I Am the Living Bread
In 'I Am the Living Bread', Edward Taylor emphasizes the necessity of Jesus as the true sustenance for the soul, contrasting it with the emptiness of worldly pursuits.
Edward Taylor preaches about the heavenly provision of the Bread of Life, symbolizing the spiritual nourishment that God offers to souls in need. He describes the struggle of the soul, like a bird in a cage, searching for sustenance in a world that cannot satisfy its deepest hunger. Despite the emptiness of earthly offerings, God's grace provides the ultimate sustenance through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Bread of Life sent from heaven to nourish and sustain souls for eternity.
Text
I kening through Astronomy Divine
The Worlds bright Battlement, wherein I spy
A Golden Path my Pensill cannot line,
From that bright Throne unto my Threshold ly.
And while my puzzled thoughts about it pore
I finde the Bread of Life in't at my doore.
When that this Bird of Paradise put in
This Wicker Cage (my Corps) to tweedle praise
Had peckt the Fruite forbad: and so did fling
Away its Food; and lost its golden dayes;
It fell into Celestiall Famine sore:
And never could attain a morsell more.
Alas! alas! Poore Bird, what wilt thou doe?
The Creatures field no food for Souls e're gave.
And if thou knock at Angells cores they show
An Empty Barrell: they no soul bread have.
Alas! Poore Bird, the Worlds White Loafe is done.
And cannot yield thee here the smallest Crumb.
In this sad state, Gods Tender Bowells run
Out streams of Grace: And he to end all strife
The Purest Wheate in Heaven, his deare-dear Son
Grinds, and kneads up into this Bread of Life.
Which Bread of Life from Heaven down came and stands
Disht on thy Table up by Angells Hands.
Did God mould up this Bread in Heaven, and bake,
Which from his Table came, and to shine goeth?
Doth he bespeake thee thus, This Soule Bread take.
Come Eate thy fill of this thy Gods White Loafe?
Its Food too fine for Angells, yet come, take
And Eate thy fill. Its Heavens Sugar Cake.
What Grace is this knead in this Loafe? This thing
Souls are but petty things it to admire.
Yee Angells, help: This fill would to the brim
Heav'n s whelm'd-down Chrystall meele Bowle, yea and higher.
This Bread of Life drops in thy mouth, doth Cry.
Eate, Eate me, Soul, and thou shalt never dy.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Introduction to the Bread of Life - The significance of spiritual nourishment - The metaphor of the Bird of Paradise
- II points: - The emptiness of worldly sustenance - The futility of seeking fulfillment outside God - The imagery of the Empty Barrel
- III points: - God's provision through Jesus - The Bread of Life as a gift from Heaven - The invitation to partake in divine sustenance
- IV points: - The nature of the Bread of Life - Comparison to earthly bread - The sweetness of spiritual food
- V points: - The call to action for believers - Encouragement to consume the Bread of Life - The promise of eternal life through Christ
Key Quotes
“The Purest Wheate in Heaven, his deare-dear Son Grinds, and kneads up into this Bread of Life.” — Edward Taylor
“Eate, Eate me, Soul, and thou shalt never dy.” — Edward Taylor
“Its Food too fine for Angells, yet come, take And Eate thy fill.” — Edward Taylor
Application Points
- Reflect on the areas of your life where you seek fulfillment outside of Christ.
- Embrace the invitation to partake in the Bread of Life daily through prayer and scripture.
- Share the message of Jesus as the Bread of Life with others who are spiritually hungry.