{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/wikisource_Christ_s_napkin/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/wikisource_Christ_s_napkin","id":"wikisource_Christ_s_napkin","license":"Public Domain / CC-BY-SA (see source)","rights_basis":"wikisource_site_inclusion_policy","source":"wikisource","source_url":"https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Christ's_napkin","summary":null,"tags":["1807_works","Chapbooks","Main_pages_with_authority_control_data","PD-old","Religion","Scotland","Works_using_categories_parameter","Works_with_reconstructed_words_or_phrases"],"text":"CHRIST'S NAPKIN:\n\nA\n\nSERMON\n\nPREACHED IN\n\nKIRKCUDBRIGHT\n\nAT THE\n\nCOMMUNION.\n\nBY THAT FAMOUS FLOWER OF THE CHURCH,\n\nMR. SAMUEL RUTHERFORD.\n\nREV. XXI. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,\n\nAnd God \u017fhall wipe away, all tears from their eyes,\n\n'and there \u017fhall be no more death, neither \u017forrow,\n\nnor crying, neither \u017fhall there be any more pain:\n\nfor former things are pa\u017f\u017fed away. And he that\n\n\u017fat upon the throne, \u017faid, Behold I make all things\n\nnew. And he \u017faid unto me, Write: for the\u017fe\n\nwords are true and faithful; &c.\n\nGLASGOW,\n\nPRINTED BY J. AND M. ROBERTSON,\n\n[No. 18.] SALTMARKET,\n\n1807.\n\nCHRIST'S NAPKIN\n\n\u0410\n\nCOMMUNION SERMON.\n\nRev. XXI, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.\n\nAnd God \u017fhall wipe away all tears from their eyes,\n\nand there \u017fhall be no more death, neither \u017forrow,\n\nnor crying, neither \u017fhall there be any more pain\n\nfor former things are pa\u017f\u017fed away. And he that\n\n\u017fat upon the throne, \u017faid, Behold I make all things\n\nnew. And he said unto me, Write: for the\u017fe\n\nwords are true and faithful, &c.\n\nTHIS text contains four things. Fir\u017ft, The \u017ftate of the glorified, ver. 4. Secondly, A part of Chri\u017ft's office, ver. 5. Thirdly, A de\u017fcription of his Nature. Fourthly, The promi\u017fes. As, 1. Drink to \u017fatisfy the thir\u017fty. 2. An inheritance to the Overcomers, or overcoming \u017foldiers. The 3. Is a threatening of eternal wrath to offenders again\u017ft the fir\u017ft and \u017fecond table of the law, 'And God \u017fhall wipe away all tears.' When friends meet they give the \u017ftranger his welcome home. Here is the Pilgrim's welcome home that our Friend Chri\u017ft gives us: this was given from heaven, and therefore, it is true doctrine. Then we \u017fee that the the \u017fufferings and tears of the \u017faints \u017fhall be wiped away and removed, but not fully, while the life to come; for here is Chri\u017ft's welcome home to poor sinners; for they come all to him with wet faces, and bleared with tears for \u017fin, and the manifold troubles in this Life; and Chri\u017ft meets them at the door with a fair \u017foft Napkin in his hand, and puts up his hand to their faces, and \u017fays, Hold your tongue, my dear bairns, ye \u017fhall never weep again. And indeed, in my judgement, it is a \u017fpeech borrowed from a mother that has a bairn with a broken face all bloody, and all bleared with tears, and it\ncomes to her, and woes her heart to \u017fee him \u017fo, and \u017fhe \u017fits down and wipes the tears from his eyes, and lays her hand \u017foftly on the wound, and lays his head in her brea\u017ft, and dights away the blood, and lays her two arms about him, and there is no\nend of fair words. So when Chri\u017ft and we \u017fhall meet in heaven, he will hu\u017fs us up, and wipe away all tears, and lay our heads in his bo\u017fom. See how he alludes to this place, I\u017fa. liv. 11. 'O thou afflicted, to\u017f\u017fed with tempe\u017ft, and not comforted: behold, I will lay thy foundation with \u017fapphires,' &c. It is there, to \u017fpeak \u017fo, our Lord is ruing that ever he had handled his \u017faints as he did, I\u017fa. lxv. 18. 'Be glad and rejoice for evermore in that which I create; for behold, I create Jeru\u017falem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.' ver\u017fe 19. 'And I will rejoice in Jeru\u017falem, and joy in my people, and the voice of weeping \u017fhall be no more heard in her, oor the voice of crying.' If ever there was a blyth meeting between two, it mu\u017ft be between the bridegroom and the bride in the marriage-day. And what a meeting there is of joy betwixt \u017fuch a bridegroon and bride cannot be conceived: For Chri\u017ft that day will have on all his his be\u017ft clothes, and \u017fuch a bride as the Lamb's wife, what a welcome will \u017fhe get! To get a drink at our fir\u017ft meeting and incoming to heaven, the well of the water of life. O \u017ftrong comforting water! When we \u017fhall be clothed and not a wrong pin in us. A fair bride in \u017filks and purple of Chri\u017ft's own bu\u017fking, and Chri\u017ft our Lord \u017fhall pre\u017fent his bride to his Father and our Father-in-law, the Father of our hu\u017fband, \u017fhall take us by the hand and lead us ben the hou\u017fe to the dining-hall, and let us down at a table to fea\u017ft our fill upon the tree of life, O! \u017ftrong comforting water, the well of life, to fea\u017ft upon the Trinity forevermore. Now mock and \u017fcorn the way to heaven as ye plea\u017fe, ye never heard of true happiness till now. Here is a banquet of joy for evermore. \"He \u017fhall wipe away all tears.\" Chri\u017ft our Lord here wipes the tears from the bairns' faces; yet after that they weep new tears: he never wipes away all tears till now. Here \u017fhall be our la\u017ft good-night of death: good-night, mourning and crying, and \u017forrow; we \u017fhall be on the other \u017fide of the water over beyond the black river of death; for Chri\u017ft (Rev xx. 14.) \"\u017fhall take away death and hell, and ca\u017ft them into pri\u017fon; former things are done away\". The mother that has lo\u017ft her bairns \u017fhall get them: All the Lord's widows \u017fhall get their hu\u017fbands; the old world which was the mourning world \u017fhall be away; and, therefore, never until now \u017fhall all tears be wiped away, for it is the way. The Kirk is half a widow here, her Lord is in an uncouth country, far from her here, and ilka lown round about plucks at this \u017filly widow, while \u017fhe is in the valley of Baca, wherein is no water. The watchman \u017ftriketh her and taketh her veil from her; and Chri\u017ft writeth a love-letter to her, and after \u017fhe has read it, \u017fhe rejoiceth and wipeth her face, but, when the letter grows old, and\nshe has lo\u017ft the letter, new troubles come on, \u017fhe sheds new tears, and \u017fhe comes under new per\u017fecutions, and her Lord, for her \u017fin, goes in behind the wall, and hides him\u017felf, and lets her mourn her fill; but, in that day, he \"\u017fhall wipe away all tears from her eyes,\" \u017fee then how it goes here in this life; fir\u017ft a fair day, then again a foul day,\nwhile at la\u017ft that fair day dawns that all our \u017fhadows all flee away; but there \u017fhall nover be a foul day after that; but ay the long lasting \u017fummer-day for evermore. Ye \u017fee a man travelling to his home, here is a water, then dry land, then another water, then dry land, then a water, and only dry land between and his home; then he goes home to his wife and bairns, and has no more water; but all our tears are never dry'd till we come to heaven; for the \u017faints have a life-rent tack of the cro\u017fs of thri\u017ft while they are here, and ay ill weather, Matth. x. ever the cro\u017fs. See John xvi our Lord compares our troubles to the pains that come upon woman travailling, now a \u017fhower, and then \u017fome ea\u017fe a \u017fhower again, and then ea\u017fe, ay till the la\u017ft shower that \u017fhe be delivered, and then no \u017fhowers; she remembereth no more pains, for joy that a man-child is born into the world. We mu\u017ft be in pain ere our birth be born; but will be delivered of our birth.\n\nU\u017fe 1. Let us prepare, for tears will follow us to heaven, unto the very entry of the door our face\n\u017fhall be wet, for we go out of this life \u017fad and groaning for this mi\u017ferable life, and to thru\u017ft thro' the la\u017ft port, and to wade thro' the hindermo\u017ft water, it is a \u017fore-\u017fet: but be blyth Chri\u017ftians, and grip to the promi\u017fe; but ye that laugh now, and \u017fo are are far from tears, that mock the mourner of Zion, ye may \u017figh and clo\u017fe the Bible, and \u017fay alas! I never \u017fhed a tear for Chri\u017ft, yon text is not for me: It may be Chri\u017ft \u017fhall that day gar you weep and \u017fhed tears for evermore. This \u017four laughing world will away; there is a day of tears coming on you, greeting and gna\u017fhing of teeth. And when a man gna\u017fheth his teeth one again\u017ft another, he has no mind of laughing: but I would not have your mirth for a world, be doing, we will \u017fee who will laugh fa\u017fte\u017ft yon day.\n\nU\u017fe 2. There is an ill coming on this land: \u017fin is not come to a full harve\u017ft. God's bairns, that can now mourn for their own \u017fins, and the \u017fins of the land, rejoice in heaven, there is never a greeting bairn \u017feen there; God has a napkin to dight their faces. It is the laughing, rejoicing people that God de\u017ftroys.\n\n\"He that \u017fat upon the throne,\" John heareth more of Chri\u017ft, a \u017fweet \u017fpeech. Here three things.\n1. A \u017fpeaker. 2. A \u017fpeech. 3. A direction to keep the \u017fpeech. Who \u017fpake the \u017fpeech is not told; whether an angel or an earthly king; for they \u017fit on thrones al\u017fo; but it is he of whom it is \u017faid, Rev. iv. 2. \"And a throne was \u017fet, and one \u017fat on the throne.\" John tells not his name, but he thinketh \u017fo much of him, that he takes it as granted, that there is none worthy to be a king but he, and to \u017fit upon a throne but he. The \u017faints mea\u017fure all affections of others by their own affections; as if one a\u017fked at John, who is he that \u017fits upon the throne? He would have an\u017fwered, what need ye a\u017fk, is there any in heaven or earth in my e\u017ftimation worthy to be a king but He? and to take a crown upon his head but He? The \u017faints \u017fet ay Chri\u017ft alone, they \u017fet set him above all; \u017fpeak of kings to them, but Chri\u017ft is out of play. So Cant. ii. The kirk meeting with the watchman, \u017faith, \"Saw ye him whom my \u017foul loveth?\" what kend the watchman whom her \u017foul loveth? for the might have loved a lown, or a harlot, or an idol-god, or the world; but \u017fhe mea\u017fured the watchman by her\u017felf: there was none in her mind but Chri\u017ft; and therefore \u017fhe needed not tell them as he thought. So Mary Magdalene, John xx. 15. \u017fays to the gardener (as \u017fhe thought) \"Sir, if ye have borne him hence, tell me where ye\nhave laid him;\" \u017fhe tells not of what him; taking as granted, none was \u017fo much in her mind as Chri\u017ft, nay, I pray you, let the \u017fame mind be in you that was in John. Let Chri\u017ft be to your \u017foul the pearl of the ring. Among\u017ft all kings, Chri\u017ft \u017fhould be made high and e\u017fteemed as He, the only He, that is worthy to \u017fit on the throne. So Cant. v. He is the kirk the chief among ten thou\u017fand. Gather all the angels, and all the \u017faints in heaven and earth together, Chri\u017ft is too good to be their captain; and, indeed, what is all that \u017fits upon the throne? It mu\u017ft be infinitely more in him: and what glory is in the world, is far more in him. Take all the ro\u017fes on the earth, and put them all in\none, that would be a dainty \u017fight; and now what are all the\u017fe to Chri\u017ft? no more than a nettle to the faire\u017ft ro\u017fe: fy upon the ta\u017ftele\u017fs love of men that never love Je\u017fus Chri\u017ft and yet falleth in love with lu\u017fts: they love gold, riches and honour, and put Chri\u017ft to a back\u017fide; ay, Chri\u017ft gets not his own among\u017ft us, we commend him not, neither\nwill we match with him.\n\nThirdly, \"I will make all things new.\" This is as much as all things were old; \u017fin has made all things old, Rom. viii. They are like a woman groaning groaning in child-birth with pain and vanity, becau\u017fe of our \u017fin; all the creation are \u017fickened becau\u017fe of \u017fin; becau\u017fe of our \u017fin, vanity came on the Sun, Moon, and other creatures, they \u017figh under this, and pray their kind of malli\u017fon, and a woe to man, for \u017fin has made us all mi\u017ferable. The heavens, that are the greate\u017ft part of the web of the world, wax old as a garment. The prophet \u017fays, they are like an old clout. The water \u017faith, let me drown \u017finners, they have \u017finned again\u017ft my Lord; the fire \u017faith, let me burn them, let me burn Sodom, for they have \u017finned again\u017ft my Lord. All things have lo\u017ft their glory that they got in their fir\u017ft creation; Je\u017fus faith, all things are gone wrong, and quite out of order; and man, fallen from his Lord: and he did even with the world, as a pilot once with an inattentive man at the rudder, \u017fteering the \u017fhip on a \u017fand-bank, he \u017ftept in quickly and turned her incontinent, or el\u017fe all would have gone to confu\u017fion. So our Lord \u017ftepped in, when the great \u017fhip of the world was running on a \u017fand-bank, the \u017fun and moon looked \u017fad-like, and \u017faid they would \u017ferve us. Our Lord renewed them by his death, and made them all laugh on the elect again, and gave them all a \u017fuit of new clothes. Drunkard, Chri\u017ft gave his ble\u017f\u017fing to the wine that ye \u017fpue on the walls. Ye that di\u017fhonour your Maker with your vain apparel, ye know not what it co\u017ft Chri\u017ft; our Lord bled to buy a right of them that ye abu\u017fe in vanity. All that \u017fet the world in their hearts, where the Lord \u017fhould be, forget that Chri\u017ft bought the world to be their \u017fervant, and not to be as their darling and\nwife, that lies in their bo\u017fom. Ye that make the earth and the broad acres of it your \u017foul's portion, \u017fo as ye de\u017fire no more but land, yet forget Chri\u017ft that that bought the world, and made it new to be a foot-\u017ftool, and not a chair for their \u017fouls to \u017fit down upon. And if Chri\u017ft has this art to make all things new, come unto him all ye that are old, ye that have old hearts come. Indeed Chri\u017ft may get his craft among us, if we would go to him, for he makes all things new. The devil borrows\nanother man's heart for covetou\u017fne\u017fs, and he has crooked it with the thorny cares of this world, and holed it, and dung the bottom out of it. O if ye would put it in Chri\u017ft's hand, he would put it in his furnace and melt it again, and by his art bring it out a new heart for him\u017felf to dwell in. Alas! Chri\u017ft gets not his trade or calling among us; but, why are not our old hearts mended! becau\u017fe we handle them as a fooli\u017fh mother doth a dauted bairn, \u017fhe will not let him go to \u017fchool to learn, and why? becau\u017fe \u017fhe dow na want him out of her \u017fight; \u017fhe will therefore never let him do well, but feed him to the gallows. We do not give away our \u017fouls to Chri\u017ft who would fain have\nthem, and ea\u017fily mend them\u00a0; but ju\u017ft keep them like the fooli\u017fh mother, out of Chri\u017ft's company. And pride keeps another man's heart, and covetou\u017fne\u017fs another man's heart; that dear craft\u017fman Chri\u017ft, that made the heart, and made the earth under our feet new, and the mountains new, yet we will not have our hearts new; our \u017fouls are all hanging in tatters, worn and old with \u017fin, and we do not put them in Chri\u017ft's hand that would make them whole and clean\u017fe them. Fy upon thee that thy garden was cur\u017fed in Adam's day to bring forth nettles and thorns, and is ble\u017f\u017fed to bring out fruit in Chri\u017ft, and thy \u017foul gets not \u017fo much good in Chri\u017ft as thy garden; it is made new and thy \u017foul\nremains old, and Chri\u017ft gets not his craft among us. us. He bids John write the\u017fe things concerning the \u017ftate of the glorified, and calls them faithful and true; he would not intru\u017ft his word to man's memory and con\u017fcience: he would have it written. Bla\u017fphemous papi\u017fts, laugh not at this, nor call the Pope's brea\u017ft the Bible; here a warrant for the written \u017fcripture. But indeed it tells that man's fal\u017fehood wore his con\u017fcience; had his con\u017fcience been a faithful regi\u017fter, there \u017fhould have been no\nmore need of a written Bible: but now the Lord has lippened more to dead paper more than a living man's \u017foul. Our con\u017fcience, now under \u017fin, has not been a good Bible: becau\u017fe man is ready to run away from his con\u017fcience; becau\u017fe what is written in our con\u017fcience, as there is a God, a Judgement, a Heaven, a Hell; Satan and \u017fin come in as two fal\u017fe witne\u017f\u017fes, and blot out that, and write that in the fool's heart, that \u017fays there is no God. And there are many holes in our \u017fouls; the word of God comes in and runs out again and back-\u017fpouts, except Je\u017fus make their \u017foul water-fa\u017ft, \u017fo that the word of God may dwell in them plentifully, Colo\u017f. iii. 16. Is not our hearts compared to a field, wherein the preacher \u017fows the \u017feed, Mat. xiii. and the black \u017fpirits of hell come and gather up Chri\u017ft's wheat. O but there are many running-out fools, and much need we have of a written Bible, and therefore make much of the written word, and pray God to copy his Bible in all, and every one of our hearts, and to write a new book of his doctrine in our hearts, and put it into the con\u017fcience as he directs, Jer. xxi. 1. Of his prohecy. 2. A de\u017fcription. 3. A promi\u017fe of matter. Chri\u017ft \u017fays to John, it is done. That is exponded in Rev. xvi. 17. The world is ended, \u017fo \u017fpeaks Chri\u017ft of the world, and the glory of it pa\u017f\u017feth pa\u017f\u017feth away as the twinkling of an eye, and Chri\u017ft crieth to tho\u017fe who have the world in their arms, It is done; it is a pa\u017ft thing, there is no more of it. It is but a word to our Lord, he \u017faid, Let all things be, and they were. He \u017faid, Let all things be, and they are at an end.\u2014And we are beginning with the world, as if it would be evermore ours; and our Lord \u017fays, in a moment, let us be packed from them, and it is done. It is not for nothing that the taking down of this Inns of heaven and earth is touched in \u017fo few words, It is done, for it is an ea\u017fy thing for the Almighty to take the \u017ftaves in his own hand that holdeth np this fair tent, and when he pulleth it, he garreth it come down with a titt. So Rev. xi. Four angels are brought in, holding the four winds in their hands as if they had the world in their hands, and as if they had it ready to fold up as a \u017fheet. And, O!\nwhat a \u017fighting and bu\u017ftling do they make to get a clout of this \u017fheet; he \u017ftareth out his eyes, and he \u017fetteth out his neck for a piece of this holly clout and \u017fheet, and for a globe of the earth. But \u017fee, Rev. vi. 14. The heavens \u017fhall depart away like a \u017fcroll of parchment that is rolled together, and the fair \u017ftories thereof are like figs, with the \u017fhake of the Almighty's arm they \u017fhall fall together to the ground and what more with a touch of the Almighty's hand, or a putt of his little finger, with the ble\u017ft of his mouth, \u017faying, \"It is done.\" The cupples of the walls of the hou\u017fe cometh down. Now, I cannot but \u017fpeak of fools that have their head full of wind-mills, an cry it is beginning, \"and to-morrow \u017fhall be as this day, and much more abundant.\" I\u017fa. lvi. And there is no end of buying and building; I came not here to bid any body be unthri\u017fty; but not to be like bairns building \u017fandy bourocks at a water-\u017fide, when pre\u017fently a \u017fpate of water comes and \u017fpoils all their \u017fport, or a shower cha\u017fes them in from their play, men are even building ca\u017ftles in the air. In very deed we are like bairns holding the water at a river\u017fide with their hands, they think (daft things) they hold the water, while in the mean time it runs thro' their fingers. And what \u017fays God of honour, riches, plea\u017fure, lands, fair hou\u017fes, \u017fums of money, even that in a word, all is done. A\u017fk at them that had the world once at will, and had broad lands, and what is to the fore of \u017fo many thou\u017fands? Nothing but their name: And what if their name be lo\u017ft too? What has the world of them but their name? and what is that, ten or eleven letters of the A, B, C; and for their bodies, howbeit when they were living, kingdoms would not content them, and yet the clay in which the bodies are di\u017f\u017folved, would not now fill a glove. I think that a true word, and a \u017ftrange \u017fpoker word, I\u017fa. xl. 22. \"God \u017fits in the circle of the heavens, and all the world are as gra\u017fs-hoppers.\" We even creep like gra\u017fs-hoppers up and down the globe of this earth, and cry to men of the vanities of all things, while death comes like a little common-thief, without any din or feet, and plucks them away, and there is no more of them, and then they \u017fay, it is done. All men will \u017fay, it is true that I \u017fay: but I think to be dead ere they believe it, or be brought to hate the world. I think the world is the devil's great hairy water-net, that has taken thou\u017fands and \u017flain them, ye \u017fay ye are \u017fure of it. Then I \u017fay ye are a dyeted hor\u017fe for heaven.\n\nThe \u017fecond thing that is in the ver\u017fe, is a de\u017fcription of Chri\u017ft, \"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning beginning and the end.\" Our Lord here being to make an offer of the water of life; he fir\u017ft \u017fheweth what he is, even the fir\u017ft and the la\u017ft letters of the A, B, C; \"The ancient of days, the eternal Son of the eternal God.\" It teaches us that we may crack more of our old holding, and old charter, than all the world can do: For why? When began Chri\u017ft to bear a good-will to a \u017finner? Even when he began to be God; and he was God from all eternity. Suppo\u017fe the \u017fun in the firmament were eternal, the light of it behoved to be eternal: for the light of the \u017fun is as old as the \u017fun. Love is a beam of light, and heat that comes from Chri\u017ft the Sun of righteou\u017fne\u017fs; therefore ever-living Chri\u017ft, and ever-loving love: for love comes not on Chri\u017ft the day which was not on him ye\u017fterday: man's love and a king's love are very much hunted for, and yet they die, and their love dies with them, and often their love dies before them\u017felves: but who \u017feeks Chri\u017ft's love that changes not? yea, this is a matter of admiration and wonder that Chri\u017ft\n\u017fhould have thought on us worms of clay ere ever we were, and that our \u017falvation is as old as evermore, and as old as Chri\u017ft, and Chri\u017ft as old as God; for indeed, if God \u017fhould begin at any point of time to love \u017finners, his love \u017fhould have had a beginning; and if his love \u017fhould have had a beginning, Chri\u017ft him\u017felf \u017fhould have had a beginning; becau\u017fe love with him is one with his e\u017f\u017fence and nature: But it may be \u017faid, can the love of God be older than the death of Chri\u017ft? An\u017fwer, Chri\u017ft's death doth not make God properly a hater for a lover of man, for then both his will \u017fhould be changeable, and his love have a beginning. How then? Chri\u017ft's death not only let God kythe the fruits of his eternal love out upon us, but after \u017fuch \u017fuch a way as he thought convenient for his ju\u017ftice; and therefore we are \u017faid in \u017fcripture to be reconciled to God; and God is \u017faid to be reconciled to us; his love is everla\u017fting; becau\u017fe by order of nature it is before the \u017feed, before we had done either good or evil; \u017fo that \u017fin \u017fhould not change God's mind, but only by order of Ju\u017ftice; \u017fin \u017ftood in the way to hinder us from life everla\u017fting, which is a fruit of his love: yea more, God with that \u017fame love in Chri\u017ft, loveth the elect before and after conver\u017fion; and therefore, we have to rejoice in feeling any of God's love to us in Chri\u017ft. It is old acquaintance betwixt him and us; and therefore, as it is folly in man (as Solomon faith) to ca\u017ft off his old friend, and his father's friend; \u017fo let us think it madne\u017fs to ca\u017ft off \u017fuch an old friend as Chri\u017ft, and let our faith hold fa\u017ft by this, under temptations and de\u017fertions; Alpha and Omega changeth not, the change is in us.\n\nThe third thing in the words is a promi\u017fe of the water of life to the thir\u017fty, I\u017faiah lv 1. and John xiii. 17. Chri\u017ft at the mercat-cro\u017fs cries the well free; but learn fir\u017ft, the thir\u017fty and hungry \u017fouls, are meete\u017ft for the waters of life. What! (ye will \u017fay) are not all thir\u017fty\u00a0? all want the life of God and the \u017fap of grace, and are burnt and withered at the root; but all know not their own wants; but indeed \u017fpecial comfort for the weak ones to \u017fay, O \u017fay they, I know Chri\u017ft doth good to believers, to repenters, and to \u017fuch as love him\u00a0; but I dow not, nor cannot win to faith and repentance, hope and patience; I have too \u017fhort an arm to rax \u017fo high. Then, \u017fay I, have ye a de\u017fire, a hunger for faith and repentance and love? now upon your con\u017fcience \u017fpeak the truth; I trow ye cannot deny it. Then your Lord bids you come, the well is \u043e\u0440en opon unto you; for hunger and thir\u017ft being next to motion, are the two properties that begin fir\u017ft with life. So every thing that is new-born is lively, and hath a \u017ftomach for meat and drink. O but \u017fay ye, I am many times in my \u017foul even at death's door; I have neither faith nor feeling! I am even at this, God loves me not, and the well is not ordained for me at the\u017fe times. Would ye fain be at the well? now in my mind ye cannot in away. The children of God, when at the lowe\u017ft ebb, even when faith, comfort, joy, love, and a di\u017fpo\u017fition to pray is away, is there not a longing for pre\u017fence. I \u017fpeak to the con\u017fcience of God's child, lie not. No, David (P\u017falm vi.) when he thought God \u017ftrake him in his wrath, was at, \"How long Lord?\" a cutted word; I think that he looked like a poor hungry bea\u017ft, looking o'er the dyke, who would \u017fain have had a mouth-ful; He was even going about to \u017feek a \u017flap to break o'er the dyke of his doubtings. And \u017fo it is with God's bairns under their thir\u017ft for the well of life. See Cant. iii. when the kirk can get no sparing\nof Chri\u017ft, and has no \u017fmell of him, and cannot find the print of his foot; yet \u017fhe is at this,\n\"Saw ye him whom my \u017foul loveth?\" and chap. ii.\"I charge you tell him, that I am \u017fick of love.\"\nthen let me now \u017fpeak to weak ones, and I will tell you who are Chri\u017ft's companions that drink with him, and \u017fhall get their heads and hearts full of the water of life; even the tender Chri\u017ftian that is ay \u017fpeaking: the bairn in Chri\u017ft's hou\u017fe that is mo\u017ft cumber\u017fome, and makes mo\u017ft din for his meat, is the be\u017ft bairn that Chri\u017ft has; the bairn that is greeting ilk hour of the day for a piece and a drink: we \u017fay of \u017fuch a \u017filly thing he fain would love. Ay the cumber\u017fomer that Chri\u017ft's bairns bairns be, they are ay the welcomer. Nay, he loveth the bairns be\u017ft that have no \u017fhame, and are ay\ncrying alas! black hunger, dear Lord Je\u017fus, I a burnt with thir\u017ft: O for an open cold fountain. O it is a \u017fweet thing ay to be whinging and crying and \u017feeking about Chri\u017ft's pantry-doors, and to hold an eye upon Chri\u017ft when he goes into the hou\u017fe of wine, into his Father's fair lucky wine cellar where there are many wines, and bout in at Chri\u017ft's back. But in a word, have ye a good \u017ftomach? Much hunger and thir\u017ft, will get much \u017fatisfaction of grace in Chri\u017ft: now, who are they who are debarred from Chri\u017ft's well! An\u017fw. The\u017fe who have gotten an ill drink from the devil, full of lu\u017fts, pride\nand covetou\u017fne\u017fs, full of love of the world; \u017fuch are they that have no \u017ftomach for Chri\u017ft; alas, and woes me, Chri\u017ft \u017ftandeth at the well's \u017fide, and crieth the back of my hand to you. The Lord Je\u017fus gives you a vomit to drink, that you may grow whole\u017fome and hungry again for Chri\u017ft; for, while then, ye are never meet for Chri\u017ft. Is there not a time when ye cannot get pre\u017fence, and ye hav no pith to put up the door and bout in, but put half up, and blink in? love to pray, or de\u017fire ye but a time of prayer? hold on then, there ye are right, the true de\u017fire is ab\u017folute, and not conditional: not like the \u017fluggard that wad have a crop upon condition he might have a feather-bed to lie on for fear of cold; even \u017fo they would have heaven upon condition they might keep their lu\u017fts, and take their lu\u017fts with them. But, Secondly Hunger is ay \u017feeking thro' the whole hou\u017fe, for the belly can hardly play the hypocrite. The natural man is in darkne\u017fs, he is in a \u017fleep; it is night with him, and he is like a cumber\u017fome bairn greeting in the night for a drink, and crying, P\u017falm iv. Who will \u017fhew us any good thing? and Satan is ready at his elbow with his di\u017fhful of the dirty miry matters of lu\u017ft to the world, and he drinks while he \u017fwears and tynes breath, and tynes a' fight and de\u017fire of Chri\u017ft, the fountain of the water of life, John vii. 37. It is true this fountain of life is \u017faid to proceed out of the throne of God, and from the Lamb: but it is all one; for the \u017ftreams of the water of life proceed from the fountain Chri\u017ft. How then is the water Chri\u017ft? Chri\u017ft as man dying and \u017fending out his heart's blood for quenching of the thir\u017ft of \u017fuch poor \u017finners as find the fire of hell at the \u017ftomach of their \u017foul burning them up with the fire of the wrath of God for \u017fin; this is the rea\u017fon why he is called the fountain of the water of life. As,\n\n1. Becau\u017fe a man burnt with thir\u017ft, nothing can quench him, no, not a world of gold is \u017fo good\nas a drink of pure, cold, clean fountain-water. In a word, a \u017foul weakened under \u017fin, findeth nothing in the world \u017fatisfactory to the \u017foul's appetite, but in Chri\u017ft. Tell me, art thou a thir\u017fty \u017finner after Chri\u017ft? thy \u017foul is dead-\u017fick while thou get him. Lay a man down on a \u017foft bed, dry the \u017fweat off him, give him a cold refre\u017fhing drink. Now, ye cannot \u017fpeak \u017fuch a word to a \u017foul-bur\u017ften-thing under \u017fin, as to lay it upon a crucified Chri\u017ft: O that is a \u017foft bed; his \u017finful foul being \u017ftretched upon the open, warm, flowing blood and wounds of Chri\u017ft: O that is a \u017foft bed. O but a part of Chri\u017ft's blood is a refre\u017fhing, cooling drink to him. To a \u017flave of hell to know that he is made a free heir of heaven, O that is \u017fweet: hence it is, that those that are wakened with the furies of hell, howbeit they know not yet what Chri\u017ft is to them; yet this world cannot calm their con\u017fcience, becau\u017fe cau\u017fe for men that are \u017foul-\u017fick and \u017fin-\u017fick, there is no phy\u017fic but one, only a drink of the well of life, and becau\u017fe they ken not the gait to into the fire of hell, thro' the madne\u017fs of an awakened con\u017fcience. For a thir\u017fty-\u017fick-\u017fool finds two things in Chri\u017ft, never to be found in all the world, nor any thing el\u017fe. 1. Chri\u017ft takes off the hardne\u017fs of \u017fin: none has power to do this but he; all the pardons of \u017fin are in Chri\u017ft's keeping, and of Chri\u017ft's making; it is his office to forgive \u017fin. 2. Be\u017fides, they find in him an influence, and abundance of happine\u017fs in him; \u017fo as, what they \u017fought before in the creature, they find no where el\u017fe but in him; then \u017fpeak to them of gold, it is nothing to Chri\u017ft; \u017fpeak of lands and lord\u017fhips they are nothing to a Saviour, and \u017fuch a Saviour has and is another name to a \u017finner that is awakened.\n\nAgain, the text calls him, The water of life. We \u017fee here, there is \u017fome water that is rotten and ill-ta\u017fted; will a thir\u017fty man drink of it? he \u017fhall not be the better, but the whole\u017fome\u017ft water is the running spring; \u017fo all that \u017finners can get be\u017fide Chri\u017ft is \u017ftanding water. Let them drink in gold, and kingdom, and lands, they \u017fhall never be to \u017fatisfying to a \u017fick-\u017foul as he \u017fhall be and they who have drunk in the\u017fe, at death would be content to \u017fpue them out again, they ly \u017fo heavy upon their \u017ftomach; but Chri\u017ft is the cooling whole\u017fome \u017fpring, the well of water, \u017fpringing to eternal life. Now, to make our u\u017fe of this \u017feeing Chri\u017ft is \u017fuch a living well of water, how\nis it in the go\u017fpel that there are \u017fo many withered dried \u017fouls? I an\u017fwer, for God's part, indeed God has not put an iron-lock upon the well of life.But Chri\u017ft Chri\u017ft by his word and \u017facrament opens the well in the mid\u017ft of us, and for \u017feventy years and more in this kingdom the well has been open. Chri\u017ft and his me\u017f\u017fengers have been crying to dry \u017fouls; but now for ought we \u017fee he will clo\u017fe the well again; for he has been \u017fetting out the means of life, and opening his booth-doors to give it freely, even to such as will take it, but he gets no \u017fale; therefore he mu\u017ft put up his wares and go away, for men are not thir\u017fty for his waters; but one thir\u017fts for court and honour; another for lu\u017ft and money; a third\nlu\u017fts after \u017finful plea\u017fures. 1. There be few \u017ftomachs gaping for Chri\u017ft. 2. They have not a ve\u017f\u017fel to ca\u017ft down into the well and take up the water: this is a fruitle\u017fs generation. Oh! we lothe Chri\u017ft, and Chri\u017ft lothes us. We need \u017fpeak no more of the call of the word; all the land, court, king, noblemen and kirkmen, have \u017fpued the waters, by de\u017fpi\u017fing the mercy, and contemning the go\u017fpel; and in very deed when we ca\u017ft in clay and mud in Chri\u017ft's well, and mix his doctrine with the poi\u017fon of the whore's well of Rome. We think we would have \u017fomething to give to Chri\u017ft\nfor the water of life, \u017fome of our own righteou\u017fne\u017fs, \u017fome of our worthine\u017fs; but that is plai\u017ftered humility, watered copper; and in doing \u017fo we refu\u017fe grace, and make grace to be no more grace; for, if it be given for any worth in us, it is no more grace: and therefore, let men here \u017fee then, that the kingdom of grace is a good cheap world, where the be\u017ft things are gotten for nothing; and therefore, I think, in this dear world, wherein all things\ngo for nothing; when court co\u017fts expences, lands are dear, and gold is not gotten for nought, and laws are dearer than ever they were; yea, paper and ink are now dearer than ever; yea, paper and ink are now dearer than jewels. No, \u017fays the Pope, not a drop till ye tell out money; that bloody bea\u017ft would fell the water of Rome for gold; as meikle money, as meikle grace and forgivene\u017fs; but Chri\u017ft and his world care no more for money than before.\n\n2. There are excellent promi\u017fes made to overcomers; to him that taketh heaven with \u017ftroke of \u017fword and blood; for heaven is a be\u017fieged city or ca\u017ftle; armies of \u017fin with all their armour, and the deceiving and malicious world; the world has Eve's apple in the one hand, and fire and \u017fword in the other, and the devil is the captain of the army; now, here is a price \u017fet, and an offer made to him that overcometh, to him that will mount up by faith and hope, and leap up in Chri\u017ft's chariot, and be\u017fide him life, be\u017fide him death, he will go through; but, they are cowards that take a back\u017fide and let the devil coup them in a gutter. But yet, to lead men on, here is a promi\u017fe of two things\u00a0;\n\nFir\u017ft, He \u017fhall inherit all things; then ye \u017fee, that that Chri\u017ftian's captain is a man of fair rent, 1 Cor. iii. 21. \"For all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death; things pre\u017fent, or things to come,\" and to let us \u017fee he bides by the thing he has \u017faid, he \u017fays again, \"all things are yours:\" ye \u017fee then, one has a kingdom, as A\u017fia, but wants health, and is lame of his feet, he has not all things. Another has\n\u017ftrength of body above any living, yet had many troubles, and wanted his eyes as Sam\u017fon, and therefore had not all things. O the bu\u017fine\u017fs Adam's \u017fons are at for inheritance: here a male-line, there a laird\u017fhip, that they call their all things. I think this is a greedy \u017ftile and proud-like lord\u017fhip or laird\u017fhip laird\u017fhip, that they call their all things: yet greedy Adam's \u017fons have more greedine\u017fs here than wit. They run all upon their lord\u017fhip, that they call the Lord\u017fhip of many things, Luke x. \"Martha, Martha, thou art troubled about many things;\" worldings, ye are troubled about many things, to be called my lord of many things. But we \u017fhall \u017fee if the text be true, I am Alpha and Omega;,then, fir\u017ft, the apo\u017ftle here puts in death. Death is the wages of \u017fin; I think death an ill mailing, better want it out of the charter. How then have they all things? I an\u017fwer,\n\nDeath is al\u017fo a part of the lord\u017fhip this way; becau\u017fe it is my lord of all things, and a coach to glory: Chri\u017ft him\u017felf being the coachman, and driving the hor\u017fes; death is the \u017fervant; as the wind \u017ferveth to bring the \u017feamen home, \u017fo death \u017ferveth him that hath the lord\u017fhip. Death is Chri\u017ft's ferry-boat to carry us home; for, in Chri\u017ft\nto we \u017fet our foot on death's neck. It is a bridge o'er the river of hell that we walk on to heaven, and it is ours; the Chri\u017ftian is advanced in Chri\u017ft's court, and gets the new \u017ftile to be my lord of all things, the prince of all things, the prince, the duke of all things. Yet I \u017fhall get you a lord\u017fhip beneath them all, but much fought for the lord\u017fhip of vanity or nothing, Prov. xxiii. 5. wilt thou \u017fet thine eyes on that which is nought? for, verily, riches have wings; he that is rich hath nought.\n\nSecondly, If he inherit all things, then the whole world is his, and \u017fo he wanteth nothing.\n\nA third que\u017ftion, How is it then that the \u017faints are hungry and poor? An\u017fwer, This promi\u017fe is \u017fo taken from them. 2 Sam. iii 14. P\u017falm lxxxix. 15. I will \u017fet his one hand on the \u017fea, and his\nright hand on the river.'\u2014Then \u017fee how broad Chri\u017ft's two arms are. His one hand upon all the \u017fea, and his other hand upon the river, and that promi\u017fe is made to Chri\u017ft as principal cautioner of the covenant. For, it is \u017faid, ver\u017fe 26. \"He \u017fhall \u017fay unto me, thou art my Father, and my God, and the rock of my \u017falvation,\" ver\u017fe 27. Al\u017fo, I will make him my fir\u017ft-born, higher than the kings of\nthe earth.\" \u2014Which is expounded of Chri\u017ft, Heb. i. 5. Rev. X. 2. \"He has his right-foot on the \u017fea, and his left-foot on the land.\" Put the\u017fe two together, and \u017fee how wide his arms and legs and feet are, they go over the whole world as his inheritance which he wan to him\u017felf, and his heirs after him, with his blood. Now Chri\u017ft got land\nnot to him\u017felf: what needs he land to give his blood for clay? but he wan it to us, and he took in\u017fe\u017ftment in the earth in the name of his friends. And now it is true, they are not po\u017f\u017fe\u017f\u017fors of all things; bet \u017fecondly, for people's wants, ye fed their intere\u017ft is in and over all things; yet their tutor lets them go with a toom pur\u017fe: he knows the heir is a young one, and cannot keep gold, and, therefore, he gives them food and raiment for the pre\u017fent nece\u017f\u017fity; but keeps the lord\u017fhip for the pre\u017fent. Our tutor Chri\u017ft is made of God out tutor, our pur\u017fe-ma\u017fter: it is all one whether we have it in our che\u017ft-neuk, or if it be in Chri\u017ft's pur\u017fe to keep it while we need it, providing we\nwant not.\n\nThirdly, A third que\u017ftion, and a third doubt is, at lea\u017ft, \u017feeing they are under \u017fo many troubles\nin this life, and have no ea\u017fe, they have not all things: I an\u017fwer. Yet I mu\u017ft defend it, and \u017fay\nif they have the inheritance, that they have all things, becau\u017fe the \u017fweet of the comfort and troubles are theirs.\n\nA fourth que\u017ftion or objection, They have not heaven and glory, at lea\u017ft in this life, and therefore, they are not inheritors of all things? I an\u017fwer. The promi\u017fe is not fulfilled in this life: yet, when a man has \u017fhorn a \u017ftouk or two of corn, we \u017fay he has gotten harve\u017ft and new corn. So the believer gets joy, hope, faith, a\u017f\u017furance of heaven, and the fir\u017ft fruits of the \u017fpirit, are new corn. So, in the beginning, he gets all things. 2. Having God and Chri\u017ft, they have all things, for ye \u017fee the great \u017fhip traileth the cock-boat after her; \u017fo\nthe great Chri\u017ft bringeth all things after him at his back; \u017fo I ay, having Chri\u017ft they have all things: they have the Father and the Spirit, the world, life and death. Amen.\n\nThe triumphal fea\u017ft for Chri\u017ft's victory over \u017fin,\n\nand death, and hell.\n\nCOME, let us lift our voices high,\n\nHigh as our joys ari\u017fe,\n\nAnd join the \u017fongs above the \u017fky,\n\nWhere plea\u017fure never dies.\n\nJe\u017fus, the God, that fought and bled,\n\nAnd conquer'd when he fell;\n\nThat ro\u017fe, and at his chariot-wheels\n\nDragg'd all the pow'rs of hell.\n\nJe\u017fus, the God invites us here,\n\nTo this triumphal fea\u017ft,\n\nAnd brings immortal ble\u017f\u017fings down\n\nFor each redeemed gue\u017ft.\n\nThe Lord! how glorious is his face!\n\nHow kind his \u017fmiles appear!\n\nAnd, oh \u01c3 what melting words he \u017fays\n\nTo ev'ry humble ear!\n5 For you, the children of my love,\n\nIt was for you I dy'd\u00a0;\n\nBehold my hands, behold my feet,\n\nAnd look into my \u017fide.\n\n6 The\u017fe are the wounds for yon I bore\n\nThe tokens of my pains,\n\nWhen I came down to free your \u017fouls\n\nFrom mi\u017fery and chains.\n\n7 Ju\u017ftice un\u017fheath'd its fiery \u017fword,\n\nAnd plung'd it in my heart,\n\nInfinite pangs for you I bore,\n\nAnd mo\u017ft tormenting \u017fmart.\n\n8 When hell and all its \u017fpiteful pow'rs\n\nStood dreadful in my way,\n\nTo re\u017fcue tho\u017fe dear lives of yours,\n\nI gave my own away.\n\n9 But, while I bled, and groan'd, and dy'd,\n\nI ruin'd Satan's throne;\n\nHigh on my cro\u017fs I hung, and \u017fpy'd\n\nThe mon\u017fter tumbling down.\n\n10 Now you must triumph at my fea\u017ft,\n\nAnd ta\u017fte my fle\u017fh, my blood,\n\nAnd live eternal ages ble\u017fs'd;\n\nFor 'tis immortal food.\n\n11 Victorious God, what can we pay\n\nFor favours \u017fo divine?\n\nWe would devote our hearts away\n\nTo be for ever thine.\n\n12 We give thee, Lord, our highe\u017ft prai\u017fe;\n\nThe tribute of our tongues;\n\nBut themes \u017fo infinite as the\u017fe\n\nExceed cur noble\u017ft \u017fongs.\n\nF I N I S.\n\nGla\u017fgow, Printed by J. & M. Robert\u017fon, Saltmarket,\n\nThis work was published before January 1, 1931, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.\n\nPublic domainPublic domainfalsefalse","title":"Christ's napkin","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":7684}