and our Princes in the Cities of Judah and in the Streets of Jerusalem For then had we plenty of Victuals and were well and saw no evil They would rather make Cakes to worship the Devil than eat of the Bread of Life v. 19. Sirs if you meet with any thing that is grievous to be born and think the way to mend it will be now to turn from the Holy Commandment 2 Pet. 2.21 yet know for a certainty Numb 32.23 that your Sin will find you out It will be a base encrease of your Victuals if you either rob by your own withdrawing or pollute by unhallowed Approaches the Table of the Lord Mal. 1.12 in Hopes it may fare the better with you It will be a sad mending the Case to chuse your own ways for the Inconveniences which you think you find in God's 9. If this Feast be now ready 9 Inf. then now God makes amends for all the Discouragements and Inconveniences you ever did or do meet with to enjoy the Means of Grace Peradventure thou hast sometimes found much ado with Men to break thro' all thy way to God Thou hast met with Family-Discouragements Reproaches at home or Scoffs abroad thou hast been in Journeyings often in Fastings Watchings 2 Cor. 11.26 Temptations to enjoy Christ at Supper any thing Psal 66.12 we went thro' Fire and thro' Water if it might but conduce to come any ways at Bread Well you shall now find the Gospel will become a Double Portion to you You that have come to the Provisions of the Feast in weakness 1 Cor. 2.3 Neh. 8.10 the Joy of the Lord shall be your strength The Bread of God shall be now the sweeter as you have eaten the Bread of Affliction Deut. 16.3 Cant. 7.9 Psal 102.9 and the taste of his Love like the best Wine since you have mingled your Drink with weeping So that a Man shall say Verily there is a Reward for the Righteous Psal 58.11 A Man perhaps a Carnal Man that sees how God doth bear thee out or the Man thine Enemy shall be forc't to acknowledge that surely John 4.32 if thou hadst not Meat to eat which others know not of thou couldst never break thro' such Discouragement or get out to a Meal prepar'd so far from home And blessed be God which hath not turned away my Prayer nor his Mercy from me Psal 66.20 It is a great Encouragement to wait upon God when he will give it in to your own Experience that in keeping his Commandments there is great Reward Psal 19.11 You come it may be divers of you from far Mark 8.3 to come in and Sup with Him but nevertheless you have your Reward Matth. 6.5 if you find that God who invited you hath been nigh and not afar off You are wet it may be sometimes or cold or chid some of you when you are got home Perhaps some in the Family will rebuke you for coming hither Mark 10.13 as the Disciples in another Case did the People when they brought in Children to Jesus Christ well no matter there is enough in the Entertainment to make amends for all If God Rains down Mannah upon your Souls he makes amends tho' he does not command the Clouds in your return to rain no Rain upon you Isa 5.6 1 Pet. 1.2 Job 14.8 The sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus will recompense your being wet with the showers of the Mountains ay the sprinkling it upon your Souls will make amends tho' your Bodies may a little like Nebuchadnezzar's Dan. 4.15 be wet with the Dews of Heaven The Love of Christ when he hath brought you into his Banquetting House will warm you Song 2.4 and make amends while you return cold home Weather shall not chill your Affections if they are strongly