(4.) Again, 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 ourselves. For very emulation, men will be doing as others do. When men live amongst those whose * That is ' flattened,' = appetite destroyed. — G.
IsA. XXV. 6. J BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 458
hearts arc framed this way, they must be equal. Conversation with those that have good relish of spiritual things, a,nd shew forth grace in their lives, setteth an appetite upon our desires, to desire the same things that they do-. Thus St Paul ^vl•iteth to the Gentiles to stir up the emulation of the Jews. Therefore receive this likewise for the procuring of a spiritual appetite. To go on.
(5.) The next thing that may stir up our desires to get an appetite to the best things, is seriously to consider, that we cannot tell haw loiuf ire have to live, or man enjoy the benefit of the means of grace. Those that sit at table and discourse away the greatest part of dinner time in talk, had need at last to fall to so much the faster, by how much the more negli- gent they had been before in eating. We cannot tell how long we may enjoy this spiritual feast that God makes for us. Therefore, be stirred up to get spiritual 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 sui-prised on the sudden, we may sufier a spiritual famine, a famine of the soul, if we have nothing to comfoii us beforehand ; and of all famines, a spiritual famine is most grievous, most fearful. Therefore do as Joseph did, and be wise. He in the seven years of plenty gathered for seven years of famine that was- to come upon the land of Egypt, Gen. xli. 36, seq. Alas ! if we have nothing laid up beforehand, what will be our end ? We shaU lie open to God's wrath and anger. Nothing can support our souls in the evil time. "WTierefore, as you desire at that day to have comfort of those things ye 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 hberty of the gospel and plenty of spiritual meat, is shameful and dishonourable. Thus you see, beloved, not to be large in the point, how 3'ou may procure such an appetite as is fit for such an holy feast. First, by getting a sense of sin ; secondly, by seeing a necessity of Christ ; thirdly, by pm'ging out those lusts that lie upon the soul ; fourthly, by conversing with those that are spiritually minded ; and lastty, by considering the time to come.
Use 3. It is not enough to have a stomach, but we must have a spiritual disposition of soul to heavenly things, as H'e 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 fur- nished the creature with varieties of excellences, suitable to all our several senses. He will not have objects in the creature without sense, nor sense in man without objects. He hath furnished man with senses, and variety of senses, and given fit and proportionable objects for those senses. The soul 'also hath ber sense. Wheresoever there is life, there is sense. God having given spiritual life to the soul, he doth maintain that hfe with spiritual food. As in a feast there is sight, and the eye is not only fed there with rich furniture, but with variety of dainties ; the ear likewise and the smell is satisfied, the one with music, the other with sweet savours. So in this feast there is to delight both the ear and the smell of the soul, the one with hearing the gi'acious promises of Jesus Christ, and the other in recei%'ing the sweet savour of that sacrifice that was offered up once for aU. Nothing so sweet to the soul as the blessings of Christ. He is sweet in the word, as the vessel that conveyeth him into our souls. 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,
454 THK MARRIAGE FEAST [SeRMON II.
and not content the wliole man ? He is for our sight, if we have spiritual eyes to see ; the ear, if we have ears to hear. All the senses are exercised here. What is the reason why carnal men cannot relish a pardon for sin, and justification, and sanctification, and holiness, nor go boldly to God '? It may be they have good, sweet notions of these, but they have no spiritual taste or relish of them, and all because they want spiritual life. None but a Christian can have spiritual taste answerable to a spiritual life. Taste is a kind of feeling, one of the most necessary senses ; and a Christian can- not be without relish and feeling. Yea, it is the very being of a Christian to have a taste of spiritual things. Of all other senses, there is a stronger application in taste. The other senses fetch their objects afar ofi"; but as for taste, there is a near application in it, and therefore most necessary. Every life is maintained by taste. ' Taste and see how good the Lord is,' Ps. xxxiv. 8.