The Riches of Grace Displayed, Sermons · Sermon 6
Rev. 3. 20.Serm. 6.
Behold, I ſtand at the doore and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will ſup with him, and he with me.
IAm come to the evening and cloſe of the the Text; It goes off with as ſatisfying and delightful a farewel, as Chriſt can make, or as heart can deſire, (I will ſup with him, and he with me.)
When your hearts and ſinne do cloſe, guilt enſues and terrifies the conſcience; It kiſſeth us at the entrance of our ſervice, but ſtabs us at the parting, for a recompence. But when our hearts and Chriſt do cloſe, though the preparation be difficult, yet the fruition is ſweet and happy.
The Text ſets it forth by the Metaphor of a Supper, wherein there is, 1. Liberality of proviſion. 2. Courteſie of entertainment. 3. Sweetneſſe of ſociety, and 4. Familiarity of intercourſe, an exchange of kindneſſes and delights 'twixt the Maſter and the Gueſts.
The reſult of all amounts to this one propoſition.
Doct. 1. That there is a ſweet and excellent communion 'twixt Chriſt and the ſoul poſſeſſed by Chriſt: (I will ſup with him and he with me.)
For the opening of this, conſider that communion (in general) is the immediate conſequent (if not effect) of union. And it is diſtinguiſhed according to the nature and condition of objects united, with a reſpect alſo to their uſe and end.
Hence that diviſion of communion into,
1 Natural, as is that of the head and members.
2. Political, as is that of King and ſubjects.
3. Spiritual, as is this of Chriſt and his Church.
This ſpiritual communion reſpects either,
1. Regnatores, the Angels and glorifyed ſouls in heaven, both which are united to Chriſt as their head, whether by way of conformity onelyonly, or by way of influence too, I will not now diſcuſs becauſe the propoſition intends it not.
2. Viatores, thoſe that walk by faith hear on earth, 'twixt Chriſt and them there is a ſingular communion, as may appear.
1. By expreſs phraſes in Scripture, beſides the book of the Canticles, 1 John 1. 3. Our fellowſhip is with the Father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Cor. 1. 9. God is faithful, by whom ye were called to the fellowſhip of his Sonne Jeſus Chriſt. Iſaiah 25. 6. A feaſt of fat things, a feaſt of wines, of fat things, full of marrow, of wines on the Lees well refined.
2. By the Parable of the wedding feaſt, Mat. 22. 2. and of the entertainment of the Prodigal ſon, Luke 15.
3. By ſuch relations as carry communion in their boſomes, as of an head and body, of an husband and wife, of a foundation and building, of root and branch, the head hath communion with the body by influence, the husband with the wife by love and conſent, the foundation with the building by ſupport and ſtrength, the root with the branches by leaf and ſap: Thus it is 'twixt Chriſt and Beleevers.
4. By ſuch actions as import communion, viz.
1. Cohabitation, He dwells in us, and with us by his Spirit.
2. Conſociation, he eats and drinks with us in the Sacrament.
3. Converſation, he ſpeaks and conferres with us in his Word.
For the cleerer opening of the aſſertion, I will diſcuſs theſe particulars.
1. Wherein this communion doth conſiſt.
2. What the extent of it is.
3. Why Chriſt hath communion, &c.
4. Then the uſeful Application.
Queſt. 1. Wherein this communion doth conſiſt.
Sol. It doth conſiſt in a reciprocal expreſſion 'twixt Chriſt and beleevers. Like Jacobs ladder, the Angels aſcending and deſcending. There are mutual paſſages between them both.
Something Chriſt imparts to them, and ſomething they impart to Chriſt: It is an hand mutually opening and claſping.
It includes, 1. An exceeding mutual love: Two hearts reſpectively inflamed one to another, and infolded one within another.
Chriſt lets out his love unto beleevers, he loves them as if they were his ſervants, (but that is too little.) He loves them as if they were his friends (ye are my friends, John 15.) He loves them as if they were his children (I and the children God hath given me, Heb. 2. 13.) Nay he loves them as if they were his Spouſe, Hoſea 2. Nay yet more, he loves them as if they were bone of his bone, and fleſh of his fleſh; he loves them as himſelf, Eph. 5. 30. nay yet more, he loves them more then his own life (which he parted with for their ſakes) and in ſome reſpect more then his own glory (which he veiled a while for their ſalvation.)
And believers let out their love to Chriſt, Simon, lovest thou me more then theſe? Lord, ſaith he, thou knoweſt that I love thee. O bleſſed Chriſt (ſaith Bernard) I love thee, pluſquam mea (more then all lands) pluſquam meos (more then all friends) pluſquam me (more then all my Amor m…us crucifixus, ſaid Ignatius.ſelf.)
So that here is the firſt branch of communion 'twixt Chriſt and beleevers, viz. mutual love; ye are my beloved, and my friends, ſaith Chriſt, and this is my beloved, and this is my friend, ſaith the Church, Cant. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 1. 8. Whom having not ſeen, ye love him whom my ſoul loveth, Cant. 3. 1.
2. It includes a ſingularly mutual complacence or delight.
1. Chriſt delights in beleevers: he delights,
1. In their perſons: Thou ſhalt be called Hephzibah and Beulah for the Lord delighteth in thee, Iſa. 62. 4, 5. He delights in them as a bridegroom in his newly married bride. And Zeph. 3. 17. He will reſt in his love, he will joy over thee with ſinging. When God created the world, he delighted in his own workmanſhip; and ſo doth Chriſt delight in a beleever his new Creation, as the birth of his own power and mercy, and as his glory on earth.
2. In their graces: which are as it were the face and image of Chriſt in the ſoul: A beleeving ſoul is the reflex of Chriſt, and their graces are compared in Cant. 4. to the ſmel of oyntment, v. 10. to the chiefe ſpices, ver. 14. to pleaſant fruit, ver. 13. to a fountaine of gardens, ver. 15.
3. In their ſervices, which are therefore ſtiled mountaines of myrrh, and hills of Frankincenſe, Cant. 4. 6. A little Myrrh and Frankincenſe is ſweet and pleaſing, what is an hill or mountaine of them? Ver. 10. The ſmell of thine oyntments is better then all ſpices. Ver. 11. Thy lips, O my Spouſe drop as the honeycomb; honey and milk are under thy tongue, and the ſmell of thy garments is like the ſmell of Leban…n. When Noah prayed and offered a burnt offering, the Lord ſmelled a ſweet ſavour, Gen. 8. 20, 21. When the Philippians exerciſed acts of mercy, they were Phil. 4. 18.as odours of a ſweet ſmell, a ſacrifice acceptable, well-pleaſing to God▪
When David offered up his broken heart, this was a delightful ſacrifice: A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not desti…e, Pſal. 51. 17. Chriſt delights in their tears, in their ſighs, in their prayings (though we…k,) in their hearings, in their truſtings, in their praiſings.
2. And beleevers delight in Chriſt, Cant. 2. 3. I ſate down under his ſhadow with great delight, and his fruit was ſweet to my taſte. They delight▪
1. In the glories of his perſon: As the chiefeſt of ten thouſand; none like to him, or to be compared with him, John 1. 14. We beheld his glory, the glory as of the onelyonly begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
2. In the wonder and mirrour of his Redemption, admiring at the heighth, and depth, and breadth of his love to die for them.
3. In all the methods of his pr…ſence: the v…ice of him in his Word, O how ſweet? (One day in thy Courts is better then a thouſand, Pſal. 84. 10. the diſcloſure of himſelf in the Sacrament; O how precious? (now the beleeving and loving ſoul rejoyceth with joy unſpeakable, 1 Pet. 1. 8.) The anſwer from him of our ſeeking, O what a ſatisfaction? (Return to thy reſt O my ſoul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee, Pſal 116. 7.)
3. It includes a mutual benevolence: In a rational and friendly communion, each party ſtudies and wiſheth good to each other.
So doth Chriſt unto beleevers: He wiſheth much good to his enemies; to them who reject communion with him; (How often would I have gathered you? and, Father forgive them;) what good then doth he wiſh and will to his friends? There is not only a fulneſſe of goodneſs in Chriſt, but alſo fulneſs of willingneſſe in Chriſt to do good to his members when he was on earth, He inſtructed and prayed for them; and longed with a great deſire to die for them, and was earneſt when they die, they might be with him, and Behold his glory, John 17. 24.
And now he is in heaven, he is an Advocate for them, appears in their ſuit and cauſe; he is an Interceſſor, He ever lives to make interceſſion for us, Rom. 8. 34.
And ſo do beleevers unto Chriſt, though they cannot wiſh any good to Chriſt as to one that is indigent by way of addition, yet they do wiſh good unto him, as to one who is glorious by way of publication: They wiſh, will and deſire the enlargement of his dominion in their own hearts and others: The honouring of his Goſpel, that it may be beleeved and received; proſperity to the cauſe and ſervants of Chriſt, (pray for the peace of Jeruſalem, they ſhall proſper that love thee) and to all his Ordinances.
4. Laſtly, it includes a mutual beneficence, or a mutual communication of good, Chriſt communicates good unto beleevers, and they (in their way) communicate good unto Chriſt, ſpeak, and do, and live to him, and pay their all to his glory.
Chriſt communicates good unto beleevers; In Zachary 4. 2. you read of a Candleſtick all of gold, with a bowle upon the top of it, and ſeven Lamps, and ſeven pipes. And then v. 3. of two Olive trees by it, one upon the right ſide of the bowle, and the other upon the left ſide thereof. The golden Candleſtick is the Church, the ſeven Lamps are the ſeveral graces of it; the Olive trees are the abundant ſupplies of his grace; and the ſeven Pipes the manifold wayes by which Chriſt deriveth good.
Now the good which Chriſt communicates to beleevers, is twofold.
1. Congru…us, which reſpects the militant condition. Bonum, Honeſtum.
2. Glorious, which reſpects the triumphant condition, Bonum Jucundum.
1. The congru…us good which reſpects this life, is firſt, fundamental, in,
1. Juſtification, wherein he beſtows his blood upon beleevers for the remiſſion of all their ſinnes, and ſo to exempt them from condemnation. (Rev. 1. 5. That loved us and waſhed us from our ſinnes in his own blood.) And his righteouſneſſe upon them (we are made the righteouſneſſe of God in him, 2 Cor. 5. 21.) and ſo to preſent them capable and fit for ſalvation.
2. Adoption, when he makes them the Sonnes of God, (Gal. 4. 4. God ſent forth his Sonne, verſe 5. To redeeme us that we might r… receive the Adoption of Sonnes;) ſo that Beleevers by Jeſus Chriſt attaine to the dignity of being the Sonnes of God, John 11. 12. And thereupon heirs of God, and coheirs with Chriſt, Rom. 8. 17. Their Saviour becomes their brother, Heb. 2. 10, to 13. And their God becomes their Father.
3. Sanctification, wherein he gives fellowſhip to them in the graces of his Spirit, renuing and changing them by the infuſion of divine qualities, 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit, 2 Pet. 1. 4. He makes us partakers of the divine nature: As God took of the Spirit in Moſes, and imparted ſome of it on the Elders of Iſrael, or as Jonathan (who loved David as his own ſoul, 1 Sam. 18. 3.) ſtript himſelf of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments even to his ſword, and to his bow, and to his girdle, verſe 4. So doth Jeſus Chriſt, he doth power out of his Spirit upon beleevers; imparts not only the garment of righteouſneſſe to juſtifie them, but alſo his very Spirit of grace to be a ſword and a girdle unto them; a ſword to ſlay their ſins, and a girdle to bind and ſtrengthen them for his ſervice. Therefore are beleevers ſaid to have communion in his death, Phil. 3. 10. and to be planted in the likeneſſe of his death and reſurrection, Rom. 6. 5.
4. Preſervation, Theſe things will I do unto them, and not forſake them: As the Sunne gives light, and keeps it; one hand to give another to hold, as Chriſt himſelf went on with his own work of redemption, never ceaſing till he had finiſhed it and aſcended to glory: ſo doth he in his work of Beleevers; He is the Authour and finiſher of faith, a ſpring of eternal life. The Authour of it to them that obey him.
2. Accidental, he kiſſeth them with a lip of peace, ſalutes them with joy unſpeakable; ſeals them with the ſignet of his own Spirit; puts ſugar into their wine
2. The glorious good which reſpects another life is beyond all expreſſion and conception: It is called a Kingdom, a crown of life, a crown of righteouſneſſe that ſhall be given, 2 Tim. 4. 8. Paradiſe, an exceedingly exceeding weight of glory. This alſo will Chriſt impart to beleevers, He will give them (beſides all they meet with here of grace, of peace, of joy, of help, &c.) hereafter eternal life, and they ſhall be where he is, not only to behold his glory, but to be glorified with him, they ſhall enter into their Maſters joy.
Queſt. 2. What the extent of this communion is 'twixt Chriſt and beleevers?
Sol. The queſtion may be underſtood, either of the extent, 1. Of number; Or 2. of quantity; Or 3. of duration; and accordingly I ſhall unfold the queſtion in three particulars.
1. The extent of Chriſts communion with beleevers▪ is for number univerſal: Beleevers are ſome of them ſtrong: Abraham was ſtrong in faith, he was the Father of the faithful; and ſome of them are weak, I beleeve, Lord help my unbelief, ſaid the father of the childe: ſome are ripe and well grown; others are new born babes and very tender, all are included; union is as large as opening, and communion is as large as union.
Chriſt hath communion with them all, ye are all one in Chriſt Jeſus, Gal. 3. 28. and all of them have communion with Chriſt: The Head hath a conjunction with, & an influence into the little Toe as well as into the ſtrong Arme: and the root (in the vertue of it) extends to the weakeſt branch as well as to the ſtrongeſt Limb of the tree.
2. The extent of Chriſts communion with beleevers is radically and ſubſtantially equal for quantity; I confeſſe in reſpect of degrees (for ſome part of this communion) and in reſpect of ſome acts, and in reſpect of ſome feeling or ſenſe, the communion is unequal and different; for ſome have a greater meaſure of holineſſe, of ſtrength, of joy, of evidence then others have; but yet the radical and ſubſtantial part of this communion is equal and alike: A full Reconciliation, Redemption, Sanctification, Remiſſion: Chriſt is alike Redeemer to all beleevers, and their Juſtification and Adoption are alike; and the ſeed of Sanctification is alike, and the fr…ition of God in glory (eſſentially conſidered) is alike: Though one ſtar exceeds another in magnitude, yet both are alike ſeated in the heavenly Orb, and though one member be larger in the body then another, yet every one hath an equal conjunction with the head. Chriſt doth not claſp beleevers with a different ſpirit, nor do they claſp Chriſt with a different faith; his relation to them is one for the nature of it, and their love to him is all one for the truth of it.
3. The extent of Chriſts communion with beleevers in reſpect of duration is eternal, or is continued to eternity It admits of no interciſion in this life, nor of any ceſſation in that other life; for Chriſt hath an infinite goodneſſe to communicate to them, which they cannot take in but by an infiniteneſſe of time: His treaſures can never be ſpent upon them; He hath glory for them to an eternity, and they have a love to beſtow upon him, which will ſpend it ſelf, and yet laſt for ever and ever.
Queſt. 3. Why hath Chriſt ſuch a communion with Beleevers.
Sol. The Reaſons may be theſe:
1. Communication is the principal end of all about Chriſt; it is the end of his union, the end of his offices, and the end of his works.
1. It is the end of all his unions. There is a twofold union.
One is perſonal, the union of natures in his perſon, and that was for this end, viz. to make him a …it and able Mediator and Redeemer for us: Ʋnto us a childe is born, unto us a Son is given, Iſaiah 9.
Another is myſtical, the union of himſelf with beleevers, as an head with his members; and this is for the Application of all his benefits and vertues alſo unto us: He becomes one with us, for this very end, that partaking of himſelf, we might partake of all good by him.
2. And the end of all his offices, viz.
His Office,
1. Regal, to rule us.
2. Prophetical, to teach and guide us.
3. Priestly, to expiate our, ſinne.
3. And the end of his great works.
1. He died to pay our debts.
2. Roſe to give us the acquittance and diſcharge.
3. Aſcended, to give us gifts.
4. Sits at Gods right hand to appear for us.
5. Intercedes, to compleat and apply all for us.
2. Jeſus Chriſt is ordained to inveſt beleevers with as good, nay with a better eſtate then men had in Adam. He is to repaire their loſt condition; he is to atone them with God, and to fit them for a glorious fruition of him; but this cannot be without a manifold communication of good unto them: Of neceſſity he muſt impart unto them the vertue of his blood for this, and the power of his Spirit for this, and the arme of his alſufficiency and ſtrength for this.
Epheſ. 5. 25. Chriſt loved the Church and gave himſelf for it. Verſe 26. That he might ſanctifie and cleanſe it. Ver. 27. And that he might preſent it to himſelf glorious.
Our union with Chriſt is called a Marriage, will Chriſt bring no portion with himſelf?
Divines do think that there was a neceſſity to impart ſome of his vertues for confirmation unto the Elect Angels: And then ſurely much more muſt be imparted to ſinful men for their Reconcil…ation and Reparation.
3. All the promiſes of God are Yea and Amen in Chriſt (that is) they are to be fulfilled and made good to beleevers: I ſay all the promiſes which are rich veines, and full veines, the ſtore-houſes of all mercy, and grace, and good; Theſe are to be made good unto us by Chriſt: Not onelyonly in a way of ſtability, but likewiſe in a way of efficacy which could never be without a communication of the good things promiſed unto beleevers; Chriſt hath the key of all theſe in his hands.
Theſe therefore are in his diſpoſe, he is the Maſter to diſpenſe them to his family, the houſhold of faith.
4. Jeſus Chriſt is filled with goodneſſe in himſelf, and with love alſo to his members who are beleevers.
Now although all goodneſſe (ex natura rei) be deffuſive of it ſelf, yet is it moſt communicating when either it is ſeated in a relation, or engraven in an affection. A good father will impart more good then a good man; a loving husband will do more good then a meere husband: The goodneſſe in Chriſt is a goodneſſe both wayes: It is a goodneſſe in relation, (that is) in one who ſtands to beleevers as an head doth to its members; and a goodneſs in affection, (that is) in one who loves beleevers above all the people in the world; and certainly love is bountiful: it is an eaſie key to open, and a liberal hand to beſtow.
Fifthly, What ſhould Chriſt do with himſelf, and with all his benefits? God at the firſt contented not himſelf (if I may ſo ſpeak) with himſelf, and therefore created man to communicate ſome of his goodneſſe to him. And when Chriſt redeemed man, he contents not himſelf with the perfecting of the work of redemption, but he muſt communicate the vertue and fruit of it unto men; unleſſe we will ſay he lived in vaine, or died in vaine, or roſe in vaine; he died not for himſelf, nor roſe for himſelf.
But who ſhall partake of this purchaſed good? ſhall enemies, or friends? ſhall they enjoy it who will not enjoy him? ſhall they enjoy ſweetneſſe of his communion who ſhut their doors and hearts againſt him, and abhor the union of his perſon? O no, we cannot ſup together if we will not come together. But as he wrote upon his book, mihi & meis this book is for me and for my friends, or as we write in our Leaſes, for us and our heirs; ſo ſaith Chriſt of all his goodneſſe, this is for me and my members; this is for me and beleevers; I may look on others, but I will live with them; I may ſpeak to others, but I will ſup with them; others may have a call from me, but theſe onelyonly ſhall have communion with me.
6. Beleevers have much work lying upon them for Chriſt, active and paſſive, ordinary and extraordinary, none of which can be done without communication from Chriſt. Chriſts works and Chriſts help are paralel: The hand can do nothing for the head, but by an influence imparted to it from the head; Without me ye can do nothing, John 15. 5.
7. All the good we do is done by the strength of communion.
The nerves or liguments of union import this; For,
On Chriſts part it is the Spirit, which is compared to fire and water (that are diffuſive and ſpreading) and to oyntment (the unction of the Spirit) which ſpreds its ſavour, and to light which is diffuſive.
On our part it is faith: and faith is a,
1. Depending eye.
2. Drawing mouth.
3. Receiving hand.
8. He glorifies himſelf in it: His glory as Mediatour is enlarged by giving grace to his members, by filling them with more grace, he fills himſelf with more glory: Though the glory of his perſon be full, yet the glory of his office of Mediatourſhip, and of headſhip to his Church, this hath another additional fulneſs of glory from the good and happineſſe of his members.
All the uſeful Application which I intend at this time to make, ſhall be reduced unto,
1. Conſolation.
2. Exhortation, partly to perſons,
1. In this communion,
1. Hold it faſt.
2. Improve it.
2. As yet out of this communion, by all meanes get into it.
Ʋſe 1. The firſt Uſe ſhall be for comfort to all beleeving perſons, to all whoſe hearts have been opened to let in Chriſt, twixt whom and them there is this high and glorious communion.
You have enough, and unleſs you were in heaven it ſelfe, you cannot have more: As David ſpake of the ſword of Goliah, none like that, the ſame I affirm of communion with Chriſt, none like this: It ſurpaſſeth all communions in the world in ſix reſpects.
1. For dignity, there is a communion 'twixt a ſinner and luſt, 6. Reſpects(this is of all the baſeſt) There is a communion 'twixt man and the creatures, (this is of all the pooreſt:) A fellowſhip with ſinne makes up perfect miſery; a fellowſhip with the world makes up perfect vanity.
But the communion 'twixt Chriſt and a Beleever is truly ſolid, and unſpeakably eminent: The Sonne of God with the ſonnes of God; the chiefeſt in heaven with the chiefeſt in earth; the moſt excellent agents in heaven and earth, by the moſt excellent meanes the Spirit and Faith.
This fellowſhip is more then Angelical: It is a divine fellowſhip with the whole Trinity, Our fellowſhip is with the Father and the Son, ſaith …aint John. The communion of the Holy Gheſt be with you, ſaith Saint Paul.
2. For comodity, the things imparted in this communion, any one of them, nay the leaſt of them, is of more value and benefit then all the world.
There was more in the kiſſe which a Prince gave to one, then in a cup of gold which he gave to another: The Phyloſophers hold that the loweſt degree of life, exceeds the higheſt degree of inanimate perfection: A living dog is better then a dead lion; a living fly doth (in this) overmatch all the ſtars.
The blood of Chriſt, the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, the love of Chriſt, the graces communicated from Chriſt, the loweſt ſpark of any of them, doth elevate the ſoule, and addes more perfection of good then all the good which can be drawn out of all the creatures in the world. The leaſt good, in genere moris, out-weighs all the good in genere fortunae: and the leaſt good, in genere ſpiritualis (or Gratiae) is of more value and conſequence then all other good whatſoever; one pearle is better then a million of ſtones, or a mountaine of dirt.
3. For priviledge, were you cloathed with all the moral abilities whereof nature is capable; were you endowed with all the confluences of the earth to the utmoſt receptions or extenſions of ſenſual imaginations and deſires, yet by none of theſe are you brought in a neerneſſe of relation to God, or any jot advantaged for any ſpiritual intereſts, or infranchized thereby with any ſoul-helping liberties; ſtill you are forreiners and ſtrangers, and ſtand at diſtance with God, you cannot call God Father yet, till communion with Chriſt be enjoyed; and when this is enjoyed, your priviledges (immediately) become wonderful.
Now you may look on God and ſay, Thou art my portion. Now you may go to God and ſay, Thou art my Father: Now you may behold the love of God, and ſay, this is my treaſure; and the Covenant of God, and ſay, this is my ſtore-houſe; and the providence of God, and ſay, this is my Shield: Now you may look on Chriſt, and ſay, This is my Redeemer, he is mine, and I am his: He lives in me, and I live in him; He dwells with me, and I dwell with him; He ſups with me, and I feed on him; His blood is my refuge, and my heart is his Manſion; He doth graciouſly traffique in my heart by his Spirit, and I can as freely traffique with heaven by his interceſſion.
4. For pleaſure: One day in Gods houſe was more to David then a thouſand elſewhere, Pſalme 84. 10.
One dayes communion with Chriſt (did I ſay one dayes? nay one houres, nay one minutes communion with Chriſt) is of more true ſatisfaction, and ſoul-delighting pleaſures, then all the bathes and rivers of Joy in the world.
Saint Auſtine delivers a high Dic animae meae ſalus tua ego ſum: Curram poſt iſtam vocom: N…li abſconderc faci…m tuam moriar ut cam videam.requeſt to God; O Lord, ſay unto my ſoul, I am thy ſalvation, That one word, O I will runne to heare it: Hide not thy face from me, Let me die ſo I may ſee thy favour. Moſes was a while with God upon the mount, (and what a heaven was it for him to ſee God; and converſe with him?) Peter was a while with Chriſt upon the Mount, (O what a …aciety was it to him to be with his Chriſt in that glimpſe of excellent glory? and to heare that heavenly voice, This is my beloved Sonne, 2 Pet. 1. 19. well might Peter ſay, it is good to be here.
Why Sirs, who can deſcribe unto you the ſweetneſſe of this communion? I never Meditate, but I meet with Chriſt? what a bleſſed contemplation is this? I never hear, but I meet with Chriſt, what a bleſſed hour is this? I never receive of the Sacrament, but I meet with Chriſt (O what a bleſſed feaſt is this?)
I never bow my ſoul in prayer, but I meet with Chriſt; when I go and heare, I hear his voice; when I go and pray, he hears my voice, (O what a heaven is this?).
I commend that ſpeech of Nunquam abs te, abſque te recedo, Bern. Ep. 116.Bernard, if the ſoul can ſpeak its of Chriſt, I never come to thee, but by thee; I never come from thee without thee.
5. For ſufficiency: ſhew us the Father (ſaid Philip) and it ſufficeth; Haſt thou communion with Chriſt? it is ſufficient, let thy condition for other things be what it may be.
You know the anſwer of the King of France to the Herauld of him of Spaine, who varniſhed his Maſter with many empty titles of being King of Naples, King of the Indies, &c. He only proclaimed himſelfe King of France; as if that alone weighed down all the reſt.
O ye beleevers, there is ſo much in this one communion with Chriſt, as anſwers to all other communions; nay, as infinitely overtops them: One man hath communion with profits, but he hath no pleaſure; another ſucks at the flower of pleaſure, but he hath no profit; one outward good or other is ſtill wanting: and if all were enjoyed, there were not enough to ſatisfie the vaſt ſoul of man. But communion with Chriſt brings ſufficiency with it: There is (if I may ſo phraſe it) an aggregation of all good in Chriſt, for the parts of ſatisfying good, and likewiſe an intenſion of all good for the degrees of it.
There is mercy enough in Chriſt to pardon, holineſſe enough in Chriſt to heal, peace enough in Chriſt to quiet, joy enough in Chriſt to refreſh, dignity enough in Chriſt to honour, wiſdom enough in Chriſt to direct, readineſſe enough in Chriſt to help, ſtrength enough in Chriſt to uphold, goodneſſe enough in Chriſt to bleſſe thy ſoul, happineſſe enough in Chriſt to ſave and crown thy ſoul.
Let our condition be never ſo great, it is but a hell without Chriſt, let it be never ſo flat, it is heaven ſufficient if we enjoy Chriſt.
Who can ſay he wants nothing, who wants Chriſt? who can ſay he wants any thing, who wants not a Chriſt.
6. For duration: all other communions are in hazard, and receive their period. The communion 'twixt man and wife, hath this inſcription upon it, yours for life; The communion 'twixt a man and his friend hath this ſubſcription to it, yours till death; the communion that a man hath with the creatures, hath this motto on it, yours till trouble; the communion that a man hath with the pleaſures of ſin, hath this character on it, yours till conſcience awakes, or at leaſt, till hell follows; the communion that Adam had with God in Paradiſe, had this Epitaph on it, yours till temptation. Either that moth of death, or that wave of trouble, or that flaſh in conſcience, or that decreed period to all creatures crack aſunder all theſe communions, and in a moment make their graves: ſo that we do many times ſcarſe taſte the ſweetneſſe of them in fruition, before we are ſwallowed up with bitterneſſe for the loſſe of them. But the communion 'twixt Chriſt and the beleever is begun in mercy, is maintained by infiniteneſſe, and prolonged to eternity; our life will end, and the world will end, and time will end, but this communion ſhall never end.
Nay, (and contrary to all other communions which like wine is quickeſt at the firſt drawing) the longer that this communion holds, the ſweeter and the fuller, and the purer it becomes: In this life you (by reaſon thereof) partake of glorious and unſpeakable good from Chriſt, but all is little to what he reſerves for another world. All in this life is but as the firſt fruits, the harveſt is to come but as the earneſt penny, the full reward is to come; but as the contract, the marriage is to come.
After a few dayes you ſhall come to an immediate and perfect communion, not at ſecond hand, by means, not by tokens, not by droppings, not by mixtures, but by a glorious and abſolute fulneſſe by compleat fruition and viſion.
Chriſt will let out his ſtrength of holineſſe and glory upon you, and you ſhall let out the ſtrength of love to Chriſt, you ſhall enjoy him to the utmoſt capacity of fruition, and you ſhall love him with the utmoſt poſſibility of affection for ever and ever. This is the heritage of the ſervants of the Lord; this is that admirable and bleſſed communion which is and ſhall be 'twixt Chriſt and all beleevers.