Instructions About Right Believing, Sermon · Part 4
THE FOURTH & Laſt THING in the Text is The 4. Thing in the Text.the MOTIVE by which People are perſwaded to uſe this Meanes, and ſo get Chriſt, This Bread of Life, The Allſufficient Remedy of Mans Miſery: That is taken frō the great Benifite that by ſo doing, will redound to thē: As appeares by theſe Wordes; Shall never Hunger, Shall never Thirſt; Whoever Comes to Chriſt, or Beleeves in Chriſt ſhall never Hunger nor Thirſt: As Bread alayes Hunger; So doth this Bread; This Christ; And that in a better manner then Bread doth; For, 1. Bread alayes Hunger & not Thirſt; But Chriſt alayes Hunger & Thirſt, more appetites then Bread doth. 2. Bread alayes but for a while, Chriſt alayes for ever; Paralell to this latter is that Iohn. 4. 13. 14. Whoſoever drinketh of this Water, ſhall thirſt againe: But whoſoever drinketh of the Water that I ſhall give him, ſhall never thirſt: Where the Compariſon is made, and Chriſt in this Reſpect, is prefered.
For the underſtanding this; Yee muſt knowe, that although in ſome regard (as ye ſhall ſee heerafter) this may be taken Litterally, & in ſome regard of the Body; that they that Beleeve in Chriſt, ſhall never hunger nor thirſt; Yet Cheifly this is to be taken Metaphorically, & ſo largely, and ſo including the Litterall & Corporall Sence, and the meaning is this:
That all their Wants ſhall be ſupplyed, & all Deſires alayed & ſatisfied. But this is expreſt by not hungering & thirſting, becauſe of following the Metaphors of Bread & Water, by which Chriſt is expreſt: Hungering & Thirſting, are painfull Deſires of ſome neceſſary good Thing thats wanting, the one of Meate, the other of Drinke, for the good of the Body; Now every Perſon having a reaſonable & immortall Soule; hath many & great Deſires, which be as ſo many Hungerings & Thirſtings; Now by Chriſt, all theſe Deſires ſhall be alayed, by ſupplying all his Wants, and Chriſt is had by Beleeving: This is the Meaning: The Doctrine ariſing hence is.
DOCTRINE. Doctrine.
Whoever Beleeves in CHRIST, ſhall have all his WANTS ſupplyed, and ſo, all his DESIRES alayed; and his SOVLE fully ſatisfied.
He ſhall be ſent away with a Compleate Satisfaction, as the hungry Man when he is filled with Meate, or the thirſty Man with Drinke.
The Point is plaine & expreſſe in the Text; If there were no other Proofes, we might build our Faith on it: But there are Divers
This was Propheſied off, under the ſame Metaphors; Iſay, 49. 9. 10. That thou maist ſay to the Priſoners, goe forth; to thē that are in darknes ſhew your ſelves; they ſhall feede in the wayes, & their paſtures ſhall be in all high places; they ſhall not hunger nor thirſt, neither ſhall the Heate nor Sunne ſmite thē: for he that hath mercy on thē, ſhall lead them, even by the ſprings of Waters ſhall he guide them. To which Chriſt hath reference; Revel. 7. 16. 17. Tbey ſhall hunger no more, neither thirſt any more &c. And is in expreſſe wordes promiſed, Ier. 31. 14. 25. And I will ſatiate the ſoules of the Preiſts with fatnes, and my people ſhall be ſatiſfied with goodnes, ſaith the Lord; And Verſe. 25. I have ſatiated the weary ſoule, & I have replenished every ſorrowfull ſoule; And ſo Ier. 50, 19. I will bring Iſraell againe to his Habitation, and he ſhall feede on Carmel & Bashan, and his ſoule ſhall be ſatisfied upō mount Ephraim & Gilead. And therefore, it is affirmed, as made good by, & in Chriſt; Luke. 1. 53. He hath filled the hungry wih good things; therefore Pſal. 34. 8. 9. 10. The Beleever (who is after expreſt by the effects of Faith) fearing & ſeeking God; is ſaid to be Bleſſed, and why? becauſe He ſhall want no good; for that is Bleſſednes: Thus much is alſo inplyed in Iſa. 55. 1. 2. 3. by Beleeving in Chriſt, (which is ment there by Comming Buying &c.) they ſhall come to injoy all good things, that be requiſite to their wellfare, and ſo Conſequently ſhall have All deſires alayed: Therefore it is, that as all our Deſires are in the Text expreſt by Hūgering & Thirſting, ſo Chriſt is expreſt by a Feaſt in Scripture and tipified by the Manna & Rocke, that yeilded Rivers of Water in the Wildernes; to ſhew, that as by comming to a rich & full Feaſt, there is a ſupply, of all the wants, & an alaye, of all the deſires, of an hūgry & thirſty Man; So by Beleeving in Chriſt, all the Wants of People are ſupplyed, and all their Deſires alayed: Therefore, Math. 5. 6. They which Hunger be Bleſſed, becauſe they ſhall be Satisfied, If not Satisfied, they be not Bleſſed.
REASONS. Reaſons.
The Reaſon is grounded upon a two fold Propoſition. Firſt, That Beleeving poſſeſſeth a Man of Chriſt: He that Beleeves in Chriſt, hath, Chriſt, and is one with Chriſt; Therefore, (as ye heard before) Beleeving is compared to a Marrying, and to an Ingrafting into Chriſt: That looke as a Woman married to a Man, injoyeth him as her owne; and a Science grafted, injoyeth & poſſeſſeth the Tree for its owne; So, Whoever beleeveth in Chriſt: Injoyeth & Poſſeſſeth Chriſt for their owne: Chriſt is the Gift of God Iohn 4. 12. and Faith is a receiving of this Gift Iohn. 1. 12. Now as a Man that hath received a gift doth poſſeſſe & injoye it as his owne. So Beleevers receive Chriſt given of God, and ſo injoye & poſſeſſe him as their owne, Faith makes us the Houſe of Chriſt; Chriſt dwells in the Heart by Faith, Eph. 3. 17. even as a man dwelleth in his Houſe, and ſo he hath Poſſeſſion of the Houſe; So have Beleevers of Chriſt: Hence when Thomas beleeved; he ſaith my Lord, my God; Therefore David Pſal 144. 1. 2. Challēgeth God to be his, and why? He truſts in Him; in the end of the Verſe. So that Beleeving poſſeſſeth a Man of Chriſt.
Secondly as Beleeving poſſeſſeth of Chriſt, & maks him to be ours: So the Having Chriſt makes God to be ours; Chriſt brings to the Fruition & enjoying of God; which may be gathered from his very Name; which is Emanuell, that is, God with us Math. 1. 23. which not onelyonly implyes, that in him God is come in our Nature, becauſe he that is God tooke our Nature into Perſonall Union, but alſo that in & by Him God is injoyed by us, even by ſo many as have Chriſt: For by Chriſt, all is removed, that kept us from God, and all is ſupplyed that may bring us to God, and make us injoy God; The Sufferings, Obedience, & Interceſſion of Chriſt; appeaſe Gods Wrath, & ſatisfie Gods Juſtice, and ſoe brings the Perſon into full Favour with God, Math. 3. 17. he ſaith not with whome, but In whome I am well pleaſed; And the Spirit & Holynes of Chriſt, workes out Corruption, & workes in Holynes; and ſo there is brought about a Communion with God, & Fruition of God, and ſo God walkes in them, and is their Father and God, they his Children & People, 2. Cor. 6. latter end. And ſo in Eph. 2. 13. Having by Faith got Chriſt to be theirs, though before they were affarr off, yet now are made neere; and ſo in the 19. Verſe. You are no more ſtrangers & foreiners, but Citizens with the Saints & of the houshould of God: Hence is that Rom. 5. 11. Not onelyonly ſo, but we alſo joy in God through our Lord Ieſus Chriſt by whom we have now received the atonement; there is Joy in God through Chriſt, therefore by Chriſt God is enjoyed; Now, where God is enjoyed; All wants muſt be ſupplyed, and All deſires allayed; For God is an Infinite Goodnes, therefore, they can want nothing, that have him; As they cannot want Light that have the Sunn, or Water that have the Ocean, becauſe there is a ſufficiency of Light in the Sunn, & of Water in the Ocean:
Now God is Alſufficiēt, Gen. 17. 1. This God hath clearely proved, by his Workes of Creatiō & Providence, He of Nothing made ſeverall Things; and filled them all full; He gave Perfection to every Creature at firſt, ſo that it lacked nothing, and to the whole Creation, that is ment by ſeeing it was good & very good, that is every Part was perfect, lacking nothing, and the Whole was very Compleate & Full; He that filled the whole World that it lacked nothing, Cannot he fill Mans deſires? And ſo by his Providence he fills & ſatisfies, as Pſal. 107. 9. & 145. 16. And he had not made all Man-kind to ſeeke him, (as he did, Acts. 17. 26. 27.) if he could not ſatisfie them; for then he had made ſōthing in vaine; all the infinite deſires that are in Man-kind, after a cheife Good; by injoying which they may be happy, as they ſhew there is a God, ſo they teach that, that God can fully ſatisfie them all; and this is expreſſe; Pſal. 16. & laſt. Fullnes of Ioy, Ioy; therefore Fruitiō & Satisfaction of Deſire, elſe noe Ioy; and full Ioy; therefore there is ſupply of all Wants, and alaye of all Deſires; God himſelfe is ſatisfied in himſelfe, elſe he were not God, and being able to ſatisfie himſelfe, who is an Infinite being, he can much more ſatisfie Man that is but of a finite being; Since therefore Chriſt brings us into Gods Preſence as Eph. 3. 12. By him we have acceſſe, that is he is Gods Emiſſary, ſent from God to bring Beleevers into Gods Preſence & ſo to injoy God (as the word ſignifies in Greeke) it muſt needs followe; That Every one that injoyeth Chriſt, muſt be Satisfied, and have All deſires alayed; Becauſe with Chriſt, God is had, and ſo All fulnes.
For the better clearing this Point; Conſider we in In what reſpects, or how a Beleever never hūgers nor thirſts.What Reſpects, or How this can be true; That the Beleever never hungers nor thirſts.
It is true, in ſome degree in this Life; and fully & compleately in the Life to Come.
Firſt in this Life, it is true, in ſome degree; That he that Beleeves in Chriſt; hath all his wants ſupplyed, & ſo all his deſires alayed; And that in a Three-fold Reſpect.
1. In reſpect of Sinne; He that beleeves in Chriſt, ſhall not hunger nor thirſt after Sinne. This is the greateſt Hunger & Thirſt of an Unbeleever; Therefore Sinns are called Luſts, becauſe they are the appetites & deſires of Unbeleevers; The Unbeleever, as truely wants & deſires after, the Commiſſion of Sinne, ſome or other, according as he is carryed by Conſtitution, Condition, Cuſtome, Company, or Tentation, as the hungry or thirſty Man doth after Meate, or Drinke, Pro. 4. 16. They ſleepe not except they have done miſcheife; therefore it is, that they are ſo eager upō Sinne, Pro. 1. 16 Their feete run to evill; ſo 1. Pet. 4. 4. For there is a Nature in every Unbeleever; that is ſatisfied & upheld by commiting Sinne, as our Nature is by Eating and Drinking, therefore It luſts, after evill; Iames. 4. 5. But now, He that Beleeves in Chriſt; is not thus to Sinne; The Body of Sinne is deſtroyed in him, Rom. 6. 6. therefore, he ſerves not, and ſo ſeekes nor Sinne; For he is ſaid to be Dead to Sinne Verſe. 7. therefore he deſires not after Sinne; Hence, Rom. 8. 5. The Beleever (who is deſcribed by his inſeperable Property to be after the Spirit) minds the Things of the Spirit, that is, and not the Things of the Flesh; The Unbeleever minds fleshly things; as a Woman that is with Child her eyes are ſtill on it if it be preſent, or elſe her Phant'ſy runns after it; But the Beleever, lives the Life of Chriſt; and hath Chriſt dwelling in him, therefore he muſt doe as Chriſt did; that is, not deſire Sinning, but to ſuppreſſe it as 1. Iohn. 3. 8. and Verſe. 9. He is made pertaker of the ſeede of God, therefore cānot ſinne; that is, ſo farr as he is pertaker of that, there is a Nature in every Beleever; which is contrary to Sinne, He pertakes of the Divine Nature 2. Pet. 1. 4. therefore wants not, nor ſeekes any ſatisfaction by Sinne; but the Contrary; He luſts after Holynes (as in the former Place is ſaid; minds the things of the Spirit; & luſts againſt Sinne; as Gall. 5. 17. for it makes the Soule ſee miſery, in the Sinnes it deſired; and that happynes it ſought in Sinne; to ſee it & ſeeke it in God & Holynes: Now in reſpect of this the Doctrine is true; That in every Beleever there is no Hunger; becauſe the Nature is deſtroyed and ſo the appetite: Indeede there is an old Nature remaining in part in the Beleever, & ſhall be in him as long as he lives, and that deſires after Sinne, which is ment by the Flesh its luſting againſt the Spirit, Gall. 5. 17. but there is another Nature which is in him, that doth not luſt, in which regard he is ſaid not to deſire Sinne; So that the alaye of theſe deſires, is but in part & ſome degree in this Life. As this is true in Reſpect of Sinne; So is it true:
2. In Reſpect of the lawfull things of this World; as Life and things tending there to, Pleaſures, Honours, Profits, &c. He that beleeves in Chriſt, ſhall not hunger & thirſt after theſe, As is cleare in Zaccheus; who ſo thirſted after Riches, that he defrauded, oppreſt, withheld unjuſtly; yet having beleeved in Chriſt; he gives away halfe to the Poore; and tenders to reſtore foure-fold to all that he had wronged, Luke. 19. 8. Therefore the Beleevers Acts. 2. 44, 45. ſould their Goods & Lands, & committed them to the Apoſtles diſpoſe in good uſes, Thus Gal. 6. 14. The World is crucified to me, (ſaith Paul) and ſo not coveted nor deſired, as a withered flower is not; therefore Paul had all appetite to this Lyfes Content alayed; onelyonly for ſome ſpirituall reſpects, Viz. the Churches good, he deſired to abyde in this Life Phillip, 23. 24. for all his overweaning opiniōs of their excellēcy, are rectified, and he is made ſee, the Emptines, Uncertainty, Inſufficiency of them; that he cannot much regard them. 2. Cor. 5. 16. Knowe (that is eſteeme and regard) no man after the flesh, that is in regard of Carnall Excellencies, and he ſees ſo much Satisfactiō and Excellency in God, that he cannot much deſire them, as He cannot the Candle light, that hath the Sunns light; As Peter by the Glory of Chriſts Transfiguration, was taken off from the Contents in the World, and therefore deſired to ſtay in the Mount with Chriſt, therefore, 1. Tim. 6. 6. Godlynes with Content, (with Selfe-ſufficiency as the word is) is great gaine; there is a Selfe-ſufficiency in Godlynes, and therefore there is a moderation in deſire to all outward things, for he knowes they be not of much concernment Luke. 12. 15. & he knowes that they are not gort by our caring for them, but rather by our not caring; But God cares & gives ſufficient, Verſe. 25. 30. Indeede Beleevers have & may have ſome deſires after thē; Chriſt teacheth us to pray Give us this Day our dayly Bread; But it is nothing ſuch as it is in Unbeleevers, Its not the Principall & Cheife Good: But as the baite & refreſhment at an Inn, which one that travailes to an other Place, takes for his neceſſary refreſhment, therefore Beleevers are expreſt by Their leaving their Country and not returning when they might, Heb. 11. 13. to 17. This Alaye of Hunger, comes from the former, for the ſame Nature that had appetite to Sinne, ſent forth inordinate appetites to the things of this World: which Nature being deſtroyed the Deſire ceaſeth. As it is true in theſe Reſpects; So:
3. In Reſpect of Grace & true Happynes: The Beleever in Chriſt, in this Life, ſhall not hunger nor thirſt after Grace, & true Happynes: For the underſtanding this, Ye muſt knowe that none doe ſo deſire Grace & true Happynes, as the Beleever doth, 1. Pet. 2. 2. 3. and he never deſired it before he beleeved; ſo much as he doth after; as is cleare in David, ſo in Paul who had ſtrōg earneſt Thirſts after Grace, as appeares by thoſe expreſſiōs he uſeth, I beate downe my Body: I ſo run tbat I may attaine &c. And this God would have us doe; he hath Commanded to followe or hunt after Righteouſnes &c. But the Beleever is ſaid not to hunger & thirſt after it; In theſe Foure Regards.
Firſt, Becauſe He that beleeves in Chriſt, ſhall never finally or totally looſe Grace & true Happynes Viz: Gods Favour, Image, & Fellowship which he hath got by Chriſt; Theſe things ſhall be in him as a Spring living & ſpringing up for ever, Iohn. 4. 14. and not as a Pond which may in tyme be quite dryed up: and ſo the Beleever ſhall never hunger & thirſt after theſe things, as we doe after Meate & Drinke, who though we have had it, yet over a while, are as deſtitute of it, and as fully want it as ever we did.
This Not hungring, excludes not every deſire, but ſuch an one, as ſprings from a totall want of Grace; That this is true of the Beleever, is moſt cleare in Scripture, by many Places Viz: Pſal. 89. 33. Nevertheleſſe my loving kindnes will I not utterly take from him; nor ſuffer my faythfullnes to fayle. Some may ſay this is ment of David for the Crowne; that his Seede ſhould never be wholy ſtript of it for ever: true; but not onelyonly ſo, for Eſay, 55. 3. every Beleever is promiſed The ſure Mercyes of David, Ier. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlaſting Love: Rō. 11. 20. The Gifts, that is the gift of faith, & ſo of Chriſt with faith, & the Calling, that is, Vocation, and ſo the drawing to beleeve; is without repentance; that is on Gods part: Where God hath begun a good worke he will perfect it, Phill. 1. 6.
Secondly, He that Beleeves in Chriſt, may in this reſpect be ſaid not to hunger after Grace, Becauſe he poſſeſſeth, and hath in himſelfe, and of his owne, that which is aboundantly able, to ſupply all his wants, & ſatisfie all his deſires; there is a ſpring in him Iohn. 4. 14. however he may ſtand in neede of Grace, yet he hath as his owne, what may give a full ſupply; and all his deſires are virtually ſatisfied, in that he cannot deſire, what, he hath not to ſatisfie; He hath Two Store-houſes, Firſt Chriſt, In whome are hid all the treaſures of Wiſdome & Knowledge, Coll 2. 3. and in whome dwelleth the fullnes of the God-head bodily Verſe 9. And Secondly he hath All the Promiſes, wherein there is All fullnes, and wherein God hath given him. All things that pertaine to life & godlines 2. Pet. 1. 3. 4. He is ſaid to have Rivers in him, Iohn. 7. 37. that is a continuall Streame of Satisfaction, able to fill up all wants; He cannot be ſaid to hunger becauſe he hath that in him, which is able to alaye his hunger; and when ever he will, he may take what ever his Soule can deſire. as Paul Rom. 7. 24. had deſires, which he preſently ſatisfies himſelfe in Verſe. 25. and gives thankes to God; And that there is ever a ſupply, appeares in this; that in his very want & deſire, there is ſome Content, and ſtay to his Soule, therefore there is ſome ſupply.
Thirdly, They are ſaid not to hunger, becauſe there is a Fullnes, Viae, not Patriae, ſuch a Fullnes, as ſuites their preſent Condition; a Comparative, though not an abſolute fullnes; Therefore the Saintes ſpeake of a Fullnes Pſal. 36. 8. 9. They ſhall be aboundantly ſatisfied with the fatnes of thy houſe, and Pſal. 63. 5. My Soule ſhall be ſatisfied as with marrow & fatnes; Such a fullnes, & ſatisfieing, as they are capable of in this Life; For inſtance, a Child may be ſaid to be a luſty ſtrong Child, whoſe ſtrength is nothing, in reſpect of the ſtrength of a Man, to which he may after attaine; So Beleevers, have Satisfaction ſuteable to their Condition, proportionable to the State wherein they are, a fullnes of Grace in regard of parts, though not of degrees, a Satisfaction according to their Capacity, though not ſo abſolute, as they ſhall one Day be capable off.
Fourthly, They are fully ſatisfied in this Life, Becauſe they have All Things actually in Chriſt, and really by Faith; whoever Beleeves in Chriſt, hath all things actually in him: Coll. 2. 10. They are Compleate in him, There is in Chriſt a Fullnes of Grace & Glory, and All that is in Chriſt is theirs, and they have it in him; He being full, they may truely be ſaid to be full: Chriſt not hungering and thirſting, they may truely be ſaid not to hunger or thirſt; Chriſt being fully ſatisfied, they are ſaid to be fully ſatisfied; For Chriſt ſtands in their ſtead, and poſſeſſeth all things in their name & right; Chriſt was their Subſtitute, and that which is done to him, may be truely ſaid, to be done to them; as a Man who hath his debt fully payed to his Subſtitute, though he receive it not by his owne hand, yet may truely acknowledge ſatisfaction, becauſe the other is his Receiver on his behalfe; So Beleevers may be ſaid, to have for the ſupply of all their wants; becauſe Chriſt hath received a fullnes, that they out of his fullnes, may receive a full ſupply.
And further, as they have actually a compleate fullnes in Chriſt, Soe they have really that fullnes by Faith; In Chriſt, He that beleeves, hath everlaſting Life; Iohn. 3. 16. 36. everlaſting life, admitts not of hūger & thirſt, having cōpleate ſatisfactiō, ſo faith brings in really a ſupply of all; as God hath all things to come, preſent, by reaſō of his Infinitnes & Eternity; ſo hath a beleever by faith, which is the evidence of things not ſeene, Heb, 11. 1. as Abraham had Chriſts day preſent to him; And they are growing up to Perfection dayly; as the Child increaſeth dayly; for by Vertue of their Vnion to Christ. they receive of His fullnes, in the uſe of the Meanes; Iohn. 1. 16. growing up by the Ordinances towards Perfection; not onelyonly a perfection of Parts (for that is at firſt received) but of Degrees, Eph. 4. 12. 13. As the Branch from the Roote, ſucks more & more Sapp, or the Child from the Nurſe, or Body frō the Head & Stomack by which it growes up to full Stature; ſo that they be going to that Fullnes, which is in Heaven; wherein all deſires ſhall be ſatisfied.
In theſe Reſpects it is true in this Life; in ſome meaſure & degree.
Secondly in the Life to Come, it is Perfectly & Compleately true; Every Beleever then ſhall have All wants ſupplyed, all deſires, alayed: All the aboundance of Good that the Soule is capable off, ſhall be there, fully ſupplyed; and ſo, all deſires muſt ceaſe when there is a full Fruition; Therefore it is called Ioy, Math. 25. 21. becauſe it is a full fruition of all deſirable Good, and they be ſaid to enter into it; to ſhew that it is ſo full & large that it cānot enter thē, but they enter it, & ſo they are every way filled with it: As the Sea cannot be Cōtayned in a ſmalle Ueſſell which may enter into it & be filled as full as it can hold, yea ſwallowed up of it; ſo ſhall they be fully ſupplyed, and have more then they neede or can receive, and he that enters into an infinite Satiſfaction, muſt needs have his finite Appetite fully ſatiſfied; as Pſal. 17. laſt. When I awake (that is, am raiſed up out of the Duſt, at the laſt Day, for Death is called a Sleepe, and ſo Reſurrection an awaking) I ſhall be ſatisfied, therefore, no Hunger, no Thirſt; and it muſt be ſo, becauſe of that where with we be ſatisfied; Viz: Gods Likenes, that is, God Him-ſelfe & his Glory; Gods Face (as in the former words) it ſhall be veiwed; that is, there ſhall be a full & cleare fruition of God, 1. Cor. 13. 12. Then I ſhall ſee Face to Face, and know even as alſo I am knowne: Therefore if God can give full Satisfaction, it ſhall then be had; for then ſhall that fully be made good, Eph. 3. 19. That ye might be filled with the fullnes of God; All the fullnes of God, ſo far as ye are capable: If therefore there be enough in God, there then ſhall be enough: Thus, in the Life to Come, He that beleeves in Chriſt, ſhall have all wants ſupplied, & all deſires alayed; becauſe he ſhall fully & perfectly injoy God, and ſo perfect Happynes: Then all deſires to Sinne, ſhall be perfectly quelled, (for that all Sinne ſhall be compleately purged out) Then all neede & deſire of the Creature in this World, ſhall be quite removed; becauſe God ſhall be in ſtead of all, as the Sunn is in ſtead of a Candle, and the Ocean in ſtead of a Dropp 1. Cor. 15. 28. God ſhall be All in All; Meate, Drinke, Clothing, Honour, Wealth Pleaſure Friends, and All, Mark. 12. 25. Then all deſires after Grace, ſhall be fully ſatisfied; becauſe there ſhall be a Perfection of all Grace, in regard of meaſures & degrees, ſo much Grace ſhall be injoyed, as is deſired, or needed: Thus he that Beleeves in Chriſt, ſhall never hunger nor thirſt; becauſe God begines to alaye his deſires ſo ſoone as he beleeves, and never leaves till He hath brought him to the full Fruition of all deſirable Good in the Heavens.
USES. Vſes.
Firſt, for Instruction & Comfort to all that truely beleeve 1. For Inſtructiō & Comfort.in Chriſt (What it is truely to Beleeve? I opened in opening the Second Doctrine; where I ſhewed, It is not a groundles & ſlight Conceite that Chriſt dyed for us; but an entertayning & receiving Chriſt in all his Offices a full reſigning ones Selfe to Him; Covenanting to be ordered & Comfort for Beleevers in two perticulersguided by Him in all Things) to ſuch heere is Inſtruction & Comfort; and that, In theſe Two Perticulers.
Firſt, You that beleeve in Chriſt; ſhall never totally or finally fall away from God & Grace, ſo as wholly, or for ever to looſe them; (a Comfortable Point in theſe dangerous ſeducing & declining Tymes) For he that once beleeves in Chriſt; ſaith Chriſt in my Text, ſhall never hunger nor thirſt; that is, ſhall never be wholy without God & Grace, Chriſt & Happynes, (as ye have heard in opening of the Point) Therefore, whatever appearances there may be, through the Subtilty of carnall Reaſon & Satans Suggeſtions. Be thou aſſured, that having once beleeved in Christ, thou ſhalt never be wholly deſtitute of God & Grace; for then thou muſt hunger & thirſt; which Chriſt ſaith, ſhall never be:
Neither is that of weight againſt this Cōmfortable Truth that Some object: So long as one beleeveth he ſhall never looſe wholly God & Grace; But one that beleeveth may looſe his Faith; and then looſe God & Grace wholly: This I ſay; is of no weight; For, though one may looſe the uſe of Faith for ſome tyme; Yet None that Beleeve, can ever wholly looſe Faith, nor any other ſaving Grace, as hath been ſhowed in the opening of this Point; and ſo as, he can never wholly looſe Faith, ſo neither can he ever looſe Chriſt or Grace; If the Covenant did run thus; That he that beleeves, ſo long as he beleeves, ſhall never fall away; But yet he might looſe all Beleeving, and ſo fall away; then were not that true; Iſay. 55 3. For with Every Beleever God makes an Everlaſting Covenant; Even the Sure Mercyes of David; Now how were the Covenant Everlaſting, or the Mercy Sure; if that he might wholy looſe Faith, and ſo looſe God, & all Grace? Surely that Place expreſly teacheth That when any one Beleeveth; God makes with him a Covenant, that ſhall Laſt for Ever; and beſtowes on him Mercy, that is Sure; and therefore he cannot be diſappointed; He that once beleeves muſt be for ever Gods, and never ſo fall as to miſſe Heaven; For Chriſt hath prayed for All that beleeve, that They ſhould be with him, & ſee his Glory, Iohn. 17. 20. 24.
The Sonnes of God (and ſo is every one that Beleeveth, Iohn. 1. 12.) muſt be Like Chriſt, when He appeares at the Laſt Day, 1. Iohn. 3. r. 2. Therefore, He that beleeveth, muſt be ſaved, and can never wholy looſe God or Grace; And therefore it is, that He that once Beleeves can never wholy looſe his Faith, becauſe to the end He may never looſe God or Grace, God preſerves Faith in him, and by that Faith preſerves him in Grace & Favour with God, till he come to inherite Glory, 1. Pet. 1. 4. 5. Who are kept by the Power of God through Faith &c.
Secondly, You that beleeve in Chriſt; ſhall have All your deſires alayed, All your wants ſupplyed, & your Soules ſatisfied fully in this Life: 1. Your ſinfull deſires to Sinne, & the Worlds Vanityes; theſe ſhall be alayed, by removing the Cauſe of them; Viz: Originall Corruption, the Vanity of your Minds & Hearts: Your Soules ſhall be purged from thoſe ill Humors, which make you Hunger after this Trash; and ſhall be put in right frame, and you made to Hunger after good & wholſome Things; Viz: Gods Favour & Holynes, Gall. 5. 24. & Chap. 6. 14. Examine your Selves well, and ye ſhall find, that ye doe not ſo hunger after theſe Things as ye did, and be ye ſure that ye ſhall doe it leſſe & leſſe, till at laſt, ye ſhall be quite freed from that vaine Deſire: For thoſe many Exhortations in Scripture, to Mortifie thoſe Affections, and to Lay them downe; as Eph 4. 22. 23. 24. & Coll. 3. 2. 5. doe include Promiſes (upon your indeavor) that it ſhall be done; as may be gathered from Rom. 6. 12 14. where God promiſeth that ſhall be, which he exhorts to: Yea Gods Exhortations to Beleevers, are as his Word in Creation was, Operative. and working that which he Calls for, and Commands to be: Therefore doe ye but Exerciſe your Faith, and uſe the Meanes God hath appointed, and you ſhall have your ſinnfull & troubleſome Deſires alayed.
2. So alſo, Your good & cōmendable Deſires after Grace & Holynes; Thoſe ſhall be ſatisfied; Chriſt will fill you as full as ye can deſire, or contayne; Allready, ye have in you, the Store-houſe & Treaſury of all Grace, the Spring is in you; Chriſt, in whome is all you neede, and therefore it is in him, that you may have it; He is yours, and from him ye may have whatever you neede doe but let downe the Bucket of Faith and drawe what Water ye deſire; He will never with-hold any Grace yee thirſt after, if ye truſt in him, and uſe the meanes, Pſal. 81. 10 He will fill the Mouth that is opened, and according to your hope in him, will he doe to you, he may defer you a while, to try the ſtrength of your Deſire, and of your Faith; but he will not with-hold ever, but ſatisfie your Deſire; Yea, he cannot with hold; for what you ſeeke by Faith in Him, and in the uſe of His meanes, he muſt give you, His Promiſe & Office doe tye him to it; for He is your Spring of Grace to ſatisfie your thirſty Soules: And as a Mans owne Spring cannot with hold Water from him, when he comes to it, no more can Chriſt.
Some wants ye ſhall have ſo long as ye live heere; but yet there ſhall be a ſatisfieing, & filling up, though not filled up; as the Child is growing, though not fully growen, till he comes to Age: And ye ſhall have that fullnes, & ſatisfaction; that is needfull & requiſite for this Life, ſo much ye ſhall have: Therefore be Comforted; and ſinke not under the ſence of your wants; It is good to be ſenſible of ſpirituall wants, ſo as to ſeeke for ſupply; but it is folly & unbeleefe, to be diſcouraged under them, ſince that ye have in hand & doe poſſeſſe as your owne, that which is able & ready to ſupply them all, if you uſe the meanes, Viz: Chriſt & the Promiſes; Would not one thinke them Fooles, that complaine of Thirſt, and had a Spring of there owne, at their Doore?
Yea farther Conſider; that ye have actually all Fullnes; Viz: In Chriſt & the Promiſes; there is All Fullnes, what can you deſire that is not there? and it is all yours; So that in your Subſtitute, Treaſury, Srore houſe, Wardroope, there is actually all that you neede or deſire, and it is all yours; For all is yours (as ye heard before) 1. Cor. 3. 21. and therefore the Apoſtle ſpeakes of Calvin on this Scripture ſaith well: Si eges nō habes fidem, Si habes fidē non eges.Beleevers as poſſeſſing all things 2. Cor. 6. 10. & Iam. 2. 5. ſtyles thē rich in faith; that is not ment of abundance of Faith, (as ſometime the word is taken) but that by Faith they be Rich; So that every one that Beleeves is Rich by Beleeving; therefore poſſeſt of abundance (elſe none are called Rich) for the preſent injoying all that is needfull; and Heires of a Kingdome; for in the Life to come ye ſhall have a Satisfaction of all your Deſires: There ye ſhall have an abſolute Fullnes; all ſinnfull & worldly Deſires ſhall be quite extinguiſht; all Holynes & Happynes ſhall be perfectly adminiſtred; there is nothing neceſſary or deſirable for your Happynes, but ye ſhall enjoy it actually in the higheſt Degree; ye ſhall have your Wills to the full, no Want or Croſſe in any Deſire. God will ſay to you, as Herod to Herodias her Daughter Marke. 6. 22. 23. and better; not onelyonly aske what you will to the Halfe of the Kingdome, but to the Whole, and it ſhall be granted you; Whatever Chriſt, Heaven, God can give, to fill you, you ſhall have ſo, far as you can receive. In a Word Ye ſhall be as Chriſt is 1. Iohn. 3. 2. So that if Chriſt is full, Ye ſhall be full; Wherefore be ye Comforted with theſe Things.
2. USE. Vſe. 2
For Tryall; Ye may by this try, whether ye Beleeve or For Tryallno: If yee Beleeve: ye doe not hunger & thirſt: Thou that art not thus alayed in thy Deſires: Thou either doſt not Beleeve; Or doſt not exerciſe & uſe Faith, Or Cbriſt ſaith not true: Ye that have gaping wide Deſires after Sinne, that feed on Sinne as an hungry Man, and drinke downe Iniquity as Water; ye doe not beleeve: Ye that as fully admire, ſeeke, & delight in the Things of this World, as ye did formerly, and hunger & thirſt cheifly after them, Ye Beleeve not: If your Deſires, goe out conſtantly, in an inordinate Way, to any of theſe Worlds Contents; Its a Signe you have not Faith.
Hence alſo a Diſcovery may be made; Both concerning the Meaſure, and Exerciſe of Faith; The ſtrōger your Faith is, the leſſe is your hunger after the World and Sinne &c. and according as you exerciſe Faith; will be the alaye of your deſires after ſuch things; You want the exerciſe of Faith, who cannot ſupply your wants, as you feele them; For Faith if exerciſed will draw from Chriſt and the Promiſes ſuch a fullnes as is convenient for this Life; It will ſhew you a Compleat fullnes in Chriſt as your owne; And where this is not, there Faith is weake, or not exerciſed as it ought to be.
3. USE. Vſe. 3
Shall be for Exhortation to Beleeve; Becauſe of the Benifite For Exhortation.that comes by it; This is Chriſts ayme in this Place: And this Vſe belongs, Firſt to ſuch of you, as yet never Beleeved: Secondly to ſuch as have, and doe in ſome meaſure Beleeve.
Firſt to you that yet never Beleeved; That is never entertained 1. To Vnbeleevers.Chriſt in all his Offices, and never gave up your Selves to whole Chriſt, as to your King, Preiſt, & Prophet; But the moſt ye have done, is in a Generall manner to phanſy Chriſt dyed for you, and you ſhall be ſaved by him; which is not true Faith, as ye heard before: You, therefore that yet never rightly beleeved; be ye perſwaded to doe it, and that above all things: For why! what can doe you ſo much good as this? Is there any Thing in the World, can ſatisfie all your Deſires? Sinne doth not; Sinning alayes the Deſire of Sinne, no otherwiſe, then caſting on Oyle doth alaye the Fire, it increaſeth it; the more ye ſinne, the more ye deſire to ſinne: It is like the adminiſtring Wine in a Dropſy, Riches ſatisfie not, Ezekiell. 7. 19. Eccle. 5. 10. He that loveth Silver ſhall not be ſatisfied with Silver, nor he that loveth abundance, with increaſe, he ſpake it that had fully tryed it, and therefore the more to be regarded, And as it holdeth in Riches, So likewiſe in Honour, Pleaſure, or any Thing elſe, ye ſeeke after, and neglect Beleeving.
That which is reported of Alexander, is to be found in every ones Heart, which a Philoſopher diſcovered in his, by this Queſtiō to him, When thou haſt Conquered Greece what wilt thou doe? He anſwered, I will Conquer Aſia and the whole World; When that is done what wilt thou doe? I will (ſaith he) wish for another World to Conquer; thus unſatisfied was he by all his Honour: And thus is it with Men, both for Honour, Pleaſure &c.
Our Soules are made to enjoy God, therefore Covet an Infinite & Eternall Good; which is ment by that Groping after God, Acts. 17. 27. Not that they ſeeke God as God, for ſo, that is true, Rom. 3. 11. There is none ſeeketh after God, but in that they ſeeke blindly after an Infinite & Eternall Good (which onelyonly is God, though they thinke not ſo) they be ſaid to grope or feele after God and therefore reſt unſatisfied, in any finite or mortall good, reall or ſeeming: Our Soules are like the gapeing Earth, full of Chinckes, and great Crannyes, which nothing in the World can fill & ſatisfie, but the Ocean or Showers of Heaven, God Him ſelfe; hence is that reſtleſſnes that is in all Hearts: Whatever they have, even in this ſence, they are toſſed up & downe, as the Sea, and not quiet: For ſo long as the Soule is in Deſire, it is in a reſtleſſnes, & troubleſome Motion. And hence it is there be ſuch ſhiftings frō one thing to another, frō Coveteouſnes to Prodigallity &c. (though ye never have the witt to ſhift from the Creature to God, for then ye would be ſatisfied) becauſe in nothing ye be ſatisfied: yea, and God oft lets you have your Deſires, ſo much Wealth, Pleaſure, or Honour, as ye ſeeke, and yet ye be not ſatisfied, that ſo ye may knowe, there is nothing can ſatisfie but God.
And this I aſſure you, if ye Beleeve not, (Marke it, for ye ſhall one Day remember, ye were told of it) ye ſhall ever hunger & thirſt, and never be ſatisfied, and that is a great Miſery: as He that beleeves ſhall never, ſo you that beleeve not, ſhall ever hunger & want, and never get Satisfaction, Pro. 13. 25. Therefore ſuch a Condition is diſcribed in Scripture by them that labour in the Fire, and for Vanity, Habuc. 2. 13. That feede on Ashes, Eſay. 44. 20. Follow the Eaſt Wind, Hoſea. 12. 1. Labour wholly in Vaine; as Eſay. 55. 2. Conſider the Difference twixt them that Beleeve, and thoſe who doe not Beleeve, Eſay. 65. 13. Gods Servants, that is, Beleevers; ſhall have Ioy, becauſe full Satisfaction; and ſo no hunger: Ye, that beleeve not, ſhall want, and ſo be ashamed, becauſe ye have not got that ye ſought:
In this Life, ye ſhall not be ſatisfied, and much leſſe in Hell; there is Paena Damni, ye ſhall be punished with loſſe & want of what ye ſeeke: Dives; who was full of Honours & Riches, and enjoyed a fullnes of all outward Contentments, while he was in the World; yet this Dives, becauſe he was not a Beleever, he thirſted after a dropp of Water; and could not have that Thirſt alayed: There ſhall be continually Reniſus Voluntatis, your wills ſhall ever incline unto this & that good which ye want, but ſhall ever deſire, and never attaine to; It is a painefull thing, to hunger & thirſt, and not to have to ſatisfie; the Poore knowe this: Oh! what is it thē to hūger & thirſt, a Yeare together and never be ſatisfied? and what is it to doe ſo Ever? yet this, & all this is, & ſhall be your Caſe, who beleeve not in Chriſt; that is, doe not ſo receive him in All his Offices. as hath been opened.
But on the other ſide, if ye will Beleeve in Chriſt; yee ſhall never hunger nor thirſt, what would a hungry Man doe for this? will he not venter his Life? If ye will Beleeve, ye ſhall have a ſupply of all good things, and be as Deut. 33. 23. Satisfied with Favour, & full of the Bleſſing of the Lord. Ye neede not goe out as I may ſo ſay, but ſhall have of your owne, whatever you neede for Soule or Body: Ye may have outward Things, & yet want more, or looſe them againe: But Beleeve, & ye ſhall have all Good, and never looſe it: Ye deſire Joy, Heere is the Way to Full Ioy; ye muſt have full fruition of all Good, and that is onelyonly had by Beleeving: Your deſires to Sinne ſhall be alayed; and new Deſires given you, & ſatisfied; and that is all one, as if ye had them of Sinne, ſatisfied:
Therefore Conſider what the Prodigall ſaith, Luke. 15. 17. 18. In my Fathers Houſe is Bread enough; and I dye for Hunger: In God there is Fullnes enough of Satisfaction, and I am diſtracted through want of it: Reaſon then as the Prodigall did; Allas! I am heere, ready to famish, for want of Bread; How unſatisfied is my Soule? I follow after Wealth, Honours, & Pleaſures, and yet my Soule hungers & thirſts; Why ſhould my Soule be famished heere; and perish heereafter? There is Bread enough in the Goſpel; In Ieſus Chriſt, I may have to ſupply all my wants, a Compleate Satisfaction: Why ſhould not I renounce my Selfe; Forſake my Sinne; and Goe to Chriſt? I will goe to Him, and Beleeve in Him: How great a Benifite would it be to have Meate or Drinke that would alaye Hunger & Thirſt for Ever? This is had by Faith: This Argument perſwaded the Woman Iohn. 4. 14. 15. Let it perſwade you.
Ye have heard in the former Doctrine; That Any one, what Perſon ſoever, may by Beleeving get Chriſt: God in his Goſpel ſhutts out None, therefore be not kept from indeavoring to Beleeve by a Conceite, that ſuch a Sinner as thou ſhalt not be accepted, for any that come are Wellcome; Labour thou thē to Beleeve: and know that on theſe Tearmes, Perfect Happynes, is offered thee; For it is that onelyonly which can ſatisfie all Deſires; and therefore, above all, Labour to Beleeve in Chriſt; If thou wilt not, thou refuſeſt Perfect Happynes; and ſhalt have perfect Miſery.
Secondly, This ſerves alſo for Exhortation, To You 2. To Beleevers.that have Beleeved: Gett more Faith, and exerciſe Faith more, So ſhall your Wants be ſupplyed, and Deſires ſatisfied, and this is the Way to have more freedome from ſinnfull & worldly Deſires, and to have your fill of Grace, God, & Happynes; you want ſo much, becauſe you actually beleeve ſo little; For Beleeving brings Satisfaction, and the more ye Beleeve, the more full Satisfaction: Be allwayes then in the uſe & exerciſe of Faith, abound there with; Sathan above all things, labours to hinder your growth in Faith; becauſe by that meanes he would keepe you in want; But learne you above all things, to labour to abound in Faith, for then ſhall you want nothing: Hence are there ſo many Exhortations & Prayers made by the Apoſtle in Scripture for Beleevers abounding in Faith; For as they exerciſe & increaſe in Faith, ſo all Fullnes is farther conveyed to them:
Faith is as the Bucket, which let downe fetcheth Water; and the oftner you let it downe, the more Water you have; The Exerciſe of Faith is as the turning of the Cock, which if turned, letts in Water; So Faith exerciſed, letts in all ſupply, and the more it is exerciſed, the greater is the ſupply; The more Faith, the more fullnes; If we want, the want is not from Chriſt, but from our want of the exerciſe of Faith: Exerciſe Faith then, and you will never be pincht with Hunger or Thirſt, or be ſo perplext, as often ye are; But you ſhall enjoy a Heaven upon Earth; you ſhall have a ſweete Influence of all Grace, as faſt as your Soules can receive it; you ſhall enjoy the Spirit of God, and the Favour of God, and be fully ſatisfied; All Supplyes are to be had onelyonly from Chriſt; and all to be had from Chriſt, onelyonly by Beleeving.
Faith Exerciſed doth Three Things.Faith exerciſed, doth 3 Things.
Firſt, It Conveyes the Thing that is ſought; Therefore ſo oft in Scripture, It is made the Inſtrument of Conveyance of all Gods Bleſſings; By Faith Sarah received the promiſed Sonne: Heb 11. 11. So Gall. 3. 14. The Promiſe of the Spirit is received by Faith: It is Faith brings it: Therefore the Scripture makes Faith to Conveye the Pardone of Sinne, the healing Diſeaſes: and whatever it beleeves, Math. 8. 13. (as ye heard before) For, whatever Faith layes hold on, it makes it thine owne, be it ever ſo much: And.
Secondly, Vntill it hath Brought & Conveyed the Thing, It gives Aſſurance that it ſhall be had, and ſo it gives Content & Satisfaction in ſome meaſure as if it were had; As it did to Abraham for his Iſaac, Gen. 17. 17. it made him laugh, that is Ioy, (for it was another kind of laughing then Sarahs was; who laughed out of ſcorne of the thing ſpoken, as deeming it impoſſible & therefore was ſhee rebuked) I ſay, Faith made Abrahamlaugh; that is Ioy in the Aſſurance of the thing: And ſo it made Hanna quiet, and eaſed her of her perplexity, 1. Sam. 1. 10. 18. upon Her praying, ſhee Beleeving was Satisfied, untill ſhee had it; For Faith exerciſed, doth aſſure the Soule, the Thing deſired ſhall be had, in the beſt tyme & manner.
Thirdly, It preſents all fullnes & deſirablenes, as that which ſhall be in due tyme poſſeſſed, & enjoyed; It gives a glimps, of all that God hath Promiſed, or thou deſireſt; Faith leadeth thee to Heaven, and ſheweth thee the many Manſions, the Crowne of Glory, the glorious Roabes, the immortall Inheritance, the Kingdome that ſhall never be ſhaken, whatever is to Come, Faith gives the ſight of it before hand; looke as God did to Abrahā, Gen. 15. He ſhewed him that full Poſterity, & Poſſeſſion that in due tyme, he ſhould have; So doth Faith; Heb. 11. 13. By faith they ſaw the things promiſed afarr off, & were perſwaded of them, & embraced them (or ſaluted them) that is as things preſent and enjoyed by them.
Now Faith doing thus; the more it is; the more it doth thus; as Fire heating, the more the Fire is, the more it heates; and the more it is exerciſed, the more it doth thus: For it is with Faith, as it is with any Skill Power, or Habit; if it be not uſed & exerciſed; it doth nothing, he that hath it is never the better, there is no difference twixt him & another, that hath noe ſuch thing: And this is the great folly of Beleevers that they grow not in, and exerciſe not their Faith; did they ſo, they could want no good thing: Therefore Conſider, what Increaſe can yeild ye ſo much Benifite, as the Increaſe of your Faith? what Exerciſe can doe ye ſo much good, as the Exerciſe of your Faith? Therefore, above all things, mind this: Doe ye as Hab. 2. 4. Live by your Faith: Let that be it whereby ye doe All Things, and paſſe All Tyme, let it be in Continuall Action in you, on All Occaſions: And I Aſſure you, Yee ſhall never Hunger nor Thirſt; But be free from all the Pinches and Pangs, Perplexities, and Troubles, that now ye under goe.
Thus; Ye have had the Pith & Subſtance of this Text, In theſe Foure Doctrines.
1. That Chriſt is the Bread of Life; that is, The onelyonly & alſufficient Remedy of Mans Miſery.
2. That the all & onelyonly Meanes appointed & required by God, for the obtaining this Chriſt; is Comming to him; that is, Beleeving on Him.
3. That Every Perſon without any limitation or ſecluding, by Beleeving on Chriſt, may certainly obtaine Him.
4. That whoever Comes to Chriſt, or Beleeves in Chriſt, ſhall never hunger nor thirſt; that is, ſhall have all his Wants ſupplyed, and his Soule fully ſatisfied.
I Conclude all, with that of
Hoſea Chap, Laſt. Verſe. the Laſt.
Who is wiſe, & he ſhall Vnderſtand theſe Things.
FINIS.