Christ All and in All, Sermon 30
Zech. 13…. 1.
In that day there ſhall be a fountaine XXXI. SERM. at Mary Welnoth. Lon. July 10. 1653.opened, &c.
IN the former Chapter the Lord promiſeth repentance to the Elect Jews, v. 10, 11. This promiſe was fulfilled partly upon the converſion of thoſe which are mentioned, Acts 2. 37. 41. and Acts 4. 4. and it ſhall be fully accompliſhed when the body of the Jews ſhall be brought home to God. Of which we read, Rom. 11. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.
Note. There are none ſo farre off from, but God is able to bring them neerer to himſelf by tr…e converſion. The Jews that lie …ſti…g and ſoaking in their ſinne for many ages together, ſhall a… laſt be converted and brought in to Chriſt.
In this text we have a promiſe of pardoning and cleanſing mercy to theſe penitent Jews. In that day a fountaine ſhall be opened for ſinne and for …ncleanneſſe. In the words we have f…re particulars.
1. A ſpiritual bath. A fountaine ſhall be ſet open.
2. The perſons for whom this bath is prepared, The houſe of David, and the inhabitants of Jeruſalem, that is, for all true penitent beleevers. The houſe of David, and the inhabitants of Jeruſalem are mentioned, becauſe they were the firſt fruits of the Goſpel-Church acco…ding to that prophecy, Eſay 2. 3. Out of Zion ſhall go forth the Law, and the Word of the Lord from Jeruſalem.
3. The diſeaſes or diſtempers for which this bath ſhall be effectual. For ſinne and f…r uncleanneſſe, or for ſeperation from uncleanneſſe, under theſe words all ſpiritual diſtempers are comprehended. 'Tis by way of …lluſion to the legal impurities.
4. The time of the opening of this fountaine. In that day. It refers generally to Goſpel times, particularly, and ſpecially, and ultimately to the time of the converſion of the Jews.
I might lay down many Obſervations, but I ſhall ſum up all into this one general doctrine, viz.
Doct. That Jeſus Chriſt is a fountain ſet open in the Goſpel to all true penitents for the purging away of ſinne and ſpiritual uncleanneſſe.
In the handling of this Doctrine I ſhall open theſe following particulars.
1. That Chriſt is the only bath for the purging of ſpiritual uncleanneſſe.
2. Why Chriſt is compared to a fountaine.
3. That onelyonly penitent ſinners ſhall be purged in this fountaine.
4. How Chriſt purgeth away ſinne and uncleanneſſe from the ſoul.
5. How Chriſt is ſaid to be a fountaine opened.
1. For the firſt. That the purging away of ſpiritual uncleanneſſe is the work of Chriſt. He can do it and none but he is able to do it. This may be evinced by three arguments.
1. From expreſſe texts of Scripture. All purging work is attributed to Chriſt, and to Chriſt alone. His blood is the only Scripture-bath, the Word of God mentions this and no other. See the following places, 1 John 1. 7. Rev. 1. 5. and Heb. 1. 3. The holy Ghoſt tells us, that Chriſt did by himſelfe purge our ſinnes, foreign. All the ingredients of this ſpiritual purgation came out of the hear… of Chriſt alone. No creature contributed ſo much as one herb towards this cleanſing medicine. That in Prov. 16. 16. where it is ſaid, that by mercy and truth is iniquity purged, is onelyonly to be underſtood as a qualification of the perſon that is purged, not of the meritorious cauſe of purging away ſinne, which the Scripture doth ever aſcribe to the alſufficient ſacrifice of Chriſt, who is the onelyonly propitiation for ſinne, 1 John 2. 2.
2. From the legal purifications. Many waſhings did God appoint in the Law for the purifying of thoſe that were legally uncleane. There were two great wayes of ceremonial purification. The blood of the ſacrifices which were offered to God; this was to be ſprinkled by the Prieſts round about the Altar; ſo we read, Lev. 1. 5, 11. And the water of ſeparation, of which we read, Numb. 19. init. where you may ſee how it was to be made, and how uſed. Now what was typified by both theſe, but this ſpiritual purgation of Chriſt… blood? The Apoſtle doth clearly and expreſſ…ly unfold this to us in Heb. 9. 15, 14. The Goſpel-myſtery of all the Levitical waſhings did am…unt to this, that the blood of Chriſt did merito…iouſly purge away ſin.
3. From the baptiſmal waſhing. God hath appointed Baptiſme as the ſeal of his Covenant under the Goſpel. Water is the outward element to be uſed in the adminiſtration of this Ordinance. What is the meaning of this, but that by the application of Chriſts blood, ſinne is purg…e away from the ſoul? Therefore is Baptiſm… called the waſhing away of ſinne, Acts 22. 16. becauſe by the outward waſhing of the body wi…h water, is the inward waſhing of the ſoul from ſin ſhadowed out. This is the firſt particular.
2. For the ſecond. Why his blood is compared to a fountaine. It's called a fountain in five reſpects.
1. To ſhew the fulneſſe of his merit. Fountains are full of water; there is an abundance, a redundancy of merit in Jeſus Chriſt. The Prophet would d…ſtinguiſh the Goſpel waſhings from the legal. Thoſe lavers were not fountains, but veſſels, but Chriſts blood …hich is the ſpiritual laver is an abounding fountain; the ſpiritual waſhing is a rich and plent…ul …aſhing. The Scripture doth mention …e merit of Chriſt ſometimes by fulneſs, as John 1. 14. ſometimes by the terme of abundance, as Rom. 5. 17. The grace of Chriſt is every way proportionable to the neceſſity of the ſoul. The ſoul may waſh it ſelfe all over in the blood of Chriſt.
2. To ſhew the lastingneſſe of his grace. The blood of Chriſt doth indure for ever. Streams dry up, veſſels may be emptied, but fountains have a ſpring in themſelves, and can never be emptied, Chriſts blood hath been running for many ages, and yet it runs in as plentiful ſtreams as if it had been but newly opened. It's an ever flowing fountain.
3. To ſhew the purity of it. Streames are ſometimes muddy and dirty, but the fountain is clear. There is not the leaſt mixture of any defilement in the blood of Chriſt. It's compared to chryſtal for the clearneſſe of it, Rev. 22. 1. The blood of Chriſt waſhes away defilement, but it ſelfe is not capable of contracting any defilement.
4. To ſhew the freſhneſſe and lively efficacy of it. Streams may loſe their vertue and efficacy; ſometimes water that is ſweet in the fountaine, is bitter in the ſtreames, eſpecially if thoſe ſtreames be any great diſtance from the fountain. The neerer the ſtreames are to the fountain, the more vertue they have in them, and the fountaine it ſelf hath moſt vertue of all. Chriſts blood is full of efficacy and ſpiritual vigour. It hath not loſt, it cannot loſe that livelineſſe and operativeneſſe which it once had. Thus I have ſhewed you why it's called a fountaine. Before I leave this, let me ſhew you how this fountaine excels all other fountaines,
5. To ſhew the freeneſſe of it.
(1) This fountaine doth heal all manner of diſt…mpers. Other fountaines, though they may be of great uſe for ſome diſtempers, yet they are not uſeful for all. Yea, the beſt of them are deſtructive in ſome caſes; but this fountaine is as good for every ſpiritual diſeaſe as it is for any. It's ſet down indefinitely in the text, for ſin and for uncleanneſſe, that is for all ſinne, and for all uncleanneſſe. The pool of Betheſda, of which we read, John 5. 4. did ſhadow out this; that cured all diſeaſes after the moving of it. Chriſts blood is the true pool of Betheſda, which heals all manner of ſpiritual ſores and diſeaſes.
(2) One drop of this fountain is as effi…acious as the whole fountaine. In other fountains, though every drop be of the ſame nature, yet it is not of the ſame vertue; but here every drop is of the ſame vertue with the whole. One drop of Chriſts blood appl…ed by faith, will purge away ſinne and uncleanneſſe, as well as the whole fountain. The ſame infinite merit that is in all, is in every part.
(3) This fountain p…rgeth the ſoul in a moment of whatſoe…er filthineſſe … upon it. Things that are very filthy muſt lye a long time ſ…aking in other fountaines, before they can be made cleane. They muſt be waſhed againe and again before they be made white; but this fountaine purg…th imm…d…ately. One minute is as good as a thouſand yeers, as to the main & principal work. Let a leper …ep into this fountain, and he doth in one moment become a Nazarite as white as ſnow. Naaman muſt dip ſev…n times in …ordan, or ever he could be cured of his Leproſie, 2 Kings …. 14. If a ſoule do but dip once in this fountain, he is preſently cured.
(4) That ſoul that is once made clean in this fountain, is never filthy again. Other fountaines cannot give any ſuch power to them that waſh in them, as to be preſervd from future defilements, but this fountaine doth. Not as if a ſoul ſhould never defile it ſelfe at all after its cleanſing; for we do gather new filth every day, and have need of new waſhings; but as to the principal cleanſing, the ſoul is made cleane for ever. It can never again return to that extremity of filthineſſe, under which it was. The old blackneſſe of unregeneracy can never return. Every elect perſon ſhall be once born againe; but when he is once regenerated, he is regenerated for ever. The foreskin can never overgrow … ſoul againe as it did before. Thus much for the … p…rticular.
For the third. How, or in what reſpects … …eanſeth away the uncleanneſſe of the … …his he doth in two reſpects.
1. His blood cleanſeth the ſoul from the guilt of …nne. Sinne doth lay a perſon under guilt. O… this …eanneſſe of guilt the Scripture ſpeaks, Lev. 5. 2. From this uncleanneſſe Chriſts blood cleanſeth, as it is our juſtification; for his blood … the meritorious cauſe of our juſtification. The Prophet ſpeaks of this, Eſay 53. 4, 5. God doth for the obedience and ſufferings of Chriſt acquit the ſoul from ſin, and pronounceth it guil…ſe and innocent. Hence it is that Chriſt is called our righteouſneſſe, Jer. 23. 6. The Apoſtle ſpeaks of this fully, Rom. 3. 24, 25, 26. He is the lamb of God that taketh away the ſins of the world.
2. His blood cleanſeth the ſoul from the filthineſſe of ſin. Sinne is a filthy thing in it ſelf, and it doth bring filthineſſe upon the ſoul. This filthineſſe is removed by the ſprinklings of Chriſts blood in the work of ſanctification. He doth by his blood purge the conſcience from all dead works, that it may ſerve the living God. We are ſaid to be ſanctified in Christ Jeſus, 1 Cor. 1. 2. He is as well the meritorious cauſe of our Sanctification, as of our juſtification. Every drop and dram of grace, coſt his heart blood. Had not God poured forth upon us the blood of his Son, our black and polluted ſouls had never been made white. We owe our holineſſe to Chriſt as well as our righteouſneſſe. This is the third.
4. For the fourth. That onelyonly penitent ſinners are purged in this fountaine. This is cleare by comparing this Text wi…h v. 10. of the former Chapter. There the prophet decribes the quality of the perſons, they are ſuch as look on Chriſt whom they have pierced, and ſuch as mou…ne for him. The fountaine of Chriſts blood is a ſealed fount…ine to all impenitent ſinners; but to them that mourne and are in bitterneſſe for ſin it's a fountaine opened. Conſider,
1. Impenitent ſinners will not prize it. A man muſt both ſee and bewaile his uncleanneſſe, before he can value the healing fountain. Chriſt never comes with acceptation till the ſoul ſee his need of him, When the Apoſtle ſaw that the Jews began to be in ſadneſſe, then he ſhews them the fountaine, Acts 2. 37, 38. An impenitent ſinner will care no more for the grace of Chriſt in the Goſpel, then an innocent man will for a pardon. When the Scripture holds out Chriſt, it doth uſually mention ſomething of this nature, Eſay 55. 1. and Matth. 11. 28. No man will greatly prize either eaſe or reſt, but he that feels his load heavy.
2. Impenitent ſinners will abuſe and ſleight it. A harned ſinner will as much deſpire a Chriſt, as a full ſtomack dainty meat. This is the fourth.
5. For the fifth. Why Chriſt is called a fountaine opened. He is called ſo in three reſpects.
1. To ſhew how willing he is that ſinners ſhould make uſe of him. He is not a ſealed fountaine, but a fountaine opened. Jeſus Chriſt is marvellous ready and deſirous that polluted ſoules would make uſe of his blood. All the invitations which he uſes in the Goſpel, ſhew his readineſſe, Rev. 22. 17. He hath for this purpoſe appointed the Miniſtery of the Goſpel, that ſolemn invitation might therein be made to defiled ſouls, that they would waſh and be cleane. All the complaints which he makes of ſinners remiſneſſe and backwardneſſe in coming to him, are a proof of his readineſſe. Take but two places for this, the one is, John 5. 40. The other is in, Luke 13. 24. With how much ſadneſs of heart doth Jeſus Chriſt utter thoſe words, How often would I have gathered thy children as a …hen gathered her chickens and ye would not: He that commands his doors always to be kept open doth declare, his minde to be, that all that want ſuccour ſhould turne in for relief. Chriſt keeps open houſe for all penitent ſinners.
2. To ſhew the cleerneſſe of the Goſpel revelation above the Legal. Non dubito, ſaith Calvin, &c. I do not doubt, but by this word he notes the difference between the Law and the Goſpel. Chriſt was a fountain for ſinne and for uncleanneſſe under the Law, but he was a ſealed fountaine, he was a typified fountaine, ſhadowed out under the blood of bulls and goats, and other legal purifications; but now he is a fountaine opened, he is clearly and fully diſcovered without ſhadows, or types, or any ſuch thing. The fountaine was then covered over with the leaves of many veiles and ſhadows, but now all thoſe are taken away, and the blood of Chriſt appears plainly; the ſtone that formerly lay upon the mouth of the fountaine, is now removed; the ſtreams run ſo clear, that all that read the Goſpel may perfectly ſee it. And then,
3. To ſhew the readineſſe and eaſineſſe of acc…ſſe which is afforded to Chriſt. The Apoſtle in Rom. 5. 2. makes mention of the acceſſe which the beleever hath to the grace of Chriſt. Men pretend many difficulties and obſtructions. There is a lion in the …ay, ſaith the ſluggard, a lion in the ſtreets, Prov. 26, 13. Who ſhall roll us away the ſtone, ſay the women? Mark 16. 3. the ſame thoughts have men generally in their hearts concerning their coming to Chriſt. When they are invited to waſh in this fountaine, they preſently reply, who ſhall roll away the ſtone, who ſhall unlock the fountaine for us? This objection is fully anſwered, the fountaine is unlockt already, the way is plaine, all impediments are taken out of the way when the ſoul is willing to come; all the ſtraits and hindrances are in your own hearts; do but co…quer your own unwillingneſs, and the paſſage is eaſie, the fountaine is not ſealed, but open.
The Uſes are for Information. Exhortation. Conſolation.
1. For Information. This doctrine may teach us theſe profitable leſſons, viz.
1. Be…old the hainous and abominable filthineſſe of ſinne. The Scripture ſets out ſinne as a very filthy thing. Its compared to ſuch things as are of a polluting nature. To the …kum of a boiling pot, Ezek. 24. 6. To the filthineſſe of a removed woman, Ezek. 36. 17. to mire, to the vomit of a dog, 2 Pet. 2. 22. To the plague of peſtilence, and the plague of leproſie, 1 Kings 8. 38. Sinne is often called a ſpot, Deut. 32. 5. 'Tis a ſpot exceeding black, and exceeding broad, and very deep. Many things ſhew the filthineſſe of ſinne. The waters of the deluge in the old world; the flames of fire and brimſtone ſent down upon Sodom and Gomorrah. But above all, this ſhews it to be a filthy thing, that it could not be waſhed away without the blood of Chriſt. That's a foul ſtain which canno… be taken away without the ſhedding of mans blood. The ſtain of that ſin of covenant-breaking with the Gibeonites, was very hainous, that could not be done away without the blood of all Sauls houſe, 2 Sam. 21. 1, 2, 6. Sinne is ſuch a black ſpot that it could never have been done away without the blood of Chriſt. The Son of God muſt open a fountaine of blood in his own heart to expiate ſinne, or it could never have been expiated. The blood of bulls and goats could not do it, Heb. 9. 12. The garment w…s too foule to be cleanſed by any ſuch thing. Oh that ſinners would lay this to heart! thy lying, thy bloody oathes which thou lookeſt upon as things ſo mean, thy cheating and defrauding, thy overreaching and falſe dealing, thy covetouſneſſe, the guilt and filthineſſe of the leaſt of thy ſins could never have been taken away, if Jeſus Chriſt had not opened the fountain of his blood as a laver for ſin. When thy heart hath any good thoughts of ſin, remember this way of expiation, and it will appear very hainous.
2. Behold the dignity and merit of Chriſts blood. The Scripture calls it foreign, 1 Pet. 1. 19. precious blood. It's precious blood in regard of the dignity of his perſon, it is the blood of God himſelf, that is, of that perſon who is true and very God, Acts 20. 28. And its precious in regard of the vertue and effect of it. By this blood God and man are reconciled; By this blood the Church of God is Redeemed; And, by this blood ſin is expiated and perfectly done away. Conſider theſe three things.
(1) The multitude of ſinners that are cleanſed by Chriſt. An innumerable company, all the Elect of God in all ages.
(2) The multitude of ſinnes in every perſon, not one, but many, every ſinner is full of ſores, not one free part, either of ſoul or body.
(3) The perfection of the cure. Every ſinner is as perfectly healed, as if he had never been wounded. He is ſaid to cleanſe from all ſinne; in 1 Joh. 1. 7. He is ſaid, to take away the ſinnes of the world. He is ſaid for ever to perfect them that are ſanctified. Heb. 10. 14. All theſe expreſſions ſhew the compleatneſſe of the ſinners cleanſing. Were not his blood of infinite value, it could never have wrought ſuch an effect. The blood of all the men in the world could not expiate one ſin, …ut the blood of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth multitudes of ſinners from millions of ſins, and every one of them mortal.
3. Behold the exceeding greatneſſe of the love, both of God the Father, and of Chriſt to man-kind. The Evangeliſt admires it, John 3. 16. It is admired by the Saints in heaven, Rev. 5. 9, 10. and it may well be admired by the Saints on earth. That God ſhould let out the blood of his own Son to make a ſpiritual fountain for us to waſh in; This argues not onelyonly ex…ctneſſe of juſtice, but abundance of love. It will appear to be love indeed, if we conſider what Chriſt muſt endure before he could expiate ſinne: He muſt drink up the deep fountaine of his Fathers wrath, before he could be a fountaine for us to waſh in. He ſhall drink of the brook in the way, ſaith the Prophet of Chriſt, Pſal. 110. 7. This brook is the wrath of God; it was a large brook, and a deep brook, the ſtreames of it were very fierce and very muddy. This brook Chriſt did not onelyonly ſaile over, or ſwim thorough, but he drank it up, even the thickeſt dregs of it. That God ſhould cauſe his Sonne, and that the Son ſhould be willing to drink up ſuch a brook of wrath, that he might become a fountain to waſh away our ſin, this argues love unſpeakable, and ſtupendious in both towards elect men.
4. The Church of God ſhall never want ſufficient means for ſpiritual purification. Here is a fountaine opened, and being once opened, it ſhall never be ſhut again, and as it ſhall never be ſhut, ſo it can never be drawn dry. The ſtreams of it ſhall perpetually flow out in the Goſpel whileſt the Church hath need of waſhing. Other fountains may faile through continuance of drought; but this fountaine can never faile. God promiſes to his Church perpetual ſprings, Eſay 5…. 1…. Th… ſhalt be as a watered garden, and like aſpring of water, whoſe waters faile not. This continuance of the fountaine is intimated in the circumſtance of time mentioned in the text, in that day. The whole time of the Churches pilgrimage in this life is comprehended under that expreſſion. The fountaine ſtands open, and runnes all the day long in a full and plentiful ſtreame. It is the Churches miſery that ſhe contracts defilement continually, but it is her comfort that the purifying fountaine doth and ſhall run continually.
5. How inex…ſable thoſe are that die in their filthineſſe under the Goſpel. Thoſe who live and die with their filthineſſe upon them where the Goſpel is not, ſhall be without excuſe at the day of judgement, becauſe God made them at firſt cleane, and they did wilfully defile themſelves. Mans firſt …ling in the mire of ſin was his own voluntary act, he can blame none but himſelf, therefore none of mans defiled poſterity can be acquitted; but of all men thoſe that live under the Goſpel ſhall be without excuſe; For to them a fountain is ſet wide open, and they are dayly invited to waſh themſelves therein, their ſinne i… double. They do not onelyonly ſinne in poll…ting themſelves, but they ſin in keeping the pollution upon them. They are filthy, no… becauſe they want water, but becauſe they want a heart to make uſe of water. The …reames of Chriſts blood runne by their doors, and therefore if their guilt abide, nothing can be pleaded by way of excuſe. They were told of their …, they were invited to waſh, they ſaw others by waſhing were cleanſed, therefore their guilt remaineth. If N… after the Prophe… directed him to waſh in Jordan, had returned without waſhing, who would have pitied him, if he had died a leper? Thoſe that are brought to this ſpiritual Jordan, if they will not waſh, 'tis pity but their ſinful lepro…ie ſhould remaine upon them. They do ſhut that fountain againſt themſelves, that God hath graciouſly opened. Thus much for the firſt Uſe of Information.
2. For Exhortation. It commends ſeveral duties which we ſhould carefully practiſe. As,
1. Take heed of deſpiſing this fountaine. The Prophet foretelling of Chriſt, did long ſince by way of complaint, ſpeak of the deſpiſing and rejecting of him, Iſa. 53. 3. We have cauſe to joyne with him in the ſame complaint; the fountaine of Chriſts blood is exceedingly deſpiſed.
1. The Iews they keep open the typical fountain.
2. The Papiſts deſpiſe this fountaine in that Heb. 10. 14they make other expiatory fountaines. They, inſtead of going to the fountaine of Chriſts blood, 1. They go to the Maſſe, which they call a propitiatory ſacrifice; And, 2. To the merit of their own works, thinking thereby to expiate ſinne, purchaſe the favour of God. Jeſus Chriſt may complaine againſt the Papiſts as God doth againſt his people of old becauſe of their apoſtaſie, Jer. 2. 13. My people have commited two evils, they have forſaken me the fountaine of living waters, and have hewen them out ciſterns, broken ciſterns that can hold no water. The Scripture makes not good works, but Chriſts blood our ranſome and propitiation, Tit. 3. 4, 5, 6. Our good works are ſo farre from cleanſing us from the guilt of ſinne, that they themſelves have need of cleanſing. Domine lava lachrymas meas was the prayer of that father, and it muſt be our prayer. Doth not the Scripture attribute filthineſſe to the beſt of our works? Eſay 64. 6. All our righteouſneſſes are as filthy r…gs. Thy repentance, thy prayers, thy duties muſt be ſprinkled in this fountain, elſe God will loath both thee and them. How unable is that to expiate ſin, which doth it ſelfe ſtand in need of expiation? 3. The Popiſh purgatory is alſo a direct deſpiſing of this fountaine, it reproaches Chriſts purgatory, as if it were not ſufficient, contrary to Heb. 1. 3.
3. The Socinians deſpiſe this fountaine, in that they deny Chriſt to be a price for ſinne. They ſay Chriſt did not ſuffer vice nost…â in our ſtead, but onelyonly commodo noſtro for our profit, to be as an example to us. We deny not, but that Chriſt by his ſufferings hath left us an example of patient ſufferings. The Apoſtle is expreſſe for this, 1 Pet. 2. 21. but this was but an inferior and leſſe principal end of his ſufferings; We have benefit by Pauls death, and all other Saints, but the principal end was to be a propitiation for ſinne. Therefore he is called a ranſome, foreign, 1 Tim. 2. 6. A counterprize, becauſe the end of his ſufferings was to ſatisfie the juſtice of God for our ſins. The Apoſtle ſaith, That he himſelf bare our ſinnes in his body on the croſſe, and by his ſtripes we are healed, 1 Pet. 2. 24. If Chriſt did not ſuffer in our ſtead as well as in our nature, we muſt ſuffer and ſatisfie for our ſelves. God will have ſatisfaction, but the Scripture ſaith, and let us for our comfort beleeve it, That he was wounded for our ſinnes, he was br…ſed for our offences, the chaſtiſemen… of our peace was on him, and that God hath laid on him the iniquity of us …ll, Eſay 53. 5, 6.
4. All unbleevers that make no uſe of this f…untain, are guilty of deſpiſing it. Though men do not with the Jews, waſh in the blood of bulls; or with Papiſts, make other expiatories, either of the Maſſe or Purgatory; nor with Socinians, deny the ſatisfaction of his blood; yet if we reject the …enders of grace in and through his blood made in the Goſpel, we do deſpiſe it as much as they. The Prophet makes not beleeving in Chriſt, and deſpiſing of Chriſt, equivalent, Eſay 53. 1, 3. There is no medium between not beleeving and deſpiſing.
I have two things to ſay to all that deſpiſe this fountain.
Firſt, It is a great ſinne. 'Tis a deſpiſing of the richeſt love, the deepeſt wiſdom, the gloriouſeſt grace that ever God did or could manifeſt to the ſ…nnes of men. The waſhing away of ſinne by Chriſts blood is the deepeſt plot of infinite wiſdome, the richeſt piece of unſearchable grace that ever was manifeſted to the ſons of men. 'Tis that which the Angels do, and ſhall ſtudy for ever.
Secondly, The danger is great. He that deſpiſeth Chriſt, deſpiſeth cleanſing. All that hate me love death, Prov. 8. 38. 'Tis a queſtion diſputed by Divines, whether God could have forgiven ſinne without ſatisfaction. Moſt conclude God by his abſolute power might, but now he hath declared himſelf that he will not expiate ſinne any other way, nor by any other meanes but by Chriſt, whom he hath ſet forth to be a propitiation for ſinne, Rom. 3. 25. Therefore he that refuſeth to waſh in this fountain, muſt of neceſſi…y periſh in his own filthineſſe. Behold ye deſpiſers, ſaith the Apoſtle, and wonder and periſh, Acts 13. 41. God himſelf cannot now ſave him that rejects Chriſts blood.
2. Let the opening of this fountaine occaſion the opening of other fountain… in all our hearts. Deep calleth unto deep, Pſal. 42. 7. There are five fountains which the conſideration of the opening of this fountaine ſhould open in the heart of every beleever.
(1) A fountain of love. We ſhould ſet this fountaine wide open both to God and Chriſt. It was love that ſet open this fountain, Rev. 1. 7. and it ſhould work love in us towards him again; we are commanded to love Chriſt. We are threatned with a curſe, if we love him not, in 1 Cor. 16. 22. The ſtreams of this fountaine, if any thing will cauſe the ſprings of love to overflow in our hearts.
2. A fountain of thankfulneſſe. The Apoſtle ſpeaking of the redemption we have by Chriſts blood, begins with Benedictus Deus, Epheſ. 1. 3. We are unworthy to waſh in this fountaine, if we do not daily render praiſes to God and Chriſt for it. Ordinary thankfulneſſe will not ſerve for ſuch an extraordinary fountain. We owe much thankfulneſſe to God for the fountains of common water, and much more for this fountain of Grace in the blood of Chriſt. Sing Davids ſong of praiſe, Pſal. 103. init. Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoul, and all that is within me bleſſe his holy Name. Our hearts, if it were poſſible, and our lips too, ſhould be as full of praiſes as this fountain is of grace.
3. A fountaine of ſorrow. This fountain ſhews our guilt. We ſhould not have wanted a fountain for ſin, if we had not fallen into ſin. We ſhould never think on this fountaine for ſinne, but we ſhould break forth into ſorrow becauſe of ſin.
4. A fountain of faith. We can neither waſh in this fountain, nor go to it without faith. Chriſt will be to us ſtill as a fountaine ſealed, if we do not beleeve in him. In his Name, through faith in his Name, whoſoever beleeveth in him ſhall have remiſſion of ſins, Acts 10. 43. This is the teſtimony both of Prophets and Apoſtles. And then,
5. A fountain of humility and ſelf denyal. By nature we have proud thoughts of our ſelves. All the good which is wrought in us we arrogate to our ſelves. This ſhould teach us to aſcribe all our purification to Chriſt. 'Tis this fountaine that hath cleanſed us if we be cleanſed. The fountain is opened to our hands. We could neither open the fountain, nor come to the fountain, God hath done both. This is the ſecond branch of Exhortation.
3. Make daily uſe of this fountain. Bathe your ſelves in it continually. Though once waſhing be enough to purge away ſin as to the maine work, yet there will be need of daily purging. Though we need no new ſacrifice for ſinne, yet we need daily applications of the merit of that one ſacrifice upon every miſcarriage.
4. When ever you ſee a fountaine of water, think on Jeſus Chriſt. Had we ſpiritual hearts we might think on Chriſt all the day long; few creatures but have ſome memorial of him. He bears the names of his people upon his breaſt. Should not we bear him in our heart by holy thoughts and mediations on him? The more we think on him, the more ſhall we love him, and the more will he communicate his love to us. This is the ſecond Uſe.
3. For Conſolation. This Doctrine is the foundation of all comfort to beleevers.
1. Againſt that bitter fountaine which is in our hearts. We have a bloody fountain in our nature, which is alwayes running. The droppings of this fountain def…le us, defile our ſervices. Well, oppoſe this fountain to that fountain. Gods fountain is more able to cleanſe, then this fountain is to defile. This fountain can drown thy fountain, Chriſt is a greater cleanſer then ſin is a defiler, Micah 7. 19. The ſea of Chriſts blood is deep enough to drown all thy ſins; Though thy fountain defile thee daily, yet Chriſts fountain can cleanſe thee daily.
2. Againſt their inability to make uſe of this fountain. They are diſcouraged becauſe of the obſtructions which lie in their way. This text tells you, they are all done away; the fountain is not …ealed, it ſtands wide open day and night.
FINIS.
End of the text · Ralph Robinson, Christ All and in All (1656)