David's Guard to break first thrô an Host that encamps against us Psa 27.3 Joh. 4.28 This is a Well where we may leave our water-pot since when we have drank of the Water we carry a well away with us v. 14. It is the Lamb's Fountain and thou mayst wring more out of this Fleece than Gideon's a Judg. 638 Bowl full or Hagar's b Gen. 21.15 bottle or Elijah's four c 1 Kings 18.33 barrels of water This is none of the bitter water that causeth the d Num. 5 22. curse but a Blessing when it comes into the e Ps 109. â—â— Bowels like water Our other Drink is f Hos 4 1â— soâ—â—r but this is a Fountain that yieldeth sweet water g Jam. 3 11 This Precious Liquor this incomparable and true Aqua vitae was set abroach upon the Tree of the Cross when one of the Souldiers with a Spear pierc'd his side and there forthwith came out Blood and (h) Joh. 19.34 water And lo he continues still as a pure River of the water of life running plentifully down the Gospel by his Guests at the Table side In a word he is water to cleanse our Filth Rev. 22.1 and water to quench our Thirst besides 5. Flesh to eat When the mixed multitude in the Wilderness fell a lusting it was to eat Flesh Num. 11.4 insomuch that the Children of Israel wept again and said who shall give us Flesh to eat and can he provide Flesh for his People Psa 78.20 last words But lo he that commanded the Clouds rained down Flesh upon them as Dust and feathered Fowls like as the sand of the Sea v. 27. Who indeed would have looked for such a Shower for when they tempted God in the Desert one might rather have feared he should have turned them to grass with their Flocks and Herds than have rained Flesh out of the Clouds upon them Yet tho' they had provoked God in the day of Temptation in the wilderness he tells them on the morrow ye shall eat Flesh Num. 11.18 But alas what was their Flesh tho' the Flesh of Quails to the Flesh of Jesus Christ What was the Flesh he gave unto all this People in comparison of the Flesh of the Son of God which he gives the Soul to feed upon by Faith Jesus Christ yields a variety to the Faith of God's Elect Num. 21.5 and it doth not follow that their Soul like those Israelites doth loath him as light Bread because their Soul also longeth for his Flesh to eat But we may here lawfully put in that wish in Job Oh! Job 31.31 that we had of his Flesh God doth not call you to eat the Flesh of your Sons Jer. 19.9 but the Flesh of His nor the Flesh of your Friend Zech. 13 7 but the Flesh of the man that is his Fellow What strange Flesh was that which the Poor Woman in Samaria had when she boiled her own Son for meat 2 Kings 6.29 Isa 13.18 She parted with the Fruit of her Womb being stricken thrô for want of the Fruits of the Field Lam. 4.9 But 't is a more astonishing wonder that God parted with the Son of his Bosom that we might eat the Flesh of this Sacrifice And there is no fear of making our Brother to offend by eating this Flesh while the World standeth 1 Cor. 8 1â— This mysterious Delicate the Flesh of Christ contains the Benefits of the Gospel which make up this Royal Entertainment that he purchas'd by his Death and Sufferings in the Flesh when he was put to Death in the Flesh 1 Pet. 3.18 but quickned by the Spirit This Doctrine of the Flesh of Christ given for meat unto our Faith is a further Exposition of the True Bread Joh. 6.51 And the Bread that I will give is my Flesh Now God must be first manifest in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 Rom. 8.3 and in the likeness of sinful Flesh and in this Flesh of ours die to prepare meat for us for as the Creatures that have Life die that we a while in our Bodies by their Death might live so it is the very Flesh of Christ and him crucified that must give Life unto our Souls His Flesh suffer'd his Flesh was pierc'd he was hung upon that Flesh book of the Cross when God gave him to be meat unto us His Flesh was powdered in the very Grave where other Things corrupt but his Flesh did not see Corruption Acts 2.31 to be made ready as a sweet and Dainty Morsel for us The wrath of God broke forth upon the Body he had prepared Heb. 10.5 and kindled a Fire in his Anger that even boil'd him as Flesh within the Caldron Mic. 3.3 and roasted him that his Flesh might be meat indeed for us Joh. 6.55 his Flesh was bor'd thro' and thro' tho' not a Bone of him should be broken Thus was he bruised for our Iniquities Isa 53.5 or there should no Flesh be saved Hence he hath spoken Matth. 24.22 Joh. 6.57 last words He that eateth me even he shall live by me This may serve to answer either the Jew's or the unbelieving Gentile's Question Joh. 6.52 How can this Man give us his Flesh to eat it being not to be understood of a Sacramental eating as the Rhemists gloss it but a spiritual by Faith alone Oh! how may we stand amaz'd at the Provisions in Him whose Name is VVonderful Isa 9.6 This is the Fifth Dish the Flesh of Jesus Christ 6. Blood to drink Perhaps our Ignorant squeazy old man may loath it as the Egyptians did to drink of the water of the River Exod. 7.18 after it was smitten with the Rod of Moses and turned into Blood but our New-man redeemed by Blood will take great Delight in it Alas we have sinn'd our selves into such a Feavour that our own common Drink inflames we have kindled a Burning which nothing but Blood the Blood of Christ will quench if man tryes to put the Fire out by any Works of Righteousness which he hath done Tit. 3.5 the sweat of his Brows will drop in and like Oil still increase the Flame Nay it is not VVater barely separate from Blood will quench our Anguish tho' we trusted that we could Job 40.23 with the Behemoth draw up Jordan into our mouths we must still have Blood to drink Oh! it requires great Faith in the Son of God to see it for otherwise Corruption will make us too nice to be entertain'd with Blood Faith and Faith alone is kept alive by it it cannot it needs not live upon a more Generous and Sprightly Liquor than this pure Blood of the Grape Deut 32.14 last words 1 Pet. 1.2 pâ—â—t it makes every Morsel of the Banquet Savoury that 't is sprinkled with the Blood of Jesus Christ Flesh as before and Blood now do include the whole Body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
an intire Christ every Thing in him it is not only Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Except ye drink his Blood too ye have no Life in you Joh. 6.53 It is not meant of a corporal Drinking him Sacramentally as the Papists say that he speaks of in this Chapter as under the former particular it was hinted to be neither spoken of a Sacramental Eating of his Flesh for then except ye partook every one of the Lords Supper ye could not be saved whereas it might so happen that no space is given at least to all after Conversion to partake of any other Lords Supper than the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb in Heaven Besides it is principally to be considered that the Lord's Supper was not instituted till afterwards and therefore could not be here intended Indeed it is most evidently a Truth that we have Blood both ways to drink that is we have it spiritually to receive by Faith when the Soul ventures out to fetch in all that it needs from the Efficacy and vertue of this Blood and we have it also Sacramentally as represented under the Element of Wine while Love that bled drops the earnest into our Hearts and seals it up in us this Consideration will fall in more properly under the Cup of Consolation We are now to consider the Blood of Christ as it notes the special Application of it to the Soul for the Being and Support of a New Creature And thus it is rendred infinitely richer to the believing Soul than any vinous Liquor to make it fat and flourishing Drinking of the Blood of Christ implyes an Act of Faith in the Soul which receives all into it that was wrought by the Blood of Christ without it or takes hold of the Vertue of this Blood and applyes it to the proper Use and End which God himself hath given it To make it more plain it is Blood to (a) 1 Joh. 1.7 Rev. 1.5 Rev. 7.14 cleanse Faith steps out to this Blood and brings in a cleansing vertue from it it is Blood to (b) Isa 34.3 soften Faith makes out to it and receives in the foftning Influence of this Blood till the Stone dissolves and (c) Ezek. 36.26 mountains are melted with it it is Blood to * Col. 1.20 atone Faith runs for the Blood of Atonement hither It is Blood to (d) Acts 20.28 Eph. 1.7 Col. 1 14. Rev. 5.9 redeem Faith takes in the Redemption by it and knows that the †Job 19.25 Redeemer lives It is Blood to justifie Rom. 5.9 Faith rests here for absolution from Guilt and real Imputation of a Perfect Righteousness without to appear at the Bar of God in It is Blood to confirm Zech. 9.11 Faith believes it shall be even as God hath spoken and under its cloud looks up to the Blood of the Covenant and sees this Bow in it In a word it is Blood to save Rom. 5.9 10. and Faith makes readily out to it 1 Tim. 6.12 to lay hold upon Eternal Life It is every way as the Scripture speaketh abundantly of this Precious Blood 1 Pet. 1.19 that Faith drinks it in The manifold Benefits of this Blood of Christ do make it a Generous Drink to Faith that as his Flesh is Meat so his Blood is Drink indeed Joh. 6.55 Blood under the Law was forbidden Gen. 5.4 but lo here is Flesh with the Life Lev. 17.10 11. that is with the Blood thereof allow'd us Faith must receive it in the Antitype tho' Sense was to refrain it under the Type we must in all our Food have a recourse to the Mediatour and when we eat of his Banquet drink his Blood also Job 31.17 We must never eat of our morsel alone without the * Heb. 12.24 pt Blood of Sprinkling Indeed it could not have been a Banquet without Blood Our Feast had been otherwise spoil'd and all our fair Hopes spilled Oh! Blessed yea for ever Blessed be the Master of our Feast for this One Thing among the All Things ready even the †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alludes both to the Sacrifices and the Place of the Sprinkling the Blood Charnock Vol. 2d p. 896. Propitiation which we have thro' Faith in his Blood Rom. 3.25 A Propitiation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Grateful Offering unto God that every way pleas'd him It was thro' the Scent of Blood this perfumed Blood of Christ in the Nostrils of Jehovah that God was well pleased In whom we have Redemption thro' his Blood according to the Riches of his Grace Eph. 1.7 * In effusione Sanguinis fuit complementum Satisfactionis Davenant in Ep. ad Col. ch 1.14 p. 91. Satisfaction to Justice was compleated when he had filled the Ephah with his Blood for the measure of our sins Christ came not by Water only tho' a Fountain to wash in or a Well to drink of but he came by Water and Blood 1 Joh. 5.6 swimming htro ' two Seas at once Water may signifie his coming to sanctifie Vs and Blood to satisfie God for us Our Holiness springs from one as he is made of God to us sanctification and our Happiness flowes from the other as he is made both our Righteousness and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 The maintaining of Justification as a * Charnock 2d Vol. p. 1186. Great man observes by this Blood seems to be the Great contest between the True Church and the Antichristian State It hath many Enemies especially those two Bands of Warriours the Papists and Socinians 2 Pet. 2.1 that carry away the Beauty of the Cross by denying the Lord that bought them It seems to be the more deformed in the Latter because they have renounced many Romish Abominations but will still retain the Greatest And yet the Socinians to take off the Efficacy of Christs Blood on the Cross positively assert that he now maketh the Expiation where he maketh the Intercession Christ makes our Peace say they now in Heaven by the * Virtute Potestate plenâ absolutâ quam à Patre consecutus est Cateches Racov. mihi 16o. An. 1651. Absolute Power he hath with the Father there which if true must shut him wholly out of Heaven as a Mediatour of the Covenant to admit him in as the Second Person only in the Godhead But our High-Priest hath not entred into the Holy of Holies without Blood Heb. 9.7 which he once offered for the Errours of the People nor yet as the High Priests of Old with the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy Place †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he had found out or obtained a Redemption for us it must not be construed in the present Tense having obtained Eternal Redemption for us Heb. 9.12 so that our Redemption is by his Blood and was accomplished antecedently to his ascending into Heaven and sitting
a Heavenly Nectar is this Cup of Consolation you may drink it at Ordinances in the Golden Vessels of the Temple Dan. 5.2 Esth 5.6 where there needs at this Banquet of wine to be no * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inspectores vini Weemse Christian Synagogue pag. 209. Inspectours or Overseers set to mind you least you prove Spiritual wine-bibbers at these Vessels filled up to the Brim no †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Godwins Hebrew-Rites pag. 45. Song 5 1. Eyes of the Feast to see you do not drink too much as is reported to have been customary at the Oriental Feasts among the Jews and Persians But you may drink abundantly of the Love of Christ and yet not be drunk with Wine This Cup of Consolation is most excellently represented in the Cup of Blessing 1 Cor. 10.16 Mat. 26.27 where at the Communion of the Blood of Christ he saith unto his Friends Drink ye all of it Lo Prov. 23.31 1 Cor. 11 26. there it is seen how it giveth its colour in the Cup and moveth it self aright by shewing forth the Lord's Death until he come even a second time to Judgment The Gospel is like those water-pots that stood in Cana at the Marriage-Feast Joh. 2.7.9 they yielded water at the beginning but afforded wine unto the Guests before they rose up So as Christ was represented first by water his Love is now shed abroad like VVine Oh! Blessed is the Benjamin in whose Sack this Silver Cup is found Gen. 44.12 These Consolations of our God abound Psa 23.5 my Cup runneth over Oh! the Depth of these Streams of Love when we swim in the Rivers of his Pleasure how incomparable is the Wine of the Kingdom Dent. 32.14 beyond any other Blood of the Grape 23. The continual Diet of Perseverance 'T is said of Jehoiachim that he was so provided for by the King of Babylon that he did continually eat Bread before him all the Days of his Life and for his Diet there was a continual Diet given him of the King of Babylon every Day a Portion untill the Day of his Death all the Days of his Life Dan. 1.5 Jer. 52.33 34. So in the Gospel there is a Daily Provision of the King's meat Grace to feed thee every Day for new work fresh He will persevere to relieve thee on thy way that thou mayst persevere to come thy Journeys-End home He will continue thy Meat because he will not have thee to break thy Work off before thou hast made a Full end of it He will feed thee because Grace will finish what Grace hath once begun He that hath begun a good work in you shall also confirm you unto the end Phil. 1.6 1 Cor. 1.8 Thou shalt not be kept upon the Corn of Heaven for one Day only or ten Dayes or Twenty Days Num. â—â— 19 or a whole Month as they did eat of the Quails in the Israelitish Camp but thou shalt have Grace to stablish strengthen settle thee to thy Live's end and keep thee on thro' Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 5.10 1 Pet. 1.5 24. Lastly Rev. 2.7 The Fruit of the Tree of Life Fruit is wont at Entertainments to be last served in and so I place it last for Glory which is the Fruit of the Tree of Life shall begin where Grace here ends There may be indeed some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 19.9 some Foretasts of the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb and it is enough for an Israelite so long as in the Body Num. 13.23 to have a Cluster or some few at most from the Edge of Canaan he must be caught up into Paradise before he can gather the Full Vintage 2 Cor. 12.4 he must take possession of that better Countrey before he can eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God Rev. 2.7 It is fit my Brethren that both you and I should be now content with Grace tho' I have been enabled to lay before you the Meat and Drink which will enable us to do the Will of God Joh. 4.34 yet I cannot climb the Tree of Life for you Rev. 3.12 Rev. 22.2 to bring down out of the New Jerusalem any one of those Twelve manner of Fruits which grow in Plenty upon this Tree of Life above It will be the work of Eternity when our Days are as the Days of Heaven Psa 89.29 to behold these Precious Things that are put forth by the Sun Deut. 33.14 Mal. 4.2 1 Cor. 2.9 the Sun of Righteousness in Heaven for Eye hath not seen them here save the Eye of Faith only And therefore so much may suffice us at the Threshold of our Father's House Joh. 7.37 on this Great Day of the Feast The Fifth General Thing propounded was to shew what Excellent Properties there are in the Provisions of this Great Supper 1. Transforming 1 Property There is a marvellous Efficacy put into these Provisions that begets a Divine Likeness Ye shall be like God not in that bad lying sence the Devil intended it when he deceived our first Parents with a Deceitful Godlikeness Gen. 3.5 Ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil whenas it only transformed them and their Posterity into the Black and Filthy Image of the Devil We are by Nature Partners with that which entred into the VVorld Rom. 5.12 and defileth but by Grace are made Partakers of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 When it is said of the Poor they have the Gospel preached to them Mat. 11.5 last words the Original expresseth it in the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Passive are Gospellized transformed into the Image of the Truths they hear made other sort of Creatures Thus the Provisions of the Gospel Feast have an efficacious converting influence thrô the Operations of the Holy Ghost that by our Participation 2 Cor. 3.18 we are changed into the same Image of God we see 2. VVholsom Other Diet 2 Property if we eat it we may prove the worse after in killing hunger it may create Diseases but this is for your health Acts 27.34 The Gospel is wholsom in every part of it The Guests at this Entertainment may safely feed of any Dish that God hath set before them Psa 68.21 Indeed wicked men that are resolv'd to go on still in their Trespasses may cry out like those Sons of the Prophets 2 Kings 4.40 Oh thou man of God! there is Death in the pot But if God throws in Meal or mixeth his Loving Kindness and mercies with it let others throw in their Lap full of wild Gourds there is still no harm in the Pot. 2 Kings 4.39 40. Every Guest may adventure safely it is Food that will need no Physick unless we abuse our Morsel and play the wanton with it It is wholsom and never hurts any but such as provoke the wrath of
both Good and Evil by reason of Vse or as the word is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rendred thro' a Habit. Altho' young Children's Stomachs will not endure strong meat yet the Stomachs of grown men are habituated to receive Diet according to their Age their Constitution is stronger than Children's and therefore their Meat above them Not that any who are †Isa 28.9 weaned from the Milk are above the Word but they are by it grown taller in Knowledge than just to reach unto first Principles and are not still little Children learning their Rudiments in the School of Christ While others are * 2 Tim. 3.7 drawn from the Breasts that is are yet as the Infant whom the Mother hath but newly taken off her Breasts these are gone higher in spiritual Gifts and Attainments than when they were first coming to the * 1 Tim. 3.13 Knowledge of the Truth They have taken a Good Degree under the Teachings of Gods Spirit The Gospel yields these Provisions of Strong meat for them There are indeed Doctrines in the Word of Righteousness Heb. 5.13 that contain the Great Mystery To instance briefly in some as 1 * Tho' Faith cannot comprehend the Matter believed yet it knoweth the Ground why it doth believe namely the Testimony of Gods Word which saith it is thus and thus Anthon. Burgess Exposition of the 3d. Chapt. of the 1 Epist to the Cor. pag. 71. That Profound Mystery in the Trinity of Persons the Father Son and Spirit that these Three are one one God and yet Three Persons for ever This is a High Mystery For as †Culverwell Light of Nature pag. 148. one says tho' the Vnity of a Godhead is Demonstrable and clear to the Eye of Reason yet the Trinity of Persons that is three Glorious Relations in one God is certain to none but an Eye of Faith Indeed as another * Dr. Bates Christian Religion proved by Reason p. 187. excellent Author well observes The Unity and supreme Equality of the Three Persons in the Godhead transcends our Conception but Reason cannot prove it to be impossible The Doctrine of these Three Glorious Subsistences in one single uncompounded indivisible Divine Essence is a Truth but passeth all Vnderstanding Phil. 4.7 2 The Doctrine of Reconciliation in making Satisfaction to Divine Justice for Man's Breach of the Law by the Death of the Second Person in the Trinity Eph. 2.15 so making Peace is so much above our shallow Reason to comprehend that * some rather Professors of Reason than Faith or Divinity dare strike at the Foundation to see whether they can remove our Corner-stone 3 The Mysterious Hypostatical Union of the Two Natures in the Glorious Person of the Mediatour or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with other Doctrines contained in the sure Word of Prophesie 2 Pet. 1.19 are Truths above the Understanding of the Highest Christian or the Greatest Scholar in the World tho' not to apprehend yet to comprehend them Understandings we may say that are got to the Fullest measure of the stature of Christ Eph. 4.13 are yet out of their Reach when they are walking in the search of the Depth Job 38.16 and try to fathom these Deep Things of God Alas these are Mysteries in Christ which they that are * Col. 2.10 compleat in Christ must sit down at the Well-Head of Life and cry out with the Apostle * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the Depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgments and his ways past finding out Rom. 11.33 Nay as * Mr. Sam. Lee Joy of Faith p. 214. one says These are Things which the Glorious Angels strain at and makes their Wisdoms bend like an Ozier in a Storm to look down into them and can never feel the Bottom of these Deeps without Drowning But however there are Doctrines also in the Gospel which may very properly be likened to the Strong Meat and Food of grown Christians These also are found among the Mysteries of Knowledge given us from the Spirit of Revelations as concerning the Decrees Rom. 11.7 both touching the Election in Christ and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the rest that were Blinded Ibid. and concerning Christ's Natures that there are Two setting the mysterious consideration of the Modus in their Personal Union aside concerning his Offices Prophetical Sacerdotal and Regal his Two States of Humiliation and Exaltation his Accomplishment of all the Types in the Old Testament Personal and Mystical those * Dr. Tho. Taylor of the Types p. 2. Swadling-cloaths in which Christ was exhibited to the Fathers All the Glorious Prophesies of his Gospel-Church state and Mediatory Kingdom to be yet seen in the Kingdoms of this World Rev. 11.15 The Doctrines of the Resurrection the Last Judgment and an everlasting Future state are the strong meat at this Plenteous Entertainment for Christians that have arrived to some Maturity in Knowledge and with a competent measure of understanding are able to digest what they feed upon 3. The true Bread from Heaven 3. Ruth 1.6 The Lord hath visited his People in giving them Bread Ezek. 5.16 as well as Strong meat Bread is the Staff of Life take away Bread and a Morsel of strong Meat may be enough to overcome us so take away Christ and when we had to do with some of the Doctrines in the Word of Truth without him they would be too strong for us and make us spit them out again For Example if we were left to consider the Infinite naked Essence of God his Divine Immensity would swallow us or if we were to consider the Infinite Holiness of God Hab. 1.13 that is of purer Eyes than to behold evil and that cannot without an unspeakable Abhorrency look on Iniquity if we were to ponder his strict and inexorable Justice abstracting the consideration from the Person of the Mediatour such a morsel of strong Meat would be so much beyond our Natures to endure that we could not take the Name of God into our Mouths We are such rotten Stubble since our Fall that if we have not always to do with a God in Christ Psal 106.18 Heb. 12.29 the Flame will burn up the wicked for our God is a consuming Fire We must never touch any strong meat if we have not the Bread of God at hand And we must not approach unto God immediately but come thro' Christ to God that he may behold us in the Son of his Love only When we are famished and cry unto God for Bread as the Liberal Entertainments in the Dearth cryed unto Pharaoh he sends us for supplyes to Christ says Pharaoh Go unto Joseph what he saith unto you do Gen. 41.55 and saith God This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Math. 17.5 Gen. 47.12 This Joseph was sent into Egypt to
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