Doctrine 1: That Jesus Christ Is a Fountain of Saving Good

DOCTRINE I. That Jesus Christ is a Fountain of saving Good.

What is nextly intended by this fountain, Commentators do variously guess; some apply it to the grace of God, some to the Holy Ghost, some to the Gospel itself, and some to Baptism, or to both of the Sacraments of the New Testament. But all agree that it ultimately refers to Christ, as he in whom all that grace which is provided for the relief of sinful man, is treasured up as in a fountain, according to (Colossians 1:19), "It pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell." This then is one of the precious titles of Christ; and it is metaphorical or allusive, pointing us to the consideration of an earthly thing, and such as is well known, for our help in the contemplation of him, and the great benefit that accrueth by him to his people. In the clearing up of this doctrine, three things may be inquired into, namely,

1. In what respect Christ is a fountain?

2. What is that saving good that is fountained in him?

3. How he comes to be such a fountain?

1. In what respect Christ is a fountain?

A. The word, fountain, may be considered in a double sense; either only as a metaphor, alluding to the repository in which waters are contained, and from which they issue; or else with the addition of a metonymy, with respect to the waters that are contained in it; and both these are applicable to the Text. The former of these belongs to this enquiry, and the latter to the next. As then a fountain is a repository which God has, in the work of creation, provided for the treasuring up of waters in, so is Christ a store-house of all grace, in whom it is laid up. And there are several respects in which he is thus compared to a fountain, and has this title put upon him; more especially,

1. A fountain is so called from the plenty of waters that are in it. There is a great fulness in a fountain. Cisterns have but a little in them; small springs, that are but little veins in the earth, do vent but a little water, because they have not much in them; but a fountain has abundance in it, it is a vast treasury; there is no want in a fountain, but there may come as many as will to it, and have a full supply of water from it; and such a fountain of grace is Jesus Christ to his people. For this reason is he said to be full of grace and truth (John 1:14). And all the people of God are said to receive out of his fulness (verse 16), and because of this abounding sufficiency of his, those that fear him are said to have no want of any good thing (Psalm 34:9). And believers are said to receive abundance of grace from him (Romans 5:17). Hence we are told in (Isaiah 33:21), "The glorious Lord will be to us a place of broad rivers and streams."

2. A fountain is so called from the quality of the waters in it. The waters of a fountain are very much different from those that are in a pool or cistern; and there are two titles that are put upon them in this regard.

1. They are called living waters. Hence we have such allusive expressions (Song of Solomon 4:15), "A well of living waters" (Revelation 7:17), "And shall lead them to living fountains of water." Not that they properly have a principle of life, or a living soul in them (for they are not in the order of animates) but metaphorically, in that they have something resembling life, because they run, and overflow, and purge themselves, and have a continual motion. As also from the efficacy of them, because they are salubrious, and very serviceable for the preservation of the life of the creature. Thus is Christ in respect of his graces compared to a fountain (Jeremiah 2:13), "You have forsaken me the fountain of living waters," and the graces which he communicates from himself to such as come to him, have that epithet given to them, because they do revive, or give and [illegible] life to them who partake in them; see for this (John 4:10), "He would have given you living water;" and (John 7:38), "He that believes in me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water;" and on this account the Psalmist ascribes that to him (Psalm 36:9), "With you is the fountain of life."

2. They are called clear and pure waters. And this follows from the former; for being living, they purge themselves, and always keep clean. A cistern, or pond, or well, are apt to gather filth by standing, and to grow corrupt, and to be often disturbed; but a fountain is clean and pure. Accordingly we have the Spirit of God, in allusion to this, describing the fountain of grace which God has provided for his Church (Revelation 22:1), "He shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal." Such is Christ, and such are all his benefits; they are holy, and there is no defilement in them.

3. A fountain is so called from the diffusiveness of its waters. The waters in a well, or a pond, are shut up, and they move not; but are confined to one place; they are standing: but a fountain is ever running over its banks, and spreading itself far and near, imparting of itself in its streams. Hence we so often read of running waters in the Scriptures. Such also is Christ in respect of his grace. We have an allegorical description given of this in Ezekiel 47, beginning, in those waters of the Sanctuary, which ran from the south side of the Altar, and increased as they went along; which point to that we are now considering of. A fountain may be conveyed in streams to many places, for the supply of such as want it: and Christ conveys his grace here and there; and there is never a street in the City of God but is abundantly refreshed with it.

A fountain is so called from the perennity of it. The waters in a cistern or pool waste with using, and may be emptied in time, if constantly repaired to, yes and the waters in them will dry up by degrees; but a fountain is ever full, and has a fresh supply coming in, as fast as any is drawn out of it, or conveyed from it: if ten thousand should come to it, they may fill all their vessels, and yet there is no want, nor any missing, but ten thousand more may come after them, and have equal supply. Such is Christ in respect to his grace; hence all that are a [illegible] are invited to him (Isaiah 55:1): Ho, every one that thirsts come to the waters; and we are bidden to enlarge our vessels, and yet we shall be replenished (Psalm 81:9): Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it; and God has assured us (Isaiah 45:19): I said not to the seed of Jacob, Seek you me in vain.

What is that saving good that is fountained in him?

We observed that a fountain is properly a receptacle of waters, and therefore is metonymically put for the waters themselves that are in it; and we may here keep to the allusion. Water is one of those things that are necessary for the life of man, and afford a manifold benefit to it; it quenches the thirst, it revives the spirits, it comforts the man, it cools and refreshes the body, it is of use also for cleansing or purifying both the body, and such things as are for its use and comfort: and indeed such is the usefulness of this element, that the want of it makes the man miserable, and if he be not supplied with it, he will unavoidably perish. It is therefore reckoned for a singular advantage and happiness to dwell near a fountain of water, as Isaiah 33:16, His waters shall be sure; and chapter 32:20, Blessed are you that sow beside all waters. Now that which is here alluded to in this comparison is whatever benefit derives from Christ to the souls of men, for the helping them to obtain eternal life. These waters comprehend under them grace, and glory, and every good thing (Psalm 84:11); peculiarly the graces of his Spirit are here pointed to, and therefore we have such an expression in John 1:16: Of his fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. The benefit of which is excellent, and manifold: without it we must needs perish; from and by it derives to us all that is necessary or desirable. There is pardon of sin, peace with God, sonship, sanctification, and consolation: the most comprehensive of which will be particularly considered of under a following doctrine. But it is certain that all these are laid up in Christ, and flow from him to his people, as waters do out of a fountain; and are nowhere else to be had.

How he came to be such a fountain?

This flows from his mediatorship, and may be traced in these four particulars.

Man's apostasy had cut him off from God as the fountain of life to him. All man's happiness is fountained in God, and must derive from him by way of participation. He was at first, in his state of integrity, planted by this fountain, had free access to it, and could refresh himself at all times with it; the streams of it ran down freely on him: but when he sinned against God, that made a woeful separation, so God tells them (Isaiah 59:2): Your sins have separated between you and your God; and since then, that is a proper title of sinful men in their natural state (Psalm 73:27): They that are far from you. God is no longer his portion; of a friend he is become his enemy; all those glorious attributes which when for him, would have filled him with satisfaction, are now armed against him, and become a terror to him, being ready to destroy him: and if this be not retrieved he cannot escape perdition.

God's free grace constituted Christ in the office of a Mediator, that he might procure life and happiness again for man. Sin had brought man under the guilt of death, binding him over to suffer eternal vengeance. God's justice was now engaged to execute a holy revenge upon him, for the affront which he had offered to his law. This justice must be satisfied; man can no more approach to God but by a Mediator, for without one, God is a consuming fire. God graciously resolves to bring some of that unhappy race back again to himself, and be a fountain of life to them, and herein to manifest his rich grace; for this end he appointed his own Son to become man, and in our nature to bring about an atonement, by reconciling God and man one to another and procuring a redemption for us; for this he put Christ into his office, and indented with him in the days of eternity: the counsel of peace is therefore said to be between them both (Zechariah 6:13).

Christ, by his satisfactory obedience, purchased and laid in all that was needful for the salvation of man. Had not God put him into office, and commissioned him for this, all his obedience had been insignificant: for, not only or merely the value, but the acceptance of it for us, made it a purchase: and yet had it not been valuable, it would not have done, because justice and mercy could not otherwise have agreed in our salvation, as they must (Psalm 85:10): Mercy and Truth are met together, Justice and Peace have kissed each other. But Christ bought us at a valuable price (1 Corinthians 16:12): You are bought with a price; and because his death was more eminently concerned in this, hence it is peculiarly attributed to his blood (1 Peter 1:18, 19): You are redeemed, &c. with the precious blood of Christ; and as he bought us out of the hand of revenging justice, so he bought all that inheritance for us, in which our whole happiness is contained, which is called the purchased possession (Ephesians 1:14).

Hence all this good is deposited in him, and the dispensation of it is committed to him. As he was at the cost to procure it, so his Father has betrusted him with the application of it; he is made the storehouse or treasure of it, it is laid up in him (Colossians 2:3). In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge: we must go to this heavenly Joseph if we would obtain it. God put not only a priestly, but a prophetical and kingly office on him; and now he leaves all to his management, and he gives eternal life according to his pleasure (John 5:21, 22). The Son quickens whom he will; the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son. You have given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as you have given him (John 17:2).

USE 1. For information in two or three particulars.

1. Learn we hence the happiness of all those that have gotten an interest in Christ. All the titles that are put upon him in the Word of God, are to commend to us some excellent benefit that flows from him to those that participate in him. Now, as Christ's office is to convey saving mercies to us, so herein he appears glorious, in that they are all stored in him as in a fountain, and that he therefore is a fountain of them. How rich then are all they who are owners of this fountain, that dwell with him? Such are all true believers: these can never want; all that they can need is in him; and there is enough and to spare: this may turn the valley of Baca into a well (Psalm 84:6). Christ himself has told us what is the privilege of those that believe in him (John 7:38): Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water; and hence there is such blessedness pronounced on believers (Jeremiah 17:8). He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and spreads out her root by the river, &c. Rejoice then in this your lot, and envy not the world their broken cisterns, though they seem to be never so full.

2. Here is good news to those thirsty souls, that have sought for living waters, and found none elsewhere. When God awakens the consciences of sinners, and shows them something of the misery which they labor of, they are inquisitive where they may get a remedy; and they seek it at home and abroad, they go from hill to mountain in quest of it; they have gone to every pit, hoping to draw waters to refresh their souls out of it, but they have come away empty and ashamed, and may possibly be ready to sit down and despair of ever finding any that will quench their thirst, and refresh their souls. But be of good cheer, here is a true report made of a fountain of such waters as you need; there is none in the world, nor is there any in your own power: but there is enough in Christ; he is an infinite and inexhaustible fountain of it. And if there was no more to be said, yet here is encouragement to hope: if there were none at all, your case were then desperate; but if it be anywhere, and there be enough of it too, think then, I will not abandon hope, for who knows but that he may show me the favor, to give me to drink of these waters of life.

3. This may answer their doubt who are afraid to come to Christ, by reason of the greatness of their sin and misery. When deep convictions of these do make them, instead of making the greater haste to Christ, to discourage themselves thereby from daring at all to come to him, their sins are too great to be forgiven them, their hearts are so hard, that there is no softening of them, their debts are run up to ten thousand talents, they have gone beyond the ordinary sort of sinners; and sure there is no help in Christ for such as they are. Look now, he is a fountain, yes he is an immense and an incomprehensible fountain, whatever you want or can desire is to be supplied out of it to the utmost extent of your cravings, yes, indeed he came for that very end, that where sin has abounded, grace might much more abound (Romans 5:20). And is therefore furnished accordingly. Hence,

USE 2. Let it be to exhort and direct miserable sinners; and such are all the children of men in their natural estate, and till they are gotten into Christ, and interested in his redemption. Be you then pointed hereby to come to Christ for all your supplies; make him your object, and address yourselves to him. Many arguments might here be used to press this advice; but I shall only offer two or three which are fetched from the doctrine in hand.

1. You must have a supply or you will perish. There is no living in the condition you are at present in; if you sit still you die unavoidably; your famishing souls must have something to live upon, and that can be nothing else but these living waters, or you will faint and die. The whole Word of God will assure you of your woful [illegible], which as long as you abide in your natural state, you labor of, and are perishing in: if therefore there be no supply to be had, you will sink under this distress, and be undone for ever. And surely such a thought as this, if duly meditated upon, cannot but stir you up to enquire, and make you restless in seeking where and how you may obtain the supply, by which you may escape the woful misery which is upon you.

2. You will be miserably disappointed if you go anywhere else for it. You will have many solicitors, who will say to you, Turn in here, and will promise you fair; but all is a cheat; believe them not, if you will not be miserably disappointed. If you seek to the world, there is not one drop of the waters of life to be found in it, it has nothing but poisoned waters, which, however they may please your carnal appetites, will not satisfy an immortal soul. The world's cup may intoxicate you, but it will never slack your thirst; man's misery began in his turning to it (Jeremiah 2:13). They have dug to themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water. If you seek it in your own righteousness, and take much pains in quest of it by that course, it will deceive you; God expostulates thus with all that will not come to these waters (Isaiah 55:2): Therefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which satisfies not?

There is enough in Christ to answer all your wants. Let them be never so many, or never so great, yet know it that fountain has an immense fulness in it, and can never be drawn dry. Millions of souls have been satisfied at it, and it is still as full as ever (Ephesians 3:20). He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. All other waters will dry up, but these never will (Isaiah 58:11). You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of waters, whose waters fail not. The Psalmist therefore presumes on this (Psalm 36:8): You shall make them to drink of the river of your pleasures.

And for your direction.

1. Be affected with your own necessity. The reason why this fountain is no more repaired to, why Jesus Christ is so greatly neglected by the children of men, is not because they have no need of him, but because they do not rightly resent their need. Were you in the case of those poor lepers that sat in the gate of Samaria, of whom you read in (2 Kings 7 begin.), or of the poor prodigal in his far country, where he was ready to famish (Luke 15), you would soon bestir yourselves. Consider then what sin has made you; take the Word of God, and believe it, and there read what a forlorn condition you are in, starving, fainting, dying.

2. Renounce all trust in broken cisterns, and seek to him alone for supply. As long as you look elsewhere, he will not hear you; we are told in (Jonah 2:6): They that embrace lying vanities, forsake their own mercies. And accordingly we are acquainted how it shall be, when God comes to be the portion of the soul (Hosea 14:8): Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? And hence we are directed to come with a declared rejection of other objects (verse 2, 3): Ashur shall not save, &c. And one would think your own experience, how often you have been defeated in seeking to them, were enough to make you thus to do.

3. Plead his ability, or sufficiency. Believe it, and let it be your encouragement, and make use of it in your petitions; argue with yourselves, as the prodigal did (Luke 15:17): In my father's house is enough and to spare, and I perish. And let it make you to arise, and when you come, tell him, your thirsty souls are ready to expire, and you can find nothing to refresh them; that he has enough with him, and that he can afford it to you, and how it will be for the glory of his grace thus to do, when he shall so save a perishing soul, and make it a monument of his mercy and power to all eternity.

4. Now resign yourselves up to his mercy. Resolve that because you have found all the [illegible] in the world empty, and that here is a full fountain, able to supply you, you will go no whither else, but wait for the communication of grace to you; acknowledging of his supremacy, adventuring on his mercy; and beg of him his grace to establish this purpose in you; and fear not: this fountain will open to you: which is the next thing.