a Work doth justifie for it is only the Hand to receive Christ who is our Righteousness But he gives it this Name speaking in their own Terms who doted on Works and so the Doctrine of Faith is called a Law Rom. 3 27. because the Jews boasted so much of the Law Hutcheson upon John pag. 102. Work It justifies no otherwise than as it apprehends a justifying Object and it is a saving Work no otherwise than as it fastens and relies upon a saving Worker Hence it cometh to pass that without Faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Now Ignorance of this way to the Provisions in Christ makes them unto many so ineffectual If you think it an easie matter to thrust in to God any how without Christ as your Way his Word as your Rule and his Spirit as your Guide you will profit little by the Gospel so long as such a corrupt perswasion leads you Joh. 14.6 I am the Way the Truth and the Life The Way No access or coming unto the Father but by me The Truth No Doctrine can be sound that leads off from me The Life You will never enter into Life Mat. 19.17 if you enter not in by me as the Door and unto me as the Provision Again The Word must be your Rule Psal 119.133 Order my Steps in thy Word (h) Si extra Legem tuam incedo non est Stabile solum sub Pedibus meis coeno demergor Rivet Via vitae seu medit in Psat 119. operûm vol. 2do p. 472 If I step besides thy Law saith the Learned Rivet I tread where the Ground will not bear my Feet and where I am over Head and Ears in Dirt. Tho' Christ is the Way yet we should never know what Steps to take to or in him 'till the Word lays Christ forth and discovers each of them to us So for the Spirit it 's Guidance is necessary The Spirit of God hath branded it as Foolishness in those that follow their own Spirit Ezek. 13.3 There is no Spirit fit to be our Guide but His. Thy Spirit is Good lead me into the Land of uprightness Psal 143.10 Thy Spirit is good lead me or as (i) Tuo spiritu bono deduc me Junius some read it By thy Good Spirit lead me If we had Christ as the Way and his Word as the Rule too yet if we had not the Spirit as our Guide we should not by reason of the Darkness in us and upon us see the Straitness and Perfection of the Rule before us or know of our selves how at any Time to use it There is an absolute need of the Spirit 's Guidance after Conversion hence is that of the Apostle inculcated Walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.16 25. and walk after the Spirit Rom. 8.1 and that Phrase if ye be led by the Spirit Gal. 5.18 all which do import a submitting to the Conduct of the Spirit as our Guide And if there be a need of the Spirit for Saints after they have received Christ be sure there is a necessity of the Spirit 's Guidance for Sinners to bring them in to Christ Well Ignorance of and Unacquaintedness with the way of the Lord must needs be an Hinderance to the Feast of the Lord that makes Sinners desire none of his Dainties That is the Third Hinderance Fourthly Obstinacy 4 Hindran or an obstinate Aversion to the Things of God The Parable gives this account of it Matth. 22.3 that when the King had sent to call them that were bidden to the Supper they would not come Alas if Men will become their own Hinderers no wonder that the Gospel proves ineffectual If they will choose rather to starve than eat how can a Feast preserve or relieve such as these and yet this is the wretched and deplorable Case of Sinners their Hearts do naturally stand off from God therefore they say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the Knowledge of thy ways Job 21.14 There is a mighty Stubbornness and Rebellion in the minds of Men that God takes Notice of this was expresly laid open in the Jews Isa 48.4 I knew that thou art obstinate and thy Neck is an Iron Sinew and thy Brow brass Sinners will choose Poverty and despise Riches run into Misery and forsake their own Mercy Jonah 2.8 The Gospel would pity relieve and save them but they are a stiff necked Generation that will not turn and live Ezek. 18.23 v. 32. It would feed them but they will rather dye of spiritual Hunger it would cloath them but they will rather to Hell naked than go with Christ's Robe to Heaven They will rot in their Chains before they will stoop to choose a Free Release and will venture to fall Blindfold into the Ditch Mat. 15 14 Rev. 3.18 Joh. 9.7 rather than anoint with Eye-salve or wash in the Pool of Siloam Fifthly Other Feasts besides 5 Hindran Tho' in the Gospel it is the Supper of the great God yet in eating Sinners have taken every one his own Supper before it 1 Cor. 11.21 as the Apostle speaketh of the Lord's Supper They will have Banquets to corrupt the Flesh but none of that Holy Diet which might save their Spirits in the Day of the Lord Jesus Sinners will snatch especially at these Three the Lust of the Flesh 1 Cor. 5.5 the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life 1 Joh. 2.16 The World that reject a Feast provided by Father Son and Spirit yet will banquet with their own * Hec Tria pro trino numine mundus habet Trinity 1. The Lust of the Flesh is a Banquet with Sinners that obstructs the Gospel-Feast Lusts of the Flesh are such Pleasures says (k) Coton upon the 1 Epist of John one as Men find in Meat and Drink or Women either Intemperance or Incontinence And then again Pleasures whether we consider them as gross or vain the Pleasures of the Body or the Mind do hinder the Efficacy of Divine Provisions 1. Gross and Filthy Pleasures or Fleshly Lusts as the Apostle Peter calls them that War against the Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greek T. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pleasure is a Net that entangles ungodly Men. Fleshly Concupiscences the Original reads it alluding to that inbred Appetite of the old Man which goes forth after Morsels roasted at the Fire of Lust and took off the Devil's Spit Abstain saith the Holy Ghost from these Rom. 1.26 The Lust of the Flesh is a bad Appetite a vile Affection that covers to be a Partaker with Devils and rejects Angels Food Psa 78.25 It will find out a Banquet that quite spoils the Feast I may say here of the whole Gospel as the Apostle doth of the Lord's Supper in a Part of it 1 Cor. 10.21 Ye cannot drink the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils ye cannot be Partakers of the Lords
Name than a Supper could be given to an Entertainment of Grace now in the Evening of the World The Days of the Gospel are in Scripture styled peculiarly the last Days 2 Tim. 3.1 Heb. 1.2 There is a careful Father which provides in Heaven who will have a Supper for his Children upon the Earth in these last Times to feast them upon Gospel-Grace before they go to Bed that is before the Day of the World or their own Day ends Isa 57.2 when they must go and rest in their Beds each one walking in his uprightness I handle it after this nature in the end of the Discourse And bade many Luk. 14.16 last words God doth not make Provisions of Grace in vain or prepare a Great Supper and then have none to eat it He sends first to the Seed of Abraham and bade many Jews These had been a long while invited to accept of Christ and be in a readiness to embrace the Messiah as soon as that promised Seed came The Jews had notice of this Approaching Supper very early in the Morning they had warning at the first Dawn of that Star of Jacob to get ready Num. 24.17 and come in unto it And sent his Servant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 17. That is says * Servum illum unicum nempè Filium Dei Poli Synops Critic in loc one sent his only Son whom before he called his Servant Isa 42.1 Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect or Chosen in whom my soul delighteth This of whom the Prophet speaketh was none other than the Christ the Chosen of God 1 Pet. 2.4 Thus Luke speaks of no more than one Servant and of him as the Messenger of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 Joh. 1.14 last words who was also the only Begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth but Matthew uses the Term plurally Chap. 22.3 sent forth his Servants i. e. his Ministers and Ambassadours after the Mission of his Son * Christ thô a Son by Nature yea a Servant by Office of Mediation for our sakes Pemble upon Zech. p. 410. to press the same Thing Luke relates the Parable as Christ was sent in Person to treat with Sinners and Matthew writes as the Ministers of Christ were employed to come forth afterwards successively in the same Treaty even to the end of the World still inviting Sinners This two fold Testimony of Matthew and Luke is not self-contradicting or guilty of the least inconsistency It is no such Testimony for Christ as that was found against him Mar. 14.59 where neither so did their Witness agree together * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At Supper-time In the Hour of Supper it is read Christ came out of the Bosom of the Father in the Time of Love to Souls and the Dispensation of the Gospel is that Supper-season in which Christ is now given and sent by the Father to treat in the Ministry of the Word with Sinners This is the Hour when the Gospel is made ready This is the Evening-Time at which we may find that all is ready drest and waits for Guests to come The Readiness of the Things is not delay'd beyond the Supper Hour To say to them that were bidden As they had been before invited so now the Servant is sent to inform them 't is High-Time to come And therefore the Message is Come This supposeth a Distance which they that are bidden stand in to God he sends a Call to overtake such as were yet afar off The Grace of God did once find all that are now in Christ so Eph. 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the Blood of Christ And as there was a Distance in such as are now made nigh so there is a mighty Distance still in the All that are afar off Acts 2.39 even the many that the Lord our God shall call Now the Gospel-Invitation which supposeth a Distance from God begins with a Call unto him Come For all things are ready Not a Priviledge not an Encouragement not any kind of Gospel Grace excepted Dost thou want Pardon Peace Light Strength Joy in the Lord yet whatever thy Soul lusteth after who cryest after God it is all ready for thee Come Here is a Rich Feast refuse no longer to be a Poor Guest Here is All and All will be enough for thee Where is the Tongue of that Israelite that cryed out Psa 78.19 Can God furnish a Table in the Wilderness Who can question the Power of Jehovah to prepare a Table when they see all Provisions ready And Now ready The Supper of the Gospel is no such Banquet as requires any further care to make it The Law indeed made nothing perfect Heb. 7.19 but the Gospel needs no higher or clearer Revelations to perfect its own Discoveries God hath in these last dayes spoken to us by his Son Heb. 1.2 but from the Beginning when he multiplyed Visions and used Signs and revealed his Counsels in Dark Speeches then it was not so The Provisions were reserved in store and he hath kept the good Wine untill now In the Words there are 1. Plentiful Provisions made All things ready 2. An Invitation made unto Sinners to partake of these things Come 3. A quickning Motive urg'd from the Season of Readiness to prevail with the Guests to come Now ready I shall endeavour accordingly to manage the Discourse under these three Doctrines Doct. The Gospel is a large Feast stor'd with all kinds of Spiritual Provision in it Doct. God makes an Invitation unto Sinners to come in to this Feast Doct. The Gospel is a Feast or Supper that hath all its Provisions now ready Doct. The Gospel is a large Feast stor'd with all kinds of Spiritual Provision in it All things ready In the Management of this Doctrine I would handle it in the following Method under these Nine general things To shew Wherein the Resemblance of the Gospel to a Feast appears I. In what respect it is a large Feast II. What Things we have need of against the Feast III. What is the Bill of Fare IV. What excellent Properties there are in the Provisions of this Great Supper V. What suitableness from God appears in them to the Case of Man VI. Why it is a Feast with all things in it VII What Hindrances do make it to many ineffectual VIII To Apply it IX The First Thing is to open the Resemblances of the Gospel unto a Feast I. First 1 Resemblance The Gospel resembles a Feast in the entireness of it A Feast doth not consist in one kind to yield Meat only and withhold Drink or to afford Drink and not provide Meat but it makes Both ready Dr. Tho. Fuller Pisgah-sight p. 134. 1st pt Esculents and Beverage too as one terms them The Feast is not intire but incompleat if either part be wanting Thus
an intire Christ every Thing in him it is not only Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Except ye drink his Blood too ye have no Life in you Joh. 6.53 It is not meant of a corporal Drinking him Sacramentally as the Papists say that he speaks of in this Chapter as under the former particular it was hinted to be neither spoken of a Sacramental Eating of his Flesh for then except ye partook every one of the Lords Supper ye could not be saved whereas it might so happen that no space is given at least to all after Conversion to partake of any other Lords Supper than the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb in Heaven Besides it is principally to be considered that the Lord's Supper was not instituted till afterwards and therefore could not be here intended Indeed it is most evidently a Truth that we have Blood both ways to drink that is we have it spiritually to receive by Faith when the Soul ventures out to fetch in all that it needs from the Efficacy and vertue of this Blood and we have it also Sacramentally as represented under the Element of Wine while Love that bled drops the earnest into our Hearts and seals it up in us this Consideration will fall in more properly under the Cup of Consolation We are now to consider the Blood of Christ as it notes the special Application of it to the Soul for the Being and Support of a New Creature And thus it is rendred infinitely richer to the believing Soul than any vinous Liquor to make it fat and flourishing Drinking of the Blood of Christ implyes an Act of Faith in the Soul which receives all into it that was wrought by the Blood of Christ without it or takes hold of the Vertue of this Blood and applyes it to the proper Use and End which God himself hath given it To make it more plain it is Blood to (a) 1 Joh. 1.7 Rev. 1.5 Rev. 7.14 cleanse Faith steps out to this Blood and brings in a cleansing vertue from it it is Blood to (b) Isa 34.3 soften Faith makes out to it and receives in the foftning Influence of this Blood till the Stone dissolves and (c) Ezek. 36.26 mountains are melted with it it is Blood to * Col. 1.20 atone Faith runs for the Blood of Atonement hither It is Blood to (d) Acts 20.28 Eph. 1.7 Col. 1 14. Rev. 5.9 redeem Faith takes in the Redemption by it and knows that the †Job 19.25 Redeemer lives It is Blood to justifie Rom. 5.9 Faith rests here for absolution from Guilt and real Imputation of a Perfect Righteousness without to appear at the Bar of God in It is Blood to confirm Zech. 9.11 Faith believes it shall be even as God hath spoken and under its cloud looks up to the Blood of the Covenant and sees this Bow in it In a word it is Blood to save Rom. 5.9 10. and Faith makes readily out to it 1 Tim. 6.12 to lay hold upon Eternal Life It is every way as the Scripture speaketh abundantly of this Precious Blood 1 Pet. 1.19 that Faith drinks it in The manifold Benefits of this Blood of Christ do make it a Generous Drink to Faith that as his Flesh is Meat so his Blood is Drink indeed Joh. 6.55 Blood under the Law was forbidden Gen. 5.4 but lo here is Flesh with the Life Lev. 17.10 11. that is with the Blood thereof allow'd us Faith must receive it in the Antitype tho' Sense was to refrain it under the Type we must in all our Food have a recourse to the Mediatour and when we eat of his Banquet drink his Blood also Job 31.17 We must never eat of our morsel alone without the * Heb. 12.24 pt Blood of Sprinkling Indeed it could not have been a Banquet without Blood Our Feast had been otherwise spoil'd and all our fair Hopes spilled Oh! Blessed yea for ever Blessed be the Master of our Feast for this One Thing among the All Things ready even the †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alludes both to the Sacrifices and the Place of the Sprinkling the Blood Charnock Vol. 2d p. 896. Propitiation which we have thro' Faith in his Blood Rom. 3.25 A Propitiation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Grateful Offering unto God that every way pleas'd him It was thro' the Scent of Blood this perfumed Blood of Christ in the Nostrils of Jehovah that God was well pleased In whom we have Redemption thro' his Blood according to the Riches of his Grace Eph. 1.7 * In effusione Sanguinis fuit complementum Satisfactionis Davenant in Ep. ad Col. ch 1.14 p. 91. Satisfaction to Justice was compleated when he had filled the Ephah with his Blood for the measure of our sins Christ came not by Water only tho' a Fountain to wash in or a Well to drink of but he came by Water and Blood 1 Joh. 5.6 swimming htro ' two Seas at once Water may signifie his coming to sanctifie Vs and Blood to satisfie God for us Our Holiness springs from one as he is made of God to us sanctification and our Happiness flowes from the other as he is made both our Righteousness and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 The maintaining of Justification as a * Charnock 2d Vol. p. 1186. Great man observes by this Blood seems to be the Great contest between the True Church and the Antichristian State It hath many Enemies especially those two Bands of Warriours the Papists and Socinians 2 Pet. 2.1 that carry away the Beauty of the Cross by denying the Lord that bought them It seems to be the more deformed in the Latter because they have renounced many Romish Abominations but will still retain the Greatest And yet the Socinians to take off the Efficacy of Christs Blood on the Cross positively assert that he now maketh the Expiation where he maketh the Intercession Christ makes our Peace say they now in Heaven by the * Virtute Potestate plenâ absolutâ quam à Patre consecutus est Cateches Racov. mihi 16o. An. 1651. Absolute Power he hath with the Father there which if true must shut him wholly out of Heaven as a Mediatour of the Covenant to admit him in as the Second Person only in the Godhead But our High-Priest hath not entred into the Holy of Holies without Blood Heb. 9.7 which he once offered for the Errours of the People nor yet as the High Priests of Old with the Blood of Goats and Calves but by his own Blood he entred in once into the Holy Place †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he had found out or obtained a Redemption for us it must not be construed in the present Tense having obtained Eternal Redemption for us Heb. 9.12 so that our Redemption is by his Blood and was accomplished antecedently to his ascending into Heaven and sitting
yet the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him If the Lord open a wide Door Rev. 3.8 his People may look in and see what God hath done for them from Eternity in an * 1 Kings 22.25 inner Chamber Our Work here is to †1 Tim. 6.12 fight and hereafter to him that overcometh will he give to eat of the hidden Mannah Rev. 2.17 This overcoming indeed will be fully known in Heaven and yet the Saints shall obtain lesser Victories before 2 Tim. 2.3 The good Souldiers shall gain the * 2 Tim. 2.5 1 Cor. 15.57 Mastery tho' not the Crown here through our Lord Jesus Christ that giveth us the Victory For when we have so much of that Faith spoken of under the eleventh particular as to have Victory over the World 1 Joh. 5.4 and other Enemies by it this is the overcoming in this Life that so far as is consistent with the Knowledge of our Election here we are become the Brethren beloved of God and knowing also our Election 1 Thes 1.4 Indeed the Saints do rather taste than eat of this Hidden Mannah here God gives them some Job 26.14 but lo how small a Portion is it now 't is no more than just to save their longing he reserves it as it were for Glory Exod. 16.33 to bring forth the whole Pot hereafter 'T is too rich a Dish for every Saint while on Earth to spend upon in common Thou must be contented to see this Dish as it were but now only served in and must not murmur at the good Man of the House Matth. 20.11 if it be carried off as to a great part again and laid up in the Secrets of God from whence it came forth to be kept unto the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb. Rev. 19.7 It is clear from the Spirit of Revelation that there is an Election of Persons tho' some would throw in their Vote to decide it for Propositions being Enemies to the Apostle's word * Rom. 8.30 Eph. 1.5 1 Cor. 2.16 Predistinated and bring in that vain thing Post-destination but the Apostle who had the mind of Christ hath given us a clear light shining in this dark Place Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in Him before the Foundation of the World The Father pitch'd upon an Elect Company whom first he gave to Christ and afterwards bestow'd Christ on them so 2 Thes 2.13 God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation thro' sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth Which place discovers the Election of Means as well as the End Faith and Holiness here as well as Salvation in Heaven That also is a full Text and a comfortable 2 Tim. 2.19 Nevertheless the Foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth them that are his We may look upon our selves as the lost Sheep of the House of Israel Matth. 15.24 Joh. 10.14 but the Good Shepherd knows the Sheep by a Mark the Sheep see not The Scripture also speaketh individually and in the Distribution of this hidden Mannah gives a Portion as it were to seven Eccl. 11.2 and also to eight a few particular Women with Clement also and other Fellow-Labourers with the Apostle whose Names are in the Book of Life Nomina non nisi singuloâ—um Phil. 4.3 The Doctrine of Election is so personal as well as express that the Spirit of God in the Scripture descends so low as to a Rufus chosen in the Lord Rom. 16.13 and the Elect Lady 2 Epist Joh. v. 1. Thus we have a manifestation thro' the Word of the Secrets in this Pot of Mannah being the Mystery of his Will which he hath purposed in himself Eph. 1.9 The Scripture also lays it down absolutely without any limitations of it to the foreseen Conditions of Man's Faith and Obedience It is he hath Chosen not as he foresaw we would be Holy Eph. 1.4 but positively that we should be Holy The Lord in tender as well as sovereign Mercies did not look to what we might be That had left Salvation uncertain to every one or to what we would be That might have concluded us all immediately under Wrath but he lookt to his own Pleasure what we should be Rom. 9.23 when he made us Vessels of Mercy and that makes Salvation certain unto some I say the Scripture lays it down absolutely without any conditionality Names are written so close in the Book of Life that it leaves not room to put in an If between The Children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth Rom. 9.11 I know * See Dr. Hammond upon the Place some do Interpret the Place by restraining it to point out God's Election of Jacob to a better Condition than Esau in the Temporals of this Life But 1. Esau's Temporal Portion compar'd with Jacob's was not so much behind his Brother's as to make a Parallel to the Divine Love or Hatred v. 13. Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated Now tho' God did not bestow the Land of Canaan upon the Posterity of Esau yet he gave them Mount Seir Deut. 2.5 and he seems to bestow more in outward Things upon his Person than he did on Jacob sets him up as my Lord Esau with four hundred Men Gen. 32.4 v. 6. which were large Crusts and Parings of Common Bounty to throw a Dog with this Motto on his Collar Rom. 9.13 Esau have I hated 2. These Men which speak of an Election from foreseen Works in the matters of Eternity would do well to give us some fair Account why the Election then here in Temporals as they suppose it is yet an Election not at all of Works Now sure if Works take so much with God that he chooseth from the foresight of them to an everlasting State of Happiness it might seem the more congruous to Reason that God should have chose the Temporal Lot and Condition of those two Brothers from the same things foreseen If they resolve it as they must into the good Pleasure of God that he acted as a Sovereign in this Election to Temporals being said expresly Rom. 9.11 not of Works but of him that calleth then why must not God be allowed as well to be sovereign in the other but ty'd to our Works there Alas what should we gain by Limiting the Holy One of Israel Psal 78.41 for the allowing God a Sovereignty doth as was said before make Salvation sure unto some whereas the leaving it upon the Mutability and unstedfastness of our Wills had been to make Salvation equally uncertain and very doubtfull if not impossible to all The Spirit of God fixeth upon a variety of * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 11.26 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 9.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 2.23
Words in the New Testament to express this Doctrine of Election by and discovers that the very Calling that is an Efficacious saving Call of Grace in working the New Creature is but subservient to an Eternal Purpose Rom. 8.28 but that Purpose carries security in its Bosom for the Election hath always obtain'd it Rom. 11.7 They are not vain words but * Deut. 32.47 it is your Life in those words of Peter 2 Pet. 1.10 Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your †It is dangerous to tread on the highest round first and here it is impossible Culverwet The White Stone p. 167. Calling and Election sure God does not only write down the Names of his Elect in the Book of Life but he writes such a Nature or Law within their Hearts that they may at last be brought to read their Names in that other Volume of his Book I know this Mannah we are treating of doth not please every Man's Taste tho' Grace counts it pleasant Corruption calls it fulsom and the Old Man in our Flesh spits it up again Election Joh. 6.60 Election This is a hard saying who can hear it alas it savours so much of the Sovereign Grace of God that Man is too prone to rebel and fight against God We have a clear Specimen or Proof hereof from the Jews when Christ Preacht up this Subject to that untoward generation Acts 2.40 see Luk. 4. from the 25th to the 29th Verse they bore his Discourse 'till he came to Limit the Grace of God unto some Jude v. 22. making a Difference as Tho' there were many Widdows in Israel in the dayes of Elias yet unto none of them was Elias sent save unto Sarepta a City of Sidon unto a Woman that was a Widdow and many Lepers were in Israel in the time of Elizeus or Elisha the Prophet and none of them was cleansed saving Naaman the Syrian And lo now they can bear no longer but break out into a Rage and would have cut off the Preacher tho' the Prince of Life Acts 3.15 and murder'd him if they could before the time All they in the Synagogue when they heard these things were filled with wrath and rose up and thrust him out of the City and led him unto the Brow of the Hill whereon their City was built that they might cast him down headlong They grew outragious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were filled with a Stomachful wind and would have let out That and the Blood of our Lord at the Brow of the Hill together Their Fury was precipitant and would have Tumbled him if it had been possible into Hell for Preaching a Doctrine he brought them down from Heaven It is true 2 Cor. 12.1 that the Grace of the Gospel doth not bring the Elect to Visions and Revelations and unwritten means of knowing it v. 7. it does not exalt them above measure to carry them into the Heights and open the Book of Election immediately as it lyes before the Face of God 1 Cor. 4 6◠This is to be wise above what is written and to pretend to open what is shut up in the Purposes of Eternal Counsel For Election was first in God but 't is to be last seen of Us He began but we must end with it We are not to look only to the Purposes of Grace in God's mind from everlasting but must take in his Operative Grace as * Dr. Goodwin's Works Fol. 2d Vol. on Election p. 9. a great Man expresseth it in Calling comprehended under it The Grace of the Gospel instead of leaving us to climb up to the Throne of God carries us humbly to the Foot of Jacob's Ladder and sets us up upon the Round of Sanctification that stands next to us from which tho' our Beginnings are small Job 8.7 yet our latter End shall greatly encrease 'till it reach out from the Root-Grace in Election to the Top-stone in Glory Zech. 4.7 It carries us unto the Bible in the written Word and directs us to read the Transcript or the Hand-writing within our Heart Col. 2.14 and by the Help of this Fescue we may see whose Image and Superscription we bear Matth. 22.20 and when we discern Grace we may surely read both our Election and the Epistle of Christ together 2 Cor. 3.3 This brings in 14. The Royal Dainties of Assurance Election and Assurance are both so nigh of kin Eph. 2.15 that of twain they make up in the Point of Comfort and Satisfaction about our State one clear Evidence in the New Man From the Knowledge of our Sanctification springs the Knowledge of our Election and from the Knowledge of our Election springs up Assurance The Chain of Salvation is fastened with sure Links tho' some of the poor Saints can discern neither end of it Rom. 8.30 Moreover whom he did praedestinate them he also called and whom he called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified Royal Dainties of Assurance It deserves a high Name Jacob in blessing Asher his second Son by Zilpah whom she had Named the Son of her Happiness Gen. 30.13 bestows this Kingly Epithite upon his Table Gen. 49.20 Out of Asher his Bread shall be fat and he shall yield Royal Dainties Assurance is the white-stone on which the New Name Copied out of the Book of Life is written Rev. 2.17 latter part And will give him a White Stone and in the Stone a New Name written which no Man knoweth saving he that receiveth it The Holy Ghost seems to allude as * Durham Dr. J. Collings Supplement to Mr. Pool's Engl. Annotations Interpreters observe to the Judicial Custom of some Heathen Nations in their Acquitting and Condemning Malefactors as also in their Elections of men to any Trust or Honour in all which they were wont to take white and black Stones on the white Stones were written the Names of the Persons absolv'd or chosen and on the black Stones was no Name written Now he that received the Black Stone if a Malefactor was surely Cast and Executed if a Candidate or one that stood for an Election yet nigro carbone notatus he was rejected but He that had the White Stone with his Name upon it was acquitted from the Punishment or honourably Chosen into Place or Priviledge So the Assurance of the Favour of God in Electing or Accepting Grace and Love is compar'd to the Name written upon the White Stone of him that was sav'd alive or made Choice of These are the Royal Dainties of the Gospel which are made ready at this Supper of the Parable and unto some are given tho' our Father which is in Heaven doth not Carve them to every one that eats of the Childrens Bread Truth of Grace and Assurance of Grace are a Blessed Couple tho' they often dwell asunder The Apostle speaks of a * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plerophory or
You in power 1 Thes 1.5 and with the Holy Ghost that Life may enter into your Carkasses Jer. 25.34 and the dayes of your Slaughter be accomplished that you shall be like the slain that lye in the Grave Psal 88.5 no more Christ hath a Vertue to renew you Exod. 8.19 beyond all the Magicians of Egypt and their Enchantments that try to work Grace by Nature Moral Vertues as * Flavel Soul of Man p. 44◠one says are but as so many sweet Flowers strow'd over a Dead Corps which hide the loathsomness but inspire not Life into it Whereas there is a Quickning Touch in the Son of God that doth raise the Dead and will enable you to stand up from the Dead and live Eph. 5.14 2. The Gospel hath Enlivening Provisions suited to the Condition of Dead Souls as they are fallen under a Dead Frame Thou mayst have Life at the Root and yet thy Branch may look as if 't were dead in Winter or there may be a Concoctive Faculty and an inward Power of Digestion thro' Grace where thine Appetite to Food seems at present gone The Gospel therefore hath Enlivening Provisions that suit thy Dead Frame It hath Spirits to fetch thee when thou art fallen into a dead Swoon There 's a Word to quicken thee when thou art dead to Duty tho' thou art not thro' Grace wholly dead in Sin For Dead Frames in the New Man are the Reliques of the Old or the Remainders of thy Dead State before Now the Gospel hath a Portion to quicken thee a Preparation to whet thine Appetite when thou seemest to be dull and thy Senses are not as heretofore exercised Heb. 5.14 see Psal 119.50 This is my Comfort in mine Affliction for thy Word hath quickned me And v. 93. I will never forget thy Precepts for with them thou hast quickned me So that if thou art dropt asleep or fallen into a dead Swoon as a living Man may do thou seest how he hath provided quickning Means to help thee and excite thy Life again Thou art not destitute of such a Help Meet Gen. 2.20 but it is gotten thee among the All things ready If thy Sap be retired inwards there 's a Sun to cherish it and call it forth into outward Vital Acts agen If like Wax that hath melted thou art Congeal'd and hast contracted thy wonted hardness there is a Fire in the Sanctuary to melt thee at the Presence of the Lord again Yea sometimes thô thou art even ready to question the work that God maketh from the Beginning upon thy Soul Eccl. 3.11 and thou hast been certain dayes Dead in thy Stony Frame Dan. 8.27 or dry and withered that thou thinkest it almost impossible for these dry Bones to live Ezek. 37.3 yet there is a Quickning Virtue an enlivening Power procur'd and made ready for thee and thou sometimes feel'st it suddenly at an instant Isa 29.5 The Spirit of Life from God that hath seemed for a time to be drawn back from thee like Peter's sheet up again into Heaven Acts 10.16 yet is ready to come down and re-enter as at the Resurrection of those slain Witnesses after the three Days and a half Rev. 11.11 That 's the first Case wherein Gospel-Provisions do suit as well as are made ready They are enlivening either to raise from a Dead State or to quicken under any Dead Frame Secondly The Gospel hath Enlightning Provisions suited to the Condition of Blind Souls A Man may be a living yet a blind Creature that cannot see his way Nicodemus was so blind in spirituals when Christ discoursed the matters of Salvation with him that he could not discern the Mystery of the New Birth but was fain to put that Question in the Ignorant Man's Catechism Joh. 3.9 How can these things be It is but a blind Approach to Christ if we come to him only by the Hearing of the Ear and our Eyes have not seen him Job 42.5 Thou must therefore cry out as that Blind Man did when Christ askt him what he should do for him Luk. 18.41 Lord that I may receive my sight The Gospel is not suited to thee as Blind but as it hath an Influence upon that Film to remove it which closeth up thy sight There must be a gracious and invisible Touch to open Blind Eyes as certainly tho' not so miraculously as there was of Paul when immediately there fell from his Eyes Acts 9.18 as it had been Scales God first struck him Blind and afterwards made him see his Error Now the Gospel in its Enlightning Provisions will exactly suit such a Blind Case Tho' thou hast liv'd in a State of gross Darkness without any Glimpse of the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 true Light yet the Gospel is appointed and made ready to discover it This is plain in the Commission Paul received to Preach it Acts 26.17 18. Delivering thee from the People and from the Gentiles to whom now I send thee to open their Eyes and to turn them from darkness to light As if God had said Come Paul I will send thee into a spiritual Egypt where the People are groping in worse than Egyptian Darkness and I will send the Blessing of Goshen with thee Exod. that there shall be Light in all their Dwellings As in Natural Vision the Organ must be opened and clear'd as well as the Object illuminated and the Medium transparent thro' which the Visual Rays do pass So in the Opticks of the Gospel God hath made a Provision for every one of these His Spirit openeth the Eyes enlightneth the Object by shining upon Gospel-Truths and for a Medium doth utter Knowledge clearly Job Art thou Ignorant of Salvation yet the Gospel is suited to give Knowledge of Salvation Luk. 1.67 Art thou lying spiritually in the dark that thou knowest not what to make either of thy Condition or of many needful Truths before thee yet the Gospel is provided to give light to them that sit in darkness v. 79. Art thou groping with that old Staff in thy Hand of Nature and trying by thy self how to find the way but after all thine Attempts dost thou find thy self uneasie well still the Gospel is ready suited to guide our Feet in the way of peace * ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To guide strait as the word imports that in the Dark we may not run into Crooked Paths or turn any where aside The Master of the House sets up a Candle in his Entry that we may see tho' by Night to come in to the Feast he makes Thou bast been already perhaps under the means and yet dost complain still of much Obscurity every new Tryal casts a kind of a mist before thine Eyes and if thou seest any thing for thy Soul it may be it is but as he did that looked up and said Mark 8.24 I see men as Trees
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
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
the Golden Pipes of Ordinances as they are Typed out in the Prophet's Vision of the Golden Candlestick and the two Golden Olive-Branches may also empty the Golden Oyl out of themselves Zech. 4.12 That Ordinances may neither be broken as the Pipes sometimes that convey the Water are nor yet their Fatness or Moisture fail as a means of conveying all Things ready Eighthly 8 Dir. Look beyond the Instrument any meer Servant of the King 's sent to call you or bid to wait at Table on you Look off from Instruments and behold the First Cause Holy Mr. Rutherford has an excellent Passage to this purpose in his Letters (s) Pt. 3d. p. 37. Such as are Hungry look more to the Meat than the Carver Oh! look off as hungry Feeders from the Attendance of his Ministers to view the great Provider and taste the Vertue of all his great Provision Why look ye so earnestly on us as tho' by our own Power or Holiness we had made this man to walk the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob the God of our Fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus Acts 3.12 13. It is the Glorifying of his Son Jesus and not the Abilities of Paul or Apollos or any Ministers by whom ye believed We are but poor Lacqueys that run after our Lord to be with him where he is upon any great Day of the Feast Ninthly 9 Dir. Learn to be weaned from Temporals when you have such Provisions made in Spirituals Take what you have in Christ and be Content the meek shall eat and be satisfyed Psal 22.26 tho' God blesseth your other Basket and your Store Deut. 28. ◠yet live above the World upon Him who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Heavenly Things in Christ Eph. 1.3 When he calls you to dwell in his House regard not your Tents nor lodge among your own Stuff Take off your Hearts from many Things and lay them up with your Treasure here in All Col. 3.2 Set your Affections upon Things above not on Things on the Earth Pant not after the Dust Amos 2.7 when God pours Waters out of his Buckets Num. 24.7 Be more Crucifyed to the World Gal. 6.14 since he that hung upon the Cross hath prepar'd enough by getting all without it If God hath drawn some Earthly Breasts dry yet let these Breasts of Consolation in the Gospel wean you from the Paps that you have sucked Let that World to come provided put the World that now is under you In one word be contented to wash off your Thick Clay which sticks upon your Fingers 1 Joh. 1.1 and handle the Word of Life Tenthly 10 Dir. Pity others that want your Plenty The less they have let your Bowels grow the larger to them Be not of a Narrow Spirit that shuts out the sense of other Men's Necessity when you feed in large Pastures Be grieved for the Afflictions of Joseph Amos 6.6 and don 't carry it like his unnatural Brethren that when they had cast him into a Pit Gen. 37.24 25. sat down to eat their Bread Think of God's Prisoners tho' the chief Butler may forget them when he is pressing the Cup into Pharaoh's Hand Tho' you have got a Pleasant South-Land and the Streams in the South to make it fruitful yet think of your Brethren in France that are driven out of their South-Land and have their Springs of Water dry Put on Bowels when you behold your Table and are about to fill your Belly Eleventhly 11 Dir. Tho' you have Plenty waste none Make no Orts of Crumbs When your Table is full turn it not into wantonness least God overturn it Tho' you have found so much do not lose any Beware of every Morsel let none fall under the Table to be trod on Gen. 32.10 Make much of the least of all God's mercies thou mayst yet be low in thy State tho' thou art high-fed at present and tho' such a Feast be now set before thee Luk. 16.21 thou mayst desire again hereafter to be fed with the Crumbs that fall from the Rich man's Table Twelfthly Abound in Love 12 Dir. both to the Maker of this Feast and to all our Fellow-Guests with us Professors of the Gospel should love and such as eat together cleave to one another Love is a special Duty we owe at such a Love-Feast 1. Abound in Love to God The Words of the Commandment that were written in Stone should be transcrib'd upon the Fleshy Tables of our Heart 2 Cor. 3.3 see Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy Might Oh! how should we send Love streaming out of our Souls when Love pricks the Vein tho' we bleed to Death with Love 2. Abound in Love to all your Fellow-Guests 1 Joh. 4.21 And this Commandment have we from Him that he who loveth God love his Brother also Shall there be Contentions among Brethren at the same Gospel-Table when (t) Jenkyn upon Jude 2d pt pag. 118. the eating at one Rack hath bread Peace between the very savage Beasts It is the Note of an Egyptian Gen. 43.32 to have an Hebrew in Abomination and refuse to Bread with him Let those quarrel who sit at the Devil's Banquets but let us agree who have our Table prepar'd of God Let the Dogs fall out that fight for Bones but let the Children that eat of Children's Bread unite Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity Psal 133.1 It is comely to sit together in our Profession at the Gospel-Table Eph. 1.3 as we hope to sit together in the Heavenly Places and not like Foolish Children wrangle and contend about our Meat to provoke our Heavenly Father to take the Dishes off or send Vs to Bed to our Graves without a Supper II. Doct. That God makes an Invitation to Sinners in the Preaching of the Gospel to come in to this Feast The Method in which I shall endeavour to prosecute and handle this Truth will lye in Four things 1. To open the Properties of the Invitation and shew you the perswasive Force or Strength and sweet import of this Blessed Word Come 2. To explain also the Nature of Man's coming when God's Call prevails 3. The Reasons or Necessity of this coming urg'd upon us Why it must be And 4. The Vse The First Thing is to open the Properties of the Invitation I. and explain the Nature of God's Call to Sinners when he Invites them by the Preaching of the Gospel to partake of His Feast Take them in these Ten Particulars 1. It is a Gracious Invitation 1 Property a Come that is full of Grace and Love an Invitation that springs not from common Tenderness Luk. 1.78 but the tender Mercies of our God He is styled the Father of Mercies
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
the Night preceding as that famous Apologer cited in the Margent observeth in a Learned Tract And it must needs be a Thick Darkness upon the Pagan World while the Divine Light did but faintly shine in Goshen God's own People had but some Prelibations and Fore-tasts so early not a full Gospelmeal Holy Diet was more sparing thô they were sed with never so many slain Beasts both in the Morning and at Noon because the Chief Meal in the Day of Grace at the Supper of our God was not then come But we under the Gospel may say now ready even we of this Age to whom the Gospel is Now come Job 8.9 We are but indeed of yesterday upon the Earth and our Span will reach but a little way tho' it extendeth most upwards Luk. 1.78 yet no sooner did the Day-spring from on high visit our Quarters but God sent in Provision with it 1 Sam. 25.8 We come in a Good Day that are born at the Hour of Supper We are come forth into this World a little before Night and just as the Gospel hath met us reeking in our Pollution Ezck. 16.6 and lying in our Blood as it passeth by the Grace of it unto us may be dated now ready It is ready for poor Dark Families that have been full of the Habitations of Cruelty Psa 74.20 and Dark Souls even now when God springs in with Light and reformeth the Times of this Ignorance which before he winked at coming now in the Preaching of the Gospel to command them every where to repent Acts 17.30 And the Times of this Ignorance God winked at There was a Time when the Nations were in the Dark and God took no Notice of them he * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 overlookt them as the Word is he had not an Eye of Mercy for them but lookt over their Dark Times to instruct other Ages in the Knowledge of Saving Truth so we have a Paralel Testimony given us Acts 14.16 Who in times past suffered all Nations to walk in their own ways * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In times past he did so that is in the Ages and Generations of Men that are gone such whom Time hath now carried us off a great way from But God hath now alter'd the Case in Mercy and tho' he did shut his Eyes on Them and righteously wink and overlook them yet his Eyes are not contracted at this Day but he opens and graciously fixeth them to look full on us And now commandeth all Men every where to repent That is the Times in which the Gospel comes are the Times in which a People do receive the Grace of God in Christ and therefore God looks to such Heb. 9.10 and expects they should be I imes of Reformation Well the Gospel is now ready for you of this Age when God hath taken that which letteth out of the way be it any obstruction whatsoever and it comes in the Preaching of it to you 'T is now ready to give understanding unto the simple when God perceives of most of you that you are ignorant and unlearned Men and hereby will have your poor Ignorant Neighbours and your Carnal Kindred and Acquaintants who it may be will not be perswaded to come along with you take Knowledge that you have been with Jesus He sends the Light of the Gospel among you to acquaint you with the Things of your Peace which perhaps you had lived all your Days in the World some of you and never knew till now 'T is now ready to regenerate and save such of you as have been Dead and Lost until now the Gospel hath been excellently made known by many a Saint that is now Dead and now in the Grave and yet speaketh whose Testimony agreeth with some that are alive and remain that now confirm the same Gospel also You have Great Things that have been made known in this Age I speak particularly of this 17th Century since Christ whereas our Ancestors in some Ages and Generations past were nurst up universally in the Darkness of Popery and again before that in the blackest Shades of (ſ) See Verstegan's Antiquities Chap. 3. from p. 73. to p. 89. mibi 8º Edit 1673. Paganism and never had a Glimpse of the True Light that now shineth or a Taste of the Supper now ready 3. The Supper of the Gospel is now ready in regard of the opportunity or special season now afforded us Opportunity is that happy juncture which (t) Jenkyn Supplement to the Morning Exercise pag. 92. Sect. 7. one expresseth thus The Spiritual Market-day for the procuring of saving Provisions for our Souls upon which we are to live for ever The original expresseth the opportunity of Time by a Distinct word 1 Cor. 7.29 We translate it the Time is short but the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greek readeth it The opportunity is short it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall consider this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Punctum Temporis or present Readiness of the Gospel according to the Season under a Five fold Division 1. Now ready while Life now continues Life is in a continual Lapse it is a Thread that slips and hath nothing but a succession of present Moments that like Points hold it together in continuity now we have no more properly for our Season than these instant Points or Moments We can say only of Time past it was Punctum est quod vivimus of Time to come it is not and therefore it remains only that we possess the Time that now is Life consequently is a going and the work of it for our Souls must be done can be only done while Time 's a lasting John 9.4 I must work the works of him that hath sent me while it is Day the Night cometh when no Man can work The Night of your Departure is at hand and drawing on apace in which you can neither eat nor see to walk or work Now you hear is but a Point and 't is always Passing Life never standeth still the Time is short if we measure it from one end to the other with our common Span. Alas what is Methuselah's Age to Eternity Gen. 5.27 And what is Threescore years and Ten to Methuselah's Psa 90.10 and what is to Morrow that we cannot boast of Prov. 27.1 to Threescore years and Ten And yet we have but such a short and uncertain season of Life to come and receive Mercy in Mercy if we refuse it can but follow us all the days of our Life Psa 23.6 tho' often Mercy steps back and leaves a Sinner to himself sooner and doth not follow him I speak of the offers of Saving Mercy to his Live's end However after Death if the Time of Life be slipt Psa 6.5 in the Grave there will be no Remembrance of us the Gospel can be only ready for us now before we