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
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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
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
an intire Christ every Thing in him it is not only Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Except ye drink his Blood too ye have no Life in you Joh. 6.53 It is not meant of a corporal Drinking him Sacramentally as the Papists say that he speaks of in this Chapter as under the former particular it was hinted to be neither spoken of a Sacramental Eating of his Flesh for then except ye partook every one of the Lords Supper ye could not be saved whereas it might so happen that no space is given at least to all after Conversion to partake of any other Lords Supper than the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb in Heaven Besides it is principally to be considered that the Lord's Supper was not instituted till afterwards and therefore could not be here intended Indeed it is most evidently a Truth that we have Blood both ways to drink that is we have it spiritually to receive by Faith when the Soul ventures out to fetch in all that it needs from the Efficacy and vertue of this Blood and we have it also Sacramentally as represented under the Element of Wine while Love that bled drops the earnest into our Hearts and seals it up in us this Consideration will fall in more properly under the Cup of Consolation We are now to consider the Blood of Christ as it notes the special Application of it to the Soul for the Being and Support of a New Creature And thus it is rendred infinitely richer to the believing Soul than any vinous Liquor to make it fat and flourishing Drinking of the Blood of Christ implyes an Act of Faith in the Soul which receives all into it that was wrought by the Blood of Christ without it or takes hold of the Vertue of this Blood and applyes it to the proper Use and End which God himself hath given it To make it more plain it is Blood to (a) 1 Joh. 1.7 Rev. 1.5 Rev. 7.14 cleanse Faith steps out to this Blood and brings in a cleansing vertue from it it is Blood to (b) Isa 34.3 soften Faith makes out to it and receives in the foftning Influence of this Blood till the Stone dissolves and (c) Ezek. 36.26 mountains are melted with it it is Blood to * Col. 1.20 atone Faith runs for the Blood of Atonement hither It is Blood to (d) Acts 20.28 Eph. 1.7 Col. 1 14. Rev. 5.9 redeem Faith takes in the Redemption by it and knows that the †Job 19.25 Redeemer lives It is Blood to justifie Rom. 5.9 Faith rests here for absolution from Guilt and real Imputation of a Perfect Righteousness without to appear at the Bar of God in It is Blood to confirm Zech. 9.11 Faith believes it shall be even as God hath spoken and under its cloud looks up to the Blood of the Covenant and sees this Bow in it In a word it is Blood to save Rom. 5.9 10. and Faith makes readily out to it 1 Tim. 6.12 to lay hold upon Eternal Life It is every way as the Scripture speaketh abundantly of this Precious Blood 1 Pet. 1.19 that Faith drinks it in The manifold Benefits of this Blood of Christ do make it a Generous Drink to Faith that as his Flesh is Meat so his Blood is Drink indeed Joh. 6.55 Blood under the Law was forbidden Gen. 5.4 but lo here is Flesh with the Life Lev. 17.10 11. that is with the Blood thereof allow'd us Faith must receive it in the Antitype tho' Sense was to refrain it under the Type we must in all our Food have a recourse to the Mediatour and when we eat of his Banquet drink his Blood also Job 31.17 We must never eat of our morsel alone without the * Heb. 12.24 pt Blood of Sprinkling Indeed it could not have been a Banquet without Blood Our Feast had been otherwise spoil'd and all our fair Hopes spilled Oh! Blessed yea for ever Blessed be the Master of our Feast for this One Thing among the All Things ready even the †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alludes both to the Sacrifices and the Place of the Sprinkling the Blood Charnock Vol. 2d p. 896. Propitiation which we have thro' Faith in his Blood Rom. 3.25 A Propitiation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Grateful Offering unto God that every way pleas'd him It was thro' the Scent of Blood this perfumed Blood of Christ in the Nostrils of Jehovah that God was well pleased In whom we have Redemption thro' his Blood according to the Riches of his Grace Eph. 1.7 * In effusione Sanguinis fuit complementum Satisfactionis Davenant in Ep. ad Col. ch 1.14 p. 91. Satisfaction to Justice was compleated when he had filled the Ephah with his Blood for the measure of our sins Christ came not by Water only tho' a Fountain to wash in or a Well to drink of but he came by Water and Blood 1 Joh. 5.6 swimming htro ' two Seas at once Water may signifie his coming to sanctifie Vs and Blood to satisfie God for us Our Holiness springs from one as he is made of God to us sanctification and our Happiness flowes from the other as he is made both our Righteousness and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 The maintaining of Justification as a * Charnock 2d Vol. p. 1186. Great man observes by this Blood seems to be the Great contest between the True Church and the Antichristian State It hath many Enemies especially those two Bands of Warriours the Papists and Socinians 2 Pet. 2.1 that carry away the Beauty of the Cross by denying the Lord that bought them It seems to be the more deformed in the Latter because they have renounced many Romish Abominations but will still retain the Greatest And yet the Socinians to take off the Efficacy of Christs Blood on the Cross positively assert that he now maketh the Expiation where he maketh the Intercession Christ makes our Peace say they now in Heaven by the * Virtute Potestate plenâ absolutâ quam à Patre consecutus est Cateches Racov. mihi 16o. An. 1651. Absolute Power he hath with the Father there which if true must shut him wholly out of Heaven as a Mediatour of the Covenant to admit him in as the Second Person only in the Godhead But our High-Priest hath not entred into the Holy of Holies without Blood Heb. 9.7 which he once offered for the Errours of the People nor yet as the High Priests of Old with the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy Place †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he had found out or obtained a Redemption for us it must not be construed in the present Tense having obtained Eternal Redemption for us Heb. 9.12 so that our Redemption is by his Blood and was accomplished antecedently to his ascending into Heaven and sitting
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.
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
Righteous Condemnation when he sits upon a Throne of Justice and when God pronounceth thine Absolution the Sentence of Condemnation will prove of no effect to hurt thee There is none shall call thee to any just Account for Life because thou hast one that now hath traverst Death The Council of Heaven pleads to save thee and a Black-mouth'd Crew in Hell or foul-mouth'd Crew on Earth shall never make thy Cause through Accusation now to go against thee What unrighteous Plea shall ever over-rule Luk. 18.6 or unjust Judge stand up to overthrow the Highest Court of Justice He that justifyeth will turn every Letter of the Law-Curse to make up the Gospel-Blessing Tho' thou art verily Guilty in thy self Rom. 3.19 for all the World is become Guilty before God And tho' by offending in one Point we are truely Guilty of all Jam. 2.10 yet tho' we are the Sinners the Gospel comes in ready with the Son of God 2 Cor. 5.21 who was made sin for us Tho' we owe our very Lives unto the second death Rev. 20.1 21.4 the Gospel hath procur'd the Free Gift to save them that our Statute of Death unto Condemnation might be Repealed and Enacted unto Justification of Life Rom. 5.18 He that passeth by and sees thee in thy Blood delivers thee from Blood guiltiness he takes thee up and imputes not thy Trespass tho' a poor * Felo de se is the term which our Engl. Law gives a self-murtherer Felo de se that hast sadly destroy'd thy self Hos 13.9 O Israel thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy Help found Fourthly The Gospel hath Healing Provisions suited to the Condition of back sliding sick and wounded Souls The Gospel provides something Medicinal to purge out Corruption and Restoratives to fetch the Patient again and gracious Lenitives to mollifie a Bleeding Wound and a Skilfull Hand to bind up and make all whole again as well as provides Aliment and Food to Nourish Alas our very Corruptions if we had not Grace provided to remove them would spoil all our Feast We have such Foul Stomachs by Nature that we need a Pill to cleanse them before our Morsel enters Deut. 28.59 We have all Naturally great Plagues and sore Sicknesses that turn our Stomach upon a Feast of Fat things And 'till we find something in the Gospel among its All Things to Cure us our Soul will be like that sick Man 's in Job Job 33.20 Psal 107.18 whose Life abhorreth Bread and his Soul dainty Meat We shall otherwise be too bad to touch Meat or receive the daintiest that can be brought us The Corruption of the Heart before it is in any measure purged makes a Sinner disdain the Gospel and hate the Diet of the Soul Num. 21.5 like the Israelites that loathed Mannah and call'd it light Bread and said chap. 11.6 there is nothing at all besides this Mannah before our Eyes This is the true Natural State of a Man before the Gospel hath been as Physick to work with healing Grace upon him Now therefore the Gospel among its All Things ready hath its Provisions of Medicine as well as Meat The Grace of it will heal and nourish both it can furnish the Patient and supply the Guest create a soundness of Constitution by Due Preparatives and keep it up with Provisions and Supplies in other kinds after The Gospel is like those yielding and plentiful Trees in Ezekiel's Vision where the Fruit was for Meat and the Leaf for Medicine Ezek. 47.12 lat pt The Balm of them was Healing and would work a Recovery upon the languishing as well as the Fruit Nourishing to supply the Hungry and the Juice refreshing to allay a thirsty Appetite Jer. 8.22 So there is Balm in Gilead a Physician and a Feast there both Mat. 9.12 Jer. 33.6 A Physician that doth bring it Health and Cure The Gospel purgeth out Corruption as well as prepares our Table it cleanseth our Vessel and then pours the precious Mannah in In a word it is Physick first and refreshing Diet after Now this Gospel suits with thy Condition tho' thou hast been a Backslider in thy ways and art now sick and wounded Psal 38.5 Do thy Wounds stink are they corrupt by reason of thy Foolishness and do the steams of Corruption make thine Heart sick yet God hath a Healing Medicine to settle thee at thy Heart and when broken Job 5.18 the Lord makes thee whole This is most graciously illustrated Hos 14.4 I will heal their backsliding I will love them freely This is a Remedy suits thy sick Case I will heal * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word is Metaphorical and shews the Efficacy of the Physician that tho' there hath been a †Iniquitates morbis se medico Christum medicinae comparat Rivet in Nesemn Complication of Distempers in thy Defection insomuch that now the sense of it hath wounded thee in thy Spirit and the Disease hath bruis'd thee yet thy sickness shall not be unto death but for the glory of God in healing thee for a Bruised Reed shall he not break Matth. 12.20 Not Break. i. e. as the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word imports he will not do any thing against it to hurt or handle with violence such a Feeble Slip his Hand is gentle he will touch the Bruise with Care Isa 57.16 least the Spirit should fail before him and the Soul that he hath made Tho' you came as a Troop of Lazaruses Luk. 16.20 and were laid at his Gate full of Sores Mat. 4.24 tho' you are taken with divers Diseases some with one spiritual Infirmity some with another whatsoever Sickness 1 Kings 8.37 whatsoever Plague it be yet he hath prepared to send his Word and heal you Psal 107.20 Be thou sick rent or torn whom He hath put to Pain Hos 6.1 yet run over the List of the All Things and thou shalt not complain thou hast no healing Medicine Jer. 30.13 Thy Disease indeed hath desperately broken out and it may be now hath fercht out many a Groan a Sigh and a Tear to see thy own Plague But while your Tears gush out God hath provided to stop an Issue of Blood Mark 5.29 That Sore of thine which hath ran in the Night and ceased not shall not break out 'till there be no Remedy 2 Chron. 36.16 because there is a Physician by whose Stripes ye are healed 1 Pet. 2.24 Nay Rev. 13.3.12 after thy deadly Wound is healed thou may'st carry some Marks of an Old Sore upon thee but no * Nisbet upon Peter Skar in thy Wound can hurt thee Joh. 20.25 when thou hast also the Print of his Nails Fifthly The Gospel hath Releasing Provisions to free thee if a spiritual Captive and break thy Chains off When the Gospel maketh a Feast it lets us out of Prison Mat. 26.51
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
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
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