Page images
PDF
EPUB

Thirty Souls invited by CHRIST, to come to Him, for fpiritual Bleffings.

DISCOURSE I.

ISAIAH LV. 1.

Ho, every one that thirfteth, 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:

HE Prophet Ifaiah does very clearly and diftinctly foretel the miraculous Concep tion of Jefus Chrift, in the Womb of a Virgin, his Nativity, Humiliation, Sufferings, Death, and glorious Exaltation. He also most plainly foretels the obftinate Unbelief of the Jewish Nation, and thereupon, their Rejection and Destruction by the terrible Judgments of God. He likewife evidently foretels the Calling of the Gentiles, through the wonderful Succefs of the Gospel

B

of

of Chrift preached to them. Upon thefe Accounts, the Prophet Isaiah is, not amifs, called by fome, the fifth Evangelift. For he feems rather to write an Hiftory of Things paft, than a Prediction of Things, which were not, 'till about feven hundred Years after, to come to pafs.

The Chapter before us, is, as to the Matter of it, purely Evangelical; containing in it the Sum and Subftance of all Gofpel Myfteries, viz. Calls to Faith in Chrift, Repentance and new Obedience, with Promifes and Encouragements thereunto.

This firft Verfe contains in it a moft gracious GospelInvitation; wherein we may obferve feveral Things.

1. The Perfon inviting, viz. The LORD JESUS CHRIST. Though this is not here exprefly mentioned, yet it may be gathered from the following Verfe, where the Perfon giving the Invitation, calls upon them, faying, Hearken diligently unto Me: which does not mean the Prophet Ifaiah, but that great Prophet of whom Mofes fpake, Deut. xvi. 15. The Lord thy God will raife up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy Brethren, like unto me; unto him shall ye bearken. And accordingly we find Jefus Chrift practically applying this Scripture to himself, Job. vii. 37. In the laft Day, that great Day of the Feast, Jefus food and rried, faying, If any Man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He is the fountain of living Waters, unto whom thirty Sinners must repair. This he pointed out unto the Woman of Samaria, Joh. iv. 10. Jefus answered and faid unto her, If thou knewest the Gift of God, and who it is that faith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldeft have afked of him, and be would have given thee living Waters. So the Perfon here making this Invitation, is no other than the Lord Jefus Chrift himself.

2. The Perfons invited; who are here described under a double Notion or Qualification, viz. fuch as Thirst, and have no Money-By Thirst, we are not here to understand natural or bodily Thirst; but fpiritual Thirt, or the

Cravings

Cravings of the Soul after fpiritual and faving Bleffings.

By fuch as bave no Money, are not meant thofe that are outwardly Poor, but fuch as are fpiritually Poor ; indigent Souls, having nothing to purchase thofe fpiritual Bleffings which they need, that cannot merit them, or lay down any Price to procure them.

3. The Manner of the Invitation, viz. with Earneftnefs and Importunity.-The Earnestness of it is intimated in the Interjection, Ho, which is as a Cry or loud Call to Sinners and denotes the Vehemency of Affection in the Perfon making the Invitation.-The Importunity of the Invitation is intimated in the Repetition or doubling of the Call, Come, yea, Come. He calls, not only once, but twice, he follows them with renewed Calls.

4. The Nature of the Invitation, it is general and most free. The Invitation is Univerfal, to all that thirst. He, every one that thirfteth, none of thefe are excluded; but each one of them is invited.-The Invitation alfo is most free; they being invited to come without Money and without Price Nothing is demanded of them to purchase fpiritual Bleffings; but they are called to accept of themi freely.

5. The Things invited to, expreffed under the metaphorical Terms of Waters, Wine, and Milk. Waters, to quench the Thirft; Wine, to revive the Spirit; Milk, to nourish and ftrengthen Nature. So that under thefe metaphorical Terms, is reprefented to us, that abundant and full fupply, which is to be had from Chrift, for the fpiritual Life, Comfort, and Satisfaction of the Soul. Jefus Chrift has enough in him to answer all the Neceffities and Defires of the Souls of Men There is no good Thing they need or crave, but what may be had from him.

1

6. The Way in which thefe Bleffings are to be obtained; viz. Come, buy, and eat. We must come to Chrift for them. So fays Chrift, If any Man thirst, let him come unto me. Joh. vii. 37. This coming to him implies, a waiting upon him in the Way of his holy. Ordinances.

of Chrift preached to them. Upon thefe Accounts, the Prophet Isaiah is, not amifs, called by fome, the fifth Evangelift. For he feems rather to write an Hiftory of Things paft, than a Prediction of Things, which were not, 'till about seven hundred Years after, to come to pafs.

The Chapter before us, is, as to the Matter of it, purely Evangelical; containing in it the Sum and Subftance of all Gofpel Myfteries, viz. Calls to Faith in Chrift, Repentance and new Obedience, with Promifes and Encouragements thereunto.

This firft Verfe contains in it a moft gracious GofpelInvitation; wherein we may obferve feveral Things.

1. The Perfon inviting, viz. The LORD JESUS CHRIST. Though this is not here exprefly mentioned, yet it may be gathered from the following Verfe, where the Perfon giving the Invitation, calls upon them, faying, Hearken diligently unto Me: which does not mean the Prophet Ifaiah, but that great Prophet of whom Mofes fpake, Deut. xvi. 15. The Lord thy God will raife up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy Brethren, like unto me; unto him shall ye bearken. And accordingly we find Jefus Chrift practically applying this Scripture to himfelf, Job. vii. 37. In the laft Day, that great Day of the Feast, Jefus food and erica, faying, If any Man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He is the fountain of living Waters, unto whom thirfty Sinners must repair. This he pointed out unto the Woman of Samaria, Joh. iv. 10. Jefus answered and faid unto her, If thou knewest the Gift of God, and who it is that faith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldeft have afked of him, and be would have given thee living Waters. So the Perfon here making this Invitation, is no other than the Lord Jefus Chrift himself.

2. The Perfons invited; who are here defcribed under a double Notion or Qualification, viz. fuch as Thirst, and have no Money-By Thirst, we are not here to understand natural or bodily Thirst; but fpiritual Thirt, or the

Cravings

Cravings of the Soul after fpiritual and faving Bleffings. -By fuch as bave no Money, are not meant thofe that are outwardly Poor, but fuch as are fpiritually Poor ; indigent Souls, having nothing to purchafe thofe fpiritual Bleffings which they need, that cannot merit them, or lay down any Price to procure them.

3. The Manner of the Invitation, viz. with Earneftnefs and Importunity.-The Earnestness of it is intimated in the Interjection, Ho, which is as a Cry or loud Call to Sinners and denotes the Vehemency of Affection in the Perfon making the Invitation.-The Importunity of the Invitation is intimated in the Repetition or doubling of the Call, Come, yea, Come. He calls, not only once, but twice, he follows them with renewed Calls.

The Nature of the Invitation, it is general and moft free. The Invitation is Univerfal, to all that thirst. Ho, every one that thirfteth, none of thefe are excluded; but each one of them is invited.-The Invitation alfo is mat free; they being invited to come without Money and without Price Nothing is demanded of them to purchase fpiritual Bleffings; but they are called to accept of them freely.

5. The Things invited to, expreffed under the metaphorical Terms of Waters, Wine, and Milk. Waters, to quench the Thirft; Wine, to revive the Spirit; Milk, to nourish and ftrengthen Nature. So that under thefe metaphorical Terms, is reprefented to us, that abundant and full fupply, which is to be had from Chrift, for the fpiritual Life, Comfort, and Satisfaction of the Soul. Jefus Chrift has enough in him to anfwer all the Neceffities and Defires of the Souls of Men There is no good Thing they need or crave, but what may be had from him.

6. The Way in which thefe Bleffings are to be obtained ; viz. Come, buy, and eat. We must come to Chrift for them. So fays Chrift, If any Man thirst, let him come unto me. Joh. vii. 37. This coming to him implies, a waiting upon him in the Way of his holy. Ordinances.

« PreviousContinue »