1. Here is pardon of sin sealed to a believer. O is not this a rare feast and excellent cheer. Matth. ix. 2. Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee. Here you get Christ's blood which was shed for many, for the remission of sins. Here we clasp about a crucified Christ as the great propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, and accept of him as the Lord our Righteousness? and thus we receive the remission of sins Here God saith to a believer, as Nathan to David, 2 Sam. xii. 13. The Lord hath put away thy sins, thou shalt not die. Here we hear the voice of joy and gladness, which hath made many a broken bone to rejoice. Is there any thing more sweet than pardon to a condemned man near the place of execution? And what can give more joy, than a free discharge to a sinner arrested by justice, and drawn to hell's door to be cast into that prison for debt, out of which there is no redemption.

2. We have peace and friendship with God. O rare dish! not only to be saved from a burden of debt, that would have weighed us down to hell; and for which millions already have been carried thither, and are roaring under it without hope; but also to be received into special favour with God: For in this a covenant of peace and friendship is sealed and confirmed. O must it not be

a sweet cordial for an enemy, a rebel, to be owned as a special favorite of the King of Heaven, so that the soul may send a challenge to hell and earth, and bid defiance to men and devils, Rom. viii. 33, 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. you may say with David, Psalm iv. 8. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety. Come life, come death, I am safe; my conscience is disburdened, and I am at ease.

And

3. Adoption is another of the dishes at this feast. You are not only made a friend, but a son and heir; and in this sacrament you got fasine and infestment of the chil-dren's privileges, relation, and inheritance. And here God saith, I will be a father to thee; and, son, thou shalt be ever with me, and all that I have is thine. Thou shalt have my blessing and love, the smiles of my face,

the kisses of my mouth, and the arms of my grace to support and preserve thee. Thou shalt have my Son for thy elder brother, thy priest and advocate, my angels to be thy guards, my providence to be thy protector and manager: Thou shalt have manna in the wilderness, and water out of the rock. Thou shalt be my heir, and joint heir with my eternal Son and first-born. Thou shalt have heaven for thy home, Christ's throne for thy seat, and a kingdom for thy portion; an honourable maintainance while here, and an incorruptible inheritance hereafter. This is one

4. Another dish is peace of conscience. of the precious legacies which Christ leaves in this testament, which is here sealed, John xiv. 27. It is here Christ speaks peace to his people and to his saints, here he breathes peace upon them, as in Luke xxiv. 36. Do doubts and fears arise within you, that hinder you to believe the good news, as with the disciples; so there is that in this sacrament which may check all these fears. Luke xxiv. 38, 39. Why are ye troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my fect that it is I inyself; handle me and see, &c. O but the prints of the nails may calm the doubting conscience, and quiet thy fears.

ces.

5. Supplies and strength to our weak and decayed graHere Christ's store-house is opened, and we may get grace for grace out of his fulness; here the smoking flax may be kindled into a flame, and the bruised reed find support; here you may get weak faith strengthened, cold love enflamed, weak desire kindled, repentance renewed, hope made lively, the soul fitted and fortified for trials and sufferings, and prepared for passing through the valley of the shadow of death: Yea, in a word, you may get all your wants supplied, all your grievances redressed, and maladies remedied. Here you may get a meal that will both satisfy and beget a stomach in you, that will prove life to your souls, and poison to your lusts. It is here the empty soul is filled, the starving creature fed, the poor beggar enriched, the hard heart softened, the cold heart warmed, the dead soul quickened, the paralytic hand cured, the blind eye enlightened, the thirsty heart satisfied, the feeble knees strengthened, the straitened heart enlarged, the wandering heart fixed, the creeping desires elevated, the cloudy soul brightened, and the.

doubting soul resolved. O, are not these gracious and blessed changes! Here you may get strength against your strong lusts and temptations, and furniture for every duty, so as you may pray with enlargement, hear with comfort, praise with elevation of mind, and meditate with delight.

6. Here is Christ's gracious presence, and a sight of his countenance that is a rare delicate in this feast, that satisfies the soul, Psalm xvi. ult. In thy presence is fulness of joy, that was the Psalmist's heaven upon earth. It is here Christ trysts with his people, here he walks with them, and is held by them in the galleries; here he visits them, and holds communion with them, intimates his love, and kisses them with the kisses of his mouth. Here they see the king in his beauty, here the saints have beheld the beauty of the Lord, Psalm xxvii. 4. O this is worth our while. O let it be our errand this day to meet with Christ, and see his blessed face. God's people in all ages have placed their happiness here. Abraham rejoiced at a sight of Christ, though afar off, at nineteen hundred years distance. The wise men thought it worth their while, to undertake a long journey from the east to see him, though but new born. Old Simeon desires to see no more on earth, after he gets a sight of him, though a child. Zaccheus ran and climbed up a tree to see him, though despised of men. O now he is shining in glory, shall we not desire a sight of him? David desired it as his one thing, Psalm xxvii. though he then wanted his throne and kingdom. The spouse seeks it as her one thing, Caut iii. 3. Saw you him whom my soul loveth? O but a sight of him would make your face to shine, a sight of him in his love, in his dyed garments, treading out the wine press alone.

7. Another dish is the comfort of his Spirit, and the clearing up your interest in Christ and glory, a sight of heaven, and your names written in the book of life, so that all your fears may be scattered, objections answered, doubts resolved, and likewise the evidences of your graces cleared up to you, so that though you doubted before if you had faith, yet now you may be enabled to say with the poor man, Lord, I believe. You doubted before of your love, but now may say with Peter, Lord, thou that knowest all things, knowest that I love thee. You

D d

doubted before of your interest in Christ, but now you can say with Thomas, My Lord, and my God; with Job, I know that my Redeemer liveth; and with Paul, I know in whom I have believed.

Thus have I shewn you some of the rich provision and noble entertainment prepared in this banquet before you: Yea, you see it is not only rich provision, but there are choice rarities here, hidden manna, angels food: yea, not only choice, but plenty and variety, food adapted to our soul's nature and faculties; food to nourish, strengthen, delight and refresh the soul. Here is food suitableto all the faculties, light to the mind, peace to the conscience, satisfaction to the will, and food to all the affections. Here love may satisfy itself in embracing the chief among ten thousands. Desire may satisfy itself in clasping the desire of all nations. Delight may here bathe itself in the river of pleasure. In a word, what can the soul need hut is here? for Christ is made of God to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Here is precious blood to purge away our deep guilt; here is perfect righteousness to cover our naked soul; here are riches, and unsearchable riches in Christ; righteousness for our justification, and grace for our sanctification; here all things are given us richly to enjoy; here hope may feed on the great and gracious pro

mises.

2dly, At feasts there used to be lavers for the guests to wash in, as at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, where were six water-pols set for purification, John ii. 6. Doth sense of defilement scare you from partaking? Be hold here is a fountain opened, Zech. xii. 1. O come and wash in it, that ye may be fit to compass God's altar, and sit down at his table.

3dly, At banquets there uses to be mirth and cheerfulness, so here, when prodigal sinners first return to their Father, he hath mirth and music to entertain them, see Luke xv. 24. The tidings of Christ's purchase, and the promises, are the best music and melody in the world; the news of what he hath done and suffered, ought to fill your hearts and lips with the high praises of God, and thankful admiration of Christ and reedeeming love. O believers, consider you are not to come like mourners to a funeral, but like children to your father's feast, a

royal feast. "I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer, sarth the Lord." So that ye may eat this bread with joy, and drink this wine with a merry heart, in hopes of God's accepting you and your sacrifice, Eccl. ix. 7.

4thly, At feasts there is the master of the feast, to bid the guests welcome, as ready as the father to welcome the prodigal child. Christ the master of this feast; he hath sent forth his servants, to call and invite you to the feast, and now he is come to the table to bid you welcome, as in Cant. v. 1. Eat, O friends, drink, yea, drink abun dantly. O beloved.

5thly, At feasts there are servants to attend the guests; here the ministers are stewards and servants to attend Christ's guests at this feast; and their work is to direct you to the table, and to give every one their portion of meat in due season. God grant we give not the children's bread to dogs, and them that have no right to it. We know not the heart, ye all have professed yourselves to be children, O do not mock God and his servants.

6thly, Here is a blessing craved by the master of this feast, yea, he has commanded, and will command.the blessing, and his servants are to pray for the virtue of that blessing to this table.

O there is

7thly, At a feast there is good company. rare company at this feast. The king sits at his table, Cant. i. 12. even the King of Glory. Christ himself is there present, and the Father also; for in this feast we have fellowship with the Father and the Son, through the Holy Spirit. Here the children of God, yea the glorious saints above sit at this table, and share with us in this feast. It is true, they sit at the upper end of the table, and we at the lower end. They have better appetites, better music; they feed on a naked Christ, we by signs and symbols; but we have all the same cheer. O what a great and good company is here! We read of Belshaz zer that made a feast for a thousand of his lords, Dan. v. 1.

But here is a feast for many thousands, yea, to all believers, Jews and Gentiles, an open free feast, Isa. XXV. And we read that Ahasuerus made a feast to all his princes and servants, which lasted one hundred and eighty days, Esth. i. 4. But here is a feast which lasts to all eternity.