1. This is a special mark of the care and love of Christ, in as much as hereby he hath made abundant provision for the confir- mation and establishment of the faith of his people to the end of the world. For this being an evident proof that the New Testa- ment is in its full force, (Matth. xxvi. 28. " This is the cup of " the New Testament in my blood,") it tends as much to our satisfaction, as the legal execution of a deed, by which we hold and enjov our estate. So that when he saith, Take, eat, it is as much as if God should stand before you at the table with Christ, and all the promises in his hand ; and say, / deliver this to thee as my deed. What think you, doth this promote and confirm the faith of a be- liever ? if it doth not, what doth ?
2. This is a special mark of Christ's care and love, in as much as by this he hath made like abundant provision for the enlarge- ment of the joy and comfort of his people. Believers are at this ordinance, as Mary was at the sepulchre, with fear and great joy, Matth. xxviii. 8. Come, reader, speak thy heart, if thou be one that heartily lovest Jesus Christ, and hast gone many days, possibly years, mourning and lamenting because of the inevidence and clou- diness of thine interest in him ; who hast sought him sorrowing, in this ordinance, and in that, in one duty, and another: if at last Christ should take off that mask, that cruel covering (as one calls it) from his face, and be known of thee in breaking of bread : suppose he should, by his Spirit, whisper thus in thine ear as thou sittest at his table, Dost thou indeed so prize, esteem, and value me 9 Will nothing but Christ and his love content and satisfy thee? then9 as sweet, lovely, and desirable as I am, know that I am thine : take thine own Christ into the arms of 'thy faith this day : Would not this create in thy soul, a joy transcendent to all the joys and pleasures in this world ? What thinkest thou of it ?
3. Here is a signal mark of Christ's care and love, in as much as this is one of the highest, and best helps for the mortification of the corruption of his people. Nothing tends more to the kil- ling of sin, than this doth. Christ's blood, as it is food to faith, so it is poison to our lusts, O what a pill is wrapt up in that bread ! what an excellent potion is in that cup to purge the soul ? One calls that table, an altar, on which our corruptions are sacri- ficed and slain before the Lord. For how can they that there see what Christ suffered for sin, live any longer therein ?
4. Moreover his care and love appear in providing an ordinance so excellently adapted, to excite and blow up his people's love into a lively flame. When Joseph made himself known to his bre^
SERM. XXI. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 261
thren, " I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold, be not griev- " ed :" O ! what showers of tears and dear affections were there ? how did they fall upon each others necks ! so that the Egyptians wondered at the matter. How doth the soul (if I may so speak) passionately love Jesus Christ at such a time ? O what a Christ is my Christ ! " The fairest among ten thousand." What hath he done, what hath he suffered for me ! what great things hath my Jesus given, and what great things hath he forgiven me : A world, a thousand worlds cannot shew such another. Here the soul is melted down by love at his feet ; it is pained with love.
5. To conclude ; Christ's care and love are further manifested to his people, in this ordinance, as it is one of the strongest bonds of union betwixt them that can be: 1 Cor. x. 17. " We being " many, are one bread, and one body ; for we are all partakers of " that one bread." And though, through our corruptions, it falls out, that what was intended for a bond of union proves a bone of contention, yet, in as much as by this it appears how dearly Christ ioved them ; for as much also as here they are sealed up to the same inheritance, their dividing corruptions here slain, their love to Christ, and consequently to each other, here improved ; it is certainly one of the strongest ties in the world, to wrap up gracious hearts in a bundle of love.
And thus I have dispatched the doctrinal part of this point. The improvement of it is in the following inferences.
Inference 1. Did Christ leave this ordinance with his church to
preserve his remembrance among his people : Then surely Christ
foresaw, that, notwithstanding tvhat he is, hath done, suffered, and
promised yet to do for his people, they will for all this be still apt to
A man would think that such a Christ should never be one whole hour together out of his people's thoughts and affections: that wherever they go, they should carry him up and down with them, in their thoughts, desires, and delights : that they should let their thoughts work towards Christ as the longing thoughts of her that is with child do work after that she longs for : that they should lie down with Christ in their thoughts at night, and when they awake be still with him : that their very dreams in the night should be sweet visions of Christ, and all their words savour of Christ.
But O the baseness of these hearts ! Here we live and converse in a world of sensible objects^ which, like a company of thieves, rob us of our Christ, and lay the dead child in his room. Wo is me, that it should be so with me, who am so obliged to love him ! Though he be in the highest glory in heaven, he doth not forget us ; he hath graven us upon the palms of his hands ; we are con*
THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SEEM. XXT.
tinuaHy before him. He thinks on us, when we forget him. The whole honour and glory paid him in heaven by the angels, cannot divert his thoughts one moment from us; but every trifle that meets us in the way, is enough to divert our thoughts from him. Why do we not abhor and loathe ourselves for this ? What ! Is it a pain, a burden, to carry Christ in our thoughts about the world ? As much a burden, if thy heart be spiritual, as a bird is burdened by carrying his own wings.
Will such thoughts intrude unseasonably, and thrust greater things than Christ out of our minds? For shame, Christian, for shame, let not thy heart play the wanton, and gad from Christ af- ter every vanity. In heaven nothing else takes up the thoughts of saints to eternity ; and yet there is no tiring, no satiety. O learn to live nearer that heavenly life. Never leave praying and striving, till thou canst say as it is, Psal. lxiii. 5. " My soul shall be satisfied " as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise thee " with joyful lips ; whilst I remember thee on my bed, and medi- " tate on thee in the night watches."