The Way of the Spirit in Bringing Souls to Christ, Sermons 5

The Way of the Spirit in Bringing Souls to Christ · Sermons 5

p. 221Thirſty Sinners invited to Chriſt.

SERMON VIII.

JOHN 7.37.

In the laſt day, that great day of the Feaſt, Jeſus ſtood, and cried, ſaying; If any man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink.

YOU have heard before the Words that Chriſt ſpake when the Phariſees and Rulers ſent Officers to take him at the 30 Verſe. At the 33 and 34 Verſes, he told them that whatever their deſign ſhould be to take him, Yet notwithſtanding ſaith he, yet a little while I am with you, and whereas you are now deſirous to be rid of me, Ere long I ſhall go away, and you ſhall ſee me no more, and though you may deſire it, You ſhall ſeek me, ſaith Chriſt, and ſhall not find me, and where I am, thither you cannot come; Now mark what an effect theſe words had upon them, what uſe did the Jews make of that word of Admonition that Chriſt gave, and that gracious Counſel he gave; inſtead of making a good improvement. See v. 35.36. they made uſe of his words to ſcoff p. 222at and mock him, ſay they, Yet a little while and he will go away; will he go to the diſperſed among the Gentiles? ſpeaking in deriſion and ſcorn, will he go among the diſperſed Gentiles? Chriſt ſpake plain enough, if they had not been maliciouſly blind, Yet a little while (ſaith he) and I go to him that ſent me, and ſo they made a meer mock. So that here we may take notice, that, Malicious minded men in ſtead of receiving any Word of Counſel, and advice, will be ready rather to rail, mock, and ſcoff at them who give it. And ſo here to the Jews it was a word of Admonition that Chriſt gave, but they fell a mocking and ſcoffing at him; And ſo it was of old, 2 Chron. 14.20. you read there, how King Jehoſhaphat ſent about Prieſts and Levites throughout the Cities, out of Compaſſion to their Souls, to teach the Word among them, and to put them in mind of their duty, and it is ſaid, they mocked thoſe that came, they mocked the meſſengers of the Lord, for the words which they brought were for the welfare of their Souls. And ſo you read concerning the Lords Prophets that he ſent to Juda, 2 Chron. 36. It's ſaid, They mocked at the Lords Meſſengers till there was no remedy. And ſo, Acts 17. Paul was preaching of the reſurrection of the dead, and 'tis ſaid they mocked, Many mocked and ſcoffed at him, v. 32. And when they heard of the reſurrection of the dead, ſome mocked, and others ſaid, We will hear thee again concerning this matter. And thus it hath been, and ſo I ſay, as Paul in the Galatians, Even ſo it is now, and ſo it will be. And it may be of ſupport unto the Servants of God that give words of Admonition, Reproof, p. 223and Reprehenſion, Let them be ſatisfied in this, that though they be mocked, 'tis no more than was the Lot of the Servants of God of old before them. Well, but mark now how Chriſt doth go on for all this, he was not diſcouraged, he doth not turn his back upon them, becauſe they mocked and ſcoffed and jeered him, but mark he goes into the Temple, and falls a preaching gracious Words unto them, as in the Text; In the laſt day, that great day of the Feaſt, Jeſus ſtood and cried, ſaying, If any man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink. Here was the Sermon that he preached after that deriſion that he met with from the Jews; I ſay, the words that I have read are the Sermon that Chriſt had preached in the Temple, as you may ſee recorded by the Evangeliſt. Concerning this Sermon take notice of two or three things.

1. Firſt of all, Here is ſet forth the Time, when it was that Chriſt preached this Sermon: It's ſaid, the laſt Day, that great Day of the Feaſt, what Feaſt? why the Feaſt of Tabernacles, that Chriſt did preach this Sermon, and 'tis ſaid the laſt Day, and great Day of the Feaſt. Obſerve it, the Feaſt of Tabernacles was not kept only one day, but many days, even ſeven days together. Levit. 23.34. And the Lord ſpake unto Moſes, ſaying, Speak unto the Children of Iſrael, the fifteenth day of the ſeventh Month ſhall be the Feaſt of Tabernacles for ſeven days unto the Lord, the fifteenth day of the ſeventh Month, that is our September. Now for theſe ſeven days, the firſt and the laſt were kept in a ſolemn manner; in the other days they did ſervile work, but not on the p. 224firſt and laſt day, and ſo in Nehemia's time, they kept the laſt day of the Feaſt very ſolemnly, Nehem. 8.18. And they kept the Feaſt ſeven days, and on the eighth day was a ſolemn aſſembly, according unto the manner. The laſt day, then the people came generally into the Temple to hear the law read unto them, and therefore that laſt day was called the great day of the Feaſt, for the people on the morrow were to depart into all parts of the Country, as they came from all parts; ſo here, on the laſt day, on the great day of the Feaſt, Chriſt preached unto them on this ſubject.

2. Secondly, 'Tis ſet forth by the Manner of it, in what manner Chriſt did preach this Sermon to them, There is a double circumſtance in the preaching of this Sermon; It's ſaid Chriſt ſtood, but ordinarily Chriſt is ſaid to ſit down; As he ſat down in the ſhip, but here 'tis ſaid he ſtood, that he might be better heard and ſeen of the multitude. And another thing about the manner of it, is, He ſtood and cried with a mighty voice, he did extend his voice, ſo as all might hear, there being a great concourſe of people, and likewiſe intimating that he was not afraid of the people; he goes up into the Temple, and there he cries it, intimating alſo that the matter was a weighty matter, which he had then to ſpeak unto them, as if he had ſaid, now take this word with you, 'tis a matter of great concernment. And that is the third thing here in the Text.

3. Thirdly, The matter of his Sermon when he ſtood and cried ſo, what did he ſpeak or ſay? why, this it was, If any man thirſt, let him come unto me, and drink. This was the ſum of his p. 225Sermon that he ſtood up and cried or preached unto the people. Wherein we have theſe two Particulars.

1. A gracious Invitation to all that are athirſt. And

2. A gracious Promiſe, that if they did come, they ſhould drink. The Rabbies amongſt the Jews recorded of this Feaſt, that in this laſt day, they were wont to go and powre abundance of water and wine (in a way of rejoycing) upon the Altar, and therefore Chriſt in alluſion to that (ſpeaking to them) ſaith, If any man be athirſt, let him come unto me, and drink. Briefly to take up what I conceive to be Chriſts meaning in this place. There is a great deal of the Goſpel here in theſe Words, in this general Proclamation, If any man be athirſt, let him come to me and drink. Then know,

Doctrine.

That ſuch as being athirſt do come unto Chriſt, they ſhall certainly be ſupplyed unto the full, and that moſt freely.

Whoever being athirſt doth come to Chriſt, he ſhall have a ſupply, he ſhall have a full ſupply, he ſhall not only taſt or ſip, but drink a full draught, his belly full, ſo filled, that as the Word ſaith, Out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water; and not only ſo, but he ſhall have a full ſupply moſt freely, drink moſt freely he doth not deſire money or price, but according to that Proclamation which you have to this purpoſe, Iſa. 55.1. Ho every one p. 226that thirſteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk without mony and without price. Come, and ye ſhall drink freely and that for nothing, without money, and without price. And ſo Revel. 22.17. And the Spirit, and the Bride ſay, Come, let him that heareth ſay Come, And let him that is a thirſt come; and whoſoever will, let him take of the water of life freely, And the Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come, this is held forth freely, to drink freely, and it ſhall coſt nothing; As now a man that ſhould hold forth proclamation to all that would come to him and drink what they would, they might come, and ſhould drink freely without charge to them; So here, our Saviour Chriſt clearly holds forth Grace and Salvation freely, whoſoever comes they ſhall have it freely. Briefly to open the point, and ſhew,

1. What manner of Thirſt it is that Chriſt ſpeaks off, What thirſt is it?

2. What is that ſame coming? Or how may a man that is athirſt, how may ſuch an one come? you will ſay, ſuppoſe it be a thirſt after the water of life, how may I come, or in what way may I come to Chriſt? And then

3. Shew you, That thoſe who being thirſty do come to Chriſt, they ſhall certainly be ſupplyed to the full, They ſhall have drink given them freely, moſt freely. I ſhall deſire to have reſpect to the ſeaſon and apply my ſelf accordingly to ſhew you what we are to underſtand by this ſame thirſt, If any man be a thirſt let him come and drink, What manner of thirſt is it?

1. We are not here to underſtand it to be a bodily p. 227thirſt, but we are to underſtand it of ſpiritual thirſt, a thirſting of the Soul, as David ſaith, My Soul thirſteth for thee O God, for the Living God, Pſal. 42.2. There's a thirſt of the Soul, as well as a thirſt of the Body, and the thirſt of the Soul is ſet forth by the ſimilitude or reſemblance of the Body, and ſo by what this thirſt of the body is, we may the better underſtand the reſemblance of the thirſt of the Soul. There are three things in a bodily thirſt.

1. There is a ſenſe that the body feels of want, there is not only a want of moiſture but the body is ſenſible of it, it is ſuch a want as is an afflictive want, in the want of it the body ſtands in need of a ſupply, and ſo you may read concerning Hagar, the water being out, ſhe did not know what to do for water, and away ſhe goes crying for her child, and her child cries too, and ſo even ready to periſh for want of water. And ſo Sampſon, after he had made a great ſlaughter of the Philiſtims, ſaith he, What ſhall this victory do me good, if I want water? ſo that it is the ſenſe of the want of ſomething that is needful, and as there is a ſenſe of ſomething, ſo an ardent and vehement deſire, and longing after the fulfilling of that deſire, as you read of Siſera, Judg. 4. That great General begged a draught of water being very thirſty.

2. In the thirſt of the body, there are not only longing deſires, vehement earneſt deſires for a ſupply, but it is altogether unſatisfied, till it hath ſome thing of water or moiſture to ſupply it's thirſt. As the Iſraelites, they muſt have water whatever comes of it, they muſt have water, and Moſes ſmites the rock, and fetcht water out of it for them. Why

p. 2281. Firſt of all, In the thirſt of the ſoul, the ſoul is ſenſible of the want of ſome ſpiritual good thing, he is not only wanting it, and without it, but he is ſenſible of it: In this thirſt of the ſoul, there is a deep ſenſe of the want of ſome ſpiritual good thing, Pſal. 63.1.2.3. David being baniſhed from the Tabernacle, from the publick worſhip, O! ſaith he, My Soul thirſteth for God; He wanted the Ordinances, as he uſed to have had them, that I may ſee thy glory in thy Sanctuary. In Iſa. 41.17. When the poor and needy ſeek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirſt (a gracious promiſe) ſee what want there is, when the Soul is in ſuch a caſe, being ſo ſenſible that it is even faint and failing, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Iſrael will not forſake them. And then again,

3. As with the body when it's athirſt, it doth vehemently and ſtrongly deſire; ſo now in this ſame thirſt of the ſoul there is an ardent, an earneſt and ſtrong deſire after that which it finds it ſtands in need of, Pſal. 42.1.2. David doth expreſs the thirſt of his ſoul, as the Hart that is wearied, and tyred, and juſt ſpent in hunting: O it longs and thirſts after the water brooks for its refreſhment, ſo doth my Soul after thee O God; O when ſhall I come and appear before God! So Pſal. 63.8. My Soul followeth hard after God, it was when his ſoul was thirſty; in the beginning of the Pſalm his ſoul was thirſty for God, and v. 8. My Soul followeth hard after God, more than a man that is athirſt follows hard for the ſatisfying his deſire of thirſt. So when the Soul that hath wanted ſome ſpiritual good thing (being athirſt) p. 229hath longed vehemently, and ſtrongly, and been very earneſt for it. And then again

3. When the ſoul is ſpiritually thirſty, it is not ſatisfied with any thing ſhort of that which it finds it ſtands in need of, of that ſpiritual good thing, of that ſpiritual mercy; As Abraham, he was athirſt, his ſoul was athirſt for the accompliſhment of the Promiſe; well, Abraham goes a long while before the accompliſhment of the promiſe, twenty years or better, and in the mean while God gives Abraham other Promiſes, but yet he is not ſatisfied; ſaith God to Abraham, Behold Abraham, I am thy ſhield, and thine exceeding great reward; what could Abraham deſire more than God to be his great reward, even all; and yet ſaith Abraham, Lord, what wilt thou give me? and I go childleſs; nothing elſe but what God promiſed him will ſatisfy him. When the ſoul is athirſt, nothing will ſatisfy but what it is a thirſting after: One thing have I deſired, and that will I ſeek, it is that which I have thirſted after, and longed for, and nothing ſhall ſatisfy me till I have my longing; I have made it the main of my deſires, and I will ſtill deſire it, even as the Woman of Canaan; ſhe deſired mercy for her Daughter that was poſſeſſed of a Devil, ſhe had other mercies, yet ſhe would not be ſatisfied without ſhe had that mercy. And this is the nature of a thirſt; Why now ſaith Chriſt, If any be a thirſt, let him come to me.

Objection.

But you ſhill ſay, What is the Object of this p. 230thirſt that he thirſts after, or for? what is it? for the thirſt of the body, water, or ſome moiſture for the body? But now what is the Object of this thirſt? muſt Chriſt ſupply a man with whatſoever he thirſts for? ſuppoſe he thirſts for a great deal of the world, or ſuppoſe he thirſts for health, and ſtrength, or the life of a friend or relation, or ſuppoſe it may be for ſome ſpiritual mercy, the performance of ſpiritual duties, and the like, whatſoever a man thirſts for, muſt it be given him?

Anſwer.

It is true indeed, it's not here expreſt for whatſoever a man doth thirſt, I ſuppoſe Chriſt doth not mean whoſoever thirſts for the World, or worldly Comforts, or for ſpiritual gifts, &c. for carnal ends, but Chriſt means ſuch mercies and bleſſings as do accompany and neceſſarily tend to the ſalvation of the ſoul; if any man thirſt for ſuch a mercy, for that which he calls in the next verſe, the Water of Life, Out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water, who thirſts ſo; and he doth more plainly expreſs it, Verſe 39. This he ſpake of the Spirit, Out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living Water, that is, whoſoever is athirſt for ſpiritual mercies, whoſoever is athirſt for ſaving ſanctifying grace, he that is athirſt for the Comforts of the Spirit, for the ſaving graces thereof, as faith, meekneſs, humility, and patience, as the Apoſtle reckons divers fruits of the Spirit, Galat. 5.22, 23. Whoſoever doth long, and is ſenſible of the want of theſe ſaving bleſſings, and mercies, pardon of ſin, and aſſurance, &c. p. 231whoſoever is ſenſible of theſe wants, and longs for a ſupply of them, and is unſatisfied without them; Whoſoever he is that is thus, Let him come to me. Now, I ſay, this ſame ſpiritual thirſt of the Soul is very neceſſary, elſe the Soul will hardly ever come to Chriſt for to be ſupplyed: Like as it is with a man that hath no ailment at all, at leſt no ſence of it, tell him of a Phyſician, he will not ſtir a ſtep after him for cure: Thoſe that are truly thirſty, and have not wherewithal to ſupply themſelves, they are they that will come to Chriſt. And hence it is that when Chriſt would ſtir up thoſe of Laodicea to come unto him, he doth it by ſhewing them their ſpiritual wants; Thou ſaiſt, ſaith he, that thou ſtandeſt in need of nothing, that thou art full and ſtandeſt in need of nothing; But I ſay, ſaith Chriſt, that thou art blind, miſerable and naked. Firſt Chriſt doth convince them (as it were) of their need of a thirſt, and then holds forth the Water of Life. Here's the firſt thing opened. What we are to underſtand by this thirſt. They who are truly thirſty, let them come to Chriſt: But,

2. What is this coming to Chriſt, or how may the Soul come unto Chriſt, to drink of the water of life? As I ſaid before concerning thirſt, 'tis not a thirſt of the body, but a thirſt of the ſoul: In what way may the Soul be ſaid to come unto Chriſt? Briefly three ways the Soul that is athirſt may be ſaid to come to Chriſt.

1. Firſt, We are to come to Chriſt in the way of his Ordinances, attending upon his Word, to hearken to Chriſt there; Let him come to me in the way of mine Ordinances; As in Scripture p. 232phraſe, in that place before mentioned, Iſa. 55.2, 3. Coming is an hearkening diligently, enclining the ear; Come unto me by enclining of your ear; Jeſus Chriſt is uſually to be found in his own way in his ordinances, Mat. 28.20. Lo I am with you alway, even to the end of the World, yea in his Ordinances, in the adminiſtration of the Goſpel, I am with you. Then come to the place where Chriſt is, or where he may meet with you. Received you the Spirit by the hearing of the Law, or by the preaching, of Faith? that is the Goſpel; Ye received the Spirit, ſaith the Apoſtle Paul, by having the Goſpel preached; he compares the preaching of the Law, and the preaching of the Goſpel, and calls the preaching of the Law the Letter, and the preaching of the Goſpel the Spirit. To come to Chriſt, to wait upon Chriſt in his own way, where he gives out this water of life; he that receives of this water of life, muſt be found in the way where Chriſt comes, as Zaccheus was, when Chriſt ſaid to him, this day is Salvation come to thy houſe. This was beyond his deſire, and beyond his thirſt: Would you come to Chriſt, come into his Galleries, come into my ſiſter, my Spouſe. Would you come to Chriſt? come where he is, and ſee, he walks in the midſt of his golden Candleſticks, there wait upon him in the way of his Ordinances, and here what he will ſay unto you for a ſupply of your wants.

2. Secondly, Come unto Chriſt in a way of Asking, by asking of him the waters of life, So we are to come, and this is called a coming to the Lord in the Hebrews, He that cometh to God muſt believe that he is, and that he is a Rewarder of them p. 233that diligently ſeek him, Chap. 11.6. He that comes to God, how? in a way of prayer, and ſo to ſeek grace to help in a time of need; come in a way of prayer. And ſee how he directed the Woman of Samaria, Chriſt asked her a little water, and ſhe denyed him, well ſaith Chriſt, If thou hadſt asked of me, I would have given thee living water, how would he have given her living water? why in a way of asking.

3. Thirldy, We are to come in a way of Faith, And ſo ſaith Chriſt here in this Text, If any man thirſt, let him come and drink, that is, he that believeth in me, and ſo this coming to Chriſt is expounded to be believing, John 6.35. He that cometh unto me ſhall never hunger, and he that believeth in me ſhall never thirſt. Look now as unbelieving is a departing from the Lord, Heb. 10.38.39. Take heed, if any man draw back, my Soul ſhall have no pleaſure in him; But we are not of thoſe that draw back, but of them that believe to the ſaving of the Soul. O! an evil heart of unbelief is a departing from God; and ſo then by believing, the ſoul is ſaid to come to God, to draw neer to God. But what is that coming unto Chriſt, or believing in Chriſt, whereby the Soul ſhall be fully ſatisfied? is it a believing that Jeſus Chriſt is the Meſſias, the Saviour of the World? the very Devils do believe this; No, but briefly, This Believing is, namely, The Souls reſt, and relying, and truſting upon Chriſt for acceptance in the ſight of God, for remiſſion of ſins, for Salvation, and eternal life. Truſting and relying upon Chriſt and his merits for Salvation, a putting confidence in the Lord. Now when the Soul doth rely and p. 234venture through a Word of invitation in the Goſpel, through Chriſts invitation doth adventure to rely upon his merits, to be wholly accepted in the ſight of God. This now is a coming to Chriſt. And now ſaith Chriſt, If any man thirſt, Let him c…me unto me and he ſhall drink. Let not any here move contention, and ſay, what do you bid us come to Chriſt, why this holds forth free Will? Why, know that ſuch exhortations uſually and frequently are in all the duties, that the Holy Ghoſt requires of us, which he knows we have no ſtrength to do; the Lord calls us to pray, and 'tis our duty ſo to do; and to believe, but we have no ſtrength and power of our ſelves, but we muſt not ſtand upon cavelling and ſay, 'tis but a folly for us to be ſtriving, ſeeing we can do nothing, but it is our duty to be doing what lies in us to the performance, and wait upon the Lord for his coming in with power to enable us to perform; as Lazarus, when he was in the grave, Chriſt called and with his word power was given forth, and he came out. So now we ſhould indeavour to rely and truſt upon Chriſt in his grace, and in his promiſe to have a ſupply of this ſame Water of life, and not to give over and cavil. That is a third, to ſhew what way the Soul that is truly a thirſt ſhould come to Chriſt. Then

3. Thirdly, Such as being athirſt and do come to Chriſt, they ſhall certainly be ſupplyed, They ſhall certainly have a full ſupply, and it freely given them, for ſo ſaith Chriſt, If any man thirſt let him come and he ſhall drink freely; He doth not expect any thing, or hold forth any price, but they, whoever come, ſhall drink freely, they p. 235ſhall certainly have a full ſupply, and be ſupplyed freely; and he ſpeaking it, ſpake in the hearing and audience of many thouſands. I ſhall ſpeak a Word of Application.

Application.

This may help us to diſcern, whether we have ever been made to drink out of the Well of Salvation. Whether ever we have been made to drink of the waters which Jeſus Chriſt hath given forth: and to go no further than the Text, there are two things that may help us to diſcern it, and one is this.

1. That if ever the Soul hath drank of the waters of life that are held forth, then it was once athirſt for Chriſt; for here the offer that Chriſt makes is to thirſty ſouls, and thoſe who thirſt not will not care for coming. And

2. Not only thirſty, but they muſt alſo come to Chriſt. And therefore briefly to hint what I have ſpoken before.

1. Conſider whether you have been truly thirſty, and by that you may ſee and know whether you have truly drank of this water of life. Conſider it every one, hath my ſoul been truly thirſty? the ſoul that is truly thirſty is really ſenſible of ſome ſpiritual want, that he wants ſome ſpiritual mercy, ſo ſenſible as to be ſpiritually affected, yea afflicted with the ſenſe of it: As a man that is thirſty for water, he is ſo ſenſible that if he have it not he is afflicted for it; why ſo, let every ſoul conſider, well, hath my ſoul ever been really ſenſible of the want of ſome ſaving mercy, or p. 236truth? hath my ſoul been ever ſenſible of it? I pray conſider it with your own ſouls, what ſaving grace is it that your ſouls have been ſenſible for the want of? even afflicted for the want of it? if ever you have been very greatly thirſty in your bodies, you have been very ſenſible. I pray conſider, can you remember that ever your ſouls were really ſenſible ſo as to be afflicted for the want of ſome ſpiritual ſaving mercy from God?

2. Again, Conſider, If you have been thirſty, Whether you have ever found that ſame ſtrong ardent, and longing deſire after a ſupply of that ſpiritual want you are in? As pardon of ſin, or ſaving grace: Have your ſouls not only been affected, but afflicted from the ſence of the want of Grace, being ardently, vehemently, and earneſtly longing after it: Can you remember at ſuch a time your body was thirſty, and you longed for water, and could have drank puddle water by a good token, and cannot you remember that your ſouls have been longing, vehemently longing, moſt earneſtly longing after, and panting after this ſpiritual water of life, and to have been altogether unſatisfied, without you might have that ſpiritual grace and mercy, which you have longed for: If a man be thirſty, he will not be ſatisfied with a ſong, you may ſing him a ſong, but that will not ſatisfy him, and give him what you will he muſt have that which he longs for, and that which he deſires, or nothing. And hath it been thus with your ſouls? conſider what I ſay; can you ſay, you have longed for this grace and the other, for ſaving grace and the like, well, but have you not been ſatisfied with ſomething elſe? p. 237for I ſay, if we had not had in ſome meaſure a ſupply, our ſouls would ſtill have been thirſty, and never ſatisfied without that we have found a need of. And then take that along with all, viz.

3. Conſider whether ever you have truly come to Chriſt. Suppoſe you have longed for this and that mercy, and have been unſatisfied for want of this mercy, conſider of it, did you ever truly come to Chriſt? have you ever been athirſt? have you ever come to Chriſt in his Ordinances for a ſupply? why, yes you will ſay, you have come to the Ordinances to hear the Word preached; Ay Brethren, you may come to hear, and yet not come to Chriſt; have you ever come to hear the Word from the ſenſe of the want of ſome ſpiritual ſaving grace, that he would ſupply to you? it is ordinary for every one to come, except they are ſuch as are deſperately wicked and prophane, but thus we are to come, and have we ever come thus to Chriſt? even as the Saints have been wont to come to the Ordinances, with a ſenſe of their ſpiritual wants, I will hearken and hear what God the Lord will ſpeak to me, for he will ſpeak peace: He wanted peace, and he had the ſenſe of the want of peace upon him, now ſaith he, God will ſpeak peace. So Pſal. 73. The good man was under a great temptation, and it was even too hard for him, and he was even ready to cry out of the temptation, and murmur, and repine againſt God, well he now goes unto the Lord in the way of his Ordinances, and hearkens what God will give unto him, to anſwer his temptation, and then his temptation was anſwered p. 238in his waiting upon God in the ſenſe of his ſpiritual wants for a ſupply. And ſo have you even come thus to the Lord in the way of his Ordinances? when you came this day before the Lord, can you ſay (between the Lord and your own Souls) that you came upon the ſenſe of ſome ſpiritual want for your Souls unto the Lord in this Ordinance? Why Brethren, it is a rare thing for to come to Chriſt in the way of his Ordinances, in the ſenſe of the want of ſome ſpiritual mercy. But,

4: Again, Conſider, Have you ever come to Chriſt in a way of prayer? to ask a ſpiritual mercy and bleſſing. It's true inded, you will ſay, you go to God every day for the pardon of ſin, and aſſurance of it; you go every day, but now have you come to the Lord and asked this ſpiritual mercy, and the other, as a thirſty man that is even ready to periſh for want of drink, and to take nothing in a way of ſatisfaction (whatſoever you have beſides) without you have that you are ſo ſenſible of.

5. And then, Conſider, Whether you have ever come to Chriſt in a way of Faith. There is the coming to Chriſt indeed, if ever you would drink of the water of life, you muſt come in a way of faith. Though you have come to the Word, and come in a way of prayer, yet have you come in a way of faith? relying, and reſting, and rolling upon Chriſt in a way of Faith, to be accepted of the Father through him, and ſo for remiſſion of ſins, and whatever ſaving benefit you ſtand in need of. Have you ever came to Chriſt thus? relying upon him in his word, in the invitation he makes there, p. 239and in his promiſe? this is the way to come to Chriſt; He that believeth on me, out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water. Let us conſider of it between the Lord and our own ſouls, whether ever we have come to Chriſt and ſo drank of the waters of life? if we have not been thirſty, though we may have ſeemed to be ſo, yet if we have not really come to Chriſt, we fall ſhort of what we might have expected to have met with.

I thought to have preſt the invitation on poor ſouls, that they might come and drink of the water of life, but the time is paſt.

p. 240Thirſty Sinners invited to Chriſt.

SERMON IX.

JOHN 7.37.

In the laſt day, that great day of the Feaſt, Jeſus ſtood, and cried, ſaying; If any man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink.

THE Point or Truth that was before us from theſe words was this; namely, That ſuch as being thirſty, and come unto Jeſus Chriſt, ſhall certainly have a full and free ſupply.

Or, as you may take it in the words of Chriſt, If any man be a thirſt, let him come to Jeſus Chriſt and drink. This Jeſus Chriſt did ſpeak, and cryed it in the hearing of many thouſands, ſaying, If any man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink.

You have heard what it is to thirſt, and what this thirſt is, it is a thirſt of the ſoul which Jeſus Chriſt here ſpeaks of, If any man thirſt, it implyes theſe three things.

1. There is a ſence, even an afflictive ſence of p. 241ſomething that it ſees a neceſſity of: As it is with the thirſt of the Body, if one be truly thirſty he doth not only want water, or want drink or moiſture, but is ſenſible of it, and is afflicted with the ſenſe of it. So now, this ſame thirſty ſoul it hath a ſence of ſpiritual want, and is afflicted with the ſenſe of it. You may ſee David cryes out ſaying, I am in a place where no water is. And, Pſal. 63. My ſoul thirſteth for God. And the Prophet Iſaiah ſaith, The needy ſeek water, and their tongue fails for thirſt. There is an afflictive ſenſe upon the ſoul from the want of ſome ſpiritual good.

2. There is not only a ſenſe of want, but there is alſo an ardent and vehement deſire of a ſupply. And,

3. The Soul is not only lodging and deſiring, but is unſatisfied with any thing ſhort of that it deſires.

Several other particulars were inſiſted upon, and I came to a third, which now I ſhall deſire to ſpeak to through the Lords aſſiſtance. Viz. That ſuch as do come to Chriſt ſhall have a full ſupply.

Every ſoul that doth come to Chriſt ſhall be filled; He that comes to me, ſhall not only have a taſte, but ſhall have a full ſupply; Let him come unto me and drink; He ſhall not only have a full ſuyply but a free ſupply; Chriſt doth not require any thing at all, Whoſoever he be that comes unto me, he ſhall drink, he ſhall be freely ſupplyed. Rev. 22.17. Let him that is a thirſt, come: And whoſoever will, let him come, and take of the waters p. 242of Life freely. And Iſa. 55.1. Ho every one that is a thirſt come ye, to the Waters: He ſhall be made to drink, and be ſupplied with all ſpiritual, heavenly, and eternall Bleſſings. Jeſus Chriſt he is a full ſupply, and though we may have a Notion that in Jeſus Chriſt there is a full ſupply, yet we have a Principle and Notion in us, that we have ſome ſupply in our ſelves; A Popiſh Principle, Chriſt may ſupply us in part, but ſome from our ſelves; and therefore we have a Notion, as if we ſhould go unto Chriſt with money in our hands, to buy it of him. Therefore a little to clear theſe things, viz. To demonſtrate,

1. That Jeſus Chriſt will certainly give a full ſupply.

2. That there is a full ſupply that Chriſt will give out, not a part only, but a full ſupply to all that come to him.

Firſt, That Jeſus Chriſt will give out a full ſupply of all ſpiritual Bleſſings: Whatſoever good things the ſoul can ſtand in need of, or can poſſibly deſire; Jeſus Chriſt will give out a full ſupply unto all them, even every of them that comes to him.

1. The firſt Demonſtration is taken from The Incomprehenſible Fullneſs that is in Jeſus Chriſt. He is a full Fountain, not as a Pail or a Bucket drawn from a Well, but he is a full Fountain; now from out of a fountain …here is a full ſupply to be had, a man may drink as much as ever he will, as much as ever he can hold; Now Chriſt is a full Fountain, ſee what is ſaid concerning Chriſt, Zech. 13.1. In that day, there ſhall be a Fountain ſet open to the houſe of David, and to the Inhabitants p. 243of Jeruſalem, for ſin and for uncleanneſs. And ſo, Coloſſ. 1. It pleaſed the Father, that in him all fulneſs ſhould dwell, even all fulneſs: Now if Chriſt be a fountain, a full fountain, there is fulneſs of ſupply to be had in him: Now all fulneſs of bleſſings are in Jeſus Chriſt, he is a fountain of all ſpiritual things that are needful for the ſalvation of a poor ſoul, and there is a fulneſs of Spirit in Chriſt, John 3.34. For God giveth not the Spirit by meaſure to him, And ſo Coloſſ. 2.9. 'tis ſaid, It pleaſed the Father that the fulneſs of the God-head dwelt in him as Mediator, the fulneſs of the Deity, the fulneſs of the Spirit.

2. And then, as there is a fulneſs of the God-head dwelling in him as Mediator, and a fulneſs of the Spirit, ſo there is alſo a Fulneſs of all gifts, and of all graces in Jeſus Chriſt, John 1.14. He is the only begotten Son of the Father full of Grace and Truth. And ſo in him are hid the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge, they are all hid in Chriſt, he is the fountain of them; and the Apoſtle hath another full expreſſion Epheſ. 3.8. Ʋnto me who am leſs than the leaſt of all Saints is this grace given, that I ſhould preach among the Gentiles the unſearchable riches of Chriſt: Unſearchable riches that can never be drawn dry. The fulneſs of the Spirit, the fulneſs of all Grace dwelleth in him.

3. Thirdly, There is a Fulneſs of Righteouſneſs and Satisfaction in Jeſus Chriſt, ſo as to make a poor ſinner to be accepted as righteous before God, and diſcharge it of all ſins, as the Angel told Daniel, Chap. 9.24. To make an end of Sins, and to bring in an everlaſting Righteouſneſs, a righteouſneſs p. 244that will ſerve to all eternity for all, from the beginning to the end of the World; and though the Saints are ſtriving after a meaſure and fulneſs daily, yet notwithſtanding there is a fulneſs in Jeſus Chriſt, the blood of Jeſus cleanſeth from all ſin, there is merit enough, and vertue enough. 1 John. 2.5. If any man ſin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the Righteous, and he is the Propitiation for our ſins, and not for ours only, but for the ſins of the whole World. There's righteouſneſs, and ſatisfaction, and merit enough for all. And

4, Then there is a Fulneſs of power to give out, and to communicate unto others. See John 5.26, 27. For as the Father hath Life in himſelf, ſo hath he given to the Son to have Life in himſelf, and hath given him authority to execute Judgment alſo, becauſe he is the Son of man. As the Father hath life in himſelf, ſo there is fulneſs of power and authority given out unto Jeſus Chriſt, to give out to whom he will, and he gives and communicates as being full of the Spirit.

1. He communicates of the Spirit and Holy Ghoſt to whom he will, He gives the Spirit, and therefore promiſes it to his Diſciples, John 16.7. When they heard of his departure from them, that night he ſhould be betrayed, Chriſt having given them a hint of it, they were troubled, and ſaith Chriſt, Becauſe I tell you the truth you are grieved, yet nevertheleſs it is expedient for you that I go away, and that you be deprived of my preſence, for when I go away, I will ſend the Holy Ghoſt, the Comforter unto you. And ſo the Apoſtle Peter Acts 2. When the Holy Ghoſt fell upon p. 245the twelve with fiery tongues, the people marvelled at it, and thought they were drunk with new wine, no ſaith Peter, Theſe are not drunken with new wine, as you ſuppoſe, this is an effect of the Promiſe as to the latter days, according to Joels Prophecy. And

2. Again, He communicates of the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit. The Graces of the Spirit are given out by Jeſus Chriſt, Eph. 4.8. When he aſcended on high, he led Captivity Captive, and gave Gifts unto men, And ſo the Apoſtle ſaith, Grace and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. He giveth Gifts and Graces.

3. And ſo again, Chriſt doth communicate and give out Forgiveneſs and Remiſſion of Sin. He hath power and authority to give out that, as Mat. 9. When they brought the Palſey man, and Chriſt ſaw their faith, ſaith he, Son be of good chear, thy ſins are forgiven thee, and certain of them thought he had blaſphemed, well ſaith he, That I may ſhew unto you, that I have power on earth to forgive ſins, I ſay unto thee, Son, take up thy bed and walk. And ſo, Acts 5.31. Him hath God exalted with his own right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give unto Iſrael repentance and forgiveneſs of ſins. And

4. Again, Jeſus Chriſt doth communicate Peace and Conſolation, Peace with God, and true Comfort. Being juſtified by Faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And ſo in another place, If there be any conſolation in Chriſt Jeſus, — taking it for granted there is conſolation in Jeſus Chriſt, and all true conſolation comes p. 246from him. And ſo as our ſufferings abound, ſo do our conſolations abound much more through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Again

5. It is Jeſus Chriſt alſo that doth communicate and give out eternal life, to whom he will: Saith he, My ſheep hear my voice and they follow me, and I give them eternal life. Brethren, Chriſt hath power and authority to give out all ſpiritual bleſſings, a fountain having all fulneſs, ſo they that come to Chriſt for a ſupply come to a full fountain. Brethren, if ſo be that Jeſus Chriſt were full of the Spirit, and full of grace, — yet if he were not full as a fountain, he could not communicate; look now, as it is with a bucket, though it may be full of water, yet notwithſtanding it hath not the fulneſs of a fountain, as it doth ſupply any it hath ſo much the leſs, but Chriſt now being a fountain-fulneſs, though he communicate never ſo much, yet ſtill there is the ſame fulneſs, as now go to the ſea, all the rivers in the World are filled with the ſea, and yet the ſea hath never a whit the leſs; and ſo the Sun hath given out its light day by day, four thouſand years together, and yet the Sun hath never the leſs light in it, becauſe it is the fountain of light; So Chriſt, (now) being a fountain hath never the leſs in communicating, ſtill as much grace, as much holineſs, as much righteouſneſs as before. And ſo the Saints ſome of them have been full of the Holy Ghoſt (as Stephen) though yet notwithſtanding, their fulneſs is not the fulneſs of a fountain, and ſo they cannot ſupply the want of others; As the wiſe Virgins, when the fooliſh Virgins wanted Oyl and their lamps were out, they would have p. 247had oyl of the wiſe, but ſay they, we have none to ſpare, none to communicate, why? becauſe they have not a fountain. But ſtill now in Jeſus Chriſt there is a fulneſs, as a fountain of all grace whatſoever. That is the firſt Demonſtration.

2. Secondly, Take another withall, and that is this, to ſhew that there is a full ſupply in him, becauſe, All that come to Jeſus Chriſt are neer to him, nay they are united to him, They are made neer unto God, being united unto Chriſt, and thereupon they have a communication of his fulneſs from Union, for Union is the cauſe of communication; as now if the Branches of a Tree be united to the tree, they communicate and partake of the trees root, ſap, and nature of it; Saith Chriſt, I am the Vine, ye are the Branches, why now the branches of the Vine partake of the Vine; look now as it is with the members of the natural body, being joyned, they do communicate and participate with all the members; as the Head, it is the ſeat of all the ſenſitive or animal Spirits, and the head being united to the body, there is a communication of all the ſenſes, from the head to every member according to its capacity, why now, Jeſus Chriſt, he is the head, we are his members, fleſh of his fleſh, bone of his bone, we are members of him being joyned to him, and they that are joyned to the Lord are one Spirit, we are by faith joyned to the Lord, and Jeſus Chriſt is ſaid to dwell in us by faith; there is a nearer union that the believing ſoul hath with Jeſus Chriſt, than any member hath to the natural body, than any branch hath to a natural tree, yea, than our ſouls and bodies have to each other, p. 248John 6.56. He that eateth my fleſh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. Now the nearer we be to a fountain, the nearer a ſuply, ſuppoſe one were in a fountain of water, he muſt needs have enough, ſuppoſe a man were in the body of the Sun, he muſt needs be ſupplied with light; Now the Soul that comes unto Chriſt, and is in Chriſt, it is in the fountain of living water, and being in the fountain, it muſt needs receive a full ſupply, unto all its wants, I ſay a very full ſupply. That is a ſecond Demonſtration.

3. Thirdly, To take up one more, I ſay we ſhall have a full ſupply, becauſe, This ſame Fulneſs is communicated and given to Chriſt by the Father as Mediator, for this end and purpoſe, to give out and communicate to us. For Brethren, this fulneſs that is in Chriſt is communicated unto Chriſt as the fulneſs of the God-head; for it ſeems to be an improper ſpeech to ſay that the Father is the fountain of the Deity, but the Father communicates to the Son in regard of the Perſonality, now Jeſus Chriſt hath all fulneſs as Mediator to communicate and give out, not to keep it to himſelf, and hold it to his own proper uſe only, But look now as it is with the Fountain, the Sea hath not its water for it ſelf, but to communicate unto rivers, ſo God hath made the Sun to be light, not to be light to it ſelf only, but to communicate and give light to the World: why now there is a full ſupply in Jeſus Chriſt, he being filled with all fulneſs, (from the Father) for this end, to give out to others, to communicate; From his fulneſs we have all received Grace for Grace, he is full of grace and truth, Ay, but p. 249to what end is he full of grace and truth; that we might receive from his fulneſs grace for grace, and therefore ſaith the Pſalmiſt, When he aſcended on high he led Captivity Captive, and received gifts for men, even for the rebellious, He received them for men, for rebellious men, for enemies unto God, to give out and communicate of grace as he was Mediator, and therefore now Jeſus Chriſt gives out grace freely and largely, becauſe it is for that very end he had all fulneſs given to him, ſo that now there is a full ſupply to be had for all that come to Chriſt, Chriſt will fully ſupply all that come to him to drink of the water of life, and he hath never a whit the leſs: And O Brethren that you were fully perſwaded of this truth, that he is the fulneſs of all grace, that ſo we might know whether to go to be ſupplyed in all our ſpiritual wants, for we are ready to go to other things rather than to Chriſt, to our Prayers, and Duties, and the like, but theſe are to be uſed only as Conduits, to convey ſuppply to us, but not as the ſupply, but to look unto Chriſt who hath all ſupplies, that we may go unto him to ſupply us, who only is able to ſupply us, and fill us to the full with all grace, whatſoever we ſtand in need of, and then again, we ſhall not only have a full ſupply, but we ſhall have a ſupply freely, Chriſt will not ask any thing at all of any that comes to him, but they ſhall be ſupplyed freely from his fulneſs; as if you ſhould go to a fountain of water, and be filled, there's none will require or demand any thing of you, ſo the Sun it communicates it's light without money or without price, ſo it is here, when we are ſenſible of our own unworthineſs, p. 250and have nothing to carry, and nothing to give, no money, nor no price to carry in our hand, yet may we come to Chriſt, for he is a full fountain, and gives out the water of life freely. I ſhall demonſtrate that Jeſus Chriſt doth give out freely as well as fully, not only fully, but alſo freely, to all that do come unto him for this water of life, that ſo we may be eſtabliſhed in this truth.

1. Becauſe, If it were not ſo, there's no creature, neither man nor woman, could ever come to drink of this water, if it were not free as well as full, For no ſinful creature hath any thing to give, that is worth one drop of this water of life, it hath no ability to give any thing, and therefore if it were not free none ſhould partake of it; Who hath firſt given unto the Lord, and it ſhall be recompenced him? who? he means none, For of him, and through him, and from him are all things, to whom be glory for ever. And you have the Prophet David encouraging his people to be liberal in contributing towards the building of the Temple, and they were ſo, inſomuch as Davids heart was refreſhed therewithal, ſaith David, All that we do give, or can communicate, (though the people have given very liberally) yet ſaith he, all is thine own, All that Gold and Silver that we gave for the building of the Temple is all the Lords own, …ey had nothing of their own, it was the Lords. And ſo when the Lord gives out any Spiritual good thing, why? what haſt thou to give unto the Lord? yea nothing at all, for what haſt thou that thou haſt not received? not the leaſt drop of good but it is from the Lord; if my life ſhould p. 251ly on it for a drop of living water to be fetcht in of my ſelf, it could not be, or if it were to be had with a good wiſh, ſaith the Apoſtle, I can neither do nor will any thing, nay ſaith he, I am not able to think a good thought, therefore if my life did ly on it, for one good thought, I ſhould not obtain it, 2 Cor. 3.5. Not that we are ſufficient of our ſelves, to think any thing as of our ſelves, but our ſufficiency is of God. Yea when we have done all that we are commanded to do or ſuffer, yet this will not purchaſe one drop of it, Luke 17.10. So Rom. 8.18. For I reckon, that the Sufferings of this preſent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that ſhall be revealed in us. And therefore I ſay, that it muſt needs be free, elſe never a man or woman could be able to partake of one draught or dramme of this water of life, if it were not free.

2. Again, Becauſe of that delight, pleaſure, and complacency, that Jeſus Chriſt doth take in giving out this water of life, There is never an hungry man takes more delight in eating of his meat, than Jeſus Chriſt doth in communicating of this water of life, an hungry man ſhall not need to be bidden to eat his meat, and ſaith Jeſus Chriſt, My meat is to do the will of him that ſent me, and ſo he invites all to come unto him; And you Women who know how to give ſuck to your little children, they being brought to you and making means; the mother having a full breaſt, ſhall ſhe need to be hired to ſuckle her children? yea ſhe is pained till ſhe be delivered of her fulneſs, Iſa. 66.11 So …t is with Jeſus Chriſt, he hath full breaſts alwayes, and 'tis delighting to him to communicate. p. 252Indeed I told you before the Head is the fountain of the animal parts, and the head freely gives out to the ſenſes, and if there be an obſtruction to any of the reſt of the members, then it cauſes pain in the head: Why, Jeſus Chriſt he is the head of the body, and he doth as freely, and with as much deſire, and delight, and readineſs, communicate unto any of his members, even as the head is ready to communicate unto the body. And ſo you that keep ſhops, what keep you ſhop for? is it not that you deſire to part with your commodities freely for a price? and never any Shopkeeper is more free, and ready to part with any of his commodities for a price, than Jeſus Chriſt is to give out his water of life without price, I counſel thee to come and buy of me, Rev. 3.18. (to buy is to receive of him) to come and buy wine and milk without money and without price, Iſa. 55.1. Again

3. Becauſe of his free invitation to all comers to drink, He comes among thouſands to proclaim this his readineſs, and freeneſs to give out of this water of life. Suppoſe you ſhould be at a dinner or ſupper at a Friends houſe, and being there ſhould offer for your dinner or ſupper, would not he take it as a diſparagement unto him: why ſo I ſay, if Jeſus Chriſt ſhould require any thing for what he gives out, as a price, and ſhould not give it out freely,, might not theſe many thouſands that heard of his kind proffer, cry out againſt him? why all thoſe Texts that you read of, wherein he invites poor ſinners to come unto him and that freely, if he were not now free to communicate, would not theſe words and ſcriptures witneſs p. 253againſt him? O my people, teſtify againſt me, ſaith the Lord in Micah, Jeſus Chriſt doth challenge any man to teſtify againſt him for his unfaithfulneſs towards him or them, and therefore hence it appears that Jeſus Chriſt is ready and free to give out a full and free ſupply unto all that come unto him, he will give out freely without money or without price. One thing more I ſhould have ſpoken to by way of Anſwer to an Objection, What? are all comers unto Chriſt to be ſupplied? why then, what's the reaſon that ſo many real believers make ſo many complaints, and are under ſuch great wants, they want this, and that, and the other, and ſcarce any but want ſome meaſure or other, ſenſible of their own wants of this grace or the other, and I have ſuch a hard heart, and ſuch a dead heart, and ſuch a carnal heart, how then is it, that if all that do come unto Chriſt ſhall be ſupplyed, what mean theſe complaints? This I ſhould have ſpoken to, and the Application, but the time is ſpent.

p. 254Thirſty Sinners invited to Chriſt.

SERMON X.

JOHN 7.37.

In the laſt day, that great day of the Feaſt, Jeſus ſtood, and cried, ſaying; If any man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink.

AS You have heard, you have here a gracious invitation that Jeſus Chriſt doth give unto poor ſinners that ſtand in need of the Water of Life; that ſtand in need of Eternal Life: He makes a loud Proclamation, If any be a thirſt, let him come unto him. And you have alſo a gracious Promiſe that is annexed unto this Invitation, ſc. That they ſhall drink. If any man thirſt let him come unto me and drink. You have heard the Point opened.

That any one, whoſoever he be, that comes in a thirſt to Chriſt, ſhall be made to drink abundantly, he ſhall have a full and a free ſupply of the Waters of Life.

Firſt, You have heard what we are to underſtand by this ſame thirſt. If any man be a thirſt.

p. 255Secondly, We have opened and ſhewn what is this ſame coming unto Chriſt.

And the laſt day, we came to ſpeak of a Third, and that was to ſhew what Chriſt here means in this Promiſe, when he ſaith, They ſhall drink. If any man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink. Ay drink, drink of the Water of Life, drink of whatſoever is neceſſary and good, or deſirable for their everlaſting ſalvation; That is meant by this ſame drinking of the Water of Life; Drink in of the Spirit and eternal bleſſedneſs, as you may ſee in the following words; He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath ſaid, out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water. This he ſpake of the Spirit.

Now in this Promiſe here wherein Chriſt ſaith, they ſhall drink; It implies and holds forth two things.

1. It holds forth a full ſupply, they ſhall have a full ſupply, not only a taſte or a ſip, but they ſhall drink and have a full draught; they ſhall have their bellys full.

2. It holds forth and implies, That he will let them have of the Water of Life, and not only ſo, but they ſhall have it freely, they ſhall have a full draught of the Water of Life, a full ſupply without any price or money; He requires nothing but only coming, if they come they ſhall have it.

Reaſons 1.

Chriſt is a full Fountain, he hath all fulneſs in him, and fullneſs as a Fountain hath, and therefore can ſupply all Comers. There may be fullneſs of water in a Pail, but that will not ſupply all comers, but as he is the Fountain of the Springs, p. 256he can ſupply all comers, he is the fountain of all fulneſs, for all fulneſs is in him, and as he hath all fulneſs given unto him, ſo God the Father hath put all fulneſs into Chriſt the Mediator, to give out and communicate unto thoſe that come unto him fo… a ſupply, and he will do it, for he came from heaven to do his Fathers will, as Mediator, he is filled with all fulneſs, not for himſelf to keep it to himſelf, but it is put into him to that end, to communicate, derive, and give out; As the light of the Sun is not put into it, meerly that it ſhould keep it to it ſelf, but to communicate thereof unto all that ſhall come into the World; And ſo the Sea is the fulneſs of water, and that gives out of it ſelf freely, and the cauſe why the water is put into the Sea is, that it may fill the Rivers and Springs; And ſo it is with Chriſt, It pleaſed the Father that in him we ſhould have all fulneſs, that ſo through his fulneſs we might receive grace for grace. There is fulneſs of Wiſdom in Jeſus Chriſt, and fulneſs of Righteouſneſs, Holineſs, and Sanctification in him, God hath filled him with this fulneſs, and why ſo? as the Apoſtle tells us, 1 Cor. 1.30. to this end, to communicate, He is made unto us of God, or, Who of God is made unto us Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification, and Redemption: And ſo he hath made him to be thus unto us, that from his grace he might fill thoſe that come unto him. He is the fountain of life, and wherefore hath God put the fountain of life in Chriſt? what? to keep it to himſelf? no, but to communicate, John 10.10. I am come, ſaith Jeſus Chriſt, that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly, p. 257more abundantly, than ever you had in all the time of the Law; the Son hath life in himſelf for this end and purpoſe, that he might give out life, not to have it to himſelf, and keep it to himſelf, but to give out as a fountain, and ſo, John 9.39. It is ſaid he is come for this end, To give light to thoſe who are blind, and that they that ſee not, might be made to ſee. And then a

Reaſon 2.

Why it muſt needs be ſo, that they ſhall have a full ſupply, is, Becauſe that thoſe that come to Chriſt are very near unto him, united to him, and are in him, and ſo no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt; and therefore they muſt needs have a large ſupply and communication from Jeſus Chriſt. Suppoſe that a man were in the Sun, the very fountain of light▪ if he be near the Sun he hath much light, but if he be in the Sun, then a more large fulneſs of light; and ſo they that come unto Chriſt, they are neer Chriſt, they are nigh unto him, John 6.56. He that eateth my fleſh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him, He abides in me, and dwells in me. The Soul therefore that comes to Chriſt, muſt needs ha…e a full ſupply.

Again, This full ſupply that is given out unto Believers, it is given out not only fully but freely, Saith Chriſt, I do not ask any thing at all, but whoſoever comes he ſhall have his fill, he ſhall have a full ſupply, and that freely, he ſhall drink and that freely, only do but come, and you ſhall drink, and thy ſoul ſhall live, Revel. 22.17. And p. 258Whoſoever will let him come and drink of the water of life freely, And ſo Iſa. 55.1. Ho every one that thirſteth come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price; Without any price at all, it is only coming, and that to every one that comes to him, it's moſt free. You have had two or three Demonſtrations, (I ſhall but briefly name them and ſo proceed) to ſhew and ſatisfy your hearts in this, that Jeſus Chriſt requireth nothing of any ſoul that comes to him, for the giving out of a large ſupply.

1. If Chriſt ſhould require any thing, and ſhould not give out freely, there is not a ſoul that ever was in the World, or ever ſhall be in the World, that had or hath wherewith to purchaſe any thing, or any one drop of the water of life: For we cannot as much as will, or think, or ſpeak of our ſelves, not ſo much as to have a good thought. And

2. Jeſus Chriſt will have it ſo, becauſe it is his pleaſure and delight.

3. It muſt needs be ſo, becauſe of that Invitation that Jeſus Chriſt doth here make unto poor ſouls that come unto him. Thus far I have proceeded. Before I come to the Application there is only one thing would be cleared as an Objection by the way, and that is taken from the Saints.

Objection.

Do we ſay there is ſuch a fulneſs in Jeſus Chriſt? and will he give out a large and full ſupply unto all that come to him, and that freely? How p. 259can this ſtand with the experience of them that are true believers that truly come unto Jeſus Chriſt? They are ſo ſenſible of their own wants, weakneſſes, and their own defects of grace, as what more frequent complaints? and who do more frequently complain than true believers? And there is never a true believing ſoul that comes to Jeſus Chriſt, but is ſenſible of ſome defect or want, or other, and hath not attained to perfection, and the more, and nearer he comes to Chriſt, ſtill the more ſenſible of his defects and wants: O! none ſo weak as I am, none ſo poor in grace as I am, none ſo weak in faith, ſo wanting in love, in humility, in patience, and in meekneſs as I, and O! none hath ſuch a cold heart, ſuch a dead heart, ſuch an unfruitful heart as I have: You will ſay, where is this ſame full ſupply then? Shall all that come to Chriſt have a full ſupply? how can theſe things be? What ſhall we ſay then? that thoſe that make ſuch complaints as theſe are not true believers? no, God forbid. Or ſhall we ſay that this Truth that Jeſus Chriſt hath ſpoken is not truth? why? where is then this ſame full ſupply? how can this ſtand to be a truth? that all that do come to Jeſus Chriſt ſhall have a full ſupply, and ſhall drink abundantly, and ſhall drink freely, when he ſaith, Every one that cometh unto me ſhall drink of the water of life, and that freely. Do not many believers fear that their ſins will be their ruine? and fear condemnation ſometimes? Now how doth this ſtand with this full ſupply, which is to be had in Chriſt? I ſhall clear this by anſwering to two or three things.

p. 260Anſwer 1.

Firſt. Every believing ſoul that comes to Jeſus Chriſt hath drunk ſuch a draught of this ſame water of life, that he is freed for ever from condemnation, He ſhall never dy, or periſh, or be condemned for ſin, no, he is freed from all condemnation, the pooreſt, the weakeſt, the meaneſt hath drunk a full ſupply, that it ſhall never periſh by its ſins, it is paſſed from death to life, there is no condemnation, none unto them (now) that they are in Chriſt Jeſus, no condemnation to the pooreſt and meaneſt believer, and now all their ſins are forgiven, there is a full forgiveneſs, thoſe ſins ſhall never be laid to their charge; And as the Holy Ghoſt ſaith, I will be merciful unto their unrighteouſneſs, their ſins and their iniquities will I remember no more, And the blood of Jeſus Chriſt is able to cleanſe us from all our ſins. It's true indeed, a believer that hath drunk of this ſame water of life, and that is freed from all his ſins, he may be poſſibly be exerciſed with fears, and poſſibly his Aſſurance, and his Apprehenſion of his Juſtification to himſelf may have ſome cloud upon it, he may be excerciſed with clouds, may fear his going down into the pit, though there is no real ground of it, for indeed he is freed from all the guilt of theſe, for he is now paſſed from death to life, John 11.26. He that believeth in me ſhall never dy, that is, his very temporal death ſhall be but as a ſleep to him, the ſting is taken out, and he ſhall never die eternally, And ſo therefore to clear this Objection, there is never a believing p. 261ſoul that is come to Chriſt, but hath drunk ſuch a draught of the water of life, that he is paſſed from death to life, and ſhall never ſee death or condemnation. That is one.

Anſwer 2.

Secondly, Every Soul that is come to Chriſt, (though in reſpect of his Sanctification, of ſanctifying and ſaving grace) he is not perfect, he hath not drunk ſuch a draught but he deſires more, and may deſire more, yet notwithſtanding, that draught that he hath drunk is ſuch a draught, as he ſhall never be thirſty more, ſo as to be wholly deſtitute of this ſame water of life, as he was before. Chriſt ſaith, John 6.35. He that cometh to me ſhall never hunger, he that believeth on me ſhall never thirſt; He ſhall be carried on, as he ſhall never decreaſe, ſo as to be deſtitute, but ſhall grow up, as the grain of muſtard ſeed Chriſt makes uſe of by way of Parable, likening the Kingdom of Heaven to a grain of muſtard ſeed, and to a little Leaven which never leaves ſpreading, till it hath ſpread all over, and the grain of muſtard ſeed, it grows and ſprings up further and further, till it become a tree for the fowls in the air to lodge in; ſo our inward man is renewed day by day, as it will ſpring up, increaſe, and grow more and more, though yet he that hath drunk of the Spirit, hath not the full perfection of it at once, but may deſire more, yet notwithſtanding he hath ſo much as he ſhall never be dry again, that is, wholly deſtitute, but ſhall grow up, and increaſe and ſpring. And let me add only a third thing.

p. 262Anſwer 3.

You will ſay, The Saints have not a full draught and full ſupply, becauſe they complain, I anſwer, that though here they be in a ſtate of imperfection, and ſtand in need of a daily ſupply, (being ſenſible of their own defects and weakneſſes) Yet every believing ſoul hath drunk ſo much of the water of life, as now he hath right and title unto the Inheritance of Glory, where there is ſuch fulneſs of joy, as he ſhall be ſatisfied, and ſhall not be able to deſire any more, Pſal. 16.11. Thou wilt ſhew me the path of life, in thy preſence is fulneſs of Joy, and at thy right hand are pleaſures for evermore. They ſhall have joy as much as they can hold, every veſſel ſhall be filled with glory ſo full as it can hold no more, they ſhall enjoy as much as ever they are able to hold or containe, every veſſel ſhall be full of glory. The beginnings of eternal life are here, and though poſſibly they may be made to drink tears here in abundance, yet notwithſtanding they have the beginnings of eternal life and glory, and when they come once to enjoy the conſummation of it, they ſhall not be able to deſire one draught, one jot more, ſo, He that believeth on me, out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water, ſpringing up unto eternal life. So much for that Objection. Now for the Application of the Point.

Ʋſe 1.

You ſee what Chriſt ſaith in the Text, That man that comes unto me ſhall drink. My drift in p. 263this Application ſhall be to preſs this Invitation of Jeſus Chriſt. Be it known unto you Men and Women, young men and old, and children, that are capable of knowledge, Know it, that Jeſus Chriſt doth invite every one of you that ſtands before him in this Ordinance, to come unto him and draw water out of this Well of ſalvation. It is a ſtrong invitation that whoſoever comes to him ſhall drink of this water of life; Let me ſay unto you as Moſes ſaid unto the Children of Iſrael, Deut. 32.46. And he ſaid unto them, Set your hearts unto all the Words that I teſtify among you this day, Set your hearts to this Invitation of Jeſus Chriſt, to the Word that is now ſounding in your ears, for it is your life, Jeſus Chriſt doth bring eternal life to your doors, to your hearts, do not look upon them as if they were words of courſe and wind, as if there were no truth or reality in them.

Brethren, I ſuppoſe now, if a friend ſhould invite you to a Dinner or a Supper, you would believe that he were real, and you are ready to accept of his invitation, becauſe you think he means, as he ſaith; Why ſo now, be it known unto you that Jeſus Chriſt doth make an invitation to all here, every one in the Congregation this day, to come unto him, and you ſhall have a ſupply of this water of life. Suppoſe now, that Jeſus Chriſt were here preſent ſpeaking theſe words, as he did with his own mouth in the hearing of thouſands, and ſuppoſe now, that if Jeſus Chriſt were here in his bodily preſence, do you not think you ſhould believe? and give entertainment to what he ſpake? behold Jeſus Chriſt now ſpeaks in his p. 264Word to all that are here preſent (as he ſpake to all that were preſent then) and makes proclamation, ſaying, Is any man athirſt? is there any that do deſire this water of life? that do deſire to have their ſins pardoned and forgiven them? that do deſire to be freed from condemnation, that do deſire to be adopted Sons and Daughters of God, to have peace with God, to have comfort and conſolation in life and death, and to have everlaſting, eternal glory, when life ſhall be no more? Know, Jeſus Chriſt holds forth all this, whatſoever is requiſite to eternal life, Jeſus Chriſt doth invite you to this, and holds forth and promiſeth to give a full draught of it to all that ever will come to him; Therefore let no poor ſoul lay impediments and blocks in its own way to hinder him from coming unto Jeſus Chriſt.

Objection.

But may one ſay, I am afraid that I ſhould preſume, if I ſhould come unto Chriſt, and therefore I dare not venture.

Anſwer.

O! let not any ſoul think ſo, nor ſay ſo to hinder any of your ſouls from coming, Know it, that if Jeſus Chriſt had made no invitation to you to come, then you might very well ſay, it's preſumption indeed for me to come, but Jeſus Chriſt invites thee (himſelf) in his Word and Promiſes, that if you do come you ſhall have of this water of life, and that freely. Suppoſe a great rich p. 265man ſhould invite a poor man to his Table, and he comes being invited, will ye ſay this is preſumption, when he ſpake to him himſelf, and if he ſhould not come, 'tis rather a ſlighting and deſpiſing his favour and love. Why Jeſus Chriſt holds forth a free invitation, tenders it, and promiſes it to any one ſoul, that will come unto him upon his invitation, and therefore let nothing ſtave thee off, ſeeing he hath made a full and free invitation unto every one to come indeed.

Objection.

But alas! I do not know that I am invited! Chriſt invites me? what me? I am altogether unworthy to be invited to partake of this water of life, alas! ſo poor a creature, ſo ignorant, and ſo blind, and ſo without ſtrength as I am? unable to perform any duty, no ſtrength, and nothing at all to commend me unto the Lord, or why the Lord ſhould give me the leaſt drop of the water of life, and therefore certainly it is not to me, Jeſus Chriſt doth not invite me.

Anſwer.

I ſay, Let not this Impediment ly in thy way, becauſe we have no ſtrength, or ability to do, or to pleaſe, or to ſerve him in any way, why, alas! do you think now that Jeſus Chriſt calls for any price? invites people, and then they muſt bring money in their hands? No Brethren, you are much miſtaken, Jeſus Chriſt doth invite to come without money, or without any price: p. 266Whoever you be, though you be never ſo weak and unable to perform any duty, or ſervice, and never did any thing for the Lord, yet you ſhould come. And Brethren, the more unfit we are in our ſelves, and the leſs we have of our ſelves, and the more ſenſible we are of our own unfitneſs, this ſhould rather be ſo far from hindering, and diſcouraging us, as that it ſhould encourage us to come, why? becauſe that having nothing, and Chriſt being the fulneſs of all, we ſhould go unto Chriſt for all, as Rev. 3.18. ſaith Chriſt, Thou art poor, and naked, blind, and miſerable, and haſt nothing, wherefore come to me, I counſel thee to come to me for Ey ſalve, and for rayment, gold, and treaſure, and riches, — Why here now is Chriſts argument on the contrary, Why Brethren, he fills the hungry and the empty with good things, and they are to come to Chriſt. Jeſus Chriſt invites ſuch poor ſouls as have nothing at all, no ability at all, a poor blind creature, if one be more blind and unable, and more ignorant than another, here is the invitation, that Jeſus Chriſt doth make this day to ſuch a poor ſoul, that he ſhall, if he come, he ſhall drink, and he ſhall have of this Water of Life.

Objection.

But another Objection is, Alas! I am a poor old creature, an old man, or an old woman, that have lived without God, and without Chriſt all this time, and have ſlighted the offers of grace, and all the invitations of Chriſt in his Goſpel. And alſo a poor old ſinner, and will Jeſus Chriſt p. 267invite me? I poſſibly have been a drunkard, and an old drunkard, and a ſwearer, and a blaſphemer of the name of God, and the ways of Chriſt, and can I think that ever Chriſt ſhould entertain me when I come?

Anſwer.

Why now mark what I ſay unto you in a word from the Lord; Let not any one here except himſelf, and exclude himſelf, if Jeſus Chriſt do not except and exclude him; look into the invitation, doth Jeſus Chriſt exclude, and ſay, Let every one come to me, except he be an old drunkard, or an old ſwearer? no, he doth not ſay ſo, he excludes none; See how the Words run, if any man will come he ſhall drink, if any man, without exception, can you have it ſpoken more full, or in plainer terms? If any man will come unto me, he ſhall drink, John 6.35, 36, 37. ſaith Jeſus there, I am the Bread of life, he that cometh unto me ſhall not hunger, and he that believeth on me ſhall never thirſt, but I ſaid unto you, that ye alſo have ſeen me and believe not: All that the Father giveth me ſhall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wiſe caſt out, Let him be what he will, whatſoever he be; never ſuch an old ſinner, and therefore, why ſhould a poor ſoul make this exception in his coming to Chriſt. Now, know it, if there be any ſuch a ſoul in the Congregation, that hath lived ſo many years, and all his life long hath been in ſinful courſes, the invitation is to him, and to all others, that If any come to me, ſaith Chriſt, I will give him the water of life.

p. 268Objection.

But to object further, Alas! I have no ſtrength nor power, and I am unworthy to come, and therefore it is but a folly to make ſuch an invitation unto me, and I have no power.

Anſwer.

You have heard before what it is to come to Chriſt, viz. To venture, and caſt your ſelf upon Chriſts invitation in his promiſe, and the ſoul now venturing to lean upon Chriſts word, and to truſt Chriſt upon his word, and to expect what Chriſt holds forth in his word, this is a coming unto Chriſt, you know what the Prodigal was▪ and when the Lord ſees a poor ſoul afar off, he meets him, and ſtrengthens him, and encourageth him, and leadeth him by the hand, and upholdeth him.

Objection.

Ay, but you will ſay, Alas! I am willing to come to Chriſt, but I have no word, and a ſoul cannot come to Chriſt unleſs the Lord gives out ſome promiſe ſecretly to draw the heart to Chriſt, and I cannot remember that ever the Lord ſpake to me whereby I ſhould ever come.

Anſwer.

Well, Suppoſe you cannot remember that ever p. 269you had any word, or promiſe given out to draw or perſwade your heart to caſt it ſelf, and to adventure upon Chriſt, yet behold! here is a word from the Lord this day, which he cauſes to be proclaimed in your hearing; Jeſus Chriſt holds forth unto you this day, whoever you be that comes, he ſhall drink, and ſhall drink abundantly, and moſt freely, drink of the waters of life, and ſhall never periſh, but ſhall live for ever, and therefore from this time forward, let not any ſoul ſay, well, the Lord hath not this day holden forth any word to me, know it, the Lord ſpeaks to you, even to one and to another this day, If any man be athirſt, let him come unto me and drink. Have you any thing more to object? think with your ſelves what it is?

Objection.

Ay, you will ſay, there is one thing more, and that is here in the Text, If any man be athirſt, let him come, and I cannot ſay, I am athirſt. There are two things in anſwer to this.

Anſwer 1.

The Promiſe that Chriſt makes here of giving the water of life, is not ſo much to the thirſty, as to the comer, Whoever he be that comes to me ſhall drink, 'tis true indeed he ſaith, every one that thirſts let him come to me and drink; Why ordinarily men and women, poor ſinners are not ready to come to Chriſt, without they be made very thirſty, and ſee their neceſſity, ay, but notwithſtanding p. 270ſaith Chriſt, If any man do but come (whoeuer he be) if he doth but come, and ſo, Whoſoever will, (whoſoever he be) let him come and take of the water of life freely. The Promiſe is made not to thirſters only, but to comers, and be ſure, if you come, he will give you to drink fully and freely, Rev. 22.17. And the Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come, and let him that heareth ſay, Come, and let him that is a thirſt come, and whoſoever will, let him come and drink of the water of life freely. Remember, the Promiſe is not to the thirſty alone, but unto the comer, therefore venture to come, and you may be ſure Jeſus Chriſt will give you to drink of the water of life.

Anſwer 2.

But then again, you ſay, you do not thirſt, Can any ſoul here before the Lord ſay, that you have no need of the water of life, that you have no need of, nor deſire everlaſting life, that you have no need to have your ſins pardoned, is there any ſoul in the Congregation that can ſay, that there is no need, then you may ſtand off, and ſay there is no invitation made to me, but I dare ſay for every one in the congregation, that he would willingly dy the death of the righteous, and therefore, let every poor ſoul know whatſoever is ſpoken to one, is ſpoken to every one; Jeſus Chriſt hath made this invitation, if any man do but come to Chriſt, do but venture upon Chriſt, that is the way, he ſhall drink of the water of life; and what ſhall I ſay more for the clearing of this? do you not think that Jeſus Chriſt ſaith true? p. 271or that he is to be believed in what he ſpeaks? never an one ſurely, but will ſay that Jeſus Chriſt is to be believed, and that they do believe that he ſpeaks truth, why, then Jeſus Chriſts invitation is to every one in this Congregation to come unto him, and therefore why ſhould any ſtand back, and hold off from coming unto Chriſt? If the Lord would perſwade your hearts to come unto Chriſt, it would be the happieſt day, that ever your eyes ſaw in this World, if the Lord would perſwade your hearts hereto, you ſhould find that Jeſus Chriſt would be as good as his word, that you ſhall drink of this water of life, and partake of it for ever and ever, and ſhall never ſee death, eternal death.

Objection.

There is one thing more, Poſſibly you will ſay I do not very well underſtand how I may come to Chriſt in a way of faith and believing, how or which way doth the ſoul come to Chriſt in a way of faith and believing? as that the ſoul ſhall certainly have of this water of life, and that Chriſt will give of this water of life.

Anſwer.

To open this a little. This ſame coming to Chriſt (I would ſpeak it as plainly as poſſibly I could, and not as a riddle, or fancy, or notion) 'Tis an hearkening to Chriſt in a Word of Promiſe, and the ſoul is therein to venture it ſelf, and rely on or upon him in that Word which he holds p. 272forth, and when the ſoul doth venture and cloſe with all, this is now a coming unto Chriſt; when the Lord gives out an invitation, a gracious Promiſe, which holds out mercy and eternal life, and in the hearing of it the Lord perſwades the ſoul of the truth and reality of it, it is perſwaded to truſt in it, to rely upon it, and to expect an accompliſhment and performance of it. And becauſe I would not ſpeak it as mine own words alone, I ſpeak it as the Virgin Mary did when the Angel came to her, Luke 1.38. Then ſaid Mary, Behold the Servant of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy Word: This was now a believing, a truſting, and a relying on the Word of the Lord, ſhe was a Virgin, and the Angel anſwered her in that, as ſhe had no more to ſay, but to rely upon the Word of Promiſe, Behold the Handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy Word; whence was it? it was from this ſpeech, the holy confidence and expectation of the fulfilling of that promiſe to her. And ſo, effectual calling is an hearkening unto the Lords call, the ſoul being perſwaded to receive the Word, cloſing with, returning anſwer to the Word, then the ſoul is effectually called. So alſo there is an ineffectual Call, unto which the ſoul doth not anſwer, but looks upon the Word of the Lord by his Servants, as words of wind, and words of courſe, but as this ſame accepting of this gracious invitation, and promiſe which he holds forth, is effectual calling, why ſo, the neglecting of theſe, I ſay, is a refuſing to hear him that ſpeaks from Heaven. Take heed that you do not refuſe him that ſpeaks from Heaven, that is, now when the Lord p. 273ſpeaks in his invitation by gifts and outward calling; this invitation being propounded and made, and men make light of, it is an ineffectual calling; ſo now when upon the invitation of the call of the Lord in his promiſe, there is an yielding obedience unto that call in faith, it's called the obedience of Faith, Rom. 16.26. When the ſoul doth yield unto the Lord in the voice of the Promiſe, cloſe withal, and receive and embrace it, looking upon it as worthy of all acceptation, receiving it with both hands, as it were; when the ſoul doth thus venture to rely upon the Word, venturing it ſelf upon the Lord in his Promiſe, that if I periſh, I will periſh there, I will venture my ſelf upon the Lords Word and Faithfulneſs. This is effectual Calling, 2 Tim. 1.12. I know, ſaith Paul, in whom I have believed, and I am perſwaded, that he will keep that good thing which I have committed unto him againſt that day; I have committed my ſoul concernments unto him, and I truſt them in his armes. When the ſoul doth venture thus upon the gracious Word of invitation, doth receive it, and committeth it ſelf unto the Lord in it, this is a cloſing with Chriſt, and the anwer of the heart unto the Lords call; and this is a coming unto Chriſt. So that when you venture upon the Lord in his Word, you cloſe with him in it, it is ſoon ſaid, yea ſoon done, the ſoul may come, and cloſe with Chriſt in the Promiſe, and that ſoon too, ſo paſs from death unto life: Therefore ask your own hearts in the Preſence of the Lord, ſeeing Jeſus Chriſt doth make ſuch a gracious Invitation p. 274for to come unto him, and venture upon him in his Word, whether it can be free and ready to ſay, now Lord let it be according to thy Word to me: ſay in this manner, as in the preſence of the Lord, Lord, upon this gracious invitation of thine in the Goſpel, I deſire to reſt and hope upon the faithfulneſs of thy Word, and to accept thereof, and truſt in it; Can you ſay it in the preſence of the Lord, you, whoſoever you are that ſeem to be afar off, though poſſibly you might have had ſome glimmering hopes, hoping ſometimes, that the Lord would be merciful to you, and preſently fearing your eternal condition. Well, I ſpeak it to you that are old men and women, and poſſibly old ſinners, that have lived in ſin all your lives long, and poſſibly are even hopeleſs in your ſelves, and ready to caſt out words of deſpair, and ſo in a hopeleſs condition in your ſelves, to you the Lord this day calls to come in unto him, and to hearken to this invitation, and if you now come unto him, you ſhall have of the water of life. And you young Men and Maids, (I would leave out none, who are capable of partaking of this water of life) conſider the Queſtion again, Are you willing to be ſaved? Let your hearts ſpeak it out between the Lord and your own ſouls, upon this Word of thy grace unto which thou haſt invited me, this gracious Promiſe, I do now commit my ſoul to thee, and rely upon this thy Word of Grace, and rely upon thy faithfulneſs to accompliſh it to me; and have your ſouls thus anſwered unto the Lord? let it be unto me according p. 275to thy Word: let me ſay it in the name of the Lord unto you, This day is ſalvation come unto thy ſoul, this day hath Jeſus Chriſt given eternal life unto thy ſoul, this day the Lord hath taken thee into Covenant with himſelf, and hath vouchſafed thee to be his. And I ſpeak it in the authority which Jeſus Chriſt hath given me in his word, even every one that thus comes to Chriſt, accepting of this his gracious promiſe, I ſay it, thy ſins are forgiven thee, relying upon him in the Faithfulneſs of his Word, and Promiſe, I ſay, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath forgiven thy ſins, and you may go home, and record it for a Memorial, that this day, at ſuch a time, the Lord hath drawn out my ſoul, to make a cloſe with himſelf; and now eternal life is come unto thee, the Lord hath forgiven thy ſins, and now thou art paſſed from death to life. Let me make the offer again unto ſuch poor ſinners as have held out all this time, and have not laid hold upon this gracious invitation, made by Jeſus Chriſt, that will yet venture the Lord, perſwading your hearts, though poſſibly you have been enemies, and oppoſers, and poſſibly might come to oppoſe and catch, and though never ſo far off, and loſt in your ſelves, yet notwithſtanding hearken to this invitation, that if the Lord doth perſwade your hearts to ſay ſolemnly and ſeriouſly, Lord, upon this Word of thy gracious Promiſe and Invitation, I do now deſire to truſt and to venture upon thy Word, and do expect the performance and accompliſhment of thy Word, p. 276that now it may be given out to thee, that ſo you alſo might be brought in unto Chriſt, to partake of this water of life.

Ʋſe 1.

A Word of Exhortation, to you who are come to Chriſt. Go away now (even as the Virgin Mary) and ſay, My Soul doth magnifie the Lord, and my Spirit rejoyceth in God, my Saviour, for he hath regarded the low Eſtate of his poor creature:

It is ſaid that the Eunuch went away rejoycing, after that Philip was caught away by the Spirit, and ſo hath every Believer cauſe to do.

Uſe 2.

Another Word is, That you would go unto God with a holy boldneſs, as to your God and Father, for ſuch ſpecial mercies, as you deſire to have at the Lords hand.

Now as the Holy Ghoſt ſaith, Seek the Lord, while he may be found, and draw nigh unto him, while he is near. The Lord is near to you, do do you draw neer to him with a humble and holy boldneſs, as to your God and Father, and you may ask what you will, and now beg that the Lord would eſtabliſh his Work of Grace in your hearts, and now ask for this and that mercy, and for your relations, even what you will. In Gen. 17. Abraham falls down in a begging p. 277poſture (God having made a Covenant with him) O Lord now that Iſmael might live in thy ſight; ſo ſay I Go to God, and deſire ſome ſpecial mercy this day, now while the Lord is nigh.

Uſe 3.

You who are brought near unto God, hath the Lord ſpoken to you? Take heed that you do not ſtop your ear unto what God ſpeaks, and return again to folly.

Look that you do not walk as the Gentiles did, in the vanity of your minds, Eph. 4.17. Now you muſt take heed that you do not walk in the ſame vanities, in your fooliſh paſtimes, in your vain converſations, take heed you do not walk after the courſe of the World: If the Lord hath taken you out of the World, called you unto Chriſt, you are now to walk in a diligent performance of all duties unto the Lord, walk cloſe with God in your particular Callings from the heart, take heed that you walk exactly, and inoffenſively, keeping a good Conſcience.

Uſe 4.

And laſtly, That ſtill upon all occaſions you would be coming to Chriſt.

We are not to content our ſelves with once coming unto Chriſt, and there is an end, but we muſt come daily, even every day: When you find your hearts out of frame, p. 278when you are ſtraitned, and dead-hearted, come to Chriſt, even every day by vertue of this Promiſe, through this Word, leaning and reſting upon Chriſt, and O remember this bleſſed Word, this bleſſed Word of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, wherein he hath ſaid, If any man thirſt; let him come unto me and drink. —

FINIS.

End of the text · Thomas Allen, The Way of the Spirit in Bringing Souls to Christ (1676)