Lord doest thou wash my feet this he seemed to say as fearing it had been too much dishonour for Christ the Son of the immortal God to wash a sinners feet not then fully understanding as after he did 1 Peter 1.19 that he came to redeem us with his own pretious bloud in effect he said O my Lord dost thou wash my feet with those sacred hands with which thou didst open the eyes of the blind heal the sick and raise the dead c. I am unworhty to perform this office to thee and wouldest thou do it for me Christ told him verse 7. What I do thou knowest not now c. as if he had said Peter thou doest not as yet understand the reason of this act of mine thou shalt in due time know upon what ground I do it but in the mean time it behooves thee to submit thy self with all humble obedience to this work I have in hand for if I wash thee not thou hast no part with me the meaning is if I do not wash thee both by my bloud shed for the expiation of mans sin and by the sanctifying power of my Spirit which I would represent unto thee by this washing thou canst have no part of glorious comfort with me no interest in me no benefit by me afterwards verse 12. Christ sat down with his Disciple to the Passover where by the way observe That Christ celebrated four Passovers The first was mentioned in John 2.23 which as the learned conceive was celebrated on the sixt day of April The second Passover they conceive is mentioned John 5.1 The third they conceive is in John 6.4 The fourth here mentioned in this chapter and in Math. 26. Mark 14. Christ kept his Passover the fourteenth day of the first moneth called in the Hebrew Abib Exod. 13.4 in the Chaldee tongue Nisan Esther 3.7 containing part of March and part of Aprill for that indeed was the proper time first appointed by the Lord Exod. 12.6 he did not tarry the other two dayes as the Jewes did before they kept it The tenth day every one was to begin to prepare and so Christ did by coming to Jerusalem for he came thither six dayes before the Jewes kept their Passover the first of which answered to our Monday and the fourth to Thursday That the Jewes kept not their Passover till two dayes after it is plain because he being taken by them that night and brought to the judgement Hall next morning being Friday it is said that they would not go in because it was their preparation to the Passover John 18.28 so they kept not the Passover till the next day being our Saturday but their Sabbath That Christ kept his Passover before the Jewes kept theirs is expresly noted in this chapter for his last Supper is said to be before the Passover but this by the way These words in my Text contain two parts 1. A Supposition If I wash thee not 2. A Position Thou hast no part with me Doct. From hence observe this Doctrine That if Christ wash us not we have no part with him that is no part of grace glory comfort or spiritual benefit with him what he spake to Peter he spake to us all This Point hath two branches The first is That Christ washeth us and that he doth five wayes 1. By the Sacrament of Baptisme Math. 3.11 I indeed baptize you with water c. but he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire that is with the holy Ghost like to fire in operation and effect Titus 3.5 But according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost that is by the renewing of the holy Ghost which is like a bath of water whereby our filthy sins are washt away Ezek. 36.25 26 27. whereof Baptisme is a sign and a seal in the original it is by the laver of regeneration he alludes to the laver of brass Exod. 30.18 in which the Priests washed themselves when they ministred in the Tabernacle 2. By his blessed Word John 15.3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you that is the Word which I have spoken to you was accompanied with such power of the Spirit that like water it cleansed you from corrupt affections 3. Christ washeth us by the merit and efficacy of his pretious bloud 1 John 1.7 And the bloud of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin namely by the merit and efficacy of it 4. Christ washeth us by the saving graces of his holy Spirit Titus 3.5 and renewing of the holy Ghost Ezek. 36.25 Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you that is the saving graces of the holy Ghost 5. Christ washeth us by his gentle corrections and trials sanctified to us afflictions are compared to water Psalm 66.12 We went through fire and through water Psalm 42.7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water spouts all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me as if he had said one affliction like so many waves comes in the neck of another and in a miserable succession as it were cals for the next upon the predetermination of these my adversities which do as it were gush out from thee by those conveiances which thou hast ordained now the fruit of these afflictions sanctified is set down in Isaiah 27.9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin Reas Because God ordained and sent him for this end John 6.27 For him hath God the Father sealed that is ordained and authorized him to be the onely meanes to wash and cleanse us such as seek by other meanes to get their sins washt away and not by his bloud will loose their labour and such as seek to have them washt away by his bloud shall certainly enjoy this mercy because God hath ordained him to this work and he will do it perfectly 2. Because he onely can do it he hath infinite merit and efficacy in him it belongs to his priestly office to wash our sins away Hebr. 9.14 How much more shall the bloud of Christ who through the eternall Spirit that is his Godhead offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works c. all doctrine belongs to his Prophetical Office all merit belongs to his Priestly Office all efficacy belongs to his Kingly Office 3. Because Christ purchased and procured pardon of sins and peace with God for us therefore he is said 1 Corinth 1.30 to be made to us wisdom righteousness sanctification and redemption God the Father is every true beleivers portion Christ by his bloud hath purchased this portion for them and the holy Ghost seales this portion to them Ephes 1.13 Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise that is which Christ promised to send to his Elect in John 14. and 16. chapters The second branch is If Christ wash us
an apple-tree however as apples are comfortable to the stomack so is Christ in his Ordinances to a sanctified soul most comfortable and sweet insomuch that such as enjoy him may say with more comfort than Esau said to Iacob I have enough Reas 2. Because this enduring meat is of infinite worth and excellency its worth all our labour pains and care we may repent our pains and care for worldly food but we shall never need to be sorry for our pains for Christ We may say of him as the Israelites did of David he is worth ten thousand of us and as the Church Cant. 5.10 He is the chiefest of ten thousand Prov. 8.11 Wisdom is better than Rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it in which place by wisdom Divines understand Christ and truly if we could view him with the eye of faith we should admire his transcendent lustre and excellency as Plato said if one could see the form of vertue it would wonderfully excite men to the love and study thereof Reas 3. Because this everlasting food is not easily obtained gold and silver will not purchase it Simon Magus could not buy the gifts of God with money Isai 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price in which words the Holy Ghost alludes to haven towns by the seaside where ships come in richly fraught and laden with excellent commodities where you may buy the best at the first hand and most cheap the Prophet saith buy come and buy in regard that we must take pains for Christ yet he saith buy without money and without price because nothing in this world no outward excellency is of equal worth and value to be given in exchange for Christ Reas 4. Because we have exceeding great need of this enduring food John 6.53 Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his bloud ye have no life in you If we feed not upon Christ we are dead in sin and are like to be undone for ever for without Christ we can have no true hope of life and peace our journey is long as far as from earth to heaven we have many dangerous enemies in the way whom we can never vanquish without the spiritual efficacy of this divine food Vse It serveth to inform us of one chief cause why true Christians do persevere and hold out in the way of grace to the end the main reason is because they are fed with this celestial meat which will renew their strength as the Prophet speaks Isai 40. last Elias walked forty dayes in the strength of the meat the Angel gave him but Christs true members feeding daily upon him do continue in his way to their lives end the same power that raised Christ from the dead the third day the same power raiseth all true Christians from death to life Ephes 1.19 20. and though we had the best food in the world yet sickness old age and death may take away our stomack that we cannot eat of it but by eating of this divine food we shall increase when nature decreaseth Psal 92.12 13 14. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree he shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God they shall bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing 1 Corinth 15.45 The first man Adam was made a living soul the last Adam was made a quickening spirit in which the Apostle intimates that Christ communicates life to his and confirmes them in it against final apostacy and supplies them with a continual renovation of this spiritual life unto eternal life which Adam would not do for his posterity Christ is so able faithful and careful over his members that none can pluck them out of his hands John 10.29 he nourisheth them so effectually with himself and his Ordinances and his blessed Spirit so that it is as impossible for true beleivers to perish as for Jesus Christ himself to perish for God hath loved them with the same love wherewith he loved Christ John 17.23 and hath ordained Christ to be the principal meanes for their redemption conversion justification adoption and glorification Ephes 1.2 to the 10. Galat. 3.26 Colos 1.27 therefore in Psal 40.7 In the volume of thy Book it is written of me by book there is meant Gods eternal dectee and according to the original it is properly in the head or top of thy book where the Holy Ghost imports thus much to us that the chiefest thing which God intended before the world was was that Christ should be the Saviour of his elect for his glory Vse Secondly It serves to inform us of the excellency and dignity of true Christians who onely eat of this everlasting meat Revel 2.17 Christ promiseth to such as overcome to give them to eat of hidden Manna which is himself he is hidden from others true Christians have such meat to eat as others know not of Psal 78.24 25. God is there said to have fed the Israelites with Angels food that was Manna a type of Christ but so called by way of eminency to denote with what excellent food he fed them but what 's the shadow to the substance the tipe to the truth No food in the world comparable to this bread of life an humble heart feeding daily upon Christ hath joy unspeakable and glorious when the voluptuous Epicures of this life have no solid comfort for they have no more than the creature can afford them though the righteous endure outward poverty and seem miserable by reason of many adversities yet they are better in their worst estate than ungodly men are in their best estate in regard they feed upon this divine Manna they like Daniel look better with pulse than others who feed onely upon earthly dainties Vse The next use is for reproof I shall spin the rest of the Uses out of those four heads in the first branch which will run like a thred through the web of the whole point 1. I told you in the first place that Christ is everlasting meat by the merit and efficacy of his person This serves to reprove such as labour not for Christs merits for their justification in Gods sight and these are the Papists who seek for and teach justification by works so by this meanes they derogate from Christs merits and put themselves into a miserable condition for upon this ground conceive that a Papist living and dying a Papist cannot be saved St. Paul Philip. 3.9 renounceth all confidence in his own merits in point of Justification And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith The Papists
of heaven gates to unlock them this is a sign of Gods great favour to you when he graciously heares and grants your suits it s a sure sign of an upright heart hating all sin Psalm 66.18 If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me verse 19. But verily God hath heard me therefore he might safely conclude he regarded not iniquity in his heart friends will say to one another you shall prevail with me sooner than others shall I will do more for you than for others doubtless its a sign you are good friends when you find good hearing and granting your prayers so our Saviour cals them friends Iohn 15.14 15. 2. You shall abide in the love of God Iohn 15.10 If ye keep my commandements ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commdements and abide in his love what greater happiness can you desire in this world you need not fear the malice and fury of devils and wicked men you need not fear famine sword pestilence poverty nor death it self whilest you abide in the love of God his loving kindness will be better to you than life for in his love is life yea it is better than wine his love will make every thing work together for your good it will sweeten crosses and want to you what if you loose your outward estate your liberty your favour with the world yea your bodily life for Christ yet your continuing in Gods love will make amends for all it will repair your losses renew your comforts establish your hearts in grace and promote you to glory you cannot be in a better condition than to abide in the love of God 3. Christ will present you glorious to God Ephes 5.26 27. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish as if he had said that he might sanctifie and cleanse it by his holy Spirit working in us by his Word and by his Sacrament of baptisme as the meanes thereof that he might present it to himself a glorious Church c. Christ presents his Church to God at three several times The first time was when he was upon the cross 1 Peter 2.24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree c. for he died for all the elect and the Lord said upon him the iniquities of them all the merit of his bloud then shed and the power of his death extends to all the elect from the beginning of the world to the end of it and God looks upon them washt with that bloud and reconciled to himself by his death The second time is from his death to the end of the world now he is interceding in heaven Rom. 8.34 Who also maketh intercession for us Christ is our intercessour four wayes 1. By appearing for us in the sight of God Hebr. 9.24 he is gone before us to prepare a place for us John 14.2 and Hebr. 6.20 Whether the fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus c. 2. By the force of his sacrifice once offered to make full satisfaction to Gods justice Hebr. 10 12 14. Christ presents his merits as a publick satisfaction for the debt of sin and as a publike price for the purchase of glory for the justice of God was not to be intreated or pacified without a satisfaction and therefore where Christ is called an Advocate he is called a propitiation too 1 Iohn 2.1 2. because he intercedes for us in the right and vertue of the price which he payed for the Lord spared not his Son Rom. 8.32 but dealt in the full rigour of his justice with him 3. By his constant will that for the merit of that sacrifice God would be pacified to wards the elect Hebr. 10.10 Iohn 17.24 4. By the assent and agreement of the Father resting in this will of his Son for us Iohn 11.42 Math. 17.5 The third time is at the day of judgement when he will say Behold I and the children which thou hast given me then the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord then Christ will say to his true Members Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world then shall true Christians have boldness in the day of judgement 1 Iohn 4.17 because as he is so are we in this world that is our hearts tell us that we desire to be every way conformable to his will labouring towards that holiness and perfection which it in him we are as Christ was in this world when by the mortification of our sins we represent Christ dying for us and by true brotherly love we come as neer to him as we can 3. I told you in the third place that Christ washeth us with his precious bloud This Use still serves to comfort all that be so washed these blessed priviledges belong to you First it s a sure sign that Jesus Christ hath loved you Revel 1.5 Vnto him that hath loved us and washed us in his own bloud If he had not loved thee he would not have washt thee this is thy great honour and comfort to be beloved of him it is a true proverb he is rich whom God loves and poor who God hates the love of Christ is better than wine it s the ground of all other comforts thou needest not fear the malice of devils and wicked men for the love of Christ can do more for thee than their malice can do against thee devils are mighty wicked men are mighty and sinnes are mighty but Christ is Almighty for he is God over all blessed for ever neither can any thing separate thee from his love Romans 8. last 2. A second priviledge is thou art a spiritual King and a Priest Revel 1.6 And hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father that is as he redeemed us by his bloud so he hath regenerated us by his Spirit 1 Iohn 5.6 and made us Kings to rule over the devil the world and the flesh and priests to offer up to God the personal sacrifice of our selves Rom. 12.1 the verbal sacrifice of praise and reall sacrifice of almes Hebr. 13.15 16. what though thy outward estate be mean and low thou art nothing set by yet thou art honourable because thou art precious in Gods sight Eccles 10.7 I have seen servants upon horses and Princes walking as servants upon the earth yet they are Princes still for the righteous though he be low and contemned is better than his rich neighbour that is wicked and leud though the world look upon thee with scorn and hatred yet God and his glorious