The Fountain Opened, Part 1 · Doctrine 1
DOCTRINE I. That Jeſus Chriſt is a Fountain of ſaving Good.
WHat is nextly intended by this fountain, Commentators do variouſly gueſs; …ome apply it to the Grace of God, ſome to …e Holy Ghoſt, ſome to the Goſpel it ſelf: …nd ſome to Baptiſm, or to both of the Sacraments of the New Teſtament. But all agree …hat it ultimately refers to Chriſt, as he in whom all that Grace which is provided for …he relief of ſinful man, is treaſured up as in a …untain, according to, Col 1. 19. It pleaſed the …ather, that in him ſhould all fulneſs dwell. This …en is one of the precious Titles of Chriſt; & it is Metaphorical or alluſive, pointing us to th… conſideration of an earthly thing, and ſuch a… is well known, for our help in the contemplation of him, and the great benefit that accrueth by him to his people. In the dearing up of this Doctrine, three things may be inquired into, viz.
1. In what reſpect Chriſt is a fountain?
2. What is that ſaving good that is fountaine… in him?
3. How he comes to be ſuch a fountain?
1. In what reſpect Chriſt is a fountain?
A. The word, fountain, may be conſidere… in a double ſenſe; either only as a Metapho… alluding to the repoſitory in which waters a… contained, and from which they iſſue; or elſ… with the addition of a Metonymie, with reſpec… unto the waters that are contained in it; an… both theſe are applicable to the Text: Th… former of theſe belongs to this enquiry, an… the latter to the next. As then a fountain is … repoſitory which God hath, in the work o… Creation, provided for the treaſuring up o… waters in, ſo is Chriſt a Store-houſe of al… Grace, in whom it is laid up. And there an… ſeveral reſpects in which he is thus compare… to a fountain, and hath this Title put upo… him; more eſpecially,
1. A fountain is ſo called▪ from the Plenty of w… ters that are in it. There is a great fulneſs i… a Fountain. Ciſterns have but a little in them ſmall Springs, that are but little veins in the earth, do vent but a little water, becauſe they have not much in them; but a fountain hath abundance in it, it is a vaſt treaſury; there is no want in a fountain, but there may▪ come as many as will to it, and have a full ſupply of water from it; and ſuch a fountain of Grace is Jeſus Chriſt to his people; for this reaſon is he ſaid to be full of Grace and Truth, Joh. 1. 14. And all the people of God are ſaid to receive out of his Fulneſs, verſe 16. and becauſe of this abounding ſufficiency of his, thoſe that fear him are ſaid to have no want of any good thing, Pſal. 34. 9. And believers are ſaid to receive abundance of grace from him, Rom. 5. 17. Hence we are told in Iſa. 33. 21. The glorious Lord will be to us a place of broad rivers and ſtreams.
2. A fountain is ſo called from the Quality of the waters in it. The waters of a fountain are very much different from thoſe that are in a pool or ciſtern; and there are two titles that are put upon them in this regard.
1. They are called living waters. Hence we have ſuch alluſive expreſſions, Cant. 4. 15. A Well of living waters. Rev. 7. 17. And ſhall lead them to living fountains of water. Not that they properly have a principle of life, or a living Soul in them (for they are not in the order of Animates) but Metaphorically, in that they have ſomething reſembling life, becauſe they run, and overflow, and purg… themſelves, and have a continual motion. A… alſo from the efficacy of them, becauſe they are ſalubrious, and very ſerviceable for the preſervation of the life of the Creature. Thus is Chriſt in reſpect of his Graces compared to a fountain, Jer. 2. 13. Ye have forſaken me the fountain of living waters, and the Graces which he communicates from himſelf to ſuch as come unto him, have that Epithet given to them, becauſe they do revive, or give and continue life to them who partake in them; ſee for this, Joh. 4. 10. He would have given thee living water; and 7. 38. He that believeth in me, out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water; and on this account the Pſalmiſt aſc…ibes that to him, Pſal. 36 9. With thee is the fountain of life.
2. They are called clear and pure waters. And this follows from the former; for being living, they purge themſelves, and alwa…s keep clean; A Ci…tern, or pond, or Well, are ap… to gather filth by ſtanding, and to grow corrupt, and to be often diſturbed; but a Fountain is clean and pure. Accordingly we have the Spirit of God, in a…uſion to this, deſcribing the fountain o… Grace which God hath provided for his Church, Rev. 22 1▪ He ſhewed me a pure river of … of li…e, clear as cryſtal Such i… Chriſt, and … a…e all his benefits … are holy, and there is no defilement in them.
3. A fountain is ſo called from the Diffuſiveneſs of its waters. The waters in a Well, or a Pond, are ſhut up, and they move not; but are confined to one place; they are ſtanding: but a fountain is ever running over its banks, and ſpreading it ſelf far and near, imparting of it ſelf in its ſtreams. Hence we ſo often read of running waters in the Scriptures. Such alſo is Chriſt in reſpect of his Grace. We have an Allegorical deſcription given of this in Ezek. 47. begin. in thoſe waters of the Sanctuary, which ran from the ſouth ſide of the Altar, and encreaſed as they went along; which point …o that we are now conſidering of. A foun…ain may be conveyed in ſtreams to many pla…es, for the ſupply of ſuch as want it: and Chriſt conveys his Grace here and there; and …here is never a ſtreet in the City of God but … abundantly refreſhed with it.
4. A fountain is ſo called from the Perennity of …. The waters in a Ciſtern or pool, waſte …ith uſing, and may be emptied in time, if …onſtantly repaired to, yea and the waters in …hem will dry up by degrees; but a fountain …ever full, and hath a freſh ſupply coming in, … faſt as any is drawn out of it, or conveyed …om it: if ten thouſand ſhould come to it, …ey may fill all their veſſels, and yet there is …o want, nor any miſſing, but ten thouſand …ore may come after them, and have equal …pply. Such is Chriſt in reſpect to his Grace; hence all that are a thirſt are invited to him; Iſa. 55. 1. Ho, every one that thirſteth come to the waters; and we are bidden to enlarge our veſſels, and yet we ſhall be repleniſhed, Pſal. 81. 9. Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it; and God hath aſſured us▪ Iſa. 45. 19 I ſaid not to the Seed of Jacob Seek ye me in vain.
2. What is that ſaving good that is fountained in him?
A. We obſerved, that a fountain is properly a receptacle of waters, and therefore is Me…onymically put for the waters themſelves that are in it; and we may here keep to the alluſion. Water is one of thoſe things that are neceſſary for the life of man, and afford a manifold benefit unto it; it quencheth the thirſt it revives the ſpirits, it comforts the man, it cools and refreſheth the body▪ it is of uſe alſo for cleanſing or puriſying both the body, and ſuch things as are for its uſe and comfort: and indeed ſuch is the uſefulneſs of this Element, that the want of it makes the man miſerable▪ and if he be not ſupplied with it, he will unavoidably periſh. It is therefore reckoned for a ſingular advantage and happineſs to dwell near a fountain of water▪ as Iſa. 33. 16. Hi… waters ſhall be ſure; and Chap. 32. 20. Bleſſed are ye that ſow beſide all waters. Now that which is here alluded to in this compariſon is whatſoever benefit derives from Chriſt to the Souls of men, for the helping them to obtain Eternal Life. Theſe waters comprehend under them, Grace, and Glory, and every good thing, Pſal 84. 11. peculiarly the Graces of his Spirit are here pointed to, and therefore we have ſuch an expreſſion in, Joh. 1. 16. Of his fulneſs we have all received, and grace for grace. The benefit of which is excellent, and manifold: without it we muſt needs periſh; from and by it derives to us all that is neceſſary or deſirable. There is pardon of Sin, peace with God, Sonſhip, Sanctification, and Conſolation: the moſt comprehenſive of which will be particularly conſidered of under a following Doctrine. But it is certain that all theſe are laid up in Chriſt, and flow from him to his People, as waters do out of a fountain; and are no where elſe to be had.
3. How he came to be ſuch a fountain?
A. This flows from his Mediator-ſhip, and may be traced in theſe four particulars.
1. Mans Apoſtaſy had cut him off from God as the fountain of life to him. All mans happineſs is fountained in God, and muſt derive from him by way of participation. He was at firſt, in his ſtate of Integrity, planted by this fountain, had free acceſs to it, and could refreſh himſelf at all times with it; the ſtreams of it ran down freely on him: but when he ſinned againſt God, …hat made a woful ſeparation, ſo God tells them, Iſa. 59. 2. Your ſins have ſeparated between you and your God; and ſince then, that is a proper … of … men in their natural ſtate, Pſal. 73 27. They that are far from thee. God is no longer his portion; of a friend he is become his enemy; all thoſe Glorious Attributes which when for him, would have filled him with ſatisfaction, are now armed againſt him, and become a terror to him, being ready to deſtroy him: and if this be not retrieved he cannot eſcape perdition.
2. Gods free Grace conſtituted Chriſt in the Office of a Mediator, that he might procure life and happineſs again for man. Sin had brought man under the Guilt of Death, binding him over to ſuffer-eternal vengeance. Gods Juſtice was now. engaged to execute an holy revenge upon him, for the affront which he had offered to his Law. This Juſtice muſt be ſatisfied; man can no more approach to God but by a Mediator, for without one, God is a conſuming fire. God graciouſly reſolves to bring ſome of that unhappy race back again to himſelf, and be a fountain of life unto them, and herein to manifeſt his rich Grace; for this end he appointed his own Son to become man, and in our nature to bring about an Atonement, by reconciling God and man one to another and procuring a Redemption for us; for this he put Chriſt into his Office, and indented with him in the Days of Eternity: … counſel of peace is therefore ſaid to be between them both, Zech. 6. 13.
3. Chriſt, by his ſatisfactory Obedience, purchaſed and laid in all that was needful for the Salvation of man. Had not God put him into Of…ice, and Commiſſioned him for this, all his Obedience had been inſignificant: for, not only or meerly the value, but the Acceptance of it for us, made it a purchaſe: and yet had …t not been valuable, it would not have done, becauſe Juſtice and Mercy could not otherwiſe have agreed in our Salvation, as they muſt, Pſal▪ 85 10. Mercy and Truth are met together, Juſtice and Peace have kiſſed each other. But Chriſt bought us at a valuable price, 1 Cor. 16. 12. Ye are bought with a Price; and becauſe his …eath was more eminently concerned in this, …ence it is peculiarly Attributed to his Blood▪ … Pet 1. 18, 19. Ye are Redeemed, &c. with the …ecious blood of Chriſt; and as he bought …s …ut of the hand of Revenging Juſtice, ſo he …ought all that Inheritance fo… us, in which …ur whole happineſs is contained, which is …alled the purchaſed Poſſeſſion. Eph. 1, 14.
4. Hence all this good is depoſited in him, and …e diſpenſation of it is committed unto him▪ As …e was at the coſt to procure it, ſo his Father …ath betruſted him with the application of it; …e is made the Store houſe or Treaſure of it, is laid up in him, Col. 2. 3. In whom are hid … the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge: We …ſt go to this Heavenly Joſeph if we would …ain it. God put not only a Prieſtly, but a Prophetical and Kingly Office on him; and now he leaves all to his management, and he gives eternal life according to his pleaſure, John 5. 21, 22. The Son quickneth whom he will; the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all Judgment to the Son. 17. 2. Thou haſt given him power over all fleſh, that he ſhould give eternal life to as many as thou haſt given him.
USE I. For Information in two or three particulars▪
1. Learn we hence the happineſs of all thoſe that have gotten an intereſt in Chriſt▪ All the Titl… that are put upon him in the Word of God are to commend to us ſome excellent benefi… that flows from him to thoſe that participat… in him. Now, as Chriſt's Office is to convey ſaving mercies to us, ſo herein he appears glorious, in that they are all ſtored in him as in a fountain, and that he therefore is a fountain of them. How rich then are all they who are owners of this fountain, that dwell with him? Such are all true believers: theſe can never want; all that they can need is in him; and there is enough and to ſpare: this may turn the valley of Baca into a well, Pſal 84: 6. Chriſt himſelf hath told us what is the priviledge of thoſe that believe in him, Joh. 7▪ 38 Out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living water; and hence the…e is ſuch bleſſedneſs pronounced on believers, Jer. 17. 8. H… ſhall be as a tree planted by the waters, and ſpread…th out her root by the river, &c. Rejoyce the… in this your lot, and envy not the world their broken …iſterns, though they ſeem to be neve… ſo full.
2. Here is good news to thoſe thirſty Souls, that have ſought for living waters, and found none elſewhere. When God awakens the Conſciences of Sinners, and ſhews them ſomething of the miſery which they labour of, they are inquiſitive where they may get a remedy; and they ſeek it at home and abroad, they go from hill to mountain in queſt of it; they have gone to every pit, hoping to draw waters to refreſh their Souls out of it, but they have come away empty and aſhamed, and may poſſibly be ready to ſit down and deſpair of ever finding any that will quench their thirſt, and refreſh their Souls: but be of good cheer, here is a true report made of a fountain of ſuch waters as you need; there is none in the world, nor is there any in your own power: but there is enough in Chriſt; he is an infinite and inexhauſtible fountain of it; and if there was no more to be ſaid, yet here is encouragement to hope: if there were none at all, your caſe were then deſperate; but if it be any where, and there be enough of it too, think then, I will not abandon hope, for who knows but that he may ſhew me the favour, to give me to drink of theſe waters of life.
3. This may anſwer their doubt who are afrai… to come to Chriſt, by reaſon of the greatneſs of their ſin & miſery. When deep convictions of theſe do make them, inſtead of making the greater haſte to Chriſt, to diſcourage themſelves there▪ by from daring at all to come to him, their ſins are too great to be forgiven them, their hearts are ſo hard, that there is no ſoftnign of them, their debts are run up to ten thouſand Talents, they have gone beyond the ordinary ſort of Sinners; and ſure there is no help in Chriſt for ſuch as they are: Look now, he is a fo…ntain, yea he is an immenſe and an incomprehenſible fountain, whatſoever you want or can deſire is to be ſupplied out of it to the utmoſt extent of your cravings, yea, indeed he came for that very end, that where ſin hath abounded, Grace might much more abound, Rom. 5. 20. And is therefore furniſhed accordingly. Hence,
USE II. Let it be to exhort and direct miſerable Sinners; and ſuch are all the Children of men in their natural eſtate, & till they are gotten into Chriſt, and intereſted in his Redemption. Be you then pointed hereby to come to Chriſt for all your ſupplies; make him your object, and addreſs your ſelves to him. Many arguments might here be uſed to preſs this advice; but I ſhall only offer two or three which are fetched from the Doctrine in hand.
1. You muſt have a ſupply or you will periſh. There is no living in the condition you are at preſent in; if you ſit ſtill you dy unavoidably; your ſamiſhing Souls muſt have ſomething to live upon, and that can be nothing elſe but theſe living waters, or you will faint and dy. The whole Word of God will aſſure you of your woful infelicity, which as long as you abide in your natural ſtate, you labour of, and are periſhing in: if therefore there be no ſupply to be had, you will ſink under this diſtreſs, and be undone for ever; and ſurely ſuch a thought as this, if duly meditated upon, cannot but▪ ſtir you up to enquire, and make you reſtleſs in ſeeking where and how you may obtain the ſupply, by which you may eſcape the wo…ul miſery which is upon you.
2 You will be miſerably diſappointed if you go my whither elſe for it. You will have many ſolicitours, who will ſay to you, Turn in hither, and will promiſe you fair; but all is a cheat; believe them not; if you will not be miſerably diſappointed. If you ſeek to the world, there is not one drop of the waters of life to be found in it, it hath nothing but poyſoned waters, which, however they may pleaſe your carnal appetites, will not ſatisfie an immortal Soul. The Worlds Cup may in…oxicate you, but it will never ſlack your …hirſt; mans miſery began in his turning to it, Jer▪ 2. 13. They have dug to themſelves broken …ſterns thar can hold no water. If you ſeek it in your own Righteouſneſs, and take much pains in que… of it by that courſe, it will deceive you; God expoſtulates thus with all that will not come to theſe waters, Iſa. 55. 2. Wherefore do ye ſpend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which ſatisfieth not?
3. There is enough in Chriſt to anſwer all your wants. Let them be never ſo many, or never ſo great, yet know it that fountain hath an immenſe fulneſs in it, and can never be drawn dry: Millions of Souls have been ſatisfied at it▪ and it is ſtill as full as ever, Eph. 3. 20▪ He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think: All other waters will dry up, but theſe never will, Iſa. 58. 11. Thou ſhalt be like a watered Garden, and like a ſpring of waters, whoſe waters fail not. The Pſalmiſt therefore preſumes on this, Pſal. 36. 8. Thou ſhalt make them to drink of the River of thy Pleaſures.
And for your Direction.
1. Be affected with your own Neceſſity. The reaſon why this fountain is no more repaired unto, why Jeſus Chriſt is ſo greatly neglected by the Children of men, is not becauſe they have no need of him, but becauſe they do not rightly reſent their need. Were you in the caſe of thoſe poor Lepers that ſat in the gate of Samaria, of whom you read, in 2 Kings 7. begin. or of the poor Prodigal in his far Countrey, where he was ready to famiſh, Luke 15. You would ſoon beſtir your ſelves. Conſider then what Sin hath made you; take the Word of God, and believe it, and there read what a forlorn condition you are in, ſtarving, fainting, dying.
2. Renounce all truſt in broken ciſt…r…s, and ſeek to him alone for Supply. As long as you look elſewhere, he will not hear you; we are told, in Jon. 2. 6. They that embrace lying vanities, forſake their own mercies. And accordingly we are acquainted how it ſhall be, when God comes to be the portion of the Soul, Hoſ. 14. 8. Ephraim ſhall ſay, What have I to do any more with Idols? And hence we are directed to come with a declared rejection of other objects, verſe 2, 3. Aſhur ſhall not ſave, &c. And one would think your own experience, how often you have been defeta…d in ſeeking to them, were enough to make you thus to do.
3. Plead his ability, or ſufficiency. Believe it, and let it be your encouragement, and make uſe of it in your petitions; argue with your ſelves, as the Prodigal did, Luk. 15. 17. In my fathers houſe is enough and to ſpare, and I periſh; and let it make you to ariſe, and when you come, tell him, your thirſty Souls are ready to expire, and you can find nothing to refreſh them; that he hath enough with him, and that he can afford it to you, and how it will be for the glory of his Grace thus to do, when he ſhall ſo ſave a periſhing Soul, and make it a monument of his mercy and power to all Eternity.
4. Now reſign your ſelves up to his mercy. Reſolve that becauſe you have found all the p… in the World empty; and that here is a fu… fountain, able to ſupply you, you will go no… whither elſe, but wait for the communicatio… of grace to you; acknowledging of his Supremacy, adventuring on his mercy; and beg of… him his Grace to eſtabliſh this purpoſe in you▪ and fear not: this Fountain will open unto you: which is the next thing.