Understanding of the Prudent Isa 29.14 God's People fare well by themselves 1 Cor. 1.19 while others are fatned for the Day of Slaughter and never come in to sup with them The Lord severs between the one and the other in reference to the true Goshen state as he did heretofore between the Cattel of Israel and the Cattel of Egypt Exod. 9.4 The Friends of the Bridegroom hear his Voice when a Stranger doth not intermeddle Prov. 14.10 I know the Foolishness of Preaching and Man 's corrupt Wisdom in this Point do no ways agree 1 Cor. 1.21 Corruption is more tender of its own Deformed Brow than of the Apple of God's Eye his Sovereignty Nature is too high to stoop tho' to the God of Nature here This is a Knee that will not how to Jesus * Ambrâ—sius Origenes Hieronymus censuerunt Deum suam Gratiam inter Hemiues dispensare prout tâ quznque benè usurrâ—â— praeviderit Calvin Instit Chr. Rel. p. 320.6.8 initie Calvin has noted it concerning some of the Ancient Fathers as Ambrose Origene and Hierome that they supposed God distributed his Grace no otherwise amongst men than as he foresaw the Improvement which men would make of it and the Good use they would put that Grace to And adds that Augustine too was some while of the same mind but afterwards when he grew into a better Acquaintance with the Scriptures he not only retracted that corrupt Opinion but confuted it with great Strength of Argument as his words declare in the * Adde Augustinum in eâ fuisse aliquando Sententiâ sed câ—m méliùs in Scriptura cognitione profecisset non retractavit modò ut evidentèr falsam sed fortitèr confutavit Ibid. mihi Octavo Margent Men may throw his Glory whither they list but God will never give it away himself The King will be Sovereign in his House and have none to sup but whom he sends for Thou wouldst not Oh man thy self and who art thou that replyest against God Is it fit for Thee and shall it not be Lawful for Him to do what he will with his own Rom. 9.20 Matth. 20.15 Sixthly 6 Resemblance The Gospel resembles a Feast in the Order of the Guests that are plac't to eat and drink in Gods Kingdom In Feasts it is usual for some to sit higher others lower at the same Entertainment This is intimated to have been observed among the Jews at Feasts Luk. 14.8 9 10. where Christ condemns not such a Civil Order but therein countenanceth the Degrees of respect that may be shewn among Men while he maketh an outward Difference between the Honourable and the Base It is thus at Our Tables some are nearer some are farther the upper end than others Some are plac't more advantageously by the very Man of the House where they have the opportunities of a Freer converse with him and a nearer intimacy than another that sitteth by Samuel took Saul and his Servant 1 Sam. 9.22 and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden where they were more Honourable than the Thirty So in the Gospel we may see how God spiritually makes a Difference while of his Soveraignty 1 Cor. 4.7 for the Beauty and Order of the Church he makes one to differ from another Indeed it is not our Business or ought-herein to be our care to mark out the chief Rooms Luk. 14.7 or the uppermost Seats in Synagogues like the Pharisees for Christ knows no man after the Flesh 2 Cor. 5.16 that is he doth not respect the man for his Natural Precedency or Primogeniture who cometh to our Assembly with the Gold Ring Jam. 2.2 or in Goodly Apparel and much beyond the Poor man that cometh in in vile Rayment It is not therefore as to Civil Difference or External Order according to the Flesh which common Providence hath made among Professors that I here assume the Parallel but in a Spiritual Discrimination of Gifts and Graces or manifestations of the Divine Presence to some more than others The order lyes in that There are Diversities of Gifts 1 Cor. 12.4 v. 5. v. 6. differences of Administrations diversities of Operations God's People have neither equal Gifts nor equal Graces Mal. 4.2 As the Sun of Righteousness variously shines so one Star will always differ from another Star in Glory Some partake of more some taste of less when Christ putteth of his Spirit upon them that sit under his shadow Cant. 2.3 He gives more out of his * Col. 2.3 Treasures in wisdom to some in strength to others they receive not alike of his * Joh. 1.16 Fulness There be Differences in the Experiences of God's People a higher and a lower a Right hand and a Left at the King's Table Lo to one he saith Friend go up higher q. d. Luk. 14.10 Thou shalt behold me thou shalt by Faith apprehend me more and taste me sweeter than another that hath not thy Experience and yet he shall receive a Portion of me too Some have greater Communications of the Love of God than others Some are in the Dark others walk so much in the Light of Gods Countenance that like Moses they are got into the Mount and seem to converse with God Face to Face The Influences of the Spirit may shine upon one Believer with a comfortable Light and a Gracious clear Evidence while another lyes darkned under some Eclipse by the Cloud that cometh betwixt God's Children are all at Table but they cannot all look up at Supper and see their Father every one alike Peradventure God hath done more for thee than others thou art quickned with a larger sense and a more lively Hope thou art train'd up in thy Father's House under more intimate Acquaintance Gracious Discoveries more Ravishing Contemplations than another in the same Congregation that sits down sighing by thee It is thus under the Administrations of Grace among the Guests unto our God They are plac't in order there are thrô a manifold Dispensation Elder and Younger Brethren and God will have them to sit at meat accordingly Gen. 43.33 the First-born perhaps according to his Birth-right and the youngest according to his Youth However the King observes what order only an order he will have at this Marriage-Supper Mat. 11.26 even so Father because it seemeth good in thy sight All his by the Blood of Christ are nigh in their Relation but yet as to the manifestations of his Free Love many may seem to sit down at Table a great way off The Gospel is a long Table and there be many Degrees of Grace and Comfort where the Guests sit down Some may be cast down others advanc't as high as the upper end of Assurance Joh. 21.20 even to lean upon Christ's Breast at Supper The Church of God hath Fathers and strong men in Christ 1 Joh. 2.13 and the same hath
in the Gospel the Provisions of Grace are made in both kinds ready that we need take no Thought as to any Defect there Mat. 6.31 either what we shall eat or what we shall drink in God's Kingdom for we have them both provided He dealeth his Bread to the hungry Isa 58.7 chap. 43.20 and giveth Waters in the Wilderness to give Drink to his People his chosen When Wisdom entertaineth her Friends they do not live by halves she gives them all together Prov. 9.5 Eat of the Bread and drink of the Dine which I have mingled Wine He can turn VVater into VVine to create variety Again Eat ye that which is good Isa 55.2 lat part And if any Man thirst let him come unto me and drink Joh. 7.37 The Gospel discovers no Imperfection for tho' it be true as to the Ceremonial Preparations in Moses yet it doth not hold in respect of the Evangelical Provisions in Christ Rom. 14.17 that the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink It is a whole Feast and therefore in its entireness is like such an Entertainment Secondly 2 Resemblance The Gospel resembles a Feast in the Delicacies and Fatness of it Entertainments are wont to be made of the best the House affords Abraham in Entertaining of the three Angels could he have gotten it would have given them Angels Food however he Order'd it to be prepared of the choicest Morsels and would make it as delicate as he could to bring it before his Guests 'T is said Gen. 18.6 He hastned into the Tent to Sarah and said Make ready quickly three measures of Fine Meal and he ran himself unto the Herd V. 7. and fetcht a Calf 't is not said to be an ordinary one but tender and good and gave it unto a young man and he hasted to dress it and he took Butter and Milk V. 8. the best Ingredients to serve it in with when he set it before the Men as they are also called v. 2. Esau likewise when Isaac his Father bespoke that Entertainment for himself Gen. 27.3 4. is directed by his Father to go out and take of the Dainties the Field afforded Take now I pray thee thy Weapons thy Quiver and thy Bow and go out unto the Field and take me some Venison and make me savoury meat such as I love and bring it to me that I may eat Thus the Gospel is furnished with the choicest Viands and God's Servants behold an excellency in the very Crumbs which fall from their Masters Table The King doth not slay any lean Kine but in making ready for the Marriage his Oxen and his Fatlings are killed Matth. 22.4 When God makes Provision his Paths drop Fatness Psal 65.11 it is no common Furniture which is found on his Table He hath the Best of all sorts there He hath not brought that which is torn and the lame and the sick to Us tho' we have brought such a maimed sick Offering to him when he gives us of the Corn of Heaven Job 31.40 Psal 81.16 it is not Cockle instead of Barley but also with the Finest of the wheat he feeds us The Blessings of this Gospel-Feast could be set forth by no higher or richer Expressions than a Feast of Fat Things and of Wines on the Lees well refined which comprehends the Delicacies of a Feast in the best of Meats and the choicest Drinks see Isa 25.6 And in this mountain that is the Mount Sion in Jerusalem upon which the Temple or House of the Lord stood shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all People a Feast of Fat Things a Feast of Wines on the Lees of fat Things full of Marrow of wines on the Lees well refined I know * Day upon that place some do make this Feast of Fat things to signifie the Assyrians slain and Wine on the Lees to represent the Effusion of their Blood which in that slaughter God would shed round about Jerusalem But * Mr. Pool's English Annotations others do more probably interpret it of A Feast made up of the most exquisite and delicate Provisions which is manifestly meant says a great Author of the Ordinances Graces and Comforts given by God in and to his Church And indeed the Fat of God's Sacrifices which were appointed under the Law and should be offered again upon that Mountain after the Captivity doth seem aptly to point at the Dainties of the Gospel even as the Law Ceremonies did to typifie the State of the Gospel or as Mount Sion and Jerusalem to shadow out the Church The Fat of their Meat-Offerings and the Vinous Juice or Wine of their Drink-Offerings were no obscure Emblem of the Gospel Feast and seem plainly by the Evangelical Prophet to foretell this great Supper It is represented by Fatness to intimate that nothing ordinary or of a low Account is in it It is not such course Fare as Melzar gave those four Children Duct 1.16 Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Mariah when he took away the Portion of their Meat and the Wine that they should drink and gave them Pulse Gen. 2â— 34 nor as ordinary as Jacob gave Esau in the Portage of Lentiles The Gospel hath nothing course or common but rare and extraordinary Such as God hath fed have fared sumptuously every Day Luk. 16.19 beyond the Rich Glutton The Israelites had Quails and Mannah in the Desart God brought them Rich Provision in a Hungry Place and an Israelite indeed still finds Dainties Isa 55.2 Let your Soul delight it self in Fatness The Shepherd of Israel that provideth will take his Flock Ezek. 34.14 and feed them in a good Pasture Thirdly 3 Resemblance The Gospel resembles a Feast in the Freeness of it Feasts are Free tho' they are Chargeable to the Founder yet the Guests are wont to partake at Free-cost in them Joseph's Brethren indeed may think of no other Provision than what they buy but when they come into Egypt they shall find Joseph will give them their Diet free Jacob's Sons may carry down the Man a Present a little Balm and a little Honey Spices and Myrrh Nuts and Almonds Gen. 43.11 and take Double-money in their Hand v. 12. but when the Steward of Egypt entertains them he will throw their Money back His Servants shall slay and make ready and let his Fathers House bring what they will to pay these Men shall Dine with him for nothing v. 16. They like Traffiquers may bring in the Bag and talk hard of buying with their Money when Joseph's Back is turn'd but they shall find he hath left Orders with his Steward not to meddle with it v. 19 20 21 22 23. Peace be unto you fear not your God and the God of your Father hath given you treasure I had your Money q. d. My Master Ordered me to convey it privately into your Sacks and send it home again he Orders your Entertainment gratis and bestows all upon you freely He
a Full Assurance Heb. 6.11 and Chapt. 10.22 But the Spirit doth not fill every Sail we hoise but often breaths in a lesser Gale when we make towards Immanuel's Land The Knowledge of our Personal Election and Assurance of Eternal Life are Royal Dainties that none can receive except it be given him in a peculiar manner from above Joh. 3.27 We read our Evidences for Heaven says †Dr. Bates Sermons on Death p. 171. an eminent Divine in the Light of God's Countenance And as he was a free Agent at first to cast his Eye so he is still at sovereign Liberty where he will cause his Face to shine Psal 67.1 15. The Evangelical Honey-comb dropping Free-Grace A Honey-comb of it self drops you need not wring out the sweetness of it 1 Sam. 14.26 And when the People were come into the Wood the Honey dropped The coming of the People into that Wood had no Influence upon the Honey nor their continuance by it any Vertue upon the Distillation but it dropt from its own * i. e. A Natural Disposition while it flows to fall down in Drops intrinsick fluency So the Grace of God distills of its own accord it drops upon the Creature freely this Honey Dew that descends upon the Mountains of Sion comes of its own accord Psal 133.3 The Lord commands the Blessing and it tarries for no concurrence in any of the Sons of Men. Mic. 5.7 If God doth but break his Love to Us 't is a Love that drops a Love that distills so fast we need no Hand to squeeze it Now the Gospel is the Treasury where it drops this is our Canaan now that floweth with Milk and Honey Numb 13.27 Lo here God hath provided the Rivers Job 20.17 the Floods the Brooks of Noney and Butter Grace is a Stream that 's Free and runs without Desert or else it would be a River like Jordan Psal 114.3 quickly driven back When he hath brought Us into his Banquetting-House we shall see it to be his Arms drawn over the Banner of Love Cantic 2.4 I will love them freely Hos 14.4 It is a Free Gift and we need not be shye to take it This is a Honey that Bring 's the King's Blessing a Jonathan may come in and need not fear a Saul's Curse to eat it 1 Sam. 14.27 28. This Honey-comb of Free-Grace may be mixt with all our Acknowledgments we make to God Psal 101.1 when we sing of Mercy Tho' common Honey was forbidden to be used in any Sacrifice under the Law Lev. 2.11 yet we cannot offer the Sacrifice of Praise under the Gospel Zech. 4.7 lat pt if we mix not This Honey and cry Grace Grace unto it This hath a sweeter Taste than any it is beyond any Corporal Preparations being sweeter than Honey or the Honey-comb How sweet are thy words unto my Taste yea sweeter than Honey to my Mouth Psal 119.103 16. The Fatness of God's House in Ordinances He hath made ready the Ministry which he hath given to be Meat and Ordinances as the Dishes in which the Feast is serv'd He appoints Divine Institutions as Food for Nourishment and Divine Officers to administer the Banquet too He affords a Divine Presence in his own Appointments which fattens and fills them up unto us His Paths drop Fatness Psal 65.11 when he walks in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks Rev. 2.1 There be Fat Sacrifices in God's House tho' we can perform but poor lean Service When we bring our own we offer lean Kine but if we offer his they are Fatlings that come up with Acceptance upon his Altar Isa 60.7 We are apt indeed to wait upon the Lord 1 Cor. 7.35 and attend with much Distraction but lo in God's House when we see what he hath done there we shall behold the Fat and the Head in Order Lev. 1.12 God's House is rich you shall meet with enough to spend on there and to carry home besides Many a Favourite of God's when he hath gone from an Ordinance hath found that a Mess of Meat hath followed him from the King 2 Sam. 11.8 Oh! the Stores that God hath brought forth in Ordinances as Scriptures Sermons Sacraments and a House-full of Prayer and Praise by which he says as to his People at the slaughter of Gog Ye shall be filled at my Table Fzek. 39.20 form part If you go into the Sanctuary and enquire you shall find God doth not keep an empty House for you but he makes such Provisions in the Ordinances for his Guests Psal 36.8 that they shall be satisfyed with the Fatness of thine House 17. The Supplies of the Spirit of Jesus Ordinances will not of themselves be a Feast without God's Spirit Rom. 1.4 He must be a Spirit of Holiness to regenerate and a Spirit of residence to inhabit a Spirit to change and a Spirit to dwell in us that may abide with us for ever Joh. 14.16 Now at this Feast he is wont to shed on us the Renewings of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 It is the Office of the Spirit here to put us into a Capacity to glorifie God and enjoy him The Spirit stamps a Divine Impression and then witnesseth to us that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 We lose much of the Savour of the Word when we have forgotten how it sounded forth the Spirit therefore is provided to quicken and refresh our Memories and Understandings when it brings all things to our Remembrance Joh. 14.26 It is to help our Infirmities in Prayer Rom. 8.26 we know not what to Pray for as we ought 'till the Spirit worketh a Sense of what we need and stirreth up a Praying Frame in us Christ had the Spirit without measure Joh. 3.34 an inexpressible Effusion of the Holy Ghost was poured forth on him and he hath made ready some Droppings of that Spirit to descend on Vs as we sit at Meat When your Spirit is faint still he hath the Residue of the Spirit for you Mal. 2.15 when you cannot eat as you would of the King's Venison God hath then provided you his Spirit to quicken you to your Meat and make your Stomach sharper You need not rise without a Supply of the Holy Spirit where you may like the Disciples according to your measure Act. 13.52 be filled with the Holy Ghost God's Spirit will make up the Imperfections of our own and be helpfull still to furnish us tho' we want spiritual Blessings in any heavenly things whatever I will pour out my Spirit unto you Prov. 1.23 I will put my Spirit within you Ezek. 36.27 If you have had a little measure of the Spirit of God at one time he hath prepared enough to infuse a Double Portion which you shall receive perhaps at another time from the Fulness of the same Spirit It is not only a Stook