C II R I S T TllE B R E A D oF L I F E. Book II. MET A PH 0 R. VI. Bread, though it be prepar– ed, be fuited, be good, given <olnd ooc.bin,d to an high, a very high and excellent End, yet it muft be taken and ufed according to the Intent of the Giver, and propor– 'ionable to the End of it, orherwife we fhall ftarve in the Midft of Plenty. PARALLEL. VI. In like manner, though Jefus Chrill: the bleffed Sav10r be prepared and fuited, be o-ood and given, be ordained and appointed to ;:ver; h1gh and excellent End, yet if he be not taken and made uie of according to the Intent of the Giver, and proportionable eo the End, for which he wils given, milguided and carelefs Men may penfh: The Supper of the great Kino-did onlv be . ne6t the Receiver, the reft, that ca~e not _;,hen . invited, perifhed : They that were bidden jhall not tafte of my Supper, Luke xtv. 24. The Prod1gal had ftarved, had he not come to his Father's Houfe for Bread. VII. Bread is pleafant to the Tafte of all, but efpecially to the Needy : The full Soul/oaths the Ho– ney Comb, but to the Hungry every bitterThing isJweet, Prov.xxvii. 7· Vlli. Bread renews Strength and preferves Perfons Lives: Not only David and the Samaritans found it fo, but it is the common Experi– ence of all Mankind, without it Faintnefs immediately fucceeds, and foon after Life expires. IX. Bread as it renews Strength and preferves Life, fo it fits tor \¥ork and Bufinefs, no Man can work much, or continue long in Bufinefs without it. X. Bread is of univerfal Necef– fity and Benefit, the Rich want it as well as the Poor, the Landlord as well as the Tenant; the King as well as the Subject: Children in their Non-age, young Men in their full Strength, and the old Man that is going out of the World, they all need it, and have Benefit by 1t. XI. Bread is the hell: of all earth· ly Bleffings; Beauty, Ornament, Wealth, Treafures, are below it; and inferior to it, and not to be va– lued with it: AMan will pawn his Cloaths, difpofe of his Treafure, rnorrgagehisLand ratha than want llread. VII. In like manner Jefus Chrift is p!eafant and fweet to a hungry Soul that is fenfible of the Want and Need of him; Unto thofe who believe, he is precious, &c. 1 Pet. ii. 7· VIII. In like manner Jefus Chrift renews, ftrengthens, and preferves the Souls of Men : Before he comes, they are without Strenath, and thofe that refufe him, fhall certainly die 0 in their Sins, &c. Rom. v. 6. John viii. 2. IX. Even fo Jefus Chrift received, doth 6tfor fpiriwal Work and Bufinefs: I can do all Thi11gs through Chrift that ·ftrmgthens me: But without him nothing can be done to any purpofe: With– out me ye can do nothing, John xv. 5· X. The Lord Jefus is of univerfal Neceffity and Benefit; the Rich want him as well as the Poor, the Landlord as well as the Tenant, the Kipg a~ well as the Peafant; young Men in their full Strength, old Men when they are going out of the World, they all need him; For there is no other Name given t{nder Heaven, by which Men can be faved, /lE!s iv. 12. All have fome Benefit by him; he is the Savior of allMen, but ejpecially of tbem that believe. XI. Jefus Chrift is the beft of Bleffings, be– yond compare; The chief eft among tett 'Ihoufand, Song of SolomDil, v. 10. He is that Bread thataddeth Strength to the11aculties, creates a healthful Appe– tite in every right Receiver; yea, Beauty, Orna– ment, Wealth, Trtafurc:s, are below him, and not to be valued with him, he is better than Gold; yea, the moftfine Gold; better than Rubies, and all Things that can be dejired, Prfl i}. iii. 13;14, Jj. are n0t to be compared unto him·. \Vife Men, Maftns of the beft Reafon have iold,, left, forfaken all, for him. Mofes left all the Rtches and Honors of Egypt, foe Jefus Chnft. David cries, ff/bom have I in Ileave;z but thee? &c. Pfal. lxxin. 25. The primitive Saints parted with their Subftance, their Cloaths, their l'eace; yea, their Lives, anc! all, for Chril\'s fake: We have left all and followed thee, &c. I account notmy Life dear :mto myfelf, &c. for whom I have jitjfmd the Lofs of a!!Thzngs, &c. Heb. XI. 24~ 25,26. XII. Bread hath a lndden VtrXII. In like manner the Bread of L1fr, the tue in it, which cannot be known, Bread of God hath hidden Virtue in him, wh1ch but by Tafte, or Experience. A none can know but th,ofc that have taftcd, that Man may fee and hear much, but the Lord 1s grac1ous: fherefore 0! talle ~nd fee this is no~hing, it is Tafte, Relifh how good tile Lord 1s, Pfa!. XXXII'. 8. Expen2 m~
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