and Blood The * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greek word in its most genuine and immediate signification relates to the putting a Thing to one and so I conferred not is as much as I never put it to them as a Case fit to be decided by them We may have Carnal Acquaintants we must overcome before we acquaint our selves with God and must be at some War perhaps with Them before we can fully be at Peace with God Job 22.21 Having now shewn you that in coming at the call of God in the Invitation of Gospel-Grace there is a Terminus à Quo a Term from which we must begin our Steps I shall next briefly open the Terminus ad Quem Therefore Secondly The other Term we must come to or the Point in our Spiritual Compass we must arrive at when the Gospel-call prevails and enables us to come may be opened in Two Things that clear it particularly A Believing close with the Gospel-Invitation and an obedient accepting the Gospel-Entertainment 1. A Believing Close with the Gospel-Invitation When the Soul comes it is drawn with a Full consent to Christ the Understanding is enlightned the Will persuaded the Affections are drawn forth and the Soul doth not any longer draw back When the Snare is broken and the Cords that held it back are cut the Soul comes pressing forwards towards the High-calling of God Phil. 3.14 when 't is loosned of its wonted Hold it complies and begins a close with that Blessed Person of the Son of God that calls it Heb. 10.39 For we are not of them that draw back unto perdition but of them which believe unto the saving of the Soul When our more than a Threefold Cord is broken Eccles 4.12 then a call prevails and we are drawn in Bands of Love to Christ We can thro' Grace take hold of Christ when He hath loosned our Knots that ty'd us so close to other Things before Oh! if we come once to be like that Band of Men whose Hearts God had touched 1 Sam. 10.26 we shall be even prickt to the Heart we did not come sooner Acts 2.37 and be earnest to dispatch our close with Jesus Christ the faster We shall then to purpose sincerely mind his Calls and evince our Hearty closing with them not answering swering like that Second Son we read of that was bid to go work in the Vineyard but play'd the Hypocrite and never came there Matth. 21.30 Igo Sir and went not but like the First tho' obstinate a while yet at last obedient that afterwards repented and went v. 29. When the Soul closes it is glad of an Errand to come for any thing to Christ as before it was glad of a shift and sought an excuse to keep it off from him Lo now it will not be satisfied with a Call if the Soul but suspects it doth not come away Oh Blessed Sweet and Gracious Universal Change The Will consents unto the Invitation Rom. 10.9 with the Heart the Man believeth and with the Mouth the Poor Soul confesseth and lo a change wrought upon the Invited Sinner you may discern all over Oh! how does the Soul press after the mark when the Call of Jesus Christ prevails It is no sooner loosned from Prison and from Death but 't is joined unto the Lord in Free-hold I come Lord I come with my Soul I desire to bring my Body in also I renounce my Sins and now I seek a Saviour I throw off Satan and now I put on the Lord Jesus Christ I come out of my Self Lord whither shall I go I come to thee alone I flee from the World Psa 55.6 and with the Wings of a Dove by the Help of thy Spirit am fleeing in to thee Psa 119.30 I have chosen the way of Truth I have cast mine Eye my Feet are bent to thee I am resolv'd by the mighty Power of thy Grace to be taken off to be called away to be seized and stopt by none that calls by none that comes but Thee 2. It is an obedient accepting the Gospel-entertainment The Soul is willing to take the Provisions of the Gospel as they are Mat. 20.11 without any murmuring against the Good man of the House When the Soul comes to the Provisions of Christ it is pleas'd in his House delights in the entertainment and takes without a Reserve of any Dish he gives it The Soul comes when it will be at the Feast to meet with a Christ and to feed on a Christ at every Opportunity when Souls are brought to accept of Divine Provisions and cry out with an Holy Importunity Lord Joh. 6.34 evermore give us this Bread when the Soul takes up the very Fragments of the Bread of Life and would have nothing lost that is ready among the All Things To come is to accept of him that calls and accept of what he offers and comply with thy Lord who is ready to welcome and kindly accept of thee Lord I come here I am 1 Sam. 3.6 for thou calledst me as Samuel said to Eli and I never read thou sendst me back agen I think my self happy to be a Guest where the Master of the Feast that sent to call me will be sitting by to serve me Lord I am come to seek my Meat of thee I remember thy Kindness to call a poor Worm forth and lo here I am to eat of the Bread Prov. 9.3 and drink of the Wine which thou hast mingled This coming of the Soul at the Gospel-call to Christ is a Readiness thus to accept of the Glorious Things that are spoken of this Table where these All Things are spread for Glorious Things are spoken of the Supper as well as of the * Psa 87.3 City of our God The Provisions of Grace are wonderful as well as the Treasures that are laid up in Glory And the coming of the Soul is to accept of such as these untill it be filled with all the Varieties of the Word of the Kingdom Mat. 13.19 which God can bestow or man receive of him The Third Thing is to enforce it by Arguments III. and urge the necessity of man's coming at the Call unto these Holy Commons of the Gospel for there is a Communion of Saints held at this Table And in evincing why it must be so I would lay open the Necessity of the Thing these two wayes in General 1st Necessitate Praecepti as a Command 2dly Necessitate Medii as the Means appointed It is no matter of Indifferency other Things are convenient but this one Thing is needful Luk. 10.42 1. It is necessary necessitate Praecepti as the Master of the Feast requires it It is his command and that will render a compliance with it necessary God hath bid you to a Feast and it should not lye before you as a common slight indifferency if ye be disposed to go 1 Cor. 10.27 The Commandment saith Seek ye the
a Work doth justifie for it is only the Hand to receive Christ who is our Righteousness But he gives it this Name speaking in their own Terms who doted on Works and so the Doctrine of Faith is called a Law Rom. 3 27. because the Jews boasted so much of the Law Hutcheson upon John pag. 102. Work It justifies no otherwise than as it apprehends a justifying Object and it is a saving Work no otherwise than as it fastens and relies upon a saving Worker Hence it cometh to pass that without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Now Ignorance of this way to the Provisions in Christ makes them unto many so ineffectual If you think it an easie matter to thrust in to God any how without Christ as your Way his Word as your Rule and his Spirit as your Guide you will profit little by the Gospel so long as such a corrupt perswasion leads you Joh. 14.6 I am the Way the Truth and the Life The Way No access or coming unto the Father but by me The Truth No Doctrine can be sound that leads off from me The Life You will never enter into Life Mat. 19.17 if you enter not in by me as the Door and unto me as the Provision Again The Word must be your Rule Psal 119.133 Order my Steps in thy Word (h) Si extra Legem tuam incedo non est Stabile solum sub Pedibus meis coeno demergor Rivet Via vitae seu medit in Psat 119. operûm vol. 2do p. 472 If I step besides thy Law saith the Learned Rivet I tread where the Ground will not bear my Feet and where I am over Head and Ears in Dirt. Tho' Christ is the Way yet we should never know what Steps to take to or in him 'till the Word lays Christ forth and discovers each of them to us So for the Spirit it 's Guidance is necessary The Spirit of God hath branded it as Foolishness in those that follow their own Spirit Ezek. 13.3 There is no Spirit fit to be our Guide but His. Thy Spirit is Good lead me into the Land of uprightness Psal 143.10 Thy Spirit is good lead me or as (i) Tuo spiritu bono deduc me Junius some read it By thy Good Spirit lead me If we had Christ as the Way and his Word as the Rule too yet if we had not the Spirit as our Guide we should not by reason of the Darkness in us and upon us see the Straitness and Perfection of the Rule before us or know of our selves how at any Time to use it There is an absolute need of the Spirit 's Guidance after Conversion hence is that of the Apostle inculcated Walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.16 25. and walk after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 and that Phrase if ye be led by the Spirit Gal. 5.18 all which do import a submitting to the Conduct of the Spirit as our Guide And if there be a need of the Spirit for Saints after they have received Christ be sure there is a necessity of the Spirit 's Guidance for Sinners to bring them in to Christ Well Ignorance of and Unacquaintedness with the way of the Lord must needs be an Hinderance to the Feast of the Lord that makes Sinners desire none of his Dainties That is the Third Hinderance Fourthly Obstinacy 4 Hindran or an obstinate Aversion to the Things of God The Parable gives this account of it Matth. 22.3 that when the King had sent to call them that were bidden to the Supper they would not come Alas if Men will become their own Hinderers no wonder that the Gospel proves ineffectual If they will choose rather to starve than eat how can a Feast preserve or relieve such as these and yet this is the wretched and deplorable Case of Sinners their Hearts do naturally stand off from God therefore they say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the Knowledge of thy ways Job 21.14 There is a mighty Stubbornness and Rebellion in the minds of Men that God takes Notice of this was expresly laid open in the Jews Isa 48.4 I knew that thou art obstinate and thy Neck is an Iron Sinew and thy Brow brass Sinners will choose Poverty and despise Riches run into Misery and forsake their own Mercy Jonah 2.8 The Gospel would pity relieve and save them but they are a stiff necked Generation that will not turn and live Ezek. 18.23 v. 32. It would feed them but they will rather dye of spiritual Hunger it would cloath them but they will rather to Hell naked than go with Christ's Robe to Heaven They will rot in their Chains before they will stoop to choose a Free Release and will venture to fall Blindfold into the Ditch Mat. 15 14 Rev. 3.18 Joh. 9.7 rather than anoint with Eye-salve or wash in the Pool of Siloam Fifthly Other Feasts besides 5 Hindran Tho' in the Gospel it is the Supper of the great God yet in eating Sinners have taken every one his own Supper before it 1 Cor. 11.21 as the Apostle speaketh of the Lord's Supper They will have Banquets to corrupt the Flesh but none of that Holy Diet which might save their Spirits in the Day of the Lord Jesus Sinners will snatch especially at these Three the Lust of the Flesh 1 Cor. 5.5 the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life 1 Joh. 2.16 The World that reject a Feast provided by Father Son and Spirit yet will banquet with their own * Hec Tria pro trino numine mundus habet Trinity 1. The Lust of the Flesh is a Banquet with Sinners that obstructs the Gospel-Feast Lusts of the Flesh are such Pleasures says (k) Coton upon the 1 Epist of John one as Men find in Meat and Drink or Women either Intemperance or Incontinence And then again Pleasures whether we consider them as gross or vain the Pleasures of the Body or the Mind do hinder the Efficacy of Divine Provisions 1. Gross and Filthy Pleasures or Fleshly Lusts as the Apostle Peter calls them that War against the Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greek T. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pleasure is a Net that entangles ungodly Men. Fleshly Concupiscences the Original reads it alluding to that inbred Appetite of the old Man which goes forth after Morsels roasted at the Fire of Lust and took off the Devil's Spit Abstain saith the Holy Ghost from these Rom. 1.26 The Lust of the Flesh is a bad Appetite a vile Affection that covers to be a Partaker with Devils and rejects Angels Food Psa 78.25 It will find out a Banquet that quite spoils the Feast I may say here of the whole Gospel as the Apostle doth of the Lord's Supper in a Part of it 1 Cor. 10.21 Ye cannot drink the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils ye cannot be Partakers of the Lords
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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
of God to encrease our understanding It is the Meat and Drink of a Christian to know as it was of Christ to do his Father's Will The Feast is a Feast of Knowledge and while you are feeding you may be adding still to what you have not only to Virtue Knowledge as 2 Pet. 1.5 that is one kind of Grace to another but even to Knowledge it self a larger measure and Degree of Understanding 11. The Nourishment of Faith As in the Gospel you may be fed with Knowledge so also nourished up in the words of Faith and of Good Doctrine The Apostle doth very expresly in that place 1 Tim. 4.6 compare our Faith or reception of the saving Truths of the Gospel to Nourishment You may eat but you will not thrive without it We may have the Word for our Food but it will not Nourish us if it be not mingled with Faith to make it nutrimental Heb. 4.2 For unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them but the Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Not being mixed or as the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Word may import not incorporated by mixing The Food must unite incorporate be turn'd into †In succum sanguinem an Alimentary Juice mingle it self with our Blood and Spirits to make it nourishing Thus Faith must unite and incorporate mix the Provisions with the New Creature before we are by the Word of the Gospel nourished up in our Father's House Faith is so nourishing a Provision to the New Nature that the just are said to live by it Hab. 2.4 Heb. 10.38 The Doctrine of Faith in the Gospel and the Grace of Faith in the Soul do make a blessed Nourishment in the New Man when Both meet together Faith is the Gift of God Eph. 2.8 and the Fruit of Christ's meritorious Purchase it is given in the behalf of Christ Phil. 1.29 Faith as * Mr. Anthony Burgess Spiritual Refinings Fol. 1st pt p. 62 and p. 169. one expresseth hath several Acts Knowledge Assent Fiducial Application and the Scripture doth by a Synechdoche express the whole Nature of Faith by one Act of it Now the Gospel-Provision affords and maintains such a Principle in the Soul as exerts Faith in the Complex and produceth it in all its various Acts. Heb. 8.2 There is not a Guest of the True Table which the Lord hath pitched and not Man but he hath Ordained among other Provisions for him like precious Faith with Vs 2 Pet. 1.1 There 's not a Saint but shall find it in the All things ready Luk. 14.17 it is one of the Parts and not the least of the Entertainment and it is a Dish to be had at this Feast only A Man full of Faith like Stephen Acts 6.8 is one whom the Entertainment nourisheth and cherisheth Eph. 5.29 Psal 17.14 and hath had his Belly filled with hid Treasure Rom. 10.8.17 The Word of Faith which we preach and your Faith that comes by hearing is some of the Royal Provision of the King's Meat Dan. 1.5 to be found at God's Table only 12. The Feast of Holiness inward Sanctification of the Heart by a cleanly purifying Bunch of Hyssop better than a Dinner of any other Herbs This clean Hyssop may be said for the Virtue of it as was of the grown Mustard-seed for its Dimensions Mat. 13.32 to be the greatest among Herbs Nay indeed we are not here speaking of such a poor low statur'd Hyssop as with us runs upon the ground but of that which runs up in the Man whose Name is the * Some indeed affirm litterally that haec Planta in Judae◠arborescet Grotius in Joh. 19.29 Branch Zech. 6.12 into a Tree as high as Heaven It is from hence that this purifying Branch or Holy Bunch is gathered Christ is He who of God is made unto us Sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 I ground the Comparison on the Ceremonial Cleansing of the Leaper as was instituted under the Law Lev. 14.4 where among other purifying Ingredients this of the Hyssop is one to which David alludes as it Typed out the righteous Branch to be rais'd to David Jer. 23.5 when he cries out in the Bitterness of his Soul for this sweet Herb in the Garden of God Ezek. 28.13 c. to dress his other Meat see Psal 51.7 Purge me with Hyssop and I shall be clean as if he had broken out into this Self-abhorrency I am a filthy Leaper Joh. 13.10 and I need to eat of the Dish that is most fit to cleanse me let me be therefore every whit clean thro' this sanctified Provision made ready 1 Pet. 1.16 Rev. 22.11 being neither * Act. 11.8 common nor unclean it self I would be Holy as God is Holy and tho' by Nature and Practice I am now otherwise yet I would not remain filthy still Now in the Gospel our Feast-maker hath also provided this blessed Dish ready God hath prepared his Table of hallowed Bread Holy as well as Evangelical Furniture Holiness it self to Feast you with a pure Conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 As this is the Will of God even your Sanctification 1 Thes 4.3 so it is the Work of God to form it Ezek. 36.25 26 27. As the Precept of the Gospel requires Holiness Heb. 12.14 without which no Man shall see the Lord so the Promise doth encourage it and the Spirit by an Almighty Operation works it He creates a Principle within that yields it and a Life without that acts it for 'till Grace be infused into the Heart it cannot in the Conversation be diffused or shed abroad There is Sanctification enough provided to supply our utmost wants thereof a Stock of it prepared to serve for Spirit Soul and Body as the Apostle Prayeth for his Thessalonians to be throughly Feasted with it 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ God would not have a Feast to be made under the Gospel without a universal Holiness to run thro' all the Parts of it Provision that sanctifieth and Provision sanctified Holy it self and to make Vs Holy too Indeed as he saith * Isa 3◠24 if the very Oxen and the young Asses that ear the ground should eat clean Provender which had been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan much more would he assign holy Diet for his Table in these dayes of our Purification Corrupt †Mal. 1.7 Priests may but our Great High-Priest will never set any Polluted Bread upon his Altar 13. The Hidden Mannah of Election This is one of the glorious Dishes of our Feast and was garnished from Eternity to be serv'd up before our Face in Time Mat. 13.35 Tho' it hath been a secret kept hid Psal 25 14.
Therefore being justified by Faith we have Peace with God thrô our Lord Jesus Christ Thô there is a noise of War in thy Camp thy Corruptions fight and justle one against another nay not only Egyptian against Egyptian but an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew Corruption opposeth Grace and maketh an uprore in thy Soul yet the Gospel hath a Prince of Peace to allay the Tumult Heb. 7.2 Psa 147.14 and to make Peace in thy Borders There is Provision made for a Blessed Calm upon thy Soul when the Son of God shall rebuke thy Storm and say to the Winds that made it Mark 4.39 tho' furious Blasts from Satan Peace be still Thou shalt see it to be fair weather upon the Kings Feast-day Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you Joh. 14.27 In a word here is a Feast you may Sleep well after not in Sin or Security but in a Refreshment or Repose of your Spirits in the Peace of Conscience 21. The Oyl of Joy * Isa 61.3 It was the Blessing of Asher that he should dip his Foot in Oyl Deut. 33.24 and be as it were over shoes in his Inheritance where God's Paths dropped fatness Psa 65.11 It is clear in Scripture that Oyl by the Appointment of God was put to various uses The Children of Israel were commanded with Oyl to * Exod. 25 6. v. 37. compared dress their Lamps and with a finer to dress their †Lev. 2.4 5. c. meat in the Legal Sacrifices and with a most refined Oyntment made of various * Exo. 30.23.25 Spices after the Art of the Apothecary to †v. 26. anoint the Tabernacle and his * v. 27. c. Furniture by all which was Typified that Spiritual Oyl which the Gospel now affordeth we have now an Oyl an Oyl of Joy that feeds the * Oleum flammis alimoniam suppeditat Moller enar in Psalmos Ps 45.7 Candle of the Lord and makes it burn comfortably an Oyl of Grace that feeds the Lamp of our Profession that we be not in the Dark at * Mat. 25.3 4 5 6.8 midnight when we should see to go out and meet the Bridegroom we have now also an Oyl to dress our Sacrifice since we have received an Vnction from the Holy One 1 Joh. 2.20 an Oyl that fattens our Entertainment and an Oyl as we sit at meat Psa 104.15 that makes our Face to shine There is an Oyl of Joy communicated to the Head our Lord Jesus Christ and an Oyl of Joy imparted to his Members This Box of precious Oyntment was poured on his Head by a greater than Mary †Mat. 26.7 Joh. 11.2 Magdalen God anoints him Therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of Gladness above thy Fellows Psa 45.7 latter part So Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me He is therefore in the New Testament styled by way of eminence the Christ of God and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 2.26 part the Lord 's Christ which signifies the Lords Anointed Now at the Feast his Members in some Conformity to their Head are anointed also He that ordained a Lamp for his anointed and made the Horn of David to bud hath also a Horn of Salvation to pour the Anointings of the Spirit on us God's Children may suck in this Oyl plentifully at the Feast where there be Springs of Joy to feed a chosen Vessel Thou preparest a Table before me thou anointest my Head with Oyl Psa 23.5 22. The Cup of Consolation with the Wine of the Kingdom-running over The Cup of Consolation was a Cup for Mourners a Portion mingled more especially to support them at the Death and Loss of Dear Relations and tho' used commonly among the Jews yet was deny'd them Jer. 16 5. latter part when God had taken away his Peace from them even loving kindness and mercies neither shall men give them the Cup of Consolation to drink v. 7. for their Father or for their Mother The Cup of Consolation was a little to sweeten the Bitterness unto their Children after their Parents had tasted Death Now the Feast of the Gospel hath its Cup of Consolation to wash off sadness from them that mourn in Zion it hath the Wine of the Kingdom for the Children she brings forth when they are bowed down heavily as one that mourneth for his Mother because of the Afflictions of the Church of God Nay suppose the Trouble should arise more from a Reflection upon their own Personal State this Cup of Consolation is then to wash off their Fears Rev. 14.10 least they should drink of the Wine of wrath out of the Cup of Indignation The Wine of the Gospel is a refreshing Cordial from the Grace of God to cheer up drooping Spirits and comfort heavy Hearts It is a Cup of Salvation Psa 116.13 to a poor Soul that hath been afraid of that Red-wine in the Threatning lest he should pledge it in the Second Death A Man's Body when his Spirits are low needeth Recruits Prov. 31.6 Give strong Drink unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that be of heavy Hearts and so in Paul's Advice to Timothy 1 Tim. 5.23 Drink no longer water that is such as was commonly us'd at Meals in those hotter Climates as we drink Beer but use a little wine for thy Stomach's sake and thine often infirmities In like manner the Spirit of a Man when wounded or broke and sunk within him doth need Wine the Wine of the Kingdom that is the manifestations of the Love of Christ to chear it for the Spirit of a man may sustain his Infirmities that is he may bear up under outward Trouble he meets with in the Flesh but a wounded Spirit who can bear Prov. 18.14 Such a one must have the Cup of Consolation from Christ's own Hand for his Love is better than wine Song 1.2 The Roof of his mouth when he speaks a kind pleasant word like the best wine goes down exceeding sweetly causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak Song 7.9 If God's Children be sunk down thro' long heaviness and begin to sleep the Sleep of Death in their own sad Apprehensions Psa 13.3 yet a Cup of this pleasant Wine from Christ on a sudden makes an Alteration and breaks out in Praises Psa 118.17 I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. Blessed Consolation Now the Gospel hath provided a Full Cup of this This is that precious Cluster Isa 65.8 where the new wine is found in it He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him Joh. 14.21 latter part So v. 23. latter part My Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him What
is a Food in its own Nature incorruptible a Provision as well as an Inheritance that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 1.4 When other Victuals will utterly perish in their own Corruption 2 Pet. 2.12 this is the Meat that endureth to Life eternal Joh. 6.27 latter part 8. Lastly 8 Property Perpetual Nourishment and the Partaker kept alive for ever He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst Joh. 6.35 latter part And he that eateth of this Bread shall live for ever He shall never pine or dye away for want of Meat or Drink It shall implant such a Nutrimental Habit as shall secretly in the greatest Difficulty keep the Soul alive Hunger shall never kill and Thirst shall never hurt Believers To conclude other Feasts have supply'd the Wants of the Body but for as many Dayes as the Feast lasted and the Guests have been quickly empty and the Virtue of their feeding lost as well as their Entertainment over But the Nourishment received the Seed of Grace obtain'd at this Rich Feast of Plenty is a perpetual and enduring Habit or Principle of Grace that will spring up in Glory The Sixth thing is to evidence what suitableness there is in these Provisions of the Gospel to the Condition of poor Gospel-Sinners VI. or to discover that the Case of any Soul may be suited among these All things ready First The Gospel hath Enlivening Provisions suited to the Condition of dead Souls It hath got wherewithall to infuse Life into them either the Being of Life as they are found in a Dead State or the Degree of Life as they are fallen under any Dead Frames of Spirit 1. The Gospel hath enlivening Provisions suited to the Condition of dead Souls as they are found in a dead State Indeed it is necessary that the Gospel become first a vital Principle before it is made a Nutrimental It must quicken the Dead before it can feed the Living and raise Sinners out of a Grave before it sets them down at Table Nourishment must presuppose Life The Being of the New Creature is first in Order and afterwards Food to maintain the Growth of it A Man cannot feed tho' he hath all Things before him until he be quickned and made a Living Man So they that are spiritually Dead that is separated from all Spiritual Converse and Communion with God remaining still as they were cut off from him in the first Adam can do nothing at this Table which requires us to touch taste and handle the Provisions of it Spiritual Death is unfit for Spiritual Dainties you must be translated out of a Dead State and chang'd from Dead Works that is advanc'd beyond the Power of Nature in the most active refined Morals before you can serve the Living God Acts 14.15 or receive the Gospel-Food The Priviledge of the Gospel lyes in receiving Grace first to quicken and enable us to do in the strength of Grace after It is not the Dead so long as they are dead can meddle with these things The first thing the Gospel can do for us is to beget us by the Word of Truth â—am 1.18 and then with its Nourishment to bring us up The Breath of Life must pass upon us before the Bread of Life can be eaten by us Dead Sinners may be brought to some outward means of Grace and so a Carkass may be stir'd and held up by an External Force while Meat is set before it but there must be an inward Principle in both to take Food and digest it or live and grow by it You may as soon stand to purpose with a Dish of Provisions before a Carkass and put Meat forcibly into the Mouths of Dead Men as expect the Plenty of the Gospel should yield any Nourishment or Benefit to Dead Sinners before they have gotten true Life in them In a word they must be Created in Christ Jesus Eph. 2 10. or the Provision is lost tho' you Carve out Dainties to them Now the Gospel hath its Enlivening Provisions suited to a Dead State And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your Flesh hath he quickened together with him Col. 2.13 The Life of Jesus is prepared to be made manifest to create Life 2 Cor. 4.10 as it finds thee Dead in trespasses and sins Our Blessed Lord takes an occasion to reveal this in the Spirit when he made use of his Divine Power in the Letter to teach us that as he was able to infuse Life into the Dead Body of Lazarus so he could quicken any dead Soul he roucht Joh. 11.25 I am the Resurrection and the Life he that believeth in me tho' he were dead yet shall he live Tho' thou art fallen down from an upper Chamber dead yea from the House top in Adam Acts 20. â—â— yet Christ can raise thee upon thy Feet and set thee up believing He hath Life to move thee and Faith to make thee see the Marvels he worketh out for thee Art thou dead stark dead that a little Life will not suffice to help thee why yet Christ came on purpose to bring thee enough of those Vital Spirits with him Joh. 10.10 latter part I am come that they might have Life and as if he had said If Life be too little that they might have it more abundantly If thou art a poor Dead Soul that dost not yet know what to make of Bread and Flesh yet thou mayst hear a good Word suited in the Mouth of Christ to thee Joh. 6.51 latter part And the Bread that I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the Life of the World The Bread that I will give is my Flesh Alas if Christ had stopt there it might not have suited to thy Case or the Condition of some of thine peradventure thou art weeping over some dead Soul by thee either some poor Relation in thy Bosom or some poor Child as a withered Branch sprung out of thy Roots or a Brother Eâ—h 〈…〉 or a Sister yet dead in Trespasses and sins and thou mournest over their Graves alas my Brother alas Sister what is Bread or wherein doth Flesh suit at all with thee why Zech. 1.13 the Place answers thee with good words and comfortable It is the Bread of Life and living Flesh the Bread that I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the life of the world As if Christ had said tho' they are dead and cannot take it yet as Food I will put such a Morsel into the Mouths of dead Men as shall presently become Life and afterwards yield Nourishment Oh! how suitably doth this Gospel provide to help thee in thy poor dead State tho' you are yet many of you Dead Sinners and can't as you are Dead take in Nourishment or so much as come by a spiritual Act of the Soul where Nourishment is provided yet the Gospel is prepared to come to
Reas 5 and therefore nothing less than All Things would serve us A Poor Soul that doth find it self to be in Temptations it may be more abundant in difficulties above measure 2 Cor. 11.23 in Afflictions more frequent in Deaths oft and tho' long brought up under the means of Grace yet perhaps that Soul is still ready to cry out I was almost in all evil in the midst of the Congregation and Assembly to allude to Prov. 5.14 tho' I have lived under Means yet still I need Mercy Now what would have prevailed to have done such a Soul good if all Grace had not abounded towards us You have seen before what a multitude of Cases meet some in one some in another many or them uniting and centring in the same Person Now God hath provided All Things that in our very dividing of the VVord 2 Tim. 2.15 we might have enough to give to every one a proper Portion and you might all find some In many things we offend all Jam. 3.2 and we had need of all Rom. 5.18 that Judgment might not pass upon all unto Condemnation We fell into all sorts of Misery and we had need of all sorts of Mercy 6. It is to procure all Happiness in God's Favour here Reas 6 and his Full Presence hereafter and therefore he provides all things accordingly To invest us in the Possession of all Good it was necessary there should be the Provision of all Good Things The Means must be correspondent to the End All Men indeed are not saved but yet the Gospel is as the Apostle said he became All Things 1 Cor. 9.22 that it might by all means save some As the Apostle tries to pull this way and that way and the other Zech. 3.2 if he might pluck a Brand out of the Fire and save it any ways from burning so the Gospel comes in with this and that and the other Provision even All Things ready if it might but with any of them save us Nothing must be excepted in the means if we attain the End of our Faith 1 Pet. 1.9 There must not be one Link of the Chain drop if we are drawn to Heaven There must be Election to Grace or there can be no Effectual Calling no Adoption no Justification no Sanctification no Perseverance in Grace I mean the State of it and there must be all these or no Glorification after So that All Things must be provided to begin our Happiness in God's Favour here and to perfect it in his full Presence hereafter The Gospel is to advance us and therefore the All Things are the many steps to it You can never ascend from the Bottom to the Top of Jacob's Ladder Gen. 28.12 if you do not pass thro' many Rounds between 7. God hath been always providing Reas 7 providing before Time providing in Time providing early providing late even to this moment and therefore in the issue we must needs have rich Pasture Prov. 4.7 It is impossible but with all his Gettings he should have got in all Things for us The Gospel-Blessings he hath brought to your Ears tho' of yesterday in the report are the result of his Counsels that were of old Job 8.9 Isa 25.1 The Ancient of Days was not idle Dan. 7.9 Job 38.4 before the Foundations of the world were laid but was employ'd in accomplishing our Happiness Heb. 3.4 after he had built all Things in time It was before the Sons of the Morning shouted Job 38.7 that he was making Supper ready Before the very VVorlds were frramed by the VVord of God Heb. 11.3 his Grace was a laying in of all Things in order The Apostle takes great Notice of the Antiquity and Eldership of Divine Grace Eph. 1.4 and carries up the Date of it into an Eternity a parte ante before the Foundations of the World Nature is young but Grace is the First-born of Heaven The great God was cutting out this work in Eternity which we see in Time made up into such a Coat of divers colours Gen. 37.3 It was an Eternal Purpose and therefore such full and various Preparations according to the Eternal Purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord Eph. 3.11 It is a Feast so large because so long a getting Reas 7 They are all Things that God's People may have enough without meddling with any Things forbidden Luk. 6.38 It is measure running over without a Grain from the Devil's Heap We have a Full Table from God that we might not Covet of any Dish he hates Gen. 2.16.17 of every Tree of the Garden thou mayst freely eat but of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil thou shalt not eat of it * Mr. Cooper Morn Exer. at Giles's in the Fields p. 84. He grants him a vast Latitude to eat of all freely that he need not be straitned to eat of that one Tree excepted So in the Gospel it is all lovely Grace that you might not cry after one Beloved Lust All the Milk and Honey Num. 13.27 the Spice and Balm the Fruits and Clusters that grow in Canaan v. 24. that your Mouths may never water after the Leeks Num. 11.5 and Garlick and stinking Onions the Diet of the old Man in Egypt He offers the Fatness of the Olive Rom. 11.17 that having tasted it we may never relish the Fruits of the wild Tree agen You shall have Bread enough and to spare Luk. 15.17 that you may not whine for Husks or cry out for the Trough to be fed among Swine You shall be provided with Grace and Glory Psal 84.11 Things here and Things in Heaven that you might not take up with or be delighted in things viler than the Earth 9. It is that all Men's mouths may be stopt Reas 9 Oh! it is a Silencing Argument that makes God's own People Dumb without a reply when he comes to reckon up his Mercies and their foul Miscarriages See it in David 2 Sam. 12.7 8 9. where God is reproving David by his Servant Nathan the Prophet for that scandalous Trespass after he had gone in to Bathsheba Thus saith the Lord God of Israel I anointed thee King over Israel and I delivered thee out of the Hand of Saul and I gave thee thy Master's House and thy Master's Wives into thy Bosom and gave thee the House of Israel and of Judah and if that had been too little I would moreover have given unto thee such and such Things wherefore hast thou despised the Commandment of the Lord to do evil in his sight c. Now here David's mouth was stopt the Provision that God made in so many things silenc'd him He could not plead after God had graciously conferr'd so much upon him for the killing of Vriah the snatching away of Bathsheba and when God had given him the whole Flock of Israel to usurp and dress of the Poor Man's Ewe
him with it So Joh. 4.10 If thou knewest Who it is that saith unto thee Give me to drink speaking there to the Samaritaness who was Ignorant of him that brought the Provision of the Gospel with him Christ had there to do with a Poor Ignorant Woman that took him for no more than a common Jew with whom such Samaritans as she had no Dealings v. 9. How is it that thou being a Jew askest Drink of me that am a Woman of Samaria for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans Alas so long as she continued Ignorant of Christ she was never the better for all that Living Water in him tho' it was Jesus he would not save her so long as she lookt upon him as a meer Jew and wanted an Eye to look thro' the Vail of his Flesh Heb. 10.20 and by Faith see the Son of God in him Thus Sinners that have heard of the Gospel will be hindred from partaking of it so long as they discern not by Faith who provides it God's Ministers in the Pulpit may say to Sinners Come God's People may be trying to deal with them too in private and both to see if they can perswade them into a Love with the ways of Sion but if Sinners are still Ignorant of Jesus Christ who speaks by his Friends to them this Feast is an Entertainment that is likely to do no good upon them Men are apt to conclude we go about to Proselyte them to a Party Act. 20.30 and draw Disciples after us and thus it will be 'till they come to believe on Christ thro' our words to them And therefore Christ prays for all that should see their Master's Mind in the Servant's Message Joh. 17.20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me thro' their Word Not believe on you tho' thro' your words on Me. 'T is your Message but my express Will 3. Ignorance of the Provisions made ready is a Hinderance to them Men are Fools and Blind Mat. 23.17 and don 't see what is set before them no more than who it is that hath got it served Up. Christ also reprehends this piece of Ignorance in the same Woman of Samaria Joh. 4.10 If thou knewest the Gift of God An Ignorance of what Christ hath as well as of what Christ is is an ordinary and frequent Ground of the Sinners Miscarriage to him If thou knewest the Gift Were thine Heart sensible of the Grace that is now brought so nigh at Hand it would make it leap within thee and thou wouldst not rest 'till matters were at another pass with thee Alas if you don't know the Gift in the Gospel you will partake of no Gospel-Grace by it If you are Ignorant of the Table he hath prepar'd you will never sit at Meat If Men have low carnal Conceits of the Good Things of God and carry their Thoughts no further than the Letter when the Spirit speaks herein it will beget ordinary Conceptions in the Mind and prove an Hinderance to the Gospel There will be no Spiritual Application of the Substance so long as our Thoughts rest and terminate superficially upon some Corporeal Image This was the Grand Miscarriage of a great many Followers of our Lord who seem'd to Covet to wait upon him in a Body with a great deal of Religious Zeal and Forwardness Our Blessed Lord had Preacht this Doctrine of a spiritual Repast and manifested himself to be the Provision which the Soul by Faith must live upon whereas it begat only in the * Or Capernaites Jews a gross Conceit of some Literal and Corporeal Banquet that Christ aimed at and rais'd in them a certain Question even to Indignation as they strove among themselves saying How can this Man give us his Flesh to eat Joh. 6.52 insomuch that Christ taxeth their Ignorance by expounding to them his own Doctrine v. 63. latter pt The words that I speak unto you they are Spirit as if he had said I have been upon a spiritual Subject but you have not understood me I have spoken of a Feast to nourish you inwardly but it is your own Ignorant Fancy that suggests the Corporeal Images of other Meats and Drinks as when ye did eat of the Loaves and were filled v. 26. Now when the Gospel in the Matters of it is ignorantly mis-interpreted it becomes a like Hinderance to it If it be not apprehended and experienc'd a Feast of the Soul we shall rest in outward Conveyances and lose the Kernel by holding fast the Shell It will be but as if we made Provision for the Flesh Rom. 13.14 if we receive it not as a Feast of the Renewed Mind Joh. 4.32 which our Flesh knows not of We must be spiritually enlightned to know the Things that are given to us of God 1 Cor. 2.12 for He that is spiritual judgeth all things 1 Cor. 2.15 Besides Ignorance of Gospel-Provisions causes Men to turn the Truth of God into a Lye and embrace an Error instead of the Truth as it is in Jesus Eph. 4.21 This is a Hinderance therefore to the Holy Feast we speak of You are like to be fed with no other Mannah than that which will breed Worms and stink Exod. 16.20 if you are Ignorant of the True Bread 4. Ignorance of the Way by which every one must come is likewise a Hinderance that keeps from these Provisions If you take it as a sufficient Act to put forth a little of your own Strength towards God and rest in Dead Works it will hinder your Benefit by the Gospel-Entertainment You must throw your selves upon Christ as Sinners this is your first Work to come as you are and venture upon the Son of God and afterwards God's Spirit gradually works such Qualifications that you may come then as Sons and Daughters 2 Cor. 6.18 The Substance of this is represented in that Directory for Conversion which Christ taught the Jews Joh. 6.28.29 Then said they unto him What shall we do that we might work the works of God Jesus answered and said unto them this is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent It is to believe and not properly to (g) Men indeed by Nature retain such an Impression of the first Covenant of Works that they know no way of Acceptance before God but by the way of Works Hutcheson upon John work Such as sit down upon outward Performances without going forth to Jesus Christ to rely on him by Faith do assuredly sit upon Thorns tho' a little slight Covering they have woven or patcht together from Works that cometh betwixt Job 36.32 may at present bear off their Pricking that now they feel no smart Faith it self indeed is a Work but doth not justifie as a * In opposition to all Works Christ leads them to this one Work that they believe And his calling it a Work doth not import that Faith as
not buy a Sacrifice much less could it mix with the Price of Blood to sanctify Mat. 27.6 It would not avail to procure a Supplication to our Judge Job 9.15 how could it joyn then in purchasing a Satisfaction Mic. 6.6 7. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the High God Shall I come before him with Burnt-offerings with Calves of a Year old Will the Lord be pleased with Thousands of Rams or with Ten Thousands of Rivers of Oyl Shall I give my First-born for my Transgression The Fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul Our largest Offers had been infinitely too little for one of the least of God's All things to have come at our Price Mat. 25.40 5. All These Things must surely put a Dignity upon all True Gnests 5 Inf. What an Honour have all his Saints while the Palace of the King sends to treat the Cottage Psal 45.15 What a Preferment is it that God should stoop down to maintain a Communion with us That our Lord should prepare so great a Feast and then gird himself to come forth and serve us Luk. 12.37 These mighty Things will make Believers great tho otherwise they are little both in their own and other men's Eyes The Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour Mat. 10.42 Prov. 12.16 If we state all Accounts truly little ones God's Little ones are greatest The All Things do put an Honour upon the Brother of Low Degree whom others make the Footstool Jam. 1.9 Such as are highly favoured of God shall not be found Ignoble Luke 1.28 Tho' he sends out into the High-ways and takes up Beggars Mat. 22.9 yet here 's a Feast that makes them Kings and Priests unto our God Rev. 1.6 6. It informs also of the Happiness as well as the Dignity of True Guests that have got the Gospel-Feast Theirs 6 Inf. They are not only by an Advancement set up but are a People saved by the Lord. Oh! Deut. 33.29 we may break out into Admiration when we think deeply of the Blessedness of the People of God who may come freely and partake of all these Things as their own The Gospel is not to feed thy Phancy and please a meer Imagination as if there were no richer or more satisfying Good to the owners thereof Eccl. 5.11 saving the beholding of it with their Eyes as Solomon speaks of the Increase of the best Earthly Things But 't is a Feast made ready to be Thine to fill thee brim-full with thy own share of Christ Oh! blessed are they that have believed and obeyed God who requires the Obedience of Faith as that Work of God which will give them a Right unto the Tree of Life Rev. 22.14 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have a Right to the Tree of Life God doth not require his People to look up as Strangers Eph. 2.19 but as Citizens belonging unto Sion and as Servants that have * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orders from their Lord to meddle with it Authority to appropriate the Tree of Life to ' em A Right to the Tree of Life says (k) Durham on the Revelation one is a Right to Jesus Christ and Glory in Heaven with him Now how rich and happy are they that have an Interest by Faith in the Riches of the King's Son Oh! 1 Sam. 17.25 he endows them with great Riches and Honour they can never want Portion and he gives them this Entertainment that they may be Happy in all things and never want Provision An Interest in the Son of God doth not only make the best the most but all things thy own Matth. 4.9 Luk. 4.7 If thou wilt fall down and worship him all shall be thine He hath purchas'd that thou mayst get Possession Oh! blessed View of Faith that can appropriate Gospel-Grace tho' it be a Self-emptying Grace that will lye at Christ's Foot 'till the Soul cry out I am a vile Wretch Isa 6.5 I am undone because I am a Man of unclean Lips yet is a Grace that exalts a Saviour and will not leave the Soul hanging off from Christ but clinging fast and crying out with Thomas My Lord and My God! Joh. 20.28 God's Children that have his Spirit witnessing see the Gospel for themselves and not another exclusively Job 19.27 The Saints of the most High have a Priviledge beyond all other Men. We have an Altar whereof they have no Right says the Apostle to eat that serve the Tabernacle Heb. 13.10 The Apostle there means that the Faithful in Christ Jesus had such Priviledges by Christ as others had no Right to who adhered to Jewish Customs and Superstitions So there is a Spiritual Divine Participation which natural unsanctified Men have nothing to do with Oh! blessed therefore are the Houshold Gal. 6.10 Eph. 2.12 13. the Houshold of Faith that be not aliens and strangers afar off and having nothing to do with these Things Blessed are the Family that come in to the Feast because God hath given them Meat and 't is now their own Food They have Children's Bread Mat. 15.26 Luk. 6.20 and Blessed be ye Children for yours is this Bread 7. An outward Liberty and a safe Protection of the Guests at God's Table is a great Mercy If all Things be ready 7 Inf. it is an Excellent Security that affords a Protection under the Roof of God's House to enjoy them None indeed shall be able to keep God's Children out of their Fathers House that come nigh the Door with their Father's Name written in their Foreheads Rev. 14.1 The Lord of the Feast doth also plant a special Providence that guards the Table while his Guests are plac'd about it Heb. 1.14 He hath Ministring Spirits that are set for the Defence of the Gospel Phil. 1.17 they stand as watchful Centinels for the Good of his Chosen Psa 106.5 because he maketh a House of Defence to save them Psa 31.2 He hath given his Angels a charge over them Psal 91.11 Heb. 1.14 that his Guests may partake of the Feast in Quietness and when He giveth outward Quietness in a Day of Liberty Job 34.29 as well as internal Peace and Calmness who then can make Trouble and Disturbance while he entertains us The Lord hath made a Hedge and a Wall so high about his People Job 1.10 that none shall climb over or break thro' to destroy the Gospel-Banquet and spoil that Holy Festival Vpon all the Glory shall be a Defence Isa 4.5 The Holy Mountain is safely fenced round The Guest may trust to a Protection where he tasteth God's Provision For He that hath said Bread shall be given him his Waters shall be sure hath said also that his Place of Defence shall be the Munitions of Rocks Isa 33.6 2 Cor. 6.7 There is the Armour of Righteousness
fro to seek the Word of the Lord and shall not find it Oh! dreadful is the Dispensation when the multitude have been assembled Mat. 15.32 having nothing to eat when God hath suffered the Enemy to break up the solemn Meeting to disperse the Assembly ibid. and send them away Fasting tho' divers have come from far Mark 8.3 'T is sad when the Things of our Peace are hid tho' it be but under a Bushel and there is no open Vision Luk 19.42 1 Sam. 3.1 when the Wilderness is dry and the Rain from Heaven that should have filled the Pools thereof Psa 84.6 restrained if the Gospel hath All Things ready Psa 120.5 Wo unto such as Sojourn in Meshech and dwell in the Tents of Kedar in places where there is nothing of the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ found 't is very sad with those poor starved Souls if in Famine he doth not redeem them from Death and in Hunger from the Power of Want Alas who can express the Judgment the Desolation of a Forsaken People do we know what it is to see the Table of the Gospel like those Tables of the Money-Changers in the Temple Joh. 2.14 15. overthrown it was the misery of the old World and it will be the greatest Judgment and Calamity can befall our selves if God should say of us as he did of them My Spirit shall not always strive Gen. 6.3 It is Terrible to have the Vials of Wrath unstopt and the Cup of Salvation put or took away from us to be in a Kingdom that is full of Darkness Job 3.16 among poor Pagans and Idolaters that never saw Light to lose the Plentiful Provision of all things Deut. 28.48 and be made to serve our Enemies in Hunger and Thirst in Cold and Nakedness and in the Want of all things this is Dreadful and yet there are many Desolate Places of the Earth that were once fed to the Full Jer. 5.7 yet now do not know where they can go to an Ordinance 1 Sam. 2.36 Rev. 1.4 to eat a Peice of Bread The Seven Churches are in the Dark and have their Lights wholly put out The Nation of the Jews that did once eat of the same spiritual Meat 1 Cor. 10.4 and drank the same spiritual Drink are now turned out of their Inheritance Dan. 4.32 33. like Nebuchadnezzar when he did eat Grass as Oxen. The Glory of the Lord is departed from the Threshold of their House 1 Sam. 4.22 and now when God is gone Jerusalem her self is without a Priest and without a Sacrifice Hos 3 4. their Temple is destroyed their Provision gone and they have none to keep House for them And alas how equally sad and dismal would our own Case be Gen 41.54 if the Meat were cut off before our Eyes Joel 1.16 and the Famine begun in the Land q. d. if the Gospel that hath been spread in so large a Table were taken quite from us if he should cause to cease out of this Place and out of this Pleasant Land of ours the Plentiful Field Amos. 4.6 and send a Cleanness of Teeth in the Want of Gospel-Bread among us Oh! how black might our Souls be by reason of the Terrible Famine Lam. 5.10 it is the Plenty of the Gospel thro' our Lord Jesus Christ that is able to save much People alive Gen. 50.20 as at this Day This Bread shall do it Matth. 4.4 by every word of Blessing that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Well if the Provisions of the Feast have all and abound Eccl. 5.13 it is a very fore Evil hath been seen under the Sun when there is a Famine of the Word of God and none of these All Things enjoy'd 11. They are in a miserable Condition likewise 11 Inf. who are in the Presence of this Plenty and see it with their Fyes but do not eat thereof what a Wretch was that Lord upon whose Hand the King leaned 2 Kings 7.2 he sits crowded in the Gate saw the Victuals come tumbling in out of the Syrian Camp he beheld the Windows of Heaven opened and a shower of Provision fell apace about him but the Poor Wretch had no Vessel to put any of it in he must only see it with his Eyes but not eat thereof he had not the Priviledge of a Dog to take the Crumbs but was trod to Death under the Table his Carkass was spread like Dung after God had provided and spread before him Dainties v. 20. so it fell out unto him for the People trod upon him in the Gate and he dyed So likewise as to Gospel-Grace is it not a very sore Judgment to sit under Plenty of Means and yet in a spiritual Sence not partake thereof to have the Table of the Gospel spread among us and a large Feast prepared when so many of those that are bidden perhaps touch not a Morsel of it Luk. 14.24 Joh. 8.21 but dye in their sins and go to Hell at last 'T is one thing to hear of Grace and another thing to have it Oh! how many natural carnal ones meer Vnbelievers while they hear of the Means of Faith and the Provisions of Grace to work Faith in them that have not one Dram of true Faith or Grace to lay hold of the Gospel offer they have heard many a Sermon about the Feast and yet go away Fasting q. d. as natural and Carnal as empty and unhumbled as they came hither miserable Wretches what have these to live upon but the Bread of Idleness or the Bread that perisheth but no Portion of that which endureth to Life Eternal as hath been shewn God is opening of his Hand and yet many of you are shutting your Mouths against him God is raining down Mannah and you will not stoop to take Mannah up he drops Fatness but you look on and your Souls are lean still he prepareth Plenty but you have such other Plenty besides in your divers Lusts and Pleasures that you care for none of it He giveth Meat in abundance but how ill a use do you make of it that come to see it a little upon the Lord's Days but go away and do not meddle with or perhaps so much as think upon the Provisions all the Week after how miserable are You Again what will become of others that are Prophane Filthy Abominable Disobedient and to every good Work reprobate Are there not some who have been instructed in the Particulars of this Feast and yet can feed upon Oaths if a slight Provocation move them do not Prophane Dogs lick up the Devil's Scraps and tho' they look upon God's Table yet return to their Vomit again Now is not your Case miserable Sinners whose mouth it may be is full of Cursing Rom. 3.10 tho' out of the Mouth of the Lord you have heard so many Gospel Blessings and full of Biiterness tho' that Mouth
of yours should have been filled with the sweetness of the Honey and the Honey-comb are there not some of you have thrown aside the Cup of Salvation and taken up the Cup of the Drunkards have you not changed the Glory of all that Holy Bill of Fare to shame yea into such a shame thro' your own beastly Intemperance as the Prophet expresseth by a shameful Spewing Hab. 2.14 Oh! how sad is it with you while you come and look upon the Provisions here and as soon as you have turn'd your Backs and are gone Week after Week should be found in the Devil's Company or about the Devil's Work again eating and drinking your own Damnation dare any of you thus to prophane the Table of the Lord And you that are Scoffers ridicule the Provisions make his Meat contemptible Again How do you think after this Plenty that God takes it at your Hands you that break the Third Command and customarily take his Name in vain Exo. 20.7 irreverently wickedly and prophanely in your mouths upon every slight Occasion blaspheming and dishonouring that worthy Name which should only have been praised for his Bounty and Goodness to us Would you thank that Guest who should go away reproaching and ungratefully vilify your own Names after you had either kindly entertain'd him or offered courteously to treat him I trow not And what Luk. 17.9 shall the Great God of Heaven and Earth be dishonoured in his Name after he hath created preserved and provided all and spread so large a Table with Blessings of Heaven above Gen. 49.25 and Blessings of the Deep that lieth under Further dare any of you be Disobedient to Parents and tho' you have heard of so much at God's Table yet continue as cursed Slips instead of Olive-Plants round about Their Table Psa 128.3 Surely miserable is the Congregation of the Wicked and sad is your state that have the Opportunities of Gospel-Grace and yet do but see it with your Eyes and never eat thereof and that hear of Heaven but must never if you be not changed enter in there Rev. 21.27 for there shall in no wise enter into it any Thing that desileth Let those words 1 Cor. 6.9 10. dwell much upon you Know ye not that the Vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived neither Fornicaters nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Remember all these Things must pass away and there must be nothing of them remain but only to testifie of the Grace of God that such were some of you 1 Cor. 6.11 12 Inf. 12. Continuance in Vnbelief and a Refusal of these All Things is Dreadful The State of Unbelievers must be miserable that hath no Portion in these Things and the Sin of Unbelievers must needs become provoking that keeps them from laying hold upon them Did you believe Rom. 6.1 you dare not trifle or continue in sin when Grace thus abounds You dare not grow loose if you did believe or joyn with this Grace that was made to knit our Hearts to Christ Oh! your Unbelief which carries all your other sins in the Belly of it is a Monster big with Aggravation Let me represent the Dreadfulness of your Sin in two or three Instances 1. You refuse the only Remedy You sin against Grace and Works cannot save you These all things are for the reconciling you unto God Col. 1.21 and yet you prefer to be Enemies in your Minds and in your ways by wicked Works They are for sanctifying and renewing your Abominable polluted Natures and yet you choose to remain Filthy still Rev. 22.11 They are for healing you and yet you will die of your Wounds before They are for feeding and cloathing you and yet you will be starv'd and then turn'd out naked to the Judgment Seat of God! In one Word they are for saving you and yet you will die and be damn'd for ever Prov. 8.36 He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own Soul all they that hate me love Death 2. You rebell against the Light You have heard you have seen enough to cast you if you do not quickly cry for Mercy and if Jesus the Son of God have not mercy on you Mark 10.47 48. Oh! where will you flee to hide when Christ lays this Sin at your Door that you had been inform'd of the Provisions made for Sinners and the more you knew the more you hated God's Offers made to you See John 15.24 If I had not done among them the Works which none other Man did they had not had sin i. e. nothing in comparison of what they now have but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father You have heard of what Importance this Feast is and therefore it is a Rebelling against the Light to make light of it 3. You trample upon Distinguishing Grace that comes with outward Peace to you God might have kept a Market with the Enemy Psal 44.11 and given you as Sheep appointed for meat Asaph enditeth a sad Complaint of this nature Psal 79.1 2. O God the Heathen are come into thine Inheritance thy Holy Temple have they defiled they have laid Jerusalem on heaps the Dead Bodies of thy Servants have they given to be meat unto the Fowls of the Heaven the Flesh of thy Saints unto the Beasts of the Earth And v. 3. Their Blood have they shed like Water round about Jerusalem Consider others have been fain to break thro' the Hosts of the Mighty to come at Bread or fetch a supply of Living Water but you are offer'd Both in a Day of Gracious Liberty when you need not get your Bread with the Peril of your Lives Lam. 5.9 Oh! come and see the Works of the Lord abroad Psa 46.8 what Desolations he maketh in the Earth while he provides a Sanctuary for You that is not desolate for the Lord's sake Dan. 9.17 How do Wars ruine and eat up the Countries round you while you have Peace in your Borders Ps 147.14 and meat to eat which they know not of Oh! the Distinguishing Grace of God that he should on you be raining Mannah when on so many Thousands in the World he has been seen raining Blood Ah! Could you have lookt into Neighbouring Countries and seeen the Frights the Perplexities the Distress of Nations Luk. 21.25 the Groans of Dying wounded Men the Revenge of Armies boiling in their Blood the Thunder of the Captains and the shouting Could you see that Supper which God hath been making beyond the Seas for the Fowls upon slain Carkases as the Holy Ghost signifieth when he speaks of an Eagle flying in the Sun Rev. 19.17 18. and crying with a loud voice saying to all the Fowls that fly in the midst of Heaven Come and gather your selves together
the Golden Pipes of Ordinances as they are Typed out in the Prophet's Vision of the Golden Candlestick and the two Golden Olive-Branches may also empty the Golden Oyl out of themselves Zech. 4.12 That Ordinances may neither be broken as the Pipes sometimes that convey the Water are nor yet their Fatness or Moisture fail as a means of conveying all Things ready Eighthly 8 Dir. Look beyond the Instrument any meer Servant of the King 's sent to call you or bid to wait at Table on you Look off from Instruments and behold the First Cause Holy Mr. Rutherford has an excellent Passage to this purpose in his Letters (s) Pt. 3d. p. 37. Such as are Hungry look more to the Meat than the Carver Oh! look off as hungry Feeders from the Attendance of his Ministers to view the great Provider and taste the Vertue of all his great Provision Why look ye so earnestly on us as tho' by our own Power or Holiness we had made this man to walk the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob the God of our Fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus Acts 3.12 13. It is the Glorifying of his Son Jesus and not the Abilities of Paul or Apollos or any Ministers by whom ye believed We are but poor Lacqueys that run after our Lord to be with him where he is upon any great Day of the Feast Ninthly 9 Dir. Learn to be weaned from Temporals when you have such Provisions made in Spirituals Take what you have in Christ and be Content the meek shall eat and be satisfyed Psal 22.26 tho' God blesseth your other Basket and your Store Deut. 28. ◠yet live above the World upon Him who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Heavenly Things in Christ Eph. 1.3 When he calls you to dwell in his House regard not your Tents nor lodge among your own Stuff Take off your Hearts from many Things and lay them up with your Treasure here in All Col. 3.2 Set your Affections upon Things above not on Things on the Earth Pant not after the Dust Amos 2.7 when God pours Waters out of his Buckets Num. 24.7 Be more Crucifyed to the World Gal. 6.14 since he that hung upon the Cross hath prepar'd enough by getting all without it If God hath drawn some Earthly Breasts dry yet let these Breasts of Consolation in the Gospel wean you from the Paps that you have sucked Let that World to come provided put the World that now is under you In one word be contented to wash off your Thick Clay which sticks upon your Fingers 1 Joh. 1.1 and handle the Word of Life Tenthly 10 Dir. Pity others that want your Plenty The less they have let your Bowels grow the larger to them Be not of a Narrow Spirit that shuts out the sense of other Men's Necessity when you feed in large Pastures Be grieved for the Afflictions of Joseph Amos 6.6 and don 't carry it like his unnatural Brethren that when they had cast him into a Pit Gen. 37.24 25. sat down to eat their Bread Think of God's Prisoners tho' the chief Butler may forget them when he is pressing the Cup into Pharaoh's Hand Tho' you have got a Pleasant South-Land and the Streams in the South to make it fruitful yet think of your Brethren in France that are driven out of their South-Land and have their Springs of Water dry Put on Bowels when you behold your Table and are about to fill your Belly Eleventhly 11 Dir. Tho' you have Plenty waste none Make no Orts of Crumbs When your Table is full turn it not into wantonness least God overturn it Tho' you have found so much do not lose any Beware of every Morsel let none fall under the Table to be trod on Gen. 32.10 Make much of the least of all God's mercies thou mayst yet be low in thy State tho' thou art high-fed at present and tho' such a Feast be now set before thee Luk. 16.21 thou mayst desire again hereafter to be fed with the Crumbs that fall from the Rich man's Table Twelfthly Abound in Love 12 Dir. both to the Maker of this Feast and to all our Fellow-Guests with us Professors of the Gospel should love and such as eat together cleave to one another Love is a special Duty we owe at such a Love-Feast 1. Abound in Love to God The Words of the Commandment that were written in Stone should be transcrib'd upon the Fleshy Tables of our Heart 2 Cor. 3.3 see Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Might Oh! how should we send Love streaming out of our Souls when Love pricks the Vein tho' we bleed to Death with Love 2. Abound in Love to all your Fellow-Guests 1 Joh. 4.21 And this Commandment have we from Him that he who loveth God love his Brother also Shall there be Contentions among Brethren at the same Gospel-Table when (t) Jenkyn upon Jude 2d pt pag. 118. the eating at one Rack hath bread Peace between the very savage Beasts It is the Note of an Egyptian Gen. 43.32 to have an Hebrew in Abomination and refuse to Bread with him Let those quarrel who sit at the Devil's Banquets but let us agree who have our Table prepar'd of God Let the Dogs fall out that fight for Bones but let the Children that eat of Children's Bread unite Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity Psal 133.1 It is comely to sit together in our Profession at the Gospel-Table Eph. 1.3 as we hope to sit together in the Heavenly Places and not like Foolish Children wrangle and contend about our Meat to provoke our Heavenly Father to take the Dishes off or send Vs to Bed to our Graves without a Supper II. Doct. That God makes an Invitation to Sinners in the Preaching of the Gospel to come in to this Feast The Method in which I shall endeavour to prosecute and handle this Truth will lye in Four things 1. To open the Properties of the Invitation and shew you the perswasive Force or Strength and sweet import of this Blessed Word Come 2. To explain also the Nature of Man's coming when God's Call prevails 3. The Reasons or Necessity of this coming urg'd upon us Why it must be And 4. The Vse The First Thing is to open the Properties of the Invitation I. and explain the Nature of God's Call to Sinners when he Invites them by the Preaching of the Gospel to partake of His Feast Take them in these Ten Particulars 1. It is a Gracious Invitation 1 Property a Come that is full of Grace and Love an Invitation that springs not from common Tenderness Luk. 1.78 but the tender Mercies of our God He is styled the Father of Mercies
Kingdom of God and his Righteousness Matth. 6.33 The Gospel-Dispensation is called the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness by a Phrase that is equivalent to and comprehensive of its Provisions made ready Now this Provision in the Kingdom of God God commands us to seek and seek it †Potiùs quà m Priùs first seek it rather let the Priority be in your Affection seek it more than all Things else This is seeking first when you give God's Provisions the Preference in your Hearts tho' other Things have got the start and were sought by you first in Time Christ is there taking off his Disciple's Hearts and Thoughts from laying out their chief Care in maintenance about their Bodies and setting them upon a more necessary Duty than Provision for their Body was The Master of the Feast knows that the Soul is more than the Body Matth. 6.25 as the Body it self is more than Raiment and therefore he commandeth his Disciples and Followers to be careful rather in This and come away unto the Feast of the Gospel seeking Soul-Food It is the Will and Commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 16.18 that we serve not our own Belly but in obedience to his Divine Injunction come and fill us with Hidden Gospel-Treasures Labour not for the Meat which perisheth John 6.27 But doth not this Negative thwart a Positive command 2 Thes 3.10 This we commanded you that if any would not work neither should he eat Doth not Paul a Servant of Jesus Christ seem to contradict our Lord Jesus Christ himself I answer in the words of a clear (f) Streat ' s Dividing of the Hoof. pag. 418 419. Reconciler of the Scriptures No for To live without a Calling is one Thing and to swallow up all Care for Heaven in this Earthly Calling is another Labour not for the Meat which perisheth i. e. Do not lay out your Thoughts nor spend your Time and Pains about that Provision alone which is not your chief Portion as if your Happiness consisted in the Abundance of the Things that you possessed but it follows labour for that Meat which endureth unto Everlasting Life Thus he that hath prepared his Dinner hath also bid his Guests and therefore necessity is laid upon us to go up unto this Feast There is a necessity we should partake of the Grace and plenty of the Gospel because God hath required this at our Hands It puts a must upon the Invited and they cannot in point of Duty refuse or put it off We must in this be all Servants and Ministers of his to do his Pleasure 2. It is necessary necessitate Medii as a means of becoming Gospel Guests * Finis priùs intentione posteriùs executione The means are first in Execution and the end after There must be a compliance with the Invitation before we can be called Guests The Provisions of the Gospel will be hid until Men come and see by Faith what the Things are Coming which signifies a Conversion of the whole Man to God is performed in the first place and partaking of the Feast or a feeding upon the Provisions of Grace that are made ready for the nourishment of the Soul in it's converted state is brought about after God first brings the Soul to himself and then he fills it with Good Things The Prodigal could not partake of the Fatted Calf so long as he was absent from his Father's House it was therefore necessary as a means of receiving it that he should come away and be with his Father where he was I will arise and go to my Father and say Father I have sinned against Heaven and before Thee Luke 15.18 But this necessity of coming as a Means will appear Three ways 1. It is necessary to come to the Gospel-Entertainment because all our Labours cannot purchase Bread Isa 55.2 3. Wherefore do ye spend Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me and eat ye that which is Good and let your Soul delight it self in Fatness incline your Ear and come unto me hear and your Soul shall live Here are plainly Two Feasts spoken of in opposition God's Entertainment which he provides for Sinners and Sinner's Entertainment which they provide for themselves at their own charges now the Poor Sinner so long as an awakened Conscience sets him on Works and the Duties of Obedience but never looks to Christ he sweats he labours lays down a Price and pays dear for nothing he spends Money for that which is not Bread all the poor Creature doth or can possibly reach to is infinitely short of Christ he makes a Feast of his Duties but when he comes to sit at Table wants Bread to eat Alas he must hearken to another Provider before he will get supplies he must come and taste of God's Bounty before he will ever fill his Belly hearken diligently unto me incline your Ear and come If we come not to this Plenteous Feast of the Gospel we may strive and take much Pains but all our Reward will be Husks with the Swine instead of Bread with God's Children We may stir we may strive in a way of outward working but if it be out of Jesus Christ we are Poor and can't maintain our selves We may look upon one another as we read of Jaoob's Sons Gen. 42.1 when there was Corn in Egypt but if we will live by Bread we must go for Food to Joseph All the Plenty in the Land of Egypt was deposited in Joseph's Granaries not a Sack could be fill'd tho' it came from his Fathers House in Canaan but it must come thro' Joseph's Hands v. 25. then Joseph commanded to fill their Sacks with Corn. So there is a necessity we should come to the Son of God for Food because all is lodg'd with Him * Col. 2.3 Treasures †Joh. 1.16 Fulness while all our Labours will not purchase Bread Again 2. It is necessary to secure our Souls from Starving We perish with Hunger if we do not come for Food We must have Bread to preserve our Lives and yet we can have it no where else but here As our Bodies would starve if our necessary Food were gone so will our Souls and the Souls of others under our charge if we do not take a little Food for the Famine of our Housholds to supply us and them We must come forth to this Rich Gospel-Feast where there is no want of any Thing as the old Man that came out of the Field from his Work at Even Judg. 19.16 told the way-faring Levite in the Street of Gibeah v. 19. latter part if we would not have our selves and all that is within us come to want No other Table hath Vertue enough to preserve our Souls but that which the Redeemer of our Souls hath furnisht No Bread will sustain us but the Bread that came down from Heaven and no Feast but