There is besides this, another Blessing that comes to us by this living Water, and that is the blessing of ⟨p. 76⟩Communion. All the warmth that we have in our Communion, it is the warmth of the Spirit. When a company of Saints are gathered together in the Name of Christ, to perform any spiritual Exercise, and their Souls be edified, warmed and made glad therein, it is because this Water, this River of Water of Life, has in some of the Streams thereof, ran into that assembly. Then are Christians like those that drink Wine in Bowls, merry and glad; for that they have drank into the Spirit, and had their Souls refreshed with the sweet Gales, and strong Wine thereof. This is the Feast that Isaiah speaks of, when he saith, In this Mountain 1shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all People a Feast of fat things, a Feast of Wines on the Lees, of fat things full of Marrow, of Wines on the Lees well refined. This is called in another place, The Communion of the Holy Ghost. Now he warmeth Spirits, ⟨p. 77⟩2uniteth Spirits, enlighteneth Spirits, revives, cherisheth, quickeneth, strengtheneth Graces; renews Assurances, brings old Comforts to mind, weakens Lusts, emboldeneth and raiseth a Spirit of Faith, of Love, of Hope, of Prayer, and makes the Word a Blessing, Conference a Blessing, Meditation a Blessing, and Duty very delightful to the Soul. Without this Water of Life, Communion is weak, flat, cold, dead, fruitless, lifeless; there is nothing seen, felt, heard or understood in a spiritual and heart-quickening way. Now Ordinances are burdensome, Sins strong, Faith weak, Hearts hard; and the faces of our Souls dry, like the dry and parched ground.
There is besides this, another Blessing that comes to us by this living Water, and that is the blessing of ⟨p. 76⟩Communion. All the warmth that we have in our Communion, it is the warmth of the Spirit. When a company of Saints are gathered together in the Name of Christ, to perform any spiritual Exercise, and their Souls be edified, warmed and made glad therein, it is because this Water, this River of Water of Life, has in some of the Streams thereof, ran into that assembly. Then are Christians like those that drink Wine in Bowls, merry and glad; for that they have drank into the Spirit, and had their Souls refreshed with the sweet Gales, and strong Wine thereof. This is the Feast that Isaiah speaks of, when he saith, In this Mountain 1shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all People a Feast of fat things, a Feast of Wines on the Lees, of fat things full of Marrow, of Wines on the Lees well refined. This is called in another place, The Communion of the Holy Ghost. Now he warmeth Spirits, ⟨p. 77⟩2uniteth Spirits, enlightneth Spirits, revives, cherisheth, quickeneth, strengtheneth Graces; renews Assurances, brings old Comforts to mind, weakens Lusts, imboldeneth and raiseth a Spirit of Faith, of Love, of Hope, of Prayer, and makes the Word a Blessing, Conference a Blessing, Meditation a Blessing, and Duty very delightful to the Soul. Without this Water of Life, Communion is weak, flat, cold, dead, fruitless, lifeless; there is nothing seen, felt, heard or understood in a spiritual and heart-quickening way. Now Ordinances are burdensom, Sins strong, Faith weak, Hearts hard; and the faces of our Souls dry, like the dry and parched ground.
- 1Isa. 25. 6.
- 22 Cor. 13. 14.
