A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 3 · Subpart 8
The Holy-Spirit compared to Water.
Ezek. 36.25.
Then will I sprinkle clean Water upon you, &c.
Joh. 7.38, 39.
He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living Water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him, should receive, &c.
In both these places, and divers others, the Holy Spirit is compared to Water.
METAPHOR.
WAter for its rise, is from the Ocean; thence it comes, and thither it returns.
II. Water cleanses from Filth and Pollution. Cloaths and other things that are defiled, are usually washed and made clean in Water. It is indeed the Bath of Nature, which the God of Nature hath appointed for the cleansing of things or Creatures that are polluted.
III. Water hath a cooling Virtue, it cools the Earth after a vehement hot and parching Season; so the sweating Travellor cools himself by washing in Water. When the Sun by its scorching Beams, hath made a Room hot, wash it with Water, and 'tis brought immediately into a cool Temper.
IV. Water makes the Earth fruitful, 'tis of a fructifying nature. How barren? how unprofitable is it in a great Drought? The Grass fadeth, withereth, and is dried up: but when a soaking Shower falls upon it, how green and flourishing is it immediately made thereby.
V. Water softens and mollifies the Earth. David speaking of the Earth, saith, Thou waterest the Ridges thereof, Psal. 65.10and makest it soft with Showers.
VI. Water hath a healing Virtue in it. Some great Wounds have been healed only by washing in Water. Some Waters in England are soveraign good to cure many Distempers and Diseases of the Body,Joh. 5.2.3, 4. like the Pool called Bethesda.
VII. Water is so necessary a thing, that we cannot live without it, many have perished for want of it.
VIII. Water is good to quench ones Thirst, to allay the heat of our Stomacks, and to satisfy the longing Desire, and remove the intolerable Pains that rise from an excess of Drought.
IX. Water is free and cheap, easy to come at, it doth not cost us much, 'tis a common Element, none are barr'd from it.
X. Water is necessary to quench Fire; when by Treachery of Enemies, our Houses have been set on fire over our Heads, how serviceable have we found Water to be to quench it!
Parallel.
THe Spirit flows from God, the Ocean of all Fulness. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. Joh. 15.26.
II. The Spirit of God purges and washes the Conscience from the horrid Defilement of Sin. I will sprinkle clean Water upon you, and ye shall be clean from your Filthiness. And such were some of you, 1 Cor. 6.11.but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of our Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. The Spirit cleanseth, by applying Christ's Blood, and by creating clean Dispositions in the Soul. See River.
III. The Spirit hath a cooling Virtue in it. The Heart of a Man, is subject to great Heats, sometimes its sweltered with Temptation. Satan by shooting his fiery Darts, puts a Believer into violent Heats.Psal. 42.1, 7. As the Hart is by the Hunter put in a foaming Sweat, and brays after the Water-brook; so Satan, that Blood-Hound, makes the Soul thirst after the Water of Life. Sometimes Men are put into great Heats by prevailing and raging Corruptions; They are (saith the Lord) as an Oven heated by the Baker. Hos. 7.6, 7The Spirit cools this Heat, partly by subduing the lustings of the Flesh, and partly by strengthning the renewed part. Jesus Christ opens the Oven of a distempered Heart; and by casting the Water of the Spirit upon it, brings it into a cooler Temper.Acts 9. When Saul was in that hot and raging Heat, to shed the Blood of the Saints, the Spirit quickly allays his Rage and Fury.
IV. The Spirit where e're it falls, makes the Soul fruitful. Men's Hearts naturally are barren, and like the parched Heath in the Desert; but when this sacred Rain comes down upon them, they quickly look green, and in a glorious manner fructifie and bring forth the Fruits of Righteousness; as appears in the Case of Zacheus, no sooner did he receive of this divine Water, and Salvation was come to his House, but he crys out, Half my Goods I give to the Poor.Acts 9.
V. The Spirit softens the hard and flinty Heart, by applying the Blood of Christ. No sooner doth the Water of the Spirit come down upon a stubborn and rocky-hearted Sinner, but he is made tender and pliable thereby. Lord, (saith Soul) what wilt thou have me do? Acts 9.6.He was soft, mollified, and melted, willing to do what ever the Will and Pleasure of God was.
VI. The Spirit heals all the Wounds and Diseases of the Soul. Lord, Psal. 41.5.be merciful unto me, and heal my Soul (saith David) for I have sinned against thee. Psal. 107.20.He sent forth his Word and healed them. No Soul that ever took down one draught of these Waters, but was cured of whatsoever Disease he had. It searches to the bottom of every Sore, and purges out the Corruption, and then by applying the Blood of Christ it heals the Soul of all its Wounds perfectly.
VII. The spirit is of absolute necessity, without it we cannot live to God, can't live the Life of Faith, the Life of Holiness; many perish and are utterly lost for want of the Spirit, for not coming to these Waters.
VIII. The Spirit of God allays that great Drought that is in Men and Women naturally after perishing things.Joh. 4.14. But whosoever that drinketh of the Water that I shall give him, shall never thirst, &c. It greatly satisfies the spiritual Desires of the Soul, giving Peace, inward Contentment and Joy through believing.
IX. The Spirit and the Blessings thereof are free. Ho, every one that thirsteth, Isa. 55.1.come ye to the Waters. Whoever will, Rev. 22.17.let him take of the Water of Life freely.
X. The Spirit quenches the Fire of Lust, the Fire of Pride, the Fire of Passion, which Satan and our own treacherous Hearts are ready at every turn to kindle in us, and which would, were it not for this sacred Water, burn and consume our Souls, and bring us to utter Desolation.
METAPHOR.
OTher Water many times doth prove prejudicial to the Body; when it is received at certain times too freely, it surfeits, and indangers the Life.
II. Waters, (whether taken in the common Acceptation, elementary Water, or cordial Waters or Spirits prepared by Art) are not Waters of Life; no Water can beget Life, nor give Life to the Dead.
III. Water may be defiled, made muddy, and become unwholsome and unfit to drink or wash in.
Disparity.
THe Spirit never hurts any who drink thereof, though in never so great a heat; you may freely take down this Water, and not be hurt thereby, it surfeits none, no danger of drinking to excess here.
II. The Spirit is called the Spirit of Life, and Water of Life, and may fitly be so termed. 1. Because it begets spiritual Life in all poor dead Sinners. 2. Because it maintains Life: that which gives Life and Being to us, as we are Men or Christians, preserves the same, Whether it be natural or spiritual. 3. Because it makes the Hearts of Christians lively, and increases Life in them. 4. 'Tis called Water of Life, because it brings unto everlasting Life.Joh. 4.14. The Water that I will give him, shall be in him, a Well of Water, springing up into Everlasting Life.
III. The Spirit ever remains pure, and admits of no Filth; 'tis impossible to defile this Water, or make it unfit for the Souls of Sinners. See River.
Inferences.
FRom hence we may infer, that those who have not received of the Spirit, or drank of this sacred Water, have no spiritual Life in them.Rom 8.9. If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Those that have not this clean Water sprinkled upon them, their Filthiness remains.
II. What Fools are those Men, who refuse to drink of the Water of Life? 'tis but drinking, and live for ever!
III. Be exhorted to pray earnestly, long for, and endeavour after a Participation of the Spirit. How ready are Men and Women to go to this Well and that Well to drink Water, for the help and healing of Bodily Distempers, go many Miles, dispense with all other Affairs, that they may be recovered of external Diseases: But how few inquire after the Water of Life? or leave all their secular Business for the good and health of their immortal Souls? To perswade you to acccept of a word of Counsel, take these few Motives.
You are invited; Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the Waters, &c.Isa. 55.1. These Waters are free, you may have them, if you have a Heart and Will in you to them; the Well is open, and Christ stands with his Arms spread forth to call and embrace you.Joh. 7.37. If any Man thirst, let him come to me and drink.