In the ufe of them, we are to come to Chrift for SoulBleffings, as being the Means which he has appointed for the Communication of fach Bleffings unto us, Com. ing to Chrift alfo includes in it, a believing in Chrift, or trufting in him, for the beftowment of faving Bleffings on us. We are to come to the Ordinances of Chrift, exercifing therein a Dependance upon him, for the conferring fpiritual Bleffings on us. Thus our Lord explains it, Job. vi. 35. He that cometh to me, fhall never hunger; and be that believeth en me, hall never thirst. Believing on Chrift, is coming to Chrift: For Faith is the going out of the Soul to Chrift, in Reliance upon him, for all the Good it stands in need of. Again, as they muft come to him for fpiritual Bleffings, fo they muft buy them; come and buy, fays Chrift. This Buying does not mean, the paying any Thing of valuable Confideration for the procuring of them: for they are to buy them without Money and without Price; which is the fame. Thing with the receiving them as a free Gift. And the direction to come and buy them without Money and without Price, plainly intimates, that all thoughts of meriting them are to be wholly laid afide. And our Lord, herein removes that Objection, which might arife from the Sense of their own Unworthiness. They might object, that they had nothing, and could do nothing, to purchase the Bleffings they wanted. To this Chrift replies, that no fuch Thing was expected of them; but that they might freely have them without Money and without Price, and be as fully poffeffed of them, as if they had bought them. Only, as in Buying, there is fomething parted with, and fomething received, fo it muft be in this Cafe. Men must be willing to part with their Lufts, and with Confidence in their own Doings: and fo receive the Righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift, and the Graces of his holy Spirit; in this Way they come to partake thereof. Again, as they muft come and buy, fo they muft eat. In eating, a Perfon receives the Food into his Stomach, and has a fort of mediate Dependance

upon

1.

upon it for the Prefervation of Life. So that hereby is denoted, an hearty Reception of Jefus Chrift, and an im mediate Dependance upon him, as the Author of fpiritu al and eternal Life. He is that Bread of Life, which comes down from Heaven, that we may eat thereof, and live for ever, Joh. vi. 48, 51. He is that Bread, that gives fpiritual Life and preferves it, and perfects it in eternal Life ; and for this muft the Soul's Dependance be on Chrift. From the Words we may obferve feveral Doctrines.

DocT. I. Such as thirst after fpiritual Bleffings, are invited by Jefus Chrift, to come unto him for them. Several Propofitions are here included.

PROP. 1. Some there be that thirst after fpiritual Blef fings.-The number of fuch is, comparatively, exceeding Imall. The generality of Men do greedily and infatiably thirst after this World, and the Things thereof. The Cry of the Multitude, is that in Pfal. iv. 6. VVho will fhew us any good? i. e. worldly good. In thefe, Things they place their Happiness, and accordingly they do eagerly thirst after them, being unconcerned whether they partake of fpiritual Bleffings, or not. Yet, however, in all Ages of the Church, there are fome, whofe Hearts do vehemently thirst after Chrift and his Righteoufnefs, Pardon of Sin, Peace with God, fan&tifying Grace, and eternal Glory. Thefe are the Bleffings which they do principally hunger and thirft after.

Queft. Who are they that do thirst after fpiritual and faving Bleflings? or, What are the Properties of thefe thirty Souls?

Anfw. 1. They have a sense of their Need of fpiritual Bleffings. One that is Thirfty, is inwardly fenfible of the abfolute Need he ftands in of Drink, for the Prefervation of his Life. He fees that he muft die for Thirft, if he cannot get fomething to quench it, as Samfon, Judg. zv. 18. Shall I now die for Thirst? fo thofe that thirt after fpiritual Bleffings, do feel their extream Need of

them, and that they must certainly perifh, if they par take not of them. Thus the Prodigal faw himself in a perifhing Condition, if he could not get Bread to fatisfy his Hunger, Luk. xv. 17. In my Father's Houfe is Bread enough and to (pare, and I perish for Hunger. Thirsty Souls are under a deep Conviction of the Neceffity of fpiritual Bleffings, and fee that they are loft and undone for ever, without a Participation in them: no good Things fo neceffary as these, in their Eyes.

Anfw. 2. They have a fenfe of the great Worth of fpiritual Bleffings. One that is athirft, is fenfible of the worth and goodness of Drink. Nothing is fo valued by him as that. Offer him Silver or Gold, he values it not. A Draught of Water is far more prized by him. For, this fuits and fatisfies his Thirt; whereas all the Wealth in the World will not do it. So one that fpiritually thirfts, fees a Worth and Excellency in fpiritual Bleffings, beyond all other Things. They are more precious in his Account, than Gold, or Rubies, or the moft precious Things of the World. The Righteoufnefs of Chrift, and the Graces of the Holy Spirit, are so esteemed by him, as to count all other Things but as Dung in Comparison thereof, Phill. iii. 8. Jullification, Adoption and Sanctification, he looks upon as far greater Benefits and Bleffings, then all worldly Riches and Grandeurs. May he but have an Heart to love and fear God; may he but have an Heart to love Chrift, believe in him and obey him; may he but be accepted into the favour of God and enjoy Communion with God; may he but obtain thefe Things, I fay, and he counts himself in the most happy Condition. He has little Value for other Things in Comparison of thefe.

Anfw. 3. They have a Senfe of their own Inability to fupply themselves with fpiritual Bieffings. One that thirts, is felf-empty, and experimentally feels that he has nothing in himself, to fatisfy his Thirft. So one that fpiritually thirsts, is fenfible of his own Impotence to fupply the fpiritual Wants and Cravings of his Soul.

The

The Holy Spirit convinces him of his own Infufficiency to answer for his Sins, or purchase the Forgiveness of them. He is made to fee, that he cannot give Satisfaction to divine Juftice for the leaft of all his Iniquities, that he cannot poffibly merit the Pardon of any one of his Sins.-The Holy Spirit alfo convinces him, that he cannot mortify his own curfed Corruptions; and that he cannot change his own Heart, and make himself Holy. The Work of Mortification and Sanctification, he finds to be Works beyond the Power of Nature. In this Cafe he fees himself to be without Strength, as all Men naturally arc, Rom. v. 6. They are unable to help themfelves, out of that finful and miferable State, in which they are.

Anfw. 4. They have in them Defires after fpiritual Bieffings. One that thirfts, does defire Water to quench his thirst. His Nature craves it, longs for it. So one that spiritually thirsts, defires to be made partaker of fpiritual Bleffings. The Holy Spirit of God begets in him an Appetite to fpiritual Bleffings, and draws forth his defires after them. He is not content to be without them, as fometimes he was, but is very defirous of them. Now thefe Defires of thirfty Souls, are like unto thofe Defires that are in Men exercifed with bodily Thirst. Wherefore,

1. They are speedy Defires. When a Man is pained with Thirft, his Defires do inftantly go forth after Water, or Drink. He longs for a fpeedy Supply, he is impatient of Delays, and thinks the Time long, till he obtain fomething to afwage his Thirst. So one that fpiritually thirfts, longs for a prefent Supply of his fpiritual Wants. He is not willing to be delayed, but would have God make hafte to help and relieve him. He fees the Danger of his neceffrous Condition, and is not content to abide in it one Moment. He neither is, nor can be easy under the Thirft which is upon his Soul. The Spirit of God works in him fuch fenfible Convictions of his Mifery, as quickens his Defires of the fpeedy Manifeftatione

37. They were defhould do to obtain They did immedi

nifeftations of Mercy. No fooner were the Jews pricked in their Hearts, convinced of their Sin and Danger, but they faid to Peter and the rest of the Apofiles, Men and Brethren, what fhall we do? Acts ii. firous forthwith to know what they Pardon, Mercy, and Salvation. ately thirst after thefe Bleffings. So the Jaylor when under Conviction of Sin and Terror of Confcience, cried out to Paul and Silas, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Acts xvi. 30. His firft Enquiries and Longings of Soul, are after faving Bleffings. Spiritual Defires are fearful of Delays, knowing them to be exceeding dangerous.

2. They are vehement Defires. Thirft is a strong Appetite. One that labours of it, does moft earneftly defire Drink. There is nothing which he fo much defires, as that. He cannot live without it, and therefore the Strength of his Defires goes forth after it. So one that fpiritually thirfts, does moft ardently defire fpiritual Bleffings: Thefe are what he chiefly Craves. Pfal. xlii. 1,2. As the Hart panteth after the Water-Brooks, fo panteib my Soul after thee, O God: My Soul thirfleth for God, for the living God; when all I come and appear before God? The Defires of a thirty Soul, are ftrong and invincible, breaking their Way through all Oppofition. No Arguments will top the Cravings of a Man that thirfts. Say, and do what you will, he craves. Drink. So one that indeed does thirst after fpiritual Bleffings, his Defires of them are infufferable. Though the World prefent its beft Enjoyments, to divert their Defires from fpiritual Things, yet they defpife them, as broken Cifterns that can hold no Water. Nothing will fatisfy them but God and Chrift, Grace and Glory. Thefe are the great Objects of their Defires, in Comparifon whereof all other Things are difefteemed. Their Language is that in Pfal. iv. 6 There be many that fay, VVho will fhew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon us. Though others are greedy after the good Things of this World, yet their Defires

are,