A Trial of Faith, Sermons · Sermon 19
Matth. 15. 26.
But he anſwered and ſaid, It is not meet to take the childrens bread, and to caſt it to Dogs.
SERMON XIX.
I Shall now conſider this temptation in particular. In general it was her unworthineſs that was preſented, more particularly, that ſhe was one of thoſe Nations that did not belong to the Covenant of God. She was a Canaanite, ſhe was one that was a ſtranger to the viſible Covenant of the Commonwealth of Iſrael; ſhe was none of the children of the viſible Kingdom, ſhe was a dog, one without, and therefore Chriſt tells her, that ſhe had nothing to do with the childrens bread. This was the temptation.
We ſhall conſider the Propoſition as it is laid down by Chriſt, which is an excellent truth, and worth the conſideration.
That childrens bread muſt not be given to dogs.Doctr.
That is the propoſition laid down by Chriſt. Or, The holy things of God, they muſt not be profaned by giving them unto thoſe that have no right unto them.
Firſt, In the opening of this Propoſition, I ſhall ſhew you, Who they are that are here called children.
Secondly, And then, Who are called Dogs.
Thirdly, What is that childrens bread that muſt not be given to dogs.
Firſt then,Who are the children that have right to the bread. Let us enquire who they are that are called children, who are the children that have right to the bread?
I anſwer firſt, All they that are true Believers in Chriſt, they are called children; I ſay, ſuch as are really and truly believers, ſuch as are the ſeed of Chriſt, the travel of his ſoul, ſuch as are begotten again unto God by the immortal ſeed of the word, and born again of the Spirit, new creatures; theſe are children indeed, they are called the children of the Promiſe, the children of the Covenant, the children of God by faith in Chriſt Jeſus, Gal. 3. 26. To as many as believed gave he this dignity to be called the children, the ſons of God: To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the ſons of God, even to them that believe on his name, John 1. 12. primarily and chiefly they are called children of God, and theſe have right to the childrens bread.
But ſecondly, There are others that are called children, that is, Such as are under viſible and outward diſpenſations of the Covenant; I ſay, ſuch as do outwardly belong to the Covenant of God, ſuch as are under the viſible diſpenſations of the Covenant of God; though poſſibly many of them may not be under the efficacy, life, and power of that Covenant, yet if they be under the viſible diſpenſations, the outward diſpenſations, God owns them, and they muſt be owned for children, Rom. 9. 6. For they are not all Iſrael which are of Iſrael; though they may be of Iſrael, the ſeed of Abraham, that the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of there, and ſuch as were under the outward diſpenſations of the Covenant, the Covenant of their father did belong to them, yet ſaith he, all are not Iſrael that are of Iſrael; they are not Iſrael indeed, children of the Promiſe, as Iſaac was; they are not all the elect of God, though they may be, and muſt be owned for children, becauſe under the outward diſpenſation of the Covenant: And in Mat. 8. 12. But the children of the Kingdom ſhall be caſt out into utter darkneſs; called children of the Kingdom, becauſe under an outward adminiſtration of the Covenant of grace, and yet poſſibly they may fall off and apoſtatize; and ſuch children of the Kingdom may be caſt out.
Now perſons are under an outward adminiſtration of the Covenant two wayes,How perſons may be ſaid to be under an outward Adminiſtration of the Covenant. or by two rights, as I conceive.
Firſt of all, by a viſible profeſſion of Chriſt, by a profeſſion of faith in Chriſt, that may give men right to a viſible being in the Covenant of God, and ſo upon that viſible profeſſion that is held forth, they may have right to the Ordinances of God, and yet not belong to the inviſible Covenant of God. For Brethren, if a viſible profeſſion cannot give right to an Ordinance, there is no man can have any ground for the adminiſtration of an Ordinance to others, if not upon a viſible profeſſion, for there is no man can be certainly aſſured who are the true Iſrael of God, and who belongs to the Election of God; no man can have certain aſſurance of another man's condition, but as he judgeth in charity upon his profeſſion; ſo that an outward profeſſion gives right to a viſible being in Covenant, and ſo to a partaking of the Ordinances of Chriſt.
Secondly, There is another way of right (as I conceive) held forth in the Scripture, by which ſome perſons have right to this viſible Covenant of God, and ſo to ſome Ordinances of Chriſt, (ſuch as they are capable of,) and that is, God's gracious owning of them; I ſay, God's gracious Declaration in the Word, that he will own ſuch and ſuch, and will account them for his people, ſet apart for himſelf; and ſo I conceive that the Lord owns and eſteems of Believers, and the children of believing parents: And as ſome by profeſſion have right unto the viſible Covenant, ſo others upon Gods declaration of owning in a viſible way the ſeed of Believers; for ſo the Lord declared when he made that everlaſting Covenant with Abraham, that he would take in him and his ſeed, and they ſhould be viſibly under the diſpenſation of the Covenant, which promiſe ſeems again to be renewed even in the new Teſtament, Acts 2, 39. For the Promiſe is unto yo… ▪ and to your children; and ſaith the Apoſtle 1 Cor. 7. 14. Elſe were your children unclean, but now are they holy. God's viſible owning of them, gives them a right to the viſible Covenant, and ſo to ſome Ordinances, ſuch as they are capable of.
But you will ſay, it ſeemeth ſtrange that any ſhould be the ſubjects of an Ordinance who are not capable of underſtanding what is done: Alas, children have not the uſe of reaſon, and are not capable of underſtanding what is done, and therefore ſure ineffectual, and of no uſe, it is but ſetting the ſeal to a blank.
I anſwer, That God alwaies hath inſtituted ſome Ordinances both in the Old and New Teſtament, the ſubjects whereof have been meerly paſſive. God to declare his grace, will prevent poor creatures before they are able to know him, hath inſtituted ſome Ordinances, the ſubjects whereof have been meerly paſſive.
What did the children of old underſtand of Circumciſion? They were meerly paſſive, and yet that Ordinance I hope was not in vain, and ſeemeth to be more ſuitable to God's grace now under the Goſpel, to have an Ordinance the ſubjects whereof ſhould be meerly paſſive, it declareth the grace of God, that he ſpeaketh ſo to them before they have any knowledge.
And whereas it is ſaid, It is the ſetting of a Seal to a Blank.
I anſwer, If God hath put in the names of the children of Believers into the ſame Covenant with their parents, if their names ſhall be found written in the Covenant,, why then to ſet to the Seal, will be no ſetting a Seal to a Blank; but their names were written and put into the Covenant when made with Abraham, I will be thy God, and the God of thy ſeed; and we no where read that their names were blotted out; nay, we rather finde them renewed, Acts 2. 39. For the promiſe is to you, and to your ſeed: and therefore let none ſay, that it is ſetting a Seal to a Blank, if God hath written the names of children in the Covenant. Indeed I know it is very dangerous to miſapply an Ordinance of Chriſt to wrong ſubjects, it is a giving holy things to dogs; but take heed that we do not call dogs where the Lord doth not call ſo; and take heed that we do not blot out thoſe names that the Lord hath put into the Covenant.
But it may be you will ſay further by way of Objection.
If children belong to the Covenant of God, and the Covenant that the children of believing Parents is under is a Covenant of grace; of neceſſity they muſt be ſaved: Shall they be under a Covenant of grace, and not be ſaved?
I anſwer, Some may be under a Covenant of grace, and not ſaved; I ſay viſibly, in reſpect of the outward diſpenſation, they may be under the Covenant of grace, and yet never attaine to life and ſalvation; for when as we do Baptize thoſe who do make a profeſſion of their faith, ſurely we look upon them as Believers, and ſuch as are in Covenant with God, and therefore we Baptize them, becauſe believers, and ſo in Covenant with God.
But now, is it not poſſible, nay is it not ordinary for many who make ſuch a profeſſion of Chriſt, and are baptized upon that profeſſion, to fall off, and to come ſhort of life and ſalvation? And yet I hope you will ſay the Ordinance was not diſorderly adminiſtred, though they that did make a profeſſion do fall off; ſo though all children of believing parents do not attain to eternal life, yet the Ordinance is no more unduly adminiſtred to them then to others, for both Profeſſors and children may be under the outward adminiſtration of the Covenant, which being may give right to an outward Ordinance, and yet not be ſaved.
Object. But you will ſay, How ſhall we judge of any but by their profeſſion that they make of Chriſt; we cannot own any but ſuch as make a profeſſion, and children cannot make a Profeſſion.
I anſwer, We muſt judge as God judgeth, and own as God owns; take heed that we do not diſown what God owns; and if God will own the children of believing parents viſibly, and put them under an outward adminiſtration of the Covenant, ſurely there is no danger of owning where God owns; God's owning is a ſurer ground for us to go upon, then any man's profeſſion: Now God ſeems to own the ſeed of believers by his gracious promiſe: Nay, let it be conſidered, thoſe Propheſies that ſpeak of the latter dayes, and of the Kingdom of Chriſt, and the glory that ſhall be in thoſe dayes, they ſpeak of this, that God will then more abundantly and viſibly own the ſeed of his people; God will own them, and God will bleſs them, Iſa. 65. 23. They ſhall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the ſeed of the bleſſed of the Lord, and their offſpring with them. When the Jews ſhall come in, they ſhall be called the bleſſed of the Lord, and their off-ſpring with them; their ſeed ſhall be bleſſed according to Abrahams Covenant, when they ſhall come in again.
I know there are many gracious hearts that cannot believe this truth, and will not, till Chriſt comes to reveal it; but if the Lord hath handed in any beam of light, ſhut it not out; This have I ſpoken, becauſe it is in my way to ſhew you who are children.
But in the ſecond place,Who are Dogs. Who are Dogs? You ſee who are to be accounted children: who are Dogs? That muſt be opened too, and let it not be offenſive, becauſe it is in the Text.
Firſt, Dogs in Scripture are taken ſomtimes for all the Nations of the Gentiles, all the people of the world (except the ſeed of Abraham) were called Dogs, they were without the Covenant, ſtrangers to the Commonwealth of Iſrael; all, we and our fathers, all the Nations of the Gentiles; time was that the Jewes only were the children, and we and all Nations were called Dogs.
But ſecondly, All wicked men in Scriptute phraſe they are called Dogs; The Scripture doth brand ſome ſort of wicked men, and ſome degrees of wicked perſons by this name; In eſpecial manner the Lord looks upon ſome wicked men as dogs.
Who are they?
Firſt,wicked men dogs. Such as give up themſelves to groſs and notorious wickedneſs, ſuch as are openly ſcandalous, vile, and prophane, Rev. 22. 15. For without are dogs, ſorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and Idolaters, and whoſoever loveth and maketh a lye. Without are dogs, and he ſheweth who thoſe dogs are that are without, that ſhall be ſhut out of the City, when the new Jeruſalem ſhall come down from heaven; theſe are they that ſhall not have a name in that City: vile ſinners, they are called dogs.
But ſecondly, ſuch as do oppoſe the Goſpel of Chriſt, ſuch as do reject the Goſpel, and oppoſe the Truths of the Goſpel; ſuch as come to hear for that end, that they may ſnarl againſt the word; the Spirit of the Lord calls them dogs; Phil. 3. 2. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the conciſion: the Apoſtle bids the Chriſtians beware of them, beware of dogs, they that bite and ſnarl, and ſet themſelves to oppoſe the Truths of the Goſpel, the Spirit of the Lord calls them dogs.
Thirdly, They who do reject thoſe wholſome reproofs, and counſels, and exhortations that the Lord ſends them by any of his ſervants; ſuch as ſcorn reproof, and hate reproof, that are ready to fly in the face of him that ſhall reprove them when they do wickedly; What have you to do with me, meddle with your own matters, and I will not be reproved by ſuch a one as you are; the word of the Lord calls ſuch perſons dogs, they are vile creatures, Matth. 7. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither caſt ye your pearls before ſwine, leſt they trample them under their feet, and turn again, and rent you. See here what Chriſt ſpeaks; Exhortations and reproofs they are not to be caſt before ſome men, ſuch as have often rejected reproofs, and will not hear, the Lord looketh upon them as dogs, and they ſhall die in thei… wickedneſs.
Fourthly, The Scripture calls thoſe dogs, tha… ſomtime have made a profeſſion of Chriſt, and have turned away from their profeſſion, ſuch … have ſeemed ſomtimes to be very forward, an… very zealous, hot it may be in their youth, after …ward they fall off, and have loſt their fruit, and have loſt their profeſſion, and it may be not … much as Leaves upon them, but are turned agai… to their old wayes, 2 Pet. 2. 22. But it is hapn… vntounto them according to the true Proverb, the dog …turned to his own vomit again, and the Sow that wa… waſhed, to her wallowing in the myre; they have turn'd to their old courſe again, they ſeeme… ſomtimes to caſt out ſin; Ah! But they have returned to it again: Such perſons are vile, and the holy Ghoſt calls them dogs.
Fiftly, Perſecuters of Chriſt, of his Truth and people, they are called dogs; ſuch as do not only bark againſt Chriſt, but even bite and rend his people: Why, the Lord looks upon them as vile creatures, they are dogs in God's account, what-ever they are in the worlds; and ſo Chriſt calls them by David his type, Pſal. 22. 16. for dogs have compaſſed me, the aſſembly of the wicked have encloſed me, they pierced my hands and my feet. Thoſe bloody perſecuters of Chriſt, that would not be ſatisfied but with the blood of the Lamb of God, nothing but the ſhedding of his blood would ſerve their turn; even as the Blood-Hound that hunts the Hind upon the mountain; the Lord calls them dogs, barking dogs, biting dogs have compaſſed me round about.
But thirdly, What is the childrens bread that muſt not be given to dogs?
Firſt, The gracious Promiſes of the Goſpel; thoſe ſweet comforts that God hath laid up in the Promiſes, they are not the portion of wicked men; Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, ſaith your God, ſpeake ye comfortably to Jeruſalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accompliſhed, that her iniquity is pardoned; Iſa. 40. 1, 2. God doth not ſend comfort to wicked men while they remain ſuch; for all the promiſes of the Goſpel, they are Chriſt's right, and Chriſt's inheritance, they are Chriſt's portion; the Apoſtle ſaith, They are all yea and amen in him; now therefore they cannot be applyed to any but to thoſe that have Intereſt in Chriſt; if promiſes be yea and amen in Chriſt, they cannot go without Chriſt; he muſt be thy husband, or elſe thou haſt no right in them.
Quest. But you will ſay then, How ſhall men come to believe in the promiſes, if they muſt not be applyed to wicked men? How ſhall they come to have faith in the promiſe?
I Anſwer, When the Spirit of the Lord doth perſwade the heart of any ſinner to accept of Jeſus Chriſt, to reſt upon Jeſus Chriſt by a particular application: as he is freely tendered in the everlaſting Goſpel: when this is done, I conceive that ſoul hath an Intereſt in Chriſt, and then right to all the promiſes, for every mercy promiſed is to thoſe that are in Chriſt, and childrens bread is not to be caſt to dogs.
Secondly, A place in the Houſe of God is childrens bread; a name in God's houſe, fellowſhi… with the Saints, this is childrens bread that be longs only to thoſe that are Chriſt's, at leaſt viſibly ſo, Iſa. 56. 4, 5. ſee what God promiſeth… the Eunuchs, For thus ſaith the Lord unto the E… nuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and chuſe the thing that pleaſe me, and take hold of my convenant; eve… unto them will I give in mine houſe, and within … walls, a place, and a name, better then of ſons … of daughters; I will give them an everlaſting … that ſhall not be cut off. This is made to him th… feareth the Lord, and deſires to worſhip … Lord aright, and deſires to ſanctifie the Sabba… of the Lord, he hath right to this part of childrens bread, he hath right to the fellowſhip … Saints, and Church of Chriſt, and God in du… time will bring him in, though he may be out. will give him a name in my houſe, and his nam… ſhall be written there; the time is a coming th… there ſhall be never a Saint, but the Lord … bring him in, Behold how good and how pleaſant it … for Brethren to dwell together in unity, Pſal. 133. 1 there is a large report of Brethrens dwelling together in Unity; now they muſt be Brethren, … elſe they cannot dwell together in unity; It is good and pleaſant for brethren dwell together Sons and daughters of the everlaſting Father, … that not only by Creation, but by Regeneration ▪ If Sons and Daughters of the everlaſting Father O! Then, How good to dwell in the Houſe … God? This is childrens bread.
Thirdly, Sealing Ordinances, The ſeals of …he Covenant, they are childrens bread, Baptiſme, and the Supper of the Lord are childrens bread, and they are not to be diſpenſed to any that are viſibly unclean, and unholy; To inſtance only in the Supper of the Lord, to ſhew you a little that …hat is childrens bread, and muſt not be given to …ny but children: For firſt, It is a Seal of the Covenant; if the other Ordinance be a Seal, then …hat is a Seal of the Covenant of Grace; and …herefore they muſt be in the Covenant of grace, they muſt not be ſtrangers to the Covenant, that come to this Ordinance, that have right to this Ordinance: They that are viſibly ſtrangers, and enemies unto God, ſtrangers to this Covenant, they cannot have a right to that Ordinance of Jeſus Chriſt.
Again, That Ordinance is a Love-Feaſt, and the Lord he makes it, to declare that he is reconciled to all thoſe his friends whom he invites: There was a falling out between God and man, …ut when it is taken up by Chriſt, God the Father declares that he is a friend, and therefore he invites believers to ſup with him, which declares and makes it out to them that he is reconciled, he makes a feaſt for this end, and therefore called the Lords Supper; they ſhall come and ſit at Table with him, that he may declare that he is really reconciled, and bears no old grudge, but hath forgotten all. Now therefore, they that are enemies, that will not be reconciled, but profeſs enmity againſt the Lord, they cannot have right to this Ordinance.
Again, It is a ſeal of our Communion with Chriſt and with the Saints. The Bread which we break, is it not the Communion of the Body of Chriſt? And ſo the Wine, it is the Communion of the blood of Chriſt, the ſigne of it, the ſeal of it, a ſeal of our Communion with Chriſt; and it is a ſeal of our communion with the Saints; all that do partake of it, they proſeſs they are one bread therefore it is an Ordinance that cannot and may not be diſpenſed to wicked men.
Beſides, The Supper of the Lord is an Ordinance that is appointed for the increaſe of grace ▪ it is appointed for a Chriſtians growth, therefore of neceſſity there muſt be life before there can be growth, there muſt be a principle of grace, before there can be increaſe of grace; It is true, it is for the weak as well as the ſtrong; and if there be any part of ſpiritual life in the ſoul, that ſoul may receive it in Chriſt's way; but of neceſſity there muſt be life, or elſe no right to the Ordinance; for it is appointed for growth in grace, to make a weak faith ſtrong, and ſo for the increaſe of every grace.
I might add, wicked men cannot perform the actions of the living that God calls for in that Ordinance, they cannot eat and drink ſpiritually, they may eat the bread, and drink the wine, but they cannot eat the fleſh of Chriſt, and drink the blood of Chriſt; if a wicked man, he cannot eat ſpiritually, and ſo he prophaneth the Ordinance, the Body of Chriſt and the Blood of Chriſt he becomes guilty of it, and the Apoſtle ſaith, He eateth his own damnation, if he cannot diſcern the Lord's body, (1 Cor. 11. 29.) and eat ſpirituall by faith; ſad in the concluſion, he eats and drinks damnation of himſelf. That's the third piece of childrens bread, Sealing Ordinances.
I ſhould have added a fourth, but ſhall paſs it by becauſe of the time, it ſhould have been this, Holy counſels and reproofs, they are childrens bread, and I ſhould have ſhewn you in what caſes we ought not to caſt them before dogs; When we have no call to ſpeak, or when we have ſpoken often, again and again, and they turn again, and tread it under foot, when it appears that they ſin obſtinately, do not ſin for want of light, but ſin againſt light; when you have born a sufficient teſtimony unto the Truth, or unto the wayes of God, in ſuch caſes and the like; that part of childrens bread muſt not be caſt to dogs.
To ſhut up all with a word or two of Application.
Firſt of all, It lets us ſee Brethren,Ʋſe 1. that way of the Churches of Chriſt is juſtifiable by Chriſt; that way of making diſtinction and ſeparation betwixt perſon and perſon, betwixt the precious and the vile, it is juſtifiable by the word of the Lord, it is one of the hard things for the world to digeſt, this ſeparation, this putting a difference between man and man: but I pray know, that if any Church do act according to the rule, to the word of Chriſt which they may not tranſgreſs, no not for a houſe full of gold and ſilver, they muſt not give that which is holy to dogs, caſt not pearls before ſwine, (ſaith Chriſt) Matth. 7. 6. And it is to take the childrens bread, and caſt it to dogs. The Church do but walk according to rule, let not men condemn it.
I know what is objected; Ah! They are a cenſorious people, they would be Judges, they would judge all the world but themſelves; they only are children, and all the world are dogs.
No, we ſay not ſo, God forbid, We ſay there are ſeven thouſand ſouls, beſides thoſe we know, that have not bowed their knee to Baal; Ye… ſurely, there are many thouſands (I am perſwaded) of the people of God, that are children who are not for the preſent in any viſible Houſe of God: But this I ſay, that ſo long as they are ſo, they are not in the right place, they are where the dogs ſhould be, till they be in ſome viſible Houſe of Chriſt, they are not in the children place, they ſet themſelves among the dogs; the Lord would have them among children, and there is a time a coming, when all that are children ſhall come in, and without ſhall be none bu… dogs.
And let me ſay to ſuch as are the children of the Lord, and not in ſome viſible Houſe of God; they cannot have their portion, they cannot enjoy childrens bread, while out of Chriſt's houſe, they deprive themſelves of that bread which is their right, Chriſt will not have bread given, but in his Houſe; ſome Ordinances of Chriſt cannot be diſpenced but in a Communion of Saints, and if children will not come into a communion of Saints, they muſt not, they cannot enjoy thoſe Ordinances; and let it be no offence, if the Church (according to their duty) do labour to keep the Ordinances of God from pollution.
Queſt. But you will ſay, What can it hurt me? Or, What can it hurt another, though there be many wicked men in a Communion of Saints, that come and partake of the Lord's Supper? What is that to me if I be prepared to wait upon the Lord? What detriment ſhall I receive?
Anſw. It is to thee; A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump: If a wicked perſon be in the Church, it is to thee, and to the whole company, and if thou doſt not that which is thy duty, thou art defiled by that wicked man. It is true, if thou haſt done thy duty, brought it to the Church, then thou art not defiled; but if thou haſt not done thy duty, thou art defiled, and it is to thee.
I know what is urged, Did not Judas receive the Supper? And were there not many wicked men in the Church of Corinth? And doth not Chriſt ſay, the Tares and the wheat muſt grow together? But theſe may eaſily be anſwered.
As for Judas, it is hardly made out that he received the Supper of the Lord; but if he did, he was a cloſe hypocrite not known to the Church. Hypocrites there may be, but that is no plea for the admitting of thoſe that are openly ſcandalous.
As for thoſe wicked perſons in the Church of Corinth, it was defective, but of right it ſhould not have been ſo; Poſſibly the beſt Church may be corrupt, and may tollerate wicked perſons; but by rule it ought not to be ſo: When ye are met together, and there be a wicked perſon amongſt you, deliver ſuch a one unto Sathan, for the deſtruction of the fleſh, that the ſpirit may be ſaved in the day of the Lord Jeſus. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 1 Cor. 5. 4, 5, 6. But to paſs by that.
Secondly,Ʋſe 2. In a word, What matter of comfort is here to you that are the Lord's people? The Lord looks upon you as children; all you that fear the Lord, and believe in the name of his Son, you are the Lord's children, cared for and provided for by the Lord. Proviſion is made by God himſelf, he will take care that you ſhall have bread; Chriſt takes care for his children: O! This is childrens bread, and I muſt not give the childrens bread unto dogs. O! That this might refreſh your ſouls, that Chriſt looketh upon you as children, and that he takes care to provide bread for you; He will not ſuffer the ſoul of the righteous to famiſh, Prov. 10. 3. Children, you ſhall have bread; you ſhall have Ordinances, Promiſes, they belong to you, they are your bread, the Lord will in due time give out that which your ſouls wait for; for the children ſhall have their bread. O that the Lord would raiſe up our hearts to expect this when we come before him in the Lords Supper: Let children look for their bread, wait for bread from heaven to be given out, there is never an hired ſervant in Chriſt's Houſe but ſhall have bread enough; ſo the Prodigal did acknowledge: and if the hired ſervants ſhall have bread, the children ſhall not famiſh. O! Wait upon the Lord, who will give his children bread, and give it in due ſeaſon.
Again thirdly,Ʋſe 3. What cauſe have you to admire at the goodneſs of the Lord thus to you that are his children? Children ſo provided for; O! The free grace of God to us poor outcaſts of the Gentiles: Time was when we were dogs; and that the Lord ſhould make them to be children that were dogs, ſet them at his Table that were caſt out, and give them childrens bread, that had not right, no not to the crumbs! O the free grace of God, let us admire it, and let us debaſe our ſelves, and lie low before the Lord, and ſay, O! What am I poor dead dog, that I ſhould ſit at Table with the King, and that the King ſhould own me? No cauſe of being lifted up, but cauſe of lying low; for who are we poor dead dogs, that the Lord ſhould make us children, and beſtow the portion of children upon us, giving unto us childrens bread!
And to ſhut up all;
Let us look upon the Ordinances of the Lord as our Bread; Ʋſe 4.look upon the Word, and look upon the Promiſes, you that are children, take hold of them, improve them, they are childrens bread, they are provided on purpoſe for you; And ſo that other Ordinance of the Supper, look upon it as bread, and make uſe of it as bread. O that we might fetch out the ſweetneſs of it; for there is no piece of childrens bread but hath a great deal of ſweetneſs in it; ſweetneſs in the Word, and ſweetneſs in the Supper; and O that we might chew it, and fetch out the ſweetneſs: What ſweetneſs might we finde in the Supper of the Lord, if we did ſet faith on work? O! what abundance of the love of God is held forth, and of the great myſterie of godlineſs, God manifeſted in the fleſh? How much held forth of the ſufferings of Chriſt, and the benefits of the ſuffering of Chriſt? O that we might chew the Ordinance, and (as bread) make uſe of it for our refreſhment and ſtrength!