The Beatitudes, Discourse · Chapter 13
MATTH. 5.6.
Bleſſed are they which do hunger and thirſt after Righteouſneſs.
CHAP. XIII.
Deſcribing the Nature of ſpiritual hunger.
WE are now come to the fourth ſtep of bleſſedneſs, Bleſsed are they that hunger. The words fall into two parts.
1. A Duty implied.
2. A Promiſe annexed.
1. A Duty implied, Bleſſed are they that hunger. 1. The Duty implied.Spiritual hunger is a bleſſed hunger. Doctr.
Queſt. 1. What is meant by hunger?
Anſw. Hunger is put for deſire, Iſa. 26.9. Spiritual hunger is the rational appetite whereby the ſoul pants after that which it apprehends moſt ſutable and proportionable to it ſelf.
Queſt. 2. Whence is this hunger?
Anſw. Hunger is from a ſenſe of want; he who ſpiritually hungers, hath a real ſenſe of his own indigence, he wants righteouſneſs.
Queſt. 3. What is meant by righteouſneſs?
Anſw. There is a two-fold righteouſneſs.
1. Of Imputation.
2. Of Implantation.
1. Juſtitia imputativa.1. A righteouſneſs of Imputation; viz. Chriſts righteouſneſs. Jer. 23.6. He ſhall be called the Lord our righteouſneſs. This is as truly ours to juſtifie, as it is Chriſts to beſtow; by vertue of this righteouſneſs God looks upon us as if we had never ſinned, Num. 23.21. this is a perfect righteouſneſs: Col. 2.10. Ye are compleat in him; this doth not only cover, but adorn; he who hath this righteouſneſs, is equal to the moſt illuſtrious Saints; the weakeſt believer is juſtified as much as the ſtrongeſt; this is a Chriſtians triumph; when he is defiled in himſelf, he is undefiled in his head; in this bleſſed righteouſneſs we ſhine brighter than the Angels; this righteouſneſs is worth hungring after.
2 Juſtitia implantativa.2. A righteouſneſs of Implantation; that is, inherent righteouſneſs; viz. the graces of the Spirit; holineſs of heart and life, which Cajetan calls univerſal righteouſneſs; this a pious ſoul hungers after.
This is a bleſſed hunger; bodily hunger cannot make a man ſo miſerable, as ſpiritual hunger makes him bleſſed; this evidenceth life; a dead man cannot hunger; hunger proceeds from life; the firſt thing the child doth when it is born, is to hunger after the breaſt; ſpiritual hunger follows upon the new birth: 1 Pet. 2.2. Saint Bernard in one of his Soliloquies comforts himſelf with this, that ſure he had the truth of grace in him, becauſe he had in his heart a ſtrong deſire after God*Certus ſum per gratiam, defiderium …ui habere me in toto corde. Bern. Solil.; 'tis happy, when though we have not what we ſhould, we deſire what we have not; the appetite is as well from God as the food.
SECT. I.
The Inferences drawn from the Propoſition.
1. SEE here at what a low price God ſets heavenly Uſe 1 things; it is but hungring and thirſting. Inform.Iſa. 55.1. Ho, every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters, buy Branch. 1 without money. We are not bid to bring any merits as the Papiſts would do; nor to bring a ſum of money to purchaſe righteouſneſs; Rich men would be loth to do that; all that is required is to bring an appetite. Chriſt hath fulfilled all righteouſneſs, we are only to hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs; this is equal and reaſonable; God requires not Rivers of oyle, but ſighs and tears; the invitation of the Goſpel is free; if a friend invite Ghueſts to his Table, he doth not expect they ſhould bring money to pay for their Dinner, only come with an appetite; ſo ſaith God, Tis not pennance, pilgrimage, ſelf-righteouſneſs I require; only bring a ſtomack, hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs. God might have ſet Chriſt and ſalvation at an higher price; but he hath much beaten down the price: Now as this ſhews the ſweetneſs of Gods Nature, he is not an hard Maſter; ſo it ſhews us the inexcuſableneſs of them who periſh under the Goſpel; What Apology can any man make at the day of judgement, when God ſhall ask that queſtion, Friend, why didſt thou not embrace Chriſt? I ſet Chriſt and grace at a low rate; if thou hadſt but hungered after righteouſneſs, thou might'ſt have had it, but thou didſt ſlight Chriſt; thou hadſt ſuch low thoughts of righteouſneſs, that thou wouldſt not hunger after it; how doſt thou think to eſcape who haſt neglected ſo great ſalvation? The eaſier the terms of the Goſpel are, the ſorer puniſhment ſhall they be thought worthy of who unworthily refuſe ſuch an offer.
Branch 2 2. It ſhews us a true Character of a godly man, he hungers and thirſts after ſpiritual things: Iſa. 26.9. Pſal. 73.25. A true Saint is carried upon the wing of deſire; 'tis the very temper and conſtitution of a gracious ſoul to thirſt after God; Pſal. 42.2. In the word preached, now he is big with deſire; theſe are ſome of the pantings of his ſoul, Lord, Thou haſt led me into thy Courts, O that I may have thy ſweet preſence, that thy glory may fill the Temple! This is thy Limning houſe; wilt thou draw ſome ſacred Lineaments of grace upon my ſoul, that I may be more aſſimilated and changed into the likeneſs of my dear Saviour. In prayer, how is the ſoul filled with paſſionate longings after Chriſt! prayer is expreſſed by groans unutterable, Rom. 8.26. The heart ſends up whole Vollies of ſighs to heaven; Lord, one beam of thy love, one drop of thy blood!
SECT. 2.
Containing a Reprehenſion of ſuch as do not hunger after Righteouſneſs.
Uſe 2 IT reproves ſuch as have none of this ſpiritual hunger; they have no winged deſires, Reproof. the edge of their affections Branch 1 is blunted; honey is not ſweet to them that are ſick of a Feaver, and have their tongues imbittered with Choler: So thoſe who are ſoul-ſick, and in the gall of bitterneſs, find no ſweetneſs in God or Religion; foreign, ſin taſtes ſweeter to them, they have no ſpiritual hunger. That men have not this hunger after righteouſneſs, appears by theſe ſeven Demonſtrations.
1. They never felt any emptineſs, they are full of their own righteouſneſs. Rom. 10.3. Now the full ſtomack loaths the honey-comb; this was Laodicea's diſeaſe, ſhe was full, and had no ſtomack either to Chriſts gold or eye-ſalve, Rev. 3.17. When men are filled with pride, this flatuous diſtemper hinders holy longings; as when the ſtomack is full of wind, it ſpoils the appetite; none ſo empty of grace, as he that thinks he is full; he hath moſt need of righteouſneſs, that doth leaſt want it.
2. That men do not hunger after righteouſneſs, appears, becauſe they can make a ſhift well enough to be without it. If they have oyle in the Cruſe, the world coming in, they are well content; grace is a commodity that is leaſt miſſed; you ſhall hear men complain they want health, they want Trading, but never complain they want Righteouſneſs; if men loſe a meal or two, they think themſelves half undone; but they can ſtay away from Ordinances, which are the Conduits of grace: Do they hunger after righteouſneſs, who are ſatisfied without it? nay, who deſire to be excuſed from feeding upon the Goſpel-banquet*Luke 14.18.; ſure he hath no appetite, who entreats to be excuſed from eating.
3. It is a ſign they have none of this ſpiritual hunger, who deſire rather ſleep than food; they are more drowſie than hungry; ſome there are who come to the Word, that they may get a nap, to whom I may ſay as Chriſt did to Peter, Mark 14.37. Couldſt thou not watch one houre? 'tis ſtrange to ſee a man aſleep at his meat; others there are who have a deep ſleep fallen upon them, they are aſleep in ſecurity, and they hate a ſoul-awakening Miniſtry; while they ſleep, their damnation ſlumbereth not, 1 Pet. 2.3.
4. It appears men have no ſpiritual hunger, becauſe they refuſe their food; Chriſt and Grace are offered, nay preſſed upon them, but they put away ſalvation from them, as the froward child puts away the breaſt, Pſal. 81.11. Acts 13.46. Such are your Phanaticks and Enthuſiaſts, who put away the bleſſed Ordinances, and pretend Revelations, That is a ſtrange Revelation, that tells a man he may live without food; theſe prefer Husks before Manna; they live upon Aery Notions, being fed by the Prince of the Ayre.
5. 'Tis a ſign they have none of this ſpiritual hunger, who delight more in the garniſhing of the diſh, than in food; theſe are they who look more after Elegancy and notion in Preaching, than ſolid matter; it argues either a wanton palate, or a ſurfeited ſtomack to feed on ſallets and kickſhaws, neglecting wholſom food. 1 Tim. 6.3, 4. If any man conſent not to wholſome words, he is proud, knowing nothing, &c. The plaineſt truth hath its beauty; they have no ſpiritual hunger, that deſire only to feaſt their fancy; of ſuch the Prophet ſpeaks, Ezek. 33.32. Thou art to them as a very lovely ſong of one that hath a pleaſant voyce, and can play well on an Inſtrument. If a man were invited to a Feaſt, and there being Muſick at the Feaſt, he ſhould ſo liſten to the Muſick, that he did not mind his meat, you would ſay, Sure he is not hungry; ſo when men are for gingling words, and like rather gallantry of ſpeech, than ſpirituality of matter, it is a ſign they have ſurfeited ſtomacks, and itching ears.
6. They evidence little hunger after righteouſneſs, that prefer other things before it; viz. their profits and recreations; If a boy, when he ſhould be at dinner, is playing in the ſtreet, it is a ſign he hath no appetite to his meat; were he hungry, he would not prefer his play before his food: So when men prefer vain things which cannot profit, before the blood of Chriſt, and the grace of the Spirit, it is a ſign they have no palate or ſtomack to heavenly things.
7. It is a ſign men have no ſpiritual hunger, when they are more for Diſputes in Religion, than Practicks. Robertus Gallus thought he ſaw in his dream a great Feaſt, and ſome were biting on hard ſtones; when men feed only on hard queſtions and controverſies*1 Tim. 6.3, 4., (like ſome of the Schoolmens utrums and diſtinctions) as whether one may partake with him that hath not the work of grace in his heart? whether one ought not to ſeparate from a Church in caſe of male-adminiſtration? what is to be thought of Paedobaptiſm? &c. when theſe Niceties and Criticiſms in Religion take up mens heads, neglecting faith and holineſs, theſe do pick bones, and not feed on the meat. Scepticks in Religion have hot brains, but cold hearts; did men hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs, they would propound to themſelves ſuch queſtions as theſe, How ſhall we do to be ſaved? How ſhall we make our Calling and Election ſure? How ſhall we mortifie our corruptions? but ſuch as Ravel out their time in frothy and litigious diſputes, I call Heaven to witneſs they are ſtrangers to this Text, they do not hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs.
SECT. 3.
Containing a Reproof of them that do hunger, but not after Righteouſneſs.
Branch 2 2. IT reproves them who inſtead of hungring and thirſting after Righteouſneſs, Reproof. thirſt after Riches: This is the thirſt of covetous men, they deſire Mammon, not Manna†:*Auri ſacra fam…s. Hor. Amos 2.7. That pant after the duſt of the Earth. This is the diſeaſe moſt are ſick of, an immoderate appetite after the world; but theſe things will no more ſatiate, than drink will quench a dropſie mans thirſt; covetouſneſs is Idolatry, Col. 3.5. Too many Proteſtants ſet up the Idol of gold in the Temple of their hearts; this ſin of covetouſneſs is the moſt hardly rooted out; commonly when other ſins leave men, this ſin abides; wantonneſs is the ſin of youth, worldlineſs the ſin of old Age.
Branch 3 3. It reproves them who hunger and thirſt after unrighteouſneſs; Reproof. here I ſhall indite three ſorts of perſons.
1. It reproves ſuch as thirſt after others mens Lands and Poſſeſſions; this the Scripture calls a mighty ſin, Amos 5.12. Thus Ahab thirſted after Naboths Vineyard; this is an hungry Age wherein we live; we have a great deal of this hungring and thirſting, which hath made ſo many State-Thieves; Men have fleeced others to feather themſelves. What a brave challenge did Samuel make? 2 Sam. 12.3. Behold here I am, witneſs againſt me before the Lord, and before his Anointed, Whoſe Oxe have I taken? or whoſe Aſs have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? of whoſe hand have I received any bribe? &c. Few that have been in Power can ſay thus, Whoſe Oxe have we taken? whoſe houſe have we plundered? whoſe eſtate have we ſequeſtred? Nay, whoſe Oxe have they not taken? Goods unjuſtly gotten, ſeldom go to the third heir. De male quaeſitis vix gaudet tertius haeres. Read the Plunderers curſe: Iſa. 33.1. Woe to thee that ſpoileſt, and thou waſt not ſpoiled; when thou ſhalt ceaſe to ſpoil, thou ſhalt be ſpoiled. Ahab paid dear for the Vineyard, when the Divel carried away his ſoul, and the Dogs licked his blood, 1 Kings 21.19. He that lives on Rapine, dies a fool. Jer. 17.11. He that getteth riches, and not by right, at his end ſhall be a fool.
2. It reproves ſuch as hunger and thirſt after revenge; this is a Divelliſh thirſt; though it were more Chriſtian and ſafe to ſmother an injury, yet our nature is prone to this diſeaſe of revenge; we have the ſting of the Bee, not the honey; malice having broken the Bars of Reaſon, grows ſavage, and carries its remedy in the Scabbard: Heathens will riſe up againſt Chriſtians, who have ſtopped the vein of revengeful paſſion, when it hath begun to vent: I have read of Phocion, who being wrongfully condemned to dye, deſired that his ſon might not remember the injuries which the Athenians had done to him, nor revenge his blood.
3. It reproves ſuch as hunger and thirſt to ſatisfie their impure luſts; ſinners are ſaid to ſin foreign, with greedineſs, Epheſ. 4.19. So Amnon was ſick till he had defiled Tamars chaſtity; never doth an hungry man come with more eagerneſs to his food, than a wicked man doth to his ſin; and when Satan ſees men have ſuch an appetite, commonly he will provide a Diſh they love; he will ſet the forbidden Tree before them; they that thirſt to commit ſin, ſhall thirſt as Dives did in hell, and not have a drop of water to cool their tongue.
SECT. 4.
Shewing the ſigns of ſpiritual hunger.
Uſe 3 LET us put our ſelves upon a trial whether we hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs;Trial. I ſhall give you five ſigns by which you may judge of this hunger.
Sign. 1 1. Hunger is a painful thing. Eſau, when he was returned from Hunting, was almoſt dead with hunger: Gen. 25.32. and Pſal. 107.5. Hungry and thirſty, their ſoul fainted in them: So a man that hungers after righteouſneſs, is in anguiſh of ſoul, and ready to faint away for it; he finds a want of Chriſt and grace, he is diſtreſſed and in pain till he hath his ſpiritual hunger ſtilled and allayed.
Sign. 2 2. Hunger is ſatisfied with nothing but food; bring an hungry man flowres, muſick, tell him pleaſant ſtories, nothing will content him but food. Shall I dye for thirſt? ſaith Sampſon, Judg. 15.18. So a man that hungers and thirſts after righteouſneſs, ſaith, Give me Chriſt, or I dye; Lord, What wilt thou give me ſeeing I go Chriſtleſs? what though I have parts, wealth, honour and eſteem in the world? all is nothing without Chriſt; Shew me the Lord, and it ſufficeth. Let me have Chriſt to cloath me, Chriſt to feed me, Chriſt to intercede for me; while the ſoul is Chriſtleſs, it is reſtleſs; nothing but the water-ſprings of Chriſts blood can quench its thirſt.
Sign. 3 3. Hunger wreſtles with difficulties, and makes an adventure for food; we ſay hunger breaks through ſtone walls: Gen. 42.1, 2. The ſoul that ſpiritually hungers, is reſolved, Chriſt it muſt have, grace it muſt have; and to uſe Baſils Expreſſion, the hungry ſoul is almoſt diſtracted till it enjoyes the thing it hungers after*foreign. Baſil..
4. An hungry man falls to his meat with an appetite; you need not make an Oration to an hungry man, and perſwade Sign. 4 him to eat: So he who hungers after righteouſneſs, feeds eagerly on an Ordinance. Jer. 15.16. Thy words were found, and I did eat them; in the Sacrament he feeds with appetite upon the body and blood of the Lord; God loves to ſee us feed hungrily on the bread of life.
5. An hungry man taſtes ſweetneſs in his meat; ſo he Sign. 5 that hungers after righteouſneſs, doth relliſh a ſweetneſs in heavenly things; Chriſt is to him all Marrow, yea, the quinteſſence of delights. 1 Pet. 2.3. If ſo be ye have taſted that the Lord is gracious: He that ſpiritually hungers, taſtes the promiſes ſweet, nay, taſtes a reproof ſweet. To the hungry every bitter thing is ſweet, Prov. 27.7. A bitter reproof is ſweet; he can feed upon the myrrhe of the Goſpel as well as the honey; by theſe notes of trial we may judge of our ſelves whether we hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs.
SECT. 5.
Comfort to ſuch as do hunger, wherein is ſhewn the differences of hunger.
IT may ſerve to comfort the hearts of thoſe who do Uſe 4 hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs;Conſol. I doubt not but …t is the grief of many a good heart, that he cannot be more holy, that he cannot ſerve God better. Bleſſed are they that hunger. Though thou haſt not ſo much righteouſneſs as thou wouldſt, yet thou art bleſſed, becauſe thou hungereſt after it; deſire is the beſt diſcovery of a Chriſtian; actions may be counterfeit; a man may do a good action for a bad end; ſo did Jehu. Actions may be compulſory; a man may be forced to do that which is good, but not to will that which is good; therefore we are to cheriſh good deſires, and to bleſs God for them; oftentimes a child of God hath nothing to ſhew for himſelf but deſires: Nehem. 1.11. Thy ſervants who deſire to fear thy Name. Theſe hungrings after righteouſneſs proceed from love; a man doth not deſire that which he doth not love; if thou didſt not love Chriſt, thou couldſt not hunger after him.
Object. 1 Object. 1. If my hunger were right, then I could take comfort in it; but I fear it is counterfeit; hypocrites have their deſires.
Anſw. Anſw. That I may the better ſettle a doubting Chriſtian, I ſhall ſhew the difference between true and falſe deſires, ſpiritual hunger and carnal.
1. The hypocrite doth not deſire grace for it ſelf; he deſires grace only tanquam medium, as a bridge to lead him over to heaven; he doth not ſo much thirſt after grace, as glory; he doth not ſo much deſire the way of righteouſneſs, as the Crown of righteouſneſs; his deſire is not to be made like Chriſt, but to reign with Chriſt; this was Balaams deſire: Num. 23.10. Let me dye the death of the righteous: Such deſires as theſe are found among the damned, this is the hypocrites hunger; but a child of God deſires grace for it ſelf, and Chriſt for himſelf; to a believer, not only heaven is precious, but Chriſt is precious, 1 Pet. 2.7.
2. The hypocrites deſire is conditional; he would have heaven and his ſins to; heaven and his pride, heaven and his covetouſneſs: The young man in the Goſpel would have had heaven, provided he might keep his earthly poſſeſſions; many a man would have Chriſt, but there is ſome ſin he muſt not be uncivil to, but gratifie; this is the hypocrites hunger; but true deſire is abſolute. Give me ſaith the ſoul, Chriſt on any terms; let God propound what Articles he will, I will ſubſcribe to them. Would he have me deny my ſelf? would he have me mortifie ſin? I am content to do any thing, ſo I may have Chriſt; hypocrites would have Chriſt, but they are loth to part with a luſt for him; they are like a man that would have a Leaſe, but is loth to pay down the Fine.
3. Hypocrites deſires are but deſires, they are lazy and ſluggiſh; when one excited Lipſius to the ſtudy of vertue, ſaith he, My mind is to it. Prov. 21.25. The deſire of the ſlothful killeth him, for his hands refuſe to labour. Many ſtand as the Carman in the Fable, crying, Help Hercules, when his Wain ſtuck in the Mud, when he ſhould rather have put his ſhoulder to the Wheel. Men would be ſaved, but they will take no pains. Doth he deſire water that will not let down the Bucket into the Well? but true deſire is quickned into indeavour. Iſa. 26.9. With my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night; yea, with my ſpirit within me will I ſeek thee early; they are the violent take heaven by force, Matth. 12.11. The love-ſick Spouſe, though ſhe was wounded, and her vail taken away, yet ſhe follows after Chriſt, Cant. 5.7. Deſire is the weight of the ſoul, which ſets it a going; as the Eagle which deſires her prey, makes haſte to it. Job 39. ult. Where the ſtain are, there is ſhe; the Eagle hath ſharpneſs of ſight to diſcover her prey, and ſwiftneſs of wing to flie to it: So the ſoul that hungers after righteouſneſs, is carried ſwiftly to it in the uſe of all holy Ordinances.
4. The Hypocrites deſires are cheap; he would have ſpiritual things, but he will be at no charges for them; he cares not how much money he parts with for his luſts; he hath money to ſpend upon a drunken companion, but he hath no money to part with for the maintaining of Gods Ordinances; Hypocrites cry up Religion, but cry down maintenance of Miniſters. But true deſires are coſtly; David would not offer burnt-offerings without coſt, 1 Chron. 21.24. An hungry man will give any thing for food; as it fell out in the ſiege of Samaria, 2 Kings 6.25. That man did never hunger after Chriſt, who thinks much of parting with a little ſilver for the Pearl of price.
5. Hypocrites deſires are flaſhy and tranſient; they are quickly gone, like the wind that ſtays not long in one corner; or like an hot fit, which is ſoon over. While the Hypocrite is under legal terror, or in affliction, he hath ſome good deſires, but the hot fit is ſoone over; his goodneſſe like a fiery Comet, ſoone ſpends and evaporates; but true deſire is conſtant. It is obſervable, the Greek word in the text is in the participle foreign, bleſſed are they that are hungring; though they have righteouſneſs, yet they are ſtill hungring after more. Hypocrites deſire is like the motion of a Watch which is quickly down. The deſire of a godly man is like the beating of the Pulſe, which laſts as long as life, Pſal. 119.20. My ſoul breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy judgements. And that we might not think this pang of deſire would ſoone be over, he adds foreign at all times. Davids deſire after God was not an high colour in a fit, but the conſtant complexion of his ſoul. In the Temple the fire was not to go out by night, Levit. 6.13. The fire ſhall ever be burning upon the Altar. There was ſaith Cyril, a myſtery in it, to ſhow that we muſt be ever burning in holy affections and deſires.
6. Hypocrites deſires are unſeaſonable, they are not well timed; they put off their hungring after righteouſneſſe till it be too late; they are like the fooliſh virgins that came knocking when the door was ſhut, Matth. 25.10. In time of health and proſperity the ſtream of the affections did run another way; it was ſin the Hypocrite deſired, not righteouſneſſe; when he is to dye, and can keep his ſins no longer, now he would have grace as a Paſſe-port to carry him to heaven*Luke 13.25.. This is the Hypocrites fault, his faith is too early, and his deſires are too late; his faith began to bud in the morning of his infancie, he beleeved ever ſince he could remember, but his deſires after Chriſt begin not to put forth till the evening of old age; he ſends forth his deſires when his laſt breath is going forth; as if a man ſhould deſire a pardon after the ſentence is paſſed; theſe bed-rid deſires are ſuſpitious; but true deſires are timely and ſeaſonable: a gracious heart ſeeks firſt the Kingdom of God, Matth. 6.33. Davids thirſt after God was early, Pſal. 63.1. The wiſe Virgins got their oyle betimes before the Bridegroome came. Thus we ſee the difference between a true and falſe hunger; they who can finde this true hunger, are bleſſed, and may take comfort in it.
Object. 2. But my hunger after righteouſneſſe is ſo Object. 2 weak, that I fear it is not true?
Anſw. 1. Though the pulſe beats but weak, it ſhows Anſw. 1 there is life; and that weak deſires ſhould not be diſcouraged, there is a promiſe made to them, Matth. 12.20. a bruiſed reed he will not break; a reed is a weak thing, but eſpecially when it is bruiſed; yet this bruiſed reed ſhall not be broken, but like Aarons dry rod, bud and bloſſome. In caſe of weakneſs, look to Chriſt thy high-Prieſt; he is merciful, therefore will bear with thy infirmities; he is mighty, therefore will help them.
Anſw. 2. If thy deſires after righteouſneſſe ſeeme to Anſw. 2 be weak and languid, yet a Chriſtian may ſometimes take a meaſure of his ſpiritual eſtate as well by the judgement, as by the affections. What is that thou eſteemeſt moſt in thy judgment? Is it Chriſt and Grace? This is a good evidence for heaven; it was a ſigne Saint Paul did beare entire love to Chriſt, becauſe he eſteem'd this Pearl above all; he counted other things foreign, but dung, that he might win Chriſt, Phil. 3.8.
Object. 3 Object. 3. But ſaith a child of God, That which much eclipſeth my comfort, is, I have not that hunger which once I had. Time was I did hunger after a Sabbath, becauſe then the Manna fell; I called the Sabbath a delight; I remember the time when I did hunger after the body and blood of the Lord; I came to a Sacrament as an hungry man to a Feaſt; but now it is otherwiſe with me, I have not thoſe hungrings as formerly.
Anſw. 1 Anſw. 'Tis indeed an ill ſigne for a man to loſe his ſtomach; but, though it be a ſigne of the decay of grace to loſe the ſpiritual appetite, yet it is a ſigne of the truth of grace to bewail the loſſe; 'tis ſad to loſe our firſt love, but it is happy when we mourn for the loſs of our firſt love.
Anſw. 2 2. If thou haſt not that appetite after heavenly things as formerly, yet be not diſcouraged, for in the uſe of means thou mayeſt recover thine appetite; the Ordinances are for the recovering of the appetite when it is loſt; in other caſes feeding takes away the ſtomach, but here, feeding on an Ordinance begets a ſtomach.
SECT. 6.
Containing a perſuaſion to ſpiritual hunger.
Uſe 5 Uſe 5 IT exhorts us all to labour after this ſpiritual hunger.Exhort. Parum eſt juſtitiam velle, ſed eſurire, quod ingens deſiderium prae ſe fert. Novarinus. Hunger leſſe after the world, and more after righteouſneſſe; ſay concerning ſpiritual things, Lord, evermore give me this bread; Feed me with this Angels food. That Manna is moſt to be hungred after which will not only preſerve life, but prevent death, John 6.50. that is moſt deſirable, which is moſt durable. Riches are not for ever, Prov. 28.24. but righteouſneſſe is for ever, Prov. 8.18. The beauty of holineſſe *Pſal. 110.3.never fades; the robe of righteouſneſſe *Iſa. 61.10.never waxeth old! Oh hunger after that righteouſneſſe which delivereth from death, Prov. 10.2. This is the righteouſneſſe which God himſelf is in love with, Prov. 15.9. he loveth him that followeth after righteouſneſſe. All men are ambitious of the Kings favour; alas what is a Princes ſmile but a tranſient Beatitude? This ſunſhine of his royal countenance ſoone masks it ſelf with a cloud of diſpleaſure; But thou who art endued with righteouſneſſe art Gods Favourite, and how ſweet is his ſmile! Pſal. 63.3. Thy loving-kindneſſe is better than life.
SECT. 7.
Containing an excitation to ſpiritual hunger.
TO perſwade men to hunger after this righteouſneſſe, conſider two things.
1. Unleſſe we hunger after righteouſneſſe, we cannot obtain it; God will never throw away his bleſſings upon them that do not deſire them. If a King ſhall ſay to a Rebel, Do but deſire a pardon, and thou ſhalt have it; if through pride and ſtubbornneſſe he diſdains to ſue out his pardon, he deſerves juſtly to die; God hath ſet ſpiritual bleſſings at a low rate, Do but hunger and you ſhall have righteouſneſſe; but if we refuſe to come up to theſe termes, there is no righteouſneſſe to be had for us. God will ſtop the current of his mercy, and ſet open the ſluce of his indignation.
2. If we do not thirſt here, we ſhall thirſt when it is too late; if we do not thirſt as David did, Pſal. 42.2. my ſoul thirſteth for God; we ſhall thirſt as Dives did for a drop of water, Luke 16.24. They who thirſt not for righteouſneſſe, ſhall be in perpetual hunger and thirſt; they ſhall thirſt for mercy, but no mercy to be had. Heat encreaſeth thirſt; when men ſhall burn in hell, and be ſcorch'd with the flames of Gods wrath, this heat will encreaſe their thirſt for mercy, but there will be nothing to allay their thirſt. O is it not better to thirſt for righteouſneſſe while it is to be had, than to thirſt for mercy when there is none to be had? Sinners, the time is ſhortly coming when the draw-bridge of mercy will be quite pulled up.
I ſhall next briefly preſcribe ſome helps to ſpiritual hunger.
1. Avoid thoſe things which will hinder your appetite. As, 1. Windy things. When the ſtomach is full of wind, a man hath little appetite to his food; ſo when one is fill'd with a windy opinion of his own righteouſneſs, he will not hunger after Chriſts righteouſneſſe; he who being puff'd up with pride, thinks he hath grace enough already, will not hunger after more; Theſe windy vapours ſpoil the ſtomack. 2. Sweet things deſtroy the appetite: ſo by feeding immoderately upon the ſweet, luſcious delights of the world, we loſe our appetite to Chriſt and Grace. You never knew a man ſurfeit himſelf upon the world, and ſick of love to Chriſt; while Iſrael fed with delight upon Garlick and Onions, they never hungred after Manna; the ſoul cannot be carried to two extremes at once; as the eye cannot look intent on heaven and earth at once*Oculus non poteſt & caelum & terram ſimul inſpicere. Cyprian., ſo a man cannot at the ſame inſtant hunger exceſſively after the world, and righteouſneſs! the earth puts out the fire; the love of earthly things will quench the deſire of ſpiriritual, 1 John 2.15. Love not the world, the ſin is not in the having, but in the loving.
2. Do all that may provoke ſpiritual appetite. There are two things provoke appetite. 1. Exerciſe; a man by walking and ſtirring gets a ſtomack to his meat: So by the exerciſe of holy duties the ſpiritual appetite is encreaſed, 1 Tim. 4.7. Exerciſe thy ſelf to godlineſſe. Many have left off Cloſet-prayer; they hear the Word but ſeldome, and for want of exerciſe they have loſt their ſtomack to Religion.
2. Sawce; Sawce whets and ſharpens the appetite; there is a twofold ſawce provokes holy appetite. 1. The bitter herbs of repentance; he that taſts the gall and vineger in ſin, hungers after the body and blood of the Lord. 2. Affliction. God oft gives us this ſawce to ſharpen our hunger after Grace; Reuben found Mandrakes in the field, Gen. 30.14. The Mandrakes are an Herb of a very ſtrong ſavour*Herba magni odoris, & ſtomacho labora… tibus tribuit medelam., and among other vertues they have, they are chiefly medicinable for thoſe who have weak, and bad ſtomacks. Afflictions may be compared to theſe Mandrakes which do ſharpen mens deſires after that ſpiritual food which in time of proſperity they began to loath and nauſeate; penury is the ſawce which cures the ſurfeit of plenty. In ſickneſſe people hunger more after righteouſneſs than in health; The full ſtomach loaths the honey-comb; Chriſtians when ful-fed, deſpiſe the rich cordials of the Goſpel. I wiſh we do not ſlight thoſe truths now, which would taſte ſweet in a priſon; how precious was a leaf of the Bible in Queen Maries dayes! The wiſe God ſees it good ſometimes to give us the ſharp ſawce of affliction, to make us feed more hungrily upon the bread of life. And ſo much for the firſt part of the text, Bleſsed are they that hunger.