Safety, Fullness, and Sweet Refreshment in Christ

Moving through the sermon Safety, Fullness, and Sweet Refreshment in Christ, we look into Proposition 2. The introductory post and the post on Proposition 1 can be seen at through corresponding links.

Proposition 2 states, There is provision in Christ for the satisfaction and full contentment of the needy and thirsty soul.This, remember, comes from the Scripture in Isaiah that compared Christ to a river: Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.

Edwards describes 2 ways in which Christ is like a river. First, "It is said that Christ is a river of water, because there is such a fulness in him, so plentiful a provision for the satisfaction of the needy and longing soul. When one is extremely thirsty, though it is not a small draught of water will satisfy him, yet when he comes to a river, he finds a fulness, there he may drink full draughts. Christ is like a river, in that he has a sufficiency not only for one thirsty soul, but by supplying him the fountain is not lessened; there is not the less afforded to those who come afterwards. A thirsty man does not sensibly lessen a river by quenching his thirst."

Second, Christ is like a river in that a river " ... is continually flowing, there are fresh supplies of water coming from the fountain-head continually, so that a man may live by it, and be supplied with water all his life. So Christ is an ever-flowing fountain; he is continually supplying his people, and the fountain is not spent. They who live upon Christ, may have fresh supplies from him to all eternity; they may have an increase of blessedness that is new, and new still, and which never will come to an end."

Edwards continues his sermon by illustrating that men crave certain things. "The soul of every man necessarily craves happiness. This is an universal appetite of human nature, that is alike in the good and the bad; it is as universal as the very essence of the soul, because it necessarily and immediately flows from that essence." Edwards indicates another craving; "The soul of every man craves a happiness that is equal to the capacity of his nature. The soul of man is like a vessel; the capacity of the soul is as the largeness or contents of the vessel."

Edwards concludes this proposition by showing that Christ is the full provision for the full satisfaction and contentment of men.

1. The excellency of Christ is such, that the discovery of it is exceedingly contenting and satisfying to the soul.
2. The manifestation of the love of Christ gives the soul abundant contentment.
3. There is provision for the satisfaction and contentment of the thirsty longing soul in Christ, as he is the way to the Father; not only from the fulness of excellency and grace which he has in his own person, but as by him we may come to God, may be reconciled to him, and may be made happy in his favour and love.