Soul-Prosperity in Several Sermons, Sermon 8
SERMON VIII.
2. THe next thing that I ſhall take notice of, as neceſſary for the health, and well-fare of the Body (which as the Lord ſhall enable me, I ſhall apply to the point in hand) is the obſerving of a good Diet; with reſpect to the choice of meats, ſuch, as by experience, have been found, beſt agreeable to the Nature, and Conſtitution of the Body; and in proportion, ſuitable to the natural heat of our ſtomachs, for Concoction, and Digeſtion. This is a great means of health, eſpecially for ſuch as are naturally weak, and infirm. For, uſually, as is our Food, ſo is our Blood; as is our Blood, ſo are our Spirits; and as are our Spirits, ſo are our Bodies for health, or ſickneſs; for ſtrength, or weakneſs. Now, as I told you, what in a natural way is for the health and well-fare of the Body, is, in a ſpiritual way, applicable to the health, and well-fare of the Soul. I ſhewed you, that it was ſo, in that which I ſpake laſt unto. I am now to ſhew, it is ſo in this. In order hereunto, we muſt take notice, that as God hath provided (and that, with great variety) Food and nouriſhment for the preſervation of the Natural life of our Bodies: So he hath, for the preſervation of the Spiritual life of our Soul; and that ſuitable to the degree that our Souls have attained unto. Heb, 5.13, 14, Milk for Babes, Meat for ſtrong Men. Food that endures to Eternal life, Joh. 6.27. Such Food as is a Feaſt, whereupon the Soul may feed, and fare deliciouſly every day, Iſa. 25.6,—a Feaſt of fat things, a Feaſt of Wine on the Lees, &c. This is a matter we are much concerned in. That we know both our Priviledge, and our Duty herein, ſomething muſt be ſaid to each of theſe four Particulars.
1. What that Food is, which God hath provided, for the health, and proſperity of our Souls.
2. What thoſe Means are, whereby that Food is conveyed unto us.
3. Something, by way of argument, to quicken our Spiritual Appetite after it.
4. Something by way of Direction, how to feed upon it, ſo as to receive that nouriſhment from it, which our Souls ſtand in need of.
1. For the firſt of theſe. That Food which God hath provided for us, is Jeſus Chriſt himſelf; but Jeſus Chriſt eſpecially as Crucified.
(1.) This Food is Jeſus Chriſt himſelf. For the proof of this, conſider, that Jeſus Chriſt is ſaid to be The tree of life, Revel. 2.7. And the Hidden Manna, verſ. 17. Both which were Types of Chriſt.
(1.) He is ſaid to be The tree of life, in alluſion to that tree, Gen. 2. which was called the Tree of Life, not for any Natural, or Phyſical excellency in it, to preſerve life, more then other Trees, but only as it was a Seal of the Covenant of works; a conditional Seal of that Eternity of Life, which Adam might with all fullneſs of confidence have expected, if he had perſevered in faithfulneſs to what was required of him. But it is upon another account, that Jeſus Chriſt is called, The Tree of life, becauſe he hath life in himſelf, and quickeneth whom he will, Joh. 5.26. And with the Food that he affords, nouriſheth, and preſerveth that life (where he hath quickened it) unto Eternal life, ſo that it never runs into death. Revel. 22. He is ſaid to be a Tree of Life, on both ſides of the River of the Water of Life. But one Tree, yet reacheth to both ſides of the River; ſo that all, from what quarter ſoever they come, may receive Food, and nouriſhment from him. And though but one Tree, yet it bare twelve kinds of Fruit, which ſetteth forth the variety of Spiritual priviledges, and graces, which Jeſus Chriſt hath to give forth for the proſperity of the Soul, according to all its concernments. Thus as he is the Tree of Life, he is for the Food of our Souls.
(2.) He is ſo, as he is ſaid to be, The hidden Manna, Rev. 2.17. Manna, ye know, was their Bread in the Wilderneſs fourty years together. It is ſaid, Pſal. 78.25. to be Angels Food, whether for the excellency of it, that it was for them to have fed upon, if they had ſtood in any need of it: Or whether it was prepared for them, by the miniſtry of Angels; This need not be diſputed. This is certain, it was a Type of Chriſt, who ſaith of himſelf, That he was the living Bread that came down from Heaven: And he is ſaid to be, The hidden Manna; poſſibly alluding to that Pot of Manna, which was hidden in the Ark of the Teſtimony, pointing at Chriſt, as hidden Food, altogether unknown to the unbelieving World, who never had ſo much as a real taſte of the unſearchable riches of his grace, of the efficacy of his Death, or the power of his Reſurrection. But as it was in reference to Manna: All thoſe that in the exerciſe of Faith did eat of it, under that conſideration, as a Type of Chriſt, it was ſpiritual meat to them. So the water out of the Rock, to all thoſe that in the ſame manner, under the ſame conſideration, did drink of it, was ſpiritual drink, 1 Cor. 10.3, 4. Even ſo is Jeſus Chriſt, at this day, and will be to the end of the World; his fleſh will be meat indeed, and his blood will be drink indeed, to all thoſe that feed upon him by faith. And this leads me to the ſecond Particular.
(2.) That Jeſus Chriſt is this Food, which is appointed for the nouriſhment of the Soul, as he is a Crucified Saviour. Even as we read of the Manna, Numb. 11.8. that it was prepared to be eaten, by being firſt ground in the Mill, or beaten in a Mortar, and ſo baked in a Pan. And as the Rock was ſmitten with the Rod of Moſes, before the water guſhed out, ſo it was, at firſt, by God's appointment, Exod. 17.6. And the Paſchal Lamb was roaſted at the fire, before it was eaten. Even ſo Jeſus Chriſt was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, ſmitten of God unto death, that ſo he might be ſpiritual Food for Souls, according to the Father's appointment. This was the ground of Paul's reſolution, He determined, to know nothing, (i. e. to make known unto them nothing, comparatively) but Jeſus Chriſt, and him Crucified. And indeed the firſt comfortable ſight that a humbled ſinner hath of Chriſt, when his heart works after him, for the life and Food of his Soul is, as he was clothed with his Garments of Blood, made a Curſe for ſinners, as obedient unto death. This was always the ſcope of Paul's preaching, firſt to ſet forth Chriſt as Crucified, Gal. 3.1. So he preached him, and ſo he deſired that thoſe who were his hearers might receive him. So the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, wherein ſpiritual Food is adminiſtered to a believing Soul, the ſcope thereof is to ſhew forth the Lord's death, till he come, 1 Cor. 11.26. And this upon the higheſt ground of reaſon, for as Jeſus Chriſt, by his blood redeemed our Souls from a ſtate of ſpiritual death, to a ſtate of ſpiritual life, breaking down the partition-wall, not only between Jews, and Gentiles, but alſo between God and Sinners, Eph. 2.13. So he purchaſed thereby, not only a full diſcharge from the guilt of ſin, by the imputation of his own righteouſneſs, but power to communicate, from his own fullneſs, continual ſupplies of ſpiritual life, for the daily progreſs of Soul-proſperity. For whatever we receive for our All, is to be received from Chriſt, as riſing again from the dead, as aſcending into Heaven, as making interceſſion for thoſe that come to God by him, and whatever influence Chriſt in his Offices, as King, Prieſt, and Prophet hath into the life, and nouriſhment of our Souls, the foundation of all was laid in this, that Chriſt was a Crucified Saviour. His interceſſion is effectual, becauſe his blood ſpeaketh, Heb. 12.23. As the great Prophet of his Church, he reveals the counſel of his Father, in all that is neceſſary to be known, to make us wiſe unto ſalvation, for that he merited this by his blood, Rev. 5.5, 6. Becauſe the Lion of the Tribe of Judah was the Lamb ſlain, therefore he prevailed to open the book of God's ſecret Council, which no man elſe was found worthy to open, or to read, or ſo much as to look upon, ſo Rom. 4.24. His reſurrection is for the declaring of our juſtification; but that is, becauſe he firſt dyed for our ſins.
Thus you have the ſecond particular under the firſt head, proved unto you. That as Jeſus Chriſt himſelf is appointed for the food of our Souls, ſo Jeſus Chriſt ſpecially as crucified. Even as at this day, thoſe living creatures, which by God's allowance we feed upon, muſt firſt loſe their own lives before they can be for ſupport to ours; Even ſo it is here. No life from Chriſt, but by the death of Chriſt. Therefore ſaith Chriſt, Joh. 6.53. Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, that except ye eat the fleſh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
I now proceed to what in the ſecond place, was propoſed, which was to ſhew.
2. What are the ways and means, by which Jeſus Chriſt conveys this ſpiritual life unto the ſoul, that it may live and proſper.
Anſ. It is by the powerful working of his Holy Spirit, ſprinkling all Ordinances, all Providences, and the Soul it ſelf that receives nouriſhment from Chriſt, with the merits, and efficacy of the blood of Chriſt.
(1.) All Ordinances, in the uſe of them he is ſaid, to ſet meat before us, Hoſ. 11.4. Meat which is compared to thoſe things that are nouriſhing to the Body, Iſa. 55.2, 3, Wherefore do ye ſpend your Money for that which is not Bread? &c. The word is compared to Honey (Pſal. 119.103, How ſweet are thy words to my taſte? yea ſweeter then honey to my mouth) and preferred before it. Solomon ſaith, Prov. 24.13, My Son, eat thou honey becauſe it is good, and the honey-comb, which is ſweet to thy taſte. And it is found by experience, that Honey is good, and the Honey-comb is ſweet to the taſte. But the word is ſweeter then the Honey, which of its own accord drops from the Honey-comb, without any preſſing, which is reckoned the ſweeteſt of all. What is particularly, is ſaid of the Promiſes, in a ſenſe, is true of all the Ordinances, Iſa. 38.16. In theſe things we live, in them is the life of our Spirits. The whole word is ſaid to be The word of life, Act. 5.20. Thus the Lord feeds the Soul, according to that promiſe, Iſa. 58.14. I will feed them with the heritage of Jacob their Father. What was that? It was the good things of the Land of Canaan; but not with them alone, but with that whereof they were a Type, the Heavenly inheritance, together with all things relating thereunto; the Promiſes, not only of this life, but alſo of the life to come. They were part of Jacob's heritage, Pſal. 147.19, 20, He ſhewed his word unto Jacob, his ſtatutes, and his ordinances unto Iſrael, &c. This is one way, whereby food for the Soul is conveyed from Chriſt. Therefore it is, that Paſtors, in their adminiſtrations, are ſaid To feed the Church. It is upon that account, that they are called Paſtors. Jer. 3.15. Act. 20.28. But this is only ſo far, as they are ſprinkled with the blood of Chriſt. Otherwiſe, as there is a vanity in the Creatures, when God withdraws himſelf from them; ſo there is in Ordinances, Iſa. 1.13, Bring no more vain oblations. As the merits of Chriſt purchaſe our Spiritual life, ſo they purchaſe a bleſſing upon that food, which is for nouriſhment of it: Rebecca may dreſs the Veniſon, but Iſaac gives the bleſſing. So it is here, Exod. 20.24, In all places, where I record my Name, I will come unto thee, and bleſs thee. Gal. 2.8, He that wrought effectually in Peter, to the Apoſtleſhip of the Circumciſion, the ſame was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.
2. As in all his Ordinances, ſo in all his Providences, when ſprinkled with the blood of Chriſt, there is likewiſe meat laid before us, even in every one of them, of what ſort ſoever. Obſervable to this purpoſe, is that which we have Joh. 10.9, They ſhall go in, and out, and find paſture. Going in, and out, according to Scripture expreſſion, ſet forth all the turnings, and various paſſages of a Man's life. So we underſtand that promiſe Deut. 28.6, Bleſſed ſhalt thou be, when thou comeſt in, and bleſſed ſhalt thou be, when thou goeſt out. Which is renewed again, Pſal. 121.8, The Lord ſhall preſerve thy going out, and thy coming in. There is good feeding to be had in all theſe, even where it might be leaſt looked for, Mic. 7.14. God promiſeth, That he will feed the flock of his heritage with his rod. This is hard feeding; but bleſſed be the Lord, it hath proved, and will prove again, good and wholeſome nouriſhment, when ſprinkled with the blood of Chriſt: for thereby he hath purchaſed a fruitful, and ſanctified uſe of the Rod. Chriſt being a Mediatour in reference to the rod, as well as in reference to the word: when it is ſo, then dark and cloudy Providences falling down in ſhowers, which (as we ſay) wet a Man to the skin, nay even reach the very heart, coming near unto it, and cutting deep into it, yet they drop fatneſs, and though they make the way foul, yet they make the Land fruitful, Heb. 12.10, God chaſtens us for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holineſs. Then meat is found in the eater, comfortable nouriſhment in the croſs, when we can ſay, as Pſal. 23 4,—thy rod, and thy ſtaff comfort me.
3. As both in Providences, and Ordinances thus ſprinkled, nouriſhment is conveyed to the Soul: So the Soul that receives this nouriſhment, muſt be ſprinkled with the ſame blood. There muſt be (as Heb. 12:23.) a coming to the blood of ſprinkling, in the exerciſe of Faith; for thereby it is, that food, or vertue to feed, is diſtributed into them all, and ſo conveyed unto the Soul. Even as the Root of the Tree draws ſap from the Earth, and then concocts it, and ſends it forth to all the boughs, and branches, which if they receive not, they wither; ſo it is here. It is not any one Providence, or Ordinance; no, if we take them all in conjunction together, that either in whole, or in part, convey any nouriſhment to the Soul, but as ſprinkled with the blood of Chriſt; and made uſe of, as ſubordinate means in his hands, and as made effectual by the exerciſe of Faith, drawing in all our expectations of any Spiritual nouriſhment, from any of theſe, into Chriſt alone, 1 Cor. 10.4, They all drank the ſame Spiritual drink (for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Chriſt) They did all eat the ſame meat. Some had the food, but not the nouriſhment; they had not this ſprinkling, for ver. 5, With many of them, God was not well pleaſed. So it may be with any of us, at this day: Though we have cauſe, with all thankfulneſs, to acknowledge, as David did, in another caſe, Pſal. 23.5, Thou prepareſt a Table before me, in the preſence of mine enemies. To their great grief, and vexation, who thought they had ſhut the Door, ſo as no Man ſhould have opened it: but God hath opened it, ſo as none of them can, as yet, ſhut it; ſo that we are not ſcanted in proviſion for our Souls; yet as Pharaoh's lean Kine did not proſper ever the better for their feeding in a Meadow, and eating up the fat Kine: Even ſo will it be with our Souls, unleſs we feed upon Chriſt. In the uſe of Paſture, and all other means of feeding, they will ſtill be lean, and ill-favoured. So that, if we were ſenſible of it, we ſhould ſee cauſe to complain, as Iſaiah doth, My leanneſs, my leanneſs, Iſa. 24.16. God will deal with us, as he did with them, when he gave them the food they luſted after, though they had it, yet he ſent leanneſs into their Souls: Inſtead of nouriſhing them, a deadly conſumption came along with it, as Num. 11.33. Pray that we may be delivered from this Judgment, that we may not (as it is ſaid in our common Proverb) ſtarve in a Cook's ſhop. And this leads me to the
3. Third Particular: What arguments are there to quicken our Spiritual appetite to this food? Of many that might be given, I ſhall only mention theſe three.
(1.) This is food, that may eaſily be compaſſed. Many are put hard to it, for a ſubſiſtence for themſelves, and their Families. Eccl. 6.7, All the labour of Man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. But it is not ſo here; this is prepared, ready for us, Matth. 22.4. I have prepared my Dinner: mine Oxen, and my Fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. And freely offered, it is but, Come, and eat, Iſa. 55.1, 2. 'Tis true, we are commanded to labour for this food, more then for any thing elſe that the World affords, what need ſoever we ſtand in of it, Joh. 6.27, Labour not for the meat that periſheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlaſting life, which the Son of Man ſhall give unto you. But it is with a labour like that of Adam in Paradiſe, ſweet, eaſie, and delightful. The very labouring after it, affords more content, and ſatisfaction to the Soul (truly ſo called) then any Creature-comfort whatſoever, Prov. 3.15, 16, 17.
(2.) There is no other food for our Souls but this; we muſt feed upon it, or ſtarve. Any thing that God appoints, may ſupply the want of bodily food. Deut. 8.2, 3,— Man doth not live by Bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord, doth Man live. But nothing can ſupply the want of Chriſt. They that feed upon any thing elſe, expecting any Soulnouriſhment, do but (as they Iſa. 44.20.) feed on aſhes. And indeed the complexion of ſome Mens Souls, ſhews what their diet is, ſo Earthly, &c. As young folks under ſome bodily Diſtemper, eat Chalk, or Lime, &c. How ill do they look? Make the beſt of it, To feed upon any thing elſe is but periſhing food, Joh. 6.27. And as well may we think that fiſhes of the Sea may live in the Air, or the beaſts of the Field in the bottom of the Sea, as that the Soul may live, and proſper by any thing, either Providences, or Ordinances, without feeding upon Chriſt in them.
(3.) There needs no other food, Joh. 6.55, For my fleſh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. And as all the ſweetneſs, deſirableneſs, and matter of nouriſhment that is in the meat, is for the health, and wellfare of the Body: So whatever is in Chriſt, and whatever Chriſt is, (and Chriſt is altogether lovely) quantus, quantus est, all is for the life and health, ſtrength and proſperity of the Soul. Joh. 10.10. It is ſaid, He came into the World, that is to live, and dye in the World, to do and ſuffer, what was to be done, and ſuffered, that dead Souls might live, and living Souls have life in abundance; that is, might live, and proſper.
Whether we conſider Chriſt in his Perſon, or in his Offices, we ſhall ſee in both, that there, and there alone, food is to be had for our Souls.
Before I mention either of theſe, I ſhall firſt lay before you this Propoſition.
That whatſoever may encourage a doubting Sinner, experimentally under clear convictions, that there is no poſſibility of Salvation, in an Unregenerate ſtate, and fully ſatisfieth him, that all Salvation is to be had in Chriſt, and without him, no Salvation at all; whatſoever I ſay, may encourage ſuch a Perſon, under great uncertainties, whether Chriſt will accept of him, or no, to come unto him, to caſt himſelf down at the footſtool of his grace, into the arms of his mercy, to depend upon him, and abide in him for all, that may give him a Title to, and a fitneſs for Heaven. And
(2.) Whatever may eſtabliſh ſuch a Perfon, having thus adventured his Eternal eſtate in the hands of Chriſt, in a good hope, through grace, that he ſhall receive ſuch help and aſſiſtance from the Spirit of Chriſt, that he ſhall perſevere unto the end, both in the love that God bears unto him, and in the grace that he hath wrought in him, ſo as the good work begun in him, ſhall be perfected: Where that is to be found which hath an influence into all this; there, certainly, food is to be had, for the life, health, and proſperity of our Souls. This needs no proof, ye will all aſſent to it.
Now, that all this is to be found in Chriſt, and in him alone, will appear, whether we conſider him in his Perſon, or in his Offices.
(1.) In his Perſon, as God and Man in one Perſon. This is the great myſtery of Godlineſs, as hath been, heretofore, at large opened unto you, from 1 Tim. 3.16, Of all Goſpel-myſteries, this is the greateſt. That a loſt ſinner ſhould have ſuch a Saviour, that is as verily Man, as God, and as verily God, as Man. That the Divine and Human Nature, that were, at firſt, at ſuch a diſtance, ſhould meet in one perſon. The ſerious conſideration of this, hath much of Spiritual nouriſhment in it. It will appear to be ſo, when we have weighed theſe two things.
(1.) What the work was, which Chriſt came into the World to do. It was to be a Mediatour between God, and Man. A Mediatour of Reconciliation between a moſt holy God, moſt highly provoked: and Rebellious ſinners, ſtill continuing in their provocation. This was his great work, that was upon his hands, 2 Cor. 5.19, To wit, that God was in Chriſt, reconciling the world unto himſelf, not imputing their treſpaſſes unto them.
(2.) That this affords great encouragement, ſo to come to Chriſt, as being, upon this account, able to ſave to the uttermoſt. Hereby we ſee, that what he either did, or ſuffered, though but in his human Nature, though but for a little while, the whole time of his continuing viſibly in the World, being but 33 years (rather to ſpeak exactly, but 32 years, and a half) was of infinite value and efficacy; which did ariſe from the Union of his two Natures; becauſe the Perſon, though in the form of a Man, was the mighty God, that Did ſuch things, and Suffered ſuch things. Now this is a great relief to Faith; yea ſuch may be the temptation, that a humbled ſinner may be under, that nothing elſe can relieve, or afford any nouriſhment, ſo much (as we uſe to ſay) to keep Life, and Soul together. For ſuppoſe this to be the caſe, Mr. John Hardy of Symondsbury.as once it was, of a godly Miniſter in this County, who dyed but this laſt Summer. I had the Relation of it from himſelf, who was, for a time, in a great Agony, and this was his temptation: Why, ſaid Conſcience (and Satan too, who ſtood behind the Curtain) Thy ſins deſerve an infinite puniſhment, for thou haſt ſinned againſt an infinite God, and thou deſerveſt Eternal death. And that Chriſt, in whom thou truſteſt, he being Man, and ſuffering only in his human Nature, he could ſuffer only that which is finite. And the time of his ſuffering was but ſhort. How then can he by ſuffering ſo ſhort a time, deliver from infinite ſuffering, and Eternal death? This, as he told me, was the temptation that lay upon him, and how he was relieved. Even thus; The Lord brought it to his remembrance, and ſet it home with a Divine impreſſion upon his Spirit: That though Chriſt ſuffered only in his Human Nature; and though therefore all his ſufferings were but finite; yet becauſe the Human Nature was United, in one Perſon, to the Divine Nature; hence, what the Human Nature did ſuffer, though but for a time, was of ſufficient value to ranſome from Eternal death. In ſuch a caſe, nothing elſe could have done it. Nothing elſe can ſupport any Soul, in ſuch a condition. But this may, and this will, if believed, and wrought upon the heart, that the Lord hath laid help upon one that is mighty, Pſal. 89.19.
2. Conſider Chriſt, in his Offices.
(1.) In his Prieſtly Office. He is a great High-Prieſt, Heb. 4.14. Great, both in reſpect of his Satisfaction, and of his Interceſſion; which are the two ſpecial parts of his Prieſtly Office. From both which, much Spiritual Food, for the nouriſhment of the Soul, unto the higheſt degree of proſperity it is capable of, may be received.
1. From the ſatisfaction he hath made, to the juſtice of God, for all the wrong that ſin hath done him, by the ſacrifice which he offered, which was Himſelf, unto death. With this, God was well pleaſed, Eph. 5.2. And for this, he ſhall ſee the Souls of all his Seed to proſper, Iſa. 53.10. Hereby his fleſh became meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed. This clearly manifeſts, that Chriſt is ſuch an object for Faith to reſt upon, as we may ſafely adventure our Eternal ſtate upon. For let any Man conceive himſelf in as ſad a condition, as the fears of an awakened Conſcience can ſuggeſt. Suppoſe he ſees the guilt of all his ſins before him, with all their aggravating circumſtances, and apprehends God coming out againſt him, to require ſatisfaction, to his juſtice, for them all. This is a dreadful ſight, but in the midſt of all the heighth, and depth of that terrour, which this may impreſs upon his Spirit; if God give in a ſight of Chriſt, as the great High-Prieſt, as he made his Soul an Offering for ſin; this is enough to draw forth an hearty act of dependence upon him, as able to ſave to the uttermoſt. This ſupported David, when he was in great depths, that he had a ſight of him, that in the Lord was plenteous Redemption, Pſal. 30.1, 2. with verſ. 6, 7. This was the relief of the hunger-bitten Prodigal, That in his Father's houſe was bread enough, Luk. 15.17. And it was the ſpeech of a gracious Woman, of whom I have heard not long ſince, that upon her Death-bed, being under great uncertainties, as to her Eternal condition. Did not ye tell me, ſaid ſhe, to thoſe that ſtood by her, that the blood of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth from all ſins? And with that her Spirit Revived, and ſhe ſlept ſweetly in the Lord. This, indeed, may well ſatisfie Conſcience, for it ſatisfies God himſelf; yea ſo far ſatisfie Conſcience as to go boldly to the Throne of Grace, for what grace, or mercy ſoever is neceſſary, for the life, and health, well-fare, and proſperity of the Soul, Heb. 4.16, Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
2. As from Chriſts ſatisfaction, which he made to the juſtice of God, whilſt he was upon Earth; ſo from the other act of his Prieſtly Office, his Interceſſion which he makes in Heaven for ſinners, much Spiritual Food for the nouriſhment of our Souls may be had. What ſhould hinder the receiving of it, but our daily repeated failings, and often renewed infirmities? But againſt the guilt of theſe, Chriſt's appearing in Heaven for us, prevails, that even when the Law is broken, the Covenant is not broken; ſo that what Food for our Souls may be had from the Covenant (and there it is all to be had, 1 Joh. 2.1, 2, If any Man ſin, we have an Advocate with the Father, even Jeſus Chriſt the righteous. And he is the propitiation for our ſins.) His interceſſion is as effectual as his ſatisfaction, for he intercedes in the merits of his blood, Heb. 12.24, The blood of Chriſt ſpeaketh.
2. To ſhew further, That all in Chriſt is for the food and nouriſhment of the Soul, much, yea very much may be ſaid of that, which his Kingly Office affords, and likewiſe his Prophetical Office.
For his Kingly Office, he hath an abſolute Soveraignty over all, both Men, and Devils, Eph. 1.21, 22. Far above all Principalities, and Powers, &c. He hath all things under his feet. He is head over all things to his Church. Underſtand it of the Inviſible Church eſpecially, which is his Myſtical Body, whereof he is the head. Eph. 5.23, For the Husband is the head of the Wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: And he is the Saviour of the Body. This is full of Spiritual Food. I will inſtance only in three things, by which the proſperity of the Soul is exceedingly farthered.
(1.) As he hath power over Satan. This affords great relief to a conflicting Soul, that he both can, and will break the Serpents head, and tread him under foot, Rom. 16.20. That in Manlius is memorable to this purpoſe, Satan (as he tells the ſtory) appeared to a godly Man that was ſick, in the habit of a Prieſt, with Pen, Ink, and Paper in his hands, and told him that he muſt confeſs all his Sins to him, he would write them down, and then he would abſolve him. The Sick Man was ſtricken with fear (and no marvel) but recollecting himſelf, and perceiving who he was; If thou wilt write, ſaith he, write this firſt, The ſeed of the woman ſhall break the Serpents head, and with that, the Devil vaniſhed.
(2.) As he hath Soveraignty over the Heart. He can take away the heart of ſtone, and give an heart of fleſh, Ezek. 36.26. A great relief this, when the Soul is mourning over the hardneſs of his heart, to remember that Chriſt is exalted to be a Prince, to give Repentance, Act. 5.31.
(3.) As he hath the Keys of Hell, and Death, Rev. 1.18. A great relief to a troubled Soul, that is under the fear, firſt of Death; and then of dropping into Hell, when he is dead. Thoſe that have obeyed the call, and are ſtill obeying the call of Chriſt, they ſhall none of them dye, till it be better for them to dye then to live, for death is theirs, 1 Cor. 3.22. And for dropping into Hell, Chriſt hath ſecured them againſt that, Joh. 6.39, 40. Every one that believeth on him ſhall have Everlaſting life, and Chriſt will raiſe him up at the laſt day.
3. The Prophetical Office of Chriſt, is likewiſe a fruitful, food-bearing Office. He is engaged by Office, to make all his Seed wiſe unto Salvation, Iſa. 54.13. All thy Children ſhall be taught of God. And he is faithful, who hath promiſed it, 1 Joh. 2.27, But the anointing which ye have received of him, abideth in you: and ye need not that any Man teach you, but as the ſame anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lye. Joh. 17.26, I have declared unto them thy Name, and will declare it.
This affords ſweet, refreſhing nouriſhment, I will inſtance only in two Caſes.
1. When many things are heard, ſomething at one time, and ſomething at another from the word. And it may be ſomething at this time, which is not underſtood, at leaſt, not ſo underſtood, as that the heart is affected with it. Here is relief to be had; he can, and undertakes to teach the heart, Jer. 24.7, And I will give them an heart to know me,—for they ſhall return unto me, with their whole heart. Thus he taught David, Pſal. 51.6.—In the hidden part, thou ſhalt make me to know wiſdom.
(2.) When a Perſon walkes in darkneſs, under many ſad fears, whether ever the foundation be well laid for Soul-proſperity, whether ever he were brought into a ſtate of Union with Chriſt, ſo as to receive the firſt principles of Spiritual life from him. Here from this Office of Chriſt, which is to reveal his Father's mind, in all things that we are concerned to know, there is relief to be had, Joh. 14.19,—but ye ſee me. They were in Chriſt, their Union was begun, but they did not know it; but Chriſt undertakes, ſo as they will leave it to him, to take his own time, that one day they ſhall know it.
Thus I have ſhewed you more largely, then at firſt I intended: That there needs no food for the Soul to feed upon, ſo as to proſper, but Chriſt alone. For as all that is nouriſhing in the meat, is for the health and well-fare of the Body; ſo all that is in Chriſt, is for the health, and well-fare of the Soul. I have very few words more to ſpeak.
4. Of the fourth and laſt Point. Something by way of direction: How to feed upon this food, ſo as to receive that nouriſhment, which our Souls ſtand in need of. I ſhall only mention theſe four Particulars.
(1.) We are to apply our ſelves to this Spiritual food, with a Spiritual appetite. Natural life deſires Natural food. Appetite unto it, is called Hunger, as it deſires meat, and Thirſt as it deſires drink. So it ought to be, where there is Spiritual life, after this Spiritual food, wherein we have both Spiritual meat, and Spiritual drink, Joh. 6.55, For my fleſh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. And our appetite after it ought to be quick, and ſtrong: We ſhould be able to ſay as Iſa. 26.9, With my Soul have I deſired thee in the night, and with my Spirit will I ſeek thee early. i. e. I have moſt affectionately deſired thee, in my moſt retired thoughts, and ſo I reſolve to do. That's the ſenſe: For when the Soul is ſaid to do that, which nothing elſe but the Soul can do, it imports the ſtrongeſt and higheſt actings of the Soul in doing it. Now, though that which hath been ſaid already might be ſufficient thus to quicken this appetite. That there is no other food for our Souls but this; That they muſt feed upon it, or ſtarve: Yet I ſhall farther add this: That we deliberately conſider with our ſelves, What work God requires of us, every day; and that we labour, with our hearts, to do it as we ought. The work of every day is great, in reſpect of the inward exerciſes of grace, when not clothed with any outward duty: As, To live by faith: To ſanctifie God in our hearts: To walk in the fear of the Lord: And when we awake, to be ſtill with God; ſetting the Lord always before us, &c. The external work of every day, is great alſo: The duties of Religion: The duties of our particular Callings, and Relations. All theſe ought to be done, ſo as to approve the ſincerity of our hearts to God, and find acceptance with his Majeſty. 2 Cor. 5.9, Wherefore we labour, that whether preſent, or abſent, we may be accepted of him. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of Epaphras, that he laboured earneſtly in his Prayers; Col. 4.12. And we are required, To do with our might, whatſoever our hand findeth to do, Eccleſ. 9.10. Now hard labour gets a Man a ſtomach, makes him both hungry, and thirſty. It will do ſo, in a ſpiritual ſenſe, when we ſet our ſelves to make ſomething of Religion: To work, and walk with God every day, as we ought; we ſhall be even conſtrained to cry out, Who is ſufficient for theſe things? We ſhall ſee, we need more ſpiritual food, for the nouriſhing, and ſtrengthening of our Souls. This will quicken our ſpiritual Appetite after Chriſt, That we may be more and more ſtrengthened in our inward Man by his Spirit, Eph. 3.16. That we may be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, Eph. 6.10.
(2.) That in applying our ſelves to this food, we manage the matter for our Souls, as diſcreet perſons do, in making proviſions for their Families, when the Market-day comes: They conſider whether there be Bread-corn enough in the Houſe, or whether any thing elſe that is neceſſary be wanting; and ſo, according to their ability, they provide. So ought we to do in this caſe, we ought to conſider what our Souls ſtand moſt in need of, that they may proſper. Some days we may find, we moſt of all want ſtrength againſt one corruption; ſome days more ſtrength againſt another. Some days we ſtand in more need of one grace, and ſometimes of another: ſuppoſe of Faith, or Repentance, Meekneſs or Patience; and accordingly we ought to apply our ſelves to our ſpiritual food, the Lord Jeſus, for nouriſhment, and ſtrength in that particular. Chriſt expects this, that we ſhould be ſenſible of our particular wants: We read Luk. 18.35, 36. that a blind Man hearing that Chriſt paſſed by that way, cryed out, Have mercy upon me, O Son of David. And verſ. 40, 41. Chriſt asks him, what he would, that he ſhould do unto him. Chriſt knew what he would deſire; but he would have him to particularize his wants. Thus we ought to apply our ſelves to Chriſt, with a ſenſe of what we want in particular. And becauſe (as I told you) all in Chriſt is ſome way or other, for our ſpiritual food, both Chriſt in his Perſon, and Chriſt in his Offices: We ſhould apply our ſelves to that in Chriſt, which may moſt of all relieve our faith in ſeeking after that particular ſupply, which, for the preſent, we ſee we need, whether it be in his Perſon, or in his Offices, either as Prieſt, or Prophet, or King. When we know there is ſuch a thing in ſuch a Cupboard, when we go to it, the next way to find what we ſeek for, is to go to the Box, wherein it is.
(3.) What diſpenſation ſoever we are under; what mercy ſoever we have received, or are receiving; what croſs ſoever we are exerciſed withal, or is likely to come upon us; what Ordinances ſoever we addreſs our felves to God in, we may ſpread the matter before God, and tell him our caſe, and our dependence upon him; and pray moſt for the ſprinkling of the blood of Chriſt upon all, that for the merit of his blood, it may be bleſſed unto us, ſo as it may afford ſome ſpiritual nouriſhment for our Souls; the power of his Holy Spirit working with them, and in them, and by them. It is he alone that teacheth to profit, Iſa. 48.17. David knew this, and therefore he prayed, That he might feel the power of God in all, Pſal. 62.1, 2, 3.
(4.) Do this daily, as the matter requires; Nature will decay, if not daily repaired. The Egyptian who had eaten nothing for three days, and three nights, was faint, but when he had eaten, his ſpirit came to him, 1 Sam. 30.12. So it will be with the new Nature, as Rev. 3.2. The things that are ready to dye, if not fed with freſh ſupplies, Phil. 1.19. It was a ſore affliction, which made the Church forget to eat her bread, Pſal. 102.4. It is ſome ſtrong corruption, that makes us forget our ſpiritual bread, as they did forget their reſting place, Jer. 50.6.
I conclude all with this. Our needs, if we be ſenſible of them, we cannot but acknowledge, are very great, every day. That invitation, and encouragement is for every day, which we have, Prov. 9.5, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of my wine: And Cant. 5.1, Eat O friends, drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved. Therefore, come and eat every day, as we deſire that every day our Souls ſhould proſper.