A80611:302
Christ the fountain of lifeChrist the fountaine of life
Christ the fountain of life: or, Sundry choice sermons on part of the fifth chapter of the first Epistle of St. John. Preached by that learned judicious divine, and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. John Cotton B.D. now preacher at Boston in New-England. Published according to Order.Christ the fountaine of life: or, Sundry choyce sermons on part of the fift chapter of the first Epistle of St. John. Preached by that learned judicious divine, and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. John Cotton B.D. now preacher at Boston in New-England. Published according to Order.
London: printed by Robert Ibbitson, 1651
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.
Quest. But how shall I know that I do feed upon Christ in every Ordinance?
Quest. But how shall I know that I doe feed upon Christ in every Ordinance?
Ans. 1First, Whether do you find an inward longing desire in your souls after the Lord Jesus Christ in the duties you go about? Do you come with a desire to find Christ in his Ordinance, hungering and thirsting, and not satisfied unless you find Christ? that is the nature of hungering and thirsting and so is the case here. This desire and thirst is such an unquenchable desire, as that without Christ it is ⟨p. 135⟩by no means satisfied; do you therefore find an inward longing to find and meet with the Lord Jesus, in the Word that you read or hear, in the Sacraments that you receive, and such a longing desire, as that if you find not Christ there, you go away poor and dead, and finding your hearts unsatisfied is an evident sign of life, for you came to an Ordinance, and desired to find Christ there, and there he was not; what then, Cant. 3.1, 2, 3. to the bed of the Ordinances, the Church goes to seek and to find Christ, by night I sought him, that was in a time of calamity, that she could plainly discern she found him not, and she sought him in every other Ordinance, but found him not, or sign of life; she hungers, and sought out after him, but could not find him, and when she missed him was not satisfied.
Ans. 1First, Whether doe you finde an inward longing desire in your souls after the Lord Jesus Christ in the duties you goe about? Doe you come with a desire to finde Christ in his Ordinance, hungring and thirsting, and not satisfied unlesse you finde Christ? that is the nature of hungring and thirsting and so is the case here. This desire and thirst is such an unquenchable desire, as that without Christ it is