Now these spiritual refreshments are by Christ here called a sup^ per, because the supper among the Jews was their best meal, Luke xiv. 17. and because it is the last meal. This is not only the best meal that ever a believer made, but upon these spiritual comforts (though much more refined and perfect) they are to feed for ever in heaven. O Christian, well may est thou be contented with thine outward lot of providence, however it shall fall in this world with respect to thy outward man; will a King from heaven come and sup with thee ? Doth he feed thy soul with pardon, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, seal an earnest of future glory ? Then thou livest at a higher and nobler rate than any of thy carnal neighbours do. " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who " hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in " Christ," Eph. i. 3. The same person that thus blesses God with a heart overflowing with joy and comfort, endured as many perse- cutions, felt as many wants and straits as any man. What if pro^ vidence do but meanly clothe your bodies, so that you cannot ruiHe it out in that splendor and gallantry others do ? Yet mayest thou say with the church, " I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul *' shall be joyful in my God : for he hath clothed me with the " garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of *' righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, " and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels," Isa. Ixi. 10. What if thou fare not so deliciously as the great ones of this world do? Yet if Christ will give thee to eat of the hidden manna which he promiseth. Rev. ii. 17. art thou not better clothed and fed than any of the grandees or nobles of the world ? This takes away all grounds of complaint. It may be you will say, O but we have bo- dies as well as souls ; if God had created us angels, that we could live without material food, it were another case. I reply, Christ never thus intended to feast thy soul and starve thy body ; he that feeds thy soul with bread from heaven will take care for all neces- sary provisions on earth, Isa. xli. 17. You have sought and found
226 JSXCLANli^S Jt)UTY.
the kingdom of Grod and his righteousness ; fear not but all other things shall be added to you.
I. Use, for Information,
The point before us is full of uses ; I shall begin with informa- tion in the following inferences^
Infer. 1. Hence learn, That it is a vile and groundless slander upon religion^ to say or insinuate that it deprives men of the cornfort and joy of life.
The devil, in design to discourage men from the ways of God, puts a frightful mask upon the beautiful face of religion, pretend- ing there is no pleasure or joy to be expected therein ; but this is abundantly confuted and refelled in the text, " I will come in to " him, and sup with him.'' Solomon tells us, Eccl. x. 19. " A '' feast is made for laughter."" I am sure that soul that sits with Christ at such a feast as has been described above, has the best rea- son of any man in the world to be merry. Religion indeed denies us all sinful pleasure, but it abounds with all spiritual pleasure. No rational, solid mirth can come before Christ : the unsanctified re- joice in things of nought, and their joy will be soon ended ; they are hastening to that place where they will find that to be verified of the wages of sin, which they now falsely impute to the wages of holiness ; they shall never rejoice more, never be merry more : But behevers shall find that scripture attested by their daily expe- rience, Prov. iii. IT. " Her way are ways of pleasantness, and all *' her paths are peace.'' And that there are such pleasures in the ways of God, as they never experienced in the ways of sin ; for is it a solid ground of comfort to a man to be out of debt and all fears of arrests, and is it not much greater to have our debts paid to God by Christ our surety H Matth. ix. 2. " Be of good cheer, thy ^^ sins are forgiven thee." Is it matter of joy to have a sufficiency of all things for the supply of every want ? He that is in Christ hath so. 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. " All are yours, and ye are Christ's." Is it a joyful life to be a borderer upon heaven, to confine upon bles- sedness itself? Then it is a joyful life to be in Christ; for they that are so may rejoice in the hopes of glory, Rom. v. 2. Is it matter of all joy to have the Comforter himself, who is the Spirit of all consolation, taking up his residence in thy heart, cheering, comforting, and refreshing it with such cordials as are unknown things in all the unbelieving world ? Then, certainly, the life of a Christian and the ways of holiness must be most pleasant and com- fortable : And therefore let none that are looking towards Christ be discouraged in their way by the slanderous reproaches designedly
cast lipon feligion for that end. Christ and comforts dwell toge- ther.
Infer, % Hence, in hke mariner it follows^ That Christians usuaU ly meet the greatest difficulties at their first entrance into 7'eligicm.
The first work of religion is cutting work, wounding work, groaning and weeping work : Thus religion usually begins, Acts ii. 87. Acts xvi. 29. Now the soul seems to be struck dead, in the giving up of all its former vain hopes, Rom. vii. 9. '* When the " commandment came, sin revived, and I died ;"" but afterward come pardon, peace, joy in the Holy Ghost. They that go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, now come back rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them, Psal. cxxvi. 6. Now that blessing takes place vipon the soul. Mat. v. 4. " Blessed are they that moUrn, for " they shall be comforted. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy *' for the upright in heart." It is quite contrary in the ways of sin; all the pleasures of sin come first, the terl'ors and gripes of con- science come after. Sin comes with smiles in its face, but a sting m its tail. Pleasures lead the van, hell and destruction bring up the rear. Job xx. 12, 13, 14. *' Though wickedness be sweet in his *' mouth, though he hide it under his tongue ; yet his meat in his " bowels is turned into the gall of asps within him." But here con- viction and humiliation come first, these prepare the way for Christ; and after him come rest and peace. " Then- sorrow is turned into *' joy," John xvi. 20.
Object. But is this always true? Do not the worst things ofrclU gion mcmy times come last ? How many Christians go out of the world in a bloody winding sheet ?
Sol. Whatever the after-sufferings of Christians may be, the worst is past when they are once in Christ. Great and sharp sufferings they may endure, but the Lord sweetens them with answerable con- solations, 9, Cor. vii. 4. " I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding " joyful in all our tribulation." The lowest ebbs are followed ^vith the highest tides ; the greatest troubles need not give an interruption to their peace.