Armour 1. No other Armour will serve Sauls Armour will not serve Gods souldiers 2. This Armour will serve it was never battered it will never be broken Take it therefore and put it on 1. Put it on wholly 2. Put it on speedily 3. Use it when it is on 4. When you have done all hide your selves in Christ who is here called for their comfort Latibulum à vento of which comfortable point I shall speak the next time ESAY 32. 2. And a man shall be as a hiding place IX SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. Feb. 15. 1651. from the winde TWo things I observed in this Text. 1. A danger intimated in this word Winde 2. A remedy prescribed A man shall be as a hiding place The Observations were two 1. That Christians must expect to meet with windy dayes even under the Kingdome of Christ Of which I have spoken Doct 2. That Jesus Christ is the beleevers hiding place in all the windy dayes which they meet withal in the world He is latibulum or Absconsio à vento whether they be windy dayes of outward trouble or windy dayes of inward trouble temptation desertion discouraging feares and terrours Christ is a hiding place to them in all these days and in all these cases Here are foure words used in this text which set out this hiding vertue that is in Christ hiding place covert rivers of water shaâ—ow of a rock Many other Scriptures bear pregnant testimony to this truth Esay 4. 5 6. The Lord will creatâ— upon Mount Sion upon every dwelling place of Mount Sion and upon all her assemblies a cloud c. This is spoken of Christ the beautiful branch of the Lord v. 2. This glorious and beautiful branch the root of the stock of Jesse shall be a cloud and smoak a defence a Tabernacle a shadow a place of refuge a covert and that not to one but to every dwelling place of Mount Sion and to all her Assemblies To this agrees that of our Saviour Cant. 2. 14. O my dove that art in the clefts of the rock and in the secret place of the staires Jesus Christ is this cleft of the rock he is this secret place of the staires Christ is called Shiloh Gen. 49. 10. Shiloh is from the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies in quietâ— vel pace agere tranquille in otio vivere all safety is in Christ The tunicle in which the infant is wrapt in the mothers belly is called by the Hebrews Shiloh because it lies there securely out of fear In the prosecution of this point I shall open these three things 1. What it is in Christ that is a hiding place 2. What it is of theirs that Christ hides 3. Why Christ is a hiding place to them 1. There are several things in Jesus Christ which make up this hiding place indeed every thing in Christ is a hiding place I shall instance in some 1. The providence of Christ The Scripture tells us that the eyes of the Lord runne to and fro thoroughout the earth 2 Chron. 16. 9. Jesus Christ hath the same watchful eyes of providence over his people that the Father hath Col. 3. 17. By him all things consist It 's one Argument Divines bring to prove Christs divinity because be governs the world by his providence as the Father doth John 5. 17. My Father worketh hitherto and I work It 's meant of his providential working And Heb. 1. 3. Christ is said to uphold all things by the Word of his Power which is an act of providence Now as Christ by his providence watcheth over all things and and creatures so do his eyes watch continually over his people Esay 27. 3. I the Lord do keep it I will keep it night and day This is one great stone of this biding place 2. The Attributes of Christ All the Divine Attributes are ascribed to Christ as well as to the Father Eternity Micah 5. 2. Almightinesse Esaâ— 9. 6. Omniscience Heb. 4. 13. It 's spoken of Christ our high Priest Wisdome Prov. 9. 1. He is called God onely wise Jude 25. All these Attributes are as so many stones that make this hiding place Prov. 18. 10. The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower Christs name the Prophet mentions Esay 9. â— Wonderful Counsellor c. every one of these names is a room in this hiding place 3. The Promises of Christ All the promises of God are in Christ yea and in him Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. Christ hath purchased them they all have their ratification and accomplishment in Christ The Scripture is full of promises of all sorts of protection provision deliverance salvation Every promise is a piece of this hiding-place Ps 18. 30. The Word of the Lord is tryed He is a buckler to them that trust in him Christs Word of Promise is the souls defence 4. The merits of Christ. Christ hath by the shedding of his blood merited for his Elect whatsoever is necessary These merits are a beleevers hiding place O my dove that art in the clefts of the rock Cant. 2. 14. those foramina petrae are vulnera Christâ— There the beleever hides himself in the time of danger As the dove when she is pursued flies to her windows so the beleever flies to the wounds of Christ and there is hid 5. The intercession of Christ The Scripture tells us that Christ appeares continually before the Father for us he is still moving for us at the right hand of God His Intercession in heaven is the beleevers Sanctuary on earth So the Apostle tells us in two places Heb. 6. 18 19 20. and Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save c. because he lives for ever to make Intercession for us Christ directs Peter to this Luke 22. 31. 2. What it is of a beleever that Christ is a hiding place unto 1. Christ is a hiding place to the outward man He hides that in time of stormes Christ hides that two wayes 1. Sometimes he hides it from danger He keeps his people from the rage of them that would swallow them Thus the Church was hid Rev 12. 6. The woman fled into the Wildernesse where she hath a place prepared of God that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred sixty dayes Thus David was often hid from the fury of Saul and his Courtiers that sought his life 2 Sometimes God hides it in danger That though his people be in danger yet they are not destroyed Thus the Church was hid in Egypt The bush was burning yet was not consumed Ex. 3. 2. 2. Christ is a hiding place to the inward man And herein he excells all other hiding places 1 He hides the soul from sinne The best of his people would sinne more frequently and more grievously if Jesus Christ did not hide them from sin 2 He hides the soule from temptations He chaines up Satan from tempting them that he cannot bait them so furiously as he would and when
is both meat and drink compleat nourishment The body cannot live with meat if drink be wanting nor can it subsist by drink onely without meat Bread without drink would dry up the blood drink without meat would in a little time drown the body A mixture and fit proportion of both keeps it in health Jesus Christ is both these compleat and perfect nourishment Well may the Apostle say that Christians are compleat in him Col. 2. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He is in himselfe every way compleat and those that adhere to him are perfectly compleat in him V Take notice of the truth of Christ humanity Marcion Eutiches Saturnius Maniches hold that Christ was man onely in appearance The Scripture doth both assert the God-head and Man-hood of Christ The two natures are personally united never to be separated His Name shall be called Emmanuel Mat. 1. 23. And the truth of the Man-hood is asserted in many places The Word became flesh and dwelt among us Joh. 1. 14. To us a childe is born Esay 9. 6. As other Scriptures so the Text doth clearly assert his humanity for it makes mention of his flesh and blood The God-head hath neither flesh nor blood but the Man-hood hath both He is perfect God and perfect man of a reasonable soule and humane flesh subsisting VI. How injurious are the Papists to the people of God that deny them his blood They take away from the Laity as they call them the blood of Christ in the Sacrament And by this meanes do in effect deny them nourishment As the body stands in need of meat as well as drink and of drink as well as meat so doth the soul As they wrong Christ in transgressing his institution who appointed the cup as well as the bread Matth. 26. 26 27. so they are very injurious to the Church in taking away the one half of their spiritual food Abhor their Doctrines blesse God you are freed from the sacrilegious soul-robbers They that deprive you of Christs blood depâ—ive you of life for except ye eat the flesh of the Sonne of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you Joh. 6. 53. yea indeed he that takes away Christs blood takes away whole Christ from the soul VII The wickednesse of the Socinian doctrine that makes nothing that Christ did to be meritorious for us but onely exemplary This is a soul-damning doctrine Christ is our meat and drink He died not onely to teach us to suffer but to be meat and drink to keep us from starving yea to feed us up to eternal life VIII The miserable condition of those that want Christ Nothing can keep them from starving who either have not or will not use this meat and drink The condition of Lazarus was sad as to his outward man when he had neither meat nor drink Luke 16. Hagar and her childe were in a miserable condition when the bread was eaten and the bottle empty Gen. 21. 15 16. That condition of that desolate widow of Sarepta 1 Reg. 17. 11 12. was very sad far worse is theirs who want Christ the starving of the soul is worse then the pining of the body IX None fare so delicately as beleevers That rich glutton fared deliciously every day Luk. 16. 19. What were his delicacies to this He had the creatures to feed upon beleevers feed on God himself Nabal it s said when he had his sheep-shearers made a feast like the feast of a King 1 Sam. 25. 36. you read of Ahasureus his great feast Esth 1 4 â— You reade of Solomons daily provision 1 Reg. 4. 22 23. this was very great But the beleeving beggar hath better provision then this What is the flesh of foules to the flesh of Christ What is the blood of the grape to Christs blood This is a beleevers daily food They have not onely panem potum Domini but they have panem potum Dominum X. The folly of those that do either feed themselves or perswade others to feed upon their own works and duties The Papists set mens works and duties before themselves and others as their spiritual meat and drink They make the righteousnesse of man their meat and drink 1 This doctrine is derogatory to Christ To make any thing besides Christ the soules meat and drink is to deny him to be meat at least sufficient and perfect meat He will either be our onely food or not our food at all Christ is incapable of all other mixtures As the Apostle argues about grace and works so may we argue in this matter about Christ and works Rom. 11. 6. If by grace then it is no more of works c. If Christ be our meat and drink then are not works our meat and drink otherwise Christ is no more Christ and if works be our meat and drink then is not Christ our meat and drink otherwise works are no more works 2 This doctrine is prejudicial to the soule It is indeed a soul-starving doctrine Our works cannot feed us The Prophet tells us Esay 44. 20. that the Idolater feedeth on ashes Our best works and duties are not meat and drink but ashes 'T is as impossible that the body should live upon ashes or other such trash as that the soule should live upon its own works Our works have no nourishing vertue in them If a Sonne shall ask bread saith our Saviour of any of you that is a father will he give him a stone Luke 11. 11 12. The Papists are unnatural fathers to their children When they ask them bread they give them a stone when they ask fish they give them a serpent and when they ask an egge they give them a scorpion A mans best works are Stones Serpents Scorpions yea they are poyson to him that makes them his food You reade of a severe threatning of Rabshakeh against the people of God 2 Reg. 18. 27. He would make them eat their own dung c. The Papists put this threatning into practise upon all their followers in a spiritual sense They make them eat their own dung c. Indeed our best works and duties in the account of strict justice are no better Mal. 2. 3. I will spread dung upon your faces even the dung of your solemne feasts A person had better never do any good works then make him his spiritual meat and subsistence XI Behold here the excellency of Jesus Christ He is meat and drink He is indeed compared to all things that are excellent he doth farre excel whatsoever he is compared unto He is as far above all other meat and drink as the best meat and drink are above the coursest pulse and the muddiest water See this excellency in a few particulars 1. Christ is spiritual meat and drink All other meat and drink is onely corporeal 'T is so in its own nature and 't is so in regard of the subject it nourisheth not the soule but the body onely All their delicacies do not
Our Saviour heares this dispute and steps in with them in his own person 'T is likely the Disciples acquainted him with it as they usually did in other cases or else by the flocking of the multitude about them he observed it or by the omniscience of his Divinity he knew it however it was the Text saith he appeared in the controversie v. 12. Note Iesus Christ will plea for them that are quarreld with for his sake The Disciples are baited by the subtle Scribes and Pharisees and see how ready Christ is to come to their rescue Christ will back all those that stand up for him Now the answer which our Saviour gives to this cavil is in the Text. They that are whole c. which is more plainly expounded in the next verse I came not c. Our Saviour tells them that he did in this action the office of a good Physician took all opportunities for the good of sinful souls q. d. If a Physician may visit infected persons c. And he doth withal secretly intimate to them their misery that while they continued in their present self-conceitednesse they could expect no benefit at all by him They that are whole need not c. They that are whole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They that are of ability or strength 'T is referr'd in Scripture both to the body and to the soul and it notes either truth of strength or opinion of strength that man that is either really or conceitedly strong in body is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and he that is spiritually stronger conceitedly so is a whole man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here it meanes men that are opinionated and conceited of their own ability It doth secretly point out the Pharisees distemper Though they were as other men in regard of their spiritual condition yet they had good thoughts of themselves they were strong men in their own conceit Need not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word signifies necessity and usefulnesse Rom. 12. 13. contributing to the necessities of Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 6. 8. Your heavenly Father knows what things you have need of c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word signifies also a necessary office as Acts 6. 3. Look out among you seven men c. whom we may appoint over this businesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men that are whole as before they can make no use they have no want of a Physician A Physician 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word signifies a healer The work of a Physician is to heale God hath given men insight into that study to prevent diseases and to cure diseases But they that â—re sick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They that are evil affected 'T is referr'd both to the outward and inward man There is a sicknesse of the body and of the minde also and the phrase expresses the nature of sicknesse Health is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 corporis a right temperature of body 'T is malus habitus corporis Spiritual sicknesse is malus habitus Animi When the spiritual part is dis-affected the soul is spiritually sick In this place it relates to both The words are a double Proposition in which are First the Subject this is twofold Secondly the Predicate twofold 1. That men that Need not a Physician are whole 2. That men that Do need a Physician are sick The summe of all amounts to these five Observations 1. Sinne is a spiritual sicknesse a spiritual disease 2. Jesus Christ is a Physician for the curing of this disease 3. Some sinners are spiritually sick and yet think themselves whole 4. Christ is not a Physician to those that think themselves spiritually whole 5. Those that see their spiritual sicknesse shall finde Jesus Christ ready to heale them I begin with the first viz. Doct. 1. Sinne is a spiritual sicknesse This is intimated in the text 'T is the very foundation of this defence of Christ He points out these Publicans with whom he now conversed as so many diseased men Every sinne is a spiritual disease every iniquity is a real malady Sinful men are truly sick men sin bath many names in Scripture a burden a wound darknesse bonds folly c. and here a sicknesse Two things I shall open here by way of Explication 1. Prove that sin is a sicknesse 2. Shew what kinde of sicknesse it is 1. That sinne is a sicknesse This is proved two wayes 1. From cleare testimonies of Scripture The Word of God calls it a sicknesse Esay 1. 5. The whole head is sick c. It hath relation both to Jerusalems miseries and to Jerusalems sinnes She was sick with misery and sick with sinne therefore sick with misery because sick of sinne Ezek. 34. 4. The Prophets of Israel are compared to shepherds and they are charged with this that they did not strengthen the diseased nor heale that which was sick What is meant by the sick and diseased but the sinful members of that Church whose conversion and reformation the Prophets had not endeavoured And Eccles 6. 2. Solomon calls covetousnesse an evil disease Hence also it is that sinne is called in Scripture by the name of diseases 'T is called the plague of the heart 1 King 8. 38. There are as many diseases of the soul as there are of the body Drunkennesse is a spiritual dropsie Security is a spiritual lethargy Envy is a spiritual canker Lust is a spiritual feaver Hos 7. 4. They are all adulterers as an oven heated by the Baker Apostasie and backslâ—ding is the spiritual falling-sicknesse hardnesse of heart is the spiritual stone searednesse of conscience is a spiritual Apoplexy unsettlednesse of judgement is a spiritual paâ—fiâ— pride a spiritual tumor vaine-glory a spiritual itch There is not any sicknesse of the body but there is some distemper of the soule that might be parallell'd with it and beare the name of it Hence also it is in Scripture that the pardoning of sinne is called healing Psalme 103. 3. who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases 2. From the effects of sinne Sinne doth produce all those effects upon the soule which sicknesses do upon the body 1 Sicknesse unfits the body for action Men that are active in health they are in sicknesse indisposed for any thing The Mariner cannot row the souldier cannot fight the husband-man cannot till the Merchant cannot trade It doth take a man quite off from all his labours and that both in regard of Act and in regard of Affection Eccles 12. 1. what was loved before yields no pleasure Sinne doth unfit the soule for spiritual employments it takes men off from prayer from hearing from meditation c. And the more power it hath over the soul the more is the soule indisposed for holy exercises Even Gods own children when they have fallen into some spiritual sicknesse are exceedingly indisposed to the things of God Their zeale their forwardnesse their activity is much abated David when he had fallen into
soules nourishment The milk of the mothers breast was not more nourishing to the new-borne Ver. 2. infant then the Doctrine of the Gospel is to the souls of regenerated Christians 2. God had sanctified these to be the meanes of their spiritual growth As the childe grows by sucking the milk of the breast so do Christians grow by drinking in the Doctrine of Ibid. the Gospel 3. The Doctrine of the Gospel containes in it the sweetnesse of the love of God and of Jesus Christ towards them that beleeve he that hath tasted of this sweetnesse cannot but thirst after Ver. 3. it 4. By receiving into their hearts this doctrine they should have the closer communion with Jesus Christ To whom coming as to a living stone ye as lively stones are built up c. This he confirmes by an argument taken out of the Old Testament which is here cited and improved to illustrate the thing in hand This is in the Text wherefore it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion c. Two things are considerable in the Text. 1. The denomination or litle given to Christ A chief corner stone 2. The Explication of this Title by the properties of it These are two 1. He is an Elect or chosen stone 2. He is a precious stone I shall first begin with the denomination A chief corner stone The sum is this The Church of God is here compared to a spiritual edifice or building Every true beleever is compared to a mystical stone in this building And Christ is here resembled to the Corner stone The Note from that first particular will be this viz. Doct. That the Lord Jesus Christ is the chief Corner stone of the spiritual structure of Gods Church Both Prophets and Apostles and Christ himself give ample Testimony to this truth 1. The Prophets which were before Christ do bear witnesse to this See Esay â—8 16. From this Testimony my Text is borrowed Behold I lay in Sion fâ—r a â—â—undation a stone a tryed stone a preciouâ— corner stone a sâ—â—â—e foundation And the Prophet David long before him Psalme 118. 22. speaking of Christ hath these words The Stone which the builders refused i◠〈…〉 bâ— Headstone of the Corner 2. The Apostles which succeeded Christ they concur with the Prophets See that famous Testimony which is given before the greatest of Christs adversaries by Peter and John two of his Apostles Though Peter was the onely spokeâ—man yet doth John also agree with him Acts 4. 10 11. Be it known to you all and to all the people of Israel that by the Name of Jesus of Nazareth doth this man stand here before you whole This is the Stone which was set at nought by you builders which is become the Head of the Corner Hear also the Testimony of Paul which is both full and clear to this purpose Eph. 2. 20. Ye are built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner stone 3. We may adde to these the Testimony of Christ himself hear it from his own mouth as it is recorded by three of the Evangelists Mat. 21. 42. Mark 12. 10. Luke 20. 17. Jesus said unto them did you never read in the Scriptures the Stone which the builders refused is become the Head of the Corner In the mouth of all these witnesses is this truth fully established Two things I shaâ—l here open 1. In what respects Christ is compared to the Corner stone 2. How he excels all other corner stones 1. For the first Christ is called the Corner stone in foure respects 1. In regard of sustentation The corner stone doth uphold the whole building if the corner of the house fall the whole structure comes to the ground The Holy Ghost speaking of the slaughter of Jobs children saith There came a winde from the Wildernesse and smote the foure corners of the house and it fell upon the young men and they are dead Job 1. 19. Some stones may drop out of the middle of the building and yet the building may stand but if the corners or foundation shrink the whole fabrick is dissolved Jesus Christ is the susteiner and upholder of his Church Therefore he is called the foundation stone as well as the corner stone Esay 28. 16. He is the great pillar that beares up his Elect. The Churches peace the Churches grace the Churches comfort the Churches salvation are all upheld and maintained by him Solomâ—n reared up two pillars of brass in the Porch of the Temple the one he called Jachin that is he shall establish the other Boaz that is strength 1 Kin. 7. 21. These two Pillars amongst other things did typifie the invincible stability and strength of the Church whereof the Temple was a sign and figure The Lord Jesus Christ is to his Church both Jachin and Boaz he is both the establishment and the strength of his Elect he is that golden pillar that beares up all The Poets have a fictitious conceit of Atlas a great Astronomer that he beares up the heaven upon his shoulders That 's but a fable the great body of the heaven is a burden insupportable to any creature Jesus Christ is really the great Atlas that bears the whole burden of the Church with all its concernments upon his shoulders Eliakim was in this a type of Christ the Prophet saith of him Esay 22. 21 22 13 24. that he shall be fastned as a naile in a sure place and he shall be for a glorious throne to his Fathers house And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his Fathers house the off-spring and the issue all vessels of small quantity from vessels of cups to all vessels of flagons This Eliakim was a figure of Christ for Rev. 3. 7. that which is here promised to him is attributed to Christ These things saith he that hath the key of David he that openeth and no man shutteth and he that shutteth and no man openeth He is that golden naile upon whom all the concernments of the Church both small and great do depend From vessels of cups to vessels of flagons all hang upon him The Prophet Esay foretelling his birth doth attribute this to him Chap. 9. 6. When he saith that the Government shall be upon his shoulder God hath devolved the whole care and weight of his Church upon him and upon him must we roll it 2. In regard of Vnion The corner stone is that Medium by which the walls of the house are united into one building Pull out the corner stones and the two sides of the house are separated one from the other Jesus Christ is he and he alone that doth unite the several stones of the spiritual building one to another This may be considered two ways 1. In reference to the uniting of the Jews and Gentiles Before Christ the Jew and Gentile were divided and separated one from another This separation did commence and begin after the return
both thee and them How unable is that to expiate sin which doth it selfe stand in need of expiation 3. The Popish purgatory is also a direct despising of this fountaine it reproaches Christs purgatory as if it were not sufficient contrary to Heb. 1. 3. 3. The Socinians despise this fountaine in that they deny Christ to be a price for sinne They say Christ did not suffer vice nostâ—â in our stead but onely commodo nostro for our profit to be as an example to us We deny not but that Christ by his sufferings hath left us an example of patient sufferings The Apostle is expresse for this 1 Pet. 2. 21. but this was but an inferior and lesse principal end of his sufferings We have benefit by Pauls death and all other Saints but the principal end was to be a propitiation for sinne Therefore he is called a ransome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 2. 6. A counterprize because the end of his sufferings was to satisfie the justice of God for our sins The Apostle saith That he himself bare our sinnes in his body on the crosse and by his stripes we are healed 1 Pet. 2. 24. If Christ did not suffer in our stead as well as in our nature we must suffer and satisfie for our selves God will have satisfaction but the Scripture saith and let us for our comfort beleeve it That he was wounded for our sinnes he was brâ—â—â—sed for our offences the chastisemenâ— of our peace was on him and that God hath laid on him the iniquity of us â—ll Esay 53. 5 6. 4. All unbleevers that make no use of this fâ—untain are guilty of despising it Though men do not with the Jews wash in the blood of bulls or with Papists make other expiatories either of the Masse or Purgatory nor with Socinians deny the satisfaction of his blood yet if we reject the â—enders of grace in and through his blood made in the Gospel we do despise it as much as they The Prophet makes not beleeving in Christ and despising of Christ equivalent Esay 53. 1 3. There is no medium between not beleeving and despising I have two things to say to all that despise this fountain First It is a great sinne 'T is a despising of the richest love the deepest wisdom the gloriousest grace that ever God did or could manifest to the sâ—nnes of men The washing away of sinne by Christs blood is the deepest plot of infinite wisdome the richest piece of unsearchable grace that ever was manifested to the sons of men 'T is that which the Angels do and shall study for ever Secondly The danger is great He that despiseth Christ despiseth cleansing All that hate me love death Prov. 8. 38. 'T is a question disputed by Divines whether God could have forgiven sinne without satisfaction Most conclude God by his absolute power might but now he hath declared himself that he will not expiate sinne any other way nor by any other meanes but by Christ whom he hath set forth to be a propitiation for sinne Rom. 3. 25. Therefore he that refuseth to wash in this fountain must of necessiâ—y perish in his own filthinesse Behold ye despisers saith the Apostle and wonder and perish Acts 13. 41. God himself cannot now save him that rejects Christs blood 2. Let the opening of this fountaine occasion the opening of other fountainâ— in all our hearts Deep calleth unto deep Psal 42. 7. There are five fountains which the consideration of the opening of this fountaine should open in the heart of every beleever 1 A fountain of love We should set this fountaine wide open both to God and Christ It was love that set open this fountain Rev. 1. 7. and it should work love in us towards him again we are commanded to love Christ We are threatned with a curse if we love him not in 1 Cor. 16. 22. The streams of this fountaine if any thing will cause the springs of love to overflow in our hearts 2. A fountain of thankfulnesse The Apostle speaking of the redemption we have by Christs blood begins with Benedictus Deus Ephes 1. 3. We are unworthy to wash in this fountaine if we do not daily render praises to God and Christ for it Ordinary thankfulnesse will not serve for such an extraordinary fountain We owe much thankfulnesse to God for the fountains of common water and much more for this fountain of Grace in the blood of Christ Sing Davids song of praise Psal 103. init Blesse the Lord O my soul and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Our hearts if it were possible and our lips too should be as full of praises as this fountain is of grace 3. A fountaine of sorrow This fountain shews our guilt We should not have wanted a fountain for sin if we had not fallen into sin We should never think on this fountaine for sinne but we should break forth into sorrow because of sin 4. A fountain of faith We can neither wash in this fountain nor go to it without faith Christ will be to us still as a fountaine sealed if we do not beleeve in him In his Name through faith in his Name whosoever beleeveth in him shall have remission of sins Acts 10. 43. This is the testimony both of Prophets and Apostles And then 5. A fountain of humility and self denyal By nature we have proud thoughts of our selves All the good which is wrought in us we arrogate to our selves This should teach us to ascribe all our purification to Christ 'T is this fountaine that hath cleansed us if we be cleansed The fountain is opened to our hands We could neither open the fountain nor come to the fountain God hath done both This is the second branch of Exhortation 3. Make daily use of this fountain Bathe your selves in it continually Though once washing be enough to purge away sin as to the maine work yet there will be need of daily purging Though we need no new sacrifice for sinne yet we need daily applications of the merit of that one sacrifice upon every miscarriage 4. When ever you see a fountaine of water think on Jesus Christ Had we spiritual hearts we might think on Christ all the day long few creatures but have some memorial of him He bears the names of his people upon his breast Should not we bear him in our heart by holy thoughts and mediations on him The more we think on him the more shall we love him and the more will he communicate his love to us This is the second Use 3. For Consolation This Doctrine is the foundation of all comfort to beleevers 1. Against that bitter fountaine which is in our hearts We have a bloody fountain in our nature which is alwayes running The droppings of this fountain defâ—le us defile our services Well oppose this fountain to that fountain Gods fountain is more able to cleanse then this fountain is to defile This fountain can drown thy fountain Christ is a greater cleanser then sin is a defiler Micah 7. 19. The sea of Christs blood is deep enough to drown all thy sins Though thy fountain defile thee daily yet Christs fountain can cleanse thee daily 2. Against their inability to make use of this fountain They are discouraged because of the obstructions which lie in their way This text tells you they are all done away the fountain is not â—ealed it stands wide open day and night FINIS