Four sermons publickly delivered at several times in Ecclesfeild Church in Yorke-shire. By Immanuel Knutton preacher of Gods word there.

SERMON I. (Book 1)

Text, JOHN 6.27.

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto ever∣lasting life.

IN the former part of this Chap∣ter, from the first verse to the fifteenth, we have a relation of Christ feeding five thousand men with five loves and two fishes, thereupon in the fifteenth verse, the people would have made him King, from the six∣teenth verse to the six and twentieth Christ withdrew himself, and walked on the Sea to his Disciples; where we see the people in verses 24. and 25. seeking for Jesus, not out

of a spiritual appetite after the celestial food of their soules, but out of a carnal appetite after the transitory food of their bodies; Christ, who knew their hearts, reprehends them for this, verse 26. and in this 27. verse exhorts and directs them what food to seek after, namely, the everlasting food of their souls; Labour not for the meat, &c. in which words are contained two parts.

1. A Dehortation; Labour not for the one at which perisheth.

2. An Exhortation; But (labour is un∣derstood) for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.

Before I come to the point I must answer an objection.

Object. But Genes. 3.19. God there com∣mands Adam to eat his bread in the sweat of his face; and in the fourth Commandement its said, Six dayes shalt thou labour.?

Answ. I answer it two wayes: 1. There is the care of diligence, a lawful care joyned with faith, and a care of diffidence, without faith, or having a very weak faith in Gods promise and providence; now when God commands us to labour six dayes, its meant with the care of diligence, in obedience to his command, and in affiance of his promise; but in my Text when he saith, labour not, &c.

he meanes with the care of diffidence, not distrusting Gods promise.

2. Here our blessed Saviour speaketh comparatively, as if he had said, labour not for the meat which perisheth, in comparison of the paines you must take for that meat which endureth unto life eternal. You must take pains for this outward perishing food, but cheifly take your greatest pains for Christ and his heavenly graces, labour for this with all your might, night and day even to your dying day.

What that meat is which endureth ever∣lastingly, you may see Christ declaring it to you in the next words, Which the Son of man shall give unto you, for him hath God the Father sealed. This enduring food is Christ himself, with all his saving graces and comforts.

Christ here calls himself the Son of man for these reasons.

1. He calls himself the Son of man in the singular number, because he came from man onely in regard of his humane nature, but we are called the sons of men because we proceed from both parents.

2. That so Christ might shew us the great benefit which we have received by his taking our nature upon him.

3. That his humane nature might be

distinguished from his divine nature.

4. That we might acknowledge him to be true man as well as God.

5. The true reason is gathered from the Hebrew phrase, it is an Hebraisme, it is Ben. Adam, the Son of man, this phrase imports contempt sometimes, Job 25.6. yet Christ so called himself.

So in the verses. 35: 48: 51. Christ shews, that he is this durable food.

I might observe from the former part.

Doct. That we must not labour for the food that perisheth, namely, with the care of diffidence.

But the point that I desire to insist upon is,

Doct. That we must labour for Christ, who is everlasting food.

This point consisteth of two branches:

1. That Christ is everlasting food; which appeareth four wayes.

1. By the merit and efficacy of his person. By his merit and absolute worthiness he hath purchased infinite comfort and happiness for us; John 6.55. My flesh is meat indeed, and my bloud is drink indeed; that is, by the merit and efficacy of it. Besides the merit

of his person, there is a spiritual efficacy and vertue flowing from him to nourish true be∣leivers unto eternal life.

2. By his sacred Word is Christ everlast∣ing food, Jer. 3.15. And I will give you pa∣stures according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding; which phrase implies, that the Word of Christ is the food of the soul. The same is implied in Amos 8.11. where he threatens them with a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Job 23.12. I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food, and his Word is heavenly nourishment to true be∣leivers.

3. By the Sacrament of his last Supper, 1 Corinth. 11.24, &c. Christ by that blessed Ordinance feeds the hearts of the faith∣full.

4. By the saving graces and comforts of his holy Spirit, Luke 1.53. He hath filled the hungry with good things, that is, with heavenly graces and spiritual comforts, Math. 5.6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled, that is, with heavenly graces and consolations.

Reason. 1. Because such as feed upon Christ shall never hunger and thirst again; John 6.35. And Jesus said unto them, I am

the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that beleiveth on me shall never thirst. There is a double thirst; a thirst proceeding from a total want and loss of Christ; now this kind of thirst they shall never have that are truly in Christ, for John 4.14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting l••fe. where Christ teacheth, that saving grace cannot be totally and finally lost, for he will for ever supply his people with his Spirit. Nextly, there is a thirst proceeding from a spiritual delight in Christ, and this all true Saints have, 1 Peter 2.2, 3. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby; if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Where the latter is the ground of the former, if they had tasted how gracious, sweet and pleasant the Lord Jesus is, they would exceedingly desire the pure milk of his word, and more intimate communion with him; for there is such a deal of soul-satisfying delight in Christ, that the more a sanctified soul tasteth and enjoy∣eth, the more earnestly it desireth and long∣eth after him, and is never at rest untill it enjoy him in heaven; the words in the ori∣ginall

are, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, very earnestly desire the reasonable milk without deceit, where he shews what kind of desire we must have after Christ his word; not a weak desire for a short fit, but an earn∣est desire, above all things desire it, as David did, Psal 42 1:2. As the Hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God, when shall I come and appear be∣fore God? The Apostle also shews the nature of the Word, it is like milk for sweetness and nourishment; then its sincere, without the poysonous dregs of errour, its without de∣ceit, it will not deceive any that rely upon it; this double thirst is by the learned thus ex∣prest: sit is totalis indigentiae, & sitis spiritua∣lis complacentiae, such then as eat and drink Christ shall have the fountain of consolation in them.

Reas. 2. Because such as spiritually feed on Christ, have eternal life in them, Iohn 6.51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven, if a man eat of this bread he shall live for ever: and in verse 54. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my bloud, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day; such have one foot in heaven already, they shall never enter into condemnation, yea, they

have a heaven upon earth, they have in them Christ the Author of eternal life, they have, through him, the precious graces and conso∣lations of his Spirit.

2 Branch. The second branch of the point is:

We must labour for Christ this everlasting food; the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 imports, we must work and take great pains for it, Mathew 6.20. but treasure up for your selves treasures in heaven; so the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 imports, which is all one in sense with this, to labour for this everlasting food; he that laies up a treasure for him∣self, is very studious and industrious how he may compass it; the like pains, care and study must we take for Christ.

Reas. 1. Because Christ this durable meat will give us full satisfaction, this David shews, Psal. 36.8. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy plea∣sures. Psal. 63.5. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. See likewise what satisfaction the Church took in Christ, Cant. 2.3, 4, 5. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my

taste. He brought me to the banquetting house, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love. Where we see the holy Ghost com∣pares Christ in his Ordinances to marrow, which is very fat, sweet and nutritive, so is Christ to true beleivers, more fat than mar∣row, more sweet than wine, more nutritive than any food: the Holy Ghost also com∣pares his Ordinances unto a banquetting house, wherein are plenty of wine to comfort, and strengthen, and refresh a drooping soul, and that true beleivers might with spiritual security and joy feed their soules with these heavenly dainties; the Holy Ghost assures them, that Christ displaies the banner of love over them.

There were four special uses of the ban∣ner.

1. By the sight of the banner displaied, every souldier might know how to repair to his proper colours, Numbers 2. so Christ in his Gospel sets out his love to us, he displayes the banner of love, that we may know how to be gathered to him as to our Gene∣ral; it teacheth us how to follow Christ; the Gospel is the displaying of the love of Christ; Isa. 11.12. And he shall set up an ensign for the Nations, and shall assemble the

out-casts of Israel, and gather together the dis∣persed of Iudah from the four corners of the earth; which is meant by his Gospel.

2. Another end of the banner was to be a terror to the adversaries, Cant. 6.10. Ter∣rible as an Army with banners. Revel. 6. in the second verse he compares Christ, display∣ing the banner of his Gospel, to a Warriour upon a white Horse; then verses 4:5:8. he shews how Christ punisheth his enemies that will not obey him with warr, verse 4. and with famine, verse 5:6:7. and with death, verse 8.

3. The next use of the banner was to add courage and confidence to the souldiers when they see their coulours; so doth Christ his love in the Gospel add invincible valour and undaunted courage to his true hearted souldiers, Rom. 1.16. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that beleiveth, Acts 20.23, 24. The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me, but none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto my self, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministery which I have received of the Lord Iesus, to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God.

4. The last use of the banner was, to be

set upon the tower or wall of the City or Hold which was taken by conquest, that all passers by might know, that such and such a people were now possess'd of that place; Psal. 20.5. And in the name of our God will we set up our banners. Psal. 60.4. Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displaied because of the truth: Selah. That is, thou hast manifested thy love to thy people, that thou mayest glorifie thy truth, in making that good which thou hast pro∣mised.

Nextly, in this place, Cant. 2.5. the Church cries, Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love: having tasted of Christ, she was sick of love to him, nothing could satisfie her but more inward fellowship with him; she compares his love to flagons of wine; so Cant. 1.1. Thy love is better than wine: this would revive her faint∣ing spirits, and would please her better than any delicate spiced wine. She compares his love in his Ordinances to apples for the com∣fortable tast, smell and relish that apples have: some say he alludes to the tree of life, whith they say was an apple-tree, however, as apples are comfortable to the stomack, so is Christ in his Ordinances to a sanctified soul most comfortable and sweet, insomuch

that such as enjoy him may say with more comfort, than Esau said to Iacob, I have enough.

Reas. 2. Because this enduring meat is of infinite worth and excellency, its worth all our labour, pains and care, we may repent our pains and care for worldly food, but we shall never need to be sorry for our pains for Christ: We may say of him as the Israelites did of David, he is worth ten thousand of us; and as the Church, Cant. 5.10. He is the chiefest of ten thousand: Prov. 8.11. Wisdom is better than Rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it: in which place by wisdom Divines under∣stand Christ: and truly if we could view him with the eye of faith, we should admire his transcendent lustre and excellency: as Plato said, if one could see the form of vertue, it would wonderfully excite men to the love and study thereof.

Reas. 3. Because this everlasting food is not easily obtained, gold and silver will not purchase it: Simon Magus could not buy the gifts of God with money: Isai. 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 money and without price, in which words the Holy Ghost

alludes to haven towns by the seaside, where ships come in richly fraught and laden with excellent commodities, where you may buy the best at the first hand and most cheap; the Prophet saith, buy, come and buy, in regard that we must take pains for Christ, yet he saith, buy without money and without price, because nothing in this world, no out∣ward excellency is of equal worth and value to be given in exchange for Christ.

Reas. 4. Because we have exceeding great need of this enduring food; John 6.53. Ex∣cept ye eat the flesh of the Son of man; and drink his bloud, ye have no life in you: If we feed not upon Christ, we are dead in sin, and are like to be undone for ever, for without Christ we can have no true hope of life and peace, our journey is long, as far as from earth to heaven, we have many dangerous enemies in the way, whom we can never vanquish, without the spiritual efficacy of this divine food.

Ʋse. It serveth to inform us of one chief cause why true Christians do persevere and hold out in the way of grace to the end, the main reason is, because they are fed with this celestial meat which will renew their strength, as the Prophet speaks, Isai, 40. last, Elias walked forty dayes in the strength of

the meat the Angel gave him, but Christs true members feeding daily upon him, do continue in his way to their lives end; the same power that raised Christ from the dead the third day, the same power raiseth all true Christians from death to life, Ephes. 1.19:20. and though we had the best food in the world, yet sickness, old age and death may take away our stomack that we cannot eat of it: but by eating of this divine food we shall increase when nature decreaseth, Psal. 92.12:13:14. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, he shall grow like a Cedar in Le∣banon; those that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the Courts of our God, they shall bring forth fruit in old age, they shall be fat and flourishing. 1 Corinth. 15.45. The first man Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit; in which the Apostle intimates, that Christ communi∣cates life to his, and confirmes them in it against final apostacy, and supplies them with a continual renovation of this spiritual life unto eternal life, which Adam would not do for his posterity. Christ is so able, faithful and careful over his members, that none can pluck them out of his hands: John 10.29. he nourisheth them so effectually with him∣self, and his Ordinances, and his blessed Spirit,

so that it is as impossible for true beleivers to perish, as for Jesus Christ himself to perish, for God hath loved them with the same love wherewith he loved Christ, John 17.23. and hath ordained Christ to be the principal meanes for their redemption, conversion, justification, adoption and glorification, Ephes. 1.2: to the 10. Galat. 3.26. Colos. 1.27 therefore in Psal. 40.7. In the volume of thy Book it is written of me; by book there is meant Gods eternal dectee, and according to the original, it is properly in the head or top of thy book, where the Holy Ghost im∣ports thus much to us, that the chiefest thing which God intended before the world was, was, that Christ should be the Saviour of his elect for his glory.

Ʋse. Secondly, It serves to inform us of the excellency and dignity of true Christians, who onely eat of this everlasting meat, Revel. 2.17. Christ promiseth to such as overcome, to give them to eat of hidden Manna, which is himself, he is hidden from others: true Christians have such meat to eat as others know not of: Psal. 78.24, 25. God is there said to have fed the Israelites with Angels food, that was, Manna, a type of Christ, but so called by way of eminency, to denote with what excellent food he fed them; but whats

the shadow to the substance, the tipe to the truth? No food in the world comparable to this bread of life; an humble heart feeding daily upon Christ, hath joy unspeakable and glorious, when the voluptuous Epicures of this life have no solid comfort, for they have no more than the creature can afford them; though the righteous endure outward po∣verty, and seem miserable by reason of many adversities, yet they are better in their worst estate than ungodly men are in their best e∣state, in regard they feed upon this divine Manna, they, like Daniel, look better with pulse than others who feed onely upon earth∣ly dainties.

Ʋse. The next use is for reproof, I shall spin the rest of the Uses out of those four heads in the first branch, which will run, like a thred, through the web of the whole point.

1. I told you in the first place, that Christ is everlasting meat by the merit and efficacy of his person: This serves to reprove such as labour not for Christs merits for their ju∣stification in Gods sight, and these are the Papists, who seek for, and teach justification by works, so by this meanes they derogate from Christs merits, and put themselves into a miserable condition, for upon this ground

conceive, that a Papist living and dying a Papist cannot be saved. St. Paul, Philip. 3.9. renounceth all confidence in his own merits in point of Justification, And be found in him not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. The Papists alledge that place for their merit, Colos. 1.10. That ye might walk wor∣thy of the Lord, &c. therefore we may merit at Gods hand, say they, but know that there is a two fold worthiness, the worthiness of merit, which is not in us towards God, we may merit earthly wages and rewards of one another for outward service, but we cannot by our worthiness merit at Gods hand.

Nextly, there is the worthiness of congru∣ity when we walk agreeable and answerable to Gods Word and Nature, and that is here meant, that ye might be suteable to Gods will and nature, to be perfect as he is, that ye might walk as becometh his people: A spice of this popish heresie is in our common peo∣ple, for they say they must addle heaven by their good deeds, such strangers they are to the merits of Christ.

2. I told you in the second place, that Christ is everlasting meat by his sacred Word; this Use still serves to reprove all such

as labour not for Christ in his Word; many are content to live at home under a dumb dog, in darkness where no vision is, they can travel many miles to markets and faires for to get worldly wealth, but will not travel a mile or two for their soules advantage, these will bewail their laziness and folly when it is too late; many care not how seldome they hear the word, if they might have bodily food no oftener than they desire the word, they could never live. Oh how flat and dull are their desires and affections when they come to hear, either they sleep out the Ser∣mon hour, or their heads are full of earthly distractions, their minds are wandering after their worldly business, that if one should ask them, where was the Text? what points had the Preacher? they are not able to give any account of what they heard; this is a main cause why they are no more changed, nor re∣formed in their lives, but are as ungodly as Heathens: if their bodily food did their bodies no more good than the word of God doth to their soules, if it strengthened and nourished them no more, they could never be able to stand upon their legs, they would look pale and thin, and fall down for want of strength.

Hear this ye stupid children of Adam, God

hath sent you many precious Prophets, who like candles spend themselves, their gifts, their time, and their strength, to lead you the way to heaven, yet how careless and regardless have you been of their pains, little have you profited; know this, that if you heed the Word no better, the worst for your selves is behind, you must be countable for every Ser∣mon you have heard at the day of judge∣ment: in many places Christ by his Messen∣gers hath all the day long stretched forth his hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

3. I told you in the third place, that Christ is everlasting meat by the Sacraments of his last Supper; this Use still serves to re∣prove the prophaness of many in coming to this spiritual banquet, they never examine themselves before they come, they come ig∣norantly, they know not the nature of this mystery, they discern not the Lords body, they come without the hand of faith to lay hold on Christ, they come without repen∣tance, its hidden from their eyes; hearken to this you careless sinners, 1 Corinth. 11.29, 30. He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lords body: for this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Oh how full are your hearts of impurity, covetousness, pride, malice, &c. doubtless this unworthy receiving provokes God very sore to anger, and kindles his wrath against you, so that you goe from the Lords Table worse than you came to it, as Judas did after he had received the sop, this your ungodly manner of receiving is worse for you, than if you had eaten a morsel of Ratsbane, and drunk a cup of poyson.

4. I told you in the fourth place, that Christ is everlasting meat by the saving gra∣ces of his holy Spirit, this Use still serves to reprove the prophaneness of many who are bond-slaves to sin and Sathan, cannot en∣dure holiness nor the meanes to obtain it; they hiss at godliness, deride the way of God, they had rather loose their lives than part with their lusts. Consider this you wicked wretches that God will turn the wicked into hell, and all that forget God; you deride and hate that now, of which you would be glad to enjoy the comfort and benefit in another world. Others are blame-worthy, who rest in civill honesty, and think they have grace, but know not what belongs to it, they are not such gross sinners as others, but live more orderly, they run not into excess of riot, but carry fair to the world, pay their

debts, releive the poor, none can say, black is their eye, in this they rest and pride them∣selves, desiring to go no further, but with the young man in the Gospel, they think they are perfect enough, and cry, what lack I yet? but understand this, that bare honesty will not bring you to heaven, without holiness you cannot see the Lord to your comfort; honesty respects man, and holiness respects God, many see a necessity of honesty, but they see no need of godliness. Oh how un∣godly are many, though they live under ex∣cellent meanes, sufficient to bring them to admirable perfection? If they should grow no faster in natural stature and strength than they do in grace, it would be fearful to be∣hold; it would be a rueful sight to see a child no bigger at twenty yeares old than he was at his birth, how could that child work for his living, maintain himself, or defend him∣self against dangers? such is the miserable condition of divers that never truly labour after, nor desire Christ and his saving graces, they are grown nothing better since their birth into this world, but much worse; though they often had a price in their hands to get wisdom, yet they had no heart to it; though they had many opportunities of advantaging their soules, yet they slept out the season of

grace, and are farre worse at forty or fifty yeares old then when they were Infants. Consider this you foolish Virgins, that sleep many yeares in carnal security, either awake in time, or else when the Bridegroom comes the gate of mercy will be shut against you, then you may stand long enough knocking but shall never enter.

Ʋse. The next use is for comfort to all such as labour truly for this durable meat. I told you in the first place, that Christ is everlasting meat by the merit and efficacy of his person: this Use affords singular com∣fort to all such as rely upon the precious me∣rits of Christ for their justification and com∣fort, his bloud can wash thee from all sin, John 1.17. thy sins are many in number, yet they are as easily removed by his bloud, as a spark of fire is extinguished being cast into the midst of the Sea. It may be thy sins are bloudy sins, of a crimson colour, and of a scarlet die, yet Christ can make thee by his merits pure and white as any snow and wool, Isaiah 1.18. there is more merit in Christ, than sin in thee, for his merit is the merit of him, who is God man, but thy sins are the sins of man onely: Remember, for thy com∣fort, thou contrite in spirit, that Christ par∣doned as great, and it may be greater sinners

than thy self: he purchased pardon for Paul a bloudy persecutor, for Magdalen a strum∣pet, it may be thou hast never committed such great sins as these: now these are written for thy learning, that thou through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, mightest have hope and confidence in thy Redeem∣er.

I told you in the second place, that Christ is everlasting meat by his sacred word: this Use still serves for comfort to all such as love Christ dearly, and labour for him, they are in a blessed condition for their soules, however it goes with their outward man: this holy word of God will be unto all such a special guide, a shining light to their feet, it will be unto thee that lovest it dearly a blessed stay in adversity; David said, If my delight had not been in thy Law, I had perished long since in mine afflictiō; this word does good to you that walk uprightly, it will resolve your doubts, raise you being dejected, guide you when you wander, comfort you when you are perplexed, and at last will lead you straight to heaven; the Prophet said, Psalm 73.24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. All the commands and directions in the word will teach thee thy duty to God and man, and

lead thee in the right way: the threatenings of the word will keep thee in awe of God, and restrain thee from presumptuous sins: the exceeding great and precious promises in the word are, Yea and Amen to thee through Christ 2 Corinth. 1.20. they will give thy faith sure hand-hold in all straits, whereby thou mayest overtop all difficulties; they will delight thee more than honey and the honey-combe.

3. I told you in the third place, that Christ is everlasting food by the Sacrament of his last Supper: this Use still serves to comfort all gracious soules, who hunger and thirst af∣ter him in that Ordinance, it is a seal of righteousness and of Gods love to them. Hear this you true beleivers that discern the Lords body, you receiving the Sacrament do renew your fellowship with your Saviour, he will strengthen your faith and hope in him, and will nourish your soules unto everlasting life, there you may by the eye of faith discern his bloud poured out and shed for the re∣mission of your sins, you may come to this spiritual banquet with much delight and joy, for your blessed Redeemer proffers himself to you. This sacred Ordinance is an emblem to thee of thy future estate with Christ in heaven, while it is so sweet to tast how gra∣cious

he is here in his Ordinances, how un∣speakably sweet will it be to thee to enjoy Christ immediately in heaven without these Ordinances and signes? your journey to heaven is long and full of difficulties, yet this bread of life will nourish and enable you to hold out to the end.

4. I told you in the fourth place, that Christ is everlasting meat by the saving gra∣ces and comfort of his holy spirit: this Use still serves to comfort all such as earnestly la∣bour for, and hunger after the saving graces of Christ his Spirit: Blessed are you that hunger and thirst after these, you shall be abundantly satisfied. Christ will satisfie you with the fatness of his house, and make you drink of the river of his pleasure; he hath done much for thee to beget in thee such fervent desires after grace, for its a sign thou art born again, and it will much conduce to spiritual growth, as a little babe the first year after his birth, by reason of his daily sucking and sleeping grows exceedingly, so the more thou desirest the graces of the Spirit, the more fruitfully thou growest in grace, for Christ will fill the hungry with good things, that is, with saving graces and satisfactory comforts.

Object. But thou wilt say, Alass I feel little or no growth in my self, me thinks I am as dead-hearted as I was, my knowledge and other gifts are very poor and weak.

Answ. I answer, look upon thy self, and compare thy self, now even this day, with what thou wast a week or a moneth since, and it may be thou shalt find very small growth in goodness, and small strength a∣gainst corruptions; but compare thy self now with what thou wast two or three years, or four or five years since, and thou maist find, through Gods blessing, a sweet fruitful growth, formerly thou was extreamly ig∣norant, hadst no gift of prayer, didst not de∣light much in Gods service? wast not very hungry and greedy after grace? couldst not mourn much for thy failings? but now God hath been gracious to thee, he hath given thee some insight into his wayes, he hath poured the Spirit of grace and supplication upon thee, he hath given thee delight in his Worship, he hath indued thee with an appe∣tite and thirst after grace and holiness, and he hath melted thy heart with godly sorrow for thine imperfections; now these are good beginnings of eternal life in thee, and though thy beginning be small, yet thy latter end shall greatly increase; he that hath begun this

good work in thee, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ; thou art a living stone, built upon the cheif corner stone, all the powers of darkness can never pull thee out of the spiritual building; thou art Christ his spouse, Satan can never alienate his heart from thee, nor divorce thee from him, thou art a branch of Christ the true Vine and root, thine enemies can never cut thee off; thou art a member of his mistical body, nothing shall separate thee from his love.

Ʋse. The last use serves for direction and exhortation joyntly; I told you in the first place, that Christ is everlasting meat by the merit and efficacy of his person: this Use serveth to direct us how to labour for the comfort and benefit of his merits.

1. First we must renounce all confidence in our own merits and righteousness, alass we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, our good∣ness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it passeth away: Phillip. 3.9. we see the Apostle durst not confide in his own righte∣ousness for to be justified by it.

2. Rest upon the merits of Christ onely for justification, as St. Paul did, Phillip. 3.9. But that which is through the faith of Christ,

the righteousness which is of God by faith; his merits are of infinite value to justifie thee in the sight of God, and to procure acceptation in his sight; he is the Fathers beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased; trust wholly and onely on his merits, which are of infinite value, sufficient to justifie thee before God.

2 I told you in the second place, that Christ is everlasting meat to the soul by his sacred Word; this Use still serves to di∣rect us how to labour for him in his Word.

1. Hear the word of God with reverence, for God will look to him that is of a contrite heart, and trembles at his Word, Isa. 66.2. then we shall serve him acceptably, Hebr. 12. last, he is a mighty, great and terrible God, therefore serve him with fear, and rejoyce in him with trembling.

2. Hear the Word as oft as you can, the oftener the better, Timothy was injoyned to preach in season and out of season, then by good consequence we must hear in season, & out of season; we had need to hear more than we do, for we know but in part, we be∣leive but in part, we love but in part, frequent and conscientious hearing is a good meanes to raise us up to higher perfections in grace

and knowledge; many say, we have preach∣ing enough, unless we could follow it better, but I say, because we follow it so little, and our practise of piety is so imperfect, there∣fore we had need hear the Word oftener than we do, we had need have it daily sound∣ing in our eares, saying to us, this is the way, walk in it.

3. Hear the Word with faith, or else it doth you no good, Hebr. 4.2. the Word profited not the Israelites because they heard it not with faith; why are many living unde•• precious meanes of grace, so wicked in their practise, so heathenish and unreformed in their life? but because they beleive not the Word: did such as live in unclean and beast∣ly lusts beleive the Word, saying, whoremon∣gers and adulterers God will judge, they durst not continue in them: did the pro∣phane swearer beleive the Word, saying, that the flying roul with the curse shall enter into the house of the swearer, and consume it, he durst not so ordinarily take the Lords name in vain: did ungodly persons beleive the Word, saying, that the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all that forget God, they durst not be so wicked and leud as they be: we loose much benefit by the Word for want of faith, therefore hear with faith.

4. Pray to God to bless the Word to thee, and to make it prosperous to thy soul, Is. 48.17. I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee the way that thou shouldest go. Paul may plant, and Appol∣los may water, but God that must give the in∣crease: Desire him often therefore to direct his Messenger to speak to thy necessity, and to water the Word, spoken to thee, with the dew of his Spirit, that thou mayest grow fruitfully under it; for the holy Spirit is the life of the Word.

3. I told you in the third place, that Christ is everlasting meat by the Sacrament of his last Supper: this Use still serves to di∣rect us how to labour for Christ in that sacred Ordinance.

1. Examine thy self about thy knowledge, whether thou hast any knowledge of spiri∣tual things or not; a blind man cannot judge of colours, an ignorant man cannot discern the Lord Jesus in this Ordinance, he sees not the divine benefits of this Sacrament, for its a great mystery to him, and is spiritually discerned: you ignorant creatures, who have lived in blindness ever since your birth, come out of your ignorance, content not your selves with your ignorant and blind de∣votion, but come out of that dungeon of

darkness, suffer not the devil to lead you to hell hoodwinkt, least you be there before you be aware: ignorance is the road way to eternal misery, Christ will come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, learn therefore in these dayes of knowledge to know God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to know the Covenant of grace, and the miserable estate of all by nature, and the meanes how to come out of it.

2. Examine thy self about faith, be sure to come with a lively faith in Christ his bloud, Rom. 3.25. to wash thee from sin, faith is the hand of the soul to receive Christ, John 1.12. But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the Sons of God, even to them that beleive on his Name: where note, that Christ intimates, that receiving of him is by beleiving on him: so likewise faith is the mouth of the soul to eat Christ, and to feed upon him, John 6.47, 48. &c. He that beleiveth on me hath everlasting life, I am that bread of life: by the coherence of those words with what follows, it appears, that we must feed upon Christ spiritually by faith; therefore come with faith, or else you come without your hand and mouth.

3. Examine thy self about repentance; busie not thy self about the present contro∣versie, whether faith or repentance go be∣fore, as many talkative Pharisees now adayes do, insomuch that they dispute faith and re∣pentance quite away, but exercise thy self se∣riously in the practise of true repentance, when thou comest to the Lords Table, where thou mayst see thy dear Saviour crucified, and his bloud shed for thy many and great sins: Oh let thy heart bleed for thine abo∣minations! these, these, I say, were the nailes that peirct him: the Passover was to be eaten with sour hearbs, signifying that we must come to the Lords Supper with broken hearts.

4. Come with a spiritual appetite to this heavenly feast, ones meat doth them most good when they have a good stomack, you will receive more comfort and satisfaction when you hunger and thirst after Christ, if you desire him earnestly, as new born babes desire the breast; set thy soul a longing after him, turn the stream of thy desires towards him alone, then maist thou seek for comfort in wealth, wit, honours and worldly favour, but they will answer, its not in me: Oh let thy heart return to Christ as Noahs Dove did to the Ark, and then shalt thou find rest and

peace, yea, the Lord will deal bountifull with thee.

4. I told you in the fourth place, tha•• Christ is everlasting meat by the saving gra∣ces of his holy Spirit: this Use still serves to direct us how to labour after spiritual graces and comforts.

1. First we must conscionably and con∣stantly frequent the meanes of grace, God will be found in his own way; we look for a friend in his house, we look for fishes in the water, for birds in the wood, let us seek after Christ and his graces in his Word and Sacra∣ments; excellent is that promise, Isai. 64.5. Thou meetest him that rejoyceth, and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy wayes: Christs Ordinances are his wayes, such as rejoyce in these his wayes he will meet them, and touch their hearts with his holy Spirit: watch daily at wisdoms gates, and wait at the posts of his dores, then thou shalt find him whom thy soul loveth.

2. Be very humble, be nothing in thine own eyes, fot God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

3. Pray earnestly to God for his spiritual graces, as the Apostles prayed, Lord increase our faith, and David prayed, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit

within me. Luk. 11.13. If ye then being evill, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him? When our dear Saviour was upon earth, he was bountiful to such as earnestly desired his Spirit, but afterward he ascended on high to give gifts to men, he is now in his glorifica∣tion, and is no niggard of his divine graces and comforts, but will be very bountiful to thee if thou beggest them earnestly at his hands.