Hence I perish for want of bread, I have creatures, Ordinances, Affections, comforts, Duties, but Oh no Christ. Like the Prodigal, Luke 15. 17. Oh therefore do not only see, but feel the want of the Lord Jesus, you that never had him yet; nay you that have him, you cannot have more of him, but by feeling more the want of him. Oh it was a marvellous expression of Moses, when the Lord began to grow weary of their company, Exod. 33. 15. If thou goest not with us, carry us not up hence, i. e. Let us rather die than live without thee. Mary when Christ was crucified, the carcass of the Lord was gone, she sate there weeping: Oh much more for the Lord himself. Its observed by some for the saddest spectacle, to see a desert Town: Oh what is it to see a desert heart, where no Christ inhabits? Or a city, and no Inhabitants. And hence its Romes curse, to be made an habitation of devils; so here. What is Hell, but this, to see not Abraham, but to see Christ afar off? and thy self shut out. It may be 'tis no sorrow now, but it will be. Its a sad thing to see a man rise up early, go to bed late, eat the bread of carefulness, and yet gain nothing, Phil. 1. 21. This is very sad. Christ is our gain, all the creatures you have, means you use, duties you do, comforts you receive, they are not gain, nay, the more God doth for thee, the more thou losest, if no Christ, because now thou art full by this means. Oh therefore get a heart sensible of the want of the Lord. Think there is a Christ, whose Glory is the amazement of Heaven, but Oh I see him not. Happy for ever are they that have him, but Oh I have him not. Your hungry bellies cannot want bread, if they do, they are never quiet till they have it. Is the Lord no better? Lord grant this contempt be not revenged with spiritual plagues! Some of you know not your want, others feel it not, you can live without him; worse than Saul, he went to Urim, and lamented in great distress, He answers me not! Oh you feel no distress, because of this, I have him ⟨p. 86⟩not! Nay worse than Dives, that begged, Oh a drop of water to cool my tongue! Why cry not you, Oh the Lord Christ to comfort my heart! Why is not all this fullness longed for? Oh therefore let nothing else comfort, and let nothing discourage, but make this use of all, Oh I want him!
Hence I perish for want of bread, I have creatures, Ordinances, Affections, comforts, Duties, but Oh no Christ. Like the Prodigall, Luke 15. 17. Oh therefore do not only see, but feel the want of the Lord Jesus, you that never had him yet; nay you that have him, you cannot have more of him, but by feeling more the want of him. Oh it was a marvellous expression of Moses, when the Lord began to grow weary of their company, Exod. 33. 15. If thou goest not with us, carry us not up hence, i. e. Let us rather die than live without thee. Mary when Christ was crucified, the carcase of the Lord was gone, she sate there weeping: Oh much more for the Lord himself. Its observed by some for the saddest spectacle, to see a desert Town: Oh what is it to see a desert heart, where no Christ inhabits? Or a city, and no Inhabitants. And hence its Romes curse, to be made an habitation of devils; so here. What is Hell, but this, to see not Abraham, but to see Christ afar off? and thy self shut out. It may be 'tis no sorrow now, but it will be. Its a sad thing to see a man rise up early, go to bed late, eat the bread of carefulnesse, and yet gain nothing, Phil. 1. 21. This is very sad. Christ is our gain, all the creatures you have, means you use, duties you do, comforts you receive, they are not gain, nay, the more God doth for thee, the more thou losest, if no Christ, because now thou art full by this means. Oh therefore get a heart sensible of the want of the Lord. Think there is a Christ, whose Glory is the amazement of Heaven, but Oh I see him not. Happy for ever are they that have him, but Oh I have him not. Your hungry bellies cannot want bread, if they do, they are never quiet till they have it. Is the Lord no better? Lord grant this contempt be not revenged with spirituall plagues! Some of you know not your want, others feel it not, you can live without him; worse than Saul, he went to Urim, and lamented in great distresse, He answers me not! Oh you feel no distresse, because of this, I have him ⟨p. 86⟩not! Nay worse than Dives, that begg'd, Oh a drop of water to cool my tongue! Why cry not you, Oh the Lord Christ to comfort my heart! Why is not all this fulnesse longed for? Oh therefore let nothing else comfort, and let nothing discourage, but make this use of all, Oh I want him!
