and Infidelity We are ready to think what a fearful thing it was to be bitten with the Fiery Serpents We have a worse Serpent bites us and the misery of all is we are stung and are asleep Eph. 4. 19. O that God would by his Spirit awaken us that we may not sleep the sleep of death 5. If sin be a Fiery Serpent with so many stings then let us labour that these deadly stings fastned in our Consciences may be healed And that brings me to the second Thing II. The manner of Israels Cure vers 8. Make thee a Fiery Serpent or Serpent of Brass and set it upon a Pole and it shall come to pass that every one that is bitten when he looketh upon it shall live And Moses made a Serpent of Brass and put it upon a Pole c. In which words there is the Signum and the Signatum the Sign the Brazen Serpent and the thing signified Christ the healer of Souls So it is interpreted by the Evangelist Joh. 3. 14. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness even so must the son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish c. Doct. 4. The Lord Jesus is the true Brazen Serpent that heals sinners stung with sin For the further illustrating of this I shall show you 1. The fit Analogies and resemblances between Christ and the Brazen Serpent 1. The Serpent in the Wilderness resembled Christ in its materiality the Serpent was of Brass not Marble or beaten Gold This being made of Brass did Typifie Christ three ways 1. Brass is an inferiour Metal and unlikely to produce such a noble effect What was a Serpent of Brass to heal one that was stung If some Soveraign Medicine or Antidote had been applyed if the balm of Gilead had been brought this had been likely to have wrought a Cure but what is there in a Serpent made of Brass to heal This was a Type of Christ it resembled the meanness of his Person he affected not outward pomp and state he came into the World in a mean Condition There was no beauty in him that he should be desired Isa. 53. 2. Who that had looked upon Christ with a carnal eye would ever have thought he should be the Messiah the glorious healer of the World 2. Brass is a solid firm Metal which resembled Christ's Power Job 9. 19. If I speak of strength lo he is strong Therefore called The Mighty God Isa. 9. 6. Of what invincible fortitude was he who could bear the wrath of God and the sins of the World He must needs be puissant who could break the Gates of Hell and triumph over Satan upon the Cross. 3. Brass doth shine but not dazzle the eyes So Christ though he doth shine in his God-head yet his Human Nature doth so allay the splendor of his Glory that we may look upon him now and not be over-whelmed with the immenseness and brightness of his Majesty 2. The Brazen Serpent resembled Christ in its figure and shape The Serpent though it was made like a Serpent yet it was no real Serpent Thus Christ as the Scripture saith was in the likeness of sinful flesh Rom. 8. 3. yet he was no sinner He was made sin but knew no sin 2 Cor. 5. 21. He knew sin in the weight but not in the act He was ab omni macula alienus he was purer then the Sun he had no more sin than the Brazen Serpent had sting or venome in it 3. The Serpent in the Wilderness resembled Christ in its Erection and Elevation It was lifted up that all Israel might see it It must not only be framed but lifted up So Christ must not only be made a Saviour but he must be lifted up Now Christ is said to be lifted up four ways 1. Christ was lifted up in the Acclamation of the Angels Luk. 2. 7. Unto you is born this day a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest c. The Angels adored Christ and were the Heraulds to proclaim the joyful news of a Saviour to the World Thus was Christ lifted up in the Triumphs of Angels 2. Christ is lifted up in the Preaching of the Gospel So he is an Ensign erected for all to look to Isa. 11. 10. It is the Ministers office to lift up Christ in the eyes of the World to hold him forth in his glory and proclaim him as the only Messiah and that there is no Salvation in any other Act. 4. 12 3. Christ was lifted up upon the Cross The Pole was undoubtedly a Type of the Cross and the lifting up of the Serpent on the Pole was a Type of Christ's being lift up upon the Cross. This was a blessed lifting up Christ's lifting up is our lifting up Joh 12. 32. And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me That is all that belong to the Election For mercy runs only in the channel of Election O how happy was it for us that this spiritual brazen serpent was erected Christ's being lifted up upon the Cross is the cause of our being lifted up to Heaven And in the Sacrament is a solemn Commemoration of Christ's Crucifixion 4. Christ is lifted up in our hearts by our contemplating admiring loving him It is not the lifting up of Christ on the Cross will save us unless he be lifted up in our hearts When we prize Christ and set him highest in our thoughts and esteem this is to lift him up in our souls There are two chief things a Christian hath to do to depress self and exalt Christ. 4. The brazen serpent resembled Christ in the design of its being lifted up and that was intuition when Israel were stung they must look upon the Brazen serpent which looking implyed a secret hope they had of cure So Christ was therefore lifted up on the Cross that he may be looked upon by an eye of Faith The people of Israel needed not to have taken down the Serpent from the Pole and touched their sores with it they were only to look on it and they were healed So we need not go to fetch Christ down from Heaven as the Papists do who make him to be corporally in the Bread no if we do but look upon him fiducially we shall be cured of our sting Observe four Things about the Brazen Serpent There were four cases in which the Brazen Serpent would have done the people of Israel no good though it were lifted up 1. In case the Brazen Serpent had been set up yet if they had not fixed their eye upon it it would not have cured them So though Jesus Christ be lifted up as a Saviour to the world yet if this Brazen Serpent be not looked upon believingly he will not save Joh. 3. 18. He that
Sin and make it appear Ghastly is this It crucified our Lord It made Christ Vail his Glory and lose his Blood If a Woman did see that Sword which killed her Husband how hateful would the sight of it be to her Do we count that Sin Light which made Christ's Soul Heavy unto Death Mark 14. 34. Can that be our joy which made the Lord Jesus a man of sorrows Isa. 53. 3. Did he cry out My God why hast thou forsaken me And shall not those Sins be forsaken by us which made Christ himself forsaken O let us look upon Sin with Indignation When a Temptation comes to Sin let us say as David 2 Sam. 23. 17. Is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives So Is not this the Sin that poured out Christ's Blood Let our Hearts be enraged against Sin When the Senators of Rome shewed the people Caesar's bloody Robe they were incensed against those that slew him Sin hath rent the White Robe of Christs Flesh and dyed it of a Crimson Colour let us then seek to be avenged of our Sins Under the Law if an Oxe gored a Man that he dyed the Oxe was to be killed Exod. 21. 28. Sin hath gored and pierced our Saviour let it dye the Death What pitty is it for that to live which would not suffer Christ to live 6. Was Christ's Body broken Let us then from his suffering on the Cross learn this Lesson Not to wonder much if we meet with Troubles in the World Did Christ suffer who knew no Sin And do we think it strange to suffer who know nothing but Sin Did Christ feel the anger of God And is it much for us to feel the anger of Men Was the Head crowned with Thorns And would the Members lie among Roses Must we have our Bracelets and Diamonds when Christ had the Spear and Nails going to his heart Truly such as are guilty may well expect the lash when he who was innocent could not go free 2. The second Use is of Exhortation and it hath several Branches 1. Was Christ's precious body broken for us Let us be affected with the great goodness of Christ Who can tread upon these hot Coals and his Heart not burn Cry out with Ignatius Christ my Love is crucified If a Friend should dye for us would not our Hearts be much affected with his Kindness That the God of Heaven should dye for us how should this stupendious mercy have a melting influence upon us The body of Christ broken is enough to break the most flinty Heart At our Saviour's Passion the very Stones did cleave asunder Mat 27. 51. The Rocks rent He that is not affected with this hath an Heart harder than the Stones If Saul was so affected with Davids Mercy in sparing his Life 1 Sam. 24. 16. How may we be affected vvith Christs kindness vvho to spare our life lost his ovvn Let us pray that as Christ vvas Crucifixus so he might be Cordi-fixus As he vvas fastened to the Cross so that he may be fastened to our Hearts 2. Is Jesus Christ spiritually exhibited to us in the Sacrament Let us then set an high value and Estimate upon him 1. Let us prize Christs body Every crumb of this bread of life is precious John 6. 55. My flesh is meat indeed It is Panis eximius supersubstantialis as Cyprian calls it The Manna was a lively Type and Emblem of Christ's Body Manna was sweet Exod. 16. 31. The taste of it was like wafers made with honey it was a delicious meat therefore it was called Angels Food for its excellency So Christ the Sacramental Manna is sweet to a Believer's Soul Cant. 2. 3. His fruit was sweet to my taste Every thing of Christ is sweet His Name is sweet his Vertues sweet This Manna sweetens the Waters of Marah Nay Christ's Flesh excells Manna 1. Manna was Food but not Physick If an Israclite had been sick Manna could not have cured him but this blessed Manna of Christ's body is not only for food but for medicine Christ hath healing under his wings Mal. 4. 2. He heals the Blind eve the hard Heart Take this mediâ—…ine next your Heart and it will heal you of all your spiritual Distempers 2. Manna was Corruptible It ceased when Israel came to Canaan But this blessed Manna of Christ's Body will never cease The Saints shall feed with infinite delight and Soul satisfaction upon Christ to all Eternity The Joyes of Heaven would cease if this Manna should cease The Manna was put in a golden Pot in the Ark to be preserved there So the blessed Manna of Christ's Body being put in the golden Pot of the Divine Nature is laid up in the Ark of Heaven for the Saints to feast upon for ever Well then may we say of Christ's blessed Body It is meat indeed The Field of Christ's Body being digged upon the Cross we find the Pearl of Salvation there 2. Let us prize Christ's Blood in the Sacrament It is drink indeed John 6. 55. Here is the Nectar and Anibrosia God himself delights to taste of This is both a Balsom and a Perfume That vve may set the higher value upon the blood of Christ I shall shevv you seven rare supernatural Vertues in it 1. It is a reconciling blood Col. 1. 21. You that were sometime alienated and enemies yet now hath he reconciled through death No sooner vvas the Message brought to King David Uriah is dead 2 Sam. 11. 21. but the anger of David vvas removed No sooner vvas the blood of Christ poured out but God's anger vvas pacified Christ's blood is the blood of atonement Nay it is not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely a Sacrifice but a Propitiation 1 John 2. 2. Which denoteth a bringing us into Favour with God It is one thing for a traytor to be pardoned and another thing to be brought into Favour Sin rent us off from God Christ's Blood doth soader and â—…cment us to God If we had had as much grace as the Angels it could not have wrought our Reconciliation If we had offered up Millions of Holocausts and Sacrifices if we â—…ad wept Rivers of Tears this could never have appeased an angry Deiâ—…y only Christ's blood doth ingraâ—…iate us into God's Favour and make him look upon us with a smiling Aspect When Christ dyed the Vail of the Temple was rent This was not without a Mystery to shew that â—…hrough Christ's blood the Vail of our Sins is rent which did interpose between God and us 2. Christ's blood is a quickning â—…lood John 6. 54. Whoso drinketh my blood hath eternal life It both â—…egets life and prevents death Lev. 17. 11. The life of a thing is in the â—…lood Sure enough the life of our â—…oul is in the blood of Christ. When we contract deadness of Heart
in Christ. 6. We must come with sincere hearts The Tribes of Israel being straitned in time wanted some legal Purifications yet because their hearts vvere sincere and they came vvith desire to meet vvith God in the Passeover therefore the Lord healed the people 2 Chron. 30. 19. Bad aims vvill spoil good actions An Archer may miss the mark as well by looking asquint as by shooting short What is our design in coming to the Sacrament Is it that we may have more victory over our corruptions and be more confirmed in holiness Then God will be good to us and heal us Sincerity like true Gold shall have some grains allowed for its lightness 7. We must come with hearts fired with love to Christ. The Spouse vvas in a burning fit of love Cant. 2. 6. I am sick of Love Let us give Christ the Wine of our love to drink and vveep that vve can love him no more Would vve have Christs exhilarating presence in the Supper let us meet him vvith strong indearments of affection Basil compares Love to a svveet Oyntment Christ delights to smell this perfume The Disciple that did love most Christ put him in his bosom 8. We must come vvith humble hearts We see Christ humbling himself to the death and vvill an humble Christ ever be received into a proud heart A sight of God's glory and a sight of sin may humble us Was Christ humble vvho vvas all Purity And are vve proud vvho are all Leprosie O let us come vvith a sense of our ovvn vileness Hovv humble should he be vvho is to receive an Alms of Free-grace Jesus Christ is a Lilly of the Vallies not of the Mountains Humility vvas never a loser The emptier the Vessel is and the lovver it is let dovvn into the Well the more vvater it dravvs up So the more the Soul is emptied of it self and the lovver it is let dovvn by humility the more it fetcheth out of the Well of Salvation God vvill come into an humble â—…eart to revive it Isa. 57. 15. That is none of Christ's Temple vvhich is not built vvith a lovv Roof 9. We must come vvith Heavenly hearts The mystery of the Sacrament is Heavenly vvhat should an Earth vvorm do here He is not like to feed on Christs body and blood vvho vvith the Serpent eats dust The Sacrament is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Communion 1 Cor. 10. 16. What communion can an Earthly man have vvith Christ First there must be Conformity before Communion He that is earthly is no more conformed in likeness to Christ than a clod of dust is like a Star An earthly man makes the World his god then let not him think to receive another God in the Sacrament Oh let us be in the Heavenly Altitudes and by the vving of grace ascend 10. We must come vvith Believing hearts Christ gave the Sacrament to the Apostles principally as they vvere Believers Such as comâ—… faithless go avvay fruitless Nor is it enough to have the habit of faith but vve must exsert and put forth the vigorous actings of faith in this Ordinance 1. Let us exercise the eye of faith Faith hath an Eagle's eye it pierceth into things far remote from sense Faith takes a Prospect of Heaven it discerns him who is invisible Heb. 11. 27. It beholds a beauty and fulness in Christ it sees this beauty shining through the latice of an Ordinance Faith vievvs Christs love streaming in his blood Look upon Christ vvith believing eyes and you shall one day see him vvith glorisied eyes 2. Exercise the mouth of Faith Here is the bread broken What use is there of bread but to feed on Feed upon the bread of God Adam dyed vve live by eating In the Sacrament vvhole Christ is dished-out to us the Divine and Humane nature all kind of vertue comes from Him Mortifying mollifying comforting Oh then feed on him This grace of Faith is the great grace to be set on vvork at the Sacrament Quest. But doth the vertue lie simply in Faith Answ. Not in faith considered purely as a grace but as it hath respect to the Object The vertue is not in faith but in Christ. A Ring vvhich hath a precious stone in it vvhich vvill staunch blood vve say the Ring stauncheth blood but the vertue doth not lie barely in the Ring but in the stone in the Ring So Faith is the Ring Christ is the precious stone all that faith doth is to bring home Christs merits to the soul and so it justifies the vertue is not in faith but in Christ. Quest. But Why should faith carry away more from Christ in the Sacrament than any other grace Answ. 1. Because Faith is the most receptive grace it is the receiving of gold enricheth So faith receiving of Christ's merits and silling the Soul with all the fulness of God it must needs be an enriching grace In the Body there are Veins that suck the Nourishment which comes into the stomack and turn it into blood and spirits Faith is such a sucking vein that draws vertue from Christ therefore is called a precious faith 2 Pet. 1. 1. 2. Faith hath more of Christ's benefits annexed to it because it is the most humble grace If Repentance should fetch Justification from Christ a man would be ready to say This was for my tears but Faith is humble it is an empty hand and What merit can be in that Doth a poor man reaching out his hand merit an Alms So that because faith is humble and gives all the glory to Christ and Free-grace hence it is God hath put so much honour upon it This shall be the grace to which Christ and all his merits belong Therefore above all graces set faith a work in the Sacrament Faith fetcheth in all provisions This is the golden Bucket that draws water out of the Well of life But there is a Bastard-faith in the World Pliny tells of a Cyprianstone which is in colour and splendor like the Diamond but it is not of the right kind it will break with the Hammer So there is a false faith which sparkles and makes a shew in the eye of the World but it is not genuine it will break with the Hammer of persecution Therefore to prevent mistakes that we may not be deceived and think we believe when we presume I shall give you six differences between a sincere faith which is the flower of the Spirit and an hypocritical faith which is the fruit of fancy 1. An Hypocritical faith is easily come by It is like the seed in the Parable which sprung up suddenly Mar. 4. 5. A false faith shoots up without any convictions and soul-humblings As Isaac said Gen. 27. 20. How camest thou by thy Venison so soon So how comes this man by his faith so soon Sure it is of an heterogeneal nature and will quickly wither away But true faith being
this is an answer from God Zach. 10. 12. I will strengthen them in the Lord. If Christian thou hast not God's arm to imbrace thee yet if thou hast his arm to strengthen thee this is the fruit of an Ordinance 2. If God doth not fill thy heart with joy yet if he fills thy eyes with tears this is his meeting thee at his Table When thou lookest upon Christ broken on the Cross and considerest his love and thy ingratitude this makes the dew begin to fall and thy eyes are like the fish-pools in Heshbon full of water This is Gods gracious meeting thee in the Sacrament bless his Name for it It is a sign the Sun of Righteousness hath risen upon us when our frozen hearts melt in tears for sin 3. If thy Comforts are low yet if the actings of thy Faith be high this is Gods manifesting his presence in the Supper The sensible tokens of Gods love are with-held but the soul ventures on Christ's blood it believes that coming to him he will hold out the golden Scepter This glorious acting of faith and the inward quiet that faith breeds is the blessed return of an Ordinance Mic. 7. 19. He will turn again he will have compassion upon us The Churches comforts were darkned but her faith breaks forth as the Sun out of a Cloud He will have compassion on us This acting of faith makes us in a blessed condition Blessed are they which have not seen yet have believed Object 5. But I cannot find any of these things in the Sacrament my heart is dead and locked up and I have no return at all Resp. Wait on God for an answer of the Ordinance God hath promised to satiate the soul Psal. 107. 9. He silleth the hungry soul with goodness If not with gladness yet with goodness the soul must be filled or how can the promise be fulfilled Christian God hath said it therefore wait Wilt not thou believe God unless thou hast a voice from Heaven The Lord hath given thee his promise and is it not as good security to have a Bill under a man's hand as to have it by word of mouth Be content to wait a while mercy will come God's mercies in Scripture are not called speedy mercies but they are Sure mercies Isa. 55. 3. 5. Hath Christ given us his Body Blood Then when we are at this Gospel-Ordinancâ—… let us remember the Lord Jesus there The Sacrament is a Christ-remembring Ordinance 1 Cor. 11. 25. This do in remembrance of me God hath appointed this spiritual festival to preserve the living memory of our dying Saviour A Sacrament-day is a Commemoration-day 1. Remember Christ's Passion Lam. 3. 19. Remembring the wormwood and the gall I may a little alter the words Remembring the Vinegar and the â—…ll If the Manna was to be kept in the Ark that the memory of it should be preserved How should the Death and Suffering of Christ be kept in our minds as a memorial when we are at the Table of the Lord 2. Remember the glorious benefits we receive from the broken Body of Christ. We usually remember those things which are advantageous to us Christ's broken Body is a Screen tâ—… keep off the fire of God's wrath from us Christ's Body being broken the Serpent's head is broken Christ being broken upon the Cross a Box of precious Jewels is broken open Now we have access to God with boldness the Blood of the Cross hath made way to the Throne of Grace Now we are made Sons and Heirs and to be Heir to the Promise is better than to be Heir to the Crown Christ having dyed we are made near a kin to the blessed Trinity we are candidates and expectants of glory The bloody way of the Cross is our Via lact ea our milky way to Heaven Jesus Christ drank Gall that we might drink the hony-streams of Canaan His Cross was stuck full of Nails that our Crovvn might be hung full of Jevvels Well may vve remember Christ in the Blessed Sacrament But it is not the bare remembrance of Christ's Death is enough Some vvho have a natural tenderness of spirit may be affected vvith the History of Christ's Passion but this remembrance of Christ hath little comfort in it Let us remember Christ in the Sacrament aright 1. Let us remember Christ's Death vvith joy Galat. 6. 14. God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we see Christ in the Sacrament crucified before our eyes we may behold him in that posture as he was in upon the Cross stretching out his blessed arms to receive us O what matter of triumph and acclamation is this Though we remember our sins with grief yet we should remember Christs sufferings with joy Let us weep for those sins which shed his Blood yet rejoyce in that blood which washeth away our sins 2. Let us so remember Christ's Death as to conform to his Death Phil. 3. 10. That I may be conformable to his death Then we remember Christ's Death aright when we are dead with him our pride and passion are dead Christ's dying for us makes sin die in us Then we rightly remember Christ's crucifixion when we are crucified with him we are dead to the pleasures and preferments of the World Gal. 6. 14. The world is crucified unto me and I unto the world 6. If Jesus Christ hatâ—…â—…ven us this Soul-festival for the strengthning of grace let us labour to feel some vertue flowing out of this Ordinance to us let not the Sacrament be a dry breast It were strange if a man should receive no nourishment by his food It is a discredit to this Ordinance if we get no encrease of Grace Shall leanness enter into our souls at a feast of fat things Christ gives us his Body and Blood for the augmenting of Faith he expects that we should reap some profit and income and that our weak minute-faith should flourish into a great faith Mâ—…t 15. 28. O woman Great is thy faith It were good to examine whether after our frequent Celebration of this holy Supper we have arrived at a great Faith Quest. Hovv may I knovv Whether I have this great Faith Resp. For the Solution of this I shall laâ—… lovvn six eminent Signs of a great Faith and if vve can shevv any one of them vve have made a good proficiency at the Sacrament 1. A great Faith can trust God vvithout a pavvn it can relie upon Providence in the deficiency of outvvard supplies Hab. 3. 17 18. Although the Figtree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall fail c. yet will I rejoyce in the Lord c. An Unbeliever must have something to feed his senses or he gives up the Ghost When he is at his Wealths end he is at his Wits end Faith doth not question but God vvill provide though it sees not vvhich
Devil in the Sop and are no better than Crucifiers of the Lord of Glory As their â—…in is hainous so their punishment will be proportionable 1 Cor. 11. 29. They eat and drink damnation to themselves If one of the Vestal Nuns who had vowed her self to Religion were deflored the Romans caused her to be buried alive Such as have a Sacramental vow upon them yet afterwards deflore the Virginity of their souls byscandalous sins God will bury them alive in the flames of Hell Oh that such a lustre and majesty of holiness did sparkle forth in the lives of Communicants that others may say These have been with Jesus And their Consciences may lie under the power of this conviction that the Sacrament hath a confirming and a transforming vertue in it 4. The fourth Use is of comfort to God's people 1. From Christ's body broken and his blood poured out we may gather this comfort That it was a glorious Sacrifice 1. It was a Sacrifice of infinite merit Had it been only an Angel that suffered or had Chaist been only a meer man as some do blasphemously dream then we might have despaired of salvation but he suffered for us who was God as well as man Therefore the Apostle calls it expresly Sanguis Dei the blood of God Acts 20. 28. It is man that sins it is God that dies This is a soveraign Cordial to Believers Christ having poured out his blood now God's justice is compleatly satisfied God was infinitely more contented with Christ's sufferings upon Mount Calvary than if we had lain in Hell and undergone his wrath for ever The Blood of Christ hath quenched the flame of Divine fury And now what should we fear All our Enemies are either reconciled or subdued God is a reconciled Enemy and sin is a subdued Enemy Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It is Christ that dyed Rom. 8. 34. 'T is reported when Satan once appeared to Luther and thought to affright him Luther shewed him that Scripture Gen. 3. 15. I will put enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy head whereupon Satan vanished So when the Devil shall accuse us let us shew him the Cross of Christ. When he brings his Pensil and goes to paint our sins in their colours let us bring the Spunge of Christ's blood and that will wipe them out again All Bonds are cancel'd whatsoever the Law hath charged upon us is discharged The debt-book is crossed with the blood of the Lamb. 2. It was a Sacrifice of eternal extent The benefit of it is perpetuated Hebr. 9. 12. He entred in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us Therefore Christ is said to be a Priest for ever Hebr. 5. 6. because the vertue and comfort of his Sacrifice abides for ever 2. Christ's Blood being shed Believers may lay claim to all heavenly priviledges Wills are ratified by the death of the Testator Hebr. 9. 17. A Testament is of force after men are dead It is observable in the Text Christ calls his blood The blood of the New Testament Christ made a Will or Testament and gave rich Legacies to the Saints pardon of sin grace and glory the Scriptures are the Rolls wherein these Legacies are registred Christ's blood is the sealing of the Will This blood being shed Christians may put in for a Title to these Legacies Lord pardon my sin Christ hath died for my pardon Give me grace Christ hath purchased it by his Blood The Testator being dead the Will is in force Christian Art thou not filled with joy Art thou not possessed of Heaven yet thou hast this confirmed by Will A Man that hath a Deed sealed making over such Lands and Tenements after the expirement of a few years though at present he hath little to help himself with yet he comforts himself when he looks upon his sealed Deed with hopes of that which is to come So though at present we enjoy not the priviledges of Consolation and Glorification yet we may chear our hearts with this the Deed is sealed the Will and Testament is ratified by the blood-shedding of Christ. 3. Is Christ's Blood shed here is comfort against death A dying Saviour sweetens the pangs of death Is thy Lord Crucified be of good comfort Christ by dying hath overcome death He hath cut the lock of sin where the strength of death lay Christ hath knocked out the teeth of this Lyon He hath pulled the thorn out of death that it cannot prick a Believer's Conscience Hosea 13. 14. O death I will be thy plague Christ hath disarmed death and taken away all its deadly weapons that though it may strike it cannot sting a Believer Christ hath drawn the poyson out of death nay he hath made death friendly This pale Horse carries a Child of God home to his Father's house Faith gives a propriety to Heaven death gives a possession What sweet comfort may we draw from the Crucifixion of our Lord his precious blood makes the pale face of death to be of a ruddy and beautiful complexion Use ult Here is a dark side of the Cloud to all profane persons who live and die in sin they have no part in Christ's blood Their condition will be worse than if Christ had not died Christ who is a Loadstone to draw the Elect to Heaven will be a Mill-stone to sink the wicked deeper in Hell There is a Crew of sinners who slight Christ's blood and swear by it let them know his blood will cry against them They must feel the same wrath which Christ felt upon the Cross and because they cannot bear it at once they must be undergoing it to Eternity So unconceivably torturing will this be that the damned know not how to endure it nor yet how to avoid it Sinners will not believe this till it be too late The Mole is blind all its life yet as Pliny saith it begins to see when it dyes Wicked men while they live are blinded by the god of this world but when they are dying the eye of their Consciences will begin to be opened and they shall see the Wrath of God flaming before their eyes which sight will be but a sad Prologue to an Eternal Tragedy FINIS TO THE READER Christian Reader I Have according to my promise superadded a few lines suiting a Sacramental Discourse The Subject is so excellent and sublime that I cannot speak enough of it nor well enough What can be more sacred than the observing Christ's last Will and Testament Do this in Remembrance of me We are to be so solemnly affected at the Holy Supper as if we were receiving it among the Apostles from Christ's own hands This mysterious Ordinance is to be perpetuated till Christ's coming to judgment 1 Cor. 11. 26. The Supper of the Lord is a 〈◊〉
Use. Let us take heed of growing weary of Christ this blessed Manna At first Israel did highly esteem Manna they ran out to gather it Happy was he that could get Manna But this Food from Heaven which at first was so sweet to their Palat within a while was loathed and contemned Our nature is such that we are apt to disesteem the richest blessings when they are common If Pearls and Diamonds were plentiful none would value them If the Sun did shine but once a year how would it be prized but because it shines every day few admire this Lamp of Heaven Take heed of despising Jesus Christ Mat. 22. 5. If God was so angry with Israel for slighting of Christ when he was hid under a Type how angry will he be with those who slight Christ after he hath been visibly revealed Hebr. 10. 29. Of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy who have trod under foot the Son of God Jesus Christ is a super-eminent blessing a magazine and storehouse of all good Things And the love of God was never so much seen as in giving of Christ therefore to slight Christ is to slight the love of God Quest. But who dares slight Christ Resp. It is a slighting of Christ to slight his Gospel and offer of Grace and hath not this been England's Sin have not we formerly nauseated Manna did not we grow curious and wanton and esteem'd the Manna of the Gospel light-bread and was not the Lord provoked with us Did not he send though not Fiery Serpents yet a Fiery Rod among us in this City that hath burnt down our Dwellings Christians I beseech you take heed of this for the future If God indulge you with Manna again beware of surfeiting on the bread of life The loathing of Manna is the next way to the losing of Manna God will take away his Mercies if they are undervalued If you play with the light God will put out the light 2. The Punishment it self which was Fiery Serpents These may be understood 1. Literally they were called Fiery Serpents 1. Because they were of a fiery colour 2. From the effect They were Seraphims Burners For when they did bite the people they did burn with extream heat and thirst The Septuagint translates them Killing Serpents Many of the people died ver 6. 2. These Fiery Serpents may be understood mystically So these Serpents were first a Type of Satan called the old Serpent Rev. 12. 9. He is indeed a Serpent for his subtilty The Hebrew word for Serpent comes of a Verb that signifies to use subtilty Gen. 3. 1. So Satan is a Serpent very subtil in his temptations he hath his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his depths Rev. 2. 24. and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his devices 2 Cor. 2. 11. The Devil doth with his artificial varnish put a fine gloss upon his Temptations that he may the better draw men to his lure he either hides his malicious designs or colours them 2 These Fiery Serpents were a Type of Sin Doct. 3. Sin is a Fiery Serpent This Serpent is bred in our nature it is within us We would think it sad to have Spiders and Serpents in our bodies as it is said of Maximinus the Emperor his body bred vermin But it is worse to have the Serpent of Sin in our Souls Sin is a Serpent 1. For its Poyson Sin hath invenomed us and that is the reason we swell Why doth one man swell with Pride another with Passion another with Lust he is poysoned If one had achild whom he dearly loved mortally poyson'd how would he grieve for it Our Souls are poysoned yet we grieve not How oft do sinners poyson the Sacramental Cup 2. Sin is a Serpent for the sting of it 'T is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sin at first shows its colour in the glass afterwards it bites as a Serpent Prov. 23. 32. Sin is a Serpent with four stings 1. It stings with guilt Rom. 3 19. 2. With horror of Conscience which is Limen inferni Judas and Spira felt this all the racks strappadoes and tortures in the world are but Ludibria risus a sport in comparison of this deadly sting no outward comforts can ease a Conscience stung with sin no more than a Crown of Gold can cure the Head-ach 3. Sin stings with death Rom. 5. 12. and death by Sin Sin is the wild Gourd that Adam gathered and eat and the next news was There is death in the pot 4. Sin without Repentance stings the Soul with damnation This Fiery Serpent brings to the Fiery Furnace I have rcad of the City Amycle in Italy destroy'd by Serpents Such a destroying Serpent is sin Use 1. See the sad condition of wicked men They make light of sin but sin is a Fiery Serpent crept into their bosom When the Serpent hath bitten one saith Pliny the venome and contagion of it spreads all over his body Sin hath invenomed men all over their hearts are full of poyson Rom. 1. 29. Being fill'd with all unrighteousness Their Tongues spit forth the poyson of the Serpent in Oaths and Curses Psal. 58. 2. The poison of Asps is under their Tongue This may serve to humble God's own people though they have the meekness of the Dove yet they have aliquid serpentis something of the evil evil of Serpent in them Though the curse due to sin is taken away yet the venome of this Serpent doth in part remain They have much love of the World much Unbelief much unmortified Passion Among Christ's Disciples there was Pride and Emulation Tho Christians have something of God's Spirit in them yet they have something which is Serpentine This Viper of sin will not be shaked off till death Oh how may this humble the best of God's Saints The Bishop of Alexandria when Egypt was converted to the Faith destroyed all their Idols but one that so looking upon that they might see their folly and abhor themselves for their Idolatry So God suffers not sin to be perfectly abolished in this life he leaves some corruption in the heart Something of the Serpent that his people may loath themselves in the dust What need have Believers to drink Christ's Blood in the Sacrament which is the best antidote against the poyson of the Soul 3. See that which may raise in us abhorring thoughts of sin It is a venemous Fiery Serpent will any man hug a Serpent Oh look not on the sine coat of the Serpent but the sting It stings with the wrath of God Pursue sin with an holy malice Mortifie the deeds of the flesh Rom. 8. 13. It is an happy thing when a Christian can say Though the Serpent be not dead yet iâ—… is dying Kill this Serpent or it will kill you 4. If sin be a Fiery Serpent then be sensible of the malignity and virulency of this Serpent feel your selves stung Feel your Hypocrisie
Did not David find his heart dull and listless though he was not dead in sin yet he was dead in duty why else did he pray Quicken thou me Psal. 119. 25. But that deadness which is in a Believer he is sensible of which argues life he mourns for it and never leaves till he hath in the use of means recovered that agility and liveliness of soul as once he had Object 2. But if my Faith be alive it is so weak that I fear I shall receive no benefit from the Brazen serpent Answ. If it be a true Faith though weak it will fetch vertue from Christ. Suppose an Israelite had had but one eye and that eye had been sore yet looking on the Brazen serpent he had been presently cured Blear eyed Leah might have been cured though thy Faith be weak it will justifie Say as Cruciger on his death bed Lord I believe but with a weak Faith yet I believe Object 3. But my sins are of that magnitude that I am discouraged from looking up to Christ Answ. Captivate fear and advance Faith Suppose an Israelite had been more stung and bitten than others yet by looking on the Brazen serpent he might have been healed as well as they that had but the least sting Christ's blood believed in cures the greatest stings What cannot the blood of God do it cured Manasses three deadly stings bloodshed Idolatry Sorcery 2 Chron. 32. 2 3. The Brazen serpent can cure the Crimson sinner Isa. 1. 18. I speak not this that any should presume but that no broken-hearted sinner should despair 2. Bran. Let us acknowledg God's wonderful mercy in bestowing the Brazen serpent upon us O bless God cordially for Christ who was lift up upon the Cross and is held forth in the Sacrament for our consolation and salvation How joyful was an Israelite that lay burning with his sting when he saw the Brazen serpent erected We have infinitely more cause to be joyful for Christ whose blood delivers us from â—…rath to come 1 Thes. 1 10. What had become of us if Christ not pityed us and come into the world Had not Christ been lifted up we had been thrown down to hell for ever Let us then bow the knee in all reverence and with the leper that was healed return to give glory to God Luk. 17. 15. Use 3. Comf Let this chear up the hearts of all true Believers You that now look upon Christ lift up upon the Pole shall shortly see him lift up vpon the Throne You that have seen Christ in his Crucifixion shall shortly see him in his Coronation In short you that now behold Christ lifted up for you shall shortly be lifted up to him And there you shall behold the wonders of his love the riches of his glory and shall be for ever solacing your selves in the light of his blessed countenance The Spiritual Vine John 15. 1. I am the True Vine THe Name of Christ is most fragrant and because of the savour of his good Oyntments therefore the Virgins love him Jesus Christ is the beauty of Heaven and the joy of the heart In him all fulness dwells Colos. 1. 19. In this flower is all sweetness If the Gospel be the field Christ is the treasure hid in it The knowledg of Christ is so precious and delectable that though St. Paul knew him before yet he desires to know more of him he would have more light from this Sun Phil. 3. 10. That I may know him as he who hath found a gold Mine desires to dig out still more Gold Jesus Christ in Scripture is set out by several Metaphors 1. He is compared to the Rose of Sharon Cant. 2. 1. the Rose is the Queen of Flowers So sweet is this Rose of the Heavenly Paradise that it makes us a sweet savour to God 2. Christ is compared to a Pearl of Price Mat. 13. 46. other Pearls add no realworth to them that wear them but Christ this illustrious Pearl doth he makes us worthy through his worthiness Ezâ—…k 16. 14. But among all the Metaphors and Allegories in Scripture none doth more lively decipher and set out Christ than the Vine He calls himself here the True Vine The Vine saith Pliny is to be ranked the highest among all the Plants that grow Doct. 1. That Jesus Christ is a Spiritual Vine The Analogies are these 1 The Vine is of it self weak and must be supported and born up So the humane Nature of Christ was of it self weak and was fain to be supported and underpropped with the Divine Nature 2. The Vine grows in the Garden not in the Forest So Christ this blessed Vine grows in the Garden of the Church He is not known among the Heathen they being Forest ground are not the better for this Vine To Israel pertains the Glory for unto them were committed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Oracles of God Rom. 3. 2. 3. The Vine communicates to the Branches Believers are called Branches of the Vine ver 5. Christ shoots up his sap of Grace into these Joh. 1. 16. Of his fulness have we all received Then let not the branches grow proud all comes from the root of the Vine The Saints gifts and graces are derived from Christ. Therefore he calls the Spouses Graces his Graces Cant. 5. 1. I have gathered my myrrh not thy myrrh The Branch hath nothing but what it receives from the Root 4. The Vine hath rare delicious fruit growing on it it bears sweet clusters the promises are the clusters of Grapes growing on Christ the True Vine The Promises are said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in him 1 Cor. 1. 20. the Promises are made in Christ and grow upon him as fruit on the Tree 5. There are many things about the Vine useful besides the fruit The Leaves that grow on it saith Pliny have a Physical vertue to allay heats and inflamations the Gumm that distills from it is good against Leprosie So it is with this Spiritual Vine the Lord Jesus he is exceeding useful and full of vertue There is vertue in his Passion Resurrection Intercession he pleads for us as the Advocate for the Client He perfumes our holy things with his Incense Christ's Prayer is the cause why our Prayers are accepted Such various excellency is in this Vine 1. See the different Vertues in Christ to the Godly and the Wicked To the Godly He is a Vine full of Comfort to the Wicked He is not a Vine but a Rock of offence The Godly feed on Him the Wicked stumble at him the Wicked are offended at the meanness of Christ's Person the Spirituality of his Doctrine the Strictness of his Laws but to the Godly he is a Vine yielding most fragrant delicious fruit 2. Bran. See the misery of men living and dying in sin they are not implanted into Christ therefore do not at all partake of his precious fulness The Vine
this Spiritual Vine What was the old World the better to hear of an Ark unless they got into the Ark So what are we the better to hear of a Vine unless we are in this Vine Quest. How shall we know that we are in this Vine Answ. 1. By being ingrafted into the Vine Faith is Vinculum unionis the ingrafting grace And herein Faith hath a peculiar excellency above other Graces Other Graces make us like Christ but Faith makes us one with Christ Other Graces make us lively Pictures of Christ but Faith makes us living Branches of Christ. By Love and Humility we imitate Christ but by Faith we are implanted into him as the graft or siens is in-oculated into the Tree Let us therefore examine whether we have this ingrafting Grace Faith admires Christ's beauty confides in his Merits submits to his Laws Faith gives up its will its love its life to Christ. Faith hath two hands with one it takes Christ for its Sin-offering with the other it gives up it self to Christ as a Burnt-offering 2. We may know we are in the Vine by receiving influence from the Vine 1. A vital influence Joh. 5. 21. The Son quickneth whom he will And this life from Christ is evidenced by sensation we are sensible of the first ebullitions and risings of corruption Rom. 7. 23. and of the least ebbings of grace Hebrew 5. 14. Who have their senses exercis'd to discern both good and evil 2. A Sanctifying influence The root of this Vine being holy makes all the Branches holy Hath Christ diffused some of his Divine Unction into us are our hearts consecrated do we set our selves against every evil as there is a conflict in the stomack between the spirits of Wine and Poison Do we forsake fin not only out of Policy but Antipathy Are we by the power of Grace transformed and made Partakers of the Divine Nature Are we meek humble zealous Is the fiame of our heart Spiritual doth our pulse still beat aster God Is our aime sincere Do we not only advance but design God's Glory behold here a sanctifying vertue derived from Christ into us and we need not doubt but we are Branches of the true Vine and shall grow and flourish in him to eternity 2. Bran. You that are Believers stand and wonder that when you were by nature the Vine of Sodom Deut. 32. 32 a Vine in your blood Ezek. 19. 10 a wild Vine which not only cumbred the Ground but poyson'd it That God should take such degenerate Branches and plant you into Christ and make you partake of the spiritual juice and fat of this Vine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the unfathomable depth of Gods love you who are the Branches of this Vine let me beseech you love the Vine that bears you kiss and embrace Christ. Let your Souls sound forth Hallelujahs to the whole Trinity Admire God the Father in sending a Vine from Heaven Admire God the Son who was a bleeding Vine for you Admire God the Holy Ghost who hath by his mighty Power implanted you into this Vine Turn all your sullen discontents into triumphant songs You are now made living Branches who weâ—…e once dead holy Branches who were once unclean you now bear Grapes who did once bring forth Thistles Oh make melody in your hearts to the Lord. Admire and celebrate Freegrace It is well that there is anEternitya coming and that will be little enough to praise God Use. 3. Here is a breast of Consolation to all who are implanted into Christ this Spiritual Vine Let the Times be what they will you have never so much cause to be sad as you have to rejoyce 2 Cor. 6. 10. As sorrowful yet always rejoycing Harken to me thou Branch of Christ what though thou hast little in the world seeing thou partakest of the blessing of the Vine even of all the fulness of God Eph. 3. 19. What though thou art reproached It is honour enough that thou art in Christ This Vine being a Plant of Renown casts a glory upon all the Branches What though thou art told by the Tempter that Christ doth not love thee Thou maist reply Am I ingrafted into Christ is the holy sap of his Grace infused into me and doth he not love me What though thou art persecuted be of good chear thou hast a life hid in the Vine Col. 3. 3. Your life is hid with Christ. Fear not if thou canst not live without moleâ—…ation in a Wilderness thou shalt grow in Paradise When Basil was threatned with banishment he comforted himself with this Either I shall be under Heaven or in Heaven Oh how may all the Branches of the true Vine flourish with joy Let death come they may triumph death shall destroy Sin and perfect Grace In particular there is comfort to all the real Branches of Christ in these four Cases 1. It is comfort under fear of Spiritual barrenness I am afraid saith the Saint I shall grow dead at last and be like that barren Figtree in the Gospel which was cursed But for thy comfort know that the Branches of this Spiritual Vine never cease yielding fruit Indeed ordinary Vine-Trees though they are for a time fruitful yet when they grow old they grow barren but the Branches of the true Vine are never so old as to be past bearing Psal. 92. 14. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age Believers the longer they live the more full they are of Faith the more perfumed with Love The Church of Thyatira the older she grew the better she grew Her last works were more than her first Rev. 2. 19. What a deal of fruit did Paul bring forth not long before his death This light shined brighter before his setting 1 Cor. 15. 10. I laboured more abundantly than they all So long as there is a fulness in Christ Believers shall not want This Holy Vine being replenished with sap the Branches cannot choose but be fertil Joh. 14. 19. Because I live ye shall live also Because the Root lives therefore the Branches shall flourish with fruit 2. It is comfort in case of wrongs and injuries especially when endured for Christ's sake The Lord Jesus is sensible and will one day vindicate his people The Vine is sensible of all the injury done to the Branches Exod. 3. 7. I have seen I have seen the afflictions of my people Not only have I seen them with an eye of inspection but affection Christ bleeds in the Saints wounds He who knows their Sufferings feelingly will avenge them speedily 3. It is comfort under fear of falling away I am afraid saith a Christian I shall tyre before I get to Heaven Either I shall be blown down by Satan's Temptation or faint under sufferings Oh remember thou art a Branch in Christ and thou canst not be broken off thou hast Omnipotency to support thee Adam when he grew upon his own root of innocency withered but