The Glorious Feast of the Gospel

SO much of late hath been written about the times, that Spirituall Diſcourſes are now almoſt out of ſeaſon. Mens mindes are ſo hurried up and downe, that it is to be feared, they are much diſcompoſed to thinke ſeriouſly as they ought, of their eternall concernments: Alas! Chriſtians have loſt much of their Communion with Chriſt and his Saints; (the heaven upon earth) whilſt they have woefully diſputed away, and diſpirited the life of Religion and the power of Godlineſſe into dry and ſapleſſe Controverſies about Government of Church and State. To recover therefore thy ſpirituall Reliſh of ſavory pradicall Truths,¹ theſe Sermons of that excellent man of God, of precious memory, are publiſhed: Wherein thou art preſented,² 1.

1. 1. The principal ſubjects handled in theſe Sermons. [dropped from the edition]
2. 2. 1. Of the Marriage-feaſt between Chriſt & his Church. [dropped from the edition]

With an invitation to a great and wonderfull Feaſt; the Marriage-Feast of the Lambe. An admirable Feaſt indeed, wherein Jeſus Chriſt the eternall Sonne of God is the Bridegroome, where every Beleever that hath put on the Lord Jeſus, (the wedding garment) is not onely the Gueſt, but the Spouſe of Chriſt, and the Bride at this Wedding-ſupper. Here Jeſus Chriſt is the Maſter of the Feast, and the Chear and Proviſion too. He is the Lamb of God, the Ramme caught in the thicket. Hee is the fatted Calfe;³ when he was ſacrificed, Wiſedome killed her beaſts, ⁴ Prov. 9. 2. At his death, the Oxen and Fatlings were killed.⁵ His fleſh is meat indeed, and his bloud is drinke indeed. And that thou maiſt bee fully delighted at this Feaſt, Chriſt is the Roſe of Sharon, the Lilly of the Valley; he is a bundle of Mirrhe, a Cluſter of Camphire, his name is an ointment poured out, and his love is better than Wine. In Chriſt are all things ready, for Chriſt is all in all. And great is the Feaſt that Chriſt makes for Believers; for it is the Marriage Feaſt which the great King makes for his Sonne. The great deſigne and aime of the Goſpel being to exalt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and give him a name above every name. Great is the company that are bid, Luke 14. 6. Jews and Gentiles. God keeps open houſe; Hoe every one that thirſteth,⁶ come,⁷ and whoſoever wil let him come and freely take of the water of life.⁸ Great is the chear that is provided; every Gueſt here hath Aſhers portion, royall dainties, and bread of fatneſſe. Here’s all excellent, beſt wine, wine upon the Lees well refined. Here’s fat things, yea fat things full of marrow. Here’s the hidden Manna, the water of life, and the fruit of the tree of life which is in the midſt of the Paradiſe of God. All that is at this Feaſt is of the beſt, yea the beſt of the beſt. Here’s variety and plenty too, here’s bread enough and to ſpare: Caligula and Heliogabalus their Feaſts,⁹ who ranſack’d the earth, aire, and ſea to furniſh their Tables, were nothing to this. And above all, here’s welcome for every hungry thirſty ſoule; hee that bids thee come, will bid thee welcome, he will not ſay eate, when his heart is not with thee: the invitation is free, the preparation great, and the entertainment at this Feaſt, ſuiting the magnificence of the great King, is full and bountifull. All which is at large treated of in theſe excellent Sermons, which are therefore deſervedly intituled, The Marriage Feaſt between Christ and his Church. We read of a Philoſopher, that having prepared an excellent Treatiſe of happineſſe, and preſenting it unto a great King, the King anſwered him, Keep your Book to your ſelfe, I am not now at leaſure. Here is an excellent Treaſure put into thy hand, doe not anſwer us I am not now at leiſure. Oh doe not let Chriſt ſtand knocking at thy heart, who will come and ſup with thee, and bring his cheare with him. Oh let not a deceived heart turne thee any longer aſide to feed upon Aſhes, feed no longer with ſwine upon Husks, while thou mayſt be filled and ſatisfied with bread in thy fathers houſe.

But this is not all, if thou wilt bee pleaſed to peruſe this Book, thou wilt finde there are many other uſefull,¹⁰ ſeaſonable, and excellent ſubjects handled beſides the Marriage-Feaſt.

2. Jeſus Chriſt hath not only provided a feaſt, becauſe hee is deſirous that all thoſe for whom it is provided ſhould come to it, (which onely they doe that believe) he takes away the vaile of ignorance and unbeliefe from off their hearts: and here you ſhall finde this skilfull Preacher hath excellently diſcourſed, what this vaile is, how it naturally lyes upon all, and is onely removed by the Spirit of Chriſt. And if the Lord hath deſtroyed this covering from off thy heart, we doubt not, but the truth of this heavenly Doctrine will ſhine comfortably into thy ſoule.

3. Jeſus Chriſt to make his bounty and mercy further appeare in this Feaſt;¹¹ hee hath given his Gueſts the Bread of life, and hath ſecured them from the feare of death: They need not feare, there’s no Mors in ollâ, at this Feaſt wee may feaſt without feare: Jeſus Chriſt by his taſting of death hath ſwallowed it up in victory. Chriſt doth not make his people ſuch a feaſt as it is reported Dionyſius the Tyrant once made for his flatterer Damocles, who ſet him at a Princely Table, but hang’d a drawne ſword in a ſmall thread over his head. But Chriſt would have us triumph over the King of Feares, who was ſlain by the death of Christ,¹² and wee thereby delivered from the bondage of the feare of death.¹³

At other Feaſts they were wont of old, to have a Deaths head ſerv’d in amongſt other Diſhes, to minde them in the midſt of all their mirth of their mortality: (wich practiſe of the Heathens condemnes the ranting jollity of ſome looſe profeſſors in theſe times.) But here, Chriſt ſerves in Deaths head, (as David the head of Goliah) the head of a ſlaine and conquered death. Our Sampſon by his owne death hath deſtroied Death,¹⁴ and hath thereby ranſomed us from the hand of the grave, and hath redeemed us from Death, and the ſlaviſh feare of it: All which is at large handled in theſe following Sermons for thy comfort and joy, that thou maiſt triumph in his love through whom thou art more than Conqueror.

4. Becauſe it is a merry heart that makes a continuall feaſt,¹⁵ and that this feaſt might be a Gaudy-day indeed unto thy ſoule, Chriſt doth here promiſe, to wipe away all tears from off the faces of his people. The Goſpel hath comforts enough to make glad the hearts of the Saints and people of God: the light of Gods countenance will refreſh them with joy unſpeakable, and glorious in the midſt of the valley of the ſhadow of death. A truely godly perſon can weep for his ſinnes, though the world ſmile never ſo much upon him; and though hee be never ſo much afflicted in the world, yet hee can and will rejoyce in the God of his ſalvation. In theſe Sermons thou haſt this Goſpel-promiſe ſweetly opened and applyed; wherein thou ſhalt finde directions when, and for what to mourne and weep, and the bleſſedneſſe of all true mourners, whoſe ſorrow ſhall be turned into joy.

5. In theſe Sermons you ſhall further finde,¹⁶ that though Jeſus Chriſt reſpect his people highly, and entertaine them bountifully, yet they have but courſe uſage in the world, who are wont to revile them as fooles and madmen, as ſeditious Rebels, troublers of Iſrael, proud and hypocriticall perſons. But bleſſed are they that doe not ſtumble at this ſtone of offence, that weare the reproaches of Chriſt as their Crowne, and by well doing put to ſilence the ignorance of fooliſh men: for let the world load them with all their revilings, yet the ſpirit of glory reſts upon them, and in due time he will rowle away their reproach, and bring forth their judgement as the light, and their righteouſneſſe as the noon-day.

6.

And becauſe a Chriſtian here hath more in hope than in hand,¹⁷ more in reverſion than in poſſeſſion, walkes by faith rather than ſenſe, and lives by the Word of God, and not by bread alone, Thou ſhalt have here (Chriſtian Reader) a ſweet Diſcourſe of the precious promiſes of Chriſt which hee hath left us here to ſtay the ſtomack of the ſoule, till wee come to that feaſt of feaſts in heaven; that by this glimpſe, wee might in part know the greatneſſe of that glory which ſhall be revealed, that the firſt fruits might be a pawne of the Harveſt, and the earneſt of the Spirit a pledge of that full reward wee ſhall have in heaven, where we ſhall be brim-full of thoſe pleaſures that are at Gods right hand for ever. Chriſt hath given us promiſes to uphold our faith and hope, till faith be perfected in fruition, and hope end in viſion, till Jeſus Chriſt, who is here the object of our faith,¹⁸ be the reward of our faith for ever.

7. Now becauſe the comfort of the promiſes is grounded in the faithfulneſſe of him that hath promiſed. This godly and learned man, hath ſtrongly aſſerted the Divine Authority of the holy Scriptures, proving that they are θεόπνευστοι, that they are the very Word of God, that they are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, worthy of all acceptation, and beliefe, for their owne ſakes. A truth very ſeaſonable for theſe times to Antidote thee againſt the poyſonfull errors of blaſphemous Antiſcripturiſts.

8. Laſtly,¹⁹ becauſe that God often takes a long day for performance of the promiſe, thou ſhalt finde herein the Doctrine of waiting upon God excellently handled. A duty which wee earneſtly commend unto thy practice, as ſuitable to theſe ſad times—Say, Oh ſay, with the Church,²⁰ In the way of thy judgements, Oh Lord, we have waited for thee: and with the Prophet, I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the houſe of Iacob,²¹ and I will look for him. And reſt aſſured, that none of the ſeed of Iacob ſhall ſeeke him in vaine; he will not diſappoint their hope, nor make their faces aſhamed that waite for him.

1. 3. Prov. 9. 2. [dropped from the edition]
2. 4. Matth. 22. 3. [dropped from the edition]
3. 5. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. [dropped from the edition]
4. 6. Iſai. 55. 1. [dropped from the edition]
5. 7. Rev. 22. 17. [dropped from the edition]
6. 8. Gen. 49. 20. [dropped from the edition]
7. 9. Super omnia vultus acceſſére boni. [dropped from the edition]
8. 10. 2. Of the vail of ignorance and unbeliefe, and the removall of it [dropped from the edition]
9. 11. 3. Of Chriſts conqueſt over Death. [dropped from the edition]
10. 12. Heb. 2. 14, 15. [dropped from the edition]
11. 13. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. [dropped from the edition]
12. 14. Hoſ. 13. 14. [dropped from the edition]
13. 15. 4. Of the Chriſtians teares, and the wiping them away. [dropped from the edition]
14. 16. 5. Of the Rebukes and Reproaches of Gods people, and the taking of them away. [dropped from the edition]
15. 17. 6. Of the Promiſes. [dropped from the edition]
16. 18. 7. Of the holy Scriptures, and the divine Authority of them. [dropped from the edition]
17. 19. 8. waiting upon God. [dropped from the edition]
18. 20. Iſai. 26. 8. [dropped from the edition]
19. 21. Iſai. 8. 17. [dropped from the edition]

Thus we have given you a ſhort proſpect of the whole, a briefe ſumme of that treaſure which theſe Sermons containe. Wee need ſay nothing of the Author, his former labours ſufficiently ſpeak for him in the gates, his memory is highly honoured amongſt the godly-learned. He that enjoyes the glory of heaven, needs not the prayſes of men upon earth. If any ſhould doubt of theſe Sermons, as if they ſhould not be truely his, whoſe Name they beare, let him but obſerve the ſtile, and the excellent and ſpirituall matter herein contained, and he will wee hope be fully ſatisfied. Beſides, there are many Eare-witneſſes yet living, who can cleare them from any ſhadow of impoſture. They come forth without any Alteration, ſave onely ſome repetitions (which the Pulpit did well beare) are here omitted.

The Lord make theſe, and all other the labors of his Servants profitable to his Church: And the Lord ſo deſtroy the vaile from off thy heart, that thou maieſt believe, and by faith come to this Feaſt, the joy and comfort whereof may ſwallow up all the ſlaviſh feare of death, dry up thy teares, and rowle away all reproach: and the Lord give thee a waiting heart, to ſtay thy ſoule upon the name of the Lord, to believe his Word, and his faithfull promiſes, that in due time thou maiſt rejoyce in the God of thy ſalvation. This is the earneſt Prayer of

London: Apr. 19. 1650.

ARTHVR JACKSON.

JAMES NALTON.

WILL: TAYLOR.

ISAIAH 25. 6. In this Mountaine ſhall the Lord of Hoſts make unto all people a Feast of fat things, a Feaſt of Wines on the Lees, of fat things full of Marrow, of Wine on the Lees well refined.

IN the former Chapter the holy Prophet having ſpoken of the miſeries,²² and deſolation of the Church, in many heavy, ſad, and dolefull expreſſions; as the Vine languiſheth, the earth is defiled under the Inhabitants thereof, becauſe they have tranſgreſſed the Lawes, changed the Ordinance, and broken the everlaſting Covenant, therefore the earth ſhall p. 2 be accurſed, and they that dwell therein ſhall not drink Wine with a Song, &c. Here you ſee all ſweetneſſe and rejoycing of heart is departed from them; yet even in the middeſt of all theſe miſeries, God (the God of comforts) makes ſweet and gracious promiſes to his Church, to raiſe it out of its mournfull eſtate and condition. And therefore the Prophet in the former part of this Chapter ſpeakes of bleſſing God for the deſtruction of his Enemies, and for his great love to his Church. And when he had ſpoken of the ruine of the enemie, hee preſently breaks out with Thankſgiving, breathing forth abundant praiſes to his God; as it is the cuſtome of holy men (guided by the motion of the bleſſed Spirit of God, upon all occaſions) (but eſpecially for benefits to his Church) to praiſe his Name, not out of ill affection at the deſtruction of the Adverſaries, but at the execution of Divine Juſtice for the fulfilling of the truth of his promiſe; as in the firſt Verſe of this Chapter; O Lord, thou art my God, I will exalt thee, I will praiſe thy name, for thou haſt done wonderfull things, thy Counſels of old are faithfulneſſe, and truth. When the things that were promiſed of old were brought to paſſe, the Church was ever ready to give God the glory of his Truth. Therefore rejoyce not when thine enemies fall; but when the enemies of the Lord are brought to deſolation, then we may, nay, we ought to ſing Hallelujah to him that liveth for ever and ever.

1. 22. The connexion of the Text. [dropped from the edition]

I will now fall upon the very words of my Text. In this mountaine ſhall the Lord of Hoſts make unto all people a Feaſt of fat things, &c. Theſe words they are Propheticall, and cannot have a perfect performance all at once; but they ſhall be performed gradually. The promiſe of a new heaven and a new earth ſhall be performed; The converſion of the Jewes, and the bringing in of the fulneſſe of the Gentiles ſhall gradually be brought to paſſe. All the Promiſes that ever God hath made, before the ſecond comming of Chriſt to Judgement, ſhall p. 3 be accompliſhed. God hath made his peace with us in the Goſpell of peace, and when all theſe Promiſes ſhall be fulfilled, then all imperfection ſhall be done away, and wee ſhall never be removed from our Rock, but our joy ſhall then be full; nay even in this life we have ſome degrees of perfection, we have grace, and the meanes of grace, the Ordinances of Chriſt, and a teſtimony of everlaſting glory.

In this Mountaine will the Lord of Hoſts make a Feaſt.

In theſe words yee have ſet downe a glorious and royall Feaſt; and the place where this Feaſt is to be kept is Mount Syon; the Feaſt-maker is the Lord of Hoſts; the parties invited are all people; the iſſues of it, and the proviſion for the Feaſt, are fat things, and wine of the beſt; a Feaſt of the beſt of the beſt; a Feaſt of the fat, and of the Marrow, a Feaſt of wine on the Lees well refined.

Here you may ſee that God doth veile heavenly things under earthly things, and condiſcends ſo low as to enter into the inward man by the outward man; for our apprehenſions are ſo weak, and narrow, that we cannot bee acquainted with ſpirituall things, but by the inward working of the Spirit of the Almighty.

This mountaine is the place where this Feaſt is made, even Mount Syon, which is a type and figure of the Church, called in Scripture, the holy Mountaine; for as Mountains are raiſed high above the earth, ſo the Church of God is raiſed in excellency and dignity above all the ſorts of man

-kinde;²³ As much as men above Beaſts, ſo much is the Church raiſed above all men.²⁴ This Mountain is above all Mountaines, the Mountaine of the Lord is above all other Mountaines whatſoever; Thou O Mountaine ſhalt ſtand immoveable, when all other Mountaines ſhall ſmoak, if they are but touched; this is the mountaine p. 4 of Mountaines: The Church of God is moſt excellent in glory and dignity, as ye may ſee in the latter end of the former Chapter, how the glory of the Church puts down all other glories whatſoever; The Moon, ſaith the Prophet, ſhall be confounded, and the Sunne aſhamed when the Lord of Hoſts ſhall reigne in Mount Sion, and in Jeruſalem, and before his Ancients gloriouſly: So that the brightneſſe of the Church ſhall put downe the glory of the Sunne and of the Moon. Thus you ſee the Church of God is a Mountaine.

1. 23. 1 Obſerv. [dropped from the edition]
2. 24. The Church the moſt excellent of all ſocieties. [dropped from the edition]

Reaſ. Firſt, Becauſe God hath eſtabliſhed it upon a ſtronger Foundation than all the world beſides;²⁵ It is founded upon the goodneſſe, and power, and truth of God. Mountaines of Braſſe and Iron are not ſo firme as this Mountaine; For what ſuſtains the Church but the Word of God? And being built upon his Word and Truth, it may very well be called a Mountaine, for it ſhall bee as Mount Syon, which ſhall never be removed; it may be moved, but never removed. Thus in regard of the firmneſſe, and ſtability thereof, it may rightly bee termed a Mountain.

1. 25. The Church built upon the ſtrongeſt foundation. [dropped from the edition]

Again,²⁶ we may here ſpeak in ſome ſort of the viſibility of the Church; but here will ariſe a quarrell for the Papiſts, who when they hear of this Mount, they preſently allude it to their Church. Their Church, ſay they, is a Mount, ſo ſaith the Scripture.

1. 26. 2 Obſ. Of the viſibility of the Church. [dropped from the edition]

I anſwer. 1. Wee confeſſe in ſome ſort their Church to be a Mount (though not this Mount) for Babylon is built on ſeven Hills; but if this prove her a Church, it is the Antichriſtian Church. Secondly, That the Catholick Proteſtantiall Church had alwayes a being, though ſometimes inviſible. The Apoſtle writing to the Romans, exhorts them, not to bee high-minded, but feare, for ſaith hee, if God hath broken off the naturall branches, perhaps he will break off you alſo. And indeed for their pride and haughtineſſe of minde they are at this day broken off. Chriſt that walks between the ſeven golden Candleſticks, did never ſay p. 5 that the Church of Smyrna or Epheſus ſhould alwaies remaine a viſible Church to the eyes of the world, neither were they; for to this very day, they lie under bondage and ſlavery to the Turke. The Mount hath bin alwaies viſible, though not alwaies alike gloriouſly viſible; for there will be a time when the Church ſhall fly into the wilderneſſe, where then ſhall be the glorious viſibility of the Church? there is a time when all ſhall follow the beaſt; the Papiſts themſelves confeſſe that in Antichriſts time the Church ſhall ſcarce be viſible. The eſſence of a thing, and the quality of a thing may differ: The Church is a Church, and viſible, but not alwaies equally, and alike gloriouſly viſible; yet thoſe that had ſpirituall eyes, and did looke upon things with the ſpectacles of the Scripture, they could alwaies declare the Church was viſible; for from the beginning of the world the Church had alwaies luſtre enough ſufficient to delight, and draw the elect, and ſo ſhall have to the end of the world, though ſometimes the Church may have a miſt before it, as Auſtin ſpeakes; It is no wonder that thou canſt not ſee a mountaine, for thou haſt no eyes. But the Papiſts have ſeen this mountaine; as they have alwaies bin bloody perſecutors of the Church, they have ſeen enough to confound them: For we have nothing in our Church, but they have the ſame; onely ours is refined, and freed from Idolatry; Wee have two Sacraments, they have ſeven; Wee have Scripture, they have traditions, which they equall with it; Wee have Scriptures pure, they corrupt. So that our Church was in the midſt of theirs, as a ſound and more uncorrupt part in a corrupt body.

This mountaine is the Church,²⁷ Rev. 14. 1. The Lambe ſtandeth upon Mount Sion, and with him a hundred fourty and foure thouſand, having his Fathers name written in their foreheads. Chriſt ſtandeth in the Church, and ſtanding in Mount Sion, he is accompanied with thoſe that his Father hath given to him, before p. 6 the world was;²⁸ therefore thoſe that belong to this holy Mountaine they are Chriſts. And in this Mountaine ſhall the Lord of hoſts make a feaſt for all people. And this feaſt is a royall feaſt, a marriage feaſt, wherin the joy and comfort of Gods people are ſet down by that which is moſt comfortable among men.²⁹ The founder of the feaſt is the Lord of hoaſts; It is onely he that is able to prepare a table in the wilderneſſe, that is mighty, and of ability to feaſt his Church with a ſpirituall, and holy banquet. We all live at his table for the feeding of our bodies, but much more in regard of our ſoules; He can make a feaſt for the whole man, for he is Lord of the conſcience: and he is to ſpread a table for the whole world; nay more, (if there were ſo many) he can furniſh a table for ten thouſand worlds; he is the God of all ſpirituall comforts, and the God of all conſolation; He is infinite, and can never be drawne dry, for he is the fountaine of eternall life. All graces and comforts in the Scripture are called the comforts and graces of the holy Spirit, becauſe God is the giver of them by his Spirit. Who can take away the wound of a guilty conſcience, but he that hath ſet the conſcience in the hearts of men? Hee (if hee pleaſeth) can take away the burden of a grieved conſcience, and ſupply it, inſtead thereof, with new and ſolid comforts. He knoweth all the windings and turnings of the ſoule, where all the paine and griefe lieth, and he cannot but know it becauſe he onely is above the ſoule: He is therefore the fitteſt to make the ſoule a feaſt, he only can do it, and he will do it.

1. 27. The Mountaine is the Church. [dropped from the edition]
2. 28. God makes a Feaſt for his people. [dropped from the edition]
3. 29. The Lord of Hoaſts the founder of the Feaſt. [dropped from the edition]

In this Mountaine ſhall the Lord of Hoaſts make a feaſt.

Why is he called the Lord of Hoaſts?

It is an uſuall terme, to ſet forth the glory of God, to p. 7 make his power, and the greatneſſe of his Majeſty known amongſt the children of men.

He ſhall make a feaſt for all people.

Thoſe that are invited to this glorious feaſt,³⁰ are all people, none excepted, none excluded, that will come in to Chriſt; ſome of all ſorts, of all nations, of all languages; this hath relation to the time of the Goſpel. The Church at firſt had its being in particular families, but afterwards more inlarged. The Church at the firſt was of the daughters of men, and the ſonnes of God; the children of the Church mingled with a generation of corrupt perſons, that would keepe in no bounds; but after Abrahams time, there was another generation of the Church, that ſo it was a little more inlarged. Then there was a third generation, a divided generation, conſiſting of Jewes, and Gentiles; So that when Chriſt came into the world, the bounds of the Church began to inlarge themſelves more and more; ſo that now it is in this happy condition, Come ye all unto me, all that are heavy laden; both Jewes and Gentiles, all are invited whoſoever they are, nothing is now uncleane. Act. 10. 15. Chriſt is come, and hath made to all people a feaſt of fat things, it muſt be a feaſt, and of fat things, for all the world ſhall be the better for it. The Jewes ſhall be converted, and the fullneſſe of the Gentiles ſhall come in. And yet it is no prejudice to any particular man, becauſe the things ye are to taſt of are ſpirituall. Go to all the good things in the world, the more one hath of them, the leſſe another muſt have, becauſe they are earthly and ſo are finite; but in ſpirituall things, all may have the whole, and every man in particular. Every man enjoyeth the light of the Sunne in particular, and all enjoy it too; So the whole Church, and onely the Church injoyes the benefit and comfort of this feaſt; but under the name of this Church, come all the p. 8 elect, both Jewes and Gentiles; and therefore it muſt be the Lord of Hoaſts that can make ſuch a feaſt as this is, a feaſt for all people. No other is able to doe it.

1. 30. This Feaſt is for all people. [dropped from the edition]

This feaſt,³¹ is a feaſt of fat things, full of marrow, and of wine on the lees well refined, the beſt that can be imagined, the beſt of the beſt; A feaſt is promiſed, a ſpirituall feaſt. The ſpeciall graces and favours of God are compared to a feaſt made up of the beſt things, full of all varieties and excellencies; and the chiefe diſh (that is all in all) is Chriſt, and all the gracious benefits wee by promiſe can in any wiſe expect from him; All other favours and bleſſings whatſoever they are, are but Chriſt diſhed out (as I may ſo ſpeake) in ſeverall offices and attributes; he is the originall of comfort, the principle of grace and holineſſe, all is included in Chriſt. Aske of him and yee ſhall obtaine, even the forgiveneſſe of your ſinnes, peace of conſcience, and communion of Saints. Aske of Chriſt as of one inveſted with all priviledges for the good of others, but yet this is by his death; he is the feaſt it ſelfe, he is diſhed out into promiſes; have you a promiſe of the pardon of ſinnes, it is from Chriſt;

1. 31. Chriſt the chiefe diſh in the Feaſt. [dropped from the edition]

wouldſt thou have peace of conſcience, it is from Chriſt; juſtification, and redemption, it is from Chriſt; the love of God is derived to us by Chriſt, yea, and all that we have that is good, is but Chriſt parcelled out.

Now I will ſhew why Chriſt with his benefits,³² prerogatives, graces, and comforts, is compared to a feaſt.

1. 32. Why Chriſt with his benefits is compared to a Feaſt. [dropped from the edition]

Firſt,³³ in regard of the choice of the things; In a feaſt all things are of the beſt, ſo are the things we have in Chriſt: whatſoever favours we have by Chriſt, they are choice ones, they are the beſt of every thing; pardon for ſin, is a pardon of pardon; the title we have for heaven, through him, is a ſure title; the joy we have by him, is the joy of all joyes; the liberty and freedom from ſin, which he purchaſed for us by his death, is perfect p. 9 freedome; the riches of grace we have by him, are the only laſting, and durable riches; take any thing that you can, if we have it by Chriſt it is of the beſt: All worldly excellencies and honours, are but meere ſhadowes to the high excellencies, and honour we have in Chriſt. No joy, no comfort, no peace, no riches, no inheritance to be compared with the joy, peace, and inheritance which we have in Chriſt; whatſoever we have by him we have it in a glorious manner: And therefore he is compared to fat, to fat things full of marrow, to wine, to wine on the lees that preſerveth the freſhneſſe of it; the beſt wine of all, that is not changed from veſſell to veſſell, but keepeth its ſtrength; And indeed the ſtrength and vigour of all floweth from Jeſus Chriſt in covenant with us.

1. 33. 1. Becauſe the favours we have by Chriſt are choice ones. [dropped from the edition]

The love of Chriſt is the beſt love, and he himſelfe incomparably the beſt, and hath favours, and bleſſings of the choiſeſt.

Againe,³⁴ as in a feaſt, beſides choice, there is variety; ſo in Chriſt there is variety anſwerable to all our wants. Are we fooliſh, he is wiſdome; have we guilt in our conſciences, he is righteouſneſſe, and this righteouſneſſe is imputed unto us; are we defiled, he is ſanctification; are wee in miſery, he is our redemption. If there be a thouſand kinds of evils in us, there is a thouſand waies to remedy them by Jeſus Chriſt; Therefore the good things we have by Chriſt, are compared to all the benefits we have in this world, in Chriſt is choice and variety. Are we weake, he is meat to feed us, that we may be ſtrong, he will refreſh us, he is the beſt of meats, he is marrow; ſo are our ſpirits faint, he is wine: thus we have in Chriſt to ſupply all our wants, he is variety.

1. 34. 2. There is variety of favours in Chriſt. [dropped from the edition]

There is a plant among the Indians called by the name of Coquus,³⁵ the fruit thereof ſerveth for meat and drinke, to comfort and refreſh the body: It yeeldeth that whereof the people make apparell to cloath themſelves p. 10 withall; and alſo that which is phiſicall, very good againſt the diſtempers of the body: And if God will infuſe ſo much vertue into a poore plant, what vertue may we expect to be in Chriſt himſelf? He feedeth our ſoules to all eternity, puts upon us the roabes of righteouſneſſe, heales the diſtempers of our ſoules; there is variety in him for all our wants whatſoever. He is food, phyſicke, and apparell to cloath us; and when we are cloathed with him, we may with boldneſſe ſtand before the Majeſty of God; He is all in all, He is variety, and all. There is ſomething in Chriſt anſwerable to all the neceſſities of Gods people, and not only ſo, but to their full content in every thing.

1. 35. Chriſt like the Indian plant Coquus, good for all things. [dropped from the edition]

Againe,³⁶ as there is variety in a Feaſt, ſo there is ſufficiency, full ſufficiency. We beheld the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth. And being full of grace, He is wiſe, and able to furniſh this heavenly banquet, with enough of all ſorts of proviſions fit for the ſoule to feed upon. Ther’s abundance of grace, and excellency, and ſufficiency in Chriſt; And it muſt needs be, becauſe he is a Saviour of Gods owne ſending. Labour not therefore for the meate that periſheth, but for the meat that the Son of God ſhall give you, for him hath God the Father ſealed. That is, ſent forth for this purpoſe to feed the Church of God. As there is an all-ſufficiency in God, ſo in Chriſt, who by the ſacrificing of himſelfe was able to give ſatisfaction to divine juſtice. Therefore (ſaith he) My fleſh is meate indeed, and my bloud is drinke indeed. That is, ſpiritually to the ſoule he is food indeed, and can ſatisfie Gods juſtice. If we conſider him as God alone, he is a conſuming fire; or as man alone, he can do nothing: But conſidered as God-man, he is meate indeed, and drinke indeed. And now the ſoule is content with that, which Divine juſtice is contented withall; though our conſciences be large, yet God is larger, and above our conſciences: Therefore as there is variety of excellency, ſo is there ſufficiency, and fulneſſe p. 11 in Chriſt; what he did, he did to the full. He is a Saviour and he filleth up that name to the full. His pardon for ſinne, is a full pardon. His merits for us are full merits. His ſatisfaction to divine juſtice, a full ſatisfaction. His redemption of our ſoules and bodies, a full redemption; thus all he did was full.

1. 36. 3. There is ſufficiency and fulneſſe in Chriſt. [dropped from the edition]

A Feaſt is for company,³⁷ it is convivium, there is converſe at it; So Cicero preferres the name of convivium among the Latines, before the Greeke name συμπόσιον. And this Feaſt is not for one, we are all invited to it; the excellency of Chriſts Feaſt conſiſteth in the Communion of Saints; for whoſoever takes part of it, their ſpirits muſt agree one with another: Love is the beſt, and chiefeſt diſh in this Feaſt; the more wee partake of the ſweetneſſe of Chriſt, the more we love one another. Chriſt by his ſpirit ſo works in the hearts of the children of men, that bring a thouſand together of a thouſand ſeverall nations, and within a little while you ſhall have them all acquainted one with another; if they be good, there is agreement of the ſpirit, and a ſympathy between them, there is a kindred in Chriſt. He is the true Iſaack; the death of Chriſt, and the bloud of Chriſt, is the ground of all union and joy and comfort whatſoever; the bloud of Chriſt ſprinkled upon the conſcience, will procure that peace of conſcience, that ſhall be a continuall Feaſt unto the ſoule. This Feaſt muſt needs be wonderfull comfortable, for we do not feaſt with thoſe that are like our ſelves, but we feaſt with God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, ſent by Chriſt, procured by the death of Chriſt; the Angells at this Feaſt attend us, therefore it muſt needs be joyfull, no joy comparable to the joy of a Feaſt; this is not every Feaſt, this is a marriage Feaſt, at which we are contracted to Chriſt. Now of all Feaſts, marriage Feaſts are moſt ſumptuous; this is a marriage Feaſt for the Kings Son, for Chriſt himſelfe, and therefore of neceſſity it muſt be full of all choice varieties, and of the ſweeteſt of p. 12 things, of the moſt excellenteſt of things, and of the quinteſcence of things. Here is all joy that belongeth to a feaſt; Here it is to be had with Chriſt; what acquaintance can be more glorious then that which is to be had between Jeſus Chriſt and a chriſtian ſoule? when we have hope of better things to come, then we finde the ſweetneſſe of this communion. No harmony in the world can be ſo ſweet as the harmony maintained between Chriſt and the ſoule. When we have this, and are made one with God in Chriſt, our joy muſt needs then be unſpeakable. When the contract is once made between the ſoule and Chriſt, there cannot but be aboundant joy; when the ſoule is joyned with Chriſt by faith, it cannot but ſolace it ſelfe in a perpetuall jubile, and a perpetuall feaſt in ſome degrees.

1. 37. 4. As a Feaſt for many, ſo Chriſt is a feaſt for the community of Saints. [dropped from the edition]

Againe,³⁸ for a Feaſt ye have the choiceſt garments, as at the marriage of the Lambe, White and fine linnen, which is the righteouſneſſe of the Saints. When God ſeeth theſe robes upon us, and the ſpirit of Chriſt in us, then there is a robe of righteouſneſſe imputed, and a garment of ſanctity whereby our ſoules are cloathed: ſo this is a Feaſt that muſt have wonderfull glorious attire; and when this marriage ſhall be conſummated, we are ſure to have a garment of glory put upon us.³⁹

1. 38. 5. Becauſe we have the glorious attire of Chriſt, as men put on choice garments at Feaſts. [dropped from the edition]
2. 39. 6. Becauſe he was reſembled by the Paſchal Lambe which was chooſen foure daies before out of the flock. [dropped from the edition]

This was ſignified in old time by the Jewes,

in the Feaſt of the Paſſeover; not to name all reſemblances, but onely one or two. The Lambe for the Paſſeover (you know) was choſen out of the flocke from amongſt the reſt, foure daies before the time appointed for that Feaſt: So Chriſt is the true Paſchall Lambe, choſen of God, before the foundation of the world was laid, to be ſlaine for us.

Againe,⁴⁰ Manna was a type of Chriſt, it came from Heaven to feed the hungry bodies of the Iſraelites in the wilderneſſe; even ſo came Chriſt, ſent from God the Father, to be the eternall food, and upholder of the ſoules p. 13 and bodies of every one of us. Manna was white and ſweet; ſo is Chriſt, white in righteouſneſſe and holineſſe, and alſo ſweet to delight the ſoule. Manna fell upon the tents in the night; And Chriſt came, when darkneſſe was ſpread over all the world. God gave Manna freely from Heaven; ſo Chriſt was a free gift, and he freely gave himſelfe to death, even to the curſed death of the croſſe for us: All, both poore and rich, they gathered Manna. Chriſt is a common food for King and ſubject; all take part of Chriſt, neither Jew nor Gentile are exempted, but all may come▪ and buy freely without money. Of this Manna he that had leaſt had enough: ſo here, he that hath leaſt of Chriſt, though he take him with a trembling hand, yet he ſhall have enough, for Chriſt is his; whoſoever hath the leaſt grace, if it be true and ſound, hath grace enough to bring him to eternall life. The Jewes wondred at the Manna, ſaying what thing is this? So it is one of Chriſts names to be called wonderfull, Iſaiah 9. 6. Grace and favour from Chriſt is true ſpirituall Manna to the ſoule. Manna fell in the wilderneſſe, even ſo musſt we remaine in the wilderneſſe of this wretched world untill we come to Heaven. Chriſt is Manna to us, and very ſweet in the conveyance of his Word and Sacraments. When the Iſraelites came into the Land of Canaan, the Manna ceaſed, not before: ſo when we come to Heaven (the Elects purchaſed poſſeſſion) we ſhall have another kind of Manna for our ſoules; we ſhall not there feed on Chriſt, as in the Sacrament, no, but we ſhall ſee him face to face, and know as we are knowne. In the wilderneſſe of this world it is fit God ſhould convey this Heavenly Manna to the ſoule whatſoever way he pleaſeth. Manna could not fall untill the Iſraelites had ſpent all the proviſion they brought with them out of Egypt; and we cannot taſt of that heavenly Manna of our Father, untill our ſoules are drawne away from all worldly dependencies, and carnall delights

, then p. 14 indeed Manna will be ſweet and precious.

1. 40. 2. By Manna, to which Chriſt anſwers in many particulars. [dropped from the edition]

What is this heavenly Manna,⁴¹ what is Chriſt and his Father, what is the word and Sacraments, to a depraved vitious heart ſtuffed full with earthly vanities? alas, it loatheth all theſe. As none taſted of Manna, but thoſe that came out of Egypt; ſo none ſhall taſte of Chriſt but thoſe that are not of the world, that are come out of Egypt, out of ſinne and darkneſſe. Manna fell onely about the tents of Iſraell, and in no other part of the world, but only there, that none might have the priviledge to eate of it, but Gods peculiar choſen ones. Chriſt falls upon the tents of the righteous, and none ſhall taſte of this bleſſed ſpirituall food but ſuch as are the Iſraell of God, ſuch as are of the Church, ſuch as feele the burthen of ſinne, and groane under it; oh the very taſte of this heavenly Manna is ſweet to their ſoules, and to none but them. Thus yee ſee the Feaſt that Chriſt maketh for us in Mount Syon; and that this Manna doth typifie Chriſt with all his benefits.

1. 41. Surely thoſe that are ſpirituall taſte Chriſt. [dropped from the edition]

Againe,⁴² the hard rocke in the wilderneſſe, when it was ſtrucken with the rod of Moſes, preſently water guſhed out in abundance, which preſerved life to the Iſraelites: ſo Chriſt the rocke of our ſalvation, the ſtrength of his Church, the rocke and fortreſſe of all his Saints; when his precious ſide was gored with the bloudy lance upon the croſſe, that the blood guſhed out, and in ſuch a manner and ſuch abundance, that by the ſhedding thereof our ſoules are preſerved alive. He is both Manna and the rocke of water; Manna had all in it, ſo had the rocke, and all neceſſities are plentifully ſupplied by Chriſt. The Church of God hath alwaies had bread to ſatisfie ſpirituall hunger, it never wanted neceſſary comfots. It is ſaid, Rev. 12. When the Church fled into the wilderneſſe, God fed her there; alluding to the children of Iſraell, fed by Manna. The Jewes did not want in the wilderneſſe, nor the Church of God, never wanted comfort, though in the midſt of the perſecution and oppreſſion p. 15 of all her enemies. When Elias was in the wilderneſſe he was fed. The Church of God ſhall not onely be fed in her body, but in her ſoule, for Chriſt hath hidden Manna for his Elect; this doth typifie the exceeding joy of the Church, the hidden Manna, that neither eye hath ſeen, nor eare heard of, neither can it enter into the heart of man to conceive of thoſe joyes that the Church of God ſhall have when the marriage ſhall be conſummated. Joy in the Holy Ghoſt, and peace of conſcience, they are hid from the world, and ſometimes from Gods people themſelves, though they ſhall injoy them hereafter.

All the former Feaſts in times paſt were but types of this.⁴³ The Feaſt of Tabernacles, the Feaſt of the Paſſeover, the ſpirituall Manna, and all other holy Feaſts, were but to ſignifie and to ſhew forth this Feaſt by Chriſt. But there is this difference between the type, and the thing ſignified; by the type, the Paſſeover Lambe was quite eaten up, but this Paſſeover Chriſt, that was ſlaine for ſinne, can never be eaten up: We feed upon him with our ſoules, he cannot be conſumed as the Paſſeover Lambe, nor as Manna, which was gone when the Sunne aroſe; yea that Manna that was laid up for a remembrance before the Arke, became nothing, but Chriſt is in heaven for evermore for the ſoule to feed upon. Though theſe were reſemblances, yet theſe failed, as it is fit reſemblances ſhould faile; that is, come ſhort of the body of the thing it ſelfe. Thus you ſee the ſpirituall comforts of a Chriſtian, may well and fitly be compared to a Feaſt.

Thus you ſee God provideth a Feaſt,⁴⁴ and inviteth all. In the Sacrament you have a Feaſt, a Feaſt of varieties, not only bread, but wine, to ſhew the variety and fullneſſe of comfort in Chriſt: He intendeth full comfort. As for our Adverſaries the Papiſts, they have dry Feaſts, they give the people the bread, but the wine they keep for themſelves, but God in Chriſt intendeth us full comfort; p. 16 whatſoever Chriſt did, it was full, his merits are compleat, and his joy was full. He is fulneſſe it ſelfe, and therefore whatſoever comes from him, muſt needs be as he himſelfe is,⁴⁵ both full, and ſweet. He intendeth us full conſolation

1. 42. 3. By the rock in the wilderneſſe. [dropped from the edition]
2. 43. 4. By all the Jewiſh feſtivalls. [dropped from the edition]
3. 44. 5. By the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. [dropped from the edition]
4. 45. Uſe. [dropped from the edition]

;⁴⁶ Therefore we ought to be prepared to partake of this Feaſt, in ſuch a manner, as that we may have ful joy, and ful comfort; for there is in Chriſt enough to ſatisfie all the hungry ſoules in the world, he himſelfe being preſent at this heavenly banquet. All fullneſſe dwells in him, from which we have all received, and grace for grace.⁴⁷ Therefore

1. 46. Be prepared for this Feaſt. [dropped from the edition]
2. 47. 1. Labour for large hearts to receive much. [dropped from the edition]

let us labour to have large hearts, for as our faith groweth more and more, ſo we ſhall carry more comfort, and more ſtrength from this holy Feaſt. As the poore widdow, if her veſſels had not failed, the oyle had not ceaſed; if there had bin more veſſels, there had been more oyle; our ſoules are as theſe veſſels, let us therefore labour, and make it our great buſineſſe to have large ſoules, ſoules capable to drinke in this ſpirituall oyle of gladneſſe; for as much faith as we bring to Chriſt, ſo much comfort we ſhall carry from him. The favours of God in Chriſt being infinite, the more wee fetch from him, the more glory we give unto him; but if they were finite, we ſhould offend his bounty, he might ſoon be drawne dry, and ſo ſend us away with an uncomfortable anſwer, that he was not able to relieve us. But Chriſt is infinite, and the more we have from him, the more we may have: to him that hath ſhall be given; the oftner we goe to Chriſt, the more honour and glory we bring unto him; this is a banquet to the full.

Wee are now come to the banquet, and Chriſt is the founder of it; nay, he is the Feaſt it ſelfe, he is the Author of it, and he it is that wee feed upon.

Let us labour not to be ſtraight receivers of the Sacrament,⁴⁸ but ſucke in abundance from Chriſt, with a great deale of delight; That we may come together not for the worſe but the better, conſidering what a great deale p. 17 of ſtrength and grace is required as very neceſſary for the maintaining of ſpirituall Life.

1. 48. 2. Labour for ſpirituall appetite. [dropped from the edition]

ISAIAH 25. 6. In this Mountaine ſhall the Lord of Hoſts make unto all people a Feast of fat things, a Feaſt of Wines on the Lees, of fat things full of Marrow, of Wine on the Lees well refined.

I Have ſhewed that Chriſt and his benefits are compared to a Feaſt, and in what reſpects they are fitly reſembled by a Feaſt, and have preſt that we ſhould prepare for it, firſt by getting large hearts. Now in the ſecond place that we may have comfort at this Feaſt, we muſt labour for ſpirituall appetite;⁴⁹ for to what end and purpoſe is that man at a Feaſt, that hath no ſtomack? I ſhall therefore ſhew what meanes we are to uſe, to get eager ſtomacks and holy appetites after this Feaſt.

1. 49. Firſt means to get appetite ſoure herbes, ſenſe of ſin and miſery. [dropped from the edition]

1. The Appetite is raiſed with ſoure things, as anguiſh p. 18 of Spirit, and mournfulneſſe of heart for ſinne, if we will ever reliſh Chriſt aright we muſt labour to have a quick apprehenſion of our ſinnes; we muſt do as the Jewes did at the Paſſeover, They eat it with ſoure Herbs, that they might thereby have the ſharper ſtomacks: So muſt we, we muſt caſt our eyes into our owne hearts, and conſider what vile wretches we are, how full of ſinne and vanity, and this will be as ſoure Herbs to the Paſchall Lambe. We muſt joyne the ſweet benefits and privileges that wee have in Chriſt with the conſideration of our owne wretched and miſerable condition, and then this heavenly ordinance cannot but be ſweet and comfortable to our ſoules. I beſeech you enter into your owne ſoules and conſider ſeriouſly under what guilt you lie, and this will whet your appetite. A full ſtomack deſpiſeth the honey comb: but in this appetite there is ſenſe of emptines, & from that ſenſe of emptines paine, and from pain an earneſt deſire of ſatisfaction; thus it is in ſpirituall things, we want Chriſt and all the ſpirituall comforts that flow from him: There is an emptines in us, and we ſee a need every day to feed upon the mercies of God in Chriſt. There is an emptines in our ſouls, & there muſt be a ſenſe of that emptines, and pain from that ſenſe, which muſt ſtir up a ſtrong endeavour to follow after that that we doe deſire. Then Chriſt indeed is ſweet, when wee finde our ſoules hungring and thirſting after him.

Againe,⁵⁰ if ſo bee wee would have that appetite of Spirit that is fit for this Feaſt, wee muſt purge our ſouls from the corruptions of Fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſſe in the feare of God; we muſt cleanſe our ſoules from thoſe luſts and paſſions that dayly cleave unto them; all crudities muſt be taken away that the edge of the ſtomack may not be flatted: for while theſe earthly carnall Corruptions lye upon the ſoule, we can expect no ſpirituall appetite to heavenly things. Let us therefore examine our ſelves what filth lies upon our ſoules, and what corrupt inclinations are there, that ſo they may be purged, p. 19 and our deſires be carryed fully after Chriſt in the Sacrament.

1. 50. Second Means [dropped from the edition]

Another means to get appetite is to conſider throughly what is required of a Chriſtian well to maintaine the trade of Chriſtianity.⁵¹ Its another manner of thing than we we take it for to entertaine Communion with God, to performe holy Duties in an holy manner, to beare the yoke as a Chriſtian ſhould do. Here is a great deal of ſtrength required: And becauſe corruptions will mix themſelves amongſt our beſt performances, there muſt be a great deal of mercy from God to pardon them. And whence is all this but by the death of our bleſſed Savior Jeſus Chriſt? for his ſake God hath a forbearing eye. Now if we conſider what a degree of ſpirituall ſtrength & vigor we ſhould have to go through with theſe duties, this would ſharpen our ſtomacks and ſpirituall appetites, to furniſh our ſelves with grace from Chriſt to go through with theſe holy Services. There muſt be an exerciſing of all the duties of Chriſtianity, which is an eſtate, that muſt be maintained with a great deale of charge, and labour. A man can doe no ſervice acceptable to God, but by grace, and grace muſt feed the ſoule with fruitfull knowledge in the power of Faith, and when the ſoule feeleth a neceſſity of grace, oh then beloved, it hungers, and earneſtly thirſteth after the love of God in Chriſt. Wee need to every Trade a great deale of knowledge, then ſurely the calling of Chriſtianity needeth a great deale. A Chriſtian muſt expect much both in Proſperity, and Adverſity, as the Apoſtle ſaith, I have learned to want and to abound, to bee in honour, and to bee in diſgrace, and I can doe all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthens me. Now becauſe there is ſo much goings out for the maintenance of Chriſtianity, wee muſt alſo bring in much grace, and faith, and love, and holineſſe, or elſe we ſhall never be able to uphold this condition. Where there is an exerciſe of Chriſtianity, there willl be an appetite to heaven: that is p. 20 our beſt calling, for when that we have done all that wee can, that that wee muſt have comfort from, is Chriſtianity, therefore labour with all labour, to bee holy and able Chriſtians. All other Callings are but for this preſent life, but that that is for eternity, is this Calling of Chriſtianity: And this is onely to fit us here in this world for an everlaſting condition of glory in the world to come.

1. 51. Third Means. [dropped from the edition]

Again,⁵² if we would have a deſire and appetite to heavenly things, we muſt labour to get acquaintance, and conſtantly converſe with thoſe that are good. The old Proverb is, Company will make a man fall to, eſpecially the company of thoſe that are better than our ſelves, for very emulation men will be doing as others doe. When men live amongſt thoſe whoſe hearts are framed this way, they muſt be equall. Converſation with thoſe that have good reliſh of ſpirituall things, and ſhew forth grace in their lives, ſetteth an appetite upon our deſires, to deſire the ſame things that they doe. Thus St. Paul writeth to the Gentiles to ſtirre up the emulation of the Jewes. Therefore receive this likewiſe for the procuring of a ſpirituall appetite.

1. 52. Fourth Means, Acquaintance with thoſe that are good. [dropped from the edition]

To goe on.⁵³

1. 53. Fifth Means, We know not how long wee have to live. [dropped from the edition]

The next thing that may ſtirre up our deſires to get an appetite to the beſt things, is ſeriouſly to conſider, That we cannot tell how long we have to live, or may enjoy the benefit of the meanes of grace. Thoſe that ſit at Table and diſcourſe away the greateſt part of Dinner time in talke, had need at laſt to fall to ſo much the faſter, by how much the more negligent they had been before in eating. We cannot tell how long we may enjoy this ſpirituall Feaſt that God makes for us; therefore be ſtirred up to get ſpirituall appetites, for we know not how long God will ſpread a Table for us; we know not how long we ſhall enjoy our lives, and if we be ſurpriſed on the ſuddaine, wee may ſuffer a ſpirituall Famine, a Famine of the ſoule if wee have nothing to comfort us before hand: And of all Famines a ſpirituall p. 21 Famine is moſt grievous,⁵⁴ moſt fearfull. Therefore doe as Ioſeph did, and be wiſe. He in the ſeven yeares of Plenty, gathered for ſeven yeares of Famine that was to come upon the Land of Egypt. Alas, if we have nothing laid up before hand, what will be our end? we ſhall lie open to Gods wrath and anger; nothing can ſupport our ſoules in the evill time: wherefore as you deſire at that day to have comfort of thoſe things yee ſhall ſtand moſt in need of, labour to get a good appetite: for to periſh and ſtarve at a Feaſt is a ſhame; to famiſh in the liberty of the Goſpell, and plenty of ſpirituall meat is ſhamefull, and diſhonourable. Thus you ſee, beloved, (not to be large in the point) how you may procure ſuch an appetite, as is fit for ſuch an holy Feaſt. Firſt, by getting a ſenſe of ſinne: Secondly, by ſeeing a neceſſity of Chriſt: Thirdly, by purging out thoſe Luſts that lye upon the ſoul: Fourthly, by converſing with thoſe that are ſpiritually minded: And laſtly, by conſidering the time to come.

1. 54. Wee ſhould hold out againſt hunger to come. [dropped from the edition]

It is not enough to have a ſtomack,⁵⁵ but we muſt have a ſpirituall diſpoſition of ſoule to heavenly things,⁵⁶ as we have to outward things. Labour to have a taſte of good things, and a diſtinguiſhing taſte of heavenly things from other things: God is the God of nature, and hath furniſhed us with five ſenſes, and as he hath given us ſenſe to apprehend▪ ſo he hath furniſhed the Creature with varieties of excellencies, ſuitable to all our ſeverall ſences; he will not have objects in the Creature without ſenſe, nor ſence in man without objects:⁵⁷ Hee hath furniſhed man with ſenſes, and variety of ſenſes, and given fit and proportionable objects for thoſe ſenſes: The ſoule alſo hath her ſenſe, whereſoever there is life there is ſenſe. God having given ſpirituall life to the ſoul, he doth maintain that life with ſpiritual food. As in a Feaſt there is ſight, and the eie is not only fed there with rich furniture, but with variety of dainties; the ear likewiſe, & the ſmel is ſatisfied, the one with Muſick, the other with ſweet ſavors. So in this p. 22 Feaſt there is to delight both the eare, and the ſmell of the ſoule, the one with hearing the gracious promiſes of Jeſus Chriſt, and the other in receiving the ſweet ſavour of that ſacrifice, that was offered up once for all; nothing ſo ſweet to the ſoule as the bleſſings of Chriſt; he is ſweet in the word, as the veſſell that conveyeth him into our ſoules. Thus you ſee in this feaſt all the ſenſes, the ſight, the ſmell, the taſte, and hearing, all are ſatisfied: and a great care had in the proviſion for the Feaſt, that our outward man may be pleaſed. And ſhall the Lord of Hoſts make a Feaſt, and not content the whole man? he is for our ſight, if we have ſpirituall eyes to ſee; the eare, if we have eares to heare; all the ſenſes are exerciſed here: What is the reaſon why carnall men cannot reliſh a pardon for ſinne, and juſtification, and ſanctification, and holineſſe, nor goe boldly to God? It may be they have good ſweet notions of theſe, but they have no ſpirituall taſte or reliſh of them, and all, becauſe they want ſpirituall life; None but a Chriſtian can have ſpirituall taſte anſwerable to a ſpirituall life. Taſte is a kind of feeling, one of the moſt neceſſary ſenſes, and a Chriſtian cannot be without reliſh and feeling; yea it is the very beeing of a Chriſtian to have a taſte of ſpirituall things: Of all other ſenſes there is a ſtronger application in taſte; the other ſenſes fetch their objects afarre off, but as for taſte there is a neer application in it, and therefore moſt neceſſary: every life is maintained by taſt. Taſte and ſee how good the Lord is.

1. 55. •…. 3. [dropped from the edition]
2. 56. Get a ſpirituall diſpoſition of ſoul to heavenly things. [dropped from the edition]
3. 57. The ſoule hath her ſenſes. [dropped from the edition]

Now taſte doth two things,⁵⁸ it doth reliſh that that is good, and diſreliſh the contrary; there muſt be a ſpirituall taſte to diſcerne of differences. There can be no ſpirituall taſte, but it muſt know what is good and profitable for the ſoule, and what is not: becauſe God will not have our taſtes to be wronged, yee ſee what courſe he takes. Firſt the eye ſeeth what things we taſte on, and if the eye be diſpleaſed, ſo alſo is the ſmell. p. 23 Thus God layeth before us ſpirituall things, knowledge of good and bad, and giveth us many caveats, and all becauſe he would not have us to taſte things hurtfull for the ſoule, nor poiſon inſtead of meate. Now when we have taſted that which is good, let us take heed it be not a taſte onely, leſt we fall into the ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt.

1. 58. Two things in ſpirituall taſt. [dropped from the edition]

Againe,⁵⁹ beſide taſte, there muſt be a diſgeſting of what we taſte,⁶⁰ and that throughly, in our underſtandings, when we apprehend a thing to be true and good it muſt be diſgeſted throughly into the affections. Love to the beſt things, muſt be above all other love whatſover, yet this muſt be diſgeſted. Men oftentimes have ſweet notions, but alas they are but notions, they doe not diſgeſt them into their affections. It is the laſt diſgeſtion that nouriſheth, and when any ſpirituall truths are underſtood throughly, then comes in ſpirituall ſtrength, and hereupon the ſoule comes and ſuckes in that virtue which is for the nouriſhment of it, thus it is in the ſoule, upon diſgeſtion, there is nouriſhment.

1. 59. Vſe. 4. [dropped from the edition]
2. 60. Wee muſt labour for a digeſtion of ſpirituall things. [dropped from the edition]

Againe there muſt be a faculty to retaine what wee have received, that it maybe diſgeſted; yee have many that love to heare, but they do not diſgeſt. If there be nothing in the ſoule, nothing can be extracted, and therefore we muſt learne to retaine neceſſary truths, that ſo upon occaſion they may come from the memory into the heart; though indeed they are not in their proper place when they are in the memory only, yet notwithſtanding if they are there, they may with eaſe be brought down into the ſoule.

Then we muſt labour to walke in the ſtrength of ſpirituall things.⁶¹ For what is the uſe of this Feaſt,⁶² but to cheriſh both ſoule and ſpirit? the uſe of ſpirituall things which we have through Chriſt, is to cheriſh and enliven. It conveyeth ſtrength to us, that we may walke in the ſtrength of Chriſt, as Elias did fourty daies in the ſtrength of his food. And conſider, though in our conſciences p. 24 and conditions we have variety of changes, yet in Chriſt we have ſeverall comforts ſuitable to all our ſeverall conditions. If ſo be our ſinnes trouble us, wee ſhould watch over our ſelves, that wee be not overmuch caſt downe, but feed upon ſpirituall things in conſideration of pardon for ſinne in the bloud of Chriſt; this is the grand iſſue of all that Chriſt hath traced out in the forgiveneſſe of ſinnes. He is not, he cannot be divided; where he pardons ſinnes, he ſanctifieth; where he ſanctifieth, he writes his law in their hearts, ſo that there is a chaine of ſpirituall favours, where the firſt linke is, all the reſt follow; where forgiveneſſe of ſinne is, there is the ſpirit, and that ſpirit ſanctifieth, and comforts, and is an earneſt of everlaſting life; therefore feed eſpecially upon the favours of God, and get forgiveneſſe of ſinnes, and then all the reſt of the chaine of grace and ſpirituall life will follow.

1. 61. Vſe. 5. [dropped from the edition]
2. 62. Wee muſt walk in the ſtrength of ſpirituall favour. [dropped from the edition]