Forty Sermons, Sermon 16
SERMON XVI. ON PROV. 8. 21.
AND he is as good as his word. He bids us open our mouths At St. Maries Novemb. 23. 1656. foreignwide, and aſſureth us he will fill them, Pſal. 81. 10. And never did any hungry ſoul go from him empty. I have ſatiated the weary ſoul, and I have repleniſhed every ſorrowful ſoul. Jer. 31. 25. That double expreſſion of a weary and a ſorrowful ſoul ſignifieth a very great want and emptineſs, but thoſe other to words foreign Abundè irrigavi, potavi; explevi, I have abundantly refreſhed, nay completely filled, expreſs a moſt full ſupply. And when this is to foreign not only to one or two, or ſome few, but to every ſuch empty ſoul, it ſpeaks an over-flowing fulneſs.
1. Firſt in that it can fill ſo many. Every ſorrowful ſoul there; and their treaſures in the plural number here in the Text. There can never be ſo many of them that Chriſt ſhould not be able to fill them all, who filleth all in all, Epheſ. 1. 23. And therefore as Eliſha bad the widow go and borrow veſſels of all her neighbours even empty veſſels, and not a few, and there was more oyl than veſſels to receive it, 2 Kings 4. 3, 6. ſo bring we to Jeſus our Eliſha, our own veſſels, yea go abroad and bring our children, friends and neighbours, be they never ſo many, and never ſo empty, yet as long as there is a veſſel to receive, there will be oyl to fill it. What Ariſtotle ſaid of vertue, is moſt eminently true of Chriſt, Rhetor. l. 1. c. 9. parte 6. Gulſon.he is foreign. He doth good to many; as it is the greatneſs and magnificent munificence of great men to have many to depend upon them, and receive from them, ſo of Jeſus Chriſt the great God to have infinite numbers to be ſed and filled by him, who giveth liberally, and that to all, James 1. 5. and is aſcended ſo high above all heavens, that herein he infinitely tranſcends the greateſt ſufficiency and bounty of the higheſt here on earth, in that he is able to fill all things, Epheſ. 4. 10. and yet himſelf not emptied. Xerxes army may be ſo numerous that it might drink up great rivers, and as Senacherib boaſted, dry them up with the ſoles of their feet, Iſa. 37. 25. But Jacobs well then is very full and deep, of which he himſelf drank and all his children and cattle, John 4. 12. But how inexhauſt is this fountain of Iſrael, of which Pſal. 68. 26.all the Iſrael of God have all drunk and that abundantly, and that in all ages from the firſt Adam, and ſo ſhall to the laſt Saint on earth? Truly that laſt foreign and general aſſembly of the firſt-born, when they ſhall appear before Chriſt at the laſt day and be with him in heaven for ever, will be a goodly company; ſo great Revel. 7. 9.a multitude as none can number. It will be a Royal ſound which that whole Chorus ſhall then make, when they ſhall ſing and aloud proclaim this truth, that one Chriſt hath abundantly filled them all. Them all? when there were but four thouſand men to entertain, his diſciples asked the queſtion, and knew not how to anſwer it, whence ſhall we have bread in the wilderneſs to fill ſo great a multitude? Matth. 15. 33. Now bleſſed be God that our Chriſt is no ſuch barren wilderneſs; but that in other greateſt wilderneſſes he can and doth and will feed far greater companies.
And not one of them, not the leaſt, meaneſt, pooreſt neglected or ſent away empty. Such in other crowds are often overlooked. But our good Houſholder comes in to ſee his Gueſts, takes notice of all, that none may be without their dimenſum. You heard that he filleth every ſorrowful ſoul; a little Benjamin's meſs may be the greateſt. To be ſure, whatever the man be, he will have the beſt and fulleſt meal that feeleth himſelf moſt empty, and therefore hungreth moſt, and feedeth heartilieſt. The pooreſt Chriſtian that knoweth not what other treaſures mean, in Chriſt hath them, and filled too, and that with the fulleſt. In that entertainment of Chriſt even now mentioned, his gueſts beſides four thouſand men were women and little children. His Proviſions therefore muſt needs be full which could welcome ſo many.
But it may be you will ſay, though they were many, yet it was not much that they received. Philip indeed then ſpake of every one of them taking a little. John. 6. 7. But I am ſure It was as much as they would, v. 11. and the next verſe ſaith foreign they were filled; and that's the word in my Text; other Matth. 15. 37. Mark 8. 8.Evangeliſts ſay foreign and that word ſignifieth a more full repletion.
2. Which is a ſecond proof of the Point; that there is full proviſion in Chriſt, in that as he gives to many, ſo that it is ſo much. Not only to all, but to all liberally, James 1. 5. The ſame Lord over all is rich unto all, Rom. 10. 12. which argues infinite, both ſufficiency and Bounty. For man's, that is bounded: The more it gives to, the leſs it is that every one of them receives; but this heap is ſo great that one man hath not the leſs becauſe another carrieth away the more from it. This Ocean ſo vaſt and full that one Veſſel is never the emptier becauſe another is fill'd by it, whileſt both are full. O the bottomleſs abyſs of God's Bounty in Chriſt! that notwithſtanding the vaſt multitudes of perſons and capacities, however ſome receive more than others, yet all ſo much as they are all filled, and that ſo fully, as if it were for them only. In Chriſt there muſt needs be a full ſupply, when ſo much for ſo many. Much; very much.
1. Becauſe indeed all things. So the Apoſtle ſtyles him, All in All, Col. 3. 11. And therefore might well ſay, All are yours, when he could add, And ye are Chriſt's, 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23. And elſewhere, I have all, ſaith Jacob, Gen. 33. 11. and I have all, ſaith Paul, Phil. 4. 18. Mark what Bills of Receipts his Servants bring in. And truly if by knowledge the Chambers be filled with all precious and pleaſant Riches, Prov. 24. 4. then it's no wonder if the Eternal and Eſſential Wiſdom of God here in the Text be able to fill our Treaſures with all varieties and fulneſs of whatever is more ſubſtantial. To him that overcometh, he promiſeth that he ſhall inherit all things, Revel. 21. 7. It's very much, when in the general firſt it's All.
2. More particularly; fully able to ſupply all our wants, and that in the greateſt extremities of them; as Bethſaida's Pool cured every patient, foreign, of whatever diſeaſe he had, John 5. 4. ſo truly in Chriſt there is a ſalve for every ſore. He is foreign, All and in All, both perſons and wants. And ours are very great and many. Our Souls and ſelves without Chriſt are a very Tohu and Bohu, wholly empty and void, a vaſt emptineſs; and every Creature though in its kind never ſo uſeful and helpful, though never ſo full, as we think, of comfort is but empty; And emptineſs put to emptineſs will not make up any fulneſs. At beſt is but bonum particulare, helps but in part. Our meat ſatiſfieth our hunger, but doth not cover our nakedneſs: and our garments cloath us, but do not feed us. But Chriſt as God is Bonum Ʋniverſale, is All, doth All. There is no pit of deſtruction ſo deep which he cannot fill, nor any want ſo great, which he cannot ſupply. And that in their greateſt Extremity.
3. So full as to ſatisfie all our deſires, and that in their utmoſt capacity. You heard of a mouth promiſed to be filled when wide open, Pſal. 81. 10. And this is more than the former. Your ordinary plain ſaying is, that you may better fill a wantons belly than his eye. Truly ſuch wantons often are many fooliſh men. The Pſalmiſt ſpeaks of their bellies being filled, Pſal. 17. 14. when yet the Preacher ſaith, the eye is not ſatisfied, Eccleſ. 1. 8. So naturally capacious are the rational Souls of men, and ſo ſinfully and unreaſonably greedy are their deſires and luſts, that nothing in the World can fill them. But it's well that God and Chriſt can. As God, He ſatisfieth the deſire of every living thing, Pſal. 145. 16. and as Mediatour he ſaith, Drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved, Cant. 5. 1. Spare not my coſt but enlarge your appetite. Man's deſires may be large: but God's Goodneſs and Bounty in Chriſt is infinite, able to ſupply all our wants in their extremity, and all the deſires of our Souls in their utmoſt capacity. But of this I ſpake ſomething in the firſt Point, and therefore here forbear.
4. Yet let me add this in the fourth place, as an foreign, not only good meaſure, preſſed down and ſhaken together, but alſo running Fons eſt qui vincit ſitientem.over, that Chriſt doth not only fully anſwer our wants and deſires, but abundantly infinitely exceeds them, (as a full wellhead doth not only feed the Conduit, but hath a ſlaker.) When he is the Entertainer, though his Gueſts be never ſo many or hungry, there will be a foreign when all are filled, and have received Matth. 14. 20. 15. 37. John 6. 11, 12.as much as they will, there will be ſo many baskets of what remained, more of the fragments than the firſt proviſions came to. He being able foreign, to do abundantly above all we can ask or think, Epheſ. 3. 20. David's Cup is ſo full that it runs over, Pſal. 23. 5.
Some of his Servants have been ſo filled with ſpiritual joys, that they have deſired him to hold his hand, as not being able to receive or hold, or bear any more.
Yea ſo full and exuberant is this fountain of life, that it runs over in many common bounties even to Strangers and Enemies; ſo that not only the Children are fed, but even the Dogs gather up the crumbs that fall from this full table. O full-handed Father! O bountiful Houſe-keeper! Here's God's Plenty, Enough and to ſpare. Ruth found it in Boaz's field. But the truly hungring Soul Ruth. 2. 4, 18.more abundantly in Chriſt's. Taſts, Pledges, earneſt-pennies here are very ſatisfying. What then will the full meal, and payment, and portion in Heaven be? If he ſo ſatisfie us here, he will there for certain fill our treaſures. They ſo ſatisfie, that they would not have any thing elſe: but only are unſatisfied, that they have no more of them.
5. Add hereto, if you pleaſe, in the fifth place that this filling over-flowing fulneſs of Chriſt appears yet further, in that he can thus compleatly fill us by himſelf alone when there is ſo little (it may be nothing) elſe to beſtead us. A little ſpring, if it have many rivolets falling into it as it runs along, may at laſt ſwell into a great ſtream, and all Rivers meeting may make a full Sea and vaſt Ocean: but it's a full fountain indeed that of it ſelf alone fills all the Cocks, and ſets all the Mills a going. No great matter for a confluence of all outward comforts to fill a man, and that rather with pride and ſelf, than any ſolid ſatisfaction. But
Either when we have but little elſe, to have fully enough whilſt When they ſhewed him two Swords, he ſaid it was enough. Luke 22. 38.we have the more of Chriſt; when ſo many thouſand are fed to the full, and ſo much to ſpare, when the Proviſion was but five barly loaves (that was but ſparing and courſe) and two ſmall fiſhes, (but two and they little ones too) made the miracle the greater, and tells us that Chriſt was the entertainer.
Or when there is nothing elſe, and yet nothing wanting, when Chriſt is not. To have nothing, and yet to poſſeſs all things, 2 Cor. 6. 10. as it hath been with Chriſt's Martyrs and other his deſtitute and perſecuted Servants, when deſtitute, yet not deſolate. This foreign. Hebr. 11. 37.is only from that little ſtone cut out without hands, that became a mountain and filled the whole earth, Dan. 2. 34, 35. As it's the Air which is not ſeen that fills up that vaſt ſpace betwixt Heaven and Earth: ſo it's nothing elſe but an hidden, unſeen, unknown, unconceiveable Fulneſs of Chriſt that fills ſuch Souls with Grace, Peace, and Joy, when all elſe is nothing, or nothing but vacuity and vanity, and that the Prophet ſaith is leſs and worſe than nothing.
In a word Chriſt here in the Text when ſpeaking of ſubſtance, ſaith it emphatically and excluſively, I will fill their Treaſures, I and none, nothing but I. A ſolid and ſatisfying Repletion is from this Bread of life only. All beſides it ſatisfieth not, Iſa. 55. 2. It ſwells rather than fills. Or if it fills, it's with emptineſs, with Job 15. 2.wind and eaſt-wind, with Pride, or Pain rather than with any ſolid and ſubſtantial ſatisfaction. That's Chriſt's Royalty which he here appropriates to himſelf, when he ſaith that He will make thoſe that love him to inherit ſubſtance, and that He will fill their Treaſures.
In the Application of which, that which in the general I Ʋſe. would moſt ſeriouſly preſs and call for, is, that we would endeavour to be more fully and feelingly poſſeſſed with the belief of this truth. For did we firmly believe in the general, and conſtantly carry along with us actual thoughts and perſuaſions that God is Alſufficient, and that Chriſt alone is able and willing and ready to fill our treaſures, it would be of admirable uſe to us in our whole courſe for our inſtruction and direction and eſtabliſhment in matter both of doctrine and practice. As in particular
It would cut off all thoſe Aſſumenta, or Patches with which Ʋſe 1 the Papiſts would eke out Chriſt, to make him compleat, or us in him; as his Prophetical office, in their Traditions, or Kingly, in the Popes Head-ſhip, or Prieſtly, in their own merits, or Popes Pardons and Indulgences. That Treaſure of the Church (as they call it) is exhauſted, and their Purgatory (or purſes rather) quite emptied by this of Chriſts filling of his peoples treaſures. It was in this ſenſe that the Apoſtle ſaid that we are compleat in him, Col. 2. 10. And whereas cap. 1. 19. he had ſaid that foreign It pleaſed the Father that in him all fulneſs ſhould dwell, it cannot but much diſpleaſe, that quite croſs to the foreign the good pleaſure and deſign of the Father, and the Glory of Chriſt, any thing ſhould be taken away from his ſole juriſdiction, or added to help to fill up his plenary ſatisfaction and full redemption. Indeed the Apoſtle in the 24. verſe of that chapter ſpeaks of foreign what was behind (which the vulgar too boldly rendreth ea quae deſunt, what was wanting) of the afflictions of Chriſt for his bodies ſake the Church. But that is meant of Chriſt Myſtical, not Perſonal, and for the edifying of the Saints, not for the ſatisfying for their ſins, which Chriſt had done fully, and by one offering for ever perfected them that are ſanctified, Heb. 10. 14. So that in it alone is the Churches treaſury, to be freely taken out by the alone hand of faith, and not ſold by the Popes merchants to fill their purſes, not Gods peoples conſciences with peace and joy. It's Chriſt alone that fills thoſe treaſures. The Popes Bulls (whether Plumbeae or Aureae) are Bullatae Nugae Bubbles full of wind, which will leave the ſoul full of anguiſh and deſpair, but empty of all ſolid and true ſatisfaction. But we leave them, and come to our ſelves.
As to our practice it condemns our ſtuffing and filling our Ʋſe 2 ſelves with other traſh, as the Apoſtle ſaith, After the Tradition Col. 2. 8.of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Chriſt. Vain man would be wiſe; and empty man, full; ſo vain empty ſouls! Full we would fain be. But it's with the world, with ſelf, with ſin but not with Chriſt; full of poyſon, or traſh. Such kind of fillings the Scripture often ſpeaks of, Either with what is ſimply and ſinfully evil, and will certainly undo us, and fill us at laſt with the wrath of God, and ſinking grief and horrour. So the wanton fills himſelf with unchaſt love, Prov. 7. 18. the drunkard with drink, Iſa. 56. 12. the violent oppreſſour (as the Lion doth his den) with prey, Nahum 2. 12. their houſes with ſpoil, Prov. 1. 13. their eyes with adultery, 2 Pet. 2. 14. their mouths with curſing, Pſal. 10. 7. and their hands with bribes, Pſal. 26. 10. and bloud, Iſa. 1. 15. their hearts full of wrath and fury, Eſther 3. 5. Dan. 3. 19. But where is Chriſt in all this? He doth not ſo uſe to fill his ſervants treaſures. This is the filling up of the meaſure of our ſins, Matth. 23. 32. not the growing up to the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt, Epheſ. 4. 13. Satans filling our hearts, as Acts 5. 3. and not Chriſts filling our Treaſures. The treaſuring up of wrath againſt the day of wrath, Rom. 2. 5. and not the laying up in ſtore of a good foundation, that we may lay hold of eternal life, 1 Tim. 6. 19. What James ſaith of the tongue, that it's full of deadly poyſon, will at length prove true James 3. 8.of all thoſe kind of fillings. Such a Plethorie will be ſure to end in ſome deadly ſickneſs. Like a fooliſh Mariner that overlades his Ship with that ſtowage that will be ſure to ſink her: or the unwiſe husbandman that fills his barns with ſuch ſtuff, which will certainly ſet them on fire if not better looked to.
Or if not ſo bad, yet at beſt and moſt ordinarily we fill our ſelves if not with that which is poiſon and ſimply evil, which will certainly deſtroy us, yet with that which is not bread, this ſubſtance in the Text. No ſubſtantial laſting Treaſure, which we may live on in a dear day. Such are all outward profits, pleaſures, honours, and ſuch like enjoyments, as the Philiſtins filled up Abrahams wells with earth: ſo it's earth and earthly Gen. 26. 1….contentments that we uſually ſtop and fill up our hearts with. Belly-treaſures (as they are called) which God fills worldlings with, Pſal. 17. 14. Not like theſe in the Text which he fills for thoſe that love him. The Body full fed, and the Soul ſtarved. The belly filled with meat, and the purſe and coffers with coin, and it may be the head with notions, and the heart empty of grace all the while. We treaſure and heap up honour and wealth, and Pelion Oſſae.learning and are here inſatiable, as the Prophet ſaith, There is no end of their treaſures, Iſa. 2. 7. nor of our deſire of them. In the multitude of our thoughts and deep ſtudies theſe do utramque paginam implere, whilſt God not in all our thoughts, Pſal. 10. 4. No room for Chriſt, whilſt the Inn is filled with other ſtrangers. No hungring after the Bread of life, when thus filled with other Cates. Nay, the full ſoul loatheth the hony-comb, Prov. 27. 7. None more fully loathing Chriſt than ſuch as are thus filled with other dainties. And yet what do all theſe Tympanies fill us with, but wind and the eaſt-wind, with anguiſh, or at beſt with emptineſs? To have our barns filled with ſuch gayes and fine nothings, when a dear day cometh, will prove but a pining crop, and leave ſuch a ſtorer but a very poor empty man.
Which therefore on the contrary calls upon us to reſt fully ſatisfied with nothing that falls ſhort of Chriſt, that we be ſure that it's he that fills our treaſures. Let nothing fill us but Chriſt, no nor in part conduce to it further than Chriſt is in it, or with it. Chriſt, his Spirit, his Preſence, Grace, and Peace only ſhould fulfil our joy. The beſt duty or ordinance ſo far as Chriſt in it: elſe it will be but empty and leave us ſo. Word, Sacrament, Prayer, Chriſtian Communion, ſo far as this water of life is conteined in them and conveyed by them, are full wells of Salvation, Iſa. 12. 3. Otherwiſe we too often find them but dry empty Ciſterns. If the ſpouſe find not her Beloved in theſe Beds of love, ſhe is wholly at a loſs, and in the midſt of other crowds like a loneſom deſolate widow crieth out, Saw ye him whom my ſoul loveth? Cant. 3. 1, 2. And ſo Paul, in enjoying Communion with the Saints at Rome ſpeaks of being filled with their company, Rom. 15. 24. yet his word is foreign. It's only in part, or as our Engliſh render it ſomewhat filled, and this ſo far as Chriſt according to his promiſe, Matth. 18. 20. is in the midſt of them. The fulleſt ordinances can only ſo far fill our hearts with joy and gladneſs, as Chriſt is in them.
And therefore ſo much more for the moſt delightful outward contentments. Poor broken empty ciſterns indeed they are, unleſs we have Chriſt with them. The Egyptians take meaſure of the fruitfulneſs of their land by the riſe and over-flow of their River Nilus: and ſo may we of our joy and comfort in any thing by the more full communications of Chriſt in and with all. So far as he fills, all is full. Elſe it ſounds hollow, and we find it empty. To this purpoſe it is that he in Scripture is wont to be compared to all ſorts of things that are uſeful and contentful. He is Husband, Father, Friend, Bread, Light, Life, &c. to ſhew that the ſatisfying fulneſs of all theſe is in and from him, and that without him if he be not in and with all thoſe, they are but empty. He is All in All theſe, and therefore without him all theſe and all elſe are nothing. Unleſs we enjoy Chriſt in a friend, our friendſhip is not every way full. Till we taſt ſomething of Chriſt in our food, an hungring ſoul riſeth up from the greateſt feaſt empty. Till he dwell in our hearts, Epheſ. 3. 17. the Houſe is but empty, and till he take more full poſſeſſion of it and more fully manifeſt himſelf, it will not be full. It was by declaring Chriſt to them, 1 John 1. 1, 2, 3. whereby their joy might be full, v. 4.
And therefore, as our Saviour, when he ſent his Diſciples abroad, he bad them where they came, to enquire whether the ſon Matth. 10. 11. Luke 10. 5, 6.of Peace were there: ſo, the like enquiry after the Prince of Peace we ſhould make in all perſons, Companies, Ordinances, Providences, Mercies, Enjoyments. But is Chriſt in them? Have I Chriſt? or ſomething of Chriſt with them? Leſs than Naphtali's bleſſing will not be to me a full portion. O Naphtali, ſatisfied with favour and full with the Bleſſing of the Lord, Deut. 33. 23. It's nothing but Chriſt that can, that muſt fill up my treaſures.
2. And doth this Text aſſure us that he is both able and willing to do it? It doth then ſuggeſt further matter of Complaint and Duty. For is Chriſt in himſelf ſo full, and ſo able and willing ſo abundantly to ſupply us, as to fill even our Treaſures, then how is it that we are ſo poor and empty? that as poſitively, we are full of other matters, ſo privatively, ſo empty of Chriſt? O curvae in terras animae, & coeleſtium inanes! What! The fountain ſo full, and runs with ſo full a ſtream, and yet runs 1. either wholly waſt to the moſt, and 2. to the no more full watering and inriching of thoſe that make uſe of it!
I ſhall not inſiſt on thoſe who either careleſly or wilfully do altogether neglect or refuſe all ſaving participations of Chriſt's fulneſs. He diſdains to feed ſuch full ſtomachs with the bread of life; and therefore although ſuch deſerve to be ſleighted that ſo ſleight Chriſt and his fulneſs, yet this out of pity let me ſay to them: If you be poor for the outward man, and poor for the inward too, how miſerably poor you? want daily food, and the bread of life too, how hunger-ſtarved? what! full of wealth, and honour, and days, and yet wholly empty of Chriſt! How wofully empty of peace and comfort will you be at the laſt, when you will be emptied of all theſe, and Chriſt, who only can then fill you with joy, be wholly then to ſeek, becauſe never before ſeriouſly and ſavingly looked after?
Nay, which is worſe, Are you inſtead of being filled with Chriſt, Epheſ. 3. 17.and by him with all the fulneſs of God, Are you full of the World, of ſin, of ſelf, of pride, of malice, &c. unleſs you be ſpeedily empty of ſuch Stowage as this, it will be like that of a Fire-ſhip, which when the train once takes, beſides what miſchief ſhe doth to others, will moſt certainly ſhatter and ſink her ſelf. This will end with being filled with wrath and curſes. Theſe Treaſures will prove Treaſures of wrath. Such full Harveſts will be an heap in Iſa. 17. 11.the day of grief, and of deſperate ſorrow. This may confound ſuch:
But may very much ſhame others, even thoſe of us who have been it may be for many years filling out of Chriſt, and yet to this day are ſo empty. What narrow-mouth'd veſſels we, that fill ſo ſlowly? that when the fountain is ſo full, the Ciſtern is ſo empty, what ſtops the pipe? that when there is ſuch fulneſs in Chriſt, we do John 1. 16.not receive Grace for Grace? Grace in us anſwerable to that in him? when he ſo full of grace and truth, we ſhould be ſo empty of both? V. 14.of all that which Chriſt is ſo above meaſure full of, and ſo ready according to our meaſure to fill us with? Which therefore methinks ſhould naturally put, even force, us upon our duty. And that is, ſeeing Chriſt is ſo full, and we ſo empty,
1. That the empty pitcher be carried to the full well; that by faith we go to Chriſt, that (as the Apoſtle ſaid of the Saints mutual ſuplies) foreign, that the abundance of one ſhould be a ſupply for the want of the other, 2 Cor. 8. 14. ſo (much more) that our emptineſs may be made up by his fulneſs. As Creatures, we depend upon the opening of Gods hand for the filling of our deſire, Pſal. 145. 15. As Chriſtians, Quicquid mihi deeſt uſurpo mihi ex viſceribus Domini mei. Auguſtin.we are directed to Chriſt as the hand by which God gives all; the Door at which all good comes to us. Ite ad Joſeph, Go to Joſeph, was Pharaoh's word to the Egyptians when they cried to him for bread, Gen. 41. 55. Ite ad Jeſum, Go to Jeſus is God's direction to us when we come to him for a ſupply of our wants, in whom alone as in the Well-Head are laid all thoſe Pipes which muſt convey all that muſt fill our empty Ciſterns. And therefore as Boaz would not have Ruth glean in any other field but his, Ruth 2. 8. So it's the will of God that there ſhould be no other Name under Heaven, which we ſhould betake our ſelves to for ſalvation, but Chriſts only, Act. 4. 12. And therefore out of this full-ſtored Magazine let us fill our Treaſures. And to this end,
1. Let us be very ſenſible of our own emptineſs, whilſt full of Sui plenus, Chriſti vacuus.ſelf we are empty of Chriſt. Yea the full ſoul loatheth even the honey comb, Prov. 27. 7. whileſt they are the poor in ſpirit, and Matth. 5. 3, 6.ſuch as hunger and thirſt, that make the full meal; and who are promiſed to be filled and ſatisfied, according to that, Luke 1. 53. He hath filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he hath ſent empty away. If well, what need of the Phyſician? If Rich, what need of further Treaſure? or of filling, if full already?
2. Take heed of being full as of ſelf, ſo of ſin, the World or whatever elſe it may be that intus exiſtens may keep out Chriſt, and obſtruct the paſſage, and hinder all conveyance from his fulneſs. What that is in every one of us, experience may beſt inform us. But what ever it is, that rubbiſh muſt be caſt out if we would make room for theſe treaſures. And for this purpoſe mark the coherence of the Text with the Verſe fore-going. There Wiſdom ſaith, I lead in the way of righteouſneſs, and adds in the Text, that I may cauſe them that love me to inherit ſubſtance, and fill their treaſures. That righteouſneſs is the way that leads to this fulneſs. As the Pſalmiſt in a Parallel place ſaith, I will behold thy face in Pſal. 17. 15.righteouſneſs, and then I ſhall be ſatisfied with thy likeneſs.
3. Be ſure to get a Veſſel to draw with. For this Well of Jacob, (thouge full, yet it) is deep, and therefore requires ſuch a Veſſel, and that is Faith, and the prayer of Faith. Faith is the hand, and Prayer the Bucket that ſetcheth up all from this full well of ſalvation. We have not, becauſe we ask not, and we ask and receive James 4. 2, 3.not, becauſe we ask amiſs, becauſe not in Faith, and ſo come to receive nothing. It's little it may be that we pray, and leſs that James 1. 6, 7.we believe that Chriſt will and in ſome Caſes can fill us, and ſo we go away empty. But were we full of faith, and were a ſpirit of ſupplication more fully poured out upon us, ſurely with it Zech. 12. 10.and by it fuller meaſures of the fulneſs of the bleſſing of the G…ſpel Rom. 15. 29.of Chriſt would be poured on us. So we read of Stephen, that he was full of faith and of the Holy Ghoſt, Act. 6. 7. and again v. 7. full of faith and of power. And ſo may we be of grace, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoſt, which is unſpeakable and full of glory. Thus in the firſt place our duty is, in 1 Pet. 1. 8.this way to go to Chriſt and his Fulneſs to make up ours: that as the Egyptians drew Trenches from Nilus to water their grounds, ſo we only from Chriſt to fill our pools. He takes it as Pſal. 84. 6.a diſhonour to him if we ſeek it any where elſe. He will be All or Nothing. Is there not a God in Iſrael, that we go to Baalzebub? 2 King. 1. 3.And therefore to him in all our poverty and emptineſs let us go, and to none elſe, to God in and by Him, and to none other.
2. But ſecondly, ſeeing it is for no leſs than for filling of Treaſures, ſee we to it that it be with enlarged deſires, and full and great expectatious, that our fulneſs in that kind may in ſome proportion anſwer his. We ſhould here labour for an enlarged heart, and when others enlarge theirs as Hell, Hab. 2. 5. we ſhould ours as the expanſum of Heaven, Chriſt and Heaven-ward. The more we move towards the Earth, the more we are ſtraitned. He that here promiſeth to fill our Treaſures, would not have us ſpare his coſt, but bids us open our mouth wide, Pſal. 81. 10. even widen and enlarge our hearts to their utmoſt extent and capacity, that we may not only taſte of his Goodneſs, but take in as much of it as we can; As the Prophet bad the Widow borrow Veſſels and not a few, 2 King. 4. 4. and the water-pots were to be filled up to the brim, when Chriſt was to work the miracle, John 2. 7. Let the everlaſting doors of our Souls be ſet wide open, when it is this King of Glory who is to come in. He that hath received moſt of Chriſt, Pſal. 24.hath not enough, and he who here thinks he hath received enough, hath as yet received nothing. Our largeſt draughts are but taſts; and thoſe taſts ſhould but quicken the appetite. Indeed our Saviour ſaith that he that drinks of the water that he will give him ſhall never thirſt, John 4. 14. But that is, Not after other things, but yet the more after more of himſelf: not with a feveriſh helliſh thirſt, as the rich man in thoſe flames, and as ſome Souls here in an helliſh anguiſh: but yet with an heavenly enlargement of deſire after that which he finds ſo ſweet, and hath not yet enough of. After fulleſt in-flows here our emptineſs is not perfectly filled, nor his fulneſs exhauſted: but after fulleſt communications the thirſty Soul ſaith, Lord one drop, one draught more: and Chriſt, as the Widow, 2 King. 4. 6. ſaith, Bring me yet a Veſſel, and prove me if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out ſuch a bleſſing that there ſhall not be room to receive it, Mal. 3. 10. Let not the thirſty Earth ceaſe gaping, the thirſty Soul craving yet more and yet more, till it be filled with all the fulneſs of God, till that (as it is in the Text) he hath filled our Treaſures.Epheſ. 3. 19.
3. How fully ſhould we reſt ſatisfied with Chriſt alone! Will he fill us? And would we have any more? Doth he fill our Treaſures? and that with himſelf? and can we deſire any thing better or more precious? O Naphtali ſatisfied with favour, and full with the Bleſſing of the Lord, ſaid Moſes in his bleſſing of that Tribe, Deut. 33. 23. and O bleſſed Soul (ſay I) though thou beeſt a Naphtali, a Wreſtler, and in never ſo great conflict (as that name ſignifieth) how full may thy joy be? How full of comfort, if full John 16. 24. 1 John 1. 4.of Chriſt? Though never ſo empty of other comforts, nay, though never ſo full of outward miſeries, though (as it was with the Pſalmiſt) thy body be filled with loathſome Diſeaſes, Pſal. 38. 7. and thy ſoul exceedingly filled with the ſcorn and contempt of the proud, Pſal. 123. 4. yet if thou beeſt foreign (as the old word was) Plenus Deo, Full of God and his Spirit, if Chriſt do but fill thy treaſures, how ſhouldſt thou rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the Hab. 3. 17, 18.God of thy ſalvation? though there be no herd in the ſtall, nor meal left in the empty barrel, no nor oyl in the cruſe; yet what a feaſt of fat things full of marrow art thou entertain'd with Iſa. 25. 6.whilſt thou feedeſt on Chriſt? How doth thy Cup with David's run over when he fills it? When God had ſaid, I have repleniſhed every ſorrowful ſoul, Jer. 31. 25. the Prophet in v. 26. immediately adds, Ʋpon this I awaked, and behold my ſleep was ſweet to me. If God pleaſe but to undertake from himſelf in Chriſt to fill up whatever our diſh, cup, purſe, or heart wants of full; ſhould it be in the darkeſt night of all wants and miſeries (and we know not how dark ours may yet prove) yet truly our ſleep in them might be ſweet, and our Souls brim-full of comfort.
And therefore it is our duty as well for our own comfort as for the more full manifeſtation of his Glory, to make up all our wants out of him; our emptineſs with his fulneſs. Whileſt led by ſenſe and not ſupported by faith, this is a very hard Leſſon, as it was for Moſes to believe that Iſrael's whole Camp ſhould be victualled and filled with fleſh for a whole month in a Wilderneſs, and for Philip Numb. 11. 21, 22.to conceive how ſo many thouſands ſhould be fed in a deſert place with five barly loaves and two ſmall fiſhes. In ſuch ſtraits, wants, John 6. 5, 7, 8.deſertions we cannot believe that Chriſt will, that he can relieve and ſupply us. But O fools and ſlow of heart to believe, where is our faith. Is it Chriſt the Wiſdom and Power of God, the Amen, the faithful and true witneſs, who here promiſes that he will fill our Treaſures; and can he not, or will he not fulfil his word? Though we wrong our ſelves, let us not wrong Chriſt too. If thou canſt not believe that he can fill thee, thou makeſt him an empty Saviour. If not to fill thy treaſure, thou ſayſt he is but a poor Chriſt. If not a friend in the want of a friend, and habitation when thou art thruſt out of Doors, if not all in the want of all; thou indeed makeſt him nothing, and he will be nothing, Gal. 5. 4. at leaſt not what he truly is, and what he here truly promiſeth thee, and that is to fill thy treaſures.
4. This might call upon us to follow God fully, Numb. 14. 24. and to ſtand perfect and compleat in all the will of God, Col. 4. 12. Numb. 32. 11. 1 King. 11. 6.that our duty and his mercy may hold ſome proportion.
5. But I end all with that which the Text affords. And in it we find that all this of Chriſt's making us to inherit ſubſtance, and to fill our treaſures, is promiſed only to them that love him.
The love of Chriſt.
As it is the condition of the thing promiſed, or rather of the perſons to whom it is promiſed; ſo it is and ſhould be the effect of it when enjoyed. For if Chriſt do all this for us, then to love him for it is a very eaſie demand; I am ſure but a very poor requital. The things promiſed fall nothing ſhort of perfect happineſs. Perfecta beatitudo. Cartwr.They were ſolid ſubſtantial reality, an everlaſting perpetuity, and over-flowing fulneſs and plenty. And what is Heaven more? Did they all meet in any earthly commodity, that it were a ſolid ſtaple commodity, and ſuch as would laſt, and were there enough of it, we ſhould not wiſh more, it would not want high prizers and many buyers. Chriſt (we have heard) is all this. And therefore (methinks) it would be very hard if he may not be very highly prized and much loved for it. I pray let our love be real to him, who is ſubſtance, conſtant to him who is an everlaſting inheritance, and full to him who here undertakes to fill our Treaſures.
Even ſo Amen Lord Jeſus.