Doctrine 2: Jesus Christ Is an Opened Fountain in the Days of the Gospel

DOCTRINE. II. Jesus Christ is an Opened fountain in the days of the Gospel.

Our Prophet is speaking of, and predicting about Gospel times, and tells us, that in that day there shall be a fountain opened. Under the former Doctrine we had Christ commended to us as a fountain of saving good, whose fullness of all grace and goodness may invite the poor and needy soul to repair to him, to have all its wants supplied. In this we have a further commendation given him by the epithet added, namely, that he is a fountain opened, which mightily adds to the encouragement of indigent ones to come to him. Under the former metaphor he was exhibited as an all-sufficient Savior, and by this he is set forth as a free, ready and willing Savior; that shows what he is in himself; this tells us what he is willing to be to us, if we would so make use of him.

In pursuit of this Doctrine we may enquire,

1. What is included in the opening of this fountain?

2. How it comes to be thus opened?

3. In what respect it is said to be opened in the days of the Gospel?

1. What is included in the opening of this fountain?

Opening and shutting are contraries; and when it is opened, it supposes that before it was shut: either it was not known, or it was inaccessible. There is therefore a double opening of this fountain which is here intended, namely,

1. By revelation, or discovery. A thing that is hidden or secret, is said to be shut, but when it is published or made known, then it is opened; and it is to be observed, that the discovery of this fountain is by revelation: all the wisdom and understanding of angels and men, which they had in them by nature, could never have found this out; nature's light afforded not a key to unlock this mystery. When it lay in the cabinet of God's eternal counsel, it was a sealed thing, and there was no mere creature that could open it; but God has made known this glorious fountain, and set it forth manifestly before us. Now the things which God has opened to us by it, are;

1. That there is such a fountain provided for man's use. God had fore-appointed it in the days of eternity, and made it ready in the fullness of time; but these things were in themselves secret, nor had man ever known that there is such a supply laid in for him, if God had not told him of it. God's counsel about it was in his own breast, and the way in which he effected it was so obscure, that man understood it not till he declared it. Who should tell man that God had so much good will for him, as to provide salvation for him by a Redeemer, when he had destroyed himself by sin? God only knew his own thoughts, and none could have guessed at them by any rational arguings, if he had not told them. When God says concerning the sinful creature, as (Job 33:24), Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom, he then opens this fountain.

2. Where it is; and this is a further degree of the opening of it. There is some support afforded to us, in being told that there is such a thing; but then the proper enquiry will be, Where is it? Except we be determined about our object, we are still at a loss: but God has pointed us here also, and told us who is the fountain, namely, Jesus Christ. He has assured us where it is not, and given us the character of all the broken cisterns that we are ready to take up at, and told us where only the waters of life are to be had. Notwithstanding all the predictions which had been of Christ before, yet when he came he was not known; the world were prejudiced at him, yes and his own were at a loss about him (Isaiah 52:14): As many were astonished at you; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men; and (Isaiah 53:2), He has no form or comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. And (Luke 24:21), We trusted that it had been he that should have redeemed Israel. He has therefore pointed out the very person, and given us the characters in his Word whereby he may be known, and assured us that all salvation is limited to him (Acts 4:12): Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

3. The fullness of sufficiency which there is in this fountain, and how he came by it. He has declared all the virtues of it, and the efficacy there is in them: how Jesus Christ came to be a complete Savior, and able to save to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25). He is for this end laid forth in his natures, in his offices, and the whole work of redemption which was wrought out by him; in the covenant engagements which there passed between his Father and him; and in the suitableness of what he has done and undergone, for the answering of all that was requisite in order to our salvation, and the acceptance which it found with the Father on this account. These were dark and dubious things to the wisest of men, but he has opened them clearly to us (1 Corinthians 1:23–24): We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness, but to them which are called, Christ the wisdom of God and the power of God.

4. The way wherein we may come at, and partake in this fountain. We must come to it, if ever we obtain life from it; hence that complaint (John 5:40): You will not come to me, that you might have life. There is therefore a way in which we may so come, and this man's reason and light could not have given him any direction about: it is therefore a great piece of the natural man's misery (Romans 3:17): The way of peace have they not known. This God has opened to us in the New Covenant, by publishing the terms of it, namely, faith and repentance, and showing us the fallacy of all the other ways which vain men have taken to obtain it, and missed in the end (Micah 6:8): He has shown you, O man, what is good. Now the way in which God has discovered all this is in the Gospel, and by the ordinances of it (2 Timothy 1:10): Has brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel. So that men need no longer to be at a loss, nor wander from mountain to hill, seeking rest and finding none.

By the offers that are made of it, and the invitations given to men to come to it, whereby they have a freedom of access. A thing is then said to be shut up, when it is enclosed, and there is no liberty of coming at it; when therefore it is exhibited and laid open, and all encouragement is offered to repair to it, it is then opened: so is this fountain.

Here let us observe.

That God, together with discovering it, makes large and universal offers of it to men. He not only has told us that there is such a thing, but has invited men to come to it; has told them what it is designed for, and bidden every one that hears of it, and is sensible of his own need, to come to it and partake of it, the offer of it is universal (Isaiah 55:1). Ho, every one that thirsts, come to the waters; he excepts none that are willing to come; no, he has put in to prevent discouragement in such as may be afraid by reason of aggravated sin and guilt (Isaiah 1:18). Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow (Isaiah 55:7). Let the wicked forsake his way, &c. and turn to the Lord, for he will have mercy, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

He sends his ambassadors to plead with men, and that with all urgency, that they will come to it. He enjoins them to use all arguments with men, to show them their absolute need of it, that they must needs perish without it; to beg and pray them to accept of the reconciliation; and to follow them from time to time with utmost importunity, according to (2 Corinthians 5:20): We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead be you reconciled to God. Nor are they to be discouraged in the work, but to renew the treaty though sinful men do all they can to break it off.

He makes the largest promises to such as do come. How welcome he will make them, how readily he will entertain them, and that notwithstanding all they have been and done to provoke him to deal contrary with them; they shall not lose their labor, but have full satisfaction given them (Matthew 11:28). Come to me, &c. and I will give you rest (Revelation 3:20). I will come in, and sup with him, and he with me; and he has said, that he will never cast them out (John 6:37).

How it comes to be thus opened?

We may come at this in the following particulars.

This fountain was provided on purpose for the salvation of undone sinners. It was for the advancement of the riches of his grace that God contrived it before time; and it was because sin had made man to stand in absolute need of it that God revealed it to him in time, hence (Romans 5:6): When we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly (Galatians 4:4). When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, &c. Had not man plunged himself into misery, and helplessness in himself, or in the whole creation, there had been no occasion for it. Hence we have Christ himself declaring the design of his coming in our nature (Matthew 9:13): I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance; and our prophet acquaints us what the blood of the covenant was for (Zechariah 9:11): By the blood of your covenant, I have sent forth your prisoners out of the pit, where there is no water; and that blood was no other than what our text and doctrine call a fountain.

That sinners may obtain salvation by it, they must partake in it. There must not only be a remedy suitable and sufficient provided, but there must be an application made of it, if ever the creature's misery be removed by it. Let there be never so full a fountain, never so much plenty of living waters, yet if the man do not drink of them, his thirsty soul will not be satisfied therewith, but he must perish for all. It is not enough that there is a Christ who is able to give eternal life, who is able to save to the uttermost, but we must have him if we live by him (1 John 5:12). He that has the Son has life, and he that has not the Son has not life: except the man drink of these waters they will never profit him; what else is the reason why so many perish, though there be enough in Christ to save the whole world? Christ himself has told us a reason of it in regard of such as live under the Gospel, namely they will not come to him that they may have life (John 5:40). For it is by participation in it, that the virtue of Christ's redemption becomes ours.

It is by being united to Christ by faith that they come to partake in him. Union with Christ is the foundation of communion with him, and faith is the bond of that union on our part: he must dwell in us, in order to his communicating of his saving benefits to us, and how that is we are told (Ephesians 3:17): That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Hence the Apostle propounds that solemn case (2 Corinthians 13:5): Know you not your own selves, how that Christ is in you, except you are reprobates? It is by faith that we receive Christ; unbelief shuts him out, and so hinders us of all saving good by him; if we believe not in him, we shall never receive the waters of life from him.

That they may thus believe in him, they must have him opened to them. Faith is the act of a reasonable creature, and so it must have a ground for it, Paul can say, I know whom I have trusted (2 Timothy 1:12).

He must be opened by revelation. There must be a discovery made of him to and in the soul, by which it may be certified of his fullness and suitableness; that he is able to answer the soul's wants, and to supply its needs, to fill its cravings, and remedy its miseries: what else should move it to adventure its all upon him? It is therefore said (Psalm 9:10): They that know your name will put their trust in you; and in (Romans 10:14): How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?

2. He must also be Opened by Encouragement. Sin has brought guilt and a curse upon the sinner, the awakened sinner apprehends the wrath of God that is out against him, and how shall he believe that God will show him mercy, or that, though he be able, yet he is willing to apply this power to him for his salvation? Certainly there must be a free offer, an earnest invitation, or else he will never dare to adventure to come to him, whom he apprehends to be a consuming fire: here lieth the encouragement (Matthew 10:49). Be of good comfort, rise, he calls you.

5. That he might accommodate this to their nature.

1. He has revealed these truths to men extraordinarily inspired. As they are to come to us by Revelation, so God chose such to whom he would make it; and by whom he would communicate it to others; and on this account we read (2 Peter 1:21), Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and (2 Timothy 3:16), All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.

2. He has recorded them in his written Word. In that he has commended his mind to us, and has bidden us to search the Scriptures, as we hope to have eternal life, and has given us this reason why we should thus do, because they testify of him (John 5:39). And it is evident, that whatever God would have to be known concerning Christ, and the way to life by him, in this life, is recorded in the Scriptures, and there are we to seek for it, and no where else.

3. He has appointed the ordinances of the Gospel in which these truths are to be dispensed. He has instituted the preaching of the Gospel, and sent his ambassadors commissioned by him for this very end, and that is the great business which they are to intend, and nothing else but what is in subordination to this (1 Corinthians 2:2): I determined to know nothing among you, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified; and how does Paul glory in this (Ephesians 3:8): To me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. They are to declare this fountain, and to commend it to men, and pray them to come to it; and thus it stands open for all that will repair to it.

3. In what respect it is said to be opened in the days of the Gospel?

A. We are by the days of the Gospel to understand all that time from Christ's having appeared in the flesh, and accomplished the work of Redemption, till the day of judgment: which is called the Gospel day, in opposition to the times of the dispensation of the Law of Moses: else it is certain that it has been a Gospel day, ever since the Revelation which was made to our first parents, of the woman's seed breaking the head of the Serpent (Genesis 3:15). And here we may observe three things.

1. It is clear from the Word of God, that this fountain was opened to man, before Christ came in our flesh. There was a way of salvation discovered to man, presently after he had undone himself by sin; and there were a great many saved by the virtue of this fountain in the times of the Law: there were then holy men, who were the friends of God, men after his own heart, men that trusted in him, and waited for his salvation. There were prophecies and predictions about Christ from the beginning, and those that then believed on him as their Redeemer, they saw his day and were glad, they prayed in his name, they had an eye to him in all the types and figures which were of him: for that was a truth from the beginning (Acts 4:12), Neither is there salvation in any other.

2. There was a peculiar opening of it after such time as Christ had wrought out the work of Redemption for us. The Word of God is wont to make mention of things as if they were new, when there is a new manner of the dispensation of them, or when there are very eminent degrees of the manifestation of them to men: now, with respect to the opening of this fountain, it was thus after Christ had finished the great affair of satisfying the justice of God for us, and went to his glory; and that in two regards.

1. In respect to the clearness of the discovery. Those manifestations which were made of Christ under the Law, were very obscure; almost all that was there spoken about him, was under types and figures, and ceremonies. Every thing then had a vail upon it, and few were able to see through it; and so they were exceeding ready to tarry at and take up with the shadows instead of the substance; and by that Law, which was given to be a school-master to lead them to Christ, to fortify themselves against him and his righteousness (Romans 10:2, 3): They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge, for being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to the righteousness of God. So that this fountain was then in a great measure covered, but now it is discovered gloriously, and every thing concerning Christ and salvation by him is spoken plainly (2 Corinthians 3:18): We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory.

2. In respect to the extent of the offer that is made of it. Before the Gospel times, Christ was in some respects a fountain shut up and sealed; he was opened only to the nation of the Jews, and such as were proselyted to them; and that also obscurely: the law of ordinances was a partition wall between the Jews and other people, so that this was their peculiar privilege and prerogative. To them were committed the oracles of God (Romans 3:2). Who are Israelites, to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, etc. (Romans 9:4–5). And hence we have that of Christ himself, in John 4:22, Salvation is of the Jews. Hence the Gospel was to be first offered to them, and on their rejecting it, to be carried to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46). But now the partition wall is pulled down, the law of ordinances is removed, and there is a way opened for others to come to him, and have peace in him (Ephesians 2:14–15). He is our peace, having made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us, etc. Christ therefore, when he was to ascend to Heaven, commissioned his Apostles to go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). The Apostle therefore tells us (Romans 10:18), their sound went into all the earth, and their words into the [illegible] the world.

3. There is yet a more [illegible] opening of this reserved for the day when the Jews shall be called. There is such a calling to be expected; there are prophecies in the Word of God concerning some articles in the Gospel day, which have not as yet been fulfilled, according to the stately predictions about them; and this we wait for till God shall bring that nation back to himself. The Gentiles were very great gainers by the cutting off of the Jews, but they shall be far greater by the grafting of them in again (Romans 11:15). Then shall the knowledge of God cover the earth; then shall Christ reign gloriously among his ancients; then shall his kingdom be wondrously exalted; then shall that have an eminent accomplishment, in Psalm 55:6, When God brings back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. But this will be more insisted on in a following observation.

USE 1. For information in two particulars.

1. Learn hence what reason we have to bless God that we live in times and places of Gospel light. Out of doubt the great advantage of sinful men is to have Christ made known to them. The apostasy had brought us all into a wilderness, a dry and thirsty land wherein there was no water: and had not this fountain been broken up to us, we must needs have perished. Had we lived in the days of the law? if we had then been of the nation of Israel, it had been a great privilege, and a singular favor: however, they were dark times then compared with ours; but if we had been born of and among the Gentiles, we had been shut out from that garden in which this fountain was made to spring up. It is prophesied concerning the Gentiles, with what resentments they shall receive the Gospel (Jeremiah 16:19), The Gentiles shall come to you from the ends of the earth, and shall say, surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. How far then is our condition better than theirs was? Let us then be thankful to God, that the wells of salvation are opened to us, and we may draw waters out of them; that Christ is preached and offered to us, and we are invited to come to him to have our thirsty souls satisfied; that these rivers run before our doors: this is not the privilege of all the world at this day. Think then how highly we are favored hereby, and let God have the whole glory of it.

2. This tells us how justly and inexcusably they will perish, who come not to this fountain. It is certain that all men in their natural state, are in a perishing condition, being cut off from the fountain of living waters; there is no recovering of it again, and life by it, but in and by Christ, in whom it is stored. Man's ruin had been just if this had never been opened to him; God owes not to the fallen creature any hope, nor any provision for its recovery. But if, when God has not only prepared such a remedy, but has also opened it in the Gospel, wooed men with all earnestness to come to, and accept of it, used all endeavors with them to persuade them to embrace it; and yet they refuse to hearken to his calls, to accept of his offers, put him away from them, when he comes to them, will not leave their broken cisterns for this fountain of living waters; there remains no more hope for these, because there is never another fountain at which their souls can find refreshment. They despise Christ, forsake him, will none of him, and this makes their perdition inevitable (Jeremiah 17:13), They that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters; and how righteous a thing is it that they should thus suffer?

USE 2. Let it be to encourage thirsty souls to come to Christ for all they want. God is wont, in order to his revealing of Christ to, and in sinners, to awaken in them a deep sense of their misery, and to bring them into sore distress: they are made to feel themselves perishing in themselves, and thereupon their craving souls are inquisitive whether there be no help to be had for them. Are you then brought into such a strait as this is, let the following advice be acceptable to you.

1. Let your felt want put you upon asking after him. Before you were under the impression of these convictions, you saw no need that you had of him, and that made you to be so far from seeking after him, that when he came and offered himself to you, and bade you to accept of him, you put him away from you, and bade him be gone, made it evident that you had no desire of him; but now let your inquiry be how you may come at him. Your wells in which you before put your trust, are now sensibly dried up, and afford you no supply at all, ask then after this fountain. Let this be your support under your present distress, that you have heard of such an one, and now make it your business to inquire how you may be made to partake in it, how you may get a full draught of these living waters.

Let this fulness of sufficiency be your direction to go to him and no where else. Every one that would partake in this benefit, and not fail of this grace of God, must resolve to forsake all the streams which before they took up withal, for the sake of the fountain; and the prime motive to this, is the apprehension they have of the emptiness of every thing else, and his infinite fulness. Receive then the witness that is born of him in his word, and see how worthy he is of your trust, who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Say, I have tried other objects, and they have failed me, but I have heard that there is enough for me in him; I will therefore go to him, and him only for supply.

Let his being opened be your encouragement to prevail with you to come to him, and believe on him. And indeed, here is that which nextly animates poor thirsty souls to come to him. It is true, if he were not a fountain of grace, he could not answer our necessity, and make us happy; our cravings can be filled with nothing that is less; but still, if this fountain were shut up and sealed, and there were no way discoverable by which we might come at it, the other consideration would afford a poor support to our hope. Goodness indeed is the object of our desire, but it is the communicableness of this goodness which nextly excites our hope, and that is it which must carry us forth vigorously in quest of it: and the more fully this way of participation is manifested to us, and the more freely it is offered in the exhibition of it, the greater must the encouragement needs be. Here therefore is the great demur that sensible souls are wont to make, namely, Is there any way for me to be made a partaker in all this good whereof there is such an abundance in the fountain?

Consider then;

This fountain was provided on purpose for such as you are. It was man's miserable necessity that was the occasion of the providing it; and but for that, it had never been heard of; we are told who are to be made sharers in the benefits of Christ (Psalms 72:12, 13): He shall deliver the needy when he crieth: the poor also, and him that has no helper; he shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. Observe what was the very design of his being anointed, and you will find that was for such as you (Isaiah 61, begin.).

He stands open before you in the offer of the Gospel and ordinances. There is an offer made of him there to some, and who are they but such whose condition is that which you complain of? The offer indeed is general, and has no exception put into it, as to the persons who hear it, provided they comply with the terms propounded. You are not exempted; why then should you exempt yourselves? The invitation says, Whoever will, let him come and take of the waters of life freely (Revelation 22:17). The greatest sinners are not excluded from, but included in it (Jeremiah 3:2): You have played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, says the Lord.

There is a special and peculiar invitation given to all such as you. Sensible sinners, distressed souls, such as are pinched with thirst, and under a feeling of their want (Isaiah 55:1): Every one that thirsteth (Matthew 11:28): All you that are weary and heavy laden. That which you make your discouragement, and seek to hinder yourselves by, is the very argument of his invitation, namely, because you are in distress, and despair of finding succour elsewhere; and concerning such, if they do come upon the call, there are gracious promises of a kind entertainment. How precious a word is that (Isaiah 41:17)? When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

If you stand off by unbelief and despair, you will grieve his Holy Spirit. And well he may be grieved. For you to say, there is no hope for such a vile sinful wretch as I am, is to make him a liar; who again, and again has told you that his salvation is laid in for such, and assures you that sinners must be brought to this sense in order to the application of it.

Know it, that if you now come to him, he will make you very welcome. He never cast out any comer, no, when he did but see the poor Prodigal resolving, and arising to go to his Father, you are told how he carried to him (Luke 15:20): When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion on him, and ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him.

The more unworthy you are, the more will his grace be exalted in you. Proud, insensible sinners may and do abuse: but such as you will rightly improve that precious word (Romans 5:20): Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound; if you take heart by it, and betake yourselves to him. Come away then to the fountain, and drink your fill of it.

For Direction,

Come now, while it stands open, it will not do so always. He says (2 Corinthians 6:2): Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Take heed of delays, they will prove your undoing, if you be not careful, read Luke 13:25: When once the Master of the house is risen up, and has shut the door, &c.

Come as you are, for the fountain is free. Say not, how shall I purchase these waters of life? You are invited to them without money or price (Isaiah 55:1). If you have but a thirsty soul after his righteousness, you are suitably qualified, and have that gracious encouragement given you (Matthew 5:6): Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Come to have all your wants supplied here. Bring them all with you, and cast them upon him; resolve that here is enough, and you shall be satisfied, be not doubting but believe, and rely on his word who has said (Psalms 81:10): Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.