The way of the Spirit in bringing souls to Christ set forth in X sermons on John 16:7, 8, 9, 10 and chap 7:37 / by Mr. Thomas Allen, late pastor of a church in ... Norwich.

SERMON VIII.

JOHN 7.37.

In the last day, that great day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and cried, saying; If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.

YOU have heard before the Words that Christ spake when the Pharisees and Rulers sent Officers to take him at the 30 Verse. At the 33 and 34 Verses, he told them that whatever their design should be to take him, Yet notwithstanding saith he, yet a little while I am with you, and whereas you are now desirous to be rid of me, Ere long I shall go away, and you shall see me no more, and though you may desire it, You shall seek me, saith Christ, and shall not find me, and where I am, thither you cannot come; Now mark what an effect these words had upon them, what use did the Jews make of that word of Admoni∣tion that Christ gave, and that gracious Counsel he gave; instead of making a good improvement. See v. 35.36. they made use of his words to scoff

at and mock him, say they, Yet a little while and he will go away; will he go to the dispersed among the Gentiles? speaking in derision and scorn, will he go among the dispersed Gentiles? Christ spake plain enough, if they had not been maliciously blind, Yet a little while (saith he) and I go to him that sent me, and so they made a meer mock. So that here we may take notice, that, Malicious minded men in stead of receiving any Word of Coun∣sel, and advice, will be ready rather to rail, mock, and scoff at them who give it. And so here to the Jews it was a word of Admonition that Christ gave, but they fell a mocking and scoffing at him; And so it was of old, 2 Chron. 14.20. you read there, how King Jehoshaphat sent about Priests and Levites throughout the Cities, out of Com∣passion to their Souls, to teach the Word among them, and to put them in mind of their duty, and it is said, they mocked those that came, they mocked the messengers of the Lord, for the words which they brought were for the welfare of their Souls. And so you read concerning the Lords Prophets that he sent to Juda, 2 Chron. 36. It's said, They mocked at the Lords Messengers till there was no remedy. And so, Acts 17. Paul was preaching of the resurrection of the dead, and 'tis said they mocked, Many mocked and scoffed at him, v. 32. And when they heard of the resur∣rection of the dead, some mocked, and others said, We will hear thee again concerning this matter. And thus it hath been, and so I say, as Paul in the Galatians, Even so it is now, and so it will be. And it may be of support unto the Servants of God that give words of Admonition, Reproof,

and Reprehension, Let them be satisfied in this, that though they be mocked, 'tis no more than was the Lot of the Servants of God of old before them. Well, but mark now how Christ doth go on for all this, he was not discouraged, he doth not turn his back upon them, because they mocked and scoffed and jeered him, but mark he goes into the Temple, and falls a preaching graci∣ous Words unto them, as in the Text; In the last day, that great day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. Here was the Sermon that he preached after that derision that he met with from the Jews; I say, the words that I have read are the Sermon that Christ had preached in the Tem∣ple, as you may see recorded by the Evangelist. Concerning this Sermon take notice of two or three things.

1. First of all, Here is set forth the Time, when it was that Christ preached this Sermon: It's said, the last Day, that great Day of the Feast, what Feast? why the Feast of Tabernacles, that Christ did preach this Sermon, and 'tis said the last Day, and great Day of the Feast. Observe it, the Feast of Tabernacles was not kept only one day, but many days, even seven days together. Levit. 23.34. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the Children of Israel, the fif∣teenth day of the seventh Month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord, the fifteenth day of the seventh Month, that is our September. Now for these seven days, the first and the last were kept in a solemn manner; in the other days they did servile work, but not on the

first and last day, and so in Nehemia's time, they kept the last day of the Feast very solemnly, Nehem. 8.18. And they kept the Feast seven days, and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner. The last day, then the people came generally into the Temple to hear the law read unto them, and therefore that last day was called the great day of the Feast, for the people on the morrow were to depart into all parts of the Coun∣try, as they came from all parts; so here, on the last day, on the great day of the Feast, Christ preached unto them on this subject.

2. Secondly, 'Tis set forth by the Manner of it, in what manner Christ did preach this Sermon to them, There is a double circumstance in the preaching of this Sermon; It's said Christ stood, but ordinarily Christ is said to sit down; As he sat down in the ship, but here 'tis said he stood, that he might be better heard and seen of the mul∣titude. And another thing about the manner of it, is, He stood and cried with a mighty voice, he did extend his voice, so as all might hear, there be∣ing a great concourse of people, and likewise intimating that he was not afraid of the people; he goes up into the Temple, and there he cries it, intimating also that the matter was a weighty matter, which he had then to speak unto them, as if he had said, now take this word with you, 'tis a matter of great concernment. And that is the third thing here in the Text.

3. Thirdly, The matter of his Sermon when he stood and cried so, what did he speak or say? why, this it was, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. This was the sum of his

Sermon that he stood up and cried or preached unto the people. Wherein we have these two Particulars.

1. A gracious Invitation to all that are a∣thirst. And

2. A gracious Promise, that if they did come, they should drink. The Rabbies amongst the Jews recorded of this Feast, that in this last day, they were wont to go and powre abundance of water and wine (in a way of rejoycing) upon the Altar, and therefore Christ in allusion to that (speaking to them) saith, If any man be athirst, let him come unto me, and drink. Briefly to take up what I conceive to be Christs meaning in this place. There is a great deal of the Gospel here in these Words, in this general Proclamation, If any man be athirst, let him come to me and drink. Then know,

Doctrine.

That such as being athirst do come unto Christ, they shall certainly be supplyed unto the full, and that most freely.

Whoever being athirst doth come to Christ, he shall have a supply, he shall have a full supply, he shall not only tast or sip, but drink a full draught, his belly full, so filled, that as the Word saith, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water; and not only so, but he shall have a full supply most freely, drink most freely he doth not desire money or price, but according to that Proclamation which you have to this purpose, Isa. 55.1. Ho every one

that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk without mony and without price. Come, and ye shall drink freely and that for nothing, without money, and without price. And so Revel. 22.17. And the Spirit, and the Bride say, Come, let him that heareth say Come, And let him that is a thirst come; and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely, And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come, this is held forth freely, to drink freely, and it shall cost nothing; As now a man that should hold forth proclamation to all that would come to him and drink what they would, they might come, and should drink freely without charge to them; So here, our Saviour Christ clearly holds forth Grace and Salvation freely, whosoever comes they shall have it freely. Briefly to open the point, and shew,

1. What manner of Thirst it is that Christ speaks off, What thirst is it?

2. What is that same coming? Or how may a man that is athirst, how may such an one come? you will say, suppose it be a thirst after the wa∣ter of life, how may I come, or in what way may I come to Christ? And then

3. Shew you, That those who being thirsty do come to Christ, they shall certainly be supplyed to the full, They shall have drink given them freely, most freely. I shall desire to have respect to the season and apply my self accordingly to shew you what we are to understand by this same thirst, If any man be a thirst let him come and drink, What manner of thirst is it?

1. We are not here to understand it to be a bodily

thirst, but we are to understand it of spiritual thirst, a thirsting of the Soul, as David saith, My Soul thirsteth for thee O God, for the Living God, Psal. 42.2. There's a thirst of the Soul, as well as a thirst of the Body, and the thirst of the Soul is set forth by the similitude or resemblance of the Body, and so by what this thirst of the body is, we may the better understand the resemblance of the thirst of the Soul. There are three things in a bodily thirst.

1. There is a sense that the body feels of want, there is not only a want of moisture but the body is sensible of it, it is such a want as is an afflict∣ive want, in the want of it the body stands in need of a supply, and so you may read concerning Ha∣gar, the water being out, she did not know what to do for water, and away she goes crying for her child, and her child cries too, and so even ready to perish for want of water. And so Sampson, after he had made a great slaughter of the Philistims, saith he, What shall this victory do me good, if I want water? so that it is the sense of the want of something that is needful, and as there is a sense of something, so an ardent and vehement desire, and longing after the fulfilling of that desire, as you read of Sisera, Judg. 4. That great General begged a draught of water being very thirsty.

2. In the thirst of the body, there are not only longing desires, vehement earnest desires for a sup∣ply, but it is altogether unsatisfied, till it hath some thing of water or moisture to supply it's thirst. As the Israelites, they must have water whatever comes of it, they must have water, and Moses smites the rock, and fetcht water out of it for them. Why

1. First of all, In the thirst of the soul, the soul is sensible of the want of some spiritual good thing, he is not only wanting it, and without it, but he is sensible of it: In this thirst of the soul, there is a deep sense of the want of some spiritual good thing, Psal. 63.1.2.3. David being banish∣ed from the Tabernacle, from the publick wor∣ship, O! saith he, My Soul thirsteth for God; He wanted the Ordinances, as he used to have had them, that I may see thy glory in thy San∣ctuary. In Isa. 41.17. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst (a gracious promise) see what want there is, when the Soul is in such a case, being so sensible that it is even faint and failing, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. And then again,

3. As with the body when it's athirst, it doth vehemently and strongly desire; so now in this same thirst of the soul there is an ardent, an ear∣nest and strong desire after that which it finds it stands in need of, Psal. 42.1.2. David doth ex∣press the thirst of his soul, as the Hart that is wearied, and tyred, and just spent in hunting: O it longs and thirsts after the water brooks for its refreshment, so doth my Soul after thee O God; O when shall I come and appear before God! So Psal. 63.8. My Soul followeth hard after God, it was when his soul was thirsty; in the beginning of the Psalm his soul was thirsty for God, and v. 8. My Soul followeth hard after God, more than a man that is athirst follows hard for the satisfying his desire of thirst. So when the Soul that hath wanted some spiritual good thing (being athirst)

hath longed vehemently, and strongly, and been very earnest for it. And then again

3. When the soul is spiritually thirsty, it is not satisfied with any thing short of that which it finds it stands in need of, of that spiritual good thing, of that spiritual mercy; As Abraham, he was athirst, his soul was athirst for the accom∣plishment of the Promise; well, Abraham goes a long while before the accomplishment of the pro∣mise, twenty years or better, and in the mean while God gives Abraham other Promises, but yet he is not satisfied; saith God to Abraham, Behold Abraham, I am thy shield, and thine exceed∣ing great reward; what could Abraham desire more than God to be his great reward, even all; and yet saith Abraham, Lord, what wilt thou give me? and I go childless; nothing else but what God promised him will satisfy him. When the soul is athirst, nothing will satisfy but what it is a thirsting after: One thing have I desired, and that will I seek, it is that which I have thirsted after, and longed for, and nothing shall satisfy me till I have my longing; I have made it the main of my desires, and I will still desire it, even as the Woman of Canaan; she desired mercy for her Daughter that was possessed of a Devil, she had other mercies, yet she would not be satisfied without she had that mercy. And this is the na∣ture of a thirst; Why now saith Christ, If any be a thirst, let him come to me.

Objection.

But you shill say, What is the Object of this

thirst that he thirsts after, or for? what is it? for the thirst of the body, water, or some moisture for the body? But now what is the Object of this thirst? must Christ supply a man with what∣soever he thirsts for? suppose he thirsts for a great deal of the world, or suppose he thirsts for health, and strength, or the life of a friend or relation, or suppose it may be for some spiritual mercy, the performance of spiritual duties, and the like, whatsoever a man thirsts for, must it be given him?

Answer.

It is true indeed, it's not here exprest for what∣soever a man doth thirst, I suppose Christ doth not mean whosoever thirsts for the World, or world∣ly Comforts, or for spiritual gifts, &c. for car∣nal ends, but Christ means such mercies and bles∣sings as do accompany and necessarily tend to the salvation of the soul; if any man thirst for such a mercy, for that which he calls in the next verse, the Water of Life, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water, who thirsts so; and he doth more plainly express it, Verse 39. This he spake of the Spirit, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living Water, that is, whosoever is athirst for spi∣ritual mercies, whosoever is athirst for saving sanctifying grace, he that is athirst for the Com∣forts of the Spirit, for the saving graces thereof, as faith, meekness, humility, and patience, as the Apostle reckons divers fruits of the Spirit, Galat. 5.22, 23. Whosoever doth long, and is sensible of the want of these saving blessings, and mercies, pardon of sin, and assurance, &c.

whosoever is sensible of these wants, and longs for a supply of them, and is unsatisfied without them; Whosoever he is that is thus, Let him come to me. Now, I say, this same spiritual thirst of the Soul is very necessary, else the Soul will hard∣ly ever come to Christ for to be supplyed: Like as it is with a man that hath no ailment at all, at lest no sence of it, tell him of a Physician, he will not stir a step after him for cure: Those that are truly thirsty, and have not wherewithal to supply them∣selves, they are they that will come to Christ. And hence it is that when Christ would stir up those of Laodicea to come unto him, he doth it by shewing them their spiritual wants; Thou saist, saith he, that thou standest in need of nothing, that thou art full and standest in need of nothing; But I say, saith Christ, that thou art blind, miserable and naked. First Christ doth convince them (as it were) of their need of a thirst, and then holds forth the Water of Life. Here's the first thing opened. What we are to understand by this thirst. They who are truly thirsty, let them come to Christ: But,

2. What is this coming to Christ, or how may the Soul come unto Christ, to drink of the water of life? As I said before concerning thirst, 'tis not a thirst of the body, but a thirst of the soul: In what way may the Soul be said to come unto Christ? Briefly three ways the Soul that is athirst may be said to come to Christ.

1. First, We are to come to Christ in the way of his Ordinances, attending upon his Word, to hearken to Christ there; Let him come to me in the way of mine Ordinances; As in Scripture

phrase, in that place before mentioned, Isa. 55.2, 3. Coming is an hearkening diligently, enclining the ear; Come unto me by enclining of your ear; Jesus Christ is usually to be found in his own way in his ordinances, Mat. 28.20. Lo I am with you alway, even to the end of the World, yea in his Or∣dinances, in the administration of the Gospel, I am with you. Then come to the place where Christ is, or where he may meet with you. Re∣ceived you the Spirit by the hearing of the Law, or by the preaching, of Faith? that is the Gospel; Ye re∣ceived the Spirit, saith the Apostle Paul, by having the Gospel preached; he compares the preaching of the Law, and the preaching of the Gospel, and calls the preaching of the Law the Letter, and the preaching of the Gospel the Spirit. To come to Christ, to wait upon Christ in his own way, where he gives out this water of life; he that re∣ceives of this water of life, must be found in the way where Christ comes, as Zaccheus was, when Christ said to him, this day is Salvation come to thy house. This was beyond his desire, and beyond his thirst: Would you come to Christ, come into his Galleries, come into my sister, my Spouse. Would you come to Christ? come where he is, and see, he walks in the midst of his golden Candlesticks, there wait upon him in the way of his Ordinan∣ces, and here what he will say unto you for a sup∣ply of your wants.

2. Secondly, Come unto Christ in a way of Ask∣ing, by asking of him the waters of life, So we are to come, and this is called a coming to the Lord in the Hebrews, He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a Rewarder of them

that diligently seek him, Chap. 11.6. He that comes to God, how? in a way of prayer, and so to seek grace to help in a time of need; come in a way of prayer. And see how he directed the Woman of Samaria, Christ asked her a little water, and she denyed him, well saith Christ, If thou hadst asked of me, I would have given thee living water, how would he have given her living water? why in a way of asking.

3. Thirldy, We are to come in a way of Faith, And so saith Christ here in this Text, If any man thirst, let him come and drink, that is, he that be∣lieveth in me, and so this coming to Christ is ex∣pounded to be believing, John 6.35. He that co∣meth unto me shall never hunger, and he that be∣lieveth in me shall never thirst. Look now as un∣believing is a departing from the Lord, Heb. 10.38.39. Take heed, if any man draw back, my Soul shall have no pleasure in him; But we are not of those that draw back, but of them that believe to the sa∣ving of the Soul. O! an evil heart of unbelief is a departing from God; and so then by believing, the soul is said to come to God, to draw neer to God. But what is that coming unto Christ, or believing in Christ, whereby the Soul shall be ful∣ly satisfied? is it a believing that Jesus Christ is the Messias, the Saviour of the World? the very Devils do believe this; No, but briefly, This Believing is, namely, The Souls rest, and relying, and trusting upon Christ for acceptance in the sight of God, for remission of sins, for Salvation, and eternal life. Trusting and relying upon Christ and his merits for Salvation, a putting confidence in the Lord. Now when the Soul doth rely and

venture through a Word of invitation in the Gos∣pel, through Christs invitation doth adventure to rely upon his merits, to be wholly accepted in the sight of God. This now is a coming to Christ. And now saith Christ, If any man thirst, Let him c••me unto me and he shall drink. Let not any here move contention, and say, what do you bid us come to Christ, why this holds forth free Will? Why, know that such exhortations usually and frequently are in all the duties, that the Holy Ghost requires of us, which he knows we have no strength to do; the Lord calls us to pray, and 'tis our duty so to do; and to believe, but we have no strength and power of our selves, but we must not stand upon cavelling and say, 'tis but a fol∣ly for us to be striving, seeing we can do nothing, but it is our duty to be doing what lies in us to the performance, and wait upon the Lord for his co∣ming in with power to enable us to perform; as Lazarus, when he was in the grave, Christ called and with his word power was given forth, and he came out. So now we should indeavour to rely and trust upon Christ in his grace, and in his pro∣mise to have a supply of this same Water of life, and not to give over and cavil. That is a third, to shew what way the Soul that is truly a thirst should come to Christ. Then

3. Thirdly, Such as being athirst and do come to Christ, they shall certainly be supplyed, They shall certainly have a full supply, and it freely given them, for so saith Christ, If any man thirst let him come and he shall drink freely; He doth not expect any thing, or hold forth any price, but they, whoever come, shall drink freely, they

shall certainly have a full supply, and be supply∣ed freely; and he speaking it, spake in the hearing and audience of many thousands. I shall speak a Word of Application.

Application.

This may help us to discern, whether we have e∣ver been made to drink out of the Well of Salvation. Whether ever we have been made to drink of the waters which Jesus Christ hath given forth: and to go no further than the Text, there are two things that may help us to discern it, and one is this.

1. That if ever the Soul hath drank of the waters of life that are held forth, then it was once athirst for Christ; for here the offer that Christ makes is to thirsty souls, and those who thirst not will not care for coming. And

2. Not only thirsty, but they must also come to Christ. And therefore briefly to hint what I have spoken before.

1. Consider whether you have been truly thirsty, and by that you may see and know whether you have truly drank of this water of life. Consider it every one, hath my soul been truly thirsty? the soul that is truly thirsty is really sensible of some spiritual want, that he wants some spiritual mer∣cy, so sensible as to be spiritually affected, yea afflicted with the sense of it: As a man that is thirsty for water, he is so sensible that if he have it not he is afflicted for it; why so, let every soul consider, well, hath my soul ever been really sensible of the want of some saving mercy, or

truth? hath my soul been ever sensible of it? I pray consider it with your own souls, what sa∣ving grace is it that your souls have been sensible for the want of? even afflicted for the want of it? if ever you have been very greatly thirsty in your bodies, you have been very sensible. I pray con∣sider, can you remember that ever your souls were really sensible so as to be afflicted for the want of some spiritual saving mercy from God?

2. Again, Consider, If you have been thirsty, Whether you have ever found that same strong ar∣dent, and longing desire after a supply of that spi∣ritual want you are in? As pardon of sin, or sa∣ving grace: Have your souls not only been affect∣ed, but afflicted from the sence of the want of Grace, being ardently, vehemently, and earnestly longing after it: Can you remember at such a time your body was thirsty, and you longed for water, and could have drank puddle water by a good token, and cannot you remember that your souls have been longing, vehemently longing, most earnestly longing after, and panting after this spiritual water of life, and to have been alto∣gether unsatisfied, without you might have that spiritual grace and mercy, which you have longed for: If a man be thirsty, he will not be satisfied with a song, you may sing him a song, but that will not satisfy him, and give him what you will he must have that which he longs for, and that which he desires, or nothing. And hath it been thus with your souls? consider what I say; can you say, you have longed for this grace and the other, for saving grace and the like, well, but have you not been satisfied with something else?

for I say, if we had not had in some measure a supply, our souls would still have been thirsty, and never satisfied without that we have found a need of. And then take that along with all, viz.

3. Consider whether ever you have truly come to Christ. Suppose you have longed for this and that mercy, and have been unsatisfied for want of this mercy, consider of it, did you ever truly come to Christ? have you ever been athirst? have you ever come to Christ in his Ordinances for a supply? why, yes you will say, you have come to the Ordinances to hear the Word preach∣ed; Ay Brethren, you may come to hear, and yet not come to Christ; have you ever come to hear the Word from the sense of the want of some spiritual saving grace, that he would supply to you? it is ordinary for every one to come, except they are such as are desperately wicked and pro∣phane, but thus we are to come, and have we ever come thus to Christ? even as the Saints have been wont to come to the Ordinances, with a sense of their spiritual wants, I will hearken and hear what God the Lord will speak to me, for he will speak peace: He wanted peace, and he had the sense of the want of peace upon him, now saith he, God will speak peace. So Psal. 73. The good man was under a great temptation, and it was even too hard for him, and he was even ready to cry out of the temptation, and murmur, and repine against God, well he now goes unto the Lord in the way of his Ordinances, and hearkens what God will give unto him, to answer his tem∣ptation, and then his temptation was answered

in his waiting upon God in the sense of his spiritu∣al wants for a supply. And so have you even come thus to the Lord in the way of his Ordinan∣ces? when you came this day before the Lord, can you say (between the Lord and your own Souls) that you came upon the sense of some spi∣ritual want for your Souls unto the Lord in this Ordinance? Why Brethren, it is a rare thing for to come to Christ in the way of his Ordinances, in the sense of the want of some spiritual mercy. But,

4: Again, Consider, Have you ever come to Christ in a way of prayer? to ask a spiritual mercy and blessing. It's true inded, you will say, you go to God every day for the pardon of sin, and assurance of it; you go every day, but now have you come to the Lord and asked this spiritual mercy, and the other, as a thirsty man that is e∣ven ready to perish for want of drink, and to take nothing in a way of satisfaction (whatsoever you have besides) without you have that you are so sensible of.

5. And then, Consider, Whether you have ever come to Christ in a way of Faith. There is the co∣ming to Christ indeed, if ever you would drink of the water of life, you must come in a way of faith. Though you have come to the Word, and come in a way of prayer, yet have you come in a way of faith? relying, and resting, and rolling upon Christ in a way of Faith, to be accepted of the Father through him, and so for remission of sins, and whatever saving benefit you stand in need of. Have you ever came to Christ thus? relying upon him in his word, in the invitation he makes there,

and in his promise? this is the way to come to Christ; He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Let us consider of it between the Lord and our own souls, whe∣ther ever we have come to Christ and so drank of the waters of life? if we have not been thirsty, though we may have seemed to be so, yet if we have not really come to Christ, we fall short of what we might have expected to have met with.

I thought to have prest the invitation on poor souls, that they might come and drink of the wa∣ter of life, but the time is past.