The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 41
Meditation XLI. Ʋpon the Breaſt and the ſucking-Bottle.
THe Word of God, by which Men are turned from darkneſs unto light, is ſometimes compared unto Seed, and ſometimes unto Milk; and the Miniſters of it, ſometimes unto Fathers, and ſometimes unto Nurſes: This double relation points forth their double Duty, which is not onelyonly as ſpiritual-Fathers to beget Men unto Chriſt; but as nurſing Mothers, to give them the full Breaſts of the ſincere Milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby, and of new-borne Babes may become ſtrong in the Faith, and filled with all knowledge and wiſdome in the things of God. But how is this done? is it by Reading onelyonly the Scriptures, without giving the Senſe, though that be a Publick Ordinance of God, and highly to be honoured of all, or by a diligent and well digeſted Preaching of them, in which the Truths delivered are ſucked in as Milk from the Breaſt that partakes of the warmth and ſpirits of the Nurſe? Some Miniſters who have conſulted more for their own Eaſe then their Peoples Profit, have endeavoured to maintain Reading to be Preaching, as if that were a ſufficient diſcharge of their Duty. But what then will become of the Apoſtles queſtion? Who is ſufficient for theſe things? it ſhould then be rather who is not ſufficient? or of what uſe will be his Counſel, To Preach in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon, and to divide the Word of God aright, as a workman that needeth not be aſhamed. True it is, that if Preaching be taken largely, ſor any Declaration, or Publiſhing of the Word of God, it cannot be denyed to be Preaching; but if it be taken ſtrictly for Preaching, by way of Office, and for Miniſterial Publiſhing of the Goſpel, then it is quite another thing. Was there not a wide difference between the Woman of Samaria her making known of Chriſt, and the Apoſtles Preaching of him; or between Andrewes calling of his brother Peter before he was pu… into his Apoſtolical Office, and his Preaching of Chriſt when Commiſſionated by him? and what leſs difference is there between a Naked Reading of the Scripture, or ſome other ſet Diſcourſes, and the Powerfull Preaching of the Word? But if Trial and Experience could better Evince than Argument, thoſe who juſtifie the Opinion by their Practiſe; I could wiſh that ſuch might bring forth their Children, who have lived wholly upon the ſingular meanes of Reading, and let their Countenance be looked upon, and the Countenance of thoſe who have had the Word duly Preached unto them, and then let others Judge whether their Countenance appear as fair and fat as their Brethrens. O how quickly would it be diſcerned which they are, which have received their nouriſhment from the Breaſt, and which from the Bottle? it would ſoon be judged that the weak are the Flock of Laban, and the ſtrong the Flock of Jacob, which God hath by far bleſſed above the other. Think then upon it, O ye ſloathfull ones, to whoſe care God hath commited the wellfare of many Soules, ho… you will anſwer your neglect to God … If the Chief Officer was afraid that his withholding the Kings appointed Meat from Daniel and his Companions, might indanger his head to his Lord, ſhould he ſee their Faces worſe liking than the Children of their ſort; what cauſe will ye have to fear the diſpleaſure of Chriſt when he ſh…ll behold th… wan and pale lookes of thoſe for whom he died, by your de…eining the Breaſt from them, who ſhould have been nouriſhed up in the words of Faith, and good Doctrine? Nor ſhall ye, O Chriſtians, who ſlight Ordinances, and turn your back upon the Breaſts of Conſolation, which are held forth unto you, eſcape any better then the Miniſters who deny them to their People: If it be a ſin to do the one, it is no leſs, if not greater, in you, to do the other. They ſin againſt the Soules of others, and you ſin againſt your own Soules: And yet how great are the numbers upon whom the guilt of this Crime may be Charged? Some think that they are paſt their Childhood, and therefore Wean themſelves; they know as much as their Teachers can tell them, and to what end then ſhould they ſtill give them their Attendance; to hanker after the Breaſt is for Babes, not for grown Perſons? But are not they who thus ſpeak puffed up, and know nothing as they ought? Is not this whole life a ſtate of Infancy in reſpect of perſection? doth not the Apoſtle ſay, that we ſee but darkly, and know but in part. Why then ſhould the old Mnaſons be more aſhamed of theſe Breaſts, then the young Timothies? David Profeſſed himſelf as a weaned Child from the World, but never from the Word. Others pleaſe themſelves, that though they go not to Hear, yet they Read good Books, and better Sermons at home, than their Miniſters can make; and ſo take themſelves not to be leſs zealous, but onelyonly more diſcreet than their Brethren who do not the like. And yet who can excuſe ſuch Perſons from the guilt both of folly and wickedneſs? Is it not ſolly to refuſe the warm breaſt, and to ſuck the Milk from the bottle, when it is diſpirited, and hath loſt both its warmth and lively taſte? and what leſs difference is there between a Sermon in the Pulpit, and in the Pr…ſs? Is it not alſo wickedneſs to offer Sacriledge for Sacrifice, and to rob God of one Duty, to pay him another; to withhold the greater, and to ſeem Conſcientious in the leſs? Are they not in thus doing fures de ſe, thieves to their own Soules, depriving themſelves of the profit of both, while they are willfull neglecters of each. Be wiſe therefore, O Chriſtians, in keeping up an high eſteem of the Word Preached, and be alwayes as Babes for hunger and deſire after it; though not for knowledg and underſtanding in it. And remember that there is no way ſo dangerous to leſſen your deſires, as to keep your ſelves faſting from it. For the Word of God ſtill creates new appetites, as it ſatisfies the old; and enlargeth the capacities of the Soul, as it fills it. Uſe good Books as Apothecaries do their Succedanea, one ſimple to ſupply the want of another; when the Preacher cannot be had then make uſe of them; but let it rather be to ſtay the ſtomach in the abſence of an Ordinance, then to ſatisfie it. And when you enjoy both, ſay as Ariſtotle ſometimes did of the Rhodian and Lesbian Wine, when he had taſted of both; that the Rhodian was good too, but the Lesbian was the pleaſanter. Holy Books are good, and reliſh well, but the Word Preached is more ſweet; the one is as the Wine the Bridegroom provided at the Marriage Feaſt, and the other as that which Chriſt made, which was eaſily diſcerned by the Governour, who knew not whence it was, to be by far the better.