Two Sermons for the Lords Table, Sermon 2

Two Sermons for the Lords Table · Sermon 2

p. 73A SERMON FOR THE DAY OF THE SACRAMENT.

IOHN. 6. v. 27. Labour not for the meate which perisheth, but for the meate which endureth to everlasting lyfe, which the Sonne of man shall giuegive vntounto you, for Him hath GOD the FATHER sealed.

p. 74THIS TEXT in my former Sermon was divided into a Fast and a Feast: First heere is a Fast, and then a Feast: The fast is from carking care, Labour not for the meate which perisheth: Fast from that: The feast is for the soule, a banket of meate which feedeth to life everlasting; Feast vponupon that: Take paines and labour for it.

This whole TEXT seemeth to runne vponupon a Sabbath of rest, and vponupon fore working and labour.

The first part is a Sabbath and rest from labours, Labour not for the meate which perisheth: The second hath a commandement of worke, Labour for the meate which endureth to lyfe everlasting.

As for GOD his Sabbath which is a discharge of labour, a resting from toiling, I read in Scriptures of three sortes therof.

First there is one on earth enjoyned by GOD his law, a day of rest: In it, p. 75(saith GOD,) thou shalt doe no manner of worke: Exod. 20. 10.Exod 20:10This is the lawes Sabbath.

The second is the Gospel Sabbath, which is a continuall resting from carking cares: This is enjoyned heere, labour not for the meate, &c. This precept is for our whole lifetime: * There is not one day of the weeke that GOD will dispense with any for to labour in this sort.Note.

The third Sabbath is in…o the heavens, an eternall rest from all worldly toiling, and sweat of browes, the paines of sinne: of all that are there, is said that they are blessed: Reval. 14. 13.yea saith the spirit for thy rest from their labours.

As there bee three sortes of rest, first of the law, secondly of the Gospell, Thirdly of the HEAVENS, so there bee three sortes of labour: first there is one enioyned by the law, a labour laide vponupon all the sonnes of Adam; to them it is enioyned sixe dayes in the weeke to winne their meat with the sweat of their browes: * Cursed is that meat, Note.which is not p. 76sawsed with sweete: Bitter is that bread which is not sweetned with the sweete of browes.

The Second labour is, Gospell labour, a continuall labour. Labour for the meat which endureth: This is enjoyned in the second part of this Text: This is our spirituall exercise painfull to flesh and blood in the best.

The third labour, is Heauenly, which shall bee our exercise in the life to come:Note. * That labour shall bee sweete without sweate, pleasant without paine: This labour is an everlasting praising of GOD without ceasing, which is so easy and so pleasant to the praisers that Scripture calleth it a resting from our labours.Rom. 14. 13.Rom 14:13

It is of the second sorte of labour, whereof wee hauehave heere the command: it is an Evangelicall labour which is heere commanded by the LORD: labour, (saith hee) for the meate which endureth to everlasting lyfe: which the sonne of man shall giuegive vntounto you, for him hath GOD the Father sealed.

p. 77The division of the words.

In these wordes, I perceiue three chiefe things to bee considered, 1. for what wee should chiefely labour, viz. for the meate which endureth to everlasting life. 2. who is the giver of this meate, it is the sonne of man, in these wordes which the sonne of man shall giuegive vntounto you. 3. Wee hauehave to consider who did appointe him for that office, it is set downe in these words, for him hath GOD the Father sealed.

THE FIRST PART.

For what wee should chiefly labour.

FIRST of all let vsus consider for what wee are commanded heere to labour, labour (saith CHRIST,) for the meate which endureth, &c.

First obserue heere the wisedome of CHRIST, secondly the corruption of our nature.

In this appeareth heere the wisdome of CHRIST,The doctrine. in that after hee p. 78hath discharged men to labour for that which is not worthy their labour, hee clearly letteth them see for what aboue all things they should labour: This is wisedome first to take ill away, and then to put good into the place thereof. CHRIST first heere taketh ill out of the way, before hee bring in that which is good: Hee dischargeth toiling for worldly thinges, before hee speake of spirituall labour: A wise man will not sowe amongst thornes: Worldly cares are but thornes.Note. * CHRIST heere with labour not, as with a pruning knife, sneddeth away such pricking briers; that done, he commeth to the maine point, declaring for what all men should labour, this is wisedome.

The vse: Let vsus learne wisedome,The vse. whether wee bee Teachers or Scholers, let this ever bee our first motion to take first evill out of the way: The weeds must bee first rooted, before wee sowe good seede.

* Before the goodnesse of CHRIST can dwell into vsus,Note. there must first bee a preparation of the way in the p. 79wildernesse of our hearts. This was the vse of Iohn the Baptist his axe.

Secondly wee hauehave heere to consider the corruption of our owne nature:The doctrine. See how slow wee are for the obtaining of that which is good: Wee will not labour for thinges of worth, except that wee bee exhorted therevnto. Wee know not our wants: Wee are sicke of a Laodicean sicknesse:Revel. 3. 17.Rev 3:17 Wee think that we hauehave neede of nothing: If we knew what is the worth of this meate, which endureth vntounto life, wee would vnbidden labour for it; where is the wearied man that hath neede to bee requested to rest himselfe on a bed? What needeth a man that is hungry to bee desired to eate his meate while it is before him? While Christ himselfe was wearied at Sichar, hee sought a drink of water.Iohn. 4. 7.John 4:7 * Shall a rich man request a beggar to begge silver from him?Note. And yet behold heere, and in diverse other places of Scripture, how wee must bee exhorted with commandement after commandement, for to seeke that which p. 80is best for our Soules: Are wee not heere commanded to seeke that meat which will make our Soules to liue for ever? Wee are commanded, and yet for all that wee are slow to it: CHRIST must make an Oyas for to stirre vp men to come, and buy without money, that which is so precious that it can not bee bought for money,Isa. 55. 1.Isa 55:1 Ho! every one that thirsteth, Come yee to the waters, and hee that hath no money: come yee, buy and eate, yea, come buy wine and milke without money; and without price.

* If any Burgh of this Land would cry such a Faire,Note. that all might come and buy without money, who would tarrie away; and yet though by vsus CHRIST hath commanded a free Faire to bee cryed for all men to come, and buy without money, …sa. 53. 1.may wee not say with the Prophet, But who hath beleived our report? Note.* A little invitation will make vsus come willingly to feast with our friend: But to come and feast with our GOD, and feede vponupon this meate, which will make our Soules to liue, wee p. 81neede much request and intreaty. What are these prefaces, which are now vsed before Sermons, but requests that wee would bee so good, as to apply our hearts to eate of this meate? Should wee neede request for to eate of such dainties.Note. * This new forme of spending the time in prefaces, declareth plainely that w… hauehave begun to loath that which we should louelove. * This should make vsus to feare that within a little space, both Prefaces and Preachings shal… bee taken from vsus, and we brought to a fearefull conclusion of miserie.The vse.

The vse of this doctrine is, that wee striue to bee willing and glad to seeke spirituall things, and to labour for them. Seeing wee are so carefull for this body, that it want nothing, how much more should wee bee carefull for the Soule, which is of greatest price.Note. * Bodily thinges are like Belly thinges, they all perish with the body and the belly. Let vsus therefore rouse vp our spirits, and gird vp the the loines of our mind, 1. Pet. 1. 13.1 Pet 1:13that according to our LORD his p. 82command heere wee may labour for the meate which endureth to everlasting lyfe.

In this first part of this dayes exercise, we hauehave to consider two things, first what it is to labour: secondly, for what wee should labour.

As for the first, If we would know what labour is enjoyned heere, let vsus remember what in the former Sermon was forbidden in labouring for perishing meat: The paines forbidden in that point, are enjoyned heere: while CHRIST commandeth vsus to labour for this meate of lyfe: hee willeth vsus both to labour with body & soule, both with heart and with hand: Nothing without or within vsus must bee away from GOD his seruice: Blesse the LORD, Psal. 103. 1Ps 103:1O my soule, (said David,) and all that is within mee, blessed his holy name: The body of man, and the mind of man must labour:Note. * We must cause our passions and perturbatio…s also labour for the Soule: As Ioshuah made the Gibeonites slaues for drawing of water for the house of his GOD, Iosh. 9. 23.Josh 9:23so must wee make these p. 83our affections to bee drawers of water, euen of the teares of true and vnfained repentance: wee must so labour for spirituall things, that the care thereof take the sleepe from vsus: David arose at mid-night, Psal. 119. 62Ps 119:62for to labour in prayer: when Iacob keept Labans sheepe,Gen 31. 40Gen 31:40 the sleepe fled away from his eyes: Note.* Shall a man be so carefull as to want sleepe for to keepe sheepe, and shall hee not be much more carefull for to keepe his soule? Shall a man labour for to please a man, & shall he not much more labour for to please his GOD? Shall a man labour for his backe and his belly? and shall hee take no paines for his silly soule? Shall a man highly esteeme things which perish, and shall that which is eternall bee lightly set by?

But let vsus more particularly consider the properties of a good labourer.

First a good labourer must be vigilant and watchfull,The doctrine. …ar…ly rising at the chirping of the birdes: he must be a house-Cock for to waken others, and to set them on worke: so must p. 84the spirituall labourer doe, he must haste himselfe early from the bed of downe:Prover. 8. 17.Prov 8:17 He that seeketh me early shall find me.

All yee that are young make vse of this doctrine:The vse. seeke the LORD early yee Schollers: let this my Sermon by like the fiue houre bell: Though drowsie nature would faine lye still and sleepe,Note. vp, vp; from the feathers; Serue GOD in the morning of thy lyfe: Serue him first in the morning of thy dayes: let the first part of the day bee spent into kneeling before his footstoole: let GOD also bee served in the morning of all thy adoes:Note. * When euer thou is goeing to any action, were it at noone, or at even, labour a little with GOD: first, Serue him in the morning of that action:Note. * Before thou speake of any matter of weight, vp with thy heart and eyes to the HEAVENS, saying with a sigh, LORD direct mee in that which I am for to speake: see that in all things thou first labour with thy GOD.

p. 85* The first of all things of GODS in a particular maner:Note. GOD in Israel had the first of all things: These firstlings were but the ceremonie whereof the substance is, that all our thoughts, words and workes: begin at him, who is Alpha, the beginning of all the creatures of GOD. * It is a strange thing of this worlds folie: All men thinke,Note. that if a man learne not to be a Scholler in his youth, that it is no more time in the age of threescore to begin his A B C: Such a man needed not to thinke for to bee a Minister. Doe men of such an age begin any other trade or craft? Are not your Children sent to crafts while they are young. Where sawe yee any begin to learne a craft in the age of threescore? And yet most men thinke, though they hauehave lived fiftie or threescore yeeres, like Pagans, that vponupon their death bed they will easily learne to bee Christians.

* The ill spent liues of many are greatly to bee suspected,Note. though on their death-bed they will seeme to bee exceeding humble: Such often p. 86will hauehave faire shewes of repentance, so long as they are vnderunder the weightie h…d, but let them be once free of their affliction, incontinent it is seene how they returne to their old byas againe,Psal. 78. 57.Ps 78:57 like dec…itfull bowes. Who is more penitent in appearance than a theefe, while hee goeth to the gibbet? But let him once loose, it will bee seene that hee cannot refraine,* A long contracted habite is not removed in a short space.Note. It is a hard taske and labour to amend all the faultes of our life in three or foure dayes sicknesse. Scripture maketh no mention of any, but of one converted at the last gaspe, viz. the Thiefe at CHRISTS right hand, Luk 23 43Luke 23:43which was a miracle.

Secondly as we should labour early, so should wee labour earnestly, GOD willeth vsus not to bee lazie at his service.Note. * GOD his Servants are all of the nature of the Scraphins, they hauehave fire in their wings: GOD liketh not the labour that is done with delayes:Note. * He can not abide the slaggards yet a litle while; …Hee is wearied of those who are wearie of p. 87well doing,Mal. 1. 13Mal 1:13 like those Snuffers of Malachie.

Thirdly, as wee must labour early and earnestly for spirituall things, so must wee labour constantly: If a righteous man fall away,Ezek. 18. 24.Ezek 18:24 GOD saith that hee will no more remember his bygone righteousnesse. Note.* Many now a little before, and little after the supper of the LORD will seeme to bee full of devotion. Some will put their finger in their eye, and wring out some teares, which like Popish holy water, (as they thinke,) shall cleanse them from all bygone wickednesse; they can droupe like a bul-rush for a day; Isa. 58. 5.Isa 58:5but so soone as such times are ended, then endeth all their devotion. * In such a time as this, such sinners are in a worse estate than at any time;Note. for their sinnes which at other times were stricken out like filthy pocks, are not taken away, but are stricken in about the heart a deadly disease: The lesse this venome appeareth without, the greater is our danger: for the poison of sinne lurking within about the heart is fostered & p. 88increased with a good conceit of our selues, that wee are not like other men: This fond conceit joyning it selfe with the corruption of concupiscence into the heart, overmastereth the good motions and vitall spitits that are within.

In all the time of labouring for grace and good things,Note. wicked men are as if they were in the stockes: They will begin, but they can not continue. Note.* Away with faire beginnings which are not backed with perseverance: Revel. 2. 25Rev 2:25To Thyatira GOD said, that which yee hauehave already, hold fast till I come: Revel. 3. 2Rev 3:2To Sardis was said, strengthen the thinges which remaine: This was a sore reproch for Ephesus, Revel. 2. 4Rev 2:4that shee had left her first louelove.

The meate which endureth to everlasting life.

THE thing heere for which wee are commanded to labour, is meat: It is distinguished by a speciall propertie or effect, it endureth to everlasting lyfe.

p. 89The doctrine is this: The meate which GOD commendeth and commandeth heere,The doctrine. is sprituall meate; wherein wee see that as the body of a man must hauehave meate, so must our soule also hauehave meate.

The vse:The vse. As wee are carefull for the body, so let vsus bee more carefull for the Soule: wee all lay vp our yeerely provision for the body: wee sowe, wee sheere, wee heape, wee kill, wee mill, grind, sift, and bake, and all for the meate of the body: what then shall wee refuse to labour for the Soule, which is much more precious than the body?Note. * Alas too many after they hauehave stuffed their belly remember little that their soule is fasting: let all men bee carefull to labour for this meat:Note. * When thou hast refreshed thy body with GOD his benefits below, say vntounto thy soule, my silly soule, my body is satisfied, but alas what hast thou gotten? I am perswaded that many passe many dayes, not remembring that they hauehave a soule within their body: * They doe to their soule,Note. that which p. 90a good man would not doe to his horse, hee would bee sory to let him stand in stable a day without a ba…te: And yet how many dayes let wee slip, not labouring for a crumme of spirituall meat to our soule.

The Properties of this meat.

Now let vsus consider what is the propertie of this meat, for which we are commanded to labour, it is this viz. durable: It is so durable that it feedeth to everlasting life. This meate hath many good properties: Among many I shall single out three: 1. It is a meate that is sweete. 2. It is wholesome. 3. It is durable.

The first Sweete.

First I say this meate is sweete, more sweete than Manna, whose taste was like wafers made with honey: Exod. 16. 31.Exod 16:31If hitherto thou hast not knowen the sweetnesse thereof, Now,Psal. 34. 8Ps 34:8 taste and see how good is the LORD: David saith that his word is sweeter than the honey and the honey combe: Psal. 19. 10.Ps 19:10Note.* …s his word so sweete? O how sweete p. 91then must hee himselfe bee, which is the cause of all that Sweetnesse! O the Sweetnesse of GOD in this Sacrament of the Supper! If we could taste it, we would wonder at its taste: O the goodnesse of this bread which is panis domi…ius, the bread LORD: * This bread LORD carieth such a vertue with it,Note. that it maketh the bread of the LORD the outward element, to hauehave a sweeter relish in the mouth of the receiuer, then commoun bread: Likewise that wine being receiued by faith, hath a more sauourie taste to the worthy communicant, then drunkards can find in their Belshazzars Cuppes at their greatest feasts.Dan. 5. 4.Dan 5:4

* The tongue of man can not expresse,Note. the sweetnesse of this spirituall banket, wherevnto yee are invited this day: Is not this a banket of louelove, which sweetneth all things? None must gloume here vponupon another: None must hauehave any grudge at another: This is a feast of friendship: The spouse in the Canticl…s speaking of CHRIST his banket, saith,Cant. 2. 4.Song 2:4 Hee brought mee to p. 92the banketing house, and his banner over me was louelove: Behold how so soone as the spouse came in the feasting house, CHRIST cast a banner over her, a banner of louelove.

* Wee come to this feast,Note. alas with banners of pride, the greatest enemie of louelove: Behold while this louelove Banner was cast ouer the spouse, she fell sicke into the banketing-house: Passa est deliquium animi, she swouned for louelove: while one is like to swoune, others will cry for wine for to vphold the failing spirits, so did this spouse, while shee found her selfe so ravished with louelove, that her heart beganne to faint,Cant. …. 5. stay mee with flaggons (said shee,) Comfort mee with apples, for I am sicke of louelove: See how shee cryed for a flaggon of wine for to drinke, and for apples of comfort for to savour, whereby her heart might bee strengthened in the sicknesse of louelove.

Now wee are into the LORD his banqueting house, the feast will bee ready anone:Note. * Let vsus intreat the LORD, that hee would couer vsus all p. 93together heere with the Banner of his louelove, whereby wee may be moved to louelove GOD aboue all things, and our neighbours as our selfe, till thy Soule bee inwrapped in this Banner; see that thou come not to this Table; But so soone as thou shalt find thy heart sicken with the louelove of him, then make hast to the Table: let thy Soule then cry for meate and for a drinke of GOD his flaggons: Cry for it, and hee shall giuegive thee the sweetest drinke that ever thy Soule dranke, I say the sweetest, for seeing the sicknesse of louelove is so sweete, how sweete must that drinke bee which healeth the Soule of such sicknesse? What I say of drinke, that I say of meate: O the sweetnesse of that spirituall meate!

* If a man hath eaten Cannell or Anise, Note.his breath will bee sweete and pleasant thereafter: A man also who truely hath eaten CHRIST, his breath in his words will savour more sweetly than Cinnamon.

O the sweete savour of godlinesse, which is the savour of GOD himselfe. p. 94* By the savour of your breath it shall bee knowne heereafter what yee hauehave eaten this day.Note. Yee who shortly after the Communion begin to rai…e, scold, lye, and braule, beguile not your selues: these rotten words are but stinking belchs, which proceede from the rotten meate of damnation: If the bread Lord, this meate, whereof heere is mention, were in such mens hearts, the savour of life would bee in their words, for wordes doe proceede from that whereof there is abundance in the heart.

I pray you to remember, that this meate for which CHRIST biddeth labour is a meate most sweete: That which is sweete, worketh vponupon two senses often, viz. vponupon the savour and the taste. Wee say of a flower, it hath a sweete savour, and wee say of hony it hath a sweete taste: The sweetnesse both of fauour and taste concurreth in this meate of my Text: The meate is CHRIST, who is both of a sweete savour, and of a sweete taste.

p. 95As for his savour, it is excellent, like that of the Rose and that of the Lillie: I am the Rose of Sharon, (said hee,)Cant. 2. 1.Song 2:1 and the Lillie of the Valleyes.

* The garments of his righteousnesse,Note. are all perfumed with Celestiall Muske. Blind Isaac finding a smell of Esau his garment,Gen. 27. 27Gen 27:27 rejoyced: Before hee would blesse him, hee cryed for savoury meate: Hee was blind, and could not see it; and therefore behoved to make choice by the savour.Note. * A hungry man passing by a doore where excellent meats are, will rejoice and bee comforted with the smell thereof; the reeke thereof will delight his heart. If thy Soule O man, be a hungrie Soule to day in this the Lords his banketinghouse, thou shall find such a sweete savour of this meate, as shall comfort thy heart.

* The reeke of CHRIST his body broken and prepared to bee meate to thy Soule,Note. and the reeke of his blood comming out of his wounds shall refresh thee so, that thou shall wonder what a vertue it can bee.

All the dearest dainties of this world p. 96are nothing but stink and corruption in comparison of the sweete savour of CHRIST his crucified body: There is in Him the savour of the rose, and of the Lillie; Spiknard, aloes, and Cassia. Note.* All the perfume of Heaven is in Him: It is Hee who maketh all the HEAVENS like a Paradise of flowers: O the savour of our SAVIOUR,2. Cor. 2. 16.2 Cor 2:16 the savour of lyfe vntounto lyfe! Note.* O that savour of life, a living savour that maketh a dead soule to liue a life which can not bee taken away by death.

The second, Wholesome.

VVEE hauehave heard of the first propertie of this meate for which CHRIST willeth vsus to labour, it is sweete: The second is, that it is wholesome; sanctificat, sanat, it maketh holy, and it maketh whole.Note. * Holinesse is only true health; This meate is both meate and medicine, for it both feedeth and healeth the Soule.Note. * In my judgment in this world there is not a more powerfull m…anes for to bee cured of the disseases p. 97of the Soule, then first a reverend and carefull hearing of the word, and then a frequent and well prepared taking of the Sacrament: Beleeue what I say; This I will say, behold that bread vponupon the Table with a faithfull eye, and a sight of that bread shall heale thy wounds.

* Shall the sight of a brasen serpent set vponupon a pole, Note.a law ceremonie be so powerfull, Numb. 21. 9.Num 21:9for healing the deadly byte of a Serpent, and shall the ceremonie of the Gospell be of a lesse vertue? * I will tell thee O man;Note. if thou hast any sorte of earnest desire to get good heere, though thou bee not prepared nor purified,2. Chron. 30. 19.2 Chr 30:19 according to the purification of the Sanctuary: Let mee say more, though thou want faith, and yet come with outward reverence, fearing to offend, if thou droupe before GOD, taking some paines to doe well, thou shall reape an outward benefite from GOD, as health of body, prosperitie in thy actions, escaping of some temporall judgement.

* This I may inforce by reasonNote. p. 98from Scripture: All that beheld the brasen Serpent had not true faith, yet all receiued a benefite: The faithfull were healed▪ both in Soule and Body: The wicked because they obeyed GOD by looking vp to his ordinance, were all healed of their bodily sore: Because Ahab, that was but a damned hypocrite, made a shew of repentance lying into sack-cloath, hee found some favour with GOD: Though his heart was not vpright, yet because hee cowred and crouched outwardly and was afraide, the LORD pitied him and praised him▪ 1. King. 2…. 29.1 Kgs 2:29saying to Elijah, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himselfe before mee? because hee humbled himselfe I will not bring the euill in his dayes: for his outward repentance GOD bestowed vponupon him an outward beneficence: The ill came not vponupon his house in his dayes.

But as for these that are in the gall of bitternesse, Act. 8. 2….Acts 8:2scandalous in life and publickly prophane lying in the bed of wickednesse, or sifting in the Chaire of scorners, Psal. 1. 1.Ps 1:1delighting p. 99in sinne, vaunting and bragging of of their wickednesse, taking no paines to mourne for their offending of GOD, in the name of IESUS CHRIST I excommunicate them from this holy Table: see that they bee not so bold as to presume to prophane this blessed meate:

* Heere I plainely declare vntounto them,Note. that in steade of wholesome meate and drinke, they shall eate and drinke the ranke poison of their owne damnation.

* In Iudas his Soppe was the divell,Note. or the divell entred into him after the Soppe: Iohn. 13. 26.John 13:26A strange thing, Sathan could never winne in into the man, till hee had gotten that Soppe: Before the soppe gotten, hee had made many onsets, but could never get entrie for to possesse him so fully: But so soone as hee receiued the soppe, he followed it downe into the man, who never ceased till hee had hanged himselfe:Note. * Sathan may make many onsets on a profane man, but hee never findeth such a doore of entrance as when hee findeth him p. 100taking out of GOD his servants hands the holy meate of the Sacrament: That is to him like the Traitours Soppe: Thus the meat and drinke of the Sacrament, which by GOD his ordinance, is a most wholesome meate, both for soule and body, by the abuse thereof, becommeth an eaten and drunken damnation.

The third, Durable.

In this our Text, wee hauehave the third propertie of this spirituall meat for which CHRIST willeth vsus to labour, it is, d…able.

This is declared in these words which endureth to euerlasting lyfe: This is meate which passeth not thorow: This is holy meate, everlasting meat, not subiect to corruption: Meat below must be salted lest it stinke: ouer nights Mannah would not keepe,Exod. 16. 20.Exod 16:20 wormes entered into it: and it stanke, The Gibeonits bread being old,Iosh. 9. 12.Josh 9:12 became mouldie: OnelyOnly CHRIST which is GOD his bread, endureth to euerlasting lyfe.

Heere let vsus obserue that the p. 101things of GOD are onelyonly durable;The doctrine. temporall things below will abide some little space, but endure not; nothing heere is permanent, for wee spend our yeeres as a tale that is told: Psal. 90. 9.Ps 90:9what is this bread whereon wee feede from nine houres vntounto twelue, and from twelue vntounto sixe? shall wee call that an enduring meat?

* All the most delicate meats of this world,Note. are but like a feast in print: most delicate meats and drinkes, are there but all in wordes and lines: There is nothing there indeede, which can feede: But my flesh, Iohn. 6. 55John 6:55(said CHRIST) is meate indeede, and my blood is drinke indeede: Temporall things may hauehave the name of meate and drink, but nothing is so indeede, but CHRIST himselfe.

Shall I call that meate indeede, which is not able to feede me foure and twentie houres? shall I say that that is, which is ever passing thorow, as swiftly as the time?Note. * Because of the continuall fluxe of time, time is never said properly to be present, but either past or to come, the present p. 102being but an instant: It is so of all temporall things below, they are not durable, but are all sicke of such a fluxe, that their present beeing in an instant is not worthie of the word of enduring: Note:What is man his life heere, but a tale alreadie told? So long as a tale is in telling, it seemeth to bee something, but when once it is told, the hearer will say, Tush, that is but a tale; Eccles. 1. 2.Eccl 1:2The vanitie of vanities, said the Preacher and all is vanitie: The course of all things below, is in vanitie, from vanitie to vanitie; There is nothing heere fixed and permanent: That which seemeth most sure, is like the strength of our lyfe, which as Moses singeth,Psal. 90. 20Ps 90:20 Is soone cut off, and wee flie away: All temporall things, are like the time, ever in a fluxe, like sand running out of a sand-glasse, they hauehave no abode.

But what soever thing is in GOD it is permanent: GOD his honour is permanent, his good will is fixed, his blessing is stable,Gen. 27. 33.Gen 27:33 like Isaac his blessing, Him hauehave I blessed p. 103and he shall be blessed: GOD his riches, are enduring riches:Prover. 8. 18.Prov 8:18 Honour and riches are with mee, yea, durable riches and righteousnesse: The water of the well of Sichar, did quench mens thirst for a space, but there is a liquour in CHRIST, which being drunken shall banish thirst away for ever: Whosoeuer shall drinke of this water shall thirst againe, Iohn. 4. 13.John 4:13said CHRIST to the woman at the Well: But whosoever, v. 14.(said he,) shall drinke of the water that I shall giuegive him, shall never thirst, But the water that I shall giuegive him, shall bee in him a Well of water springing vp into everlasting life.

Now let vsus obserue, to what this meate is said in my Text for to endure: It is said to endure to everlasting life.

In this meate, I find two good things, 1. It giueth life where there is nothing but death. 2. It preserveth the lyfe that is gotten: It endureth to euerlasting life, that is, maketh the eater thereof to liue for ever.

p. 104By this clearely this spirituall meate is distinguished from all temporall cheere, There is no temporall meate that can put life in a dead man: There is no meate also, which can prolong the lyfe of a man but an houre: But heere is the meate, CHRIST, which endureth to everlasting life.

By this I say, CHRIST is distinguished from all other meat in this world:Note. * Let a man walke thorow all Cuntries, in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in no place shall hee find either meate or medicine, that shall prolong his dayes beyond the date of the most vigorous the foure score yeere: Psal. 90. 10.Ps 90:10The Mannah which was Angels foode, had not this propertie: Your fathers, Iohn. 6. 49John 6:49(said CHRIST) did eate Mannah in the wildernesse and are dead: No Apples of youth can preserue man from old age:Note. * Physicitians may prattle and say.

Cur moriatur homo cum salvia crescat in horto?

That is man needeth not to die if hee knew the vse of the herbe sage: p. 105But if men could take this Saviour for saluia, they should find that men neede not to die at all: This Saviour, is that spirituall Sage of Salvation? wherefore should a man die, seeing GOD hath so loued the world, Iohn. 3. 16.John 3:16that hee hath giuen his onelyonly sonne, that whosoever beleeueth in him, should not perish, but hauehave euerlasting life:

Let vsus all therefore beleeue in this Saviour, for wherefore should yee die, O yee house of Israel? Let vsus eate him by faith: hee is that spirituall Sage and Salve, which is the onelyonly remeede against death: Hee who is CHRISTS, may well, while hee goeth to the graue, lay downe his head for to sleepe, or take a little nap, as wee say, but hee cannot die, because hee hath eaten his Salvation,Luk …: 3…. even this meate which endureth to everlasting lyfe.

The vse of this doctrine is,The vse. that seeing this meate is of such worth, wee bee carefull to labour for it: If wee labour for it, it will feede vsus eternally: But if wee labour not for it, if wee louelove it not, but loath it, p. 106it shall be our death: the chiefe point of the condemnation of the wicked, shall bee this, that this meate was offered vntounto him, but they would none of it: This is the condemnation of the world, not that they hauehave sinned, but because they hauehave despised the remedie of sinne: This, (saith S. Iohn,)Iohn. 3. 19.John 3:19 is the condemnation, that light is com… into the world, but men loued darkenesse rather then light.

* Now seeing yee are presently invited to the LORDS banket, Note.a banket not of dead meate, but of liuiug meate, which shall make your soules to liue for ever, my Counsell is that as yesterday, so also this day yee labour for it: Take paines now, vponupon your Soules, that they may bee wrought vntounto a holy reuerence: Bend vp all your spirits, and prepare you for your GOD: see what eueryevery man can doe this day, for the Salvation of his owne Soule: Let vsus all together wrestle with CHRIST, as it were half middle, half man, and let vsus say of this meate, as Iacob p. 107said of the blessing,Gen. …2. 26.Gen 2:26 I will not let thee goe: Note.* Bread in Hebrewe is called Lehem, from a word that signifieth to fight, because a man aboue all things earthly, will fight for his meat: If a man will fight for the foode of his belly, what should hee not doe for to get meate to his Soule? Let vsus therefore labour and wrestle with Iacob, powring our teares and prayers, Hosea. 12. 4.Hos 12:4the armour of the Church, let vsus never let the LORD get rest, till wee get that meate which endureth to everlasting lyfe.

THE SECOND PART.

Who is the giuer of this meate.

NOW let vsus come to the second and third parts of our Text, wherein I shall striue to be short. In this second part, wee hauehave to considder, who is the giuer of this meate, The giuer is called the sonne of man, in these words which the sonne of man shall giuegive you.

Hee who is called heere the sonne of man, is CHRIST.

p. 108* CHRIST in Scripture is called the Sonne of three.Note. 1. The Sonne of GOD. 2. The Sonne of Marie. 3. The Sonne of man.

In regard of his Deitie, as second person of the Trinitie, Hee is the Sonne of GOD begotten of him, from all eternitie, coequall and coessentiall to his Father, of whose glory he is the brightnesse, and the expresse image of his person,Heb. 1. 2Heb 1:2 the appointed heire of all things.

Hee was called the Sonne of Mary, because hee was conceiued in her Belly, and borne of her.

Heere hee is called by himselfe the sonne of man, because hee tooke vponupon him mans nature, and became man like vntounto vsus in all things, sinne onelyonly excepted: Note.* So soone as the fullnesse of time came,Gal. 4. 4.Gal 4:4 GOD sent foorth his sonne made of a woman, conceived of a woman, and not begotten by a man, and yet the sonne of man, and the Sonne of a virgine, even GOD manifested in the flesh a Sonne younger than MARIE his Mother,1. Tim. 3. 16.1 Tim 3:16 a Son older than Adam the Father of his p. 109Mother, a Sonne eternall with his FATHER that begate him.Note. * As in the Heaven He was Motherlesse, as GOD, so on earth Hee was Fatherlesse, as Man, and yet the Sonne of Man.

Heere bee the three greatest wonders of the World.Note. DEVM nasci, Virginem parer…, fidem haec credere. That GOD should bee borne, that a Virgine should bring foorth a Sonne, that man can beleeue it; though in the Creation hee may hauehave some ground:Note. * For seeing GOD at the beginning made the woman out of the man without the helpe of any woman, why might hee not make a man, and hewe him out of a woman without the helpe of any man? Hee who could giuegive a beeing vntounto nothing might also raise a nature of some thing: but to leaue this let vsus considder heere what is the office of this Sonne of man.

It is said heere that hee is ordained for to giuegive to vsus the meate which endureth to euerlasting lyfe, in these words, which the sonne of man shall p. 110giuegive vntounto you.

The doctrine I obserue heere is,The doctrine. that * CHRIST is the great Steward of HEAVEN, to whom the dispensation of eternall lyfe, and of all other good things is committed,Iohn. 14. 6.John 14:6 No man, (said hee,) commeth vntounto the Father but by mee: There is nothing also that can come from the Father vntounto man, but by him.

The vse of this doctrine is,The vse. that wee bee earnest to make our aquaintance with CHRIST, if wee would hauehave any good thing from the HEAVENS: The Children of this world, are wise in their generation: By the proceedings of naturall wise men, we may learne spirituall wisedome.

* It is written of the men of Tyre and of Sidon, Note.that knowing that Herod was highly displeased with them, they came with one accord to him to seeke peace; for to obtaine this,Act 12. 20.Acts 12:20 they made Bl…stus the Kings Chamberlaine their friend: It is so that wee should doe; whether wee would pacifie GODS wrath raging against vsus, or obtaine any favour from GOD, p. 111let vsus first make IESVS CHRIST the great Steward, and Chamberlaine of Heauen our friend.

Againe let vsus obserue heere how wee get this Meate with Life euerlasting. The doctrine.It is said that the Sonne of man shall giuegive it: for two reasons, CHRIST the Sonne of man is said to giuegive life vntounto man.

First because in his humane nature, by death hee hath merited this life vntounto all beleeuers: Secondly because his humane nature is the instrument, whereby hee conuoyeth life vntounto vsus.

* As the stocke sendeth sappe vp from the roote to the graft,Note. so the humanitie of CHRIST, which is the stock of all the faithfull, conuoyeth life euerlasting from the diuine nature which is the roote of all good things, all these who are not ingrafted in him, are like that wanton widow? who is disgraced with this,1. Tim. 5. 6▪1 Tim 5:6 Shee is dead while shee liveth, that is, spiritually dead in a naturall lyfe.

The vse of this is,The vse. that wee bee earnest with CHRIST, labouring for that meate of life, which onelyonly p. 112He can giuegive:I…b. 2. 4. Seing skinne for skinne, and all that a man hath hee will giuegive it for this life,Isa 2. 22.Isa 2:22 which is but a past of breath in his nostrils, an evanishing vapour,Psal. 78. 39.Ps 78:39 a wind that passeth away and commeth not againe: what should a man refuse to doe, or suffer for the gift of life everlasting?

Againe,The doctrine. in that it is said, that the sonne of man shall giuegive euerlasting life, or the meate that feedeth to that life, I obserue that everlasting life is the gift of GOD: That which is a gift is not a reward: All the gifts of GOD are most free gifts: But amongst all the gifts of GOD, life everlasting is the most free gift:Note. * The greater GOD his gifts bee, they are the frieer: for what can a creature on earth deserue at GOD his hands on earth? If not on earth what can he deserue in HEAVEN? On earth I must bee a begger at GOD his doore for bread to my belly, which GOD will destroy with the belly, I must seeke it from GOD, not as due to me, but as his Almes; If it bee so of this meat, how much more shall it be p. 113so of the meat of my text, which feedeth to everlasting lyfe? Note.If man must labour for the meat of the earth with the sweat of his browes, and yet, after all that done, must begge his bread from GOD, who can think, that any man can merit the meat which endureth to everlasting lyfe? Let vsus learne of my text, that it is the gift of GOD, in these words, which the Sonne of Man shall giuegive vntounto you.

The vse of this doctrine is,The vse. that wee thanke GOD, who hath brought vsus out of Babylon, where the doctrine of mans merits,1. Tim. 4. 1.1 Tim 4:1 the doctrine of Diuels is publickly teached, and avouched, yea, as though man could doe more than hee is obliged to doe. * Such men neede none of GOD his gifts,Note. but GOD must pay to them his debts: Such men vnderstand not what it is to come vntounto the waters, for to buy wine and milke without money: Isa. 55. ….Isa 55Let GOD himselfe tell the world how they are saued,Ephes. 2. 8.Eph 2:8 By grace, (saith hee,) are yee saued through faith, and that not of your selues, it is the gift of GOD: Note.* All that a man p. 114hath in this world, hee will giuegive it for this naturall life, and shall bee thought no foole in so doeing: Seeing this lyfe is thought worthie of all that wee hauehave, what can a man hauehave, or what can hee doe, or suffer worthy of lyfe euerlasting: It is best then that wee say with Scripture, It is the gift of GOD: Rom 6 23Rom 6:23CHRIST hath done with vsus as Ioseph did with his brethren,Gen. 42. …5.Gen 42:5 who found that they had the cornes and their money both: such cornes were not sold, but f…ely gifted: The LORD giuegive vsus hearts to bee thankefull, for the vnspeakeable gift of euerlasting lyfe.

THE THIRD PART.

Who appointed CHRIST the Sonne of man to bee the giuer of this everlasting meat.

NOW in the last part of our Text, wee hauehave to considder who …a…h appointed CHRIST, the giuer of this meat, which feedeth to euerlasting lyfe, This is set downe p. 115in these wordes, for him hath GOD the Father sealed: That hee was ordained to bring this meat to the word, the Father hath confirmed it by his owne seale: foreign.

A Seale is an outward signe confirming, ratifying, and giuing authoritie to that wherevnto it is set: Thus wee see that by the King his Seale, Kings letters are made authenticke and of authoritie.

Let vsus first consider the worde, and then wee shall speake of the diverse vses of a Seale, last of all wee shall draw a doctrine with the vse of application.

The word Seale properly signifieth that instrument, wherewith Charters and Patents are sealed, whereby they are ratified and made authentick.

It also siginfieth the Waxe which is sealed, for such stamped waxe, we ordinarily call the King his seale.

Because of the diuerse vses of seales, diverse things in Scripture are called Seales, or as said to seale: Because the Seale of a Charter, is that whereby the rights therein are confirmed p. 116and made authenticke, Sacraments hauehave beene called seals: for by them the writen promises of GOD are confirmed and made more sure vntounto vsus: According to this it is said of Abraham Rom. 4. 11.Rom 4:11that hee receiued the Seale of circumcision: Because that a missiue letter being once sealed, all that is written within the same can no more bee seene, but is a secret to all that behold it outwardly: So the things of GOD are said to bee sealed, which are hidde or concealed, According to this that Booke of the Revelation,Revel. 5. 7.Rev 5:7 which none but the lambe could open, is said to hauehave beene sealed with seuen seales.

* Wee hauehave also to obserue,Note. that in Scripture, things are said to seale in diuers maners: GOD is said to seale, and man is said to seale: of man his sealing, CHRIST speaketh, saying,Iohn. 3. 33.John 3:33 Hee that hath receiued his testimonie hath set to his seale that God is true, that is, Hee as it were subscribeth with his hand, the trueth of GOD his word.

GOD againe is said to seale men, p. 117and hee is said to seale his owne Sonne.

As for men who are his elect and chosen ones, GOD Sealeth them outwardly, and inwardly: Outwardly, when hee maketh them partakers of his Sacraments, viz. of Baptisme or of the Supper: According to this, it is said of Abraham, when hee was circumcised that hee receiued the seale of Circumcision: Rom. 4. 11Rom 4:11Againe inwardly by his spirit, GOD is said to seale, when he maketh his elect sure of his favour or of their Salvation; according to this the Apostle saith to the Ephesians,Ephes. 1. 13Eph 1:13 In whom after that yee beleeued yee were sealed with that holy spirit of promise: The children of GOD are said to be sealed by the spirit of promise, when the spirit of GOD within them maketh them sure of all that is promised vntounto them: Because by faith and good workes our election is made sure vntounto vsus, faith and good workes are called the Seale of our election: The foundation of GOD (said S^t. Paul,) remaineth sure: 1. Tim, 2, 19,and p. 118hath this seale, the LORD knoweth them that are his: And let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquitie: The foundation of GOD is his decree, vponupon which the Salvation of the godly is builded: the trueth thereof, is made certaine vntounto vsus by the seale of a good lyfe, when wee depart from iniquitie:Note. * Good workes are the seale of the Spirit of GOD, whereby a Soule is confirmed that it belongeth to the election of grace,

This much for clearing of diuers difficulties concerning sealing in the Scriptures.

Wee hauehave already heard how man is said to seale GOD his trueth, & how GOD is said to seale man, both outwardly and inwardly: In this my Text wee hauehave particularly to considder, how GOD is said to Seale his Sonne, CHRIST IESUS, of whom it is said heere, Him hath GOD the Father sealed.

The LORD IESUS as is well remarked by the excellent Divines, hath beene sealed by the Father diuersely.

p. 119First hee may bee said to hauehave beene sealed by the Father,Heb. 1. 3Heb 1:3 because in him was the Character, the ingrauen image of the Father his person, that is, as a learned Interpreter saith, Persona quae personam pairis ad amussim refert: Sicut imago cerae impressa ad amussim refert imaginem in…culptam sigillo: The sense is this, The person of the Father is like that image, which is ingrauen into a seale of Siluer or Gold, and the person of the Sonne, is like that image in the waxe, which is sealed by the seale of gold: According to this, CHRIST the second person of the Trinitie, is said to bee sealed into an vnspeakeable manner by the Father, because in him is the essentiall image of the Father.

Secondly, CHRIST was sealed by GOD, when hee was anointed with the oyle of grace, and gladnesse, aboue his fellowes: GOD the Father at that anointing,Psal. 45.Ps 45 powred into CHRIST man his spirituall giftes and graces without measure:Col. 1. 1.Col 1:1 All the treasures of grace were stored vp into him: p. 120Wee all hauehave receiued of his fullnesse; Iohn. 1. 19.John 1:19The fulnesse of GOD in him was a Seale, whereby both in his Words and Workes hee was knowne to be more than man, for as by his enemies confession,Iohn. 7. 46.John 7:46 never man spake as hee spake which was the worde Seale, S. which his enemies could not denye hee did among them the workes which no other man could doe, Iohn. 15. 24John 15:24this was his worke, Seale.

Thirdly GOD the Father sealed our Saviour, when by his testimonie from Heaven, hee declared to the world that hee was his beloued sonne in whom hee was well pleased.Mat. 3. 17.Matt 3:17

The Sealing properly vnderstood heere, as Beza thinketh denoteth two things, first that GOD endowed him with such a verture, whereof the like was in no other creature,Col. 2. 9.Col 2:9 for in him the fulnesse of the Godhead and essentiall image of the Father did so visibly appeare,Iohn, 14. 9, that who sawe him did see the Father.

Secondly by the Sealing of CHRIST by the Father hee vnderstandeth a commission from the Father, giuen p. 121vntounto him for to come to the world and reconceale all repenting sinners to their GOD: This opinion he hath from Cyrillus.

S. Chrysostome and Theophylactus referre this Sealing of the Sonne of man, by the Father to the testimonies whereby the Father from Heaven declared him to bee his Sonne, particularly in those words, This is my beloued Sonne, Mat. 3. 17.Matt 3:17in whom I am well pleased: This also wee must consider that the glorious workes of Christ, wherein the infinite vertue of GOD, did appeare, were as a Seale, declareing to the world, that God the Father had appointed that man to bee the Saviour of the world,

Piscator interpreteth the word Sealed after this maner: Obsignauit, (saith he) est Metaphora sumpta ab ijs, qui quos mittunt eorum authoritatem obsignato diplomate sanciunt: that is, sealing heere is, a metaphore or forme of speach, taken from these that confirme the authoritie of these whom they send, by a sealed charter or patent: Note.* According to this the Father is said to p. 122hauehave sealed CHRIST, when hee sent him with a confirmed authoritie to declare his will and to giuegive gifts vntounto man on earth as who were …ent with a Kings patent, to any of his dominions for effectuating his Maiesties businesse: So as one saith learnedly,Note. Obsignatio haec est approbatio & vt ita dicam authentisatio, That is, this sealing of CHRIST, is an approuing and alloweing of him by authoritie, for to giuegive that meat which feedeth to euerlasting life.

The doctrine I obserue heere, is a doctrine of comfort for all Christians:The doctrine. Behold heere Christ our Saviour, a sealed Sauiour, a Saviour whom the King of Heaven hath sealed by giuing him full commission, and power for to saue all wearied soules, that will come vntounto him.

The vse of this doctrine is,The vse. that what ever wee want in this lyfe that is needfull, either for soule or body, let vsus seeke it from him, with all boldnesse in all confidence to receiue: Behold him heere sealed for to assure the world, that for this p. 123end hee is come downe to the world to giuegive life eternall to all these that will labour for it,Rom. 6. 22Rom 6:22 in seeking it from h…m by humble prayers.

* When the Egyptians were distressed by Famine,Note. they all ranne to Ioseph, because they knewe that the King had giuen to him his ring and had sealed him for to guide the whole Land: what they did to Ioseph, Gen. 41. 24,Gen 41:24let vsus doe to IESVS, whom the Father of Heaven, the great KING of the whole world hath sealed and approued by words and workes, Iohn, 15, 24.by gifts and by graces without measure: Let eueryevery emptie Soule come vntounto him,Iohn. 3, 34John 3:34 and receiue of his fulnesse even grace for grace:Col, 1, 19,

The LORD grant vsus all this grace: To our GOD, Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost bee Glory, and Maiestie, Dominion and power, for now and ever. Amen.