'J, • "^ oi ft, ***, - PRINCETON, N. J. Collection Division Section Number of Puritan Literature. p. p. ^ H S *s*£?T HE fg O U N TAINS + ~"{ZZ&<) P E N £ D: AND ^> !§5 The water of life flowing forth, for the * S| retrefhing of thirfty finners* Jx ^a» W herein is fee out, g^, *e Ghrifts earneft and gracious invitation of poor ^ W> finners to come unto the Waters. ^ J His complaining expoftulation with the ingratitude and %%* ««** folly of thoie who negled io great falvation. ^SiftHis Renewed Solicitation, with all earneftnefle, andthemoft *§& Pcrfwafive Arguments to allure thirfty finners co come to Chrfft, In fevcral H|{| SERMON S, I Preached ztCovent-garden on 'Ifa. 55 .1,1,3. JjBy ObadiahSedgmck^ B.O. and late Minifter*S> of the Gofpel there. John 7. 37. j/WJtf Ai/? day, that great day cf the feaft, Jeftu flood, and cryed 1 , faying, If any man thirft, let him come Pinto me, and drink* LONDON, * Printed by r. -R.and E. M. for Adoniram By field at the Bible ^ m Pofes-head'atley y near Lumbar d-ftreet. 1657 II " I » TO MY BELOVED FRIENDS, The Inhabitants of Co vent-gar den. Beloved Friends, Now prefent to your view what I once delivered in your hearing. It is a fingular advantage , that the eye may fecond the eare, in fuch things as may help the foul. I have defired to do good both wayes, not io much fearing cenfure,as ftu- dying to edifie. This may Preach unto you when I cannot , yea , when I {hall be no more. When thefe Notes were perufed and read unto me, I could willingly have given unto them, Antoninm his title, Notes jer my felfi but when Jconfidered that here was a Fountain opened, I durft not but leave it for common ufe. How A 2 farre The Epiftle Dedicatory farreany of you have been wrought upon by thefe entreaties of the Goipel which have woo- ed you, I leave it to your lei ves to examine j / have only this to fay, it was my hearty defire of your eternal happinefle that firft put me up- on this Argument in Preaching., and the like defire hath engaged me to prefent the fame a* gain unto your iecond thoughts : And why fhould not the life of your fouls be much more precious in your fight then in mine ? Jf this fe- cond tender of fuch gracious offers fliall findc acceptance with you to a clofing with them, it will adde a new life unto your dying friend. God hath been plcafed in mercy to lengthen out the day of grace unto you, by the fucceffi- on of an able and faithful Paftor, whorenew- eth thefe Gofpel offers toyou>/befeech you do not give him occafion to complainc that fucb precious commodities do ftand upon his hands, that he can have no vent,ior Grace,nor Gofpel, nor Chrift, nor any thing that is Evangelically fav'mg : This will provoke God, either to take away his Candleftick,or to take away the pow- er of his Ordinances, and withdraw his Spirit from driving any more with youJt muft needs be The Efijile Dedicatory. be very fad with any of you, to flandall the day idle in tbeMarkgt place y 8cl am ftire when you Hial be called to an account for it, you cannot fay, it is becaufe no man hath hired W. Think ieriouf- ly of it, how grievous it will be to any of you, to come a day after the Faire,a day after Grace; I befeech you therefore in the bowels of Jefus Chrift hearken to the laft Exhortation,and the laft offer in the Bible., Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely ; which that you may do, (hall be the earneft Prayer of Tour affectionate friend and fervanty Obadiah Sedgwick. The Contents of the Chapters. Chap. I. r \p Rat $e[us Chrift is very earnefl and im- X pot tun Ate with tbirfly finners to come un- to him, P a g-3* Chap. 2. There are waters for thirfly finners, and ever/ one who is thirfty may and ought to come to Chrift. p.33. Chap. 3. The poor ejlfinner may come to Chrift. p.8o. Chap. 4. Thepooreff [inner fiall fare exceeding well if he will come to Chr\fl and buy of him. p. 2 o 1 . Chap. 5. All the good which finners do need, is to he hough sf Chrift upon gracious termes, at the cheapeft rate, at the lowejl price. p.*5i» Chap. 6. All the good which Chrift doth offer , and all the gracious termes upon which Chrift doth offer , are yet fometimes flighted, and refufedbyfome finners f p. Chap, 7. Sinners are earneftly labouring and trading for vaine and unprofitable things, when and though the great things of ' Chrift are gracioufly offered to them , but this is an exceeding folly in them . p 333 . Chap. 8. K^illthecofls whichmen lay out, and all thepains tsphich they do take, even for fahation , from any thing without ChriH, or in any other way then Chri(ls way , they are utterly fruit left, and buy) 3. General : [Exerj one that tbirftetb.) 4. Gracious; {fBuywir.e avdrndke without woney and with- out price ) There is much good to be had, and at a very eafierareJefusChrift and the things of Chrift, they are above price, and without price. 2. A complaining expoftuht\on(r>>ber fore do jw fpeni mony for that which u net bread, and jotir labour for thai wkict.fitijfiitbnot. ) Here you have charged on finners, 1, Their neglect. 2. Their folly, GodofTirs unto them all good , and freely and which would afluredly fasiate and fave them, but they pifle it by: and foolifhly purfue lying vanities, feed on husks, fpend thcmfelvcs, layout their dayes and ftrength for that which is not bread (for that which concernes not their eternal life)and for that which ft' t'xfieth not (which will never give reft nor comfort. 3. A renewed folicitation or entreaty : O how good is God, to offer ipiritual good to finners ! O how patient is God even to ilnners, who neglect the offers of his Grace ! O how kinde is God, to offer peace and mercy more then once, to unworthy and unkind Hnners / He treats with them again^in the latter end of the fecond and third verfes). And this renewed Treaty 1. Is very vehement: (Hearken diligently, incline jour tares, leare). As if hefhould have faid,yethear 5 yet hearken, heaiken; Regard my offer, regard it, regard it. 2. Is very perfwafive : would ye not eate that which is good? (why, Hearken unto me, and eate ye that which is gosd) would you not have your fouls (your precious fouls) to live } [why then heave, and jour fouls [ball live)* Would you not have your fouls rcfrefhed with the bed and fulleft enjoyments ? why then heark- en ( and let your fouls delight it /elf in fatneffe.) 3. Is very fatisfaclory, for they might object, Howcanthefe things be brought to paffe ? what iecurity (hall we have ? why, faith God ( / trill wake an eicrlafting Covenant With you, even (he Cbap.i. theological Obfervations. the fare mercies cfDavid): I will give you my bond for it; All this which (hail be as fureiy made good, as the mercies which I performed to my fervant David. Thus you have the Logical diftribution of thefe three verfes? Now follow the Theological Obfervatioas which may be princi- pally coiie&ed from every of them. From the firft Verfe there are five obfervable propofitions. 1. That Jefus Cbrift is very earned and importunate with thirfty finners to come unto him, Ho, fime, come, come. 2. That there are waters for thirfty finners, and every one than'sthiifty miy , and (hould come unto them 3 every one that thiffiethcome to the waters. 3. That even the pooreft (inner may, and fhould come to Chrift; he that hath no money. 4. Allfpirirual good comes to us, when we come to Chrift; bread, and frine, ar.d milke. 5. All the good which poor finners need , is to be had from Ch rift, upon gracious tcrmes, at the loweft price, Bn) frith* out money, and without price. From part of the kcond strk , thefe Propofitions are ob- fervable. 1. That all the good that Chrift doth offer, and all the gracs ous termes upon which Chrift doth offer, are fometimes fieighted and refufed by lb me finners, they jpend their money for that which is not bread. 2. That finners are earneftly labouring and trading for vaine and unprofitable things, when the great things of Chrift are of- fered to them, jpend their money for that which u not bread. 3. All the coft which men layout, and all the pains which men do take even for falvation from any thing befides Chrift, or in any other way then Chrifts way, are utterly fruitleiTe, vain and loft, they an not bread, and fat u fie not. From the latter part of the fecond and third vcrfe, are thefe Propofitions. 1. That Jefus Chrift is pleafed fometimes to renew his graci- ous offers towards them who have refufed them. 2. That Jefus Chrift doth not onely make gracious offers, and renew therr,but he is alfo very earned: and imporrunac with them to hearken to him j Hetrktn diligently mto mu B 2 3. Tha* Spiritual thirling, what it is % Chap. 5. 1 bat good indeed will come unto Tinners upon hearkening and coming to Chrift ; e*tc that rrhich it good. 4. There ts a field of bleflings, and Paradifeof delghts for thofe that come to Chrift ; Let thy foul ddt^t infatnejje. 5. The fou'. (Via'l liyc that comes to Chriit • hear and jour fc^s fbaBlive. 6. There is a Covenant which God makes with all that do be- leeve in Chrift ; / Vfc-7/ make anev:rlafltng Covenant With yon. *«>*^ Af CHAP. I. Cbrifts eirneft- reffewnb tbir- ftyfinners to come to hi m, Tftved from the Text. EtpUincd. Begin with the firft Propofit'on from the (irft verfe, which is rtis. That 'je^Hi £hrift is very ear Kef} And impr* tunate With thirfly [inners to come unto him. Two paff^es in che Very ie;t do cfeare this. i. That parole (£fo,) which fignifies an exclamation, a crying our, fuch a noi e purpofcly made, that men fhould take not ce, fpecial notice of a bufinefle, aloud cry, co a'.vakeu-to a fpecial attention, and regard. 2. The multiplication of the Call, Cow*, Come,crc John 7, 37. In thelafl day, that great day of the feaft, Jeftu Hood, and cry. ed t faying, if any man thirfly le htm come unto me and drink^ So Rev. iz 17. Let him thatUathirft cvo-fold third, s >f y 1 . Cfpora/, which Is the natural appetice of the dormck } af- a twofold ter that which s moid and cooling. tbirft. 2. Spiritual, which is the fupernatural appetite of the (oute Cor P oraL after heavenly things, which are proper for tae relieving, ttfafhrspiripul. ing, and fatisfyir.g of the wants and defires in ihe foul. ' aHxVnks Jn a man thus fpiriiually athird, there are leven qualities in re- ofdfphitual ference to fpiritual objects aniwerabk to thofe in a man natural- tbirft, Jy athird in reference to corporal objt&f* 1. Emptintffe -.Natural third floives from emptineiTe,or wantor* 1'. what is cold and mo:(l: He whois fpirirually thirdy, is one whpEmpineffe. is fpiritually empty : He wants a Chrid, and wan's a reconciled God, Pardonin \ Mercie, Renewing Grace, Ccmfortjoy, Peace, all : P^w/ wa? empty, In me there dwells no good: The Pharifee was full, but the Publican was empty ; God be merciful 'to me a ftnner. 2. Exqwfite fence \ Even a ver^ painful fence; Third: is a!- %, wayes accompanied with feeling and pain : The veincs do fo Ex$uifite fence. fuck, and pull, and dia v, for cooling and rnoidning,thac the do- mack is exceedingly fenfible, and pained, and diftrelTed. So he who is fpiritually thirdy, he is very fenftble of his fpiritual wants, painfully fenfibie, no red nor quiet in that condition : And ther* fore he is faid to be heavie laden , and his foul (many times) is ready to faint and faile within him : My foal faint eth for thy fal- v At ion , mine eyes faile for thj Word ) faying, when wilt thou com* fort me, Piai.119 81,82. 3. Peculiar cares and thoughts. Third raifeth thoughts, an i 3. contines the thoughts: Ail a mans thoughts in fuch a condition, ?ccul wares they are for water, to cool and refrefh him : Give us Water fr-fti tkpu&bn % drink^ s faid the thirdy Ifraelites to Mofeu So when one is fpi- ritually athird, all the thoughts and cares of his foul are for hea- venly things ; How he fliould get Chrid, and how he miy be de- livered out of a wretched condi:ion, and how his conscience may be pacified, and how his poor foul may be faved, Atls 237. What fhall we do ? Afts 1 6, 30. What fh^l I do to be faved \ 4. Wonder- Spiritual thir jling > what it is. Chap i. 4, 4, Wonderful impatience, Exod. 17.3. The people thhsled for Wonicrful im* Water, and the people murmured, and [aid , wherefore is this f.vic'hc t >j iU thou bjft brought w out f Egypt to fy/i fu, and cur chil* dren^and o*r cattle Wi\h thir ft} A man cannot well bear the in- jury done to hi- mme ; the vvoun A that is bleeding in bis confer- ence, nor the thirft that lies upon his fpirit, give me children or rife I diejVid RacbrL O Lord give mcChrift, fhew me mercy, look gratiouflyon my foul, I cannot live without life. Thy fa- vour is life, and thy Cnrift is life, Iudg. 1 8. 24.. Micah faid , ye have ttikcn aWay my gods, and my Priefi, and what have I more? and Whit is this that yon fay unto me , what ailefl then ? fo fakh the thtrfty foul. 5 , Vehement j of do fire: We fay that hunger and third: are the Vcbenuncj of ^ongQ^l of natural appetites, for by them our nature puts out defic. all her ftrcngch for her prcfervation when it is extremely flreit- en?d : A man who is fpiritually athirft, his dcilrcs after the things of drift are net flit, and low, and dull, but high,ani ftrong^and fervent, Pfal, 42. I. As the Hart panteth after the water* broods, fo pxnteth my foul after thee oh Lord. Verfe 2. My foul thirj}~ eth for God , for the living God , "when if}. ill I come and appear » before God , jea What vehement deftre} 2 Cor. 7. II. this \s a kinde of violent morion : Defire at the utmoft, Tfal. 1 19. io» With txy whole heart haze J fought thee; this is expreiTed by longi g , Pfal. 107. 9. he fatufeth the longing feul, 6. 6, Diligent endeavour : The man that is athirft, cries out for Diligent enda- drink, and runncsout for water {Their Kibles have fent their war, ^ t[ , c o ^ gi ^^ t fo g Teitters : They came to the pits , and found no water % eye Jer.14 3O He that is athirft runnes up and down, digs inonepUce, and tries in another place that he may finde water to refrtOi him, Jfaiah 4.1. 17. When the poor and needy fee \ water. So he who is fpiritually athirft, he is longing, and he is complaining, and he is acting, an J labouring, and trying at eve- ry pit, at every Well, at every Ordinance; he will r^y» an d read, and hrar> and confer : he is at every poole, he is in every W3y of God, if fob? at length he may meet with, and drink of the water of life. As the Church, Cant. 3. 1 / fought him whom my foul loveth, 1 fought him , but I found him not. Verfe 2. I will rife and go about the (fity , in the ftreets, and in the broad rrayes, J will feek him whom my foul loveth* 7. o»- Chap.i Reafons ofCbriJis earmflnejfe. 7 7. Conflant languifcng \ Natural thirft will not off, til! you 7. get water, delay doth but increafe the third the more : It will 0/k»//.*w« not be quenched by any thing you f3y or offer, ftill the appetite g»$'»S« goes on and provokes you; So he who is fpiritually athirft , his defires after heavenly things, are fixed, and fe:led,and conftant ; they will and do continue until the foul C3n come to drink of fpU, ritual waters. Nothing will fatisfie and quiet, and put an end to this thirft, but Jefus Chrift, but mercie and grace obtained and enjoyned ; / Will not let thee oo ( faid Iacob ) exefpt thw bleffe me s Gen. 52. 26. Oar eyes wait upon the Lord cur god until that he have mercie upon us y Pfel. 123.2. You read of blinde Baytemen^ who was Co defirous of fight , though they bid him hold his peace, yet he would not, but cried out the more, Ufa thou Sonne of 'David, have mercie on me, &c. So, (&Cy Thus you fee what is meant by him that thirftech; Nsme'y any (inner throughly fenfible of his fpiritual wants, and earnest- ly and conftantly longing after the waters of life : And this is the finner to whom Chrift faith, Ho i every one that is athirft , let him c-me to the water* SECT. II. WHy is Chrifl fo earned with thirfry fouls to come unto J&e/l. 2* him, &c ? Becaufe -Sol. I. There are no [inner $ rvhich do need more encouragement totReafcn I. tome unto Chrift, then theie who are rightly and painfully (Qn^Oumeed. fible of their fpiritual condition and wants. Firft, No perfons in the world are fo fen fible of their finnes, as thefe are ; nor of Gods di r f leafure. Secondly, No perfoos are fo broken in conference, as thefe are, that feele fuch heavie burdens. Thirdly, No perfons have/wi workings of ' unbeleevingje*rr y and doubt S) as thefe have. Fourthly, no perfons are more apt folemnly to difputetbe gcod will of Chrifl, the intent of his promifes, the articles, and condi- tions of Chrift , the freenefle on Chrifts part, and incapacitie and 8 Reafons ofCbtijls earvejtnejfe and unworthineiTc on their own parkas thefe. 5 . No p*rfons are mre *pt to be deluded by the f*gge(Hons ofSu- txn • To have ve'rie hard thoughts of Gods mercy and love/ and t to look only cnthejuftice ofGod,and on theCovtnant cf work* as if their lire were bound up therein : And therefore no marvel ihac Chrift is fo e^rncft, that he cries out Ho, every one that thirfteth. 2. 2. Chrift u A very tender (^hrifl, and 2 very faithful Chrift : V 'i None is fo ful of pity and companion as Chnft, trie very bowels of mercy arc in him: He (hewed tender con paffions tod ftrtfled bodies; certainly he hath much, nay he hath more companions for diftrefi; d fouls : And are not the fouls of rhirfty finners, difc eafed foul%whch if Chrift helps nor, will defpaire and die for thiift? As Hagar and hr child had perifhed in the wildernefle, if God h:d not opened her eyes to have feen a Well of water fo, ftc. H'u Ofcc. Beddes, this U a proper time ^nd here U a proper cbjett , for Chrift to be faithful to performe the work for which he was a- noinred,which was, ljaiah6i. I. To preach good tidings to tk? meek, to binde up the lr>ken hearted, to proclJme liberty to the captives, and to fill the hungry, and to fatittc the thhfty and wc>%rj foul. Chnft was anointed to fill the hungry, to fari- ate the weary, to refrefh the thirfty ; and verily not -a foul (h.li be lull by any negled on Chriftspart. $. And who fo fit to come toChrifl, and to the waters by Their fitneffc, thrift, as thirfty Tinners? The full foul defpifeth the hony-comb, any bit is fwect to the hungry ; the Wei's of water are nothirg to him that is already filled ; but a drop of water is precious to the thiiftv, venly leffethen this is not aficntife, and more then this Chnft requires not, when the (inner is rightly fenfiblc of his need, when he fees that there is no water of life to be hid , but in Gh rift, when the defues of his foul are after Chrift; why, chat man is fit for Chrift, and no man is ready for Chnft, but Chrift is as ready for him; he that is athirft, is willing, and [efas Chrift beforehand fets cut his willingnefTe, let him come and t*k* of the water of life freely. SECT. CHAP, i . D:fcowries tfSpiritnal thirfi, SECT, III. , YOu fee here, that the importunate commands , and the %jf e i, loud proclamation is to the thirfty (Ho, every one that is thirfijet him come) O what a mercie is this to have the voice of mercie ; Nay, to have the call of mercie, the invitation,thc earneft invitation of mercie! What confidence may a poor foul gather from this, that Jcfus Chrift calls it by name? and is fo imponunate with it to come unto him, and provides waters of life for it ? What kindneffe and tendernefie is there in Chrift that he takes notice of our wants, and of our very de- fires, and is fo gracioufly ready to encourage and help the thir- fty (inner. In the fir ft place therefore, let us examine our fclves whe* ther we be fpirituaily thirfty finner s, yea or no.You fee here is a Proclamation kt out for you, and here is an invitation of you to come unto the waters. There are three forts of finners ; Thru forts */ i. Some who are not thirfty at ail. finners. 2, Some who think they are fpirituaily thirfty, but they are not truly fo, 3 . Some who are really thirfty, but think they are not fo. There are fome Who are not jpirttuaSj thirfty at all : And I. there are four forts of thefe. Some not [piri- i. 7W/yWj,perfons filled with felf-fufficiency : They are'* j// ' ' tbir fil " like Laodicea^ that was rich and increafed, and hid need of no- \^r is thing. They have a rightcoufnefte of their own, as the Jewcs, '" and lee no need of a Chrift, of mercie, of renewing grace, they can make their own peace, and never want Chrift nor Faith. A full foul fees all in it feif, a thirfty foul fees all in Chrift. O thefe men, who can in this fenfcalfo, drink water out of their own Cifterns, who have no need nor want of a Chrift, who ne- ver were diftreffed, never were pained with the fenfe of their fpiritual nakednefTe and wretchedneffe, they never were thirfty finners. 2, Ctreleffe and negligent finners , who come not to the Wells of falvation, who regard not the waters of life,who make c »eie/rcfinner* C nothing JJ to Discoveries of Chapi. nothing of Go f pel feafons and Gofpel Ordinances , which are the very conduits of heaven, which carry all the wi- tersof life, and yec they pjfTe them by, minde them not, prize them not,tiKfc are not thirfty. If a man were indeed athirft, every drop of water would be precious unto him, and if he came unco the fprings, he would drink and blelTe his God: lo if men were indeed fpiritually athirft, the wacers of life would be not flighted , difrcgarded. 3" 3. Men of eager dt fires after the world, who are thirRie for **'* 9 * t fa%L Worldly things (who will p 9 ewu*a»*good?Phl4.6,)whok hearts vtrtt. 'are fee on obings below, their great defiresareto be rich and greatinthewoild. Why ? Asit isimpoilibletoloveGod,and tc love the world ( f any man love the World, the love of the Father tinot'wtm, 1 John 2 .15) So it is impollible to third for Chrift, and to thirft for the world. That young man y who limited fo much ai :er the world 3 he did not, neither would he thirll after Cbrrft. All the foul is tsken up with that afcer which rh. loul doth thirft; And therefore if your hearts are chirfting, if inariiblj lee out and longing for earthly things, there is no ibir(lingafter*Chnfti 1. Some complain of too much water. 2, Strive to flop the Springs and Wells, refufe to drink of the waters of life freely offered, becaafc their deiires are carried af- ter worldly thing?. a 4- (font tinners and refufers of the water j of life : Chrift is CortUmaers of offered, and mercy is orTered,and pardon and life is orfered^nd xhtroxiin of they refufe it. Ufa 2. There are fame who thinly that tlej are fpirituallj Athirft, 2l f ' but really they arc not: they are in a dr. -am tnat they arc hun- s:mctbir^vy.y g ry an d w hen they are awakened, thir foul is empty : And in aratbirfli but & ■> * , , J . n ' . r J 0c wr/ a dream that they are thirlty, but when they are awakened, their foul hath no appetite; as thofe, lfa.2<$* 8. There are four forts of men who deceive themfelvcs about this fpiritual third. j ; 1, Such as have only a natural^ occaflonalde fires of 'good things , Sucb who bive at a ferrnon, m conference, in a ficknelTe, in a danger , in feares 9neij a nttuniof 'ofle, and of death : Then rhey lee their finnes, and defire $r occafion 1/ fc. 1 ( Knir, to ftvc , DO rn ke their peace, to get God recon- fefj / : j - Bui tlK c delires are oflfagain,they iaftnot,they are roc n ^' like Chap.i. fpir/tna! thirft. 1 1 1 ke a natural third which QUI holds on, and iatreafetb, change- able defires are fa lie, Not Chrift, but themfelves defircd. 2. Such Whofe defires are, very io\\> and Wca{: Nothing in ^ ^" ^ comparifon to earthly crrngs ; faint and indifferent; and can foes arc lov and live well enough without Chrift:, or grace, &c, Pray, as if they wwfc, prayed not, feck, as if they fought not, not pre fling and infill- ing with God ; notwreftiingand ftrtving with him. Are thir- ty men indifferent for water. 3. Such Who are frequent in complaints y but nothing in en- & de&vour : complain of hard hearts,an d unbe Jeeving hearrs,and such m are fre~ dull hearts, and mindleffe hearts, to a Minifter, to a friend, &c. qutnt in com- But never put out themfelves, lie not at the Poole, never ftirre \ hms > m ^ in & their hearts, never improve opportunities of grace for Chrifl, www- for help and ftrength : do thirfly men do this, Prov* 13. 14? 7 he (out of the fluggard dcjireth y and hath nothing, Prov. 2t 25. The defire of the flothful ktlleth him, for his hands refttfe to labour : thou chinked: thou (halt be faved becaule thou de- fireft Chrift, &c. but this will deceive thee,becaufe thou labour- eft not. 4. Such who can be fat u fed Without Q&itual waters', you have fome men that fometimes feeme to be earned for heaven, 4- and the things of heaven, for Chrift and the things of Chrift; j™> * ^ ^ they cry out, and they enquire, and confulc What fhall we do to fo^^$JJ be fjved f They are importunate in prayer for Chrift, and for mercy,&c. Andonafudden allthefe troublesenquiries, and pains are filenced , and compofed and gone! But how come they to be fo? Have they got pofTefiion of Chrift ? No : Pof- feflion of mercy ? No : PofTefllon of Gods favour ? No : Pof- feffion of renewing grace? No: What is the caufe then of this quietnefTe? furely their troubling confeiences are now grown quiet confeiences. The guilt of their fins ceafeth to wound and vex them for awhile,and therforc their diftreffes are at an end. No more need or ufe of Chrift, As the fea, though it be the fea ftil,it doth not rage ftil,becanfe the wind and ftorrn do not blow ftill ; and by this it appears that they are not in* deedfpirituallyathirft : for,as, if a man be reallyathirft, no- thing ftills and quiets that appetite, but water; foif a man were indeed fpintually athirft, nothing would fill, fatisfie, con- C 2 cent x 3 Difcoveries of Chap i* tent and quiet his foul but the waters of ltfe,nothing but Chrift, nothing but Gods favour. 3« 3. There are fome who are really athirfl ; there is in them swutrereiUj a{ iritual thirft indeed. Now there are fixe figncs orcviden- signesof ffir'h cencesof a really Ipinruai thirfr. tiultbirft. 1. If one be indeed fpiritually sthiift, The heater of life 1 . is very precious to him : that man hath high thoughf s indeed of The Wauts c/ Chrift, he undcr-va!uesall other things, and fuperlatively va- lifewillbcprc- j aes chrift, prizes Chrift above all, and will part with all for Chrift, Cant. 5. 10. My beloved is the chiefeft among ten thou* [dt>d, \cr(c \6. He is altogether lovely and defirow. Phil. 3. 8. I count all thingr but loffe for the exceRenty of the tyoVcledge of Jefus C^rtf ™J Lord; I do count them but dung that I may win (fhrift. Vcrfe 9. And be found in him. See the like in David % Tfal. 73.25. Whom have I in heaven but thee y and there is none up* m the earth that I defire be fides thte. rfal.4. 6 7 here be many that fay who Will Jhew us any good} Lord lift thou up tke light of thy countenance upon us, Pfal.63. I. O L^d thou art my God, early will 1 fee^thee, 9t) foul thirfieth for thee, mj-firfi longeth for thee, ' Verfe 3. Becattfe thy loving fyndneffe is better then life. Why,when a man is thirfty indeed,nothing is of that efteem with him as water : His gold, and filver, and lands and houfe fhall go for water, to quench his thirft ; fo he that is fpiritually athiift, he hath that high efteeme of Chrift, and Divine fa- vour, all are nothing to them, and all fhall be forfaken which are inconfiftenc with them : He will come up to the price, as he in theGofpel, fould all, and bought the pearl. 2.. 2. If a man be indeed fpiritually athirft, the water of life T *f ™Tfl * pUafant to him.above all other, and refrefhingof him. The pUAflnt. Gofpelisafwcetfavour,andChriftis fweet. and pleafant. You read of Sampfon % that when he was ready to dk for thirft, God clave an hollow flace in the jaw »f that bene Which he had , and there came water thereout ; and when he had drank, his Jptrit came again, wherefore he called the name thereof Enbaggore (that is) the Fountahi or Well of him that called, or cried, Judg 15. 18, 19. So when a pcrfon is indeed fpiritu- Chap, i . Spirit nal tbirft. 1 3 fpiritually athirfi, and God lets out the water of life, gives him Co drink^of the water of that Rock^ which is Chrift 1 • when God anfwers his defires (There is the Chrift, There is the mercy, there is the peace which you havefo rhirfted after;0 how fweet is Chrift ro this thirfty foul IRowfweet is that mercy, and that peace,tohis tsfte Tweeter then the honey and the honey- comb, This time ht will never forget, Pfil. 13. -5. 1 have trufied in thy mercy , my heart (hall rejoyce in thy falvatiox. Verle 6, J will Ji »g unto the Lord , becaufe hs hath dealt bourn if ulj vctehme* Pfa). 63. 5. My foul [hall be fat isfied as with marro\r> So the Church, which after aii her longing, and enquiring, at length p>e fcund him whom her foul loved} Why? faith (he, 1 held him faft znd would net let him go y Cznt. 3,4. O firs 1 others make nothing of Divine favour, of Chrift, of the Go* fpel,of the Ordinances of Chrilt^they have no relifh nor fa? vourto them or with them, but all thefe have a pleafant tafte ; give out a moftiVeet concent to a thirfting foul: Chrift Jefus and mercy is precious, the rejoycing of their hearts. As the great Prince who drank but ordinary common puddle water, when he was greatly athirft, profelTed that he never drank w3* ternor wine more pleallng unto him before: fo Chrift, and the Ordinances of Chrift, and anfwers of Grace, and peace from Chrift, they are the rejoycing 0; the foul, the life of the foul,the onely pleafing pleafures and refrefhings of the foul of every one, who isjindeed fpiritually athirft. 3. If a man be indeed fpiritually athirft, he Uhnmblythan^ .? full for the very drops of the water of life. As if one were indeed F( is ^,^/^ naturally 2thirft 5 and you give him bur one cup of cold water? thankful fr tks. why, he thanks you, and bJelTes you; And I (hall remember this drops of this kindneiTe of yours (faith he) as long as I live. So is it if one w,lW# be indeed fpiritually athirft, he is exceeding humble, and he is exceeding thankful, The dogges eate tht crumbs Which fall from their maflers table* She would be thankful for one crumb of mercy in like manner; if the Lord give in but one glimpfe of his favour, but one beam of Chrift, never fo little of Chrrft, nzverfo little of Faith, never fo little of mercy ; Nay, were it but any good hope of thefe, the thirfty foul is thankful , and bielTeth God who begins to open the fountain, who begins with drops of favour and grace. 4. If; Difcoverks of Chap.i. 4. 4. If a man be indeed fpiritually thtffty , nothing fatujiith Hotbhg fit if- him bat enjoyment : Although his defires be earneft, yet he is fieibbim but noc fatisfied ; his complaints be many, yet he is not Satisfied : cnjoj/mcnt. y $ en deavours be great, yet he is nut fatisfied :He enjoy es the mears for the water or lire, yet he is not fatisfied; he hath the promiie of enjoyment, yet he is not fatisfied ; he mult have Chrift himfelf, he mud appear before the Gcd of gods in Sion; hemufthear the joyful found ; lie mud tafte how good the Lord is, Say unto my [onl then art my [alvation, . T 3 /-/. 119. 132. Lool$ thou U pon me, and be merciful, as thon ufejl to do unto thofe that love thy Name. It is the enjoyment of the per- fon himfelf, which the woman defircs : He that is rightly a- thirft, delires Chrift, for Chrift, and all the Ordinances arc de- fired in a fubferviant relation unto Chrift: And all duties are performed for to enjoy Chrift, He refts not in Ordinances nor duties. 5. 5. If a man be indeed fpiritually athirft, a little will not A little will not fufficc him \ a little water will not fufficewhenoneisthirfty, jufae bim. j )Ut t ^ at jj tt | c m ^ QS tne man t0 Ianguifh for more. A Chriftian thinks, could I but get fome hope that God would be my God, that mercy fhould be mine, that Chrift would be mine,! fhould then be at reft ; But when he hath got thofe hopes, he is not at rcfl : O but could I yet have an enjoyment of God in Chrift, then I (hould be fatisfied ; And when he bath got that , he is not yet at reft; But could I take but faft hold of Chrift ; But coula^ be afTureddiat Chrift were my Chrift: Neither yet is he fatisfied, but could I be fully allured; nor in this doth he reft : But might I for ever be allured 1 But might I fully enjoy Chrift alone; But might I be with my Chrift in heaven. Ofirs; The fpiritually thirfty foul is never fatisfied with that which fa- tisfies, until it can fully enjoy that which fatisfus : One fweet tafte begets the dcllre of another , and that another. Paul faith / have not yet attained. Grace, more Grace,nor all Grace will not fatisHe it, till all Grace be turned into Glory. Any being in Chrift, afturance of being in Chrift, growing in Chrift, all this will not fatisfie till we come to be with Chrift for ever in heaven : And all that God gives and manifefts of himfe[f in this life will not fatisfie us untill we enjoy himfelf in perfect and eternal bleiTednefle. <5. If Chap.i. JpirHnal thirji. 1 S 6\ If a perfon bz (piritually athirft, he tkinkj the time long 6. until he may drinks of the waters of life , Pfal. 119,81. My u . e *M*h *fc foul longeth for thy fa! vat ion. Verie 82. Mine eyes fade for ™™ l ™f «'«*« thy Word, faying) Vphen wilt thou comfort me} - Pfal. 6.2, Have mercy upon me } Lord, for 1 am weak?* O Lord heale me, for my hr.es are vexed. Verfe 3. My joul alfo is fore vix:&\ 'But thou Lord , how long ? The poor thirfty (inner goes from one Ordinance unco another , from one Well unto another ; and if the water come not out, he goes home and fighs, and weeps, and cries out, as David,i>i2\* 13. 1, How long wilt thou forget me, Q Lord, for ever ? How long wilt thou hid* thy face from me f Verfe 2. How long fhatl I take ccunfel in my foul ? having forrew in my heart. He thinks every hour a week, and every day a year; and (till he attends, and (till hepraycs. O that God would (hew me mercy >0 that God would give me Chrift, Othat God would give me an anfwer of peace ; O when will God deal merciful- ly with my foul ? when (hall mydefiresbe anfwered ? when fhall my longing, thirfty foul be fatisfied ? SECT. IV. HE re is a word of comfort unto aU fpiritually thirfly (inner s -jjf e 2 ' this day : There be four comforts which may refrefli your fouls. Four comfort**, 1. The way is optn to Chrift^ and y em are on the way to ^ *\ t. • /~>» n. -cr r T/i> way 1S Open htm : you are in Chnfls commimon : you fee you may come toC hrifv. to the waters and drink : you are the perfons on whom Chrift hath a tender eye of compaflion: The bruifed reed, the heavy laden. The thirfty fouls are the particular obje&s of Chrifts tender compafiions, 2. You have that held out unto you which may encourage 2 . you to come to Chrift ' Mark, how he provides waters for you, rou hue mmj and mark how earneftly he invites you : and ma' k how graci- wcourjgemati ouflyheencourageth you to cpme and drink, come and take t0 cgm * the water of life freely, 3. Yoa 1 6 ObjeStions of doubting fouls Chap.c 3 . 3. You have the real beginnings of a fyiritual life in you : This Tiubiicibcrc-tWirft comes from fpiritual life, although you knowitnoc. ai beginnings jhefe thitdings are nothing elfc but the longings of precious cfjpintiu 'V^ faith within your heart: ji s neve borne babes defire the fmcerc tnilke of the iVord,&c. 1 Pet. 2. 2. The little living babe de- fires the bread, and did it not live, it could not fo defire the bread. True grace lives in defire and thirftings for grace, and fo doch true faith in thirding for Chrifr> as well as in rejoycing inChrid. 4- 4. Tour thirftings are not in vainc: There are waters for four '^^^you a nd enough in them to fill you, and you (hall have them: arc not in\'Atu.+ n . L . . ° , , It*/ 1 r * r Blejfea are they that hunger and tbtrfl after rtghteoufnefje^ for they {hall bs filled, Matth. 5.6 Here arc four Iwect comforts for youin this one verfe, youare blefted whodo third, every one that thirds is bleiTed, you have apromifethat you (hall be filled, not fup, or taftc, but be filled ; and Chrid hinV'elf pro- nounceth this bleffing, and gives you this promife, He who is Truth it felf, the Amen, and in Vehomallthe promi/es a^e^Tea and Amen. You are in a blefled condition for the prefenr, and you are affured of filling and fatisfying for the future ^ As D*» Wfpakeoftruding, that fay I of thirding, Pfal. y_. 8. They {hill be abundantly fat'ufied with the fulneffe of thy houfe, and tho* Jhalt make them drink of the river of thy pleafttre. Objett. But here it isobjefted by fome tender and doubting fouls ; Thcfe comforts belong not unto us , becaufc our thirftings are not right thirftings : Why fo ? for, 1. They are not ftrong and earned defires. 2. They ar* not (0 vehement as heretofore! 3. Sometimes they are ftrong and high,but many times they are but weak and low, and faint. 4. God as yet hath not anfwered us in fatisfying our fouls, which he would do, if fo be our thirftingdefires were right, 5. However the anfwers are fo little, that our thirftings dill abide with us. I (hall endeavour briefly to fay a few things to thcfe fcru- ObyEt.i. P Ie5 - Cur tbtrftingr You fay that your thirftings are not right fpirirtnl third* in notftreng ings, becaufe tbej art not ftro*g, and earneft i for fo are fpiritual •** weft, thirftings. To Chap,£. anfaered 17 Tothislanfwer. Set. 1. If this be really fo 9 then thy thirfings are not right j I. for there is alwayes ftrength and earneftnefle of defires in fpi- if this be mlij ritual thirfts : fpirituai thirfb are not lazie wifhes, nor indiffe- f°> ^ ™J^ rent, formal, lukewarme requefts ; there is alwayes an edge r; |^ t upon that fpirituai appetite, which we call thirfting. 2. But perhaps jou are miftaken : whatfoevcr your pre- 2. fcnt opinion is of your felf; if yet three things maybe found Wc my fewa* in your foul, a flu redly you are come unto this fpirituai thii fling. that tbe ? are 1 ♦ If the greatest wants be fpirituai wants : Lord God what wilt thou give we feeing I go childleffe ? laid Abraham, Gen. jr ^ ~ rate ft 15.2. Solordwhatavailesme allthewoild/eeingl go Ch rift- wms be>fpiri. leflef No want to me like the want of thy felf, and of thy tud wants. Chrift. 2. // you will n%% be denied : I will not let thee go except thou blejfe me, Gen. 32. 26. This (hewed that Jacobs defires was ifjcuwiU not ftrong and earned : Let me alone faid God to Mofes , but Mo- be denied, fes would not let him alone, Exod. 32. 10, This (hewed his dc- fire to be ftrong and earned. The Woman of Canaan , who re- newed and reinforced her requeft to requeft, after filence, and after difcouragemcnts,that (hewed her defires to be very ftrong and earned; Why? If it be thus with you, that you can and do keep up your (uit with God, you keep not filence, nor give him no reft, ftill your defires are before him ; There is not a day but you are crying out, Lord help me, Lord hear me , Lord give me Chrift ! Why hideft thou thy face, hear, and hearken, make thy face to (hine upon my foul for the Lords fake. Afluredly this is thirfting, here are ftrong and earned defires. 3. If J9H lie Jfill at the Poole : If you be ftill waiting and ifyeuliefHUa expecting ; If you ftill come to the Wells of water, hearkning'^ Toole. what God the Lord will fpeak unto you ; when he will anfwer the defires of y< ur fou's : when you attend hi.n at every dore, and in every going forth of his Spirit, in every Ordnance of Chrift, and Grace, and Mercy. Now is it not thus with you? Have you no wan r s upon you, no fpecial wants ? And are not thofe your fpirituai wants? And do you not make to God foe chis fupply ? will you be denied/* can you be fo contented? Are you not ftill wanting, and looking up,and hearkning. D But t8 Objections of Chap 1. 2. Objetl. But oar de fires and thirft s heretofore have been exceeding ve- Tbeir dcjires are h'.mtrt : 0,what Applications and drongcries,and teares,and vot fo vehement wre Qlings .' But thus it is not with us at prefect- and vanifh'ng " bc f ore ' thirds are no true thirds. Sol % I anfwer feverai things to this* 3. i. You muddidingui(h(if I may foexprcfle my fel ) twixt Viflinguifb be- Legal thirft and Evangelical thirft. txcixt . - The Legal thirft s, are thofe vehement and paflionate e'efires. Legal t.nrjti. ra !f ec j j fl a f inner f rom t | ie ex q U ifice fenfe of guilt and wrath in the conference, and they are like the thirds of a man in a Fever, very violent and impatient : O, this (inner cries out for Chrtft and mercy,! cannot be eafed without them,and I (ball be damn- ed if I have them not. . Ihe Evangelical thirfts^re drong and ferious defires, and tofrfts ^k are "^ kv faith, and grounded upoiPthe promifes : and thefe are like the thirds of a man in health, which are fervent, but not fo turbulent, becaufe he knowes where waters areto quench his third. Perhaps heretofore thy thirds were onely kgal thirds, thirds onely of an^uifhed confeience, thirds onely for eafe (rhou wad in a feaver, thou wad on the rack) and thou wad earned for Chrid and Mercy ; but all thefe came from felf- Jove.- And indeed thoudidd look on thc£e only as means of pre- fenl Qdk, not as cures of thy finful condition, but only as helps out of thy angui(hed condition. But are there no: now in thee other toirds ; Evangelical thirds,earneft defires after Chrift and the thing; of Chrift, from a clearer manifedation of the excel- lencies of Chnd, and of the riches of Grace in Chrid ? and of the promifes to give thefe to the foul that feeks them early and diligently. If there may be found in you, although they have not in them fo much tuibulency and ienfible vehemency, yet they are the bed kindc of fpiritual thirds in their nature, and in their end ; thefe come from a principle of life, and thefe car- ry you out to Chrid himfelf for himfelf. 2. That our thirds are not fuch as heretofore, this may arife Decaff fpiri- either from, I. A real decay and didemper. 2. "Or particu- iHaitbirft, miyhr anfwer. 3. Or neceiTicy of a progreiTe to fuller enjoy- grife,frm ments. spiritual di- , Sometimes our fpiritual thirfts are not fuch as heretofore; ftempcr. Jr J Becaufe Chap.!. dotting fouls anfwered. 19 Becaufe there is a fpititualdecay and di slemper in *a.*therc is fome difeafe and diftcmper in the foul : Sicknefl'e weakens the appe- tite : your hearts may be lulling after forbidden fruit, you may be liking fome finful lufts and objects; and then no marvel that your fpiritual thirft is altered, Chrift, and the things of Chrift: are not of that wonted relifh with us, nor efteeme with us, whiles we furter (inful affections and defires to plea r e and con- tent us ; as fweet fa wees puts the mouth out of relifh : or per- haps your hearts areenfnared with worldly objects , you are fallen into the tea, tumbling in earthly pleafures, or too eager- ly purfuing earthly profits; and thefe things wiil certainly dull, and weaken, and abate your thirfting after fpiritual things; as feeding upon trafti takes away the appetite to wholefome food. Or elfe you are fallen into fpiritual pride, conceitedncffe,ful- nes; & this will breed flacknes and negligence towards fpiritual Ordinances and Communions : And hence arifeth an univerfal weaknefle in all the fpiritual frame both of grace and affections- Now if all thefe, or any of thefe (hould be the c.*ufe of the al- teration of your fpiritual thirfts, verily you have caufe to be humbled, and to repent, and fpeedily, and earneftly to feek un- to the Lord to recover you out of thefe fnares of the Devil. 2. But fometimesour fpirituil thirfts are not fuch as here- % e cau[e of Di- tofore , becaufe of divine and graciow anfwtrs. God. hath vine a d graci- heard the defire of your fouls, and granted the fpiritual mercies ou * anfmrs, m which your fouls longed for ; jou have found him whom your fouls have loved and fought , Cant. 3. 4* and you have found mercy, and peace : God hath fpoken peace unto you, and (hew- ed mercy to you: And now who fliould wonder that the Hone (when its come to the center) fhou' and * e *^ a " d fl at } In thirning, there p TU9 is a conftant equality ; when doth not the thirfly man earneft- \y defire waters until he hath water ? It is not fo with my foul,. therefore my fpiritual thirftings are not right. Sol. As the cafe may be with your fouls, your thirflings may be There my be an r jg nt f or a || this :There are divers reafons of the inequa- feahilVi per- ,itie > not one, y of actions, but alfo of afledions in perfons tru> fans truly goodly good. » j. 1. One caufe may be the incqHal influence of the Spirit if From tbe une- C^° rt fl > who is a prudent and arbitrarieagent 3 and fomctimes f«j//n/(«wcefbeispleafed toaflift- excite, quicken , draw out your hearts the fp int. more, and fometimes JeiTe. And certainly your fpiritual af- fections and defires are ftronger or weaker as his inflamential prcfence is more or lefTe with you : The fhip goes fafter or flow- er, according to the ftrcngth or weaknefle of the winde. Thus it is with the Chriftian, he is more or Idle in a&ion, and in af- fection. Chap., i. anftvered. 31 fe&ion, as the Spirit of Chriftblowes upon his heart and graces. 2. Another caufe may be , the unequal ufe of your faith : 2. your fpiritual tbirfts ever keep proportion witb your faith : \f From the une- faithbe ftrong tbey.are ftrong; If faith be weak, they are weak ; l™ b y °^ owr As Peter upon the water, The more youcan beleeve the promifes f of God, the more ftrong and earneft your defires will be ;and thelefleyou do be!eeve,the more weak will youraffe&ions be. Now the Chriftian fometimes is more llrong in faith,and fome- times he is more diftruftful, and hence it is that he is unequal in the meafure of fpiritual thirfting. 3. A third caufe may be an unequal apprehenfion »f our /pi* ritual rvan f s : Of them you have fometimes a more ferious,deep, 3 ; fenfible, powerful apprehenfion, and now ycur hearts burft out * r ™ ** *J£, with teares, and prayers, and importunities, and fometimes the| „ offriritud perfonal apprehenftons ofyourfpiritual wants are more gene- mnts. ra,l common, flat, and indifferent; and anfwerable unto thofe will your defires be. If you had a more con{tant,fixed,fokme and ferious apprehenfion of the wants either of Chrift, or the things of Chrift, you would finde a more confhnt equality of ftrong affedions after them. 4. A fourth caufe may be either, the damps of melancholy, or 4, the preffures of temptations which do marvelloufly interrupt, From the dmps anddifquict,anddiftra&the heart of a Chriftian , and keep l{% lmh ?^„ down the powers and effects of grace for awhile. But then not-^f^// m ~ withftanding this inequality, there are three things which (hew that there is a right thirfting in you. X. Your thirfl holds on ftiH, though not alftayes in the fame Netwhbftitid. degree : As Auflin faid of hirofelf, fometimes I beleeved more i*g*bis intqu&> ftrongiy, and fometimes I beleeved more weakly, but frill I be- fh ° h " r J hir fi leeved ; fo the found Chriftian can fay.fometimes I thirft more ""* ' fervently ,. and fometimes I thirft more faintly, but ftill I thirft. Pfal.lj. 4. One thing have 1 defired of the Lord % thatMll^ r ^ h ° ldi 1 feek after, that 1 maj dwell in the houfe of the Lord. 2. When they fall lew, yet they re/l not there : you fearch men they fall and enquire, why is it thus ? you return, and pray, and heare, low.ytt tbeyrc/ft and never give over until God hath quickned your hearts i.M*bcrc. gain, sa Objections of Chap.i. gaiDjUntil he hath revived and enlarged the defires of your fouls again. tel'fidbe ihn 3- Yea ' and th *y muf * bc ^cisfied.bc they more or leiTe,higher more or We. or lower,yet,as rberiver ftill runs towards the fea,and rcfts not until it fals into it, fo ; &c. 4. Object. If my thirflings had been right, Qod ftofi/J fere this ) have Ifmy xhir flings anfwtre A me in the f-itufying of my defires : Is not his promife baibcm fight, io T b dt t foj Ufa hunger and tlotrft after riohtecufneffe (ball vfwercimt. hf*t"fM- Sol. tor this remember. l% 1. ItAf not far jo/4 to fet god time:)o\x may be earned - , jt is not for you but you muft not be impatient : That God who had goodnejfe to fa Gods time enough to make a promife ; hath ftifdome enough to take the fictcfttime to performc it. May no: a man really thirft, who yet findes no water? 2. 2. Though you have nor the nercie after which you thirft, It is a grat yet it id a great mercy that God gives you an heart to thirft mercy ibx God a j. er , r< tile/fed are they that hunger and thirft after right e- fo7irTJcX c "f ne ft f * Ic is a Wcffedneffi to enjoy , yea and a blefTedneiTe to rJ * j defire. 3. Tour waters are fare : Ifa. 33. 1 6. Therefore be not Co 1 et ]™ r hearts continue thirsting until they be fatisfied. Cant. 3.1. / (ought him vehem nsy foul lo- ved, &c. Verfe 2. / rvill fee\^ him whom my (out loveth. Pfa!. 123. 2. Our eyes trait upon the Lord our God until that he have mercy upon hs, TheJalcrsviU & A f ter yet4f igfl K ibir fii*ts % the waters will be poured bemortjweet OUtuponyou, and they W/// be the more facet unto you, by unto you. how much the longer you have waited for them. O, a Ob rift at length, and reconciled favour at length. and pardoning raery at length after many groans, and fighs, and tears, and prayers, + and Chap.i. doubting fouls anfaered. 2 J and waitings, will be as heaven unco your fouls: Likerainein feafon to the thirfty ground : They will be the more prized, the more preferved, the more welcomed, with joy and blefiing,and kept with the more care of fpiritual improvement, &c. . . but it u fo little wherein Ocd an freer s my tkirfting foul: ?' y.. ' Where is the filling and fatisfying j> wblrein Goi 1 anfwer. anfwer s in Thy fcmples are novo fat u fie d : for, by this it appears that tbirfting. thy thirftings arc right, for a little fatufies thee net. O Chri- $ C I- ftian, although God gives not unto thee in this life to rill up *• themeafure of thy fpiri:ualdefires, yet he gives unto thee fuch Tb s my fitif- defires as would extend themfelves to the meafures of all the-^' J * cru t "' goodneile which he hath promifed. There is infinite, good which God hath promifed, and there is an infinite defire, (a boundleffc defire, an unfatisficd defire) in the fouls of a true £hriftian, until he attains unto all that wonderful love mercie, goodnefle, happineffe which God hath promifed to beftow on him. But then know that there is a threefold filling or fatisfying 2 . of the thirfty foul. There's a three* 1. A filling of conveniency to onr particular condition : this fold filling. is particular, and is die convenient fupply of thy wants, and de- Of conveniency^ fires: God fo fils and fatisfies you this way, thatyou may (till hunger, and (till third: : He doth not intend in this Jife,fo to fill you, as to takeoffyour defires, but foas to encreafe, and en- large your defires ; not as much as you can defire, but fo much as is fit for you at this time to whet and keep up your defires. 2. A pling by fttccejfton and de greet one want after ano- Offucceffion* then He fo fills you, that he is ftili filling of you; fo anfwers you, tha^ you may be (till asking, one draught , and then ano- ther draught ; if you thirft often,you Hiall be filled often. 3. A filling of quictation : giving a perfed reft to the de- Ofquietation,. fires and motion? of the foul ; this is univerfal, compleat , ac once and for ever : This filling (hall be your filling in glory, where there (hall be no want more, and no thirfting more,your fouls then and there (hall have perfect and everlafting fulnefle and reft. SECT, 24 Objections of doubting fouls Chap, SECT V. %jf e 2. TS Jefus Chrift fo tender unto, and fo earned with thirfty fin- Striveio be fuc f j JLners to come unto the waters > Then ftrive to be fuch tbir- thirjlj/ jinncrs. ty fmner /, whom Chrift doth fo graciouily invite unto himfelf, and to the waters of life. For the carrying on this exhortation, I will (hew you three things. £ueft- i. ■• What the caufes are why many Tinners are not fpiritual- Tbcuufcs of ly athirft. wmoffpiritu- 3# The motives to pcrfwade us to get this fpiritual thirfti- ttbirft. ncffe# 3. The means and wayes how a finner may come into this condition of fpiritual tbirfting. 1 . What the Caufet are why many finners arc not fpiritual- ly athirft. Sol. T here are fix principal causes or reafons of it, 1. 1. /gH0r4»c*,fpiritual ignorance, is the caufe why finners are Ignormc. not fpiritually thirfty , we truly fay , that Ignoti null* cupido, what we know not, that we defire not, John 4. 10. feftu faid unto the noman of Samaria, If thou kmreft the gift of God, and who it id that faith Unto thee give me to drin^tbeu would- eft have dskfd of bim , aud he would have given thee living water : Mark, (he did not asfy, becaufeftiedid not^rtfe (lie knew not Chrift, what a gift of God Chrift was, nor the living water which Chrift had to give : If fhe had known thee, (he would have asked. Sinners do hear of a Chrift , andfpeakof a Chrift, but they do not know this Chrift, they do not know that Chrift is their onely life ; their oncly rightcoufnelTe; their onely falvation ; their onely peace; their onely hope; their onely help; their one'y happinefle; that wrath and death are on them for ever,if they get notChriftjThat their eternal life lies in their enjoyment of Chrift; And hence it is that their defire$ are not after him,that their fouls thirft not for hinvWe may preach Chnft allourdayes,and you may hear of Chrift nil your Ives; but if the glories of Grift, and the things of Chi ift be hid from youreyts, if you get not the knowledge of the excellencies of Chrift, Chap, i . anftvered o £ Chrift, your hearts will never breakout into longings and thirftings. 2, Vnfenftblcnefje of heart : fpiritual unfenfiblenefTe is the 2 . reafen why finners have no Spiritual ihirftinefTe, they are un- irnfev/ibiheffc fenfibleoi their fins and finful condition, of bean. Tis true ! men will fay that they are Tinners. Objeft. But it is one thing to fay that we are finners, and it is another So/. thing co be rightly lenfible of our fins. There are three things in a right fenfe or apprehenfion of our 4 right fenfe of fins. *»• 1. It is per (oval: the finner fees his own fins ; Thus have I Perfonal, finned, rhis evil have I done 2. It is (olid and full : The finner fees the finfulncfle of bis Sclid - finnes, the iniquity of his iniquities, how accurfed of God his finnes are, and his foul is, for thofc finnes : if fte fit here vVf perifi 9 faid the Lepers. 3. It is experimental: his foul doth finde it an ev'd and bit- Experimental. ter thing, thus to finne ; his finnes fall back into his confciencc, with the wrath of God for them, which wounds and burns like the fire of hell within him. If finners were thus fenfible of their finnes, their defires would rife after Chrift ; what [hall Voe do % faid thofe rightly fenfible humbled finners in Atts 2.37. What Jhall I do to be favedl faid he in Acts 16. 30. when* the Ifra- c/ites were firing With the fiery Serpent , then they looked af- ter the brazen Serpent: But few finners are thus fenfible : we fee other mens fins, but not our own; we fee our own finnes as pleafing fruit, but not as forbidden and accurfed fruit; we fee fins by a light in our judgments, but not with any bitter expe* riencein our confeiences ; and therefore we are quiet, we fie ftill, we pant not after Chrift : a bounded finner will third for Chrift, an hardned finner will not do fo> 3. Self deceit : There are three felf-deceits which hinder men fcom a fpiritual third after Chrift. and the living waters by chcifi. / * nllT: 1. One is, that their fyiritual condition is goody when indeed ce ; r t € s / e ' ot is naught : This was thefelf-deceit in the Laodiceans, who That their fpi. thought themfelves rich., and increafed, and to fland in need of ritual condition nothing, and therefore they did not go to Chrift to buy of him ? g° od ^hen a E gold, naught. a 6 Can fes of want Chap 1. gold, and rajmtnt, and eye-falve^c\,^. 17,18* And this was the fclf-deceit of the Scribes and Phariftes, of whom Chrift fpake {the whole need not the Thyfician^ihcy thought themfelves ' whole, and found their condition to be righteous, and not to need a Chrift, or faith in Cbriftjand therefore they never third* ed for Chrift: If you have Cifterns of your own, you will ne- ver go to the fountain of living water. Tbtttkcy thirft, 2 A fecond is, That they do thirft, -when indeed they never when thy do not t bj r ft . Becauie they fay their prayers, becaufe they come and hear the Word, becaufe they fomctimcs have fome kinde of de* fires and wifhes after good things : although thofc duties be but formal and perfunftoty ; although thofe defires be but flight and temporary, never ferious nor induftrious, nor perma- nent, until Chrift and Grace be enjoyed , yet with thefe they cheat their fouls ; as if it were not Chrift himfelf, but a few cold defires after Chrift which would fave them: or is if any kind of defires were this fpiritual thirfting, which is of all defires the mod high, the moft longing, the moft active and unfacisfied without the enjoyment of Chrift, and Grace, and Mercic. 3. A third is, That they can by their orvn ftrength thirft Tbit they an when they villi This is that which undoes thoufands of (inners, tbirftwben tbey they think that they have Chrift, and Mercy at their own com- »#• mand; and they have faith and repentance at their own com- mand, and they have fpiritual wils and affections at th^ir own command. Objetl. ]t i« but to thirft and defire, and Chrift faies come, indeed he doth fay come, to him that is athirft. SoU O but whofe work is that ? what power is that, from which a fpiritual thirft muft come? Not thine own power , but the power of the Almighty God , It u he that mt*ft tverl^ in you to will and todojou are not fufficient of your felves to thtnl^ any thing that is good much lefle to thirft after that which is good. 4- 4. Other fatufattions : Sinful men choofe unto themfelves lions other ob i e6ts thc " Chrifl ' and the thin 8 s of Chrift , and thofe do content and fatisfie their hearts, and therefore they come not to be fpiritually athirft. It is a verie truth that every man hath his appetite, and that he chufethunto himfelf a proper ob- ject, in which alone his appetite takes facisfadion and reft s this is Cfxap.i. ofjpiritual thirfi. 27 is that which excites, drawes out, and fills uphisdefires :Now finful men have already pitched upon other obje&s for their defires, and with thefe are they filled and fatisfied ; fome with one finne, and fome with another finne : Hereds heart is fatif- fied with his Her odias^t labels heart is fatisfied with her pride and painting : The young mans heart was fatisfied with his riches. Thofein/c^w, their hearts were fatisfied with the honour of men : Sinful objects , and worldly obje&s have gained the hearts of men, and wich thefe are they actually fatisfied , and therefore they third not after Chrift. Vnbelief: This is the death of the foul, and the grave of all fpiritualafteftions; an unbeleeving heart cannot love Chrift, Uu ^ e } nor joy in Chrift, nor defire Chrift. u € tc *' There is a fourfold unbelief: r. Of the threatnwgs of the GojpeL 2* Of the promifes of the Go/pel. 3. Of the com- mands of the GojpeL And laftly of Chrift offered fo the Gojpel, when men do not look upon him as of that worth, need „ and ufe to afoul as is held forth in tbeGofpel, and this laft is a maine kindcrance to our fpiricual thirft. If aperfon would come to be fpirituaily thirfty , he muft 1 . See a perfonal need of Chrift for his foul. 2. See the precious worth and excellencies of Chrift, his furpafling worth. 3, Take paines, and be wil- ling to part with all for Chrift : but unbelief deprives us of the right fenfe of the need of Chrift, and makes Chrift of no worth orefteeraewithus; and is fo farre from putting out vigorous endeavours for Chrift, that it makes us totally carelefTc , nav, fooliih, nay, abfurd to refufe Chrift when offered freely un- to us with all his glory; had it not been for this one finne of unbelief, we had not onely defired Chrift, but we had alfo en* joyed Chrift long ago. llegletl of jpiritual Ordinances , and flighting of .them. The & Ordinances of Chrift efpecialiy, the preaching of the Gofpel is Neglcft of fpi- the meanes to work in our hearts thofe great ipiritual thitfts for riml &***** Chrift ; they are the meanes to make you (enfibleof ail your foul wants: To render Chrift altogether lovely and defirable, to convey a fpiritual life unto you, to draw out your hearts, and to fill you with earneft defires to enjoy the Lordjefus Chrift, and to quicken, and to ftrengthen and uphold thole de* E 2 fires, 28 Canfes of want of fpiritual thirji. Chap.i fires, and all this we do finde to be experimentally true, who are bcleevers : NUy, fo forcible is the Miniftry of theGofpel, that even in very wicked men, Come kinds of defires are kndied by \z j But many tinners decline and negleft the Miniftry of the Gofpel, they will not he ar ic ; and many profane Athcifts dchear it, with fcorne, and contempt, and therefore God juft- ly leaves them to their own hearts luftsand to the powers of Satan. Queft. 2. What are the Motives to perfwade us toftrivetobe made fpiritually athiril? , $ i t There are four Motives which I would ferioufly prefent unto you for this. Motives tofpi- Your condition is (xtrtmcly fad, till this fpiritual thir ft be Titultbirfi. wr0U ght in you : For *,. . I. Tou are unqueftionably Wricked and unconverted. Spi- without ti is ritual thirfts , are the firft breathings of Jpirstual life : The fid, fat firft evidence of a new creature. Renewing grace begins fiift such at want it in thetenfeof ourwants, and in defire of help, new-borne *w un $l e $ i9ii ~ tabes defire the milkc. And as they are the firft appearings, fo i ywic^ci. ^^ afe ^ i Qrfie p A ^ eAY \ngs\ the br*i[ed reed, and the fmoak^ ing flaxe are the loweftof all gracious teftimonies, a mourn* ful fenfc, and unfamed defire ; can you pofiibly fall lower then thefe ? Is it any way probable that any real work of grace is begun in that mans foul, who hath not fo much as a fenfe of his Want of Grace, or true defire after it ? 2. You can have no hope of Ckrift y or mercy, or falvation, Such hive no U nlefTe you be fpiritually athirft : Ic is but an irrational and fil- bepcjofcbnjt. jy prefumption, to fancie that Chriflrwill be our Saviour, and yet we do not fo much as cordially defire to enjoy Chrift 1 Or that God will mercifully pardon our fins, and yet we have no fpiritual defires to enjoy him as a reconciled and pardoning God! Or that our fouls fliall come to heaven, and yet we do notthirftingly defire to come to heaven. 2. 2. There is not fuch an cbjeft in all the world which is fo There is no oh- de fir able for it (elf, and for your [elves , M is C^ ri ? 1'fa* • He Ji8 l9dcfinbic.it mod dc(irable for himfelf he is altogether lovely and de- ferable; nothing in him but it is excellent, precious, perfed in his graces, love, mercie 5 righteoufneflc, life, &c. For your fclvejj Chap. . i . Motives to ftiritual thirji . Q 9 [elves ; He is, i. Your fouls good : 2. The only foul good, nothing for the foul but Chrift. 3. The All fouls good, hope for your loft.fouls, life for your dead fouls, pardon for of- fending fouls^omfort for diftreffed fouls.and all-fufficitncie for needy fouls ; a good for ourfouls to all eternity. 3. 3. If you^ould once come to be thirfty, all thebufineflefor jUtbebufincfli falvation would go forward, every wheele would move, you f or ff va ? * would be acting co purpofe for your immortal fouls ; the King- ^ r ^° dome of heaven would juffer violence , what importunities , what wreftlings would there be ? what would you not do,you would be ready for every good work? How would your hearts pray? How would your hearts be fixed and enlarged? How converfant would you be in the Scripture > How diligent at the Ordinances ? How abundant in Chriftian conferences ? O what delight in fpirituai opportunities, and heavenly commu- nions ? You would ftili be at heaven, your thoughts would frill be on Chrift, Mercie, and Grace, and falvation would be rnoft precious, delightful and acceptable unto your fouls, and all your endeavor would be ferious,you would defire and not faint. 4. Spiritual tbirfts are very ]> leafing unto God , and fiaS 4. affttredlj be anfrvered. He will not brea\ the brut fed reed^ nor Spir'tual thirfi* quench the [moaking flax : He W/7/ bear the defires of the hum- a ' c pktfin&tQ ble. How well pleafed is God when a diftrefled (inner flies up ° ' unto him in tears and cries, when he ajk*,anti feeks,and knocks, when he will not be filent, when he will give the Lord no reft ; O faies God, in this mans foul do I take pleafure, I fee his heart is rightly fee, nothing will fatisfie him but my felf, but my Chrift ; he hath prevailed with me, I will be his God, I will fatisfie him with my falvation, I will give him Chrift, I will give him mercie, his thirfty foul fhall be fatisfied, I will give him the defires of his foul. Why? me thinks this may quicken our hearts to ftrive with God, to make us fpiritually athirft : Spiri- tual thirfts are for the beft and the greateft good, and fpirituai thirfts are fure to be anfwered with them. Other fKrfts are meane, and many times vain, nay alway es vain. For the objects which they fo eagerly run after, can never fatisfie us; yea, and the more we thirft after them.the more likely we are to go with- out them. It is ocherwife with thefe fpirituai thirfts, they are the 30 Helps to Jptrttutl tbirfl. Chap.i. the beft longings, for the bell objects, and they never railTe of anfwer or lupply. God will certainly anfwer and fatisfie themj and think thou what a mercie it is to have and to enjoy Jefus Chrilt to ail eternity. Sljj}. 3. Butnowthemainequeftion is ; whatcourfe thefinnerfhould ZMci'sioffiri- take that he may become a fpiritualiy thirfty (Inner? uul Tbirjt-. Amongft many others, remember thefe. ^ c ' # 1. If ever you would attaine this fpiritual thirft, then feri- „ }' . Oufly and judiciouflv erqu'ire into the fbirituai condition of jour Enquire into r / j u r J r Jr j c j ibcfpiriiiuUon ' 0f4l > anci therc fi™ e om l onr f lKnes > and nnde out your wants, 9} jour and what you are, and what will become of you, if you live foul. and die wich them ! Brethren, when you have found out your fins (fo that you come throughly to be convinced, O I am a dead man, I am a loft man, lama damned man.unlefte I get Chrift to deliver me from thcm,and unlefTe I get mercie to blot them our, and unlefTe I get grace to heale my (inful foul 1 This may, and this would make you cry out, and this would pull de- fires out of your hearts, Wretched man that I am, Who Jhill deliver me f Rom 7, What Jhall I do to be faved? Acls 16. Find* otit your [primal Wants (fee) that if thofe wants be not fupplied, there is no hope of life, or happineife 1 I want Chrifl, and I wane renewing grace, and I want pardoning mer- cie •, and if \ make not out, fo as to enjoy (Thrift, I (hall never be faved,and lo as to enjoy that holineffe,f (hall never fee God, and^ fo as to enjoy that mercie, I (hall never come to blefTed- nerfe. O a ferious folcmne ftrong conviction of this would rouze you out of your carnal confidence, and fecurities, and would put you upon fad thoughts and carneft del-res to get that Chrift, and holinefle, and mercie; yea, and to be laborious,and wrefdeffe until you did enjoy them, ^ Cn,mejtsn\ .\ G " JT e J" t0 A ^ ^ttua/iy opened : to fee the bcjpirhiiafy height, and depth, and breadth, and lenghth in Chrift: I opened. meane, the perfection of beauties and excellencies in Chrift Jefus; our luppinefle is the enjoyment of him onely. Though a Cabinet be full of precious pearles and diamonds, yet no man defires them as long as they are hid from him : There are *«• fearchable riches in Chrift: There is -^//inChnft which is ex- cellent ard neceflarie for a poor (inner; All is treafured up in Chrift Chap.i. Helps to jpiritnal thirfl. 3* Chrift. There is love, and pine, and mercie,and rightcoufnefTe, and help, and comfort, and iife in him. Now were you through- ly convinced of your fins, and wants, and through them (hould fee thefe precious excellencies in Chrift, were Chrift opened to you as a Chrift.and were your eyes opened to fee all thefc things in Chrift * fuch a fight in fuch a condition of yours would raife high andearneftdefires to enjoy fuch a Chrift , John 4. ic. If thou kncweft the gift of God, and Vcho it is that faith to ihee^ give me to drin^ thou wouldeft have askjd of him , and he Vcotttd have given to thee living water ; if thou kneweft Chrift, thou wouldeft fay, O Lord give me Chrift, in him is my life, in him is my help,in him, and in none but him is my falvation. 3. Qet at haft fome degrees of faith and hope : For as ap- %. prehenfionof your need is neceftary to fpiritual thirfting; And Get jome de- as the apprchennon of the excellencie and futablcneffe oH re "°f f aitb Chrift is alfo necefTary, fo hkewife is faith, and hope : For if the MA l?6ps ' poor (inner (after both thefe fights) (hall fay, But f (hall never come to enjoy that Chrift 1 there is no hope at all for me ! He will never be mine 1 He will never love me, nor pitie me, nor help and fave me I Why, now no thirftings will be in your foul: Let the good be never fo excellent or futabie, if it be impofiible to be had, if there be no hope of it , there will be no defire after it : And therefore when you have got to fee your fpiritual mi- fery, and the excellencie of Chrift ; then Arrive to get faith, and to get hope; therefore confider, that this Chrift was fent to fave finners, and this Chrift offers himfeif to poor finners,and he offers hi mfc If to you, and calls upon you, and commands you to beieeve, and promifeth, that if you come in to him, you {hall not be rejected. Now think on all thefe things, for they are apt to breed faith and hope, and faith and hope will breed ftrong dcfires : This Chrift may be mine, and if I come in , he will be mine 5 therefore O my foui,cry out, fit not (till, beftirre thy felf, pray, hear, long for Chrift, there is yet hope, never therefore give over till thou enjoy thy Chrift. 4. Get but a tafte of Chrift ; though it were but a very ^; little experience of his love, of his life 3 of his graces : tafte Getatafie cj and fee that the Lord is good : They that kno& thy name Veill Cbrifl* trutt in thee, fo will they alfo thirft after thee. This would quench Helps to fpiritual thtrft. Chap.i. quench all other thirfts after worldly things,and raife our r hi«-ft after Chrift. BcrvAiU your Laftly, bewaile yonr own mifery before the Lord : fo ex- twnmi(cr r Soit cc Iknt a Chrifr, and ye: no defire after him ; fuch great thirfts S^fwJ f, ° rthcwor,(1 • and yct n0 hcart t0 long for Chrift : Pra y jire ajur // cxcee( jj n gjy unt0 t ^ Q ^ o:< ^ himfclf, to work in thee to will, to give thee a thirfty fpirit : I tell you, as none can give you Chrift but God, fo none can give you thirfting defires but God • Spiritual defires grow not in our barren hearts : Neither your felf, nor any creature can be the author of any one fpintual defire: therefore in the fenfenotonely of the want of Chrift, but alfo in the fpiritual want of thefe thirfting defires foe Chrift , get thee to the gates of heaven, and lay thy felfe down there, Lord, I need Chrift ; and Lord I need an heart to defire Chrift • Thou, thou onely art the God of all good arTe&ions , as well as of all good actions : I cannot come to Chrift without thy ftrength ; I cannot defire to come to Chrift without thy ftrength; Thou haft the Key which o- pens the heart: (che Flaxe cannot fmoke till fire be put to it) nor can my heart fo much as defire Chrift, untill thou kindle that defire in my heart : OLord,drop (by thy Spirit ) a thirftintomy foul, plane right defires in me by thine own hand , roork^ in me both to will and to do of thy goo& pleafure. Plant this defire in me according to thy promifes, and work this in me by thy power. Chrift is my life, caufc me to thirft; Chrift is my happineffe, caufe me to thirft, never to be fatisfied until I receive him, CHAP. Chap. 2 . What is meant by the waters. g a CHAP. IL ISAIAH 55.1. Ho ! ever} one that thirjieth Come ye to the waters^ &c, Have finifhed the firft Propofition from thefe words,namely, That Jefus Chrift is very earn- ed with thirfty finners to come unto him. I ^^i'feSS* now P rocee d t0 a ftcond Propofition, or Oh- s k? fervation ;whichis, That there are waters for thirfty fwners, And that every one who U thirfly, may , and ought to come unto him (come j oh every one that thirfteth , Come ye to the waters) John 7. 37, If any man thirfly lit him come unto me and drink, Rev. 22. 1 7. Let him that is a- thirft) come, and whofoever will , let him take of the waters of life freely. 1 here are two things upon which I (hall infift for the open- ing of this ArTe&ion. Fir ft, I fhiil fhcw you what thefe waters are which are pro- vided for thirfty finners. Secon ly , I (hall (hew unto you,that every thirfty (inner may and oughr to come unto them. SECT. I. w Hat thefe waters are unto Schick thirfty (inner S Are Jb fSr*: }' . eameflly invited? "fatofim. V tersAre, g4 What is meant by the waters. Chap. 2. Sot, I rhall not trouble you with all the acceptations of the word: There are waters of affiiblion : (Tfal.6\. i. The Waters are en- trcd into my foul) There are Waters of contrition i (r Sam.j. x They drew water .and poured it out before the Lord) &c. Three opinions There are three opinions concerning the waters in [he Text. concerning tbcfe I# Some by them underftand the dotlrine of the (jofptl. The w ? far/ ' . f Gofpel is like the raine Which comes down from heaven 9 there the Qo [pel™ ma y y° a fi n£ * c cne ^fl* °f [Ovation , and the flreames that do refrejh the C lt J of God: As David in another cafe ; fo may we (peak of theGofel, nil my firings are in thee: The Law was revealed with Fire , and the Go/pel with water : In that there is nothing but terrour and wrath for a (inner ; but in this there is hope, and comfort, and eafe for a (inner. The Gofpel reveals a Chrift, a Mediatour,a Righteoufncflfc,,a way of falva* tion,mercieandforgivenefTefor the (inner. And if the (Inner once comes to be fenfible of his (in, and wrath, and thirds for any fpiritual help and comfort,let him come to the Gofpel,here only are thofe waters for his diftrcfTed (oul. The bolj Gbofi 2 Some ^ jh e f e W aters do underftand the holy Ghofl with ^* ' rtt ; and John 3. 5. Except a mm be borne of water and of the Spirit , he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God : Here the holy Ghoft iscompired to water, John 7. 38. He that be- fccVeth on me> oat of his belly (ball flow rivers of living wa- ter : verfe39. But this [pake he of the Spirit , which they thatbeleeve on him fruuid receive. So that by water fome* times are meant the Spirit, and the graces of the Spirit : But whether thefe be the waters here onely intended, unto which thethirfty are invited to come, it is not to cleare and evi- dent. 'Jefut cbrijl 3. Some by thefe waters do underftand Jefm Chrifi himfelf with ail bis mc- with all hit merits, and gifts , and benefits, promifes and com- Tviefl^ 5 ' an *f orts 9 y° u rca( * m & ev - 22 * 1 ' °f a P ure rlvtr °f Waier °f tif*% clear as fchriflal , proceeding from the throne of God , and of the Lamb. As Chrift is the Bread of life , fo he is the water of life : He is the Fountain , whence all our living waters flow: He is the Well of (ahation, out of which all our fpiritual wa- ters are drawn : That fpiritual Rock of fpiritual drink^ 1 Cor. io, 4. There Chap. 2 The waters meant of Chrift. 3$ There arc fix ftreames of precious water which the thirfty Six ftreames of ' (inner longs for, and ail of them are prevideeffor him in Chrift. r^cS.^ 1. Gods gracious favour and retonciled love : Make thy face to /bine upon thj fervant, Pfal. lie. 135. Lift thou up the light 1. of thy countenance upon me , Pfal. 4. 6. Restive us grachujly, Gods gracious Ho(eai4. 2. This water is provided for him in Chrift. God was^ vm snGhrift reconciling the World unto himfelf, 2Cor.5Go& 7 Rom t 5 i# 2. Pardon of fane : This is another ftreame longed for, 2 - Cod be merciful' to me a ftnner, fo the Publican: Blot out my Pir ^ no fi 1 ^ tranfgreffions y faid David ; Take affray iniquity, faid the Church. Now this water is provided in arxl by Chrift : In whom we have redemption through hh blood for the forgiveneffs of ftnnes , E- phef.1.7. If a»y ruan finne,vpe have an Advocate with the Fa- ther, J ef us Chrift the righteous , who is the propitiation for our ftnnes. I John 2.1, 2. Who wafhed us from our ftnnes in his own bl9od,Rev.l.*y.He is the Fount aine fit open for finne and for un+ cleanneffe , Zacb. 13. 1. 3 . Righteoufnejfe to ft and before God : How fh ill 1 appear before •fygbic'oufnefe God ? What righteoufnelTe fhail I get to juftifie me who am to fUnd before ungodly ? Mine own riiihteoufnefle are as filthy rags. This wa- Goi. ter is to be found in Chrift ; He is the Lord our righteoufneffe^ of God he is made unto us righteoufneffe, 1 Cor. I. 30. And be found in him not having mine own right eoufntffe , which is of the Law , but that which is throsfgh the faith of (fhrift , the righteoufneffe Which is of God by faith> Phil. 3.9. 4. Renovation: A renewed heart, a changed and fan&ifkd R cno ^ t ) 01tt heart. This alfo is the water which the thirfty (inner defires : Create in me a cleane heart , Pfal. 51. Wafb me , fo /hall I be cleane, Ibid. And this water is to be had from Chrift : Ye are wafted, ye are fantlified , ye are ju&ified in the name of the Lord Iefus y and by the Spirit of our God, 1 Cor. <5« ] I. He came by Water and blood, 1 John 5, 6, Is made unto us fan- ftificaf$on y 1 Cor. 1.30* // any man be in Chrift, he is a, neW ceeature^zCor.^.lj. 5. InW ard Comfor /Joy, Peace: This alfo the thirfty finner mwJdcomhrt F 2 longs g6 The waters Chap, longs for. And this water is to be found in Chrifl; Come unto me and I will give you reft, Mitth. I J. 28. He was anointed With the oyle 0] gladneffe^ and from him ic defcendcs to us j Our consolations abound bj Chvft^i. 5. ^ 6 Eternal Iff 4 and / 'ah ax to*: This is the Iaft and great Eterullife. ^j r g. And this water is to be found by Chrift, A/. w 17.2. Thou bafl givtn him power over all fitfb , that he fyouli giie cter* rial life to at many as thou htft givtn him ; 3. Ard this it eternal lt]e^crc. Jc tin 3.15. He that bn'ecves, &c. Mark 16. 16. tie that bcleeves fhall be (av^ t Rom. 6,27. i he gift of G*d is eternal life through Jefiu Chrifl oar Lord* chri-fl cmpirei Now Jefus Chrifl: and thefe precious benefits by him are nmo witcr, the compared unto water for clivers reafons. reafons of it. 1 £ ecau f e? ^ VA fers are of a coolWg vertuc: they do Huccoi'n allay the heat and burnirgs of the body, lb Jeftes Ckrifl and -jcrtuc. the ttings of Jefus Chrifl , they do c&aj all the troubles and fcorchings in the corfcience. Allthofe fiery bitings, all thole burnings in confeience (under the fenfe of your lintel guilt,and of the wrath of God:) And allthofe reftleife dillrac^ions and fears, and terrors (which confumeus LktflreJ They are, allayed by Chrifl ; He can take them off , every one of them . If you could by faith come unto him, and truft on him, jou might fee divine juflice fully fatisfied, and all your fins fully pardoned, and God in and by him, gracioufly reconciled unto your fouls s And this would quiet your troubled fpirits , and allay the burning and flaming confeience, Afls 2. They who were pricked in their hearts , before when they beleeved all was quiet, Alls 16. 2 he laylor who came in tremblings but btlztv'wg, he rejoyced, 2. Becaufe, ma y Ia y n ° ,,(i on an y fpiricoal good to refrefh ' andfatisfie his foulej this I (hall demonftrate unto ycu by three arguments. they Are qiul- I. Every thirfty [inner is fufficiemlj condition'ated and qxal- lijied for tbem. lifted for a c»m'wgunto Qhnft \ you cannot well imagine more then five precedent works wrought in a (inner towards a clo* fing with Chrifl : viz, 1. A particular light and fenfe of the foules-con- dition. 2. A perfonalapprehenfioncf his great need of Chrifl. 3. A painful diftrclTe in the foule, becaufe as yet dcftitutc of Chrift. 4. Unfeigned defires,and breathings, and longings for Chrifh >. In eftimible accounts and thoughts of Chrifl. What Chap 2 . may come to Chrift. 3 9 What would you have more ? or what more can be expecled? NJow all thefe are in every truly thirfty finner , who unlefle he had a right fenfe of his wretched frnful condition , unleffehc had difcoveredanabfolute want and need of Chrift ; unleffe his foul were painfully diftrefied for Chrifr, and delivered from all felf*fufficiencies and fupplies ; unleffe his very heart did earn, and long,and bes, and wredle for Chrift ; unleffe he dis- cerned fomeching in Chrid mod precious and futable unco his fpiricual condition, could never be truly faid to be a thirfty finner after Chrid , and having all thefe, he hath all that is previoufly neceflary for any foule to come and clofe with t-h"^ . There is no- 2. There is nothing which may juft/y hinder cr deb arte the thing may Ae* thir fly finner from coming unto the Waters: there is nothing on barretbem ci- Gods parti he forbids you not.he is in no wife unwilling,ora- t])cr verfe , forafmuch as he is the Lord who purpofely provides 0n Gods P An bread for the hungry, and he doth provide thefe waters for the thirfty, he gave Chriit.and filled Chrift to fupply us. . .. On Chrift s part; he ftands upon no more, you fee that he '™ r' doth by name earneftly invite you , if you can but be content to receive him, and to drink of the water of life freely , this is ali he infids on : be Wii/ not quench the fmoking flax. ' On your part : neither former finnes , if you now be rightly q t n cur part. fenfible of them , and third ; nor your prefent fpiritual wants t if you rightly apprehend them 5 and thirft ; nor your own unc worthinefTe,ifyou acknowledge it, and third: none of thefe may, or ffcould hinder you : if you have a prefen- third, you have a prefent liberty of acceffe to come unto the water?. 3. Tou ate in a prefent capacity for coming unto thewaters, if TIk / m in i yoube thirfty: and thcreare five things which will evidence ^^^ this. Firft, thefe thir flings are fuch heavenly works of God , as tVemmaie have an immediate reference unto a cominz unto the vra+ tbirftf fit this ters. enl There is an immediate relation , twixt thirfting for Chrid , and coming unto Chrift: Godreveales and offers Chrift unto you, 4j C'hnfr : andfois the condition of the thirfty (Inner. Let kim that is athirft come and take of the water of life freely y K v 11 17. And againe , bU [fed are they that hunger and t hi si after ri^it'otifn/jfe-for they (1) all he filed , Mat. 5. 2. 2 . That every thirtty tinner ought to come unto the water?, Thcyou^tto fe otJ ^ t ca Camcc .» Chrift as the finner ought ro third , fo tmetotbev*- vvhenheisathirft, be ought to come to Chriftjwhich may be thus cleared. Chrift ought t9 It Ought not Chrift to he received when he is offered ? and by bcrcceived mr y Qne co w » lom ^ e j s offered ? certainly then the thirfly vben tffere*.^ ^^ ^^ ^ ^^ ^ ^^ ^ for ^^ ^ f , $ ^^ Tbc>d$>rc mna offered. be opened at 2, Ought not the (inner to open the doore^at whofe doore Chnfl bebrift doth knotty? ought he not to hearken unto whom Chrift calls fonte- and'fpeaks? certainly then the thirfly finner ought to come to Chrift , for at the door of his foul doth Chrift knock/o him dothClirift call and (peak come ye to the waters. Tbecmmnlof o^pUzkvc not to obey the Conrnwdof God* His Gcfrel- -ricytd. commir.d? that great commjnd ? tint g>od command ? that command of life} and what is that command? this is his com- mandment^ that ne beleeie 0*1 the Name of his Fox f eft's Chrift , and what is this belceving on Chrift , buc a coming unto Tbcrickcsof ChM? 4. Ought we not to honour the exceeding Picket cfGods grace f is tobcho- the wifdome of his grace ? the love and kindnefle of his grace ? rtd* the goodncfle and bounty of his grace ? the companions of his grace / Chap. 2 ■ Why thir fly firmer j ought to come to Chrift. a\ e co tne water* r Wrong pfus Chrift by iV,if you come not to him for 5W* c ^ r /fi u ters. Is he that living fountain of living waters , or is *™*f It '* y ™ O but if the tbirfty (inner will not come to Chrift, he doth putadifltonour , an exceeding diflionour upon the exceeding riches of grace : the wifdome of grace hath found out a Chrift for you , a fountain of life for you. The love of grace hath given this Chrift for you, the goodnelle of grace offers ,this Chrift to you, who are tbirfty, as precious water, as that which only can refrefh and fave you, and bids you take it , and allures you that you may take it, and drink abundantly of it? what a difhonour do you return to fuch a God if you fhould not come to the water* ? thefe waters. henot? Ifhebenot, whydoyethirftafecrhim? ifhebe,why, being athirft, do ye nor go unto him? Is there a fulnefle in him to take away all your linnes , to fupply all your wants, to eafe all your burdens, to comfort you in all your diftrefles , tofatisheallyourddires, Is there fuch a fulnefle in him oris there not ? and fuch a fulnefle in him onely or net? If Chrift be not an aU-fufficUntfulneffe , then the foul fhould not defire him, and muft defpaire ; if he be, why do not your defiring foules go unto him to draw out of his fulnefle ? Is Chrift indeed willing co do a poore foule good , or is he not ? Is he billing to eafe the burdened foule , who calls and pro- mi(eth?U he mllingto fatiate thethirfty foule, who provides and invites ,and anfi»ers}0 but thou cfoeft not believe this,who being thirfty yet holdeft off from coming to Chrift : thou art afraid whether he will accept of thee, whether he will fave thee, to the utmoft , whether be can get off thy finnes ♦ whether he can or will fupply thy wants, and thy defires , and in thus do- ing how much doftthou wrong the folnefs , the goodneffe, the power, the wiliingnelTeof a grarioittChrift. 6. Tom Wrong your o$en foules, not only your thirftiig defines, y which you begged for, fo that your foules might be carried out omjouh^lm after Chrift, butalfothe prefent and future conceit tors of your coming. foules i do you need but water , you will dy without it:; no water can be found for you but in Chrift; that water is fet open and runnes freely, you may take it,and yet you do not take it, you fhould take it, and yet you have not taken it ; furely if not G coming It is our own fault Chap.*. coming co the waters be fuch a difhonour to God, iixh-a wrong to Chiift , f.ch an injury to your own foules , then unquellionably the thirfty finner ought to come to the waters. SECT III. A Re there waters for thirfty finners, and may they come Vfe t. /~\ 3n d drink of thofe waters: Here we may be /»- jnformxicn ^^ f I. That Cjod is very good and gracious unto dtft re fftd foules*. Tbit God is thw O Lord art a God full ofcompsjfion and gracious , P( 85.15. gracious to dif- Of all the crearuns here below, his goodnefTc is greateftumo irejjed fouls men; and of all men it is greattft to the diftreiTed, ardofall diftreiTed men , it is greateft unto men fpiritually diftreiTed , unto broken Tinners and unto thirfty finners : mark how in the text. He provides water for them ; waters they need , and wa- ters they third for , and here they are, and here they are for them : what waters doth he provide ? why they are living waters and ftill Waters , he provides a Chrift; hisown recon- ciled favour , mercy , righreoufnefle , &c. Waters which are fo Suitable to the condition of a thirfty foule , and then he invites the thirfty to come to tbfw> and to remove all doubts and feares; he invites every one that thirfteth (and he layes no un- reasonable condition on them, do but come , here are the wa- ters which you do fo much third for, drinke abundantly quench your third) all this fhewes that God is a very good,and gracious God, unto didrefled foules. l\ 2. That if cur ftirituzl de (ires be not (at^fed and fupplied } the fault is our own t and we have no reafon to complain on God, ortocharghim. Object. You who are yet under your wants and fay we have prayed but are not anfwei'd , and we have thirfted bnc are not fatisfied a..d God doth not yet anfwer us , and he doth not yet fupply us. Sol. Why, what do you mean to charge God foolifhly , charg, your own unbeleeving hearts which keep you from the waters but Chap, a ifwebenotfatkjied. 43 but never charge your God who hath provided waters for you; Go faith the Prophet to Naaman the Syrian. 2 Kings 5. 10. Go and Vvafb thee [even times in lordan , and thy fiefb [ball come again unto thee , and thou {halt be clcane, verfe 1 1 But No* aman was wroth and went away, and [aid he, are rot Abana andPharpar, river s of < Damafcu4 % better then all the Waters of Jordan ? After this manner (many times) is it with fomc thirfty fouls, who importunately beg of God to hear, and help, and comfort them ; why faith God , There are waters tor you in my (Thrift, go to him,and you (hall flnde mercy, and grace, and peace, & any fpiritual good which your fouls do need or crave* O bu: now our unbeleeving hearts do bold us off we may not go to Chrift, and we cannot go to Chrift/ and we dare not come to Chrift, andChriit hath not for us, and Chrift will not impart thefe precious waters to fuch vile finners as we have been , nor to fuch unworthy pcrfonsasweare. Now I pray where lies the fault that your thirfty fouls are not fatisfied with waters? God fhewes you where they are , and God would have you to come; here are the waters faich God 3 and you have my free leave , and good will, to take them and drink them : O Chriftian, the reafon of thy unfatisfyings is not at all in thy good god, but it is altoge- ther in thy evil heart of unbelief, 3* That no [inner hJlhany thing of hid oV?n,or of himjelfto hip * himfelf : The thirfty (inner harh not of hisownrofarisfie his n» [inner bath thirft,he muft abroad for water.If any (inner in the world had a- any thing of bit ny thing of their own to help themfelvs, furely burdned (lnners, 0X ?y°Mp & thirfty finners would make ufe of it;Do you think that a man m * tl * who lives under the fenfe of Gods wrath, and under the terrors of confeience • If he had any ftrength and power of his own to eafe his confeience, that he would not ufe if ; Man would not live in mifery : And if a man were real'y thirfty, if he had a. ny water in the houfe , that he would not make ufe of it to quench his thirft ? The poor thirfty (inner hath no help, and can have no help from himfelf,and therefore he is call :d to go out for waters. I befeech you mark it, this is another reafon why fome thirfty finners are not fatisfied and filled j becaufe they dig pits which hold no water ; and G 2 they 44 The necejjity ofthethirjiy Chap. 2 they look after broken Ciflerns, they keep home,and think fome wells of water arc ro be found in themfelves. If they were this, and could do tbar, then God would be reconciled , and conference would be q net and all would be well; and thus ire they ready to die for thirit, for no waters flow out of our na- tures, except the wate;s of Alar ah, &c. 4. 4 That a thiy fl j condit ion , U. an hopeful condition; though A thirfty cin- the thii fts of the foul be great, yet here are waters ; you cannot etb for thee %» a dry and thirfty Und where no water u. He was then in the wildernefle of Judeah where no water was • the thirfty finner is in no fuch condition, there are waters to be had lor his thirfty foul : he may fay as the Eunuch to "Philip, fee here u venter^ Acts 8. 36. other thirfls may ari'e , and there may benowateis found, or if they may be found, yet you cannot come to them ; but if you be fpiritually athiifi: , pre* fently there are waters for you, and prefently they are of- fered to you , and prefently you are invited to come and drink. So rhen if the Lord make you fcnfiblc of your fpiritual mi- feries, and of your fpiricual wants, and you live in much pain, and are not yet eafed and fatish*cd,yet do not defpaire, foi there are waters for the thirfty Tinners ; there are living, and cleanf- ing, and comforting waters for them, ThirlHnciTe is ^ good llgne of a good condition, and thirliineiTe is a fu re fore-runner or a comfortable condition. - 5. That there is necejjity for a diffreffed 4nd thirfty finner There is a nc- to. go cut to Chrift : If ever he would have his needy and ccjjiiy fortUr- thirfty foul fupplied ; there are thirds on your pare , and there fir finncrs te are waters provided on Gods pan: I, but there is 1 fomctocbr'ift coming in the.Ttxt , you nee d waters, and God provides waters ; but what of the oncor of the other, if we come nor to thefe waters ? your waters are to be found in Child, and in none but Chrift ; none but Chrift can help a foul, none can eafe your burdened fouls but Chrift, and none can fill the thirlly fouls but Chrift : O but then you mull come, Come to the wa- ten, faith rhe Text. Beloved, remember it , all the difpcnfatU ons and communications of love, and grace, and mercy , and Ail Chap. 3. to come to Chrift. 4$ Peace, and faction, are in Cfiri(r,to him you muft come, if 3 &c. All your fprings are in htm : If you would have God reconcu led to yon, and thefc waters are waters of lift ; for you who look on your felves as dead. Mercy is a proper help for rnifery , and thefe waters are waters of mere? juftifying and pardoning all the fins of ycur fouls, Comfort, is a proper help for diftrejje, and thefe waters are waters of peace y and comfort and jej, 2. They are the fare helps of your fouls : Could you bur Sunbelps onceger to Chnft, andtafteof his waters .your troubles, your fears, your diftreiTes, would fall off In whom after ye belet- vcd> you rejeyced with joy unfpenk^iole and gltricus. We joj in God y through our Lor d Jefiu Chrift , by whom VPe have now received the augment (betng juflifed by faith we have pi ace With God through our Lordjeftu (fhrift. ^ 2 Here is abundance of rxater for your fouls : Waters in the rierclr abun- plura] number, faith the Text ; yca ; fometimes called fountains, . ofxxur rivers, floods, feas. Your thirfts perhaps are many, and here are many waters, your thirds are perhaps high, and here the waters are very deep; they are enough to fatisfic every wanr, and enough to fill up all the defires of your fouls : you n j ed the pardon of multitude of finnes ! why, thefe waters concaine in them a multitude of mercies: And you need the pardon of your great fv:s \ why, here are waters of mercy like the great depth, like the depth of thefea, which can drown all manner of fins, Mich. 7. 19. Thou wilt cal all their finnes into the depth' of the fea: you need grace , much gra:e ^ All gutce ; And here are waters which containe in them all grace , there is a fu!nefle of grace in Chrift (of hie fulnejfe have we recei* led^and grace for gr.ue, ]ohn 1, 1 6. ) Chriil is fuch a fulneiTeas fills allin all, EplVcf. i. 23, He can fill all the fouls thatcome 10 him in all [heir defires and wants : Tcu need pcate and j^j, Crc. Thefe waters will aford them unto you > and in great a- bufldince : I will extend peace unto ker /ike a ttver, lfa. 65. 12. Chap 2. to the waters. 47 T2, In thy fr< fence U.fulneffe of joy , PfaJ. 16,11. Aik* and jcu [hull receive, that your joy may be full, John 1 6. 2 j. What- soever your thirfts may be for the kinds and number of them, and whatsoever your thirds may be for the degree, and mea- fureoftbem; here are waters which donotoneiy anfwsrtbern, but do alfo infinitely exceed them. 3. As thefc waters are proper co your conditioned 2s there ,. is abundance of them, fo. they are open^ they are fet cpfn for rhefexv. iters you, You read of the Church, that (he is a Garden encfofed y and arc open for }oti a jpring font up, and a fountalne felled, Cant. 4, 1 2. But you read of Cbrift that he is a fount aine opened {in that day there /hall be a fountaine opened to the hottfe of David, and to the . inhabitants of fertfalem for finne and for unclcanneffe, Zach. 15. 1.) And for all the good rbings in and by Cbrift, they are fet Open,(//rf, 4r. 1 8. / will open rivers in high places and foun- tains in the mtdft of valleys ) A throne of grace anl mercy is fet open\ And what I pray you doth' this opening intend? why, this it intends, that there is leave given for any diftreffed finnertocome and drink: were thefe waters never fo preci- ous, and never fo mafiy, yet if they were inuo'ed and fealeu, you may bedifcounged to come : But they are opened, fo thac come Who will, and he may drink, and come When you will, the fountaine is opened, and yen may drink. 4. They are living waters always to be found in Chrljl*. 4' MercyinChrift (till, and peace and righceoufoeffc frill : Why, They Archiving this fhould much ei courage you to com ; to the wafers ; you vemYl know whereto finde them, and they arc living waters, not fa- ding, you may be fure to finde thefewacers (And they are al- -waves open, every one of you hath liberty or accelTe , nothing fhuts and clofes them up but your own unbelief. 5. As they are open and living waters, fo they are running rca. 5. ters> and they run freely ;you are afraid to come to them, & yet Tbejurerttit- they run towards you, you areafraid tocome co Chrift , and nin ^ AUrs ■ yet Chrift feeks you, comes to you, runs after ycu, knocks ac yourdoores; and the fe waters da runne every Sabbath, every day of the week, and JefusChrift freely offers them. Let him that is at hi* ft com? 9 and lit him drinfyf the water of life freely, fo inj£*z>. 22. 17. 'I he father runs to meet his forme > Luke 15. yea they a8 Encouragements to come to the waters. Chap .3 ccme they run freely. Ordinary waters many times coft us nothing t but the precious waters (which are extracted fpirits) thefe are coftly&dear: Thus is k amongft us,but thus it is not with Chrift and his waters, which though they be the Waters of life: yet if you come, you may freely drink of them, and they fhall coft you nothing ; you may have Chrift for Chrift s fake , and mer. cy for mercies fake , and lovs for love* fake : All that your fouls do need Without money and ivi&ortt price : Bring but empty vtflels, and here you may draw out, and fill , and faci* ate your fouls, and it fhaSI coft you nothing. C 6. No more is required of the tbirjh but to come: If the Nomorcisrc m m rp ro phet had bid thee do fome g* e at things ould ft thou not have &ont it } HoW much rather then, nhen he faith Waft, and be clean\ Thus the fervants of Naaman, 1 Kings 5. 13. If the Lord had put upon you (who thirft fo much after Chrift,and flood in fuch an abfolute necefiicy of him; ) If he had impofed fome great conditions on you. that thus or thus you muft be, and this or that you muft bring unto Chrift; If fo, you might drink of the waters, yon mi^ht have been offended ; but when he faith one* ly come and d> intz the water which you fo much need and beg, ought you not to doit ? IfChrJft had faid you (hall bring ho- i n fTe firft, and you (hall rcformc your hearts firft : O no, If you be thirfty Tinners, it is enough, no more is required , no condition is laid upon you, all that concernes you, is, Come to the waters, and drink of the waters you need, they are provid- ed : Coming is the duty, and that is all which is required, come and receive 3 come and draw, come and drink, &c. 7. You are called out by namz : As if the Lord would put an end to 3II your difputes and fears; He tells you cxpreflely that he means you : Come ye to the waters, fo theTrxt, O faith a thirfiy finner f who longs for Chrift, and mercy, and grace, and peace) thele are the waters which I long tor, O that I might have Chrift, O that f might findc mercy, &c. T,ut I may not come, but I am not intended ! Wbj fay eft thou lac°b y and fpe*ksft O Jfrael , my vaj is hid f om the Lord 9 and my judgement id puffed over from my God? Ifi. 40. 27. As if hefhould fa) , I take it ill that you thus fpeak, and you have no caule thus to fpeak. So you wh o arc 7- You. ire called qui by uurnc Ob)tch Sol. Chap. 2 Encouragements to come to the waters. 49 are thirfty Tinners , whydoyou fay Chrift is not intended for you, and mercie is not intended to you > Wh3t caufe have you thus to fpeak ? Doth not the Lord call you by name, and invite you by name/ Bo, everyone that thrfteth , come je to the ■waters ; And what would you have more,or what more can be faid to encourage -you to come to the waters > Thcfe waters are your onely helps, and your fure helps. There is abundance of them fufficient for you, they are openM foryou,they runne freely; no more is required of you but to come and drink, and you by name are called fo to do : yet let me adde one thing more. 8. N'Vsr did any thirfty [out come to the waters, but he 8. fted, but his foul was rtfrefhed, but water of life was given to Noe thirfty him, If A* 44. 3. 1 will pour water upon him ihu u thirfty t l oul c ?™ es but Jer. 31.25. / have (atiated the weary foul , and 1 have re- )€ " ce s ' flenijhed every forroWful [oul> Pfal. 81. 10. Open thy mouth wideband I \Vill fill /7,Matth. 5. 6. Ble fled are they thaithkft after righteoufnep, and they flail be ftled^Cmu 5.1, Drin 1 ^ abundantly beloved. Perufe Scripture, and perufe Inllances, never did Jefus Chrift rej^ft any that came to him ; and ne- ver did any foul come to Chrift, but there he found the very water, the very good which his foul did want, and earnestly crave, Nowfortheclofingupof this firft pirt of the Test, there areafewqueftionsor icrupies , unto which I defire toipeak fome things. 1. What are the reafons why thirfty finners (who do need thcfe waters, and fo long for them, and have expreffe leave to come unto them,) yet ("ordinarily ) there is much ado to per- fwadc them to come. 2. What a thirfty (inner (houid do, that he may be ahie to come to the waters. 3. How one may know that he is come to them, and whe- ther the waters which he drinks, be thefe very waters unto which God invites, and of which God makes promiles. H SECT. ~~^ 9 Ttbirflyfwners hardi er fir acted Chap. 2 SECT- V. x- - the reafons are why t » 1 « bo do need ^/?. 1. \/\/ t?ie fc waters, and wliohr Wby tbirfiy free le 40.12. Mine \n\fa\tht have taken held of me, Co tat 1 am tfraidf ho\uf\ Mefa npffird mito the Ifratlites from God himfelf, that d would rid them out of their bondage, and that he would rv'.ceme them; and that he would take there untO h:m for a people, and would be unto them a God 1 And tint he would -bring them ir.torhe land or prpmifc &c. Hut faith the Texf,rM) Mat* uno M Tin- V-es it with a (inner, who is wounded in Iprrit, who lives in that bondage : Although you prclent Chnlt and deli. -mceunrohim; Ail the wattrpof life, all the promifes and cnour^gements-tocometoChnft, yet he cannot h.arken un- to them for anguffi of fpifir. The (Irong and prefent fenfc of finneand wrath ttoth bear down all the arguments and induce- ments whiih Chrtt holds forth toperfwadc (he foul to come unto Chap. 2 . to come to Chrijl, Why ? 5 o unto him : The wounded and diftrefted (inner fees nothing but ilnnes, feeles nothing but wrath, fiseth only on the riolineife of God which hates fin, and on the juftice of God which threat- ens firms : And as for mercy and acceptance in and by Chrift, he is (o far from being perfwaded of them, that ufually he difputes, and defpaiis, Chrift will never be my Chrift and mercy cannot, or mercy will not parden fuch a (inner as I have been, and fuch finnes as I (land guilty of ; and truely while a perfon is thus poffefled, and thus peri\vaded 3 and t\ us inclined, no wonder if there be fo much ado to prevails mth his hearc to come to Chrift ; But thus ordinarily it is(atfntt) wich thirfty finners, a. The powerful workings of unbelief ': This is another rea- , 2. fon why thirfty finners come not unto the waters : The heart of The powerful man is naturally an uobeleeving heart, and an unbeleeving wordings of tin- heart'is is a with- holding heart, an excommunicating heart, a c * % refufing and unyeeldirg heart, and many times an abfurd and perveri'e heart. There are two faculties in man which muft be effectually wrought on before he can come to Chrift , and to thefe waters : One is the judgement, the other is the will \ The truth of the Gofpel muft work on that, and tht goodneffe of the Gc/pel muft workon this :Now unbelief works againft die workings of both thefe. 1. It works tgtinft the, truth of the Go/pel : The Gofpel Unbelief mr\s fajth that this is a true faying , that Jefus Chrift c*me inio agrinft tbetrutb the world to fave finners, 1 Tim, I. 15. And that there is no °f tie Gofpel. other Name under heaven given among men whereby we muft be faved , neither is there falvation in any other: But unbe- lief oppofeth this Truth, this onely way of a finners falvation : It will let up a righteo'ufnefTe of our own, 3nd cauRs or mercy and falvation in our felves : It cannot iubmit unto the wifdome, and mercy, and righteoufneiTe,and grace of God in Chrift : that I muft acknowledge my felf a foo),and look formy wifdome on- ly in Chrift. That I muft acknowledge my feif ungodly, and renounce all my own right eoufnefle and look formy righte- pufnefTe , onely in Chrift, my life only in Chrift, my peace only in Chrift, my mercy only in Chrift, all my good and hopes in Chrift, and the reafon of all my enjoyments only the raeere mercy and free- grace of God in Chrift. The carnal H 2 reafon- 1 2 \Nby thirjiy firmer s are C iiap. reafoning and the felf-pride of unbelief is againft all this. 2, It works againfl the g'odneffe of the Cjcfpel : Although I \Mtfo i eood- the power of unbelief be many times thus fa: re beaten down, neQcof'tbeGef- that the finncr cannot but acknowledge the truth of theGof- fcl. pel, that Chrift alone is the way *nl tkf life, yet when this Chrift: is offered in ail his goodnede unco the finner; Now unbelief ri&th up, and mightily drives to keep off che (inner: Tis true, that Chrilt is t he Saviour of linners,as he is offered unro finners, but not tofuch finners as you are,and have been ; you arc not the finner whom Chnft means : The comrniffion of grace is not fealed for you, the juft God hath barred and excludes you, be bath revealed his wrath againftyou,for you were invited to come, and would noc, your day is pad; ind what fk- nelTeis there in you for Chrift ? your heart wis never fuffici- ently broken, and theft defires whicn you now hive, they are buc rorced, and (hey look more ar your foil then Chrift .• And what warrant have you to corned and what prcmife is held out to you ? and what ftrer.gch have you to conie to Chrift ? O firs 1 wonderful are the workings of unbelief, and veiy pow- erful, and very apt to take With, and prevaile over adiftrcfied (inner (fuch an one as a thirfty finner is ) who when he hath thoughts of coming co Chr ft, then unb lief lets out thoughts of diicouragemenc from coming to Chift; and when he bath defires to come to Chrift, then unbelief lees out fears ofcom- irgto Chrift, ftill one thing or other is wanting, is ouc-reafon- ing, is hindering &c. The difaultj 3- ^V difficulty of bcleeving : We come to Chrift when $f believing, we beleeve on Chrift.: coming and beleeving are all onr; come unto me all ye that are heavie laden, Matth. J I. fthat is) be- letv^ on me :and let him that u mhirfl come, Rev. 22. (that is) let him beleeve; Him that comes to me 1 will in no rrifc re jell j John 6. (that is) him that bekeves on me. &c. Well , but it is a very difficult thing for any finner to believe on Chrift, and much more for a trnrfty finner ; you think it is an eafie matter to beleeve on Chrift, becaufe you are ignorant and unexperienced, but really and experimentally it is very d'ffkult : And the difficulty arifcth from three grounds or cau- fcs. l, The Chap, a fo hardly perftvadedto come to Chrifi. 5 3 I. The exceeding greafneffe of divine love andmtrcj: When The difficulty of a perfon is made fenlible of his many and great fins, by which foUtvhg&i- hehaih wronged and diihonoured God , and now the Lord % , opens a throne of grate , ana mercy to him, and faith, for all dingjretmtTe this, I am willing to be reconciled to you. Here is my Chrift, of divine love. ( that cceiy Saviour) ,or you, take him, he (hall be yours; and all the finnesxvherein you have walked, I will forgive them, e- very one of them, and I will never remember them againft you any more, and I will fan&ifiethat nature of yours, I willheale ycu, and I will bJcfTe you with ail bleillngs, and I will love you freely, and never turne away from doin^- of you good ; Why , Thi* exceeding goodn lTe of God in Chrift amazeth the poor (inner * y Bow can this be} faidZacherio4 y Lkkz i. So the poor (inner which liesunder the burden and guilt of his (ins > How can this be ? It cannot be that the Lord Will be thus, and do all this for fuch a wretch, an enemy as I have been unto him ? This isfo unuiuala courfeofgoodne(Te,this is fuch tra&fcendent lo- ving-kindneiTe 1 this cannot be, it is too good to be true! tf I had been a frknd,and a good fervant, but this, but all this for me who have been fuch an enemy, and all this upon freed \ termes, without any more ado, to by Isold on Chrift, and all this mercy and falvation 1 No more but tothirft, no more but to open the doore 1 Why, the very greatnefte and freenelTe of mercy and grace maJwe the matter To incredible to a poor ncr ' . ¥romtbc[uHr- 2,Tke comparing or bringing fsrth of this bcleiving work U nxturxlncfscf purely fuper natural: I conreiTe mat if there were a natural */# work power in the (inner to beleeve; if it were no more to beleeve on Chriftjthen to open the eye and fee,to ftretch out the hand and receive, then the work were net difficult, becauie we have a natural power to there acfts. O but to beleeve hath no na- tural power in man, to bottome upon, or to grow upon , but I it depends onely and altogether upon a power which is fuper« natural; No man can come to me (lakh Chrift, John 6. 48,) except the Father draft him : and no man can come unto me except it be given him of the "father , verfe 6y you wonder that the thirfty (inner who needs the waters, and unto whom the waters are brought and offered to him, and he hath free leave 5 ^ Why tbirfly Jinners are hardly perfivaded Chap, a leave to drink of them, yet be fhnds weeping and trembling, and he cannot, and he dares not drink of the waters. The rea- foffl jCjbecauf; there is no -coming unco, and no drinking of thefe waters without believing ; and beleeving is not in our power; it is the eff ft of fupcrnatural power, and therefore although you fee the Well of waters, and this ft to drin'c of them, yet unUff: God give you a veffel, and gives you art hand to la down that vcffcl, and to bring up the waters, u' LlTc he creates in you a power to be!eeve,you cannot come and make ufeof the waters. From the inter- ^ Again, another ground of the difficulty of beleeving or ituZifghinl comin g to pv/ttt is *»ithe Interpofitwn , the allaal Interfo- burts, J fitkns r tM m<( giving and doubting hearts, even thn 9 when rre Jb-nU cor/:: teve % whenwc fhould come and drink of the waters. Now they break out, and now they be- fet, and aflault us, even when we are purpofing to take poflef* fion, this is their time, this is their hour, and this is cur hour of temptation, and darkneiTe, and conPift, and trouble. Now the fcul breaks afunder with it felf , and thocghts rife againft thoughts, and arguments juftle with arguments ; now we dif- pute and queftion, and mike exception?, and one wave follows another; As when the mother is to be delivered of the child, there the paines and the throescome; fowhen faith is formed in us, and we come to beleeve indeed ; then do our fears and doubts break forth, and even rent the foul in pieces : There be fo many doors now to unlock, and Co many objections now to anfwer, and fo m3ny divine arguments to be fided with , to pull down the frrong arguments of our troubled hearts , that it is exceeding difficult to perfwade us to come to Chrifr. 4. 4. A fourth reafon why much is required to perfwade even The inungk- thirfty finners to come to the waters and drink, is th: intan- mcMttoJmili glement of weal^ faith, whenonehath a perpkxed conscience, f rjh - and a perplexed faith fa ftron^ fenfeof fin, and but a weakc faith to beleeve) no marvel if fuch a one te not eafily perfwad- ivhtn huh is z & tocomc ani take the waters. tecxk. There are three things when faith is weak. , f I. 7ke fohl is very apt to fl agger ; to take hold , and to ftitec" '** t0 ^ Ct S° lts h°^; ^ e a ^ Ct ^ e cm ^ VV ^ 10 follows, and cries, and ss " falls; Chap. 2. to come to Chrifi. 5 4 falls ; fo weak faic'%ic follows Chrifr, ic is going, out to thrift, like Peter , but ic is faking; itisnoc fo able to mskeits ground good: / bcletve , Lord k tip my unbelief: ic cannot fo caiily mainfaine the promifes, and t nccum gsu cats ©f Chafe contra- ry waves put ic back. 2. 37;? »y*£ believer is very apt to be tfendid &vd dtf- tAnd tohepf- couragtk : h little thing feffieech Ed m ike a ii :tle child to ftand /wirf? (fill and cry : He is more apt to : e of fenfe. If my new doubt breaks forth, or if r ;\ if he doth notprefent- ly meet with what he expefted, it anew fcruple arife ,^if the Lord (Thrift purs but a new trial upon him, he thinks all is not right, I miy not come,Chrift is not well jrieafed with me : Ke_ ho : as up his love, and kindnctle, and peace from 3. He is Apt to fid-* and tzkj fart ty'tib ur.'vduf y mihft f Jndtotifapxrt that makfs againft hx coning to €h*ifi\ to take part with ; mib all that Firft, tlireatntiigs, not with promifes. SCwCnd^', with punifti- makesagtinfi ments, and not wirh rewards- Thirdly, with denials, and not ^T 171 ^ t$ with anfwers. Fouri:hly > with doubts and feats^and no: with encouragements and ho.pas. 5. The fact) and Jail rcafon why there is (oft-times) fo 5. muchadotoperfwadethirfty finners to tome to the waters, Tfa cunning is th*. itifie and cunning p gge ft ions of S*tan : O fait h Satan! r&& c $ m s°f youcome toChrift,andyouc : nnk of thefe prec'ous waters, a* las man I neither throne nor the other do belong to thee 1 i. Remember yoj;rc»» old filthy lap and finningSj and ^bjecl. r. what think ygahsth Gad to fay to you for them > O faith the thirfty, I do with fhame and iorrow remember Sd, them^and now! thirfl for Chrifi to cleanfe an; wafli me from them. Jjpt remember joht $nni*g$ dgafcft $***$ h'wfelf : .your Object. 2. many {lightings and rei ufals of him and of thefe waters ; the Law and Gofpel both have a concrovei £ ! with you. O faith the uitrfty finn r r, I do remember thefe tifohow un- Sd. kindly ! have dealt with a kindcand loving Chrift ; ad this makes me co mourne -when I look *f e n hint Whom I have pierced. I, but remember your o»n findings 5 while/l jqh thinly that ohjtf. ?. jM'hwe been thir fling fir Chrijhf of 5 6 Why tbirfiy finmrs art Ch; SA. O r v.:a^t 1 e l I conftfle, but mllingly I would not of* fe*d. Objetl.4. But ycu have no right at all to Chrift, and whit can you (hew for which Chrift fhould be moved to look on you, and to give you no lelTe then the water of life, living water , ft ill and plca- fam and refrefning waters? Sjj % I can fhew nothing , and I can bring nothing , bat a poor* ciftrefTed needy thirfty foul, all that I look tor , I look for from Chrift, and I have his invitatiou , and I have his good word of promife, and that is enough. n r-.n . Obut j on mu\l btmiftftngtlffcomt , you mutt have faith , ,)# and love , notwkhftanding all chat Chrift tilth bid , you can notbcleeve? s * ■ Icannotbeleeveby my ownftrcngth , but I will go to the Father who drawes to Cnrift, and 1 will pray to him that it may be given un:o me to beleeve. O but though you have prayed, andearneflly fought him, Obccl'O. yet be an fivers you not , frith flrengtb in jour fettles to beleeve , which is a fure iigre that he intends not to give you faith % nor yet to give you Chrift , nor any ofthel'e waters by Chrift. Sol. Neverthctefle I will wait, and / tvill hearken what God the Lord mil fp;ak„: He hath faid, Bleffed a~e thy that hunger and f t hirfl after rig hteoufr.effe, for i be) pi dt be filled- OhjeU.y. Yes , If you thirfted aright , but jour thir (lings are not right tkirftinrj $ you had been anfwered ere this, had they been fo. W My thirftings are right, I fee my need of Chrift, I have a promife to enjoy Chrift , and none bu: Chrift will, or can, quench rhefe thirft$,&c # Beloved , T dooccafionally put in thefc anfwers, to fuccour and help the diftrefled finners / But the very truth is, that it is a very hard work for the poor diftreiT:d finner alone , thus quickly to anfwer, and put by, and break through all thefc cunnng and ftrong temptations and fuggeftions of Satan, they will coft him many fears , and many teares , and miny ftrong cries and wre'tlings rnft; and now you fee the reafonswhy there is fo much ado to perfwade. SECT. Chap.2 Camions for thirfty finners. 57 ___ , _ . . . — „ SECT VI. @uefi. 2. I Now proceed unto the fecond queftion, what thrift j firmer* wbsx thirfty fhould do that they may be able to corns to the Waters and [inner s fhould drink, *° tQ be f etG Ci Cautions. TJcrV There are< 2. Direct :ons,which I would humbly pre lent un- ^/ I them for this; Caution's for You rouft tak* heed of your oven [elves % and that in two tbem. particulars, im 1. Of your own ftrength ; Refy not on any power in your Take beei of felve* to enable you to bcJeeve, or ro come to Guilt : for there l m f ovmfelves. is no fs/fficiencjf in your [elves. That may truly be fpoken to J r ^u us concerning thefe waters, what the woman fpake unto Chrift, John 4. I [. Thou hasl nothing to draw With, and the JVell is deep: unto you it is given to beleeve y Phil. I. 29 John 6. 29. This is the work of God, that ye beleeve on him Whom he bath fent ; The potter to come to C rift, is a power which is given 1 it is not an inbred power of our own,bu: a power that ts given, you are without jfrength. As there are none of thefc waters in yotr fo there is no felf— frrength or fufficiencie in you ro drink of thefe waters. How much rime and paine? do we wade to findc a (hength in our felves ? Ic is bat a fool;fh and vaine artempt and practice in any thirfty (inner to flay his coming to Chrilt and the waters, until be hi rofeli can rame or forme in himft-If aftren°r.h tocomeroChrift : It is impoffible, for the altogether infufficient (inner to be the auihcr of ipintu- al life or ffrcngch to h:s own foul. 2. And of j cur o\\n w>eak*ef[e j It is but the ■••< aknelTe of Of your own your h earts (when Chrift calls you to come ) to cafl up feares, ffW ^ w / fc and doubts, and reafonings, and difputes: To put thofe con- ditions on you which Chnft never did put; and to prescribe Jucbdifpofirions, and degrees , and times, which Chnit never prefenbed, your felf-counfels, and your ft If- reafonings , and your telf-orderings and limitations arc but as fo many fhackles, and fetters of bondage upon your hearts,entangling and hinder* ing of you from going out to Chrift. The thirfty tinners v^ork I is 58 Cautions for Chap, 2 is not to difpute, but pray;\s not to confult With flefh and bloody but With thrift ; is not to hear what his fearful and doubting heart will fuggeft,but to hearken what Chrift doth fpeak and command and promife, 2. 2. You muft take heed of hearkening unto Satan, who is a Ti\t beei offyrtherer t0 [inne , but an hinder er to Chrisl. He is a /juk?"^ 7V*»/>f , tofinful wayes, but an adverfary 9 to Chrift, and to the way of coming unto Chrift, and he is called not onely an adversary, but alfo a "Deceiver, He is the great Deceiver of the whole world, and he is the great Deceiver of troubled and thirfcy (inner*. To keep us dill in our finful conditions, he de- ceives us with falfe pleafures > and with fa/fe confidences ; he feeds us with the delights of (mne 5 and hides from us the fling and terrours of finnc j he feeds us with preem- ptions of mercy 4 but hides from us the wrath and certainty of Godsjuftice, and to keep us from coming to Chrift. He de- ceives us with faffe reprefe ntations^ and falfe fuggeft ions; as for* merly he hindred us from looking on finne as jinne\ fo now he hinders us from looking on Chrift as a Chrifi with- out companion -, Not as a Aicdiatour , without grace, without mercy without willingnefTe, withou: freeneile, to fuch finners ns we have been: And fo cunningly doth he colour, and in- finite thefe iuggeftions,as if Chrift himfelfdid thus fpeak, and thus reprefent himfelf unto us: But beware of hearkning to this Dfceiver, his hindring fuggeftions are quick, and ftrong, and violent, and many times dreadful, even tomakeus coming to the waters, I. Of thegoodneiTe and kiudnefle in U S °*J' ^ " Chrift. 2. Of thcTulneffc and fufficiency in Chrift. 3-Ofthe w bereofmare intention and purpofe of Chrift. 4, Of the truth and fidelity )edom andfuf- of Chrift, 5. Ofthc freenefle and gcacioufnefle of Chrift. 6. &P&9M* the acceptance and beneficence of Chrift. If you maintain jealous and fufpicious thoughts of thtgood- ofthegoodnefc neffe and fydneffe of Chrift ; He will not be good to my foul r aad kindnejfeof or of the fulnefft of Chrift j He hath not all the waters which chyi i i - my thirfty foul doth need .-or of the intern ion of 'Chrift ; But he °/A be J Hlfle Jf c means not my foul in all thefe proclamations of goodnefle and ome'&m' mercy : or of the truth of 'Chrift, but he will not performe all this ofchrift. m0n good of which he huh fpok?n and p:omifed:or of the freeneffe of Of the truth of Chrift^ out furelyhe ties mc to harder conditions and ex- ch r r *fi° ed ? would heeverelofe with, and clafpe fuch a finner, fuch I 2 an 6o DireSiions for Chap. enemy? I could hardly embrace fuch a one with love and boun* ty; will Chrift doit f O thiifty finners I Take heed of the fine threds of unbeliefs Take heed of the modeftandhumbleacl ofunbelicf-.Takeheea of che'e injurious thoughts and jealuufiesand fears of unbelief: The harder thoughts that you have of Chrift, the ftronger dif- coungements and impediments arecaft upon you from coming unto Chrift : And let this futfice for the cautions. D'-cft' ut Now follows the diretlions which we are topra&ice : If we would indeed come to the waters and drink. And they are thefe, W*. I. You muft ballance all things together : difcouragenunts and BaUmcc all encouragements together: Arguments and arguments together; thing together. y ou mu [ t con f I( j er t he one,and confider the other ; weigh the one, and weigh the other; what will hinder, and what will Eiibt thing! further your coming unto Chrift, put the one into one bal- tbejfoouid thus lance> and put the other into the other ballance, There are fit together, eight things which thirfly finners fhould thus let together. l. i. All their finnes and Chrtftr merits together; O fay Their fins And thirfly finners, here are To many tins, and fuch great fins,no wa- Ckrijls merits, fcr j sa ki et0 wa (h away the guilt of them, or tocleanfe us from them, and thefe hinder us from coming I , but now fee the furTcrings of Chnft, and the merits of Chrift together with thefe (ins ; / he blood of Jeftu Chrift cieanfeth m from all fins ^ I John 1.7. And if We confeffe our finnes, He u faithful and juft to forgive m our finnes , and to cleanse us from aH un+ righteotsfnejfe, veric 9. If you come to Cbriit, all your fins will be forgiven you. The Apoftle fpeaking of Beleevers in Chrift, faith, thlt all their treftaffes are jorgiven, Collof 2. I 3. So in Alls 13. 38. Through this man U preached unto ysu the for' givenejfe of finnes ; and verfe 39. By him all that beleeve are ]uftified: and Rom. 3. 25. Htm hath god fet forthto be a pro- pitiation through faith in his blood* To declare his righteouf- ■neffe for the remijfon of finnes that are pafl. The greatnefle of your fins fhould not fo much difcourage you from coming to Chrift, as the greatneffe of Chrifts merits ftiould encourage you to come to Chrift - y Where (innc abounded , grace did much mare abound^ Roci.5'20. 2. All Chap, 2 thirjly fznners. 6l 2t All their diftrejfes and Chrifis cempeffions together : you 2. are grieved, and you are troubled, you are tender and broken* Their diflreffcs hearced, you feel infirmities and anguifhes in confeience , and **& Cbrifti thefe make you afraid to come to Chrift I ! Bot now fee the '«*tf«* merciful compaffions of Chrift and all thefe together, Remem- ber that of the Apoft'e in fW.4.1 5. We have not an high Trie ft Who cannot be touched, with the feebng of our infirmities , but was in all points tempted like as we are , yet Without finne : verfc 16. Let m therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that We may obtains mercj , and fnde grace to help in time of need ; You read of the bowels of feftu £hyift y Phil. U 8. There is none fo pitiful to a diftrefled foul, as Chrift ; His Na- ture , is very full of mercy and pity ( He will not break the bruifed reed) H* office, is full of pity, He keeps the office of merciful companions : He is He U anointed to preach good tidings to the meek^\ and [em to binde up the broken- hearted , to proclaime liberty to the captives, and the opening of theprifon to them that are bounded to comfort aU that mourn t ]fa*6i. 1,2. Confider ferioufly you thirfty Hnners , who are fo burdened, and broken, and prtfled, and caftdown, here is large encouragement fo r you to come to Chrift ; There is mer- cifulncfle in him, companion in him, bowels in him; and as it is j you want all , you need all, fylnefo. you have neither bread, nor drink, nor raiment, nor houfejyou muft be wholly fet up again. It is with you, as with the Prodi- gal, he (pent all, and wanted all; I, but faith he , there is bread enough in mj fathers houfe, and to /pare, Luke 1 5. 17. So though there be an univerlal want with you, yet there is an univerfal fulnefle with Chrift : There is light enough in the Sun, and water enough in the fea- there is fulnefle in Chrift to fupply all your wants ; there are treafures hid in Chrift, and unfearchable riches in Chrift • Chrift is that height, and depth, and 6 2 VireElions for Chap and breadth, and length : He is the Lord of glory , He is the Lord of life \ He is the Prince of peace ; He is the Lord our righteonfnejfe • He huh all for you, who need all, and can pi All in /ill ; what fpiritual good may you not finde in Chrifr 5 juftification in him, fan&ification from him , confolationby him, falvarion with him? fo that if ycu weigh things toge- ther, there is (til! more in Chrift to draw you to him, then there can be in your ielvcs to withdraw you from him. WI . 4« a All t lj e i r unw or thine ffe . and Chrifis freeneffe together: thinelfe an! This is another thing which you lnfiltupon, as adtfeourage* Cbrijtjfrce- mem from corning to Chrift ; We are unworthy ; VYeareno- vcjfc thing; We are worfe then nothing; We c?.n bring nothing? There is no reafon in us why Chrift fhould give us thefe preci- ous waters to drink ? O but thenconfiderit well, th^t Chrift is a fountain of living Waters, and waters flow freely from the fountains : you cannot lay down a price for thefe waters, and therefore Chrift bids you who are athirft to come and take of the Waters of life freely , Rev. 22.1 j. Thou wouldefl have as i*- td o[ bim> and he would have given thee living water , John 4, Living water, and but for the asking ! Beloved, all your en, jcymenrs are by Grace, you come by them freely ; the provi- ding of Chrift was an Jid of Grace;the giving of Chrift was anact of Grace- the calling to Chrift is an aft of Grace. Allithe good you have by Chrift, are ads of Grace, and then ic will follow, that ic is not your unworthinefTe 3 but it is your worthineire which is inconfiftent with Grace, Rom. 1 1 .6. 1/ by Grace , then it is no more of worlds, othirwife Grace is no more Grace : And if it be of wsrkj , then it U no more of Grace, otherw'fe work is no more work : So then your own unwor* thinefle is no difecuragement if you do rightly confider that the £racioufnciTe of Chrift abundantly anfwers the unworthi- riefle in a Tinner. • Vn *• Theyfhould fet their ieftnt and Chrifts invitations to- , gether: ycu look on your defires after Chrift and the xvaters % i m , with a fingle eye ; here arc defires indeed, but what of them ? Here are longings for Chnft, but what of them? Verily ic is a 'tat mercy to have fuch longing defircs; and if with thefe uld caft the eye alfo upon the invitation of Chrift, there would II C hap. 2. thirfly firmer s. 6$ would appear a great encouragement for you to come to Chrift and to the waters. Chrifts invitations of you', begins, when thefe thirfty defires begin ( Ho, every one that thirfteth % come ye to the Waters) and his invitation is warrant enough. What a fweet encouragement is it to a repenting (inner, that forgiving mercy meets him, as foone as ever he begins to re- pent ? 1 [aid I woulb confejfe my tranfgreffions unto the Lor A (Pfal. 32,5 ) and thou forgave ft the iniquity of my finnes : In like manner, what afurpafting encouragement (hould this be unto a thirfty (inner to come to Chrift , when, as foone as his thirfty foul calls out for Chrift, ChriR calls out unto his thirfty foul to come and drink of the waters? fo that now you (hall flnde the difcouragemenrs much overweighed by the encou- ragements; even the very thirfting may encourage you to come •. And Chrifts invitation, and call of you, doch encourage you to come : Remember this one thing for your comfort, that when Chrift once calls the pooifinner by name , there all ex- -^ ceptions and fcruples are filenced, the way and accefTeare free and fafe to come unto Chrift upon the fpecial call of Chrift. 6. They (hould /et t'-eir thirsiings , and the promifes °f r } K i tt ^ai m Christ together : I confefte thai the very difcovery of water is mi {xbtpomt[cs fome encouragement to a thirfty perfon ; but an invitation to together. come and drink, is a great encouragement. But yet a promife y that if he comes he (hall not faile of waters, he fhall be filled and fatiated : This is of all other the greaccft encouragement. If you who are thirdy (inners did fully weigh this, me chinks it (hould over- poife all your doubting fears; you have to all the reft a promife of being filled, and fatisfied, if you do come unto the waters. You have a divine promife for this which is made up of peculiar goodnefte and infallible truth, you may not onely venture your life, but alio your very (ouls on a word jl. of promife from Chrift who is the Amen and faithful irn- nejfe. 7. They (hould fet their oftn rveal?nejfes and Chrifts ftrengtb together: You fee your need of thefe waters, and yet you rhir £ n mAh comenot; you know where theyare,and yetyoucome not; nc^micbri^ you know the precioufneile and bleffednefle of them, and yetyto/^, ' you 64 Direttions for Chap. 2 you come not, you hive a call to come, and leave to come, andyet you come not / And what is the reafon? O, we have no ftrength of our own to come ; and thus you third ftill, and complaine ftill, and hold off ftill. I. buttbough you be weak, and cannot come by your own ftrength , yet why do younoc conlider Chnjl is firong, though you be rveakj yea, and when- foever Chrift calls the chirfty (inner to come, if that thirfty fin- mr will call on Chrift, Chrift: who gives him a call, will alfo give him ftrengJi to come : This indeed would encourage your hearts to come to the waters, if you did confider that it belongs to Chrift to give you power, as well as to Jbew jou fa- vour : And that he is as ready to give the one as well as the o- ther: And that as he gives the waters freely, fo he gives port* er freely to come and drink of them. 8. 8 Laftly,They fhould fet Satans cbjeftions andChrifts en* Sitms obicHi- f mrs xo^ethtr : All that Satan faith agamft your coming, and ll'fwcn ^ a!1 that Cnriftfairh for your coming: As there is no temptati- on of Satan, bur you may findc an anfwerfor it in the Word of God ; So there is n> exception which Satan can make agair.fi: the coming of a thirfty finner to Chrift, but Chrift himfelf can furn.fh yoli with his aniwers fnflkient to difperfe and filence it : 1 he invitation of you by Chrift,and theproraifes of Chnft,w 4 !l ferve toanfwerall. Otject. y ou ma y not com «, f aItn Satan ! Thus you have been , and thus you are, no warrant have you to come. Sol. What faith Chrift? Ho, every one that thtr/Jcth, come je to, the Waters: Satan faith you may not come, but Chrift faith \ o j may come, aid a better and furer warrant you cannot have of coming unto Chrift then the exprefTely declared invitaiion and u'l of Chrift. Ob'utt. W you do come you (hall not fpetd , you (lull not be fup- plicd. faith Sa^an | there is no water for you. Sol. What fa;tli Chrift i If any man ih'nfls let htm CJm? unto me, and drt>.\ John 7. 37 Tea, let him take of the Water cf of life ;W//, Rev. 22. 17.' And thus you have heard the firft direclion what courfe thirfty finrurs fhould take chat they may be able to come to the waters ; Namely, a right balancing of di(cou;agements and en- LI Chap, 2 DireStions for tbirfiy firmer s . 6 $ encouragements together : And yet notwithftanding all this, . perhaps thirfty Tinners are not able to come: Therefore in the fecond place take another Direction. 2. If you who are thirfty Tinners would be able to come to 2. the waters ; Then ft five earneflly with the Lord to workjhat Strive with the work of faith in yottr harts. ' Lord to nork Four things I would fpeak concerning this Direaion. fatf/" 7 ** 1. Thereisanecefiity of faith for coming to thefe waters, p'ouribims con 2. There is an efficacy in faith, which if you could attaine, h ceming ttit di* would enable you to come. rttlim. 3. That God onely can work in you this work of faith. 4. Thatifyouearneftiy feek him for this coding faith, he will give it unto yon. Firft, The re a neteffity of fa'th for coming u*to C^'ft > ^- €rc ls a * s and unto the waters; As there is a neceffi'yof natural princi- eejny of faith oles. for natural actions, (the eye cannot fee without a vifive# r ,f ew/w £'° principle; The hand cannot move without amoving principle; J The body cannot ftrive without a living principle. ) So there is a necefli y of a fopernatural principle, for all fupernato- ral actions, it is impofiible to come to Chrift, and to drink of the waters in and by him, without a fupernitural principle, and that principle is faith : this is that living principle by which you come to the living Chrift, and drink of his living waters : And no other principle have you wrought within you whereby to come unto union or communion with Chrift, either to partake of him, or of any Tpjricuil good by him,buc faith. Secondly, if this fnith Were wrought in jott % it is of that efficacy that yon would be able to come to Chrift I for as g?? ts / n f' r U . { • L ,, • 1 r x if Oicy in faith to faith is wrought by an^ Almighty power (no leflegoes out enable you to to the production of it) fo where it is wrought, it hath a raigh- come. ty power over the heart of a finner, that it will lead up , and JL~ bring the heart to clofe with Chrift, agiinft all the power of hell, and againft all the powers of unbelief. And in truth it is (if I may fo exprelTe my felf) the very natural rv?k of faith ; the work which naturally it inclines unto, namely, to over- fway and encline the foul to Chrift, it is the fpiritua! bias on the foal drawing us unto him. An invitation and a promife , and Chrift himfclf, will fway with faith to draw it to them. K Third. r 66 Directions for Chap, a xr««.,, M -,„„l Thirdly, nome can live or work, thh faith in you but God. Hone CM VPCri! | ^ • i ■»-. i r 7* i \ r I . „ tbiehitb inus w " 0ls the Father of light J , And from whom every good gift but onclj God. doth come, James I. 17. No man can come to me except the Father draw him, John 6. 46. And therefore Belecverr (3s Tleleevers) are faid Co be borne, not of blood, nor of the Will ofikefi(Jh t Kor of the ^i/lofman.but of God, John M2, 1^. Andlaftly, If the Lord be earne ft ly fought for this faith, Ifvec time ft Ij (which isonely his gift) tie will affuredly givf it : He will be feek bim for it, found cf them that [eck^ htm. His promifes are full, and clear, be mil gi V c it. andcertaiae , both for the giving, and ftrengthening of faith: And therefore you who are thirfty finntrs,and (at leaft to your own apprebeniions) are deftitute of faith, Get you to God and pour out your hearts before him : O Lord we need a drift, and all the good by Chrift , our hearts do pant and long for ^L him; com. to him we cannot without faich, and faith we can- not have unkffe we come to thee : Now Lord reveale thine arme, put forth thine own ftrength, give us to beleevr , work thine own work in us, and for us, draw us to Chrift, and we fhall run to Chrift ; perfwade us that we m3y come, ftrength- en us and we (hall come; make us willing, and then ue (hall be willing; make usable, and then we (hall be able to do/e with Chrift, to truft on Chrift ; to take hold on Chrift , and to drink of all the waters by Chrift. Could webeleeve,wefhould, . come and taftc how good thy Chrifts is; how fweec thy love is; howpleafantthy mercy is; how comforting thy joy is; how exceeding thy peace is ! O give us water or elfe our thirfty fouls will die ; O give us faith to come to the waters, or elfe our thirfty fouls die I 3. If you would be able to come to the waters, pray for the Fnyfor thefpi Spirit r r^a . In this ca fe a jf it j s true> h „ the s jrf $ ^ MfCb,ifi. quk ^ nh% The Spirit Of" of Chrift, is the Spirit of \ife % and he is the Spirit of power ^ and he is the Spirit of /i^rr// ; Where the Sfirtt of the Lord is , there u liberty, 2 for. 3.17. Yea , he is the Spirit of faith , 2 Cor. 4. 13. Before we enjoy the Spirit of Chrift, we are in bondage unto Satan , and unto our own corruptions! and unto our own doubts and fears (we bave fla- vifh thoughts of God, and fears of God); But where the SpL -^ rit of the Lord is, there is liberty ^ the Spirit of Chrift frees 01 Chap. 2 . thirftyfinners* us from our fpiritual bondage, frees us from the power of Satan, and Iufts, and unbelief, and our flavifh fears : And befides that, be gives us power and freedome to come to God, and ro come to Chrift, to pray 3 and to belceve, and to hold up communion, Sec. Opray for this Spirit of Chrift : He is promii'cd often, £^^36.27. / rtMl put mj Spirit within yon , and Lukje it. I 3. Tour heavenly Father trill give his holy Spirit to them that aske him : You are now in pnion and in (hackles, but gee you that Spirit, the prifondcors would be opened, and your chains would fall off, as Peter j did, you would not be hindred nor clog'd any longer with Satan or your own hearts , bu: you fhould be freed from them, and made free toc^w*, yea, to rtinnt to your Chrilt , after whom your hearts do fo much thirft. 4, To thefe might be added , ^Attendance upon the Lord, 4. and patient waiting upon him in the ufe of hit Ordinances, Ait mi upon the until he fends forth the Rod of his po*er, until! he makes his L i r ^ l r b f : a ^ Name and thegreatnelTe of his power known unto your fouls; JJ^ r tn By thefe waters of the Ordinances doth God convey unto you all your ftrength to come and drink of thofe waters of life in Chrift : They are the QlaJJe, in which we behold the glory of the Lord (the glory of his loving kindnefTe, the glory of his mercy, the glory of his grace, and all thefe are drawing. The Gofpel Ordinances are The Gcfpei Or- 1. Comforting Ordinances: they are a good word, they ti***cts?* fpeak good ncwes, they preach glad-tidings to wearied and di- Cm f 0TUn & ftreffed finners. 2. Clearing Ordinances: they dear off your darkneffes, cleirinr. and your miitakes, and your doubts, and your expectations, and (hew you your intercft in and title to Jefu* Cbrift. 3. Perfwading Ordinances : They prefent unto you the ?er fading grace of God in Chrift with fuch fulnefle, willingneffe, kind- " neiTe, frecnefTe, and earncftneiTe, fo that your hearts are over- come by them. 4 Communicating Ordinances: lively oracles indeed, they commm' do not onely reveal and offer, and command, but alfo they do work and help your fouls : By and through them doth the Spi- rit of Chrift effectually work on your wills implanting faith, K 2 enabling 68 Directions for Chap.a. enabling faith to clofe with Chrift, tnd to lay hold on him. SECT. VII. ^W/?. 3. fJO.v any thirfty finner may how tb*t be is come, and Hew l tbirfiy £Lhath indeed drank of theft water u tbiTb^bltl" Therearc four things which will difcover unto you, whether drAnk oftbejc indeed you hive drank of thefe waters. witers. I. If you have indeed drun\ of thefe waters, then joh can Sol. tell their tafte, and of u hat relifh they have been With jour U fouls: As they who did eite Mama, they knew the tafte of Bytbeuficiil it to be lik* wafers made frith honey, Exod. 16 31. Or as ulijl) you hue j) 4V ^ fpafce, Hofr (wen Are thy words unto my tafte, fleeter ijtxjev, crs> tfonhonffumomy mouth, Pfal. lip 1 03. Or as Solomon Ipakc : My fonne , eate thou honey becaufe it is good , and the honey- comb frhich is fweet to the tafte , fo /hall the knowledge of wifdome be unio thy (oul when thou haft found it ; then' there fhafl be a reward , &c. Prov.24. 1 3, 1 4, Thus can the thirfty (Inner fay experimentally when he hath come to Chrift and drank of thefe watersjThey were fweet unto my tafte, they are indeed the waters of life, and the Wells offalvation, and the breads of conlolation : Nothing elfe could comfort, fettle, an- fwer,fatisfie my (ou\:Tby worfa (laid Jeremiah ch.i 5.16.J ftere found , and I did eate them, and thy JVordvp&unto me the joy and rejoyci»g of mine heart. So when thirfty fin ners have drank of thefe waters, they can cell you of this tafte, they can tell you what a tafte the love of God hath; and whit a tafte the mercy of God hath ; and what a tafte the goodnefle of God hath ; and whaf a tafte the blood of Chrift hath : Other perfons may tell you Hiflorically of thefe things : But experimentally none can but fuch as have drank of thefe waters : Hie fruit was fweet unto my tafte, Cant. 2. 3. His mouth is moft ftvect , yea he is altogether lovely • ThU is my beloved^ and this is my friend^ daughters of Jerufalem, Cant. 5. 16. ?> a. If you have indeed drunk of thefe waters, There n*iU he 4 dif+ Chap, a thirfly fmners. $9 * difrtlifhing of all other waters in Comparifon of thefe. No By tbedifrelijh wan (faith Chrift, Luke 5, 30.) having dr unsold wine , fir ait °f Mother m* Way defireth new , for he faith the old is better : So when you tcrs ' havedrunk of thefe waters fof the peace, of the mercy, of the joy, and of the comfort in and by Chrift) all earthly comfort 5 , and joyes,ani delights, are as nothing to you in comparifon of thefe : What Chrijl Cpake of his Church, that may the thirfly (inner fpeakof Chrift, How much better is thy love then wine, Cant. 4.10. the fame the Church fpeaks of Chrift, C ant - ,#2 * Mark that pafoge of Paul in g J. 6 t 14. God forbid that I fhould glory , fave in the cr&ffe of oar Lord Jefm Chrift by •whom the ftorld v* crucified unto me , and 1 unto the world. He found fo much good, fo much fatfsfadion , fuch a fulneiTe, fuch afweetneiTe, fuch an happinefle in Chrift, as drowned all the world unto him, as crucified the world unto him: Ail wordly things were deaded by them : You may read of Auftin in his Confvjftons % that before he was brought in to Chrift, how delightful his (innes were unto him, and how pleafing the eloquence of Tullj was unto him: But after he was brought in to Chr ft, and bad tafted of thegoodnefleofGod in Chrift, the fweetnefleofChriftdrownedall thofe linful delights, and humane delights. Thcthingsof the world are great with us before we come to Chrift, and tafte of his waters, but after that we have tafted how good the Lord is, now we can fay as Davidy One day in thy Courts is better then a thoufand } and 1 had rather be a door-keeper in the houfe of God y then to dwell in the tents of WickfAnefte, pfai. 84. 10. So 3 &c. Auftin faid. If one drop of the joyes of heaven might fall into Hell y it would > dromon all the bittetneffe in Hell ; and it is as true, that the tafte of T one drop of the grace and love of God in Chrift it drowns all thebitternefle in the foul,and all the fweernellein the world. 3. If you have indeed drunk of Chrift, and of thefe waters 3- you have then found a longing dejire to drink more of them, ty&hngfagafi Thefe waters have a ftrange vertus in them, as they do fatisfie tcr mrc ' your thirds, fo they do encreafe your thirfts, they do never dull and takeoff your fpiritual appetite, but they do ever quick- en and enlarge the fame : confider a few particulars for this. That Horv a thirjiy Jzrwer way know Chap. 2 That concerning Mofes y Exod. 33. 17. The Lord fat d unto Mofes , Thou haft found grace in my fight , and 1 kpow thee by name \ Was not this a wonderful manifeftation of the love of God unto Mofes? did not this fatisfie him? furely no, bat rather it railed his defires, for through that Mojcs faid to God , verfe I 8. / befeech thee fteVo me thy glory : That of the Church, in (fant. 2. 3. / [ate dotone under his fhadow with great delight, and his fruit Voat fweete unto my tafie. One would think that this might have Ta- lis fied the Church to enjoy fuch a delightful , and fwecte communion with Chrift : But it did not •* It onely raifed ftronger and higher thoughts, for (verfe 5. ) He tries out , flay me mth fl*ggons t comfrt me with apple j , for 1 am fick^ of love. She had tafted forae drops of Chrifts love , and now ftie craves for abundant manifeftation of his Jove (flay me with flaggons) and the experience of love made her ftck^ -with love ( that is ^ wrought in her a more vehement de- fire more fully to enjoy the prefence of Chrifts love. That of Taut in Vhilip. 3. 12. J follow after if that I may 4p* prehend that for whxh alfo I am apprehended of Chrift Je- fus. (verfe I 3.) I count not my felfe to have apprehended , But this one thing I do , forgetting thofe things which are be- hinds , and reaching forth unto thofe things which are before. (verfe 14.) 1 prejfe towards the rnar^e for the price of the high calling of God in Chrift Jefus. Marke the Apoftle , he had attained to the Excellency of the knowledge of Chrift , verfe 8. yet this did not fatisfie him , he ftrives alfo for the Experimental knowledge of the efficacies of Jefui Chrift : verfe 10. 7 hat 1 may know him and the porter of his refur- retlion; yet this did not fatisfie him, but he proceeds yet further; I follow after (verfe 12.) // that I may apprehend that for Vvhich alfo I am apprehended of fori ft fefus. Nor yet did this fatisfie him, his defires rife higher, and high- er, he prefleth forward for the price of the high caking of God in Chrift fcftu % verfe 14. 4. 4. If you have indeed drunk of trjefe waters , then Bj finding the you have found the vertue of them. There is a foure-fold venue of tbem. vertue in thefe waters. 1. A Chap. a. that he hath dnmhjfthefe waters* 7 1 1. A quieting vertue: when we have drunk of the waters *A quieting of jollification by Chrift, our fouls are now at reft, conscience v ^ w « is at reft. Being, jufiified by faith , we luve peace YW/& Qod through our Lord J 'ej w Ckrijl^ Rom. 5. 1. and having peace with God, we have pea"ce in confidence : Indeed before thac you are able by faith to drink oL thefe waters, your confeien- ccs are full of fe3rs, and troubles, and anxieties, what (hall we do? what will become of us? How (hail we appear e be- fore God? and how (hall weanfwer him? and will he ever be pacified ? But after that you have drunk of them, after thac you have got Chrift,and fee your juftification by his righteouf- nefle, and finde your difcharge and full remiftion in his blood, and know that God is your reconciled God and Father in Ghrift, that he loves you freely, and hath received you graci- oufly ; O what peace, and joy, and reft flowes from this 3 con- fcienceceafeth to trouble and accufe ! Nay, it begins to (peak peace and comfort, and doth excufe you. We rejojee in God through our Lord Jc[m Chrifl > having now received the at* tonetnentiRom.^iii. 2. A cleaning and he ding vertue : Thefe waters can do Ackinfagwi that which no other waters can do : they can heale fouls, and balingvcnuc* ckanfe fouls ; They cleanfe from all filthinejfe of fiefh and {pi- tit. You have had heretofore hard hearts, and proud hearts, and vaine hearts, and filthy hearts, and impatient hearts , and earthly hearts, &c. O/but when you come and drink of thefe waters, they will fof ten your hard hearts, and they will humble your proud hearts, and they will purifie your filthy hearts, and they will fubdue and meeken your impatient hearts, and they willraife your hearts from earth to heaven. The more you tafte of the love of God and mercy , and Chrift,the greater joy will be in your hearts. There is an admirable vertue or power in thefe waters to quicken the dead , to change the finner, to alter the condition of the foul, &c. You may read all thefe vertues in Mary Magdriin , in Zachem $ in thofe in Atl$ 2, In Paul , in the Jajlour , and the Corin- jbians^&Cn Z\ A 7 a Horv a thirjiyfmner may hnow Chap, a 3. 5. hjfrucifying vertue , when one is come toChrift, and A fructifying hath drunk of thefe waters, he is now like a tree planted by venue. t ^ e riVeYs f uaterl. 1 am the Vine , je are the tranche j : He that abidetb in m?, and 1 in him, the fame bringethf^rtb much fruity John 15.5. In Rev. 22. r. 'I here is a rtver of water of life-, and in verfe 2> on either fide the river there was the tree of life which ba e twelve manner of Jruits t arid yeelded his fu'us every moncth : Jefus Chnft is * living root, and afiuitful roor,and everyone who is come to him, and par* cakesof him, is a living Chriflian,and airuitfulChnniin : he hath a fruitful heart, and a f turiul life^n Cant. 6 6. the Church iscompared untoa flacky o> fheep which goes up from wajhing t whereof every one beareth Ctoini , and there it not any one barren among them, Rom. 6. 22. Being now made jree from /inne l ar,d become fervants to God, you have your fruit unto hol'tneffe, chip. 7,4. You are married unto him who is rai t ed from the dead, that we fh'juld bring forth fruit unto God, 4* m 4, y* fupp)rting vertue: when \ou have drunk of thefe vtnSc ^ waters,they will uphold, and mpportyeu under all your ni.is, and lofLs, and wants, ani afrli&ion, Pfai. 25. 2. He leahth me bepifJe the pill w iters, vcrfe 3. Hercftoreth my foul^He leaies me in paths of righteoufnejfe ; verfe 4. Though 1 Malice through the valley of the fhadow of death , / will ft are no evil , for thou art with me , thy rod and thy ftxffe thej com- fort mr. When a poor thirfty (inner hath tailed how good the Lord is, when he hach drunk of the water of life, when he is come to the enjoyment of Ch: ift, and mercy and love : why, ihefearc refrejhng fjtisfaBtons for the prefent , and thefe are fupporting cordials for the future : This trouble is upon him, and that arfl clion is upon him, and that lode j but now, he can encourage himfelf in the Lord hi* God 1 I wiil go to my God and Chrid, and there I (hall finde all: Bur now, he can comfort himfelf in Chr.ft his Saviour; yet God loves me, yet my beloved is mine, and I am his ; yet nothing (hill be able to feparatc me from the love of God which is in (,'hrift Jefus my Lord. SECT. Chap- 2 Inftw&ions for fitch 73 SECT VIII, A Third life which I would make of this point , fliall be infiruSiions fir oflnftruftion unto thirftyfinners who are come to thtf™ b ** h f vc waters, and have now drunk or the waters. mws. There are feven duties which do in a fpecial manner concern you. I# 1. You fhould he very thankful to your good Cod: your B ,, ^ r ? fouls fhould now bleiTe him who hath opened fuch e Wells of/«/, falvation, and likcwife who hath opened your hearts to come and drink of them ; Beloved, God hath (hewed unto you fin this) an infinite mercy, and an infinite powcr 3 and an infinite goodnelTe. It w&s infinite mtrcj, to make you thirfty, and to prepare full waters for you being thirfty. Jt was infinite potter % to perfwade your hearts, to anfwer ail your fear«,to overthrow all impediments, to overcome your fpirits, to work faith in you, and to (Trengthen that faitb 5 that ye were enabled to come to Chrift and to the waters ; It was infinite goodne fie y to an- fwer and to fulfil thofe great defires of your fouls , to fatisfie all your longings , to fupply all your wants : O what mercy, what kindneile , what goodneffe is this, that your poor, un* worthy, needy diitre (Ted, craving thirfty fouls, fhould now en- Joy a Chrift ! pardoning mercy ! reconciled love ! juftifying righteoufnefle [ renewing grace I peace in confeience ! the joy of the holy Ghoft, andallurance of falvation ! That ail your fears are filenced ; that all your tears are removed; that all you burdens are eafed; that all your prayers are anfwered ; that God is now your God ; Chrift your Chrift:, that your languishing fou's have tafted of, and are polleiTed with the beft of mercies, which God hath promifed ; your delires have been very high; the waters very precious; your fatisfacYions very fweet -, and your thankfulneffe (hould be proportionable: It is impoflible that any fhould tafte of thefe waters , bat bis foul muft blclTe God for them : O bleffe your God, and praife him who hath fatiified your fouls with goodneffe, 2. Since God hath now brought you to the waters, mak* ~ ih V »fe of tbcm 7 -dtinl^ abundantly ; you cannot over-drink your ^tr/ L felves 7A Jnftrn&ions for fucb Chap, a jfelves with thcfe waters : Grace puts no reftraint upon you, Cant. 5.1. Drinl^ ye , drihl^ abundantly , beloved, Vh\. 8 1, ic. Open thy mouth Wide and 1 Kill fill it. Ephef. 5. 18. But be filled with the Spirit : Caft up all your wants , remember all your thirAs, all your fpiritual good which your fouls did need; And moreover confider all the reft of your prefent wants: And being now come to Chrift, and to the wa;ers, fully fatisfic your fouls; all are yours, beciufe you are come to Chrift, and he is yours : your invitation is full , an J the pro- mife is full, and Chrift is full , and the waters are full : Let not a little of Chrift, and a little of mercy , and a little of grace, and a little of comfort, latisfie you : drink anfwera- blcto ycur wants, and thirds : As the wido\\> brought vejfell after vejfell to receive the oyle , untiil ell Were filled; fo do you, multiply faith in the ads thereof , renew it, enlarge ir, put forth ad after ad until every want of your fouls be fully fupplied. The fountain is full, and you have a full right; your right is univerfal, you may claime s and you may enjoy all good as well as Any one particular good. Before you come to Chrift you doubt of all, and wncn you are come to Chrift, you doubt of this or that good; but never diftinguifh where grace doth not diftinguifh : IVhatfoever )ejhallas\e the lather hi my name, he will give it unto you \ ask? and you /ball receive, ohn 1413* thn JQiir j Qy wa j y e f ull faith Q^jf^ ^ okn l6>Z4 VV hy ? every fpiritual good is necefTary for you, is gromiLdto you, is open for you,and comes off with the fame freenefte.and wiilingnefle. 3. Seeing that your thirfty foulsare brought unto the wa- f , ; ?' ters, therefore quench your thirflt daily ; every day you will InrTs'duity. fcnde third, and every dayyouftiould quench ) our thirds ; It is a truth that no Chriftian knows all his wants at once , but fome appear at one time, and fome at another time. Tempta- tions difcover our wanrs, and Afflictions difcover our wants, 2nd defperations difcover our wants, and the breaking out of corruptions difcover our wants , and the fervices which we are to performs, difcover our wants : One day youfhall findc a a want of patience, another day of meeknelfe, another day of humility, another day of faith, another day of love, another day of heavenly-mindednciTe, another of quickning and of fofenings Chap, 3. as have dmnhjfthefe waters. 75 foftnings,or of fnpporc, or of comfort ; and as you find dai- ly wanes, fo make daily add rcffes ; The fountaine runs every day, The goodnejfe of Qod endnreth continually , Pfal. 52. I. Je- ftu Chrift yefierday and to day , and the fame for ever, Heb. 13.8. Hit mercies are renewed every morning, and hi$ cempajfi* ons fail not, Lam. 3. 22. 23, 4. Strengthen yon faith : That is the vefTel to draw the waters, and the larger the veiTel is, it will take up the more wa- strcnttblpjm ter. Had you a larger Faith, you might have larger mea- /^. fares of Grace, and comfort : why do you complaine ? why are you deje&ed .* The hand of the Lord is not (hortned , and the grace of Chrtftis not (rraitned ; but you are ftraitned in your faith ; were your Faith encreafed and enlarged, all would be encreafed and enlarged. Ton have not (faith the A pottle) because you aike not : you aske and have not (fay \) becaufe you beleeve not , you aske , and beleeve and have , but then it is according to your faith ; as you do beleeve, fo you fpeed; if you aske a little, and beleeve a little, you receive 6ut a little; If you aske for much, and beleeve much , you fhali receive much; O fhengthen Faith i the more Faith, the more of the waters : had you more Faith, your returne would be fpeedier, and fuller, your fouls would be filled with Chrift, and ftrength, and comfort, were your Faith more enlarged. 5. Dslru/t yo»r God no more , and fufpeft not your good Chrift any more: O what fears, and doubts.and exceptions had p.* |* you when you were invited to thefe waters ? But yet when you q q I came to Chrift , you found the waters of life were given to you according to Chrifts promife. Now learn in future times not to hearken to your own hearts, but unto Chrift: Not to hearken to Satan, but to Chrift : Not to hearken to your own feeling, but to Chrifts promiie ; All is made good unto yoa which Chrift did proraife to you : why, make this one ufe of the experience of Chrifts promife fulfilled and made good unco you already: As to rejeclyourown fears,and to truft yourChrift: for any good which he promifeth you. He told you heretofore that there were waters for thirfty finners,and bade you to come and you (hould drink of them, though you feared much, and difputed much,yet you found him gooa and true;A choufand to L z one ntmcrc. j$ as have dmn\ oftbefe waters . C hap. a one but you have (at prefentj forae fpecial wants upon your fouls, and alfo fome fpecial fears and doubts upon your fools. And you are doubting again, and queftioning again ? But why is it thus with you? Have you not a command from Chrift to make jour requeft known ? and have you not a promife from Chrift , that what focver you aske in lis Name he will do it; and have you not had experience O Chriftian J thy Chrift is not Tea ani Nay : and his pnomifes are not Tea and Nay \ A II the fromijes are Yea and in htm Amen^ 2 Cor. i. 20. Therefore J give no more way to thy diftruftful heart, but reft on the Word of Chrift; thou haft tried it, thou haft found it a fure Word, therefore fear no more, and difputeno more; beleeveftill,and ftili (halt thou finde waters for thy thirfty foul. £ # 6. Help, and coun\el y and comfort other poor thirfty ftnners 9 Hclp i coun[d& Who are fearful and umhjful : Now you have found the way comfcrt other t0 the waters, be pleafed to (hew 1 hem the way to the waters : \y {tuners* As face an f veer t to face Jo do their hearts anffter your hearts, and iheir wants anfwer your wants, their longings anfwer your longings^ and their fears anfwer your fears, & their except^ onsanlwer your exceptions, and their temptations anfwer your temptations O pity them as Chrift pitied y 011 .and help them as Chrift hath helped you •, lead them out of the wilderneffr ; di- rect them the right way to the land of promife; advife them againft hope jo beleeve in hope; Tell them what way you took 5 or rather what way God took with you,to bring ycu to Chrift, and to drink of thefe living waters, &c. It is a great honour to help any, though but one ftep towards Chrift ; and it is a fpe- r tal duty on all who have taftcd the fweetnefTe of mercy , to direct troubkd and thiifty (loners how they may come and tafteof the fame mercy, Vfal. $6. 16. Come and hear all ye that fear God , and I mil declare what he hath done for my foul. j. For ever regard and pri*e the Mintftrj of the Go$el\ 7- tthen thou haft eaten and art full^ beware that thou forget not *#*'.'**. the Lord thy God, Deut. 8. i c , 1 1. So fay T, when God hath %p/oft')c' b rou 8 nt y° u t0 tue waters , and hath refreflicd your thirfty QofptU fouls, beware that you (light not the Gofpel, northeGofpcl miniftrations : It was the Miniftry of the Gofpel which flayed "P. Chap. 2 fajiruciions forfucb yj up thy drooping fou! i which revealed Chrift and the waters for thy thirfty foul, vs hlch called, and invited, and encouraged thy perplexed foul ; by it faith was wrought, to enable thy feeble foul to corns and to drink of the waters which were un> to thee as life to the dead, as liberty/to the caprives, and as oile of gladnefTeto thy mourning heart. Now love theGofpd, and honour the Gofpel, and encourage the Gofpcl \ Vnltffe the Lxx9 h.td been my delight, 1 had p:n(hed in my *flMfar 9 faid David, Pfal. 119 92. / will never forget thy precepts Jor rfiib them then baft quietyed me, verfe 93. So had it not been for the Miniftry of the Gofpel, thou hadft dkd for Chrift (defire the fine ere milke of the Word; If fo be jott have ta ft* id that the Lord U gracious, I Pet. 2.2,5.) SECT. IX. \ Re thirfty finncri invited tocome to the waters, and may Vfe.+. l\ every one of them come > And are any of you who have C**fmf*r aeen thirity finners,now come to Chri(t,and to the waters?an . have you drunk of them ? All that I have to fay unto you , is, Mtu.* Be of good comfrt, rejoyee and be exceeding glad: There are five words of comfort which I would leave with you. 1. Yon have tailed of as gracious love^as ever God /hexed '« to poor finners : God indeed hath loved you, his love hath been **b*vt t*(le£ wonderful to your fouls ;it came from his love, that jour hearts c - &#* m Lri •xere thus fet towards Chrift , with fuch apprehenfions of him, and fuch thirfting defires after him, that Chrift alone becomes the object of your hearts, that nothing in heaven or earth were fo defuable as Chrift : It came from his love to uphold thejc thirftings in jou 3 againft all your fears, anddifcouragements, and temptations : It came from his love that your fouls at length were brought to Cbrift, that you were made willing and able to lay hold on him ; It came from his exceeding love that you have tafted (in forae meafure) of all the waters of Chrift ; That you are juftified, that you arc fan&ificd, that you are refrefhed with the comforts of the holyGhoft: what is Iove,ifthisbenotlove ? and what is comfort, if this be not corr> 73 Comfort for fncb Chap. 2 The XVCT 2. rightly comfort. Brethren | Judge of Gods love unto you by what he doth for your foals ? and judge of Gods love and dealings to yourfouls by the reference of them unto Chrift! To bring a foul to Chrift to give Chrift to you, and you to Chrifr, chis is love, the higheft, the chiefeft love. 2. The faving rvork^ is rightlj wrought in you : and truly to know thar,»s a lingular comfort : God hath Co carried on his wroiigbunpu. own work of grace in you as he doth in all thofe who fhall be faved. i. He hath given you a fight of your finnes, and a fence of your wants. 2# He hach opened unto you the fountain of life, and the ftreams of living waters. 3. He hath formed in you ftrong and continuing thirftings after the fountain of living waters. 4. He hath perfwaded and overcome your hearts, fo that upon his invitation and promifesyou are enabled by faith to come unto Chrift, who is the oncly water for a chirfty foul. 5. And now being in Chrift you have tailed, and you have drunk of thefe precious waters. Why? This is the right work of Gods grace on your fouls ; Thus it begins, thus it goes on,and thus it ends When the work is a falfe work, is not as prefumptuous (elf- deceivers perfwade themfelves of Chrift and of mercy ; But either they never had a right fenfe of their fouls condition, or they never thirfted for Chriftatall, or their thirfts were put afide by fome other thing then Chrift : i: is a real comfort to be brought to Chrift, and it is an exceeding comfort to know that we are in a right way indeed brought to Chrift. ^ 3. There is a fure foundation laid for ali jour peace, and for *t • r all your hopes : Beloved, remember it, that union with Chrift, There u A Cure J r J , \ r x • 1 r • fQiininion Lid 1 ■ * s ™ e ***v * n " J Hre foanaahon 0} peace %n conference : for alt /our pace That peace growes on no root but this , and on this it doth grow: Peace which depends on Chrift who is our peace, who makes our peace, who juftifies us, and reconciles us to the Fa- ther : This is true peace indeed, and fuch a peace is your peace, who thirfted for Chrift, and are now come to Chrift, and have tafted of mercy by Chrift, 2. It Chap. 2. as have drunk of thefe waters. 7p 2, Ic is the fure foundation of all jour future hopes : yoar And of all our foulf have now a fure and ftedfaft anchor : you may with bold- future hopes. neffe go to the throne of grace and mercy, for you are come to Chrift who onely is our hope, and a full hope: Chrift in you the -^* hope of glory ^ Col. 2.27. 4 fou never need to fear fupplies: you are fully provided, 4. for you are brought to the very fountain ; to a living fountain, rou never need to a full fountain of living waters. Why? Chrift is all, and fo fear fupplies, hath all, and all comes freely from him ftill , and ftill hath all the waters which a tbirfty foul doth or can need; and it is but to aske and have : what doth or can a foul need , which may not be fupplied from Chrift: ? and what will not Chrift let out to every one who is come into Chrift ? What Chrift is, he is to you, and what Chrift hath, he hath for you^and what Chrift hath to do asaMediatour, he will do it for you -.If Chrift can find righteoufneiTe or forgivenefle, or loving-kindnelTes, or power againft corruptions and temptations, or peace, or ftrength, you are fure of all, becaufe you are fure of Chrift. 5 . The foul lives for ever which drinks of thefe waters : £ Our Saviour faith it, jvhofoever (hall drink of the heater that I y mr fads fiM fhall give him , fhall never thirfl; Bm the Water that 1 fall live forever, give him, frail be in him a Well of water fpringing up unto eternal lifc^ John 4. 14. Thefe waters come from heaven^ and thefe waters faiie not till they bring you to heayen. - .ono3 ihio\ v - luq 3tsw sfhirfj mrfj 10 ,1Ij3 n ££lr- J. jL;'-. p CHAP* _^ * 8o The poorejifinners Chap. 3 #i##I#e#ii^t#M#«i CHAP- III ISAIAH 55- i« Andhe that hath no money come ye buy and eate. Ou have heard fomething of the invitation of thinly Tinners, and now I am to fpeak forne- thir.g of the invitation of poor empty finncrs ( fad he that hath no money, come je, buy and eate. ) The Proportion which offers it fclf from the tcx p ,isthi?, r Dol~i. Thai the poor eft [inner may come to Chrift. ( And he that The pwcji fin- k*th no money (Not any at t\\) Come ye,&c.) Macth. 11,5. The iters ynij come to poor have the Gojp: I preached unto them, Luke 4. II. He hath Cbrifi, appointed me to preach the Gofpel to the poor: And what isic to preach the Gofpel? But to hold out Jefus Chrift and fal vation in and by him, to offer Chrift, and to invite unto Chrift, and to intreat and perfwade to come toChrift,and this Gofpel is to be preached to the poor, Luke 14. 20. Bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the hdt , and the blinde. Here are poor people indeed, who had neither eye: to fee , nor feet to go, nor ftrength to ftirre, nor money to bring, yet faith Chrift, bring them in, Rev. 5. 17. Thou art Wretched, and miferable, and poo>e, and blinde , and naked, verfe iS, / comfel thee n buy of me gold tried in the fire , that thou may eft be rich, and White rayment, that thottmayeft bec/o:hed } &c.The former verfe fcts out poverty in ail the perfections, or rather in all the extre- mities of it, lower then very nigs, lower then all wants, even to wruchedntiTeand miferabienciTc ; yet faith Chrift to lbcfe,in the next verk', / ecunfeithee to buy of me, &c % As if he fliould fry; Chap. 3 What moat by bimtbat hath no ntony. 8 fay, Come to me and you may have all this poor condition helped 9 andfupplicd. There are only three Qjieftions unto which I would fpeak for the Illuftration of this. i. What is meant here by him that hath no money. 2« Why Jefus Chrift is pleafed to ftx his invitation on the pennileile (inner , If I may fo phrafe it , rather then on other. 3, How it may be demonftrated that fuch may come to Cbrift. SECT. U WHat is here meant , by him that~hatIonomoH)> The words are ( lkie the former) Metaphorical, and £>ueft*i* as thofe rcfpe&ed the thirfrs of the foulc , fo do thefe refpecT: #^f w mem the. IntizeKCtet of the foul. The foul «4n neceflitv as well as *>y bmtbit the body: Tr.e nun may have no money wherewith to buy <-,./ food otraymear, and fo the foul jn its kind) may have no mony to trade withaJl , to purchafe the lpiriruall fupplies of its owp.fpiritual wants; being thus taken in a fpiritual fenfe. There are rive things to be nnderftood by him that hath no mony. Every [Inner who is (enfihle And apfr then jive of bis fpiritual miftries tad warns; of his many finnes, of bis cxtream wret« *• chednefTe by (in : and of rmgreat wants and need of Chrift and ° nc f en ff e , °f and cnercy and grace ; every finner is really in want , and even milmu!?*' he that thought he lacked nothing (ivhat do 1 jet vcani) he wanted one thing , and t&ac one thing was every thing ; he that wants Chrift, wants all; But the finner (who in the Text) hath no mony , is one who is fenfibie of his foul-wsnts : He is fenfibie ofhisignorance, and chat he wants knowledge, he is fenfibie ofhisbardneifeand that he wants a foK heart; he is fenfibie of his pride, and that he wants afibumole heart; he is fen- fibie of his uncleannefs, and that he wants a cleanc heart- M lie 8i What is meant by him Chap 3 hz is fcnfible of his wicked heart and ungodly life, and chat he wants jefus Chrift to be his righteoufneiTc and Sa notification and Redemption and peace, &c. ■ Z. U is a [inner tvhoii utterly deftitute , utterly boken, ut* Ont utterly ter "iy ^ reitne ^ J5 «fpcft of himfelf , hach not one penny to dqhtutc. help himfelf under all his fpiritual wants j Is nothing,hat h no- thing, and can do nothing, Jfa.6^ 6. We are all as an un* nth'ir.g^ and all our Rfghteoufnejfes arj as filthy raggs Luk.15.17. 1 psrifb with hunger (aid the Prodigal, Rom, 7. 18. In me there dwells no good , 2 {'or, 3 5 . We aye not fufficiem of our f dues to thinly any thing as of our (elves , Luk.7.42. They had noihng to pay. This Tinner bath nothing of his ownxo live upon , he hath no ftock at all , nor can he raife any flock of his own, nor can he lay down any thing ac all , by way of merit or worthineiTe orcaufality to purchaie , &c. O Lord I faith he I am nothing, I am full of all wants, and empty of all ftrength , I need all , and 1 can do nothing at all , my /»- fufficteitcies, areequall with my necejfuies ; There is Juftice , which demands fatisfa&ion for all my finful debt?-, but I have nothing to pay, I cannot anfwer it, no, not, for one of a thoufand ; There is Chrift , who offers himfelf to anfwer for me, to become my furety , to get all difenarged, if I will but beleeveon him ; but I have no power of mine own to come unto him, though I may have life and pardon and redemption by him. There is a finful heart to bechanged , and I fhall not fee God unlelTe it be made holy, but alas, OLord! I am no more able to change mine own heart chen lam to quicken and raife the dead. OLord ! I have no money at all to pay for mercy, forChrhT, either to difcharge the oid fcore of my finful heart and life , or to fet up a new ftock of grace and obedience. 3. He is the (inner r*ho[e helps and hopes art altogether abroad, One wbvfc help not * n himfelf but in fome other. As a poor man f who hath and hopes are neither a bit of bread to eat, nor one rarthing to bay \ why altogether a- faith he ,if relief and help comes not from abroad I mull ftarve broad. and perifh ; fo is it with the finnerwho hath no mony , nor ability to help his needy and dillrefled foul : why faith he, If there be not a God to fticw mercy , If there be not a Chrift to make Chap. 3 that hath no mony. gj mike peace, I mud per tfh in my wanes and die in myfinnq : anci therefore out he goes, and he enquires and hearkens, Is there no rich man who hath any thing to give to a poor man ? Is there not a God who is rich in mercy to whom a poor mife- rable finner may come ; Is there not a Chrift, who being rich became poor , that they who are poor might be made rich ; Is there, no Covenant of life , but that oirvorkes, Is there not a Covenant: of grace, Is there not a throne of mercy and grace , a (fity of refuge for the diftrelTed finner to flie unto, and to be received and fecured : And at length he findes, that there is a God who is the Lord , merciful and gracious , abundant in goodneffe and truthfich in mercy forgiving iniquity, Tranfgrejpon andfinne, fbctoingmercy to thoufands. A Father to the fatherleiTe, lo* ving freely^nd receiving gracioufly , giving of a Chrift,making him to us Voifdome , righteo^fneffe , &c. I Cor. I. Anointing him to preach good-ty dings , anointing him to preach the Gofpcl to the poor , and t-o heal the broken hearted ones. O faith the poor (inner, here is the door which I rauft beg at , and where I muft live;hereis thehoufe and here all my hope and help lies. I will go to my Father, to this God, to this Chrift muft I go: Thereisno/k/^fifltf for me but here, there is no life for me but here , no mercy but here, no fupply but here, nothing for me but here, If my confidence can fix any where, it is here, in Mercy , in Grace , in Chrift. 4. He is the finner, who indeed doth make out for all his help onewbomh from abroad -, He hath nothing , I but yet hemuftgetfome- out for all bis thing : he of himfelf cannot fupply his fpiritual wants ; I but help fronts he hath found out a merciful God, and a gracious Chrift, ^ w ^ whocan fuppty them; And he knowes that a poor begger may go to a rich mans door for almes, and the poorer he is the fitter he is to be an objed of relief and charity , and therefore a begging doth this poor (inner go. And to heaven-gates he goes, and begs and cries out ( like the poor Publican) Qodbe merciful to me a (inner. O Lord faith he, I have heard that mercy dwels with thee , that Grace is thy Throne and help and lirength are in thy dwellings , that thou art a God rich in mercy, and thy companions are great, thou looked on him who is poor and contrite ^ I befeech thee look upon my poor M 2 diftrefled 84 What meant by him Chap. 3 diftrefled miferable foul: Never did any foul more reed mercy then my poor foul , O piety, O help, O favemefor thy mercies fake, (hew me mercy, or elfe I perifh. Mifery hath no relief but in mercy , and wants can have no fupp'y but from fulnefle, and the infufficient firmer can have no help buc in the all*fufncientGod : here is mifery for thy mercy to re- lieve, here is want for thy fulneffe to fupply : here is a poor empty impotent infufficient (inner for thy all-furnxient good- nelfe toglorifieit felfupon. j. The perlbns fin the text) who have no mony,is the fin* 5 j ner , vpIqq ntedes and lookes our > andgdeiouc and begsinfor- Onctbttbe&s ma ^ u p et i s i judging iiimfe '"unworthy of the lead of mercies , 1 pcri°s" U °f : - I ec ' l>at lL,,i irom l ^ e ma ^ cr$ 1 ables,and ro receive all ss meere almcs. He utcerlv dtfcUitnes any ground or csufc of enjoying, gintid>felf> i am >.oi wrihr to be called thj few 1 ,*...cl rjie Root 7 vAig* , Luk 15. O fli & men y for Berries fake. If;: ftnnec wanes all, and yet thinks hecdndeferve fomething from God , he is n»»r ore whohirh no mony : who- foever is able to pu rebate mercy and grace ; he is very rich. The poor fmner is one who wants all fpiritual good and begs, for all fpiritual good , and acknowledged that all the rcafon or caufe of all that good is only in a gyod Gid> and a good SECT. II. 9ut(i- 2 W 7 ^^ Chrlfl is plea fed to fix an invitation upon thsfe tinners IVbj Cbrijlin- *V who have no mony , who are altogether in miferics vius tbojc who and wants, who are in themfelves hclpleflc and worth- b»ic no mony % l £ {f e< Cl. Ckripi. Sol. There are reafons for this > ex parte< I. Ca. No(lrt. cbriflsptn F.x parte Chifti. Inrrfpeft of Chrifl , he invites poor empty indigent finners. ^^ WM 1 .Becaufe hereby he Kotildm*^ k»ow» Mat riches andtrea- Chap. 3 that hath no money. 85 jures of grace are in h mfelf > that there is zfufatffe in himfelf , a plenteous redemption in himleir; that he is able to (ave to the utmofl all that Coyne unto him : You may judge of the riches in Chrift by the poverty ard wanes in a tinner; you do noti- magine what a poor referable creature every Tinner is, nor how much muftbeiiTuedandiaydouc by Chrift to repair and fupply and fet up any one poor (inner, If you did furvey the dinners condition-, how many thoufand finnes he is guilty of , how many thoufand talents he owes; how many ievcral fin- fulcorruprions and ioathfome difeafes are within him, and bow much mercy . and how much grace , an.i what a kind of fatUfaction and redemption is necefTary for him, you would fay that Chrift mufi: be a rich Chrift, afuliChnii who is able to take away every one of thofe finnes , and to finde every oae of thote graces, gnd to provide every one of thofe comforts for the poor (inner ; Shall the flocks and the hear as be (inn for them to faf.ee them} or /hall all the fifi of the Scabe gather i I tog therfor them tc fvffice them} faid Mo r es to i?«t'wkeathe ifraclites were in iome want for meat, Numb. 11.22, O batif aii thee ssature* in heaven and earth fhouid be gathered together,chey were not iiiffieient to fupp'y any one want in the foul of a poor (inner : every wane of the foui hath a kind o? infinite nefle in it , and cannot be fupp'ied but by one who hath an infmitenefife in him: and for this reafondoth Chrift invite the poortft (inner to come to him, that he might make Known the Wight and depth and bredih and length , the in- comprehen(ih!e fulnefle that is in himfelf , which can fupp!y and fill up all the wants which lie upon the foul of poor tinners. 2. Bccaufe hereby* he Would make known the freenefjc or nra^ cioufn-'jfe of the finyerj falvaiicn ; that we are faved by grace To;ni\t\noxtn (tbatiw/^r age\ to come he might fifw the exceeding riches of his tl?e f rcene Jf € ff grace in his kindneffe towards as through Chrift fe'fus.) For by hlsQrAiQ ' grace are j e faved through {atih^and that not of tvorkes , &C. Ephefz.j.Z.p A poor (inner (who hath no mony) is the very object of meer grace , if ever fuch a one be faved , he rnuft be faved by grace. For he hath nothing at all of his own, and canbring and pretend nothing in the world for or from him- feJf : he canno; fry I have been good, or I have done good, or M 3 I 8 6 Why Chrifl invites Chap, 3 p— t — ■ — — — — — - Icanbiing any good , or I do deferve good? No No? he bath no mony, and therefore if be hath Chrifl , and if he hath mercy and if ever he be faved, all is grace, and meer grace unto him. if Chrift (hould have invited the rich, the/*//, the righteous , the felf fufficient: this would haveraifcd an opinion or fomething in our felves of forne reifon of mercy in our {'elves. Bur when he invites him that hath no mony a poor miferable worthlefle finner, this fhewes that the finners falvation is all of grace. 3. Becaufe hereby he would make known to us the way of S^ife'^J/^* and ***th °f Peeving for life and help andfalvatton : believing/ No living at home , we muft abroad , we muft to our Fathers houfe : when Adam was rich atrdfttll then life was to be had by ftorkfji he had a felf-ftock of righteoufnefle to rely upon.* But when Adam fell and became poor when he had loft his ftock, and fell into want; Now if he would be faved he muft believe , he muft no longer depend on him/elf t but on Cbrifi, And therefore doth Chrift call and invite poor finners to come unto him, that finners may know that they are faved, by faith and notby xvorkes: not by any thing of their own, but by be- lieving , by going out of themfelves untojefus Chrift : what hath the poor finnerof his own to relie upon to prefcrve his life, who hath no mony at all? why then he muft by faith make out to Chrift or elfe his foul is loft, he muft tofhore, for the fhip is fplit. zl 2. Ex parte nofiri : In refpect of poor indigent finners them- On our part. felves,triefe he invites and none others. ThefewiU glo- ly Becaufe thefe will glorifie grace and none others will do rifmgrji:. ^ . a p rouc [ f e If-conceited foolifhful finner, will not be be- holding to Gods grace , nor will -nof-come and beg at the door, and confefle his need and his unworthineiTe : he hath enough at home , of his own unto which he trufts. O but when a finner is made poor , when he feeth that he muft perifh unlefs he hath Chrift, that he hath no mony of his own: that if ever he be faved it muft be of meer mercy : O Lord faith he, I am contented , let grace have all the g!ory,3nd mercy have all the glory, give me mercy for mercies fake, and Chrift for Chrifts lake. 2, Becaufe •1 Chap. 3 Indigent firmer s. 87 2. Becaufe thefe do prize grace and mtrcj , and earneftly Tbefemll long and cry out for them: plenty is nothing to a full P^egnceMi ftomack , but to the hungry , a bic of bread is fonnthing ; mnh how do the poor hungry ftarving perfons , cry out for bread ? Chrift is no Chrift , no Saviour, no excellency , no pioufneis, to felf-righteous and felf-fufRcient Tinners: O buc to a poor Tinner who feeles his ipiritual miferies and wants' Chrift is _ Chrift, he is prized by him and longed for by him ; and therefore do:h Chrift invite fuch , becaufe Chrift will give himfelf to all that prize him, and to all that thirft for him ' r , r ^ -n,,^^,r , . n The fc will bleffe 3. Becaufe thefe poor nnners , Will bleffe God for a Chrift , God for a and for mercy , and for help. A poor man that is ready to cbrift. ftarve will bleiTe you , and thank you be it but for a pen- ny or a piece of bread : O a poor (inner ! If ever he can get Chrift , and if ever he can obraine mercy , and if ever he findes his foule-wants to be fupplied by Grace , he falls down, and wonders, and magnifies the grace of God ! - - Vcko am I ? and no God like this God. r ^ e „;$ 4. Becaufe thefe poor Tinners, will hearken to Chrift J;car{emo and come to Chrift ; others will ftand off, and flight C^rz^^ him : though we tell them that they need mercy and mercy is to be had by Chrift, yet rhey will not come to, Chrifts door , nor to drifts doale ; As when you tell Rich men of a doale , they regard it not 3 they go not ; buc tell a company of poor Indigent perfons of it , they are glad, and they runne prefently to the door, and fay, give me fomething. &c. So rich finners will not hearken to Chrifts invitation , O but a-poor (inner will. SECT. 3. gy e jf t £ Arguments to HOW may it appear , that the pooreft fmner may come to prove, tbxtxbe Chrift} may lay hold on him, may enjoy him, and ^[pooreji finnct fpiritual good by him £** H Befides the invitation here in the Text ( which were enough soL to 88 Arguments to prove that the Chap. 3 to clear the truth) there are four arguments to demonftrate it. I. 1. feftu Cbrijt it a gift : Gob fo hved the world that he tfifmChift is £t Ve his onclj begotten Sq^Scc. John 3.16. If thou fyteWefi the •*VP* gift of God, John 4. 10. He is the great gift of love, and mer- cy, unto fmners. And therefore the poor mu ft put in for him: If a rich man (hould give ten choufand pounds unto the poorc of fuch a City ; Why ? any one that is poor in the City might put in for a fhare : God wno is rich in mercy, and great in compafiions, hath fent his Sonne into the world that we may live through him ; He hath given his Sonne Jefus Chrift to fave finners, poor miferabJe loft iinners , and therefore any poor (inner may come to him, may beleeve on him. 2. Jeftu C^ rt ft bath all 9 though you have nothing: and "ctmhrifr ^ e is t0 & ive a ^> an( * t0 k l * n £ a * 1 10 ^ C F nnfV > an d expefts no- biibiU though thing from a poor (inner, but come and receive ; and tbere- .vckuvenMbing fore though you be never fo poor, you truiy come to him. There is a double work betwixt Chuft and the (inner, there is Chfifls rcork^y and there is jour work : £hrifts Work^. is to finite and give all, and the finners nork^ is to receive and tdkf a ; J. When a poor man begs of you, you do notexpe&thathe {hould bring you money, but he ; specks that you (hould finde and give him m:>ne '. i he giving Vrorl^ is Chr iff s Vpc,\y it is his woik to give all; to give himfelf, to give his blood, to give his rightec ufnefle, to give 1: is Spirir, to give for- givenelTe, to give peace, to give life, to give eternal life. And the receiving work , f 4 )<■"? workj to receive Chrift, ani all from Chrift, this is your. work*. The poor is not to find for the rich , but the r.ch \s : ;or the poor .- you are not to bring any thing to Chilli b . Chrift is to bring ,11 to you: Hence it is that you read of thai we a e redeemed bj Chrift , and /*/?!- fied bj Chrift, and f^ttfad by fhrift, and fived ij Chrifti The ^divepart is Umfts, the paiiive part is ours : He findes the redemption and the ngi>teou!nes,and the holinefle,and the reconciliation, &c.we are bu to receive itjNothit gel(e is impo- fed onus;Now if itliesonChrii^s part to findcail ttKtreafure, and to give all the money what fhould hinder the poorcft (in- ner but chat he may come to Chrift to receive all from Chrift? 3 ■ 3 . As Ch:iit is the giver o( all 3 and we onely the receivers; fo 111 Chap. 3 . porefl jinners may come to Chrifl* 8 £ fothc manner of his giving is fuch that the poereft [inner »^^JS^ not oncly nor excluded, but clearly encourage A to come unto \J t l* wma% hinf-.zvm in the way of giving tbere may be fuch clogging con- t \ }t p69r t0 (Q % C ditions, and diftinguifliing limitations, that nuny poor perfons to cbrift . for are thereby (hut out from partaking in the good which is to be given: But there is no fuch thing here, *cwixc Chrifts giving and the poor (Inners receiving: for rhetermesef 1. The termes of Chnjt are altogether graciou* : All your cbrt/iare alt** communions with him are by grace, therefore we are faid togetkrgncim. be faved by grace \ becauie whatsoever enjoyment is necefia- ry for our falvation , the fame becomes ours raeerly by grace, and free favour : and furely to give freely (meerely from rea- fonsinourowngoodnefle) is that which makes the waymoft open for the poorcft perfon to come and receive. Theccniitm 2. That very condition which refis on tu to enjoy Chrift ovourpirt is and att the good in Chrijf ., is none other but Faith : which &&* Faith doth break down ail confidence in our felves, and re- nounced all our own righteoufnefle; and the work of fUC for goiag to Chrifr, and a receiving of him, and a receiving of all good from him. 4« 4. Jefus Chrift neither will nor can be ours until voe fee M~ cbr }$ ,/'/ J r •• itj mil not be ours thaf we have no money of our onn: until we acknowledge tilim become our felves utterly broken, deftitute, mifcrable, and to ftand inpnr. need of all helps from him alone. - Tr - , r rr tr 1 c u 1 He cinnst clfe i, He cannot elfe be ours : for He cannot be a Saviour to hours. Saviours, but to (inners- He cannot be a Thyftcian to the Vehole % but to the fic\ : He cannot fill the full, but the empty : you are not an objed for Chrifts pity and companions, and mercie and help if you be whole and rich, and full, and a fufficiencie to your felves. When he was anointed, as he was then fet apart, and filled with all gifts belonging to the office of a Mediatour, fo his Commijfion^ with that anointing , was to fave them that were lo£t y to binie up the broken hearted , to proclaime liber- ty to the captives , and the opening of the prifon to them that are bound, &c. Now Chrift cannot vary nor alter his Com- million. 2. He Will not be ours unlejfe We be thm : If you have no Heteitlnttbt wants on your foul?, or if you have a fufficiencie in you tow/. N fupply jo Arguments to perjjvade us to try Chap g fupply your wants ; As you wijl have nothing to do with Chrift, fo Chrift will have nothing to do with you, for Chrift will ne- ver deny himfelf, to be the onely Saviour of fmners,will never reverfe the new and-Iiving way of faving finners by grace : will never cut off the Tinners dependance on mercy; will never fruftrate his own death and purchafe : will never abolifh the everlafting Gofpel : will never revive the Covenant of works: will never receive a wretched (inner to glory in him- felf, but onely in the Lord, &c. . . SECT. IV. Vfe 1 T TAve the pooreft finners an invitation to come to Chrift, JL Jlmay they (Veho have no money) come and buy? May the needy, deftitute, defolate fe If- empty Jelf-infufficient, felf- unworthy finners come ? Is the door open to them ? Is the golden Scepter held out to them ? Is there a gracious invitation held out unto them? Try our fdves Then in the firft place let us try andexamine our [elves wht- wbtibcr ibU bt t y er t ^ y e oltr condition, whether we be the perfons who fin tur condition. a fpi r i mi | f e nfc) have no money at all? whether ever fuch a fpiritual conviclion hath fallen upon our fouls to difcover our emptinefle,our nothingneiTr, our felf-helplefnefle, and experi- mentally to cry out ( Mafter fave tu or elft we perifi: In hs there drveBs no good thing : we are poor and needy, and with- out ftrength. Give me favour for this to prefent unto you 5 1 . Some Arguments to try your felves herein. 2. Some Evidences by which you may plainly know that yon are the perfons. Arguments so There are five Arguments why I would perfwade you unto pcrfwidetotbkttisfcMCb. trial. I. Chrift calls no [inner s to himfelf but [uch:Hc calls not 1. the full, but the hungry; not the proud, but the humble ; thrift calls vo noz tne 7 \ c £ % but the poor ; not the whole , buttheyk^$ not ^ctfTuthcT thc r&teOM, but the [inner s ; notthe/rf*. but the captives : * ' u JU but the trotyn-htartcdtbutlhc miferaiU , but the needy : Un- til! Chap. 3 whether tie be fpir totally poor. ?I tillyou fee your mifery, the r Ltto is to call upon you, The work of tiie Law is to revive ilnne, and to kill the finner : And when the Law hath killed you , or rather all lofty imaginations in you, and felf-confidence in you, and felf- Efficiencies in you; Then the Go/pel calls upon you and tells you, there is life tot the dead, deliverance for captives, help for the helpleffe^nd rich- el for him that hath no money : I know no Gofpel call , nor newes of mercy, no hopes of help, until we be brought into a fpiritual, needy, and diftrtfled condition : How vane were ic taoiferheJp, when there is nevwant, or to prefeot him with mercy, who never yet felt his mifery. 2. Few firmer s , very few, are under a fenfible Want: A 2. rightly fenfible want ; Every man is fenfibie of his bodily W3nts Fewftnnersarc ( one wants health, another wants food , another wants ray- underi f c *f blc raent, and another wants friends and counfel^&c.) But who ^^ wants Chrilt , and Grace ? who is fenfible of his fpiritual wants, and of his own inefficiency to fupply thefe fpiri:uii wants? There are fix things which are contrary to the finnjrs right c/v , A - „ fenfe of his ipintual wants and empaceflc. e*ntraryt9 ii. 1. Vnacqw*ted»e{fe. 2.'Fulneffe. 3. Q;iietnejTe. 4. Care* kfnefTe. 5. Self-undertaking. 6, Stnngcncffe with God. 1. Vnacquaintednejfe with Cjodt Word t and with our oftne Unacqutinted- heart : The Word of God defcribes the true eftate of every nttfemtb Godt finner, how vile an J loft, and miferable, and wretched; and na- * }/ ° rd ani w ked it is ; and an experimental fearch into our own hearts, dif- own hurts* covers us plainly to be what the Word defcribes us to be. By this twofold light (the diretl light of the. Word, and the re- flexive light of confeience) we come to fee and feele all our iouls miferies and wants : O, but how few are acquainted with the one or with the other ? Not one of athoufand who ever looktoverhimfelf in theGlaiTe of the Law, or who ever fludt- ed his own confeience thereby to reprefent unto hrmfelf the true Rate of himfelf : Nay, generally men will not endure the difcovering light of the one or of the other, how then can they be fenfible of their fouls wants aright? 2. Ftilneffe .« An opinion of our own fpiritual fulnefle, this f U i ue rr 9t is unqueftionably contrary unto a right fenfe of our fpiritual N a wants ; 02 Arguments toperfaade us to try Chap. 3 wants: yet how many arc thus conceited of their own fpiri- tual fulnefle ? Solomon fpeaks of a full (out fthich /oaths the ho»eycomb,Vrov. 27.7. The Prophet Hofea 12. 8. brings ouc Epbraim, thus vaunting, Ephraim (aid jet I am become rich, j have found me out fub fiance , in all my labours they /hall fittde none iniquity in me. Our Saviour tells us of 99. jufi perfons that need no repent ance % fLuke li. 7. ) which furelyis meant of the Pharifees, who thought themfelves to be righte- ous : That young man, who demanded, what Uc\ I jet f had a ftrong opinion of his own fulnclTc : And fo had Laodicea, who faid (be was rich , and increafed> and had need of nothing. I will not fpeakof the Papifts, who teach a merit of congru- itj in men, who yet have no grace ; And a merit of condtgni- ty\n fuch as have attained to grace; furclythefe are not they in the Text, who have no money, who canbuy their works,boy all grace, and all forgiveneffe, and all audience, and no leffe then eternal falvation. I will reftraine my felf to the com- mon (ort of Proteftants, who are fo full of themfelves,that they hope for falvation for their good meaning, and devout ferving of God, and think no body any barrae; they fair, and pray, and hear, and keep their Church ; *nd what would you have more? If thefe will not make God amends, then God help them > Why ? Here isa miferable empty fulnefle, a dreame of fujnc(fe,and yet fo powerfully working, as keeps their poor fouls from Chrift : Any confidence of fafety in any thing but Grind alone, is nothing elfc but a proud fulnefle, contrary to (piritual emprineffe, and alforo the true fulnefle which is in Chrift. r f e ' 3. Q^tietneffe and Refl^ when perfonsare indeed pinched with wants, all within them is up in motion: Their minds are filled with thoughts and cares what (hall we do, how (hall we live and fubfift? And their mouths are filled with complaints, we (hall ftarvc and perifh with hunger.- And their hearts are filled with fears, and their eyes with teares, and their breasls with fighs. Thus it is with the poor and needy ; but thus it is not with the rich and full, whofe cable is fpread, and whofe bel- lies are filled with hid treafures ; As 'David fpeaks ; And this alfofhewes, that few men are indeed rightly fenfibie of their fouls 5 Chap. 3 . whether we be fpintnally poor. 9 2 iouls wants and diftrefles, for moft men are like the foolein the Gojpcl, who Taid to bis foul, Jake thine eafe y Luke 12. 19, Or like the Earth fpoken of by the Prophet Zacbarj, all was at reft and quiet, Behold the earth futeth ftill and u at refl^ch. 1. in Where almoft diall you finde a man whofefoulis trou- bled about his foul ? In whom there are anxious thoughts a* bout his fouls wretc hed condition ; in whom there are fcrious cares for fpiritual deliverances, who pours out complaints and teares : tvretched man that 1 am who JhaU deliver me} Rom. 7. 24. But there is a carnal fecurity of fpirit in them: Qod U not in aS their thoughts , faid David of the wicked. Thus may it be faid of moft men, their wretched finful conditi- on is not in their thoughts, and Chrift is not in their thoughts ; and mercy, and deliverance are not in their thoughts; and in this fenfe they are not in trouble as other men : which plainly fhewes they are not rightly fenfible, 4. Careteffe neglett : in refped: of fupplying meanes, and 4« fupplying offers, and fupplying helps : Did you ever know a Cartlef$ negicH perfon really iu need and wants who will keep home, or flight the bread } & the cloth,and the money that is offered unto him, and yet how many do neg'ed the means of grace and falvation? How many have Chrift offered to them, and dayly offered unto them, and are entreated to accept of him, and yet pafle him by, and regard him not : Not him who is /*/*, who is bread, who is rayment, who is riches, who is all help, and who is the onely help for needy (inners : would Chrift and the faving helps by Chrift , be thus flighted and neglected by us finful men; If indeed we were convinced of our fouls needs, and of our helplefTeneffe , and hopelefneffe fave onely in Chrift? 5. Strangeneffe at the gates of heaven: cither no calling ?• upon God, or onely formally; flight, indifferent whether ffa*"f n ''%* anfwered or not; Nay, would not be anfwered with fupplies. ' H ^T 6. Self-undertakings : when (inners do in fome degree ap- ^ prehend their wants and neceifities, then ordinarily they un- self undent- ■ dertake the help and fupply of them by their own power : they &»&• think that they can lick themfelves whole, that they can re- pent, and they can beleeve, and they can change their own hearts, _94 ArgmnevistoFrfniadcHstatry Ch^j hearts, and rhey can make their own peace with God,chey have "a fuflkiency in their own wills to makeup tbemfelvcs againe as if the Tinner were not dead in trejpaflcs and finnes : As if Baul were miftaken when he< laid, nhat I am y I am by the grace of God, 1 Cor. i 5. 10. And it is god that xvorhetb sn tu both to wilt and to do, Phil. 2. 13. or as if Cbrift hiimelf were miftaken, when he faid, None can come unto me except the Fa* thsr draw kirn, and Xo.thottt me ye can do nothing, John 6.44. and 15.5, Thefe are not rightly convinced of their fpiritual **■* wants and miferies5 for in a right convi&ion of thcro you do, 1. See an abfence of all fpiriiual good in your hearts. t. See a defctS of all power in your felves to help your felves unto that good which you wane. 3. See an inability in your felves rightly to define that goo4 * U2; ftomGod. irisfbd 4. Sec an infufficiency of power in your felves to receive all the good which God freely offers unto you for the ftipply of ail your fpiricual wants. . 3 , It is a wy d fficult worl^ to he brought into this condition : it u j very diji- To fee and acknowledge our ipirkual emptinede and nothing- cult work to fonefle, ?.nd to be driven ou" of our felves, to pull down our brought to this, fdves to deny our fcive?. The lfraelues were even flung to death by the fiery Serpents , before they would look up to the Ttra^tn Serfent. The Lepers were ready to flarve % ere they would ftep out for food. The poor Vrodtgal as long as there was anv thing to eat (even Hushes that the Smneleft) untill he faw he mufi peri/hfor hunger 3 he would not come unto his fathers houfe where there was head enough , Luk.3.5. Every Mountain and HtH fb^ll be brought low , but is it eafie to level hills and tnountaines ? ^/^>^. 8.34. ivhafocver \Vili come after vtc let him deny him* elf, O but it is a hard thing to deny our icives ; ourevill felves, inourlufrs; our unregeneratefdves; Tbne things our own wifdomes , and HghteoufneiTe, and power, &c. mj{e it dijxult There are three things in every finner that make this work covdi'ionlf If h»*tHr a tp™p'»fi'» to the condition] of yeorktt , toafelf- W9ris. rightc- Chap. 3 whether we be fpiritHaliypoor. 95 righteotrfarffev t0 befuftified and feved byiornsthing of our own: This (ricks cldfe unto us, though our right eoufneffe be gone ; yet the opinion of our righteoufnefle , is not gone : you find how much it (hick with the Jewes , and you fee howic takes with the Papifts, and almoft with all forts of people in the world. u n r " 2. Incredulity of 'the umverfal lojfe by Adam: fome will not incredulity «/ believe that ever Adam was traded with a common and pub* the univcrfd lick ftock of righteoufneflfe % and ability for all the world * lo Jl' and not t0 be eonvinccd °* our r P iricual wants and ml - Jelves/onjidtr, ^ enes Chap. 3 whether rvebe fpiritually poor. 97 ferics and nothingneffe , and this will further appear if you % confider , 1 . The fad Inconvenience tfh at fall even upon Real Chuff tans : * . if at any time they fancy their ownfulneileand fnfficiency , Tkeftilvcon- how far they venture I hoft fhm they come I how little in good , ^l^ntlr^ how muchinfimes , and in very dreadful fa Is : Asin David , Ati cbrifiiins. Peter , tte&kiab , how God leaves themfelvcs unto them- felves, and now the weak child left alone,faI!s. If itbe dan- gerous to lay the foundation of our fpiritual aftions upon our renewed ftlfe , how much more dangerous is ic to lay the foun- dation of the foules eftate (in Grace and glory to all eternity,) n$onofircorrtfpt-fe!f: If when indeed we have fomethingof gracious power bellowed upon us , if this alone (cut from de- pendance , union , influence , as a beam from the Sun or as an arrae from the body , ) be as no power at all to help us to perfift, or to reiift , to wife up one fh p for heaven , what a dangerous condition is it to relie all that which concemes the defence and falvatioo of our foules upon that which is worfe then weakneffe , iefle then emptineffe and (if one could ex- preiTe ic fo ) more nothing then nothingneffe? 2. 2. T make the acctffe ml qChn ft and communion with Chrift TbUmxkts ^. impojfwle, » nnthu danger oufly pe beautiful are Q 6 fp £ i un d the feet of them that preach the Gojpel of peace and bringglad-ti- Gofpel-way of dings o( good thin gi : Beloved! the Gofpcl is fas it were) the fttwthnis letter of Gods love and mercy to Tinners ; It is news of falvati- P mtm on for finners, it is like the yeare of jubilee which was a good year for caprives and fervants, and fuchas were diftrdTed, it is the door of hope and help as the v*Uej 0? Achor. There are three things which the Gofpel Jubilee doth pro- V mUimul ' claim unto finners. WGrfpelfu* 1. That loft finner j may be font d ,ani undone finners may be bike. repaired, and miferable finners may yet be faved. Godfer.t his Lo(l [innersmq Son into the )X>orld that the world through htm might be faved, ^ c f oun ^' John. 3 . 1 7. This ts a faithful faying that Chrifi Jefus came into the world to fave finners , I Tim. I . I ? . That the cutfes 2. That the ctufes of that falvation , though they are not to be of that falvation found in us finners, are yet to be found in Chrifi : Him hath^l^ ouni Qod the Father fealed^xxd on that mighty one is our falvation laid, * ** * and of him it is hid^Bebold I lay in Zion a chief corner ftone elect precious, and he that beleeveth on him (hall not be coufounded , 1 Pet.z6, So that though the finner hath no power toraifeup falvation , yet J efus Chrilt hath a power to attempt and 3ccom- phfli it, Rom 5.6. For whence were yet Without ft rength in due time Chrift dyed for the ungod f y. %.That the communication of the finners falvation in and by (fhrifi Tbttibc cc-.r.- is altogether gratious : former finnings do not prejudice, nor is ^^uivlt prefent unworthimffe infifted upon , all that is required is but to onfratlogetbtr come unto Chrift and to receive falvation from him. Hearken gucion, unto m:e and your foule s fhall live , Ifaiah.55,3, Whofoevet \Vift O 2 Ut loo Evidences of one Chap. 5 ht htm corns and ta\e of the water of 'life freely , Rev. 22. 17. Now mark me, this Gofpel-newes of falvation is as nothing to an ignorant unfenfible and felf- conceited finner : We preach Chrtft crucifedy unto the Jewes a (tumbling blocl^ *anduntothe Greekes fooliftjncffe^ O but thi? GofpeLnewes published to a poor empty broken diftrefledfelf- undone finner,it is like life to tbe dead , like rain in the time of drought , and like a doalc amongft a company of ftarving beggars ; he faith, blefled be God for Chrift , J fee that there is yet hope for my poor foul : How is his foui affcfted and n-: "d,how filled with admirations of the wifdeme of God and of the goodneflc of God ? and how quick and ftrong arc the endearements of his foul unto God for this love, for this kindnefle , for this falvition , for this way of falvation to poor finncrs? He rejoyceth already in hope 5 that though there be famine inC anaan yet there is fa™ in Egypt % though there be death in me yet there is life to be had in Chrift. Though there be cmptineiTe and nothing in me, yet there is bread enough in my Fathers houfe , enough forne, in Chrift, RighteoufnefTe , Mercy, Grace, Reconciliation in Chrift , for a poor finner and all upon gracious termes. When Vaul came unto Antioch, tsftls. 13.14. And preached ghd*ridings unto them ( ver. 3?.) 'Be it known unto you men and brethren that through this man (Jefus ChriftJ is preached unto you the forgive* neffe of finnes ' (ver 38.) And by him all that betiek e are juftificd from all things from Which ye could not be juflifiid by the Law cfMofes } ver. 39, The Gentiles were lb affectionately taken with thefe glad- tidings , that they be fought , that thefe ftordi might be preached to them the next Sabbath day. Ver.42, O Sirs thus precious , thus acceptable , is the Go r pel unto every poor and broken finner 1 and is ic thus with you, or hath ic been thus to you ? certainly if you wcreftung with your fins 2i and pinched with fp : ritual wants, it would be fo. Then the foun- iMyou be thtfe poorjmpt. } need'/ [inner s in the Ttxt dentil the dition ) on lay foundation which you willLiy and bui'd uponjs Jefus Chrift alone : andbuild upon you wi jj g,, up (hrift }s y(Jur al | and f Qr yom . ^^ l £ Qr ^ f f ^ 16 Em Other foundat",n ca>> no man lay , then that u laid which is Jefus Chrift , Phil. 3 ^. Tea doubt leffe, and 1 account all things but loffe for the excellency of the knowledge 0] 'Chrift Jefus my Lord , for Chap. 5 fpiritiially poor. \ o i for whom I hxJe differed thelojfe of all things 9 and do count them but dung that I ma? winne C*'ri(l , (verfe 9 ) and befiund in him not bavng mine ovsn right eoufneffe which ts of the LaVc bat that which uthfouglr'thef 'aith if 'Chrift , the right eoa f?ieffe which is of Godby faith. The fpiritually poor and needy firmer renounced all felf-foundacions , and pitches on Chrift alone , for all his foundations of hope. Would he be reconciled to God} why , he fixes only >n the Wood ttf Jefus Chrift , as the atonement and peace and reconciliation ? Would he have biijlnnes pardo- ned? why, to Chrift he goes and there he relies on him tor re- dempiion even the forgiven? ffe of his fmr.es , Epbef. 1.7. Would he hive his heart changed and f*n£t*fi ed} None but Chrift can heal him, canwaihhim, can fanftifie him .- Would he*fc or fnfer , no ftrength for this , or the other,but only the flrergth of Chrift , Phil. 4. Would he have his per [on and [ervkes accept ted} Cbnft mull be his foundation for thefeaifo: Ilooknoc for one imile of favour in acceptance from God , but in and through Chrift; Truly thus it is with every poor empty and fdf broken (inner , Chrift onL h hisfoundsrion: he lives only upon Chrift, and trades altogether in Chrifts name , all other are vain thingvvbich cannot profit : he fees his (innes and looks uptoCbrift; be fees his miferifj and bokesup to Chrift; he fees his reams and looks up to Chrift ; he hath nothing in him,* fclf, and looks up to Chrift for all: None can anfwerformy finnes bu: Cbrift , none can get me the parJon of them but Chrift , none can help me to grace , to peace , to love 5 to life, toftrergth, to heaven, but Chrift : Ndw think or this you that can ftay at home and keep houfe upon your own ftock, who can lay foundations in your own workes , will you be be- holding to Chrift for all, Is all fea, and none the rock but Chrift, do you think none is able co fave but Chrift? 3. Ofall Turners whatsoever, thefe poor feif.empty and S uch are mojt diftrefled finners are the moft ferisus and mofl earneft beggars : ferious r.nd ar* you need not teach the poor (indeed) to beg , nor to think of ™ft begg Faith. 1. He is moll ferUtu a d tart: eft for Chrift : another finner ('who never knew the miferies and wants of his foul) he doth but trifle in his requtfts, perhaps an occalionil wifh , or a for- mal meeting : A cuftomary mentioning of Chrift , but he can fie quicr ar.d contented enough, though no anfwer be given of Cirift ,• Chrift is poor in his eyes, and the graces of God poor in his thoughts. ft is is not thus with the finner who is fpintuaily poor; fpiritual poverty, and fpiritual hunger ever goes toge- ther : fcrcad is the hungry mans life, and therefore he crits out as for life, Give me bread: fo Chrift is the poor finners life, he fees all his life and hope in Chrift onely, and therefore his foul is in good earneft for Chrift .- O Lord, faith he, there is filvation for a finner in none other but Chrift; I am undone forever if I have not Chrift; none but Chrift can help a poor 1; I befeech thee do not fay me nay , deny me wiiat thou wilt, oncly give me Chr.ft. 2. Me is moft fenous and earneft for faith: Hj now fees there's no living for poor finners, bur by faith ; faith is the poor finners fret to walk to Chrift : Beleevmg is the poor fin- n.rs trading, and faith is the poor linncrs hand, the empty hand to takeChrift, and to recc.ve all good byChrift, and from Chap. 3 . Jpiritually poor* 3 \ q from Chrift : and therefore bis heart is fct upon Chart , who istheonely help of poor finners ; and his heart is fct upon faith, that he may get Chrift, and getting him may 6e fupplied and fet up by the riches of Chrift. Now try your felves by this Evidence : a poor (inner is a praying (inner, a begging finner, youmayfinde him ftili at heaven gates, there he ftands and knocks, and cries, O Lord give a rich Chrtfl to a poor finner ; O Lord give me power, give me faith to lay fcold on Chrift. r 4. If we be thefe poor, indigent, and miserable finners in- Kevin humbly deed , Then will we humbly and patiently wait at the door of ™d patiently mercy, and the throne of grace • we will continue begging ut\. w *it at the dGor tillGodbepleafedtofend outanalmesuntous: When a proud * mr€ ?* flurdy beggar comes to the door, if he hath not his defire pre- fently.he will begone, and will not flay, and takes on again!! you ; I, but when the poor indeed comes, he will cry and heark- en , he will entreat and wait your leafure, efpecially when he knows that plentifulnelTe and mercifulnefte dwell in the fame houfe : Thus is it when men are proud finners, they are impa- tient finners i and quarrelfome finners \ wherefore have fte fa- fied, fay they, and thou fee ft not , wherefore have we afflitled our fouls , and thou takefi no knowledge, Ifa. 58. 3, Away they go murmuring and complaining. O it is in vaine to ferve God, and what profit w it that we have talked mournfullj kef ore him ? Mai. 3, 14. O, but he who is a poor finner, and a needy finner indeed, he is content to aske, to feek, to knock, to wait patiently till God open the door and gives out mercy: He well knowes that he is utterly unworthy of the ieaft of mercies, and that the gifts of mercy, and the times of mercy, belong ro God, and that Chrift and mercy are precious ; and therefore if God with-hold y O faith he, God is but righteous, for I am a great finner, and yet I will feek him Hill, and wait upon him, for Ire is a merciful, and; gracious God, who can tell but his mercy and grace may at Iaft think of my poor foul > 5. Thefe poor indigent finners of all men are the moft thank^ jl full for their almes: where they finde their mercies and fup- Sh ^ drc e f aU plies, there they have their thanks and praife?.. %h£m ^ There are four things after the receipt of mercy ,in him who * ' is indeed fpiritually poor and empty. i, He 04 Evidences of one Chap. 3 1. He is very humble after the receipt. 2. He is veil pleafed with the receipt* 3. He depends the more on mercy, upon the receipt of mercy. 4. Wz\sexceed\ngthankfnl, acknowledging all his receipts as gifts, as free gifts, and giving all the glory to mercy alone, and Gods grace alone: What I am , I am by the grace of God, What have 1 which 1 have not receive* > What is thy fcrvant I who am 9 I ? Thou haft done me good for thine own fake. The more he receives, the more empty he is ; the more he is filled wit h Chrift and Grace, the more unfilled he is withhimfelf: The more that he receives of mercy, the more of glory doth he afcribe to the Cod of his mercies: It is not thus with a proud and full (Inner, who knowes not how co brg, norhowtoblefie. SECT. VI. Vfe 2. \ f[ ^ ^ c P oorc ^ fi nn * r g ec t0 Chrift, may they who have IV J no money at all come ? (yc that have no money come ye buyandeate). Then let us be perfwaded this day unto three things. Ex'.orttthn to To become poor, to become feniible of our wants and no* three things. thingmfle. 2. Being fo, to go to Chrift. 3 . To uTe the means by which you may be fo. i. Strive to become poor : every man ftrives to become r.ich; strive tobuom ^ uc J would advife every man to ftrive to become poor; My ft Qr% meaning is, to ftrive to be rightly fcnfible of his fouls wants, of his fouls emprinefTe and nothingnefle, i Cor. 3. 18. If any man nmor.g )ou feemeth to be wife , let him become a fool that he v Ay be rri r e. There are fix arguments which I would prefent unto you for Si* Argtmem the regarding of this counfcl. tviieu. 1. There is no man xohatfo'ver^ i>m in this life he is in (pi- tift'fa' i * tbiS riiH * 1 ** nU ;\{ T°^ DC V^-h yet you ar e under wants, ?>/*/. fliritullxnnts. 7°- 5- J * m por and needy did David, Phil. 3, 12. Not as althongh Chap.3 formally poor. XQX * although I had already attained, or were already perfecl , faid - "Paul, Tbil. 4. 1 p. My Goo* {hall fapply all yonr need: He that hath Ckri/t, doth yet want more of Chrift : He that hath Grace, needs dill more Grace. And if you be mcked> you want ail, all that belongs to a new creature, all that belongs to grace and glory i A wicked heart is like a large houfe that is wholly un- furnifhed , every roome of his foul is void and empty. Indeed his heart is full 01 finne and ungodlinefTe , and the more full that the heart is of finne, the more empty it is of Chrijft and Grace; all the imaginations of ihc thoughts of his heart are ontly evil, Gin. 6. 2. The fblritnal wavts of all other are the created : no Sptri ? x \? ly ! u ,-, / x k P- - t : are of all other wants like foul-wants : A man may want many things lor his t fj C gruteft. body, and yet be and fpeed well enough for his foul: That may beaffirmed of hira which Fulgentius fpake of Lazarus , fait fine domo , fed non fine Dmino, fine vefle , fek non fine fide, fine iibo, fed non fine Chnflo : But if you live and die under fpir.Mt! wants yoa are uodone in foul and body. Soul wants wiM b^ foul lodes, and heaven lofies : Judge feriotifly accord - ingto the Scriptures what will become of a finner who never ge.s thrift y *o make his peace, nor mercy to pardon his finrfes nor Grace todunge b« heart. How can that man be laved? 3>No fenfe of Jpirituat wants*'* an infallible tefiimcny of all yvant ; There is a twofold dilcovery of our fpfritual wants: ^°f cnceo f^' One is by lift, when we are made alive by grace, fpiritual fenfe ^WibkuH ever attends the fpiritual life: when we begn to live the life minyofaU^ ' ofgrace,then we do moft clearly apprehend our warns of grace *unts. and in grace: Theother is by- light, when the confeience is quickned and convinced and fliewes unto us our wretched hearts, and lives and wants*, this is the leaft, and theloweft andthe'firftdifcovery of our fpiritual miferies and wants : fo then the man who -hath no fenfe at all of his fouls wants and ncceffities; he is altogether poor, miferably poor, he hath nothing in him that is good, and indeed he is a man wholly fpt- rkually dead. 4. Ufually, they who are in the create ft of fpiritual Wants Mcywbo&eiu are leafi ftnfiUt of them, and do think themfclves feift InnSllfi ia* wants.who iopwrto *ak'd>M& miferable^nd wtuhedi&Ln&i. fenfblc eftkcL cea % o 6 Exhortation to Chap. 3 cea , who faid that [he was rich and encreafedanh bad need of no- thing} ivlf-pridc, and felf-flattery and fdf-deceit ever ac- company felWulxufli. Ever obferve , that fick men in the higheft fcavers are lcift fenfible of their ficknefle and want of heakh ; Thus it is in the fickneiTe and wants of the.foul , by ho.v much the greater thefe wants arc , by (0 much the lelTcr ^, . .. is the fenfe and apprehenfion of them. The foiinJittons _,, . , r . * . . . , firbnvtM, are 5- The foundation for beaven ts slwayes loft: my meaning is, almycslow. that when God intends to fill a foul, he fi r ft makes it empty , when he intends to enrich afoul, he firft makes it pocr • when he intends to exalt a foul , he firft makes ic humble ; when, he intends to fave a foul, he firft nukes it fenlible of its' own mi- feries wants and nothingneffe. Our Saviour in the end of his/ beatitudes, fpeaki, great is your reward in hzaven 3 bu: in the be- ginning of them, he firft faith blefiedare the poor. ,n Spirit ;God deales in the Spiritual building as men do in their artificial buil- dings, the higher that they intend to build , the lower and deeper do tluy hy their foundation : If God intends to liftyou up to Chrift, and -mercy, and grace, and glory, he will then bring you low inthefenfeof yourfinful miferies, and fpirirual wants and felf-nothingnefle and untforthynefle. ' 6. Tou Will never \ee\for the fupply of your [pint ual wants un- 7m y Unev . cr tilljou befplrituallypoor'. you will not go out to the m*r\et , or uUywtoftl- Chere y0U * i[] ft™ di 1&S, tbe ia J Io "& or therc you will only Tiuill) poor, cheapen , and look on', bur not buy , not come up to the price of the Market. Object . Object. But the fearching QPl$4kgHr fpiritual V/ants will make me defpairc. SA Sol. i, The ignorance of them will nuke w» thither ankbny for m from thence, that tv* may live andnotdiC) Gen 42«2. So, if men were indeed fpiri- tuillypoor, if they were indeed pinched with the fenfe P 2 of «o8 Exhortation to fuch Chap. 3 ■a — - — ^— — — — — ^»__ _______ of fheir foufes wants and diftrtfTes , they would abroad , thty w.-uld make out to drift for bread, for help, A diftrtfTcd fo.»l is apprehenfive of, and as ad ve for its own p efervation as adiftrefled body is for its fub- fi^et ve. There are two forts of wants. 1. There are waKtomraxts , wants of vanity, fupeifluous wants : a pcrlon under theic is car Kfo and at the beft but complemetKal and talkative- And fecondly, there are real want slants cf poverty , neceflary wants,wantsof fuch thirgs as are ablolutdy neeeilary to the prefervation of life , and being : thefe will make us feriousand Solicitous and induftrious: Thus is it amongft flnr.ers ; feme have but a flight and formal fente of their funics poor and miferable conditioned their motions arc anfwer3b ! e to their appreherTion? , flight apprchenfions of their fpiritual wants, and flight defires and endeavou'S forChrift: Burthen there are other who are really and effectually convinced c f the wret- ched condition of their fou^ , and of cl cir own iniuflkiencies to help themfelves; They fee that (indeed) their ioules-muit e; ternaily die, and perifh, if they get nocCbrift, and mercy, and grace ; thefe are poor indeed , they fee death athonse, and life abroad ; thefe will anfe with the Prodigal, and make to- wards their Fathers houfe where there is bread enough , *• 2. It is impojfible far e wj poor (inner to be per feci in himfelf ', 11 Is imptfiblc to f u ppi y his own "bants , to repair himfcIf,to deliver himfelf to for a poor inner . J '/ _ . %. r tc * Ifwnbk bcafuffic.encytohimfelf. nO own wins, for, U No creature can be enough untottjelf: toecondition of it No creature can is a condition of dependance , In him (faith the Apoftle) n>e be enough unto ^ ve AK( j move a „dhave our being. As it is with the Beames of Uftlft the Sun whofe being depends upon the Sun , if you cut offthat dependanc,ey ou cut ofttheir being; or as the bcugbes of a Tree which receive their whole life and being from the rootes , if you fli ike off their neceflary relation from the root, they die and wither away; Thus is it with every creature , (he root of its being and continuing is above.and take offthat dependance on God, the creature is prefently at a loflc : This fhewes th^t the creature is nothing in and of it fdf. You fee this in Jd*m,*nd in Chap-3 tomaketnttfoChrijf. 109 in.ths fallen Angels , although they had a great flock put into their hands, yet that was not enough , it was not by its own power fafficient to keep and maintain them; And u (iich a itock of righteoufne fie and ability was not (alone) fuffkicne to uphold them,(hall we chink diatthe poor (inner who hath no- thing at ail of his own , that he is able to be riches tohimfelf,to f et up rum(elf,to iuppiy his own wants? No create, Confider the worses which are to be done^tndall the char* bath enough to finner ? where hath cue tinner tor thete things work^of ' fatisfaQion , ani what competition can the finner make I Hath he enough to pay his debt? ? Can he make up God again, in his Glory, in hisRigbteoufnefis , in hiswiil 4 which have fufered fo much,and have been fo much impaired by the finner? Can he lay down the price of the redemption of 2 fdtif I And fay,Lord give me my discharge roro a;! my JTnhe?;t(tVf ! tfo prefen't unto thee fuch a perfect, fuch a Tull , fdcfc anirffiiii?c iatisfa&ion and payment as t y jufticecan dem3~d from a (in- ner? Again , there is the Work cfconverfion tirt'd (hftiffifatim : the finner needs an heart to be turned to God , and to be re* nued and fandined throughout : Can the B f ^k m ^ e change hi* skin} Or the Leopard his /pots ? Could bar&rjA quicken himftlf from the grave \ Are any of the creifuits of grace to be found in the cuftody or power of corrupt nature , which is not only deftitute , but alfo totally oppofi:e rothe ^ork of Grace? Nay,take me any one work that is fpiritual , furpofe itbechacof£*//*v/»£, hath the finner a power ofhiso*n to believe ? Is he able to filence any one unbelieving dfcqbt ? To anfwet any one fear or exception of his unbelieving htkti ? To layfcoldonChrift? To receive his onV though ve?rfo va- rious? O no ! The (inner is nothing , and hUtti hotfi rig in^r to any fpiritual good : In one word,the<^ a tionofGhi $ the collation of the Spirit of Chrift y the revealing eftieMm of ■ - 1 for all good , and gods [ufceptio* for a 8 in h» prom'tfes « ri ' tfte necejfnj of ever) one of thefe , do d monftrauveV prove tr) t the poor finner is (in himfelf and ot hmielf) vurrue all ftrengthjhatheisnotonlynotenoug%butaifo alcOget*- \h- P 3 fuflkunt* & tio Exhortation to Chap. 3 7 here u r.o jfibc vp.ui fuffirienc torepair himfelf and to fupply his own fpiritua! wants : As the tinner is not poor thacconfeiTes not his own utter infufficiency > y for the univeifal {ufcepcions of all his Tap- i'lics in Chrift, do convince him, that whatfoevrr thoughts be niiy have of him'clf; yet he is nothing but wants and no- I ig bur in L.Piicicncy : if Chrift did nor lupplyhim from cop to toe, if Chrift && not give him Eje-jalve , he would ftiil be bind, if Chfift did nor give htm raiment , he would ftil! be \ , if Chrift did not give him Hf* . he would dill be dead ^ if Chrift cii not give him riches t he would ftil! be poor , if Chrift did not give him bread , he would be famifbrd , ir Chrift did not give him all, he would ftill be nothings and worfe then nothing. 3 . There is no fitpptj of the Wanti of a poor And needy [itinerant Chrtft^rJin Chrift t a»dfrcm Chrift. Jtis not with a poorfinner as ic is with a poor man , there are many doores for a uWTfw poor man to go unto , ar.d find relief, tut t here is only one but door for a fi.ner to go unto to findefpi ritual fupply of his Cbrijl. wants. As : here is bu: one door unto which Chrift comes did knockj , and that is the /inner j heart y (0 there is but one door for the poor fi. n;r to go unto and knock, and that is the door of grace tet open in J tius Chrift. What Job fpa^e con- cerning W if dome , Job 28.1 2. Where [bill W'fdome be fv*nd\ and where is the pL\ee of un krftanding ? It is not to be founj in the Land o l : the livir.q . verfe 1 3. The depth faith jt is not in me, rnd the fea faithftt is not With me, verfe 14. That may be faid concerning the fpiritualfupplies of the wants of poor fin- r>ers - go where you will and fcarch were youpleafe, they cannot be found any where 3 or in any creature, or in any thing bu Chrift alone. All 1 lie creatures are burasthc wildernefle and barren Heathcs , but as the Defarts, ,4/74.42. Neither is there filuttion in any othtr , &c. 1 foh 5 ! 2. He th.it hjth the Son,h*th life , rye Jer 3 23. Truly in va'tn ie falvation hoped f r from the h'-Us and from the multitude ofmountaines.'Tru- Ij in the Lord our (job is the fMv.mton of IftatL So in vain do you it ik for help, where help is mrtro be found. In Chrift . f TC alone is the fupply and the falva*ion of loft and poor finners • tiibcr, what other things there arc 3 and what other bdides Chrift you have /fit other Chap. 3 . become poor* 1 1 1 have, they are, either impertinent and unanfwerable to a din- ners wants, or e.Te they are incommunicable for the finners fupplics , from any othe r. I. They are impertinent and unanfwerable , as being of a impertinent diver fe kjnde and ufe y and benefit from thofe things which musl and unanfmr- loch * needy f oh 1 1 as all earthly pisafures, profits, -honours, able tot (inters friends, beauties, reliefs; the bread which you eate, how im- mnti \ p.rtinentis it to a foul, which wants the bread of lite ? theray- ment which you wear, how impertinent is it to a foul which wants the garment of righteoufaefle > the jewels with which you adorne your felves , how filly and vaine are they to a foul which wants the the jewel of pearie of grear price, the graces and ornaments of the Spirit or Chrift ? 2- Or fuppofe another be p^jfejfed of Chrift , of his righ- Orincommwii- Uoufmfje s of bis graces , of his comforts t ("which are indeed cable for a fin. the propper fupplics for a poor (inner) jet you cannot be help- ncrs f u N l y f rm ed from another : your fouls, poor fouls cannot be fupplied by mi * * the fupplies,and riches which any befides your felves do enjoy; Becaufe they are fas to i'uch po(Teflours,and from them) in- communicable : Chrift ratfed La^ams , yet Lazarus could notraifeany; A perfon is made great in office, but htcannoc make another fo: They may pity you'in your poor condition, and they may lend you their counieljand their prayers, bur pare with any of that ughteoufneffe, and hoiinede, and comfort un* to you they cannot do it. Nay, you cannot go to God himfelf, who can communi- cate all , but you muft fir/} come to Ch y $ , ior i ani * by>and through whom he communicates ail toftnners: you muft go to the Urns door, and to the fame good Matter as they did, if you would fpsed as they fped. The fruition of Chrift, and mercy, and grace is common to many, but the communica* tion or donation of thele to any h proper to Chrift alone; therefore under the fenfe of your /pirituai wants ge: you un* 4, to Chrift, C^fl^abie 4. feftt* Cbrifl is able eneugh , and Willing enough to re- t***gb and lleve poorfinners and what can the p^ordtfire more then w/ ^"? cmi & • u r 1 t0 u PPv you, thefe co encourage them. J^ j s ^ lc 1. Chrift is able enough to relieve poor finncrs; It is hconougf?. alone *i2 Exhortation to fuch Chap.g alone chat keeps a feaft tor the poor : Thy wants cannot pof- 'y exceed his fulnefle : Nay, thy wants are no more to his fulnefTe, then a htt ! e empty veffel to the full fea ; Nay, were all the wants which take hold of all the poor finncrs in the world, upon thy very foil 1 , JefuBChnft isable to fur/ply them all : he who is more then able to fupply every poor diftrefled doners wane?, is as able to fupply them if they were in thee a- lone, as he is to lupply them all in every one of them. If I could fupply all the warns of ten thouf^nd beggars fcverally, I four things could as eafily lupply them if the y did meet in one bcggar,per- midcKe tbk, fonally confidered. But to the point in hand, that JeTus Chrift is able to fupply all the wants of poor Tinners : there are four thigs which will The perfcSHons dear this fully. iJ - "*' i. The per fcfiions of chrift: Whatfoever is in Chrift is in Mm by way of perfection : God eivesnot thi Spirit bj meafttre umohim 5 fob? 34. To us he gives the Spirit by meafart, a little to one and a little to another , to every one a limited por- tion and meafure ; But to Chnftnot by meafure , but fully, buz perfectly, and this perfection in Chrift bath a two fold conficieration. 1. It is a perfeWion fuixble to his crrn capacity. 2. It is a perfection anfrverable to the en^s and fftrptfesrtf h;'s offices. It is fuch a perfection, as that there is not the leaft want or dtfe& to fill up Chrift : and it is fuch a perfection as that thereby Chrift is fifficic nrly qualified to fill tu up , and therefore St. Jehn faith of h 1 fuUefte have all we received, Job.]. 16. and the Apoftie fpcaking of his fqlnefle, he faith, that is fuch thatfii/eth alt in all , Ephef 1 .2$. Zil™' 1 ** °f 2 - The ments of Chrift : of what height or compare do you imagine the merits of Chrift to be ? certainly his meiirs are anfwerable to his pcifon, and therefore they are of infinite worth and dignity. He did by his meritorious doings and faf- ferings, purchafe n'> lefTe then to be the Lord of life : All that concernes the life of a linncr (richer in the end of i: : As eter- nal glory, or to the present Hate of it , for grace and mercy, all this hath Chrift obtained by merit and purchafe, to fecftow on poor Pinners 3 and furely thiC is enough to fupply all wanes. 3. 2 b* Cbritt. Chap 3. makg out to Cbrzji. &*3 1 1 3 3. Xi»* (applies in Qhrift : they are every way aniwerable r ^ p u ^ s j n to the wants of poor Tinners: The wanes of a Tinner may be cbrift* lookt on either extenfively, as to all the lands and number of them,or*»/*»/?W/, as to all the meafures and degrees of them: They are very many, and they are very high, but Ch rifts (up- pjjes can anlwer them in both refpe&s ; If you caft up the kinds of the finners fpiritual wants, Chrift hath as feveral and ftronger kindes of (applies : He is life, and righteoufneiTe, and forgivenciTe,and wifdome, and fanftification, and redempti- on , and grace , and comfort, and ftrength, and falvation; and thefe do fufficiently anfwer all the kindes of their wants, • u 1 1 4. Nay, let me adde one thing more to fhew the ability and f^^fL fufficiency in Chrift to fupply all the wants of poor finners : J[ J ' nJ whenHe hath helped all the poor finners in earth fie hath yet e- nough to lp are: There is yet roome for as many poor and nee- dy finners ; the proviflon of his grace will hold out, were there millions of fucceeding worlds for poor finners to live, and to live upon him : He is ftill as able to five , to give, to fupply them, for his ftock never diminifheth one jot by the communi- cation of it: the Sain:s in glory live and enjoy upon it to all eternity in heaven, and (o may all poor finners whatsoever trufc upon it, and fpend upon it all their life; By all which it mani- feftly appears that there is ability enough in Chrift to fupply all the wants of poor finners. 2. Butfeco«ily, as Jefus Chrift is able enough, Co He id chrift is as willing enough to [apply all the wants of poor finners. Where- willing as be is foreelfe doth he keep open houfe, and makes proclamation, as Mc. here in the texr, He that bath no money , Corns ye y buy and. eate : wherefore elfe fends he out fo many invitations to bid poor finners to ccms to him , for all things are ready ? Why clfe (hould he counfel them to come and buy gold, and rayment, and eye falve of him. nm ^ There are three things which do fhew that Jefus Chrift is evidence tbir. very willing to help and fupply the wants of thepooreft fin- ners. f . His anointing ; He was fct apart, and fitted for this ve« tiis anointing. rvend,CO fade the loft, to fill the hungry , to help the nee- a df S14 Exhortation to Chap. 3 dy , to be a father to the father/ejfe ; and for this very pur- pose he came into the world. As long as man could live and trade with his own flock, Chrift Came not , but when mm was fallen and broker^now he came into the world to feehf that •which was loft, and to fave ftnners , Chrift is will rig to per- form? his office, as willing to the application as he was to the ordination and fufception. All thofe unfearchableriches,exceed- ing riches of Grace were given unto him, to fpend them a- mongft the poor, to lay them out upon poor finners. 2 - 2. His undertakings : He never undertook any thing for HUmicmk* felf-righteous , and felf-fufficient perfons, only for the tn ®' poor did.he enter into band , and became a furety for their fakes: He became poor, that they by his poverty might be made rich , 2 Cor. 8. p. All his doing* and (ufferings, all that he laid down and offered up, all his purchafe and difcharges were in the poor finners name : This 1 undertook, and this I did, and this I fuffered, and this I obtained for the poor finner, who could do nothing for himfelf. 5. 3. His Negotiating-, All the tradings of Chrift by cal!s,by H'a negothting inftitutions,by promiies,by encouragements(if I nuy lb deliver myfelfj arc with poor finners: He will not converfe with the rich and full , but with the poor and needy , I came not to call the righteom , but finners. The Lord Jefus fingles you out amongft all other finners : What wilt thou that I (hall do for thee? and many times comes to your doors, ftands there, and knocks there, and brings his provifions with him, offers un- to you all the helps which you nccd,and entreats you to accept of them ; and then you muftconcludc that he is willing. , 4« , 4, His door is never (hut againfi any : Nor is his hand Hl f taa^iHn empty and clofed, when the poor finner come?. He is always A7l ] t at home, and alwayes open handed to rum ; He defpifeth not, he hidcth not his face from the poor. There is no finner on earth, who hath more gracious acceptance , and more quick difpatch at the gates of heaven, then a really poor & diftrelTed finner: nor of whom Chrift is more tender : what fpecial care was had for the poor Jewes, when it was required, that their brethren (hould not harden their hearts agatnft them, but liberally fpen their hands unto them 3 freely give , and leave fome- Chap. 3 M*ke out to Chrifi. 1 1 $ [omethintt for them, in their fit Ids , and in their orchards ,&c. Much more tender is Chrift to a poor (inner, furely he will heir the cry of the poor , and [atiifte the hungry with bread. 5. He glories in the bounty to thtm. The dpoftle tells us - oFone faying, much ufed by Chrift, A&s 20. 35. Remember the He glories inbu Words of the Lord jefus , how he /aid, it is a more blejfed bwitytotkcm. thing to give then to receive. It is not onely more blefled, but much more honourable. It is the greateft honour thai: Chrift hathin all the world, thac he is a Mediatour for finners: and a Saviour of finners; That he gave hi mfelfe- for finners, what a glory is this to the love of Chrift ! And that he gives himfelf and all faving good unto (inners, what a glory and honour is this to the alfufficiencie, k'ndnejfe , goodnejfe and bounty of Chrift. We get , when Chrift gives; arid Chrift doth not lofe by giving to us ; we gtt grace and mercy , and Chrift gets glory ; and the more he gives to poor finners , the more glory he gets by it. Can you put a more dishonourable afront upon Jefus Chrift, then when you fee your wants , either you will not come to his door, or you will quickly palle away; .. as if Jefus Chrift onely were the hard Mailer, or incompaiiio* nutt Dive j. 6. He likes )ou the better, becaufe he findesyo/t poor: He ^ • fills the hungry with good thingt , but the rich he fend' cm- He Ufa you the pty away* Now he ha:h an object fit to be relieved by better when be him. findsyoupoer, 7. His additional! 1 He doth not onely provide for being, 7. but for well-being, forincreafe, and continuance. He givesj H * tddithuds and gives more abundantly. Thepqor (inner hath not yet e- nough , why , faith Chrift, I will fupply him further, he yet wants, and I will yet help, I will not leave fupplying him, till I have brought him to glory. 8. 8. What an infinite mercy it it that you are made (pir it /tally **** an '"finite poor, and being fo, that there is fuch a Chrift to help W*^°£^^ relieve you. chrift to help n I. It is infinite mercy to be made fpiritually poor; to know 1. your felves, to be taken off from your felves, to acknowledge it is mercy to be that onely mercy and grace do keep the purfe, that rnuft keep fp'rimaiiy poor. Q 2 your 1 1 6 Means to attain to Chap. 3 yourhoul'e: Thouhadft certainly been undone, if thou hadft notdifcerned thy felf to be undone. Thy felf imagination s , would have proved thy felfdejlruBion\ There is death and lode in any confidence but in Jefus Chrift. • 2 2. And then being thus poor and deftitute, what an exceed* tAndamercrto %ng mercy is it to have a Chrift to go to : To have l"o rich baveaCbrfftto and lo good a Chtiil , and for him to callus to come nnro & oiQ ' him, and to undertake all our wants, and all our necefiitics, and all our iupplies? If one fhould fuffer fhip- wrack at fia, and lofe all that ever he had gotten, fo that nothing at all is left, and if a rich friend fhould fend to him, pray come to my houle and welcome, what I have you (hall bave.l wiii rinde you all, and as long as I enjoy any thing,you fhall never want : furc this poor broken man would look upon this kindntiTe, and gladly hearken to it and accept it. Alas whit do you poorfin- ners meane , that you repair not to Chrift, in whom only is your help and in whom is all your help, certainly you had fped , had you come. He calls you, and he is troubled that you (lay fo long, he hath made all things ready. U(< au'tbe 3« The cn ^ r( ^ thing , which I would fpeak unro , is the means by which mi am horv a [inner may became poor , how he ma) he made rightly you maybe ffi- f en fib le of his font- wants , of his emprinefle aud hotbingnefle* triiuliy poor. Anc j f or k c jp j n t ^ ls ^ j wou jj humbly prefent thefc coun- fels. _. V 1. Ltve under a powerful Atiniflry ^ under a foui-fearchinP powerful M- anc * ^ " llC0ver,n 8 Miniftry. I here are foul fiattertng Mi. Ttijiry. nifiers, 2nd foul , g Aftnijlers. Scut fluttering Mini alvvayes preach pleating things , and deceitful things ; they ne- ver fet out the true flateof^the finnec , in the wrctchednefle an J danger of it : They will rathei fnffermen to goto hell quietly then diflurb them wuh the clear fight of their finful cond il and wayes. But foul-faithful and fare niftsri, they fpeak t>' hearts and confcicnc:* of then hearers; Their great woik is to make finncrs know tbemfelves , that fo they may k Chrift ; to pull down , ani then to build up : To wound and then to heal: To caft doWn alt lofty Imaginations Xlphich do exalt thimfdves. arafaft Chn[t 9 \Q tezel the. Mwmmne$W& n;r,ke the Htlls Chap. 3* fpiritnal poverty* 117 Hills low , that all fie fb may fee the falvatUn of God, You fhill experimentally finde that no Miniftry whatfoever, doth make fo many finners to be poor,and fo many poor finners to be rich , as the faithful foul-fearching Miniftry doth. 2 . 2. Examine your /elves. A right felf-knowledge comes from Exmineyour * a right felf-examinarion. This you fhill finde^he lelle a man/l/va, examines himfelf, the more proud and felf willed he is of him- T felf; And the more that any man examines himfelf, the more miferable,and poor, and vile will that man be in his own eyes; There is nothing which will abafe a (inner more, then the fight of his finful ncflfe; and there is nothing which will better bring us to that fight then the faithful examination of our felves. In this wo k, you fhall make fuch a difcovery of a finful heart and life, of fuch a moft ioathfome and wretched condition , that you cannot but confefle that if Chrift and mercy help you not , you are undone for ever. ^.TZe/eesh the Lord to fend out the convincing lioht of his Spirit 3" into your hearts uitb htiovnlVord. Hii light , is* a true light , B &°\ tbc f™'- it discovers , but it fitters not 9 it reprefents things as they are , Q^Llf^ and his light is a quick light, it makes manifeft hidden things. It is the Spirit that muft convince the world of fin , (*)make fin- ners to fee how finful and mifenble they are , Rom.y 9. I was alive without the Law once, but when the command? went came,fnne revived, and -dyed; as if he had faid , when I was in ray Pha- rifaicaii ettare, I had as good an opinion of my felf as any mad, I made nodoubt'but all was well , that I needed nothing; but when the comma^dementcame (1) when the Spirit of God by the Law came, and throughly convinced me of my felf , thenthe cafe was quite altered , Ifawfo much fin in my feif, that un* Icfl*e Grace did help, I was a dead andhopeleffe finner. 4. 4. Make a right comp.tr if on of thy felf ', even with thofe who Mi\t 1 right have been far bater then thy felf * and yet have been very low in compm\onof' their own eyes. / abhor my j el fin dufl a*d afhes faith Job ; e n- r ^/ c/ / f ter not into judgment You c ^' n ^ V ou arc ^ °^ c ^ em i ^h but fcarch the Scriptures , and obferve what Characters they do fet upon graces , real graces, for the nature of them ,for the operations of them , by which they are diftinguifhed from coun- terfeit graces , and then you will finde how fhortyou are , how deceived you have been, Try thy faith , and try thy re- pentance , and try thy love by the Word; How true faith is wroughr,and what refpecl it hath to Chrift , what Influence it hath upon thy heart and in all thy actings. Try what fence thou haft of fin, whathumblings and mournings, what for- faking in true repentance. What delight in God, and Chrift; what obedience flowes from love and what fear there is in thee to offend. 7oureftitc. 3» And for the whole efiate , either of being^W, or mc\' ed, of being called^ or uncalled, converted , or unconverted , of being in Chrift, or out ofCbrifl , of being formally good , or folidly changed and renewed : find out by the Scriptures , the in- fallible Characters of an unregenerate and wicked condition , of a formal a/id hypocritical condition, of a foundly conver- ted and renewed condition, in fuch a fearch as this is, you would fee your wanrs , and miferies , and deceit indeed. Men do crre and miftake in their judgements of things , they do many times take nature {ox grace , and education for gran , and moral vertues {or grace , and flitting and tranfient motions forgrace, and therefore arc they full and fee no want, they think therafeives rich , when as upon a right judgment they would finde that they have no mony. > CHAP. T3 a Oh o a 'c3 o CO t£> 0> to Chap. 4* The Poor eft Sinner may fare well, 201 ISAIAH 55*1. (femeyce, Buy and eat, buy wine, and Mil\ without monjt and without f rice. CHAP. IV. Have fliewed you that the fooreft firmer may ceme toCbrifi, and now I am to {hew you, how hee is like to fare, if hee do come to (Thrift. Chrift hath /^d for him, ixi&Wine for him,and Mtlkjox. him, (C owe ye, buy and eat) come and buy wine and milk) by thefe expreflions are meant, all Evangelical grace , all fpiritual good, allneceffary good, all proper good, all comfortable good, all nouriftiing and ftrengthning good. Bread, that is neccffary to preferve life, xviiviue, that is neceffary to comfort life, and Milk^ that is- necef- fary to nourifh life. And what would a poor man have more ? whence obferve J he P ocir <* Do£h 4 That the fooreftfinner {hall fare exceeding well ^"Jj^ ifheewiUcometo Chrifi andbuy of him, Or, That all foi- ^.^^V ritual good comes tew, when wee cemctoChrtft> Prov.p. hce cook ro a, Sine hath kHed her beafts, Jhe hath mingled her Wme, CH rift and bay (hee h*th a/fi furnifhed her Table, verf. 4. who fa u fi>np!e, of h ""- let him turn in hither, as for him that nanteth undt>ftaud- Provcd - iug,(he faith to hsm, verf. 5. come eat of my bread, and drwkofmj Wine which 1 have mingled. Why? : ere IS furcly provifion enough for any poor man , here is meat enough? and bread enough, and Wine enough, the whole Table is familhed, and if die nxtf fiimlc Aa come 2oi .IfheemeandhujofCbrift. Chap, 4 come, hec may eat and drink of all; You read of the Prodigal S.on (che Emblem of a poor Sinner) lice came towards his Father, and his Father ran towards him,//* fell down on hu knees andweft, and his father fell on his netkjtn&kiffedhim, and laid unto his Servants, Bring forth th.be ft robe , And pat it on him, and put a Ring on hi* hand, and (hoots on Ins feet , and bring hither the fat- ted Calf and kjll it, and let w eat and bee merry, Luke i 5, 21,22,23. when this poor Prodigal came unto his Fa- ther, all good came unto him 3 love came to him, and acceptance came, and cloathing, and raiment, and the Ring, and plentiful entertainment. So when a poor Sinner comes to Jefus Chrift, (Thrift will meet him, and welcome him, and cloath him and comfort him,and beftow all good upon him, Rev. 3. 17. There you finde in what a wretched, mi fertile , poor , blind, and naked condition, Laodicea was: and vcr. 18. Chrift counfels her, to come to him, and buy of him: But what hath Chrift to fell unto her, if iliee comes? All the good which flie needs; Sheewas wretched and mi- ffirable, and poor, and Chrift had all that could help this; even Gold and Riches; Shee was blinde, and Chrift had cjc-falve to help that,fhe was nakjd, and Chrift had rai- ment to cloath that alfo, I Cor. I.30. Of him are you in Chrift JcftU) who of God is made unto H4,wifdome, rightc- cufnejpt, fanttification and redemption, mark here what comes on it by comming to Chrift. Are you Ignorant andfoolifb Sinner s> Chrift is Wifdom to you, are you ungodly} Chrift is rightcoufnefs unto you, are you unholy ? Chrift is fanfttfoation to you \ Arc von captives uidflaves, held in chains and fetters? Chrift is redemption to you. For illuftration of this point , I fhall (hew you Iliuflxaad. l That in Chrift there is very good fare to be had for poor Sinners. 2 That the enjoyment of it, is limited to our com- ming to Chrift, and buying of him. 3. That upon their comming .to Chrift > all that good Chap 4 What good things may be had in Chrift ^ 203 good doth certainly come to them. SECT.I. THat in Chr'tft thfre is very good fare to bee had for x poor Sorter s- y even all that good, poor Sinners do or jnChrift the*e can need, is good fare to There are four things which any. poor Sinner can be had for need. . . . - *o.r Sinners. 1 The things which concern his life, or being. 2 The things which concern his Bene effe, or well being. 3 The things which concern his longum effe^ as long as hec hath a being. ■ 4 The things which concern his eternumejfe ,his being and well being, to all eternity. Now In Chrift all theie things are to bee had, therefore in Chrift there is exceed- ing good fare to be had for poor Sinners. # 1 You may have in and from Chrift, aH that is ne- cejfary to the' (fpirituale ejfe ) fpiritual being of -pour All that is ne- fouls. As much as will tranftate you from death tyjife, }^^L as much as will alter your difpofitions and conditions. p f car foul*. Renewing and quickning grace by his fpirit, a change into his Image from glory to glory ) by the fpirit of the .Lord) 2 Cor. 3. 1 8. A conformity unte him in the Hkenefs of his deaths andofhisrefurrcttiQ^Kom. 6.5. If any man bee in Chrift hee is a new creAture^ 2 Cor. J. 17. 1#ft*fy- ing graces by which you are freed from the redundant guilt of your fins, fuch a forgiveneffe of them, as that there is no condemnation unto jou y Rom. 8.1. A perfcft righteoufneffe, wish which you are cloathed, Reconci- ling g rAC h by which all enmity is flain ; you are brought into favour with God, and hee is at peace with you,you ftiay look upon him as your God and father, and hee dotn look upon you as his people and children, Heb. 9. 10. 2 Cor. 6. \6) 18. And(which makes way for all this) uniting grace , by which you ixc)oy*ed unto Chrift) as the Wikistomc Husband ) Hofi,i$ % or as branches Aa 2 to 204 What good things may be had in Cbri/i, Chap,4 (en J to the Host , Johni], i . and fo partake of the nature and iitc oiChritf-.Thefe arc our vitali*,thcy arc the tilings that do concern our novum tffe, our effe fpir it Hale. The poor Sinner dah as much need them in order to his fpi- ricual being, as the poor man doth need bread to his na- tural being. AH that it r>c- 2 You may have in and from Chriil, all that is necef- ee&Hy tooths fay** '^beneeile* to the comfortable being of a poor Sin- eomf rtable *tfr. A jfurance of Gods favour and love, Veace in cenfei- tcingofour € nce, Joy m the Holy Gkoft-, free dm* of aceefs % grdciotif- fcnJs. m jf e f acceptance, perfwafon of audience, and Hope of glory. Surely thefe things are diffident to make our Paradke on earth, tofweeten our paths to heaven, to rcfrefhand revive us in our journey, and to fill our ibules with delight and fatisfaCtion; And every one of thefe is to bee had in and from Chrift, Rem. 5,5. The loveofGodisjhed abroad in ftr hearts^ b) the HoljGhofi nbich is given to us, Rev. 3. 17.7* him that overcometh wit/ J give to eat of the hidden mannah. Rom* 5.1. Being justified by faith wee have peace with (yod, through our Lordtyfus Chrifi, 1 Pet. 1. 8. In whom belecving yen re- joycewith joy unfpeakable and full of glory, Eph. 2. 1 8. Through him wee have an accefs unto the father, 1 Job. 5.14. This is the confidence that wee have in him, that if •wee askjmy thing at cor fang to bis wiU,hee heareth us ,CoL I. 27. Chrifi in you the hope ofglorj. 3 You may have in and from Chriit, All that is ne- All (harts ne- teffary for )our Longtim efle ; ^11 that concerns you and ccijary for us fpiritual condition , as Una as jou live utor the earthy as long as wee ' .. J J . a • ii^ ' / r ec i.ve upon the all that is nccdlary to luable you, to do, to fupr, to caith. grow, to per fever e unto the end, not onely all that makes up afpintuall being, which is meant by bread, n t onely all that makes your fpiritual being, a com- fortable being, which is meant hyWme, but alfo all that will nouriuV frrcngthen, and fupport that being, which is meant by milk^\ The Apoftlc PWfpeaking of Chri(1:as thzhcadofhis Church, faithCol. 2. 19. That from him all the body by joints and bands having uounfl?- went Chap,4 What good things may be had in Cbrift y 2 o 5 Ail that is ne- ment mimfired and kuit together, increafeth with the in- crease of Gad; hence thofe cxpreffions, firengthenyou in Christ, makj you perfett in Chrift) efiabli(hyoa in Qhrtjl and my Godjhafl /apply all your need, according to the rt m chcs of glory in Chrifi, Phil.4. ip. 4 You may have in and trom Chrift, All that is ntcef- fary for your ctcmumtffc* tn makeup a being of eternal hap P inefsforyou,Rom.6.2 3 .1hegiftofGodis eternallife ^fflryto^ through Jefus Chrift our Lord, 2 Tim. 4. 8. There is laid upa being of up for me aerownofrighteeufueffe, which the Lord-, the eternal happi- righteous Judge jhall give mee at that day. Rev, V 10, ne ^ c - Be faithful unto the death , and I vkH give thee a crown ef life, Joh.3. 1 $, l6.Hee that beleeveth on him (hall not periffr but have everlaflwg life. Doth it not manireftly appear by all this, that in and by Chrift alone, is to bee had all fpiritual good, which a poor Sinner can poffibly need ordefire? SECT. II. I Now proceed unto a fecond particular, That the in- ioyment of all this fptr it utl good is limited to comming unto T « • Chrift, and to buying ofQhnfiM the poor Sinner would ^clto! f?isi< have bread, andwineandmilk,?>.alifoul faving good, tualgoad isir- heemuft then come to Chrift and buy tlum of (thrift, mitedtobuy- (come ye, buy , and eat 3 yea, corns buy wine and milkj> ingofChrift* &c.) Objett.But may feme fay, of all limitations whatfo- ever this feems to bee moil liar ft? and moft difcourage- ing; To report all this good which a Sinner doth need, p nt ? epo h ° r h and to invite him to come; but then to tell him that he ^^1 muftbuy them, alas, the poer hath not wherewithal to buy them. Ifheehadfaid come and receive, diis had . been an encouragement, but come and buy , can die Sin- . ner buy mercy, and Grace, and Glory. Sol. Though this at firft fight may (ccmhardi, yet if wee look to the next words they will qualify the harfh- neffeof that expireflion, for it is added, buy without mo- A a 3 nej, 706 What it is to buy of Chrift, Chap.4 There U a twofold buy- ing. By way of me- rit. By way of ob* tainrng and poffefling. There is a buying, Juxtttretiwn naiurale, fttxti frctim padimk. ney , and without price. But let us fee the import of theworditfelf. There is a twofold buying. 1 There is a buying bj way of Merit, and pur chafe ; you are bought with a price, I Cor.^.io.Thus dothChriil buy us poor Sinners; w« W*re redeemed with the pr$cions bloudofChnfty faith the Apoftle, 1 Pet. t. 19. a There is a Buying, by way of obtaining *ndpoffejfing\ and thus , wee Sinners buy of Chrift, vhen w ee ufe thofc means and ways which Chrift hath defigntdfor the obtain* ing of any pnmifed g§9i, and in the ufe of which hee will impart unto n* ,andjettle upon us that fame good which we do need and hee hath promifed, or if you ^Icak, takemee thus, There is a buying , 1 Juxtapretiumnaturaley when fo much in value is laid down, as is commenfuratc to the true value and worth of what is bought, fuch a buying there is of land or wares, where what you lay down for them isofe- qual value unto the things bought. In this fence, no finncr whatfoever doth, or can buy, any fpiritual good, becaufe the Sinner hath not in him anything which can rife up to the value of the lead grace and mercy. % Juxta prettnmpaBiortale* Whenfo much is laid down, upon which any one is contented that the thing which yuu need (hall fall into your r>ofTcflion ^although that thing hath nothing in it felr confider able, as to the worth ot what you need or come to enjoy. Suppofe a poor man comes to a Rich man for bread, or houfe, or lands, you (hall have them faith the rich man, fo that you will truft mee for them, and acknowledge that you enjoy them by my favour, and bounty; Here is a buy- ing By a paftional price, upon a price which is not at all equivalent, but vet the feller is willing and agrees to let the poor man nave fuch a good bargaine, upon fuch good terms. And in this fenfe, a poor Sinner may and doth buy of Chrift, namely upon fuch terms as Chrift is plcafed and contented toietrlc all fpiritual good upon him, which' terms arc n6t by laying down any thing Chap. 4 What it is ubuy of thrifts 207 thing amounting to the worth of fpiritual things, but by comming up unto the way ofChrifts agreement for the enjoying ot them. So that look how Chrift- doth fet y fo the Sinner maj buy, and what terms Chrift doth pro- pofefor your fpiritual enjoyments, if you can come up tothofe terms you then do buy of him. That man buys of Chrift who comes up to the terms of Chriftyap- on which Chrift is pleafed to fell; Now the pactional price, or the terms upon which Chrift fells unto poor Sinners, The i?™* U P" all the gocd which they need,are thefe chrffllelli 1 Hee muft bee contented by Faith to ownChrift, to By Faith own receive him, to acknowledge him and to become CMft. his. 2 Hee muft defend and tru& onhtmpn him alone,for Dependant his fake, to enjoy all fpiritual good, of grace and mercy, truft on hIm, and peace,and ftrength, and comfort, and hope. 3 \\zm\&earneftly fray Jeekt and assail that good^nd Pray and fcefc wait unt ill it bee {for thrifts fake) bestowed on him. And and wait for all as there cannot bee any rcligioufly Rational expe&ation & ocd ^ 00! *■ ofanyfaving good, or fupply from Chrift for any man, unleffe his heart do come up to thefe terms of Chrift, (for what ground can any Sinner have to expe£t any faving good from Chrift, who will none of Chrift,who will not rely on him: and feek unto him) fo there is no really and fpiritually poor Sinner, but hee dothmoft cordially and thankfully embrace thefe terms; would not fuch a poor Sinner have Chrift ? would not hee de- pend onely on Chrift? would not hee come and beg, and wait at the door of Chrift ? Doth hee look out for any mercy , or comfort , or help, but in Chrift, and for Chrifts fake? And thus you fee, that all a poor Sin- ners good and help is to be found in Chrift, and that the limitation of the enjoyment of it is both reafonable and gracious in a way of comming unto Chrift and buying at his hands. SECT. lo8 Cwitning to Chrift, all Gotd comes t$ us . Chap. 4 . S ECT. HI. $ nr Here is yet one particular more to bee infifted on, * That if the poor - [inner doth come And buy >hee fhallin;oy If Ac poor fin- * n d pojfejfe. There is a certainty of enjoyment of all ncr doth come the good which we need, when we come and buy of ?ndbuy, hec Chrift; you ihall have the Bread, and the Wine, and the aixlthefiirnifiungofafoul with all needful fupplies of grace. Will you hear the Apoftle fpeaking to this 1 Cor. 3 , 2 2, 2 3 . All are yours, and you are Chrifts, Ephef. i . g . Bleffed bee the God and Father of our Lord J ejus Chrift, who hath blejfed w with all Jpiritualbleffings, in heavenly f laces in Chrift, CoK 2, 9, In him dwelleth the f nine fs of the God-head bodily , I Pet. 2.4. To whom comming, at to a living ft one, verf. 4. jee alfo as lively ft ones are built up a fpirttualhoufe, &c. It all tin's will not convince you, then hear a few Arguments which may yet further clear up this truth. I Chrift mud be, and will bee, as fufficient and efeftual Chrift i* ps cf- to the reparation of a [inner, as Adam was to the lofing tca^ltothe and undoing o[ a /inner, Rom. f. I?. If through the offence [ Cpar * tk>n A ^ 1 oftne, many bee dead, much morethe Grace of God, and the dam to .to many, vci'i. 18. Therefore as by the offence of one, f hement canic upon all men to condemnation, even fo by the Chap.4 Her Rich is thrift. 20? the Righteoufoejfe of one, the free gift c ame upon ailments jupificttion of life. But this hee could not do, were there not in him all the good of life, and were not that good derived from him, to all that come unto him. 2 Union with Chrtfi, infer res with it a communion with JJ?^* 1 ™ . .n Ttm r r it 1 vJinit infer* Chrtjr : Iheleare never leparated; it you come to the communion poffeflion of Chrifthimfclf,youmulthavcacommuni- with him. on in all that Chrift hath done for you, and purchafed for you. 3 Chrift is jujt to anfwer his own invitations, and to cfcriftfsiuft make good all hit Promifes, now hee invites you to all anfwer his w* good, and promifeth unto you all good, upon your com- invitation, ingtohim. 4 If all good might not bee had upon comming un- to Chrift, men a poor finner had not fufficient encourage- £|f ca p oor ment to come unto him^ and his condition would be very (inner hath not defperat e. Jncouragcmcift SECT. IF. to come to Chrift. Ufe i IS all the good which a poor finner doth need, 1 to be found in Chrift, and is it to bee bought of Chrift, and doth hee earneftly call upon poor finners, to come and buy of him, Bread, and Wine, and milk , *. e. All Information, good, comfort, and help, which their fouls do need? Then i How rich is Chrift, 2 How good is Chrift, 3 How foolifti is the finner > 4 How hopeful is the poor mans condition, 1 How rich is Chrift'. Hee was rich, faith the Apoftle, Htwri'cbU a Cor t 8.9. The unfearchabie Riches of Chrift, Ephef. 3. Ghritt. 8. Hee is Vulnefs, Johni. 1 6. and there is a breadth r and length, and depth, and height, of all this in Chrift, Ephefa. 18. yea, Hee is AH, Col. 3 . 1 1 . AndheefWeth aHinaR y Ephef. 1.13. There are three things which do (hew that Jefus Chrift DemonAratei is exceeding rich. y 1 His cofts, That hee could lay down fo much, a&^Cofts. c oh Id ferve to redeem all the cleft, Bb a His 2 jo Horn Good is Chrift. Chap. 4^ His Purchaks. % His Purchafes. That hee Uyed down to much as didftrve to redeem all the elect. Hb Vo&fo I His Po^feffloKs. That hce Hands feizedof all, which ens . can fupply all the wants of poor finners • It is hardly imaginable, what a vaft fummeanyone poor finiicrs wants do rife and amount unto; or what the general furame of wants, in all the poor finners, in all the world, in all the ages of it, do amount unto; and yet inChrift; there is all to be found, all good to be found, to fupply all thofe wants in every one of thofe poor fin- ners, every day of their lives : There is Bread enough for them all,and *FiW enough for them all, and Milkjenough tor them all, fupply enough for them all. He mud: needs be rich, who can fupply all the poor in all die world: to exceeding rich is Jefus (Thrift, who hath enough to fup- ply all the wants of all the poor finners in the world. 1 How good is Chrift, To call the poor unto himfelt, How good Is anc [ to fupply him with all fpiritual good; to pay all his c • debts, to repair all his eftate. to binde up all his fores, to^ relieve all his wants, to furnifli him with every grace, to provide every comfort, to prepare Bread, and Wine, and Milk ► I befecch you to obferve his goodnelTe. The finner doth not firft cull on Chrift, but Chrift: fir ft caHs on t he [inner %+wcA is not this goodnejfe to bee the firft in §f- fering of Good ? when Chrift calls upon finners, It is to ceme to Chrift, in whom only the good which concerns a (inner is to be found \ And is not this goodne(fe,to invite m to the fountain of good \ When Chrift calls us to himfelf,it is fa communicate unto us of his goodneffe, to impart IHUO us that good, which is good for us; yea, all that good which is neceflary for our fouls; and'what £ Ww*/* like that which undertakes all our good > which is ready and willing to fupply all the wants of our poor and diftreffed fouls ? when Chrift calls us to himfelf, to partake of all good, hce is earneft, hee is importunate with us, Come, come, come and buy^ come and fa}, faith Chrift; hee muft needs be very, goody who is importunate to f aft en good, and ail good upon us. Oh firs 1 none to poor* asthe poerftn- ner* Chap; 4: How Foolifh is the Sinner. 2 1 1 wr, and none fogood, as \hz good Chrift. Hee is good to thzfwl that fiffdes him^ and heeis^o^r^ the foul that feekj hm. His en]ojwents are good, and his ^r/ are good; none hath done fomuch to fave a foul as Chrift, and none dotli offer fo much to gain a foul as Chrift. 3 How foolish is thefinmr. Tee will not come to mee, that How foolifli is jee might have life, John J. 40. Oh/ what folly is this, thc ^ncr. Life istobeehaduponcomming to Chrift; True Lif e% and Eternal Life, and yet finners will not come to Chrift, who is life, though they may have life. And fo here in the Text. The miner is poor and deftitute, hee is utterly needy and impotent, wants all, and can help himfelf to nothing; and Chrift hath all, and calls to this poor man* come in hither* come, come to mee, andbuyofmee Bread, and Wine, and Milk, all that your foulsio need; and yet finners will not come and buy, they will not come to Chrift, and take their beftgood, no not on the beft termes from Chrift. Surely this is folly, and worfc than folly .* I befeech you what will become of their poor fouls, wno will not come to Chrift, and accept of all the good which Chrift offers to them? Suppofe that an hun- dred or a thoufandof us, were (hip-wracked, anefceaft into a dry and barren Ifland, where were neither Bread to eat, nor Water to drink, nor Raiment to cover us,no- thing at allneceflary for the prefer vation of life, and what provifion wee once had in our (hip, all that is drowned and loft; and in this extremity, another (hip fuf- ficiently provided and fraighted with all wholefome pro- vifions, (hould come near that defolate Ifland, and caft Anchor, andtheMaftercfthefhip (hould call out unto us, Hoi you that are ready to perifli with hunger, that have nothing to preferve and fuftain you; come hither, come aboard, here is Bread for you, Wine for you, and all things neceffary both for your being, and well being; and take it that you may live, and not die: were itnotadefperate folly and madnefte ill us (in fucha cafe, and upon no worfe conditions) to refufe to come* andtotakefuchalite-faving, and fuch a lifc-preferving Bbi offer* 212 How hopeful is the Poor mans Condition. Chap.4 offer; finely everyone of us doth rightly judge k fo to bee- And yet when it comes to die buiineileofour fouls (which are fhip-wrackt, and have loft all? and brought into the condition ot abfolutc poverty and n:- ceffity) though Chrift (that good Mailer) calls out to us, come to mce, here is Bread, and you frail have all fupplyed, and allured, if you will come to mce; wee will not come, wee will not hearken, wee will not ftir, wee will not buy. There arc three notorious follies in us poor fin- ncrs. 1 Wee take our felves to bee very rich, although wee bee very poor. 2 Wee will expe£t help from diings, which can af- ford us no fupply. 3. Wee will not come to Chrift., and truft his call, when hee invites us, and aflures us of all the good which concerns our poor and needy fouls. 4 How hopeful is the poor mans condition; I mean, that How hopeful poor finners,who is rightly apprehenfive of his many fpi- -!5? P !?L*.- ritual wants and diftrcfles. Thou haft no caufe under the fcnfe of thy fpiritual wants to defpair at all. Read the Text well, and thou (halt finde help and releif for thy poor foul. Objeft. I w