The Fountain Opened, Part 1 · Doctrine 3
DOCTRINE III. They are the Seed of Chriſt, and the Church of God, for whoſe ſakes this fountain is opened.
THE Subjects of this priviledge are th… Houſe of David, and the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem. Theſe are Typical Expreſſions, and there is a ſpiritual meaning that is to be ſought in them, though the literal meaning is not to be excluded; and here is a double Type, tho the thing aimed at in it is one and the ſame How far this ſhall be literally accompliſhed in both the parts of it, when the Nation o… the Jews ſhall be Converted to the Chriſtian Religion, I ſhall not enquire now, but confine my preſent diſcourſe to the Myſtical and Spiritual meaning of it. David was a Type of Chriſt; and in how many things Chriſt was repreſented by him, would be too great a digreſſion now to enquire: but it is certain, that by a frequent Scripture Metonymie, Chriſt the Antitype, is called by the name of David the Type, Jer 30. 9. They ſhall ſerve the Lord their God, and David their King, whom I will raiſe up to them. Ezek. 34. 23. I will ſet up one Shepherd over them, and he ſhall lead them, even my Servant David: and elſewhere. And there are many things ſpoken in the Pſalms concerning David, that can be properly applied to none but Chriſt. By the Houſe of David, we may literally underſtand his natural Poſterity, or thoſe that deſcended from him by Natural Generation, ſo the word, Houſe, is frequently uſed; under which is ſhadowed Chriſt's Spiritual Seed, or thoſe who were given him by his Father, and were to deſcend from him by a Spiritual Regeneration; ſuch a Seed is promiſed him, Pſal. 22. 30. A Seed ſhall ſerve him; it ſhall be counted to the Lord for a Generation. And under the Type of David, the Seed of Chriſt is eminently ſet forth, in Pſal. 89. And it comprehends in it all the Elect of God, whom he tells us that his Father had given to him, and they were in due time to be born of him by a new birth. Jeruſalem was a City which God choſe out of all the Tribes of Iſrael, to put his Name there: there he ſettled his Ordinances, and therefore is ſaid to have a peculiar reſpect for it, Pſal. 87. 2. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion, more than all the dwellings of Jacob. And hence it is uſually applied to the Church of God; ſometimes to the Militant, Gal. 4 26. Jeruſalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all; ſometimes to the Triumphant, Heb. 12. 22. Ye are come to the Heavenly Jeruſalem. And in the former of theſe reſpects it is here to be underſtood; and then by the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, we are to conceive is meant, thoſe who are by the Grace of God brought over to him, and priviledged with the immunities of the C… of God: and this T…pi…al application of J… ruſalem is peculiarly celebrated in, Pſal. 122 So that theſe are the ſame ſubjects with th… former, repreſented under a divers Type. Only we are to obſerve, that Gods Elect are comprehended, becauſe, though they are not a preſent actually the Seed of Christ, and Me… bers of the Militant Church, yet they are deſigned to be ſo, and given to Chriſt for th… end; and by their being in due time ma… ſo, it is evidenced that they were appointed to this priviledge from Eternity. Now the… are they for whom this fountain is opened And in order to our diſtinct taking this up we may obſerve;
1. It is certain that this fountain is not in a… ſenſe opened to all the world. There is a two fold opening of it, which might have bee… obſerved, viz. there is that which is outward by the promulgation of the Goſpel, and tha… which is inward, made by the Illumination o… the Spirit. In this latter ſenſe, none but th… Children of God have this diſcovery mad… unto them, Rom. 11. 7. The Election hath o… tained it, the reſt were blinded. Hence th… awful word of Chriſt, Mat. 13. 11. It is giv… to you to know the myſteries of the Kingdom … Heaven, but to them it is not given. But w… are now conſidering it in reſpect to the former ſenſe, though as it aims eſpecially at th… latter. And here it muſt be granted, that Chriſt is not opened unto any, but ſuch to whom there is ſome ſignification made, by which they may be informed concerning him, ſo as to diſcover him to be a fountain of life; and this muſt be either by Immediate Revelation, or by the diſpenſation of the Goſpel unto them: The former is not ordinary, and therefore, whatſoever God will do on prerogative, yet he hath given us no other ground to expect it but in the latter, Rom. 10. 14. How ſhall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? But it is notorious that a great part of the World are altogether ignorant of this fountain, and there is none ſent to ſhew it to them, and ſo muſt remain ſtrangers to it. For men to think that the light of nature can diſcover, or that the Sun, Moon and Stars can preach a Chriſt to fallen man, is a vain and groundleſs opinion; the Apoſtle is poſitive in this, 2 Cor. 4. 3. If our Goſpel be hid, it is hid to them that are loſt.
2. That this fountain is opened in the outward diſcoveries and offers of it, to thoſe that are not of the Seed of Chriſt, or of his mystical Body. Chriſt hath a viſible, as well as a ſpiritual ſeed: i. e. ſuch as are only ſo in outward appearance; there is a Jew that is ſo outwardly, and one who is ſo inwardly. Now it is the viſible Church of Chriſt which is the ſubject of the outward Diſpenſations of the Goſpel, and exhibitions of Chriſt therein. Chriſt is preached as well to Reprobates as to Elect; the Goſpel is afforded, and the Grace of it offered, as well to thoſe in whom it is a Savour of death, as to thoſe to whom it becomes a Savour of life, 2 Cor. 2. 15, 16. The Apoſtle tells us, in Rom. 9. 6. All are not Iſrael that are of Iſrael. i. e. All do not belong to the true Seed, that have the external denomination: and yet theſe are they to whom the Miniſtration of the letter is equally afforded.
3. This notwithſtanding the direct aim, and great deſign of opening this fountain, is for the ſake of thoſe that are given to Chriſt. This is a great truth, though the carnal minds of natural men are prejudiced at it, and engage in ſo many earneſt cavils againſt it; and it becomes a ſtone of ſtumbling and a rock of offence to them, yet it is fully aſſerted in the Word of God, and is neceſſary to be laid open in the Miniſtry of the Goſpel. That then this truth may be cleared up, let us obſerve the following Propoſitions.
1. That there is a ſelect number of Adams ruined Poſterity, whom God hath appointed to bring to eternal life by Chriſt. We muſt begin here, if we would follow this grace down from the fountain of it. Gods laſt end in this great affair was the exaltation of the glory of his Grace; but in the o…dering of the Media by which this was to be brought about there muſt be a ſubject in whom it is to be exalted: and that can be no other than a Creature that needed it. This neceſſity man brought upon himſelf by his undoing Apoſtaſy, out of the ruines whereof God would pick up ſuch as ſhould be made the monuments of it: and theſe were not intended to be all, but only ſome, who are called his Choſen, thoſe whom he hath given to Chriſt, thoſe whoſe names are written in the Book of Life, and other like diſtinguiſhing notes, differencing them from the reſt of mankind: nor could this appointment be only general and conditional, for then it were improper to ſay, that their names were written, or that God knows who they are, but we are aſſured that he doth, 2 Tim 2. 19.
2. Hence it was for their ſakes that Chriſt was prepared and appointed to be a fountain of life to them. All mankind died in the firſt Tranſgreſſion, Rom. 5. 12. By one man ſin came into the world, and death by ſin; ſo that death paſſed upon all men, for that all have ſinned: There muſt therefore a Well of Salvation be opened for the man, if ever he be reſtored to life again. The Son of God, barely conſidered as a Divine perſon, could not be ſo to Fallen man, as the caſe ſtands between God and him. He was capable of being made ſo, but there was a great deal to be done in this affair to bring it about; he muſt become a Surety for us; he muſt, as ſuch, take our nature upon him, and in it put himſelf in our room, under the Law, and comport with the Sanctions of it; accordingly he muſt do and dy for us, and therein fulfil all righteouſneſs; and in that way he became able to ſave us to the uttermoſt▪ God is therefore ſaid to have made him all this, 1 Cor. 1. 30. Who of God is made to us wiſdom, and righteouſneſs, and Sanctification, and Redemption. Now that which was deſigned in this was our Salvation, and therefore it had a peculiar reſpect to thoſe whom he was to ſave; Chriſt therefore declares the very deſign of this, Joh. 17. 19. For their ſakes do I Sanctifie my ſelf; and it is a thing altogether unqueſtionable, that if it had not been for this, the Son of God had never taken this province upon him, and gone through it, as may be gathered from, Joh. 3. 17. God-ſent not his Son into the world to condemn the World, but that the World through him might be ſaved.
3. That the Goſpel, in which this fountain is opened, was appointed to be the way of the communication of the vertue of it unto theſe. It is not enough that there was a fulneſs of all Grace ſtored in Chriſt, but there muſt be a derivation of the ſaving vertue of it, to all thoſe that live by it. Now, though the ſpirit of God, to whom the Application of it belongeth, is he who derives it to us from Chriſt, yet he hath a way in which he ſo doth; and we are given to underſtand that this is by the Goſpel: and therefore the vertue of it is Metonymically aſſigned to the Goſpel, which is called the power of God to Salvation, Rom. 1. 16. And the reaſon is, becauſe as it is to become ours, ſo God deals with us in bringing us to this faith, according to our nature, …s Reaſonable Creatures, by ſhewing us our object, and the fulneſs and ſufficiency of it; by diſcovering the terms of the Covenant, on which we may come to be intereſted in it; by ſetting before us all the incentives to move us to entertain it; all of which are diſcovered to us in and by the Goſpel; for we are told, 2 Tim. 1. 10. Life and Immortality are brought to light by the Goſpel. When therefore God intends men Salvation, in the ordinary diſpenſation of himſelf to them, he makes uſe of the Goſpel as a Medium by which he will apply himſelf to them.
4. Thoſe to whom it is thus to be diſpenſed, live mixt among other men. It is Gods good pleaſure, that his Choſen ſhall be ſcattered up and down in the World, and have their dwelling among thoſe that are his Enemies; he therefore calls them from the Lions dens, and from the mountains of the Leopards, Cant. 4. 8. There are indeed ſome places in the world that are wholly in darkneſs, and we know not of any of thoſe that are given to Chriſt among them; but in other places they dwell one with another; in ſome places there are more, in others there are fewer of theſe, b… there are no places where Chriſt hath a Se… but there are wicked men dwelling with th… Godly. The Apoſtle therefore tells us, th… we muſt go out of the world, if we would … wholly ſeparated from ſuch, 1 Cor. 5. 10. An… we are acquainted that God hath ſome, who… he will ſooner or later make ſharers in th… benefit, in every Nation; Rev. 5. 9. Thou … redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of ever… kindred and tongue, and people, and nation. T… tares and the wheat muſt grow together till th… end of the world; then will a ſeparation b… made between the one and the other, an… not till then, Mat. 13. 40, 41. And theſe n… only dwell together in one City or Town but oftentimes they live in the ſame houſe and ly in the ſame bed, Luk. 13. 34. There ſhall be two men in one b…, the one ſhall be t… ken and the other left.
5. That God hath appointed men, who are called by him unto it, to be the ordinary diſpenſers … this Goſpel. He could indeed have done it immediately by his Spirit, or he could have employed the Glorious Angels in this Affair, wh… would have accounted it an honour thus … miniſter for the heirs of Salvation: but he hath Choſen this way in his wiſdom, as that which is beſt accommodated for us, and that wherein he will gain the greater glory to himſelf, according to, 2 Cor. 4 7. We have this treaſure is earthen veſſels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. It was for this end that Jeſus Chriſt gave ſuch gifts to men when he aſcended, as Eph. 4. 10 &c. For the perfecting of the Saints, &c. And the Apoſtle gives us to underſtand, that ordinarily there is no other way for us to come to faith in Chriſt, and obtain Salvation by him, Rom. 10. 14, 15. How ſhall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how ſhall they hear without a Preacher?
6. That theſe cannot diſtinguiſh between thoſe that are given to Chriſt, and others. They are not acquainted with the ſecret counſels of God concerning men in particular; they find men equally lying in the rubbiſh of the Apoſtaſy, and have not been admitted to look into the Lambs Book of Life, and there to read whoſe names ſtand upon record, ſo as to apply themſelves to them and to no other. Thoſe whom God hath purpoſed to ſhew his ſpecial Grace upon, are alike with others in their natural eſtate, being children of wrath as they, Eph. 2. 3. There is no difference between them in their frame and diſpoſition, Rom. 3. 9. They are all under ſin. In their natural ſtate they are held under the power and dominion of their luſts, and are as ill conditioned as the moſt, and poſſibly have run themſelves into as great exorbitancies, Tit. 3. 3. We our ſelves were ſometimes diſobedient, ſerving divers luſts, &c. Nay, they may have … themſelves ſo prodigiouſly againſt God, a… Chriſt, that theſe may doubt of them, a… object againſt them, ſo did Ananias, with r… ſpect to Paul, when God bad him to viſit him Acts 9. 13. Lord, I have heard by many of t… man, how much evil he hath done to thy Saints … Jeruſalem, &c. Before God cometh with h… power to accompany their miniſtry to effec… his Servants may meet with more diſcourag… ment from ſuch whom God will bring ho… to himſelf by their Miniſtry at laſt, than fro… any others.
7. Hence they are to open and offer this Gr… to all that hear them. It is true, thoſe off… are to be made upon Goſpel terms; they a… to preach it as a Covenant, and not only … tell Sinners that there is mercy to be had wi… God, but to ſhew them in what way alo… they may come by it. However they ar… thus to exhibit this fountain, and bid all without exception to come to it, they muſt ende… our to make all that hear them ſenſible o… their need of it, and then to give them all encouragement to come to it; they are to repeat their invitation to the thirſty to come t… the waters, Iſa 55. 1. they are to tell the wea… ry and heavy laden; that if they do come, Chriſt will give them reſt, Mat. 11. 28. They are to invite the moſt wicked, to ſet the hopes o… mercy before them, and aſſure them that i… …ey comply with the propoſals of the Goſpel, they ſhall be welcome, and need not to …eſpair: they are to tell the wicked, that if …e will forſake his way, and return to the Lord, …e will abundantly pardon, Iſa. 55. 7. To let them …now that Chriſt came to ſave chief ſinners, … Tim. 1. 15. Nor are there any ſins or Sin…ers exempted but ſuch as have committed …e unpardonable ſin, which is hard to know, …nd ought not eaſily to be charged upon any.
8. And there ſhall a glory red…und to God from … thoſe to whom this fountain is thus opened. It …s not to be expected, that all that are invited …ill come; we read, Mat. 22. 5, 6. They made …ght of it, and went their mays, one to his farm, …nother to his Merchandize: and the remnant …ok his Servants and entreated them ſpitefully, …nd ſlew them. There are ſome that will hear…ly accept of the Call, and come to Chriſt with all their hearts; and there are others who will bid him depart, and return …corn …nd contempt to all the invitations which he …ives them. However God will be no loſer …y theſe, either the one or the other. Deſpi…ers indeed will loſe the benefit which they might have been made happy by, had they complied with the Treaty; but God will make his word to obtain its end; Iſa. 55. 11. M… word which goeth out of my mouth, it ſhall not return unto me void, but ſhall accompliſh that which I pleaſe, &c. Paul longed for the Converſion of all his Hearers, but he found it fall out otherwiſe in many of them, not withſtanding he comforted himſelf in this, that … labour ſhould not be loſt, but God would glorified in the iſſue, whatever the effica… were, 2 Cor. 2. 15. We are unto God a ſweet … vour of Chriſt, in them that are ſaved, and them that periſh.
9. But yet if it had not been for this ſeed Chriſt, this fountain had not been thus open… Chriſt was exhibited for the diſcovery Gods Grace, and though they that deſpiſe ſhall-ſmart for their ſo doing, yet the pri… deſign of ſending the Goſpel, and reveali… Chriſt in it unto any, is mans Salvation … him; and but for this there had been … Chriſt, and ſo no offer of him. Mans rela… on to the Covenant of Works, expoſed him ſuficiently to Revenging Juſtice; the New Co… nant was for the diſplay of Grace. If Go… ſends his Goſpel to any, it is becauſe he ha… ſome there to be made partakers of his ſavin… mercy, this was the reaſon why Paul mu… tarry at Corinth, Acts 18 9, 10. Be not afrai… &c. for I have much people in this City; an… we may ſuppoſe the reaſon why the Spirit for had him to preach the Word in Aſia, and woul… not ſuffer him to go into Bythinia, Chap. 16. 6 7. was becauſe there were none there to … Converted by his Preaching.
10. Hence theſe, and only theſe ſhall partake … …e ſaving good of it. Others partake in the …utward benefit of it, but through their ſin, … turns to their greater Condemnation: but …heſe are made to enjoy the efficacy of this …ountain, and all the vertue of it derives to …hem for their everlaſting good: and in this …egard it is opened only for them; i. e. for …heir real good in the event. It is indeed the …thers fault that they are not ſavingly bene…ted by it; but the peculiar grace and favour …f God appears to theſe, not only in afford…ng the fountain to be opened to them, but …lſo in bringing of them to it, and making …hem drink of it, and live for ever; and it is …ertain, that there muſt be beſides the out…ard offer of it to men by the Word and the Miniſtry of it, the powerful operation of the …pirit of God, to perſwade and enable ſinful …en thus to forſake their broken ciſterns, at which they dwelt contentedly, and betake …hemſelves to the fountain of living waters. Chriſt ſaith, Joh. 6 44. No man can come unto …e, except the father which hath ſent me, draw …im; and they are only thoſe that did thus …elong to Chriſt in the Covenant of Redem…tion, to whom he ſo irreſiſtably and efficaci…uſly applies himſelf in bringing them over to Chriſt by faith; hence that, Joh. 10. 26. Ye …elieve not, becauſe ye are not of my ſheep. And without doubt, all that it was thus opened for, ſhall in due time be made happy ſharers in it, Joh. 6. 37. All that the father hath given … ſhall come unto me.
USE 1. We may here take notice of the … derful love of God to his Choſen in Christ. Wh… the Scripture attributes love to God, it po… to his good will in purpoſing good to be … ſtowed on them, and making them that … appointed thereto to partake therein: and … love is looked upon to be greater or leſs, … cording to the things that are willed in it, … the benefit received by them: and on this … count, God is ſaid to love ſome of his Cr… tures more than others, in that he hath d… more for them, and prepared greater bleſſi… to beſtow on them. There is a common lo… of God, in which the whole Creation is ſharer, appearing in his benignity in beſtowi… on them theſe favours by which they are pr… ſerved, ſupplied, and comforted; to this is … be referred that, Acts 14 17 He did good, a… gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful ſeaſon filling our hearts with food and gladneſs; an… Chap. 17 25 He giveth to all life, and breat… and all things. But then there is a ſpecial lo… which God hath for ſome of his Creature and that was in appointing, providing, and opening this fountain for them, from whic… they may derive everlaſting life. This therefore is mentioned in the Goſpel with an E… phaſis, as if it were the only love, 1 Joh. 4 9 In this was the love of God manifeſted to us, &c. & Joh. 3. 16. God ſo loved the world, &c. Certainly then this love of God to thoſe for whom it was prepared muſt be great beyond conception: Paul thus ſignalizeth the love of Chriſt to him, Gal. 2. 20. Who loved me, and gave himſelf for me. Now it is certain that this fountain was ordained for the ſaving benefit of thoſe, and only thoſe whom God ordained to eternal life by Chriſt; but for whoſe ſake it had never been. And though ſuch to whom this fountain is opened in the Diſpenſation of the Goſpel, are by vertue of it priviledged ſingularly above others, as Pſal. 147. …0. He hath not dealt ſo by any Nation, &c. Yet the ſpecialty of it appears in reſpect of thoſe to whom it is applied by the Spirit, and they are made to drink of it, and to live by it; for to theſe only it becomes effectual in regard of the great deſign of it: and theſe are only the Iſrael of God, his Choſen and Called. For though it is Miniſterially opened to others, yet ſpiritually it is to them a ſealed fountain, and they participate not in the vertue of it. How infinitely then are theſe beholden to God for Chriſt? and what praiſe and thanksgiving ought they to be ever celebrating their gratiude to him withal, for this benefit?
USE II. Learn hence how vain a thing it is for any to boaſt and be confident, in that they enjoy the outward Goſpel Diſpenſations. True, G… doth favour ſuch more than he doth the… that ſit in the dark, and have no Goſpel li… ſhining among them; and they owe him gr… thanks for ſuch a favour, becauſe by it th… are nearer Salvation, as to the means; th… fountain is brought to them, and if they p… riſh for all, it will be their own ſault: how… ver this outward priviledge doth not giv… them the ſecurity of Salvation. There a… multitudes that dy of thirſt, notwithſtandi… the fountain is before them, and they a… invited to d…ink of it, and live, becau… they will not make uſe of it; they will … come to Chriſt that they might have life, J… 5. 40. They leave it for their broken ciſter… which will not afford one drop of the w… ters of life to them; and if they drink n… ver ſo large draugh…s thereof, it will n… que…ch their appetites. Boaſt not then o… your priviledges, unleſs God hath given yo… an heart to improve them Think of th… awful obſerva…ion▪ Deut. 29. 2, 3, 4. Ye ba… ſeen all, &c yet the Lord hath not given … an heart to perceive, and eyes to ſee, and … to hear unto this day. Think not that li… is ſecured to you by this, or that becau… God hath ſavoured you with the Goſp… you are ſafe, or ſecure of Salvation by i… you may prove deſpiſers, and then yo… guilt and condemnation will be the greate… for none equally ſuff…r Gods wrath, with thoſe …o who… a Chriſt hath been offered, and they …eglected him. God will call thoſe whom he pleaſ…, to receive Chriſt, and live by him; the Saving vertue of the Goſpel ſhall not be …oſt, although you put it from you, and periſh. B… not then high minded, but fear.
USE. III. We here ſee of what great importance it is for us all to make our Calling and E… ſure▪ It certainly is a duty incumbent on all, and therefore we are called upon to uſe …iligence in it, 2 Pet. 1. 10. Surely it infinitely concerns all the Children of fallen Adam to …et a title to the fountain of life, and take care that they be not miſtaken about it. It is not enough to give an Hiſtorical credit to the truths of the Goſpel, wherein we are told that Jeſus Chriſt is an Alſufficient Saviour, and that all Life and Salvation is fountained in him; though this credit is alſo neceſſary in order to our coming to▪ and believing on him: but our concern is to know whether we are ſharers in it, whether it be made ours, and ſhall aſſuredly afford us Salvation. It is evident that we are all periſhing in our natural ſtate; that this world is a thirſty and dry wilderneſs, where there is no water of life; that all ſaving good is laid up in Chriſt, as in a fountain; that all to whom he is offered, do not accept o… him; that many who pretend to receive him, will be found Hypocrites and ſel… …; that to be … taken in this affair another day, will be … Creatures undoing; that none have any Clai… to this but the Seed of Chriſt, and Children … the Church Myſtical. See then that this found… tion is laid in you. Chriſt tells us in Ma… 7. 22, 23. Many will ſay unto me in that … Lord, Lord, &c. and then I will profeſs unto the… I never knew you, depart from me ye workers … Iniquity. Take heed of being found in th… number, in the day of accounts: it will be … aggravated miſery to loſe an hope that y… pleaſed your ſelves withall here, becauſe it w… a falſe one.
USE IV. Here is matter of Encouragment … awakened Sinners that ſit under …he Goſpel▪ A… there any whoſe thirſty Souls, not only cra… after happineſs▪ but find no ſatisfaction in tho… objects which ſin hath diverted men unto▪ you▪ find your miſery, in that you periſh wit… out the waters of li…e, and that this wilderne… will afford none, and are thereupon inquiſitiv… after Chriſt, o… whom you have heard a repo… that he is one that can do it for you: to ſuc… this truth ſpeaks ſeaſonably and comfortabl… Here is a Well of Salvation opened▪ in this d… and thirsty land, i…s waters are healing and ſ… tisfying; there is enough of them, there is fountain, and it can never fail. And not on… are you comprehended in the general invita… …given to all where the Goſpel is Preached, …t it is the ſpecial direction of it that is given … ſuch as you, and all encouragment joyned …ith it … the weary and heavy laden are ſingle… …t in it, Math. 11. 28. The poor and needy, and …c… whoſe eyes fuil them, are remembred with a …acious promiſe, Iſa. 41. 17. And indeed, the … in which God perſwades and allures pe…hing Sinners to come to Chriſt, is by touch… their Conſciences, and making them ap…henſive of their woful miſery in themſelves, … their helpleſsneſs any where elſe that ſo …e revelation of Chriſt to them may be very …lcome, as ſhowers of rain are to the weary …lderneſs, that is parched. You have great …ſon then to hope in his Grace, and according… to adventure your ſelves upon it; for if …od be opening of your hearts to receive …riſt, it is becauſe he intends to fill them with …m; and the emptying you of every other …ing, is a ſtep to that.
USE. V. Let this quicken the Children of God; … make a free and full Improvement of this foun…in for all the ends of it. The uſefulneſs of it …tends to all the neceſſities of your Souls; … is no relief that you can need, but here …may be fully ſupplyed: and your occaſions …e ſuch as call you every day to come to it. …ou go any whither elſe to get them ſuppli… you will return …, God hath opened this fountain to you; he hath rolled the ſ… from the mouth of it; he hath planted you it; and is from time to time drawing theſe waters, and preſenting them to you his holy Ordinances: why then ſhould uſe them ſparingly? they are your own, … hath given them you freely, and he bids … to drink of them abundantly. You may ti… complain of your pinching want; you th… and Oh! that you could have a ſatisf… draught; why then do you ſtand off? W… queſtion your title, doubt whether you … make uſe of your own, and live upon it … greateſt contentment? Oh this Unbelief! … to God to cure you of it; and endeavou… improve all the encouragement that he … given you, to make you, with holy bold… at all times come to him, and bring your ve… with you, that they may be filled. The m… you thus do, the more you will pleaſe h… and the more happy and delightful will y… Pilgrimage be to you, and the more abundan… will you praiſe and glorifie God for this ſpeakable gift.