both Good and Evil by reason of Vse or as the word is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rendred thro' a Habit. Altho' young Children's Stomachs will not endure strong meat yet the Stomachs of grown men are habituated to receive Diet according to their Age their Constitution is stronger than Children's and therefore their Meat above them Not that any who are †Isa 28.9 weaned from the Milk are above the Word but they are by it grown taller in Knowledge than just to reach unto first Principles and are not still little Children learning their Rudiments in the School of Christ While others are * 2 Tim. 3.7 drawn from the Breasts that is are yet as the Infant whom the Mother hath but newly taken off her Breasts these are gone higher in spiritual Gifts and Attainments than when they were first coming to the * 1 Tim. 3.13 Knowledge of the Truth They have taken a Good Degree under the Teachings of Gods Spirit The Gospel yields these Provisions of Strong meat for them There are indeed Doctrines in the Word of Righteousness Heb. 5.13 that contain the Great Mystery To instance briefly in some as 1 * Tho' Faith cannot comprehend the Matter believed yet it knoweth the Ground why it doth believe namely the Testimony of Gods Word which saith it is thus and thus Anthon. Burgess Exposition of the 3d. Chapt. of the 1 Epist to the Cor. pag. 71. That Profound Mystery in the Trinity of Persons the Father Son and Spirit that these Three are one one God and yet Three Persons for ever This is a High Mystery For as †Culverwell Light of Nature pag. 148. one says tho' the Vnity of a Godhead is Demonstrable and clear to the Eye of Reason yet the Trinity of Persons that is three Glorious Relations in one God is certain to none but an Eye of Faith Indeed as another * Dr. Bates Christian Religion proved by Reason p. 187. excellent Author well observes The Unity and supreme Equality of the Three Persons in the Godhead transcends our Conception but Reason cannot prove it to be impossible The Doctrine of these Three Glorious Subsistences in one single uncompounded indivisible Divine Essence is a Truth but passeth all Vnderstanding Phil. 4.7 2 The Doctrine of Reconciliation in making Satisfaction to Divine Justice for Man's Breach of the Law by the Death of the Second Person in the Trinity Eph. 2.15 so making Peace is so much above our shallow Reason to comprehend that * some rather Professors of Reason than Faith or Divinity dare strike at the Foundation to see whether they can remove our Corner-stone 3 The Mysterious Hypostatical Union of the Two Natures in the Glorious Person of the Mediatour or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with other Doctrines contained in the sure Word of Prophesie 2 Pet. 1.19 are Truths above the Understanding of the Highest Christian or the Greatest Scholar in the World tho' not to apprehend yet to comprehend them Understandings we may say that are got to the Fullest measure of the stature of Christ Eph. 4.13 are yet out of their Reach when they are walking in the search of the Depth Job 38.16 and try to fathom these Deep Things of God Alas these are Mysteries in Christ which they that are * Col. 2.10 compleat in Christ must sit down at the Well-Head of Life and cry out with the Apostle * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the Depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgments and his ways past finding out Rom. 11.33 Nay as * Mr. Sam. Lee Joy of Faith p. 214. one says These are Things which the Glorious Angels strain at and makes their Wisdoms bend like an Ozier in a Storm to look down into them and can never feel the Bottom of these Deeps without Drowning But however there are Doctrines also in the Gospel which may very properly be likened to the Strong Meat and Food of grown Christians These also are found among the Mysteries of Knowledge given us from the Spirit of Revelations as concerning the Decrees Rom. 11.7 both touching the Election in Christ and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the rest that were Blinded Ibid. and concerning Christ's Natures that there are Two setting the mysterious consideration of the Modus in their Personal Union aside concerning his Offices Prophetical Sacerdotal and Regal his Two States of Humiliation and Exaltation his Accomplishment of all the Types in the Old Testament Personal and Mystical those * Dr. Tho. Taylor of the Types p. 2. Swadling-cloaths in which Christ was exhibited to the Fathers All the Glorious Prophesies of his Gospel-Church state and Mediatory Kingdom to be yet seen in the Kingdoms of this World Rev. 11.15 The Doctrines of the Resurrection the Last Judgment and an everlasting Future state are the strong meat at this Plenteous Entertainment for Christians that have arrived to some Maturity in Knowledge and with a competent measure of understanding are able to digest what they feed upon 3. The true Bread from Heaven 3. Ruth 1.6 The Lord hath visited his People in giving them Bread Ezek. 5.16 as well as Strong meat Bread is the Staff of Life take away Bread and a Morsel of strong Meat may be enough to overcome us so take away Christ and when we had to do with some of the Doctrines in the Word of Truth without him they would be too strong for us and make us spit them out again For Example if we were left to consider the Infinite naked Essence of God his Divine Immensity would swallow us or if we were to consider the Infinite Holiness of God Hab. 1.13 that is of purer Eyes than to behold evil and that cannot without an unspeakable Abhorrency look on Iniquity if we were to ponder his strict and inexorable Justice abstracting the consideration from the Person of the Mediatour such a morsel of strong Meat would be so much beyond our Natures to endure that we could not take the Name of God into our Mouths We are such rotten Stubble since our Fall that if we have not always to do with a God in Christ Psal 106.18 Heb. 12.29 the Flame will burn up the wicked for our God is a consuming Fire We must never touch any strong meat if we have not the Bread of God at hand And we must not approach unto God immediately but come thro' Christ to God that he may behold us in the Son of his Love only When we are famished and cry unto God for Bread as the Liberal Entertainments in the Dearth cryed unto Pharaoh he sends us for supplyes to Christ says Pharaoh Go unto Joseph what he saith unto you do Gen. 41.55 and saith God This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Math. 17.5 Gen. 47.12 This Joseph was sent into Egypt to
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
part Indeed Solomon's Provision for one day amounted to a large Bill of Fare 1 Kings 4.22.23 Thirty measures of fine Flower and threescore measures of meal ten fat Oxen and twenty Oxen out of the Pastures and an hundred Sheep beside Harts and Roe-bucks and fallow-deer and fatted fowl But the Supper of our God is in a Richer and more abundant store than that as will appear when serv'd up in this following Account viz. Milk for Babes Meat for strong men the true Bread from Heaven Living water Flesh to eat Blood to drink the Lamb of God the fatted Galf for Prodigals the Marrow of rich Forgiveness the food of Knowledge the nourishment of Faith the feast of Holiness or the bunch of Hyssop in Sanctification of the Spirit the hidden Manna of Election the Royal Dainties of Assurance the Evangelical honey comb dropping Free Grace the fatness of God's house in Ordinances the Supplies of the Spirit of Jesus the morsel of Hope for them that fail not to sit with the King at meat the full meal of Contentment for them that have left all and followed Christ the Refreshments of the Peace of Conscience the Oyl of Joy the Cup of Consolation with the Wine of the Kingdom running over the continual Diet of Perseverance in the sure mercies of David and the Fruit of the Tree of Life 1. Milk for Babes even the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sincere Milk of the Word which the weakest of God's Little ones may lye at the Breasts and suck On this wise speaketh the Apostle Peter in his Exhortation 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born Babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby The Holy Scriptures are made ready in the Plainest Truths for a Hungry Infant that will not be quiet till it finds the Breast out Lam. 4.4 The Tongue of God's sucking Children would cleave to the Roof of their mouth if they could not get to the Word and there be as one that hath sucked the Breasts of his Mother Cantic 8.1 Heb. 5.12 The first Principles of the Oracles of God are compar'd to Milk because the first sort of Truths that young Converts Learn and are wont at the beginning of the New-Birth to be most affected with The Apostle Paul speaking of the Infancy of his Corinthian Church tells them in his Epistle which he first wrote unto them 1 Cor. 3.2 I have fed you with milk and not with meat for hitherto ye were not able to bear it neither yet now are ye able * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fed you with Milk I have given you a Liquid Food you might swallow easie Others have drank what I have given you to eat as the Milk of Babes may by strong men be eaten or drunk either Not with meat ye were not able to bear it That is ye could not digest the stronger and higher sort of Doctrines neither yet now are ye able 1 Cor. 14 20. Children in understanding must have the Food of their Souls as their lack of Age requires it Philemâ—â— 9 and such a one as Paul the aged knew it Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ had such weak Disciples with him that he forbore a while feeding them with strong meat and stays till more cubits were added to their Spiritual Stature before he weans them from the milk of Babes Joh. 16.12 I have many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now He dealt with them proportionably to their present state and weaker Capacities in Christianity So young Converts must be fed with Food convenient Prov. 30.8 not only convenient in the Quantity and Measure as Agur meant it but convenient in the Quality and Nature of it and not too strong for them Weaker Christians must be fed with weaker Diet that their Souls may digest it and be made the better for the Truths they take in Now the Gospel hath its Milk in Doctrines easie to be understood 1 Cor. 14.9 Come ye therefore says the Evangelical Prophet Isa 55.1 and buy milk It is a sort of Victuals treasur'd up in our Fathers House that when ye rceive the Kingdom of God Mark 10.15 as a little Child I mean with a very Childish and low Capacity you may meet with Provisions therein suited to you Isa 60.16 Our Babes in Christ may suck the Milk of the Gentiles that is those plain Revelations of the Son of God who is now believed on in the World 1 Tim. 3.16 They can milk out from these Breasts of consolation Isa 66.11 till they are delighted with the Abundance of her Glory Jerusalem God's Church the Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 hath Breasts given her which her Children shall never draw dry The Holy Ghost stoops in very low Expressions 2 Tim. 3.15 that from a Child a Believer may know the Holy Scriptures Its Doctrines are suited to the Understanding and Capacities of the meanest The Gospel hath a Plenty that will furnish all sorts Heb. 5.13 The Vnskilfull in the Word of Righteousness is not left destitute but may receive the Word of his Grace and use it's Milk while he is a Babe Tho' like Zaccheus Luk. 19.3 you are Little of Stature yet you may reach of the Fruit when you cannot climb the Tree of Life before you The Gospel abounds with a Treasure of Holy Learning which some have received tho' never brought up at the * Act. 22.3 Chap. 19.9 Feet of Gamaliel or the School of one Tyrannus You may be taught the Truth as it is in Jesus Eph. 4.21 Luk. 2.46 and know the Master of the School that sat among the Doctours tho' you be not rankt among the wise and prudent I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Matth. 11.25 The Word of God indeed hath its Depths where there is no passing over without swimming beyond your reach but yet it hath its shallowes where going lower you may wade or foord thro' 1 Tim. 3.16 Tho' it be the Mystery of Godliness yet a Mystery so revealed that the ordinary Readers or Hearers may be taught to profit by it Exod. 8.19 There be plain Truths written with the Finger of God and clear Truths copied out as with a Sun-beam from Heaven God's Word is a Text-Hand and he that runs may read it In a word Isa 7.22 it hath the Abundance of Milk for Babes to nourish even the least in our Father's House 2. Meat for strong men or the strong Meat of the highest Gospel-Mysteries Sublime and spiritual Doctrines may be set forth by Meat as the Apostle doth in that forementioned place 1 Cor. 3.2 and strong meat as he calls them Heb. 5.14 which belongeth to them that are of Full Age that is above New Converts the Adult who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern
God to fall upon them while it is yet in their mouths like those Israelites while chewing Dainties in their Teeth that provok't the Founder of the Feast Psa 78.30 31. who slew the fattest of them 3. Delightful to every renewed Palate 3 Property Christ to a Believer hath no ill Taste with him Christ thô considered in his lowest Estate of Humiliation in the Grave where others have lookt upon him as a Carcase yieldeth meat unto our Faith in a Pleasant Vessel Rev. 5.5 We may say of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Judg. 14.5 as Samson did of that young Lion that roared against him by the Vineyards of Timnath * v. 14. Out of the Eater came forth meat and out of the strong came forth sweetness It seems to be represented well by the Israelitish Manna in the Pleasantness of its Tast which relisht according to what every Man liked best as Augustine hath Noted out of the Rabbins tho' * Fuller's Pisgah-sight 2d pt p. 53. others conjecture that Rabbinical Tradition fabulous However as to the Celestial Mannah or Bread that came down from Heaven we may cite the Experience of every Christian that hath tasted the Lord is good Psal 34.8 to evince its Delicacy to the Palate who will agree not only to say an Equality unto any thing they like but to witness a Transoendency herein above all Creature-sweetness There is nothing bitter in this Evangelical Entertainment but the People of God in all can experience that he hath given them Pleasant things for Meat Lam. 1.11 I sat under his shadow saith the Church and his Fruit was sweet unto my taste Song 2.3 The Food of Heaven is not first sweet in the Mouth Rev. 10.10 and then like the Book in the Revelation as soon as 't is eaten the Belly is bitter But as 't is sweet in the Mouth it retains the Property and becomes sweet in the Stomach also It is Cordial in the Act and Comfortable in the Remembrance too for it is the Morsel only of the Sinner when he eats the Fruit of his own Doings Isa 3.10 that breeds so ill a Digestion as when he hath eaten Job 20.20 surely he shall not feel quietness in his Belly 4. Sufficing 4 Property This Feast is enough for Ministers and enough for People too Jer. 31.14 I will satiate the Soul of the Priests with Fatness and my People shall be satisfied with my Goodness saith the Lord So Psal 132.15 I will abundantly bless her Provision I will satisfie her Poor with Bread Zion's Poor in Spirit shall have Bread enough for an Alms at the Door of God's House Yea Christ will have them come in and sit down at his Table Prov. 7.18 and take their fill of Love 5. Not Surfeiting or Cloying 5 Property There is no Intemperance in the Gospel when we feed in the highest Degree upon it In other Feasts the Guests can take but Part and in that may take too much but in the Gospel if we do not take of all we shall take and have too little Literal Provisions will surfeit we may nauseate and thro' an Excess bring them up again Hast thou found Honey says the Wife-man eat so much as is sufficient for thee Prov. 25.16 but v. 27. intimating an Excess he addeth It is not good to eat much Honey the end of the foregoing sixteenth Verse is a Reason lest thou be filled therewith and vomit it There may be an overcharging * The Throat is a slippery place and a sin may get down e're you are aware Dr. Manton on Jude p. 414. Luk. 21.34 Psal 69.22 Jude v. 4. with surfeiting and drunkenness at our own Tables while our Table may become a snare unto us but we can never surfeit upon Spiritual Provisions 'till our Corruption turns our Stomach and we turn the Grace of God into Wantonness A Holy Guest tho' he be filled with the Wine of the Gospel is filled at a Feast in which is No Excess Other Wine will intoxicate Eph. 5.18 but the Wine of the Spirit which possesseth our Heart will never hurt the Brain Luk. 13.26 The more we have eaten and drank in his Presence who hath prepared our Table Psal 23.5 the more ready we may find our selves to go about our Father's Business Luk. 2.49 contrary to the effect of other Tables which indispose both the Body and the Mind when the Belly is fill'd with Meats In a word we need not at this Feast of the Parable fear Intemperance as Daniel did Dan. 1.8 when he took care lest he should be defiled with the Portion of the Kings Meat and of the Wine which the King drank 6. Vndiminishable 6 Property Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13.8 He hath Provision of which one Guest hath not the less because another Guest hath more This great Stock in the Gospel never wastes 1 Kings 17.14 no more than the Widdow's Barrel of Meal or her Cruise of Oyl after Elijah eat thereof v. 13. If we eat and drink never so long of God's Provision he never needs to buy in any new Store Ordinary Food will diminish but in Extraordinary we leave as full a Table as we find Tho' Guests increase the Diet still keeps the same When Christ feedeth the Multitude of the Gospel he worketh a greater Miracle than when he fed the multitudes in it because in the Gospel we read only of Fragments taken up Luk. 9.17 but of the Gospel it self when Men have eaten sufficiently Joh. 2.10 or well drunk the Feast remains This Box of Oyntment is broken and yet 't is always whole 7. Incorruptible 7 Property It is not like the Victuals of the Gibeonites that had all the Bread of their Provisions dry and mouldy Josh 9.5 It is unperishable and this Mannah will not melt and consume away Exod. 16.21 as other Mannah did The Bread that God gave the Israelites in the Wilderness forty Years v. 35. would not preserve from Putrefaction but when over-kept like the rest of common Provision bred worms and stank Exod. 16.20 And tho' some of it was put into a Pot Exod. 16.33 as the Lord commanded Moses v. 34. ibid. and laid up before the Lord in the Ark of the Testimony to be kept as a Memorial throughout their Generations v. 33. that the Children which should be born might see wherewith God had Nourisht their Fathers in the Wilderness v. 32. yet it was preserved thus from after-putrefaction for so many Ages by a special Miracle attending it and not from the inherent Qualification of the Food it self Psal 39.5 Joh. 6.27 and therefore in its best Estate we may reckon it the Meat that perisheth especially considering that even this Pot of Mannah now ceaseth as well as the whole Jewish State But the Gospel
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
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
Bed will the offers of Christ neglected now become an Advantage when we are gone hereafter if Death should clinch our Hands could we open them in the Grave or the Belly of Hell Jonah 2.2 to close with Jesus Christ 't is Sup now Close now with Christ and Welcome God now accepteth thy Works but there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor Wisdom in the Grave whither thou goest Eccles 9.10 There will be no feeding for Sinners upon Dainties Psa 49.14 when Death shall feed on Them In a word no rising from their Beds when they lye down and sleep in the Dust of the Earth Dan. 12.2 to come in again to Supper The Third and last Thing will be to Apply it III. and the uses will be only Two 1. Of Information to instruct and 2. Of Exhortation to perswade The First Use is of Information in these Thirteen following Points I. If the Gospel is a Feast in which all its Provisions are now ready Then 1. We may learn of the Times and Seasons that the Father hath put them in his own Power 1 Ins This is evidently cleared in those words of Christ wherewith he checkt his Disciple's Curiosity Acts 1.7 It is not for you to know the Times and the Seasons which the Father hath put in his own Power The Present Readiness of this Supper argues that the fixing and ordering of Times and Seasons for the Dispensing of Grace to Sinners is solely in the Hands of God and at his Soveraign Disposal It was an Act of Soveraignty to prepare the Gospel and make it ready in the Time that now is As our Times are in Goa's Hand Psal 31.15 so are all our Mercies It was decreed in his Soveraign Purpose and fore-ordained according to the Good Pleasure of his Will Eph. 1.5 Prov. 16.33 Eccles 3.1 what Blessings of Grace should be the Lot to be cast into our Lap in the latter Ages As there is a Time to every Purpose and to every Thing a Season so God is the Judge to dispose of it and order every Thing in it If the Master of the Feast had order'd it his Supper had been ready before such a Time of Day and he could have gotten courser Fare at Night He that spreadeth the Morning upon the Mountains could have gotten up the Provisions early even at the First break of Day and at that Breakfast of the Promise made in the Garden of Eden to our First Parents before he drove out the Man Gen. 3.15.24 But he was Soveraign and would stay to bring in this till Supper 2. We may learn from this now 2 Inf. in the Text that God finds out some special Season for the Things of our Peace when he deals in Mercy with us There is a Peculiar Day of Grace nay sometimes a Particular Hour of that Day more than ordinary being a season more highly valuable than any time that we have besides in General Our Gain or Loss of the Season proves the Gain or Loss of all for ever Thus it is hinted of Jerusalem to the same purpose by our Blessed Lord Luke 19.42 Saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes Thou Jerusalem in time to come maist remember that thou hadst once a Day of Grace offer'd Once thou mighst have sound Mercy but now thou hast lost thy Season There was a Particular time an express Day of Grace in which Christ Preacht up the Provisions of a Gospel Entertainment a Day in which they were brought even to Jerusalem now ready Christ tells them the Happy Minute which the Men of Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem might once have closed with Isa 5.3 He had a special Season of shewing Mercy and offering the Terms of Salvation among the Jews a Season-day a Day of a choicer opportunity than any of their Time had been before or was likely in that Generation to prove again The Lord was pleased also thus to pitch upon a Particular special Season under the Old Testament to bring Glad-tydings of Good Things to Judah and Jerusalem by the Prophet Rom. 10.15 Isa 1.18 Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord tho' your Sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow tho' they be red like Crimson they shall be as Wooll As much as to say I am now willing for your good if you can but hit the Season and let us now argue the Thing together And likewise afterwards in the same Prophesie Isa 40.2 when God speaketh comfortably to Jerusalem he takes notice of it as a special Season and expresseth it as an extraordinary particular time of his Dealing thus with her Isa 44.1 Yet now hear O Jacob my Servant and Ifrael whom I have chosen Altho' God had been otherwise dealing with them for their Sins as may be gathered from sundry passages in the former Chapter yet he Records it as a special time in which he would change his Dealings with them Yet now hear O Jacob my Servant When God hath shewn Mercy either to Saints or Sinners to bring in one or eminently build up the other he has taken a Peculiar Time that may be styled their Day of special opportunity And as we have heard of it in old Time even so it is now God is wont to come in still with the Provisions of this Gospel Supper Peace Pardon Reconciliation to himself in the Blood of Christ and lay the Foundation of a Saving Work of Grace upon the Heart of a Sinner in some special Season not indifferently upon any common Time He does it when the Particulars of the Feast in the Provisions of Gospel-grace may be said to be even now upon a Feast-day ready The Gospel must in some present Day affect and work a change in Men. The Provisions that have now of a long time been ready to relieve one and wrought also effectually according to the working of his mighty Power even to Salvation upon some of you Eph. 1.19 may not be accompanied with the Arm of the Lord till now upon others found among you Isa 53.1 One may have met with it as a special Season formerly and have been provoked by the Love of God to be ready for a close with the Gospel a year ago 2 Cor. 9.2 or it may be many years since whereas another may not have found it to be a Time of Love till lately or a Time of Love till now God meets with some of his Elect under one subject of Grace and brings them in sooner to Jesus Christ then he sends out under another subject or another Sermon or another Preacher with the Invitations and Proposals of Grace again and makes new ones come in as Guests that his House may be filled with them He 'll run over the Olive and turn up the Branches of his