A treatise of the covenant of grace, as it is dispensed to the elect…

How therefore comes the soul to be freed of his burdens? He thirsteth after Christ, and none of all the creatures can quench his thirst; therefore our Saviour proclaims this in the last and great day of the Feast, when most of the Jews were present (for this Feast lasted eight days) If any man be now athirst, and not satisfied with all the Ordinances they had now enjoyed: he doth not send them back again, nor doth he bid them satisfy themselves with their own thirstings; neither doth he tell them, that their blessedness lieth in that they do thirst (though there be a blessedness in it) but how then shall they be satisfied? Let him come to me, and drink.

How therefore comes the soul to be freed of his burdens? He thirsteth after Christ, and none of all the creatures can quench his thirst; therefore our Saviour proclaims this in the last and great day of the Feast, when most of the Jewes were present (for this Feast lasted eight days) If any man be now athirst, and not satisfied with all the Ordinances they had now enjoyed: he doth not send them back again, nor doth he bid them satisfie themselves with their own thirstings; neither doth he tell them, that their blessedness lyeth in that they do thirst (though there be a blessedness in it) but how then shall they be satisfied? Let him come to me, and drink.

So that this is the Christian Liberty, which the Lord brings us unto, when he works in us unquenchable desires after Christ: if you would comfort a soul, and tell him you do thirst after Christ; & that you could not have done if Christ had not wrought it in your soul; you say true, and there may be more in such a soul then he is aware of; yet Christ is not ⟨p. 162⟩wont to leave the soul to quench his thirst with his thirst: but you will say, Is not hungering and thirsting a sign of health? For a surfeited body doth not hunger: true: yet the Lord doth not direct the soul to content himself with his own act; but, Come unto me. But will the Lord Jesus give him drink? He promiseth that he will; Let him come to me, and drink: And he saith moreover, He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life: this he spake of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified: so as that which now the Son doth, is not the proper characteristical work of the Spirit; but Jesus Christ doth come unto the soul, and comforts it in some measure; and, which is a second degree of liberty, giveth some liberty of hope, that the Lord will at the length be pleased to fill him with his blessed Spirit, which the Lord did more abundantly pour out upon the Disciples after his Resurrection: And there is yet a more abundant fulfilling of all, when he doth come unto the proper work of the Spirit; and therefore he distinguisheth his own work, from the work of the Spirit,