of God to encrease our understanding It is the Meat and Drink of a Christian to know as it was of Christ to do his Father's Will The Feast is a Feast of Knowledge and while you are feeding you may be adding still to what you have not only to Virtue Knowledge as 2 Pet. 1.5 that is one kind of Grace to another but even to Knowledge it self a larger measure and Degree of Understanding 11. The Nourishment of Faith As in the Gospel you may be fed with Knowledge so also nourished up in the words of Faith and of Good Doctrine The Apostle doth very expresly in that place 1 Tim. 4.6 compare our Faith or reception of the saving Truths of the Gospel to Nourishment You may eat but you will not thrive without it We may have the Word for our Food but it will not Nourish us if it be not mingled with Faith to make it nutrimental Heb. 4.2 For unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them but the Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Not being mixed or as the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Word may import not incorporated by mixing The Food must unite incorporate be turn'd into †In succum sanguinem an Alimentary Juice mingle it self with our Blood and Spirits to make it nourishing Thus Faith must unite and incorporate mix the Provisions with the New Creature before we are by the Word of the Gospel nourished up in our Father's House Faith is so nourishing a Provision to the New Nature that the just are said to live by it Hab. 2.4 Heb. 10.38 The Doctrine of Faith in the Gospel and the Grace of Faith in the Soul do make a blessed Nourishment in the New Man when Both meet together Faith is the Gift of God Eph. 2.8 and the Fruit of Christ's meritorious Purchase it is given in the behalf of Christ Phil. 1.29 Faith as * Mr. Anthony Burgess Spiritual Refinings Fol. 1st pt p. 62 and p. 169. one expresseth hath several Acts Knowledge Assent Fiducial Application and the Scripture doth by a Synechdoche express the whole Nature of Faith by one Act of it Now the Gospel-Provision affords and maintains such a Principle in the Soul as exerts Faith in the Complex and produceth it in all its various Acts. Heb. 8.2 There is not a Guest of the True Table which the Lord hath pitched and not Man but he hath Ordained among other Provisions for him like precious Faith with Vs 2 Pet. 1.1 There 's not a Saint but shall find it in the All things ready Luk. 14.17 it is one of the Parts and not the least of the Entertainment and it is a Dish to be had at this Feast only A Man full of Faith like Stephen Acts 6.8 is one whom the Entertainment nourisheth and cherisheth Eph. 5.29 Psal 17.14 and hath had his Belly filled with hid Treasure Rom. 10.8.17 The Word of Faith which we preach and your Faith that comes by hearing is some of the Royal Provision of the King's Meat Dan. 1.5 to be found at God's Table only 12. The Feast of Holiness inward Sanctification of the Heart by a cleanly purifying Bunch of Hyssop better than a Dinner of any other Herbs This clean Hyssop may be said for the Virtue of it as was of the grown Mustard-seed for its Dimensions Mat. 13.32 to be the greatest among Herbs Nay indeed we are not here speaking of such a poor low statur'd Hyssop as with us runs upon the ground but of that which runs up in the Man whose Name is the * Some indeed affirm litterally that haec Planta in Judae◠arborescet Grotius in Joh. 19.29 Branch Zech. 6.12 into a Tree as high as Heaven It is from hence that this purifying Branch or Holy Bunch is gathered Christ is He who of God is made unto us Sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 I ground the Comparison on the Ceremonial Cleansing of the Leaper as was instituted under the Law Lev. 14.4 where among other purifying Ingredients this of the Hyssop is one to which David alludes as it Typed out the righteous Branch to be rais'd to David Jer. 23.5 when he cries out in the Bitterness of his Soul for this sweet Herb in the Garden of God Ezek. 28.13 c. to dress his other Meat see Psal 51.7 Purge me with Hyssop and I shall be clean as if he had broken out into this Self-abhorrency I am a filthy Leaper Joh. 13.10 and I need to eat of the Dish that is most fit to cleanse me let me be therefore every whit clean thro' this sanctified Provision made ready 1 Pet. 1.16 Rev. 22.11 being neither * Act. 11.8 common nor unclean it self I would be Holy as God is Holy and tho' by Nature and Practice I am now otherwise yet I would not remain filthy still Now in the Gospel our Feast-maker hath also provided this blessed Dish ready God hath prepared his Table of hallowed Bread Holy as well as Evangelical Furniture Holiness it self to Feast you with a pure Conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 As this is the Will of God even your Sanctification 1 Thes 4.3 so it is the Work of God to form it Ezek. 36.25 26 27. As the Precept of the Gospel requires Holiness Heb. 12.14 without which no Man shall see the Lord so the Promise doth encourage it and the Spirit by an Almighty Operation works it He creates a Principle within that yields it and a Life without that acts it for 'till Grace be infused into the Heart it cannot in the Conversation be diffused or shed abroad There is Sanctification enough provided to supply our utmost wants thereof a Stock of it prepared to serve for Spirit Soul and Body as the Apostle Prayeth for his Thessalonians to be throughly Feasted with it 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of Peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ God would not have a Feast to be made under the Gospel without a universal Holiness to run thro' all the Parts of it Provision that sanctifieth and Provision sanctified Holy it self and to make Vs Holy too Indeed as he saith * Isa 3◠24 if the very Oxen and the young Asses that ear the ground should eat clean Provender which had been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan much more would he assign holy Diet for his Table in these dayes of our Purification Corrupt †Mal. 1.7 Priests may but our Great High-Priest will never set any Polluted Bread upon his Altar 13. The Hidden Mannah of Election This is one of the glorious Dishes of our Feast and was garnished from Eternity to be serv'd up before our Face in Time Mat. 13.35 Tho' it hath been a secret kept hid Psal 25 14.
The Guests at this Feast are come off from the Hedges and the High-ways in a mean dirty tatter'd Garb and therefore had need of a clean Wedding-Garment to sit down in The Dirt and defilements that clave unto us do make God abhorr our Persons and loath our Performances 'till he put of his Comliness upon us Ezek. 16.14 The High-Priest Joshua was cloathed Zech. 3.3 but yet with Filthy Garments when he stood before the Angel or before the Lord Jesus Christ Mal. 3.1 the Angel of the Covenant who appears unto this High-Priest as the same Person that was to come in the Flesh Heb. 3.1 the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession Now this Glorious Angel this bright Seraphim beholding the Righteousness of Joshua as an Eye-sore in the Pure sight of God commands it to be taken away He answered and spake unto those that stood before him v. 4. saying take away the Filthy Garments from him These Filthy Garments could not be meant properly of his Iniquities because Sin is such an Abomination in the Abstract that when Men begin to entertain the true Sentiments of Religion they dare not put on their Sins for a Covering but yet are very prone to wrap up themselves in warm Thoughts with their own Services even as Men who tho' they do not use to array themselves with Dirt may put on Dirty Garments I therefore understand by these Filthy Garments which the Angel commands to be taken away all Workings whatsoever in the great Business of our Justification because of the immediate Impurity convey'd by the Worker Luk. 16.15 that must make them absolutely consider'd to be an Abomination in the sight of God For who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Not one Job 14.4 Man himself is polluted and so are all his Duties Now upon this Account in that Type of Joshua the Angel proceeds after the Removal of those Filthy Garments Zech. 3.4 And unto him unto Joshua he said behold I have caused thine Iniquity to pass from thee I have provided thee a Remedy against thy impure Services and therefore much more against thine Impurities or sins and I will cloath thee with change of Raiment I confess * Pemble some Expositors do make this Change of Raiment to be the Robe of Sanctification But †Hutcheson others do Interpret it I think in the most natural and genuine sence of the Robe of Christ's Righteousness because his Righteousness being without us is more aptly compared to Raiment worn upon us not but tho' it was principally intended to signifie our Pardon and Justification by Christ's Righteousness it suppofeth also our Sanctification to be ever accompanyed herewith 1 Cor. 1.30 for Christ is made of God unto us Sanctification and Redemption wherever he is made Righteousness He answers our Pollution by a Work of his Spirit in us of which afterwards as well as our Guilt by his Righteousness for the sake whereof God passeth an Act of his Grace on us We may therefore look upon this Expression of the Change of Raiment to shadow out Christ's Righteousness for Pardon and Justification and yet that Holiness of Heart and Life must ascertain unto Vs the Efficacious Interest we have in such a Righteousness to change our State and so evidence it to be no Dream and Delusion Alas when we come to partake of the Priviledges of the Gospel in our own Righteousness we do not only come like the Gibeonites with old Garments clouted Josh 4.5 and rent upon us but we are all as an unclean thing with unclean and filthy Raggs about us as our Righteousnesses are expresly termed by the Holy Ghost Isa 64.6 Our Plague sores issue out and defile all our Service that we have not a Rag fit to put on Now the Gospel among its All things ready Gen. 27.15 provides us the goodly Raiment of our Elder Brother and takes Care that we be found in Christ's Righteousness when we are plac'd at God's Table Hence it is Psal 45.13 that the King's Daughter is all glorious within her Cloathing is of wrought Gold Christ in her and Christ upon her his Spirit inhabiting his Righteousness adorning makes her truly Noble Psal 149.9 And this Honour have all his Saints that never a Pharisee in the World with the Long Robes of a Self-Righteousness is arrayed like one of thâ—se Luk 20.46 Christ hath gotâ—en thee Raiment that is Ornamental Rev. 19.13 as well as Covering for tho' it be a Vesture dipt in Blood yet it doth not stain thy Ratment Isa 63.2 3. Tho' he was red in his Apparel when he trod the Wine press because the Sprinklings of his Blood dyed his own wear Rev. 19.8 yet it was made so White in the Blood of the Lamb that ever since it hath been to the Saints a Suit of Fine Linnen Alas v. 14. it would not match your spiritual Vileness if a Prince should Cloath you in Scarlet 2 Sam. 1.24 as Saul did the Daughters of Israel and put on Ornaments of Gold upon your Apparel But the Prince of the Kings of the Earth brings forth the Best Robe Luk. 15.22 to Cloath you gorgeously infinitely beyond the Attire of all such as are cloathed with strange Apparel Zeph. 1.8 That is the Sixth Case in which the Provisions of the Gospel suit Seventhly The Gospel hath Sanctifying Provisions suited to the Universal Defilements of Spirit Soul and Body The Gospel requires Holy Vessels when it makes ready Holy Victuals As thou art Filthy it opens a Fountain to wash in Zech. 13.1 In that day there shall be a Fountain opened to the House of David and to the Inhabitants of Ierusalem for sin and for uncleanness It is true The more full Accomplishment as * Hutcheson upon the Minor Prophets one observes of these things were reserved for the Converted Israelites and therefore are peculiarly promised in that Day when they shall repent and be restored yet are the common Priviledge of the Gospel-Church in every Age. Thus far He. It is a clear Promise of Sanctification fulfilled in the Cleansing Vertue and Efficacy of Christ's Blood under the Gospel That Fountain opened is as * Mr. Hurst Supplement to Pool's Eng. Annotations Song 4.12 one calls it the true Siloam which purifies and cleanseth every Leper whom God puts into it and as the same Author observes tho' the Spouse is to Christ a Fountain Sealed yet Christ is to Sinners a Fountain opened For the House of Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem i. e. for every one that is made to look out to Christ it is opened for every one that sees the Necessity of Holiness or Purification from it These shall be all Purifyed in that Bath which is prepared to cleanse us from all Filthiness and Pollution both of Flesh and Spirit 2 Cor. 7.1 The Generation of God's Children are not left to be like that other Generation
Therefore being justified by Faith we have Peace with God thrô our Lord Jesus Christ Thô there is a noise of War in thy Camp thy Corruptions fight and justle one against another nay not only Egyptian against Egyptian but an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew Corruption opposeth Grace and maketh an uprore in thy Soul yet the Gospel hath a Prince of Peace to allay the Tumult Heb. 7.2 Psa 147.14 and to make Peace in thy Borders There is Provision made for a Blessed Calm upon thy Soul when the Son of God shall rebuke thy Storm and say to the Winds that made it Mark 4.39 tho' furious Blasts from Satan Peace be still Thou shalt see it to be fair weather upon the Kings Feast-day Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you not as the World giveth give I unto you Joh. 14.27 In a word here is a Feast you may Sleep well after not in Sin or Security but in a Refreshment or Repose of your Spirits in the Peace of Conscience 21. The Oyl of Joy * Isa 61.3 It was the Blessing of Asher that he should dip his Foot in Oyl Deut. 33.24 and be as it were over shoes in his Inheritance where God's Paths dropped fatness Psa 65.11 It is clear in Scripture that Oyl by the Appointment of God was put to various uses The Children of Israel were commanded with Oyl to * Exod. 25 6. v. 37. compared dress their Lamps and with a finer to dress their †Lev. 2.4 5. c. meat in the Legal Sacrifices and with a most refined Oyntment made of various * Exo. 30.23.25 Spices after the Art of the Apothecary to †v. 26. anoint the Tabernacle and his * v. 27. c. Furniture by all which was Typified that Spiritual Oyl which the Gospel now affordeth we have now an Oyl an Oyl of Joy that feeds the * Oleum flammis alimoniam suppeditat Moller enar in Psalmos Ps 45.7 Candle of the Lord and makes it burn comfortably an Oyl of Grace that feeds the Lamp of our Profession that we be not in the Dark at * Mat. 25.3 4 5 6.8 midnight when we should see to go out and meet the Bridegroom we have now also an Oyl to dress our Sacrifice since we have received an Vnction from the Holy One 1 Joh. 2.20 an Oyl that fattens our Entertainment and an Oyl as we sit at meat Psa 104.15 that makes our Face to shine There is an Oyl of Joy communicated to the Head our Lord Jesus Christ and an Oyl of Joy imparted to his Members This Box of precious Oyntment was poured on his Head by a greater than Mary †Mat. 26.7 Joh. 11.2 Magdalen God anoints him Therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of Gladness above thy Fellows Psa 45.7 latter part So Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me He is therefore in the New Testament styled by way of eminence the Christ of God and * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 2.26 part the Lord 's Christ which signifies the Lords Anointed Now at the Feast his Members in some Conformity to their Head are anointed also He that ordained a Lamp for his anointed and made the Horn of David to bud hath also a Horn of Salvation to pour the Anointings of the Spirit on us God's Children may suck in this Oyl plentifully at the Feast where there be Springs of Joy to feed a chosen Vessel Thou preparest a Table before me thou anointest my Head with Oyl Psa 23.5 22. The Cup of Consolation with the Wine of the Kingdom-running over The Cup of Consolation was a Cup for Mourners a Portion mingled more especially to support them at the Death and Loss of Dear Relations and tho' used commonly among the Jews yet was deny'd them Jer. 16 5. latter part when God had taken away his Peace from them even loving kindness and mercies neither shall men give them the Cup of Consolation to drink v. 7. for their Father or for their Mother The Cup of Consolation was a little to sweeten the Bitterness unto their Children after their Parents had tasted Death Now the Feast of the Gospel hath its Cup of Consolation to wash off sadness from them that mourn in Zion it hath the Wine of the Kingdom for the Children she brings forth when they are bowed down heavily as one that mourneth for his Mother because of the Afflictions of the Church of God Nay suppose the Trouble should arise more from a Reflection upon their own Personal State this Cup of Consolation is then to wash off their Fears Rev. 14.10 least they should drink of the Wine of wrath out of the Cup of Indignation The Wine of the Gospel is a refreshing Cordial from the Grace of God to cheer up drooping Spirits and comfort heavy Hearts It is a Cup of Salvation Psa 116.13 to a poor Soul that hath been afraid of that Red-wine in the Threatning lest he should pledge it in the Second Death A Man's Body when his Spirits are low needeth Recruits Prov. 31.6 Give strong Drink unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that be of heavy Hearts and so in Paul's Advice to Timothy 1 Tim. 5.23 Drink no longer water that is such as was commonly us'd at Meals in those hotter Climates as we drink Beer but use a little wine for thy Stomach's sake and thine often infirmities In like manner the Spirit of a Man when wounded or broke and sunk within him doth need Wine the Wine of the Kingdom that is the manifestations of the Love of Christ to chear it for the Spirit of a man may sustain his Infirmities that is he may bear up under outward Trouble he meets with in the Flesh but a wounded Spirit who can bear Prov. 18.14 Such a one must have the Cup of Consolation from Christ's own Hand for his Love is better than wine Song 1.2 The Roof of his mouth when he speaks a kind pleasant word like the best wine goes down exceeding sweetly causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak Song 7.9 If God's Children be sunk down thro' long heaviness and begin to sleep the Sleep of Death in their own sad Apprehensions Psa 13.3 yet a Cup of this pleasant Wine from Christ on a sudden makes an Alteration and breaks out in Praises Psa 118.17 I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. Blessed Consolation Now the Gospel hath provided a Full Cup of this This is that precious Cluster Isa 65.8 where the new wine is found in it He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him Joh. 14.21 latter part So v. 23. latter part My Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him What
may'st comfort thine Heart with a Morsel when thou hast eaten other sorrowful Meat Job 6.7 or with a Cordial to fetch thine Heart again that will even fill thy Mouth with Laughter Psal 126.2 after thou hast minglea thy Drink with weeping Psal 102.9 Psal 13.2 Tho' thou hast sorrow in thine Heart daily and art shook with continual Feebleness of Mind yet He that made thee can speak a word that shall make thee be of good chear thou shalt eat thy meat with Gladness when He hath join'd and created singleness of Heart Acts 2.41 In the Gospel he hath it ready for thee Tho' thou a Poor Creature faintest yet hast thou not known hast thou not heard that the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the Ends of the Earth fainteth not Isa 40.28 He doth not flag in his Power thô an Arm of Flesh hangs dangling from the Bone by a little skin that holds it It may keep thine Heart up to think that neither the Hand or the Heart of God is ever cast down The Ministry of the Gospel is to be a Cordial to keep thine Heart and cheer up thy Spirits see 2 Cor. 4.1 Therefore seeing we have this Ministry as we have received Mercy we faint not and v. 16. for which cause we faint not It is a Cordial that warms when thou hast suckt in other Spirits and gat no Heat by them 1 King 1.1 16. Sixteenthly The Gospel hath Quieting Provisions suited to the Condition of Troubled Minds Mal. 4.2 It hath a Sun of Righteousness to shine after God's Face hath been long hid Job 16.2 If miserable Comforters disturb here is a merciful Creator quiets thee When other Comforters are Physicians of no value Job 13.4 too weak and unskilful to remove or repel the Disease that troubles thee the Gospel is afforded that we might have effectual Remedy or as the Holy Ghost by the Apostle that we might have a strong Consolation Heb. 6.18 That is as * Dr. Owen on the Hebrews Vol. 3d. Fol. a Learned Man glosseth it prevalent against opposition It is able to still the Causes of our unquiet Tumult and suppress the furious Agitations that roll within our Breasts Tho' thou hast Great Troubles Job 15.11 yet the Consolations of God are not small with us Tho' thou also as well as the Wicked dost sometimes look like a Troubled Sea Isa 57.20 yet with this Difference he remembers God and is troubled Psal 77.3 whereas in the multitude of thy Troubled Thoughts his Comforts delight thy Soul Psal 94.19 The Gospel is so universally contrived in the whole Frame of it thro' all its Counsels Promises Experiences that when He giveth Quietness there is none can cause Trouble Job 34.19 He hath sweet Morsels to roll under thy Tongue after thou hast taken bitter Pills from him This is my Comfort in mine Affliction Psal 119.50 God hath so suitably provided Gospel-Grace and so order'd it in all the Tribulations of his Children Cant. 2.3 that they might be encouraged to rest quietly under his shadow who shakes down some Fruit into their Laps as a Testimony that he doth know their state Col. 4.8 and will comfort their Hearts And therefore be of good cheer 1 Thes 4.18 and comfort one another with these words Seventeenthly The Gospel hath Resolving Provisions to answer thy Scruples and remove all thy Doubts and Fears The Soul oftentimes puts such Questions about its own State that it needs a Messenger with it and an Interpreter one of a thousand Job 33.23 Sick Souls as well as Sick Bodies do require an able spiritual Doctor by 'em to shew unto Man his uprightness i. e. * Arthâ—â— Jackson Vol. 3d. 4 to To shew how he must come to be presented Righteous and upright in the sight of God Ad exponendum Homini i. e. pro homine in usum hominis Mercer in loc Isa 19.18 Dan. 5.16 and whether the Sick or Doubting Party may be yet in such a Case Now for this an Interpreter is requisite not only a Man that can speak the Language of Canaan but also read the Hand-writing which the Finger of God's Spirit hath written tho' in so small a Character that he who carries the Book may not read the Hand Such a Text-man is call'd an Interpreter and an Interpreter one of a Thousand or as * Multis è millibus unus Mr. Mat. Pool Morn Ex. Giles's in the Fields some read it One of many Thousands Dissolving of Doubts was one of the things that made Belshazzar's Queen conclude of Daniel Dan. 5.11 12. that the Spirit of the Holy gods was in him Oh! what Spirit then is that in the Gospel that will resolve thy Soul Doubts Acts 8.22 and tell thee if perhaps the Thought of thy Heart may be forgiven thee that will untye the very Knot that lay upon thy mind thou didst not dare to utter This is an Interpreter indeed one of a Thousand one of ten Thousand Casuists He is one that speaks as never Man spake The Spirit of God is one that can speak in us when a Man Gal. 1.8 or a meer Angel frrom Heaven could only speak to us It may be with Naomi Ruth 1.20 the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with thee and perhaps as * Dr. Tho. Fuller Comment on Ruth pag. 122. one Notes it thou makest sour Faces whilst thou canst not resolve the Doubt whether with Ephraim thou art God's pleasant Child Jer. 31.20 or no yet the Gospel hath a Spirit will search this out Psal 44.21 because it searcheth the Deep Things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 If there be never so many Dark circumstances in thy state that puzzle thee yet do not Interpretations belong to God Gen. 40.8 He is a Revealer of Secrets Dan. 2.47 Act. 27.23 and will tell thee whose thou art and whom thou servest Dent. 32.4 yea a God of Truth that will not belye thy Case Ah! thou art often at a loss to know what God would have thee do but God hath made Provision in the Gospel to shine upon thy Path and make thy way clear that when the Spirit bids thee go thou shalt go on with thy Duty as Peter did with the Three Men from Cesarea doubting nothing Acts 11.12 There 's not a Scruple you make but the Grace of God can make reply to it Not a Knot which either the Devil or your own Fearful Hearts may tye but the Sword of the Spirit waits to cut in sunder Eph. 6.17 that in whatsoever you doubt you might go into the Sanctuary and enquire Psal 73.17 Phil. 3.15 and God shall reveal even this unto you Eighteenthly The Gospel hath saving Provisions suited to the Condition of the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel Matt. 10.6 Tho' you apprehend that you are in jeopardy every hour 1 Cor. 15.30 yet the Gospel
never bestowed more than the Beggarly Elements of the Law on them not so much as a Kid nothing like this fatted Calf to rejoyce or be merry with But lo Gal. 4.9 however it pleaseth the Father Luk. 15.29 tho' it angers his Eldest Son He puts on Bowels and is a Father of mercies to a wandring disobedient Son he spares him thô he were not a Son that serv'd him Mal. 3.17 He doth not leave poor hungry and Thirsty Travellers to wander in the wilderness where there is no way Psa 107 40 Psal 103 1â— but like as a Father pitieth his Children he provideth a Gracious Heavenly Entertainment killeth the best to invite the worst to Supper the Fatted Calf the Furniture of Gospel Grace to feast us that we might have an Allowance at the King's Table 2 King 〈◊〉 30. The Woman at Endor killed a Fat Calf to entertain a di distressed Prince 1 Sam. 28.24 but the Father in the Parable killeth his to entertain a distressed Prodigal â—en 18. v. 2.7 Abraham killed his Calf for the sake of Three Angels but He in the Parable for any one Sinner that repenteth to cause a joy among Angels Luk. 5.10 9. The Marrow of rich Forgiveness The Forgiveness of Sins where the poor Soul hath been made sensible of Sin and Wrath both as guilty and condemned is such a Provision of the Grace of God as well resembles Marrow The Remission of sins that are past Rom. 3.25 is a Hearty supporting Diet for us being * Pro. 16.24 Health unto the Soul and a morsel that makes the Bones fat Prov. 15.30 When Christ speaks to the Paralytick Mat. 9.2 Son be of good cheer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 take Heart Son thy Sins be forgiven thee Thô his condition might have sunk him to the Heart as we may gather from the word yet the News of Remission was enough to recover his Spirits and put him into Heart again We may take notice of many a Poor Soul that hath wanted the sense of Forgiveness or Pardoning Love to help it as Jonadab observed of Amnon one of the King's Sons that tho' he stood in so near a Relation to David 2 Sam. 13.4 yet he was lean from Day to Day But Forgiveness has holpen a poor Servant of the Lord's thô lean-fleshed that he hath been satisfied like David himself as with Marrow and Fatness Psa 63.5 The Forgiveness of our sins is Health but the Apprehension of our Guilt dryeth the bones It breeds Marrow in us when it hath been brought first as Marrow to us Pro. 17.22 The Lord shall satisfie thy Soul in drought and make fat thy Bones Isa 58.11 As there is a Present Refreshment so it yields an after-Improvement of our Souls when we are feasted or fed with the Gracious Sense of Pardon A Malefactor condemned to die would find a Feast unsavoury and a Banquet made only to feed him against the day of Slaughter Jam. 5.5 but the news of a Pardon would make it sweet and Dainty Now at the Table of the Gospel there is this Dish of Marrow set Christ hath such a Plenty in himself as affords of this sort also in whom we have the Forgiveness of Sins Col. 1.14 So Acts 13.38 Be it known unto you therefore Men and Bretheen that thrô this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins We must come indeed in Repentance and 't is fit we should to our Father with the Ropes about our Necks 1 Kings 20.31 but he meets us as he did the Prodigal and gives Remission to us as he makes a Feast so he pardons our Fault that we may partake of all acquitted 10. The Food of Knowledge I call it so as warranted from that expression Jer. 3.15 I will give you Pastors according to my Heart that shall feed you with Knowledge and understanding Knowledge is Provision your Souls are fed by Knowledge as your Bodies are by Food This is a sort of Spiritual Repast that may cause the Eater in some measure to express it like that of Solomon Yea my Heart had great experience of wisdom Eccl. 1.16 It is a Dish that the more we take of the clearer we find our * He was refreshed and recovered his lost spirits whereof part went into his optick nerves and so clear'd his sight which was much darkned by Famine as is usual Mr. Pool Eye-sight Jonathan when he put forth the end of the Red that was in his hand and dipt it in an honey-comb and put his hand to his mouth his Eyes were enlightned 1 Sam. 14.27 He was almost Blind with Famine that is †Being enfeebled with extreme Labour and Emptiness his Eyes waxed dimm which now by this little refreshing were enlightened again Arthur Jackson his Spirits were so weak for want of Food that he could not discern as at other Times but a little refreshment reviv'd him fetcht his Spirits again and made his Sight clearer so when Wisdom entreth into thine Heart and Knowledge is Pleasant unto thy Soul Prov. 2.10 it is a Provision that giveth Vnderstanding to the Simple This makes the Eyes of the Spouse like the Fish-pools of Heshbon Cantic 7.4 * Fuller Pisgab Sight pt 1st p 66. of a clear and perspicuous vision in the mysteries of Christ Now in the Gospel-Entertainment there is this Food of Knowledge ready Our Great Provider when he maketh a Feast doth not starve our Judgments He makes ready enough to suffice the Faculties of a Man or the Graces of a Christian This of Knowledge is a Portion of his Feast he sends our Understandings He provides Good Doctrine to rectifie and inform a Bad Judgment The Lord appoints us his Truth that hereby we may know and avoid the Spirit of Error 1 Joh. 4.6 The Gospel is the Treasury of Wisdom that however we may be * 1 Cor. 4.10 Fools for Christ yet we may not appear Fools and of no Understanding in him We have lost our Knowledge which we had in Adam at our first Table in Paradice and therefore have Food again at our second Table in Christ that * Col. 3.10 renews us in Knowledge We had gone so long Fasting that we were empty of the things of God but now have a Gospel that we may be †chap. 1.9 filled with the knowledge of his Will The Knowledge of the Gospel indeed still encreaseth our Appetite whets our Mind provokes us into more Enquiries and follows Vs Hos 6.3 until we follow on to know the Lord but withall affords so large a measure that our utmost Capacities may run over tho' the Hand that fills us doth also press our Measure down The Gospel is a Feast that contains the utmost encrease of Knowledge 1 Cor. 13.2 pt it hath all Mysteries and all Knowledge and he that partakes of the Entertainment shall know of the things what they are and find how they are all given
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
which is not washed from their Filthiness Prov. 30.12 But God hath provided that they may be Partakers of his Holiness Heb. 12.10 last words The Gospel will cleanse thee of thy Spot which otherwise tho' thou wash thee with Nitre and take thee much Soap would remain a Spot still with thine Iniquity marked before me saith the Lord God Jer. 2.22 The Gospel brings thee a Laver full of Christ's Blood and this is the Blood that rinseth all clean 1 Joh. 1.7 last words And the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Nitre and Soap either apart or mingled are searching Ingredients you would think to cleanse a Dirty Spot but alas tho' Man seeks out many Inventions Eccl. 7.29 to try to wash himself clean yet it will not do for a Garment spotted with the Flesh Jude v. 23. if God search this out nothing will fetch out Sin 'till we dip in Jordan 2 Kings 5.14 Psal 44.21 Isa 9.5 1 Joh. 5.6 nay not only wash in Water but with our Garments roll'd in Blood i. e. the Blood of Christ who came by Water and by Blood for our Spot to fetch it out clean Rev. 1.5 being said to have loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood The Gospel provideth suitably to our Pollution Heb. 9.13 for it sanctifieth to the Purifying of the Flesh 'till we are made meet for Communion with the God of the Spirits of all Flesh Numb 16.22 even sanctified in Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1.2 Eighthly The Gospel hath Rich Provisions for the Poor Saints tho' never so impoverisht lowly in Mind or Poor in Spirit The Gospel abounds with the Liberality of the Grace of God to supply the Poverty and Wants of all Men in Christ Tho' thy Transgressions have beset thee and the Iniquity of thy Heels have compass'd thee about that thou art now like the Man in his way to Jericho that fell among Thieves yea Luk. 10.30 thou may'st cry out with Micah of the Danitâ—'s Plunder Judg. 18.24 They have taken away tho' not my Gods to Complain just like him yet the Image of my God mine Original Perfection as I was made once like him my Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness and what have I more Well be it thus here is enough left thee still to be a poor broken Petitioner at the Throne of Grace crying out for a New Stock to set up with Christ in whom are hid all the Treasures that will make thee Rich agen Col. 2.3 Art thou Poor Luk. 22.21 thou may'st be Rich towards God When thou art got to the Gospel thou art got to God's Treasury which he unlocks to make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles Col. 1.27 Ninthly The Gospel hath Full Provisions suited to the Condition of empty Sinners There be Lengths and Breadths in the Love of God that will give thee full measure Luk. 6.38 pressed down and running over Thou art empty in thy self and till He refresh thee with his Loving-Kindness Prov. 7.18 thou canst not take thy Fill of Love Hast thou ever met with the Emptiers that have emptied thee out Nah. 2.2 The Gospel hath Provisions to come in and fill up all that empty space again Tho' at home thou art like her that is empty and void and wast Nah. 2.10 as Nineveh that was once full of Men Counsel Treasures yet afterwards emptyed out of all so thou hadst once the sensible Manifestations of one that lodg'd in thy House to fill thee but now at home empty and also tho' abroad like Naomi thou hast gone out upon some Oecasions full if thou hast gone to an Ordinance thou hast it may be sometimes carried much of the Presence of Jesus Christ with thee yet the Lord to try thee hath brought thee home again empty Ruth 1.21 yet still the Gospel hath Provisions suited to thee that when most sensible of thine Emptiness thou may'st receive thy measure and not like proud careless Boasters who presume on something when they have nothing * Luk. 1.53 Joh. 1.14 last words be sent empty away Thou hast to do with one that is full of Grace and Truth and with one besides of whose Fulness thou mayst receive Joh. 1.16 even one that will never leave thee empty because he filleth all in all Eph. 1.23 let it be as low with thee in thy Beginning as a sense of Want can make it yet thou shalt never take up the Complaint of Babylon in thy latter End Jer. 51.34 the Lord hath made me an empty Vessel Tenthly The Gospel hath satisfying Provisions suited to the Condition of Longing Souls Matth. 5.6 that hunger and thirst after Righteousness Be thou as Dainty in thy Palate Heaven-wards as possible yet in the Gospel thou hast a God who satisfyeth thy Mouth with good things Psal 103.5 He will not deny Dainties or withhold Mannah or keep back the Fruits that thy Soul lusteth after Rev. 18.14 Thou shalt not be estranged from thy Desire in the things of God Psal 78.30 thô thou wouldst eat his Lambs out of the Flock Amos 6.4 his Calves out of the midst of the Stall v. 6. and drink his Wine in Bowls If six Days common Provision at home hath made thee long for Dainties he hath appointed a Festival upon the Holy Sabbath when thy Flesh longeth for the Courts of the Lord. Psal 84.2 This Longing of the Soul may be reduc'd unto Two Heads Hungring and Thirsting and the Gospel hath suitable Things for Both. 1. It hath Satisfying Provisions suited to Hungry Ones Psal 107.9 For he satisfyeth the Longing Soul and filleth the Hungry Soul with Goodness There is many a Hungry Appetite hath been brought into his Presence and be hath filled the Hungry with good things Luk. 1.53 Perhaps thou art one that hast lost a Meal thro' a Providential Hand of God upon thee and where God sets out Food thou comest the more Hungering thither Some Black Providence may have put on Sackcloth upon thy Soul Nehem. 1.4 that thou hast mourned and fasted certain Dayes and lo a Restraint of the Bread of God whets thee further on Thou canst not forbear crying when thou art Hunger-bitten Prov. 30.15 like those Daughters of the Horse-leech Give Give I have been thus long from an Ordinance detain'd Psal 109.24 and my Flesh faileth of Fatness I must break out to the Supper now I can stay no longer in Well if it be thus the Feast is still meet for thee Christ that Invites thee to sit down 1 Sam. 30.12 will Feast thee with his Love 'till thy Spirit comes again 2. It hath satisfying Provisions suited to Thirsty Ones If thou long'st for some Pleasant Draught yet the Lord doth satisfie such a * Animam sitientem Moller Enarr in Psalmes Longing Soul as some do Expound it of Thirst Psal 107.9 form
is prepared to shew forth his Salvation from Day to Day Psa 96.2 Tho' you think the Pit is ready to receive you in Psa 69.15 and shut her mouth upon you even Hell Job 17.1 while the Graves are ready for you yet the Gospel opens the Everlasting Gates Psa 24.7 9. that you may look thro' a Door of Hope Hos 2.15 Tho' you Mourn in your Complaints and make a Noise Psal 55.2 yet he can still the Voice of your crying Psal 5.2 when he stops the Voice of his Justice and prepare you to sing of Mercy Psa 101.1 Tho' you count it that for your Parts Ezek. 37.11 Psal 1.3 your Hope is gone and your Branch is withered yet he that planted it by the Rivers of Water Isa 55.10 will cause it to bud and spring forth again In a word tho' you cry out with those Frighted Mariners in Paul's Ship Act. 27.20 that all Hopes of being saved is taken away yet the Gospel still suits your Case for the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost Matth. 18.11 He finds you out tho' you are got where you lose your selves tho' you are muffled up in shades 1 Sam. 10.22 or hid behind the Stuff or covered over with Dust or disguis'd with Tears or wrapt in a Mantle of Confusion Psal 109.29 you throw in a Fright about you Nineteenthly The Gospel hath All-sufficient Provisions suited to the Condition of wretched Creatures sunk below the Recovery of any Men or Angels God can do for thee what Men Neighbours thine Acquaintance Companions Brethren nay thy own Flesh and Blood cannot The very Called and Chosen of God that are made nigh to Christ Eph. 2.13 can but stand round about thee weeping but the Lord can break in with Tender Mercies Luk. 1.78 Psal 136.23 and in thy Low Estate recover thee I was brought low and he helped me Psal 116.6 last words It is the work of God and beyond the sufficiency of Men God's Friends may pity thee but 't is God himself must favour thee thou may'st lye in thy Pit while their Eye trickleth down with Tears Lam. 3.49 but the Arm of the Lord can quickly draw thee out Isa 53.1 They may lament thee fallen but he can lift thee up I looked and there was none to help therefore my own Arm brought Salvation Isa 63.5 * Arthur Jackson upon Isai 4th Vol. somewhat changed from the Author 's When God sought but a little Help of Man to do his People Justice he found not one appear'd much more then doth it note an Insufficiency for any Helper besides Him that hath the All-sufficiency of Free Grace and Power to save Men tho' sunk in Misery thro' an Original Apostacy If God should look out for Help thro' the whole Creation round he would never find any but what himself brings And He can speak a word which neither Heaven nor Earth Angels or Men ever dare pronounce My Grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.9 Lastly The Gospel hath Eternal Provisions suited to the continuance of Man's Immortal Spirit As the Soul must endure for ever the Gospel hath Provisions to make it Happy thro' the same endless Parallel Jam. 2.5 Do you hope as Heirs of the Kingdom for a Kingdom that cannot be shaken why the Gospel hath such a Kingdom prepared for you Matth. 25.34 Heb. 12.28 Do you hope for Glory when you see a Full End of Grace why Heb. 6.18 Heaven is the Hope that is set before you Do you expect more than to be ransomed for a little moment here the Gospel suits with your Expectation for the ransomed of the Lord shal return and come to Zion with Songs and Everlasting Joy upon their Heads Isa 35.10 It is an Eternal Inheritance that is prepared for the Heirs of the Grace of Life Heb. 9.10 an Eternal Salvation Heb. 5.9 an eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 In one word you can never see a Full End of these All Things tho' you look towards the utmost Bounds of the Everlasting Hills Gen. 49.26 And thus I have shewn that as the Feast of the Gospel is full and plenteous so it is a Banquet of suitable Provisions that do fit all the Guests of it And Oh! that now as Man hath try'd to suit them and Apply them to your Case so God would by the Application of his Spirit press these Clusters for you into a Cup of Saving Health VII The Seventh thing is to give some Account Why it is a Feast with all Things in it 1. It is so in regard of the Great Founder Reas 1 who is a God that had All Things to give It is not the Provisions of a mortal Man but the Supper of the great King and no wonder when a King Feasts his Subjects if he hold a Feast in his House like the Feast of a King 1 Sam. 25.36 The Lord is a Great God and a Great King above all gods Psal 95.3 And therefore the Entertainment he makes must be a Feast that hath Provisions above all Feasts whatever a Feast with All Things in it Song 1.12 The King sitteth at his Table and the Feast of a King proclaims a Full Table and the Royal Founder of Divine Grace makes this Heavenly Fare the greater If this Great Provider were not God Joh. 9.33 he could do nothing Nihil dat quod in se non habet None can supply another with what he hath not himself antecedently but now All Things are eminenter in Deo that is they are dwelling by a Transcendent Fulness in him he is the God of all Grace 1 Pet. 5.10 first words and therefore he gives us all this Plenty We may say of every Dish made ready for God's Table as David spoke of the Materials he had made ready for the Temple 1 Chron. 29.16 All this Store cometh of thine Hand and is all thy own In himself is the Abundance of All Things and therefore the abundant Grace redounds 2 Cor. 4.15 There is a Full Treasure in God and therefore a Full Table he hath disht and garnisht forth for us This is the Lords Doing Psal 118.23 and therefore nothing Defective in it The Lord had so many Things to give that he made bare his Holy Arm Isa 52.10 that nothing might hang in his way to obstruct the Communication of a Full Gift to us In a word he is All and therefore he hath all ready 2. The Gospel is a large Feast Reas 2 with All Things ready because wheresoever God bestows that one Gift the Lord Jesus Christ he gives in all other Things with him Every Child of God hath a Richer Portion than he thinks of meerly for his Elder Brother's sake For He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us * Gave him up to Death for the Salvation of all the Elect.
sin you do not spy out more in your own Iniquities than you do in the very Grace of God to receive you graciously Hos 14.2 4 and love you freely And beware that you do not fancy a deeper Red different from other Death-colours in your own Body of Death than is seen in the Blood of Jesus Christ An Unacquaintedness with the true Notion of the Gospel is a Hinderance to the Gospel-Feast 3. Remaining Vnbelief in the Actings of slavish Fear Reigning Unbelief indeed is the Property of Sinners but Remaining Unbelief is a great Hinderance hanging in the way of Saints There are Remnants of this Sin to bring you under spiritual Sickness and Infirmities when there be no Ruling Signs-that it is unto Death upon you There is much Fluctuation in our Hearts an unsteddy rolling too and fro like the Waves of the Sea sometimes carried out towards the Shore in Hope then driven back again to Sea in Fears whereas our Rock is the same for ever tho' we roll aside Oh! were our Faith says (z) Dr. Sibb◠Bruised Reed p. 23 24. one as firm as our State in Christ is secure what manner of Men should We be A Saint may be brought many ways low but he shall be brought no ways under Now by how much the less it is you live in the Exercise of Faith 〈◊〉 2.20 i. e. By the Faith of the Son of God by so much the less in your spiritual State will you thrive by Gospel-Grace As you want any measure of Faith to digest the Food of God's Word so much the less of Nourishment and Sweetness you will find in any Morsel of it Jesus said unto him if thou canst believe All Things are possible unto him that believeth Mark 9.23 If you have not Oh weak Christians a stronger Degree a higher Measure of Faith your Fears will make you jealous and suspect the Love of God every time you try to eat and drink in his Kingdom It is observed of Peter he never sank in the Waters 'till he sank first in Fears when he saw the Wind boisterous he was afraid and upon this followeth his beginning to sink Matth. 14.30 Fears will suggest nothing but such wrong and uncomfortable Thoughts as these Well this Feast of the Gospel is too great for such poor Dust and too good for so vile a Worm as I therefore it belongeth not to me But Oh! take heed of this let not Unbelief carry it without a check in thy Soul when it calls the Bread of Life Poyson or tells thee thou art damn'd if thou venturest so far as to meddle with it 4. Lastly Refusing to be Comforted God's People sometimes will not tho' we take his own words be satisfied The Consolations of God are so small with them Job 15.11 that they will not take this Cup of Consolation down Jer. 16.11 Psa 77.2 last words My Soul refused to be comforted let me hear what I would it was all one with me That was Good Asaph's case a while Now what will All Things avail when no thing shall be allow'd to comfort you but you will choose to go down into the Grave mourning Gen. 37.35 What signifies Moses to tell the Children of Israel that God had looked upon their Affliction and Bondage and to assure them of Deliverance that it was now even at the Door Mat. 24.33 whenas they hearkened not unto Moses for Anguish of Spirit and for cruel Bondage Exod. 6.9 It is observable indeed that at the first Newes of their Deliverance which Moses brought them from God they are hugely affected with it Chap. 4.31 The People believed and when they heard that the Lord had visited the Children of Israel and that he had looked upon their Affliction then they bowed their Heads and worshipped Oh! how glad and comforted do they seem that there comes any Relief to alter their Afflicted case at last Well but God will yet try their Patience under their Burdens and Adversity a little longer in the next Chapter Pharaoh comes and He multiplies their Burdens still more and more and lo now the Double Labour of their Bricks and the Stripes of their Task masters upon their Backs beat them quite out of Heart insomuch that at last Moses with all his Arguments and Perswasion could no ways still them for they are resolved to hear to wait to trust no longer they hearkened not c. Thus some of God's Children will seem to be born up notably when God comes first into their Souls with Comfort but alas if God to try them lays them again in the lowest Pit in Darkness Psa 88.6 in the Deeps immediately their Mountain is overturned their Sun is set and the Rainbow of the Covenant blotted out of Their Cloud They refuse to be comforted and seem loth to look out towards the Everlasting Hills again Psa 121.1 Now hence it is that the Gospel hath been very often in part ineffectual for a Time to some of God's own Children To conclude therefore in a word your Meat will not strengthen you to flee as a Bird to your Mountain Psa 11.1 so long as with Ephraim you remain a silly Dove without Heart Hos 7.11 And so much for the Doctrinal Part. The Ninth and last Thing propounded in the General method was the Application of this Doctrine IX The Vses I design to make by God's further Assistance are the Three following Information to discover such Truths Humiliation to bewail such Sins and Exhortation to beswade to such Duties as naturally flow from it First I. Vse by way of Information in these Thirteen Particulars 1. 1 Inf. We may learn the Fitness of Earthly Comparisons to bring down Heavenly Truths to our Capacities I say the Fitness of Earthly Comparisons for in this Body of Flesh we have more Earth than Spirit and need to put on Spectacles to help our weak Eyes It is a piece indeed of condescending Workmanship in our Maker to blow up the very Earth and the Things of it into a Glass and then shew us Heaven and the Things thereof thro' it which made the Apostle use the same Metaphor when he was comparing the Knowledge of Believers here with that perfect Sight they should have in Heaven 1 Cor. 13.12 Now we see thro' a Glass darkly but then Face to Face Thus the Holy Ghost declares I have used Similitudes by the Ministry of the Prophets Hos 12.10 (a) Deus se quodammodò transformat in verbo suo in quo non loquitur pro su◠Majestate sed prout congruere videt modulo nostro infirmitati Rivet in loc Vol. 2. p. 774. col 2. ultim Obs When God speaks to instruct us in his Word he doth as it were transform himself not speaking according to his own Essential Majesty but agreeably to the measure of our Frailty The Scripture often instructs us in Metaphors and sets forth our State Priviledges and Duty by
Land of uprightness I must come Lord to thy Table I must see what House thou keepest for me (m) Da igitur sidum illum ducem qui non prehendat tantùm manum sed vires sufficiat motum Rivet in loc vol. 2. Joh. 6.63 Grant me therefore thy Spirit to be my Sure and Faithful Guide to thee who will not only take me by the Hand but afford me sufficient Strength and Motion as the Pious and Learned Rivet glosseth it The Spirit that Quickneth must give Life and Motion Legs to the lame and Feet to walk with them If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwell in you He that raised up Christ from the Dead shall also quicken your Mortal Bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Rom. 8.11 (n) Charnock's Discourses Vol. 2. p. 1321. The Spirit must be our Auxiliary upon Earth as well as Christ our Advocate in Heaven As we can never be obedient to the Truth till we come to the God of Truth that calls us so we can never come to be thus obedient till there be an obeying of the Truth thro' the Spirit 1 Pet. 1.22 He may call he may command This is the way walk ye in it but we can never run the way of his Commandments till He enlarge our Hearts Psal 119.32 Acts 17.28 For 't is in him that we live and move and have our Being Spiritually as well as Naturally both are from him because all our Springs are in Him We must have our motion from him before we can make any motion to him A moving Principle to cause our Pace or we shall either stand still or start back or turn aside or tumble down or stumble in our walk when we try to come along 2. Inf. God's Calling and Man 's Coming are not the same but Two Distinct Things 'T is His Grace but 't is our Work and Duty He draws but 't is we must run Cant. 1.4 Draw we we will run after thee The Call is often sent when there is no coming seen Christ oft invites but Men too oft refuse He holds out a Sceptre of Grace but They remove the Shoulder and will not stretch out one Hand to take it Calling is the Act of God Coming is the Duty or the Act of Man in the received strength of God God's Act in calling often goes alone but our's never doth so because it is impossible tho' God calls of himself that we should come alone These Two then must be distinguished God's Calling and Man 's Coming neither must Man deceive himself to think he comes because God calls him For he may be no Guest after God hath given and a Man hath had a Gracious Invitation The Invitation may be made on God's Part and yet no compliance seen on Man's 3. Inf. There may be also much coming to Ordinances and little coming unto God with any Spiritual motion in them Alas there be many Foolish Guests that follow their own Spirit and rather come at their own call than God's They bid themselves and so come in the Flesh but never understand what to make of a motion in Spirit and in Truth to God They hear not with Spiritual Distinction the Voice of the Son of God but with a Confusion and Disorder the Flesh makes and therefore can't come but rather from some Forcible external Cause are brought without any Life in them You may be going from the Feast in a Spiritual Sense when you are seen to come to it in the Literal The Heart must be upright or you will come all awry in a crooked Line with the workers of Iniquity while you appear in these Duties You know what was said of Ezekiel's Hearers Ezek. 33.31 They come unto thee as the People cometh and they sit before me as my People and they hear thy words but they will not do them for with their Mouth they shew much Love but their Heart goeth after their Covetousness (o) Judaei magnâ frequentiâ ad Prophetam concurrebant corà m illo non secùs consistebant quà m si animum planè induissent populo Dei dignum Jun. in loc They carried it well to the Prophet but very ill to God They would throng to their Preacher but be easily thrust away from God They stood before the Prophet as if they had put on the same Ornament of the Mind which the best of God's Children wear but yet God saw their Hypocrisie stood before him naked So you may seem to come when your Heart goeth after your Covetousness You may come and make such a Dust with the Earth about you while you put out the Eye of Faith that you see not where you are 4. Inf. If God invites us by the Gospel-Call other Invitations should be of less account with us When the Law of Mercy in the Gospel requires us to come and eat shall the Law of Cruelty in our Members be obey'd that saith Abstain from Meats It casts a Disparagement upon the great God that his Call must be neglected while other little calls are minded that you have an Ear open to let in the Persuasions suppose of a Mortal Man while you stop it against your Maker wilt thou stay with the Swine when thou art Invited to the Sheep-folds to lye down in green Pastures Canst thou raise an Objection against the Sequel because the Antecedent is so clear Arise He calleth thee 'T is the Voice of a God and not of a Man of the God of the Spirits of all Flesh that calls thee and shall the Voice of a Creature the Voice of a Dying Man or the Voice of a Condemned Malefactor stop thee Who hath hardened himself against him and hath prospered Job 9.4 5. Inf. It is an Aggravation of our Trespass against Love and Kindness to turn our Backs upon the High-calling of God This is a Prodigious Evil tho' Men have Presuming Thoughts upon it This Rebellion this Refusal to come to Court when sent for is as the Sin of Witchcraft and Stubbornness is as Iniquity and Idolatry 1 Sam. 15.23 6. Inf. It is such a Sin to stand it out against God's Calls as God will severely punish A neglect of God's Calls will make our own Cries unpitied Prov. 1.24 25 26. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out mine Hand and no Man regarded but ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would none of my Reproof I also will laugh at your Calamity I will mock when your Fear cometh Such as refuse the Load-stone and are not drawn with Mercy shall have a Milstone ty'd about their Necks that will make them sink for ever Such as would not be call'd shall be cast into Hell 7. Inf. and last The Invitation of the Gospel should find in us a suitable compliance with it I say a suitable or a meet compliance As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye to him so walk ye in him Col. 2.6
you might with your Houses come in and be welcome to serve the Lord Why is it that so Few of you are setting your Faces towards Sion Chap 50.5 even when Sion's Provisions are now ready Oh why is the Season now slighted Why is the opportunity Heb. 3.15 To Day if ye will hear his Voice neglected Oh! why will you die Sinners when you might close with the Redeemer now according to the Time of Life Gen. 18.14 Why will you be Sick and yet shut the Door against the Physician 's entrance now when he would come with Grace and Healing Love to save you Why will you now be Blind Rev. 3.18 when you might have Eye-salve to make you discern every Thing clearly 2 Sam. 16.17 Is this your Kindness to your Friend that would make you highly welcome For behold now is the Day of Salvation behold now is the Accepted Time 2 Cor. 6.2 Never such an opportunity appear'd as the Day of Salvation is and therefore it is now that there is hope in Israel concerning this Thing Ezra 10.2 last words And this shews how the Provisions of the Gospel are ready in their Season as there is a fit opportunity for Sinners to be made now welcome to them So much for the second Branch of this Readiness now in opportunity being now when Grace is offer'd 3. Now ready when Ministers are now urgent They are now like Phinehas Numb 25.11 zealous for their God not to slay as He but to save and present you alive at Supper They are loth to see you starv'd and so much Victuals ready and therefore are earnest in calling out to bring you in to Christ Their Heart's Desire and Prayer Rom. 10.1 their Tears and Travel their Sermons Study Aim is that you may be saved Their Language is to Sinners turn again now every one from his evil way Jer. 25.4 5. and 35.15 Their Language is to Saints Oh taste and see Psal 34.8 They are serious and earnest towards all Faithful Ministers dare jest with none Isa 53.1 We press you to believe our report and come if by any means we may see you but safe in at Supper We blow the Trumpet Ezek. 33.3 we ring the Warning Bell to give you notice of Supper that the Feast now is ready 4. Now ready when God himself now waits to bestow Mercy on you It is your Duty to wait upon God but such is God's Grace and Condescention that he is pleas'd to wait on you And therefore will the Lord wait that he may be Gracious unto you and therefore will he be exalted that he may have mercy on you Isa 30.18 He stoops that you may be made the means by which he will raise his own Name the higher Rev. 2.21 He waits that he may be Gracious He gives space to repent and does not break up House before the set Time is come The King waits at the Supper-Hour to see his Guests in He hath limited a certain Day Heb. 4.7 And he will stay his own Time he sets As he hath constituted and set Bounds to a Sacred Day of rest as that Place must be understood which Bounds can never be broken up without a gross violation of the Morality of the Fourth Commandment so he likewise limiteth the Day of his Grace and Patience towards Sinners and he will not remove the Bounds he hath plac't by a Perpetual Decree to fence it Jer. 5.22 He hath secretly fixt a waiting-time within his own Breast and as he now waits accordingly so he hath fixt a Time when he will never wait more If thou dost not come in Sinner to this Supper within the compass of God's waiting-time he will not stay a Minute and beseech or use one word of intreaty after 2 Cor. 5.20 There is now silence in Heaven for the space of half an Hour Rev. 8.1 now God seems to be making a Pause upon Mount Ebal and will read no more Curses yet that thou might'st hear more comfortably and distinctly what is said upon Mount Gerizim Deut. 11.29 Psal 24.3 to encourage thee to ascend into this Hill of the Lord where the Fat Things wait upon the Mountain ready till thou art brought thither God now looks thro' the Pillar of the Cloud to see who comes running by the way of the Plain Exod. 14.24 2 Sam. 18.23 Numb 35.13 Mat. 7.13 Matth. 25.10 11 12. to get in at the City of Refuge and thrust in at the strait Gate to Table taking the Kingdom of Heaven by a Holy Violence now now now before the Door is shut 5. Now ready when the Spirit breathes and blows upon us For the Spirit of the Lord bloweth when as well as the Spirit John 3.8 where it listeth As the Spirit of God in the first Creation did move upon the Face of the Waters Gen. 1.2 or sit and hatch the Creature so in the new Creation under the Preaching of the Gospel the Spirit moves upon the Face of the Waters or People who often in Scripture are compared to * Rev. 17.15 Jer. 47.2 Eccl. 11.1 Psal 124.4 5 c. Waters and forms †Gal. 4.19 Rom. 6.19 Christ in them Now when Men preach and the Spirit helps the Infirmity of our Flesh the Gospel is then made ready For it is the Spirit that quickneth the Flesh profiteth nothing Joh. 6.63 It is a Time of Readiness when God sends forth the Spirit of his Son Gal. 4.6 and proclaims it in your Hearts with a crying at the Table Abba Father 1 Cor. 12.8.9 10. yea when to one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom to another the Word of Knowledge by the same Spirit to another Faith by the same Spirit to another Prophesie to another discerning of Spirits when the Spirit lifts up Ordinances and Means above their own Power when the Spirit speaketh expresly in us as well as the Language of the Messenger speaketh to us and when we see by the Blessed Effects of it Joh. 1.32 the Spirit of God descending from Heaven while the Word of the Kingdom comes in the Demonstration of the Spirit and with Power 1 Cor. 2.4 then is the Blessed Season the opportunity of the Gospel the special Time of Supper the now when All Things are ready It is now when the Spirit breathes and blows upon us And lo God now stretcheth forth his Hand the Spirit makes some work in thy Soul that perhaps thou canst now witness yea must acknowledge it this is the Finger of God Exod. 8.19 Why now then the Provisions are ready for thee 2 Cor. 2.15 't is now a Savour of Life unto Life to many and 't is now ready to get up Thee that art Dead while thou livest 1 Tim. 5 6 The Spirit now opens some Eyes that never saw one Morsel of the Bread of Life before It reveals Mysteries unto Babes which they never heard till