A47542:602
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the mediator to believers, and his direful wrath against impenitent sinners containing the substance of near forty sermons upon several subjects / by Benjamin Keach.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. That Sacred Covenant Believers enter into, when they are admitted Members.
3. The Holy Discipline, Order and Government Christ hath ordained and left in the Gospel.
APPLICATION.
We infer from hence, that Believers are in a most happy Condition, they having such a Shepherd and such Pastures to feed in. Which will further appear, if we consider these things following.
1. They are Pastures that will feed Multitudes; nay, they cannot be over-stocked, Christ's Pastures cannot be eaten up.
1. They are Pastures that will feed Multitudes; nay, they cannot be over-stock'd, Christ's Pastures cannot be eaten up.
2. Christ's Pastures are always Good, always Rich, as good in Winter as Summer; and so are not other Pastures.
3. So well fenced about, that the Walls cannot by Men nor Devils be broken down. God secures his People and Gospel by his own Almighty Power and Providence; he is a Wall of Fire round about: besides, his Angels encamp about them that fear him also.
4. Christ's Pastures have most precious Water in them; There is a River that makes glad the City of God, &c. He feeds me in green 1Pastures, and leads me besides the still Waters. The Holy Spirit, and Graces of the Spirit, may be here intended. 1. Water hath a cooling Nature, it allays Thirst; so these Waters cool the Fire of Lust, and every evil Passion, and allay that inordinate Thirst after the things of this World. 2. Some Waters are of a purging Quality; these Waters also purge the Soul of all evil and nauseous Humours. 3. Water makes fruitful; it makes Pastures fruitful, and the Sheep also: So these Sacred Waters make the Word and Ordinances fruitful, and the Saints fruitful likewise. ⟨p. 139⟩4. Waters soften; so these Waters soften the Heart and make it tender. 5. Waters have a cleansing Virtue: So have these Divine Waters; the Spirit, and Graces of the Spirit, cleanse the Soul of all Filth and Pollution of Flesh and Spirit. 6. Water hath a healing Property: The Spiritual Waters heal, they are beyond all Waters, exceed all Waters. For, 1. These Waters never fail; other Waters may be dried up. He that drinks of the Water I shall give him, shall never thirst; but 2the Waters that I shall give him, shall be in him a Well of living Water, springing up unto Everlasting Life. 2. These are Waters of Life; he that receives the Holy Spirit, shall live for ever. 3. These are still Waters, not rough boisterous Streams; they may be called still Waters in respect of their Effects. 1. They will keep such that drink of them, in God's Bounds, and cause them to rest in quiet where he hath placed them. 2. They make a still and quiet Soul, a still and quiet Family, a still and quiet Church, when all drink of these Waters; nay, a still and quiet Nation: they allay all Feuds and undue Heats among Christians that partake of them. These Waters quiet the Conscience under the Accusations of the Law; quiet the Conscience under Satan's Temptations. Thou art a Sinner, saith Satan, and thy Sins are committed with great Aggravations; thou deservest Wrath, and Divine Vengeance: But no sooner doth the Soul drink of these Waters, but it is quieted; the Spirit by Faith shows the dejected Person that Christ hath born the Wrath of God, and reconciled him to the Father. 3. They quiet Believers under Affliction, in Times of Want and Poverty, and under National Fears and Disquietments. And, 4.
In a Time of Sickness, and at the Hour of Death. 1. By evidencing to the Soul, that the Covenant is well-ordered in all things, and sure. 2. That the Promises of God are firm, and cannot be broken. 3. That the Love of God is Everlasting, and nothing can separate them from it. ⟨p. 140⟩4. That the Faithfulness of God, and his Almighty Power, is engaged to preserve them, and keep them unto Salvation.
1. Exhortation. If Christ feeds us in such Pastures, and gives us such Waters, labour, O ye Saints, to be thankful. What Praise doth this call for! even holy and thankful Lips and Lives.
2. Labour to glorify this God, this Saviour; strive to bring forth Fruit to him: Herein, saith Christ, is my Father glorified, that you bring forth much Fruit, so shall you be my Disciples.1
3. Take heed you do not straggle from the Fold of Christ, or refuse the Conduct and Guidance of your Blessed Shepherd.
4. Terror. Woe to them that do annoy, disturb or disquiet Christ's Flock, Christ's Sheep; or any manner of way seek to scatter or divide them, so that they cannot comfortably feed and lie down together.
4. Terror. Wo to them that do annoy, disturb or disquiet Christ's Flock, Christ's Sheep; or any manner of way seek to scatter or divide them, so that they cannot comfortably feed and lie down together.
5. Sinners, will you not enquire where Christ feeds? Remember his Direction; Go forth by the Footsteps of the Flock.1
6. What comfort is here for you that are the Sheep and Lambs of Christ! How safe are you in the Hand of such a Shepherd!
So much at this Time, and for the first part of my Text, viz. the 27th Verse.
4. Christ's Pastures have most precious Water in them; There is a River that makes glad the City of God, &c. He feeds me in green 1Pastures, and leads me besides the still Waters. The Holy Spirit, and Graces of the Spirit, may be here intended. 1. Water hath a cooling Nature, it allays Thirst; so these Waters cool the Fire of Lust, and every evil Passion, and allay that inordinate Thirst after the things of this World. 2. Some Waters are of a purging Quality; these Waters also purge the Soul of all evil and nauseous Humours. 3. Water makes fruitful; it makes Pastures fruitful, and the Sheep also: So these Sacred Waters make the Word and Ordinances fruitful, and the Saints fruitful likewise. ⟨p. 139⟩4. Waters soften; so these Waters soften the Heart and make it tender. 5. Waters have a cleansing Virtue: So have these Divine Waters; the Spirit, and Graces of the Spirit, cleanse the Soul of all Filth and Pollution of Flesh and Spirit. 6. Water hath a healing Property: The Spiritual Waters heal, they are beyond all Waters, exceed all Waters. For, 1. These Waters never fail; other Waters may be dried up. He that drinks of the Water I shall give him, shall never thirst; but 2the Waters that I shall give him, shall be in him a Well of living Water, springing up unto Everlasting Life. 2. These are Waters of Life; he that receives the Holy Spirit, shall live for ever. 3. These are still Waters, not rough boisterous Streams; they may be called still Waters in respect of their Effects. 1. They will keep such that drink of them, in God's Bounds, and cause them to rest in quiet where he hath placed them. 2. They make a still and quiet Soul, a still and quiet Family, a still and quiet Church, when all drink of these Waters; nay, a still and quiet Nation: they allay all Feuds and undue Heats among Christians that partake of them. These Waters quiet the Conscience under the Accusations of the Law; quiet the Conscience under Satan's Temptations. Thou art a Sinner, saith Satan, and thy Sins are committed with great Aggravations; thou deservest Wrath, and Divine Vengeance: But no sooner doth the Soul drink of these Waters, but it is quieted; the Spirit by Faith shews the dejected Person that Christ hath born the Wrath of God, and reconciled him to the Father. 3. They quiet Believers under Affliction, in Times of Want and Poverty, and under National Fears and Disquietments. And, 4.
