THE HOLY Eucharist OR THE MYSTERY OF THE LORDS SUPPER Briefly Explained By THOMAS WATSON Minister of the Gospel The second Impression newly Enlarged Dedit nobis Christus carnem suam in cibum sanguinem in potum animam in pretium aquam lateris in lavacrum Bernard 1 Cor. 10. 21. Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's-Table and the Table of Devils LONDON Printed by A. Maxwel for Thomas Parkhurst at the Golden Bible on London-Bridge next the Gate To the Honourable Vertuous and my ever Honoured Friend Mrs. DOROTHY WOLSTENHOLM Madam BEsides the Cognizance I have had of you when it was my happiness to live among some of your Noble Relations your friendly deportment and the favourable Aspect which you have been pleased to cast upon me hath very much rendred me your Debtor And I knew not what other way to express my self grateful than by presenting yoâ—… with some of that Treasure which through the help of the Spirit I have digged out of the Sacred Mines of Scripture The Tractate which I here dedicate to you is small but the Subject treated on is of eminent and singular worth Pearls may lie in a little room and a soveraign Electuary may be given upon a Knive's point The Supper of the Lord is a matter of weighty importance as having in it the very pith and quintessence of the Gospel Madam Admire distinguishing Grace which hath made you Noble not only in blood but in spiritual Endowments How deeply are you obliged to God who hath given you an insight into the Mystery of Life which will abide with you when the Flower of Beauty shall fade and the Feathers of Honour must lie in the dust Madam let Jesus Christ be ever in your thoughts you are never out of his Let that dear Saviour lie as a bundle of Myrrh between your Breasts delight much in the Galleries where the King of Glory is held Let those hours be counted golden when you are at Free grace's Table and Christ sups with you and you with him I have no more at present to add only desire your Candid Interpretation kind reception of these few impolished lines So entreating the Lord to enrich you with all spiritual and eternal Blessings I take leave and rest Madam Yours to serve you Thomas Watson TO THE Reader Christian Reader VVHEN I Contemplate the Holiness and Solemnity of the blessed Sacrament I cannot but have some awe upon my Spirit and think my self bound to hold this Mystery in the highest Veneration The Elements of Bread and Wine are in themselves common but under these Symbolical Representations lie hid Divine Excellencies Behold here the best of dainties God is in this Cheer Here is the Apple of the Tree of Life Here is The House of Wine where the Banner of Free grace is gloriously displayed In the Sacrament we see Christ broken before us and his broken body is the only comfort for a broken Heart While we sit at this Tabâ—â— Christ's precious Spikenard of merit and grace sends forth its smell The Sacrament is both an healing and a sealing Ordinance Here our Saviour leads his people up the Mount of Transfiguration gives them a Glimpse of Paradise How welcome should this Jubilee of the Soul be wherein Christ appears in the oriency of his beauty and draws the golden 〈◊〉 of his love to the center of a Believer's Heart Oh what Flames of Devotion should burn in our Breasts How agil and nimble should we be mounting up as on Wings of Cherubims when we are to meet the Prince of Glory who brings the Olive-branch of Peace in his mouth and whose kisses leave a print of Heaven upon the Soul The scope of this ensuing Discourse is to raise an high value and appretiation of the Sacrament to Excite Holy Ardours of Soul in such as intend to partake of it Think not That it is enough to be outwardly devout at Gods Table drawing near to him with the lip when the Heart is far from him What is this but with Ephraim to compass God with Lyes They who put off God with bare shews he will put them off with bare signs They who give God only the skin of Duty shall carry away only the shell of Comfort Spirituality is the life of Worship If we come to the Sacrament in due order* we shall see him whom our souls love The Lord will give us a fore-crop here and reserve the after-crop of Glory for the Kingdom of Heaven That this may be effected shall be the earnest prayer of him who is Yours in the Work of the Gospel Thomas Watson THE MYSTERY of the Lords Supper MATT. 26. 26 27 28. And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to his Disciples and said Take eat this is my body And he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the Remission of sins IN these words we have the Institution of the Lords Supper The Greeks call the Sacrament 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Mystery There is in it a Mystery of Wonder and a mystery of Mercy The celebration of the Lords Supper saith St. Chrysostom is the Commemoration of the greatest Blessing that ever the World enjoyed A Sacrament is a Visible Sermon And herein the Sacrament excels the Word Preached The Word is a Trumpet to proclaim Christ the Sacrament is a Glass to represent him Quest. But why was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper appointed is not the Word sufficient to bring us to Heaven Answ. The Word is for the Ingrafting The Sacrament for the Confirming of Faith The Word brings us to Christ The Sacrament builds us up in him The Word is the Font where we are baptized with the Holy Ghost The Sacrament is the Table where we are fed and cherished The Lord condescends to our wâ—…akness Were we made up all of Spirit there were no need of Bread and Wine but we are compounded creatures therefore God to help our Faith doth not only give us an audible Word but a visible Sign I may here allude to that of our Saviour Joh. 4. 48. Except ye see signs ye will not believe Christ sets his Body and Blood before us in the Elements here are Signs else we will not believe Things taken in by the Eye do more work upon us than things taken in by the Ear. A Solemn Spectacle of Mortality doth more affect us than an Oration So when we see Christ broken in the Bread and as it were Crucified before us this doth more affect our Hearts than the bare Preaching of the Cross. So I come to the Text As they were eating Jesus took bread c. Where I shall open these five particulars in reference to the Sacrament 1. The Author 2. The Time 3. The Manner 4. The
So carnal persons see the external Elements but Christ is not known to them in his saving Vertues There is honey in this spiritual Rock which they never taste They feed upon the bread but not Christ in the bread Isaac eat the Kid when he thought it had been Venison Gen. 27. 25. Unbelievers go away with the shadow of the Sacrament they have the Rind and the Husk not the Marrow They eat the Kid not the Venison 3. See in this Text as in a Glass infinite Love display'd 1. Behold the love of God the Father in giving Christ to be broken for us that God should lay such a Jewel to pawn is the Wonderment of Angels John 3. 16. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son It is a pattern of Love without a Parallel it was a far greater expression of Love in God to give his Son to dye for us than if he had voluntarily acquitted us of the Debt without any satisfaction at all If a Subject be disloyal to his Soveraign it argues more love in the King to give his own Son to dye for that Subject than to forgive him the wrong freely 2. Behold the amazing Love of Christ His body was broken The Cross saith St. Austin was a Pulpit in which Christ preached his Love to the World Let us see an holy Climax or Gradation of the Love of Christ 1. It was wonderful Love that Christ who never had the Viper of sin fastened on him should be reputed a sinner That he who hated sin should be made sin That he who is numbred among the Persons of the Trinity should be numbred among transgressours Isa. 53. 12. 2 That Christ should suffer peath Lord saith Bernard thou hast loved me more than thy self for thou didst lay down thy life for me The Emperour Trajan rent off a piece of his own Robe to bind up one of his Souldiers Wounds Christ rent off his own Flesh for us Nay that Christ should dye as the greatest sinner †having the weight of all mens sins laid upon him here was Love usque ad stuporem dulcis It sets all the Angels in Heaven a wondring 3. That Christ should dye freely John 10. 17. I lay down my Life There was no Law to enjoin him no Force to compel him It is called the Offering of the Body of Jesus Heb. 10. 10. What could fasten him to the Cross but the Golden Link of Love 4. That Christ should dye for such as we are What are we Not only Vanity but Enmity When we were fighting he was dying when we had the Weapons in our hands then had he the Spear in his Sides Rom. 5. 8. 5. That Christ dyed â—…or us when he could not expect to be at all bettered by us We were reduced to penury we were in such a condition that we could neither Merit Christ's Love nor Râ—…quite it for Christ to dye for us when we were at such a low Ebb was the very Quintessence of Love One Man will extend kindness to another so long as he is able to requite him but if he be fallen to decay then love begins to slacken and cool But when we were ingulphed in misery and were fallen to decay we had lost our Beauty stained our Blood spent our Portion then Christ dyed for us O amazing love which may swallow up all our thoughts 6. That Christ should not repent of his sufferings Isa. 53 11. He shall see of the travel of his soul and shall be satisfied It is a Metaphor that alludes to a Mother who though she hath had hard Labour yet doth not repent â—…it when she sees a Child brought forth so though Christ had hard Travel upon the Cross yet he doth not repent of it but thinks all his Sweat and Blood well bestowed because he sees the Man-child of redemption is brought forth into the World He shall be satisfied the Hebrew Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies such a satiating as a man hath at some sweet repast or banquet 7. That Christ should rather dye for us than the Angels that fell They were creatures of a more noble Extract and in all probability might have brought greater Revenues of glory to God yet that Christ should pass by those Golden Vessels and make us Clods of Earth into Stars of Glory O the Hyperbole of Christ's Love 8. Yet another Step of Christ's Love for like the waters of the Sanctuary it riseth higher That Christ's Love should not cease at the hour of Death We write in our Letters Your Friend till Death But Christ wrote in another Style Your Friend after Death Christ dyed once 〈◊〉 loves ever He is now testify 〈◊〉 his Affection to us he is making the Mansions ready for us John 14. 2. He is interceding for us Heb. 9. 27. He appears in the Court as the Advocate for the Clyent When he hath done dying yet he hath not done loving what a stupendious love was here Who can meditate upon this and not be in an Extasie Well may the Apostle call it A love that passeth knowledg Eph. 3. 19. When you see Christ broken in the Sacrament think of this Love 4. See then what dear and intire affections we should bear to Christ who gives us his body and blood in the Eucharist If he had had any thing to part with of more worth he would have bestowed it upon us O let Christ lie nearest our Hearts Let him be our Tree of Life and let us desire no other Fruit â—…et him be our Morning Star â—…nd let us rejoice in no other Light As Christs Beauty so his Bounty should make him loved by us he hath given us his Blood as the Price and his Spirit as the Witness of our Pardon In the Sacrament Christ bestows all good things He both imputes his Righteousness and imparts his Loving-kindness He gives a Fore-taste of that Supper which shall be celebrated in the Paradise of God To sum up all In the blessed Supper Christ gives himself to Believers and what can he give more Dear Saviour how should thy Name be as Oyntment poured forth The Persians worship the Sun for their God let us worship the Sun of Righteousness Though Judas sold Christ for Thirty Pieces let us rather part with all than this Pearl Christ is that Golden Pipe through which the Golden Oyl of Salvation is transmitted to us 5. Was Christ's Body broken then we may behold Sin odious in the Red Glass of Christ's Sufferings It is true Sin is to be abominated as it turn'd Adam out of Paradise and threw the Angels down to Hell Sin is the Peace-breaker it is like an Incendiary in the Family that sets Husband and Wife at variance it makes God fall out with us Sin is the Womb of our Sorrows and the Grave of our Comforts But that which may most of all disfigure the Face of
Sin and make it appear Ghastly is this It crucified our Lord It made Christ Vail his Glory and lose his Blood If a Woman did see that Sword which killed her Husband how hateful would the sight of it be to her Do we count that Sin Light which made Christ's Soul Heavy unto Death Mark 14. 34. Can that be our joy which made the Lord Jesus a man of sorrows Isa. 53. 3. Did he cry out My God why hast thou forsaken me And shall not those Sins be forsaken by us which made Christ himself forsaken O let us look upon Sin with Indignation When a Temptation comes to Sin let us say as David 2 Sam. 23. 17. Is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives So Is not this the Sin that poured out Christ's Blood Let our Hearts be enraged against Sin When the Senators of Rome shewed the people Caesar's bloody Robe they were incensed against those that slew him Sin hath rent the White Robe of Christs Flesh and dyed it of a Crimson Colour let us then seek to be avenged of our Sins Under the Law if an Oxe gored a Man that he dyed the Oxe was to be killed Exod. 21. 28. Sin hath gored and pierced our Saviour let it dye the Death What pitty is it for that to live which would not suffer Christ to live 6. Was Christ's Body broken Let us then from his suffering on the Cross learn this Lesson Not to wonder much if we meet with Troubles in the World Did Christ suffer who knew no Sin And do we think it strange to suffer who know nothing but Sin Did Christ feel the anger of God And is it much for us to feel the anger of Men Was the Head crowned with Thorns And would the Members lie among Roses Must we have our Bracelets and Diamonds when Christ had the Spear and Nails going to his heart Truly such as are guilty may well expect the lash when he who was innocent could not go free 2. The second Use is of Exhortation and it hath several Branches 1. Was Christ's precious body broken for us Let us be affected with the great goodness of Christ Who can tread upon these hot Coals and his Heart not burn Cry out with Ignatius Christ my Love is crucified If a Friend should dye for us would not our Hearts be much affected with his Kindness That the God of Heaven should dye for us how should this stupendious mercy have a melting influence upon us The body of Christ broken is enough to break the most flinty Heart At our Saviour's Passion the very Stones did cleave asunder Mat 27. 51. The Rocks rent He that is not affected with this hath an Heart harder than the Stones If Saul was so affected with Davids Mercy in sparing his Life 1 Sam. 24. 16. How may we be affected vvith Christs kindness vvho to spare our life lost his ovvn Let us pray that as Christ vvas Crucifixus so he might be Cordi-fixus As he vvas fastened to the Cross so that he may be fastened to our Hearts 2. Is Jesus Christ spiritually exhibited to us in the Sacrament Let us then set an high value and Estimate upon him 1. Let us prize Christs body Every crumb of this bread of life is precious John 6. 55. My flesh is meat indeed It is Panis eximius supersubstantialis as Cyprian calls it The Manna was a lively Type and Emblem of Christ's Body Manna was sweet Exod. 16. 31. The taste of it was like wafers made with honey it was a delicious meat therefore it was called Angels Food for its excellency So Christ the Sacramental Manna is sweet to a Believer's Soul Cant. 2. 3. His fruit was sweet to my taste Every thing of Christ is sweet His Name is sweet his Vertues sweet This Manna sweetens the Waters of Marah Nay Christ's Flesh excells Manna 1. Manna was Food but not Physick If an Israclite had been sick Manna could not have cured him but this blessed Manna of Christ's body is not only for food but for medicine Christ hath healing under his wings Mal. 4. 2. He heals the Blind eve the hard Heart Take this mediâ—…ine next your Heart and it will heal you of all your spiritual Distempers 2. Manna was Corruptible It ceased when Israel came to Canaan But this blessed Manna of Christ's Body will never cease The Saints shall feed with infinite delight and Soul satisfaction upon Christ to all Eternity The Joyes of Heaven would cease if this Manna should cease The Manna was put in a golden Pot in the Ark to be preserved there So the blessed Manna of Christ's Body being put in the golden Pot of the Divine Nature is laid up in the Ark of Heaven for the Saints to feast upon for ever Well then may we say of Christ's blessed Body It is meat indeed The Field of Christ's Body being digged upon the Cross we find the Pearl of Salvation there 2. Let us prize Christ's Blood in the Sacrament It is drink indeed John 6. 55. Here is the Nectar and Anibrosia God himself delights to taste of This is both a Balsom and a Perfume That vve may set the higher value upon the blood of Christ I shall shevv you seven rare supernatural Vertues in it 1. It is a reconciling blood Col. 1. 21. You that were sometime alienated and enemies yet now hath he reconciled through death No sooner vvas the Message brought to King David Uriah is dead 2 Sam. 11. 21. but the anger of David vvas removed No sooner vvas the blood of Christ poured out but God's anger vvas pacified Christ's blood is the blood of atonement Nay it is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely a Sacrifice but a Propitiation 1 John 2. 2. Which denoteth a bringing us into Favour with God It is one thing for a traytor to be pardoned and another thing to be brought into Favour Sin rent us off from God Christ's Blood doth soader and â—…cment us to God If we had had as much grace as the Angels it could not have wrought our Reconciliation If we had offered up Millions of Holocausts and Sacrifices if we â—…ad wept Rivers of Tears this could never have appeased an angry Deiâ—…y only Christ's blood doth ingraâ—…iate us into God's Favour and make him look upon us with a smiling Aspect When Christ dyed the Vail of the Temple was rent This was not without a Mystery to shew that â—…hrough Christ's blood the Vail of our Sins is rent which did interpose between God and us 2. Christ's blood is a quickning â—…lood John 6. 54. Whoso drinketh my blood hath eternal life It both â—…egets life and prevents death Lev. 17. 11. The life of a thing is in the â—…lood Sure enough the life of our â—…oul is in the blood of Christ. When we contract deadness of Heart
this is an answer from God Zach. 10. 12. I will strengthen them in the Lord. If Christian thou hast not God's arm to imbrace thee yet if thou hast his arm to strengthen thee this is the fruit of an Ordinance 2. If God doth not fill thy heart with joy yet if he fills thy eyes with tears this is his meeting thee at his Table When thou lookest upon Christ broken on the Cross and considerest his love and thy ingratitude this makes the dew begin to fall and thy eyes are like the fish-pools in Heshbon full of water This is Gods gracious meeting thee in the Sacrament bless his Name for it It is a sign the Sun of Righteousness hath risen upon us when our frozen hearts melt in tears for sin 3. If thy Comforts are low yet if the actings of thy Faith be high this is Gods manifesting his presence in the Supper The sensible tokens of Gods love are with-held but the soul ventures on Christ's blood it believes that coming to him he will hold out the golden Scepter This glorious acting of faith and the inward quiet that faith breeds is the blessed return of an Ordinance Mic. 7. 19. He will turn again he will have compassion upon us The Churches comforts were darkned but her faith breaks forth as the Sun out of a Cloud He will have compassion on us This acting of faith makes us in a blessed condition Blessed are they which have not seen yet have believed Object 5. But I cannot find any of these things in the Sacrament my heart is dead and locked up and I have no return at all Resp. Wait on God for an answer of the Ordinance God hath promised to satiate the soul Psal. 107. 9. He silleth the hungry soul with goodness If not with gladness yet with goodness the soul must be filled or how can the promise be fulfilled Christian God hath said it therefore wait Wilt not thou believe God unless thou hast a voice from Heaven The Lord hath given thee his promise and is it not as good security to have a Bill under a man's hand as to have it by word of mouth Be content to wait a while mercy will come God's mercies in Scripture are not called speedy mercies but they are Sure mercies Isa. 55. 3. 5. Hath Christ given us his Body Blood Then when we are at this Gospel-Ordinancâ—… let us remember the Lord Jesus there The Sacrament is a Christ-remembring Ordinance 1 Cor. 11. 25. This do in remembrance of me God hath appointed this spiritual festival to preserve the living memory of our dying Saviour A Sacrament-day is a Commemoration-day 1. Remember Christ's Passion Lam. 3. 19. Remembring the wormwood and the gall I may a little alter the words Remembring the Vinegar and the â—…ll If the Manna was to be kept in the Ark that the memory of it should be preserved How should the Death and Suffering of Christ be kept in our minds as a memorial when we are at the Table of the Lord 2. Remember the glorious benefits we receive from the broken Body of Christ. We usually remember those things which are advantageous to us Christ's broken Body is a Screen tâ—… keep off the fire of God's wrath from us Christ's Body being broken the Serpent's head is broken Christ being broken upon the Cross a Box of precious Jewels is broken open Now we have access to God with boldness the Blood of the Cross hath made way to the Throne of Grace Now we are made Sons and Heirs and to be Heir to the Promise is better than to be Heir to the Crown Christ having dyed we are made near a kin to the blessed Trinity we are candidates and expectants of glory The bloody way of the Cross is our Via lact ea our milky way to Heaven Jesus Christ drank Gall that we might drink the hony-streams of Canaan His Cross was stuck full of Nails that our Crovvn might be hung full of Jevvels Well may vve remember Christ in the Blessed Sacrament But it is not the bare remembrance of Christ's Death is enough Some vvho have a natural tenderness of spirit may be affected vvith the History of Christ's Passion but this remembrance of Christ hath little comfort in it Let us remember Christ in the Sacrament aright 1. Let us remember Christ's Death vvith joy Galat. 6. 14. God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we see Christ in the Sacrament crucified before our eyes we may behold him in that posture as he was in upon the Cross stretching out his blessed arms to receive us O what matter of triumph and acclamation is this Though we remember our sins with grief yet we should remember Christs sufferings with joy Let us weep for those sins which shed his Blood yet rejoyce in that blood which washeth away our sins 2. Let us so remember Christ's Death as to conform to his Death Phil. 3. 10. That I may be conformable to his death Then we remember Christ's Death aright when we are dead with him our pride and passion are dead Christ's dying for us makes sin die in us Then we rightly remember Christ's crucifixion when we are crucified with him we are dead to the pleasures and preferments of the World Gal. 6. 14. The world is crucified unto me and I unto the world 6. If Jesus Christ hatâ—…â—…ven us this Soul-festival for the strengthning of grace let us labour to feel some vertue flowing out of this Ordinance to us let not the Sacrament be a dry breast It were strange if a man should receive no nourishment by his food It is a discredit to this Ordinance if we get no encrease of Grace Shall leanness enter into our souls at a feast of fat things Christ gives us his Body and Blood for the augmenting of Faith he expects that we should reap some profit and income and that our weak minute-faith should flourish into a great faith Mâ—…t 15. 28. O woman Great is thy faith It were good to examine whether after our frequent Celebration of this holy Supper we have arrived at a great Faith Quest. Hovv may I knovv Whether I have this great Faith Resp. For the Solution of this I shall laâ—… lovvn six eminent Signs of a great Faith and if vve can shevv any one of them vve have made a good proficiency at the Sacrament 1. A great Faith can trust God vvithout a pavvn it can relie upon Providence in the deficiency of outvvard supplies Hab. 3. 17 18. Although the Figtree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall fail c. yet will I rejoyce in the Lord c. An Unbeliever must have something to feed his senses or he gives up the Ghost When he is at his Wealths end he is at his Wits end Faith doth not question but God vvill provide though it sees not vvhich
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or foret ast of that Marriage-Supper of the Lamb Rev. 19. 9. which made Damascen pray Lord let me receive this Supper as an Earnest of my future Heaven But into what a degenerate age are we fallen when the most weighty tremendous Points of Religion are called in question To such a Climax of impudency are some risen as to vilifie Ordinances oppugn Christ's Divinity deride the in-habitation of God's Spirit and deny praying by the Spirit These are they who would cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before them Isa. 30. 11. They would turn all Religion into a Romance and leaven the World with Atheism I wish they have not sinned the sin unto death If once the Truths of God iose their authority in Peoples hearts then is a fatal stop put to all solid Practical Piety God grant that the more others decry the Sanctity of the Gospel the more we may reverence it They have made void thy Law therefore I love thy Commandments Psal. 119. 126. Such as have experienced the sweetness of Truth in their own Souls know how to estimate it I should be glad if this short ensuing Discourse might render the Lord Jesus more precious and eligible in our eyes and add one cubit to our faith O happy Ordinance of the Supper that causeth such endearments of love between Christ and the Soul and begins those sacred Nuptials which shall be for ever solemnized in the Kingdom of God But I avoâ—…d Prolixness hoping for a blessing from on high upon these endeavours I rest Yours affectionately in the service of the Gospel Thomas Watson Feb. 19. 1668. The Fiery Serpents Numb 21 6 7 8 9. And the Lord sent Fiery Serpents among the People and they bit the people and much people of Israel dyed Therefore the people came to Moses and said We have sinned for we have spoken against the Lord and against thee pray unto the Lord that he take away the Serpents from us And Moses prayed for the People And the Lord said unto Moses Make thee a Fiery Serpent and set it upon a Pole and it shall come to pass that every one that is bitten when he looketh upon it shall live And Moses made a Serpent of Brass and put it upon a Pole and it came to pass that if a Serpent had bitten any man when he beheld the Serpent of Brass hâ—… lived IN this Portion of Holy Scripture there are two things considerable The people of Israels being stung and the manner of their Cure 1. Their being stung with the Fiery Serpents where observe 1. The occasion of God's sending these Fiery Serpents There were two Sins provoked the Lord to inflict this Punishment 1. Their Murmuring ver 5. The People spake against God and against Moses Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the Wilderness for there is no bread neither is there any water Speaking against God and his Prophets go together They spake against God and against Moses The Chaldee reads it They murmured before the Lord. Murmuring is a speaking against God and it proceeds from distrust Psal. 106. 24. They believed not his Word but murmured So in the Text There is no bread or water they thought they should die in the Wilderness and then they spake against God Murmuring is the daughter of Unbelief And observe the Time when they murmured it was immediately after an eminent and glorious deliverance ver 3. The Lord harkned to Israel and delivered up the Canaanites and they utterly destroid them and their Cities And behold the requital they make God for this signal mercy They murmur against him What to find fault with God! and just after a Deliverance the Lord being highly provoked sent Fiery Serpents among them and much people of Israel dyed ver 6. Oh how suitable to their Sin was this Punishment Israel did burn in heat of Passion and God made their Flesh burn with extream heat Their Speeches were venemous and they were punished with venemous Serpents Hence observe Doctrine 1. Of all Sins God can least bear the sin of Ingratitude To be delivered yet murmur God presently sent Fiery Serpents to avenge his quarrel Israel did not only forget God's Mercies Psal. 106. 13. but abuse them To be ungrateful for mercy is like Absalom who assoon as David kissed him and took him into favour plotted Treason against him 2 Sam. 15. 10. Like the Athenians who in lieu of the good Service Aristides had done them banished him out of their City Like the Mule who kicks the Damm after she hath given it milk Ingratitude saith Cicero hath nothing of evil wanting in it It is a sin that leaves a People without excuse if God let loose his Judgments and send Fiery Serpents they have nothing to say Ezra 9. 10. And now O our God what shall we say after this after what ver 9. Mercy hath been extended to us in the sight of the Kings of Persia yet we have forsaken thy Commandments What shall we say after this Use. Let our Ingratitude be deeply laid to heart This puts an accent upon sin and makes it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of measure sinful How many are the worse for mercy They make a dart of God's Mercies and shoot at him he gives them Wit and they serve the Devil with it he gives them an Estate and they feast their Lusts with it Are these worthy to be Guests at the Lords-Table who lift up the heel against him Will God welcome such into his presence as know not how to use kindness Oh that this sin may fill our faces with blushing Take we heed for the future of following this bad example in the Text. Let us turn all our Murmurings into Hosanâ—…ahs Let us praise God for his Mercies and serve God with his Mercies 2. The second cause of God's sending the Fiery Serpents was Their slighting of Manna ver 5. Our soul loatheth this light bread The Septuagint renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this empty bread It is spoken in contempt Israel counted Manna vile in respect of other meat Manna is called Angels Food but they call it in disdain light bread This Manna was miraculous it came from Heaven in an extraordinary way and mystical It was a type and figure of the Lord Jesus who is called the bread of Life Joh. 6. 98. and the Hidden Manna Rev. 2. 17. The contempt therefore of Manna was a contempt of Christ for this God sent Fiery Serpents Doct 2. The slighting and despising the Lord Jesus is a God-provoking sin This was Israels Crime the despising of Manna which was not only corporal food but a Type of Christ their spiritual food this greatly incensed the Lord and made him send Fiery Serpents among them Thus when we despise Christ and prefer our lusts before him as Israel did Leeks and Onyons before Manna then come the Fiery Serpents
this Spiritual Vine What was the old World the better to hear of an Ark unless they got into the Ark So what are we the better to hear of a Vine unless we are in this Vine Quest. How shall we know that we are in this Vine Answ. 1. By being ingrafted into the Vine Faith is Vinculum unionis the ingrafting grace And herein Faith hath a peculiar excellency above other Graces Other Graces make us like Christ but Faith makes us one with Christ Other Graces make us lively Pictures of Christ but Faith makes us living Branches of Christ. By Love and Humility we imitate Christ but by Faith we are implanted into him as the graft or siens is in-oculated into the Tree Let us therefore examine whether we have this ingrafting Grace Faith admires Christ's beauty confides in his Merits submits to his Laws Faith gives up its will its love its life to Christ. Faith hath two hands with one it takes Christ for its Sin-offering with the other it gives up it self to Christ as a Burnt-offering 2. We may know we are in the Vine by receiving influence from the Vine 1. A vital influence Joh. 5. 21. The Son quickneth whom he will And this life from Christ is evidenced by sensation we are sensible of the first ebullitions and risings of corruption Rom. 7. 23. and of the least ebbings of grace Hebrew 5. 14. Who have their senses exercis'd to discern both good and evil 2. A Sanctifying influence The root of this Vine being holy makes all the Branches holy Hath Christ diffused some of his Divine Unction into us are our hearts consecrated do we set our selves against every evil as there is a conflict in the stomack between the spirits of Wine and Poison Do we forsake fin not only out of Policy but Antipathy Are we by the power of Grace transformed and made Partakers of the Divine Nature Are we meek humble zealous Is the fiame of our heart Spiritual doth our pulse still beat aster God Is our aime sincere Do we not only advance but design God's Glory behold here a sanctifying vertue derived from Christ into us and we need not doubt but we are Branches of the true Vine and shall grow and flourish in him to eternity 2. Bran. You that are Believers stand and wonder that when you were by nature the Vine of Sodom Deut. 32. 32 a Vine in your blood Ezek. 19. 10 a wild Vine which not only cumbred the Ground but poyson'd it That God should take such degenerate Branches and plant you into Christ and make you partake of the spiritual juice and fat of this Vine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the unfathomable depth of Gods love you who are the Branches of this Vine let me beseech you love the Vine that bears you kiss and embrace Christ. Let your Souls sound forth Hallelujahs to the whole Trinity Admire God the Father in sending a Vine from Heaven Admire God the Son who was a bleeding Vine for you Admire God the Holy Ghost who hath by his mighty Power implanted you into this Vine Turn all your sullen discontents into triumphant songs You are now made living Branches who weâ—…e once dead holy Branches who were once unclean you now bear Grapes who did once bring forth Thistles Oh make melody in your hearts to the Lord. Admire and celebrate Freegrace It is well that there is anEternitya coming and that will be little enough to praise God Use. 3. Here is a breast of Consolation to all who are implanted into Christ this Spiritual Vine Let the Times be what they will you have never so much cause to be sad as you have to rejoyce 2 Cor. 6. 10. As sorrowful yet always rejoycing Harken to me thou Branch of Christ what though thou hast little in the world seeing thou partakest of the blessing of the Vine even of all the fulness of God Eph. 3. 19. What though thou art reproached It is honour enough that thou art in Christ This Vine being a Plant of Renown casts a glory upon all the Branches What though thou art told by the Tempter that Christ doth not love thee Thou maist reply Am I ingrafted into Christ is the holy sap of his Grace infused into me and doth he not love me What though thou art persecuted be of good chear thou hast a life hid in the Vine Col. 3. 3. Your life is hid with Christ. Fear not if thou canst not live without moleâ—…ation in a Wilderness thou shalt grow in Paradise When Basil was threatned with banishment he comforted himself with this Either I shall be under Heaven or in Heaven Oh how may all the Branches of the true Vine flourish with joy Let death come they may triumph death shall destroy Sin and perfect Grace In particular there is comfort to all the real Branches of Christ in these four Cases 1. It is comfort under fear of Spiritual barrenness I am afraid saith the Saint I shall grow dead at last and be like that barren Figtree in the Gospel which was cursed But for thy comfort know that the Branches of this Spiritual Vine never cease yielding fruit Indeed ordinary Vine-Trees though they are for a time fruitful yet when they grow old they grow barren but the Branches of the true Vine are never so old as to be past bearing Psal. 92. 14. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age Believers the longer they live the more full they are of Faith the more perfumed with Love The Church of Thyatira the older she grew the better she grew Her last works were more than her first Rev. 2. 19. What a deal of fruit did Paul bring forth not long before his death This light shined brighter before his setting 1 Cor. 15. 10. I laboured more abundantly than they all So long as there is a fulness in Christ Believers shall not want This Holy Vine being replenished with sap the Branches cannot choose but be fertil Joh. 14. 19. Because I live ye shall live also Because the Root lives therefore the Branches shall flourish with fruit 2. It is comfort in case of wrongs and injuries especially when endured for Christ's sake The Lord Jesus is sensible and will one day vindicate his people The Vine is sensible of all the injury done to the Branches Exod. 3. 7. I have seen I have seen the afflictions of my people Not only have I seen them with an eye of inspection but affection Christ bleeds in the Saints wounds He who knows their Sufferings feelingly will avenge them speedily 3. It is comfort under fear of falling away I am afraid saith a Christian I shall tyre before I get to Heaven Either I shall be blown down by Satan's Temptation or faint under sufferings Oh remember thou art a Branch in Christ and thou canst not be broken off thou hast Omnipotency to support thee Adam when he grew upon his own root of innocency withered but