the Husband is the head of the Wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: And he is the Saviour of the Body. This is full of Spiritual Food. I will inftance only in three things, by which the profperity of the Soul is exceedingly farthered.

(1) As he hath power over Satan. This affords great relief to a conflicting Soul, that he both can, and will break the Serpent's head, and tread him under foot, Rom. 16. 20. That in Manlius is memorable to this

purpose, Satan (as he tells the ftory) appeared to a godly Man that was fick in the habit of a Prieft, with Pen, Ink, and Paper in his hands, and told him that he must confefs all his Sins to him, he would write them down, and then he would abfolve him. The Sick Man was ftricken with fear (and no marvel) but recollecting himself, and percei ving who he was; If thou wilt write, faith he, write this first, The feed of the woman fhall break the Serpents head, and with that, the Devil vanished.

(2.) As he hath Soveraignty over the Heart. He can take away the heart of stone, and give an heart of flesh, Ezek. 36. 26. A great relief this, when the Soul is mourning over the hardness of his heart, to remember that Chrift is exalted to be a Prince, to give Repentance, Act. 5. 3r.

(3) As he hath the Keys of Hell, and Death,

Death, Rev. 1. 18. A great relief to a trou bled Soul, that is under the fear, first of Death; and then of dropping into Hell, when he is dead. Those that have obeyed the call, and are still obeying the call of Christ, they fhall none of them dye, till it be better for them to dye then to live, for death is theirs, 1 Cor. 3.22. And for dropping into Hell, Chrift hath fecured them against that, Job.6.39,40. Every one that believeth on him fhall have Everlasting life, and Christ will raise him up at the last day.

3. The Prophetical Office of Chrift, is likewise a fruitful, food-bearing Office. He is engaged by Office, to, make all his Seed wife unto Salvation, Ifa.54.13, All thy Chil dren fhall be taught of God. And he is faithful, who hath promifed it, 1 Joh. 2.27, But the anointing which ye have received of him, abideth in you: and ye need not that any Man teach you, but as the fame anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lye. Joh. 17.26, I have declared unto them, thy Name, and will declare it:

This affords fweet, refreshing nourishment, I will inftance only in two Cafes.

1. When many things are heard, fomething at one time, and fomething at another from the word. And it may be fomething at this time, which is not understood, at leaft, not fo understood, as that the heart

is affected with it. Here is relief to be had; he can, and undertakes to teach the heart, Jer. 24.7, And I will give them an heart to know me, for they fhall return unto me, with their whole heart. Thus he taught. David, Pfal. 51.6.In the hidden part, thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

(2.) When a Person walkes in darkness, under many fad fears, whether ever the foundation be well laid for Soul-profperity, whe ther ever he were brought into a state of Union with Chrift, fo as to receive the first principles of Spiritual life from him. Here from this Office of Chrift, which is to reveal his Father's mind, in all things that we are concerned to know, there is relief to be had, Job.14.19,but ye fee me. They were in Chrift, their Union was begun, but they did not know it; but Chrift undertakes, fo as they will leave it to him, to take his own time, that one day they fhall know it.

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Thus I have fhewed you more largely, then at first I intended: That there needs no food for the Soul to feed upon, fo as to profper, but Chrift alone. For as all that is nourishing in the meat, is for the health and well-fare of the Body; fo all that is in Chrift, is for the health, and well-fare of the Soul I have very few words more to speak.

4. Of the fourth and last Point. Something by way of direction: How to feed upon this food, fo as to receive that nourishment, which our Souls ftand in need of. I fhall only mention these four Particulars...

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(1.) We are to apply our felves to this Spiritual food, with a Spiritual appetite. Natural life defires Natural food. Appetite unto it, is called Hunger, as it defires meat, and Thirst as it defires drink. So it ought to be, where there is Spiritual life, after this Spiritual food, wherein we have both Spiri-tual meat, and Spiritual drink, Job: 6.55, For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. And our appetite after it ought to be quick, and ftrong + We should be able to fay as Ifa. 16.9, With my Soul have I defired thee in the night, and with my Spirit will I feek thee early. te. I have moft affectionately defired thee, in my moft retired thoughts, and fo I refolve to do. That's the fenfe: For when the Soul is laid to do that, which nothing elfe but the Soul can do, it imports the strongeft and highest actings of the Soul in doing it. Now, though that which hath been faid already might be fufficient thus to quicken this appetite. That there is no other food for our Souls but this; That they must feed upon it, or ftarve. Yet I fhall farther add this: That we deliberately

rately confider with our felves, What work God requires of us, every day; and that we labour, with our hearts, to do it as we ought. The work of every day is great, in refpect of the inward exercifes of grace, when not clothed with any outward duty : As, To live by faith: To fanctifie God in our hearts: To walk in the fear of the Lord: And when we awake, to be still with God fetting the Lord always before us, &c. The external work of every day, is great alfo: The duties of Religion: The duties of our particular Callings, and Relations. All these ought to be done, fo as to approve the fin cerity of our hearts to God, and find accéptance with his Majesty. 2 Cor. 5.9, Wherefore we labour, that whether prefent, or alfents we may be accepted of him. The Apostle fpeaks of Epaphras, that he laboured earnestly in his Prayers, Col. 4. 12. And we are required, To do with our might, whatsoever our band findeth to do, Ecclef. 9. 10. Now hard labour gets a Man a ftomach, makes him both hungry, and thirsty. It will do so, in a fpiritual fenfe, when we fet our felves to make fomething of Religion: To work, and walk with God every day, as we ought we shall be even conftrained to cry out; Who is fufficient for these things? We fhalf fee, we need more fpiritual food, for the hourishing, and strengthening of our Souls. This