Book II. CHRIST A F 0 UN TA I N. METAPHOR. II. A Fountain implies Abun– dance of Water: I wilt opm Foun– tains in the Midfl of theVallies, lfa. xli. 1 8. that is, Fulnefs or Store of Water; it denotes Plenty. PARALLEL. JI. Chrill: hath Abundance, yea, a Fulnefs of Grace and Spirit is in him, he received it not by meafure, ]ohn i. I 4, I 6. He is given to be the Head over all 'fhings to the Church, which is his Body, the Fulncfs oj Him that filleth alt 'fhings, dur.dancy of all Divine Grace, Ocean or Sea of Goodn<,fs. Ill. A Fountain i§ very tenaci– ous, a Place fir, dtnfe, hard, and well·compac't, to retain the Water, leaving fome certain Palfage, to let irs Water our in an orderly Manner. Eph. i. 22, 23. There is Abundance, nay, a Re– Peace, and Refrelhmenr, in the Lord J efus, an · III. As the Lord J efus contains, fo he retains the Waters of Life in himftlf. He is a fpiritual Fountain, every Way fit, and weJI.compaEt, (in refpeCl: ofthlu glorious Union of the two Natures in one l'crfonJ to retain all heavenly Fulnefs; and has ordered certain Paffages, as Conduit·Pipes, viz. Ordinances and Promifes, . which through the Help of the Spirit let out Divine Grace and Comfort, in a gracious and orderly M anner, to all his Saints. IV. A Fountain, when the Paf– fage or Vcot is open, lers @l.lt its Vv'ater f~eely. IV. Chrill: is a Fountain opened, Zech. xiii. r. H e hath made a Paffage or Venr, by affuming Man's Namrt', and dymg on the Crofs, ro let out his Grace and fpiriru,l] Bldf10gs w the Sons of Men. And with what natural Freenefs doth this Fountain run. He feems rdl.lets, always diffufing, imparting, and giving forth from himfrlf, to all thirfty Souls: Who– ever will, let him take of the Waters of Life freely, Re·v. xxii. I7· V. Foumains always empty V. jeftiS Chrift fill, th the humble Soul with themfelves into low Places; they Goodnefo; he delights. in the lowly H eart. The love to glide in the Vallies of lofty mounraneous Spirits, or dry heathy Souls, the Earth: He fends his Springs retain not the Water of Life; they cannot receive into the Vallies, Pfal. civ. 10. the Things of the Spirit, t Cor. ii. I4. He refifl<tb the Proud, but giveth Grace to the Humble, ]ames iv. 6. VI. Fountains, by letting out theirWater into Vallies, Meadows, and low Ground, make them very fruitful, when Mountains, and high Grounds abide barren and unprofit– able. VI. J efus Chrill:, by letting forth his Spirit, and heavenly Grace, into the humble and lowly Heart, m.aketh it very fruitful in Holinefs and good Works. The Churches of Chrift, like low Meadows, near the Fountain, whofe \Naters continually flow, are always green and flourilhing, and know no Drought; when the Wicked, likt: Hills and dry Ground, are barren and unprontable. VIf. Fountain-Water is ufually VII. The Waters of Life, which flow from common to all the Poor, and he Jefus Chrift, the Divine Fountain, are common that hath no Money may partake to all. None are forbid to come to Chrill:. The of it; none are forbid to come to Poor, and he that bath no Money, (no Worth or a Fountain. Righteoufnefs in him) is invited to come to thefe \ 'Vaters, lfa. liv. r. VIII. Fountains yield pure and unmixed Water. Streams are fame– times muddy, they may be defiled; but Fountain-Water is clear, fair, and without Filth. VIII. The Water in this fpiritual Fountain, Chrift, is pure, clear as Cryll:al; there is no Mud, nor the leaft Mixture ofany Defilement in it, Re·v. xxii. r, 2. Men have endeavoured to foul and pollute the DoCtrine of Chrill:, and his Ordinances, which flowed from him; but Truth in itftlf, in the Fountain, is ftill the fame, and cannot be corrupted. JX. Many Foumains are deep, IX. Jefus Chrill: is a deep Fountain. We read Men may fwim in them; it is hard of the deep 'fhings of God; Chrill:'s Ricl.es are to find a Bottom. faid to be unfearchable; there are fuch Depths of Mercy and Goodnefs in Chrift, that none can find a Bottom. His Love and Grace is very wonderful. . X. Fountains are pleafant and delightful to behold; it is a lovely Thing to fee, and abide by Faun– rains of Water; they beautify and X. Chrill: is a delightful and pleafant ObjeCt. There is no Fountain fo lovely to the fenfual Eye, as Chrill: is to the Eye of faith. He is called a Fountain of Gardens, or the Gardenjwel/ing Formlain
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