^Rv OF pmcefo]^
OCT 101988
A
^OLOGiai sv^
A^^
BX 9339
.S52 1862
V.2
Sibbes,
Richard,
1577-
•1635.
The comp
lete work
s of
Richard
Sibbes,
D.D
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2009 with funding from
Princeton Theological Seminary Library
http://www.archive.org/details/completeworkso02sibb
//
NICHOL'S SERIES OF STANDARD DIVINES.
PURITAN PERIOD.
titlj 6titcral |1«faa
By JOHN C. MILLEE, D.D.,
i;(MCOiii( coiXEQX ; honobabt canom of worcesteb ; bectob of st uabtin's, BtBuiNoHAii.
THE
WORKS OF RICHARD SIBBE8, D.D.
VOL. II.
COUNCIL OF PUBLICATION.
W. LINDSAY ALEXANDER, D.D., Professor of Theology, Congregational
Union, Edinburgh.
JAMES BEGG, D.D., Minister of Newington Free Church, Edinburgh.
THOMAS J. CRAWFORD, D.D., S.T.P., Professor of Divinity, University,
Edinburgh.
D. T. K. DRUMMOND, M.A., Minister of St Thomas's Episcopal Clmrcli,
Edinburgh.
"WILLIAM H. GOOLD, D.D., Professor of Biblical Literature and Church
History, Reformed Presbyterian Church, Edinburgh.
ANDREW THOMSON, D.D., Minister of Broughton Place United Presby-
terian Church, Edinburgh.
General ©Ui'tor.
REV. THOMAS SMITH, M.A., Edikbuegh.
THE COMPLETE WORKS
RICHARD SIBBES, D.D.,
MASTER OF CATHERINE HALL, CAMBRIDGE ; PREACHER OF GRAY'S INN,
LONDON.
^tittc'Cr, toitlj glnnoir,
BY THE REV. ALEXANDER BALLOCH GROSART,
(cor. MEMB. SOC. ANTIQ. of SCOTLAND)
KINROSS.
VOL. II.
CONTAINING :
BOWELS opened; or, a discovery of THE NEAR AND DEAR LOVE, UNION
AND COMMUNION, BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
THE SPOUSE, HER EARNEST DESIRE AFTER CHRIST A BREATHING AFTER GOD— •
THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER
THE MARRIAGE FEAST BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH.
EDINBURGH: JAMES NICHOL.
LONDON: JAMES NISBET AND CO. DUBLIN: W. ROBERTSON
M.DCCC.LXII.
PEIi^Oiii'iL
CONTENTS.
BOWELS OPENED;
OB, Expository Sermons on Canticles IV. 16, V. 71.
Prefatory Note, ......
Dedication, .......
To the Christian Reader, by John Dods, . , .
A table of the chief heads and contents of the following Sermons
in this book —
The introduction, .....
There is the same regard of the whole church, and of every par^
ticular member, in regard of the chiefest privileges and graces
that accompany salvation,
All creatures stand in obedience to Christ,
The courses that Christ takes with his church may seem con^
trary, but by a wise ordering all agree in the wholesome issue
In what respects the Spirit of God is compared to wind.
In what respects we need the blowing of the Spirit, .
In what respects the church is compared to a garden
Christians should walk as men of a severed condition from the
world, ......
Christians planted in God's garden should be fruitful,
God cares for and protecteth his church.
We need not only grace to put life into us at the first, but like
wise grace to quicken and draw forth that life we have.
It is not enough to be good ourselves, but om' goodness must
flow out, .....
Where once God begins he goes on, and adds encouragement
to encouragement, to maintain new setters up in religion.
Wheresoever grace is truly begun, there is still a further desire
of Christ's presence, ....
Why the church is so earnest in desiring the presence of Christ
A gracious heart is privy to its own grace when it is in a right
temper ; and so far as it is privy, is bold with Christ in a
sweet and reverent manner, . . . ,
2
8
4
5
5
5,6
6,7
7,8
8,9
9
9
10
10
10,11
11
11
12
12
Tl CONTENTS.
Faob
It is the duty and disposition of the church of Christ to please
her husband, . . . . . . 12, 13
The church gives all to Christ, . . . . 13
Comfort in the wants and blemishes of our performances, . 13, 14
The resolution of the -whole fifth chapter of Canticles, . 15
The order of God's hearing his church, . . . 15
God makes us good, stirs up holy desires in us, and then an-
swers the desires of his Spirit in us, . . . 15
Why God hears our prayers, .... 16
Cases wherein one is unfit to pray, .... 17
How to know when God hears our prayers, . , . 18
Christ vouchsafes his gracious presence to his children upon
their desire of it, . . . . . . 18, 19
The church is carried from desire to desire after the presence
ofChiist, ...... 19
How to know that Christ is present in us, . . . 19
Where Christ is present, there heaven is in some degree, . 19, 20
Having Christ's presence, we need fear nothing, . . 2Q
Christ is our brother, ..... 20, 21
The chm-ch's royal descent, ..... 21
The church is the spouse of Christ, .... 22
Resemblances betwixt the temporal and spiritual marriage. . 22
The comfort of Christ being our husband, ... 23
Christians being the spouse of Christ, should labour for chaste
judgments and affections, ..... 23
Om* afi"ections are as their objects, .... 23, 24
How to know whether we be espoused to Christ or not, . 24
Encouragement and direction to those who are not yet in Christ, 24
God accepts of the graces of his children, and dehghts in them, 25
Encouragement to be much in holy duties, ... 26
Our care must be to preserve om'selves in a good estate fi.'ee
from the guilt of any sin, . . . ... 26
Christ when he comes to a soul comes not empty, . . 26, 27
Exhortation to have communion with Christ, . . 27
We ought to rejoice in the comforts and graces of others, and
of ourselves, ...... 28-80
There is a mutual feasting betwixt Christ and his church, . 80
Resemblances betwixt corporal feasts and the feast Christ maketh
us of himself, . . . ... . 30-32
What we should bring with us to the feast Christ makes us, . 32
The means to procure an appetite to Christ, . . . 32, 83
All kinds and degi'ees of fi'iendship meet in Christ towards his
chm-ch, ....... 38, 84
All the requisites to make up true friendship are found in Christ, 34, 85
Friendship of Christ is sweet and constant, ... 35
The state of the church and every Christian is subject to spiritual
alterations, ...... 35, 36
Where corruption is not thoroughly purged and a careful watch
kept over the soul, thereafter a recovery, will follow a more
dangerous distemper, ..... 86
It is the disposition of God's children to be ingenuous in open-
ing their state to God, . • . . . 36, 37
CONTENTS. Vll
Page
A gracious soul is abased for lesser defects, ... 87
What meant by the sleep of the church, ... 88
The resemblances between bodily and spiritual sleep in their
causes, effects, and dangers, .... 89, 40
Security and sleepiness of the church in Constantino's time, . 40
The judgments of best men cannot always be safely rehed on, 41
Sleepiness of the church in these latter ages, ... 41
Signs of a sleepy estate, ..... 41, 42
Motives against sleepiness, ..... 42, 43
A Christian may know how it is with himself, though he be mixed
with flesh and spirit, ..... 44, 45
We should as well acknowledge that which is good, as that
which is evil in our hearts, .... 45
The good that the church retained in her sleepy condition, . 45, 46
God's children never totally fall from grace, ... 47
A Christian is what his heart and inward man is, . . 47, 48
Difference between a Christian and an hypocrite, . . 48
A waking state is a blessed state, .... 49
Means how to preserve our souls in a waking condition in
drowsy times, ...... 49-52
Christians must especially be watchful in the use of liberty and
such things as in themselves are lawful, ... 52
The excellency of a waking Christian, . . . 52, 53
True Christians are discerned by a spiritual taste in hearing
God's word, ...... 54
Papists' objection, how shall we know that the word is the word
of God, answered, ..... 54, 55
Why so many apostatise, . . . . . 55
A Christian is sensible of all the blessed helps he hath to salvation, 55, 56
The difference between the sleep of a Christian and dead sleep
of natural men, ...... 56
Christ still desires a further and fm*ther communion with his
church, ....... 56
The cause of Christ's strangeness to us is in ourselves, . 56, 57
Christ takes not advantage from the sins of the church to leave
them altogether, but makes further and further love to them, 57
How Christ is said to knock at our hearts, . . . 58-60
Why Chi'ist knocks when he hath power to open to himself, . 60, 61
The heart of a Christian is the house and temple of God, . 62
How Christ can come into the soul, .... 62
How we may know whether Chi-ist dwells in our hearts, . 62
We arc to cherish all the good conceits we can of Christ, . 62, 63
The woful estate of those who entertain not Christ knocking
at the door of their hearts, .... 63
That Christ hath used all kinds of knockings to this nation, . 64
Considerations enforcing us to entertain Christ . . 65
That Christ's knocking is especially by the ministry of the word, 66
There are none in the church but have been allured at some
time or other to come in, . . . . . 66, 67
Encouragement to pray for the church, ... 67
Christ hath never enough of his church till he hath it in heaven, 68
The sufferings of Christ in himself and ministers, . . 68, 69
■yui CONTENTS.
Paqk
Christ's patience to us should make us patient under God's
corrections, and in our dealings with others, . . 69
The church of God is Christ's sister and spouse, . . 69, 70
The grounds of Christ's special love to his church and children, 70
No saving love out of the church, .... 71
Properties of Christ's love to his church, ... 71
"Whether Christ cannot see matter of weakness and sinfulness
in his church, ...... 72
How to know Christ loves us in a peculiar manner, . . 72, 73
Keproof of those who love not God's children, . . 73, 74
Why Christ calls his church his love, ... 74
An argument to prove the stability of the saints, and the soul's
immortahty, ...... 75
How transcendent majesty and infinite love dwelt together in
Christ, . . . . . . .75,76
Why the Holy Ghost appeared in the shape of a dove at Christ's
baptism, ....... 76
■Church, why compared to a dove, .... 76
Properties of a dove resembled to the church, . . 76—78
What defence God's church hath when it is persecuted, . 79
That God's church hath always a refuge in God in the worst times, 79
How the church is said to be undefiled, . . . 79, 80
How Christ's righteousness, not being in the church, may yet
be said to be the church's, .... 80
How we, being sinners, may yet be said to be undefiled, . 80-83
Christ's love to us should make us love him again, . . 84
Direction how afflicted in conscience are to judge of themselves, 84
Christians are not to wrong themselves with false judging of
their estates, ...... 84, 85
It is not an easy thing to bring the soul and Christ together
into near fellowship, ..... 86
False reasons, excuses, and pretences hinder communion with
Christ, . . . . . . .86,87
Excuses of the flesh to hinder our communion with Christ
answered, ...... 87, 88
Excuses of worldlings to hinder their communion with Christ
answered, ...... 88
Causes of the false pretences and excuses which hinder many
from holy duties, ...... 89—91
Helps to keep us from putting off and delaying holy duties by
false reasons and excuses, .... 91-99
That Christ doth use some times to leave his chiu'ch and chil-
dren, ....... 100, 101
Ends why Christ leaves his children, . . . 101, 102
Christians v.-anting comfort are not to be censured, . . 103
We are to prepare for desertion, .... 103
The cause of Christ's withdrawing comfort from us rests in
ourselves, ...... 103
Christ never altogether leaves the church, . ' . . 104
Christ's gi-ace is the cause of our grace, . . . 104
We find experience of the grace of Christ especially when we
stir up ourselves to endeavour, . . ^ , . 105
CONTENTS.
God's graces are sweet, . . . . "
Outward means, without the Spirit of Christ, are ineflfectual,
Christ always leaves some grace before he oflers to depart,
Sins of omission bring grief and shame,
Christ hath our affections in his government,
Christ is wonderful in his saints and in his goodness towards
them, ......
Truth of affection will discover itself in outward expressions,
The word of Christ, though for the present it be not effectual
yet afterwards it will be, ....
Christ so leaves his children sometimes, that their hearts fail
them for want of his presence,
•Causes of the fainting of Christian souls.
The difference between the true child of God and others,
Christ is many times present with the church when she finds
and feels it not, .....
How we are to judge of ourselves in a dead estate.
We should depend upon Christ when he seems absent from us,
How to know God hears our prayers,
Directions how to carry ourselves when we pray without success,
or in any state of desertion.
It is no easy thing to be a sound Christian, .
Governors of the church and state compared to watchmen,
Reasons why God uscLh watchmen, .
How the church was wounded by the watchmen.
How the church's veil is taken away,
Why the watchmen are the wounders of the church, .
We are not to think the worse of any for the disgraces of the
time, . . . , .
True grace grows up with difficulties,
If we find not comfort in one means, we must have recourse to
another, ......
Resemblances between Jerusalem and the church.
How to know we are daughters of Jerusalem,
We are to desire the prayers of others.
Love-sick, what it is,
How to know we are sick of love to Christ, .
How is the church said to be the fairest among women ?
In what respects the church calls herself black.
There is a wondrous force in the examples of Christians to stir
up one another, .....
The excellent use of holy conference,
Christians should be inquisitive.
Whence comes the church's fairness under such seeming foul
ness and disgrace ? . . . .
How we are to judge of God's people under seeming disgraces
Christians are to improve the gifts of others by qucsfio; s,
Our endeavours must be to make religion lovely.
There is no envy in spiritual things,
Christ is a most beautiful person,
Ghrist, as he is beautiful and good, so ht beyond all com
parison good, ......
Paob
105
106
106, 107
108
109
109
110
111
112
112
113
114
115
116
116
116, 117
117, 118
118
119
119
120
120
121, 122
122
123
123
123
124
124
125,126
129
im
132
133
134
135
135, 136
186
137
137
137, 138
13J
CONTENTS,
Page
Christ only was king, priest, and prophet, . . . 140
Christ's transcendent excellencies serve to draw those that are
not yet in Christ unto him, and to comfort those that are in
Christ, ....... 142
The desperate folly of most men who choose base, transitory
things, and refuse Christ, .... 143
Christians ought to make Christ the rule of their choice in other
things, ....... 144
Means to enable us rightly to value Christ, and highly to esteem
of him, ....... 144, 145
There is somewhat of God in every creature, . . 147
Why the church is so exact in particularising her beloved, . 148
Why Christ is set out by an head of gold, . . . 149
Christians should be suitable to Christ their head, . . 150
Why Christ is said to have doves' eyes, . . . 151
The manifestation of Christ to his children by his Spirit in any
of his ordinances is a sweet and delightful manifestation, . 152
Christ's doctrine is sweet and sound, . . . 153
All Christ's actions are precious, .... 153, 154
The best discovery of our state in grace is by our affection to
the word of Christ, . . . . .155
Christ, every way considered, is altogether lovely, . . 156
Christ in his lowest abasements for us was most lovely, . 156, 157
We are to rest upon Christ's obedience and righteousness, . 157
Our best affections ought to be set upon Christ, . . 157
How to know whether we love Christ, . . . 158
Means whereby we may be enabled to love and highly esteem
of Christ, ...... 161
Ends why the church in general and particular, sets forth the
excellencies of Christ, ..... 162, 163
Grace, though it be never so small at the first, yet it is grov/-
ing still, ....... 165
Usually God works with the means, .... 166
How to be happy instruments to convert others, . . 167
That which most stirs up holy affections to search after Christ,
is the large explications of his excellencies, . . 167
In what respects Christians are compared to lilies, . . 169
Comfort to God's people against all their ill censures and wants, 170, 171
Christ will not be long absent from his church, . . 171
We are to wait, and never to give over seeking of Christ, . 172, 173
There must be union of persons to Christ before there can be
communion with him, ..... 173
From the union of our persons to Christ comes communion of
all other things, ...... 173
What these words imply, ' I am my Beloved's and my Beloved
is mine,' ....... 174-176
Causes why God absents himself from his children, . . 176
When usually Christ returns after desertion, . . . 177
How Christ comes to be ours, .... 177
The riches of a Christian that has Christ to be his portion, . 178
Christians having Christ for their portion should be contented
with thoir outward condition, whatsoever it is, . . 178
contents. zx
Page
Why sometimes we want outward things being in Christ, . 178
How we are Christ's beloved, .... 179
Sufferings of the chui'ch are to conform her to Christ her hus-
band, . . . . . ... 180
The sweetest communion with Christ is under the greatest
crosses, ....... 181
Our giving ourselves to Christ is a sure evidence that we are
Christ's, ....... 181
How to answer Satan when he tempts us to sin or despair, . 181
Keasons why Christ must be given to us before we can give
ourselves to him, ...... 182
Direction how to be enabled to say, ' I am my Beloved's and
my Beloved is mine,' ..... 184—186
The excellency of a Christian walking in di\ine light above
other men, . . . . . .186
Exhortation and encouragement for those who are not yet in
Christ to come in, . . . . .187
Those who have given themselves up to Christ ought not to be
discouraged for their infirmities, .... 187
"We must labour to comprehend the love of Christ to us, which
will enable us to suffer willingly and cheerfully, . . 187, 188
Christ feeds his chm'ch and people in fat pastures, . . 188
Christ feeds as well as breeds, . . . .189
Keasons of the necessity of our continual feeding in Christianity, 190
Christ feeds his people plentifully and sweetly, . . 190
Happiness of these times wherein there is such plenty of
spiritual food, ...... 190
The sweetness of our lives is not lost by becoming religious, . 191, 192
How to get hungiy appetites to the Sacrament, . . 19S
Notes, ....... 193-195
THE SPOUSE, HEE EAENEST DESIEE AFIEE
CHEIST.
Prefatory Note, ...... 19&
Dedication, ....... 199'
[Text] Canticles I. 2, * Let him kiss me with the kisses of his
mouth : for thy love is better than wine,' . . . 200-208
A BEEATHING AETEE GOD.
Prefatory Note, ..... 210
To the Christian Header, by John Hill, . . .211, 212
[Text] Ps. XXVII. 4, ' One thing have I desired of the Lord,
that I will seek after ; that I may dwell in the house of the
Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the
Lord, and to inquire in his temple,' . . • 213-248
zu
CONTENTS.
Paqh
Difference of things in the world, . . . .216
The scope of a good heart in the use of God's ordinances, what
itis, . . . . . . .217
Observation!. The object of a Christian's desire, what, . 217
Why said to be one thing, — in respect of God ; in respect of
the soul ; in respect of grace, .... 217, 218
Use. To shew the folly of worldly men in the neglect of the
one thing necessary, . . . . . 218
Thoughts and desires the primitive issues of the heart, . 219
How they are begotten, . . . . . 219
Observation 2. The Spii-it of God in the hearts of his children
is effectual in stimng up holy desires, . . . 219
Trial of desii-es whether true — by their object; by their fer-
vency ; by their constancy ; by their rise ; by their end ;
by their endeavours, ..... 219, 220
Use. Exhortation to examine our desires, . . . 220
Strong desires how to know when they are so, . . 220, 221
Observation 3. Holy desires are to be turned into prayers, . 222
Eeason 1. Thereby we maintain acquaintance with God, . 222
Keason 2. Thereby we manifest a* good conscience . . 223
Observation 4. Perseverance and importunity requisite in
prayer, ....... 223
God doth not presently answer our desires and why — because
he loves to hear us pray ; to keep us humble ; to exercise
our graces ; to make us prize his blessings ; to teach us to
use them better when we enjoy them, . . . 224
The having the spirit of prayer better than the enjoyment of
particular blessings, ..... 225
Assurance before we pray to receive what we pray for, no hin-
drance to prayer, ...... 225
God's house, what it is, . . . . . 226
Love of God's children, to good things, constant, . . 227
Observation 5. God is beautiful in himself, . . . 229
In his church, ...... 230
Especially in Christ, ..... 230
Christ most lovely in his greatest abasement, . • 231
The church beautiful, ..... 231
In regard of the angels, ..... 231
In regard of the ordinances — the word preached ; the sacra-
ments ; discipline ; joint service of God, . . . 232, 233
In regard of the evidences of God's love — protection ; effectual
calling ; justification ; sanctification ; inward peace and joy, 234, 235
The church of God a paradise, .... 235, 236
Use. Exhortation to be in love with the beauty of God and
his house, ...... 236
Carnal men see not this beauty, and why, . , . 236
True dehght, wherein it consists, .... 237
Happiness of man, what, ..... 237
How to come to see the beauty of God, . . • 238
Get spiritual life, ...... 238
Beg the spirit of revelation, ..... 238
Labour to see our own deformity, . . • • 238
00KTENT8.
xm
Consider Christ's relations to ua,
A continual necessity of the ordinances,
Private duties must give way to public,
Papists, their error in addition,
There hath ahvay been a church,
Marks of the true church,
Abuse of things takes not away their use.
What estate they are in that are cast out of the church,
Trials of our love to the beauty of God's house,
How to come to see the beauty of God's house ; use God's
means ; come in faith, ....
Compare the excellency of God's house with other things,
Desire God to reveal himself in his ordinances.
Motives to labour to see the beauty of God himself, and of his
house, ....
It makes us glorious.
Our souls are made for these things.
Lest God remove his ordinances, .
Notes, ....
Pagk
239
239
240
240'
241, 242
242.
242
242
24a
244
245
240
246, 247
247
247
247, 248
24&
THE EETUENING BACKSLIDEE;
Ob, a Commentary upon Hosea XTV.
Prefatory Note,
To the Pteader, by John Hill,
250
251
The sum of this Treatise —
The time when Hosea prophesied, . . . 252
The people of God are exhorted to repentance by many motives, 253
God's answer to their petitions, .... 25^
God comes not suddenly upon his children, but gives them
warning, ...... 254
Which ariseth from the goodness of his nature, . . 254
Spiritual means best for preventing judgments, . . 254
In returning to God, there must be a stop, . . 255
Humiliation, what it is, . . . . . 255-
Resolution, what it is, . . . . . 255
How to know the truth of our humiliation, . . 256
Where there is a falling into sin there will be a falhng into
misery, ...... 256—258
God is willing to be at peace with us, . . . 259
In all our distresses we must come to God in prayer, . 259, 26Q
Why we must bring words with us, though God knows our
niind, ....... 260
That words and purposes must concur in prayer, . . 260, 261
Confession, how it is to be made, . . . .261
Why all iniquity is to be prayed against, . . . 261
The trial of a sound desire, .... 262
xiv contents.
Page
Mercy begged above all, ..... 262
Whether we ought not to think of our former sins, . 263
How we may know our sins are forgiven, . . . 263, 264
The misery of those that have not their sins forgiven, . 264
God's favours are complete to his children, . . 265
— ^ The loadstone of the soul is good, . . . 265
How we may know blessings come from the love of God, . 266, 267
The use of vows, ...... 268
The use of a broken heart, .... 269, 270
What the sacrifice of praise is, . . , . 270, 271
Why lips are mentioned for praise, . . . 271
Helps to praise God, ..... 271
Doubting kills thankfulness, .... 272
Assurance is the nurse of thanksgiving, . , . 273
We should take advantage of our dispositions, . . 274
Encouragements to praise God, .... 274-276
How to know when praise is accepted, . . . 276
Reformation must be joined with prayer, . . . 277
True repentance is of the particular sin, . . . 277
The creature cannot help of itself, . . . 278-281
We are not to place our confidence in forces at home or abroad, 281
War is lawful, ...... 281
How we shall know when we exceed in confidence in the creature, 282
-^ Boasting is idolatry, ..... 283
The danger of carnal confidence, .... 284
The emptiness of the creature, .... 284-286
Men naturally prone to idolatry, .... 287-289
Bitterness of sin causeth repentance, . . . 290
Our affiance ought not to be upon the creature, but upon God, 291
What religion is, . . . . . 291
Why the world hates Christians, .... 291
Mercy a most sweet object, .... 292, 293
Why God shews mercy to the distressed, . . . 293-295
Worldliness to be hated, ..... 296
How to retort Satan's policy in our extremity, . . 296-299
Where God gives a spirit of prayer he will answer, . 300
Why we should come before God in prayer, . . 301
That God's church and children are prone to backsliding, . 301-802
How shall we know we are sick of this ? . . . 303
Kepentance not to be delayed, .... 304
Want of conviction makes us careless, . . . 304, 305
God is willing to save us, .... 306-308
The scope of the new covenant, .... 309, 810
The greatest sin is to deny God the glory of his mercy, . 311
An encouragement to search our sins deeply, . . 311
How to know God hath pardoned our sins, . . 311-313
Why carnal men are so quiet, . . . .313
How to know the pardon of sin, . . . .313
Why God suffers infirmities, .... 314
Why the soul must be humbled, . . . .315
How God loves freely, ..... 316-321
God's anger against sin, ..... 322
CONTENTS.
XV
-^
Repentance turns away God's anger,
How anger felt may be removed, .
How to know afflictions are not in wrath, though continued;
That God hath a salve for every sore,
God's love is a fruitful love, ...
Why God's grace is compared to the dew,
Grace comes insensibly and invisibly.
How to come to have grace to sanctify and alter our nature
Christians grow like lilies, ...
The fii'st spring of the gospel was speedy, .
Water every year turned into wine,
Of a necessity in gi'owth, ....
We must claim the promises,
^Vhence comes the stability of God's children,
Why God's children are not comfortable, .
How to be rooted in grace, ...
We must labour to know the promises,
"Why Christians fear their estate is not good,
The benefit of fruitfulness,
The church yields a shadow, . . .
The family the better for a good governor,
God's children shall revive as corn,
Christians compared to the vine in fruitfulness.
Why Christians send forth so sweet a scent,
A fruitful conversation very savoury,
True renouncing of sin must be with indignation, .
The soul's aim, .....
We must not only leave sin, but loathe sin.
Limitation for expressing our hatred to sin.
How we may come to hate sin,
The consideration of what we are and hope to be will keep
us in good temper, ....
Of idolatry, .....
The reasons of Ephraim's hatred of idolatry.
The idolatry of Christians,
The scope of the new covenant.
Corporal and spiritual adultery.
Why we must not have any more to do with idols,
Helps to hate sin, ....
Nothing lost by renouncing idolatry.
Never better with a Christian than when he hath renounced
all wicked courses, ....
How God sees the afflictions of his children.
The most comfortable creature in the excess harmful.
Renouncing idolatry brings protection.
We are subject to scorchings here.
The misery of those that have not God for a shadow,
From man comes nothing that is good,
Why some have more grace than others, .
Against future fears, ....
There are but few truly wise,
Worldly wisdom, what it is, . .
Page
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337. 338
338
339
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343, 344
344-346
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362-364
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378-385
385-387
387
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390-391
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393, 394
395
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397, 398
399
400
403
405
407
412
414
XYl CONTENTS.
Pagb
-^ True wisdom carries men to God's word, . . , 415
God's ways to us, . . . . . 417
The word of the Lord perfect, . . . . 41^
The best way to a right end is to take, in God's ways, . 420
Who be just men, ..... 421
The disposition of just men, .... 421,422
Men must have spiritual life before they can walk, . . 425
Helps to walk, ...... 427
Why we should walk in God's ways, . . . 429-43B
Notes, ....... 433-435
THE GLOEIOUS FEAST OF THE GOSPEL.
Prefatory Note, ...... 438
To the Reader, by Jackson, Nalton, and Taylor, . . 439-442
An analytical table of the principal contents in these sermons,
upon Isa. XXV. 7. 8, 9 :—
The text — Ver. 6. — ' And in this mountain shall the Lord of
hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of
wines on the lees ; of fat things full of marrow, of wines on
the lees well refined,' ..... 443—458
Ver. 7. — ' And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the
covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over
all nations,' ...... 458-470
Ver. 8. — ' He will swallow up death in victory ; and the Lord
God will wipe away tears from off all faces ; and the rebuke
of his people shall he take away from off all the earth : for
the Lord hath spoken it,' ..... 470-499
Ver, 9. — ' And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God;
we have waited for him, and he wiU save us : this is the
Lord ; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice
in his salvation,' ...... 499-517
Coherence between the judgments threatened in the former
chapter, and the comforts promised in this chapter, . 443
The text opened, ...... 443-444
The church is an excellent society, .... 444
The church is a mountain, 1. hath strong foundations ; 2, is
in some measure visible, ..... 444
Of the marriage feast between Christ and his church, . 446
The Lord of hosts is the founder of this feast, . . 446
Some of all sorts invited to this feast, 1. Jews ; 2. Gentiles, 446
Christ is the chief dish and gi-eatest cheer at this feast, . 446
Christ and his benefits fitly compared to a feast, 1. because all
we have in Christ is of the best things ; 2. much variety in
Christ ; 3. fulness and sufficiency is to be had in Christ ;
4, because there is much company here ; 5. there is rich
attire worn at this feast, ..... 447, 448
CONTEIVrS.
Page
This gospel-feast was typed out, 1. by the Paschal Lamb ; 2.
by manna ; 3. by the rock ; 4. by the Jewish festival, 449, 450
A comparison between Christ and manna, . . . 450
The sacrament of the Lord's supper is this feast specially, . 450
We ought to be prepared for this feast, 1. get large hearts ; 2.
spiritual appetite, ..... 450, 451
Means to get spiritual appetite to this feast, 1. sense of sin ; 2.
pm-ge the soul from sinful corruptions ; 3. spiritual exercise
and activeuess for God ; 4. holy company ; 5. consideration
of the danger of spiritual famine, .... 451—453
We must get a spiritual taste and spiritual senses, 1. to relish
what is good ; 2. to disrelish and reject what is evil, . 453, 454
We must get a spiritual digestion, and wait in the strength of
this heavenly feast, ..... 454
Consequents of the gospel-feast are, 1. cheerfulness; 2. thank-
fulness ; 3. justifying of the ways of God and rehgion, . 455, 456
Religion doth not make people melancholy, . . . 456
A Christian at his worst condition is better than a worldling's
best, ....... 456
We must labour to have a part and portion at this feast, and
to honour' God's bounty, . . . . . 457
We must bring empty souls unto this feast, . . . 458
Connection between the sixth and seventh verse, . . 459
Of the veil that is over men's hearts, . . . 469, 460
All men naturally have such a veil, .... 460
There is a veil over spiritual things, for they are hid, . 460
Natural men, 1. want spiritual sight, hght ; 2. are ignorant ;
3. see not spiritual things spiritually ; 4. have hght without
heat ; 5. are unbehevers, . . ... 460-463
Ignorance and unbelief acts in every sin, . , . 461
God only can take away this veil, .... 464
Men nor angels cannot remove it, . . , , 465
Only God's people have this veU removed, . . . 465
Where this veil is removed there is a feast, . . . 466
We ought to use means to have this veil taken off, 1. by at-
tending upon ordinances ; 2. by practising what we know ;
3. by praymg unto God, ..... 466-468
When the veil is taken off from the heart, then, 1. a Christian
will wonder at the things of faith ; 2. desire more and more
to know them ; 3. this veil hath been removed by the word ;
4. a Christian's knowledge is a transforming knowledge, 469, 470
Of death, and Christ's victory over death, . . . 471
Death is, 1. the king of fears ; 2. spares none ; 3. is let in by
sin ; 4. is attended on by hell, .... 471
Christ swallows up death in victoiy, 1 . by satisfying for sin ;
2. by his suffermg death, .... 472, 473
We ought to beheve that death is conquered to us, . . 473
We ought to be one with Christ cnicified, . . . 474
We must be thankful unto God, 1. for victory over death ; 2.
for benefits by death, ..... 475
The slaAish fear of death is unbecoming a Christian, . •' . 475
Death is conquered to a behever though he die,' . « 475
CONTENTS.
Deatli is terrible to wicked men,
Duellists foolishly out-brave death, .
Death to God's children not only a conquered enemy, but is
made a friend, .....
Of Christian's tears, ....
Good men are apt to weep, 1. for sin of others ; 2. for mise
ries of others, .....
We ought to weep, and yet to rejoice,
God mil wipe away all tears,
God is a God of tender mercy,
Christians are not to be judged by appearance, and by their
sufferings, .....
Christians have a mixed condition and a mixed disposition.
There was no sorrow in paradise, and shall be none in heaven
Sin is the greatest cause of sorrow, ...
Mourning accepted from them that cannot weep.
Then a Christian's tears are right, when, 1. they spring from
the love of God ; 2. when we weep for our own sins ; 3
when they are secret ; 4. Avhen they are reforming.
Of the rebukes and reproaches of God's people,
Christ and his members subject unto reproaches.
Wicked reproach the godly from the enmity of the seeds.
We must not be scandals to religion, nor scandahsed at the re
proaches of it, .
Christ will take away reproaches from his people ; and will
vindicate them, . r . . .
Directions how to carij om-selves under reproaches, 1. be
patient ; 2. innocent ; 3. courageous ; 4. sincere ; 5. pray
much to God ; 6. rejoice and glory in them.
Of the Holy Scriptures, — God is the author of them.
The Scriptures sole and supreme judge of controversies.
The Scriptures may be known to be God's word by, 1. the ma
jesty of them ; 2, their mysteriousness ; 3, from reason ; 4
from experience ; 5. from the witness of the Spirit ; 6. fi'om
their efficacy, (1.) in warning, (2.) changing, (3.) casting
down, (4.) searching, (5.) and comforting the soul.
The Holy Scriptures are, and have been, preserved from cor
ruption, ......
We ought to hear the word as the word of God,
God will make good all his promises, if we believe, .
We must pray for the Spirit that indited the Scriptures, that
so we may relish them, ....
Of God's promises, and the performance of them,
God's promises are full and free, and spring from his bounty
and are our greatest treasuro.
We ought to be ashamed of infidelity in God's promises,
It is sometimes long between the promise and performance, 1
to exercise our faith ; 2. to wean us from creatures ; 3. to
endear the thing promised; 4. and to fit us for the enjoy
ment, ......
Of waiting upon God, . . . •
We have but a taste here of what we shall have hereafter,
Page
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481
481, 482
484, 485
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486, 487
488
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489, 490
490, 491
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493, 494
494, 495
495
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499, 500
500
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CONTENTS. TIT
Pagk
Waiting carries with it all other graces, 1. patience ; 2. long-
sufiering ; 3. contentment ; 4. silence from murmuring ; 5.
■watchfulness ; 6. faithfulness, .... 502
Want of waiting cause of much wickedness, . . . 502
All is overcome with waiting, .... 503, 504
God will perform his words to all true waiters, . . 504
God keeps the time of performance in his own hands, . 504
God fully performs his promises in heaven, . . . 505
The things hoped for uphold the heart in waiting, . . 506
God will have his people continue waiting, 1. that they may
live by faith, and not by sight ; 2. when we are fitted for
what is promised, we shall then enjoy it ; 3. God will have
us have the best at last, ..... 506-508
As there is a time of our waiting, so there will be a time of
God's performance, ..... 509
The present gi'ace we have is an earnest of what we shall have, 510
Encouragements to wait upon God, 1. God's time is best, and
it is set ; 2. God will efiect the thing promised, though by
contraries, ...... 510
What we should do when God hath performed promise, 1. be
thankful to the Lord ; 2. be joyful in the Lord, . . 511, 512
Interest in God is the cause of all our joy, . . . 512-517
Notes, . . . . . . . 517, 518
NOTE.
The expository sermons which compose the treatise, entitled, in the quaint phrase-
'Ology of the age, ' Bowels Opened,' (no doubt derived from the Hebraic idea of the
seat of the affections being in the ' bowels,' Cant. v. 4 ; and compare 1 John iii.
17) passed through three editions, as follows : —
(a) 1st edition, 4to, 1639.
(6) 2d edition, 4to, 1641. There is no intimation of its being a ' 2d edition ;' but
Lt really was so. The pagination is wholly different from a.
(c) 3d edition, 4to, 1648. This is designated ' 3d edition,' and the pagination
differs from a and b. Prefixed to it is a portrait of Sibbes, cetat 58. Underneath it
are these lines, without signature or initial :
' Thy learning, meekness, wisedome, heavenly minde,
Soe full of love, soe zealous, soe discreete.
Thy works, ye Church, yea Heaven, where they doe finde
A crowne — declare, for earth they were not meete.
Whoe, slighting thee, himselfe preferrs before,
Let him gett to thee, — he shall then know more.'
Our text follows a, with comparison of b and c for correction of misprints. ItB
title-page is given below.* G.
• Original title page : —
BOWELS
OPENED,
OR
A DISCOVERY OF THE
Neere and deere Love, Union and
Communion betivixt Christ and the
Church, and consequently betwixt
Him and every beleeving soul.
Delivered in divers Serrrons on the Fourth Fifth
and Sixt Chapters of the Canticles.
By that Eeverend and FaithfuU Minister of the
Word, Doctor Sibs, late Preacher unto
the Honourable Societie of Grayes Inne, and Master
of Katharine Hall in Cambridge.
Being in part finished by his owne pen in his life
time, and the rest of them perused and corrected
by those whom he intrusted with the
publishing of his works.
Cant.4.10.
Thou hast ravished my heart, my Sister, my Spouse : thou hast
ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, and with one chaine of
thy necke.
LONDON.
Piinted by G.3I. for George Edwards in the Old Baily in
Greene-Arbour at the signe of the Angell, MDCXXXIX.f
t It may be noted that Obadiah Sedgwick's famous folio on ' The Covenants,*
(1661) is entitled, 'The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant.'
Thomas Willocks and Faithfial Teat have similarly quaintly-titled treatises on 'Can-
ticles.' This book seems to have had a special attraction for the Puritan Divines.
G.
HONOKATISSIMO DOMINO,
DOMINO EDWAKDO VICE-COMITI MANDEVILLE*
QUEM, UT VERffi NOBILITATIS DELICIAS, CANDORIS NIVEM,
IN RES CHEISTI, ET ALIORUM COMMODA EFFUSISSIMUM, SUSPICIMUS, COLIMUS;
UNAQUE CONCIONES HAS IN CANTICA POSTHUMAS
IN AMORIS GRATIA3I QUO AUTHOREM IPSE OOMPLEXUS EST NOSTRiEQUE IN D^™
TT.T.TTTH MERITISSIRLE OBSERVANTLY TESTIMONIUM
Thomas Goodwin, f
Philippus Nte. I
* For full and interesting notices of this great historic name, consult Burke, and
any of the ' Peerages ;' also the recently issued family papers at Kimbolton, by
the present Duke of Manchester. He was the patron and beloved friend of John
Howe. — G.
t The celebrated Dr Thomas Goodwin, who discharged the office of ' prefacer '
or editor for many of his Puritan contemporaries, e.g., besides Sibbcs, Burroughes,
and Hooker. Cf. Memoir by Dr Halley. — G.
X Philip Nye was one of the foremost men in the great Puritan struggle. He
died in 1672. Cf. ' Nonconf. Memorial,' i. 95, 96; and Hanburg's 'Historical
Memorials relating to the Independents,' throughout the work. — G.
TO THE CHEISTIAN EEADEE.
The perusal of tliis book being committed unto me by an ancient and a
faithful friend of mine, I found it, I confess, so full of heavenly treasure,
and such lively expressions of the invaluable riches of the love of Christ
towards all his poor servants that sue and seek unto him, that I sent unto
the godly and learned author, earnestly entreating him to publish the same,
judging it altogether unmeet that so precious matter should be concealed
from public use : when he excused himself, by undervaluing his own
meditations ; but withal signified his desire of the church's good, if by
anything in his works it might never so little be promoted. I could not
but declare myself in recommending this treatise as a very profitable and
excellent help both to the understanding of that dark and most divine
Scripture, and also to kindle in the heart all heavenly afiections unto
Jesus Christ.
It is well known how backward I am and ever have been to cumber the
press, but yet I would not be guilty in depriving the dear children of God
of the spiritual and sweet consolations which are here very plentifully
offered unto them.
And the whole frame of all these sermons is carried with such vdsdom,
gravity, piety, judgment, and experience, that it commends itself unto all
that are godly wise ; and I doubt not but that they shall find their temp-
tations answered, their fainting spirits revived, their understandings en-
lightened, and their graces confirmed, so as they shall have cause to praise
God for the worthy author's godly and painful labours. And thus desiring
the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort to bless this work to
the consolation and edification of those that seek his favour and desire to
fear his holy name, I rest
Thine in Jesus Christ,
J[ohn] Dod.*
* John Dod is one of the most venerable of Puritan ' worthies.' He lived to a
« great age.' Born in 1549, he died in 1645. Consult Brook (' Lives of the Puri-
tans,' vol. iii. pp. 1-6) ; also Clark (' Lives of Thirty-two English Divines,' folio,
1677, pp. 168-178).— G.
SEHISI "^
BOWELS OPESED.
SERMON I.
I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: 1 have eaten my honey-
comb with my honey; I have drunk my ivine with my milk: eat, 0
friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, 0 beloved. — Cant. V. 1.
Otheb books of Solomon lie more obvious and open to common under-
standing ; but, as none entered into the boly of holies but the high priest,
Lev. xvi. 2, seq., and Heb. ix. 7, so none can enter into the mystery of this
Song of songs, but such as have more near communion with Christ. Songs,
and specially marriage songs, serve to express men's own joys, and others'
praises. So this book contains the mutxial joys and mutual praises betwixt
Christ and his church.
And as Christ and his church are the greatest persons that partake of
human nature, so whatsoever is excellent in the whole world is boiTowed
to set out the excellencies of these two gi'eat lovers.
It is called ' Solomon's Song,' who, next unto Christ, was the greatest
son of wisdom that ever the church bred, whose understanding, as it was
' largo as the sand of the sea,' 1 Kings iv. 29, so his affections, especially
that of love, were as large, as we may see by his many wives, and by the
delight he sought to take in whatsoever nature could afford. Which affec-
tion of love, in him misplaced, had been his undoing, but that he was one
beloved of God, who by his Spirit raised his soul to lovely objects of a
higher nature. Here in this argument there is no danger for the deepest
wit, or the largest affection, yea, of a Solomon, to overreach. For the
knowledge of the love of Christ to his church is above all knowledge, Eph.
iii. 19. The angels themselves may admire it, though they cannot com-
prehend it. It may well, therefore, he called the ' Song of Solomon ;' the
most excellent song of a man of the highest conceit* and deepest appre-
hension, and of the highest matters, the intercourse betwixt Christ, the hiyhest
Lord of lords, and his best beloved contracted spouse.
There are divers things in this song that a corrupt heart, unto which aU
things are defiled, may take offence ; but * to the pure all things are pure,'
Titus i. 15. Such a sinful abuse of this heavenly book is far from the inten-
tion of the Holy Ghost in it, which is b}' stooping low to us, to take
• That is, ' imagination.' — Q.
6 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON I.
advantage to raise us higher unto him, that by taking advantage of the sweet-
est passage of our life, maniage, and the most delightful affection, love, in
the sweetest manner of expression, by a song, he might carry up the soul
to things of a heavenly nature. We see in summer that one heat weakens
another ; and a great light being near a httle one, draws away and obscures
the flame of the other. So it is when the affections are taken up higher to
their fit object ; they die unto all earthly things, whilst that heavenly
flame consumes and wastes all base affections and earthly desires. Amongst
other ways of mortification, there be two remarkable —
1. By embittering all earthly things unto tis, whereby the affections are
deaded* to them.
2. By shewing more noble, excellent, and fit objects, that the soul, issuing
more largely and strongly into them, may be diverted, and so by degrees die
unto other things. The Holy Spirit hath chosen this way in this song, by
elevating and raising our affections and love, to take it off from other things,
that so it might run in its right channel. It is pity that a sweet stream should
not rather run into a garden than into a puddle. "What a shame is it that
man, having in him such excellent affections as love, joy, delight, should cleave
to dirty, base things, that are worse than himself, so becoming debased like
them ! Therefore the Spirit of God, out of mercy and pity to man, would raise
up his affections, by taking comparison from earthly things, leading to higher
matters, that only deserve love, joy, delight, and admiration. Let God's
stooping to us occasion our rising up unto him. For here the greatest things,
the ' mystery of mysteries,' the communion betwixt Christ and his church, is
set out in the familiar comparison of a marriage, that so we might the bet-
ter see it in the glass of comparison, which we cannot so directly conceive
of ; as we may see the sun in water, whose beams we cannot so directly
look upon. Only our care must be not to look so much on the colours as the
picture, and not so much on the picture as on the person itself represented ;
that we look not so much to the resemblance as to the person resembled.f
Some would have Solomon, by a spirit of prophecy, to take a view here
of all the time, fi-om his age to the second coming of Christ, and in this
song, as in an abridgment, to set down the several passages and periods of
the church in several ages, as containing divers things which are more cor-
respondent to one age of the church than another {a). But howsoever this
song may contain, we deny not, a story of the church in several ages, yet
this hinders not, but that most passages of it agree to the spii'itual estate
of the church in every age, as most intei-preters have thought. In this
song there is,
1 . A strong desire of the church of nearer communion with Christ ; and then,
2. Some declining again in affection.
3. After this we have her recovery and regaining again of love ; after which,
4. The church falls again into a declining of affection; whereupon follows
r further strangeness of Christ to her than before, which continues until,
5. That the church, perceiving of Christ's constant affection unto her,
notwithstanding her unkind dealing, recovers, and cleaves faster to Christ
than ever , chap. iii.
These passages agree to the experience of the best Christians in the state
of their own lives. This observation must carry strength through this
whole song, that there is the same regard of the whole church, and of every
particxdar member, in regard of the chiefest 2mvileges and graces that accom-
yany salvation. There is the same reason of every drop of water as of the
* That is, 'deadened.' — G. f That is, 'represented.' — G.
Cant. IY. 16. J * awake, o north wind ! ' "^
whole ocean, all is water; and of eveiy spark of fire as of the whole element
of fire, all is fire. Of those homogeneal bodies, as wo call them, there is
the same respect of the part and of the whole. And therefore, as the whole
chm'ch is the spouse of Christ, so is every particular Christian ; and as the
whole church desires still nearer communion with Christ, so doth every parti-
cular member. But to come to the words, ' I am come into my gai'den,' &c.
This chapter is not so well broken and divided from the former as it
might have been, for it were better and more consequent* that the last verse
of the former chapter were added to the beginning of this.
' Awake, 0 north wind; and come, thou south ; blow npon my garden, that
the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat
his pleasant fruits,' Cant. iv. IG.
And therefore, by reason of connection of this chapter with the former
verse, we will first speak somewhat of it briefly, only to make way for that
which follows. The words contain —
1. A turning of Christ's speech to the tvinds to blow upon his garden, with
the end why, ' that the spices thereof may flow out.'
2. We have an invitation of Christ, by the church, to come into his garden,
with the end, ' to eat his pleasant fruits.'
Quest. It may be a question whether this command be the words of
Christ or the desire of his spouse ?
Ans. The words are spoken by Christ, because he calls it '7ny garden/
and the church after invites him to eat of ' his pleasant fruits,' not of hers.
Yet the words may be likewise an answer to a former secret desire of the
church, v^hereof the order is this : The chm'ch being sensible of some dead-
ness of spirit, secretly desires some further quickening. Christ then answers
those desires by commanding the winds to blow upon her. For oi'dinarily
Christ first stirs up desires, and then answers the desires of his own Spirit
by further increase, as here, ' Awake, thou north wind ; and come, thou
south ; and blow upon my garden,' &c.
1. For the first point named, we see here that Christ sends forth his
Spirit, with command to all means, under the name of ' north and south
wind,' to fui-ther the fruitfulness of his church. The wind is nature's fan.
What winds are to the garden, that the Spirit of Christ, in the use of
means, is to the soul. From comparison fetched from Christ's command-
ing the winds, we may in general observe, that all creatures stand in obedience
to Christ, as ready at a icord, xvliensoever he speaks to them. They are all, as
it were, asleep until he awakes them. He can call for the wind out of his
treasures when he pleases : he holds them in his fist, Prov. xxx. 4.
Use. Which may comfort all those that are Christ's, that they are under
one that hath all creatures at his beck under him to do them service, and
at his check to do them no hann. This drew the disciples in admiration
to say, * What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the seas
obey him ? ' Mat. viii. 27. And cannot the same power still the winds and
waves of the churches and states, and cause a sudden calm, if, as the dis-
ciples, we awake him with om* prayers.
2. Secondly, we see here that Christ speaks to ivinds contrary one to
another, both in regard of the coasts from whence they blow, and in their
quality ; but both agree in this, that both are necessary for the garden :
where we see that the courses that Christ takes, and the means that he nses
with his church, may seem contrary ; but by a wise ordering, all agree in the
wholesome issue. A prosperous and an afflicted condition are contrary ; a.
• That is, ' in sequence.' — G.
8 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON I.
mild and a sharp course may seem to cross one another ; yet sweetly they
agree in this, that as the church needeth both, so Clirist useth both for the
chm-ch's good. The north is a nipping wind, and the south a cherishing
wind ; therefore the south wind is the welcomer and sweeter after the north
wind hath blown. But howsoever, all things are ours : * Paul, ApoUos,
Cephas, things present and to come, life, death,' &c., 1 Cor. iii. 21, 22;
' all things work together for good to us, being in Christ,' Rom. viii. 28.
Use 1. Hence it is that the manifold wisdom of Christ maketh use of such
variety of conditions ; and hence it is that the Spirit of Christ is mild in
some men's ministries, and sharp in others : nay, in the very same
minister, as the state of the soul they have to deal withal requires.
Use 2. Sometimes, again, the })eople of God need purging, and sometimes
refreshing. Whereupon the Spirit of God carries itself suitably to both
conditions ; and the Spirit in the godly themselves draws good out of every
condition, sure [as] they are that all winds blow them good, and [that]
were it not for their good, no winds should blow upon them. But in
regard that these times of ours, by long peace and plenty, grow cold, heavy,
and secure, we need therefore all kinds of winds to blow upon us, and all
little enough. Time was when we were more quick and lively, but now the
heat of our spirits is* abated. We must therefore take heed of it, and
* quicken those things that are ready to die,' Rev. iii. 2 ; or else, instead of
the north and south wind, God will send an east wind that shall dry up all,
as it is, Hos. xiii. 15.
Use 3. Again, if Christ can raise or lay, bind up or let loose, all kind of
winds at his pleasure, then if means be wanting or fruitless, it is he that
says to the clouds. Drop not, and to the winds. Blow not. Therefore, tve
must acknowledge him in icant or plenty of means. The Spirit of Christ in
the use of means is a free agent, sometimes blows strongly, sometimes
more mildly, sometimes not at all. No creature hath these winds in a bag
at command, and therefore it is wisdom to yield to the gales of the Spirit.
Though in some other things, as Solomon observes, it may hinder to
observe the winds, Eccles. xi. 4, yet here it is necessary and profitable to
observe the winds of the Spirit.
Now, for the clear understanding of what we are to speak of, let us first
observe —
1. Why the Spirit of God, in the use of the means, is compared to wind.
And then,
2. Why the church is compared to a garden ; which shall be handled in
the proper place.
But first for the wind.
1. ' The wind bloweth where it listeth,' as it is John iii. 8. So the
Spuit of God blows freely, and openeth the heart of some, and poureth
grace plentifully in them.
2. The wind, especially the north wind, hath a cleansing force. So the
Spirit of God purgeth our hearts ' from dead works to serve the living
God, making us partakers of the divine nature,' 2 Pet. i. 4.
3. The wind disperseth and scattereth clouds, and makes a serenity in the
air. So doth the Spirit disperse such clouds as corruption and Satan raise
up in the soul, that we may clearly see the face of God in Jesus Christ.
* It is printed ' are.' But such inaccuracy is not uncommon in Sibbes and liia
contemporaries. If the nearer noun be plural, it, and not the nominative proper,
regulates the use of the verb. This remark is made once for all, that apparent mis-
prints may not be placed to oversight. — G.
C.^T. IV. IG.] ' AND COME, THOU SOUTH !' 9
4. The wind hath a cooling and a tempcrinrj quality, and tempers the dis-
temper of nature. As in some hot countries there be yearly anniversary
mnds, which blow at certain times in summer, tempering the heat ; so the
Spirit of God allaycth the uunatm^al heats of the soul in fiery temptations,
and bringeth it into a good temper.
5. The wind being subtle, searcheth into evenj corner and cranny. So the
Spirit likewise is of a searching nature, and discemeth betwixt the joints
and the marrow, betwixt the flesh and the Spirit, &c., searching those
hidden coiTuptions, that nature could never have found out.
6. The wind hath a cherishing and a fructifying force. So the Spirit is a
quickening and a cherishing Spirit, and maketh the heart, which is as a
barren wilderness, to be fruitful.
7. The wind hath a power of conveying siceet smells in the air, to carry
them from one to another. So the Spirit in the word conveyeth the seeds
of grace and comfort from one to another. It draws out what sweetness is
in the spirits of men, and makes them fragrant and deUghtful to others.
8. The wind, again, bears doivn all before it, beats down houses, and trees,
like the cedars in Lebanon, turns them up by the roots, and lays all flat.
So the Spirit is mighty in operation. There is no standing before it.
It brings down mountains, and every high thing that exalts itself, and lays
them level ; nay, the Koman and those other mighty empires could not
stand before it.
For these respects and the like, the * blowing of the Spu-it ' is compared
to wind. For which end Christ here commands the wind to ' blow upon
his garden.'
1. To blow, &c. See here the order, linking, and concatenation of things
one under another. To the prospering of a poor flower or plant in a garden,
not only soil is needful, but air and wind also, and the influence of heaven ;
and God commanding all, as here the winds to blow upon his garden. To
this end, as a wonderful mercy to his people, it is said, ' And it shall come
to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord : I will hear the heavens,
and they shall hear the earth ; and the earth shall hear the com, the wine, and
the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel,' Hos. ii. 21, 22. As the creatures are
from God, so the order and dependence of creatures one from another, to
teach us not only what to pray for, but also what to pray fitly for ; not
only to pray for the dew of heaven, but also for seasonable and cherishing
winds. It is not the soil, but the season, that makes fruitful, Kon ager sed
annus facit frudus, and that fi'om seasonable winds and influences. So
in spiritual things there is a chain of causes and cfl'ects : prayer comes from
faith, Rom. x. li ; faith from the hearing of the word ; hearing from a
preacher, by whom God by his Spirit blows upon the heart ; and a preacher
from God's sending. If the God of nature should but hinder and take
away one link of nature's chain, the whole frame would be disturbed.
Well, that which Chi-ist commands here, is for the winds to ' blow upon
his garden."
And we need blowing : our spirits will be becalmed else, and stand at a
stay ; and Satan will be sm-e by himself, and such as are his bellows, to
blow up the seeds of sinful lusts in us. For there are two spirits in the
chm"ch, the one always blowing against the other. Therefore, the best had
need to be stin-ed up ; otherwise, with Moses, Exod. xvii, 12, their hands
will be ready to fiiU down, and abate in their aflbction. Therefore we
need blowing —
1 . In regard of our natural inability.
10 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON I.
2. In regard of our dulness and heaviness, cleaving to nature occasionally.
8. In regard of contrary winds from without.
Satan hath his bellows filled with his spirit, that hinders the work of
grace all they can ; so that we need not only Christ's blowing, but also his
stopping other contrary winds, that they blow not, Kev. vii. 1.
4. In regard of the estate and condition of the new Covenant, wherein
all beginning, growth, and ending, is from gi-ace, and nothing but grace.
5. Because old grace, without a fresh supply, will not liold against new
crosses and temptations.
Use. Therefore when Christ di'aws, let us run after him ; when he blows,
let us open unto him. It may be the last blast that ever we shall have
from him. And let us set upon duties with this encouragement, that Christ
wiU blow upon us, not only to prevent us, but also to maintain his own
graces in us. But 0 ! where is this stirring up of ourselves, and one
another, upon these gi'ounds !
Quest. But, tvJuj is the church compared to a garden ?
Ans. Chi-ist herein takes all manner of terms to express himself and the
state of the church, as it is to him, to shew us that wheresoever we are,
we may have occasion of heavenly thoughts, to raise up our thoughts to
higher matters. His church is his ' temple,' when we are in the temple ;
it is a ' field' when we are there ; a ' garden,' if we walk in a garden. It is
also a ' spouse' and a ' sister,' &c. But more particularly the church is
resembled to a garden.
1. Because a garden is taken out of the common waste ground, to he appro-
priated to a more particular vjse. So the church of Christ is taken out of
the wilderness of this waste world, to a particular use. It is in respect of
the rest, as Goshen to Egypt, Exod. ix. 26, wherein light was, v/hen aU
else was in darkness. And indeed wherein doth the chm^ch differ from other
grounds, but that Christ hath taken it in ? It is the same soil as other
grounds are ; but, he dresseth and fits it to bear spices and herbs.
2. In a garden nothing comes up naturalhj of itself, but as it is planted
and set. So nothing is good in the heart, but as it is planted and set by
the heavenly husbandman, John xv. 4 ; and Mat. xv. 3. We need not sow
the wilderness, for the seeds of weeds prosper naturally. The earth is a
mother to weeds, but a stepmother to herbs. So weeds and passions grow
too rank naturally, but nothing grows in the church of itself, but as it is
set by the hand of Christ, who is the author, dresser, and pruner of his
garden.
3. Again, in a garden nothing uses to he p)lanted but ivhat is useful and
delightful. So there is no grace in the heart of a Christian, but it is useful,
as occasion serves, both to God and man.
4. Further, in a garden there are variety of floicers and spices, especially
in those hot countries. So in a Christian, there is somewhat of every grace.
As some cannot hear of a curious flower, but they will have it in their
garden, so a Christian cannot hear of any grace but he labours to obtain it.
They labour for graces for all seasons, and occasions. They have for pros-
perity, temperance and sobriety ; for adversity, patience and hope to sus-
tain them. For those that are above them, they have respect and obedience ;
and for those under them, suitable usage in all conditions of Christianity.
For the Spirit of God in them is a seminary of spiritual good things. As
in the corruption of nature, before the Spirit of God came to us, there was
the seminary of all ill weeds in us, so when there is a new quality and new
principles put in us, therewith comes the seeds of all graces.
Cant. IY. 1G.] ' BLovr- uroN my gaeden.' 11
5. Again, of all other places, ive most delir/ht in our (jardens to ivalh there
and take our pleasure, and take caro thereof, for fencing, weeding, watering,
and planting. So Christ's chief care and delight is for his church. He
walks in the midst of the ' seven golden candlesticks,' Kev. ii. 1 ; and if he
defend and protect States, it is that they may be a harbour to his church.
G. And then again, as in gardens there had wont to have fount ains and
streams uhich run throui/h their gardens, (as paradise hadfom* streams which
ran through it); so the church is Christ's paradise ; and his Spirit is a
spring in the midst of it, to refresh the souls of his upon all their faintings,
and so the soul of a Christian becomes as a watered garden.
7. So also, ' their fountains were sealed up,' Cant. iv. 12 ; so the joys
of the church and particular Christians arc, as it were, sealed up. A stranger,
it is said, ' shall not meddle with this joy of the church,' Prov. siv. 10.
8. Lastly, a t/arden stands always in need of weeding and dressing. Con-
tinual labour and cost must be bestowed upon it ; sometimes planting,
pruning, and weeding, &c. So in the church and hearts of Christians,
Christ hath always somewhat to do. We would else soon be overgrown
and turn wild. In all which, and the Hke respects, Christ calleth upon the
winds ' to blow upon his garden.'
Use 1. If then the church be a severed portion, then we should icalk as
vicn of a severed condition from the tcorld, not as men of the world, but as
Christians ; to make good that we are so, by feeling the gi-aces of God's
Spirit in some comfortable measure, that so Christ may have something in
us, that he may dehght to dwell with us, so to be subject to his pruning
and dressing. For, it is so for from being an ill sign, that Christ is at cost*-
with us, in following us with afflictions, that it is rather a sure sign of his
love. For, the care of this blessed husbandman is to prune us, so as to
make us fruitful. Men care not for heath and wilderness, whereupon they
Mestow no cost. So when God primes us by crosses and afflictions, and
Eows good seed in us, it is a sign he means to dwell with us, and delight
in us.
2. And then also, we should not strive so much for common liberties of
the world that common people delight in, but for 2J£culiar graces, that God
maj' delight in us as his garden.
3. And then, let us learn hence, 7wt to despise any nation or 2'>^>'soJi,
seeing God can take out of the waste wilderness whom he will, and make
the desert an Eden.
4. Again, let ?<s bless God for ourselves, that our lot hath fallen into such
a pleasant place, to be planted in the church, the place of God's delight.
5. iVnd this also should move us to be fruitful. For men will endure a
fruitless tree in the waste wilderness, but in their garden who will endure it ?
Dignity should mind us of duty. It is strange to be fruitless and barren in this
place that we live in, being watered with the dew of heaven, under the sweetin-
fluence of the means. This fruitless estate being often watered from heaven,
how fearfully is it threatened by the Holy Ghost, that ' it is near unto cursing
and burning,' Heb. vi. 8. For in this case, visible churches, if they pros-
per not, God will remove the hedge, and lay them waste, having a garden
elsewhere. Sometimes God's plants prosper better in Babylon, than in
Judea. It is to be feared God may complain of us, as he doth of his people,
' I have planted thee a noble \ine ; how art thou then come to be degenerated ?'
Jer. ii. 21. If in this case we regard iniquity in our heart, the Lord will
not regard the best thing that comes from us, as our prayers, Heb. sii. 17.
* That is, ' expeusc' — G.
12 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON I.
We must then learn of himself, how and wherein to please him. Obedience
from a broken heart is the best sacrifice. Mark in [the] Scriptures what he
abhors, what he delights in. We use to say of our friends. Would God I
knew how to please them. Christ teacheth us, that ' without faith it is
impossible to please him,' Heb. xi. 6. Let us then strive and labour to be
fruitful in our places and callings. For it is the greatest honoui- in this
world, for God to dignify us with such a condition, as to make us fruitful.
* We must not bring forth fruit to ourselves,' as God complains of Ephraim,
[Israel], Hos. x. 1. Honour, riches, and the like, are but secondary things,
arbiti'ary at God's pleasure to cast in ; but, to have an active heart fruitful
from this ground, that God hath planted us for this purpose, that we may
do good to mankind, this is an excellent consideration not to profane our
calling. The blessed man is said to be, ' a tree planted by the water side,
that brings forth fruit in due season,' Ps, i. 3. But it is not every fruit ;
not that fruit which Moses complains of, Deut. xxxii. 32, the wine of dragons,
and the gall of asps : but good fruit, as John speaks ; ' Every tree that
bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire,' Mat.
iii. 10.
6. Lastly, in that the church is called Christ's garden, this may strengthen
our faith in God's care and protection. The church may seem to lie open to
all incursions, but it hath an invisible hedge about it, a wall without it, and
a well within it, Zech. ii. 5. God himself is a wall of fire about it, and his
Spirit a well of living waters running through it to refresh and comfort it.
As it was said of Canaan, so it may be said of the church, ' The eye of the
Lord is upon it all the year long,' Deut. xi. 12, and he waters it continually.
From which especial care of God over it, this is a good plea for us to God,
• I am thine, save me ;' I am a plant of thine own setting ; nothing is in me
but what is thine, therefore cherish what is thine. So, for the whole
church the plea is good : ' The church is thine ; fence it, water it, defend it,
keep the wild boar out of it.' Therefore the enemies thereof shall one day
know what it is to make a breach upon God's vineyard. In the mean time,
let us labour to keep our hearts as a garden, that nothing that defileth may
•enter. In which respects the church is compared to a garden, upon which
Christ commands the north and south wind, all the means of gi'ace, to blow.
But to u'hat end must these ivinds blow upon the garden ?
' That the spices thereof may flow out.'
The end of this blowing is, you see, ' that the spices thereof may flow
out.' Good things in us lie dead and bound up, unless the Spirit let them
out. We ebb and flow, open and shut, as the Spirit blows upon us ; with-
out blowing, no flowing. There were gracious good things in the church,
but they wanted blowing up and further spreading, whence we may observe,
that,
Obs. 1. We need not only grace to j^ut life into lis at the first, but likeivise grace
to quicken and draw forth that grace that ice have. This is the difference be-
twixt man's blowing and the Spirit's. Man, when he blows, if grace be not
there before, spends all his labour upon a dead coal, which he cannot make
take fire. But the Spirit first kindles a holy fire, and then increases the
flame. Christ had in the use of means wrought on the church before, and
now further promoteth his own work. Wo must first take in, and then
send out; first be cisterns to contain, and then conduits to convey. The
wind first blows, and then the spices of the chui'ch flow out. We are first
sweet in ourselves, and then sweet to others.
Obs. 2. Whence we see further, that it is not enough to be good in our
Cant. IV. 16.J * Tn.\T the spices thereof may flow out.' 13
selves, but our fjooduess must /Ion- out ; that is, grow more strong, useful to
continue and stream forth for the good of others. We must labour to be, as
was said of John, burning and shining Christians, John v. 35. For Chi*ist
is not like a box of ointment shut up and not opened, but like that box of
ointment that Mary poured out, which perfumes all the whole house with the
sweetness thereof. For the Spirit is herein like wind ; it carries the sweet
savour of grace to others. A Christian, so soon as he finds any rooting in
God, is of a spreading disposition, and makes the places he lives in the better
for him. The whole body is the better for every good member, as we see in
Onesimus, Phil. 11. The meanest persons, when they become good, are
useful and profitable ; of briars, become flowers. The very naming of a
good man casts a sweet savour, as presenting some grace to the heart of the
hearer. For then we have what we have to purpose, when others have occa-
sion to bless God for us, for conveying comfort to them by us. And for our
furtherance herein, therefore, the winds are called upon to awake and blow
upon Christ's garden, ' that the spices thereof may flow out.'
Obs. 3. Hence we see, also, that ivhere once God begins, he goes on, and de-
lights to add encouragement to encouragement, to maintain new setters vp in re-
ligion, and doth not only give them a stock of gi'ace at the beginning, but
also helps them to trade. He is not only Alpha, but Omega, unto them,
the beginning and the ending, Rev. i. 8. He doth not only plant graces, but
also watereth and cherisheth them. Where the Spirit of Christ is, it is an
encouraging Spirit; for not only it infuseth grace, but also stirs it up, that
we may be ready prepared for every good work, otherwise we cannot do that
which we are able to do. The Spirit must bring all into exercise, else the
habits of gi-ace will lie asleep. We need a present Spirit to do evciy good;
not only the power to will, but the will itself; and not only the will, but the
deed, is from the Spirit, which should stir us up to go to Christ, that he may
stir up his own graces in us, that they may flow out.
Use. Let us labour, then, in ourselves to be full of goodness, that so we
may be fitted to do good to all. As God is good, and does good to all, so
must we strive to be as like him as may be ; in which case, for others' sakes,
we must pray that God would make the winds to blow out fully upon us,
* that our spices may flow out ' for their good. For a Christian in his right
temper thinks that he hath nothing good to purpose, but that which does
good to others.
Thus far of Christ's command to the north and south wind to awake and
blow upon his garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. In the next
place we have — •
II. Christ's invitation by the church to come into his garden, with the
end thereof,' to eat his pleasant fruits.'
Which words shew the church's fwiher desire of Christ's jnesence to de-
light in the graces of his oun Spirit in her. She invites him to come and
take delight in the graces of his own Spirit; and she calls him ' Beloved,'
because all her love is, or should be, imparted and spent on Christ, who
gave himself to a cursed death for her. Our love should run in strength no
other way, therefore the chm-ch calls Christ her ' Beloved.' Christ was
there before, but she desires a further presence of him, whence we may ob-
serve, that
Wheresoever grace is truly begun and stirred up, there is still a further desire
of Christ's presence ; and approaching daily more and more near to the soul,
iha church thinks liim never near enough to her until she be in heaven with
14 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON 1.
him. The true spouse and the bride always, unless in desertion and temp-
tation, crieth, ' Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly,' Rev. xxii. 20. Now,
these degrees of Christ's approaches to the soul, until his second coming, are,
that he may manifest himself more and more in defending, comforting, and
enabling his church with grace. Every further manifestation of his presence
is a further coming.
Quest. But why is the church thus earnest ?
Reason 1. First, because grace helps to see our need of Christ, and so helps
US to prize him the more ; which high esteem breeds a hungering, earnest
desire after him, and a desire of further likeness and suitableness to him.
Secondly, because the church well knows that when Christ comes to the
soul he comes not alone, but with his Sjnrlt, and his Spirit tcith abundance of
peace and comfort. This she knows, what need she hath of his presence,
that without him there is no comfortable living ; for wheresoever he is, he
makes the soul a kind of heaven, and all conditions of life comfortable.
Use. Hence we may see that those that do not desire the presence of
Christ in his ordinances are, it is to be feared, such as the wind of the Holy
Ghost never blew upon. There are some of such a disposition as they
cannot endm-e the presence of Christ, such as antichrist and his limbs,*
whom the presence of Christ in his ordinances blasts and consumes. Such
are not only profane and worldly persons, but proud hypocrites, who glory
in something of theu' own ; and therefore their hearts rise against Christ and
his ordinances, as laying open and shaming their emptiness and carnalness.
The Spirit in the spouse is always saying to Christ, * Come.' It hath never
enough of him. He was now in a sort present ; but the church, after it is
once blov,'n upon, is not satisfied without a further presence. It is from
the Spirit that we desire more of the Spirit, and from the presence of Christ
that we desire a further presence and communion with him. Now,
The end and reason ichy Christ is desired hj the Church to come into his
garden is ' to eat his pleasant fruits ; ' that is, to give him contentment.
And is it not fit that Christ should eat the fruit of his own vine ? have com-
fort of his own garden ? to taste of his own fruits ? The only delight Christ
hath in the world is in his garden, and that he might take the more delight
in it, he makes it fruitful ; and those fruits are precious fruits, as growing
from plants set by his own hand, relishing of his own Spirit, and so fitted
for his taste. Now, the church, knowing what fitted Christ's taste best,
and knowing the fruits of grace in her heart, desireth that Christ would de-
light in his own graces in her, and kindly accept of what she presented him
with. Whence we see that
A gracious heart is privy to its own grace and sincerity irhen it is in a right
temper, and so far as it is pirivy is bold with Christ in a sweet and reverend f
manner. So much sincerity, so much confidence. If our heart condemn
us not of unsincerity, we may in a reverend f manner speak boldly to Christ.
It is not fit there should be strangeness betwixt Christ and his spouse ;
neither, indeed, will there be, when Christ hath blown upon her, and when
she is on the growing hand. But mark the order.
First, Christ blows, and then the church says, ' Come.' Christ begins
in love, then love draws love. Christ di-aws the church, and she runs after
him, Cant. i. 4. The fire of love melts more than the fire of affliction.
Again, we may see here in the church a carefulness to please Christ.
As it is the duty, so it is the disposition, of the church of Chi'ist, to please
her husband.
* That is, ' members,' = adherents. — G. t That is, ' reverent.* — Ed.
Cant. IV. 10.] ' and eat his pleasant fruits.' 15
1. The reason is, first, our happiness stands in his contentment, and all
cannot but be well in that house where the husband and the wife delight
in, and make much of, each other.
2. And again, after that the church hath denied herself and the vanities
of the world, entering into a way and course of mortification, whom else
hath she to give herself to, or receive contentment from ? Our manner is
to study to please men whom we hope to rise by, being careful that all
we do may be well taken of them. As for Christ, we put him ofi" with
anything. If he likes it, so it is ; if not, it is the best that he is like to
have.
Uses. 1. Oh! let us take the apostle's counsel, 'To labour to walk
worthy of the Lord, &c., unto all well-pleasing, increasing in knowledge,
and fruitfulness in every good work,' Col. i. 9, 10. And this knowledge
must not only be a general wisdom in knowing truths, but a special under-
standing of his good- will to us, and our special duties again to him.
2. Again, that we may please Christ the better, labour to be cleansed
from that which is ofiensive to him : let the spring be clean. Therefore
the psalnaist, desiring that the words of his mouth and the meditations of
his heart might be acceptable before God, first begs ' cleansing from his
secret sins,' Ps. xix. 12.
3. And still we must remember that he himself must work in us whatso-
ever is well-pleasing in his sight, that so we may be perfect in every good
thing to do his will, having grace whereby we may serve him acceptably.
And one prevailing argument with him is, that we desire to be such as
he may take delight in : ' the upright are his delight.' It cannot but
please him when we desire grace for this end that we may please him.
If we study to please men in whom there is but little good, should we not
much more study to please Christ, the fountain of goodness ? Labour
therefore to be spiritual ; for ' to be carnally minded is death,' Eom. \iii.
6, and ' those that are in the flesh cannot please God.'
The chm'ch desires Christ to come into his garden, ' to eat his pleasant
fruits,' where we see, the church gives all to Christ. The garden is his,
the fiTiit his, the pleasantness and preciousness of the fruit is his. And
as the fruits please him, so the humble acknowledgment that they come
from him doth exceedingly please him. It is enough for us to have the
comfort, let him have the gloiy. It came fi'om a good spirit in David
when he said, ' Of thine own, Lord, I give thee,' &c., 1 Chron. xxix. 14.
God accounts the works and fruits that come from us to be ours, because
the judgment and resolution of will, whereby we do them, is ours. This
he doth to encourage us ; but because the gi*ace whereby we judge and
will aright, comes from God, it is om- duty to ascribe whatsoever is good
in us, or comes from us, unto him ; so God shall lose no praise, and we
lose no encouragement. The imperfections in well-doing are only ours,
and those Christ will pardon, as knowing how to bear with the infirmities
of his spouse, being ' the weaker vessel,' 1 Pet. iii. 7.
Use. This therefore should cheer up our spirits in the wants and blemishes
of our performances. They are notwithstanding precious fruits in Christ's
acceptance, so that we desire to please him above all things, and to have
nearer communion with him. Fruitfulness unto pleasingness may stand
with imperfections, so that we be sensible of them, and ashamed for them.
Although the fruit bo little, yet it is precious, there is a blessing in it.
Imperfections help us against temptations to pride, not to be matter of
discouragement, which Satan aims at. And as Christ commands the north
. 16 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON I.
and south wind to blow for cherishing, so Satan labours to stir up an east
pinching wind, to take either from endeavour, or to make us heartless in
endeavour. Why should we think basely of that which Christ thinks pre-
cious ? "VVhy should we think that ofiensive which he counts as incense ?
We must not give false witness of the work of grace in our hearts, but
bless God that he will work anything in such polluted hearts as ours.
What though, as they come from us, they have a relish of the old man,
seeing he takes them from us, ' perfumes them with his own sweet
odours,' Rev. viii. 3, and so presents them unto God. He is our High
Priest which makes all acceptable, both persons, prayers, and perform-
ances, sprinkling them all with his blood, Heb. ix. 14.
To conclude this point, let it be our study to be in such a condition
wherein we may please Christ ; and whereas we are daily prone to offend
him, let us daily renew our covenant with him, and in him : and fetch
encouragements of well-doing from this, that what we do is not only well-
pleasing unto him, but rewarded of him. And to this end desire him,
that he would give command to north and south, to all sort of means, to
be effectual for making us more fruitful, that he may delight in us as his
pleasant gardens. And then what is in the world that we need much care
for or fear ?
Now, upon the church's invitation for Christ to come into his garden,
follows his gracious answer unto the church's desire, in the first verse of
this fifth chapter :
' I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse : I have gathered my
myrrh with my spice ; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey ; I
have drunk my wine with my milk : eat, 0 friends ; drink, yea, drink
abundantly, 0 beloved,' Cant. v. 1.
Which words contain in them an answer to the desire of the church in the
latter juirt of the verse formerly handled: 'Awake, thou north wind; and
come, thou south,' &c.
Then, ver. 2, is set forth the secure estate of the church at this time, ' I
sleep, but my heart waketh;' in setting down whereof the Holy Ghost here
by Solomon shews likewise,
The lovinrj intercourse betwixt Christ and the church one with another.
Now Christ, upon the secure estate and condition of the church, desires
her ' to open unto him,' ver 2 ; which desire and waiting of Christ is put
off and slighted with poor and slender excuses : ver. 8, * I have put off my
coat ; how shall I put it on ? ' &c.
The success* of which excuses is, that Christ seems to go away from
her (and indeed to her sight and sense departs) : ver. 6, ' I opened to my
beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself,' &c. ; whereupon she lays
about her, is restless, and inquires after Christ from the watchmen, who
misuse, 'wound her, and take away her veil from her,' ver. 7.
Another intercourse in this chapter here is, that the church for all this
gives not over searchinr/ after Christ, but asks the daughters of Jerusalem
what was become of her beloved, ver. 8 ; and withal, in a few words, but
full of large expression, she relates her case unto them, that ' she was sick
of love,' and so ' chargeth them to tell her beloved,' ' if they find him.'
Wliercupon a question moved by them, touching her beloved, ver. 9,
' What is thy beloved more than another beloved ? ' she takes occasion,
being full of love, which is glad of all occasion to speak of the beloved, to
* That is, ' the result.'— G.
Cant. V. 1.] * i am come into my gaeden.' IT
burst forth into his praises, by many elegant expressions, verses 10, 11,
12, &c.
1. lu general, setting him at a large distance, beyond comparison from
all others, to be ' the chicfest of ten thousand,' ver. 10.
2. In particulars, ver. 11, &c. : ' his head is as most fine gold,' &c.
The issue whereof was, that the 'daughters of Jerusalem' become like-
wise enamoured with him, chap. vi. 1 ; and thereupon inquire also after
him, ' Whither is thy beloved gone, 0 thou fairest among women ? ' &c.
Unto which demand the church makes answer, chap. vi. 2 ; and so, ver. 3
of that chapter makes a confident, triumphant close unto all these grand
passages forenamcd, ' I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine,' &c. ;
all of which will better appear in the particulars themselves.
The first thing then which offereth itself to our consideration is Christ's
answer to the church's invitation, chap. iv. 16 :
' I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse : I have gathered my
myrrh with my spice ; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey ; I
have drunk my wine with my milk : eat, 0 friends ; drink, yea, drink
abundantly, 0 beloved.' In which verse w'e have,
I. Christ's answer to the church's petition, ' I am come into my garden.'
n. A compellation, or description of the church, ' My sister, my spouse.'
III. Christ's acceptation of what he had gotten there, ' I have gathered
my myrrh with my spice ; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey.'
There is,
IV. An invitation of all Christ's friends to a magnifique* abundant feast,
* Eat, 0 friends ; drink, yea di-ink abundantly, 0 beloved.*
I. For the first, then, in that Christ makes such a real answer unto the
church's invitation, ' I am come into my garden,' &c., we see, that Christ
comes into his garden. 'Tis much that ho that hath heaven to dehght in,
will delight to dwell among the sons of sinful men ; but this he doth for us,
and so takes notice of the church's petition.
' Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant finait.' The
right speech of the church that gives all to Christ, who, when she hath
made such a petition, hears it. The order is this —
First of all, God makes his church lovely, planteth good things therein,
and then stirs up in her good desu-es : both fitness to pray from an inward
gracious disposition, and holy desires ; after which, Christ hearing the voice
of his own Spirit in l.er, and regarding his own preparations, he answers
them graciously. Whence, in the first place, we may observe, that,
God makes us good, stirs up holy desires in us, and then answers the desires
of his holy Spirit in us.
A notable place for this we have, Ps. s. 17, which shews how God first
prepares the heart to pray, and then hears these desii'es of the soul stirred
up by his own Spirit, ' Lord, thou hast heard the desires of the humble.'
None are fit to pray but the humble, such as discern their own wants :
' Thou wilt prepare their hearts, thou wilt make thine ear to hear.' So
Rom. viii. 26, it is said, ' Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infinni-
ties ; for we know not what vro should pray for as we ought : but the Spirit
itself maketh intercession for us, with gi'oauings which cannot be uttered.'
Thus the Spirit not only stirs up our heart to pray, but also prepares our
hearts unto it. Especially this is necessary for us, when our thoughts are
confused with trouble, grief, and passions, not knowing what to pray. In
* That is, ' majrniCcent.' — G.
VOT.. TT. g
18 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON I.
this case the Spirit dictates the words of prayer, or else, in a confusion of
thoughts, sums up all in a volley of sighs and unexpressible groans. Thus
it is true, that our hearts can neither be lifted up to prayer, nor rightly
prepared for it, in any frame fitting, but by God's own Spirit, Nothing is
accepted of God toward heaven and happiness, but that which is spiritual :
aU saving and sanctifying good comes from above. Therefore God must
prepare the heart, stir up holy desires, dictate prayer ; must do all in all,
being our ' AJpha and Omega,' Kev. i. 8.
1. Now God hears our prayers. First, Because the materials of these holy
desires are good in themselves, and from the person from ivhence t1iey come, his
beloved spouse, as it is in Cant. ii. 14, where Christ, desiring to hear the
voice of his church, saith, ' Let me see thy countenance, and let me hear
thy voice ; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.' Thus
the voice of the Spouse is sweet, because it is stirred up by his own Spirit,
which burns the incense, and whence all comes which is savingly good.
This offering up of our prayers in the name of Christ, is that which with
his sweet odours perfumes all our sacrifices and prayers ; because, being in
the covenant of grace, God respects whatsoever comes from us, as we do
the desires of our near friends, Eev. viii. 3.
2. And then, again, God hears our prayers, became he looks upon us as
we are in election, and choice of God the Father, ivho hath given us to him.
Not only as in the near bond of marriage, husband and wife, but also as he
hath given us to Christ ; which is his plea unto the Father, John xvii. 6,
* Thine they were, thou gavest them me,' &c. The desires of the church
please him, because they are stirred up by his Spirit, and proceed from her
that is his ; whose voice he delights to hear, and the prayers of others
for his church are accepted, because they are for her that is his beloved.
To confirm this further, see Isa. Iviii. 9. ' Thou then shalt cry, and the
Lord shall answer ; thou shalt call, and presently he shall say, Here I am,'
&c. So as soon as Daniel had ended that excellent prayer, the angel tell-
eth him, ' At the beginning of thy supplications the decree came forth,' &c.,
Dan. ix. 23. So because he knows what to put into our hearts, he knows
our desires and thoughts, and therefore accepts of our prayers and hears
us, because he loves the voice of his own Spirit in us. So it is said, ' He
fulfils the desires of them that fear him ; and he is near to all that caU
upon him, to all that caU upon him in truth,' Ps. cxlv. 18. And our
Saviour, he saith, ' Ask and ye shall receive,' &c.. Mat. vii. 7. So we
have it, 1 John v. 14, ' And we know if we ask anything according to his
will, he heareth us.'
Use 1. Let it therefore be a singular comfort to us, that in all wants, so
in that of friends, when we have none to go to, yet we have God, to whom
we may freely pour out our hearts. There being no place in the world
that can restrain us from his presence, or his Spirit from us, he can hear
us and help us in all places. What a blessed estate is this ! None can
hinder us from driving this trade with Christ in heaven.
Use 2. And let us make another use of it hkewise, to be a means to stir
up our hearts to make use of our privileges. What a prerogative is it for
a favourite to have the fare * of his prince ! him we account happy. Surely
he is much more happy that hath God's care, him to be his father in the
covenant of grace ; him reconciled, upon all occasions, to pour out his heart
before him, who is merciful and faithful, wise and most able to help us.
* Why are we discouraged, therefore ; and why are we cast down,' Ps.
* Qu. ' care ?' or ' fare ?' — Ed.
Cant. V. 1.] ' i aim come into my garden.' 19
xlii. 11, when wo have such a powerful and such a gracious God to go
to in all our extremities ? He that can pray can never be much uncom-
fortable.
Use 3. So Ukewise, it should stir us up to keep our peace with God,
that so we may always have access unto him, and communion with him.
What a pitiful case is it to lose other comforts, and thci'ewith also to be in
such a state, that we cannot go to God with any boldness ! It is the
greatest loss of all when we have lost the spirit of prayer ; for, if we lose
other things, we may recover them by prayer. But when we have lost this
boldness to go to God, and are afraid to look him in the face, as malefac-
tors the judge, this is a woful state.
Now there are diverse cases wherein the soul is not in a state fit for
prayer. As that first, Ps. Ixvi. 18, ' If I regard iniquity in my heart, the
Lord will not regard my prayer.' If a man hath a naughty heart, that pur-
poseth to live in any sin against God, he takes him for an enemy, and
therefore will not regard his prayer. Therefore we must come with a reso-
lute purpose to break ofi" all sinful courses, and to give up ourselves to the
guidance of God's Spirit. And this will be a forcible reason to move us
thereunto, because so long as we Uve in any known sin unrepented of, God
neither regards us nor our prayers. What a fearful estate is this, that
when we have such need of God's favour in all estates ; in sickness, the
hour of death, and in spiritual temptation, to be in such a condition as that
we dare not go to God ! Though our lives be civil,* yet if we have false
hearts that feed themselves with evil imaginations, and with a purpose of
sinning, though we act it not, the Lord will not regard the prayers of such
a one ; they are abominable. The very ' sacrifice of the wicked is abomi-
nable,' Prov. XV. 8.
2. Another case is, when we will not forgive others. We know it is di-
rectly set down in the Lord's prayer, * Forgive us our trespasses, as we
forgive them that trespass against us,' Mat. vi. 14 ; and there is further
added, ver. 15, ' If you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your
heavenly Father forgive you.' If our hearts tell us we have no disposition
to pardon, be at peace and agreement, then we do but take God's name in
vain when we ask him to forgive our sins, and we continue in envy and
malice. In this case God will not regard our prayers, as it is said, * I care
not for your prayers, or for any service you perform to me,' Isa. i. 15.
^Vhy ? ' For your hands are full of blood,' Isa. Ixvi. 1. You are unmerciful,
of a cruel, fierce disposition, which cannot appear before God rightly, nor
humble itself in prayer. If it doth, its own bloody and cniel disposition
will be objected against the prayers, which are not mingled with faith and
love, but with wrath and bitterness. Shall I look for mercy, that have no
merciful heart myself? Can I hope to find that of God, that others cannot
find from me ? An unbroken disposition, which counts ' pride an ornament,'
Ps. Ixxiii. 6, that is cruel and fierce, it cannot go to God in prayer. For,
whosoever would prevail with God in prayer must be humble ; for our sup-
plications must come from a loving, peaceable disposition, where there is a
resolution against all sin, Ps. Ixxiii. 1. Neither is it sufiicient to avoid
gi'udging and malice against these, but we must look that others have not
cause to grudge against us, as it is commanded : ' If thou bring thy gifts to
the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee ;
leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way ; first be reconciled to
thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift,' Mat. v. 23. So that if
* That is. ' moral.' — G
20 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON I.
we do not seek reconciliation with men unto whom we have done wrong,
God will not be reconciled to us, nor accept any service from us.
If then we would have our prayers and our persons accepted or respected,
let us make conscience of that which hath been said, and not lose such a
blessed privilege as this is, that God may regard our prayers. But here
may be asked —
Quest. How shall I know whether God regard my prayers or not ?
Ans. 1. First, When he grants the thing prayed for, or enlargeth our hearts to
pray still. It is a greater gift than the thing itself we beg, to have a spirit of
prayer with a heart enlarged ; for, as long as the heart is enlarged to prayer,
it is a sign that God hath a special regard of us, and will grant our petition
in the best and fittest time.
2. When he answers lis in a better and higher kind, as Paul when he
prayed for the taking away of the prick of the flesh, had promises of sufii-
cient grace, 2 Cor. xii. 7-9.
3. When, again, he gives us inward peace, though he gives not the thing, as
Phil. iv. 6, * In nothing be careful, but in all things let your requests be
made to God with prayer and thanksgiving.'
Obj. But sometimes he doth not answer our requests.
Ans. It is true he doth not, but ' the peace of God which passeth all
understanding guards our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of
God,' Phihp. iv. 7. So though he answers not our prayers in particular,
yet he vouchsafes inward peace unto us, assuring us that it shall go well
with us, though not in that particular we beg. And thus in not hearing
their prayers, yet they have their hearts' desire when God's wiU is made
known. Is not this sufficient for a Christian, either to have the thing, or
to have inward peace, with assui'ance that it shall go better with them than
if they had it ; with a spirit enlarged to pray, till they have the thing
prayed for. If any of these be, God respects our prayers.
Again, in that Chiist is thus ready to come into his garden upon the
church's invitation, we may further observe, that
Christ vouchsafes his gracious presence to his children upon their desire of it.
The point is clear. Fi'om the beginning of the world, the church hath
had the presence of Christ alway ; for either he hath been present in sacri-
fices, or in some other things, signs of his presence, as in the ' bush,' Exod.
iii. 2, or some more glorious manifestation of his presence, the ark, Exod.
XXV. 22, and in the cloud and pillar of fire, Exod. xiii. 21, and after that
more gloriously in the temple. He hath ever been present with his church
in some sign or .evidence of his presence ; he delighted to be with the chil-
dren of men. Sometimes before that he assumed a body, and aftersvard
laid it down again, until he came, indeed, to take our nature upon him,
never to leave it again. But here is meant a spiritual presence most of aU,
which the church in some sort ever had, now desires, and he ofiers, as being
a God ' hearing prayer,' Ps. Ixv. 2. And to instance in one place for all,
to see how ready Chi-ist hath always been to shew his presence to the
church upon their desire. What else is the burden of the 107th Psalm but
a repetition of God's readiness to shew his presence in the church, upon
their seeking unto him, and unfeigned desire of it, notwithstanding all their
manifold provocations of him to anger ? which is well summed up, Ps. cvi.
43, * Many times did he deliver them, but they provoked him with their
counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless, he regarded
*iheir afflction when he heard their cry.'
It doth not content the church to have a kind of spiritual presence of
Cant. IV. IC] ' i .vii come into my garden. 21
Christ, but it is earned from desire to desire, till the whole desire be accom-
plished ; for as there are gradual presences of Christ, so there are suitable
desires in the church which rise by degrees. Christ was present, 1, by his
gracious spirit ; and then, 2, more graciously present in his incarnation,
the sweetest time that ever the church had from the beginning of the world
until then. It being ' the desire of nations,' Hag. ii. 7, for the description
of those who lived before his coming is from * the waiting for the consola-
tion of Israel,' that is, for the first coming of Christ. And then there is a
3d and more glorious presence of Christ, that all of us wait for, whereby
we are described to be such ' as wait for the coming of Christ,' Mark xv. 43.
For the soul of a Christian is never satisfied until it enjoy the highest de-
sire of Christ's presence, which the church knew well enough must follow
in time. Therefore, she especially desires this spiritual presence in a larger
and fuller measure, which she in some measure already had. So, then,
Christ is graciously present in his church by his Holy Spirit. ' I will bo
with you,' saith he, ' unto the end of the world,' Mat. xxviii. 20. It is his
promise. When I am gone myself, ' I will not leav^ you comfortless,' John
xiv. 18, but leave wdth you my vicar-general, the Holy Spiiit, the Com-
forter, who shall be alway with you. But —
Quest. How shall we know that Christ is present in us ?
Ans. To know this, we shall not need to pull him from heaven. We
may know it in the word and sacraments, and in the communion t)f saints ;
for these are the conveyances whereby he manifests himself, together with
the work of his own gracious Spirit in us ; for, as we need not take the sun
from heaven to know whether or not it be up, or be day, which may be
known by the light, heat, and fruitfulness of the creature ; and as m the
spring we need not look to the heaven to see whether the sun be come near
us or not, for looking on the earth we may see all green, fresh, lively,
strong, and vigorous ; so it is with the presence of Christ. We may know
he is present by that light which is in the soul, convincing us of better
courses to be taken, of a spiritual life, to know heavenly things, and the
difference of them from earthly, and to set a price upon them. When there
is, together with hght, a heat above nature, the affections are kindled to
love the best things, and to joy in them ; and when, together with heat,
there is strength and %'igour to carry us to spiritual duties, framing us to
a holy communion with God, and one with another ; and likewise when there
is every way cheerfulness and enlargement of spirit, as it is with the crea-
tm-e when the sun approacheth. For these causes the church desires
Christ, that she may have more light, life, heat, vigour, strength, and that
she may be more cheerful and fruitful in duties. The sold, when it is once
made spiritual, doth still desii-e a further and further presence of Christ,
to be made better and better.
"What a comfort is this to Christians, that they have the presence of
Christ so far forth as shall make them happy, and as the earth will afibrd.
Nothing but heaven, or rather Christ in heaven itself, will content the child
of God. In the mean time, his presence in the congregation makes their
souls, as it were, heaven. If the king's presence, who carries the court
with him, makes all places where he is a court, so Christ he carries a kind
of heaven with him. Wheresoever he is, his presence hath with it life, light,
comfort, strength, and all ; for one beam of his countenance will scatter all
the clouds of grief whatsoever. It is no matter where we be, so Christ be
with us. If with the three children in a fiery furnace, it is no matter, if * a
fourth be there also,' Dan. iii. 25. So if Christ be with us, the flames nor
22 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON II.
notliing shall hurt us. If in a dungeon, as Paul and Silas were, Acts svi. 24,
if Christ's presence be there, by his Spirit to enlarge our souls, all is
comfortable whatsoever. It changeth the nature of all things, sweetensth
everything, besides that sweetness which it brings unto the soul, by the
presence of the Spirit ; as we see in the Acts, when they had received the
Holy Ghost more abundantly, they cared not what they sufiered, regarded
not whipping ; nay, were glad ' that they were accounted worthy to suffer
anything for Christ,' Acts v. 41. "Whence came this fortitude ? From the
presence of Christ, and the Comforter which he had formerly promised.
So let us have the Spirit of Christ that comes from him ; then it is no
matter what our condition be in the world. Upon this ground let us fear
nothing that shall befall us in God's cause, whatsoever it is. We shall have
a spirit of prayer at the worst. God never takes away the spirit of suppli-
cation from his children, but leaves them that, until at length he possess
them fully of their desires. In all Christ's delays, let us look unto the
cause, and to our carriage therein ; renew our repentance, that we may be
in a fit state to go to God, and God to come to us. Desfre him to fit us
for prayer and holy communion with him, that we may never doubt of his
presence.
THE SECOND SERMON.
1 am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh
with my spice; I have gathered my honeycomb ivith my honey; I have
drunk my tvine with my milk: eat, 0 friends; drink, yea, drink abun-
dantly, 0 beloved.' — Cakt. V. 1.
This song is a mirror of Christ's love, a discovery of which we have in
part in this verse ; wherein Christ accepts of the invitation of the
church, and comes into his garden ; and he entertains her with the terms
of sister and spouse. Herein observe the description of the church, and the
sweet compiellation, ' my sister, my spouse ; ' where there is both afiinity
and consanguinity, all the bonds that may tie us to Christ, and Christ to us.
1. His sister, by blood.
2. His spouse, by marriage.
Christ is our brother, and the church, and every particular true member
thereof, is his sister. 'I go,' saith Christ, ' to my Father and to your
Father, to my God and to your God,' John xx. 17. ' Go,' saith he, ' and
tell my brethren.' This was after his resurrection. His advancement did
not change his disposition. Go, tell my brethren that left me so un-
kindly ; go, tell Peter that was most unkind of all, and most cast down
with the sense of it. He became our brother by incarnation, for all our
union is from the first union of two natures in one person. Christ be-
came bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, to make us spiritually bone of
his bone and flesh of his flesh.
Therefore let us labour to be like to him, who for that purpose be-
came like to us, Immanuel, God with us, Isa. vii. 14 ; that we might be
like him, and * partake of the di\'ine nature,' 2 Pet. i. 4. YvTiom should
we rather desire to be like than one so great, so gracious, so loving ?
Again, ' Christ was not ashamed to call us brethren,' Heb. ii. 11, nor
* abhorred the virgin's womb,' to be shut up in those dark cells and
Cant. Y. 1.] *my sister, my spouse.' 28
straits ; but took our base nature, when it was at the worst, and not only
our natui'C, but our miserable condition and curse due unto us. Was he
not ashamed of us ? and shall we be ashamed to own him and his cause ?
Against this cowardice it is a thunderbolt which our Saviour Christ pro-
nounceth, ' He that is ashamed of me before men, him will I be ashamed of
before my Father, and all the holy angels,' Mark viii. 38. It argues abase
disposition, either for frown or favour to desert a good cause in evil times.
Again, It is a point of comfort to know that we have a brother icho is a
favourite in heaven; who, though he abased himself for us, is yet Lord
over all. Unless he had been our brother, he could not have been our
husband ; for husband and wife should be of one natm-e. That he might
marry us, therefore, he came and took our nature, so to be fitted to fulfil
the work of our redemption. But now he is in heaven, set down at the
right hand of God : the true Joseph, the high steward of heaven; he hath
all power committed unto him; he rules all. What a comfort is this to a
poor soul that hath no friends in the world, that yet he hath a friend in
heaven that will own him for his brother, in and through whom he may go
to the throne of grace boldly and pour out his soul, Heb. iv. 15, 16.
What a comfort was it to Joseph's brethren that then- brother was the
second person in the kingdom.
Again, It should be a motive to have good Christians in high estimation,
and to take heed how ive wrong them, for their brother will take their part.
' Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' Acts ix. 4, saith the Head in
heaven, when his members were trodden on upon earth. It is more to
wrong a Christian than the world takes it for, for Christ takes it as done
to himself. Absalom was a man wicked and unnatural, yet he could not
endiu-e the wi'ong that was done to his sister Tamar, 2 Sam. xiii. 1.
Jacob's sons took it as a high indignity that their sister should be so
abused. Gen. xxxiv. Hath Christ no affections, now he is in heaven, to
her that is so near him as the church is ? Howsoever he suffer men to
t}Tannise over her for a while, yet it will appear ere long that he will take
the chm'ch's part, for he is her brother.
' My sister, my spouse.'
The church is the daughter of a King, begotten of God ; the sister and
spouse of a King, because she is the sister and spouse of Christ, and the
mother of all that are spiritual kings. The church of Christ is every way
royal. Therefore we are kings because we are Ckristians. Hence the
Holy Ghost doth add here to sister, spouse. Indeed, taking the advantage
of such relations as are most comfortable, to set out the excellent and tran-
scendant relation that is between Christ and his church ; all other are not
w^hat they are tenned, so much as glasses to see better things. Kiches,
beauty, marriage, nobility, &c., are scarce worthy of their names. These
are but titles and empty things. Though om- base natm-e make great
matters of them, yet the reality and substance of all these are in heavenly
things. True riches are the heavenly graces; true nobiUty is to be bom
of God, to be the sister and spouse of Christ ; true pleasures are those of
the Spirit, which endure for ever, and will stand by us when all outward
comforts will vanish. That mystical union and sweet communion is set
down with such variety of expressions, to shew that whatsoever is scattered
in the creature severally is in him entirely. He is both a friend and a
brother, a head and a husband, to us; therefore he takes the names of all.
Whence we may observe further,
That the church is the spouse oj Christ. It springs out of him; even as
24 HOTELS OPENED. [SeRMON IT.
Eve taken out of Adam's rib, so the spouse of Christ was taken out of his
side. When it was pierced, the church rose out of his blood and death;
for he redeemed it, by satisfying divine justice ; we being in such a condi-
tion that Christ must redeem us before he would wed us. First, he must
he incarnate in our nature before he could be a fit husband; and then,
because we were in bondage and captivity, we must be redeemed before he
could maiTy us: 'he purchased his church with his own blood,' Acts sx.
28. Christ hath right to us, he bought us dearly.
Again, another foundation of this marriage between Christ and us, is
moment. He works us by his Spirit to yield to him. There must be con-
sent on our part, which is not in us by nature, but wrought by his Spirit,
&c. We yield to take him upon his own terms ; that is, that we shall leave
our father's house, all our former carnal acquaintance, when he hath wrought
our consent. Then the marriage between him and us is struck up.
Some few resemblances wiU make the consideration of this the more
comfortable.
1. The husband takes his wife imder his own name. She, losing her
own name, is called by his. So we are called Christians, of Christ.
2. The wife is taken with all her debt, and made partaker of the honours
and riches of her husband. Whatsoever he hath is hers, and he stands
answerable for all her debts. So it is here : we have not only the name of
Christ upon us, but we partake his honours, and are kings, priests, and
heirs with him, Kev. i. 5, 6. \Vhatsoever he hath, he hath taken us into
the fellowship of it ; so that his riches are ours, and likewise, whatsoever
is ours that is ill, he hath taken it upon him, even the wrath due to us.
Por he came between that and us, when he was made sin and a curse
for us, 2 Cor. v. 21 ; so there is a blessed change between Christ and us.
His honours and riches are ours. We have nothing to bestow on him, but
our beggary, sins and miseries, which he took upon him.
3. Those that bring together these two different parties, are the friends
of the bride; that is, the ministers, as it is, John iii. 23. They are the
paranijmjjhi, the friends of the bride, that learn of Christ what to report
to his spouse, and so they woo for Christ, and open the riches, beauty,
honour, and all that is lovely in him, which is indeed the especial dut}' of
ministers — to lay open his unsearchable riches, that the chui-ch may know
what a husband she is like to have, if she cleave to him ; and what an one
she leaves, if she forsake him. It was well said in the council of Basil, out
of Bernard, ' Nemo committit sponsam suam Vicario ; nemo enim Ecclesicu
sponsus est,' — None commits his wife to a vicar, for none is the husband of
the church. To be husband of the church is one of the incommunicable
titles of Christ, yet usui*ped by the pope. Innocent the Third was the first
that wronged Chi'ist's bed by challenging the title of Sponsus, husband of
the church. Bernard forbids his scholar Eugenius this title (Epist. ccxxxvii.
ad Eugenium). It is enough for ministers to be friends of the Bride. Let
us yield him to be husband of the church, that hath given himself to
sanctify it with washing of water and blood, Eph. v. 26. We are a wife of
blood to him.
In this sweet conjunction we must know, that by nature we are clean
othei-ways than spouses ; for what was Solomon's wife, Pharaoh's daughter ?
A heathen, till she came to be Solomon's spouse. And as we read in
Moses, the strange woman must have her hair cut off, and her nails pared,
Dent. xxi. 12. Before she should be taken into the church, there must be
an alteration ; so before the church, which is not heathenish, but indeed
Cant. V. 1.] 'my sister, my spouse.' 25
hellish by nature, and led by the spirit of the world, be fit to be the spouse
of Christ, there must be an alteration and a change of natm-e, Is. xi. 6-8 ;
John iii. 3. Christ must alter, renew, purge, and fit us for himself. The
apostle saith, Eph. v. 24, it was the end of his death, not only to take us
to heaven, but to sanctify us on earth, and prepare us that we might be fit
spouses for himself.
Use 1. Let ^ls oft think of tJm nearness between Christ and us, if we have
once given our names to him, and not be discouraged for any sin or un-
worthiness in us. Who sues a wife for debt, when she is mai-ried ? Uxon
Us non intenditur. Therefore answer all accusations thus: — 'Go to Christ.*
If you have anything to say to me, go to my husband. God is just, but
he will not have his justice twice satisfied, seeing whatsoever is due there-
unto is satisfied by Christ our husband. What a comfort is this to a
distressed conscience ! If sin cannot dismay us, which is the ill of ills
and cause of all evil, what other ill can dismay us ? He that exhorts us
to bear with the infirmities one of another, and hath enjoined the husband
to bear with the wife, as the weaker vessel, 1 Pet. iii. 7, will not he bear
with his church as the weaker vessel, performing the duty of an husband
in all our infirmities ?
Use 2. Again, his desire is to make her better, and not to cast her away
for that which is amiss. And for outward ills, they are but to refine, and
make us more conformable to Christ our husband, to fit us for heaven, the
same way that he went. They have a blessing in them all, for he takes
away all that is hurtful, he pities and keeps us ' as the apple of his eye,'
'^ech. ii. 8. Therefore, let us often think of this, since he hath vouch-
safed to take us so near to himself. Let us not lose the comfort that this
meditation Avill yield us. We love for goodness, beauty, riches ; but
Christ loves us to make us so, and then loves us because we are so, in all
estates whatsoever.
Use 3. And if Chi-ist be so near us, let us labour for chaste jiuhpnents,
that we do not defile them with errors, seeing the whole soul is espoused to
Christ. Truth is the spouse of our understandings. Veritas est sponsa
intellectus. It is left* to us to be wanton in opinions, to take up what con-
ceit we will of things. So we ought to have chaste afiections, not cleaving
to base things. It hath been ofttimes seen, that one husband hath many
wives, but never from the beginning of the world, that one wife hath had
many husbands. God promiseth to betroth his church to him in righteous-
ness and faithfulness, that is, as he will be faithful to her, so she shall by
his grace be faithful to him ; faithfulness shall be mutual ; the church shall
not be false to Christ. So there is no Christian soul must think to have
many husbands ; for Christ in this case is a jealous husband. Take heed
therefore of spiritual harlotry of heart, for our afiections are for Christ, and
cannot be better bestowed. In other things we lose our love, and the things
loved ; but here we lose not our love, but this is a perfecting love, which
draws us to love that which is better than ourselves. We are, as we aflect ;f
our afiections are, as their objects be. If they be set upon better things
than ourselves, they are bettered by it. They are never rightly bestowed,
but when they are set upon Christ ; and upon other things as they answer
and stand -with the love of Christ. For the prime love, when it is rightly
bestowed, it orders and regulates all other loves whatsoever. No man
knows how to use earthly things, but a Christian, that hath fij-st pitched
his love on Christ. Then seeing all things in him, and in all them, a beam
* Qu. ' not left? '—Ed. t That is, ' choose.'— G.
26 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON II.
of that love of his, intending happiness to him, so he knows how to use
everything in order. Therefore let us keep our communion with Christ,
and esteem nothing more than his love, because he esteems nothing more
than ours.
Quest. But how shall we knovv^, whether we be espoused to Christ or not ?
Ans. 1. GUI' hearts can tell us, whether ice yield consent to him or not. In
particular, whether we have received him, as he will be received, as a right
husband, that is, xvhether ive receive him to be ruled by him, to make him our
head. For the wife, when she yields to be married, therewith also sur-
renders up her own will, to be ruled by her husband. So far she hath
denied her own will ; she hath no will of her ovm. Christ hath wisdom
enough for us, and himself too, whose wisdom and will must be ours. To
be led by divine truths so far as they are discovered unto us, and to submit
ourselves thereunto, is a sign of a gi'acious heart, that is married to Christ.
Ans. 2. Again, a u-illinf/ness to follow Christ in all conditions as he is dis-
covered in the ivord. To suifer Christ to have the sovereignty in our affections,
above all other things and persons in the world ; this is the right disposition
of a true spouse. For as it was at the fii'st institution, there must be a
leaving of father, and mother, and all, to cleave to our husband* : so here,
when anything and Christ cannot stand together, or else we shall never
have the comfort of his sweet name. Many men will be glad to own Christ
to be gi'eat by him, but as St Austin complains in his time, Chi'ist Jesus is
not loved for Jesus his own sake. Vix diliyitur Jesus propter Jesum, but
for other things, that he brings with him, peace, plent}', &c. — as far as it
stands with these contentments. If Christ and the world part once, it will
be known which we followed. In times of peace this is hardlyf discemed-
If he will pay men's debts, so as they may have the credit and glory of the
name to be called Christians, if he will redeem them from the danger of
sin, all is well ; but only such have the comfort of this communion, as love
him for himself. Let us not so much trouble ourselves about signs as be
careful to do our duty to Chi'ist, and then will Christ discover his love
clearly unto us.
Use 4. Now, they that are not brought so near to this happy condition
by Christ, may yet have this encouragement, there is yet place of grace for
them. Let them therefore consider but these three things.
1. The excellency of Chi'ist, and of the state of the church, when it is so
near him.
2. The necessity of this, to be so near him.
3. That there is hope of it.
There is in Christ whatsoever may commend a husband ; birth, comeli-
ness, riches, friends, wisdom, authority, &c.
1. The excellency of this condition to be one with Christ, is, that all
things are ours. For he is the King, and the church the Queen of all. All
things are serviceable to us. It is a wondrous nearness, to be nearer to ■
Christ than the angels, who are not his body, but servants that attend upon
the church. The bride is nearer to him than the angels, for, ' he is the
head and husband thereof, and not of the angels,' Heb. ii. 16. What an
excellent condition is this for poor flesh and blood, that creeps up and down
the earth here despised !
2. But especially, if we consider the necessity of it. We are all indebted
for more than we are worth. To divine justice we owe a debt of obedience,
* See Gen. ii. 24 and Mat. xix. 5 ; Mark x. 7, but it is ' wife,' not ' husband.' — G.
t That is with ' difficulty.'— G.
Cant. V. 1.] ' i have gathered my myrrh.' 27
and in want of that we owe a debt of punishment, and we cannot answer
one for a thousand. What will become of us if we have not a husband to
discharge all our debts, but to be imprisoned for ever ?
A person that is a stranger to Christ, though he were an Ahithophel for
his brain, a Judas for his profession, a Saul for his place, yet if his sins be
set before him, he will be swallowed up of despair, fearing to be shut up
eternally under God's wrath. Therefore, if nothing else move, yet let ne-
cessity compel us to take Christ.
3. Consider not only how suitable and how necessary he is unto us, but
what hope there is to have him, wheuas he sueth to us by his messengers,
and wooeth us, whenas we should rather seek to him ; and with other mes-
sengers sendeih a privy messenger, his Holy Spirit, to incline our hearts.
Let us therefore, as we love our souls, sutler ourselves to be won. But
more of this in another place. The next branch is,
III. Christ's acceptation. ' I have gathered my myrrh with my spice,' &c.
So that, together with Christ's presence, here is a gracious acceptance of
the provision of the church, with a delight in it, and withal, a bringing of
more with him. The church had a double desire, 1, That Christ would
come to accept of what she had for him of his own grace, which he had
wrought in her soul ; and 2, She was also verily persuaded that he would
not come empty handed, only to accept of what was there, but also would
bring abundance of gi'ace and comfort with him. Therefore she desires
acceptation and increase ; both which desires he answers. He comes to
his garden, shews his acceptation, and withal he brings more. * I have
gathered my mj^i-rh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my
honey ; I have drtmk my wine with my milk,' &c. Whence we observe,
That God accepts of the graces of his children, and delights in them.
First, Because they are the fruits that come from his children, his spouse,
his friend. Love of the person wins acceptance of that which is presented
from the person. What comes from love is lovingly taken.
Second, They are the graces of his Sjntit. If we have anything that is
good, all comes from the Spirit, which is first in Christ our husband, and
then in us. As the ointment was first poured on Aaron's head, Ps. cxxxiii. 2,
and then ran down upon his rich garments, so all comes fr-om Christ to us.
St Paul caUs the wife ' the glory of her husband,' 1 Cor. xi. 7, because, as
in a glass, she resembleth the graces of her husband, who may see his own
graces in her. So it is with Christ and the church. Face answereth to
face, as Solomon saith in another case, Prov. xxvii. 19. Christ sees his own
face, beauty, glory, in his chm-ch ; she reflects his beams ; he looks in love
upon her, and always with his looks conveys grace and comfort ; and the
church doth reflect back again his grace. Therefore Chi-ist loves but the
reflection of his own graces in his children, and therefore accepts them.
Third, His kindness is such as he takes all in good part. Christ is love
and kindness itself. Why doth he give unto her the name of spouse and
sister, but that he would be kind and loving, and that we should conceive
80 of him ? We see, then, the gi'aces of Christ accepting of us and what
we do in his strength. Both we ourselves are sacrifices, and what we ofier
is a sacrifice acceptable to God, through him that offered himself as a sacrifice
of sweet smelling savour, from which God smells a savour of rest. God
accepts of Christ fii-st, and then of us, and what comes from us in him.
We may boldly pray, as Ps. xx. 3, ' Lord, remember aU our offerings, and
accept all our sacrifices.' The blessed apostle St Paul doth will us * to
"28 BOWELS OPENED. [SkEMON II.
offer up ourselves,' Rom. xii. 1, a holy and acceptable sacrifice to God,
when we are once in Christ. In the Old Testament we have divers mani-
festations of this acceptation. He accepted the sacrifice of Abel, as it is
thought, by fire fi'om heaven, and so Elijah's sacrifice, and Solomon's, by
fire, 1 Kings xviii. 38; 1 Chron, xxi. 26. So in the New Testament he
shewed his acceptation of the disciples meeting together, by a mighty wind,
and then filling them with the Holy Ghost, Acts ii. 3. But now the
declaration of the acceptation of our persons, graces, and sacrifice that wo
offer to him, is most in peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost, and
from a holy fire of love kindled by the Sphit, whereby our sacrifices are
burned. In the incense of prayer, how many sweet spices are burned
together by this fire of faith working by love ; as humility and patience
in submitting to God's will, hope of a gracious answer, holiness, love to
others, &c.
Use 1. If so be that God accepts the performances and graces, especially
the prayers of his children, let it be an argument to encourage us to be much
\n all hohj duties. It would dead the heart of any man to perform service
where it should not be accepted, and the eye turned aside, not vouchsafing
a gracious look upon it. This would be a kiUmg of all comfortable endea-
vours. But when all that is good is accepted, and what is amiss is par-
doned, when a broken desire, a cup of cold water shall not go unrespected,
nay, unrewarded. Mat. x. 42, what can we desire more ? It is infidehty
which is dishonourable to God and uncomfortable to om-selves, that makes
us so barren and cold in duties.
Use 2. Only let our care be to approve our hearts unto Christ. When
our hearts are right, we cannot but think comfortably of Christ. Those
that have offended some great persons are afraid, when they hear from
them, because they think they are in a state displeasing to them. So a
soul that is under the guilt of any sin is so far from thinking that God accepts
of it, that it looks to hear nothing from him but some message of anger
and displeasm-e. But one that preserves acquaintance, due distance, and
respect to a great person, hears from him vrith comfort. Before he breaks
open a letter, or sees anything, he supposes it comes from a friend, one
that loves him. So, as we would desii'e to hear nothing but good news
from heaven, and acceptation of all that we do, let us be careful to preserve
ourselves in a good estate, or else our souls will tremble upon any discovery
of God's wrath. The g"uilty conscience argues, what can God shew to me,
being such a wretch ? The heart of such an one cannot but misgive, as,
where peace is made, it will speak comfort. It is said of Daniel that he
was a man of God's desires, Dan. ix. 23 ; x. 11, 19 ; and of St John, that
Christ so loved him that he leaned on his breast, John xxi. 20. Every one
cannot be a Daniel, nor one that leans on Christ's bosom. There are de-
grees of favour and love ; but there is no child of God but he is beloved
and accepted of him in some degree. But something of this before in the
former chapter.
* I have gathered my myrrh with my spice ; I have eaten my honeycomb
with my honey,' &c.
That is, I have taken contentment in thy graces, together with accepta-
tion. There is a delight, and God not only accepts, but he delights in the
graces of his children. ' All my delight,' saith David, ' is in those that are
excellent,' Ps. xvi. 3. But this is not all, Christ comes with an enlarge-
ment of what he finds.
Christ comes, and comes not empty whensoever he comes, but with abund-
Cant. V. 1.] * i have eaten my honeycomb.' 29^
ance of grace. If St Paul, who was but Chi-ist's instrument, could tell the
Eomans, ' I hope to come to you in abundance of grace and comfort,' Rom.
XV. 29, because he was a blessed instrument to convey good from Christ to
the people of God, as a conduit-pipe, how much more shall Christ himself,
where he is present, come with graces and comfort ! Those that have
communion with Christ, therefore, have a comfortable communion, being
euro to have it enlarged, for ' to him that hath shall be given,' Mat. xxv. 29.
It is not only true of his last coming, when he shall come to judge the quick
and the dead, ' I come, and my reward is with me,' Rev. xxii. 12, but also
of all his intermediate comings that are between. When he comes to the
Boul, he comes not only to accept what is there, but still with his reward
with him, the increase of gi'ace, to recompense all that is good with the in-
crease thereof. This made his presence so desired in the gospel with those
that had gracious hearts. They knew all was the better for Christ, the
company the better, for he never left any house or table where he was, but
there was an increase of comfort, and of grace. And as it was in his per-
sonal, so it is in his spiritual presence. He never comes, but he increases
grace and comfort.
Therefore, let us be stirred up to have communion with Christ, by this
motive, that thus we shall have an increase of a further measure of grace.
Let us labour to be such as Christ may delight in, for our graces are honey
and spices to him, and where he tastes sweetness he will bring more with
him. To him that overcometh he promiseth ' the hidden manna,' Rev.
ii. 17. They had manna before, but he means they shall have more abund-
ant communion with me, who am ' the hidden manna.' There is abund-
ance in him to be had, as the soul is capable of abundance. Therefore we
may most fruitfully and comfortably be conversant in holy exercises and
communion with Christ, because our souls are fit to be enlarged more and
more, till they have their fulness in heaven ; and still there is more grace
and comfort to be had in Christ, the more we have to deal with him.
But to come to shew what is meant by honey and wine, &c. Not to
take uncertain grounds from these words, but that which may be a founda-
tion for us to build comfort and instruction on, we wiU not shew in parti-
cular what is meant by wine and honey (for that is not intended by the Holy
Ghost), but shew in general how acceptable the graces of the Spirit of
Christ are to him, that they feed him and delight him, as wine and honey
do us, because in the covenant of grace he fiUeth us by his Spirit of grace,
to have comfort in us as we have in him. For, except there be a mutual
joy in one another, there is not communion. Therefore Christ furnisheth
his church with so much grace as is necessaiy for a state of absence here,
that may fit her for communion with him for ever in heaven. As Isaac
sent Rebecca, before the marriage, jewels and ornaments to wear, Gen.
xxiv. 22, that she might be more lovely when they met, so our blessed
Saviour, he sends to his spouse from heaven jewels and ornaments, that is,
graces, wherewith adorned, he may delight in her more and more till the
marriage be fulfilled. Therefore in this book the church is brought in,
delighting in Christ, and he in the chm*ch. ' Thy love,' saith the church to
him, ' is sweeter than wine,' Cant. i. 2. Christ saith to the church again,
' Thy love is sweeter than wine.' Whatsoever Christ saith to the church,
the church saith back again to Christ, and he back again to the church.
So there is a mutual contentment and joy one in another. * Eat, 0 friends,
drink,' Sec.
Here is an invitation. When he comes stored with more gi-ace and
80 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON EE.
comfort, he stirs them up; both the church, others, and all that bear good-
will to his people, that they would delight in the graces and comforts of his
church. Whence observe, that
Obs. We ought to rejoice in the comforts and graces of others, and of ourselves.
He stirreth up the church here, as well as others ; for he speaks to all,
both to the church and the friends of it. He had need to stir her up to
enjoy the comfort of her own grace ; for they are two distinct benefits, to
have grace, and to know that we have it, though one Spirit work both,
1 Cor. ii. 12. The Spirit works grace, and shews us the things that God
hath given us, yet sometimes it doth the one, and not the other. In the
time of desertion and of temptation, we have grace, but we know it not ;
right to comfort, but we feel it not. There is no comfort of a secret, un-
known treasure ; but so it is with the church, she doth not always take
notice of her o'wti graces, and the right she hath to comfort.
We have need to have Christ's Spirit to help 2is to know what good is in us.
And indeed a Christian should not only examine his heart for the evil that
is in him, to be humbled ; but what good there is, that he may joy and be
thankful. And since Christ accepts the very first fruits, the earnest, and
delights in them, we should Imow what he delights in, that we may go
boldly to him ; considering that it is not of ourselves, but of Christ, whatso-
ever is graciously good. Therefore we ought to know our own graces ; for
Christ, when he will have us comfortable indeed, will discover to us what
cause we have to rejoice, and shew us what is the work of his own Spirit,
and our right to all comfort.
And so, for others, we should not only joy in ourselves, and in our own
condition and lot ; but also in the happy condition of every good Christian,
There is joy in heaven at the conversion of one sinner, Luke xv. 10. God
the Father joys to have a new son ; God the Son to see the fruit of his.
own redemption, that one is pulled out of the state of damnation ; and
God the Holy Ghost, that he hath a new temple to dwell in ; the angels,
that they have a new charge to look to, that they had not before, to join
with them to praise God. So there is joy in heaven; the Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost, with the angels, joy at it ; and all true-hearted Christians joy
in the graces one of another.
Reasons. For, 1. God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost have glory by it; and
2, the church hath comfort by the increase of a saint. 3. The prayer of a
Christian adds new strength to the church. What a happy condition is it
when God's glory, the church's comfort and strength, and our own joy, meet
together. So that we should all take notice of the grace of God in others.
We ought to take notice of the works of God in creation and providence,
when we see plants, stars, and such like, or else we dishonour God.
WTiat then should we do for his gifts and graces in his children, that are
above these in dignity? should we not take notice of what is graciously
good, and praise God for it ? Thus they did for Paul's conversion, ' they
glorified God.' For when they saw that Paul of a wolf was become not
only a sheep, but a shepherd and leader of God's flock, they glorified God-^
Gal. i. 24.
So the believing Jews, when the Gentiles were converted, ' they glorified
God, that he had taken the Gentiles to be his garden and people,' Acts xi. 18.
When Paul and others had planted the gospel, and God gave the increase,
the godly Jews rejoiced at that good. So, we that are Gentiles, should re-
joice to hear of the conversion of the Jews, and pray for it ; for then there
will be a general joy when that is. Want of joy shews want of graces
Cant. V. 1.] ' eat, o friends ; drink.' 81
There is not a surer character of a Satanical and Cainish disposition, than
to look on the graces of God's children with a mahgnant eye : as Cain,
who hated his brother, because his works were better than his, 1 John iii. 12.
Those that deprave * the graces of God in others, and cloud them with dis-
graces, that they may not shine, and will not have the sweet ointment of
their good names to spread, but cast dead flies into it, shew that they are
of his disposition that is the accuser of the brethren. It is a siTn oi the
child of the devil. All that have grace in them, are of Christ's and of the
angels' disposition. They joy at the conversion and growth of any Chris-
tians. Here, such as they, are styled friends and beloved ; and indeed
none but fiiends and beloved can love as Christ loves, and deUght as Christ
deUghts.
THE THIRD SERMON.
/ am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my ynyrrh
tvith my spice; I have eaten viy honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk
my wine ivith my milk ; eat 0 friends ; drink, yea, drink abundantly,
0 beloved! I sleep, but my heart u-aketh, &c. — Cant. v. 1, 2.
It hath been shewed how Christ and the church were feasting together.
She entreated his company ' to come into his garden and eat his pleasant
fniits.' He, according to her desire, was come; and not only feasted on
the chm-ch's provision, but also brought more with him, Christ taking
walks in his garden, that is, his church, and every particular soul, which is
as a sweet paradise for him to delight in, is much refreshed ; and in witness
of acceptance brings increase. What greater encouragement can we wish,
than that we, being by nature as the earth, since the fall, accm-sed, should
be the soil of Christ's delight, planted and watered by him ; and that what
we yield should be so well taken of him. We are under so gracious a
covenant that all our services are accepted ; not only our honey, but honey-
comb ; not only our wine, but our milk ; our weak services as well as our
strong ; because the Spirit which we have from him sweeteneth all. As in
nature there is one common influence from heaven, but yet variety of
flowers, violets, roses, gilliflowers, spices, all sweet in their several kind,
with a different kind of sweetness : so all graces have their beginning from
the common influence of Christ's Spirit, though they differ one from an-
other; and are all accepted of the ' Father of lights,' from whence they
come, James i. 17, Christ wonders at his own grace, ' 0 woman, great ia
thy faith,' Matt. xv. 28 ; and Cant. iii. 6, ' Who is this that cometh out
of the wilderness hke pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and fi-ankin-
cense, with all powders of the merchant ?'
Let not the weakest of all others be discouraged. Christ looks not to
what he brings, so much as out of what store ; that which is least in quan-
tity may be most in proportion, as the widow's mite was more in accept-
ance than richer offerings, Luke xxi. 3, ' A pair of turtle doves,* Levit.
V. 7, was accepted in the law, and those that brought but goats' hair to
the building of the tabernacle, Exod. xxxv. 6,
The particulars here specified that Christ took delight in, and invitcth
others to a further degree of delight in, are
Myrrh and spice, honey and honeycomb, milk.
♦ That is, ' speak evil of.' - G.
82 BOWELS OPENED. [SeeMON III.
Whicli shew, 1. The sweetness of grace and spiritual comfort. 2. The
variety. 3. The use.
Myrrh and spices, 1, refresh the spirits, and 2, preserve from putre-
faction ; which are therefore used in embalming. If the soul be not em-
balmed with gi'ace, it is a noisome, carrion soul ; and as it is in itself, so
whatsoever cometh from it is abominable.
Milk and honey nom-ish and strengthen ; and wine increaseth spirits ; and
thereupon encourageth and all^ayeth sorrow and cares. * Give wine to
him that is ready to die,' Pro v. xxxi. 6. The sense of the love of Christ
is sweeter than wine ; it banisheth fears, and sorrow, and care.
From this mutual delight between Christ and his spouse we observe
next, that
There is a mutual feasting betwixt Christ and his church. The churcJi
bringeth what she hath of his Spirit ; and Christ comes with more plenty.
For there being so near a covenant between him and us, we are by his
gi-ace to perfoiTQ all offices on our part. We invite him, and he inviteth
us. There is not the meanest Christian in whom there is not somewhat to
welcome Christ withal; but Christ sends his provision before, and comes,
as we say, to his own cost. He sends a spirit of faith, a spirit of love, a
spirit of obedience. 1. Some are content to invite others, but are loth to
go to others, as if it were against state. They would have wherewith to
entertain Christ, but are unwilling to be beholden to Christ. 2. Some are
content to have benefit by Christ, as his righteousness to cover them, &c.,
but they desire not grace to entertain Christ ; but a heart truly gracious
desireth both to delight in Christ, and that Christ may delight in it. It
desireth grace together with mercy, holiness with happiness. Christ could
not delight in his love to us, if we by his grace had not a love planted in
our hearts to him. But to come to speak of this feast.
"We see it pleaseth Christ to veil heavenly matters with comparisons
fetched from earthly things, that so he may enter into our souls the better
by our senses.
1. Christ maketh us a feast, a marriage feast, a marriage feast with the
King's Son, of all feasts the most magnificent. A feast, fii'st, in regard of
the choice rarities we have in Christ. We have the best, and the best of
the best. * Fat things, and the marrow of fatness ; wine, and wine on the
lees,' Isa. xxv. 6, refined, that presei'veth the strength. The comforts we
have from Christ, are the best comforts ; the peace, the best peace ; the
privileges, the highest privileges. ' His flesh,' crucified for us, to satisfy
divine justice, ' is meat indeed ; his blood, shed for us, is drink indeed,' John
vi. 55; that is, the only meat and drink to refresh our souls ; because these feed
our souls, and that to eternal hfe. The love of God the Father in giving
Christ to death ; and Christ's love in giving himself, together with full
contentment to divine justice ; this gift it is that the soul especially feeds
on. \Vhat could Chi-ist give, better than himself to feed on ? He thought
nothing else worthy for the soul to feed on ; and this it daily feeds on, as
daily guilt riseth from the breakings out of the remainder of con-uption.
Other dainties are from this ; from hence we have the Spirit, and graces of
the Spirit. If he giveth himself, will he not give all things with himself?
2. As Christ maketh a feast of choice things for his elect and choice spouse,
so there is variety, as in a feast. ' Christ is made to us of God, wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,' 1 Cor. i. 30, that we should
not be too much cast down with thought of our own folly, guilt, unholiness,
and misery. There is that in Christ which answereth to all our wants, and
CaKT. V, l.J ' EAT, O FEIEKDS ; DRINK.' 88
an all-sufficiency for all degrees of happiness. Therefore, ho hath terms
from whatsoever is glorious and comfortable in heaven and earth. Christ
is all marrow, all sweetness. All the several graces and comforts we have,
and the several promises whereby they are made over and conveyed unto
us, are but Christ dished out in several manner, as the need of every
Christian shall require. Christ himself is the ocean, issuing into several
streams, to refresh the city of God. We can be in no condition, but wo
have a promise to feed on, and ' all promises are yea and amen,' 2 Cor. i.
20,' made to us ' in Christ,' and performed to us ' for Christ.'
8. Therefore, as we have in Christ a feast for variety, so for suficiency of
all good. No man goeth hungry from a feast. It was never heard for any
to famish at a feast. In Christ there is not only abundance, but redun-
dance, a diffusive and a spreading goodness ; as in breasts to give milk,
in clouds to drop down showers, in the sun to send forth beams. As
Christ is full of grace and truth, so he fully dischargeth all his offices.
There is an overflowing of all that is good for our good. He that could
multiply bread for the bodj^, he can multiply grace for our soul. If he
giveth life, he giveth it in abundance, John x. 10. If he giveth water of
life, he giveth rivers, not small streams, John vii. 38. If he giveth peace
and joy, he giveth it in abundance ; his scope is to fill up our joy to the
full. As he is able, so * is he willing to do for us far more abundantly than
we are able to think or speak,' Eph. iii. 20. Where Christ is present, he
briugeth plenty with him. If wine be wanting at the first, he will rather
turn water into wine, than there should be a fail.
4. In a feast there is variety of friendhj company ; so here friends are
stirred up to refresh themselves with us. We have the blessed Trinity, the
angels, and all our fellow-members in Christ to come with us.
There is no envy in spiritual things, wherein whatsoever the one hath,
the other hath not the less.
5. In a feast, because it is intended for rejoicing, the^-e is music; and
what music like to the sweet harmony between God, reconciled in Christ,
and the soul, and between the soul and itself, in inward peace and joy of
the Holy Ghost, shedding the love of Christ in the soul. We do not only
joy, but glory, under hope of glory, and in afflictions, and in God now as
ours, in whom now by Christ we have an interest, Rom. vi. 2-10. When
we come sorrowful to this feast, we depart cheerful. This, as David's harp,
stills all passions and distempers of spirit.
The founder and master of the feast is Christ himself; and withal is
both guest, and banquet, and all. All graces and comforts are the fruits
of his Spirit; and he alone that infused the soul, can satisfy the soul. He
that is above the conscience can only quiet the conscience. He is that
wisdom that ' sends forth maids,' Prov. is. 3, his ministers, to invite to his
feast. It is he that cheereth up his guests, as here. Those that invited
others, brought ointment, and poured it out upon them, to shew their wel-
come, and to cheer them up, as may appear by our Saviour's speech to the
Pharisee that invited him, Luke vii. 44. So we have from Christ both the
oil of grace and oil of gladness, * He creates the fruits of the lips to be
peace,' Isa. Ivii. 19, speaking that peace and joy to the heart that others
do to the ear. ' He raiseth pastors according to his own heart, to feed his
sheep,' Jer. iii. 15.
The vessels wherein Christ conveyeth his dainties are the ministry of the
word and sacraments. By the word and sacraments we come to enjoy
Christ and his comforts and graces ; and by this feast of grace we come at
VOL. II. c
84 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON III.
length to the feast of feasts, that feast of glory, when we shall be satisfied
with the image of God, and enjoy fulness of pleasures for evermore ; and,
which adds to the fulness, we shall fully know that it shall be a never-
interrupted joy.
We see, then, that we cannot please Christ better than in shewing our-
selves welcome, by cheerful taking part of his rich provision. It is an
honour to his bounty to fall to ; and it is the temper of spirit that a Chris-
tian aims at, to ' rejoice always in the Lord,' Phil. iv. 4, and that from
enjoying our privileges in him. We are not bidden to mourn always, but
to ' rejoice always,' and that upon good advisement ; ' Rejoice,' and ' I say
again,' saith St Paul, ' rejoice.' Indeed, we have causes of mourning, but it
is that the seed of joy should be sown in mourning ; and we can never be in so
forlorn a condition, wherein, if we understand Christ and ourselves, we have
not cause of joy. ' In me,' saith Christ, ' ye shall have peace,' John x\i. 33.
The world will feed us with ' bread of affliction,' Hos. ix. 4. If the world
can help it, we shall have sorrow enough ; and Christ knows that well
enough, and stu's us up to a cheerful feeding on that he hath procured for
us. He hath both will, and skill, and power, and authority to feed us to
everlasting life, for the Father sent him forth, and sealed him to that pur-
pose. All the springs of om* joy axe from him, Ps. Ixxsvii. 7.
Our duty is to accept of Christ's inviting of us. What will we do for him,
if we will not feast with him ? We will not suffer with him, if we will not
feast with him ; we will not suffer with him, if we wiU not joy with him,
and in him. Happy are they that come, though compelled by crosses and
other sharp ways. If we rudely and churhshly refuse his feast here, we
are hke never to taste of his feast hereafter. Nothing provokes so deeply
as kindness despised. It was the cause of the Jews' rejection. ' How
shall we escape,' not if we persecute, but ' if we do but neglect so great
salvation ? ' Heb. ii. 3.
That which we should laboui- to bring with us is a taste of these dainties,
and an appetite to them. The soul hath a taste of its own, and as aU
creatures that have life have a taste to relish and distinguish of that which
is good for them, from that which is offensive, so wheresoever spiritual Hfe
is, there is likewise a taste suitable to the sweet rehsh that is in spiritual
things. God should lose the gloiy of many excellent creatures if there were
not several senses to discern of several goodness in them. So if there were
not a taste in the soul, we could never delight in God, and his rich good-
ess in Christ.
Taste is the most necessary sense for the preservation of the creature,
ecause there is nearest application in taste ; and that we should not be
'eceived in taste, we hear, see, and smell before, and if these senses give
1 good report of the object, then we taste of it and digest it, and turn it
nto fit nourishment. Omnis vita gustu ducitur. So the spirit of man, after
udgment of the fitness of what is presented, tastes of it, dehghts in it, and
s nourished by it. There is an attractive, drawing power in the soul,
whereby every member sucks that out of the food that is convenient for it.
So the soul draws out what is well digested by judgment, and makes it its
own for several uses.
The chief thing that Christ requireth is a good stomach to these dainties.
1. The means to procure an appetite. We axe first to he sensible of
spiritual wants and misery. The passover lamb was eaten with sour herbs ;
so Christ crucified, relisheth best to a soul affected with bitterness of sin.
Whilst men are rich in their conceit, they go empty away. The duties and
Cant. V. 1.] ' eat, o fkiends ; deink.' 85
performances they trust to, are but husks, windy, empty chaff. Swelling
is not kind nourishment.
2. That which hinders the sharpness of the stomach are, cold defiuxions,
that didl and flat the edge of it. So upon plodding upon the world, cold
distillations drop upon the soul, and take away the ' savour and desire of
heavenly things. These things fill not. There is both a vanity of empti-
ness, and a vanity of short continuance in them. ' Why should we lay out
our money,' Isa. Iv. 2, spend our time, our wits, om* endeavour so much
about them ? This makes so many starvelings in religion.
Besides, there be other noisome affections to be purged, as 1 Pet. ii. 1,
[' Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies,
and all evil speakings,' which breed a distaste and disaffection to spiritual
things ;] as malice and guile, &c. How can Christ be sweet to that soul
unto which revenge is sweet !
3. Exercise quickens appetite. Those that exercise themselves unto godli-
ness, see a need of spiritual strength to maintain duty. A dull formalist
keeps his round, and is many years after where he vras before ; sees no need
of fui'ther growth or strength. A Christian life, managed as it should be
indeed, as it hath much going out, so it must have much coming in. It will
not else be kept up. Those that have a journey to go, wiU refresh them-
selves for afterward, lest they faint by the way.
4. Company likewise of such as ' labour for that blessed food that endureth
to hfe eternal,' John vi. 27, provoketh to fall too as the rest do, especially
if they be equal or go beyond us in parts. For we will reason with our-
selves, Have not I as much need as they ? If these things be good for them,
then they are good for me.
Thus St Paul foretelleth, that the example of the Gentiles should provoke
the Jews to come in, and taste of the banquet Christ hath provided for both,
Rom. xi. 25, 26. Especially this should stir us up earnestly to take our
part in that Chi'ist hath provided, because we know not how soon the table
may be taken away. When men see the dishes in removing, though before
they have discoursed away much time of their supper, yet then they will fall
fresh to it. We know not how long -wisdom will be inviting of us. It will be
our wisdom to take our time, lest we put off so long, as wisdom herself
laughs at om* destruction ; and a famine be sent, of all famines the most
miserable, a famine of the word, and then we may pine away eternally
without comfort. Christ will not always stand inviting of us. If we will
none of his cheer, others will, and shall, when we shall starve.
Let this draw us on, that we see here Chi'ist's hearty and free welcome,
the gi'acious look that we are hke to have from him. He counts it an
honour, since he hath made such rich provision, for us to take part, and
for our part, shew our unwillingness, that such free kindness should be
refused. Wo cannot honour his bounty more than to feed liberally of that
he UberaUy sets before us. We are glad to perceive our friends upon imi-
tation to think themselves welcome. Let us open our mouth wide, since
Christ is so ready to fill it. We are not straitened in his love, but in our
own hearts. The widow's oil failed not till her vessels failed, 2 Kings iv. 6.
We are bidden to delight in the Lord, and in whom should we delight, but
■where all fulness is to be had to deUght in ? Our spirits are not so lai'ge
as those blessed comforts are which we are called to the enjoyment of. If
the capacity of our souls were a thousand times larger, yet there is so large
a sea of comfort in Christ, as they are not able to comprehend it. A tasta
of these good things breeds 'joy unspeakable,' and ' peace that passeth all
86 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON HI.
understanding,' Philip, iv. 7. What will the fulness do ? This taste we
feel in the ordinances will bring us to that fahiess hereafter. Oh, let us
keep our appetites for these things which are so delightful, so suitable to
the soul. How great is that goodness which he both lays up for hereafter,
and lays out for his,- even here in this life !
In some ages of the church, the feasts that Christ hath made have been
more solemn and sumptuous than in other thereafter, as Christ hath been
more or less clearly and generally manifested. At Christ's first coming
there was a greater feast than before ; because the riches of God's love in
Christ were then laid open, and the pale of the church was enlarged by the
coming in of the Gentiles. So will there be a royal feast, when the Jews
shall be converted. ' Blessed then shall those be that shall be called to
the supper of the Lamb,' Rev. xix. 9. Suppers are in the end of the day,
and this supper shall be furnished towards the end of the world.
But then will be the true magnificent supper, when all that belong to
God's election shall meet together, and feed upon that heavenly manna for
ever. Then there will be nothing but marrow itself, and wine without all
dregs. In all our contentments here, there is some mixture of the contrary;
then nothing but pure quintessence. In the mean time, he lets fall some
manna in this our wilderness, he lets us relish that now. It will not
putrefy as the other manna did, but endure, and make us endure for ever.
It's the true ' bread of life.'
Mark how Christ draws his spouse on to drink, and drink abundantly.
There is no danger of taking too much. Where the spring is infinite, we
can never di-aw these wells dry, never suck these breasts of consolation too
much ; and the more strong and cheerful we are, the better service we
shall perform, and the more accepted. Delight is as sugar, sweet in itself,
and it sweetens all things else. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Duties come off more gracefully, and religion is made more lovely in the
eyes of all, when it comes forth in strength and cheerfulness. Christ's
housekeeping is credited hereby. In our Father's house is plenty enough,
Luke XV. 17. WTien the martyrs had drunk largely of this wine, it made
them forget friends, riches, honours, life itself. The joy stirred up by it,
carried them through all torments.
If any be hindered by conceit of unworthiness, if affected deeply with it,
let them consider what kind of men were compelled to the banquet, the
blind, the lame, Luke xiv. 21. See a lively picture of God's mercy in the
example of the prodigal. He fears sharp chiding, and the father provides
a rich banquet. He goeth to his father, but the father runs to meet him,
Luke XV. 20. Did Chi-ist ever turn back any that came unto him, if they
came out of a true sense of their wants ?
' Eat, 0 friends.' Christ, out of the largeness of his affections, multiplieth
new titles and compellations — ' beloved ' and ' friends.' Chi'ist provides a
banquet, and invites his friends, not his enemies. Those good things that
neither ' eye hath seen, nor ear hath heard, that are above our conceit to
apprehend,' 1 Cor. ii. 9 ; these are provided for ' those that love him,'
not that hate him. He mingles another cup for them, ' a cup of -nTath,'
and they are to ' drink up the very di-egs of it,' Ps. Ixxv. 8. Friendship
is the sweetness, intimateness, and strength of love. In our friends our
love dwells and rests itself. Conjugal friendship is the sweetest friendship.
All the kinds and degrees of friendship meet in Christ towards his spouse.
It is the friendship of a husband, of a brother ; and if there be any relation in
the world wherein friendship is, all is too little to express the love of Christ.
Cant. V. 1.] 'eat, o friends; drink.' 87
In friendsliip there is mutual consent, an union of judgment and affec-
tions. There is a mutual sympathy in the good and ill one of another, as if
there were one soul in two hodies (b). There be mutual friends and mutual
enemies. * Do I not hate them,' saith David, 'that hate thee?' Ps. cxxxix.
21. There is mutual love of one another for their own sakes. In flattery,
men love themselves most ; in semblance, love others, but all is in reflec-
tion to themselves.
There is libei'ty which is the life of friendship ; there is a free intercourse
between friends, a free opening of secrets. So hero Christ openeth his
secrets to us, and we to him. We acquaint him with the most hidden
thoughts of our hearts, and we lay open all our cares and desires before
him. Thus Abraham was called God's friend, 2 Chron. xx. 7, and the
disciples Christ's friends, John xv. 15. It is the office of the Spirit to
reveal the secrets of Christ's heart to us, concerning our own salvation. He
doth not reveal himself to the world.
In friendship, there is mutual solace and comfort one in another. Christ
deUghteth himself in his love to his church, and his church delighteth her-
self in her love to Christ, Christ's delight was to be with the sons of men,
and ours is to be with him.
In friendship there is a mutual honour and respect one of another ; but
here is some difi"erence in this fi'iendship. For though Christ calls us
friends, and therein in some sort brings himself down to us, yet we must
remember that this is a friendship of unequals. Christ's honouring of U3
IS his putting honour upon us. Our honouring of him is the gi\'ing him
the ' honour due to his name,' 1 Chron. xvi. 29. This friendship must be
maintained by due respect on our parts. As he is our friend, so he is our
king, and knows how to correct us if we forget our distance. If he here
seem to use us hardly, it is that he may use us the more kindly after.
He sufiers much for us, therefore we may well allow him the liberty of
seasonable correcting of us.
He that inspireth friendship into others will undoubtedly keep the laws
of friendship himself, will count our enemies his enemies. The enemies
of the church shall one day know that the church is not friendless.
And as his friendship is sweet, so constant in all conditions. He useth
not his fi-iends as we do flowers, regard them only when they are fresh ;
but he breeds that in us that may make us such as he may still deHght in
us. If other friends fail, as friends may fail, yet this friend will never fail
us. If we be not ashamed of him, he will never be ashamed of us. How
comfortable would our life be if we could draw out the comfort that this title
of friend afibrdeth ! It is a comfortable, a fruitful, an eternal friendship.
' I sleep, but my heart waketh.' Here the church expresseth a change-
able passage of her spiritual condition, after she had recovered herself out
of a former desertion, expressed in the beginning of the third chapter ; and
enjoyed a comfortable intercourse with Christ. Now she falleth into a
deeper desertion and temptation, from the remainder of corruption getting
strength. The church now falleth asleep, then was awake in the night,
and sought her beloved. Here is no present awaking, no seeking ; there
no misusage by the watchmen, as here. There she findeth him more
speedily ; here she falls sick with love before Christ discovcreth himself.
Before we come to the words, observe in general,
Obs. 1. That the state of the Church and every Christian is subject to spi-
ritnal alterations. The church is always ' beloved,' a ' spouse,' a ' friend ;'
but in this one state there falleth out variety of changes. No creature sub-
88 BOWELS y.ENED. [SeEMON HE.
ject to so many changes as man. From a state of innocency he fell into a
state of corruption. From that he, by grace, is restored to a state of grace,
and from grace to glory, where his condition shall be as Christ's now is, and
as heaven the place is, altogether michangeable. And in that state of
grace, how many intercourses be there ! the foundation of God's love to us,
and grace in us always remaining the same. Once beloved, for ever beloved.
We see here, after a feast, the chvirch falleth asleep. See it in Abra-
ham, sometimes ' strong in faith,' sometimes fearful. David sometimes
standing, sometimes falling, sometimes recovering himself and standing
faster, sometimes triumphing, ' The Lord is the light of my countenance,
whom shall I fear ? ' Ps. xxvii. 1 ; sometimes, again, ' I shall one day fall
by the hands of Saul,' 1 Sam. xxvii. 1. In the very same psalm he begins
with ' Rebuke me not in thy wrath,' and ends with ' Away, ye wicked,' Ps.
vi. 1, 10. Elias, though zealous, yet after flies for his life, 1 I{ings xix.
So Job, Peter, sometimes resolute and valiant, other while sinks for fear,
Job vi. ; Mat. xiv. 30.
The reason. The ground is, by reason of variety of outward occurrences
working upon the diversity of principles in us, nature and grace. Both
nature and grace are always active in us in some degree. When corrup-
tion gets strength, then we find a sick state creeping upon us, and lose our
former frame. It is with the soul as with the body. In a certain period
of time it gathereth ill humours, which break out into aguish distempers at
length ; so the relics of a spiritual disease not carried away, will ripen and
gather to ahead. This should teach us, when we are well, to study to keep
an even course, and to watch over the first stirrings, and likewise, if we see
some unevenness in our ways, not to censure om'selves or others over
harshly. Exact evenness is to be striven after here, but to be enjoyed in
another world.
Ohs. 2. We see, by comparing the state of the chm-ch here with the
state of it in the third chapter, that ivhere corruption is not thoroughly purged,
and a careful icatch kept over the soid, thereafter* a recovery, tvillfoUoic a more
dangerous distemper. Corruption will not only strive for Hfe, but for rule.
If there had been a thorough reformation in the church after her former
trouble, and a thorough closing with Christ, she would not thus have fallen
into a more dangerous condition. We see David, in his later times, falls
to ' numbering of the people,' 2 Sam. xxiv. 1, seq. ; and Samson, after he had
done great services for the church, at length shamefully betrays his strength ;
and he that had ruled others submits to be ruled by a base strumpet, Jud. xvi.
Jonah, for not thorough repenting for his running from his calling, falls
after to quarrel with God himself, Jonah iv. 9. It is the best, therefore, to
deal thoroughly with our hearts, else flesh imsubdued will owe us a greater
shame, and we shall dishonour our own beginnings. Yet this is the com-
fort, that this will occasion deeper humility and hatred of sin in those that
are God's, and a faster cleaving to God than ever before, as we see in the
church here. Afterwards grace will have the better at last.
Obs. 3. We may observe the ingenuity f of the church in laying open her
own state. It is the disposition of God's people to be ingenuous in open-
ing their state to God, as in David, Nehemiah, Ezra, &c.
The reason is thus : —
(1.) By a free and full confession we give God the honour of his wisdom
in knoicing of our own condition, secret and open. We give him the honour
of mercy that will not take advantage against us, the honour of power and
* Qu. 'there, after?' — Ed. f That is, ' ingenuousness.' — G
Cant. V. 1.] ' i sleep.' 89
authority over us, if ho should show his strength against us. We yield
unto him the glory of all his chief prerogatives ; whereupon Joshua movetb
Achan to a free confession, * My son, give glory to God,' Joshixa vii. 19.
(2.) We shame Satan, who first takes away shame of sinning, and then
takes away shame for sin. He tempts us not to be ashamed to do that we
are ashamed to confess, so we, by silence, keep Satan's counsel against
our own souls. If we accuse ourselves, we put him out of office who is the
* accuser of the brethren,' Kev. xii. 10.
(3.) We prevent, likewise, malicious imputations from the world. Austin
answered roundly and well when he was upbraided with the sins of his for-
mer age : ' What thou,' saith he, ' findest fault with, I have condemned in
myself before.' Quce tu rcprchendis, ego damnari.
(4.) This ingenuous dealing easeth the soul, giving vent to the grief of it.
Whiles the aiTow's head sticks in the wound, it will not heal. Sin uneon-
fessed is like a broken piece of rusty iron in the body, ferrum in vulnere.
It must be gotten out, else it will, by rankling and festering, cause more
danger. It is like poison in the stomach, if it be not presently cast up it
will infect the whole body. Is it not better to take shame to ourselves now,
than to be shamed hereafter before angels, devils, and men ? How careful
is God of us, by this private way to prevent future shame !
(5.) This faithful dealing with ourselves is oft a means oi present delivery
out of any trouble. David, in Ps. xxsii. 4, was in a gi-eat distemper both
of body and spirit ; his moisture was turned into the drought of summer.
It is thought he made this psalm between the time of his sin and his par-
don. What coui'se taketh he ? 'I said,' saith he, that is, ' I resolved to
confess my sin, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin,' ver. 5. Upon
a fi'ee and full, a faithful and ingenuous confession, without all guile of
spirit, he found ease presently, both in soul and body. The cause of God's
severe dealing with us is, that we should deal severely with ourselves. The
best trial of religion in us is by those actions whereby we reflect on our-
selves by judging and condemning of ourselves, for this argueth a spirit
without guile. Sin and shifting* came into the world together. The sub-
tnty of proud nature, especially in eminency, is such that sins may pass
for virtues, because sin and Satan are alike in this, they cannot endure to
appear in their own colour and habit, and so those that oppose it shall be
accounted opposers of good. This guile of spirit hath no blessedness be-
longing to it. Take heed of it.
Ohs. 4. Mark, further, one sign of a gracious soul, to he abased for lesser
defects, sleepiness, and indisjwsition to good. One would think drowsiness
were no such great matter. Oh, but the church had such sweet acquaint-
ance with Christ, that every little indisposition that hindered any degree
of communion was grievous to her ! You shall have a Judas, a Saul, an
enormous offender confess great falls that gripe his conscience. All shall
be cast up, that the conscience, being disburdened, may feel a little ease ;
but how few have you humbled for dulness of spirit, want of love, of zeal,
and cheerfulness in duty ? This, accompanied with strife against it, argues
a good spirit indeed.
A carnal man is not more humbled for gross sins than a gracious Chris-
tian for wants in good actions, when it is not with him as it hath been,
and as he would. The reason is, where there is a clear and heavenly light,
there lesser motes are discernible ; and spiritual life is sensible of any ob-
struction and hindrance. This goeth in the world for unnecessary nicety (c).
* That is. ' oviisioua. expedients.' — G.
40 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON III.
The world straineth not at these gnats. But those upon whose hearts the
sun of righteousness hath shined have both a clear sight and a tender heart.
To come to the words, ' I sleep.' The church fetcheth a comparison
from the body to express the state of the soul. It is one use of our body
to help us in spiritual expressions. Whilst the soul dwelleth in the body,
it dependeth much in the conceiving of things upon the phantasy,* and the
phantasy upon the senses. We come to conceive of spiritual sleep by sleep
of the body, which we are all well enough acquainted with.
The church, as she consists of a double principle, flesh and spirit mingled
together in all parts, as darkness and light in the twilight and dawning of
the day ; so here she expresseth her condition in regard of either part. So
far as she was carnal, she slept; so far as she was spiritual, she was awake.
In this mixed condition the flesh for the present prevailed, yet so as the
spirit had its working; * she slept, but her heart waked.'
The words contain a confession, 'I sleep;' and a correction, 'but my
heart waketh.' She hath a double aspect, one to the ill, 'her sleeping;' the
other to the good, ' the heart in some degree awaked.' The Spirit of God
is a discerning Spirit, it discovereth what is flesh and what is spirit.
So that we must not conceive this sleep to be that dead sleep all men are
in by nature, nor to be that judicial sleep, that spirit of slumber, which is a
further degree of that natural sleep to which God giveth up some, as a seal
of their desperate condition ; but here is meant that sleep that ariseth out
of the remainder of corruption unsubdued, and now, is here in the church,
prevailing over the better part. Flesh and spirit have both their inter-
course in us, as Moses and Amalek had. Unless we stand upon our guard,
the flesh will get the upper ground, as we see here. The best are no further
safe than they are watchful.
For the clear understanding of this, observe some correspondency in the
resemblance ; wherein too much curiosity is loathsome,! and postill-like (d);
and calleth the mind too much from the kernel to the shell.
Bodily and spiritual sleep resemble each other in the causes, in the
effects, and in the dangerous issue.
1. The sleep of the body cometh from the obstruction and binding irp of
the senses by vapours tchicli arise out of the stomach. So there be spiritual
fumes of worldly cares and desires that obstruct the senses of the soul.
Therefore our blessed Saviour counts it a spiritual surfeiting, when the soul
is oppressed with care about the world, Luke xxi. 34. Lusts bring the
soul a-bed. Prosperity is a strong vapour. If it overcome not the brain,
yet it weakeneth it, as strong waters do. See it in Solomon himself.
2. The disciples fell asleep in the garden when they were oppressed icith
heaviness and sorrow, Luke xxii. 45, which passions will have the like effect
upon the soul.
3. Sleep ariseth oft from tceariness and icant of spirits. So there is a
spiritual weariness arising from discouragements and too much expense I of
the strength of the soul upon other matters ; upon impertinencies that con-
cern not the best state of the soul.
4. Some are brought asleep by music. So many, by flattering enticements
and insinuations of others, joining with their own flattering, deceitful heart,
are cast into a spiritual sleep.
5. Sleep ariseth from want of exercise. When there is a cessation from
spiritual exercise, about the proper object of it, there followeth a spiritual
sleep. Exercise keeps waking.
* That ]'?, 'fancy.' — G. f That is, 'offensive.' — G. t Tliat is, 'expenditure.' — G,
Cant. V. 1.] 'i sleep.' 41
6. Sleep ariseth oft from cold diseases, as lethargies; from cold, gross
humours. Cold, earthly, gross affections about the things here below,
benumb the soul, and bring it into a heavy, drowsy, sleepy temper.
7. Sometimes sleep is caused by some kind ofjyoisou, especially the poison
of asps, which kills in sleeping. And do not sinful delights do the like to
the soul ? Insensible evils are the most dangerous evils.
8. Otherwhile slothful, ijaivniufji company dispose to sleep. There is no
more ordinary cause of spiritual sleep, than conversing with spiritual slug-
gards, that count it a high point of wisdom not to be forward in religion.
These formal, proud persons, as they are cold themselves, so they labour to
cast water upon the heat of others. Nay, those that are otherwise good,
if declining in their first love, will incline others to a fellowship in the same
secure temper, lest they should be upbraided by the vigilancy of others.
They are like in the effects.
1. Men disposed to be asleep desire to be alone. Those likewise that
are disposed to take a spiritual nap, will avoid company, especially of such
as would awake them. They will hardly endure rousing means.
2. Men will draw the curtains and shut out light, when they mean to com-
pose themselves to rest. So when men favour themselves in some ways
not allowable, they are afraid to be disquieted by the light. Light both
discovereth, awaketh, and stirs up to working. And men when they are
loth to do what they know, are loth to know what they should do.
'They that sleep, sleep in the night,' 1 Thess. v. 7. Asa, otherwise a good
Mng, shut up the prophet in prison for doing his duty, 2 Chron. xvi. 10.
Much of the anger that men bear against the word laid open to them, is
because it will not suffer them to sleep quietly in then- sins. Such as will
suffer them to live quietly in their sins,— they are quiet and honest men.
There cannot be a worse sign than when men will not endure wholesome
words. It is a sign they are in an ill league with that they should above all
wage war against.
3. In sleep, phantasy ruleth, and dreams in phantasy. Men in sleep
dream of false good, and forget true danger.
Many cherish golden dreams ; flream of meat, and when they awake,
their soul is empty, Isa. xxix. 8. Vain hopes are the dreams of waking
men, as vain dreams are all the waking of sleeping and carnal men, whose
life is but a dream.
In sleep, there is no exercise of senses or motion. As then, men are not
sensible of good or ill, they move neither to good or ill. Motion folio weth
sensibleness. What good we are not sensible of, we move not unto.
Hence sleep is of kin to death, for the time, depriving us of the use of all
senses ; and a secure professor in appearance differs little from a dead pro-
fessor. Both of them are unactive in good ; and what they do, they do it
without delight, in an uncomely and unacceptable manner, unbeseeming the
state of a Christian. It is all one to have no senses, and not to use them.
We may say of men in this sleepy temper, as the Scripture speaks of idols,
' they have eyes and see not, ears and hear not,' &c., Ps. cxv. 5.
So likewise they are alike in danger. In sleep, the preciousest thing men
carry about them is taken away without resistance ; and they are ready to
let loose what they held fast before, were it never so rich a jewel. And it
is so in spiritual sleepiness. Men suffer the profession of the truth to be
wrung from them, without much withstanding ; and with letting fall their
watch, let fall likewise, if not their grace, yet the exercise of their graces,
and arc in dancrer to be robbed of all.
42 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRJION III.
There is no danger but a man in sleep is fair for, and exposed unto.
Sisera was slain asleep, Jud. v. 26, and Ishbosheth at noonday, 2 Sam. iv. 7 ;
and there is no temptation, no sin, no judgment, but a secure, drowsy
Christian is open for ; which is the ground of so oft enforcing watchfulness
by the Spirit of God in the Scriptures. As spiritual deadness of spirit is a
cause of other sin, so likewise it is a punishment of them. God poureth a
spirit of ' dead sleep upon men, and closeth up their eyes,' Isa. xxix. 10,
till some heavy judgment falleth upon them ; and how many carnal men
never awake in this world, till they awake in hell ! No wonder there-
fore that Satan labours to cast men into a dead sleep all that he can ;
and deludes them, with di'eams of a false good, that their estate is good,
and like so to continue; that to-morrow shall be as to-day; that no danger
is near, though God's wrath hangeth over their head, ready to be revealed
from heaven.
Thus we see how the resemblance holds. Some apply this to Constan-
tino's time, about three hundred years after Christ, when the church upon
peace and plenty grew secure, and suffered ecclesiastical abuses to creep in.
Religion begat plenty, and the daughter devoured the mother. This made
the writers of the ecclesiastical stories, to question whether the church hath
more hm't by open persecution or peace, when one Christian undermineth
and rageth against another.* Human inventions were so multiplied, that
not long after, in Augustine's time, he complained that the condition of the
Jews was more tolerable than theirs ; f for though the Jev\'S were under
burdens, yet they were such as were imposed by God himself, and not
human presumptions. But Gerson many hundred years after increaseth
his complaint. I If, 0 Augustine, thou saidst thus in thy time, what wouldst
thou have said if thou hadst lived now, when men, as a toy§ taketh them
in the head, will multiply burdens ? And he was not afraid to say, that
the number of human Constitutions was such, that if they were observed
in rigour, the greatest part of the church would be damned. Thus, whilst
the husbandmen slept, the envious man Satan slept not, but sew|l his tares.
Thus popery grew up by degrees, till it overspread the church, whilst the
watchmen that should have kept others awake, fell asleep themselves. And
thus we answer the papists, when they quarrel with us about the beginning
of their errors. They ask of us, when such and such an heresy began ? We
answer, that those that should have observed them, were asleep. Popery
is a mystery that crept into the church by degrees, under glorious pre-
tences.^ Their errors had modest beginnings. Worshipping of images
arose from reserving the pictures of friends, and after that were brought
into the church. Invocation of saints arose from some of the fathers'
figurative turning of their speech to some that were dead, Transubstantia-
tion had rise from some transcendent, unwaiy phrases of the fathers. The
papacy itself, fi'om some titles of the Romish Church and bishop. Nothing
in popery so gross, but had some small beginnings, which being neglected
by those that should have watched over the church, grew at length unsuffer-
able. No wonder if the papists be cast into a dead sleep ; they have drunk
too deep of the whore's cup. They that worship images are, as the Scrip-
* Thoodoret, lib 5.
t Augustine, Epist. ad Januar. cxix. Tolerabilior Judaeorum conditio quam nostra.
X Si tuo tempore liffic dicebas (0 sapiens Augustine) quid nostra tempestate
dixisses? Si tenorentur in suo rigore, maxima pars Ecclesise damnaretur. Gerson
de vit. spiritual. g That is, ' trifle.' — G.
II That is, ' sowed.'— G. If See Memoir of Sibbes, vol. i. p. Ixv.
Cant, V. 1.] i sleep.' 43
ture saith, ' like unto them, they have eyes and see not,' &c., Ps. cxv. 5.
They cannot discern of their errors, though they be never so ridiculous and
senseless, as prayer in an unknown tongue, and such like.
And upon this state of the church let us add this caution.
A Caution. If the best men be so prone to sleep, then ue cannot safely at
all times build upon their judgment. The fathers of the church were not
always awake. There be few of them, but in some things we may appeal
from themselves sleeping, to themselves waking. The best, having some
darkness left in their understandings, and some lusts unsubdued in their
afiections, may write and speak sometimes out of the worst part and
principle that is in them, as well as out of the best, when they keep not
close to the rule.
"When our adversaries press us with the authority of fathers, we appeal
to them, where they speak advisedly and of pm-pose.* When they were
not awaked by heretics, they speak sometimes unworthily, and give advan-
tages to heretics that followed. It is the manner of our adversaries to
make the imwarrantable practice of the ancienter time a rule of their prac-
tice, and the doubtful opinions of the ancients their own grand tenets ;
wherein in both they deal unsafely for themselves, and injuriously towards
us, when we upon grounds in some things dissent; which liberty (oft when
they should not) they will take to themselves.
But howsoever this sleepy condition agi'eeth to the fonner times of the
chui'ch, yet I wish there were not cause to apply it to ourselves, in this
latter age of the church, wherein many of the ancient heresies are revived ;
and besides, the evils that accompany long peace take hold of us, and will
prevail too far, if we do not rouse up ourselves. The chui-ch is in the
commonwealth, and usually they flemish and fall together. When there
is a sleep of the church, for the most paxt there is a sleep of the state. A
civil sleep is, when in grounds of danger there is no apprehension of dan-
ger ; and this sleep is a punishment of spiritual sleep, when with Ephraim
a state hath ' grey hairs, and knoweth it not,' Hos. vii. 9 ; when judgments
abroad will not awake men. When noise and pinching will not awake, the
sleep must needs be deep. The whole world almost is in combustion
round about us ; and many countries thought themselves as safe, a little
before their troubles, as we now think ourselves. If fear of outward dan-
gers will not awake, then spiritual dangers will not, as being more secret.
and not ob-sdous to sense. No wonder, then, if few will beheve our report
of the fearful condition of wicked men in the world to come. A man may
be startled and awaked mth outward dangers that is spiritually sottish, but
he that is cai'eless of outward danger, will be regardless of what we say in
spiritual dangers. The feai- of danger may be the greater, when, as it was
amongst the Jews, those that should be watchful themselves, and awake
others, instead of awaking, rock the cradle, and cry * Peace, peace, the temple
of the Lord, the temple of the Lord,' Jer. vii. 4. Yet we must never forget
to be mindful, with thankfulness, for peace and the gospel of peace, which
yet by God's blessing we enjoy, always suspecting the readiness of nature
to grow secure vmder the abundance of favours, and so to bless om-selves
in that condition.
Signs of a sleepy state. 1. Now we know that sleep is creeping upon us,
by comparing our present condition with our former, when we were in a more
wakeful frame, when the graces of God's Spu-it were in exercise in us. If
we difier from that we were, then all is not well.
• Patrea in maxirais sunt nostri, in multis varii, in minimis vcstri. — WhlitafcerJ.
44 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON IH.
2. Compare ourselves again with that state and frame that a Christian
should he in ; for sometimes a Christian goes under an uncomfortable
condition all the days of his life, so that he is not fit to make himself his
pattern. The true rule is, that description that is in the word, of a waking
and Uving Christian. What should a man be, take him at the best, the
varying from that is a sleepy estate. As, for instance, a Christian should
walk ' in the comfort of the Holy Ghost,' Acts ix. 31, live and walk by
faith ; he should depend upon God, and resist temptations. Faith should
work by love, and love to ourselves should move us to honour ourselves as
members of Christ, to disdain to defile ourselves by sin. Our hope, if it
be waking, will purge us, and make us suitable to the condition we hope
for in heaven, and the company we hope to have fellowship with there.
3. Again, look to the examples of others that are more gracious. I have as
many encouragements to be thankful to God, and fruitful. They enjoy no
more means than I ; and yet they abound in assurance, are comfortable in
all conditions. I am down in a little trouble, subject to passion, to barren-
ness, and distrust, as if there were no promises of God made to sowing in
righteousness. Thus a man may discern he is asleep, by comparing him-
self with others that are better than himself.
4. Again, it is e\ddent that we are growing on to a sleepy condition by
this, when we find a haclnvardness to spiritual duties, as to prayer, thanks-
giving, and spiritual conference. It should be the joy of a Christian, as it
is his prerogative, to come into the presence of Christ, and to be enabled to
do that, that is above himself. When what is spiritual in a duty will not
down with us, it is a sign oui' souls are in a sleepy temper. There is not
a proportion between the soul and the business in heavenly duties. Whom
do we speak to but God ? whom do we hear speak in the word but God ?
what should be the temper of those that speak to God, and hear him speak
to them ? It should be regardful, reverent, observant. Those that are
watchful to the eye of a prince, what observance they shew, when they are
to receive anything fi:om him or to put up any request to him. ' Ofi'er this
to thy king,' saith the Lord by Malachi, Mai i. 8. When a man comes
drowsily to God, to sacrifice, to hear, to pray, &c., offer this carriage to
man ; will he take it at thy hands? Oh the mercy of our patient God, that
will endure such services as we most frequently perform ! By this indis-
posedness to duty more or less, may we discover our sleepiness.
5. When the soul begins to admire outward excellencies ; when it awakes
much to profits, pleasures, and honours ; when men admire great men, rich
men, gi-eat places. The strength and fat of the soul are consumed by
feeding on these things ; so that when it comes to spiritual things it must
needs be faint and drowsy. By these and the like signs, let us labour to
search the state of our souls.
Motives agahist sleepiness. 1. And to stir us up the more, consider the
danger of a secure, sleepg estate. There is no sin but a man is exposed unto
in a secure estate. Therefore the devil labours all he can to cast men into
this temper ; which he must do before he can make him fall into any gross
sin. When he is asleep, he is in a fit frame for any iU action ; he is in a
temper fit for the devil to work upon ; to bring into any dream or error ; to
inflame the fancies and conceits with outward excellencies. The devil hath
a faculty this way, to make outward things great that are nothing worth,
and to make such sins little as, if we were awake, would affright us. He
works strongest upon the fancy, when the soul is sleepy or a little drowsy.
There is no man that comes to gross sin suddenly. But he falls by little
Cant. V. 1.] ' i sleep.' 45
and little ; first to slumber, and from slumber to sleep, and from sleep to
security ; and so from one degree to another. It is the inlet to all sins,
and the beginning of all danger. Therefore the Lord takes a contrary-
course with his. When he would preserve a state or person, he plants in
them fii'st a spirit of faith, to beUeve that there is such a danger, or such a
good to be apprehended, upon watching and going on in a course befitting
that condition ; and then faith, if it be a matter of threatening, stirs up
fear, which waketh up care and diligence. This is God's method, when he
intends the preservation of any.
2. A man in his sleep is fit to lose all. A sleepy hand lets anything go
with ease. A man hath grace and comfort ; he lets it go in his spiritual
sleepiness, — grace in a great measure, and the sense and comfort of it alto-
gether. A Christian hath always the divine natui'e in him, that works in
some degi'ee ; yet notwithstanding in regard of his present temper and feel-
ing, he may be in such a case, that he shall differ nothing from a reprobate,
nay, he may come to feel more than any ordinary wicked man feels w^hiles
he lives in the world, as divers good Chi-istians do. And all this, through their
carelessness, — that they sufter themselves to be robbed of first beginnings,
by yielding to dehghts, company, and contentments. Feeding their con-
ceits with carnal excellencies, so favouring corruptions, and flattering that
that is naught in them, they lose the comfort of all that is good. Who
would do this for the gaining of a little broken sleep; I say broken sleep, for
the better a man is, the more un quietly shall he sleep in such a state. He
shall feel startlings and frights in the midst of his carnal dehghts if he be-
long to God.
3. Besides, God meets them u-ith some crosses in this world, that they shall
gain nothing by it. There is none of God's children that ever gained by
yielding to any con-uption, or drowsiness, though God saved their souls.
It is always true, a secure state is a sure forerunner of some great cross, or
of some gi'eat sin. God cannot endm-e such a temper of soul ; lifeless
and unfeeling performances and sacrifices, to him that hath given us such
encouragements. It must needs be distasteful to God, when we go drowsily
and heavily about his work. ' Cursed is he that doth the work of the Lord
Degligently,' Jer. xlviii. 10. If it were to sheath his sword in the bowels of
his enemy, to which man is exceedingly prone, yet if it be not done with
diligence and an eye to God, a man is cursed in it,
4. And it is an odious tonper to God. For doth not he deserve cheerful
sennce at our hands ? hath he been a ' wilderness' to us ? doth he not deserve
the marrow of our souls ? doth not his greatness require it at our hands,
that our senses be all waking ? and doth not his mercy deserve, that our
love should take all care, to serve him that is so gracious and good to us ?
Is it not the fruit of our redemption to serve him without fear, in hohness
and righteousness all the days of our lives ? Luke i. 14.
5. It is a state not only odious to God, but irksome to our own spirits. The
conscience is never fully at peace in a drowsy state or in drowsy perf bnnances.
Likewise it is not gi'aceful to others. It breeds not love in them to good
things, but dislike. Carnal men, let them see a Christian not carrj' him-
seK waking, as he should, though they be a thousand times worse them-
selves, yet notwithstanding they think it should not be so. Such a course
doth not suit with so much knowledge and so much grace.
Let a man consider, wherefore God hath given the powers of the soul
and the graces of the Spirit. Arc they not given for exercise, and to bo
employed about their proper objects ? A man is not a man, a Christian is
46 BOWELS OPENED. [SeBMON IV.
not a Christian, when he is not waking. He so far degenerates from him-
self, as he jdelds unto any unbeseeming carriage. Wherefore hath God
given us understanding, but to conceive the best things ? Wherefore have
we judgment, but to judge aright between the things of heaven and
earth ? Wherefore have we love planted in us, but to set it on lovely
objects ? Wherefore faith, but to trust God over aU ? "Wherefore hatred,
but to fly iir? Wherefore have we affections, but for spiritual things ?
When therefore our affections are dull, and lose their edge to these
things, being quick only to earthly things, what a temper is this ! How
doth a man answer his creation, the state of a new creature! Where-
fore are all graces planted in the soul, as faith and love, and hope and
patience, but to be in exercise, and waking ? To have these, and to let
them sleep and lie unexercised, so far a Christian forgets himself, and is
not himself. A Christian as a Christian, that is, in his right temper, should
be in the act and exercise of what is good in him, upon all occasions ; as
we say of God, he is a pure act, because he is always in working. The
Spirit of God is a pm'e act, in whom is no suffering but all action, about
that that is fit for so glorious a nature. So it is with the spirit of a man,
that hath the Spirit of God. He is in act, in exercise, in operation, as the
Spirit is more or less in him. So he is more or less in operation, more or
less fruitful. What a world of good might Christians do, if they were in a
right temper ! What a deal of ill might they escape and avoid that they lie
in, if they would rouse up their souls to be as Christians should be, and as
their soul and conscience tells them they ought and might be, did they
rightly impro-s'c the means they have !
THE FOURTH SERMON.
I sleep, hut my heart wakes, &c. — Cant. V. 2.
The words, as it hath been shewed, contain a confession, * I sleep,' and
a correction, ' my heart waketh.' The confession hath been handled, now
something of the correction or exception.
' My heai't waketh.' The word heart, you know, includes the whole soul,
for the understanding is the heart, ' an understanding heart,' Job xxxviii. 36.
To ' lay things up in om- hearts,' Luke ii. 51, there it is memory-; and to
cleave in heart is to cleave in will. Acts xi. 23. To ' rejoice in heart,' Isa.
XXX. 29, that is in the affection. So that all the powers of the soul, the
inward man, as Paul calleth it, 2 Cor. iv. 16, is the heart.
' I sleep, but vaj heart waketh.' Indeed the church might have said,
My heart sleepeth, but my heart waketh. For it is the same faculty, the
same power of the soul, both in the state of corruption, and of grace, in
which the soul is ; as in the twilight we cannot say, this is hght and that is
darkness, because there is such a mixture. In all the powers of the soul
there is something good and something ill, something flesh and something
spirit. The heart was asleep, and likewise was awake. ' I sleep, but my
heart waketh.'
Ohs. 1. You see here, then, first of all, in this correction, that a Christian
hath two jmnciples in him, that which is good, and that which is evil, whence
issueth the weakness of his actions and affections. They are all mixed, as
are the principles from which they come forth.
€aNT. V. 2.] ' I SLEEP, BUT SIY HEAKT WAKETH.' 47
Ohs, 2. We may observe, furtlier, that a Christian man may knoiv how it is
tvith himself. Though he be mixed of flesh and spirit, he hath a distinguish-
ing knowledge and judgment whereby he knows both the good and evil in
himself. In a dungeon where is nothing but darlmess, both on the eye
that should see and on that which should be seen, he can see nothing ; but
where there is a supernatural principle, where there is this mixture, there
the light of the Spirit searcheth the dark corners of the heart. A man that
hath the Spirit knoweth both; he knoweth himself and his own heart.
The Spirit hath a light of its own, even as reason hath. How doth reason
know what it doth ? By a reflect act inbred in the soul. Shall a man
that is natural reflect upon his state, and know what he knows, what he
thinks, what he doth, and may not the soul that is raised to an higher
estate know as much ? Undoubtedly it may. Besides, we have the Spirit
of God, which is light, and self-evidencing. It shews unto us where it is,
and what it is. The work of the Spirit may sometimes be hindered, as in
times of temptation. Then I confess a man may look wholly upon corrup-
tion, and so mistake himself in judging by that which he sees present in
himself, and not by the other principle which is concealed for a time from
him. But a Christian, when he is not in such a temptation, he knows his
owTi estate, and can distinguish between the principles in him of the flesh
and spirit, grace and nature.
Again, we see here in that the church saith, ' but my heart waketh,' that
she doth acknowledge there is good as well as evil. As the church is in-
genious* to confess that which is amiss, ' I sleep,' so she is as true in con-
fessing that which is good in herself, ' but my hcai-t waketh,' which j-ields
lis another obsei*vation.
Obs. 3. We should as u-ell aclnwuiedge that which is good as that tvhich is
evil in our hearts.
Because we must not bear false witness, as not against others, much less
against ourselves. Many help Satan, the accuser, and plead his cause
against the Spirit, their comforter, in refusing to see what God seeth in
them. We must make conscience of this, to know the good as well as the
evil, though it be never so Httle.
To come in particular, what is that good the church here confesseth,
when she saith that ' her heart waketh ? '
(1.) She in her sleepy estate, Jirst, hath her judgment sound in that ichich
is truth, of persons, things, and courses. Christians are not so benighted
when they sleep, or given up to such a reprobate judgment, as that they dis-
cern not difi'erences. They can discern that such are in a good way, and such
are not ; that such means are good, and such are not. A Christian oft-
times is forced to do work out of judgment, in case his afl"ections are asleep
or distracted ; and such works are approved of God, as they come from a
right judgment and conviction, though the evil of them be chastised,
(2.) But all is not in the judgment. The child of God asleep hath a
u-orking in the uill. Choosing the better part, which he will cleave to, he
hath a' general purpose ' to please God in all things,' and no settled pur-
pose in particular for to sleep. Thus answerable to his judgment, there-
fore, he chooseth the better part and side ; he owns God and his cause,
even in evil times, cleaving in resolution of heart to the best ways, though
with weakness.
Take David in his sleepy time between his repentance and his foul sin.
If one should have asked him what he thought of the ways of God and of
* That is, ' ingenuous.' — G.
48 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON IV.
the contrary, lie would have given you an answer out of sound judgment
thus and thus. If you should have asked him what course he would have
followed in his choice, resolution, and purpose, he would have answered
savourly.
(3.) Again, there remaineth affection answerable to their judgment, which,
though they find, and feel it not for a time, it being perhaps scattered, yet
there is a secret love to Christ, and to his cause and side, joined with joy
in the welfare of the church and people of God ; rejoicing in the prosperity
of the righteous, with a secret gi'ief for the contrary. The pulses will beat
this way, and good affections will discover themselves. Take him in his
sleepy estate, the judgment is sound in the main, the will, the afiections,
the joy, the dehght, the sorrow. This is an e\idence his heart is awake.
(4.) The conscience likenise is awake. The heart is taken ofttimes for the
conscience in Scripture. A good conscience, called a mcn-y heart, is ' a
continual feast,' Prov. xv. 15. Now, the conscience of God's children is never
so sleepy but it awaketh in some comfortable measure. Though perhaps it
may be deaded* in a particular act, yet notwithstanding there is so much life
in it, as upon speech or conference, &c., there will be an opening of it, and a
yielding at the length to the strength of spiritual reason. His conscience is
not seared. David was but a little roused by Nathan, yet you see how he
presently confessed ingeniously f that he had sinned, 2 Sam. xii. 13. So,
when he had numbered the people, his conscience presently smote him,
2 Sam. xxiv. 10 ; and when he resolved to kill Nabal and all his family,
which was a wicked and carnal passion, in which there was nothing but
flesh ; yet when he was stopped by the advice and discreet counsel of Abi-
gail, we see how presently he yielded, 1 Sam. xxv. 32, seq. There is a
kind of pei-petual tenderness of conscience in God's people. All the dif-
ference is of more or less.
(5.) And answerable to these inward powers is the outward obedience of
God's children. In their sleepy estate they go on in a course of obedience.
Though deadly and coldly, and not with that glory that may give others
good example or yield themselves comfort, yet there is a course of good
duties. His ordinary way is good, howsoever he may step aside. His fits
may be sleepy when his estate is waking. We must distinguish between
a state and a fit. A man may have an aguish fit in a sound body. The
state of a Christian is a waking state in the inward man. The bye-courses
he falleth into are but fits, out of which he recovers himself.
Use 1. "WTience, for use, let us magnify the goodness of God, that will
remain by his Spirit, and let it stay to preserve life in such hearts as ours
are, so prone to security and sleepiness. Let it put us in mind of other
like merciful and gracious doings of our God for us, that he gave his Spirit to
us when we had nothing good in us, when it met with nothing but enmity,
rebellion, and indisposeduess. Nay, consider how he debased himself and
became man, in being united to our frail flesh, after an admirable | near-
ness, and all out of mercy to save us.
Use 2. If so be that Satan shall tempt us in such occasions, let us enter
into our own souls, and search the truth of grace, our judgment, our wills,
our constant course of obedience, and the inward principle whence it comes,
that we may be able to stand in the time of temptation. "What upheld the
church but this reflect act, by the help of the Spirit, that she was able to
judge of the good as well as of the ill ? Thus David, ' The desires of our
souls are towards thee,' Ps. xxx\'iii. 9 ; and though all this have befallen us,
* That is, 'deadened.' — G. f That is, 'ingenuously.' — G. {That is, 'wonderfuL'— G.
Cant. V. 2.] ' i sleep, but my heaet waketh.' 49
yet have we not forgotten thy name, Ps. xliv. 20. This will enable us to
appeal to God, as Peter, ' Lord, thou knowcst I love thee,' John xxi. 15.
It is an evidence of a good estate.
Obs. 1. ' My heart wakcth.' God's children never totalhj fall from grace.
Though they sleep, yet their heart is awake. The prophet Isaiah, spcakin"
of the church and children of God, Isa. vi. 13, saith, ' It shall be as a tree,
as an oak whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves.' Though
you see neither fruit nor leaves, yet there is life in the root, ' the seed remains
in them.' There is alway a seed remaining. It is an immortal seed that
we are begotten by. Peter, when he denied his Master, was like an oak
that was weather-beaten ; yet there was life still in the root, 1 Pet. i. 3,
Mat. xxvi, 32, seq. For, questionless, Peter loved Christ from his heart.
Sometimes a Christian may be in such a poor case, as the spiritual life
runneth all to the heart, and the outward man is left destitute; as in wars,
when the enemy hath conquered the field, the people run into the city, and
if they be beaten out of the city, they run into the castle. The grace of
God sometimes fails in the outward action, in the field, when yet it retireth
to the heart, in which fort it is impregnable. * My heart waketh.'
When the outward man sleeps, and there are weak, dull performances,
and perhaps actions amiss, too, yet notwithstanding ' the heart waketh.'
As we see in a swoon or great scars, the blood, spirits, and life, though
they leave the face and hands, &c., yet they are in the heart. It is said in
the Scriptm-e of Eutychus, ' His life is in him still,' though he seemed to be
dead, Acts xx. 9. As Christ said of Lazarus, John xi. 4, so a man may
say of a Christian in his worst state. His life is in him still ; he is not dead,
but sleeps ; ' his heart waketh.'
Obs. 2. This is a sound doctrine and comfortable, agreeable to Scripture
and the experience of God's j^eople. We must not lose it, therefore, but
make use of it against the time of temptation. There are some pulses that dis-
cover life in the sickest man, so are there some breathings and spiritual motions
of heart that will comfort in such times. These two never f\iil on God's
part, his love, which is unchangeable, and his grace, a fruit of his love ;
and two on our part, the impression of that love, and the gracious work of
the new creature. ' Christ neyer dies,' saith the apostle, Heb. vii. 25. As
he never dies in himself, after liis resurrection, so he never dies in his chil-
dren. There is always spiritual life.
Use for comfort. ' The heart waketh.' This is a secret of God's sanctuaiy,
only belonging to God's people. Others have nothing to do with it. They
shall ever love God, and God will ever love them. The apostle, 1 Cor.
xiii, 8, saith, ' Love never fiiils.' Gifts, you know, shall be abolished, be-
cause the manner of knowing we now use shall cease. ' We see through a
glass,' &c., ' but love abideth,' 1 Cor. xiii. 12. Doth our love to God
abide for ever, and doth not his love to us, whence it cometh ? Om-s is but
a reflection of God's love. Let lis comfort ourselves, therefore, in this for
the time to come, that in all the uncertainty of things in this life we have
to-day and lose to-morrow, as we see in Job, there is somewhat a saint
may build on that is constant and unmoveable. * I am the Lord, I change
not ; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed,' Mai. iii. G. God
should deny himself, as it were, which he cannot do, and his own constant
nature, if he should vary this way.
Obs. 3. A Christian is xvhat his heart and imvard man is. It is a true
speech of di^'ines, God and nature begin there. Art begins with the face
and outward lineaments, as hypocrisy, outward painting and expressions ;
VOL. II. D
50 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON IV.
but grace at the centre, and from thence goes to the circumference. And
therefore the church values herself here by the disposition and temper of her
heart. Thus I am for my outward carriage, &c. * I sleep, but my heart,
that waketh.'
Therefore, let us enter into our consciences and souls, for the trial of our
estates, how it is with our judgments. Do we allow of the ways of God
and of the law of the inward man ? How is it with our affections and bent
to good things ? how with our hatred, our zeal ? Is it not more for outward
things than for inward ? We know what Jehu said to Jonadab, when he
would have him into his chariot, ' Is thine heart as mine ? Then come to
me,' 2 Kings x. 15. So saith Christ, Is thine heart as mine? then give
me thy hand. But first God must have our hearts, and then our hands.
A man otherwise is but a ghost in religion, which goes up and down, with-
out a spu'it of its own ; but a picture that hath an outside, and is nothing
within. Therefore, especially, let us look to our hearts. * Oh, that there
were such an heart in this people,' saith God to Moses, ' to fear me always,
for their good,' Deut. v. ^9. This is it that God's children desire, that
their hearts may be aright set. ' Wash thy heart, 0 Jerusalem,' saith the
prophet, ' from thy wickedness,' &c., Jer. iv. 14. Indeed, all the outward
man depends upon this. Therefore, Satan, if he can get this fort, he is
safe, and so Satan's vicar, Prov. iv. 23. It was a watchword that was in
Gregory XIII. his time, in l^ueen Elizabeth's days, ' My son, give me thy
heart. Dissemble, go to church, and do what you will ; but, da viihl cor,
be in heart a papist, and go where you will' (e). God is not content with
the heart alone. The devil knows if he have the heart he hath all ; but
God, as he made all, both soul and body, he will have all. But yet in
times of temptation the chief trial is in the heart.
And fi-om hence we may have a main difference between one Christian
and another. A sound Christian doth what he doth from the heart ; he
begins the work there. What good he doth he loves in his heart first,
judgeth it to be good, and then he doeth it.
An hypocrite doth what he doth outwardly, and allows not inwardly of
that good he doth. He would do ill, and not good, if it were in his choice.
The good that he doth is for by-ends, for correspondence, or dependence
upon others, or conformity with the times, to cover his designs under for-
mality of religion, that he may not be known outwardly, as he is inwardly,
an atheist and an hypocrite. So he hath false aims ; his heart is not
directed to a right mark. But it is otherwise with God's child. Whatso-
ever good he doth, it is in his heart first ; whatsoever ill he abstains from,
he doth it fi-om his heart, judging it to be naught ; therefore he hates it,
and will not do it. Here is a main difference of the church from all others.
It wakes in the heart, though the outward man sleeps. But other men's
hearts sleep when they wake, as you know some men wiU walk and do
many things in their sleep. An hypocrite is such a kind of man. He
walks and goes up and down, but his heart is asleep. He knows not what
he doth, nor doth he the thing out of judgment or love, but as one asleep,
as it were. He hath no inward affection unto the things he doth. A
Christian is the contrary ; his heart is awake when he is asleep.
Another difference from the words you may have thus. A Christian, by
the power of God's Spirit in him, is sensible of the contrarieties in him,
complains, and is ashamed for the same. But an hypocrite is not so ; he
is not sensible of his sleepiness. ' I sleep,' saith the church. So much
as the church saith she slept, so much she did not sleep ; for a man that
Cant. V. 2.] ' my heakt waketh.' 51
is asleep cannot say lie is asleep, nor a dead man that he is dead. So far
as he saith he is asleep, he is awake. Now, the church confesseth that
she was asleep by that part that was awake in her. Other men do not
complain, are not sensible of their sleepiness and slumberinff, but compose
themselves to slumber, and seek darkness, which is a friend of sleep.
They would willingly be ignorant, to keep their conscience dull and
dumb as much as they can, that it may not upbraid them. This is
the disposition of a carnal man ; he is not sensible of his estate as here the
church is.
Obs. 4. A waking state is a blessed state. The chui'ch you sec supports
and comforts herself that she was waking in her inward man, that she was
happy in that respect.
Quest. How shall we do to keep and preserve our souls in this waking
condition, especially in these drowsy times ?
Ans. 1. Propound unto them waldnrf considerations. What causeth our
sleeps but want of matters of more serious observation ? None will sleep
when a thing is presented of excellency more than ordinary. To see, and
know, and think of what a state we are now advanced unto in Christ ; what
we shall be ere long, yet the fearful estate we should be in, if God leave us
to ourselves ! a state of astonishment, miserable and wretched, beyond
speech, nay, beyond conceit !* Thus did the blessed souls in former times
exercise their thoughts, raise, and stir them up by meditation, that so they
might hold their souls in a high esteem of the best things, and not suffer
them to sleep. We never fall to sleep in earthly and carnal delights, till
the soul let its hold go of the best things, and ceaseth to think of, and to
wonder at them. What made Moses to fall from the delights of Egypt ?
He saw the basest things in religion were greater than the greatest things
in the coui't, yea, in the world. ' He esteemed the reproach of Christ
better than the greatest treasures of Egypt,' Heb. xi. 26.
2. Make the heart think of the shortness and vanity of this life, with the
uncertainty of the time of om* death ; and of what woudi'ous consequent-)- it
is to be in the state of gi'ace before we die. The uncertainty of the gales of
grace, that there may be a good hour which, if we pass, we may never have
the like again, Luke xix. 42, Mat. xxiii. 37 ; as the angel descended at a
certain hour into the pool of Bethesda, John v. 4, when those that entered
not immediately after, went away sick as they came. So there are certain
good hours which let us not neglect. This will help to keep us waking.
3. The necessity of grace, and then the fi-ee dispensing of it in God's good
time, and withal the terror of the Lord's-day, * Remembering,' saith St
Paul, ' the terror of the Lord, I labour to stir up all men,' &c., 2 Cor. v. 11.
Indeed it should make us stir up our hearts when we consider the teiTor of
the Lord ; to think that ere long we shall be all drawn to an exact account,
before a strict, precise judge. And shall our eyes then be sleeping and
careless ? These and such like considerations out of spiritual wisdom wo
should propound to ourselves, that so we might have waking souls, and pre-
serve them in a right temper.
Ans. 2. To keep faith uakiny. The soul is as the object is that is pre-
sented to it, and as the certainty of the apprehension is of that object. It
conduceth much therefore to the awakening of the soul to keep faith awake.
It is not the greatness alone, but the presence of great things that stirs us.
Now it is the natm-e of faith to make things powerfully present to the soul ;
for it sets things before us in the word of Jehovah, that made all things of
* That is ' conception.' — G. t That is, ' conseqiience.' — G.
52 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON IV,
nothing, and is Lord of his word, to give a being to -whatsoever he hath
spoken, Heb. si. 1. Faith is an awakening grace. Keep that awake, and
it will keep all other graces waking.
"When a man believes, that all these things shall be on fire ere long ; that
heaven and earth shall fall in pieces ; that we shall be called to give an
account, [and that] before that time we may be taken away — is it not a
wonder we stand so long, when cities, stone walls fall, and Idngdoms come
to sudden periods ? When faith apprehends, and sets this to the eye of the
soul, it affects the same marvellously. Therefore let faith set before the
soul some present thoughts according to its temper. Sometimes terrible
things to avvaken it out of its dulness ; sometimes glorious things, promises
and mercies, to waken it out of its sadness, &c. When we are in a pros-
perous estate let faith make present all the sins and temptations that usually
accompany such an estate, as pride, security, self-applause, and the like.
If in adversity, think also of what sins may beset us there. This will awaken
up such graces in us, as are suitable to such an estate, for the preventing
of such sins and temptations, and so keep our hearts in ' exercise to godli-
ness,' 1 Tim. iv. 7 ; than which, nothing will more prevent sleeping.
Ans. 3. And withal, labour for abundance of the Spirit of God. For what
makes men sleepy, and drowsy? The want of spirits. We are dull, and
overloaden with gi'oss humours, whereby the strength sinks and fails.
Christians should know, that there is a necessity, if they will keep them-
selves waking, to keep themselves spiritual. Pray for the Spirit above all
things. It is the Ufe of our life, the soul of our soul. What is the body
without the soul, or the soul without the Spirit of God? Even a dead lump.
And let us keep ourselves in such good ways, as we may expect the presence
of the Spirit to be about us, which will keep us awake,
Ans. 4. We must keep ourselves in as much light as may be. For all
sleepiness comes with darkness. Let us keep our souls in a perpetual
light. When any doubt or dark thought ariseth, upon yielding thereunto
comes a sleepy temper. Sleepiness in the affections ariseth from darkness
of judgment. The more we labour to increase our knowledge, and the more
the spiritual light and beams of it shine in at our windows, the better it will
be for us, and the more shall we be able to keep awake. What makes men
in their corruptions to avoid the ministry of the word, or anything that may
awake their consciences ? It is the desire they have to sleep. They know,
the more they know, the more they must practise, or else they must have a
galled conscience. They see religion will not stand with then- ends. Rich
they must be, and gi-eat they will be ; but if they suffer the Hght to grow
upon them, that will tell them they must not rise, and be gi-eat, by these
and such courses. A gracious heart will be desirous of spiritual knowledge
especially, and not care how near the word comes ; because they in-
geniously''^" and freely desire to be spiritually better. They make all things
in the world yield to the inward man. They desire to know their own
corruptions and evils more and more. And therefore love the light ' as
children of the light, and of the day,' 1 Thess. v. 5. Sleep is a work of
darkness. Men therefore of dark and drowsy hearts desire darkness, for
that very end that their consciences may sleep.
Ans. 5. Labour to p)^'escrve the soul in the fear of God; because fear is a
waking affection, yea, one of the wakefullest. For, naturally we are more
moved with dangers, than stirred with hopes. Therefore, that affection,
that is most conversant about danger, is the most rousing and waking
* That is, ' iugenuously. — G.
Cant. V. 2.] * my heakt wakkth.' 63
affection. Preserve therefore the fear of God by all means. It is one
character of a Christian, who, when he hath lost almost all grace, to his
feeling, yet the fear of God is always left with him. lie fears sin, and the
reward of it, and therefore God makes that awe the bond of the new covenant.
* I will put my fear into their hearts, that they shall never depart from me,'
Jer. xxjdi. 39. One Christian is better than another, by how much more
he wakes, and fears more than another. Of all Christians, mark those are
most gracious, spiritual, and heavenly, that are the most awful and careful
of their speeches, courses, and demeanours ; tender even of offending God
in little things. You shall not have light and common oaths come from
them, nor unsavoury speeches. Sometimes a good Christian may in a
state of sleepiness be faulty some way. But he grows in the knowledge of
the greatness of God, and the experience of his own infirmities, as he grows
in the sense of the love of God. He is afraid to lose that sweet communion
any way, or to grieve the Spirit of God. Therefore, always as a man grows
in grace, he grows in awfulness, and in jealousy of his own corruptions.
Therefore let us preserve by all means this awful affection, the fear of God.
Let us then often search the state of our own souls ; our going backward or
forward ; how it is between God and our souls ; how fit we are to die, and
to sufl'er ; how lit for the times that may befall us. Let us examine the
state of our own souls, which will preserve us in a waking estate ; especially
examine ourselves in regard of the sins of the place, and the times where we
live ; of the sins of our own inclination, how we stand affected and biassed
in all those respects, and see how jealous we are of dangers in this kind.
Those that wiU keep waking souls, must consider the danger of the place
where they Hve, and the times ; what sins reign, what sins such a company
as they converse with, are subject unto, and theii* own weakness to be led
away with such temptations. This jealousy is a branch of that fear that
we spake of before, arising from the searching of our own hearts, and dis-
positions. It is a notable means to keep us awake, when we keep our hearts
in fear of such sins as either by calling, custom, company, or the time we
live in, or by our own disposition, we are most prone to.
There is no Christian, but he hath some special sin, to which he is more
prone than to another, one way or other, either by course of life, or com-
plexion. Here now is the care and watchfulness of a Christian spirit, that
knowing by examination, and trial of his own heart, his weakness, he doth
especially fence against that, which he is most inclined to ; and is able to
speak most against that sin of all othei's, and to bring the strongest argu-
ments to dishearten others from practice of it.
Ans. 6. In the last place it is a thing of no small consequence, that ice
keep company with ivakiiu/ and faithful Christians, such as neither sleep
themselves or do willingly suffer any to sleep that are near them.
It is a report, and a true one, of the sweating sickness, that they that
were kept awake by those that were with them, escaped ; but the sickness
was deadly if they were suffered to sleep. It is one of the best fruits of the
communion of saints, and of our spiritual good acquaintance, to keep one
another awake. It is an unpleasing work on both sides. But we shall one
day cry out against all them that have pleased themselves and us, in rock-
ing us asleep, and thank those that have pulled us ' with fear,' Jude 23, out
of the fire, though against our wills.
Let us laboui' upon our own hearts in the conscionable* use of all these
means, in their several times and seasons, that we may keep our hearts
*" Tliat is, ' conscientious.' — G.
54 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON 17.
■waking ; and tlie more earnest ought we to be, from consideration of the
present age and season in which we live.
Certainly a drowsy temper is the most ordinary temper in the world.
For would men suffer idle words, yea, filthy and rotten talk to come from
their mouths if they were awake ? Would a waking man nan into a pit ?
or upon a sword's point ? A man that is asleep may do anything. Wliat
do men mean when they fear not to lie, dissemble, and rush upon the pikes
of God's displeasure ? When they say one thing and do another, are they
not dead ? or take them at the best, are they not asleep ? Were they
awake, would they ever do thus ? Will not a fowl that hath wings, avoid
the snare ? or will a beast run into a pit when it sees it ? There is a snare
laid in your playhouses, gaming houses, common houses, that gentlemen
frequent that generally profess religion, and take the communion. If the
eye of their souls were awake, would they run into these snares, that theu"
own conscience tells them are so? If there be any goodness in their souls,
it is wondrous sleepy. There is no man, even the best, but may complain
something, that they are overtaken in the contagion of these infectious
times. They catch drowsy tempers, as our Saviour saith, of those latter
times. ' For the abundance of iniquity, the love of many shall wax cold,'
Mat. xxiv. 12. A chill temper grows ever from the coldness of the times
that we live in, wherein the best may complain of coldness ; but there is
a great difference. The life of many, we see, is a continual sleep.
Let us especially watch over om-selves, in the use of liberty and such
things as are in themselves lawful. It is a blessed state, when a Christian
carries himself so ia his liberty, that his heart condemns him not for the
abuse of that which it alloweth, and justly in a moderate use. Recreations
are lawful ; who denies it ? To refresh a man's self, is not only lawful, but
necessary. God knew it well enough, therefore hath allotted time for
sleep, and the like. But we must not turn recreation into a caUing, to spend
too much time in it.
Where there is least fear, there is most danger always. Now because in
lawful things there is least fear, we are there ia most danger. It is true
for the most part. Ileitis perimus omnes, more men perish in the church of
God by the abuse of lawful things, than by unlawful ; more by meat, than
by poison. Because every man takes heed of poison, being* he knows the
venom of it, but how many men surfeit, and die by meat ! So, many men
die by lawful things. They eternally perish in the abuse of their liberties,
more than in gross sins. Therefore let us keep awake, that we may carry
ourselves so in our liberties, that we condemn not ourselves in the use of
them. We will conclude this point with the meditation of the excellency of
a waking Christian. When he is in his right temper, he is an excellent
person, fit for all essays. f He is then impregnable. Satan hath nothing
to do with him, for he, as it is said, is then a wise man, and ' hath his eyes
in his head,' Eccles. iii. 4. He knows himself, his state, his enemies, and
adversaries, the snares of prosperity and adversity, and of all conditions,
&c. Therefore, he being awake, is not overcome of the evil of any condi-
tion, and is ready for the good of any estate. He that hath a waking soul,
he sees all the advantages of good, and all the snares that might draw him
to ill, Mark xiii. 37. What a blessed estate is this ! In all things therefore
watch ; in all estates, in all times, and ia all actions. There is a danger
in everything without watchfulness. There is a scorpion under every stone,
* Tlmt is, ' seeing it is.' — G.
t That is, ' attempts.' Sibbes's spelling is ' assaies,' — Qu.' assaults?' — G. •
Cant. V. 2.] ' it is the voice of my beloved.' 66
as the proverb is, a snare under eveiy blessing of God, and in every condi-
tion, ■which Satan useth as a weapon to hurt us ; adversity to discourage
us, prosperity to puff us up : when, if a Christian hath not a waking
soul, Satan hath him in his snare, in prosperity to be proud and secure ;
in adversity to murmur, repine, be dejected, and call God's providence into
question. When a Christian hath a heart and grace to awake, then his
love, his patience, his faith is awake, as it should be. He is fit for all con-
ditions, to do good in them, and to take good by them.
Let us therefore labour to preserve watchful and waking hearts continu-
ally, that so w^e may be fit to live, to die, and to appear before the judgment
seat of God ; to do what w^e should do, and suffer what we should suffer,
being squared for all estates whatsoever.
THE FIFTH SERMON.
It is the voice of my Beloved that hnocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my
love, my dove, my undejiled; for my head is filled ivith dew, and my
locks with the drops of the night. — Cant. V. 2.
Hitheeto, by God's assistance, we have heard largely both of the church's
sleeping and heart-waking ; what this sleeping and heart-waking is ; how it
comes ; the trials of these opposite dispositions ; of the danger of sleeping,
and excellency of heart-waking ; and of the helps and means, both to ahun
the one and preserve the other. Now, the church, having so freely and in-
geniously* confessed what she could against herself, proceeds yet further to
acquaint us with the particulars in her heart-waking disposition, which were
twofold. She heard and discerned ' the voice of her Beloved,' who, for all
her sleep, was her B-eloved still ; and more than that, she remembers all
his sweet words and allurements, whereby he pressed her to open unto him,
saying, * Open to me, my love, my dove, my undefiled ; ' which is set out
and amplified with a further moving argument of those inconveniences
Christ had suffered in his waiting for entertainment in her heart, ' For my
head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night,' all which
aggravates her offence ; and his rare goodness and patience towards miser-
able sinners, so to wait from time to time for admission into our wretched
souls, that he may rule and govern them by his Holy Spirit. Therefore,
we had great reason to shun this sleepy distemper of soul, which for the
present so locks up ' the everlasting gates of our soul, that the King of
glory cannot enter in,' Ps. xxiv. 7, and to strive for this blessed heart-waking
disposition, which may help us at all times to see our dangers, and, by God's
blessing, recover us out of them, as here the church doth at length, though
first smarting and well beaten by the watchmen, in a world of perplexities ere
she can recover the sense of her former union and communion with Christ.
And surely we find by experience what a woful thing it is for the soul
which hath once tasted how gracious the Lord is, to be long without a sense
of God's love ; for when it looks upon sin as the cause of this separation,
this is for the time as so many deaths unto it. Therefore, the church's
experience must be our warning-piece to take heed how we grieve the Spirit,
and so fall into this spiritual sleep. Wlaerein yet this is a good sign, that
yet we are not in a desperate dead sleep when we can with her say,
' It is the voipe of my Beloved that knocks, saying. Open unto me,' &c.
* That is, ' ingenuously.' — G.
66 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON V.
In which words you have,
1. The church's acknowledgment of Christ's voice.
2. Of his carriage towards her.
1. Her acknowledgment is set down here, ' It is the voice of my Beloved.'
2. His carriage, ' He knocks,' &c. Wherein,
(1.) His patience in suffering things unworthy and utterly unbeseeming
for him. He doth not only ' knock,' but he continues knocking, till ' his
head was filled with dew, and his locks with the drops of the night.'
(2.) His friendly compellation, ' Open to me, my love, my dove, my un-
defiled.' Lo, here are sweet actions, sweet words, and all to melt the heart
of the spouse !
First, the church's achioidedrpnent is to be considered, confessing, ' It is
the voice of her beloved.' The first thing to be observed in this acknow-
ledgment is, that the church, however sleepy and drowsy she was, yet not-
withstanding, her heart was so far awake as to know the voice of her hus-
band. The point is this,
Ohs. That a Christian soul doth know and may discern the voice of Christ,
yea, and that even in a lazy, sleepy estate, but much more when in a good and
lively frame. God's believers are Christ's sheep, John x. 3. Now, ' My
sheep,' saith Christ, ' hear my voice,' verse 4. It is the ear-mark, as
it were, of a Christian, one of the characters of the new man, ' to taste
words by the ear,' as Job saith, Job xii. 11. He hath a spiritual taste, a
discerning relish in his ear, because he hath the Spirit of God, and there-
fore rolisheth what is connatural, and suitable to the Spirit. Now, the voice
of Christ without in the ministry, and the Spirit of Christ within in the
heart, are connatural, and suitable each to other.
And surely so it is, that this is one way to discern a true Christian from
■ another, even by a taste in hearing. For those that have a spiritual relish,
they can hear with some delight things that are most spiritual. As the
heathen man said of a meadow, that some creatures come to cat one sort of
herbs, others another, all that which is fit for them ; men to walk therein for
delight; all for ends suitable to their nature; so, in coming to hear the word
of God, some come to observe the elegancy of words and phrases, some to
catch advantage perhaps against the speaker, men of a devihsh temper ; and
some to conform themselves to the customs of the places they live in, or to
satisfy the clamours of a troubled conscience, that will have some divine
duty performed, else it goes on with much vexation. But every true Chris-
tian comes and relisheth what is spiritual ; and when outward things can
convey in similitudes spiritual things aptly to the mind, he relisheth this, not
as elegant and pleasing his fancy so much, as for conveying the voice of
Christ unto his soul, so that a man may much be helped to know his state
in grace and what he is, by his ear. ' IteLing ears,' 2 Tim. iv. 3, usually
are such as are ' led with lust,' as the apostle saith, and they must be clawed.
They are sick, and nothing will down with them. They quarrel with every-
thing that is wholesome, as they did with manna. No sermons will please
them, no bread is fine and white enough ; whereas, indeed, it is their own
distemper is in fault. As those that go in a ship upon the sea, it is not the
tossing but the stomach that causeth a sickness, the choler within, and not
the waves without, so the disquiet of these men, that nothing will down with
them, is from their own distemper. If Christ himself were here a-preach-
ing, they would be sure to cavil at something, as then men did when he
preached in his own person, because they labour of lusts, which they resolve
to feed and cherish.
Cant. V. 2." * it is the voice of my beloved.' 57
And again, observe it against our adversaries, WTiat say they ? How
shall we know that the word is the word of God ? For this heretic saith
thus, and this interprets it thus. This is the common objection of the great
rabbis amongst them in their writings, how we can know the word to be
God's, considering there are such heresies in the churches, and such con-
trariety of opinions concerning the Scriptures read in the churches.
Even thus to object and ask is an argument and testimony that these
men have not the Spirit of Christ, for ' his sheep know his voice,' John
X. 3, who, howsoever they cannot interpret all places of Scripture, yet they
can discern in the Scripture what is suitable food for them, or in the un-
folding of the Scriptures in preaching they can discern agreeable food for
them, having a faculty to reject that which is not fit for nourishment, to
let it go. As there is in nature passages fit for concoction and digestion
and for rejection, so there is in the soul to work out of the word, even out
of that which is hard, yet wholesome, what is fit for the soul and spirit.
If it be cast down, it feeds upon the promises for direction and consolation;
and what is not fit for nourishment, that it rejects, that is, if it be of a con-
trary nature, heterogeneal. Therefore, we answer them thus, that ' God's
sheep hear his voice,' John x. 4 ; that his word left in the church, when it
is unfolded, his Spirit goes together with it, breeding a relish of the word
in the hearts of people, whereby they are able to taste and relish it, and it
hath a supernatural power and majesty in it which carries its own evidence
with it. How shall we know light to be light? It carries evidence in
itself that it is light. How know we that the fire is hot ? Because it
carries e\idence in itself that it is so. So if you ask how we know the word
of God to be the word of God ; it carries in itself inbred arguments and cha-
racters, that the soul can say none but this word can be the word of God ;
it hath such a majesty and power to cast down, and raise up, and to com-
fort, and to direct with such power and majesty, that it carries with it its
own evidence, and it is argument enough for it, 1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25; 2 Cor.
X. 4, 5. And thus we answer them, which they can answer no way but by
cavils. * God's sheep hear the voice of Christ.' He speaks, and the church
understands him, ' and a stranger's voice they will not hear,' John x. 5.
And indeed, this is the only sure way of understanding the word to be
of God, from an inbred principle of the majesty in the word, and a power-
ful work thereof on the soul itself; and an assent so grounded is that which
makes a sound Christian. If we should ask, what is the reason there be
so many that apostatize, fall away, grow profane, and are so unfruitful
under the gospel, notwithstanding they hear so much as they do ? The
answer is, their souls were never founded and bottomed upon this, that it
is the word of God, and divine truth, so as to be able to say, I have felt it
by experience, that it is the voice of Christ. Therefore they so soon apos-
tatize, let Jesuits, or seducers set upon them. They were never persuaded
from inbred arguments, that the voice of Christ is the word of God. Others
from strictness grow profane, because they were never convinced by the
power and majesty of the truth in itself ; and then in the end they despair,
notwithstanding all the promises, because they were never connnced of the
truth of them. They cannot say Amen to all the promises. But the church
can say confidently, upon sound experience, ' It is the voice of my beloved,' &c.
Again, whereas the church saith here. It is the voice of my beloved, &c.,
and knows this voice of her beloved, we may note —
Ohs. That the church of God, and cvcnj Chridian,tal:cs notice of the means
• thai (jod uscth for their salcaiioii.
58 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON V.
A Christian is sensible of all the blessed helps he hath to salvation. To
a dead heart, it is all one whether they have means or no means ; but a
Christian soul takes notice of all the means. ' It is the voice of my beloved
that knocketh.' It seeth Christ in all.
And mark what the church saith, moreover, ' It is the voice of my
beloved.' She acknowledgeth Christ to be beloved of her, though she were
asleep. So then here is a distinction between the sleep of a Christian and
the dead sleep of another natural man. The one when he sleeps, his heart
doth not only wake, but it is awake to discern the voice of Christ. It can
relish in reading what is spiritual and good, what is savoury, and what not.
And likewise take a Christian at the worst : when he is asleep, he loves
Christ, he will do nothing against him. ' I can do nothing,' saith Paul,
' against the truth, but for the truth,' 2 Cor. xiii. 8. He will do nothing
against the cause of religion. There is a new nature in him, that he can-
not do otherwise. He cannot but love ; he cannot sin with a full purpose,
nor speak against a good cause, because he hath a new nature, that leads
him another way. Christ is her beloved still though she sleep.
Obs. Take a Christian at the lowest, his heart yearns after Christ.
Acloiowledging him to be his beloved, there is a conjugal chastity in the
soul of a Christian. Holding firm to the covenant and marriage between
Christ and it, he keeps that unviolable. Though he may be untoward,
sleepy, and drowsy, yet there is always a conjugal, spouse-like affection.
' It is the voice of my beloved,' &c.
Now, leaving the church's notice of the voice of Christ, we come to
Christ's carriage towards her.
1 . 'He knocketh ; ' and then we have —
2. His patience in that carriage. * My head is filled with dew, and my
locks with the drops of the night,' &c. Here is patience and mercy, to
endure this indignity at the church's hand, to stand at her courtesy to come
in ; besides, 3, the compellation, afterwards to be spoken of. The general
observation from Christ's carriage is this —
06s. That Christ still desires a further and further communion with his church.
Even as the true soul that is touched with the Spirit, desires nearer and
nearer communion with Christ ; so he seeks nearer and nearer communion
with his spouse, by all sanctified means. Christ hath never enough of the
sflul. He would have them more and more open to him. Our hearts are
for Christ, who hath the heaven of heavens, and the soul of a believing
Christian for himself to dwell in. He contents not himself to be in heaven
alone, but he will have our hearts. He knocks here, waits, speaks friendly
and lovingly, with such sweet words, ' My love, my dove,' &c. We had a
blessed communion in the state of innocency, and shall have a glorious
communion in heaven, when the marriage shall be consummated ; but now
the time of this life is but as the time of the contract, during which there
are yet many mutual passages of love between him and his spouse, a desire
of mutual communion of either side. Christ desires further entertainment
in his chiu'ch's heart and aflection, that he might lodge and dwell there.
And likewise there is the like desire in the church, when she is in a right
temper ; so that if any strangeness be between Christ and any man's soul,
that hath tasted how good the Lord is, let him not blame Christ for it, for
he delights not in strangeness. He that knocks and stands knocking,
while his locks are bedewed with the drops of the night, doth he delight in
strangeness, that makes all this love to a Christian's soul ? Certainly no.
Therefore look for the cause of his strangeness at any time in thine
Cant. V. 2.j * it is the voice of my beloved.' 5{>
own self. As, xvkether we cast ourselves imprudenthj into company, that are
not fit to be consulted withal, in whom the Spirit is not, and who cannot do
us any good, or they cast themselves to us. Evil company is a great
damping, whereby a Christian loseth his comfort much, especially that
intimate communion with God ; whence we may fall into security.
Again, discontinuinff of religious exercises doth wonderfully cause Christ to
withdraw himself. He makes no more love to our souls, when wc nedect
the means, and discontinue holy exercists, and religious company, when
we stir not up the graces of God's Spirit. Being this way negligent, it is
no wonder that Christ makes no more love to our souls, when we prize and
value not the communion that should be between the soul and Christ, as
we should. * Whom have I in heaven but thee?' Ps. Ixxiii. 25. ' Thy
lovingkindness is better than life,' saith the psalmist, Ps. Ixiii. 3. When
we prize not this, it is just with Christ to make himself strange. Where
love is not valued and esteemed, it is estranged, and for a while hides
itself. So that these, with other courses and failings, we may find to bo
the ground and reason of the strangeness between Christ and the soul, for
certainly the cause is not in him. For we see here, he useth all means to
be entertained by a Christian soul : ' he knocks.'
You kno>v what he says to the church of Laodicea — ' Behold, I stand at
the door, and knock,' Kev. iii. 20 ; so here — ' It is the voice of my beloved
that knocketh.' Therefore, in such a case, search your own hearts, where,
if there be deadness and desertion of spirit, lay the blame upon yourselves,
and enter into a search of your ovra ways, and see what may be the cause.
Now, to come more particularly to Christ's carriage here, knocking at
the heart of the sleepy church, we see that Christ takes not the advantage
and forfeiture of the sins of his church, to leave them altogether, but makes
further and further love to them. Though the church be sleepy, Christ
continues knocking. The church of Laodicea was a lukewarm, proud,
hypocritical church ; yet ' Behold,' saith Christ, ' I stand at the door, and
knock,' Rev. iii. 20 ; and it was such a church as was vainglorious and
conceited. ' I am rich, and want nothing, when she was poor, blind, and
naked,' Rev. iii. 17. And here he doth not only stand knocking, but he
withal suffereth indignities-^—' the dew ' to fall upon him, which we shall
speak more of hereafter. Christ, therefore, refuseth not weak sinners. He
that commands, ' that we should receive him that is weak in the faith,'
Rom. xiv. 1, and not cast him off from our fellowship and company, will
he reject him that is weak and sleepy ? No. What father will pass by
or neglect his child, for some failings and weaknesses ? Nature will movo
him to respect him as his child.
Now, Christ is merciful both by his office and by his nature. Our
nature he took upon him, that he might be a merciful Redeemer, Heb. ii.
17. And then as God also, he is love, * God is love,' 1 John iv. 16 : that
is, whatsoever God shews himself to his church, he doth it in love. If he
be angry in correcting, it is out of love ; if merciful, it is out of love ; if he
be powerful in defending his church, and revenging himself on her enemies,
all is love. ' God is love,' saith John, John iv. 8 : that is, he shews him-
self only in ways, expressions, and characters of love to his church. So
Christ, as God, is all love to the church, j:\jid we see the Scriptures also
to set out God as love, both in his essence and in his relations. 1. In
relations of love to his church, he is a father : ' As a father pitieth his
child, so the Lord pities them that fear him,' Ps. ciii. 13. And, 2. Also
in those sweet attributes of love, which are his essence, as we see, Exod.
60 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON V.
xxsiv. 6. When God describes himself to Moses, after liis desire to know
liim, in tlie former chapter, ' Thou canst not see me and hve ; ' yet he
would make him know him, as was fit for him to be kno^vn — ' Jehovah,
Jehovah, strong, merciful, gracious, long-suffering,' &c., Exod. xxxiv. 6.
Thus God will be known in these attributes of consolation. So Christ, as
God, is all love and mercy. Likewise Christ, as man, he was man for this
end, to be all love and mercy. Take him in his office as Jesus, to be a
Saviour ; he carrieth salvation in his wings, as it is in Mai. iv. 2, both by
office and by nature.
And here how excellently is the expression of Christ's mercy, love, and
patience set out! He knocks, 'my beloved knocks,' &c., saying, ' Open.'
He knocks for further entrance, as was shewed before. Some he had
already, but he would have further. As you know we have divers rooms
and places in our houses. There is the court, the hall, the parlour, and
closet : the hall for common persons, the parlour for those of better
fashion, the closet for a man's self, and those that are intimate friends.
So a Christian hath room in his heart for worldly thoughts, but his closet,
his inmost affections, are kept for his inmost friend Christ, who is not con-
tent with the hall, but will come into the very closet. He Imocks, that we
should open, and let him come into our hearts, into our more intimate
affections and love. Nothing will content him but intimateness, for he de-
serves it. As we shall see, he knocks for this end. But how doth he
knock ?
Every kiii-d of way. 1. It is taken from the fashion of men in this kind,
God condescending to speak to us in our own language. Sometimes, you
know, there is a knocking or calling for entrance by voice, when a voice
may serve, and then there needs no further knocking.
Sometimes both by voice and knocking. If voice will not serve, knock-
ing comes after. So it is here. Christ doth knock and speak, useth a
voice of his word, and knocks by his works, and both together sometimes,
whether by works of mercy or of judgment. He labours to enter into the
soul, to raise the sleepy soul that way. He begins with mercy iisually.
(1.) By mercies. All the creatures and blessings of God caiTy in them,
as it were, a voice of God to the soul, that it would entertain his love.
There goes a voice of love with every blessing. And the love, the mercy,
and the goodness of God in the creature, is better than the creature itself.
As we say of gifts, the love of the giver is better than the gift itself. So
the love of God in all his sweet benefits is better than the thing itself.
And so in that we have. There is a voice, as it were, entreating us to
entertain God and Christ in all his mercies, yea, every creature, as one
saith, and benefit, speaks, as it were, thus to us : We serve thee, that thou
mayest serve him that made thee and us. There is a speech, as it were,
in every favour. Which mercies, if they cannot prevail, then,
(2.) Come corrections, which are the voice of God also. 'Hear the rod,
and him that smiteth,' Micah vi. 9.
2. But hath the rod a voice ? Yes, for what do corrections speak, but
amendment of the fault we are corrected for? So we must hear the rod. All
corrections tend to this purpose. They are as knockings, that we should open
to God and Christ. And because corrections of themselves will not amend us,
God to this kind of knocking adds a voice. He teacheth and corrects to-
gether, ' Happy is that man that thou correctest, and teachest out of thy law,'
saith the psalmist, Ps. xciv. 12. Correction without teaching is to little pur-
pose. Thcrciore God adds instruction to correction. He opens the conscience,
Cant. V. 2.1 ' it is thk voice of my beloved.' 61
so that it tells us it is for this that you are corrected ; and together with
conscience, gives his Spirit to tell us it is for this or that you are corrected;
you are to blame in this, this you have done that you should not have
done. So that corrections are knockings, but then especially when they
have instruction thus with them. They are messengers from God, both
blessings and corrections, Lev. xxvi. 24, seq. They will not away, espe-
cially corrections, till they have an answer, for they are sent of God, who
will add seven times more ; and if the first be not answered, then he sends
after them. He will be sure to have an answer, either in our conversion or
confusion, when he begins once.
3. Many other ways he useth to knock at our hearts. The examples of
those ue live amour/ that are good, they call upon us, Luke xiii. 2, 3 ; 1 Cor. x. 33.
The patterns of their holy life, the examples of God's justice upon others,
are speeches to us, God loiocks at our door then. He intends our cor-
rection when he visits another, when, if we amend by that, he needs not
take us in hand.
4. But besides all this, there is a more near knocking that Christ useth
to the chm'ch, his ministerial knocking. When he was here in the days of
his flesh, he was a preacher and prophet himself, and now he is ascended
into heaven, he hath given gifts to men, and men to the church, Eph. iv.
11, seq., whom he speaks by, to the end of the world. They are Chi-ist's
mouth, as we said of the penmen of holy Scripture. They were but
the hand to write ; Chi'ist was the head to indite. So in preaching and
unfolding the word they ai-e but Christ's mouth and his voice, as it is said
of John, Mat. iii. 3. Now he is in heaven, he speaks by them, ' He
that heareth you heareth me, he that despiseth you despiseth me,' Luke
X. 16. Christ is either received or rejected in his ministers, as it is said
of Noah's time, ' The Spirit of Christ preached in the days of Noah to the
souls now in prison,' &c., 1 Pet. iii. 19. Christ as God did preach, before
he was incarnate, by Noah to the old w^orld, which is now in prison, in hell,
because they refused to hear Christ speak to them by Noah. Much more
now, after the days of his flesh, that he is in heaven, he speaks and preach-
eth to us, which, if we regard not, we are like to be in prison, as those
souls are now in prison for neglecting the preaching of Noah, 1 Pet iii. 19.
So the ministers are Christ's mouth. When they speak, he speaks by
them, and they are as ambassadors of Christ, whom they should imitate in
mildness. ' We therefore, as ambassadors, beseech and entreat you, as if
Christ by us should speak to you ; so v/e entreat you to be reconciled unto
God,' 2 Cor. v. 20. And you know what heart-breaking words the apostle
useth in all his epistles, especially when he writes to Christians in a good state,
as to the Philippians, ' If there be any bowels of mercy, if there be any
consolation in Christ,' then regard what I say, ' be of one mind.' Phil. ii. 1.
And among the Thessalonians he was as a nurse to them, 1 Thess. ii. 7.
So Christ speaks by them, and puts his own affections into them, that as
he is tender and full of bowels himself, so he hath put the same bowels
into those that are his true ministers.
He speaks by them, and they use all kind of means that Christ may be
entertained into their hearts. They move all stones, as it were, sometimes
threatcuings, sometimes entreaties, sometimes they come as ' sons of thun-
der,' Mark iii. 17 ; sometimes with the still voice of sweet promises. And
because one man is not so fit as another for all varieties of conditions and
spirits, therefore God gives variety of gifts to his ministers, that they may
knock at the heart of every man by their several gifts. For some havo
62 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON V.
more rousing, some more insinuating gifts ; some more legal, some more
evangelical spirits, yet all for the church's good. John Baptist, by a more
thundering way of preaching, to make way for Christ to come, threateneth
judgment. But Christ, then he comes with a ' Blessed are the poor in
spirit,' * blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness,' &c.,
Mat V. 3. All kind of means have been used in the ministry from the be-
ginning of the world.
5. And because of itself this ministry it is a dead letter ; therefore he
joins that with the word, which knocks at the heart together with the word,
not severed from it, but is the life of it. Oh! the Spirit is the life, and soul of
the word ; and when the inward word, or voice of the Spirit, and the out-
ward word or ministry go together, then Christ doth more effectually knock
and stir up the heart.
Now this Spirit with sweet inspirations knocks, moves the heart, lightens
the imderstanding, quickens the duU affections, and stirs them up to duty,
as it is, Isa. xxx. 21, ' And thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee say-
ing, This is the way, walk in it.' The Spirit moves us sweetly, agreeable to
our own nature. It offers not violence to us ; but so as in Hosea xi. 4, ' I
drew them by the cords of a man.' That is, by reasons and motives be-
fitting the nature of man, motives of love. So the Spirit, together with
the word, works upon us, as we are men by rational motives, setting good
before us, if we will let Christ in to govern and rule us ; and by the dan-
ger on the contrary, so moving and stirring up our affections. These be
* the cords of a man.'
6. And besides his Spirit, God hath planted in us a conscience to call
upon us, to be his vicar ; a little god in us to do his office, to call upon us,
direct us, chock and condemn us, which in great mercy he hath placed in us.
Thus we see what means Christ useth here — his voice, Avorks, and word ;
works of mercy and of correction ; his word, together with his Spirit, and
the conscience, that he hath planted, to be, as it were, a god in us ; which
together with his Spirit may move us to duty. This Austin speaks of
when he says, Deus in me, &c. * God spake in me oft, and I knew it not' (/).
He means it of conscience, together with the Spirit, stirring up motives to
leave his sinful coui'ses. God knocked in me, and I considered it not.
I cried, modb and modb, sine modo. I put off God, now I will, and now I
will, but I had no moderation, I knew no limits. And v/hilst Christ thus
knocketh, all the three persons maybe said to do it. For as it is said else-
where, that ' God was and is in Christ reconciling the world,' &c., 2 Cor.
V. 19. For whatsoever Christ did, he did it as anointed, and by office.
And therefore God doth it in Christ, and by Christ, and so in some sort
God died in his human nature, when Christ died. So here the father be-
seecheth when Christ beseecheth, because he beseecheth, that is sent from
him, and anointed of the Father. And God the Father stoops to us
when Christ stoops, because he is sent of the Father, and doth all by his
Father's command and commission, John v. 27. So besides his own bowels,
there is the Father and the Spirit with Christ, who doth all by his Spirit,
and from his Father, from whom he hath commission. Therefore God the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost knock at the heart. ' Open to me, my love,
my dove, my undefiled ;' but Christ especially by his Spirit, because it is
his office.
Ohj. But some may object, Christ can open to himself, why doth he not
take the key and open, and make way for himself ? Who will knock, when
he hath the key himself ? and who will knock, when there is none within
Cant. V. 2.j ' it is the voice of my beloved.' 68
to open ? Christ can open to himself, and we have no free will, nor power
to open.
Bellannine makes this objection, and speaks very rudely, that he is an
unwise man to knock, where there is no man within to open ; and that if
Christ knock, and we cannot open, it is a delusion to exhort to open, and
that therefore there must needs be free will in us to open (f*).
The answer \s, first, Christ speaks to the spouse here, and so, many such
exhortations are given to them that have the Spirit of God already, who
could by the help thereof open. For good and gracious men are moved
first by the Spirit, and then they move ; they are ynotl moventes, and acti
agentes. They are acted first by the Spii'it, and then they do act by it,
not of themselves ; as the inferior orbs move not, but as they are moved
by the superior. The question is not of them in the state of grace, but at
their first conversion, when especially we say that Christ speaks to them that
he means to convert. He knocks at their hearts, and opens together with
his speech. Then there goes a power that they shall open ; for his words
are operative words. As it was in the creation, ' Let there be light,' it was
an operative word, ' and there was light,' Gen. i. 3. Let there be such a
creature, it was an operative working word, and there was such a creature
presently. So he opens together with that word. With that invitation and
command there goes an almighty power to enable the soul to open. Were
it not a wise reason to say, when Christ called to Lazarus to ' come forth,'
John xi. 43, that we should reason he had life to yield to Christ, when he
bade him come forth? No, he was rotten, in his grave, almost ; but with
Chi-ist's speaking to Lazarus, there went an almighty power, that gave life
to him, by which life he heard what Christ said, ' Ai'ise, Lazarus.' So
Christ by his Spirit clothes his word in the ministry, when he speaks to
people with a mighty power. As the minister speaks to the ear, Christ
speaks, opens, and unlocks the heart at the same time ; and gives it power
to open, not from itself, but fi"om Christ. Paul speaks to Lydia's ear,
Christ to her heart, and opened it, as the text says. Acts svi. 13, whereby
she behoves ; -'•= so Christ opens the heart.
Quest. But why doth he thus work ?
Ans. Because he will preserve nature, and the principles thereof; and so
he deals with us, working accordingly. The manner of working of the
reasonable creature, is to work freely by a sweet inclination, not by violence.
Therefore when he works the work of conversion, he doth it in a sweet
manner, though it be might}' for the efficaciousness of it. He admonisheth
us with entreaty and persuasion, as if we did it om-selves. But though the
manner be thus sweet, yet with this manner there goeth an almighty power.
Therefore he doth it strongly as coming from himself, and sweetly, as the
speaking is to us, preserving our nature. So the action is from him, which
hath an almighty power with it. As holy Bernard saith, ' Thou dealest
sweetly with my soul in regard of myself; ' that is, thou workest upon me,
as a man with the words of love, yet strongly in regard of thyself. For
except he add strength with sweetness, the work wih not follow ; but
when there are both, an almighty work is wrought in the soul of a Christian ;
and so wrought, as the manner of man's working is preserved in a sweet
and fr^e manner, whilst he is changed fi'om contraiy to contrary. And it is
also Vv'ith the gi-eatest reason that can be, in that now he sees more reason
to be good, than in the days of darkness he did to be naught, God works
* ' Lj'dia's Heart Opened,' is the title of one of Sibbes's most delightful minor
books. — G
64 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON V.
SO sweetly. God speaks to us after the manner of men, but he works in us
as the gi-eat God. He speaks to us as a man in our own language, sweetly;
but he works in us almightily, after a powerful manner, as God. So we
must understand such phrases as these, 'I knock; open to me, my love, my
dove,' &c. We may take further notice,
Obs. That the heart of a Christian is the house and temple of Christ.
He hath but two houses to dwell in ; the heavens, and the heart of an
humble broken-hearted sinner, Isa. Ivii. 15.
Quest. How can Christ come into the soul ?
Aus. He comes into the heart by his Spirit. It is a special entertain-
ment that he looks for. Open thine ears that thou mayest hear my word ;
thy love, that thou mayest love me more ; thy joy, that thou mayest delight
in me more ; open thy whole soul that I may dwell in it. A Christian should
be God's house, and a true Christian is the true temple of God. He left the
other two temples therefore ; but his own body, and his church he never
leaves. For a house is for a man to solace himself in, and to rest in, and
to lay up whatsoever is precious to him. So with Christ. A man will re-
pair his house, so Christ will repair our souls, and make them better, and make
them more holy, and spiritual, and every way fit for such a guest as he is.
Quest. How shall we know whether Christ dwells in our hearts or not ?
Ans. We may know hij the servants what master dwells in an house. If
Christ be in the soul, there comes out of the house good speeches. And we
watch the senses, so as there comes nothing in to defile the soul, and disturb
Christ, and nothing goes out to offend God. When we hear men full of
gracious sweet speeches, it is a sign Chi'ist dwells there. If we hear the
contrary, it shews Christ dwells not there. For Chiist would move the
whole man to do that which might edify and comfort.
Again, where Christ comes, assistance comes there. When Christ wa9
born, all Jerusalem was in an uproar ; so, when Christ is born in the soul,
there is an uproar. Corruption arms itself against grace. There is a com-
bat betwixt flesh and spirit. But Christ subdues the flesh by little and
little. God's image is stamped upon the soul where Christ is ; and if we
have opened unto the Lord of glory, he will make us glorious.
Christ hath never enough of us, nor we have never enough of him till we
be in heaven ; and, therefore, we pray, ' Thy kingdom com^e.' And till
Christ comes in his kingdom, he desires his kingdom should come to us.
Open, saith he, stujyenda dirpiatio, &c., as he cries out. It is a stupendous
condescendence, when he that hath heaven to hold him, angels to attend
him, those glorious creatures ; he that hath the command of every creature,
that do yield presently homage when he commands, the frogs, and lice, and
all the host of heaven are ready to do his will ! for him to condescend and
to entreat us to be good to our own souls, and to beseech us to be recon-
ciled to him, as if he had ofiended us, who have done the wrong and not
he, or as if that we had power and riches to do him good ; here greatness
beseecheth meanness, riches poverty, all-sufficiency want, and life itself
comes to dead, drowsy souls. What a wondrous condescending is this !
Yet, notwithstanding, Christ vouchsafes to make the heart of a sinful,
sleepy man to be his house, his temple. He knocks, and knocks here,
saying, ' Open to me,' &c.
Use 1. This is useful many ways, asjirst, cherish all the good conceits^ ice
can of Christ. Time will come that the devil will set upon us with sharp
temptations, fiery darts, temptations to despair, and present Christ amiss,
* That is, ' conceptions.' — G.
Cant. V. 2.] ' it is the voice of t>ty beloved.' 65
as if Christ were not willing to receive U3. Whenas you see ho knocks at
our hearts to open to him, useth mercies and judgments, the ministry' of his
Spirit and conscience, and all. Will not he then entertain us, when we
come to him, that seeks this entertainment at our hands? Certainly he
will. Therefore, let us labour to cherish good conceits of Christ. This is
the finisher and beginning of the conversion of a poor sinful soul, even to
consider the infinite love and condescendence of Christ Jesus for the good of
oiu' souls. We need not wonder at this his willingness to receive us, when
we first know that God became man, happiness became misery, and life
itself came to die, and to be 'a curse for us,' Gal. iii. 13. He hath done
the greater, and will he not do the less ? Therefore, think not strange that
he useth all these means, considering how low he descended into the womb
of the virgin for us, Ephes. iv. 9.
Now such considerations as these, being mixed with the Spirit and set
on by him. m'o efiectual for the conversion of poor souls. Is there such
love in God to become man, and to be a suitor to woo me for my love ?
Surelj-, thinks the soul then, he desu'es my salvation and conversion. And
to what kind of persons doth he come ? None can object unworthiness.
I am poor : ' He comes to the poor,' Isa. xiv. 32 and xxix. 19. I am
laden and wretched : ' Come imto me, all ye that are weary and laden,'
Mat. xi. 28. I have nothing : ' Come and buy honey, milk, and wine,
though you have nothing,' Isa. Iv. 1. He takes away all objections. But
I am stung with the sense of my sins : ' Blessed are they that hunger and
thirst,' &c.. Mat. v. 6. But I am empty of all : ' Blessed are the poor in
spirit,' Mat. v. 3. You can object nothing, but it is taken away by the
Holy Ghost, wisely preventing* all the objections of a sinful soul. This is
the beginning of conversion, these very conceits. And when we are con-
verted, these thoughts, entertained with admiration of Christ's condescend-
ing, are effectual to give Christ further entrance into the soul, whereby a
more happy communion is wrought still more and more between Christ and
the soul of a Christian.
Use 2. Oh, but take heed that these malce not any secure. For, if we give
not entrance to Christ, aU this will be a ftu'ther aggravation of our damna-
tion. How will this justify the sentence upon us hereafter, when Christ
shall set us on the left hand, and say, ' Depart from me,' Mat. xxv. 41, for
I invited you to come to me, I knocked at the door of youi- hearts, and you
would give me no entrance. Depart from us, said you ; therefore, now,
Depart you from me. What do profane persons in the church but bid
Christ depart from them, especially in the motions of his Spirit ? They
entertain him in the outward room, the brain ; they know a little of Christ,
but, in the heart, the secret room, he must not come there to rale. Is it
not equal that he should bid us, ' Depart, ye cursed, I know you not' ? Mat.
xxv. 41 ; you would not give entrance to me, I will not now to you, as to the
foolish virgins he speaks, Mat. xxv. 12, and Prov. i. 28. Wisdom Imocks,
and hath no entrance ; therefore, in times of danger, they call upon her,
but she rejoiceth at their destruction. Where God magnifies his mercy in
this kind, in sweet allurements, and inviting by judgments, mercies, minis-
tr}', and Spirit, he will magnify his judgment after. Those that have
neglected heaven with the prerogatives and advantages in this kind, they
shall be cast into hell. ' Woe to thee, Chorazin,' &c.. Mat. xi. 21, as you
know in the gospel. This is one thivg that may humble us of this place
and nation, that Christ hatli no further entrance, nor better entertainment
* That is, ' anticipating.' — G.
VOL. II. E
66 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON V.
after so long knocking ! for the entertaining of his word is the welcoming
of himself, as it is, Col. iii. 16. * Let the word of God dwell plentifully in
you.' And, ' Let Christ dwell in your hearts by faith,' Eph. iii. 17. Com-
pare those places ; let the word dwell plenteously in you by wisdom, and
let Christ dwell in your hearts by faith. For then doth Christ dwell in the
heart, when the truth dwells in us. Therefore, what entertainment we give
to his trath, we give to himself. Now what means of knocking hath he not
used among us a long time ? For works of all sorts, he hath drawn us by
the cords of a man, by all kind of favours. For mercies, how many deli-
verances have we had (no nation the like ; we are a miracle of the Chris-
tian world) from foreign invasion, and domestical conspiracies at home ?
How many mercies do we enjoy ! Abundance, together with long peace and
plenty. Besides, if this would not do, God hath added corrections with all
these, in every element, in every manner. Infection in the air, judgments
in inundations. We have had rumours of wars, &c. Threatenings, shakings
of the rod only, but such as might have awaked us. And then he hath
knocked at our hearts by the example of other nations. By what he hath
done to them, he hath shewed us what he might justly have done to us.
We are no better than they.
As for his ministerial knocking : above threescore years we have lived
under the ministry of the gospel. This land hath been Goshen, a land of
light, when many other places are in darkness. Especially we that live in
this Goshen, this place, and such like, where the light shines in a more
abundant measure. Ministers have been sent, and variety of gifts. There
hath been piping and mourning, as Christ complains in his time, that they
were like fro ward children, that neither sweet piping nor doleful mourning
would move to be tractable to their fellows. ' They had John, who came
mourning,' Mat. xi. 17, and Christ comforting with blessing in his mouth.
All kind of means have been used.
And for the motions of his Spirit, who are there at this time, who thus
live in the church under the ministry, who cannot say that God thereby
hath smote their hearts, those hard rocks, again and again, and awaked
their consciences, partly with corrections public and personal, and partly
with benefits ? Yet notwithstanding, what little way is given to Christ !
Many are indifierent, and lukewarm either way, but rather incline to the
worst.
Let us then consider of it. The greater means, the greater judgments
afterwards, if we be not won by them. Therefore let us labour to hold
Christ, to entertain him. Let him have the best room in our souls, to
dwell in our hearts. Let us give up the keys to him, and desire him to
rule our understandings, to know nothing but him, and what may stand
with his truth, not to yield to any error or corruption. Let us desire that
he would rule in our wills and afi'ections ; sway all, give all to him. For
that is his meaning, when he says, ' Open to me,' so that I may rule, as in
mine own house, as the husband rules in his family, and a king in his
kingdom. He will have all yielded up to him. And he comes to beat
down all, whatsoever is exalted against him ; and that is the reason men
are so loth to open unto him. They know if they open to the Spirit of
God, he will turn them out of their fool's paradise, and make them resolve
upon other courses of life, which, because they will not turn unto, they
repel the sweet motions of the Spirit of Christ, and pull away his graces,
building bulwarks against Christ, as lusts, strange imaginations, and reso-
lutions, 2 Cor. X. 3-5. Let the ministers say what they will, and the Spirit
Cant. V. 2.] ' it is the voice of my beloved.' 67
move as ho will, thus they live, and thus they will live. Let us take no-
tice, therefore, of all the means that God useth to the State, and to us iu
particular, and every one labour to amend one. Every soul is the temple,
the house, Christ should dwell in. Let every soul, therefore, among us,
consider what means Christ useth to come into his soul to dwell with him,
and to rule there.
And what shall we lose by it ? Do we entertain Christ to our loss ?
Doth he come empty ? No ; he comes with all grace. His goodness is a
communicative, diffusive goodness. He comes to spread his treasures, to
enrich the heart with all grace and strength, to bear all afflictions, to en-
counter all dangers, to bring peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy
Ghost. He comes, indeed, to make our hearts, as it were, a heaven. Do
but consider this. He comes not for his own ends ; but to empty his
goodness into our hearts. As a breast that desires to empty itself when it is
full ; so this fountain hath the fulness of a fountain, which strives to empty
his goodness into our souls. He comes out of love to us. Let these con-
siderations melt our hearts for our unkindness, that we suffer him to stand
so long at the door knocking, as it is said here.
If we find not our suits answered so soon as we would, remember, we
have made him also wait for us. Perhaps to humble us, and after that
to encourage us, he will make us wait ; for we have made him wait. Let
us not give over, for certainly he that desires us to open, that he may pour
out his gi-ace upon us, he will not reject us when we come to him. Mat.
vii. 7 ; Hab. ii. 3. If ho answers us not at first, yet he will at last. Let
us go on and wait, seeing there is no one duty pressed more in Scripture
than this. And we see it is equity, ' He waits for us,' Isa. sxx. 18. It is
good reason we should wait for him. If we have not comfort presently
when we desire it, let us attend upon Christ, as he hath attended upon us,
for when he comes, he comes with advantage, Isa. Ix. 16. So that when
we wait, we lose nothing thereby, but are gainers by it, increasing our
patience, Isa. Ixiv. 4 ; James i. 4. The longer we wait, he comes with the
more abundant grace and comfort in the end, and shews himself rich, and
bountiful to them that wait upon him, Isa. il. 1, et seq.
THE SIXTH SEEMON.
It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open unto me, my love, my
dove, my undefiled, <£c. — Cant. V. 2.
In the first part of this verse hath been handled the church's own condi-
tion, which she was in, after some blessed feelings that she had of the love
of Christ.
Now, in the next words, the church sets down an acknowledgment
of the carriage of Christ to her in this her sleepy condition. * It is the
voice of my beloved that knocks, saying. Open to me, my sister, my
love, my dove,' &c. She acknowledgeth Christ's voice in her sleepy
estate, and sets down his carriage thus, * how he knocks', and then also
speaks, ' Open to me,' and then sets down what he suffered for her, * My
head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.' And
that nothing might be wanting that might move her heart to respect this
his carriage towards her, he useth sweet titles, a loving compellation, ' Open
68 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON VI.
to me,' saith he, ' my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled,' as so many
cords of love to draw her. So here wants neither loving carriage, sweet
•words, nor patience. ' It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh.'
The church, as she takes notice of the voice of Christ, so she doth
also of the means he useth, and seeth his love in them all. ' It is the
voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying. Open to me,' &c. Here is also
another distinguishing note of a sound Christian from an unsound. A
sanctified spirit sees Christ in the means. This is, says the heart, the
word of Clu'ist, and this the mercy of Christ, to take such pains with my
soul, to send his ministers, to provide his ordinances, to give gifts to men,
and men to the church, Eph. iv. 11, 12. ' It is the voice of my beloved
that knocketh.'
But we must especially understand it of the ministerial voice, whereby
Christ doth chiefly make way for himself into the heart, and that by all
kind of ways dispensed therein : as gifts of all sorts, some rougher, some
milder, all kind of methods and ways in the ministry to make way for him-
self. First of all by the threatenings of the law, and by terrors. As John
was sent before Christ, and as the stomi went before the still and calm
voice, wherein God came to Elias, 1 Kngs xix. 12, so he useth all kinds of
courses in the ministry. And ministers, by the direction of the Spirit,
turn themselves, as it were, into all shapes and fashions, both of speech and
spirit, to win people to God, in so much, that God appeals to them, ' What
could I have done more for my church, that I have not done ?' Isa. v. 4.
Use. Therefore let us take notice of this voice of Christ in the word, and
not think as good Samuel thought, that Eli spake, when God spake, 1 Sam.
iii. 5. Let us think that God speaks to us in the ministry, that Christ
comes to woo us, and win us thereby.
And we ministers are the friends of the Bridegroom, who are to hear
what Christ saith and would have said to the church ; and we must pray to
him, that he would teach us what to teach others. We are to procure the
contract, and to perfect it till the marriage be in heaven. That is our work.
And you that are hearers, if you do not regard Christ's sweet voice in the
ministry, which God hath appointed for the government of the world, know
that there is a voice that you cannot shake off. That peremptory voice at
the day of judgment, when he will say, ' Go, je cursed, into hell fire,' &c.,
Mat. XXV. 30. And that God who dehghts to be styled ' a God hearing
prayer,' Ps. Ixv. 2, will not hear thee, but saith, ' Such a one as turns his
ear away from hearing the law, his prayer is abominable,' Prov. xxviii. 9.
It is a doleful thing, that he that made us, and allure th us in the ministry,
that follows us with all evidences of his love, and adds, together with the
ministry, many sweet motions of his Spirit, that he should delight in the
destruction of his creatures, and not endure the sight of them, ' Depart
away from me, ye cursed, into hell fire,' &c. There are scarce any in the
church, but Christ hath allured at one time or other to come in, and in
many he opens their understandings in a great measure, and knocks upon
their hearts, that they, as it were, half open unto Christ, like Agrippa, that
said to Paul, ' Thou almost persuadest me to be a Christian,' Acts xx\-i. 28.
So Herod ' did many things, and he heard gladly,' Mark vi. 20. They are
half open, seem to open, but are not efiectually converted. But at last
they see, that further yielding will not stand with that which they resolve
not to part with, their lusts, their present condition, that they make their
God, and their heaven. Whereupon they shut the door again. When they
have opened it a Httle to the motions of God's Spirit^ they dare give no
Cant. V. 2.] ' open to me, my sistek.' 6d
further way, because they cannot learn the first lesson in Christ's school, to
deny themselves and take up their cross.
This is an undoubted conclusion. Our blessed Saviour giveth such means
and motions of his Spirit to the vilest persons in the church, that their own
hearts tell them, they have more means and sweeter motions than they
yield to, and that the sentence of condemnation is not pronounced upon
them for merely not knowing of Christ, but upon some grounds of re-
bellion, in that they go not so far^ as they are provoked,* and put on f by the
Spirit of God. They resist the Holy Spirit. There can be no resistance
where there is not a going beyond the desire and will of him whom he re-
sisteth. Acts vii. 51. A man doth not resist, when he gives w\ay as far as
he is moved. There is no wicked man in the church, that gives so much
way as he is moved and stirred to by the Spirit and word of God.
Away then with these impudent, ungracious objections about God's decree
for matter of election. Let us make it sure. And for any ill conceits that
may rise in our hearts about that other of reprobation, let this damp them
all, that in the church of God, he ofiers unto the vilest wretch so much
means, with the motions of his Spirit, as he resisting, proves inexcusable ;
his own rebellion therefore being the cause of his rejection. Let men cease
from cavilling ; God bath that in their own breast, in the heart of every carnal
man, which will speak for God against him, and stop his mouth that he
shall be silent and speechless at the day of judgment. Mat. xxii. 12.
Thus we see that Christ doth condescend so low as to account it almost
a part of his happiness to have our souls for a temple to dwell in, to rule
there. Therefore he makes all this earnest suit, with strong expressions
what he suffereth.
And since Chiist bears this great and large affection to his poor church,
it may encom-age us to pray heartily for the same, and to spread before God
the state thereof. Why, Lord ? it is that part of the world that is thy sister,
thy love, thy dove, thy undefiled ; the communion with whom thou lovest
above all the world besides. It is a strong argument to prevail with God.
Therefore let us commend the state of the church at this time, or at any
time, with this confidence. Lord, it is the church that thou lovest. They
thought they prevailed much with Christ when they laboured to bring him
to Lazarus, saying, ' Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick,' John xi. 3. So
say we, the church whom thou lovest, that is, thy only love, in whom thy
love is concenterate,J as it were, and gathered to a head, as though thou
hadst no other love in the world but thy church, this thy love is in this
state and condition. It is good to think of prevailing arguments ; not to
move God so much as our own hearts ; to strengthen our faith to prevail
vnth God, which is much fortified with the consideration of Christ's won-
drous loving expression to his poor church. Then come to Christ, offer
thyself, and he will meet thee. Ai'e not two loving well-wishers well met ?
"When thou oflcrest thyself to him, and he seeks thy love, will he reject thee
when thou comest to him that seeks thy love, and seeketh it in this passion-
ate, afiectionate manner, as he doth ? Therefore, be of good comfort. He
is more wdlling to entertain us than we are to come to him.
And for those that have relapsed any kind of way, let them not be dis-
couraged to return again to Christ. The church here was in a drowsy,
sleepy estate, and used him imkindly ; yet he is so patient, that he waits
her leisure, as it were, and saith, ' Open to me, my sister, my love,' &c.
Thomas was so untoward, that he would not believe, ' unless he did see the
* That is, 'stirred up.' — G. t That is, ' incited.' — G. J That is ' concentrated.' — Q-
70 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON VI.
print of the nails,' &c., in Christ's body. Yet Christ was so gracious as he
condescendeth to poor Thomas, John xx. 27. So to Peter after he was
fallen, Mark xvi. 7, and to the church after backsliding.
' Open to me, my sister,' &c. Hence observe further,
That Christ hath never enouQh of his chirch till he hath it inheaven, where
are indeed the kisses of the spouse, and of Christ. In the mean while
* Open, open,' still. Christ had the heart of the spouse in some measure
already ; but yet there were some corners of the heart that were not so
filled with Christ as they should be. He was not so much in her under-
standing, will, joy, delight, and love, as he would be. Therefore, open thy
understanding more and more to embrace me, and divine truths that are
offered thee. Open thy love to solace me more and more. For God in
Cbffist, having condescended to the terms of friendship, nay, to intimate terms
of friendship in marriage with us ; therefore- the church in her right temper,
hath never enough of Christ, but desires further union, and communion still.
It being the description of the people of God, that ' they love the appearance
of Christ,' 2 Tim. iv. 8 ; Rev. xxii. 20, as they loved his first appearance,
and waited for ' the consolation of Israel,' Luke ii. 25 ; so they love his second
appearing, and are never quiet, till he comes again in the flesh, to consum-
mate the marriage begun here. So Christ also he is as desirous of
them, yea, they are his desires that breed their desires. ' Open to me,
my sister, my love, my dove,' &c. Again his love and pity moves him
to desire further to come into us. Chi-ist knows what is in our hearts.
If he be not there, there is that that should not be there. What is
in the brain where Christ is not ? A deal of worldly projects, nothing
worth. What is in our joy if Christ be not there ? W^orldly joy, which
cleaves to things worse than itself. If a man were anatomised, and seen
into, he would be ashamed of himself, if he did see himself. Christ there-
fore, out of pity to our souls, would not have the devil there. Christ knows
it is good for our souls to give way to him, therefore he useth all sweet
allurements, * Open to me, my sister, my love,' &c. Christ hath never his
fill, till he close with the soul perfectly ; so that nothing be in the soul
above him, nothing equal to him. Therefore ' Open, open,' still.
Again, he sets down, to move the church the more to open to him, the
inconveniences that he endured, ' My head is filled with dew,' &c. Wherein
he shews what he suffered, which sufferings are of two sorts : in himself; in
his ministers. In himself, and in his own blessed person, what did he
endure ! AVhat patience had he in enduring the refractory spirits of men,
when he was here ! How many indignities did he digest f in his disciples
after their conversion ! Towards his latter end, his head was not only
filled with the drops, but his body filled with drops of blood. Drops of
blood came from him, because of the anguish of his spirit, and the sense
of God's wTath for our sins. Upon the cross, what did he endure there !
That sense of God's anger there, was only for our sins. ' My God, my
God, why hast thou forsaken me?' Mat. xxvii. 46. What should we
speak of his going up and down doing good, preaching in his own person,
setting whole nights apart for prayer ! And then for what he suffers in bis
ministers. There he knocks, and saith, ' Open,' in them. And how was
he used in the apostles that were after him, and in the ministers of the
church ever since ! What have they endured ! for he put a spirit of
patience upon them. And what indignities endured they in the primitive
church, that were the publishers of the gospel ! Those sweet publishers
* 'As,' deleted here.— G. t That is, ' bear.'— G.
CaNT» V. 2.j * OPEN TO ME, JIY SISTER.' 71
thereof, drawing men to open to Christ, were killed for preaching. So
cruel is the heart, that it oftereth violence to them that love them most,
that love their souls. And what greater love than the love of the soul !
Yet this is the Satanical temper and disposition of men's hearts. They
hate those men most, that deal this way most truly and lovingly with
them. It is not that the gospel is such an hard message. It is the word
of reconciliation, and the word of life ; but the heart hates it, because
it would draw men from their present condition ; and ' therefore condemna-
tion is come into the world, in that men hate the light, because their works
are evil,' John iii. 19. Is there anjrthing truly and cordially hated but
grace ? and are any persons heartily and cordially hated in the world so
much as the promulgcrs and publishers of grace, and the professors of it?
.because it upbraids most of all, and meddles with the corruptions of men,
that are dearer to them than their own souls.
Now, what patience is there in Christ to suffer himself iu his messengers,
and his children to be thus used ! Nor it is not strange to say that Christ
stands thus in his ministers ; for it is said, ' That Christ by his Spirit
preached in the days of Noah, to the souls now in prison,' 1 Pet. iii. 19.
Christ preached in Noah's time, before he was incarnate, much more doth
he preach now. And as he was patient then to endure the old world, unto
whom Noah preached a hundred and twenty years ; so he is patient
now in his ministers to preach still by the same Spirit, even to us still, and
yet the entertainment in many places is, as Paul complains, ' Though the
more I love you, yet the less I am beloved of you,' 2 Cor. xii. 15.
Use 1. Let these thiur/s move us to he j)atient toivards God and Christ, if tee
be corrected in any kind, considering that Christ is so patient towards us, and
to wait upon him with patience. How long hath he waited for our con-
version ! How long doth he still wait for the thorough giving up of our
souls to him ! Shall we think much, then, to wait a little while for him ?
Use 2. And let this Spirit of Christ strengthen m likeicise in our dealing
with others, as to bear with evil men, and as it is, ' to wait, if God will at
any time give them repentance,' 2 Tim. ii. 25, 26. Neither may we be so
short-spirited, that if we have not an answer, presently to give over. We
should imitate Christ here. Never give over as long as God continues life
with any advantage and opportunity to do good to any soul. Wait, if God
at any time will give them grace. ' Open to mo, my sister, my love,' &c.
Use 3. Let this again icork upon its, that our Saviour Christ here would
thus set forth his love, and his j^fitience in his love, in bearing with us thug,
under the resemblance of a silly suitor that comes afar oft", and stands at
the door, and knocks. That Christ should stoop thus in seeking the good
of our souls, let this win and quicken our hearts with all readiness and
thankfulness to receive him when he comes to work in om* souls. Con-
sidering that Christ hath such a care of us by himself, his ministers, and
the motions of his Spirit, who joins with his ministry, let not us therefore
be careless of our own souls, but let it move our hearts to melt to him.
The motives may be seen more in the particular compellations. ' Open to
me, my sister, my love,' &c.
* My sister.' This was spoken of before in the former verse. The
church of God is Christ's sister and spouse. Wc are knit to liim both by con-
sanguinit}' and by affinity. The nearest affinity is marriage, and the nearest
consanguinity is sister. So that there are all bonds to Imit us to Christ.
Whatsoever is strong in any bond, he knits us to him by it. Is there any
love in an husband, a brother, a mother, a friend, in an head to the mem-
72 BOWELS OPENEP. [SeEMON VI.
bers ? in anything in the world ? Is there any love scattered in any rela-
tion, gather it all into one, and all that love, and a thousand times more
than that, is in Christ in a more eminent manner. Therefore he styles him-
self in aU these sweet relations, to shew that he hath the love of all. Will
a sister shut out a brother, when the brother comes to visit her, and do her
all good ? Is this unkindness even in nature, to look strangely upon a
man that is near akin, that comes and saith, ' Open to me, my sister ?' If
the sister should shut out the brother, were it not most unnatural ? And
is it not monstrous in gi'ace, when our brother comes for our good, and in
pity to our souls, to let him stand without doors ? Eemember that Christ
hath the same affections, to account us brothers and sisters, now in heaven,
as he had when he was upon the earth. For after his resm-rection, saith
he to his disciples, ' I go to my God, and to your God, to my Fatber, and
to your Father,' John xx. 17. He calls himself our brother, having one
common Father in heaven, and one Spirit, and one inheritance, &c. This
is a sweet relation. Christ being our brother, his heart cannot but melt
towards us in any affliction. Joseph dissembled a vrhile, out of politic
wisdom, Gen. xlii. 7, seq., but because he had a brother's heart to Benjamin,
therefore at last he could not hold, but melted into tears, though he made
his countenance as though he had not regarded. So our Joseph, now in
heaven, may seem to withdraw all tokens and signs of brotherly love from
us, and not to own us ; but it is only in show, he is our brother still. His
heart, fii'st or last, will melt towards his brethren, to their wonderful com
fort. ' My sister,' &c.
' My love.' That word we had not yet. It is worthy also a little stand-
ing on, for all these four words be, as it were, the attractive cords to draw
the spouse, not only by shewing what he had suffered, but by sweet titles,
' My love, My dove.'
What, had Christ no love but his spouse ? Did his love go out of his
own heart to her, as it were ? It is strange, yet true. Christ's love is so
great to his church and children, and so continual* to it, that his church and
people and every Christian soul is the seat of his love. That love in his
own breast being in them, they are his love, because he himself is there,
and one with them, John xvii. 26.
He loves all his creatures. They have all some beams of his goodness,
which he must needs love. Therefore he loves them as creatures, and as
they be more or less capable of a higher degree of goodness ; but for his
chui'ch and children, they are his love indeed.
Quest. But what is the gi'ound of such love ?
Ans. 1. He loves them as he beholds them in his father's choice, as they are
elected of God, and given unto himself in election. ' Thine they are, thou
gavest them me,' John xvii. 6. Christ, looking on us in God's election
and choice, loves us.
Ans. 2. Again, he loves us because he sees his own graces in m. He loves
what is his in us. Before we be actually his, he loves us with a love
of good will, to wish all good to us. But when we have anything of his
Spirit, that our natures are altered and changed, he loves us with a love
of the intimatest friendship, with the love of an head, husband, friend, and
what we can imagine. He loves his own image. Paul saith ' that the wife
is the glory of her husband,' 1 Cor. xi. 7, because whatsoever is in a good
husband, the wife expresseth it by reflection. So the church is the glory
of Chiist ; she reflects his excellencies, though in a weak measure. They
* That is. ' abiding.'— G
Cant. V. 2.] ' my love.' 73
shew forth his virtues or praises, as Peter speaks, 1 Pet. ii. 9. Thus ho
sees his own image in her, and the Holy Ghost in his church. Ho loves
her, and these in her, so as whether we regard the Father or himself or
his Spirit, the church is his love.
Alls. 3. Jf ire consider also uhat lie hath done and suffered for her, we may
well say the church is his love. Besides the former favours, not to speak
of election, he choosed us before we were. In time he did choose us hy actual
election, by which he called us. We had an existence, but we resisted.
He called us when we resisted. And then also he justified us, and clothed
us with his own righteousness, and after feeds us with his own body. As
the soul is the most excellent thing in the world, so he hath provided for
it the most excellent ornaments. It hath food and ornaments proportion-
able. "V\rhat love is this, that he should feed our souls with his own body,
and clothe us with his own righteousness ! ' He loved me,' saith Paul,
Gal. ii. 20. What was the efl'ect of his love ? ' He gave himself for me.'
He gave himself, both that we might have a righteousness to clothe us with
in the sight of God, and he gave himself that he might be the bread of life,
' My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed,' John Ti. 55.
The guilty, the self-accusing soul feeds upon Christ dying for its sins.
Again, Rev. i. 6, you have his love set forth, ' He loved us ; ' and how doth
he witness it ? ' He hath washed us with his own blood, and hath made
us kings, and priests, &c. The like you have, ' He loved us, and gave
himself a sweet sacrifice to God for us,' Eph. v. 2. When this world is at
an end, we shall see what his love is. He is not satisfied till we be all in
one place. What doth he pray for to his Father ? ' Father, I will that
those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am,' &c., John xvii. 24.
Run through all the whole course of salvation, election, vocation, justifica-
tion, glorification, you shall see his love in all of them. But it were an
infinite argument to follow to shew the love of Christ, which is beyond aU
knowledge, Eph. iii. 19 ; and it is too large for us to know all the dimen-
sions of it, to see the height, breadth, depth, and length of it, which we
should ever think, speak, and meditate of, because the soul is then in the
most fit temper to serve, love, and glorify God, when it is most apprehen-
sive of his gi'eat love.
1. This phrase imports divers things. 1. That there is no savinr/ love to
any out of the church, which is his love. It is, as it were, confined in the
church, as if all the beams of his love met in that centre, as we see when
the beams of the sun meet in a glass, they burn, because many are there
united. So in the church all his love doth meet.
2. Then the church is his love also, because whatsoever she hath or hojyes
for is from his love, and is nothing but his love. The church, as it is a
church, is nothing but the love of Christ. That there is a church so en-
dowed, so graced, so full of the hope of glory, it is out of his love.
And for the properties of it. (1.) It is Vifree love, a preventing love. He
loved us before ever we could love him. He loved us when we resisted
him, and were his enemies.
(2.) It is a most tender love, as you have it in Isa. xlix. 15, ' Can a mother
forget her sucking child ? If she should, yet will not I forget thee. Thou
art written on the palms of my hands,' &c. He hath us in his heart, in his
eye, in his hand, in a mother's heart, and beyond it. He hatha tender eye
and a powerful hand to maintain his church. Dent, xxxiii. 3.
(3.) It is a most transcendent and careful love. All comparisons are under it.
(4.) And it is a most intimale invincible love, that nothing could quench it.
74 BOWELS OPENED. [SeeMON "VI,
As we see here tlie church droopeth, and had many infirmities, yet she ia
Christ's love. So that the love of Christ is a kind of love that is uncon-
querable ; no water will ever quench it ; no sin of ours ; no infirmity. So
as it is very comfortable that the church considered under infirmities is yet
the love of Christ. ' I sleep, but my heart waketh,' yet Christ comes with
* My love, my dove,' &c.
Quest. But what, cannot Christ see matter of weakness, sinfulness, hatred,
and dislike in the church ?
Ans. Oh yes, to pity, help, and bsal it, but not at all to diminish his
love, but to manifest it so much the more. His love is a tender love, sen-
sible of all things wherewith we displease him, yet it is so invincible and
unconquerable, that it overcomes all. Again, he sees ill indeed in us, but
he sees in us some good of his own also, which moves him more to love,
than that that is ill in us, moves him to hate. For what he sees of ours,
he sees with a purpose to vanquish, mortify, and eat it out. The Spirit is
as fire to consume it. He is as water to wash it. But what he sees of his
own, he sees with a purpose to increase it more and more, and to perfect it.
Therefore he says, ' my love,' notwithstanding that the church was asleep.
Use. This therefore serves greatly for our comfort, to search what good
Christ by his Spirit hath wrought in our hearts ; what faith, what love,
what sanctified judgment, what fire of holy afi'ections to him, and to the
best things. 0 let us value ourselves by that that is good, that Christ hath
in us. We are Christ's love notwithstanding we are sleepy. If we be dis-
pleased with this our state ; that as Christ dislikes it, so if we by the Spirit
dislike it, the matter is not what sin we have in us, but how we are affected
to it. Have we that ill in us, which is truly the grief of our hearts and
souls, which as Christ dislikes, so we abhor it, and would be purged, and
rid of it ; and it is the grief of our hearts and souls, that we cannot be
better, and more lovely in Christ's eye ! then let us not be discouraged.
For Christ esteems of his church highly, even as his very love, even at that
tirpe when she was sleepy ; and may teach us in time of temptation not to-
hearken to Satan, who then moves us to look altogether upon that which is
naught in us, thereby to abate our love to Christ, and our appi'ehension of
his to us. For he knows if we be sensible of the love of Christ to us, we
shall love him again. For love is a kind of fire, an active quality, which
will set us about glorifying God, and pulling down Satan's kingdom. As
we say in nature, fire doth all ; (what work almost can a man work without
fire, by which all instruments are made and heated? &c.). So grace doth all
with love. God first doth manifest to our souls his love to us in Christ,
and quicken us by his Spirit, witnessing his love to us, wherewith he warms
our hearts, kindles and inflames them so with love, that vv^e love him again;
which love hath a constraining, sweet violence to put us upon all duties, to suft'er,
to do, to resist anything. If a man be in love with Christ, what will be harsh
to him in the world ? The devil knows this well enough ; therefore one of
his main engines and temptations is to weaken our hearts in the sense of
God's love and of Christ's. Therefore let us be as wise for our souls as he-
is subtle, and politic against them ; as watchful for our ovvm comfort, as he
is to discomfort us, and make us despair. Let us be wise to gather all the-
arguments of Christ's love that we can.
Quest. But how shall we know that Christ loves us in this peculiar manner?
Ans. 1. First, search what course he takes and hath taken to draw thee-
nearer unto him. 'He chastiseth every one that he loveth,' Heb. xii. 6.
Seasonable corections sanctified, is a sign of Christ's love ; when he will
CaKT. V. 2. J * MY LOVE.' 75
not suflfer us to thrive in sin ; when we cannot speak nor do amiss ; but
either ho lasheth us in our conscience for it, and by his Spirit checks us,
or else stirs up others, one thing or other to make us out of love with sin.
2. Again, we may gather Christ's love by this, if we have ami lore to
divine things, and can set a great price tipon the best things : upon the word,
because it is Christ's word ; upon grace, prizing the imago of Christ, and
the new creature. "When we can set an high value upon communion with
Christ, the sense of his love in our hearts, and all spiritual prerogatives and
excellencies above all things, this is an excellent argument of Christ's love
to us. Our love is but a reflection of his ; and therefore if we have love to
anything that is good, we have it from him first. If a wall that is cold
become hot, we say, the sun of necessity must shine on it first, because it
is nothing but cold stone of itself. So if our hearts, that are naturally
cold, be heated with the love of divine things, certainly we may say, Christ
hath shined here first; for naturally our hearts are of a cold temper. There
is no such thing as spiritual love growing in our natures and hearts.
You have many poor souls helped with this, who cannot tell whether
Christ love them or no ; but this helps them a little, they can find undoubted
arguments of their love to Christ, his image, and servants, and of relishing
the word, though they find much corruption : and this their love to divine
things tells them by demonstrations from the efiects, that Christ loves them,
because there is no love to divine and supernatural things without the love
of Christ first. And the graces in our hearts, thej' are love tokens given to
the spouse. Common favours he gives, as Abraham gifts to his servants
and others, but special gifts to his spouse. If therefore there be any grace,
a tender and soft heart, a prizing of heavenly things, love to God's people
and truth, then we may comfortably conclude Christ loves us; not only be-
cause they are reflections of God's love, but because they are jewels and
ornaments that Christ only bestows upon his spouse ; and not upon re-
probates, such precious jewels as these, John xv. 15.
3. Bij discovering his secrets to lis, Ps. xxv. 14, for that is an argument of love.
Doth Christ by his Spirit discover the secret love he hath borne to us before
all worlds ? Doth he discover the breast of his Father, and his own heart to
us? This discovery of secret afi'ections, of entire love, shewetb our happy
state. For that is one prerogative of fi-iendship, and the chicfcst discovery
of secrets, when he gives us a particular right to truths, as our own, that
we can go challenge them, these are mine, these belong to me, these pro-
mises are mine. This discoveiy of the secret love of God, and of the
interests we have in the promises, is a sign that Christ loves us, and that
in a peculiar manner we are his love.
Use 1. Let us be like our blessed Saviour, that where we see any saving
goodness in any, let us love them ; for should not our love meet with our
Saviour's love ? Shall the church of God be the love of Christ, and shall it
be our hatred ? Shall a good Christian be Christ's love, and shall he be
the object of my hatred and scorn ? Can we imitate a better pattern ? 0
let us never think our estate to be good, except every child of God be our
love as he is Christ's love. Can I love Christ, and cannot I love * him in
whom I Bee Christ ? It is a sign that I hate himself, when I hate his
image. It is to be wondered at that the devil hath prevailed with any so
much, as to think they should be in a good estate, when they have hearts rising
against the best people, and who, as they grow in gi-ace, so they gi-ow in
then- disUke of them. Is here the Spirit of Christ ?
* That is, ' can I not love' — Ed.
76 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON VIE
Use 2. And let tliem likewise be here reproved that are glad to see any Chris-
tian halt, slip, and go awry. The best Christians in the world have that
in part, which is wholly in another man ; he hath flesh in him. Shall we
utterly distaste a Christian for that ? The church was now in a sleepy con-
dition, and yet, notwithstanding, Christ takes not the advantage of the
weakness of the church to cashier, -= and to hate her, but he pities her the
more, and takes a course to bring her again into a good state and condition.
Let us not therefore be glad at the infirmities and failings of any, that dis-
cover any true goodness in them. It may be our own case ere long. It
casts them not out of Christ's love, but they dwell in his love still ; why
should we then cast them out of our love and affections ? Let them be our
loves till, as they are the love cf Christ, notwithstanding their infirmities.
THE SEVENTH SERMON.
My love, my dove, my uiv>'.cjiled : for my head is Jillecl ivitli dew, and my locks
with the drops of the night. I have put off my coat ; how shall I put it on ?
I have washed my feet ; and how shall I defile them ? — Cant. V. 2, 3.
That the life of a Christian is a perpetual conflicting, appears evidently iu
this book, the passages whereof, joined with our own experiences, suffi-
ciently declare what combats, trials, and temptations the saints are subject
unto, after their new birth and change of life ; now up, now down, now
full of good resolutions, now again sluggish and slow, not to be waked, nor
brought forward by the voice of Christ, as it was with the church here.
She will not out of her sleep to open unto Christ, though he call, and knock,
and stand waiting for entrance. She is now desirous to pity herself, and
needs no Peter to stir her up unto it (r/). The flesh of itself is prone
enough to draw back, and make excuses, to hinder the power of grace
from its due operation in us. She is laid along, as it were, to rest her ; yet
is not she so asleep, but she discerns the voice of Christ. But up and rise
she will not.
Thus we may see the truth of that speech of om- Saviour verified, ' That
which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spi-
rit," John iii. 6. The flesh pulls her back : the Spirit would raise her up to
open to Christ. He in the meanwhile makes her inexcusable, and pre-
pares her by his knocking, waiting, and departing ; as for a state of fur-
ther humiliation, so for an estate of further exaltation. But how lovingly
doth he speak to her !
1. ' Open unto me, my love.' He calls her ra-y love, especially for two
respects ; partly because his love ivas settled upon her. It was in his own
breast, but it rested not there, but seated itself upon, and in the heart of
his spouse, so that she became Christ's love. We know the heart of a
lover is more where it loves than where it lives, as we use to speak ; and
indeed, there is a kind of a going out, as it were, to the thing beloved, with
a heedlessness of all other things. Where the affection is in any excess, it
carries the whole soul with it.
2. But, besides this, when Christ saith my love, he shews, that as his
love goes, and plants, and seats itself in the church, so it is united to that,
and is not scattered to other objects. There are beams of God's general love
scattered in the whole world ; but this love, this exceeding love, is only fas-
* That is, ' dismiss.' — G.
Cant. V. 2, 8.] ♦ my love.' 77
tened upon the church. And, indeed, there is no love comparable to this
love of Christ, which is above the love of women, of father, or mother, if
we consider what course he takes to shew it. For there could be nothing
in the world so great to discover his love, as this gift, and gift of himself.
And therefore he gave himself, the best thing in heaven or in earth withal,
to shew his love. The Father gave him, when he was God equal witl his
Father. He loved his church, and gave himself for it. How could he dis-
cover his love better, than to take our nature to shew how he loved us ?
How could he come nearer to us, than by being incarnate, so to be bone
of our bone, and flesh of our flesh ; and took our nature to shew how he
loved it, Eph. v. 30. Love draws things nearer wheresoever it is. It drew
him out of heaven to the womb of the virgin, there to be incarnate ; and,
after that, when he was born not only to be a man, but a miserable man,
because we could not be his spouse unless he purchased us by his death.
We must be his spouse by a satisfaction made to divine justice. God
would not give us to him, but with salving* his justice. "What sweet love is
it to heal us not by searing, or lancing, but by making a plaster of his own
blood, which he shed for those that shed his, in malice and hatred. What
a wondrous love is it, that he should pour forth tears for those that
shed his blood! ' 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem,' &c.. Mat. xxiii. 37 ; that he
prayed for those that persecuted him, Luke xxiii. 34 ; and what wondrous
love is it now that he sympathiseth with us in heaven, accounting the
harm that is done to the least member he hath, as done to himself! ' Saul,
Saul, why persecutest thou me ?' Acts ix. 4, and that he should take us
into one body with himself, to make one Christ, 1 Cor. xii. 27. And he
doth not content himself with anything he can do for us here, but his de-
sire is, that we may be one with him more and more, and be for ever with
him in the heavens, as you have it in that excellent prayer, John xvii. 24.
Use 1. Now this should stir us up to be fully permadecl of his love, that
Mves us so imich. Christ's love in us, is as the loadstone to the iron. Our
hearts are heavy and downwards of themselves. We may especially know
his love by this, that it draws us upwards, and makes us heavenly minded.
It makes us desire further and further communion with him. StiU there
is a magnetical attractive force in Christ's love. Wheresoever it is, it
draws the heart and afiections after it.
Use 2. And we may know fi'om hence one argument to prove the stahUity
of the saints, and the immortality of the sold, because Christ calls the church
his love. The want of love again, where it is entire, and in any great mea-
sure, is a misery. Christ therefore should suffer, if those he hath planted his
love upon, whom he loves truly, either should fall away for ever, or should
not be immortal for ever. Christ will not lose his love. And as it is an
argument of persevering in grace, so is it of an everlasting being, that this
soul of ours hath ; because it is capable of the love of Christ, seeing there
is a sweet union and communion between Christ and the soul. It should
make Christ miserable, as it were, in heaven, the place of happiness, if
there should not be a meeting of him and his spouse. There must there-
fore be a meeting ; which marriage is fur ever, that both may be for ever
happy one in another, Hos. ii. 20.
Use 3. Let us often uann our hearts nith the consideration hereof, because all
our love isfnmi this love of his. Oh the wonderful love of God, that both such
transcendent majesty, and such an infinite love should dwell together. We
say majesty and love never dwell together, because love is an abasing of the
* Tliat is, ' preserving.' — G.
78 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON VII.
soul to all services. But herein it is false, for here majesty and love dwell
together in the heart of one Christ, which majesty hath stooped as low as
his almighty power could give leave. Nay, it was an almighty power that
he could stoop so low and yet be God, keeping his majesty still. For God
to beeome man, to hide his majesty for awhile, not to be kno^vn to be God,
and to hide so far in this natiu'e as to die for us : what an ahnighty power was
this, that could go so low and yet preserve himself God still ! Yet this we see
in this our blessed Saviour, the greatest majesty met with the greatest
abasement that ever was, and all out of love to our poor souls. There was
no stooping, no abasement that was ever so low as Christ was abased unto
us, to want for a time even the comfort of the presence of his Father.
There was an union of grace ; but the union of solace and comfort that he
had fi-om him was suspended for a time, out of love to us. For he had a
right in his own person to be in heaven presently. Now for him to live
so long out of heaven, and ofttimes, especially towards his suffering, to be
without that solace (that he might be a sacrifice for our sins), to have it
suspended for a time, what a condescending was this ? It is said, Ps. cxiii.
6, that God stoops ' to behold the things done here below.' It is indeed a
wondrous condescending, that God will look upon things below ; but that
he would become man, and out of love to save us, sufi"er as he did here,
this is wondi'ous humility to astonishment ! We think humility is not a
proper grace becoming the majesty of God. So it is not indeed, but there
is some resemblance of that grace in God, especially in Chiist, that he
should, to reveal himself, veil himself with flesh, and all out of love to us.
The consideration of these things are wondrous efiectual, as to strengthen
faith, so to kindle love. Let these be for a taste to'du-ect our meditations
herein. It follows,
' My dove.' We know when Christ was baptized, the Holy Ghost
appeax'ed in the shape of a dove. Mat. iii. 16, as a symbol of his presence,
to discover thus much: (1.) That Christ should have the properttj and dis-
position of a dove. 'And be meek and gentle.' For indeed he became man
for that end, to be 'a merciful Saviour.' ' Learn of me, for I am meek
and lowly,' Mat. si. 28, 29. ' And I will not quench the smoking flax, nor
break the bruised reed,' &c.. Mat. xii. 20, said he ; and therefore the
Spirit appeared upon him in the shape of a dove. As likewise, (2.) To
shew what his office should be. For even as the dove in Noah's ark was
sent out, and came home again to the ark with an olive branch, to shew
that the waters were abated ; so Christ was to preach deliverance from
the deluge of God's anger, and to come with an olive leaf of peace in his
mouth, and reconciliation, to shew that God's wTath was appeased. \Vhen
he was born, the angels sung, ' Glory to God on high, on earth peace, and
goodwill towards men,' Luke ii. 14. Now, as Christ had the Spii'it in the
likeness of a dove ; so all that are Christ's, the spouse of Christ, have the
disposition of Christ. That Spirit that framed him to be like a dove,
frames the church to be a dove ; as the ointment that was poured on Aaron's
head : it ran down upon the lowest skuis of his garments, Ps. cxxxiii. 3.
Now, the church is compared to a dove, partly for the disposition that is
and should he in the church resembling that creature; and partly, also, for
that the church is in a mournful suffering condition.
I. For the like disposition as is found in a dove. There is some good
in all creatures. There is no creature but it hath a beam of God's majesty,
of some attribute ; but some more than others. There is an image of
virtue even in the inferior creatures. "WTierefore the Scripture sends us to
Cant. V. 2, 3.] • mr dove,* 79
■them for many virtues, as the skiggard to the ant, Prov. vi. G. And indeed
we may see the true perfection of the first creation, the state of it, more
in the creatures than in ourselves ; for there is no such degeneration in any
creature as there is in man.
Now, that which in a dove the Scripture aims at, 1, we should resemble
a dove in is, his meekness especially. The church is meek both to God and
man, not given to murmurings and revengement. Meek : that is, ' I held
my tongue without murmuring,' as it is in the psalm ; ' I was dumb,' &c.,
Ps. xxxix. 2 : which is a grace that God's Spirit frames in the heart of the
church, and every particular Christian, even to be meek towards God by
an holy silence ; and likewise towards men, to put on the ' bowels of meek-
ness,' as we are exhorted, ' As the elect of God, put on the bowels of meek-
ness and compassion,' &c.. Col. iii. 12. Hereby we shall shew ourselves
to be Christ's, and to have the Spirit of Christ. And this grace disposeth
us to a nearer communion with God than other graces. It is a grace that
God most delights in, and would have his spouse to bo adoi-ned with, as is
shewed, 1 Pet. iii. 4, where the apostle tells women, it is the best jewel
and ornament that they can wear, and is with God of gi-eat price. Moses,
we read, was a mighty man in prayer, and a special means to help and fit him
thereunto, was because he was the meekest man on earth, Num. xii. 3; and
therefore, ' seek the Lord, seek meekness,' Zeph. ii. 3; and it fits a man for
communion with God, 'for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the
meek and humble,' 1 Pet. v. 5. It is a grace that empties the soul of self-
conceit, to think a man's self unworthy of anj-thing, and so makes it capacious,
low, and fit for God to fill with a larger measure of his Spirit. It takes
away the roughness and swelling of the soul, that keeps out God and grace.
Therefore in that grace we must especially be like this meek creature, which
is no vindictive creature, that hath no way to revenge itself.
Again, 2, it is a simple creature, nithout guile. It hath no way to defend
itself, but only by flight. There is a simpUcity that is sinful, when there
is no mixture of wisdom in it. There is a simplicity, that is, a pure sim-
plicity ; and so God is simple, which simphcity of God is the ground of
many other attributes. For thereupon he is eternal, because there is no-
thing contrary in him ; there is no mixture in him of anything opposite.
So that is a good simplicity in us, when there is no mixture of fi-aud, no
duplicity in the soul. ' A double-hearted man is inconstant and unstable
in all his ways,' James i. 8. Now simphcity, as it is a virtue, so we must
imitate the dove in it ; for there is a sinful, dove-like silliness. For,
Hos. vii. 11, Ephraim is said there to be ' like a silly dove without heart;
they call to Egypt, they go to Ass}T.-ia.' There is a fatal simplicity,
usually going before destruction, when we hate those that defend us, and
account them enemies, and rely more upon them that are enemies indeed
than upon friends. So it was with Ephraim before his destruction : * He
was a silly dove without heart ; he called to Egypt, and went to Assyiia,'
false friends, that were enemies to the church of God ; yet they trusted
them more than God or the prophets. Men have a world of tricks to un-
dermine their friends, to ruin them, and to deserve ill of those that would
with all their hearts deserve well of them, when yet in the mean tune they
can gi'atify the enemy, please them, and hold correspondence with them,
as here Ephraim did, ' Ephraim is a silly dove,' &c. This, therefore, is
not that which we must aim at, but to be simple and children concerning
evil, but not in ignorance and simplicity that way.
3. Again, this creature is a faithful creature. That is mainly here aimed
80 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON VII
at. It is faithful to the mate. So the Christian soul, by the Spirit of God
it is made faithful to Christ, it keeps the judgment chaste, is not tainted
with errors and sins. He keeps his affections chaste likewise, sets nothing
in his heart above Christ. _ ' Whom hath he in heaven but him, and what
is there in earth he desires beside him ?' Ps. Ixxiii. 25. You know in the
Revelation, the spouse of Christ is brought in like a \'irgin contracted, hut
the Romish Church like a whore. Therefore the church of God must take
heed of the Roman Church, for that is not a dove. We must be virgins,
who must keep chaste souls to Christ, as you have it — ' Those that follow
the Lamb wheresoever he goeth, they have not defiled themselves with
women,' Rev. xiv. 4. The meaning is spiritual, namely, that they have
not defiled themselves with idolatry and spiritual fornication ; they have
chaste hearts to Christ. So in this respect they resemble the dove. These,
therefore, that draw away from the love of religion to mixture, to be mere-
trices* and harlots in religion, they are not Christ's doves. As far as they
yield to this, it is an argument that they have false hearts. Christ's church
is a dove. She keeps close and inviolate to him.
4. Again, this creature is of a neatf disposition. It will not lodge where it
shall be troubled with stench, and annoyed that way ; and likewise feeds
neatly on pure grain ; not upon carrion, as you see in the ark, when the
raven was sent out it lights upon carrion, of which there was then plenty,
and therefore never came into the ark again. Gen. viii. 7. But the
dove, when she went out, would not light upon carrion or dead things ;
and so finding no fit food, came back again to the ark. So the Christian
soul in this respect is like a dove, that will not feed upon worldly carrion,
or sinful pleasures, but upon Christ and spiritual things. The soul of a
carnal and a natural man useth to feed upon dust, earth and earthly things.
When the soul of a true Christian, that hath the taste of grace, feeds
neatly, it will not feed on that which is base and earthly, but upon heavenly
and spiritual things.
5. It is [/rer/aria avis, a bird that loves communion and fellowship, as the
prophet speaks, ' Who are those that flock to the windows as doves,' Isa.
Ix. 8 ; for so they use to flock to their houses by companies. So the chil-
dren of God love the communion and fellowship one of another, and keep
severed from the world as soon as ever they are separated from it, delight-
ing in all those of the same nature. Doves will consort with doves. Chris-
tians with Christians, and none else. They can relish no other company
These and such like properties may profitably be considered of the dove.
The much standing upon these were to ^vl•ong the intendment! of the Spirit
of God ; to neglect them altogether were as much. Therefore we have
touched upon some properties only.
II. 'Now, for the sufferings of the church it is like a dove in this. 21ie
dove is molested hij all the birds of prey, it being the common prey of all
other ravenous birds. So the poor church of God is persecuted and
molested. * Oh that I had wings like a dove,' &c., saith holy David,
Ps. Iv. 6. It is an old speech, and is for ever tnie, that crows and such,
escape better than doves. The punishment that should light on ravens, oft-
times it lights on doves. Thus God's dove, God's church, is used.
But what defence hath God's poor church ? Why, no defence. But,
First, /light, even as the dove hath nothing but flight. It hath no
talons to wound, but it hath flight. So we are to fly to God as to our
mountain ; fly to the ark, that God may take us in. The church of God
* That is, 'courtezans.'' — G. f That is, 'cleanly.' — G. $ That is, 'design.' — G
Cant. V. 2, 3.] ' my undefiled.' 81
hath no other refuge but to be housed in God and Christ, Prov. xviii. 10.
He is our ark.
Secondly, and to mourn; as Hezekiah saith of himself, *He mourned
as a dove, and chattered like a crane,' Isa. xxxviii. 14. The state of the
church of God is like the turtle's, to mourn in all afflictions, desertions,
and molestations of wicked men ; to mourn to God, who hears the be-
moanings of his own Spirit in them. And woe to all other birds, the
birds of prey, when the turtles do mourn because of their cruelty. It is a
presage of ruin to them, when they force the turtle to sorrow and mourning.
Thirdly, And then, thirdly, they have another refage besides flight and
mourning, which is to build high from vermin that would otherwise molest them.
Listinct teacheth them thus to escape their enemies by building high, and
so to secui-e themselves. So there is in God's children a gracious instinct
put, an antipathy to the enemies of it ; which tends to their safety, in that
they mingle not themselves with them. And likewise God breeds in them
a familiarity with himself, and stirs them to build in him as on a rock, to
be safe in him.
Objec. But you will object. If the chm'ch of God be his dove, why is it so
with it as it is, that God should suffer his love, and his dove, and his turtle
thus as it were to be preyed upon ? ' Give not the soul of the turtle to the
beasts,' saith the psalmist, Ps. Ixxiv. 19. If the church were God's dove, he
would esteem more of it than he doth, and not suffer it to be persecuted thus ?
Ans. God never forsakes his dove, but is an ark for it to fly to, a rock
for it to build on. The dove hath always a refuge in God and in Christ
in the worst times. You have a notable place for this, ' Though you have
lien among the pots,' that is, smeared and sullied, ' yet they shall be as
the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as the snow in
Salmon,' Ps. lx\-iii. 13, 11:. So though the church of God lies among the potg
av/hile, all smeared, and soiled, and sullied with the ill-usage of the world,
yet as long as it keeps itself a dove, unspotted of the filth of the world and
sin (though it be smeared with the ill-usage thereof), we see what God pro-
miseth here, ' yet shall they be as the wings of a dove covered with silver,
and her feathers with yellow gold.' So God will bring forth his dove with
glory out of all these abasements at length. So much for the title of dove.
It follows,
' My undefiled.' Undefiled is a high word to be applied to the church
of God here ; for the church, groaning under infirmities, to be counted
perfect and imdefiled. But Christ, who judgeth aright of his church, and
knows best what she is, he yet thus judgeth of her. But, how is that ?
The chm'ch is imdefiled, especially in that it is the spouse of Christ, and
clothed uith the robes of his righteousness. For there is an exchange so
soon as ever we are united to Christ. Our sins are upon him, and his
righteousness is made ours ; and therefore in Christ the church is un-
defiled. Christ himself the second person is the first lovely thing next the
Father ; and in Christ all things as they have relation to him arc loved, as
they are in him. Christ's human nature is next loved to the second person.
It is united, and is first pm-e, holy, and beloved. Then, because the
church is Christ mystical, it is near to him ; and, in a manner, as near as
that sacred body of his, both making up one Christ mystical. And so is
amiable and beloved even of God himself, who hath pure eyes ; yet in this
respect looks upon the church as undefiled.
Christ and his chm'ch arc not to be considered as two when we speai
VOL. II. F
82 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON VII.
of this undefiledness, but as one. And the church having Christ, with all
that is Christ's, they have the field, and the pearl* in the field together.
And Christ giving himself to the church, he gives his righteousness, his
perfection, and holiness ; aU is the church's.
Quest. But how can it be the church's, when it is not in the church, but
in Christ ?
Ans. It is safe for the church that it is in Christ, who is perfect and un-
defiled for us ; to make us appear so. And so it is in Christ, the second
Adam, for our good. It is not in him as another person, but it is in him
as the church's Head, that make both one Christ. The hand and
the foot see not ; but both hand and foot have benefit by the eye, that
sees for them. There is no member of the body understands, but the
head does all for them. Put the case we have not absolute righteousness
and undefiledness in our own natures and persons inhering in us. Yet we
have it in Christ, that is one with us, who hath it for our good. It is
ours, for all the comfort and good that we may have by it ; and thereupon
the church in Christ is undefiled ; yea, even then when it feels its own
defilements. And here ariseth that wondrous contradiction that is found
in a believer's apprehension. The nature of faith is to apprehend right-
eousness in the sense of sin, happiness in the sense of misery, and favour
in the sense of displeasure.
And the ground of it is, because that at the same time the soul may be
in some measure defiled in itself, and yet notmthstanding be undefiled in
her head and husband Christ. Hence the guilty soul, when it feels corrup-
tion and sin, yet notwithstanding doth see itself holy and clean in Christ
the head. Ajid so at once there is a conscience of sin, and no more con-
science of sin, as Ihe apostle saith, Heb. x. 2, when we believe in Christ,
and are purged with his blood, that is, there is no more guilt of sin bind-
ing over to eternal damnation, jei notwithstanding always there is a con-
science of sin, for we are guilty of infinnities, ' And if we say we have no
sin, we lie, and deceive ourselves, 1 John i. 8.
Ohj. But, how can this be, that there should be conscience of sin, and
no conscience of sin, a sinner, and yet a perfect saint and undefiled ?
Ans. 1. The conscience hnows its own imperfection, so it is defiled, and accuseth
of sin. And as it looks to Christ, so Usees itself pure, and purged from all sin.
Here is the conquest, fight, and the victory of faith in the deepest sense of
sin, pollution, and defilement in ourselves, at the same time to see an abso-
lute and perfect righteousness in Jesus Christ. Herein is even the triumph
of faith, whereby it answers God. And Christ, who sees our imperfections,
but it is to purge and cleanse them away, not to damn us for them, at the
same time he sees us in his own love clothed with his righteousness, as one
with himself, endowed with whatsoever he hath ; his satisfaction and obe-
dience being ours as verily as anything in the world is. Thus he looks on
us, and thus faith looks upon him too, and together with the sight and sense
of sin, at the same time it apprehends righteousness, perfect righteousness,
and so is undefiled. This is the main point in religion, and the comfort of
Christians, to see their perfection in Chi'ist Jesus, and to be lost in them-
selves, as it were, and to be only ' found in him, not having their own
righteousness, but the righteousness of God in him,' Phil. iii. 9. This is
a mystery which none knows but a believing soul. None see corruption
more, none see themselves freed more. They have an inward sight to see
corruption, and an inwai'd faith to see God takes not advantage at it. And
* That is, ' treasure.' See Mat. xiii. 44. — G.
Cant ^'■. 2.] * my undefiled.' 83
surely there can be no greater honour to Christ than this. In the sense of
sin, of wants, imperfections, stains, and blemishes, yet to wrap ourselves
in the righteousness of Christ, God-man; and by faith , being thus covered
with that absolute righteousness of Christ, with boldness to go, clothed in
the garments of this our elder brother, to the throne of grace. This is an
honour to Christ, to attribute so much to his righteousness, that being
clothed therewith, we can boldly break through the fire of God's justice,
and all those terrible attributes, when wo see them all, as it were, satisfied
fuUy'in Christ. For Christ, with his righteousness, could go through the
justice of God, having satisfied it to the full for us. And wo being
clothed with this his righteousness and satisfaction, may go through too.
Ans. 2. But besides that, there is another undefiledness in the church, in re-
spect to which she is called undefiled, that is, injniritij of disposition, tendiiir/ to
j)e>fection. And God respects her according to her better part, and accord-
ing to what he will bring her in due time. For we are chosen unto perfec-
tion, and to be holy in his sight ; and perfectly holy, undefiled, and pure.
We are not chosen to weak beginnings.
In choosing us, what did God aim at ? Did he aim at these imperfect
beginnings, to rest there ? No; we were elected and chosen to perfection.
For, as it is in this natural life, God purposed that we should not only
have all the limbs of men, but grow from infancy to activeness and perfec-
tion. As God at fii'st intended so much for our bodies, no question he
intends as much also for the soul, that we should not only have the linea-
ments of Christianity, a sanctified judgment, with affections in part renewed,
but he hath chosen us to perfection by degi'ees. As the seed first lies rotting
in the ground, then gi'ows to a stalk, and then to an ear, so God's wisdom
shines here, by bringing things by degrees to perfection and undefiledness.
His wisdom will have it thus (or else his power might have it otherwise),
because he will have us to live by faith, to trust his mercy in Christ, and
not to the undefiledness that is begun in us, but to admire that which we
have in Christ himself.
And, indeed, it is the character of a judicious believing Christian soul,
that he can set a price and value the righteousness of Christ, out of himself,
labouring, living, and dying to appear in that; and yet to comfort and sus-
tain himself during this conflict and fight between the flesh and the Spirit,
that in time this inherent grace shall be brought to perfection.
And Christ, he looks upon us as he means to perfect the work of grace
in us by little and little, as he means to purge and cleanse us, as Eph.
v. 26, 27. The end of redemption is, that he might purge his church,
and so never leave it till he have made it ' a glorious spouse in heaven.'
He looks upon us as we shall be ere long, and therefore we are said ' to
bo dead to sin,' while we are but dying to it. And, saith he, ' you have
cnicified the flesh with the affections, and lusts thereof,' Gal. v. 24, when
we are but crucifying it. But it is said so because it is as sure to be done
as if it were done already. As a man, when he is condemned, and going
to his execution, he is a dead man, so there is a sentence passed upon sin and
corruption. It shall be abolished and die. Therefore it is dead in sen-
tence, and is dying in execution. It is done ; ' They that are in Christ
have crucified the flesh, with the lusts thereof,' Gal. v. 24. It is as sure
to faith as if it were done already. So we are said ' to sit in heavenly places
with Christ,' Eph. ii. G. We are with him abeady. For Christ having
taken us so near in affection to himself, he will never leave us till he have
iQade us such as he may have full contentment in, which is in heaven.
84 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON VII.
when the contract between Mm and us shall be fulfilled in consummation
of the marriage. Thus faith looks, and Christ looks thus upon us. Which
should comfort us in weakness, that God regards us not in our present im-
perfections, but as he means to make us ere long. In the mean time, that
he may look upon us in love, he looks upon us in the obedience of his son^
in whom whatsoever is good shall be perfected at the last.
Use 1. What should we do then, if Christ doth make his church thus,
' his love,' ' his dove,' ' his undefiled,' by making his love to meet in it as
the centre thereof, whereunto he doth confine aU his love, as it were ? We
should confine our love to him again; and have no love out of Christ, since
he hath no love out of us. There should be an everlasting mutual shining
and reflection between him and the soul. We should lay open our souls
to his love, as indeed he desires especially the communion of our affections.
We should reflect love to him again. This perpetual everlasting intercourse
between Christ and his spouse, is her main happiness here, and her eternal
happiness in heaven. In looking on him who hath done so much for us,
he shines on us, and we look back again upon him. Doth Christ love us
so intimately, and so invincibly, that no indignities nor sin could overcome
his love, which made, that he endured that which he hates most, ' to become
sin for us,' 2 Cor. v. 21, nay, the want of that, which was more to him
than all the world, the want of the sense of the favour of God for a time.
' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?' Hath Christ thus in-
finitely loved us, and shall not we back again make him our love ? In their
degree the saints of God have all done so. It was a good speech of Igna-
tius the martyr, ' My love Chi-ist was crucified ! ' (A) So a Christian should
say, ' My love was crucified,' ' My love died,' ' My love is in heaven.' And
for the things on earth, I love them as they have a beam of him in them ;
as they lead me to him. But he is my love, there my love is pitched, even
upon him. This is the gi-ound of these Scripture phrases, ' But our con-
versation is in heaven, from whence we look for the Sa-vdour, the Lord Jesus
Christ,' &c., Phil. iii. 20 ; and ' set youi- afiections on the things that are
above,' Col. iii. 1. AVhy ? Christ our love is there. The soul is more
where it loves, than where its residence is. It dies, as it were, to other
things, and lives in the thing it loves. Therefore our thoughts and affec-
tions, our joy and delight should be dravm up to Christ ; for indeed his
love hath such a magnetical attractive force, that where it is, it vrill draw
up the heavy iron, the gross soul ; and make it heavenly. For there is a
binding, a drawing force in this excellent affection of love.
Use 2. ' My love, my dove,' &c. There are all icords of sweetness. He
labours to express all the affection he can. For the conscience is subject
to upbraid, and to clamour much. So that there must be a great deal of
persuasion to still the accusing conscience of a sinner, to set it down, make
it quiet, and persuade it of God's love. Therefore he useth all heavenly
rhetoric to persuade and move the affections.
Use 3. In this that the church is undefiled in Christ, let us learn when
afflicted in conscience, not so much to judge of ourselves by what ice feel in
ourselves, as by what faith suggests. In Christ therefore let us judge of our-
selves by what we are as in him. We are poor in ourselves, but have riches
in him. We die in ourselves in regard of this life, but we have a life in
him, an eternal life ; and we are sinners in ourselves, but we have a
righteousness in him whereby we are righteous in his sight, 1 Cor. v. 21.
We are foolish, unskilful, and ignorant in om'selves, but he is our wisdom
in aU whatsoever is amiss in us. Let us labour to see a full supply of our
Cant. V. 2] 'my undefiled.' 85
wants made up in Christ. This is to glorify God as much as if we could
fulfil the law perfectly. If we were as undefiled as Adam was, we could not
glorify God more, than when wo find ourselves and our conscience guilty
of sins, yet thus by the Spirit of God to go out of ourselves, and to see our-
selves in Christ, and thus to cast ourselves on him, embrace him, and take
that gift of God given us, Christ offered to us, because God so commands,
John iv. 10. We honour God more than if we had the obedience that
Adam had at first before his fall. For now in the covenant of grace, he
will be glorified in his mercy, in his forgi\'ing, forbearing, rich, transcendent
mercy, and in going be5rond all our unworthiness and sins, by shewing that
there is a righteousness pro^^ded for us, the righteousness of God-man ;
whose obedience and satisfaction is more than our disobedience, because
it is the disobedience of man only, but his obedience and righteousness isf
the obedience and righteousness of God-man. So it satisfieth divine justice,
and therefore ought to satisfy conscience to the full. Our faith must an-
swer Christ's carriage to us. We must therefore account ourselves in him
* undefiled,' because he accounts us so. Not in ourselves, but as we have a
being in him, we are undefiled.
Use 4. Again, see here, Christ accounts us, even in regard of habitual
grace, undefiled, though xve have for the present many corruptions. Let U3
therefore learn a lesson of moderation of so excellent a teacher ; let us not
be ashamed to learn of our Saviour. What spirit shall we think they have,
that will unchurch churches, because they have some defilement and un-
brotherly brethren, accounting them no churches, no brethren, because they
have some imperfections ? Why hath not Chi-ist a quarrel to the church
then ? is he blind ? doth his love make him blind ? No ; he seeth corrup-
tion, but he seeth better things ; somewhat of his own, that makes him
overlook those imperfections, because they are such as he means to mortify,
subdue, wear away, and to fire out by the power of his Spirit, which as fire
shall waste all those corruptions in time. So it is with the church. Put
the case, she hath some corruptions ; that it be not with her, as it should
be, yet she is a church notwithstanding. The church of Corinth, we see,
Paul styles them saints and brethren, with all those sweet names, 1 Cor. i. 2,
notwithstanding they had many coiTuptions among them.
Use 5. We have a company of malignant spirits, worse than these a
great deal, atheistical persons, that have no religion at all, v/ho, out of
malice and envy, ivatchfor the halting of good Christians; who can see no-
thing but defilement in those that have any good in them, nothing but
hypocrisy, moppishness, all that is naught ; who, if they can de^dse any
blemish, put it upon them. Whereas Christ sees a great deal of ill in the
church, but he sees it to pardon, subdue, and to pity the church for it, ex-
tolling and magnifying its goodness. What spirits are those of that watch
to see imperfections in others, that their hearts tell them are better than
they, that they may only disgrace them by it ; for goodness they will see none.
Use 6. And likewise, it should teach us not to ivrong ourselves uith false
judgment. We should have a double eye : one eye to see that which is
amiss in us, our o^fm imperfections, thereby to carry ourselves in a per-
petual humility ; but another eye of faith, to see what we have in Christ,
our perfection in him, so to account of ourselves, and glory in this our best
being, that in him we have a glorious being, — such an one whereby God
esteems us perfect, and undefiled in him only. The one of which sights
should enforce us to the other, which is one end, why God in this world
loaves corruption in his children. Oh, since I am thus undefiled, shall
86 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON VII.
I rest in myself? Is there any harbour for me to rest in mine own
righteousness ? Oh, no ; it drives a man out of all harbour. Nay, I will
rest in that righteousness which God hath wrought by Christ, who is God-
man. That win endure the sight of God, being clothed with which, I can
endure the presence of God. So, this sight of our own unworthiness and
wants should not be a ground of discouragement, but a ground to drive us
perfectly out of ourselves, that by faith we might renew om- title to that
righteousness, wherein is our especial glory. Why should we not judge of
ourselves as Christ doth ? Can we see more in ourselves than he doth ?
Yet, notwithstanding all he sees, he accounts us as undefiled.
Use 7. Again, since he accoimts us undefiled, because he means to make
us so, and now looks on us as we shall be, in all our foils* and infii-mities,
let us comfort ourselves, it shall not thus he always with tis. Oh, this flesh
of mine shall fall and fall still, and shall decay as Saul's house, and the
Spirit at the last shall conquer in all this ! I am not chosen to this begin-
ning, to this conflicting course of life. I am chosen to triumph, to perfec-
tion of grace : this is my comfort. Thus we should comfort ourselves,
and set upon our enemies and conflict in this hope of victory : ' I shall
get the better of myself at the last.' Imperfection should not discourage,
but comfort us in this world. "We are chosen to perfection. Let us still
rejoice, in that ' we are chosen to sanctification,' which is a little begun,
being an earnest of other blessings. Let us not rest in the pledge or in
the earnest, but labour for a further pledge of more strength and grace.
For those that have the Spirit of Christ, will strive to be as much unspotted
and as heavenly as they can, to fit themselves for that heavenly condition
as much as may be. When, because they cannot be in heaven, yet they
will converse there as much as they can ; and because they cannot be with
such company altogether, they will be as much as they may be ; labouring
as they are able to be that which they shall be hereafter. Imperfection
contents them not, and therefore they pray still in the Lord's prayer, ' Thy
kingdom come,' Mat. vi. 10. While there is any imperfection, their hearts are
enlarged more and more ; nothing contents them but perfection. And indeed
God accounts us thus unspotted for this end, because he would encourage us.
Where he sees the will and endeavom*, he gives the title of the thing desired.
/ ]iave put off my coat ; how shall I put it on ? I have washed my feet ;
how shall I defile them ? Verse 3.
Here is an ingenious f confession made by the church of her own unto-
wardness. Notwithstanding all Christ's heavenly rhetoric and persuasion
that he did use, yet she di'aws back, and seems to have reason so to do.
' I have put off" my coat ; how shall I put it on again ' to let thee in ? 'I
have washed my feet, &c. It is a phrase taken from the custom of those
hot countries, wherein they used to wash their feet. * I have washed
my feet ; how shall I defile them ' to rise and open the door to thee ?
There is a sphitual meaning herein, as if she had said, I have some
ease by this sleepy profession, some freedom from evil tongues, and some
exemption and immunity from some troubles I was in before. I was
then, perhaps, too indiscreet. Now wilt thou call me again to those
troubles, that I have wisely avoided ? No ; ' I have put ofi" my coat ; how
shall I put it on ? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them ? ' I
afiect J this estate very well ; I am content to be as I am, without troubling
of myself. Thus the church puts ofi" Christ. This I take to be the mean-
ing of the words. That which is observable is this : that it is not an easy
* That is, ' falls.'— G. f That is, ' ingenuous.'— G, J That is, ' Hke.'— G.
Cant. V. 8.1 ' i have put off my coat.* 87
matter to hrinrf the soul and Christ tofjelher info near fellowship. "Wc see
lier.'^ how the church draws back ; for the flesh moves either not to yield at
all to duty, or to be cold, uncertain, and unsettled therein. The flesh
knows that a near communion with Christ cannot stand with favouring any
corruption, and therefore the flesh will do something, but not enough. It
will yield to something, but not to that that it should do, to that communion
and fellowship that we ought to have with Christ. To instance in some
particulars, as a rule and measure to somewhat of which we should be.
Obs. 1. A Christian life should he nothing hut a communion and intercourse
with Christ, a walking in the Spirit ; and to be spiritual, and to favour the
things of the Spirit altogether, he should study to adorn his profession
by a lively and cheerful performance of duty, Mat. v. IG, and bo exemplary
to others ; and should be in such a frame as he should * walk continually
in the comforts of the Holy Ghost ' undismayed and undaunted, ' and
abound in the fruits of the Spirit,' Acts ix. 20,' and do all the good he can
wheresoever he comes. He should ' keep himself unspotted of the world,'
James i. 27, go against the stream, and be continually in such a temper
as it should be the joy of his heart to be dissolved, and to be with Christ,
2 Tim. iv. 6. One might go on thus in a world of particulars, which
would be too long. If we could attain to this excellency, it were an happy
life, a heaven upon earth. This we should aim at. Will the flesh endure
this, think you ? No, it will not ; which you shall see more particularly
in this next observation, which is,
Obs. 2. That one tvay, whereby the unregenerate part in us hinders this
communion icith Christ, and the shining of a believer in a Christian course,
is hy false pretences, reasons, and excuses. 'I have washed my feet; I have
put oS" my coat,' &c.
The flesh never wants excuses and pretences (there was never any yet
came to hell, but they had some seeming pretence for their coming thither)
to shift and shuffle oS" duties. There was never yet any careless, sinful
course but it had the flesh to justify it with one reason or other ; and there-
fore it is good to understand the sophistical shifts* of the flesh, and pre-
tences and shows which it hath. And as it is good to know the truth of
God, and of Christ revealed in his word, so is it to know the falseness and
deceitfulness of our own hearts. They are both mysteries almost alike,
hard to be known. Labour we then more and more to know the falsehood
of our own disposition, and to know the truth of God. To give instance in
a few particulars. You see in the church the difficulty of her communion
with Christ comes from the idle pretences and excuses she hath. Every
one hath his several pretexts, as his state and condition is. We think we
should be losers if we give ourselves to that degree of goodness which
others do ; whereas God doth curse those blessings which men get with
neglect of duty to him. If we seek * first the kingdom of heaven, all other
things that are good for us shall be cast upon us,' Mat. vi. 33.
Obj. Thou shalt lose the favour of such a one ?
Ans. Never care for that favour thou canst not keep with God's favour.
The favour of man is a snare. Take heed of that favour that snares thee.
Thou losest their fovour and company, but thou gainest the favour of Christ,
and company of angels.
Obj. But they will rail on thee, and reproach thee with thy old sins ?
Ans. Care not, ' God will do thee good for that,' as David said when
Shimei cursed him, 2 Sam. xvi. 12.
♦ That 13, ' expedients.' — G.
88 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON VII.
Ohj. But I shall lose my pleasure ?
Ans. 0 ! but such pleasures end in death. They are but pleasures of sin
for a season, and thou shalt not lose by the change. ' The ways of wisdom
are pleasant ways,' Prov. iii. 17. One day religiously spent in keeping of a
good conscience, what a sweet farewell hath it ! Joy is in the habitation of
the righteous. It becomes the righteous to be joyful. However outwardly it
seems, yet there is a paradise within. Many such objections the flesh
makes. Some take scandal at the prosperity of the wicked, and affliction
of the saints, and from hence take occasion to rot in their dregs of sin.
But what saith Christ ? ' Happy is the man who is not offended in me,'
Mat. xi. 6. As for the prosperity of the wicked, envy them not. They
stand in slippery places, and flourish like a green bay tree, but presently
they vanish. Take no offence at them, nor at the cross. Look not at
this, but at the ensuing comfort. ' Blessed are they that suffer for right-
eousness sake,' 1 Pet. iii. 14. Bind such words to your head as your
crown. God reserves the best comforts to the worst times ; his people
never find it otherwise.
Ohj. Aj, but if I be thus precise, the times are so bad, I shall be alone.
Ans. Complain not of the times, when thou makest them worse. Thou
shouldst make the times better. The worse the times are, the better be
thou ; for this is thy glory, to be good in an evil generation. This was
Lot's glory, 2 Pet. ii. 7. Paul tells what ill times they were ; but, saith
he, ' our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for a Saviour,'
Phil. iii. 20. What brings destruction on God's people, but their joining
with the wicked ? When they joined with the children of men, then came
the flood. These and the like pretences keep men altogether from good-
ness, or else from such a measure as may bring honour to God and comfort
to themselves.
Or if men be great, why, this is not honourable to do thus, as you know
what Michal said to David, ' How glorious was the king of Israel this day !
like a fool,' &c., 2 Sam. vi. 20. To attend upon the word of God with
reverence, to make conscience of religion. Oh ! it stands not with greatness,
&c. But the Spirit of God answereth this in him, ' I will yet be more vUe
for God,' verse 22. It is a man's honour here to stand for God and for
good things ; and it is our honour that God will honour us so much.
Those likewise that are worldly have excuses also. 'Alas ! I must tend
my calling.' And they have Scripture for it too. ' He that provides not
for his famUy is worse than an infidel,' 1 Tim. v. 8, as if God had set up
any caUings to hinder the calling of Christianity ; as if that were not the
greatest calling, and the best part that will abide with us for ever ; as if it
were not the part of a Christian to redeem time from his caUing to the
duties of Christianity. I have no time, saith the worldling ; what will you
have me to do ? Why, what time had David, when he meditated on the
law of God day and night ? Ps. i. 2. He was a king. The king is bound
to study the Scriptures. And yet whose employment is greater than the
employment of the chief magistrate ? Deut. xvii. 18, 19.
And thus every one, as their state and condition is, they have several pre-
tences and excuses. Those that are young, their excuse is, we have time
enough for these things hereafter. Others, as those that were negligent to
build the second temple, ' the time is not yet, say they,' Hag. i. 2 ; whenas
the uncertainty of this life of ours, the weightiness of the business, the
danger of the custom of sin, the engaging of our hearts deeper and deeper
into the world, makes it a more difficult thing to be a Christian. It more
Cant. V. 8.] * i have put off srk' coat.' 89
and more darkens our understanding;, the more we sin ; and the more it
estrangeth our affections from good things, the more we have run out in an
evil course. Time is a special mercy ; but then thou hast not time only,
but the means, good company, and good motions. Thou mayest never
have such a gale again ; thy heart may be hardened through the deceitful -
ness of sin. Again, who would want the comfoiis of religion for the present ?
As Austin saith, ' I have wanted thy sweetness too long.' * What folly is
it to want the sweetness and comfort of religion, so long as we may have it.
Some others pretend, the uncomfortableness of religion, I shall want
my comforts ; whenas indeed there is no sound comfort without having our
hearts in a perfect communion with Christ, walking with God, and breaking
off from our evil courses. What is the reason of discomforts, unresolved-
ness, and unsettledness ? when we know not where we are, whither we go,
or what our condition is. Unsettledness breeds discomfort ; and indeed
there is no pleasure so much as the pleasure that the serving of God hath
with it. As the fire hath light and heat always in it, so there is no holy
action that we perform throughly, but as it hath an increase of strength,
so there is an increase of comfort and joy annexed to it. There is a pre-
sent reward annexed to all things that are spiritually good. They caiTy
with them present peace and joy. The conscience hath that present com-
fort which consumes all discom-agements whatsoever, as is always found in
the experience of that soul that hath won so much of itself, as to break
through discouragements to the practice of holy duties. Believers have a
joy and comfort ' that others know not of,' Rev. ii. 7 ; an hidden kind of
manna and contentment.
These and a thousand such like discouragements men frame to them-
Belves : ' My health will not serve,' ' I shall endanger my life.' ' There
is a Hon in the way,' saith the sluggard, Prov. xxvi. 13, who, with
his excuses, ' thinks himself wiser than the wisest in the city,' verse
16. There is none so wise as the sluggard, for belly-policy teach-
eth him a great many excuses, which he thinks will go for wisdom,
because by them he thinks to sleep in a whole skin. He is but a slug-
gard for all that ; and though he plead ' yet a little while,' poverty, not
only outward, but spiritual poverty and barrenness of soul, ' will come upon
him as an anned man,' Prov. vi. 11, and leave him destitute of grace and
comfort, when he shall see at last what an evil com-se of Ufe he hath led,
that he hath yielded so much to his lazy flesh to be drawn away by dis-
couragements from duties that he was convinced were agi'eeable to the word.
Now, what may be the grounds and causes of these false pretences and ex-
cuses which hinder us from holy duties ? There be many causes.
1. First of all, one cause of this in us is this: Naturally, so far as we
are not guided by a better spirit than our ovm, ire are inclined too much to
the earthly present things of this life, because they are present and pleasant,
and we are nuzled up f in them, and whatsoever pulls us from them is un-
welcome to us. This is one groimd.
2. Again, join with this, that naturally, since the fall, the soul of man
having lost wisdom to guide it to that which is truly good, hath wit enough
left to devise untoward shifts,l to excuse that u-hich is evil. In this fallen
estate the fonner abilities to devise things throughly good is turned to a
matter of untoward wit, joined with shifting. § ' God made man right, but
* ' Confessions,' Book X. [xxvii.], 38. ' Too lato loved I tliee, 0 thou beauty of
ancient days, yet ever new ! too late 1 loved thee.' — G. f That is, ' nestled.' — G
X That is, ' cxiicdiciits." — G. 2 That is, ' cxpedicccy.' — G..
9.0 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON VIU
he hath sought out many inventions,' Eccles. vii. 29. Carnal wit serves
carnal will very well ; and carnal lusts never want an advocate to plead for
them, namely, carnal reason. From the bent, therefore, of the soul to ill
things, pleasure, ease, and honour, such a condition as pleaseth the out-
ward man since the fall, the bent and weight of the soul goeth this way, to-
gether with wit. Having lost the image of God in holy wisdom, there is
shifting. This is a ground also why delays are joined with shifts.
3. Again, there is another ground, that corrupt nature, in this like the
devil and sin, which never appear in their own colours, sets a man on this
way. Who would not hate the devil if he should appear in his own like-
ness ? or sin, if it should appear in his own colours ? And therefore wit
stretcheth itself to find out shifts. For, says the heart, unless there be
some shifts and pretences to cover my shame, I shall be known to be what
I am indeed, which I would be loth were done. I would have the sweet
but not the shame of sin, the credit of religion, but not put myself to the
cost which Cometh with true religion, to deny myself. Corrupt courses
never appear in their own colours. They are like the devil for this.
4. And then, again, naturally there is a great deal of hypocrisy in us.
We may do duties to satisfy conscience, for somewhat must be done, to
hear now and then, read and come to prayer betwixt sleeping and waking,
yawning prayers, when we can do nothing else. Somewhat must be done.
Conscience else will cry out of us that we are atheists, and shall be damned.
Some slubbering service must be done therefore. Yet notwithstanding,
herein is our hA'pocrisy, that we cannot bring our hearts to do it, as it
should be done, to purpose ; for though it be true that there is much im-
perfection in the best actions, the best performances, yet this is hypocrisy
when men do not do it as God may accept it, and as it may yield them-
selves comfort. The heart draws back. Duties it will and must do, but
yet will not do them as it shall have comfort by them. This is inbred in
the heart naturally. Conscience forceth to do something, though the flesh
and corruption pulls back. This is the disposition of all men, till they have
got the victory of their own atheistical hearts.
5. And then, again, another ground may be this, a false conceit of God
and of Christ, that they will take anything at our hands. Because we love
ourselves, and think that we do very well, we think that God is such a one
as we are, as it is, ' Thou thoughtest that I was like unto thee,' &c., Ps. 1. 21,
that God will be put off with anything, and any excuse will serve the turn.
You have not a swearer, a filthy, careless person, but he thinks God is
merciful, and Christ died for sinners ; and I was provoked to it, &c. StiU
he thinks to have some excuse for it, and that they will stand good with
God. This atheism is in us naturally, and when we are palpably to blame
in the judgment of others and ourselves in our sober wits, yet we put more
ignorance and carelessness on God than on ourselves. ' Tush, God re-
gards it not.' It is the times. I would be better. It is company whom
I must yield unto, &c. They think God will accept these things from them.
6. But one main ground thereof is, the scandals that we meet withal in the
tcorld, which, indeed, is a ground, because our own false hearts are willing to
catch at anything. You see, say they, these men that make profession of re-
ligion, what they are ; and then the devil will thrust some hypocrisy * into the
profession of religion, and they judge all by one or two, and will be sure to
do it. Therein stands their ingenuity; and if they can see any infirmity in
them that are incomparably better than themselves, Oh, they are safe.
* Qu. ' hypocrite ?' — G.
Cant. V. 3. J * i have put off my coat.' 91
Here is warrant enough to dislike religion and all good courses, because
some do and so,* as if the course of rehgion were the worse for that. Thus
they wrap themselves in those excuses, as men do their hands to defend
them from pricks. This is the vile poison of our hearts, that will bo naught,
and yet, notwithstanding, ^vill have reason to bo so. The speech is, wicked-
ness never wanted pretexts, which, as it is true of great wickedness, much
more is it of that which goes in the world for drowsy lukewarm profession,
imder which many sink to hell before they are aware. They never want
reason and pretexts to cover their sin. There is a mint and forge of them
in the soul. It can coin them suddenly. Thus we see our wits do servo
us excellently well to lay blocks in our own way to hinder us from heaven.
We are dunces, and dull to do anything that is spiritually good, whereof we
are incapable. But if it be to lay blocks in our own way to heaven, to
quarrel with God and his ordinances, with the doctrine of salvation, with
the instruments, teachers, and those that lead us a better way, that our wit
will serve for. But to take a course to do us good another day, to lay up
comforts in which we might end and close up our days, there we arc backward,
and have shift upon shift. This is added for the further explication of it,
because of the necessity of the point ; for except our hearts be discovered to
us, we shall never know what religion means, save to know so much as may,
through the winding, turning, shifting, and falsehood of our own nature,
bring us to hell. Wherein we are worse enemies to ourselves than the
devil is, who could not hurt us unless we did betray ourselves. But he
hath factors in us to deal for him. Our own carnal wit and aftection, they
hold correspondency with him ; whence all the mischief that he doth us is
by that intercom'se that our nature hath with Satan. That is the Delilah
which betrayeth all the Sampsons, sound worthy Christians in the world,
to their spiritual enemies. Therefore, we can never be sufficiently in-
structed what a vile natm-e we have, so opposite to religion, as far as it
is saving. Corrupt nature doth not oppose it so far as it is slubbered
over, but so far as may bring us to that state we should be in. We have
no worse enemies than our own hearts. Therefore, let us watch ourselves
continually, and use all blessed means appointed of God whereby we may
escape out of this dangerous, sleepy disposition of soul, which cost the
church so dear, as we shall hear, God willing, hereafter.
THE EIGHTH SERMON.
I have put off my coat ; how shall I put it on ? I have ivashed my feet ; hate
shall I defile them? — Cant. V. 3.
We are now, by God's assistance, to speak of the remedies ayainst the lazy
distempers xve are prone unto in spiritual things; where we left off the last day.
Quest. What course should we take, then, to come forth from this dis-
tempered laziness ? That we may attain a spiritual taste and relish of
heavenly things, so as not to loathe religious exercises ; or delay and put
them off with excuses ?
Ans. 1. First of all, resolve not to consult ivith flesh and blood in anythiny.
For it always counsels us for ease, as Peter counselled Christ, ' Master,
pity thyself,' Mat. xvi. 22. So wo have a nature in us like unto Peter,
* Qu. ' so and so '?' — Ed.
92 BOWELS OPENED. [SeK. ON VUE.
Spare, favour, pity thyseK. Like Eve, and Job's wife, we have a corrupt
nature tliat is always soliciting from* God, and drawing us unto vanity,
Gen. iii. 6 and Job ii. 10. Take beed of counselling witb flesh and blood;
for if men were in a city environed round about with enemies, would they
consult with them what they should do for defence of the city ? Were it not
a mad part ? And is it not a greater madness when Christians will consult
with flesh and blood what they should do in duties of obedience, which wiU
always put us upon terms of ease, the favour of men, content, and the like,
which, if a man yield to, he shall never enter into heaven ? Take heed
therefore of consulting with our enemy, seeing Satan hath all the corres-
pondency he hath by that enemy which we harbour in our bosom. In
which case the hurt he doth us by his sophistry comes by ourselves. We
betray ourselves by our carnal reason, whereby Satan mingleth himself
with our imaginations and conceits. Let us therefore beware we listen
not to the counsel of flesh and blood, especially when the matter comes to
suffering once, for there of all other things flesh and blood doth draw back.
Every one hath a Peter in himself that saith, ' Spare thyself.' Thou art
indiscreet to venture thyself upon this and that hazard. But where the
judgment is convinced of the goodness of the cause, whether it be religion
or justice (for the first or for the second table, that matters not), if the
judgment be convinced of the thing, then consult not with flesh and blood,
whatsoever the suffering be. It is not necessary that we should Uve in
riches, honours, pleasures, and estimation with the world. But it is
necessary we should live honest men and good Christians. Therefore,
when flesh and blood objecteth in this kind, consult not with it. First,
because it is an enemy, and therefore is to be suspected and neglected ;
secondly, because it is said, ' flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom
of heaven,' 1 Cor. xv. 50.
2. And therefore we should practise that first lesson in religion, heavenly
uisdom. To aid us wherein, Christ, knowing what an enemy we are to
ourselves in the ways of God, saith, ' Let a man deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow me,' Mat. xvi. 24. There is no following of
Christ, considering that our flesh is so fall of cavils and excuses, unless we
practise that heavenly lesson of Christ, * to deny ourselves,' our whole self,
our wit and reason, in the matters of God : our will and affections. Say
nay to all the sluggishness of the flesh ; silence aU presently, as soon as
ever they discourage thee from holy ways. Consider whence they come,
which is enough ; from God's and our enemy, and the worst enemy we
have, that lieth in our own bosom. And to enable us the better, mark
what Paul saith, ' We are no more debtors to the flesh,' &c., Rom. viii. 12.
We owe nothing to it. I owe not such obedience, such subjection, to the
flesh and carnal reason ; I have renounced it long since. What ! am I ob-
noxious to a man unto whom I owe no service? We owe the flesh no ser-
vice or obedience. What! shall we yield to that which we have long since
renounced ?
3. And withal, in spiritual courses, let us arm ourselves with resolution.
First, conclude is it so or not so. Let our judgments be convinced. For
resolution is a disposition arising from the will immediately ; but it is of
the will, by sound judgment, convinced of the goodness of the thing, after
which the will resolves. Get resolution from soundness of conviction that
such things are good, and that they are best for us, and best for us at this
time, the sooner the better ; that there is an absolute necessity to have
* That is, ' away from." — G,
Cant. V. 3.] * i have put off my coat.' 98
them, and that they are everlastingly good. Oh ! these considerations will
put us on amain to obtain the same. It is our duty, and we shall sin
against God, against our conscience, against the Spirit of God, and against
others that take like liberty by our examples, if we yield to our base lusts
and suggestions in this kind.
And to help resolution the more, let us have before our eyes the ex-
amples of God's worthies, who (like unto David's worthies, who brake
through the host of the Philistines for water, 2 Sam. xxiii. 16) have in all
ages broken through all discouragements, and made a conscience more to
please God, to hold communion and fellowship with Christ, than to hold
any correspondency with the world. Look to blessed Paul, ' What do ye
vexing of me and breaking my heart ? I am ready not only to go to Jeru-
salem, but to die for Christ's sake,' Acts xxi. 13. And look to Christ how
he shakes off Peter, * Get thee behind me, Satan,' &c.. Mat. xvi. 23. Look
to Moses, how he shook off all the solicitations of a court, ' Because he had
an eye to the recompcnce of the reward,' Heb. xi. 16. Look to Joshua,
' I and mine house will serve the Lord,' Josh. xxiv. 15. Let others of the
world do what they will ; if others will go to the devil, let them ; for myself,
I and my house, those that I have charge of, will serve the Lord. This
was a noble resolution which was in good Nehemiah, ' Shall such a man as
I flee?' Neh. vi. 11. What! shall I flee? shall I do this, yield to this
base discouragement ? shall I discourage others, like those spies of Canaan,
by mine example ? Hence it is that Hebrews 11th, in that notable chapter,
that little ' book of martyrs,' after the catalogue of those worthies set down
there, that which we are exhorted and pointed to in the beginning of the
next chapter, is unto the practice of the like virtues, in imitation, having
before us ' such a cloud of witnesses,' wherewith being compassed, the ex-
hortation is, ' Let us therefore shake off everything that presseth do^vTi,
and the sin that hangeth so fast on,' &c., Heb. xii. 1 (t). As the cloud
was a guide to them to Canaan out of Egypt, so the cloud of good examples
is as it were a light to go before us to the heavenly Canaan.
In this case above all, let us look to Christ, ' who is the author and
finisher of our faith,' Heb. xii. 2. This will make us break through dis-
couragements and resolve indeed. What could hinder him ? His love is
so fiery, that nothing could hinder him to come from heaven to the womb
of the virgin ; from thence to the cross, and so to the grave, to be abased
lower than ever any creature was. His love to us so carried him through
all discouragements and disgi'aces. ' Consider him, who endured such
speaking against of sinners,' Heb. xii. 3. The consideration of Christ's love
and example will carry us through all discom-agements whatsoever.
4. And further, let us be able by sound reasons to justify the imys of God,
and to answer cavils ; to yive account of what ire do to ourselves and others,
with reasons why we sanctify the Sabbath, have such communion with God
in prayer, neglect the fashions of the world, &c. To have reasons ready
from Scripture is an excellent thing ; when we are able to justify whatso-
ever we do by the word, against all the quarrels of our own hearts and
others. When we are led to do things only by the example of others, or
by respects, then we are ofttimcs put to it on the sudden by temptations,
being not able to justify what we do. Let us labour therefore to do things
upon good groimds, and be able to justify all the ways of religion, as they
are easily justified. For nothing in this world stands with so much reason,
as exactness in the ways of God. There is so much reason for nothing in
the world, as to be not only Christians, but exact Christians, as Paul saith
"94 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON VIII.
to Agrippa, * Would to God you were not almost, but altogether as I am,
saving these bonds,' Acts xxvi. 29, to make conscience of all ways and
courses. It stands with the most reason of the world, so to justify religion
by reasons unanswerable, that may set down corrupt nature, and stop the
mouth of the devil himself. And herein let us propound sound and strong
questions to ourselves often. Are those things that I am moved to do good,
or are they not ? If they be good, why do I not do them ? If they be bad,
why do I do them at all ? If they be good, why do I stick at them ?
How do I prove them to be good ? Have alway ready some Scripture, or
reason from thence, which is as good. The reasons of the word are most
divinely strong, let them be ready against all objections whatsoever, as
against slight oaths, think of that of Christ, that we must give an account for
all idle words, Mat. xii. 36. How much more for atheistical oaths ! So
against gi'osser sins learn reason, a civil man, an heathen, would not do thus.
So also when the flesh moveth us to any backwardness in religious courses,
let us have some Scripture ready, or reasons deducted from it. As, 1.
From the dignity of our jyrofession, from the great hojoes ice hare to be glonous
another day. And reason the matter. How doth this that I am moved to,
suit with my hopes and expectation to come? How furthers it my journey
homewards ? And consider this likewise. 2. That no excuse tcill serve the
turn at the day of judgment, but such an one as arisethfrom an invincible
infirmity, or an unremovable impediment. Such an excuse, taken from an
invincible infirmity, may then serve the turn. As, when we cannot possibly
do a thing, fi.-om impediments that all the means in the world cannot
remove, as, a poor man cannot be liberal, &c. Excuses also, fetched
from impossible impediments, as fi'om invincible weakness, may avail. If
a man have an infirm body, that he cannot do that which another man can.
These excuses, with a gracious God, will serve the turn : which are not so
much excuses, as a just plea. But otherwise, our untoward excuses will
not serve the turn. What hindered them in the gospel who were invited
to the supper ? Luke xiv. Excuses from oxen, wives, &c. Was it not
lawful to buy oxen ? and was it not lawful for the married to take content
in a wife ? ' Another had married a wife.' Were not all these things
lawful ? Very lawful. The farm hurts not, if it hinder not, nor the wife,
oxen, nor anything. But in this case, when we regard these things more
than the invitation to come to the feast of holy things, here is the malice of
the devil, which brings that doleful message, ' They shall never taste of my
feast,' Luke xiv. 24. There is such an infinite disproportion between the
good of religion, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost here, and
heaven and happiness hereafter, and between anything in this world, that
to allege any hindrance whereby we cannot keep a good conscience, and
preserve assurance of salvation, is most extreme folly and atheism. I believe
not a better life, the disproportion being so great between the state of this
life and a better, if I fetch excuses from the things of this life, to keep me
from religion, the fear of God, and working out my salvation with fear and
trembling. These excuses will not serve the turn. Not only with God at
the day of judgment, but also our own consciences will tell us, that we are
hypocrites to make such or such a plea. Therefore, when men become
false, thereby to provide for wife or children, and take corrupt courses to
keep them from religion, with pretext of their callings, lest they should lose
one day in seven, this employment cannot prosper, which slights over
duties under false pretences. Oh, they can toil for the pelf of the world !
But for matters of their souls, they turn off all shamefully, as if there were
Cant. V. 3.J * i have put off my coat.' 95
not a God to judge them, a heaven to reward them, or a hell to punish
them. Will such excuses sei-ve the turn ? Oh, no ; they cannot with
conscience, much less with God the Judge, who is greater than our con-
science. This is another way to cut off these idle cavils, to consider that
these excuses cannot serve the turn, neither to comfort conscience in this
world, nor to uphold us in oui" plea at the day of judgment. Remember
that.
5. And then again, Let ks inure ourselves to hear the yoke of reUgion from
our youth, which will make it easy aftei-wards. It were an excellent thing
if those who are young, in the prime of their years, would inure themselves
to the exercise of religion. This would make it easy unto them, to read
the word of God, to open their spirits unto him in prayer. It may please
God hereby (though they be negligent herein), yet they may be called to
religion. But for an old man there is much work to do to read, to get
anything into his brain, when his memory is pestered with other things,
and corrupt nature in him is armed with a world of excuses, that might
have been prevented by a timely and seasonable training up in a course of
religion. Profane young persons know not what they do when they put oflP
religion. Have they excuses now ? They wiU have many more hereafter,
when Satan and corruption will be much stronger. 0 ! let them bear the
yoke of reUgion, that is, inure themselves to duties that become Christians,
which may facilitate and make it easy and pHable, that it may not be harsh
to our natui-e. If a man do not hear, pray, and read, he can never have
faith, grace, knowledge, mortification of corruption, wherein religion stands.
But because these lead to duties that are hard to nature, and harsh, it is
wisdom to inure young ones thereto betimes, that, having used themselves
to these preparing duties, they may be the more fitted for the essential ones ;
that, having things in the brain by reading and hearing, grace may be
wrought in the heart, it being a more easy passage from the brain to the
heart. When a man is converted, it is an easy matter to bring it from the
brain unto the heart ; whereas a man that hath been negligent in his youth
must then be instructed in the principles of religion. Therefore, it is a
miserable case (though men be never so politic in the world) to have been
negUgent herein till age. It breeds a great deal of diificulty to them, ero
they can come to be in such a state as a Christian should be in. Remem-
ber this, therefore, to do as Paul adviseth Timothy, a young man, ' to
exercise himself in godliness,' 1 Tim. iv. 7. It is a good thing for all that
are young to exercise themselves to all duties of religion, or else pretences
will grow up with age, whereby they will be indisposed every day more than
other. Experience shews it generally. We may believe it. If we will
not, we shall fixid it hereafter too true by woful experience.
6. And then again, by little and little, not only to be inured to the yoke
of rehgion, but likewise to endure difficulties, opposition, and hardship; as
the apostle stands upon it to Timothy, * to endure hardship and afflictions
from the beginning,' 2 Tim. ii. 3, If the thing be good and warrantable,
neglect the speeches of the world. What are the speeches of a company
of men in the state of nature, in their miserable condition, to regard them,
so as not to endure hardship in such things, of the goodness whereof we
are convinced ? But in these days men take up a delicate profession of
reUgion. Men will be religious, but they will suffer nothing, not a taunt
or a scoff. They will part with nothing ; be at no loss ; suffer no cross ;
be at no pains with religion further than may stand with all earthly content
of this v,-orld. This delicate profession, if anything among us, threateneth
96 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEP/ION YIII,
the removing of the gospel and blessed truths we enjoy, because we will not
part with any pleasure now. How will they suffer afflictions for the gos-
pel, if such times come, that will not part with a vain oath, a corrupt
fashion of life, a superfluity, that will not part with a rotten unsavoury
discourse, which discovereth a rotten spirit, and infecteth others ? Here
is a profession of religion, indeed, that cannot have so much mastery of the
corrupt heart as to deny and overcome itself in things that are grossly ill !
How will a man part with his blood and life, that will not part with things
that he should part withal ? not only with something to the poor and to
good uses, but to part with some sinful course of life, and wicked and un-
godly lusts that fight against the soul ; who will not endm'e not so much
as a check ; who, rather than they will go under that censure wherewith
the world is pleased to disgrace religion, they will live and die like atheists.
This extreme tenderness in the matters of God and of salvation is the cause
why many eternally perish.
7. Again, to cut off all vain excuses, let us oft have in thought of our heart
what ice should he, and ivhat we should all aim at, and how far we come all
short of it. A Christian that hopes of good of his religion should live by
faith, and depend upon God in the use of lawful means. If he be as he
should be, he ought to walk with God, keep his watch with him, and do
nothing unbeseeming the eye of God. When his corruption draws him to
be careless, then he is not as he should be ; for in a right temper, he ought
to be fitted to every good work, ready for all opportunities of doing any-
thing that is good, because the time of this life is the seedtime, the time of
doing good. The time of reaping is in the world to come. AVhen, there-
fore, the heart is shut, when any opportunity is offered of doing good, he
may conclude certainly, I am cold and dull ; pretend what I will, I am not
as I should be. A Christian ought to ' abound in the work of the Lord,'
1 Cor. XV. 58, especially having such abundance of encouragements as we
have. What a world of encouragements hath a Christian ! There are none
to * those of religion, from the inward content that it brings here, at the hour
of death, and in glory hereafter. When we are drawn to be scanty, nig-
gardly, and base to things that are good, surely this is not as it should be.
Pretend what we will to the contrary, this is a fault. A Christian should
at all times be fit to yield and to lender up his soul unto God, because our
life is uncertain. WTien, therefore, we are moved by corruption to live in
a state that we cannot abide to die in, because we are under the guilt of
some sin, then certainly, pretend what we will, our state is so far naught,
as far as there is unfitness and unwillingness to die. Let us have in the
eye of our soul, therefore, what a Christian should be, aim at it, and think
that when we stop at a lower measure and pitch, that, pretend what we
will, all is but from carnal wit and policy, the greatest enemy that religion
hath.
We pray in the Lord's Prayer, ' Thy kingdom come ; thy will be done in
earth, as it is done in heaven : ' great desires, and which should be the
desires of all our hearts. But herein we play the hypocrites. Whilst we
pray thus, that the kingdom of God may come, that Christ may rule in our
hearts over lusts and desires ; yet notwithstanding, we pretend this and
that excuse, whereby we may be led with this and that lust. We cross
our own prayers. Yet it sheweth what pitch we should aspire to, ' To
sanctify the Lord in our hearts,' to delight in him, and trust in him above
all. AVhen we do not this, we fall short of our own prayers. And when
* That is, ' there are no encouragements compared with.' — Ed.
Cant. V. 3.] * i have put off my coat.' 97
we cannot bring our hearts to suffer, and to do what God would have us to
do, but are led away with our own wills, we arc not as we should be. Our
wills should be confoi'mable to Christ's in all things. It is our prayer, and
therefore we should aim at it. Now, when flesh and blood sets up a pitch
of religion, I am well enough ; and yet prays, ' Hallowed be thy name ;
thy kingdom come ; th}'^ will be done,' &c., — such a man is an hypocrite.
For his prayer leads him further and further still, till he come to heaven,
where is all perfection ; until when, our life is a life of endeavour and
progress. Though we be never so perfect, yet Christ may more rule and
set up his kingdom yet more in the heart, and further bring our will to his
in all things. When flesh and blood sets up cavils against this, we play the
hypocrites with God, and cross ourselves. Therefore, let us justify a
measure of religion beyond our present pitch, whatsoever it is ; justify it
more and more stiU. Think, we are never as we should be till we be in
heaven ; and never bless ourselves, but think that we should always be on
the growing hand ; and whatsoever excuse comes to hinder us from zeal-
ousness and earnestness, though it carry a show of reason in the profession
of religion, account it to come from our corrupt hearts.
8. Again, remember to do all things to God and not to man, in our callings
both of religion and in our particular callings ; and then whatsoever dis-
couragement there is from men, we should not be discouraged. We shall
hear men continually complain of others, that they are unthankful persons ;
and why should we do anything for them ? Why ! do it to God. K it fall
within our callings, let us do justice and shew mercy. God will accept,
though men do not. It cuts off many discouragements in duties. It is
best to have God's reward. In this world it is good to meet with naughty
unthankful persons, because else we should meet with all our reward here.
It is good to do somewhat for God's sake, and for religion, let people be as
unthankful as they will ; to say, I did it not to you, but to God. If a man
regard the discouragement of the world, he shall never do that which is
good, people in the world are so unthankful and regardless to those that
wish them best, and that do best to them. But if a man do a thing to
God, and do it out of duty and conscience, he may hold on ; have he never
so many discouragements in the world, he shall lose nothing. All shall
be rewarded, and is regarded.
9. Likewise, be sure to carry this in mind, that sin is the greatest evil,
and grace and goodness the best thing in the world. Therefore, there is no
excuse for sin, from anything in the world, for it is the worst thing in the
world, which stains the soul, and hinders it from comfort. And for grace
and goodness in the inward man, it is the best thing in the world. There-
fore, purchase this, though with disadvantage. It is best to avoid sin,
though with enduring evil ; yea, to avoid the least sin, by enduring the
greatest evil. It is wisdom to do good with disadvantage, when the disad-
vantage is bounded only in this life, the thing that I do being a thing
which furthers my reckoning at the day of account. Therefore, have this
alway in consideration, whatsoever I suffer in this world, I will not sin.
This will cut off a world of excuses.
Therefore, let us labom- to cut off all cavils, and to ' arm ourselves.' It
is the apostle Peter's exhortation, 1 Pet. iv. 1. As David's worthies brake
through the pikes to fetch him water from the well of Bethlehem, 2 Sam.
xxiii. 16, so all Christian worthies that look to be crowned, let them be
armed inwardly with resolution for good things, take up resolutions that
they will do it. As Paul tells his scholar Timothy of his purpose, ' Thou
VOL. II. Q
98 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON VIIl.
knowest my purpose, and manner of living,' 2 Tim. iii. 10. This is the
manner of a Christian life : that this, I will not break for all the world.
So, there is a purpose of living honestly a manner of life, not by starts,
now and then to speak a word, and to do a good deed ; but there is a
a purpose and a manner of life for it. He resolves always for the best
things.
And to this end beg of God his Spirit, which is above all impediments.
The more Spirit, the more strength and courage against impediments. The
more we attend upon holy means, the more spiritual and heavenly light and
life is set up in the soul. The more spiritual we are, the more we shall
tread under foot all those things that stand between us and heaven. Let
us therefore labour more and more for the Spirit, and then we shall oifer
an holy violence unto good things ; as it was said of John Baptist's time,
' The kingdom of God suffered violence,' Mat. xi. 12. Men were so eager
of it, as that they surprised it as a castle, by violence. There is no way
to take heaven but by offering violence to discouragement, corruption, and
whatsoever stands in the way. The violent only takes heaven by force.*
Now when we are spiritual, we shall not pretend, that ' there is a lion in
the way,' that there are difficulties, as the sluggard doth, that thinks him-
self wiser than many men who can render a reason. But we shall go boldly
and courageously on ; and know that there are more encouragements for
good, and stronger, than the world hath allurements to be naught, which
are but for the present life ; hut we have inward ones, which will hold out
in the hour of death and after. Therefore, go on boldly and resolutely in
good things, always remembering to beg the Spirit of God, that may arm
our spirits with invincible courage.
Now the Spirit of God brings faith with it, which is a conquering, victo-
rious grace over the world, and ' sees him that is in\isible,' Heb. xi. 27 ;
which brings love also, 'which is strong as death,' Cant. "sdii. 6 : wherewith
the soul being warmed, it constraineth us to do duties in spite of all impe-
diments. The Spirit of God will strengthen our hope also of heaven, which
strengthens us against all discom-agements which stand in our way. For
this hope is on greater and better gi'ounds than discouragements are ; and
he that giveth us this hope, will enable us to possess it.
Therefore labour first, to have a dear understanding of the things of God,
and of the excellency of them ; for light will cause heat Why did the king-
dom of heaven in John Baptist's time, ' suffer violence ?' Why were men then
so violent to cleave unto Christ ? Because from that time the gospel was
more clearly manifested. And heavenly truths, the more they are discovered
and laid open (there is such an excellency in them), the more they work
upon the heart and affections. Therefore, 'the kingdom of heaven suffered
■violence.' And where are people more earnest after good things, than in
these places where the evangelical truths of God are laid open most ? There
they break through all discouragements whatsoever.
And so, labour for faith to believe those truths: which is the most victorious
and conquering grace, that will carry us through all discouragements what-
soever ; because it will set greater things before us, than the discourage-
ments are. Are we afraid of men ? Faith, it sets hell before us. Are we
allured by the world ? It sets heaven before us. It conquers the world,
with all the discouraging temptations thereof. Ai'e the discouragements
* This recalls the little hook of Thomas Watson's, called ' Heaven taken by
Storm,' memorable as having been the occasion of the conversion of the celebrated
Colonel Gardiner, whose life by Doddridge is one of o^ar Christian classics. — G
Cant. V. 3.] * i have put off my coat.' 99
£i-om impossibilities ? 0, it is liarcl, I cannot do it. Aye, but, saitli Paul,
' I am able to do all things through Christ that strengthens me,' Phil. iv. 13.
There is a kind of omnipotency in faith, ' 0 woman, be it unto thee as thou
wilt,' Mark xv. 28. Wo have abundance of strength in Christ. Faith is
but an empty hand, that goes to Christ to draw from him what it hath need
of; 'In Christ I can do all things.'
So, to have our hearts warmed with love to him. This grace of the Spirit
will make us pass through all discouragements, for it hath a constraining
power. ' The love of Clu-ist constrains us,' saith the apostle, 2 Cor. v. 14.
If our hearts once be warmed with the love of Christ, this will make us
to think nothing too dear for Christ, and will cut off all excuses and pretences
whatsoever, which come fi'om coldness of affection. ' Love is strong as
death,' as we have it in this book, ' much water cannot quench it,' Cant,
viii. 6. All oppositions and discouragements whatsoever, all the water
which the devil and the world hath or useth, cannot quench the heavenly
fire of love, when it is kindled in any measure. What carried the blessed
saints and martyrs of God in aU times through the pikes of all discourage-
ments ? The Spirit of God, by the spirit of love, from a spirit of faith,
and heavenly conviction of the excellency and truth of the things. They
saw such a light, which wrought upon their affections, and carried them
amain against the stream (contrary to the stream of the times wherein they
lived), that the worse the times were, the better they were.
10. And let us consider again, that Christ xdllnot he always thus alluring
its ; that we shall not always have these encouragements, such truths and
motions of God's Spirit, as perhaps we feel now. Therefore, when we feel
any good motion stirred up toward Christ, entertain it presently. Happily
we shall never hear of it again. The longer we defer and put it off, the
worse. As a man that is rowing in a boat, let him neglect his stroke, the
neglecting of one may make him tug at it five or six times after to oveiiake
those that are before him. So nothing is gotten by sloth and negligence.
We do but cast ourselves back the more.
11. And let us help om'selves icith setting the glory to come before our eyes,
with Moses to have a patriarch's eye to him ' that is invisible,' to see * a
country afar off,' Heb. xi. 27. Now, ' we are nearer salvation than when
we believed.' Let us help our backward souls this way : that so, having
still gloiy in om* eyes, it may help us to go through all discouragements,
whatsoever they be. We know Zaccheus, when he was afi'aid that he should
not see Christ, went before the multitude ; and getting up upon the top of
a tree, thus helps himself. So doth grace help itself by glory. And so far
is gi-ace fi-om objecting and pretending lets,* as it makes supplies in God's
service ; as David, who in this case was pleased to be accounted vile, 2 Sam.
vi. 22. Let us look unto the recompence of the reward; not to the present
discouragements, but to the prize at the end of the race. "WTiat makes a
soldier to fight hard for the \'ictory in the end ? The sweetness of the tri-
umph. What makes a husbandman go through all discouragements ? He
hopes to receive a crop in the end. Consider the issue which foUoweth
after a conscionable, careful, and Christian life, after a more near and per-
fect vralking with God, maintaining communion with him. Let there be
what discom-agements there will be in the world, ' the end thereof is peace.'
' The end of that man is peace,' Ps. xxxvii. 37. Upon this gi'ound, the
apostle exhorts us, ' to be ii-uitful and abundant in the work of the Lord ;
knowing that your laboiu' is not in vain in the Lord,' 1 Cor. xv. 58.
* That is, ' hindrances.'--- G.
100 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON IX.
THE NINTH SERMON.
I rose to open to my beloved ; hut my beloved had withdrawn himself. —
Cant. V. 6.
Natueally we are prone to delays in heavenly things, and then to cover all
with excuses. A man is a sophister to himself, whom he first deceives,
before the devil or the world deceive him ; which is the reason why so oft in
Scripture you have this mentioned: ' Be not deceived, God is not mocked,'
Gal. vi. 7. * Be not deceived, neither adulterer, nor covetous person, nor
such and such, shall ever enter into the kingdom of heaven,' 1 Cor. vi. 9. * Be
not deceived,' which is an intimation that naturally we are very prone to be
deceived in points of the greatest consequence in the world, to flatter our-
selves, as the church doth here, with false excuses. ' I have put off my
coat,' &c. But we shall now see in this next verse what becomes of all
those excuses and backwardness of the church whereby she puts oft
Christ.
* My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels
were moved for him.
' I rose to open to my beloved ; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and
my fingers with sweet-smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.
' I rose to open to my beloved ; but my beloved had withdrawn him-
self,' &c., ver. 4-6.
This comes of her sluggishness and drowsiness, that Christ absented and
withdrew himself. There are three things here set down in these verses now
read.
1. Christ's ivithdrawing of himself .
2. His gracious dealing, having ivithdrawn himself.
He doth not altogether leave his church, but ' puts his finger into the
hole of the door,' and then leaves some sweetness behind him before he
goes. After which is set down,
3. The success of Christ's departure and withdrawing of himself from her.
(1.) Her bowels were moved in her, which were hard before.
(2.) She rose up out of her bed, wherein formerly she had framed and
composed herself to rest.
(3.) She seeks and calls after him.
But the doctrinal points which are to be observed out of these verses are
these,
Obs. 1. That Christ doth sometimes use to leave his children, as he did the
church here.
Obs, 2. That the cause is from the church herself, as we see how unkindly
she had used Christ, to let him attend her leisure so long. Therefore he,
taking a holy state upon him, leaves the church. The cause of his for-
saking us is in ourselves. We may thank ourselves for it.
Obs. 3. That though Christ deal thus with us, yet notwithstanding he
never leaves iis xvholly, ivithout some footsteps of his saving grace and everlasting
love ; some remainders and 2'>rints he leaves itjDon the soid, so as it lingers after
him, and never rests till it find him. He always leaves something. There
is never a total desertion ; as we see here in Christ's dealing, ' he puts his
finger into the hole of the door.' He stands at the door, and leaves myrrh
behind him, something in the heart that causeth a lingering and restless
affection in her towards Christ.
Cant. V. G.J * my beloved had withdrawn niMSELF.' 101
Ohs. 4. That the church, by reason of this gracious dealing of Christ, (leaving
somewhat behind him) is sensible of her former imkindness, is restless, and stirs
up herself to endeavour more and more, till she have recovered her former com-
munion and sweet fellowship iviih Christ which she had before. She never
gives over till Christ and she meet again in peace, as we shall see in the
prosecution. These be the chief points considerable.
Obs. 1. First, Christ doth use sometimes to leave his church, as here he doth,
* My beloved had withdrawn himself,' &c.
But what kind of leaving is it ?
We must distinguish of Christ's leavings and withdrawingg of himself.
They are either in regard of outward or inward comforts and helps.
1. Outward, as Christ leaves his church sometimes by taking away the
means of salvation, the ministry, or by taking away outward comforts, which is
a withdrawing of his ; especially if he accompany the taking of them away
with some signs of his displeasure or sense of his anger, as usually it falls
out. This doth embitter all crosses and losses, namely, when they come
from Christ as a testimony of his anger for our former unkindness.
2. Sometimes his forsaking is more inward, and that is double, either in
regard oi peace and joy, sweet inward comfort that the soul had wont to feel
in the holy ordinances by the Spirit of Christ; or in regard oi strength and
assistance. There is a desertion in regard of comfort and in regard of
strength. Sometimes he leaves them to themselves, in regard of strength
and supportation, to fall into some sin, to cure some greater sin perhaps.
Now that Christ thus leaves his church, it is true of all, both of the body
and of each particular member of the church.
(1.) It is true of the ivhole body of the church, for you have the church
complaining, Isa. xlix. 14, ' God hath forgotten me,' ' Can a mother forget
her child?' saith God again. So Ps. xliv. 9; and in other places the
church complains of forsakings. The Scripture is full of complaints in this
kind.
(2.) It is true of the several members, and especially of the most eminent
members, as we see holy Job complains, as if God had ' set him,' as it were,
' a butt to shoot at,' Job vi. 4, and had opposed himself against him. So
David complains, Ps. Ixxxviii. 11, Ps. Ixxvii. 9, and Ps. Ix. 1, and in other
Psalms, of God's anger. ' Correct me not in thine anger,' Ps. vi. 1.
The Psalms are full of this, so as it would be time unprofitably spent to be
large in a point so clear, that every one knoweth well enough who reads
and understands the Psalms. So Jonah likewise felt a kind of forsaldng
when he was in the midst of the sea, when the waves were without and
terrors within, when he was in the midst of hell, as it were, Jonah ii. 2.
Thus, you see, the instances clear the point.
The ends that God hath in it are many. (1.) To endear his jn-esence the
more to us, which we slighted too much before. It is our corruption, the
not valuing of things till they be gone. We set not the true price upon
them when we enjoy them. When we enjoy good things, we look at the
gi-ievanccs which are mingled with the good, and forget the good ; which,
when it is gone, then we remember the good. The Israelites could remem-
ber their onions and garlic, and forget their slaverj^ Num. xi. 5. So, be-
cause manna was present, they despised manna, and that upon one incon-
venience it had, ' it was ordinary with them,' Num. xxi. 5. Thus the cor-
rupt heart of man is prone in the enjoying of favours. If it have any
grievance, it murmurs at that ; and it troubles and makes them forget all
the goodness and sweetness of what they enjo}'. But, on the contrary,
102 BOWELS OPENED. [SeP.MON IX.
when God withdraws those good things from us, then we forget those for-
mer inconveniences, and begin to think what good we had by them. This
is the poison and corruption of oui- nature.
(2.) Again, Christ seems to forsake us, to trij the truth of the graces and
affections in us, whether they be true or not ; and to cause us to make after
him, when he seems to forsake us, as undoubtedly we shall, where there is
truth of gi-ace planted in the heart in any measm-e.
(3.) And in regard of others, he doth it to teach us heavenly ivisdom, how
to deal ivith those in affliction, 2 Cor. i. 4. It makes us wise, tender, and
successful in dealing with others, when we have felt the like particular
grievance ourselves, as Gal. vi. 1, ' Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a
fault, you that are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meek-
ness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.' Experience of spi-
ritual grief in this kind, wUl make us fit, able, and wise every way to deal
with others.
(4.) This serves likewise to wean us from the world, in the 2^le7ity and
abundance of all earthly things. For take a Christian that hath no cross in
the "world, let him find some estrangement of Chiist from his spirit, that he
finds not the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and that enlargement which in
former times he enjoyed, and all the wealth he hath, the earthly content-
ments he enjoys, please him not, nor can content that soul, which hath
ever felt sweet communion with Christ. Again, how should we pray with
earnestness of affection, ' Thy kingdom come,' in the time of prosperity,
except there were somewhat in this kind to raise up the soul to desire to be
gone ? Now, it is our subjection to these alterations and changes, ebbings
and Sowings, sometimes to have the sense of God's love in Christ, and
sometimes to want it ; sometimes to feel his love, and sometimes again the
fruits of his anger and displeasure, which serves exceedingly to stir up men's
desires of heaven.
(5.) In this place here, the especial end was To correct the security, and
ill carriage of the church.
And, likewise (6.) to i^yepare the church, by this desertion and seeming
forsaking, for nearer communion. For, indeed, Christ did not forsake her,
but to her feeling, to bring her, in the sequel, to have nearer communion
and union with himself than ever she had before. God forsakes, that he
may not forsake. He seems strange, that he may be the more friendly.
This is Christ's usage. He personates an adversary, when he intends to
shew the greatest effects of his love, as we may see afterwards in the pas-
sages following.
And also, (7.) to make us to know thoroughly the bitterness of sin, that we
may grow up to a further hatred of that which deprives us of so sweet a
communion. We think sin a trifle, and never know it enough tiU the time
of temptation ; that conscience be awakened and opened ; that it appears
in its right colours.
And then, again, (8.) that we may know ivhat Christ suffered and under-
ivent for us, in the sense of God's math, in the absence of his favour for a
time. This the human nature could never have suffered, if his divinity had
withdrawn itself. Now, all of us must sip of that cup, whereof Christ drank
the dregs, having a taste what it is to have God to forsake us. For the
most part, those beHevers who live any time (especially those of great parts),
God deals thus with. Weaker Chi-istians he is more indulgent unto. At
such times we know of what use a Mediator is, and how miserable our con-
dition were without such an one, both to have borne and overcome the
Cant. Y. C] ' in: beloved had withdrawn himself.' 103
wrath of God for us, whicli burden he could never have undergone, but had
sunk under it, but for the hypostatical union.
Use 1. Let us not, therefore, censure any Christian, u-Jien ice find that
their course hath been good and gracious, yet notwithstanding they seem to
want comfort. Let us not wonder at them, as if God had utterty forsaken
them. Indeed, sometimes they think themselves forsaken, and the world
thinks them so too, ' that God regards them not,' Ps. lx\i. 18. They are
people of no respect either to God or to others, as you have the chm'ch in
the Psalms complaining, as if God had forsaken them,' Ps. xliv. 9 ; so they
think themselves forsaken, and the world thinks them so too, and neglects
them. Therefore, in so doing, we shall censure the generation of the right-
eous. It was thus with the Head of the church, with the whole church,
and with every particular member. Neither is it fit we should always en-
joy the sense of God's love. Christ by heavenly wisdom dispenseth of his
sweetness, comforts, and peace, as may stand with oui* souls' best good,
and we should as much take heed of censuring ourselves in that condition,
as if we were rejected and cast away of God. We must judge ourselves at
such times by faith, and not by feeling ; looking to the promises and word
of God, and not to our present sense and apprehension.
Use 2. Again, if this be so, leam to prepare and look for it beforehand,
and to get some grounds of comfort, some promises oxit of the uvrd, and to keep
a good conscience. 0 it is a hea^y thing, when God shall seem to be angry
with us, and our conscience at the same time shall accuse us ; when the
devil shall lay sins hard to our charge, and some affliction at the same time
lie heavy upon the sore and guilty soul. If we have not somewhat laid up
beforehand, what will become of the poor soul, when heaven, and earth,
and hell, and all shall seem to be against it. There are few that come to
heaven, but they know what these things mean. It is good, therefore, to
look for them, and to prepare some comforts beforehand.
But what here should be the inward moving cause ? It is in the church
herself; for mark the coherence. She had turned off Christ with excuses,
pretences, and dilatory answers ; and now presently upon it Christ for-
sakes her in regard of her feeling, and of the sweet comfort she foi'merly
enjoyed. The point is,
Obs. 2. That the cause rests in ourselves uhy Christ wiihdraivs comfort from
our soids.
If we seai'ch om* own hearts we shall find it so, and usually the causes in
oui'selves are these, as it was in the chm'ch here : 1. When ue are unkind
to Christ, and repel the sweet motions of the Spirit. 2. When ue imjorove
not the pirecious means of salvation that ive enjoy. 3. When we are careless
of our conversation and comj^any. 4. When we linger after carnal liberties
and ease. 5. When we yield to carnal policy and shifts to keep ns off from the
power of religion, to go on in a lukewann course. 6. When ice linger after
earthly things and comforts, and wrap om'selves up in fleshly policy for ease.
7. When we tremble not at God's judgments and threatenings, and at the
signs of them ; with many such things. Where these dispositions are, we
need not wonder if we find not the comforts of Christ and of the Holy
Ghost in us, with the gracious presence of his Spii'it. The cause is in our-
selves. But secm-ity hath been at large spoken of before, where the church's
sleep was handled.* Therefore, the point shall not be here enlarged, but
only some use made of it, as may serve for the present pm-pose.
Use 1. If Christ should take away the comforts that we enjoy, and
, * See pp. 35-44, cl seq. — G.
104 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON IX.
remove himself and his dwelling from us, for he is now yet among us and
knocks at our doors, do we not c/ive him just cause to depart ? "What a spirit
of slumber possesseth us, which will be awaked with nothing to seek after
Christ ! How few lay hold upon God, press upon him, wrestle with him
by prayer, to hide themselves before the evil day come, as they should do !
Therefore, if Christ have absented himself a long time from the church
in general, and withdrawn the comfort and presence of his ordinances ; and,
in particular, withheld the sweet comforts of our spirits and our peace, so
that we see him in the contrary signs of his displeasure and anger, as if
he did not regard and respect us, we have given him just cause so to do.
We see here how the church used Christ ; and so do we, with the like secu-
rity, and a spirit of slumber, with unkindness. Notwithstanding all the pro-
vocations that Christ useth to win us, he leaves us not, imtil he be left
first, for he desires to have nearer acquaintance, communion, and fellowship
with the soul, as we have seen in the former verse, ' My love, my dove, my
undefiled, open to me,' &c. Therefore, if we do not enjoy more acquaint-
ance with Christ than we do, and walk more in the comforts of the Holy
Ghost, it is merely from our own indisposition and security, Acts ix. 31.
Therefore, let us censure ourselves in this kind, and not call Christ an
enemy, as if he had forgotten, and God had forsaken. Take heed of such
a spirit of murmuring. If such a state befall us, let us labour to lay our
hand upon om- mouth and to justify Christ. It is just with thee thus
to leave me, to give me over to this terror, to deal thus with me, that have
dealt so unkindly with thee. So to justify God, and accuse ourselves, is the
best way to recover spiritual comfort.
Ohs. 3. Well, for the third point. That howsoever Christ be provoked by
the church's ingratitude, drowsiness, and careless carriage, to leave her in re-
gard of her feeling, and of imvard comfort; yet notwithstanding he is so
gracious, as to leave something behind him, that shews indeed, that he had not
left the church altogether, hut only in some regard. For howsoever Christ,
in regard of some order of his providence, leave it, yet in regard of another
order of his providence, care and mercy, he doth not leave it, so as one way
which he takes must sometimes give place to another way of his work-
ing in ordering things. Sometimes he is present in a way of comfort, that
is one order of his dispensation ; and Vv'hen he sees that that is neglected,
thr5n he withdraws his comforts and hides his gracious countenance. Yet
he is then present still in another order and way, though we discern it not,
that is, in a way of humbling the soul, letting it see its sin. So here,
howsoever Christ had withdrawn himself in regard of this manner of his
dealing, in respect of comfort, that the church did not now see his grace,
favour ; yet he left behind him a spirit of grace, to affect her heart with
gi'ief, sorrow, and shame, and to stir up her endeavours to seek after him,
as it is said here : ' I rose to open to my beloved ; and my hands dropped
myrrh, and my fingers sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the
locks.'
Here observe these three things, which shall be briefly named, because
they shall be touched elsewhere.
Obs. 1. Christ's grace is the cause of our grace. He first leaves myrrh,
and then her fingers drop myrrh. Our oil is from his oil. The head being
anointed, ' the oil ran down to the skirts of Aaron's garments,' Ps. cxxxiii.
2, xxxvi. 9 ; ' Out of his fulness we receive grace for grace,' John i. 16,
that is, our grace is answerable to the grace of Christ. We have all from
him favour for his favour. Because he is beloved, we are beloved. Wo
Cant. V. 6.] ' my beloved had withdrawn himself.' 105
have tne grace of sanctification from him. He was sanctified with the
Spirit, therefore we are sanctified. We have grace of privilege for his
grace. He is the Son of God, therefore we are sons. He is the heir of
heaven, therefore we are heirs. So that of his grace it is we receive all.
Whether we take grace for favour, or for the grace of sanctification, or tho
grace of privilege and prerogative, all our graces are from his, ' our myrrh
from his myrrh.'
Use. This should teach us, the necessity of dependence ujion Christ, for
whatsoever we have or would have ; which dependence upon Christ is the
life of our life, the soul of our souls.
Again, observe from hence, that the church's fingers dropped myrrh
when she opened the door, and stirred up herself to endeavour. When
first her bowels were moved, then she makes to the door, and then her
hands dropped myrrh, so that,
Obs. 2. We find experience of the grace of Christ, especially when nx stir
up ourselves to endeavour. ' Arise and be doing, and the Lord shall be with
thee,' 1 Chron. xxviii. 20, saith David to Solomon. So let us rouse up
ourselves to endeavour, and we shall find a gracious presence of Christ,
and a blessed assistance of the Spirit of Christ, who will shew himself in
the midst of endeavours. ' To him that hath shall be given :' what is that ?
To him that hath, if he exercise and stir up the grace of God in him,
shall be given, Mat. xxv. 29. Therefore, let us stir up the graces of
God in us ; let us fall upon actions of obedience, second them with prayer.
Whatsoever we pray for and desire, set upon the practice thereof. We
mock God else, except we endeavour for that we desire. There was myrrh
left on the door, but she feels it not till she arose, opened the door, and
laid her hand upon the lock.
I speak to any Christian's experience, if in the midst of obedience they do
not find that comfort they looked for, and that it is meat and drink to do
God's will. Therefore keep not off and say, I am dead and drowsy, there-
fore I shall be still so. You are deceived ; fall upon obedience and practis-
ing of holy duties, and in the midst thereof thou shalt find the presence and
assistance of God's Spirit. That will comfort thee.
Obs. 3. The third thing observable from hence is this, that God's graces
are sweet. Pleasant and sweet, compared here to myrrh, which was an
ingredient in the holy oil. Grace makes us sweet. Prayers are sweet, as
it is in Rev. viii. 4. Christ mingleth them with his own sweet odours, and
so takes and offers them to God. Holy obedience is sweet and delightful
to God and to the conscience. It brings peace and delight to others. There-
fore they are called fruits. Fruit doth not only imply and shew the issu-
ing of good things from the root, but there is also a pleasantness in it. So
there is a delightfulness in good works, as there is in fruit to the taste.
Therefore if we would be sweet and delightful to God, let us labour to have
grace. If we would think of ourselves with contentment, and have inward
sweetness, let us labour for the graces of God's Spu-it. These are like
myrrh. 'The v.icked are an abomination unto the Lord,' Prov. xv. 8,
who abhors them, and whatsoever is in them. But ' the righteous and
sincere man is his delight,' Prov. xv. 8. Therefore, if we would approve
ourselves to God, and feel that he hath delight in us, labour to be such as
he may delight in.
Use. Wherefore let the discouraged soul make this use of it, not to be
afraid to do that ivhich is good, upon fear ire should si)i. Indeed, sin will
cleave to that we do, but Christ will pardon the sin, and accept that which
106 EOV\-ELS OPENED. fSEEMON IX.
is sweet of his OAvn Spirit. Let us not esteem basely of that which Christ
esteems highly of, nor let that be vile in our eyes that is precious in his.
Let us labour to bring our hearts to comfortable obedience, for it is a sweet
sacrifice to God.
Now, whence came all this ? From this that is mentioned, ' My beloved
put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for
him,' ver, 4. First, for that expression, he put his finger in by tJie hole
of the door. It implies here that Christ, before he departed, left by his
Spirit an impression on the church's heart, which deeply aftected her to
seek after him.
The fingers spoken of are nothing but ' the power of his Spirit.' As the
usual Scripture phrase is, ' This is God's finger,' ' God's mighty hand,'
Exod. viii. 19, without which all ordinances are ineffectual. ' Paul may
plant, and Apollos may water,' 1 Cor. iii. 6, 7, but all is nothing without
the working of the Spirit, the motions whereof are most strong, being God's
finger, whereby he wrought all that affection in the church which is here
expressed. Christ, before he leaveth the church, ' puts his finger into the
hole of the door,' that is, he works somewhat in the soul by his Spirit,
which stirred up a constant endeavour to seek after him. For why else
follows it, ' her bowels were moved after him ' ? which implies a work of
the Spirit upon her bowels, expressed in her grief for his absence, and shame
for her refusing his entrance, and whereby her heart was moved and turned
in her to seek after him. From whence, thus explained, observe,
Ohs. 1. That outward means icill do no good, unless the finger of Christ
come to do all that is good.
The finger of Clnist is the Spirit of Christ — that is, a kind of divine
power goes from him in hearing and speaking the word of God, and in
prayer. There is more than a man's power in all this. If these work any
efiect, Christ ' must put his finger in.' When duties are unfolded to us in
the ministry of the word, all is to no purpose, but the sounding of a voice,
unless the finger of Christ open the heart, and work in the soul.
Use 1. Let us make this use of it, therefore, not to rest in any means
whatsoever, but desire the presence of Christ's finger to move and to work
upon our hearts and souls. Many careless Christians go about the ordi-
nances of God, and never regard this power of Christ, this might}^ power,
* the finger of Christ.' Thereupon they find nothing at all that is divine
and spiritual wi'ought in them. For, as it required a God to redeem us, to
take our nature, wherein he might restore us, so likewise it requires the
power of God to alter our natures. We could not be brought into the state
of grace without divine satisfaction, and we cannot be altered to a frame of
grace without a di\'ine finger, the finger of God v/orking upon our hearts
and souls. This should move us, in all the ordinances of God that we
attend upon, to lift up our hearts in the midst of them, ' Lord, let me feel
the finger of thy Spirit writing thy word upon my heart.' ' Turn us, 0
Lord, and we shall be turned,' Jer. xxxi. 18. Pray for this quickening and
enlivening, for this strengthening Spirit. All comes by it.
From this that it is said here, ' that Christ puts his finger into the hole of
the door before he removed it,' and withdrew himself, observe,
Obs. 2. How graciously Christ doth deal with us, that he doth always leave
some grace before he doth offer to depart. Let us therefore, for the time to
come, lay and store this up as a ground of comfort, that howsoever Christ may
leave us, yet, notwithstanding, he will never leave us wholly ; but as he
gave us his Holy Spirit at first, so he will continue Him in us b}' some
Cant. V. 6.] ' my beloved had withdrawn himself.' 107
gi-acious work or other, either hy way of comfort, or of strength to uphold
us. Perhaps we may need more sorrow, more humihty, than of any other
grace. For winter is as good for the growing of things as the spring, because
were it not for this, where would be the killing of weeds and worms, and
preparhig of the ground and land for the spring ? So it is as needful for
Christians to find the presence of Christ in the way of humiliation and
abasement, causing us to afflict our own souls, as to feel his presence in
peace, joy, and comfort. In this life we cannot be without this gracious
dispensation. We may therefore comfort oui'selves, that howsoever Christ
leaves us, yet he will ahvaj's leave somewhat behind him, as here he left
some mjTrh after him upon the handle of the door. Some myi-rh is left
always behind him upon the soul, which keeps it in a state and fi-ame of
grace, and sweetens it. Myrrh was one of the ingredients in the holy oil,
as it is Exod. xxx. 30 ; and so this leaving of myrrh behind him signifies
the oil of gi'ace left upon the soul, that enabled the church to do all these
things, which are after spoken of.
Obj. But you will say. How doth this appear, when in some desertion
a Christian finds no grace, strength, or comfort at all, that nothing is left ?
Ans. It is answered, thcij always do. Take those who at any time have
had experience of the love of God, and of Chi'ist formerly, take them at the
worst, you shall find from them some sparkles of grace, broken speeches of
tried secret comfort, some inward strength and struggling against corrup-
tions ; their spirits endeavom'ing to recover themselves fi'om sinking too
low, and with something withstanding both despair and corruption. Take
a Christian at the worst, there will be a discovery of the Spirit of Christ
left in him, notwithstanding all desertion. This is universally in all in
some measure, though perhaps it is not discerned to a Christian himself,
but to those that are able to judge. Sometimes others can read our evi-
dences better than ourselves. A Christian that is in temptation cannot
judge of his o\\ti estate, but others can. And so, at the very worst, he
hath always somewhat left in him, whereby he may be comforted. Christ
never leaves his church and childi-en that are his wholly. Those that are
whoUy left, they never had saving grace, as Ahithophel, Cain, Saul, and
Judas were left to themselves. But for the children of God, if ever they
found the power of sanctif}dng grace, ' Christ whom he loves, ho loves to
the end,' John xiii. 1, from whom he departs not, unless he leaves some-
what behind him, that sets an edge upon the desires to seek after him.
Use 2. Make this second use of it, to maf/nifij the gracious love and meraj
of Christ, that when we deserve the contrary, to be left altogether, yet
notwithstanding so graciously ho deals with us. Behold, in this his deal-
ing, the mercy of Christ. He will not sufier the church to be in a state
of security, but will rather, to cure her, bring her to another opposite state
of grief and sorrow, as we shall see in the next point, how that which
Christ left in the heart of the church so afflicted her ' that her bowels were
turned in her.' Whereupon she riseth, seeks, and inquhes after Christ by
the watchmen and others. So she saith of herself,
' My bowels were moved in me,' &c. What was that? My heart was
afiected full of sorrow and gi'ief for my unkind dealing with Christ.
Hereby those aftections were sthred up, that were afore sleepy and secure,
to godly gi'ief, soitow, and shame. For God hath planted atiectious in us,
and joined them with conscience, as the executioners with the judge. Sa
that, whenas conscience accuseth of any sin, either of omission or com-
mission, aftections arc ready to be the executioners within us. Thus to
108 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRJMON IX
prevent eternal damnation, God hath set up a throne in our owm hearts, to
take revenge and correction by our own affections, godly sorrow and mourn-
ing, as here the church saith, ' My bowels were turned in me.' It was a
shame and gi'ief, springing out of love to Christ, that had been so kind,
patient, and full of forbearance to her. ' My bowels were turned in me ;'
that is, sorrow and grief were upon me for my unkind dealing.
The observation from hence is,
That security and a cold, dull state jjroduceth a contrary temper. That is,
those that are cold, dull, secure, and put off Christ, he suffers them to fall
into sharp sorrows and griefs.
We usually say, Cold diseases must have hot and sharp remedies. It is
most true spiritually. Security, which is a kind of lethargy, a cold disease,
forgetting of God and our duty to him, must have a hot and sharp cure.
And the lethargy is best cured by a burning ague. So Christ deals here.
He puts his finger in at the hole of the door, and leaves grace behind to
work upon the bowels of the church, to make her grieve and be ashamed
for her unkind dealing. Thus he cures security by sorrow. This is the
best conclusion of sin.
And we may observe withal, that even sins of ornission, they bring yrief,
shame, and sorrow. And in the issue, through Christ's sanctifying them,
these which they breed consume the parent. That is, sin brings forth
sorrow, shame, and grief, which are a means to cure sin. Security breeds
this moving of the bowels, which moving helps security. Would we there-
fore prevent sorrow, shame, and grief? Take heed then of security, the
cause that leads to them ; yea, of sins of omission, wherein there is more
danger than in sins of commission. The sins of carnal, wicked men are
usually sins of commission ; most which break out outrageously, and thereby
taint themselves with open sins. But the sins of God's people, who are
nearer to him, are for the most part sins of omission ; that is, negligence,
coldness, carelessness in duty, want of zeal, and of care they should have
in stirring up the graces of God in them ; as the ehui'ch here, which did
not give way to Christ, nor shook off security.
Use. Let us esteem as slightly as we will of sins of omission and care-
lessness, they are enough to bring men to hell if God be not the more mercifid.
It is not required only that we do no harm, and keep ourselves from out-
ward evils ; but we must do good in a good manner, and have a care to be
fruitful and watchful, which if we do not, this temper will bring grief,
shame, and sorrow afterwards. As here, even for sins of omission, dead-
ness, and dulness, we see the church is left by Christ, ' and her bowels are
turned in her.' For careless neglect and omission of duty to God is a
presage and forerunner of some downfal and dejection. And commonly
it is true, when a man is in a secure and careless state, a man may read
his destiny (though he have been never so good) ; na}^ the rather if he be
good. Such a one is in danger to fall into some sharp punishment, or into
some sin ; for of all states and tempers, God will not suffer a Christian to
be in a secure, lazy, dead state, when he cannot perfonn things comfort-
ably to God, or himself, or to others. A dead, secure estate is so hateful
to him (decay in our first love, this lukewarm temper) that he will not en-
dure it. It either goes before some great sin, cross, affliction, or judgment.
' My bowels were moved in me.' And good reason. It was a suitable
correction to the sin wherein she offended. For Christ, his bowels were
turned towards her in love and pity, ' My love, my dove, my undefiled,' in
which case, she neglecting him, it was fit she should find ' moving of
Cant. V. 6.] ' my beloved had withdrawn himself.' 109
bowels' in another sense, out of love too, but in shame and mourning.
Christ here leaves her to seek after him, that had waited and attended her
leisure before, as we shall see after.
The next thing we may hence observe in that, ' that her bowels were
tui-ned in her,' from something left in the hole of the door by the Spirit of
Christ, is.
That Christ hath our affections in his government.
He hath our bowels in his rule and government, more than we ourselves
have. Wo cannot of ourselves rule our grief, shame, sorrow, or such
affections as these. Tbp wisest man in the world cannot award- grief and
sorrow when God will turn it upon his bowels, and make a man ashamed
and confounded in himself. All the wit and policy in the world cannot
suppress those affections. For Christ rules our hearts, * The hearts of
kings are in his hand, as the rivers of water,' Prov. xxi. 1, as well as the
hearts of ordinary persons.
If he set anything upon the soul to afflict it and cast it down, it shall
afflict it, if it be but a conceit. If he will take away the reins from the
soul, and leave it to its own passion, removing away its guard ; for he by
his Spirit guards our souls with peace, by commanding of tranquillity ; so
as let him but leave it to itself, and it will tear itself in sunder, as Ahitho-
phel, who being left to himself, did tear himself in pieces, 2 Sam. xvii. 23.
Cain also being thus left, was disquieted, toiTQented, and wrackedf himself,
Gen. iv. 13. So Judas in this case, being divided in himself, you see what
became of him, Mat. sxvii. 5. Let Christ but leave us to our own passion of
soiTow, what will become of us but misery ? He hath more rule therefore
of our passions than we ourselves have, because we cannot rule them gra-
ciously, nor can we stay them when we would.
Use. Therefore this should st)~ike an awe in tis of God, ivith a care to please
him. For there is not the wisest man in the world, but if he remove his
guard from his soul, and leave him to himself ; if there were no de\al in
hell, yet he would make him his own toimentor and executioner. There-
fore the apostle makes this sweet promise. He bids them pray to God ;
' and the peace of God which passeth all understanding should guard
their souls,' &c., Philip, iv. 7. So the word is in the original. I It is a
great matter for the keeping of God's people, to have their souls guarded.
' Her bowels were turned in her.'
Here again, as the conclusion of all this, we seeing this estate of the church,
may wonder at Christ's carriage towards her in this tvorld. Christ is wonderful
in his saints, and in his goodness towards them, 2 Thess. i. 10; sometimes
alluring them, as we see Christ the church here; wondrous in patience, not-
withstanding their provocation of him ; wondrous in his desertions ; wondrous
in leaving something behind him in desertions. Those that are his he will
not leave them without grace, whereby they shall seek him again. Nay, the
falling out of lovers shall be the renewing of fresh and new love, more
constant than ever the former was. Thus om- blessed Saviour goes beyond
us in our deserts, taking advantage even of our security ; for our greater
good, making all work to good in the issue, Kom. viii. 28 ; which shall end
in a more near and close communion between Christ and his church than
ever before. Carnal men feel not these changes, ebbings and flowings.
They are not acquainted with God's forsakings. Indeed their whole life is
nothing but a forsaking of God, and God's forsaking of them, who gives
* That is. ' ward off.'— Ed. J See note k, vol I. page 334.— G.
t Qu. Tacked?'— G.
110 EOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON X.
them outward comforts, peace and friends in the world, wherein they solace
themselves. But for inward communion with him, any strength to holy
duties, or against sin, for to be instruments for God's honour, and service,
to do any good, they are careless. For they live here to serve their own
tmTis, leaving their state and inheritance behind them. The Scripture
saith, ' They have no changes, therefore they fear not God,' Ps. Iv. 19 ;
and so they go down to hell quietly and securely. Oh ! but it is otherwise
with God's children. They are tossed up and down. God will not suffer
them to prosper, or live long in a secure, drowsy, sinful state, the continu-
ance wherein is a fearful evidence that such an one as yet hath no saving grace,
nor that he yet belongs to God, seeing Christ hates such an estate, and
will not sufier his to be long therein, but will shift and remove them from
vessel to vessel, from condition to condition, till he have wrought in them
that disposition of soul that they shall regard and love him more and more,
and have nearer and nearer communion with him.
THE TENTH SEEMON.
I opened to my beloved; hut my beloved had uithdrawn himself and was
gone: my soul failed when he spake ; I sought him, but could not find him;
I called him, but he gave no answer. — Cant. V. 6.
Thus we see that the life of a Christian is trouble upon trouble, as wave
upon wave. God will not suffer us to rest in security, but one way or
other he will fire us out of our starting-holes, and make us to run after
him. How much better were it for us, then, to do our works cheerfully and
joyfully, ' so to run as we may obtain,' 1 Cor. ix. 24, than to be thus hurried
up and down, and through our own default, coming into desertions, and
there receiving rebukes and blows and delays ere we have peace again, as
it fell out with the church in the sequel ; for this text is but the beginning
of her seeming misery. The watchmen, after this, ' found her, and
wounded her,' &c., verse 7. But heaven is more worth than all, now that
her affections are set on fire. From thence she bestirs herself, is resolute
to find out her beloved, whom she highly values above all this world. How
her afiections were stirred by Christ's putting in his finger at the hole of
the door, we have heard. Now follows her action thereupon ; for here is
rising, opening, seeking, calling, and inquiring after Christ.
Action follows aftection. After her bowels are moved, she ariseth and
openeth ; from whence we may further observe —
Obs. 1. That where truth of affection is, it ivill discover itself in the out-
tvard man, one way or other. If there be any affection of love and piety to
God, there will be eyes hft up, knees bended down, and hands stretched
forth to heaven. If there be any grief for sin, there will be the face de-
jected, the eyes looking down, some expression or other. If there be a
desire, there "svill be a making forth to the thing desired ; for the outward
man is commanded by the inward, which hath a kind of sovereign com-
manding power over it, and says, Do this, and it doth it ; Speak this, and
it speaks it. Therefore, those whose courses of life are not gracious, their
affections and their hearts are not good ; for where the affections are good,
the actions will be suitable. ' Her bowels were moved in her,' and pre-
sently she shews the truth of her affection, in that she maketh after him.
Cant. V. G.J ' my beloved had withdrawn himself.' Ill
1. Her soul failed when he spake.
2. iShe makes after him.
* My soul failed when be spake : I sought him, but I could not find him.'
— Of Christ's withdrawing himself, we spake in general before, wherefore
we will leave that and proceed.
' My soul failed when he spake.' That is, her soul failed when she re-
membered what he had spoke when he stood at the door and said, ' Open
to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled : for my head is wet with
the dew,' &c. Now, when God's Spirit had wi-ought upon her, then she
remembered what Christ had said. All those sweet allm-ements were
effectual now unto her, especially when she saw that after those sweet
allurements Christ had withdrawn himself; for that is the meaning oi
these words, ' My soul failed when he spake unto me.' He did not speak
now ; but her soul failed after he s])ake ; for so it should be read, that is,
after she remembered his speech to her ; for now, when she opened, he was
not there. Therefore, he could not speak to her.
Ohs. 2. The word of Christ, hoivsoever for the jyresent it be not effectual, yet
aftericards it icill be in the remembrance of it. To those that are gracious,
it will be efiectual when the Holy Ghost comes to seal it further upon
their hearts. Christ spake many things to his disciples which they forgot ;
but when afterwards the Holy Ghost the Comforter was come, his office
was, ' to bring all things to their remembrance that they had forgotten
before,' John xiv. 26. The Holy Ghost taught them not new things, but
brought former things to their remembrauce ; for God will make the word
efiectual at one time or other. Perhaps the word we hear is not effectual
for the present ; it may afterwards, many years after, when God awakes
our consciences.
And as this is true of God's children, the seed now sown in them will
not grow up till many years after, so it is true also of those that are not
God's children. They think they shall never hear again of those things
they hear. Perhaps they will take order by sensuality, hardening of their
hearts, and through God's judgments withal concurring, that conscience
shall not awake in this world. But it shall awake one day ; for it is put
into the heart to take God's part, and to witness against us for our sins.
It shall have and perform its office hereafter, use it as you will now ; and it
will preach over those things again that you now hear. You shall hear
again of them, but it shall be a barren hearing. Now we may hear fruit-
fully to do us good, but afterwards we shall call to mind what we have
heard, and it shall cut us to the heart. Dives, we know, had Moses and
the prophets to instruct him, but he never heeded them in his hfe, until
afterwards to his toi-ment, Luke xvi. 29. So men never heed what they
hear and read ; they put off all, and lay their consciences asleep ; but God
will bring them afterwards to remembrance. But because it is a point
especially of comfort to the church ;
Labour u-e all of us to mahc this use of it, to be diligent and careful to
hear and attend upon the ordinances of God ; for howsoever that we hear
is not effectual for the present, but seems as dead seed cast into the heart,
yet God will give it a body after, as the apostle speaks, at one time or
other, 1 Cor. xv. 38. And that which we hear now, the Holy Ghost will
bring it to our remembrance when we stand in most need of it.
' My soul failed when he spake.' She was in a spmtual sv/oon and
deliquium* upon his withdrawing, whence the point considerable is,
* That is, ' fainting, sinking.' — G.
112 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON X-
That Christ doth leave his church sometimes, and bring it very low in their
own apprehensions, that their hearts fail them, for want of his presence. So
it was with David, Ps. xxxviii. 2, 3 ; so with Jonah, Jonah ii. 2 ; so with
the church, Lam. iii. 1, seq. We see it at large.
Reason. The necessity of our souls and of our estates require this. As
sometimes a body may be so corrupt, that it must be brought as low as
possible may be, before there will be a spring of new and good blood and
spirits, so we may fall into such a state of security, that nothing will bring
us to a right temper but extreme purging. And usually God deals thus
with strong wits and parts, if they be holy. David and Solomon were men
excellently qualified ; yet when they tasted of the pleasures and content-
ments of the world too deep, answerably they had ; and so usually others
shall have such desertions as will make them smart for their sweetness, as
was shewed before.
But upon what occasions doth a Christian think especially that God doth
leave, forsake, and fail him ?
First. This failing and fainting of the soul is sometimes upon an appre-
hension, as if God and Christ ivere become enemies, as Job saith, vii. 20,
and as having set us as a butt to shoot at. But this is not all that a
gracious and pure heart sinks for.
But also secondly. For the absence of Christ^ s love, thoiiyh it feel no anger.
Even as to a loving wife, her husband not looking lovingly upon her as he
used to do, is enough to cast her down, and cause her spirits to fail ; so
for God to look upon the eoul, put the case, not with an angry, yet with a
countenance withdrawn, it is sufficient to cast it down. For any one that
hath dependence upon another, to see their countenance withdrawn, and-
not to shew their face as before, if there be but a sweet disposition in them,
it is enough to daunt and dismay them.
Nay, thirdly. Moreover, u-hen they find not that former assistance in holy
duties ; when they find that their hearts are shut up and they cannot pray
as formerly when they had the Spirit of God more fully ; and when they
find that they cannot bear afflictions with wonted patience — certainly Christ
hath withdrawn himself, say they. This is first done when we hear the
word of God, not with that delight and profit as we were wont. "When they
find how they come near to God in holy communion, and yet feel not that
sweet taste and relish in the ordinances of God as they were wont to do,
they conclude, certainly God hath hid his face. Whereupon they are cast
down, their spirits fail. And do not wonder that it should be so, for it is
so in nature. When the sun hides itself many days from the world, it is an
uncomfortable time ; the spirits of the creatures lower and wither. We see
it so in the body, that the animal spirits in the brain, which are the cause
of motion and sense, if they be obstructed, there follows an apoplexy and
deadness. So it is between Christ and the soul. He is the ' Sun of
righteousness,' Mai. iv. 2, by whose beams we are all comforted and cheered,
which when they are vrithheld, then our spirits decay and are discouraged.
Summer and winter arise from the presence and absence of the sun. What
causeth the spring to be so clothed with all^those rich ornaments ? The pre-
sence of the sun which comes nearer then. So what makes the summer
and winter in the soul, but the absence or presence of Christ ! What makes
some so vigorous beyond others, but the presence of the Spirit ! As it is
in nature, so it is here. The presence of Christ is the cause of all spiri-
tual life and vigom-; who when he withdraws his presence a little the
soul fails.
Can:. V. G.] ' i sought him, but i could not find him.' 118
' My soul failed when he spake to me : I sought him, but I could not find
him ; I called, but he gave me no answer.'
Obs. 1. The church redoubleth her complaint to shew her passion. A
larqe heart hath larr/e expressions. She took it to heart that Christ did not
shew himself in mercy. Therefore she never hath done. I sought him
but I could not find him, I called but he gave me no answer. Atiection
makes eloquent and large expressions.
Obs. 2. But mainly observe from this failing of the church, the differ-
ence between the true children of God and others. The child of God is cast
down when he finds not the presence of God as he was wont ; his spirits
fail. A carnal man, that never knew what this presence meant, regards it
not, can abide the want of it. He finds, indeed, a presence of God in the
creature which he thinks not of. There is a sweetness in meat, drink, rest,
and a contentment in honour, preferment, and riches ; and thus God is
present always with him, but other presence he cares not for. Nay, he
shuns all other presence of God, labouring to avoid his spiritual presence.
For what is the reason that a carnal man shuns the applying of the word
and the thinking of it, but because it brings God near to his heart, and
makes him present ? What is the reason he shuns his own conscience ;
that he is loath to hear the just and unanswerable accusations that it would
charge upon him, but because he cannot abide the presence of God in his
conscience ? What is the reason he shuns the sight of holier and better
men than himself? 1 Kings xvii. 18. They present God to him, being his
ima^e, and call his sins to memory, and upbraid his wicked life. Hence
comes that Satanical hatred more than human in carnal, vile men, to those
that are better than themselves ; because they hate all presence of God,
both in the word, ministry, and all God's holy servants. All such presence
of God they hate ; whereof one main reason is, because they are malefac-
tors, wicked rebels, and intend to be so. And as a malefactor cannot
endure so much as the thought of the judge, so they cannot think of God
otherwise, in that course they are in, than of a judge ; whereupon they
tremble and quake at the very thought of him, and avoid his presence.
You know that great man, Felix, Paul spake to in the Acts, Acts xxiv. 25,
when he spake of the judgment to come, and those virtues, as temperance
and righteousness, which he was void of, and guilty of the contrary vices ;
he quaked, and could not endure to hear him speak any longer. Wicked
men love not to be arraigned, tormented, accused, and condemned before
their time, Mark v. 7. Therefore, whatsoever presents to them their future
terrible estate, they cannot abide it. It is an evidence of a man in a cursed
condition, thus not to endure the presence of God. But what shall God
and Christ say to them at the day of judgment ? It was the desu-e of such
men not to have to do with the presence of God here, and it is just with
Christ to answer them there as they answer him now ; ' Depart, depart, we
will have none of thy ways,' say they. Job xxii. 17. < Depart, ye cursed,'
saith he. He doth but answer in their own language, ' Depart, ye cursed,
with the devil and his angels,' Mat. xxv. 41.
But you see the child of God is clean of another temper. He cannot bo
content to be without the presence of God and of his Spirit, enlightening,
quickening, strengthening, and blessing of him in spiritual respects. When
he finds not his presence helping him, when he finds Christ his life is
absent from him, he is presently discouraged. For ' Christ is our life,'
Col. iii. 4. Now, when a man's life fails all fails. When, therefore, a man
finds his spu-itual taste and comfort not as it was before, then Oh, ' the hfo
VOL. U. B
114 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON X.
of my life ' hath withdrawn himself, and so is never quiet till he have reco-
vered his life again, for ' Christ is his life,' Col. iii. 4.
And because there is a presence of God and of Christ in the word and
sacraments — a sweet presence, the godly soul, he droops and fails if he be
kept from these. He will not excommunicate himself, as many do, that
perhaps are asleep when they should be at the ordinances of God. But if
he be excommimicated and banished, 0 how takes he it to heart ! ' As the
hart panteth after the water brooks, so longeth my soul after thee, 0 God,'
Ps, xlii. 1. The whole 84th Psalm is to that purpose, ' 0 how amiable are
thy tabernacles, 0 Lord of hosts.' He finds a presence of God in his word
and sacraments, and when he doth not taste a sweet presence of God there-
in, he droops and sinks.
A carnal man never heeds these things, because he finds no sweetness in
them ; but the godly, finding Christ in them, they droop in the want of
them, and cannot live without them. * Whither shall we go ?' saith Peter to
Christ, ' thou hast the words of eternal life,' John \'i. 68. I find my soul
quickened with thy speaking. So a soul that feels the quickening power of
the ordinances, he will never be kept from the means of salvation, but he
droops and is never well till he have recovered himself again.
Again, another difierence may be observed. Carnal men, when they find
the sense of God's anger, they seek not God's favour, but think of worse and
worse still, and- so run from God till they be in hell. But those that ara
God's children, when they fail and find the sense of God's displeasure, they
are sensible of it, and give not over seeking to God. They run not further
and further from him.
The church here, though she found not Christ present with her, yet she
seeks him still and never gives over. Whence again we may observe,
3. That although the church he said to fail and not to /i?id Christ, yet he
is present then uith her. For who enabled her to seek him ? To explain
this, there is a double presence of Christ.
1. Felt.
2. Not felt.
1. The presence felt, is, when Christ is graciously present and is withal
pleased to let us know so much, which is a heaven upon earth. The soul
is in paradise then, when she feels ' the love of God shed abroad in the
heart,' and the favom-able countenance of God shining upon her. Then she
despiseth the world, the devil, and all, and walks as if she were half in
heaven already. For she finds a presence and a manifestation of it, a more
glorious state than the world can afford.
2. But, there is a presence of Christ that is secret; when he seems to
draw us one way, and to drive us another, that we are both driven and
drawn at once : when he seems to put us away, and yet, notwithstanding,
draws us. When we find our souls go to Christ, there is a drawing power
and presence ; but when we find him absent, here is a driving away. As we
see here in the church and in the 'woman of Canaan,' Mat. xv. 21, seq.
Wo see what an answer she had from Christ, at first none, and then an
uncomfortable, and lastly a most unkind answer. ' We must not give the
children's bread to dogs,' Mat. xv. 27. Christ seemed to drive her
away, but, at the same time, he by his Spirit draws her to him, and was
thereby secretly present in her heart to increase her faith. When Christ
wrestled with Jacob, though he contended with him, yet the same time he
gave Jacob power to overcome him, to be Israel, a prevailer over him. Gen.
xxxii. 28. So, at the same time, the church seems to fail and faint, yet,
Cant. V. G.] ' i sought him, but i could not find him.' 115
notwithstanding, there is a secret, drawing power pulling her to Christ;
whereby she never gives over, but seeks and calls still after him.
It is good to observe this kind of Christ's dealing, because it will keep
us that we be not discouraged when we find him absent. If still there be
any grace left moving us to that which is good, if we find the Spmt of God
moving us to love the word and ordinances, to call upon him by prayer,
and to be more instant, certainly we may gather there is a hidden, secret
presence here that draws us to these things. Nay more, that the end of
this seeming forsaking and strangeness is to draw us nearer and nearer,
and at length to di-aw us into heaven to himself. God's people are gainers
by all their losses, stronger by all theii' weaknesses, and the better for all
their crosses, whatsoever they ai"e. And you shall find that the Spirit of
God is more forceible in them after a strangeness, to stir them up more
eagerly after Christ than before, as here the church doth : for her eagerness,
constancy, and instantness, it groweth as Christ's withdrawing of himself
groweth.
Use 1. Let us therefore learn hence how to judge of ourselves, if we be in
a dead, lifeless state, both in regard of comfort and of holy performances,
whether we be content to be so. If we be not contented, but make to-
wards Christ more and more, it is a good sign that he hath not forsaken
us, that he will come again more gloriously than ever before, as here we
shall see after, it was with the church. He seems strange, but it is to
draw the church to discover her affection, and to make her ashamed of
her former unkindness, and to sit surer and hold faster than she did before.
All ends in a most sweet communion.
Use 2. We should labour, therefore, to ansicer Christ's dealings in suitable
apprehensions of soul, when he is thus present secretly, though he seem, in
regard of some comforts and former experience of his love, to withdi-aw
himself. It should teach us to depend upon him, and to believe, though
we feel not comfort, yea, against comfort, when we feel signs of displeasure.
If he can love and support me, and strengthen my soul, and shew it a
presence of that which is fit for me, certainly I should answer thus with
my faith, I will depend upon him, though he kill me, as Job did, Job
xiii. 15. Our souls should never give over seeking of Christ, praying
and endeavouring, for there is true love where he seems to forsake and
leave. Therefore I ought in these desertions to cleave to him in life and
in death.
THE ELEVENTH SERMON.
I opened to my beloved ; but my beloved had ivithdrau'n himself, and was gone :
my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I
called him, but he gave me no answer. — Cant. V. G, 7.
The pride and security of the spouse provokes the Lord, her husband, oft
to bring her veiy low, they being incompatible with Christ's residence.
Pride is an affection contrary to his jn'erogative ; for it sets up somewhat
in the soul higher than God, the highest.
Security is a dull temper, or rather distemper, that makes the soul
neglect her watch, and rely upon some outward privilege. ^\'Tierc this ill
116 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XI.
couple is entertained, there Christ useth to withdraw himself, even to the
failing and fainting of the soul.
The spouse is here in her fainting fit, yet she seeks after Christ. Still
she gives not over. So Jonah, ' I am cast out of thy presence,' says he,
' yet notwithstanding I will look toward thy holy temple,' Jonah ii. 4.
And David, ' I said in my haste, I am cast out of thy sight ; yet notwith-
standing thou heardest the voice of my prayer,' Ps. xxxi. 22. He said it,
but he said it in his haste. God's children are surprised on the sudden to
think they are cast away ; but it is in haste, and so soon as may be, they
recover themselves. * I said it is my infirmity,' said David, Ps. Ixxvii. 10.
It is but in a passion. Here then is the difierence between the children of
God and others in desertions ; they arise, these lie still and despair.
There is ' life in the substance of the oak,' Isa. vi. 13, that makes it lift up
its head above ground, though it be cut down to the stumps. Nay, we see
foi'ther here, the chm'ch is not taken off for any discouragements, but her
faith grows stronger, as the woman's of Canaan did. Mat. xv. 21, seq.
The reason whereof is — 1, faith looks to the promise, and to the nature
of God, not to his present dealing.
And then, 2. God, by a secret work of his Spirit, though he seem to be
an enemy, yet notwithstanding draws his children nearer and nearer to
him by such his dealing. All this strangeness is but to mortify some
former lust, or consume some former dregs of security.
' I sought him, but I could not find him.' Here one of the greatest
discouragements of all other is, when prayer, which is left to the church as
a salve for all sores, hath no answer. This is the complaint, but indeed
an error, of the church ; for Christ did hear the church, though he seemed
to turn his back.
But how shall we know that God hears our prayers ?
First. Amongst many other things this is one. When he gives us
inward peace, then he hears our prayers, for so is the connection, Phil. iv.
6, 7.
Or secondly. If we find a spirit to pray still, a spirit to wait and to hold
out, it is an argument that God either hath or will hear those prayers.
And as it is an argument that God hears our prayers, so is it of the pre-
sence of Christ. For how could we pray but from his inward presence ?
Christ was now present, and more present with the church when he seemed
not to be found of her, than he was when she was secure ; for whence else
comes this eagerness of desire, this spirit of prayer, this earnestness of
seeking? ' I called, but he gave no answer,' &c.
Directions hoiv to carry ourselves in such an estate. How shall we cany
ourselves when it falls out that our hearts fail of that we seek for, when we
pray without success, and find not a present answer, or are in any such-like
state of desertion.
1. We must believe against belief, as it were, * hope against hope, and
trust in God,' Eom. iv. 18, howsoever he shews himself to us as an oppo-
site.* It is no matter what his present dealing with his church and chil-
dren here is ; the nature of faith is to break through all opposition, to see
the sun behind a cloud, nay, to see one contrary in another, life in death,
a calm in a storm, &c., 1 Cor. \i. 8, 9, seq.
2. Labour for an absolute dependence 2ipon Christ, uith a poverty of spirit
m ourselves. This is the end of Christ's withdrawing himself, to purge us
of self-confidence and pride.
* That is, ' opponent. — G.
Cant. V. 0,7.] ' i called iiim, but he cave me no answer.' 117
3. Stir up your graces. For fis nature joining with physic helps it to
work and carry away the malignant humours, so hy the remainder of tho
Spirit that is in us, let us set all our graces on work until we have carried
away that that offends and clogs the soul, and not sink under the hurdcn.
For this is a special time for the exercising of faith, hope, love, diligence,
care, watchfulness, and such-like graces.
And let us know for our comfort, that even this conflicting condition is a
good estate. In a sick hody it is a sign of life and health approaching
when the humom's arc stirred, so as that a man complains that tho physic
works. So when we take to heart our present condition, though we fail
and find not what we would, yet this will work to the subduing of corrup-
tion at length. It is a sign of future victory when we are discontent with
our present ill estate. Grace will get the upper hand, as nature doth when
the humours are disturbed.
4. Again, when we are in such a seeming forlorn estate, let ns have
recourse to former experience. What is the reason that God vouchsafes his
children for the most part in the beginning of their conversion, in their first
love, experience of his love to ravishment ? It is, that afterwards they
may have recourse to that love of God then felt, to support themselves, and
withal to stir up endeavours, and hope ; that finding it not so well with
them now as formerly it hath been, by comparing state with state, desires
may be stirred up to be as they were, or rather better, Hosea ii. 7.
And as the remembrance of former experiences serve to excite endeavour,
so to stir up hope, I hope it shall be as it was, because God is immuta-
ble ; I change, but Christ alters not. The inferior elementary world changes.
Here is fair weather and foul, but the sun keeps his perpetual course. And
as in the gloomiest day that ever was, there was hght enough to make it
day and to distinguish it from night, though the sun did not shine, so in
the most disconsolate state of a Christian soul, there is light enough, in the
soul to shew that the Sun of righteousness is there, and that Christ hath
shined upon the soul, that it is day with the soul, and not night, Ps. cxii. 4.
5. And learn when we are in this condition to wait God's leisure, for he
hath waited ours. It is for our good, to prepare us for further blessmgs,
to mortify and subdue our corruptions, to enlarge the capacity of the soul,
that the Lord absents himself. Therefore Bernard saith well, ' Tihi accidit,'
&c., ' Christ comes and goes away for our good.' When he withdraws the
sense of his love, the soul thereupon is stretched with desire, that it may
be as it was in fonner time, in the days of old. Thus much for that. ' I
sought, but could not find him : I called, but he gave me no answer.'
Obj. Here we must answer one objection before we leave the words.
This seems to contradict other Scriptures, which promise that those that
seek shall find. Matt. vii. 7.
Ans. It is true they that seek shall find, but not presently. God's times
are the best and fittest. They that seek shall find, if they seek constantly
with their whole heart in all the means. Some do not find, because they
seek in one means and not in another. They seek Christ in reading and
not in the ordinance of hearing, in private meditation, but not in the com-
munion of saints. We must go through all means to seek Christ, not one
must be left. Thus if we will seek him, undoubtedly he will make good his
promise. Nay, in some sort, ' he is found before he is sought,' for he is in
our souls to stur up desire of seeking him. He prevents us with desires,
and answers us in some sort before we pray, Isa. Ixv. 24. When he fjives
us a spirit of prayer, it is a pledge to us, that he means to answer us.
118 BOWELS OPENED. [SeBMON XI.
Therefore it is a spiritual deceit when we think Christ is not in us, and
we are neglected of him, because we have not all that we would have.
Among many other deceits that Christians deceive themselves with iu this
kind, these be two.
1. That they judge grace by the quantity and not by the value and price of
it ; whereas the least measure of grace and comfort is to be esteemed,
because it is an immortal seed cast into the soul by an immortal God, the
Father of eternity,- Isa. ix. 6.
2. Another deceit is, that we judge of ourselves hy sense and feeling, and
not hy faith.
' The watchman that went about the city found me, and smote me, and
took away my veil from me.' Here the poor church, after the setting down
of her own exercise in her desertion, now sets out some outward ill deal-
ing she met with, and that from those that should have been her greatest
comforters. * The watchmen that went about the city found me, they
wounded me : the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.'
Thus we see how trouble follows trouble. ' One depth calls upon another.'
Inward desertion and outward affliction go many times together. The
troubles of the church many times are like Job's messengers. They come
fast one upon another, because God means to perfect the work of grace in
their hearts. All this is for their good. The sharper the winter the better
the spring. Learn hence first of all therefore in general.
That it is no easy thing to he a sound Christian. We see here, when the
church had betrothed herself to Christ and entertained him into her garden,
thereafter she falls into a state of security and sleep, whence Christ labours
to rouse her up. Then she useth him unkindly. After which he withdraws
himself, even so far that her heart fails her. Then, as if this were not enough,
the watchmen that should have looked to her, ' they smite her, wound her,
and take away her veil.' See here the variety of the usage of the church
and changes of a Christian ; not long in one state, he is ebbing and flowing.
Therefore let none distaste the way of godliness for this, that it is such
a state as is subject to change and variety, whereas carnal men are upon
their lees and find no changes.
Obj. But you will say. All Chi-istians are not thus tossed up and down,
so deserted of God and persecuted of others.
A71S. I answer, indeed there is difierence. Whence comes this diffei--
ence ? From God's liberty. It is a mystery of the sanctuary, which no man
in the world can give a reason of, why of Christians both equally beloved of
God, some should have a fairer passage to heaven, others rougher and more
rugged. It is a mystery hid in God's breast. It is sufficient for us, if
God will bring us any way to heaven, as the blessed apostle saith, ' if by
any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead,' Phil. iii. 11 ;
either through thick or thin, if God will bring me to heaven it is no matter.
' If I by any means.'
' The watchmen that went about the city smote me,' &c. By the watch-
men here are meant especially governors of state and church.
Why are they called watchmen ?
It is a borrowed speech, taken from the custom of cities that are be-
leaguered. For policy's sake they have watchmen to descry the danger they
are liable unto. So magistrates be watchmen of the state. Ministers are
the watchmen for souls, ' watching over our souls for good,' Heb. xiii. 17.
Quest. Why doth God use watchmen ?
* That is, thu ' Everlastinp; Father' of authorised translation. — G.
CaNT.V. 6,7.j ' I CALLED HIM, BUT HE GA^^: ME NO ANSWER.' 119
Ans. 1, Not for any defect of power in him, but for demonstration of his
goodness. For he is the gi-cat watchman, who watcheth over our common-
wealths, churches, and persons. He hath an eye that never sleeps. ' Ho
that watcheth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps,' Ps. cxxi. 4. Yet not-
withstanding he hath subordinate watchmen, not for defect of power, but
for demonstration of goodness. He manifests his goodness in that he will
use variety of subordinate watchers.
And likewise to shew his power in using many instruments, and his caro
for us when he keeps us together with his own subordinate means.
And in this that God hath set over us watchers, ministers especially, it
implies that our souls are in danger. And indeed there is nothing in the
world so beset as the soul of a poor Christian. Who hath so many and
so bad enemies as a Christian ? and amongst them all, the worst and
greatest enemj^ he hath is nearest to him, and converseth daily with him,
even himself. Therefore there must needs be watchmen to discover the
deceits of Satan and his instruments, and of our own hearts ; to discover
the dangers of Jerusalem, and the errors and sins of the times wherein we
live. The church is in danger, for God hath set watchmen. Now God and
nature doth nothing in vain or needlessly.
Again, in that God takes such care for the soul, it shews the wondrous
worth of it. Many arguments there be to shew that the soul is a precious
thing. It was breathed by God at first. Christ gave his life to redeem
it. But this is an especial one, that God hath ordained and established a
ministry and watchmen over it. And as God hath set some watchmen
over others, so hath he appointed every man to be a watchman to him-
self. He hath given every man a city to watch over, that is, his own estate
and soul. Therefore let us not depend altogether on the watching of
others. God hath planted a conscience in every [one] of us, and useth as
others to our good, so our own care, wisdom, and foresight, these he ele-
vateth and sanctifieth.
' The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they
wounded me,' &c.
Come we now to the carriage of these watchmen. Those that should
have been defensive prove most offensive.
They smote the church and wounded her many ways, though it be not
discovered here in particular. As (1.) with their ill and scandalous life;
and (2.) sometimes with corrupt doctrine, and otherwhiles with bitter
words ;'and (3.) their unjust censures, as we see in the story of the church,
especially the Romish Church. They have excommunicated churches and
princes. But not to speak of those synagogues of Satan, come we nearer
home and we may see amongst ourselves sometimes those that are watch-
men, and should be for encouragement, they smite and wound the church,
and take away her veil, 3 John 10.
Wliat is it to take away the veil ?
You know, in the times of the Old Testament, a veil was that which
covered women for modesty, to shew their subjection ; and it was likewise
an honourable ornament. ' They took away the veil,' that is, that where-
with the church was covered. They took away that that made the church
comely, and laid hor open, and as it were naked.
Now both these ways the chur^Jii's veil is taken away by false and
naughty watchmen.
1. As the veil is a token of subjection, when by their false doctrines they
labour to draw people f rim Christ, and their sidijection to him.
120 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON XI.
The cliurcli is Christ's spouse. The veil was a token of subjection.
Now they that draw the people to themselves, as in popish churches, that
desire to sit high in the consciences of people, and so make the church un-
dutiful, ' they take away the veil of subjection,' and so force Christ to
punish the church, as we see in former ages.
2. As the veil is for honour and comeliness, so ' they take away the veil'
of the church, when they take away the credit and esteem of the church; when
they lay open the infirmities and weaknesses of the church. This is strange
that the watchmen should do this ; yet notwithstanding oftentimes it falls
out so that those that by place are watchmen, are the bitterest enemies of
the church. Who were bitterer enemies of the poor church in Christ's
time than the scribes, pharisees, and priests ?
And so in the time of the prophets. Who were the greatest enemies the
church had, but false priests and prophets ?
Quest. What is the ground of this, that those men that by their standing
should be encouragers, are rather dampers of the church's zeal in pursuit
of it?
Ans. There are many grounds of it.
Sometimes it falls out from a spirit of envy in them at the graces of God's
people, which are wanting in themselves. They would not have others
better than themselves.
Sometimes from idleness, which makes them hate all such as provoke
them to pains. They raise up the dignity of outward things too much, as
we see in popery. They make everything to confer grace, as if they had a
special virtue in them. But thej neglect that wherewith God hath joined
an efficacy, his own ordinances.
Use 1. This should teach us, to be in love with Christ's government, and to
see the vanity of all things here below, though they be never so excellent in
their ordinance. Such is the poison of man's heart, and the malice of
Satan, that they turn the edge of the best things against the good of the
church.
What is more excellent than magistracy ? yet many times the point of
sword is directed the wrong way. ' I have said ye are gods,' Ps. Ixxxii. 6.
They should govern, as God himself would govern, and ask with them-
selves, Would Godnow, if he were a watchman of the state, do thus and thus ?
But I wish woeful experience did not witness the contrary.
So ministers are Christ's ambassadors, 2 Cor. v. 20, and should carry them-
selves even as Christ would do. They should strengthen the feeble knees
and bind up the broken hearted, nor* discourage ; and not sew pillows under
the armholes of wicked and carnal men, Ezek. xiii. 18. But, alas! we see
the edge of the ordinance is oftentimes turned another way by the corrupt,
proud, unbroken hearts of men and the malice of Satan.
Use 2. Again, it should teach us not to think the worse of any for the
disgraces of the times. The watchmen here take away the veil of the church,
and her forwardness is disgraced by them. Take heed, therefore, we enter-
tain not rash conceits of others upon the entertainment they find abroad
in the world, or among those that have a standing in the church, for so we
shall condemn Christ himself. How was he judged of the priests, scribes,
and pharisees in his times ? And this hath been the lot of the church in
all ages. The true members thereof were called heretics and schismatics.
The veil was taken ofi". It is the poisonful pride of man's heart that,
when it cannot raise itself by its own worth, it wiU endeavour to raise itself
* Qu. 'not?'- G.
CaNI. V. 7. J ' THEY SMOTi: 3IK, THEY WOUNDED ME.' 121
by the ruin of others' credit through lying slanders. The devil was first a
slanderer and liar, and then a mui'derer, John viii. 44. He cannot murder
without he slander first. The credit of the church must first bo taken
away, and then she is wounded. Otherwise, as it is a usual proverb. Those
that kill a dog make the world believe that he was mad first; so they
always first traduced the church to the world, and then persecuted her.
Truth hath always a scratched face. Falsehood many times goes under
better habits than its o^vn, which God sufiers, to exercise our skill and
wisdom, that we might not depend upon the rash judgment of others, but
might consider what grounds they have ; not what men do, or whom they
oppose, but from what cause, whether from a spirit of envy, idleness,
jealousy, and pride, or from good grounds. Else, if Christ himself were
on earth again, we should condemn him, as now men do the generation
of the just, whom they smite and wound, and take away their veil ffom
them.
THE TWELFTH SERMON.
TJie ivatclimen that xcent about the city found me, they smote me, they icounded
me: the keepers of the tvalls took aicay my veil from me. — Cant. V. 7.
The watchmen, those that by their place and standing should be so, they
smote the church. As Bernard complains, almost five hundred years ago,
* Alas, alas ! ' saith he, ' those that do seek privileges in the church are the
first in persecuting it ; ' and as his fashion is to speak in a kind of rhe-
toric, ' they were not pastors, but impostors.' There be two ordinances
without which the world cannot stand.
1. Magistracy.
2. Ministry.
Magistrates are nursing fathers and nursing mothers to the church.
Ministers are watchmen by their place and standing.
Now, for shepherds to become wolves, for watchmen to become smiters,
what a pitiful thing is it ! But thus it is. The church hath been always
persecuted with these men mider pretence of religion, which is the sharpest
persecution of all in the chm-ch. It is a grievous thing to sufi'er of an
enemy, but worse of a countryman, worse then that of a friend, and worst
of all, of the church. Notwithstanding, by the way, we must know that
the persecuted cause is not always the best, as Austin was forced to speak in
his time against the Donatists (j). Sarah was a type of the true, and Hagar
of the false, church. Now, Sarah, she corrected Hagar. Therefore, it
follows not that the sufiering cause is alway the better. Therefore, we
must judge of things in these kind of passages by the cause, and not by the
outward carriage of things.
' They took away my veil.'
Quest. What shall we do in such cases, if ive suffer any indiynity, if the
veil he taken off'? That is, if our shame, iufii-mities, and weaknesses be laid
open by false imputations.
Ans. In this case it is the ' innocency of the dove ' that is to be laboured
for, and withal the wisdom of the sei-pent, Mat. x. 16. If innocency will
not serve, labour for wisdom, as indeed it will not alone. The wicked
wrould then labour for subtilty to disgrace righteous persons.
122 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON XII.
Obj. But what if that will not serve neither ? Christ was wisdom itself,
yet he suffered most.
Ans. When innocency and wisdom will not do it (because we must be
conformable to our head), then we must labour for patience, knowing that
one hair of our heads shall not fall to the ground without the providence of
the Almighty.
Commend om- ease, as Christ did, by faith and prayer to God that judgeth.
* I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, if you see my beloved, that
you tell him that I am sick of love,' &c.
Here the church, after her ill usage of the watchmen, is forced to the
society of other Christians not so well acquainted with Christ as herself.
' I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved,' &c.,
' tell him,' &c. Wliat shall they tell him?
' Tell him I am sick of love.'
The church is restless in her desire and pursuit after Christ till she find
him. No opposition, you see, can take off her endeavour.
1. Christ seems to leave her inwardly.
2. Then she goeth to the watchmen. They * smite and wound ' her.
3. Then she hath recourse to the daughters of Jerusalem for help.
Generally, before we come to the particulars, from the connection we may
observe this,
That love is afire Idndled from heaven.
Nothing in the world will quench this grace. Cant. viii. 7. 8 ; no oppo-
sition ; nay, opposition rather whets and kindles endeavour.
The church was nothing discouraged by the ill usage of the watchmen,
onlj^ she complains; she is not insensible. A Christian may without sin
be sensible of indignities ; only it must be the ' mom-ning of doves,' Isa.
xxxviii. 14, and not the roaring of bears. It must not be murmuring and
impatiency, but a humble complaining to God that he may take our case to
heart, as the church doth here. But as sensible as she was, she was not a
whit discouraged, but seeks after Christ still in other means. If she find
him not in one, she will try in another. We see here the nature of love.
If it be in any measure perfect, it casteth out all fear of discouragements.
And, indeed, it is the nature of true grace to grow up with difficulties. As
the ark rose higher with the waters, so likewise the soul grows higher and
higher, it mounts up as discouragements and oppositions grow. Nay, the
soul takes vigour and strength from discouragements, as the wind increaseth
the flame. So the gi'ace of God, the more the winds and waves of afiliction
oppose it, With so much the more violence it breaks through all opposi-
tions, until it attain the desired hope.
To apply it : those therefore that are soon discouraged, that pull in their
horns presently, it is a sign they are very cold, and have but little grace.
For where there is any strength of holy affection, they will not be dis-
couraged, nor their zeal be quenched and damped. Therefore they subordinate
religion to their own ends, as your temporary believers. "VMiere is any love
to Christ, the love of Christ is of a violent nature. It sways in the heart,
as the apostle speaks, ' The love of Christ constraineth us,' 2 Cor. v. 14.
If we find this unconquerable resolution in ourselves, notwithstanding all
discouragements to go on in a good cause, let us acknowledge that fire to be
from heaven ; let ub not lose such an argument of the state of grace, as
suffering of afflictions with joy. The more we suffer, the more we should
rejoice, if the cause be good, as the apostles rejoiced ' that they were ac-
counted worthy to suffer any thing,' Acts v. 41.
Cant. V. 7.] ' i charge you, o daughtees.' 123
' I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that
ye tell him I am sick of love.'
She goes to the ' daughters of Jerusalem' for help. Whence we may learn,
That, if we find not comfort in one means, we must have recourse to another.
If we find not Christ present in one, seek him in another ; and perhaps
we shall find him where we least thought of him. Sometimes there is more
comfort in the society of poor Christians, than of the watchmen themselves.
' I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem,' &c.
Where we have, 1. A charge given. ' I charge,' &c.
2. The parties charged, ' the daughters of Jerusalem.'
3. The particular thing they are charged with, that is, if they find Chi-ist,
' to teU him she is sick of love.'
The parties charged, are ' the daughters of Jerusalem,' the daughters of
the chm'ch, which is called Jerusalem, from some resemblances between
Jerusalem and the church. Some few shall be touched, to give light to the
point.
1. Jerusalem was a city compact in itself, as the Psalmist saith, Ps.
cxxii. 3, so is the chm'ch, the body of Christ.
2. Jerusalem was chosen from all places of the world, to be the seat of
God ; so the church is the seat of Christ. He dwells there in the hearts of
his childi'en.
3. It is said of Jerasalem, they went up to Jenisalem, and dov,-n to
Egypt, and other places : so the church is from above. Gal. iv. 26. ' The
way of wisdom is on high,' Prov. xv. 24. Religion is upward. Grace,
gloiy, and comfort come from above ; and di-aw our minds up to have our
conversation and our desires above.
4. Jerusalem was^./ the joy of the whole earth ;' so the church of God,
what were the world without it, but a company of incarnate devils ?
5. In Jerusalem, records were kept of the names of all the citizens
there ; so all the ti-ue citizens of the church, their names are written in the
book of life in heaven, Heb. xii. 23.
The daughters of Jerusalem therefore are the true members of the church
that are both bred and fed in the church, 1 Peter i. 20 ; 1 Peter ii. 2. Let
us take a trial of om'selves, whether we be daughters of Jerusalem or no.
That we may make this trial of oui-selves.
1. If ice find freedom in our conscience from terrors and fears. If we find
spiritual liberty and fr-eedom to serve God, it is a sign that we are daughters
of Jerusalem, because Jerusalem was free, Gal. iv. 26.
2. Or if we mind thinrjs above, and things of the church. If we take to
heart the cause of the truth, it is a sign we are true ' daughters of Jerusa-
lem.' We know what the Psalmist saith, ' Let my right hand forget her
cunning if I forget thee, 0 Jerusalem, if I do not prefer Jerusalem before
my chief joy,' Ps. cxxxviii. 5, 6. If the cause of the church go to our
hearts ; if we can joy in the church's joy, and mourn in the church's abase-
ment and suffering, it is a sign we are true daughters of Jerusalem, and
lively* members of the body of Christ. Otherwise, when we hear that the
chm-ch goes down, and that the adverse part prevails, and we joy, it is a
sign we are daughters of Babylon and not of Jerusalem.
Therefore let us ask our affections what we are, as Austin writes excel-
lently in his book I)e Civitate Dei. * Ask thy heart of what city thou art.'
But what saith the church to the daughters of Jerusalem ? In the first
place, ' I charge you.'
* That is, ' li\ing.' — G.
12i BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON XII.
It is a kind of admiration supplied thus : ' I charge you, as you love me
your sister, as you love Christ, as you tender my case that am thus used,
as you will make it good that you are daughters of Jerusalem and not of
Babylon, ' tell my beloved, that I am sick of love.' It is a strong charge,
a defective speech, which yields us this observation.
That true affections are serious in the things of God and of religion.
She lays a weight upon them, ' I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem.'
True impressions have stong expressions. Therefore are we cold in matters
of religion in our discourses ; it is because we want these inward impres-
sions. The church here was full, she could not contain herself, in re-
gard of the largeness of her affections. ' I charge you, 0 daughters of
Jerusalem,' &c.
We may find the truth of grace in the heart, by the discoveries and ex-
pressions in the conversation in general.
' I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that ye
tell him I am sick of love.'
The church here speaks to others meaner than herself. She would have
the church tell Christ, by prayer, the surest intelligencer, how she was used,
how she languished, and was sick for him, and cannot be without him.
Quest. Why did not the church tell Christ herself ?
Ans. So she did as well as she could, but she desired the help of the
church this way also. Sometimes it is so with the children of God that they
cannot pray so well as they should, and as they would do ; because the
waters of the soul are so troubled, that they can do nothing but utter groans
and sighs, especially in a state of desertion, as Hezekiah could but chatter,
Isa. xxxviii. 14 ; and Moses could not utter a word at the Red Sea, though he
did strive in his spirit, Ex. xiv. 15. In such cases they must be beholden to
the help of others.
Sometimes a man is in body sick, as James saith, ' If any man be sick,
let him send for the elders, and let them pray,' James v. 14. There may
be such distemper of body and soul, that we are unfit to lay open our estate
to our own content. It is oft so with the best of God's children ; not that
God doth not respect those broken sighs and desires, but they give not con-
tent to the soul. The poor palsy man in the gospel, not able to go him-
self, was carried on the shoulders of others, and let through the house to
Christ, Mark ii. 2, 3. Ofttimes we may be in such a palsy estate, that we
cannot bring ourselves to Christ, but we must be content to be borne to him
by others.
' I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, that ye tell my beloved I am
sick of love.'
Whence the point that I desire you would observe is.
That at such times as ive find not our spirits enlarged from any cause out-
ward and inurird, to comfort and joy, then is a time to desire the i^rayers and
help of others.
It is good to have a stock going everywhere ; and those thrive the best
that have most pra3'ers made for them ; have a stock going in every coun-
try. This is the happiness of the saints. To enforce this instruction, to
desire the prayers of others, we must discover, that there is a wondrous
force in the prayers of Christians one for another. It is more than a com-
pliment. Would it were so !
The great apostle Paul, see how he desires the Romans, that they would
strive and contend with God after a holy violence, by their joint prayers
for him, Rom. xv. 30; so he desires the Thessalonians that they would
Cant. V. 7.] ' i am sick of love.' 125
pray for him, * that he might be delivered from unreasonable men, '
2 Thes. iii. 2. It is usual with him to say, ' Pray, pray,' and for us too ;
for such are gracious in the court of heaven. Despise none in this case.
A true, downright, experienced Christian's prayers are of much esteem
with God. Our blessed Saviour himself, when he was to go into the gar-
den, though his poor disciples were sleepy, and very untoward, yet he
would have their society and prayers. Mat. xx^^. 38 (/c).
' I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that
ye tell him I am sick of love.'
To speak a little of the matter of the charge, ' I am sick of love.' I love
him, because I have found former comfort, strength, and sweetness from
him, that I cannot be without him. To bo love-sick, then, in the presence
of the church, is to have strong affections to Christ ; from which comes
wondrous disquietuess of spirit in his absence. Here is somewhat good,
and somewhat ill. This is first her vii'tue, that she did fervently love. This
was her infirmity, that she was so much distempered with her present
want. These two breed this sickness of love. Whence we observe.
Where the thing loved is not jnrsent, ansicerahle to the desires of the soid
that loves, there follows disquiet and distemper of affections. That is here
termined* sickness of love.
The reason hereof is, natural contentment is in union ivith the thing loved.
The more excellent the thing is that is loved, the more contentment there
is in communion with it ; and where it is in any degi'ee or measure hin-
dered, there is disquiet. Answerable to the contentment in enjoying, is the
grief, sorrow, and sickness in parting. The happiness of the chm-ch con-
sisting in society with Christ, therefore it is her misery and sickness to be
deprived of him, not to enjoy him whom her soul so dearly loveth. There
are few in the world sick of this disease. I would there were more sick of
the love of Christ. There are many that surfeit rather of fulness, who
think we have too much of this manna, of this preaching, of this gospel.
There is too much of this knowledge of the ordinances. These are not
sick of love.
Use. Make a use, therefore, of trial, whether we be in the state of the
church or no, by valuing and prizing thejn-esence of Christ in his ordinances,
the word and sacraments.
There are many fondf sicknesses in the world. There is Amnon's
sickness, that was sick of love for his sister Tamar, 2 Sam. xiii. 2 ; his
countenance discovered it. And Ahab, he is sick in desiring his neigh-
bour's vine3'ard, 1 Kings xxi. 1, seq. You have many strange sicknesses.
Many sick with fires kindled from the flesh, fi.-om hell, but few sick of this
sickness here spoken of.
1. If we find ourselves carried to Christ, to ran in that stream as strong
as the affections of those that are distempered with sickness of the love
of other things, it ivill discover to us whether we be truly love-sick or not.
2. Take a man that is sick for any earthly thing, whether of Ahab's or
Amnon's sickness, or of anything, take it as you will, that which the soul
is sick of in love, it thinks of daily. It dreams of it in the night. What do
our souls therefore think of ? What do our meditations run after ? ^\Tien
we are in our advised and best thoiights, what do we most think of? If
of Christ, of the state of the church here, of grace and glory, all is well.
What makes us, in the midst of all worldly discontentments, to think all
dung and dross in comparison of Chiist, but this sickness of love to Christ.
* That is, ' termed.'— G. t That is, ' foolish.'— G.
126 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON XII.
If our love be in such a degree as it makes us sick of it, it makes us not to
hear what we hear, not to see v/hat we see, not to regard what is present.
The soul is in a kind of ecstasy ; it is carried so strongly, and taken up
with things of heaven. It is deaded to other things, when our eyes are
no more led v/ith vanity than if we had none, and the flesh is so mortified
as if we were dead men, by reason of the strength of our afl'ections that run
another way, to better things which are above.
3. Thus we see it is in love. Talk with a man that is in any heat of
affections, you talk with one that is not at home, you talk with one absent.
The soul is more where it loves than where it dwells. Surely where love
is in any strength it di'aws up the soul, so that a man ofttimes, in his call-
ing and ordinary employments, doth not heed them, but passeth through
the world as a man at random. He regards not the things of the world ;
for Christ is gotten into his heart, and draws all the affections to himself.
Where the affection of love is strong, it cares not what it suffers for the
party loved, nay, it glories in it. As it is said of the disciples, when they
were whipped and scourged for preaching the gospel, it was a matter of
glory to them, Acts v. 41. It is not labour, but favour. It is not labour
and vexation, but favom* that is taken, where love is to the party loved.
Where the love of Christ is, which was here in the chm'ch, labour is no
labour, suffering is no suffering, trouble is no trouble.
4. Again, it is the property of the j^di'ty that is sick of this disease, to take
little contentment in other things. Tell a covetous worldling that is in love
with the world a discourse of learning, what cares he for learning ? Tell him
of a good bargain, of a matter of gain, and he will hearken to that. So it
is with the soul that hath felt the love of Christ shed abroad in his heart.
Tell him of the world, especially if he want* that which he desires, the
peace and strength that he found from Christ in former times, he relisheth
not your discourse.
Labour we, therefore, everyday more and more to have larger and larger
affections to Cln-ist. The soul that loves Christ, the nearer to Christ the
more joyful it is ; when he thinks of those mutual embracings, when
Christ and his soul shall meet together there. This happiness is there,
where the soul enjoys the thing loved ; but that is not here, but in heaven.
Therefore, in the mean time, with joy he thankfully frequents the places
where Christ is present in the word and sacrament. And, that we may
come to have this affection, let us see what our souls are without him ;
mere dungeons of darkness and confusion, nothing coming from us that is
good. This will breed love to the ordinances ; and then we shall relish
Christ both in the word and sacrament. For he is food for the hungry
soul, and requires nothing of us but good appetites ; and this will make us
desire his love and presence.
THE THIRTEENTH SERMON.
I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find viy beloved, that ye tell him
I am sick of love. What is thy beloved more than another beloved, 0 thou
fairest among icomen ? <£c. — Cant. V. 8, 9.
The soul, as it is of an immortal substance, so in the right and true temper
thereof, [itj aspheth towards immortality, unless when it is clouded and
Cant. V. 8, 9.] ' if you find my beloved.* 127
overprcssed with that ' which presseth downwards, and the sin which hangoth
so fast on,' as the apostle speaks, Heb. xii. 1,-= which is the reason of
those many and diverse tossings and tunuoilings of the enhghtened soul, now
up, now down, now running amain homewards, and now again sluggish,
idle, and lazy ; until roused irp by extraordinary means, it puts on again.
As the fire mounteth upwards unto its proper place, and as the needle still
trembleth till it stand at the north ; so the soul, once inflamed with an
heavenly fire, and acquainted with her first original, cannot be at rest until
it fiiid itself in that comfortable way which certainly leads homewards. An
instance whereof we have in the church here, who, having lost her sweet
communion with Christ, and so paid dearly for her former neglect and
slighting his kind invitations, as being troubled, restless in mind, ' beaten
and wounded by the watchmen,' bereft of her veil, &c. Yet this heavenly
fire of the blessed Spirit, this ' water of life,' John iv. 10, so restlessly
springing in her, makes her sickness of love and ardent desire after Christ
to be such, that she cannot contain herself, but breaks forth in this passion-
ate charge and request —
' I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye
tell him I am sick of love.'
Thus we may see that the way to heaven is full of changes. The
strength of corruption overclouds many times, and damps our joys. How
many several tempers hath the charch been in ! Sometimes she is aU
compounded of ]oj, vehemently desiring kisses of her best beloved. She
holds her beloved fast, and will not let him go ; and sometimes, again, she
is gone, hath lost her beloved, is in a sea of ti'oubles, seeks and cannot find
him, becomes sluggish, ^negligent, overtaken with self-love, after which
when she hath smarted for her omissions, as here again, she is all a-fire
after Christ, as w^e say, no ground will hold her, away she flies after him,
and is restless until she find him. Where by the way we see, that ^;enna-
itency and stahiUtij is for the life to come ; here our j'iortion is to expect changes,
storms, and tempests. Therefore they must not be strange to particular
persons, since it is the portion of the whole church, which thus by sufiier-
ings and conformity to the head, 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18, must enter into glory,
while God makes his power perfect in our weakness, 2 Cor. xii. 9, over-
comes Satan by unlikely means, and so gets himself the glory, even out of
our gi'eatest infirmities, temptations, and abasements.
But God, though he make all things work for good unto his children,
Rom. \'iii. 28, even the devil, sin, and death, desertions, afilictions and aU;
yet we must be warned hereby not to tempt God, by neglecting the means
appointed for our comfortable passage, but open to Christ when he knocks,
embrace him joyfully in his ordinances, and let our hearts fly open unto
him. For though, through his mercy, om- wounds be cured, yet who
would be wounded to try such dangerous experiments, as here befell
the church in her desertions, for her sluggish negligence, deadness, and
self-love ?
So that we see there is nothing gotten by favouring ourselves in carnal
liberty, security, or by yielding to the flesh. The church stood upon terms
with Christ when he would have come in to her ; but what ensued here-
upon ? She fell into a grievous desertion, and not only so, but finds very
hard usage abroad, all which she might have prevented by watchfulness,
carefulness, and opening to Christ knocking. It is a spiritual error, to
which we are all prone, to think that much is gained by favoiuring ourselves,
« See Note e— G.
128 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XIII.
but we shall find it otherwise. See here, again, that God will bear with
nothing, though in his own, but he will sharply punish them even for
omissions, and that not only with desertion, but sometimes they shall meet
with oppositions in the world.
David cannot scape with a proud thought in numbering of the people,
but he must smart for it, and his people also, 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. God is
wondrous careful of his children to correct them, when he lets strangers
alone, Amos iii. 2. It is a sign of love, when he is at this cost with us.
And it should tie us to be careful of our behaviour, not to presume upon
God's indulgence ; for the nearer we are to him, the more careful he is over
us : ' He will be sanctified in all that come near him,' Lev. x. 3. We see
the Corinthians, because they come unreverently to the Lord's table, though
otherwise they were holy men, ' some of them are sick, some weak, others
sleep, that they might not be condemned with the world,' 1 Cor. xi. 30.
Let none, therefore, think the profession of religion to imply an im-
munity, but rather a straighter* bond ; for ' judgment begins at the house
of God,' 1 Pet. iv. 17. Whatsoever he suffers abroad, he will not sufier
disorders in his own house, as the prophet says, ' You only have I known
of all the families of the earth, therefore you shall not go unpunished,'
Amos iii. 2. The church is near him, his spouse whom he loveth, and
therefore he will correct her, not endming any abatement, or decay of the
fii-st love in her. And for this very cause he threateneth the church of
Ei^hesus, * to remove her candlestick,' Rev. ii. 5.
To proceed. The poor ehm-ch here is not discouraged, but discovers
and empties herself to the daughters of Jerusalem. As it is the nature of
culinary fire, not only to mount upwards, but also to bewray itself by light
and heat, so of this heavenly fire, when it is once kindled from above, not
only to aspire in its motion, but to discover itself, in aflecting others with
its qualities. It could not contain itself here in the church, but that she
must go to the daughters of Jerusalem. ' I charge you, 0 daughters of
Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him that I am sick of love,'
Therefore they may doubt that they have not this heavenly fii-e kindled in.
them, that express it not seriously ; for of all afiections, it will not be con-
cealed, David wonders at his own love : ' Oh, how I love thy law ! Oh,
how amiable are thy tabernacles ! ' Ps. cxix. 97.
Again, we see here, that tvhere the soul is sick of love, it stands not upon
any terms, hut it humbleth and ahaseth itself. We say that afiection stands
not with majesty. Therefore Christ's love to us moved him to abase him-
self in taking our nature, that he might be one with us. Love stood not
upon terms of greatness. We see the church goes to those that were
meaner proficients in religion than herself, to pour out her spirit to them,
* to the daughters of Jerusalem.' She abaseth herself to any service, 1
Thess. ii. 3. Love endureth all things, 1 Cor. xiii. 7, anything to attain
to the thing loved ; as we see Hamorthe son of Shechem,t he would endure
painful circumcision for the love he bore to Dinah, Gen. xxxiv. 24. So,
Acts V. 41, it is said they went away rejoicing, after they were whipped,
because they loved Christ. The spirit of love made them rejoice, when
they were most disgracefully used.
Sometimes where this affection of heavenly love is prevalent, so that a
man is sick of it, the distempers thereof redounds to the body, and reflects
upon that, as we see in David : ' That his moisture became as the drought
of summer,' Ps. xxxii. 4 ; because there is a marriage and a sj'mpathy
.*■ Qu. ' straiter ?" — Ed. f ' Shechem the son of Hamor.' — Ed.
Cant. V. 8, 9.] * o thou fairest among women.' 129
between the soi;l and the body, wherein the excessive affections of the ono
redoitnd and reflect upon the other.
' Tell him that I am sick of love.' Here is a sickness, but not unto death,
but unto life ; a sickness that never ends but in comfort and satisfaction.
Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after Christ, they shall be satis-
fied, Mat. V. 6, as we shall see afterwards more at large.
Knowledge gives not the denomination, for we may know ill and he goodf
and ice may know good and he evil; but it is the affection of the soul which
cleaves to the things known. The truth of our love is that gives the deno-
mination of a state to be good or ill. Love is the weight and wing of tho
soul, which carries it where it goes ; which, if it carry us to earth, we aro
base and earthly ; if to heaven, heavenly. We should have especial care
how we fix this affection ; for thereafter as it is, even so is our condition.
' Ask thy love of what city thou art, whether of Jerusalem or Babylon,'
as Austin saith. Now the daughters of Jerusalem reply unto the church,,
wondering at her earnestness,
' What is thy beloved more than another beloved, 0 thou fairest among
women ? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so
charge us ?'
Instead of giving satisfaction to her, they reply with asking new questions,
' What is thy beloved more than another beloved, 0 thou fairest among
women ? what is thy beloved,' &c. Wherein ye have a doubling of the
question, to shew the seriousness of it. Of this their answer there are two parts.
1. A loving and sweet compellation, ' 0 thou fairest among women.'
2. The question doubled, ' What is thy beloved more than another
beloved?' And again, 'What is thy beloved,' &c., 'that thou dost so
charge us ? ' As if they should say, ' Thou layest a serious charge upon
us ; therefore there is some great matter surely in thy beloved that thou
makest such inquiiy after him.' Thus the weaker Christians being stin'ed
up by the example of the stronger, they make this question, and aro thus
inquisitive. But to speak of them in their order.
' 0 thou faii'est among women.' Here is the compellation. The church
is the fairest among women in the judgment of Christ. So he calls her,
* 0 thou fairest among women,' Cant. i. 8 ; and here the fellow- members
of the chm-ch term her so too ; fair, and the fairest, incomparably fair.
Quest. But how cometh she to be thus fair ?
Ans. 1. It is in regard that she is clothed with Christ's rohes. There is a
woman mentioned clothed with the sun. Rev. xii. 1. We were all ennobled
with the image of God at the fii-st, but after we had sinned we were bereft
of that image. Therefore now all our beauty must be clothing, which is
not natural to man, but artificial ; fetched from other things. Our beauty
now is borrowed. It is not connatiu'al with us. The beauty of the church
now comes from the Head of the church, Ckrist. She shines in the beams
of her husband, not only in justification, but in sanctification also.
2. The chm-ch is lovely and fau' again, as from Christ's imputative right-
eousness, so from his righteousness inherent in her, the graces she hathjrom
him. For of him we receive grace for grace. There is never a gi'ace bui
it is beautiful and fiiir ; for what is grace but the beams of Christ, the Sun
of righteousness ? So that all must be fiiii- that comes from the first fair,
all beautiful that comes from the first beauty.
This beauty of grace, whereby it makes the church so fair, springs from
these grounds.
First. In that it is from a divine •principle and original. It is not basely hred,
VOL. II, I
130 60WEX.S OPENED. [Sermon XIII.
hut from heaven. And therefore it raiseth the soul above nature, and makes
the subjects -wherein it is as far surpass all other men, as men do beasts.
Secondly. In regard of the continuance, it is everlasting, and makes its
continue for ever. 'All flesh is grass, and as the flower of grass,' saith the
prophet, Isa. xl. 6 ; and it is repeated in the New Testament in divers
places. All worldly excellency is as the flower of grass. ' The grass
withereth and the flower fadeth, but the word of the Lord (that is, the
grace that is imprinted in the soul by the Spirit with the word), that
abideth for ever,' 1 Pet. i. 24, and makes us abide likewise.
Use 1. From this fairness of the church, let us take occasion to contem-
plate of the excellency of Christ that puts this lustre of beauty upon the
church. Moses married a woman that was not beautiful, but could not
alter the complexion and condition of his spouse. But Christ doth. He
takes us wallowing in our blood, deformed and defiled. He is such a hus-
band as can put into his church his own disposition, and transform her
into his own proportion. He is such a head as can quicken his members ;
such a root as instils life into all his branches ; such a foundation as makes
us living stones. There is a virtue and power in this husband above all.
Obj. But she is black.
Ans. She is so, indeed, and she confesseth herself to be so. ' I am
black, but comely,' Cant. i. 5. (1.) Black in regard of the afflictions and
persecutions of others she meets with in this world.
(2.) Black, again, in regard of scandals ; for the devil hates the church
more than all societies in the world. Therefore, in the society of the
church there are often more scandals than in other people ; as the apostle
tells the Corinthians there was incest amongst them, the like was not
among the heathen, 1 Cor. v. 1.
(3.) She is black through the envy of the world, that looks more at the
church's faults than virtues.
(4.) The church is black and unlovely, nothing difiering from others, in
regard of God's outward dealing. 'All falls alike to all,' Eccles. ix. 2.
They are sick and deformed. They have all things outwardly whatsoever
in common with others.
(5.) Lastly and principally, she is black, in respect of her infirmities and
weaknesses ; subject to weakness and passions, as other men. The beauty
of the church is inward, and undiscerned to the carnal eye altogether. The
Scribes and Pharisees see no virtue in Christ himself. It is said, ' that he
came among his own, and his own could not discern of him : the darkness
could not comprehend that light,' John i. 5, 11. Now, as it was with
Christ, so it is much more with the church. Let this, then, be the use of it.
Use 2. Ojypose this state of the church to the false judgment of the icorld.
They see all black, and nothing else that is good. Christ sees that which
is black, too ; but then his Spirit in them (together with the sight of their
blackness) seeth their beauty, too. ' I am black, but comely,' &c. Be not
discouraged, therefore, at the censure of the world. BHnd men cannot
judge of colours. It is said of Christ, ' he had no form or beauty in him,
when we shall see him,' Isa. liii. 2. (1.) Not in outward glory, nor (2.) in
the view of the world. If we be, therefore, thought to be black, we are no
otherwise thought of than the church and Christ hath been before us.
Use 3. Again, let us make this use of it against Satan in the time of
temptation. Doth Christ think us fair for the good we have ? Doth he
not altogether value us by our ill ? and shall we believe Satan, who joins
with the distempers of melancholy or weakness we are in (which he useth
Cant. V. 8, 9.] ' o thou fairest among women,' 131
as a weapon against the soul), to make us think otherwise ? ' Satan is not
only a murderer, but a liar from the beginning,' John viii. 44. We must
uot believe an enemy and a liar withal. But consider how Christ and the
chm'ch judgeth, that have better discerning. And let us beware we be
not Satans* to ourselves; for if there were no devil, yet in the time of
temptation and desertion we are subject to discouragement, to give false
witness against ourselves. "We are apt to look on the dark side of the
cloud. The cloud that went before the Israelites had a double aspect, one
dark, the other light, Exod. xiv. 20. In temptation we look on the dark
side of the soul, and are witty in pleading against ourselves. Oh, but
consider what Christ judgeth of us, ' 0 ! thou fairest among women ;' and
what those about us that are learned, who can read our evidences better
than we ourselves, do judge of us. Let us trust the judgment of others in
time of temptation more than our own.
Use 4. Learn again here, tchat to judge of the sjnrits of such kind of men as
are all in disgracincj and defacing the j)oor church. Their table talk is of the
infirmities of Christians. They light upon them as flies do upon sore
places, and will see nothing that is good in them. Oh ! where is the Spirit
of Christ, or of the church of Christ, in them that thus bescratch the face
of the church ? when yet ofttimes their hearts tell them these poor despised
ones will be better than themselves one day, for grace shall have the upper
hand of all excellences.
The chui-ch is fair and fairest. Grace is a transcendent good. All the
excellency of civility and morality is nothing to this. This denominates
the chm'ch the fairest. She is not gilt, but pure gold ; not painted, but
hath a true natural complexion. All other excellencies are but gilt, painted
excellencies. ' The whore of Babylon,' she is wondrous fair ! But wherein
doth her beauty consist ? In ornaments and ceremonies to abuse silly
people that go no further than fancy. It is an excellency that comes not
to the judgment, but the excellency of the church is otherwise. She is
* the fairest among women.' She hath a natural fixirness. As gold is pure
gold, so the church is of a pure composition, glorious within. It is for^the
false, whorish chui'ch to be glorious without only, but the true churclias
glorious within. But that which we should especially observe is, that ice
should labour to answer this commendation ; not only to be fair, but the fairest;
to be transcendenthj , singularly good ; to do somewhat more than others can; to
have somewhat more in us than others have.
For it is answerable to the state of a Christian. Is a Christian in an
excellent rank above other men ? Let him shew it by a carriage more gra-
cious, more fruitful and plentiful in good works. There is a kind of excel-
lency affected in other things, much more should we desire to be excellent
in that that is good, that we may not be fair only, but the fairest. This the
apostle St Paul excellently presseth to Titus, his scholar, Tit. ii. 14,f and
to all of us in other places, that we should be ' a pecuhar people, zealous
of good works,' not only to do them, but to be zealous of them, and to go
before others in them, standing as standard-bearers. Therefore those
that think they may go too far in rehgion, that they may be too fruitful,
are not worthy the name of the spouse of Christ ; for she is fair, yea, the
fairest among women, ' The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour,'
Prov. xii. 26. Therefore we should excel in good works, as the apostle
* That is, ' accusers' or ' adversaries.'— G.
t ' Jesus Christ, who Rave himself for us that he might redeem us from all ini-
quity, aud purify unto himself a peculiar people.'
132 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON Xlll.
exhorts us, * to labour after things that are excellent/ 1 Cor. xii. 31 ; 2 Pet.
i. 8, as if he should say, Is there anything better than other, labour for
that. You have some so far from this disposition that they cry down the
excellencies of others, lest the fairness of ott^ers might discover their black-
ness. Thus we leave the compellation, and come to the question.
Quest. ' What is thy beloved more than another beloved ?' And they
double it, ' What is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou so
chargest us ?'
Questions are of divers natures. We shall not stand upon them. This
is not a question merely of ignorance, for they had some knowledge of
Christ, though weak. Nor was it a curious nor a catching question, like
those of the scribes and pharisees unto Christ, to instance in that of Pilate,
* What is truth ?' John xviii. 38, when Christ had told him the truth. ' What
is truth?' saith he, in a scornful, profane manner (l), as indeed profane
spirits cannot hear savouiy words, but they turn them oil' v/ith scorn,
* What is truth ? ' This here in the text is not such, but a question tend-
ing to further resolution and satisfaction, ' What is thy beloved more than
another beloved ? '
First of all, observe that these of the church here were stirred up by the
examples of other members of the church to be inquisitive after Christ, so
to be satisfied. Hence obsei've that there is a wondrous force in the examples
of Christians to stir up one another. We see here, when the church was
sick of love, the other part of the members began to think, what is the
reason the church is so earnest to seek after Christ ? There is some ex-
cellency sure in him. For wise men do not use great motions in little mat-
ters. Great things are carried with great movings. We use not to stir
up tragedies for trifles, to make mountains of mole-hills. The endeavours
and carriages of great persons that be wise, judicious, and holy are answer-
able to the nature of things. And indeed the chui'ch judgeth aright in
this. Then see the force of good example. Any man that hath his wits
about him, when he sees others serious, earnest, and careful about a thing,
whereof for the present he can see no reason, especially if they have parts
equal or superior to himself, will reason thus presently : —
What is the matter that such a one is so earnest, so careful, watchful,
laborious, inquisitive ? It is not for want of wit ; surely he hath parts
enough, he understands himself well. And then he begins to think, sure
I am too cold. Hereupon come competition and co-rivahty,* surely I will
be as good as he.
Use. Let us labour, therefore, to be exemplary to others, and to express
the graces of God ; for thus we shall do more than we are aware. There
is a secret influence in good example. Though a man say nothing, saith
one, there is a way to profit from a good man though he hold his peace.
His course of hfe speaks loud enough. We owe this to all, even to them
that are without, to do them so much good as to give them a good example,
and we wi'ong them when we do not, and hinder then* coming on by an
evil or a dead example.
Let this be one motive to stir us up to it, that answerable to the good we
shall do in this kind shall he our comfort in life and death, and our reward
after death. For the more spreading our good is either in word, life, or
conversation, the more our consciences shall be settled in the consideration
of a good life well spent, our reward shall be answerable to our communi-
cation and diffusion of good ; and whereas othenvise it will lie heavy on the
* That is, ' mutual emulation.' — G.
Cant. V. 8, 9.J * o thou fairest among women.' 133
conscience, not only in this life, but at the day of judgment and after ;
when we shall think not only of the personal ill that we stand guilty of,
but exemplary ill also.
It should move those therefore of inferior sort to look to all good examples,
as the church here to the love of the other part of the church. Wherefore
are examples among us but that we should follow them ? We shall not
only be answerable for abuse of knowledge, but also of good examples wo
have had and neglected. Doth God kindle lights for us, and shall not we
walk by their light ? It is a sin not to consider the sun, the moon, the
stars, the heavens, and works of nature and providence, much more not to
consider the works of grace. But one place of Scripture shall close up all,
which is, Rom. xi. 11, that the example of us Gentiles at length shall stu'
up and provoke the Jews to believe. To those stili-necked Jews example
shall be so forcible that it shall prevail with them to believe and to be con-
verted. K example be of such force as to convert the Jews that are so far
off, how much more is it or should it be to convert Christians ! Wondrous
is the force of good example ! So we come to the question itself,
' What is thy beloved more than another beloved ? ' &c.
We see there is excellent use of holy conference. The church coming to
the daughters of Jerusalem, speaking of Christ her beloved, that she is
' sick of love,' &c., the daughters of Jerusalem are inquisitive to know
Christ more and more. Here is the benefit of holy conference and good
speeches. One thing draws on another, and that draws on another, till at
length the soul be warmed and kindled with the consideration and medita-
tion of heavenly things. That that is httle in the beginning may bring
forth great matters. This question to the chui'ch and talking with her, ' I
charge you, if you find my beloved, to tell him that I am sick of love,'
breeds questions in others, 'What is thy beloved?' &c. Wlience, upon the
description of her beloved, her heart is kindled, she findeth her beloved; so
that talking of holy and heavenly things is good for others and ourselves also.
It is good for others, as it was good for the daughters of Jerusalem here ;
for thereupon they are stii'red up to be inquisitive after Christ. And it was
good for the church herself, for hereupon she took occasion to make a large
commendation of Christ, wherein she found much comfort.
2. Good conference, then, is good for ourselves ; for we see a little seed
brings forth at length a great tree, a little fire kindleth much fuel, and great
things many times rise out of small beginnings. It was a little occasion
which Naaman the Assyrian* had to effect his conversion, 2 Kings v. 2.
There was a poor banished woman, a stranger, who was a Jewish maid-
servant. She told her lord's servants that there was a prophet in Jewry that
could heal him, whereupon he came thither, and was converted and healed.
And Paul sheweth that the very report of his bonds did a gi-eat deal of good
in Cesar's house, Philip, i. 13. Report and fame is a little matter, but
little matters make way for the greater.
This may put us in mind to spend our time fruitfully in good conference,
when in discretion it is seasonable. We know not, when we begin, where we
may make an end. Our souls may be carried up to heaven before we are
aware, for the Spirit will enlarge itself from one thing to another. ' To
bun that hath shall be given more and more still,' Mat. xiii. 12. God
graciously seconds good beginnings. We see the poor disciples, when they
were in a damp for the loss of Christ, after he comes, meets them, and talks
of holy things. In that very conference their hearts were warmed and
* ' Syrian.'— Ed.
134 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON XIII,
kindled, Luke xxiv. 32. For, next to heaven itself, our meeting together
here, it is a kind of paradise. The greatest pleasure in the world is to
meet with those here whom we shall ever Hve with in heaven. Those who
are good should not spend such opportunities fruitlessly.
And to this end, labour for the graces of the communion of saints; for
there is such a state. We believe it as an article of our creed. How shall
we approve ourselves to be such as have interest unto the communion of
saints, unless we have spirits able to communicate good to others? pitiful
and loving spirits, that we may speak a word in due season.
What a world of precious time is spent in idle conversing, as if the time
were a burden, and no improvement to be made of the good parts of others.
Sometimes, though we know that which we ask of others as well as they
do, yet notwithstanding good speeches will draw us to know it better, by
giving occasion to speak more of it, wherewith the Spirit works moi'e
effectually and im.prints it deeper, so that it shall be a more rooted know-
ledge than before; for that doth good that is graciously known, and that is
graciously known that the Spirit seals upon our souls. Perhaps the know-
ledge I Jaave is not yet sealed sufficiently; it is not rooted by conference.
Though I hear the same things again, yet I may hear them in a fresh
manner, and so I may have it sealed deeper than before. Experience finds
these things to be true.
Again, ive should labour here to have our hearts inquisitive. The heathen
man accounted it a grace in his scholar, and a sign that he would prove
hopeful, because he was full of questions. Christians should be inquisitive
of the ways of righteousness ; inquisitive of the right path which leads to
heaven ; how to carry themselves in private, in their families ; how in all
estates ; inquisitive of the excellency of Christ. ' What is thy beloved
more than another beloved ? ' Questions end usually in resolutions ; for
the soul will not rest but in satisfaction. Rest is the happiness of the soul,
as it were. When a question is moved, it will not be quiet till it have
satisfaction. Therefore doubting at the first, breeds resolution at the
last. It is good therefore to raise questions of the practice of all neces-
sary points ; and to improve the good parts and gifts of others that
we converse with, to give satisfaction. What an excellent improve-
ment is this of communion and company, when nothing troubles our
spirit, but we may have satisfaction from others upon our proposing it.
Perhaps God hath laid up in the parts of others, satisfaction to our souls ;
and hath so determined that we shall be perplexed and vexed with scruples,
till we have recourse to some whom he hath appointed to be helpful to us
in this kind. Many go mourning a gi-eat part of their days in a kind of
sullenness this way, because that they do not open their estate to others. You
see here the contrary practice of the church. She doubles the question :
'What is thy beloved more than another beloved, 0 thou fairest among women?
what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us ?
THE FOURTEENTH SERMON.
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, 0 thou fairest among ivomen?
what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thoxisand. — Cant.
V. 9, 10.
The last time we met we left the church sick of love ; which strange affec-
Cant. V. 9, 10.] ' what is thy beloved ?' 185
tion in her, together with her passionate charge to the daughters of
Jerusalem, moved them to make this question unto her, ' Wliat is thy be-
loved more than another beloved,' &c. To be in love is much ; to conceal
it is grievous ; to vent it with such fervency and passion breeds astonish-
ment in these younger Christians, who wonder what that is which can so
draw away the church's love, and run away with her affections. They knew
no such excellencies of the person the chui'ch so admired, and therefore
they double the question unto her, ' What is thy beloved?' &c. ' what is
• thy beloved ? ' &c. Whereby we see the excellency of the soul which aspires
still towards perfection ; not resting in any state inferior to the most ex-
cellent. Therefore also is the church's sickness of love here, who desires
a nearer union and communion with Christ than she at this time had.
For there are degrees of spmtual languishing. Till ice be in heaven we
are ahcaijs under some degree of this siclmess of love ; though the soul have
more communion at one time than at another. Yea, the angels are under
this wish to see Christ, together with his church, in full perfection. So
that until we be in heaven, where shall be a perfect reunion of soul and
body, and of all the members of the church together, there is a kind of
sickness attending upon the church and a languishing.
The question asked is,
' WTiat is thy beloved more than another's beloved, 0 thou fairest among
women ?'
What ! now fair when her veil was taken away ? now fair when the
watchmen abased* her ? now fair when she was disgraced ? Yes ; now fair,
and now fair in the sight of the daughters of Jerusalem, and in the sight
of Christ that calls her the fairest among women. So that under all dis-
gi'aces, infii-mities, and scandals ; under all the shame that riseth in the
soul upon sin ; under all these clouds there is an excellency of the church.
She is, ' the fairest among women,' notwithstanding all these. * 0 thou
fairest among women.'
Quest. Whence comes this fairness, under such seeming foulness and
disgrace ?
Ans. It comes from without. It is borrowed beauty, as you have it,
Ezek. xvi, 1, 2. By nature we lie in our blood. There must be a beauty
put upon us. We are fair with the beauty that we have out of Christ's
wardrobe. The church shines in the beams of Christ's righteousness ;
she is not bom thus fair, but new-bom fairer. The chui'ch of Christ is all
glorious, but it is within, not seen of the world, Ps. xlv. 13. She hath a
Ufe, but it is a hidden Hfe, ' our glory and our life is hidden in Christ,'
Col. iii. 3. It is hid sometimes £fom the church itself, who sees only her
deformity and not her beauty, her death but not her life, because her ' life
is hid.' Here is a mystery of religion. The church is never more fair than
when she judr/eth herself to be most deformed ; never more happy than when
she judijeth herself to he miserable: never more strong than ivhen she feels her-
self to heiveak; never more righteous than ivhen she feels herself to be most
burdened with the guilt of her own sins, because the sense of one contrary
forceth to another. The sense of ill forceth us to the fountain of good, to
have supply thence. ' "When I am weak, then am I strong,' saith Paul,
2 Cor. xii. 10. Grace and strength is perfect in weakness.
Use. This should teach us what to judge of the church and people of
God ; even under their seeming disgraces, yet to judge of them as the ex-
eellentest people in the world, 'All my delight is in those that are ex-
* Qu. ' abused ?' — G.
136 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XTV.
cellent,' Ps. xvi. 3 ; to join ourselves to them. Especially this is here to
be understood of the church, as it is the mystical body of Christ ; not as
a mixed body, as a visible church, ' but as it is the temple of the Holy Ghost,'
1 Cor. iii. 17.
The visible church hath terms of excellency put upon it sometimes, but
it is in regard of the better part. As gold unrefined is called gold, because
gold is the better part ; and a heap of wheat unwinnowed is called wheat,
though there be much chaff in it. The body of Christ itself hath always
excellent terms given it, ' 0 thou fairest among women.' "*
Those that look upon the church with the spectacles of malice can see
no such beauty in her, though to espy out faults (as the devil could in Job,
Job i. 9, seq.), to quarrel, to slander, they are quick-sighted enough. But
we see here the church in the judgment of the ' daughters of Jerusalem,'
that she is the ' fairest among women.'
The papists have a painted beauty for their catholic church, but here is
no such beauty. It becomes a whore to be painted to be as fair as her
hands can make her, with feigned beauty. But the church of Christ hath a
beauty from her husband, a real, spiritual beauty, not discerned of the world.
Use. This should be of use to God's children themselves, to help them in
the vpbraidinrfs of conscience (as if they had no goodness in them), because
therj have a great deal of ill. Christians should have a double eye, one to
set and fix upon that which is ill in them, to humble them ; and another
upon that which is supernaturally gracious in them, to encourage them-
selves. They should look upon themselves as Christ looks upon them,
and judge of themselves as he judgeth of them, by the better part. He
looks not so much what ill we have, for that shall be wrought out by little
and little, and be abolished. It is condemned already, and it shall be exe-
cuted by little and little, till it be wholly abolished. But he looks upon us
in regard of the better part. So should we look upon ourselves, though
otherwhiles upon our black feet (our infirmities) when we are tempted to
pride and haughtiness. But always let the mean thoughts we conceive of
ourselves make us to fly to Christ.
* What is thy beloved more than another beloved ? '
Here is a question, and a question answered with a question. Questions
they breed knowledge ; as the Greek proverb is, doubtings breed resolu-
tion. Whereupon the inquisitive soul usually proves the most learned,
judicious, and wise soul. Therefore that great philosopher* counted it as a
virtue amongst his scholars that they would be inquisitive. So the scholars
of righteousness are inquisitive, ' They inquire the way to Canaan, and the
way to Zion with their faces thitherwards,' Jer. 1. 5.
It is a special part of Christians' wisdom to improve the excellency of
others by questions ; to have a bucket to draw out of the deep wells of
others. As Solomon saith, ' The heart of a wise man is as deep waters,
but a man of understanding can tell how to fetch those waters out.' There
be many men of deep and excellent parts which are lost in the world, be-
cause men know not how to improve them. Therefore it is good, while
we have men excellent in any kind, to make use of them. It is an honour
to God as well as a commodity to ourselves. Doth God suffer hghts to
shine in the world that we should take no notice of them ? It is a wi'ong
to ourselves and a dishonour to God.
' What is thy beloved more than another beloved ? ' &c.
A further point from hence is, that if we would give encouragement to others
* That is, Socrates in Plato's ' Dialogues.' — G.
Cant. V. 9, 10.] ' my beloved is avhits and euddt.' 137
to repair to us for any good, we should learn to he so excellent as to adorn
religion.
' 0 thou fairest among women, what is thy beloved ?' &c. They inquire
of her, because they have a good conceit of her. A world of good might
be done if there were bred a good conceit of men in others. We say in
sickness, A good conceit of the physician is half the cure. So in teach-
ing, a good conceit of the teacher is half the learning. ' The daughters of
Jerusalem' had a good conceit here in their questioning of the church. * O
thou fairest among women, what is thy beloved more than another beloved ? '
Let us labom% therefore, to be such as may bring honour and credit to
religion, and make it lovely ; that what we do may make others think we
do what we do to great purpose ; which is ofttimes a special means and
occasion of their conversion. Though properly the cause of conversion be
the Spirit of God in the ordinances, yet the inducement, many times, and
occasion, is the observation of the course and carriage of those that excel
and are lvno^vIl to be eminent in parts and in graces. Emulation adds
spurs to the soul. Do they take such courses that are wiser thtin I, and
shall not I take the Uke course too ? Paul saith, the emulation of the
Gentiles shall be a means of the conversion of the Jews, Rom. xi. 11.
"When they shall see them embrace Christ, they will be encouraged to do so
also. What shall we think, therefore, of them that live so as that they
bring an evil report, scandal, and reproach upon religion ? Great and
fearful is their ^\ickedness, that by their ill conversation, like Hophni and
Phinehas, discredit the ordinances of the Lord, 1 Sam. ii. 17.
Now the chui'ch thus answers the former question touching Christ, * My
beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousand.' She is not afraid
to set out her beloved's beauty ;, for there is no envy in spiritual things.
It is want of wisdom amongst men to commend a thing that is verj'- lovely to
others, and so to set an edge upon their aliections when they cannot both
share ; and the more one hath, the less another hath of all things here
below. But in spiritual things there is no envy at the sharing of others in
that we love ourselves, because all may be loved alike. Christ hath grace
and affection enough for all his. He hath not, as Esau speaks, but ' one
blessing.' No, he can make all his happy. Therefore the church stands
not upon terms. When the 'daughters of Jerusalem' inquire about her be-
loved, I tell you freely, says she, what my beloved is. First, in general, the
answer is, ' My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.'
Then aftei-wards there is a specification of the particulars. She will not
stand upon the gi'oss, but admires* at every parcel in the thing beloved.
Every thing is lovely, as we shall see in particulars afterwards.
' I\Iy beloved is white and niddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.'
We wiU take that which is safe, because we will have sm-e footing, aa
near as we can, in this mystical portion of Scripture.
Quest. AVhat is that white and ruddy '? Why doth the chm-ch set forth
the spiritual excellencies of Christ by that which is most outwardly excellent
and most beautiful ?
Ans. Because of all complexions, the mixed complexion of these two
colours, white and ruddy, is the pm-est and the best. Therefore she sets
out the beauty and the spiritual excellency of Christ b}' this ' white and
ruddy.' Beauty ariseth of the mixture of these two. First, she sets out
IJie beauty of Christ positively ; and then, bj^ way of comparison, ' the
chiefest among ten thousand.
* That is, ' wonders.' — G.
138 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON XIV.
But what is this white and ruddy ? what is beauty ?
1. To the making of beauty there is required a sound, healthy constitu-
tion, so as the particulars have a due •proportion. There must be a har-
mony of the parts, one suiting with one another ; for comehness stands in
oneness, when many things, as it were, are one. Uncomehness is in diver-
sity, when diverse things are jumbled together that belong to many heads ;
as we say it is uncomely to have an old man's head on a young man's
shoulders. But when all things are so suited that they make one, agreeing
exactly, there is beauty and comeliness.
2. Besides soundness of constitution and comeliness of proportion, there
is a grace of colour that maketh beauty, which ariseth out of the other. So
that soundness and goodness of constitution, together with the exact pro-
portion of the variety of parts, having with it this gracefulness of colour
and complexion, makes up that which we call beauty. In a word, then,
this carnation colour, white and ruddy, may be understood of that excellent
and sweet mixture that makes such a gracefulness in Christ. In him there
is wondefful purity and holiness, and yet a wonderful weakness. There is
God the ' great God' and a piece of earth, of flesh in one person; a bloody,
pierced, and a glorious shining body ; humility and glory : justice, won-
derful justice, and yet exceeding love and mercy : justice to his enemies,
mercy to his children.
Ohs. Christ is a most beautiful person, not as God only, but as man, the
Mediator, God and man. The person of the Mediator is a beautiful person,
as Ps. xlv. 2, there is a notable description of Chi'ist and of his church, ' Thou
art fairer than the children of men, grace is poured into thy lips,' &c.
But the loveliness and beauty of Christ is especially spiritual, in regard of
the graces of his Spirit. A deformed pesson, man or woman, of a homely
complexion and constitution, yet, notwithstanding, when we discern them
by their conversation to be very wise and of a lovely and sweet spirit, very
able and withal wondrous willing to impart their ubilities, being wondrous
useful ; what a world of love doth it breed, though we see in their outward
man nothing lovely ? The consideration of what sufficiency is in Christ,
wisdom, power, goodness, and love, that made him come from heaven to
earth, to take our nature upon him, to marry us, and join our nature to his
(that he might join us to him in spiritual bonds) : the consideration of his
meekness and gentleness, how he never turned any back again that came
to him, should make us highly prize him. Indeed some went back of them-
selves (as the young man in discontent. Mat. xix. 32), Christ turned them
not back ; nay, he loved the appearance of goodness in the young man,
and embraced him. He is of so sweet a nature that he never upbraided
those that followed him with their former sins, as Peter with denial, and
the like. He is of so gracious a nature that he took not notice of petty in-
firmities in his disciples, but tells them of the danger of those sins that
might hurt them : being of so sweet a nature that ' he will not quench the
smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed,' Isa. xlii. 3 ; his whole life being
nothing but a doing of good, ' he did all things well' (as the gospel speaks),
excellent well, Mark vii. 37.
Now, the consideration of what a gracious Spirit is in Christ, must needs
be a loadstone of love, and make him beautiful. Therefore Bernard saith
well. When I think of Christ, I think at once of God, full of majesty and
glory ; and, at the same time, of man, full of meekness, gentleness, and
sweetness. So, let us consider of Christ as of the ' mighty God,' powerful ;
and withal consider of him as a gentle and mild man, that came riding
Cant. V. 9, 10.] ' my bkloved is white and ruddy.' 139
meekly on an ass, as the Scripture sets him out,' Mat. xxi. 5. He was for
comers, and gave entertainment to all : * Come unto me, all ye that are
weary and heavy laden,' &c., Mat. xi. 28. For the most weak and miserable
person of all had the sweetest entertainment of him, ' He came to seek and
to save that which was lost,' Luke xix. 10. Let us, I say, think of him
both as of the great God, and withal as of meek man : the one to establish
our souls, that he is able to do great matters ; the other to draw us to him
because he loves us. "We are afraid to go to God, ' a consuming fire,'
Heb. xii. 29 ; but now let us think we go to bone of our bone and flesh of
our flesh, to our brother, to one that out of his goodness abased himself of
purpose that we might be one with him : who loved us more than his own
life, and was contented to carry the curse for us, that we might be blessed
of God for ever, and to sufier a most painful and shameful death, that so ho
might make us heirs of everlasting life.
Christ is spiritually lovely, ' the chiefest of ten thousand.' The church
sets him out by comparison, 'a standard-bearer,' a carrier of the 'banner
often thousand.' For, as the goodliest men use to carry the ensign, the
banner ; so he, the goodliest of all other, is the standard-bearer.
Obs. Whence we gather, (hat Christ, as he is beautiful and good, so he is
incom-parabhj, beyond all comparison good ; ' He is a standard bearer, one
among ten thousand ; anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows,'
Ps. xlv. 7.
First, for that he is so near to God by the personal union.
And in regard likewise, that all others have all from him. Of his fukess
we receive grace for grace, John i. 16. Ours is but a derivative fulness. His
glory and shining is as the shining of the body of the sun ; ours as the light of
the air, which is derived from the glory of the sun. Ours is but the fulness
of the stream, and of the vessel, but the fulness of the fountain and of the
spring is his. Thereupon he is called ' the head of the church,' Col. i. 18 ;
the head is the tower of the body which hath all the five senses in it, and
wisdom for the whole body. It seeth, heareth, understandeth, and doth all
for the body ; having influence into the other parts of it. So Christ is
above all, and hath influence into all his church, not only eminence, but
influence.
What is excellent in the heavens ? The sun. So Christ is the ' Sun
of righteousness,' Mai. iv. 2. The stars. He is the 'bright morning
star,' Rev. xxii. 16. The light. He is the ' light of the world,' John ix.
5. Come to all creatures ; you have not any excellent amongst them but
Christ is styled from it. He is ' the lion of the tribe of Judah,' Rev. v. 5,
the ' lily,' Cant. ii. 1, and the 'rose,' Cant. ii. 1, and 'the Lamb of God
that taketh away the sins of the world,' John i. 29, ' the tree of Life,' &c.,
Eev. xxii. 2. There is not a thing necessaiy to nature, but you have a
style from it given to Christ, to shew that he is as necessaiy as bread and
water, and the food of life, John vi. 35 ; John iv. 14. When we see light,
therefore, think of the ' true hght,' John ix. 5. When the sun, think of the
' Sun of righteousness,' Mai. iv. 2. So remember ' the bread and water
of life,' in our common food. Therefore the sacraments were ordained,
that as we go to the sea by the conduct of rivers, so we might go to the
sea of all excellency and goodness by the conduct of these rivers of goodness,
to be led by every excellency in the creature, to that of our mediator Christ,
who is ' the chiefest among ten thousand.'
To come more particularly to speak of his excellencies, omitting his two
natures in one person, God and man ; that we may consider his ofiiccs, a
140 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XIV.
king, priest and prophet. He being the chief in all these, so all good kings be-
fore him -were types of him, as also the prophets and priests. He was all iu
one. Never any before him was king, priest, and prophet, as he was king,
priest, and prophet in one. So in every respect he was incomparable above all.
1. Such a king, as is king of kings ; and subdueth things unconquerable
to all other kings, even the greatest enemies of all ; such a king as con-
quered the world, death, hell, and sin, all things that are terrible. Death
you know is called ' the king of fears,* because it terrifieth even kings
themselves. Christ is such a king as takes away these terrible greatest
ills of all ; such a king as rules over the soul and conscience, the best part
of man, where he settles and stablisheth peace ; such a king as sets up his
kingdom in our very souls and hearts, guides our thoughts, desires, actions,
and affections, setting up a peaceable government there. So he is an
incomparable king even in regard of that office. ' He is the chiefest often
thousand ;' such a king as carries the government upon his own. shoulders,
as it is Isa. ix. 6. He devolves not the care to another, to make it as he
list and so be a cypher himself, but he carries all upon his own shoulder.
He needs not a pope for his vicar.
2. Again, as a priest, such a high priest as offered himself a sacrifice by
his eternal Spirit. He as God offered up his manhood. Such a priest as
hath satisfied the wrath of God, and reconciled God to man. All other
priests were but types of this priest, who is such a priest as never dies,
' but lives for ever to make intercession for us in heaven,' by virtue of that
sacrifice which he offered in the days of his flesh. He was both priest
and sacrifice. Such a ' priest as is touched with our infii-mities ;' so mild
and gentle, full of pity and mercy. No priest to this priest. God only
smelt a sweet smell from this sacrifice.
3. And for \n.B prophetical office, he is a prophet beyond all others. Such
a one as can instruct the soul. Other men can propound doctrines, but he
can open the understanding, and hath the key of the heart, the ' key of
David which can open the soul,' Luke xxiv. 45 . By his Holy Spirit he can
make the very simple full of knowledge, Prov. i. 4, Such a prophet as hath
his chair in the very heart of man ; this great ' Bishop of our souls,' 1 Pet.
ii. 25, ' the Angel of the covenant,' that Aoyhg, ' the messenger of the
Father.' So he is 'the chief of ten thousand,' consider him as king, as
priest, or as prophet.
Use. The use of this is exceeding pregnant, comfortable, and large, that
we have such a Saviour, such an eminent person, so near, so peculiar to us.
Our beloved, my beloved. If he were a ' beloved, the chief of ten thousand,'
it were no great matter, but he is mine. He is thus excellent ; excellent
considered with propriety in it, and a peculiar propriety .f Peculiarity and
propriety, together with transcendent excellency, makes happy if there be
any enjoying of it. Therefore repent not yourselves of your repentings, but
think I have not cast away my love, but have set it upon such an object as
deserves it, ' for my beloved is the chiefest of ten thousand.*
Cf. Job. xviii. 14. — Q \ That is, ' property '= right. — Q.
Cant. V. 10. J * the ohiefest among ten thousand.' 141
THE FIFTEENTH SERMON. *
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chief est among ten thousand. — Cant. V. 10.
Love is such a boundless affection, that where it once breaks forth in praises
upon a good foundation, it knows no measure ; as we see here in the church,
who being provoked and, as it were, exasperated by the * daughters of
Jerusalem ' to explain the excellency of him she had with so much affection
incessantly sought after, that she might justify her choice (ere she descend
into particulars), she breaks forth into this general description of her be-
loved ; whereby she cuts off from all hopes of equalling him, ' My beloved
is white and ruddy' (exceeding fair), nay, ' the chief among ten thousand'
(none hke him). She would not have us think she had bestowed her love
but on the most excellent of all, * the chief of ten thousand.' Well were it
for us that we could do so in om' love, that we might be able to justify our
choice ; not to spend it on sinful, vain, and unprofitable things, which cause
repentance and mourning in the conclusion, whereof the church here
worthily cleareth herself ; in that she had chosen * the chief among ten
thousand.'
And most justly did she place her aflections upon so excellent an object,
who was so full of ' all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the life of
om- life, in whom dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,' Col. i. 11, 19 ;
in whom was a gi'acious mixture and compound of all heavenly graces ;
where gi'eatness and goodness, justice and mercy, God and man, meet in
one person. Such an one who breaks no ' bruised reed, nor quenches the
smoking flax,' Mat. xii. 20, who refuses not sinners, but invites them unto
him, offering to heal all and cure all who come unto him. He is a king
indeed, John xviii. 37. But this also approves her choice ; he rules all,
commands all, judges all. What then can she want who hath such a friend,
such a husband ? whose government is so winning, mild, and merciful ?
He is not such a monarch as loves to get authority by sternness, like
Eehoboam, 1 Kings xii. 12, but by those amiable gi'accs of gentleness and
love. All the excellencies of holiness, purity, and righteousness, are sweetly
tempered with love and meekness in him. You may see, for instance, how
he takes his disciples' part against the Pharisees, and the poor woman's
that came to wash his feet and kissed them, against the Pharisee that had
invited him to dinner, Luke vii. 44. The church is a company of despised
people, that are scorned of Pharisaical proud spirits ; who perhaps have
morality and strength of parts to praise them vrith. Now Christ takes part
with the broken spiiits, against all proud spirits. Howsoever he be gone
to heaven (where he is full of majesty), yet he hath not forgotten his meek-
ness nor changed his nature, with change of honour. He is now more
honoured than he was, for ' he hath a name above all names, in heaven or
in earth,' Acts iv. 12 ; yet he is pitiful still. ' Saul, Saul, why persecutost
thou me?' Acts ix. 4. He makes the church's case his own still. To-
gether with beams of glory, there are bowels of pity in him, the same that
he had here upon earth ; which makes him so lovely to the ti'uly broken-
hearted, believing soul, ' My beloved is white and ruddy.'
He is set out likewise by comparing him with all others M'hatsoever, ' He is
the chief of ten thousand ;' a certain number for an uncertain, that is, the chief
among all. In all things Christ hath the pre-eminence. ' He is the first-bora
from the dead,' Rom. viii. 29 ; 'he is the first-born of every creature,' Col.
142 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON XV.
i. 15 ; lie is the eldest brother; he is the chief among all. For all kings,
priests, an8 prophets before were but types and shadows of him. He, the body,
the truth, and the substance. And (as was shewed before) he is all three in
one, king, priest, and prophet ; the great doctor* and prophet of his church,
that spake by all the former prophets, and speaks by his ministers to the
end of the world. ' The angel of the covenant,' that Aoyhg, the Word, that
expresseth his Father's breast ; that as he came from the bosom of his
Father, so lays open his counsel to mankind. It was he that spake by Noah,
and preached by his Spirit to the souls that are now in prison, as Peter
speaks, 1 Pet. iii. 19. So, * he is the chief among all.' But especially in
regard of his righteousness ; for which Paul ' accounted all dung and dross,
to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, but the righteous-
ness that is in Christ,' Phil. iii. 8 ; which is more than the righteousness
of an angel, being the righteousness of God-man, and above all the righteous-
ness of the law.
Quest. But what is this to us or to the church ?
Ans. Yes ; for his beauty and excellency is the church's, because he is
the church's. ' My beloved is white and ruddy, and my beloved is the chief
among ten thousand.' It is the peculiar interest that the church hath in
Christ that doth relish her spirit ; excellency with propriety in him ; ' I am
my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.' The more excellent the husband is,
the more excellent is the wife. She only shines in his beams. Therefore
it is the interest that we have in Christ that endears Christ to us. But to
come to more particular application of it. Is Christ thus excellent, super-
excellent, thus transcendently excellent, ' white and ruddy,' the chief often
thousand ?' This serves,
1. To draw those that are not yet in Christ unto him.
2. To comfort those that are in Christ.
Use 1. First, those that are not yet in Christ, not contracted to him, to
draw them ; ivhat can prevail more than that ichich is in Christ ? Beauty
and excellencies, greatness and goodness. And indeed one main end of our
calling, the ministry, is, to lay open and unfold the unsearchable riches of
Christ ; to dig up the mine, thereby to draw the affections of those that
belong to God to Christ.
Use 2. But it is not enough to know that there are excellencies in Christ
to draw us to him, but, there must be a sight of our misery ; what beggars we
are, and how indebted. Before we are in Christ we are not our own. The
devil lays claim to us that we are his ; death lays claim to us. We are
under sin ; we cannot satisfy one of a thousand ; therefore this enforceth to
make out to join with him that can discharge all our debts, answer all our
suits, and non-suit Satan in the court of heaven. When once we are
married to the Lord of heaven and earth, all is ours. We have a .large
charter, ' All things are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's,'
1 Cor iii. 22, 23.
Quest. Why are aU things ours ?
Ans. Because we are married to Christ, who is Lord of all. It is the
end of our calling to sue for a marriage between Christ and every soul. We
are the friends of the bride, to bring the church to him ; and the friends of
the church, to bring Christ to them. It is the end of our ministry to bring
the soul and Christ together ; and let no debts, no sins hinder. For espe-
cially he invites such as are sensible of their sins. ' Where sin abounds,
grace abounds much more,' Rom. v. 20. ' Come unto me, all ye that are
* That is, ' teacher.' — G.
Cant. V. lO.J ' the chiefest ajiong ten thousand. 143
■weary and heavy ladeu,' Mat. xi. 28. And, ' Lie came to seek and to save
that which was lost,' Luke xix. 10. He requires no more, but that we be
sensible of our debts and miseries, which sense he works likewise by his
Holy Spirit.
Use 3. Again, for those that have entertained Christ, let thein see xchat an
■excellent gracious person theji have entertained, who is ' the chief of ten
thousand.' The world thinks them a company of silly, mean people, that
make choice of Christ, religion, the word, and such things ; but there is a
justification of their choice. They choose him that is ' the chief of ten
thousand.' ' Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,' saith the
spouse, ' for thy love is better than wine, nay, than life itself,' Cant. i. 2.
A Christian must justify the choice that he hath made with Mary ' of the
good part,' Luke x. 42 ; against all those that shall disparage his choice.
Let the world account Chi'istians what they will ; that they are a company
of deluded, besotted persons, fools and madmen ; the Christian is the only
wise man. Wisdom is seen in choice especially ; and here is the choice of
that which is excellent and most excellent of all, ' the chief often thousand.'
Use 4. So also, tre may see here the desperate and base folhj of all whatso-
ever, save true Christians. What do they make choice of to join to ? that
which is base, the condemned world, vain, transitory things ; and refuse
Christ. Are they in their right wits who refuse a husband that is noble for
birth, rich for estate, mighty for power, abundant in kindness and love
itself, every way excellent, and take a base, ignoble, beggarly person ? This
is the choice of the world. God complains, ' Israel would none of me,'
&c., Ps. Ixxxi. 11. What shall we judge therefore of those that will none
of Christ when he woos and sues them ; but prefer with Esau a ' mess of
pottage,' before their eternal birthright, Heb. xii. 16 ; with Adam, an apple
before paradise ; and with Judas, thirty pieces of silver before Christ him-
self. This is the state of many men. To be married to Christ is to take
him for an husband ; to be ruled by him in all things. Now when we pre-
fer base commodities and contentments before peace of conscience and the
cnjojing of his love — what is it, but for pelf and commodit}', thirty pieces
of silver (perhaps for sixpence, a thing of nothing), to refuse Christ. Yet
this is the condition of base worldlings that live by sense and not by faith.
So then as it serves to comfort those that have made a true choice ; so it
serves to Shew the madness and folly of all others, which one day will feel
their hearts full of horror and confusion, and their faces of shame, when
they shall think. What? hath Christ made such suit to my heart to win my
love ? hath he ordained a ministry for to bring me in ? made such large
promises ? is he so excellent ? and was this discovered to me, and yet would
I none of him? what did I choose, and what did«I leave? I left Christ
with all his riches, and made choice of the ' pleasures and profits of sin,
which are but for a season,' Heb. xi. 25. When the conscience is once
thoroughly awaked, this will torment it, — the punishment of loss, not of loss
simply, as the loss of Christ and the loss of heaven, but the loss of Christ and
of heaven so discovered and opened. Therefore there is no condition in the
world so terrible as of those that live in the church, and hear those things
of Christ crucified unfolded to them before their eyes. As Paul speaks of
the ministiy, it makes Christ's cross so open to them as if he had been
crucified before their eyes, Gal. iii. 1. Yet notwithstanding [they] yield to
their base heart's desires and aflcctions before these excellencies ; which if
they had a spirit of faith would draw their hearts to him.
Therefore let us consider how we hear those things. It concerns ua
144 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON XV,
nearly. On the one side we see what we get if we join with Christ ; we
have him and his. On the contrary, we lose him ; and not only so, but
we gain eternal misery, and perish eternally. 0 what baseness of mind
possesseth us ! Christ left all things in love to us, and we leave Christ for
any paltry thing in the world ; almost to please and content the humours
of sinful men, to attain a few empty titles, to get a little wealth, enjoy a
little pleasure. You see then the equity of that terrible commination* that
you have, ' If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema
Maran-atha,' 1 Cor. xvi. 22. Let him be accursed for ever that loves not
the Lord Jesus Christ. If any man sin there is a remedy to discharge his
sin in Jesus Christ, if he will many him and take him ; but when Christ is
offered and we will have none of him, we sin against the gospel ; and then
there is no remedy ; there is nothing but ' Anathema and Maran-atha.'
Therefore the most dangerous sins of aU, are those against the light of the
gospel ; when yet we choose rather to live as we list, than to join ourselves
to Christ. To this purpose, Heb. ii., St Paul makes an use of the first
chapter, wherein he sets out the excellency of Christ, whom the angels
adore. He is so beautiful, so lovely that God the Father is in love with
him, and pronounceth, ' This is my beloved Son,' Mat. iii. 17. In the be-
ginning of the second chapter, ' '\Vherefore,' saith he, ' how shall we escape
if we neglect so great salvation; for if they escaped not that despised Moses'
law, &c., how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation ? ' Heb. ii. 3.
He says not, if we oppose Christ, but if we neglect him, if we do not love
so great salvation ; as 2 Thess. i. 8, it is said, ' Christ will come in flaming
fire to take vengeance of all those that do not know God, and obey not tha
gospel of Chiist,' though they do not persecute it.
tlse 1. Therefore this reproves all civil, moral j^ersons that think they have
riches enough. Not only debauched persons, but self-sufiicient persons, that
think they have any righteousness of their own. Let them know that
* Christ shall come in flaming fire, to take vengeance of such.' This is the
scope of the second psalm, which ye know sets out the excellency of Christ,
' I have set my king upon Zion,' Ps. ii. 6. God the Father there anoints
Christ king of the chmxh. To what end ? * That we should kiss the Son,'
kiss him with the kiss of subjection, as subjects do their prince ; with the
kiss of love, as the spouse doth her husband ; and with the kiss of faith.
But what if we do not kiss him, and subject ourselves to him, love him,
and beheve in him ? ' If his wrath be once kindled, happy are aU those
that trust in him.' He is a lamb, but such a one as can be angry. It is
said, ' The kings and great persons of the world fly from the wrath of the
Lamb,' Eev. vi. 16. He that is so sweet, mild, and gentle, if we join with
him, on the contrary, if we come not unto him, we shall find the wrath of
the Lamb a terrible wrath, which the greatest potentates in the world shall
desire to be hid from. ' If his wrath be once kindled, blessed are all those
that trust in him,' and woe be to them that do not receive him.
Use 2. For us that profess om-selves to be in Chi-ist, and to be joined to
him that is thus excellent, let us make this use, to make him the rule of our
choice in other things. In the choice of friends, choose such as are friends
to Christ. Take heed of society with idolaters, or with profane, wretched
persons. If you will be joined to Christ, and profess yourselves to be so,
then let us join to none but those that we can enjoy and Christ too. So
in marriage, let the rule of choice be the love of Christ. And likewise, let
the measure of our respect to all things be the respect to Christ. Let us
* That is, ' denunciation, threatening.' — G.
Cant. V. 10.] * the chiefest among ten thousand. 145
measure our love to wife and children, to kindred, friends, and to all crea-
tures whatsoever, as it may stand with love to Christ. Obey in the Lord,
marry in the Lord, do all things in the Lord, so as may stand with the love
and allowance of the Lord, 1 Cor. vii. 39, 40.
Use 3. Make also a use of direction, how to come to value Christ thus, as
to keep an high esteem of him. For this follows infallibly and undeniably,
if Christ be ' the chief of ten thousand,' he must have the chief of our
affections ' above ten thousand.' For, as he is in excellency, he must have
place in our hearts answerable thereunto ; for then our souls are as they
should be, when they judge of, and affect things as they are in themselves.
1. First, let us enter into a serious consideration of the need we have oj
Christ, of our misery without him, of our happiness if ive be joined with him.
The soul being thus convinced, the affections must needs follow the sancti-
fied judgment.
What will come of it if Chiist be set in the highest place in our heart ?
If we crown him there, and make him ' King of kings and Lord of lords,'
in a hearty submitting of all the affections of the soul to him ? While the
soul continues in that frame it cannot be drawn to sin, discomfort, and
despair. The honours, pleasures, and profits that are got by base engage-
ments to the humours of men, what are these to Christ ? 'VVhen the soul
is rightly possessed of Christ and of his excellency, it disdains that anything
should come in competition with him.
2. Again, it stands firm against all disconrar/ements whatsoever : for it sets
Christ against all, who is the ' chief of ten thousand.' The soul in this
case will set Chi-ist against the anger and wrath of God, against Satan, and
all om- spii-itual enemies. Christ is the angel of the covenant. Satan is a
lion, a roaring lion ; Christ the lion of the tribe of Judah. Satan a serpent,
a dragon ; but Christ, the true brazen serpent, the very looking upon
whom will take away all the stings and fiery darts of Satan whatsoever.
'\\Tierefore it is said, 1 John v. 4, that faith is that that ' overcometh the
world.' How doth faith overcome the world ? Because it overcomes all
things in the world, as, on the right hand, pleasures and profits and hon-
ours, and on the left hand, threatenings, pains, losses, and disgi-aces, by
setting Christ against all.
3. Again, if we would have a right judgment and esteem of Christ, let us
labour to wean our affections as much as may be from other things. Fleshly
hearts that have run so deeply into the world, and vanities of this present
\\k\ it is in a sort an extraordinary task for them to be drawn away and
pulled from the world, as a child from a full breast, which they have sucked
so long. Now, for sweet affections that are tender, it is an excellent ad-
vantage they have to consider betimes that there is that in religion and in
the gospel which is worth their best and prime affections, the flower and
marrow of them. Let them begin, with young Timothy, 2 Tim. iii. 15,
Daniel, and Joseph, to love Christ from their childhood. It is a desperate
folly, on the other hand, to put off the regard of good things till after, when
we shall be less fit, when the understanding will be darkened, and the affec-
tions blunted, when we shall not have that edge, nature being decayed, and
the world having taken such possession of the soul that we shall not value
this excellency. Therefore let us begin betimes to make up the marriage
between Christ and the soul. No time, indeed, is too late, but it were
to be wished that those that are young would be thus wise for their souls
betimes.
4. Besides, if we would hi ;!ily value Christ, heg of God a spirit that xve
VOL. II. K
146 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XV.
Inay judge arifjht of our corruptions, for in ivhat measure ire can discern the
height, and breadth, and depth of our corrupt nature, in that measure shall
tve judge of the height, and breadth, and depth of the excellency of Christ.
The sweetest souls are the most humble souls. Those that love Christ
most are those that have been stung most with the sense of their sins.
Where sin most abounds in the sense and feeling of it, grace much more
abounds in the sense and feeling of that, Rom. v. 20. Did ever soul love
Christ more than that woman that had so many devils cast out of her ?
Luke viii. 2. And Paul, that had such great sins forgiven ? Doth any
man so love his creditor as he that hath much debt forgiven him ? It is
our Saviour Christ's own reason. Therefore these two go always with the
true chm'ch. 1. The true knowledge of the corruption of nature, and
misery by reason of it ; and 2. The true sense and feeling of it, with true
and hearty sorrow for it, lic. In popery they slight original sin, that
mother, breeding sin. Actual sins be venial, and many sins no sins. And
therefore they esteem so slightly of Christ that they join saints, the pope,
works and satisfaction with him. Because they know not the depth of the
malady, how black sin is, what a cursed estate we are in b}"- nature, they
have slight, shallow, and weak conceits of sin. Therefore they have an-
swerable weak and shallow conceits of Christ and of his righteousness and
excellency. Therefore the conviction of our sins goeth before the conviction
of righteousness in Christ, as it is said, ' The Holy Ghost shall convince
the world of sin and then of righteousness,' John xvi. 8. For except the
soul be convinced of sin, and of ill in itself, it will never be truly convinced
of good and of righteousness in Christ.
The Passover was always eaten with sour herbs, because it should add a
relish to the feast. So Christ, the true Passover, we never relish truly
without sour herbs, the consideration of sin, with the desert of it. Christ
savours otherwise to a man humbled for his sins than he doth to another
man not touched therewith ; otherwise to a poor man than he doth to a
rich ; othenvise to a man that the world goes not well on his side than to
a prosperous man. One savomy discourse of Christ relisheth more to an
afflicted soul than seven discourses with such as are drunk with prosperity,
not having a brain strong enough to conceive, nor an appetite to relish
heavenly things.
Therefore vfhj do we mui-mur at the cross, when all is to recover our
spiritual taste and relish ? Solomon had lost his taste and rehsh of Christ.
He never made his song of songs when he was in his idolatrous way, nor
was so in love with Christ and his excellencies when he doted so much
upon his wives. No ; but when he had recovered his spirit's taste and
relish of heavenly things once, then made he the book of the preacher.
When he had run through variety of things, and saw all to be nothing but
vexation of spirit, and besides that vanity, then he passeth his verdict upon
all things, that they were vanity. So it is with us, we can hardly prize
Christ without some afflictions, some cross or other. Therefore here the
church is fain to endure a spiritual desertion, to set an edge upon her
affections. Now, when she is thus in her desertions, ' Christ is white and
ruddy, the chief of ten thousand.'
We value more, and set a higher price on things in the want of them —
such is our corruption — than in the enjoying of them. And if God remem-
ber us not with affliction, then let us afflict, humble, and judge ourselves ;
enter into our own souls, to view how we stand affected to Christ, to heaven,
and to heavenly things. How do I relish and esteem them ? If I have
Cant. V. 10-13.] ' the ciiiefest among ten thousand.' 147
lost my esteem and valuing, where have I lost it ? Consider in what sin, in
what pleasure, in what company I lost it ; and converse no more with such
as dull our aftections to heavenly things.
4. And let us make use likewise of our infiwiiiies and sins to this jnuyose,
to set an hir/h price on the excellencies of Christ. We carry about us always
infirmities and corruptions. What use shall we make of them ? Not to
trust to our own righteousness, which is ' as a defiled cloth,' Isa. Ixiv. 6,
but fly to Christ's righteousness, which is the righteousness of God-man,
all being as dung and dross in regard of that. Often think with thyself.
What am I ? a poor sinful creature ; but I have a righteousness in Christ that
answers all. I am weak in myself, but Christ is strong, and I am strong
in him. I am foolish in myself, but I am wise in him. What I want in
myself I have in him. He is mine, and his righteousness is mine, which
is the righteousness of God-man. Being clothed with this, I stand safe
against conscience, hell, wrath, and whatsoever. Though I have daily ex-
perience of my sins, yet there is more righteousness in Christ, who is mine,
and who is the chief of ten thousand, than there is sin in me. When thus
we shall know Christ, then we shall know him to pm-pose.
THE SIXTEENTH SERMON.
My hehved is white and ruddy, the chief est among ten thousand. His head
is as fine gold ; his locks are bushy and black as a raven; his eyes are
as the eyes of doves, by the rivers of waters, tvashed ivith milk, and fitly
set, d-c.—Gj^T. V. 10, 11, 12, 13.
Obj. Hence likewise we may answer some doubts that may arise ; as why
the death of one man, Christ, should be of value for satisfaction for the
sins of the whole world. How can this be ?
Ans. 0 but what kind of man was he ? ' The chief among ten thousand,'
especially considering that his excellency ariseth from the grace of his
personal union of God and man. The fij-st Adam tainted thousands, and
would have tainted a world of men more if there had been more ; but he
was mere man that did this. And shall not Christ, God and man, the
second Adam, advance the world, and ten thousand worlds if there had been
more ? He is chief among ten thousand.
' His head is as most fine gold ; his locks are bushy and black as a
raven,' &c.
1. Positively, 'He is white and ruddy.' 2. Comparatively, 'He is the
chiefest of ten thousand.'
The church doth not think it sufiicient, in general, to set out Christ thus ;
but she descends into a particular description of him by all the parts of a
body that are conspicuous. First, in general observe hence, that it is the
nature of love upon all occasions to reflect upon the thing loved. As the
church here, from things that are excellent in the world, borrows phrases
and comparisons to set out the excellency of Christ, exalting him above any
other thing. Whatsoever the soul of a Chi-istian sees in heaven or earth,
it takes occasion thence to think of Christ.
Again, in general, obsei-ve from hence, seeing the church fetcheth com-
pai'ison from doves' eyes, from the body of a man and other things, that
tliere are some beams of excellency in every creature. There is somewhat of
148 BOWELS OPENED. [SerMON XVI.
God in every creature. This makes the meditation of the creature to be
useful. There is none, even the meanest, but it hath a being, and thereby
in a sort sets out the being of God. Why doth God style himself a shield,
a rock, a buckler, a shadow, and the like ? but to shew that there is some-
thing of him in these. And therefore to teach us to rise from them to him,
in whom all those excellencies that are scattered in them are united.
In innocency we knew God, and in him we had knowledge of the creature ;
but now we are fain to help ourselves from the knowledge of the creature to
rise to the knowledge of God.
' His head is as fine gold.' A little in general. See the boldness and
largeness of the church's affections, who, though she had been ill entreated
by the watchmen and others, yet is she not disheartened for all this. No ;
she goes on and sets out particular commendations of her beloved. Where
love hath any strength, no water can quench it. You see the church here
found but cold entertainment from the watchmen and others that should
have been better.
Nay, she was in desertion, yet she was not discouraged. Nay, not from
the desertion that Christ left her in ; but she seeks after him whom her
soul loved. Oh ! this is the sign of a true, sanctified soul, touched from
heaven, never to give over seeking of Christ ; nor setting out his praises.
No, though it thinks itself not beloved of Christ. Ask such ones. Do you
love God, his children, and his word ? Oh ! you shall have them eloquent.
No words are enough to set out their affections.
And this is one reason, which we may note by the way, why God plants
in his children, at their first conversion, a sweet love, which we call, ' the
first love,' that when desertions come they may call to mind what they felt
from Christ, and what they bore to him ; and thereupon the church
concludes, ' I will return to my first love, for then was I better than now,'
Hos. ii. 7. The church here, from what doth she commend her beloved,
but from somewhat that was left Ib her soul, some inward taste of the love
of Christ in her ? She called to mind how it was with her before in the
former part of this, and in the latter end of the fonner chapter ; what an
excellent estate she had been in. This helped her to recover herself.
Now you may say, Why is she so exact in reckoning up so many parti-
culars of her beloved, his head, locks, eyes, hps, and such like ?
Why? 1. It is from largeness of affection. A large heart hath alway
large expressions. When we are barren in expressions towards Christ, and
of good things, whence comes this but from narrow, poor affections? The
church had large affections ; therefore she had suitable expressions.
And then, 2. She is thus particular, because Christ hath not one but
many excellencies. Everything in him is excellent, inward and outward,
as his head, &c. For indeed beauty consists not in sweetness of colour
only, but in affinity and proportion of all parts. Now there is all sweet
proportion in Christ. So it should be with Christians. They should not
have one excellency, but many. Those that receive grace for grace from
Christ, John i. 16, have not only head, eyes, hands, and feet good ; but
all lovely, ' grace for grace,' answerable to the variety of graces in Jesus
Christ, in whom all things jointly, and everything severally, are lovely.
Then, 3. She sheweth her particular care and study, to be exact in this
knowledge of Christ. To rip him up and anatomise him thus, from head
to foot, it argueth she had studied Christ well, ere she could attain this ex-
cellency. So it should be the study and care of every Christian, to study
the excellencies of Christ, not only in the gross, to say as much as you have
Cant. V. 10-13.] ' his head is as fine gold.' 149
in tlie Creed ; he was bora for us of the Virgin Mar}^ was crucified, dead,
and buried, &c., which ever}' child can say ; but to be able to particularize
the high perfections and excellencies of Christ, as the church here ; to study
his nature, offices, the state he was in, and how he carried himself in his
humiliation and exaltation ; what good we have by both states, redemption
by his abasement ; application of it by his advancement ; what he did for
us on earth ; what he doth in heaven ; what in justification, adoption, sanc-
tification, and in the glory to come. Study everything, and warm the heart
with the meditation of them.
This particular spreading and laying open the excellencies of Christ is a
thing worthy of a Christian. We make slight work of religion. We can
be particular and eloquent enough in other things, but in that wherein all
eloquence is too little, how barren are we ! how shamefaced to speak of
Christ and his excellencies in base company, as if it were a dishonour ! Let
us therefore learn this from the church here, to be much in thoughts and
meditations of the excellencies of Christ, and so our expressions will be
answerable to our meditations. So the holy fathers that were godly (till
another kind of divinity came into the world, of querks* and subtilties) there
was none of them but was excellent this way. Paul admirable, accounting
' all dung and di'oss in comparison of Christ.' In speaking of him, when he
begins, he goes on from one thing to another, as if he were ravished, and
knew not how nor where to end.
The soul hath sights of Christ that God shews to it, and which the soul pre-
sents to itself by the help of the Spirit. The sights that God in this kind
shews, are to those in affliction especially ; as Daniel and Isaiah saw Christ
in his glory in a vision. So Ezekiel had a vision, and John, Kev. i., where
Christ was presented to him gloriously. So there is a glorious description
of Christ present to the church. Rev. iv. 5.
And as there are sights let down from God into the soul, so there are
sights that the soul frames of Christ, such as the church here conceives of
him by faith. Thus Moses saw him before he was incarnate, and Abraham
saw his day and rejoiced, John viii. 56 : so should we now have spiritual
sights, ideas of Christ framed to our souls. This is to bestow oui- souls as
we should do (m). So much for general, now we come to some particulars.
' His head is as fine gold ; his locks are bushy and black as a raven.'
' His head is as fine gold.' He begins to set out the excellency of the
chief part, the head. The head of Christ is God, as it is 1 Cor. xi. 3.
He is above all, and God only is above him. All is yours, and you are
Christ's, and Chi-ist is God's, 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. But that is not so
much intended here, as to shew Chiist's headship over the church, as God
and man. His head is as fine gold, that is, his government and headship
is a most sweet and golden government.
Daniel ii. You have an imago of the monarchies ; the first whereof had
a golden head, which was the Chaldean. The best monarchy is set out by
the best metal, — gold; so Chi'ist, the head of the church, is a precious head,
a head of gold.
A head hath an eminency above all others ; an influence and motion
above all other parts. It is the seat of the senses. So this golden head is
more eminent than all, governs the whole church and hath influence into
all. In him we live, and move, and have our being, Acts xvii. 28.
Quest. Why is Chi-ist as king thus resembled to an head of gold ?
Ans. Because gold is the chief, the most precious, dui*able metal of all
* That is, ' quirks,' = tricks. — G.
150 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON XVI.
others. Christ is a king for ever, and hath an everlasting government.
Gold is also the most pliable metal. You may beat it out to leaves more
than any other metal whatsoever, Christ is all gold indeed. His love hath
beat himself out as lov? as may be, all for our good. What abasement like
to Christ's ? That which is most precious is most communicating, as the
sun, a glorious creatm-e. What doth so much good as it ? So Chiist, as
he is the most excellent of all, ' the chief of ten thousand,' so is he also the
most communicative. What good to the good that Christ did ? Ho was
beaten, out of love to mankind, to lowest abasement for us. Though this
be not mainly aimed at here, yet, by the way, speaking of gold, we may
present to ourselves such comfortable meditations.
Use 1. Well then, is Christ such an excellent head, a golden head, ' in
whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom, Col. ii. 3, to govern his church ?
What need ive then r/o to that triple crown, having such a golden head ? The
apostasy of the church hath found out another golden head. Is not Christ
precious enough ? Let us take heed of leaving the head Christ, as it is
Col. ii. 19. It is a damnable thing to forsake him. Let the apostatical *
church alone with her antichi-ist.
2. Again, if Christ be a golden head, let us his members labour every one
to he suitable. Though there be difference between the head and the mem-
bers in many respects, especially in those three formei'ly named, emmency,
government, and influence, yet for nature they are one. Head and mem-
bers make but one. So that as the head of the body is gold, so should
every member be. Therefore the seven churches are styled seven golden
candlesticks. Everything in the tabernacle was gold, even to the snuffers,
to shew that in the church everything is excellent. The tabernacle was
gold, most of it, though it was covered with badgers' skins. The church
indeed hath a poor covering as of badgers' skins, not gilded as hj^ocrites ;
but it is precious within. Again, Christ, as he is gold, so he is fine gold,
whole gold. He hath not only the crown on him, but his head is gold itself.
Other kings, then* crowns are of gold, but their heads are not so. But
there is such a precious treasure of wisdom in him that his head is gold.
So let the chui'ch and every Christian labour, not to be gilt, but gold ; to
be thoroughly good ; to have the inside as good as the outside, the heart
as good as the conversation. The church is glorious within, Ps. xlv. 13.
Beloved, is Christ an excellent golden head, and shall we have a base body ?
Is he fit to be united to a golden head that is a common drunkard, a swearer,
that is a beast in his life and conversation '? Is this suitable ?
8. Again, is our head so golden, and v/hatsoever excellency we have, is
it from our head ? Therefore as the church in the Revelation, ' let tis cast all
our crowns at his feet,' Rev. iv. 10. Have we crowns of gold ? anything that
is excellent within, any grace, any comfort ? Let us lay it down at his feet,
for all is from him. Natural men have golden images of their own. Israel
would have golden calves. Nebuchadnezzar sets up a golden image, and all
must worship it. So in the declining times of the church : they framed
golden images, that is, a golden whorish religion, gilded, and painted,
framed by their own brain, whereunto all must stoop. But the true gold
is that we must respect and submit ourselves unto and admire. Others are
but golden dreams and images, as Nebuchadnezzar's was. Christ's head is of
fine gold.
All must be fine gold that comes from this head. His word is gold,
sometimesf purged in the fire. His ordinances gold, in the Scripture
* That is, 'apostate.' — Ed. t Qu. 'seven times?" — Ed.
Cant. V. 10-13.] ' his eyes are as the eyes of doves.' 151
phrase, Ps. xix. 10. The city, the new Jerasalem, -which signifies the state
of the church in this world, when it shall be refined to the utmost, all is of
gold ; the walls of precious stones ; the gates of pearl ; and the pavement
of the streets of pure gold. Rev. xxi. 21, to shew the excellency of reforma-
tion ; which golden times are yet to come. In the mean time let us go on
and wait for them.
' His locks are bushy, and black as a raven.' I think this is but comple-
mental, to fill up the other. It is nothing but a commendation of his fresh-
ness, a foil to beauty. Therefore not particularly to be stood upon.
' His eyes are as doves' eyes by the rivers of waters,' &c. His eyes are
as doves' eyes, and such eyes as are by the rivers of waters ; where they
are cleansed and washed with milk that they may be the clearer, and fitly
set ; neither goggle eyes, nor sunk into the head, but fitly set, as a jewel in
a ring ; neither too much in, nor too much out, to set out the comeliness of
this part, the eye, which is the glory of the face.
Quest. Why is Christ said to have the eyes of doves ?
Ans. The dove hath many enemies, especially the white dove is a fair
mark for the birds of prey. Therefore God hath given that creature a quick
sight, that she might discern her enemies. Thus the Scriptui-e helps us to
conceive of the quickness of Christ's eye. Rev. v. 6. There are seven
horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God. Here Christ
the lamb, hath seven eyes and seven horns. What be these ? Christ hath
not only horns of power, as the enemies have horns of violence. — He hath
horn against horn ; but seven eyes, that is, a quick sight to see all the dan-
ger the chm-ch is in, and seven eyes. Seven is a word of perfection, that
is, he hath many eyes, an accm-ate sight. He hath not only an eye of pro-
vidence over the whole world, but an eye of grace and favour, lively, and
lovely in regard of his chm-ch. All things are naked and open before his
eyes, as it is, Heb. iv. 13. He can see through us, he knows oiu- very
hearts and reins, which he must do ex officio, because he must be our judge.
He that is judge of all had need to have eyes that will pierce through all.
It had need be a quick eye that must judge of the heart and aflectious. But
what may we learn hence ? That we have a Saviour that hath doves' eyes,
that is, clear eyes, able to discern.
Use 1. Take it as a point first, of all comfort to the church, that when we
have any imputation [that] lies upon us, that wo are thus and thus, Christ
hath quick eyes, he knows our hearts. Thou knowest, saith Peter, Lord,
that I love thee, John xxi. 15. In all false imputations, rest in the eyesight
of Christ. He knows it is otherwise with us.
Use 2. Then again, in all abasement, know that there is an eye that sees all.
He sees with his eye and pities with his heart. As he hath a quick eye,
so he hath a tender heart. Though he seems to sleep and to wink, it is
but that we may wake him with our prayers ; which when we have done,
we shall see that Christ hath seen all this while, and that the violence the
enemies of God have offered to his church, the spouse, hath been in his
sight, and that they shall know at length to their cost.
Likewise it is a point of terror to all hypocrites and others, that think to
blindfold Christ again. Can they blindfold him in heaven that hath this
sharp eye ? No ; he sees all their courses' and projects, what they are and
what they tend to ; and as he sees thed., so he will spread them all open ero
Use 3. And as it is a point of comfort and terror, so it is a point of in-
struction to us all, that ice having to deal uith a judge that sees all, to wor-
152 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKJION XVI.
shij} Christ in spirit. If we had knowledge that such an eye of God is
fixed upon us in all places, in all our affections and actions, would we give
liberty to base and filthy thoughts, to cruel designs, and to treacherous
aims and intents ? to hatch a hell, as it were, in our hearts, and to carry a
fair show outwardly. It could not be. Men are not afraid of their thoughts,
affections, desires, and inward delights of their soul, because there is no
eye of justice upon them. But if they did consider that the all-seeing God
did observe these inward evils, and would call them to account one day for
them, then they would be as well afraid to think ill as to do ill.
' His cheeks are as beds of spices, and as sweet flowers.'
Cheeks are the grace of the face. They are used here to denote the
presence of Christ, which is sweet as spices and flowers. Not only his pre-
sence is glorious in heaven, when we shall see that goodly person of Christ
that became man for us, that transforming sight that shall make us like
himself, but the spiritual presence of Christ in his ordinances which we are
capable of here, this is as spices and flowers.
Obj. But you will say, cheeks, face, and presence present colours to
the eye, and not smells, as spices and flowers, which are the peculiar ob-
ject of another sense.
Ans. Oh, but Christ is the object of all the senses. Beloved, he is not
only beauty to the eye, but sweetness to the smell, and to the taste. There-
fore faith hath the name of all the senses, to see, hear, taste, and smell,
and doth all, because it carries us to Christ, that is instead of all to us.
But the point is,
TJiat the manifestation of Christ to his church and children by his Spirit
in any of his ordinances, is a sweet manifestation, and delectable as spices and
■flowers ; as it is. Cant. i. 3 ; 'Because of the savour of thy good ointments,
thy name is as an ointment poured out, therefore the virgins love
thee.' The very name of Christ, when he is known and laid open by
the ministry, is a precious ointment, and the virgins, that is, all chaste
souls, follow him by the smell of his ointments. All his ordinances con-
vey a sweetness to the soul. His sacraments are sweet, his word sweet,
the communion of saints sweet. The presence of the sun, you know, is
known in the spring time by the freshness of all things, which put forth
the fife and little liveliness they have in them, some in blossoming, and
some in flowers. That which lay, as it were, dead in winter, it comes out
when the sun draws near ; so when Christ comes and shews his presence
and face to the soul, he refresheth and delights it.
Hence we see they are enemies to Christ and to the souls of God's
people that hinder the manifestation of Christ, whereby his face might be
seen, and his lovely cheeks discerned. Those that hate and undermine
the ordinances of God, they hinder the comforts of their own souls.
And they are enemies to Christ. For when hath Christ glory but when
the virgins follow him in the scent of his sweet ointments ? "When the soul,
in the sense of his sweetness, follows him, and cleaves to him with joy,
love, and delight, this makes Christ Christ, and sets him up in the heart
above all others. This is the proper work of the ordinances. Those, there-
fore that are enemies to the ordinances of Christ, are enemies to the souls
of God's people, and to the glory and honour of Christ himself. Thus far
we may go safely, upon comparison of this with the other Scriptures.
Cant. V. 13.] ' his lips abe like lilies.' 153
THE SEVENTEENTH SERMON.
His
lips are like lilies, dropping sweet-smelling myrrh ; his hands are as
gold rings set with beryl ; his belly is as blight ivory overlaid uith sap-
phire: his legs, &c. — Cant. V. 13.
In speaking of these particulai-s we are to be very wary, for we have not
that foundation as we have in other generals. For no doubt but the Spirit
of God here did more intend to set out the lai-ge aflfection that the church
had to Christ, than to insinuate any great particularity in every one of these.
Therefore let us only cull out, and take those things that are of more easy
erphcation.
' His lips are as lilies, dropping down sweet myrrh.'
That is, his doctrine is as sweet as the lilies, and sound as the m\Trh,
keeping from putrefaction, it being the nature of myrrh, as it is sound
itself, so to make other things sound. In like manner, the speech of
Christ makes the soul sound that embraceth it. What was ever more
sweet than the truth of Christ ? When he spake himself, they all hung
upon his lips, Luke iv. 20, as the phi-ase is in the gospel (n), as a man
hangs upon the lips of another whom he desires and delights to hear speak,
and they marvelled at the gracious words that came out of his lips. Grace
was in his Hps, Ps. xlv. 2. All was sweet that came from him, for it came from
the excellency of his Spirit. His words were dyed in these affections of
his heart. In the learned language, the same word signifieth speech and
reason (o), to intimate that speech is but the current of reason from the
heart, the seat of reason. Therefore Christ's speeches were sweet, because
his heart was sweet, full of all love, grace, mercy, and goodness. Mat. xii.
34, 35. His heart was a treasure. His lips must needs then be sweet.
Beloved, therefore let us hence take a trial of ourselves, what our condi-
tion is, whether the words that come from Christ when he speaks in his
ministry to us be sweet or not.
The word, to some kind of men, is like the northern air, which parcheth
and cutteth. Ahab could not endure the breath of Elias, 1 Kings xxi. 18,
seq., nor Herodias the breath of John Baptist, Mark \i. 16, nor the Phari-
sees the breath of Stephen and Paul, Luke vii. 54, Acts xxii. 22. So too
many now-a-days cannot endure the breath of divine truth, when it cuts
and pierceth. These words are arrows that stick. If they stick not
savingly, they stick to killing. If we cannot endure Chiist's breath, we
are not his spouse, nor have any communion with him.
* His lips are Like hUes, dropping sweet myiTh,' &c.
This is one excellency of Christ and of his truth, that it preserves the
soul in a pure estate. It is pure itself, and so it preserves the soul. MjaTh
is a Hquor that keeps from putrefaction. There is nothing that keeps the
soul, but the word that endures for ever. Whereas, on the other side, error
is of a putref}Tng nature, corrupting and defiling the soul.
' His hands are as gold rings set with beryl,' &c.
Hands are the instruments of actions. Christ's actions are precious.
Whatsoever he doth to the church, nay, even when he doth use evil men
to afflict and exercise the church, he hath a hand there, a golden, a precious
hand, in the evil hand of wicked men. God doth all things by Christ. He
is, as it were, God's hand, which all things pass through. Joseph was the
second man of Eg}-pt, through whoso hands all things came to the rest,
154 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON XVII.
Heb. i. 2, Jolin v. 22 ; so all things come through Christ's hands to us ;
and whatsoever is his handiwork is good. Even as it is said in the days
of his flesh, ' he did all things well,' Mat. vii. 37, so stiU, in the church all
his workmanship is exceeding well. Though we cannot see the excellencj''
of it, it is all well both in the government of the church and his workman-
ship in our hearts, ' the new creature.'
* His belly is as bright ivory overlaid,' &c.
His bell}-, that is, his inward parts. In the Hebrew (p), it is used for
the inward affections. They are as bright ivoiy overlaid with sapphires, that
is, they are pure. All the inside of Christ, all his affections that he bears,
are wondrous good. His love, his desires, his joys, his hatred, all pure,
like pure water in a crj'stal glass. It may be stirred sometimes, but still
it is clear. There are no dregs at the bottom, because there was no taint
of sin in him.
' His legs are as pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold,' &c.
That is, all his passages and ways are constant and firm, even as pillars
of marble. His children are so likewise, as far as they are endued with his
Spirit. Christ is yesterday, to-day, and the same for ever, Heb. xiii. 8.
In regard of his enemies, he is set out in another manner of similitude, ' as
having legs of brass to trample them all in pieces,' Rev. i. 15. But in
respect of his constant truth and ways of goodness to his church, his legs
are as pillars of marble.
' His countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.'
Lebanon was a goodly forest lying on the north side of Judea, wherein
were excellent plants of all kinds, especially cedars. Christ his counte-
nance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars, that is, his presnece is goodly,
stately, and majestical. So it is and will be when he shews himself, indeed,
for the vindicating of his church. Then the enemies thereof shall know
that his presence is as Lebanon, and excellent as the cedars.
The children of God are like to cedars, too, for they are Christ mystical.
Other men are as shrubs to them, men of no value ; but they are cedars,
and grow as cedars in Lebanon, from perfection to perfection, bearing most
fruit in their age. Wicked men sometimes are cedars, too, and are said to
grow and flourish as the cedars in Lebanon. But look a while, and you
shall see their place no more. They have no good root, no good founda-
tion, Ps. xxxvii. 10. A Christian is a cedar set in Christ the chief cedar.
He is a plant that grows in him. He hath an eternal root, and, therefore,
he flourisheth eternally.
' His mouth is most sweet, he is altogether lovely.'
His mouth is most sweet. She doubles this commendation. She had
said before, his lips are as lilies dropping sweet myrrh. Here she saith
again of his mouth, it is most sweet, to shew that this is the chief lovely
thing in Christ. The repetition argueth the seriousness of the church's
affection to Christ, and of the excellency of that part. The main lovely
thing is that which comes from his heart by his words and his lips ; as, indeed,
the most excellent thing that we can think of is the expression of the heart
of God in Christ, and of Christ's love to us. ' His mouth is most sweet.'
And, indeed, the best discovery of a true afiection to Christ, and of a true
estate in grace, is from our affection to the word of Christ. Wheresoever
there is interest into Christ, there is a high respect to the word. ' My
sheep hear my voice,' John x. 4 ; and you know what Peter saith, John
vi. Many of Christ's hearers and followers forsook him, upon some hard
speeches, as they thought, that came from him. Saith Christ to Peter,
Cant. V. 13.] ' nis mouth is most sweet.' 155
' Will ve also leave me ? ' Peter answered again, ' Whitlier, Lord, shall
wo go ? Thou hast the words of eternal life,' John vi. G8. The apostles,
that had the Spirit of God, perceived an incredible graciousness to sit on
his lips, and therefore they hung upon his lips. ' Whither shall we go ?
Thou hast the words of eternal life.' If we leave his speech, we leave our
comfort, we leave our life.
As a comment hereupon, see Ps. xix., where we have a high commenda-
tion of God's excellency ; first, from the book of nature, the works of God :
' the heavens declare the glory of God ;' then from the word of God ; and
herein the psalmist is wondi'ous large. ' The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul ; the testimonies of the Lord are sure, making wise the
simple ; the statutes of the Lord are right, and rejoice the heajrt ; the com-
mandments of the Lord are sure, and enlighten the eyes; more to be
desired than gold, yea, than fine gold ; sweeter also than tlie honey or the
honeycomb.'
But mark the order. When is the word of God precious as gold,
sweeter than the honey or the honeycomb, but when the former commenda-
tion takes place ? Where the word is perfect, convei-ting- the soul, and
where it is sure, making wise the simple, and where the fear of the Lord is
clean, &c., there it is more to be desired than fine gold, and sweeter than
the honeycomb. So the church here finding, first of all, the word to be a
converting word, and giving understanding to the simple, she cannot but
speak of the sweetness of the word of Christ. His lips are as lilies drop-
ping sweet-smelling myrrh. His mouth is most sweet. Thus a man may
know his estate in grace by his relish of the word.
There is a divine and a heavenly relish in the word of God ; as, for
instance, take the doctrine of his providence, ' that all things shall work
together for the best to them that love God,' Rom. viii. 2S. What a sweet
word is this ! A whole kingdom is not worth this promise, that whatso-
ever befalls a Christian in this world, there is an overruling providence to
sway all to good, to help forward his eternal good.
That Christ will be present with us in all conditions, what a sweet word
and promise is this ! Mat. xxviii. 20 ; ' that he will give his Holy Spirit, if
we beg it,' Luke xi. 13 ; 'that he will not fail us nor forsake us,' Heb.
xiii. 5 ; that ' if we confess our sins, and lay them open, he is merciful to
forgive them,' 1 John i. 9 ; that ' if our sins were as red as scarlet, they
shall all be white as wool,' Isa. i. 18. What kind of incredible sweetness is
in these to a heart that is prepared for these comforts ! The doctrine of
reconciliation, of adoption, of glory to come, of the ofiices of Christ and
such like, how sweet are they ! They relish wondrously to a sanctified
soul.
Let us therefore discern of om- estate in grace by this, how do we relish
divine truths ? Are they connatural and suitable to us ? Do we love
them more than our appointed food ? Are they dearer unto us than thou-
sands of gold and silver ? Do we hke them above all other truths whatso-
ever ? Ps. cxix. 72, 127. Eveiy tinith in its rank is lovely, and is a beam
of God. For truth is of God wheresoever we find it. But what are other
truths to this heavenly, soul-saving trath? this gospel-truth that is from
Christ ? ' His mouth is most sweet.'
In our nature there is a contrary disposition and antipathy to divine
truth. We love the law better than the gospel, and any truth better than
the law. We love a story, any trifling, baubling thing concerning our
ordinary callings, better than divine truth. In divine truth, as things are
156 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XYII.
more spiritual, so tlie more remote they are naturally from our love and
liking. Evangelical truths will not down with a natural heart; such an
one had rather hear a quaint point of some vice or virtue finely stood upon
than anything in Christ, because he was never truly convinced of his cor-
rupt and miserable estate by nature. But when the grace of God hath
altered him, and his eyes are open to see his misery, then of all truths the
truth of Christ favours* best. Those truths that come out of the mouth of
Christ, and out of the ministry concerning Christ, they are the most sweet
of all. Oh ! how sweet are those words in the gospel to the poor man,
* Thy sins are forgiven thee,' Mat. ix. 2. Do you think they went not to
his heart ? So to the woman, Luke vii. 47. Her many sins are for-
given her, for she loved much. Oh ! they were words that went to her
soul ! And to the thief on the cross, ' This day thou shalt be with me in
paradise,' Luke xxiii. 43. How do you think those words affected him?
So it is with us if ever we have been abased in the sense of our sins. Oh !
how sweet is a promise of mercy then ! ' He that brings it is as one of
ten thousand, that comes to declare to man his righteousness. Job. xxxiii.
23 ; to lay open the mercy that belongs to a distressed soul. Oh ! the
very feet of those that bring these glad tidings are beautiful ! Kom. x. 15.
When our blessed Saviour, after his resurrection, spake to Mary, and
called her by her name, after that she had sought him and could not find
him, ' 0 Rabboni,' saith she. The words of Christ they melted her pre-
sently. Let Christ once call us by our names, for he knows us by name,
as he knew Moses, Exod. xxxiv. 27, Isa. xHii. 1 ; let him by his Spirit
speak to us by name, and own us, then we call him Rabboni. We own
him again, for what is our love but the reflection of his back again ?
Therefore saith the psalmist, ' Let me hear the voice of joy and gladness,
that the bones that thou hast broken may rejoice,' Ps. li. 8. ' Let me
hear ; ' that is, I long for thy word to hear it ; not the bare ministerial
word, but the word of the Spirit. But the church resteth not here, but
saith further,
' He is altogether lovely.' Altogether desirable; as if she should say,
What should I stand upon particulars ? he is altogether, from top to toe,
amiable, lovely, and delectable.
' He is altogether lovely.' Lovely to God, to us, to the soul ; lovely to
him that can best judge of loveliness. The judgment of God I hope will
go current with us ; and what doth God the Father judge of Christ ? ' This
is my beloved Son,' Mat. iii. 17. He is the Son of God's love. Col. i. 13,
as God cannot but love his own image. He is lovely also as man, for he
was pure and holy ; lovely as mediator by office, for he was anointed by
God to convey the Father's love to us. He must needs be lovely in whom
all others are loved. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased ;
out of him I am well pleased with nobody. And indeed he was filled with
all graces that might make him lovely. All the treasures of wisdom are in
him, and of his fulness we all receive grace for grace. He is made a store-
house of all that is good for us.
He is lovely to God in whatsoever he did. He carried himself lovely,
and pleased his Father in all his doings and sufierings. God loved him
especially, ' because he was obedient, even unto the death of the cross.
Therefore God gave him a name above all names ; that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, both in heaven and in earth,' Phil. ii. 8—10.
As for the angels, they look upon him with admiration. They attended
* Qu. 'savours?' — Ed.
Cant. V. 13.] ' nE is altogether lovely.' 157
him, and accountod it an honour to wait upon him. He is lovely to all
ahove us, and shall he not he lovely to us ?
Ohj. But you will say, Was he lovely when he was nailed on the cross,
hung between two thieves, when he wore a crown of thorns, was whipped,
laid grovelling on the ground, when he sweat water and blood ? What
loveliness was in him when he was laid in his grave ?
Ans. Oh! yes; then he was most lovely of all to us, by how much
the more he was abased for us. This makes him more lovely that out of
love he would abase himself so low. Wlien greatness and goodness meet
together, how goodly is it ! That Christ, so great a majesty, should have
such bowels of compassion ! Majesty alone is not lovely, but awful and
fearful ; but joined with such condescending grace, is wondrous amiable.
How lovely a sight is it to see so great a person to be so meek and gentle !
It was so beyond comparison lovely in the eyes of the disciples, that they
stood and wondered to see him, who was the eternal Word of the Father,
condescend to talk with a poor Samaritan woman, John iv. 6, seq. And what
loveliness of carriage was in him to Peter, undeserving, after he had denied
and forsworn him, yet to restore him to his former place that he had in his
heart, loving him as much as ever he did before ! In a word, what sweet-
ness, gentleness, bowels of meekness, pity, and compassion did he discover
to those that were in misery ! We cannot insist upon particulars.
There is a remarkable passage in the story of Alphonsus the king, not
very well liked of some. \Vhen he saw a poor man pulling of his beast out
of a ditch, he put to his hand to help him ; after which, as it is recorded, his
subjects ever loved him the better. It was a wonderful condescending.
And is it not as wonderful that the King of heaven and earth should stoop
so low as to help us poor worms out of the ditch of hell and damnation ?
and that, when he hath set us in a state of deliverance, he should not
leave us there, but advance us to such a state and condition as is above
oui' admiration, which neither heart can conceive nor tongue express ? Is
not this wonderful condescending ?
Use 1. That we may further improve this point. Is Christ altogethel
lovely ; so lovely to us, and so beloved of God the Father ? Let ns then rest
upon his obedience and rigJiteousness ; build upon it, that God cannot refuse that
righteousness whose whole subject is altogether lovely. Let us come clothed
in the garments of our Elder Brother, and then doubt not of acceptance ;
for it is in Chi'ist that he loves us. In this well-beloved Son it is that
God is well pleased with us. If we put on Christ's righteousness, we put
on God's righteousness ; and then how can God hate us ? No more than
he hates his own Son. Nay, he loves us, and that with the same lovo
wherewith he loves him ; for he loves whole Christ mystical. Head and
members, John x\'ii. 23. Let this strengthen our faith, that if Christ bo
so altogether lovely in himself and to the Father, then we may comfortably
come before the Father, clothed with the garments of him our Elder Brother,
and so rest ourselves on the acceptation of his mediation, that is so beloved
a mediator.
Use 2. Again, if Christ be so lovely, * altogether lovely,' then let ks
labour to be in him, that so we may be lovely to God ; because he is the
first amiable thing in the world, in whom we are all lovely. All our love-
liness is in beloved Christ.
Use 3. Again, if Christ be so lovely, hei'c only ice have tchereupon to
spend the marrow of our best affections. Is it not pity we should lose so
much of our affections as we do upon other things ? Christ is altogether
158 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON XVII.
lovely ; why should we doat upon other things so much, and set up idols
in our hearts above Christ ? Is he altogether lovely, and shall not ha
have altogether our lovely affections, especially when we are commanded,
under pain of a curse, to love the Lord Jesus ? Anathema Maran-atha to
those that love not Christ, 1 Cor. xvi. 22. Let us therefore labour to
place all our sweet affections that are to be exercised upon good, as love,
joy, and delight, upon this object, this lovely deserving object, Christ, who
is ' altogether lovely.' When we suffer a pure stream, as it were, to run
through a dirty channel, our affections to run after the things of the world,
which are worse than ourselves, we lose our affections and ourselves.
Let, therefore, the whole stream of our affections be carried unto Christ.
Love him, and whatsoever is his ; for he being altogether lovely, all that
comes from him is lovely. His promises, his directions, his counsels, his
children, his sacraments, are all lovely. ^Vhatsoever hath the stamp of Christ
upon it, let us love it. We cannot bestow our hearts better, to lose ourselves
in the love of Christ, and to forget ourselves and the love of all. Yea, to hate
all in comparison of him, and to account all ' dung and dross ' compared with
Christ, is the only way to find ourselves. And indeed we have a better
condition in him, than in the world or in om'selves. Severed from him,
our condition is vain, and will come to nothing ; but that we have in him
is admirable and everlasting. We cannot conceive the happiness which
we poor wretches are advanced to in Christ ; and what excellent things
abide for us, which come from the love of God to us in Christ, who is so
altogether lovely. Therefore let us labour to kindle in our hearts an
affection towards Christ, all that we can, considering that he is thus lovely.
the 4. And let us make an use of trial, ichether he he thus lovehj to us, or
no. We may see hence whether we love Christ or no. We may judge of
our love by our esteem.
1. How do ice value Christ ? what price doth the church set on him?
* He is the chief of ten thousand.' What place, then, should he have in
our hearts ? If he be the chief of ten thousand, let us rather offend ten
thousand than offend him. Let us say, with David, ' Whom have I in
heaven but thee?' &c., Ps. Ixxiii. 25. And when the soul can say to
Christ, or any that is Christ's (for I speak of him in the latitude of his
truths, promises, sacraments, and communion with his children), ' What
have I in heaven but thee ? ' &c., then it is in a happy condition. If these
things have the same place in our esteem, as they have in respect of their
own worth, then we may say truly, without hypocrisy, ' He is altogether
lovely to us,' that we truly love him.
2. In the next place, are ive ready to suffer for Christ ? We see the
church here endures anything for Christ. She was misused of the watch-
men. They scorned her, and her ' veil is taken away,' yet notwithstanding,
she loves Christ still. Do we stand ready disposed to suffer for Christ ?
of the world to be disgraced and censm-ed ? and yet are we resolved not to
give over ? Nay, do we love Christ the more, and stick to his trath the
faster ? Certainly where the love of Christ is, there is a spirit of fortitude,
as we may see in the church here, who is not discouraged from Christ by
any means. He is still the chief of ten thousand. When she was wronged
for seeking after him, yet he was altogether lovely. Whereas, on the
other hand, you have some that, for frowns of greatness, fear of loss, or
for hope of rising, will warp theii* conscience, and do anything. Where
now is love to Christ and to rehgion ? He that loves Christ, loves him
the more for his cross, as the Holy Ghost hath recorded of some, that they
Cant. V. 13.] ' he is altogether lovely.' 15U
' rejoiced tbat they were thought worthy to suffer for Christ,' Acts v. 41.
So the more we suffer for him, the more dear he will be to us. For indeed
he doth present himself in love and comfort most, to those that suffer for his
sake ; therefore their love is increased.
3. Again, where love is, there it enlair/eth the heart, which being enlarged,
enlargcth the tongue also. The church hath never enough of commending
Christ, and of setting out his praise. The tongue is loosed, because the
heart is loosed. Love wUl alter a man's disposition. As we see in experi-
ence, a man base of nature, love will make him liberal ; he that is tongue-
tied, it will make him eloquent. Let a man love Chi-ist, and though before
he could not speak a word in the commendation of Christ, and for a good
cause, yet, I say, if the love of Christ be in him, you shall have him speak
and labour earnestly in the praises of God. This hot affection, this
heavenly fire, will so mould and alter him, that he shall be clean another
man. As we see in the church here, after that there was kindled a spirit
of love in her, she cannot have done with Christ. When she had spoke
what she could, she adds, ' He is altogether lovely.' Those that cannot
speak of Christ, or for Christ, with large hearts in defence of good causes,
but are tongue-tied and cold in their affections, where is their love ? Put
any worldly man to a worldly theme that he is exercised in, and speaks of
daily, he hath wit and words at will ; but put him to a theme of piety, you
lose him : he is out of his theme, and out of his element. But 'tis not
so with those that have ever felt the love of God in Christ. They have
large affections. How full is Saint Paul ! He cannot speak of Christ, but
he is in the height, breadth, length, and depth of the love of God in Christ,
and the knowledge of God above all knowledge. Thus we may discern
the truth of our love by the expressions of it here as in the church.
4. Again, the church here is never content till she find Christ ; whatsoever
she had, nothing contents her. She wanted her beloved. As we see here,
she goes up and down inquisitive after him till she find him. So it is with
a Clu'istian. If he have lost, by his own fault, his former communion with
Christ, he will not rest nor be satisfied ; but searcheth here and there in
the use of this and that means. He runs through all God's ordinances and
means till he find Christ. Nothing in the world will content him, neither
honour, riches, place, or friends, till he find that which be once enjoyed,
but hath now for a season lost, the comfort and assurance of God's love in
Christ.
Now, if we can sit down with other things, and can want Christ and the
assurance of salvation, that sweet report of the Spirit that we are his, and
yet be contented well enough, here is an ill sign that a man is in an ill
condition. The church Vt-as not so disposed here. She was never quiet,
nor gives over her inquisition and speaking of Christ (that by speaking of
the object she might warm her affections), until at the last she meets with
Christ. These and the like signs there are of the truth of the love of
Christ. But where there is a flaming love of Christ there is this degree
further, a desire of the appearance of Christ, a desire of his presence. For
if Christ be so lovely in his ordinances, if we find such sweetness in the
word and sacraments, in the communion of saints, in the motions of the
Spu'it, what is the sweetness, think you, which the souls in heaven enjoy,
where they see Christ face to face, see him as he is ? Hereupon the spouse
saith, ' Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.' Oh, that I might
live in his presence. This is the desire of a Christian soul when the flame
of love is kindled in any strength, ' Oh, that I might see him.' And there-
160 BOWELS OPENED. [SeKMON XVII.
fore it longs even for death ; for as far as a man is spiritual, he desires to
be dissolved and to be with Christ ; as Simeon, when he saw him, though
in his abasement, ' Now I have enough ; let thy servant depart in peace,
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,' Luke ii. 30. The presence of
Christ, though it were but in the womb, when Mary, the mother of Christ,
came to Ehzabeth, it caused the babe that was in her womb to spring.
Such comfort there is in the presence of Christ, though he be but in the
womb, as it made John to spring. What, then, shall be his presence in
heaven ? How would it make the heart spring there, think you ? For that
which is most lovely in Christ is to come. Therefore the saints that have
any degree of gi'ace in the New Testament, they are set out by this de-
scription. They were such as loved the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
How can it be otherwise ? If they love Christ, they love the appearing of
Christ, wherein we shall be made lovely, as he is lovely.
Here we are not ' altogether lovely;' for we have many dregs of sin,
many infirmities and stains. Shall we not, then, desire that time wherein,
as he is ' altogether lovely,' so shall we be made a fit spouse for so glorious
a husband ?
To conclude this point, let us try our aflections by the church's affections
in this place, whether Christ be so lovely to us or not. It is said, ' There
is no beauty in him when we shall see him, and he was despised of men,'
Isa. liii. 2. He was so, in regard of his cross and sufferings, to the eye of
the world and of carnal men. Herod scorned him; when Pilate sent him
to him, made nobody of him, as the word in the original is (q). They
looked upon the outside of Christ in the flesh when he was abased. ' There
was no form nor beauty in him,' saith the Holy Ghost, that is, to the sight
of carnal men ; but those that had the sight of their sins with spiritual eyes,
they could otherwise judge of Christ. The poor centurion saw an excel-
lency in him when he said, ' He was not worthy that he should come under
his roof,' Mat. viii. 8. The poor thief saw the excellency of Christ upon
the cross in those torments. ' Lord, remember me when thou comest into
thy kingdom,' Luke xxiii. 42.
So those souls that were enlightened, that had the sight of their misery
and the sight of God's love in Christ, had a high esteem of Christ in his
greatest abasement. Therefore, if we have a mean esteem of the children
of God as contemptible persons, and of the ordinances of God as mean
things, and of the government of Christ (such as he hath left in his word)
as base, it is an argument of a sinful, unworthy disposition. In such a
soul Christ hath never been effectually by his Spirit ; for everything in him
is lovely, even the bitterest thing of all. There is a majesty and excellency
in all things of Christ. The censures of the church are excellent when
they proceed and issue forth with judgment, as they should do, ' to deliver
such a man over to Satan, that he may be saved in the day of the Lord,'
1 Cor. V. 5.
Now, if the ordinances of Christ, the word and sacraments, and the shutting
sinners out of the church, if these things be vilified as powerless things, it
shews a degenerate, wicked heart, not acquainted with the ways of God.
If we have a mean esteem of men that suffer for Christ and stand out for
him, if we account them so and so, shall we think ourselves Christians in
the mean time ? When Christ is altogether lovely, shall they be unlovely
that carry the image of Christ? Can we love him that begets, and hate
them that are begotten of him ? Can we love Christ, and hate Christians ?
It cannot be.
Cant. V. IG.J ' this is my beloved.* 161
Now, that we may get this affection and esteem of Christ that is so
lovely,
Let %is labour to make our sins bitter and loathsome, that Christ may he
sweet.
Quest. What is the reason wo set no higher a price of Christ ?
Ans. Because we judge not of ourselves as we are indeed, and want
spiritual eye-salve to see into ourselves rightly.
2. And let ns attend upon the means of salvation, to hear the unsearchable
riches of Christ. What makes any man lovely to us, but when we hear of
their riches, beauty, and good intent to us? In the word we are made ac-
quainted with the good intent of Christ towards us, the riches of mercy in
forgivmg our sins, and riches of glory prepared for us. The more we hear
of him, of his riches and love to us, the more it will inflame our love to
Christ. Those that live where the ordinances of Christ are held forth with
life and power, they have more heavenly and enlarged affections than others
have, as the experience of Christians will testify.
3. Again, if we would esteem highly of Christ that he may be lovely to
us, let us join ivith company that highly esteem of Christ, and such as are better
than ourselves. What deads the affections so much as carnal, worldly com-
pany, who have nothing in them but civility ? By converse with them who
have discourse of nothing but the world, if a man have heavenly affec-
tions, he shall quickly dull them, and be in danger to lose them. They
may be conversed with in ci\il things, but when we would set to be he'avenly
and holy minded, lot us converse with those that are of an heavenly bent.
As we see here, ' the daughters of Jerusalem ' are won to love Christ. By
•what? By conversing with the church. Upon the discourse that the
church makes of his excellencies, in particular, they begin to ask, Where is
Christ, as in the next chapter ; and so are all brought to the love of Christ.
THE EIGHTEENTH SERMON.
His mouth is most sweet ; yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, ana
this is my friend, 0 daughters of Jerusalem. — Cant. V. 16.
Whither is thy beloved gone, 0 thou fairest among ivomen? whither is thy be-
loved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee ? My beloved is gone
down, dc. — Cant. VI. 1, 2.
By this time the church hath well quit herself in that safe subject, com-
mending her beloved ; first in general, and then in particular. She affirms
in effect, there was none like him in general ; which she after makes good,
in all the particulars of her description. Now she sums up all with a kind
of superabundant expression. What shall I say more of him ? if that
which is said be not enough, then know farther, he is altogether lovely.
There were no end to go through all his perfections ; but look on him
wholly, ' he is altogether lovely,' and therefore deserves my love. So that
there is no cause why you should wonder at the strength of my affections,
and care to find out this my beloved and this my friend, 0 ye daughters of
Jerusalem. Thus we see how the pitch of an enlightened soul is bent. It
aspires to things suitable to itself; to God-wards; to union and communion
with Christ ; to supernatural objects. Nothing here below is worthy the
name of its beloved. It fastens not on earthly, base things. But this is
VOL. u. L
.162 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XVIII.
my beloved, and this is my friend, this so excellent a person, this Jedidiah,*
this beloved Son, this judge of all. Lord of all, this chief of ten thousand.
Here the church pitches her affections, which she conceals, not as ashamed
thereof, but in a kind of triumphing, boasting of her choice. She concludes
all with a kind of resolute assurance, that the object of this her choice is far
beyond all comparison.
' This is my beloved, and this is my fi-iend, 0 daughters of Jerusalem.'
Which is the closing up of her commendations of Christ. ' This is my
beloved, and this my friend,' &c. Which shall only be touched, because we
had occasion to speak thereof before. She calls Christ her beloved. How-
soever he had withdrawn himself in regard of the comfort and communion
she had with him before, yet he is her beloved still.
That which is specially to be stood upon is, that the church here
doth set out not only in parcels, but in general, her beloved Christ. This
is my beloved. She doth, as it were, boast in her beloved. Whence
observe :
A Christian soul seems to glory as it were in Christ.
' This is my beloved, and this is my friend, 0 ye daughters of Jerusalem.'
But to unfold more fully this point, there be three en: four ends why the
church thus stands upon the expression of the excellencies of Christ, in par-
ticular and in general.
1. The one, to shew that it is most just that she should love and respect
him in whom there is all this to deserve love. Both in himself, in regard of
his own excellencies, so, and in relation to us, in regard of his merits and
deserts.
2. Secondly, to justify he)- large affections before the world and all opposites.f
For the world thinks, what mean these who are called Christians to haunt
the exercises of rehgion, to spend so much time in good things ? They
wonder at it for want of better information. Now the church here, to justify
her large expressions, says, ' This is my beloved, this is my friend, 0 ye
daughters of Jerusalem.'
3. And not only to justify, but likewise to glory therein, as you have it,
Ps. xliv. 8. The church there boasts of God, ' I will make my boast of
thee all the day long.' So that Christians may not onlyjustifytheii- course
of Hfe against enemies, but in some sort boast of Christ, as Paul oft doth.
And he shews the reason of it, that God hath made Christ to us all in all,
wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 1 Cor. i. 30, that who-
soever glorieth might glory in the Lord, ver. 31 . For it is not a matter of
glorying in the church when she hath such a head and such a husband.
' This is my beloved.' The wife shines in the beams of her husband.
Therefore this yields matter not only of justification but of glory.
4. And next, in the fourth place, the church is thus large and shuts up
all with a repetition, ' This is my beloved,' to enlarge her own affections and
to feed our I own love. For love feeds upon this fuel, as it were; upon ex-
pressions and meditations of the person or thing loved. Love is, as it were,
wages of itself. The pains it takes is gain to itself. To the church here,
it is an argument pleasing. She dilates upon a copious theme. I may
truly say there is no greater comfort to a Christian, nor a readier way to
enlarge the affections after Christ, than to speak oft of the excellencies of
Christ ; to have his tongue as the pen of a ready writer furnished this way,
* This is my beloved,' &c.
* That is, ' beloved of Jehovah.'— G. t That is, ' opponents.'— Ed,
X Qu. 'her?'- -Ed.
Cant. V. 10.] 'tuis is my beloved.' 1G3
5. In the fifth place, anotlicr end of this may be, to aggmvate her oicit
shame, as indeed God's children are much in this argument ; that upon
their second thoughts of Christ's worthiness, and therewithal reflecting upon
their own unworthuaess and unkindness, they may relish Christ the better.
Therefore the church here, that it might appear to herself, for her humilia-
tion, how unkind she had been to shut the door against Christ when he
knocked (wherei^on he deservedly did withdraw himself, and made her
seek him so long sorrowing), I tell you, says she, what a kind of beloved he
is, thus and thus excellent. How did the consideration of God's kindness
and love melt David's heart after that horrible sin in the matter of Uriah, 2
Sam. xii. 13 ; and the sweet looks of Christ upon Peter, Mat. xxvi. 75, that had
been so imkind, melted him. So here the church, when she considered how
unkind she had been to Chi-ist her beloved, so incomparably excellent above
other beloveds, to let him stand at the door, till his locks were wet with the
dew of the night, the consideration hereof made her ashamed of herself.
What ! so excellent, so deserving a person as my beloved is to me, to be
used of me so! what indignity is this ! Thus to raise up the aggravation
of her unkindness, no question but the chui-ch takes this course. For
God's children are not as untoward worldlings and hypocrites, afi'aid to
search and to understand themselves. The child of God loves to be well
read in his own heart and unworthy ways. Therefore he lays all the blame
he can upon himself every way. He knows he loseth nothing by this ;
for there is more mercy in Christ than there is sin in him. And the more
sin abounds in his own feeling, the more grace shall abound. He knows
the mystery of God's carriage in this kind. Therefore for this end, amongst
the rest, she says, ' This is my beloved, and^this is my friend,' whom I have
so unkindly used.
6. And the last reason why the chm*ch is thus large was, to draw and
ivind up the affections of those ucU-meaning Christians that were comers on,
who ivere inquisitive of the ivag to Zion. 0 ye daughters of Jerusalem, that
you may know that there is some cause to seek after Christ more than you
have done before, I tell you what an excellent person my beloved is ; to
whet their affections more and more. And we see the success of this ex-
cellent discom-se in the beginning of the next chapter. ' Whither is thy be-
loved gone?' &c.
These and the like reasons there are of the large expressions of the
church, of the excellencies of Chiist. ' This is my beloved, and this is my
friend, 0 ye daughters of Jerusalem.' But we will single out of these
reasons for use, that which I think fittest for us to make use of.
Let us then oft think of the excellencies of Christ for this end, to justify
our endeavours and pains ice take in the exercises of religion, and to justify God's
people from the false imputations of the world, that they lay upon them ; as
if they were negUgent in other matters, and were too much busied in spiritual
things. You see how large the church is in setting out the excellencies of
her beloved, and then she shuts up all (being able to say no more) justify-
ing our cause, ' This is my beloved, and this is my friend.' Do you wonder
that I seek so much after him then ? or wonder you at Christians, when
they take such pains to keep their communion with Christ in a holy walking
\vith, and depending upon God ? These are no wonders, if you consider
how excellent Christ is, what he hath done for us, and what he keeps for us
in another world ? that he will preserve us to his heavenly kingdom, till he put
us into possession of that glorious condition that he hath purchased ? Let
the hearts of men dwell upon the consideration of these thiugs, and then you
164 BOWELS OPENED. .[SeRMON XVIII.
shall see that God's children are rather to be blamed that they are no more
careful, watchful, and industrious, than to be taxed that they are so much.
Our Saviour Christ said, ' Wisdom is justified of all her children,' Mat. xi.
19. If you will make good that you are children of wisdom, you must be
able to justify the wisdom of God every way, to justify your reading, hear-
ing, your communion of saints ; to justify all the exercises of religion fi'om
an experimental taste and sweetness of them, as the church* doth here, ' This
is my beloved,' What says Joshua ? ' This choice I have made ; do you what
you will, it matters me not, but I and my house will serve the Lord,' Josh,
xxiv. 15. So Paul makes a voluntary profession of his affection, Rom. i. 2,
' I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.' Let the gospel be enter-
tained in the world as it will, and let others think of me as they will, that
I am forward in the preaching of it ; I am not ashamed of it. And good
reason he had not to be ashamed ; for it is the power of God to salvation,
to all that believe ; yea the saving power to us. And have not I cause to
stand in the defence of it ? And so he saith, ' I know whom I have believed,'
&c., 2 Tim. i, 12. I am not ashamed to suffer bonds for his sake. Though
the world thought him a mean person, ' I will not be scorned out of my
faith and religion by shallow, empty persons, that know not what Christ and
rehgion meaneth.' No ; ' I know whom I have believed ; he is able to keep
that that I have committed to him against that day.' Let us therefore be
able to justify from a judicious apprehension, sweet di-sane truths. You sco
what justifications there are of the church of God, ' Wherefore should the
heathen say. Where is now their God ?' Micah vii. 10, andPs. xlii. 10. Oh,
it went to David's heart, when they said, ' Where is now their God,' ' Whatwas
become of his God,' when he was left in trouble, as the church here. And
what doth he answer ? Doth he let it go with a question ? No, says he; our
God is in heaven, Ps. cxiii. 4, and hath done whatsoever he pleased.
And this justification of religion, you may know by this sign. It is with
the desertion of all discourses opposite to religion whatsoever. He that
justifies the truth, he esteems meanly of other courses and discourses.
Therefore in the next verse the chm-ch vilifies the idols. Our God is in
heaven, and doth whatsoever he pleaseth ; the idols are silver and gold, the
work of men's hands : they have eyes and see not, ears and hear not, Ps.
cxv. G. And the more we justify Christ, the more we will be against anti-
christ and his religion. We may know the owning of the one truth by the
vilifying the other. Let us labom* therefore to grow to such a convincing
knowledge of Christ ; the good things in him ; and the ways of God, as we
may be able to stand out against all opposition of the gates of hell whatso-
ever.
And to this end proceed in the study of Christ, and to a deeper search
of him, and of the excellencies and good things in him, that we may say as
Micah vii. 18, ' Who is a God like to thee, that pardons sins and iniquities ?'
and as David, Ps. cxiii., ' Who is a God like our God, that humbleth him-
self to behold the things done here below ?'
And desire also to this purpose, the spirit of revelation, that which Paul
prays for, Eph. iii. 18, ' that we may know that knowledge that is above all
knowledge, the height, depth, and breadth of God's love in Christ.' So
sweet is God in the greatest abasements of his children, that he leaves such
a taste in the soul of a Christian, that from thence he may be able to say,
' This is my beloved,' when his beloved seems not to care for him. When
the church seemed to be disrespected and neglected of Christ, yet she says,
* This is my beloved, and this is my friend, 0 ye daughters of Jerusalem.'
Cant. YI. 1.] ' whitiiek is thy beloved cone ?' 165
Shall rich men boast of their riches ? Shall men that are in favour, boast
of the favour of great persons ? Shall a man that hath large possessions
boast and think himself as good and as great as his estate is ? Shall a base-
minded worldling be abh; to boast ? ' Why boastest thou thyself, 0 mighty
man?' Ps. lii. 1, Nay, you shall have malignant- spirited men boast of
their malignant destructive power. I can do this and that mischief. Shall
a man boast of mischief, that ho is able to do mischief? and hath not a
Christian more cause to boast in God and in salvation ? Lord, shine on me,
says David, Ps. iv. C, let me enjoy the light of thy countenance ; and that
shall bring me more joy than they have, when their corn and wine in-
creaseth. ICnow this, as ho goes on in the same psalm, that God accepts
the righteous man.
Therefore let us think we have much more cause to boast of God and of
Christ in a spiritual manner, than the worldling hath of the world. Is not
God and Christ our portion ? and having Christ, have we not all things
with Christ ? Put case all things be took from us. If a man have Christ,
he is rich though he have nothing else. K he have all without him, his
plenty is (as a fother saith, and as it is in truth) beggary. But whosoever
hath Christ may thus rejoice with David, ' The lot is fallen to me in plea-
sant places ; yea, I have a goodly heritage,' Ps. xvi. 6. Would we have
more than God in Christ, a ring with a diamond very precious in it ? Now
the daughters of Jerusalem, hearing this large expression of afiection, ask,
' Whither is thy beloved gone, 0 thou fairest among women ? whither is
thy beloved turned aside ? that we may seek him with thee,' chap, vi, 1.
Here is another question. The first which the daughters of Jerusalem
ask is, ' What is thy beloved ?' whereupon the church took occasion to ex-
press what her beloved was : upon her expression closing up all with this
general, ' This is my beloved, and this is my friend.'
Then the second question is, ' Whither is thy beloved gone ?' One ques-
tion begets another ; and indeed if this question be well satisfied, what is
Christ above others ? this will follow again. "^^Tiere is he ? How shall I
get him ? How shall I seek him ? What is the reason this second ques-
tion is seldom made ? Whither is he gone ? how shall I get Christ ? Be-
cause the former question, namely, ' What is Christ ? is so seldom made.
For if we did once Imow what Chi'ist is, we would be sure with the daughters
of Jerusalem to ask whither is he gone, that we may seek him with thee.
We see here is a growth in the desires of the daughters of Jerusalem,
whence we learn,
lliat grace, though it be in never so little proportion at the first, it is grow-
ing still.
From the first question, ' What is thy beloved?' here is a second, upon
better information, ' Whither is thy beloved gone, that we may seek him
with thee ? ' Nothing is less than gi-ace at the first, nothing in the world
so little in proportion. The kingdom of heaven is compared to a grain of
mustard seed. Mat. xiii. 31, seq. That is, the work of grace in the heart, as
well as in the preaching of the gospel, in the beginning is little. It is true
of the work of grace, as well as of the word of grace, that it is like a gi-ain
of mustard seed at first. ' What is thy beloved ? ' inquires the church at
first ; but when she hears of the excellency of Christ, then, ' Whither is thy
beloved gone ? ' Grace begets grace. There is a connection and knitting
together in rehgion. Good things beget good things. It is a strange thing
in religion how great a matter ariseth of a Httle beginning. The woman of
Samaria had but a small beginning of gi"ace, and yet she presently di-ew
166 EO-RTILS OPENED. [SeKMON XYIII.
many of her neighbours to believe in Christ. So Andrew, John i. 41. As
soon as he was converted, he finds his brother Simon, and tells him that
he had found the Messiah, and so brings him to Christ. And Philip, as soon
as he had got a spark of faith himself, he di-aws also Nathanael to come to
Christ. Paul speaks of his bonds, how the noise of them was in Caesar's
com-t, Philip, i. 13, and many believed the very report, which, howsoever
it is not a working cause, yet it may be a preparing, inducing, leading
cause to such things, from one thing to another, till there follow this change
and full conversion. You see here the daughters of Jerusalem gi'owing.
Therefore, let us labour to be under good means. Some of the Romists.
and others, which are ill affected and gi'ounded in that point, they think
that the efiicacy of grace is, as we call it, from the congruity, fitness, and
proportion of the means to the heart and will of man. And thereupon God
converts one and not another, because there is a congruous and fit ofiering
of means to him when he is fitly disposed, and another is not fitly disposed.
Therefore, there follows not upon it effectual calling. So that the \drtue
of the means offered depends upon suitableness and fitness in the party to
whom the means are oftered, and not upon the power and blessing of God.
Verily, this is plausible, and goes down very roundly with many weak persons ;
but this is a false and a gross error, for imless God by his Holy Spirit do
work by the means, no planting and watering will bring any increase, and
change the heart and mind. Though there were greater means in Christ's time
when he wrought these miracles, than any time before, yet all those could
not convert that froward generation; and it was Moses's complaint in the
wilderness, where they had abundance of means, * God hath not given you
a heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear until this da}^,' Deut.
xxix. 4. "When a man is planted under good means and frequents them,
then ordinarily it pleaseth God, by the inward workings of his own power-
ful Spirit, to work greater matters; and those that keep out of God's reach,
that will not come into places where they may hear good things, there is no
hope of them. Though there be many ill fish in the net, yet there is no
hope to catch them that are without the net. So those that are kept out
of all opportunities and occasions whereby God's Spirit may work upon
them, there is no hope of them.
Let us learn this heavenly wisdom, to advantage ourselves this way, by
improving all good opportunities whatsoever whereby we may learn ; for
God works by outward means. Good company and good discourse, these
breed excellent thoughts. As, therefore, we love our souls, take all ad-
vantages wherein the Spirit of God works. "We shall find incredible fi-uit
thereof, more than we would believe. But to come to the question.
1. See here, first of all, in this question the blessed success of the cJiurch's
inquiry after Christ in the daughters of Jerusalem after they heard the large
explications of the excellencies of Christ, especially by the church, whom
they had a good conceit of, for they call her ' the fairest among women.'
And seeing, likewise, the confidence of the chm-ch, she stands to it,
* This is my beloved ; ' yea, also, eagerness in the church to seek after him,
they would seek him with her. So that where these meet, a large unfold-
ing of the truth of God, and that by persons that are known to be good,
well accepted, and conceited of, and where there is a large demonstration
of real afiection, and the things are spoken of with confidence, as knowing
what they say ; the word, I say, so managed, it is never without wondrous
success.
(1.) For in the course of reason, what can I have to say, considering
Cant. YI. l.J ' whither is thy beloved gone ?' 1G7
the party who speaks is an excellent person ? He is wiser and holier than I ;
ho takes to heart these things ; and shall not I affect that which those that
have better parts and graces do ?
(2.) Then, withal, I see not only excellent persons do it, but I see how
earnest they are. Surely there is some matter in it; for persons so holy,
so wise, and gracious to be so earnest, surely either they are to blame, or
I am too dull and too dead ; but I have most cause to suspect myself.
(3.) And to see them carried with a spirit of confidence, as if they were
well enough advised when they deliver this, ' This is my beloved,' in particular,
and then to shut up all in general, ' This is my beloved, and this is my friend ;'
1 say, when there is grace and life in the heart, and earnestness with con-
fidence, this, together with the explication of the heavenly excellencies of
Christ and of religion, it hath admirable success. As here in the chui-ch,
' the fairest among women,' the ' daughters of Jerusalem,' seeing the church
was so earnest, confident, and so large in the explication of the excellencies
of Chiist, see how it works. It draws out this question with resolution.
They join with the church in seeking Christ, ' ^'Vhither is thy beloved gone,
0 thou fairest among women ? whither is thy beloved turned aside ? that we
may seek him with thee.' Where by the way observe, as the church
before doubles it, ' This is my beloved, and this is my friend,' so they
answer with a double question, ' Whither is thy beloved gone ? whither is
he turned aside ? 0 thou fairest among women,' &c. From this appellation
note,
2. If we would be happy instruments to convert others, being con-
verted ourselves, labour to be such as the icorhl may think to be good and
gracious. ' 0 thou fairest among women,' fair in the robes of Christ took*
out of his wardrobe. All the beauty and ornaments that the church hath
Bhe hath from Clu'ist. Let us labom- to be such as the world may conceit
are good persons. We say of physicians, when the patient hath a good
conceit of them, the cure is half wi'ought. So the doctrine is half per-
suaded when there is a good conceit of the speaker.
3. Again, labour to be earnest. If we would kindle others, we must be
warmed om-selves; if we would make others weep, we must weep ourselves.
Natumhsts could observe this. The church spake this with large expres-
sions, indeed, more than can be expressed. Let us labour to be deeply
affected ^vith what we speak, and speak with confidence as if we knew what
we spoke, as the apostle John doth, in the beginning of his epistle, to bring
others to be better persuaded of his doctrine. He affirmeth ' that which
was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with
these our eyes, which we have looked upon, and these hands of oui's have
handled of the word of life' he delivered to them, 1 John i. 1.
For when we are confident from spiritual experience, it is wonderful how
we shall be instniments of God to gain upon others. So Peter. * We fol-
lowed not,' says he, ' deceivable fables, when we opened unto you the power
and coming of our Lord Jesus Chi'ist, but with our eyes we saw his majesty,'
2 Pet. i. 16.
Do not think it belongs only to the ministr}'. There is an art of conver-
sion that belongs to every one that is a grown Christian, to win others.
' Wliither is thy beloved gone, 0 thou fairest among women?'
The next observation out of the words, because it is the especial, which
■works upon the daughters of Jerusalem, is from the large explication of
Christ.
* That is, ' taken.'— G
168 BOVS'^LS OPENED. [SeRMON XVIIl.
That which most of all stirs up holy affections to search after Christ is the
large explications of his excellencies.
Then be in love with the ministry of the gospel and the communion of
saints, who have their tongues and their hearts taught of God to speak ex-
cellently. Their tongues are as refined silver ; their hearts are enriched to
increase the communion of saints, Prov. x. 20. Mark this one excellency
of that excellent ordinance of God in Christ, whereof Paul saith, Eph. iii.
7, 8, ' To me is committed this excellent office, to lay open the unsearchable
riches of Christ ; ' such riches as may draw you to wonder, such ' as eye
hath never seen, nor ear heard, nor hath entered into the heart of man to
conceive,' 1 Cor. ii. 9; and so to draw the affections of people after them.
And because it is the special office of the ministry to lay Him open, to
hold up the tapestry, to unfold the hidden mysteries of Christ, labour we,
therefore, to be alway speaking somewhat about Christ, or tending that way.
When we speak of the law, let it drive us to Christ ; when of moral duties,
to teach us to walk worthy of Christ. Christ, or somewhat tending to
Christ, should be our theme and mark to aim at.
Therefore what shall we judge of those that are hinderers of this glorious
ordinance of Christ in the gospel ? They are enemies of conversion and
of the calling of God's people ; enemies of their comfort. And what shall
we think of those wretched and miserable creatures that, like Cain, are
vagabonds ? who wander, and will not submit themselves to any ordinance
meekly, but keep themselves out of this blessed opportunity of hearing the
excellencies of Christ, which might draw their hearts to him ? We are
made for ever, if Christ and we be one. If we have all the world without
him, it is nothing ; if we have nothing in the world but Christ, we are
happy. Oh ! happy then when this match is made between Christ and
the soul ! The friends of the bride and of Christ, they, laying open the
unsearchable riches of Christ to the spouse, draw the afi"ections, work faith,
and so bring the bride and the bridegroom together.
Thus far of the question. Now we have the church's answer to the
daughters of Jerusalem.
' My beloved is gone into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in
the gardens, and to gather lilies.'
The question was not for a bare satisfaction, but from a desire the
church had to seek Christ. * Wliither is thy beloved gone, that we may
seek him ? ' It was not a curious question, but a question of inquisition
tending to practice. Many are inquisitive ; but when they know another
man's meaning, it is all they desire. Now I know your meaning, will they
say, but I mean not to follow your counsel. The daughters of Jerusalem
had a more sincere intention, ' 0 thou fairest among women, whither is
thy beloved turned aside? that u-e viatj seek him with thee.' \Vhereunto the
church answered,
* My beloved is gone into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the
gardens.' Where we see.
The church is not squeamish, but directly answers to the question. For
there is no envy in spiritual things, because they may be divided in soUdiim.
One may have as much as another, and all alike. Envy is not in those
things that are not divisible ; in other things, the more one hath, another
hath the less. But there is no envy in gi-ace and glory, because all may
share alike. Therefore here is no envy in the answer, as if she denied
the daughters of Jerusalem the enjoying of her beloved. No. If you will
know, says she, I will tell you directly whither my beloved is gone.
Cant. \I. 1, 2.] 'my beloved is gone into ins garden.' 169
' My beloved is gone into his garden, to the bed of spices,' &c.
God hath two gardens. The church catholic is his garden, and every
particuhir church are gardens and beds of spices, in regai-d that many
Christians are sown there that Christ's soul delights in, as in sweet spices.
This was spoken of before at largo in chapter v. 1, why the church is
called a garden, being a severed place from the waste.* The church ia
severed from the wilderness of the world in God's care and love ; likewise
he tends and weeds his church and giirdcn. As for the waste of the world,
he is content the wilderness should have barren plants, but he will not
endure such in his garden. Therefore those that give themselves liberty
to be naught in the church of God, he will have a time to root them out.
Trees that are not for fruit shall bo for tho fire ; and above all other trees
their doom shall be the heaviest that grow in God's garden without fruit.
That fig-tree shall be cursed, Luke xiii. 6—9.
Men are pleased with answering the bill of accusation against them thus :
Are we not baptized ? and do we not come to church ? &c. What do you
make of us ? Yet they are abominable swearers, and filthy in their lives.
To such I say, the more God hath lift you up and honoured you in the use
of the means, the moi'e just shall your damnation be, that you bring forth
nothing but briers and brambles, Heb. vi. 4, seq., the grapes of Sodom and
the vine of Gomorrah, Deut. xxxii. 32. Heavy will the doom be of many
that live in the church's bosom, to whom it had been better to have been
born in America [>■), in Turkey, or in the most barbarous parts in the
world. They have a heavy account to make that have been such ill profi-
cients under abundance of means. Therefore it ought to be taken to heart.
' My beloved is gone into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the
gardens, and to gather lilies.'
That is, having first planted them lilies here, to gather them, and to
transport them out of the garden here to the garden in heaven, where
there shall be nothing but lilies. For the church of God hath two
gardens or paradises since the first paradise (whereof that was a resem-
blance), the paradise of the church and the paradise of heaven. As Christ
saith to the good thief, 'This day thou shalt be with me in paradise,''
Luke xxiii. 43 ; so those that are good plants in the paradise of the church,
they shall be glorious plants also in the paradise of heaven. We must not
alway be here ; we shall change our soil, and be taken into heaven. * He
is gone into his garden to gather lilies.'
1. Christians are compared to lilies for their j)untu and ichiteucss, un-
spotted in justification ; and for their endeavours in sanctity and holiness,
wherein also at length they shall be wholly unspotted. It is the end they
are chosen to, ' to be holy without blame before him in love,' Eph. i. 4.
God and Ctu'ist looks upon them without blame, not as they are here de-
filed and spotted, but as they intend, by little and little, to purge and
purify themselves by the Spirit that is in them, that they may be altogether
without blame. They are lilies, being clothed with the white garment of
Christ's righteousness, not having a natural whiteness and purity (s). The
whiteness and purity of God's children is borrowed. All their beauty and
garments are taken out of another's wardrobe. The church is all glorious
within ; but she borrows her glory, as the moon borrows all her light
from the sun. The church's excellency is borrowed. It is her own, but
by gift ; but being once her o\\ti, it is her own for ever.
The church before was likened to a garden culled out, an Eden, a para-
* Seo pp. 8-10.— G.
170 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XVIII.
dise. Now there, you know, were four streams, sweet and goodly rivers,
which watered paradise ; the heads of which rivers were without it. So the
church of God, her graces are her own ; that is, the Spirit of God comes
fhrough her nature, purgeth and purifieth it ; but the spring of those
graces, as in paradise, is out of herself.
2. And then the lily is a tall, goodly plant. Therefore the church is com-
pared to them. Other men are compared to thorns, not only for a noxious,
hurtful quality in them, but for their baseness likewise. What are thorns
good for, but to cumber the ground, to eat out the heart of it, to hide
snakes, and for the fire ? Wicked men are not lilies, but thorns. They
are base, mean persons. Antiochus, Dan. xi. 21, is said to be a vile per-
son, though he were a king, because he was a naughty* man. Wicked
men, though they be never so great, being void of the grace of God, are
vile persons. Though we must respect them in regard of their places, j^et
as they are in their qualification, they are vile and base thorns. But the
church is not so, but as a lily among thorns, that is, among vile and
abominable persons.
Use 1. The use is to comfort God's children. They have an excellency
and glory in them, which, howsoever it is not from them, yet it is theirs by
gift, and eternally theirs. Therefore let them comfort themselves against
aU the censures of sinful persons that labour to trample them under foot,
and think basely and meanly of them, as of the ofi'scouring of the world.
Let the unworthy world think of them as they will, they are lilies in God's
esteem, and are so indeed ; glorious persons that have the Spirit of glory
resting upon them, 1 Pet. iv. 14, and whom the world is not worthy of,
Heb. xi. 38, though their glory be within. Therefore let us glory in it,
that God vouchsafeth saving grace to us above any other j)rivilege.
Use 2. Again, it comforts us in all our wants whatsoever, that God will
take care for lis. Christ useth this argument. God saith, he clotheth the
lilies of the field with an excellent beauty ; he cares even for the meanest
plants, and will he not take care for you, 0 ye of little faith ? Mat. vi. 29.
Doth he care for lilies, that are to-day, and to-morrow are cast into the
oven ? and shall he not care for the lihes of paradise, the living lilies,
those holy reasonable lilies ? Undoubtedly he will. Our Saviour Christ's
reason is undeniable. He that puts such a beauty upon the poor plants,
that flourish to-day in the morning, and wither before night ; he that puts
such a beauty upon the grass of the field ; will he not put more excellency
upon his children ? will he not provide for them, feed them ? Undoubtedly
he will. Thus we have shewed why God's children in the church of God
are compared to lilies.
' To gather lilies.' Christ is said to gather these lilies, that is, he will
gather them together. Christ will not have his lilies alone, scattered.
Though he leaves them oft alone for a while, yet he will gather them to
congregations and chui'ches. The name of a chui'ch in the original is
Ecclesia (t). It is nothing but a company gathered out of the world. Do we
think that we are lilies by nature ? No ; we are thorns and briers. God
makes us lilies, and then gathers us to other lilies, that one may strengthen
another. The Spirit of God in his children is not a spirit of separation of'
Christians from Christians, but a spirit of separation from the waste, wild
wilderness of the world, as we say of fire, Congreriat liomogenea et disgregat
heterogenea. It congregates all homogeneal things, as gold, which it
gathers, but disgregates heterogeneal things, consumeth dross. So the
* That is, ' wicked." — G.
C.-u^-T. YI. 3.] * I AM MY beloved's.' 17i
Spirit of God severs thorns, and gathers lilies ; gathers Christians together
in the church, and will gather them for ever in heaven.
Thus we see the answer of the church to the daughters of Jerusalem,
what it was, with the occasion thereof; the question of the daughters ot
Jerusalem, ' Whither is thy heloved gone ? ' So that the church was be-
holden to the daughters of Jerusalem for ministering such a question, to
give her occasion to know better what her beloved was. Indeed, wc many
times gain by weaker Christians. Good questions, though from weak ones,
Tflinister suitable answers. It is a Greek proverb, that ' doubting begets
plenty and abundance,' for doubting at the first begets resolution at last.
O ! that we could take occasion hence to think of this. What excellent
vu'tue is in the communion of saints, when they meet about heavenly exer-
cises ! What a blessing follows when, though at the entry their afiections
may be fiat and dull, yet they part not so ! Christ heats and inflames their
hearts to do much good to one another. 0 ! those that shall for ever
live together in heaven, should they not dehght to live more together on
earth?
THE NINETEENTH SERMON.
T am my beloved's, and my heloved is mine ; he feedeth among the lilies. —
Cant. VI. 3.
1'hese words are a kind of triumphant acclamation upon all the former
passages ; as it were, the foot of the song. For when the church had
spoken formerly of her ill- dealing with Christ, and how he thereupon ab-
sented himself from her, with many other passages, she shuts up all at last
with this, ' I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.'
Now she begins to feel some comfort fi-om Christ, who had estranged
himself from her. 0 ! saith she, notwithstanding all my sufferings, deser-
tions, crosses, and the like, ' I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine,'
words expressing the wondrous comfort, joy, and contentment the chm'ch
now had in Christ ; having her heart inflamed with love unto him, upon
his manifesting of himself to her soul. ' I am my beloved's, and my
beloved is mine : he feedeth among the lilies.'
There is a mutual intercourse and vicissitude of claiming interest betwixt
Christ and his church. I am Christ's, and Christ is mine. ' I am my
beloved's, and m}' beloved is mine.'
From the dependence and order of the words coming in after a desertion
for a while, observe.
That Christ icill not be long frovi his church.
The spiritual desertions (forsakings, as we use to call them), howsoever
they be very irksome to the church (that loves communion with Christ),
and to a lo\ing soul to be deprived of the sense of her beloved, yet notwith-
standing they are but short. Christ will not be long from his church. His
love and her desire will not let him. They offer violence. Why art thou
absent ? say they. AVhy art thou so fiir off, and hidcst thyself? Joseph
may conceal himself for a space, but he will have much ado so to hold long,
to be straitened to his brethren. Passion will break out. So Christ may
seem hard to be entreated, and to cross his own sweet disposition, as to the
woman of Canaan, but he will not long keep at this distance. He is soon
172 BOWELS OPENED. [*^EBMON XIX.
overcome. * 0 ! woman, great is thy faith ; have what thou wilt,' Mat. xv.
28. When she strove with him a Httle (as ftflth is a striving grace), see
how she did win upon him ! So the angel and Jacob may strive for a while,
but Jacob at the length proves Israel; he prevails with God, Gen.xxxii. 24,
seq. So it is with the Christian soul and Christ. Howsoever there be
desertion, for causes before mentioned, because the church was negligent,
as we hear, and partly for the time to come, that Christ, by his estrange-
ment, might sweeten his coming again howsoever there may be strange-
ness for a time, yet Christ will return again to his spouse.
Use 1. The use should be not only for coynfort to stay us in such times,
hut to teach us Ukeicise to icait, and never give over. If the church had given
over here, she had not had such gracious manifestations of Christ to her.
Learn hence, therefore, this use, to wait God's leisure. God will wait to
do good to them that wait on him, Isa. xxx. 18. If we wait his leisure,
he will wait an opportunity of doing good to us. "When God seems not to
answer our prayers, let us yet wait. We shall not lose by our tarrying.
He will wait to do us good.
Use 2. In the next place, observe, after this temporary desertion, Christ
visits Jiis church with more abundant comfort than ever before.
Now, the church cannot hold, ' My beloved is mine, and I am his ;' and
Christ cannot hold, but falls into a large commendation of his spouse back
again. As she was large in his commendations, so he is large in hers, and
more large. He will have the last word. Therefore, learn by this expe-
rience, ' that all things work together for the best to them that love God,'
Rom. viii. 23. All things. What? evil ? Ay, evil. Why, even sin turns
to their humiliation ; yea, and desertion (those spiritual ills), turns to their
good ; for Christ seems to forsake for a while, that he may come after with
more abundance of comfort. When once he hath enlarged the soul before
with a spacious desire of his coming, to say, 0 ! that he would come ;
when the soul is thus stretched with desire in the sense of want, then he
fills it again till it burst forth, ' My beloved is mine, and I am his.' It was
a good experiment of Bernard, an holy man in ill times, tibi accidit, &c.,
speaking of Christ's dealing with his church. He comes and he .goeth away
for thy good. He comes for thy good to comfort thee ; after which, if
thou be not careful to maintain communion with him, then he goeth away
for thy good, to correct thy error, and to enlarge thy desire of him again,
to teach thee to lay sure and faster hold. upon him when thou hast him, not
to let him go again.
If you would see a parallel place to this, look in Cant, iii., where there is
the like case of the spouse and Christ, ' By night on my bed I sought him.'
The church sought Christ not only by day, but by night, ' I sought him
whom my soul loved.' Though she wanted him, j'et her soul loved him
constantly. Though a Christian's soul have not present communion with
Christ, yet he may truly say. My soul loves him, because he seeks him
diligently and constantly in the use of all the means. So we see the
church, before my text, calls him my beloved still, though she wanted
communion with him. Well, she goes on, ' I sought him, but I found him
not.' Would the church give over there ? No ; then she riseth and goeth
about the city, and about the streets, and ' seeks him whom her soul loved,'
seeks him, and will not give over. So I sought him, but I wanted the
issue of my seeking, I found him not. What comes upon that ? ' The
watchmen go about the city, and find her.' Of whom, when by her own
seeking she could not find Christ, she inq^uires, ' Saw you him whom my
Cant. YI. 3.j ' i am lyrx beloved's.' 173
soul loveth ? ' She inquires of the watchmen, the guides of God's people,
who could not satisfy her fully. She could not find her beloved, yet what
doth she, she shews, verse 4. It was but a little that she stayed, after she
had used all means, private and public — in her bed, out of her bed — by
the watchmen and others, yet, saith she, it was but a little that I was
past from them. She had not an answer presently, though the watchmen
gave her some good counsel. It was not presently, yet not long after,
Christ will exercise us a while with waiting : ' It was but a little that I
passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loved.' After all our
seeking, there must be waiting, and then we shall find him whom our soul
loveth. Perhaps we have used all means, private and public, and yet find
not that comfort we look for. Oh, but wait a while ! God hath a long
time waited for thee. Be thou content to wait a while for him. We shall
not lose by it, for it follows in the next verse ; after she had found him
whom her soul loved, ' I held him, I would not let him go.' So this is the
issue of desertions. They stir up diligence and searching, in the use of
means, private and public ; and exercise patience to wait God's leisure,
who will not suffer a gi-acious soul to fail of its expectation. At length he
will fulfil the desii-es of them that fear him, Ps. cxlv. 19 ; and this comes
of their patience. Grace grows greater and stronger. ' I held him, and
would not let him go, until I had brought him unto my mother's house.'
Thus you see how the Spirit cxpresseth the same truth in another state of
the church. Compare place with place. To go on.
' I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.' The words themselves
are a passionate expression of long-looked-for consolation. Affections have
eloquence of their own beyond words. Fear hath a proper expression.
Love vents itself in broken words and sighs, delighting in a peculiar
eloquence suitable to the height and pitch of the afiection, that no v/ords
can reach unto. So that here is more in the words breathed from such an
inflamed heart, than in ordinary construction can be picked out, ' I am my
beloved's,' &c., coming from a full and large heax-t, expressing the union
and communion between Christ and the church, especially after a desertion.
* I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.'
First, I say, the union, viz., the union of persons, which is before all
comfort and communion of graces, ' I am my beloved's, and my beloved is
mine.' Christ's person is ours, and our persons are his. For, as it is in
mai-riage, if the person of the husband be not the wife's, his goods are not
hers, nor his titles of honour ; for these come all to her, because his per-
son is hers : he having passed over the right of his own body and of his
person to his wife, as she hath passed over all the right of herself to her
husband. So it is in this mystical marriage. That that entitles us to
communion of graces is union of persons between Christ and his church.
♦ I am my beloved's, and my beloved himself is mine.' And indeed
nothing else will content a Christian's heart. He would not care so much
for heaven itself, if he had not Christ there. The sacrament, word, and
comforts, why doth ho esteem them ? As they come from Christ, and as
they lead to Christ. It is but an adulterous and base affection to love any-
thing severed from Christ.
Now, from this union of persons comes a communion of all other
things whatsoever. 'I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.'
If Christ himself be mine, then all is mine (;/). What he hath done, what he
hath suflcred, is mine; the benefit of all is mine. What he hath is mine.
His prerogatives and privileges to be the Son of God, and heir of heaven,
174 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XIX.
and the like, all is mine. Why "? Himself is mine. Union is the founda-
tion of communion. So it is here with the church, ' I am my beloved's.'
My person is his, my life is his, to glorify him, and to lay it down when
he will. My goods are his, my reputation his. I am content to sacrifice
all for him. I am his, all mine is his. So you see there is union and
communion mutually, between Christ and his church. The original and
spring hereof is Christ's uniting and communicating himself to his chm'ch
first. The spring begins to* the stream. What hath the stream or cistern
in it, but what is had from the spring ? First we love him, because he
loved us first, 1 John iv. 19. It was a true speech of Augustine, Quicquid
bonum, &c. : whatsoever is good in the world or lovely, it is either Grod or
from Grod ; it is either Christ or from Christ. He begins it. It is said in
nature, love descends. The father and the mother love the child before
the child can love them. Love, indeed, is of a fiery natm'e. Only here is
the dissimilitude, fire ascends, love descends. It is stronger, descending
from the greater to the less, than ascending up from the meaner to the
greater, and that for this amongst other reasons.
Because the greater person looks upon the lesser as a piece of himself — sees
himself in it. The father and mother see themselves in their child. So
Grod loves us more than we can love him, because he sees his image in us.
Neither is there only a priority of order. He loves us first, and then we
love him. But also of causality. He is the cause of our love, not by way
of motive only. He loves us, and therefore from an ingenuous spirit we
must love him again. But he gives us his Spirit, circumciseth om- hearts
to love him, Deut. xxx. G ; for all the motives or moral persuasions in the
world, without the Spirit, cannot make us love, 1 Thess. iv. 9. We are
taught of God to love one another, our brethren whom we see daily, saith
Paul, much more need we to be taught to love him whom we never saw,
so that his love kindles ours by way of reflection.
In the new covenant God works both parts, his own and our parts too.
Our love to him, our fear of him, our faith in him, he works all, even as he
shews his own love to us.
If God love us thus, what must we do ? Meditate upon his love. Let
our hearts be warmed with the consideration of it. Let us bring them to
that fire of his love, and then they will wax hot within us, and beg the
Spirit, ' Lord, thou hast promised to give thy Spirit to them that ask it,'
Luke xi. 10, and to circumcise our hearts to love thee, and to love one
another, ' give thy Holy Spirit, as thou hast promised.'
In a word, these words, ' I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine,'
to join them both together.
1. They imply a mutual propriety, ^ Christ hath a propriety in me, and I
in Christ. Peculiar propriety. Christ is mine, so as I have none in the
world. So mine, ' whom have I in heaven but Christ ? ' and what is there
in earth in comparison of him ? He is mine, and mine in a peculiar man-
ner, and I am his in a peculiar manner. There is propriety with pecu-
liarity.
2. Then, again, these words, ' I am his,' implies mutual love. All is
mutual in them, mutual propriety, mutual peculiarity, and mutual love. I
love Chi-ist so as I love nothing else. There is nothing above him in my
heart, as Christ loves me more than anything else, saith the church, and
every Christian. He loves all, and gives outward benefits to all, but to me
* That is, ' originates, or gives its beginning to.' — Ed.
t That is, ' property.'— G.
Cant. VI. 3.] ' i am my beloved's.' 175
he hath given himself, so love I him. As the husband loves all in the
family, his cattle and his servants, but he gives himself to his spouse. So
Chi'ist is mine, himself is mine, and myself am Christ's. He hath my soul,
my affections, my body, and all. He hath a propriety in me, and a pecu-
liarity in me. He hath mj' affection and love to the uttermost, as I have
his, for there is an intercourse in these words.
3. Then, again, they im])\y mutual familiarittj. Christ is familiar to my
soul, and I to Christ. He discovers himself to me in the secret of his love,
and I discover myself to him in prayer and meditation, opening my soul to
him upon all occasions. God's children have a spirit of prayer, which is
a spirit of fellowship, and talks, as it were, to God in Christ. It is the
language of a new-born Christian. He cries to his Father. There is a
kind of familiarity between him and his God in Christ, who gives the en-
trance and access to God. So that where there is not a kind of familiarity
in prayer and opening of the soul to Christ upon all occasions, there is not
this holy communion. Those that are not given to prayer, they cannot in
truth speak these words, as the church doth here, ' I am my beloved's, and
my beloved is mine,' for they imply sweet familiarity.
4. Then, again, they imply mutual likeness one to another. He is
mine, and I am his. The one is a glass to the other. Christ sees himself
in me, I see myself in him. For this is the issue of spiritual love, espe-
cially, that it breeds likeness and resemblance of the party loved in the
soul that loveth ; for love frameth the soul to the likeness of the party
loved. I am his, I resemble him. I am his, I have given myself to him.
I carr}' his picture and resemblance in my soul, for they are words of mu-
tual conformity. Christ, out of love, became like me in all things, wherein
I am not like the devil, that is, sin excepted. If he became like me, taking
my nature that I might be near him in the fellowship of grace, ' My be-
loved is mine,' I will be as like him as possibly I can, I am his. Every
Christian carries a character of Christ's disposition as far as weakness will
suffer. You may know Christ in every Christian ; for as the king's coin
carries the stamp of the king (Ca3sar's coin bears Caesar's superscription),
so every Christian soul is God's coin, and he sets his own stamp upon it.
If we be Christ's, there is a mutual confonnity betwixt him and us.
Now, where you see a malicious, unclean, worldly spirit, know that is
a stamp of the devil, none of Christ's. He that hath not the Spirit of God
is none of his. Now, where the Spiiut of Christ is, it stamps Christ's like-
ness upon the soul. Therefore we are exhorted, Phil. ii. 5, to be like-
minded to Christ.
5. Again, these words, ' I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine,'
imply a mutual care that Christ and the soul have of the good of one another,
of each other's honour and reputation. As Christ hath a care of our good,
so a Christian soul, if it can say with truth and sincerity I am Christ's, it
must needs have care of Christ's good, of his children, religion, and truth.
What ! will such a soul say. Shall Christ care for my body, soul, and salva-
tion, and stoop to come fi-om heaven to save me, and shall I have no care for
him and his glory ? He hath left his truth and his church behind him, and
shall not I defend his truth, and stand for the poor church to the utmost
of my power against all contraiy power ? Shall not I stand for religion ?
Shall it be all one to me what opinions are held ? Shall I pretend he cares
for me, and shall I not care for that I should care for ? Is it not an hon-
our to me that he hath trusted me to care for anything ? that he will be
honom'ed by my care ? Beloved, it is an honour fur us that we may speak
176 BOWELS OPENED. [SSRMON XIX.
a good word for religion, for Christ's cause, for his church, against ma-
hgners and opposers ; and we shall know one day that Christ will be a
rewarder of every good word. Where this is said in sincerity, that Christ
is mine, and I am Christ's, there will be this mutual care.
6. Likewise there is implied a mutual complacency in these words. By
a complacency I mean a resting, contenting love. Christ hath a com-
placency and resting in the church ; and the church hath a sweet resting
contentment in Christ. Christ in us and we in him. A true Christian
soul that hath yielded up its consent to Christ, when it is beaten in the
world, vexed and turmoiled, it can rely on this, ' I have yet a loving
husband ; ' yet I have Christ.
Let this put us upon a search into ourselves, what we retire to, when we
meet with afflictions. Those that have brutish and beastly souls retire to
carnal contentments, to good fellowship ; forget, besot, and fly away from
themselves ; their own consciences and thought of their own trouble
Whereas a soul that hath any acquaintance with God in Christ, or any in-
terest into Christ, so that it may say, that Christ is mine, and I am Christ's,
there will be contentment and rest in such a soul, whatsoever it meets with
in the world.
7. The last thing implied is courage, a branch of the former. Say all
against it what they can, saith the resolved soul, I will be Christ's. Here
is courage with resolution. Agreeable hereto is that, ' One shall say I
am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob ; an-
other shall subscribe and surname himself by the name of Israel,' Isa. xliv. 5.
Where there is not this resolution in good causes, there is not the Spirit of
Christ ; there is no interest into Christ, It is but a delusion and self-
flattery to say I am Christ's, when there is not resolution to stand to Christ.
These words are the expression of a resolved heart, I am, and I will be
Christ's ; I am not ashamed of my bargain ; of the consent I have givei^
him; I am and I will be his. You have the like in Micah iv. 5, ' All people will
walk every one in the name of his god, they will resolve on that, and wo
will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and for ever.' So
that where these words are spoken in truth, that ' I am Christ's,' there is
necessarily implied, I will own him and his cause for ever and ever.
He hath married me for ever and ever ; therefore, if I hope to havo
interest in him for comfort for ever and ever, I must be sure to yield my-
self to him for ever and ever ; and stand for his cause, in all oppositions,
against all enemies whatsoever. These and such like places in Scripture
run parallel with this in the text, * I am my beloved's, and my beloved is
mine,' not only holdmg in the person, but in the cause of Chiist. Every
man hopes his god will stand for him against the devil, who accuseth us
daily. If we will have Christ to stand for us, and to be an advocate to
plead our cause as he doth in heaven, we must resolve to stand for him
against all enemies, heretics, schismatics, persecutors whatsoever ; that we
will walk in the name of our God for ever and ever.
Quest. But when the case is not thus with us, and that neither we can
feel comfort from Christ, jior have this assurance of his love to us, what
should we judge of such ?
Solution. We should not wonder to see poor souls distempered when
they are in spiritual desertions, considering how the spouse cannot endure
Ahe absence of Christ. It is out of love therefore in the deepest plunge
ihe hath this in her mouth, ' my beloved.' Therefore let us not judge
amiss of om-selves or others, when we are impatient in this kind.
Cant. VI. 3.] * i am my beloved's.' 177
But for a more full answer, in want of feeling of the love of Christ in
regard of that measure we would (for there is never altogether a want of
feeling, there is so much as keeps from despair alway, yet), if we carry a
constant love towards him, mourn to him and seek after him as the church
here ; if the desire of our souls be after him, that we make after him in
the use of means, and are willing to speak of him as the church here, feel
or feel not, we are his, and he will at length discover himself to us.
Let such drooping spirits consider, that as he will not be long from us,
nor wholly, so it shall not be for our disadvantage that he retires at all.
His absence at length will end in a sweet discovery of himself more abun-
dantly than before. He absents himself for our good, to make us more
humble and watchful for the time to come ; more pitiful to others ; more to
prize our former condition ; to justify the ways of God more strictly ; to
walk with him ; to regain that sweet communion which by our negligence
and security we lost. When we are thus prepared by his absence, there
ensues a more satisfying discovery of himself than ever before.
But when is the time that he comes ? Compare this with the former chapter.
He comes after long waiting for him. The church waited for him, and
waited in the use of all means. She runs to the watchmen, and then in-
quires after him of the daughters of Jerusalem. After this she finds him.
After we have waited and expected Christ in the use of means, Christ at
length will discover himself to us ; and yet more immediately, it was after
the church had so deservedly exalted him in such lofty praises, ' This is my
beloved, the chief of ten thousand ; he is altogether lovely.' When we set
our hearts to the high exaltation of Christ above all things in the world,
proclaiming him ' the chief of ten thousand,' this at the last breeds a gracious
discoveiy, ' I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine,' for Christ when
he sees us faithful, and so loving that we will not endure his absence, and
so constantly loving, that we love him notwithstanding some discouragements,
it melts him at the last, as Joseph was melted by his brethren.
' I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.'
In the words, you see a mutual interest and o\\'ning between Christ and
the church. Howsoever in the order of words, the church saith, ' I am my
beloved's ' first, yet in order of nature Christ is ours first, though not in
order of discovery. There is one order of knowing, and another order of
causing. Many things are kno\vn by the effect, but they issue from a cause.
I know he is mine, because I am his. I have given myself to him. I
know it is day, because the sun is up. There is a proof from the effect.
So I know a man is alive, because he walks. There is a proof of the
cause by the effect. ' I am his ; ' I have grace to give myself up to him.
Therefore I know he loves me. He is mine. Thus I say in order of
discovery ; but in order of nature, he is first mine, and then I am his.
' My beloved is mine, and I am my beloved's.'
The union and communion betwixt us and Christ hath been already
spoken of.
Now to speak of the branches, ' I am my beloved's, and my beloved is
mine.' That Christ is first ours ; and then we are his, because he is ours ;
and the wondrous comfort that issues hence — that Christ himself is ours.
How comes Christ to be ours ? (1.) Christ is ours by his Father's gift.
God hath given him for us. (2.) Christ is ours by his own gift. He hath
given himself for us. (3.) And Christ is ours by his Spirit that witncsseth
so much to our spirits. For the Spirit is given for this purpose, to shew
us all things that are given us of God, whereof Christ is -the chief. There-
vox., u. M
178 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON XIX.
fore the Spirit of Christ tells us that Christ is ours ; and Christ being ours,
all that he hath is ours.
If he be ours, if we have the field, we have all the treasures in the field.
If we have him, v^^e have all his. He was born for us ; his birth was for
us ; he became man for us ; he was given to death for us. And so like-
wise, he is ours in his other estate of exaltation. His rising is for our
good. He will cause us to rise also, and ascend with him, and sit in
heavenly places, judging the world and the angels. We recover in this
second, what we lost in the first, Adam.
Use 1. This is a point of wondrous comfort to shew the riches of a Chris-
tian, his high estate, that Christ is his.
And Christ being ours, God the Father and the Holy Spirit and all things
else in the world, the rich promises, are ours ; for in Christ they are all
made, and for him they shall be performed. For, indeed, he is the chief
promise of all himself, and all are ' yea and amen in him,' 2 Cor. i. 20.
Oan we want rigliteousness, while we have Christ's righteousness ? Is not
his garment large enough for himself and us, too ? Is not his obedience
enough for us ? Shall Ave need to patch it up with "Dtir own righteousness ?
He is ours, therefore his obedience is ours.
Use 2. And this should be a ground likewise of contentation'^ in our condi-
tion and state ivhatsoever, — Christ himself is ours. In the dividing of all things,
some men have wealth, honours, friends, and greatness, but not Christ, nor
the love of God in Christ, and therefore they have nothing in mercy. But
a Christian, he hath Christ himself. Christ is his by faith and by the
Spirit's witness. Therefore, what if he want those appendencies,f the lesser
things ? He hath the main ; v/hat if he want a riveret, a stream ? He
hath the spring, the ocean ; him, in whom all things are, and shall he not
be content ? Put case a man be very covetous, yet God might satisfy him.
What ! should anxious thoughts disquiet us, when we have such bills, such
obligations from him who is faithfulness itself ? When a Christian cannot
say, honour, favour, or gi-eat persons are his, yet he can say, he hath that
that is worth all, more than all ; Christ is his.
Ohj. Oh ! may some say, this is but a speculation, — Christ is yours. A
man may want and be in misery for all that.
Ans. No ; it is a reality. Christ is ours, and all things else are ours.
He that can command all things is mine. Why then, do I want other
things ? Because he sees they are not for my good. If they were, he
would not withhold them from me. If there were none to be had without
a miracle, no comfort, no friends, he could and would make new out of
nothing, nay, out of contraries, were it not better for me to be without
them.
Use 3. That you may the more fully feed on this comfort, study the excel-
lencies of Christ in the Scripture, the riches and honour that he hath, the
favour he is in with his Father, with the intercession that he makes in
heaven, John xvii. Study his mercy, goodness, offices, power, &c., and
then come home to yom'selves, ' All this is mine, for he is mine ; the love
of God is mine.' God loves him, and therefore he loves me, because we
are both one. He loves me with the same love that he loves his Son.
Thus we should make use of this, that Christ is ours. I come to the
second.
■ I am my beloved's.'
This is a speech of reflection, second in nature, though first in place and
* That is, ' contentment.' — G. f That is, ' additions.' — G.
Cant. VI. 3.] * i am my beloved's.' 179
in discovery to us. Sometimes we can know our own love, when wo feel
not so much the love of Christ, but Christ's love must bo there fii-st. ' I
am my beloved's,' 1 John iv. 19.
How are we Christ's beloved ?
1. We are his, first of all, by his Father's gift; for God in his eternal
purpose gave him for us, and gives us to him, as it is in the excellent
prayer, 'Father, thine they wei-e, and thou gavest them me,' Johnxvii. 6. I
had not them of myself first, but thine they were before all worlds were.
Thou gavest them me to redeem them, and my commission doth not extend
beyond thy gift. I die for all those that thou gavest me. I sanctify
myself for them, that they may be sanctified. So we are Christ's in his
Father's gift. But that is not all, though it be the chief, fundamental,
principal ground of all.
For, 2. We are his likewise by redemption. Christ took our nature, that
he might die for us, to purchase us. We cost him dear. We are a bloody
spouse to Christ. As that froward woman ^TongfuUy said to Moses, ' Thou
art a bloody husband unto me,' Exod. iv. 25, so Cbiist may without wrong
say to the chm-ch, ' Thou art a spouse of blood to me.' We were, indeed^
to be his spouse, but first he must win us by conquest in regard of Satan,
and then satisfy justice. We were in such debt by sin, lying under God's
wrath, so as, till all debts were paid, we could not in the way of justice bo
given as a spouse to Christ.
3. Nor is this all ; but we are Christ's by matriage also. For when he
purchased us, and paid so dear for us, when he died and satisfied divino
justice, he did it with a purpose to marry us to himself. We have nothing
to bring him but debt and misery ; yet he took upon him our nature to
discharge all, that he might marry us, and take us to himself. So we are
his by mari-iage.
4. Then again, we are his by consent. We have passed ourselves over
unto him. He hath given himself to us, and we have given ourselves to
him back again. To come to some use of it, if we be Christ's, as Chi-ist
is ours.
Use 1. First, it is a point oi ivondrous comfort. God will not sufler his
own to want. He is worse than an infidel that will sufi'er his family to
perish. "When we are once of Chi'ist's family, and not only of his family,
but of his body, his spouse, can we think he will sufi'er us to want that
which is needful ?
2. Then again, as it comforts us against want, so it likewise fenceth us
against all the accusations of Satan. I am Christ's ; I am Christ's. If ho
have anything to say, lo ! we may bid him go to Christ. If the creditor
comes to the wife, she is not liable to pay her own debts, but saith, Go to
my husband. So in all temptations, learn hence to send Satan whither he
should be sent. When we cannot answer him, send him to Christ.
3. And for the time to come, what a gi'ound of comfort is this, that we
are Christ's, as well as he is ours. What a plea doth this put into our
mouths for all things that are beneficial to us. ' Lord, I am thine ; savo
me,' saith the psalmist. Why? ' Save me, because I am thine, I am
thine ; Lord, teach me and direct me,' Ps. xxvii. 11. The husband is to
direct the spouse. The head should dii-ect all the senses. All the trea-
sures of wisdom are in Christ, as all the senses are in the head for the good
of the body. Ail fulness dwells in him. Therefore, plead with him, I
want wisdom ; teach me and instruct me how to behave myself in troubles,
in dangers, in fears. If it be an argument strong enough amongst men,
180 BOWELS OPENED. SSRMON XIX.
weak men, I am thine, I am thy child, I am thy spouse, &c, shall we
attribute more pity and mercy to ourselves than to the God of mercy and
comfort, who planted these affections in the creature ? Shall he make men
tender and careful over others, and shall not he himself be careful of his
own flock ? Do we think that he will neglect his jewels, his spouse, his
diadem, and crown ? Isa. Ixii. 3. He will not.
But you will urge experience. We see how the church is used, even as a
forlorn widow, as if she had no husband in the world, as an orphan that
had no father. Therefore, how doth this stand good ?
Alls. 1. The answer is, all that the church or any particular Christian
suffers in this world, it is but that there may be a conformity between the
spouse and the hitshand. The Head wore a crown of thorns, and went to
heaven and happiness through a great deal of misery and abasement in the
world, the lowest that ever was. And it is not meet that the church should
go to heaven another way.
Ans. 2. Then again, all this is but to fashion the spouse to belike to Christ,
but to bring the church and Christ nearer together. That is all the hurt
they do, to drive the church nearer to Christ than before. Christ is as
near to his church as ever in the greatest afflictions, by his Spirit. Christ
cries out on the cross, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me V
It is a strange voice, that God should be his God, and yet, notwithstanding,
seem to forsake him. But God was never more his God than at that pre-
sent. Indeed, he was not his God in regard of some feelings that he had
enjoyed in former times. He seemed to be forsaken in regard of some
sense, as Christ seems to forsake the church in regard of some sense and
feeling, but yet his God still. So the church may say, I am thine still.
Though she seem to be forsaken in regard of some feelings, yet she is not
deserted in regard of God's care for support of the inward man and fashion-
ing to Christ. The church hath never sweeter communion with Christ
than under the greatest crosses ; and, therefore, they many times have
proved the ground of the greatest comforts. For Christ leads the church
into the wilderness, and then speaks to her heart, Hos. ii. 14. Christ
speaks to the heart of his spouse in the wilderness, that is, in a place of no
comfort. There are no orchards or pleasures, but all discomforts there.
A man must have it from heaven, if he have any good in the wilderness.
In that wilderness, that is, in a desolate, disconsolate estate, Christ speaks
to the heart of his children. There is in the wilderness oftentimes a sweet
intercourse of love, incomparably beyond the time of prosperity.
Ans. 3 Again, to stay your hearts, knoiv this ivill not be long ; as we see here,
the church seemed to be forsaken and neglected, fell into the hands of cruel
watchmen, and was fain to go through this and that means, but it was not
long ere she met with him whom she sought after. It may be midnight at
this time, but the night continues not long ; it will be morning ere long.
Tbei'efore the church may well say, ' Rejoice not against me, 0 mine
enemy ; for though I be fallen, I shall rise again; though I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be a light unto me,' as it is Mic. vii. 8. It shall not be
always ill with the church. Those that survive us shall see other manner
of days than we see yet, whatsoever we shall ourselves.
4. Hence we have also an use of trial. Whosoever are Christ's, they
have hearts to give themselves to him. As he gives himself, not his goods
or his honours, but himself for his church, so the church gives herself to
Christ. My delight is in him ; he hath myself, my heart, my love and
affection, my joy and delight, and all with myself. If I have any honour.
Cant. VI. 3. J ' i am my beloved's.' 181
he shall have it. I will use it for his glory. My riches I will give them
to him and his church and ministry and children, as occasion shall serve.
I am his, therefore all that I have is his, if he ask it at my hands. It is
said of the Macedonians, they gave themselves to Christ, and then their
riches and goods, 2 Cor. viii. 5. It is an easy matter to give our riches to
Christ when we have given ourselves first. A Christian, as soon as ever
he becomes a Christian, and ever after, to death, and in death too, he gives
up himself to Christ. They that stand with Christ, and will give this or
that particular, will part only with idle things that they may spare, are they
Christ's ? No. A Christian gives himself and all his to Christ. So we
see here what we should do if Christ be ours. Let us give up ourselves to
him, as it is Kom. xii. 1. The issue of all that learned profound discourse in
the former part of the epistle, that Christ justifieth us by his righteousness
and merit, and sanctifies us by his Spirit, and hath predestinated and elected
us, and refused others, is this, ' I beseech you, give up your bodies and
souls, and all as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.
In brief, these words imply renunciation and resignation. ' I am his,'
that is, I have given up myself to him, therefore I renounce all others that
stand not with his love and liking. I am not only his by way of service,
which I owe him above all that call for it, but I am his by way of resigna-
tion. If he will have me die, I will die. If he will have me hve here, I
will. I have not myself to dispose of any longer. I have altogether alien-
ated myself from myself. I am his to serve him, his to be disposed of by
him. I have renounced all other.
Therefore here we have another answer to Satan, if he come to us and
sohcit us to sin. Let the Christian's heart make this answer, I am not mine
oivn. What hath Satan and his instruments to do with me ? Is my body
his to defile ? Is my tongue his to swear at his pleasure ? Shall I make
the temple of God the member of an harlot ? As the apostle reasons,
' Shall I defile my vessel with sin ?' 1 Cor. vi. 15. What saith converted
Ephraim ? ' What have I any more to do with idols ? for I have seen and ob-
served him?' Hos. xiv. 8. We ought to have such resolutions ready in our
hearts. Indeed, when a Christian is resolute, the world counts such to bo
lost. He is gone. We have lost him, say your dissolute, profane persons.
It is true they have lost him indeed, for he is not his o\ra, much less theirs,
any longer. But he is found to God and himself and the church. Thus
we see what springs from this, that Christ is ours, and that we are Christ's
back again. Let us carry this with us even to death ; and if times should
come that God should honour us by serving himself of us in our lives, if
Christ will have us spend our blood, consider this, I am not mine own in
life nor death, and it is my happiness that I am not my own. For if I
were mine own, what should I do with myself? I should lose myself, as
Adam did. It is therefore my happiness that I am not mine own, that I
am not the world's, that I am'^not the devil's, that none else hath to do with
me, to claim any interest in me, but I am Christ's. If I do anything for
others, it is for Christ's sake. Remember this for the time to come. If
there be anything that we will not part with for Christ's sake, it will be our
bane. We shall lose Christ and it too. If we will not say with a perfect
spirit, I am his, my life, my credit, my person is his, anything his ;_ look
what we will not give for him, at length we shall lose and part with it and
him too.
182 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON XX.
THE TWENTIETH SERMON.
I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine ; he feedeth among the lilies, —
Cant. VI. 3.
The church, you see here, though she stood out a while against all Christ's
invitation and knocking, yet at length she is brought to yield herself up
wholly unto Christ, and to renounce herself, which course God takes with
most, yea, in a manner with all his people, ere they go out of this world,
to lay all high things low, beat down every high thought and imagination
which exalteth itself against him, 2 Cor. x. 5, that they may give them-
selves and all they have to Christ, Luke xiv. 26, if he call for it. For he
that doth not so is not worthy of Christ. K we do not this, at least in
preparation of mind, let us not own the name of Christians, lest we own
that which shall further increase and aggravate our condemnation, profess-
ing reUgion one way, and yet alienating our miads to our lusts and plea-
sures of the world another way. To have peculiar love-fits of oui* own,
distinct from Christ, how stands this with * I am my beloved's, and my
beloved is mine ' ? How stands it with the self- resignation that was spoken
of before ?
Now this follows upon apprehension of Christ being ours. * I am my
beloved's, because my beloved is mine first.' There are four reasons why
Christ must be given to us before we can give ourselves to him by this self-
resignation.
1. Because he is the chief spring of all good affections, which he must
place in us ; loving us, ere we can love him, 1 John iv. 10, 19.
2. Because love descends. Though it be of a fiery nature, yet in this it
is contrary, for love descends, whereas fire ascends. The superior, first
loves the inferior. Christ must descend in his love to us, ere we can
ascend to him in our afiections.
3. Because our nature is such that ice cannot love but where we know our-
selves to be lovedfirst. Therefore God is indulgent to us herein ; and that we
may love him, he manifests his love first to us.
4. Because naturally ourselves, being conscious of guilt, are full of fears from
thence. So that if the soul be not persuaded first of Christ's love, it runs
away from him, as Adam did from God, and as Peter firom Christ, * Depart
from me, for I am but a sinful man,' Luke v. 8. So the soul of every man
would say, if first it were not persuaded of God's love in Christ, ' Who amongst
us shall dwell with the everlasting burnings ? ' Isa. xxxiii. 14. Therefore
to prevent that disposition of soul which would rise out of the sense of guilt
and unworthiness, God first speaks to us in Christ ; at length saying unto
our souls, ' I am thy salvation,' whereupon the soul first finding his love,
loves him back again, of whom it finds itself so much beloved ; so that our
love is but a reflection of his, ' I am my beloved's, because my beloved is
mine.'
It is with the Spirit of God as with the spirits in the soul and body of a
man, there is a marriage betwixt the body and soul. The spirits join both
together, being of a middle nature ; for they have somewhat spiritual near
the soul, and somewhat bodily near the body. Therefore they come be-
tween the body and the soul, and are the instruments thereof, whereby it
works. So it is with the Spirit of God. The same Spirit that tells the
CaKT. VI. 3.] * MY BELOVED IS MINE.* 188?
Boiil that Christ is ours, the same Spirit makes up the match on our part,
and gives us up to Christ again.
Let this then be the trial that we are Christ's, by the spiritual echo that
our souls make to that report which Christ makes to our souls, whether
in promises or in instructions.
Use 1. See hence likewise the nature of faith, for these are the words of
faith as well as of love. Faith hath two branches, it doth give as well as
take. Faith receives Christ, and says, Christ is mine ; and the same faith
saith, I am Christ's again. Indeed, our souls are empty ; so that the
main work of faith is to be an empty hand, mendica manus (as Luther calls
it) ; a beggar's hand to receive. But when it hath received it gives Lack
again, both ourselves and all that we can do. The churches of Macedonia
* gave themselves,' and then ' they gave their goods,' 2 Cor. viii. 5. AVhcre
faith is, there will be a giving of ourselves and our goods ; and, by a pro-
portion, our strength, wits, and all back again. This discovers a great deal
of empty false faith in the world ; for undoubtedly if it were true faith there
would be a yielding back again.
Use 2. And again, these words discover the mutual coherence of justifi-
cation and sanctification, and the dependence one upon another. * I am my
beloved's, and my beloved is mine.' Christ is mine ; his righteousness is
mine for my justification ; I am clothed with Christ as it is, * The spouse
there is clothed with the sun,' Rev. xii. 1, with the beams of Christ. But
is that all ? No. ' I am my beloved's ;' I am Christ's. There is a return
of faith in sanctification. The same Spirit that witnesseth Christ is ours,
it sanctifies and alters our disposition, that we can say, I am Christ's.
It serves to instruct us therefore in the necessary connection of these two,
justification and sanctification, against the idle slander of papists, that sin-
fully traduce that doctrine, as if we were Solifideans (r), as if we severed
justification from sanctification. No. We hold here that whensoever
Christ is ours, there is a spirit of sanctification in us, to yield all to Christ,
though this resignation be not presently perfect.
Use 3. This likewise helps us, by way of direction, to understand the
covenant of grace, and the seals of the covenant, what they enforce and
comprise ; not only what God will do to us, but the duty we are to do to
him again, though we do it in his strength. A covenant holds not on one
side, but on both. Christ is mine, and I am Christ's again. ' I will be
their God,' but they must have grace ' to be my people,' Lev. xxvi. 12 ; and
then the covenant is made up. The covenant of grace is so called, because
God is so gracious as to enable us to perform our own part.
And so in the seals of the covenant in baptism. God doth not only
bind himself to do thus and thus to us, but binds us also to do back again
to him. So in the communion, we promise to lead a new life, renewing
our covenant ; and therefore we must not think that all is well (when we
have received our Maker), though we continue in a scandalous, fruitless
course of life. No. There is a promise in the sacrament (the seal of the
covenant of gi'ace), to yield up ourselves to God, to return to Christ
again with our duty. Then we come as we should do when we come
thus disposed. This for direction, ' My beloved is mine, and I am my
beloved's.'
Use 4. To proceed to make an use of comfort to poor, doubting Chris-
tians. ' I am my beloved's,' is the voice of the whole church, that all
ranks of Christians, if they be true, may without presumption take up. I
have not so much faith, so much love, so much grace, so much patience
184 BOWELS OPENED [SeRMON XX.
as another, saith a poor Christian ; therefore I am none of Christ's. But
we must know that Christ hath in his church of all ranks, and they are all
his spouse, one as well as another, there is no exception. There is a little
spirit of emulation, and a spice of envy, in Christians that are weaker. If
they have not all that great measure of grace which they see in others, they
fear they have none at all ; as if there were no babes in Christ's school as
well as men and grown persons.
Then again, we see here the nature of faith in the whole church. It is
the same that is in every particular, and the same in every particular as it
is in the whole church. The whole church saith, ' I am my beloved's,
and my beloved is mine.' I appropriate him. There is a spirit of appro-
priation in the whole, and there is so in each particular. Every Christian
may say with Paul, ' I live by faith in the Son of God, that hath loved me,
and gave himself for me,' Gal. ii. 20 ; and with Thomas, ' My God, and my
Lord,' John xx. 28.
The ground hereof is, because they are all one in Christ, and there is
one and the same Spirit in the whole church and every particular Chris-
tian, as in pipes, though of different sounds, yet there is the same breath
in them. So Christians may have diflferent sounds, from the greater or
lesser strength of grace that is in the one and in the other, but all comes
fi'om the same breath, the same Spirit. The Spirit in the bride saith Come,
Eev. xxii. 17, the whole church saith it, and every particular Christian
must say it ; because, as the body is acted by one spirit, and makes but
one natural body, though consisting of many parts weaker and stronger,
so should there be a harmony in this mystical body acted by that one
Spirit of Christ, who so regards all, as if there were but one, and regards
every one so, as he doth not forget the whole. Sic omnibus attentiis iit noii
detentus, dv. Christ so attends to all, that he is not detained from any
particular, and he so attends every particular, that he is not restrained
from all. There is the same love to all as to one, and to every one, as if
there were no other. He so loves each one, that every Christian may say
as well as the whole church, Christ is mine, and I am Christ's.
In those things that we call homogeneal, there is the same nature in
each quantity as in the whole, as there is the same nature in one drop of
water as in the whole ocean, all is water ; and the same respect of a spark,
and of all the element of fire. So Christ bears the same respect to the
church as to every particular, and to every particular as to the church.
Use 5. To come to make an use of direction, hoiv to come to be able to
say this, ' 1 am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.' For answer here-
to, take notice in the first place, from the dependence. Christ must be
first ours, before we can give ourselves to him.
(1.) Therefore, we must dwell on the consideration of Christ's love.
This must direct and lead our method in this thing. Would we have our
hearts to love Christ, to trust in him, and to embrace him, why then think
what he is to us. Begin there ; nay, and what we are : weak, and in our
apprehension, lost. Then go to consider his love, his constant love to his
church and children. ' Whom he loves, he loves to the end,' John xiii. 1.
We must warm our souls with the consideration of the love of God in him
to us, and this will stir up our faith to him back again. For we are more
safe in that he is ours. Gal. iv. 9, Philip, iii. 12, than that we give ourselves
to him. We are more safe in his comprehending of us, than in our clasp-
ing and holding of him. As we say of the mother and the child, both
hold, but the safety of the child is that the mother holds him. If Christ
C.\NT. VI. 8.] * MY BELOVED IS MINE.' 185
once give himself to us, he will make good his own part alway. Oiu safety
is more on his side than on ours. If ever we have felt the love of Christ,
we may comfort ourselves with the constancy and perpetuity thereof.
Though, perhaps, we find not our affections warmed to him at all times,
nor alike, yet the strength of a Christian's comfort lies in this, that first,
* Christ is mine,' and then, in the second place, that ' I am his.' Now, I
say, that we may be able to maintain this blessed tradition of givin"' our-
selves to Christ,
(2.) Let us dwell on the consideration of his love to us, and of the
necessity that we have of him ; how miserable we are without him, poor,
beggarly, in bondage to the devil. Therefore we must have him to recover
us out of debt, and to enrich us. For Christ's love carries him forth, not
only to pay all our debts for us, but to enrich us ; and it is a protecting,
preserving love, till he brings us to heaven, his own place, where we shall
ever be with him. The consideration of these things will warm our hearts,
and for this purpose serves the ministry.
(3.) We should therefore, in the next place, attend upon the word, for
this very end. Wherefore serves the ministry ? Among many others,
this is one main end—' to lay open the unsearchable riches of Christ.'
Therein you have something of Christ unfolded, of his natures, offices, and
benefits we have by him, — redemption, and freedom, and a right to all
things in him, the excellencies of another world. Therefore attend upon
the means of salvation, that we may know what riches we have in him.
This will keep our affections close to Chtist, so as to say, ' I am his.'
(4.) And labour we also every day more and more to bring all our love
to him. We see in bm*ning-glasses, where the beams of the sun meet in
one, how forcible they are, because there is an union of the beams in a
little point. Let it be our labour that all the beams of our love may meet
in Christ, that he may be as the chux-ch saith, our beloved. ' My beloved
is mine, and I am my beloved's,' saith she, as if the church had no love
out of Christ. And is it love lost ? No ; but as Christ is the church's
beloved, so the church is Christ's love again, as we see in this book oft,
* My love, my dove.' As all streams meet in the great ocean, so let all
our loves meet in Christ. We may love other things, and we should do
so, but no otherwise than as they convey love to us from Christ, and may
be means of drawing up our affections unto Christ. AVe may love our
friends, and we ought to do so, and other blessings of God ; but how ?
No otherwise than as tokens of his love to us. We love a thing that our
friends send to us. 0, but it is as it doth convey his affection to us. So
must we love all things, as they come from God's love to us in Christ.
And, indeed, whatsoever we have is a love-token, even our very afflic-
tions themselves. * Whom I love, I rebuke and chastise,' Heb. xii. 6.
(5.) Again, that we may inflame our hearts with the love of Christ, as
we are exhorted by Jude, 21, let us consider the vanity of all things that
entice us from Christ, and labour every day more and more to draw our
afiections from them, as we are exhorted — ' Hearken, 0 daughter, and
consider, and incline thine ear ; forget also thine own people, and thy
father's house : so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty,' Ps. xlv. 10.
So, if we will have Christ to delight in us, that we may say we are his, let
us labour to sequester our affections more and more from all earthly things,
that we may not have such hearts, as St James spcaketh of, adulterous
hearts. * 0 3'e adulterers and adulteresses ! know ye not that the love of
the world is enmity with God ? ' James iv. 4.
186 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XX»
Indeed there is reason for this exhortation ; for all earthly things, they
are all vain and empty things. There is an emptiness in -whatsoever is in
the world, save Christ. Therefore we should not set our affections toe
much upon them. A man cannot be wise in loving anything but Christ,
and what he loves for Christ. Therefore let us follow that counsel, to
draw ourselves from our former company, acquaintance, pleasures, delights,
and vanities. We cannot bestow our love and our affections better than
upon Christ. It is a happiness that we have such affections, as joy, delight,
and love, planted in us by God ; and what a happiness is it, that we should
have such an excellent object to fill those affections, yea, to transcend and
more than satisfy them ! Therefore the apostle wisheth that they might
know all the dimensions of God's love in Christ. There is a ' height,
breadth, length, and depth of the love of God,' Eph. iii. 18.
And let us think of the dimensions, the height, breadth, and depth of
our misery out of Christ. The more excellent our natures are, the more
miserable they are if not changed ; for look what degree of excellency we
have, if it be not advanced in Christ, we have so much misery being out of
him. Therefore let us labour to see this, as to value our being in him, so
to be able, upon good grounds, to say, ' I am my beloved's, and my beloved
is mine.'
(6.) Again, let us labour to walk in the Hght of a sanctified knowledge to
be attained by the gospel, for as it is, ' the end of all our preaching is
to assure Christ to the soul,' 1 John v. 13, that we may be able to say
without deceiving our own souls, ' I am my beloved's, and my beloved is
mine.' All preaching, I say, is for this end. The terror of the law and
the discovery of corruption is to drive us out of ourselves to him ; and then
to provoke us to grow up into him more and more. Therefore saith John,
' All our preaching is that we may have fellowship with the Father and the
Son, and they with us,' 1 John i. 7. And what doth he make an evidence
of that fellowship? ' walking in the light, as he is light,' or else we are liars.
He is bold in plain terms to give us the lie, to say we are Christ's, andha-?e
communion with the Father and the Son, when yet we walk in darkness.
In sins against conscience, in wilful ignorance, the darkness of an evil life,
we have no communion with Christ. Therefore if we will have communion
with him, let us walk in the light, and labour to be lightsome in om- under-
standings, to have a gi-eat deal of knowledge, and then to walk answerable
to that light and revelation that we have. Those that live in sins against
conscience, and are friends to the darkness of ignorance, of an evil life. Oh
they never think of the fellowship with Christ and with God ! These things
are mere riddles to them ; they have no hope of them, or if any, their hope
is in vain. They bar themselves of ever having comfortable communion
with Christ here ; much less shall they enjoy him hereafter in heaven.
Therefore labour eveiy day more and more to grow rich in knowledge, to
get light, and to walk in that light ; to which end pray with the holy apostle,
' That you may have the Spirit of revelation,' Eph. i. 17, that excellent Spirit
of God, to reveal the thing? of God, that we may have the light discovered
to us.
What a world of comfort hath a Christian that hath light in him and
walks in that light, above another man. Whether he live or die, the light
brings him into fellowship with the Father of lights. He that hath this
light knows his condition and his way, and whither he goeth. When he
dieth he knows in what condition he dieth, and upon what grounds. The
very light of nature is comfortable, much more that of grace. Therefore
Cant. VI. 3.j * hty beloved is mine. 187
laboui- to grow daily more and more in the knowledge and obedience of the
light.
All professors of the gospel are either such as arc not Christ's, or nnh as
are his. For such as are not yet, that you may be provoked to dra^' 1.>
fellowship with Christ, do but consider you are as branches cut o^f, that
will wither and die, and be cast into the fire, unless you be grafted into the
living stock, Christ. You ai'e as naked persons in a storm, not clothed with
anything to stand against the storm of God's wrath. Let this force you to
get into Christ.
Use 6. And next for encouragement consider, Christ offcrdh himiclf to all
in the gospel; and that is the end of the ministry, to bring Christ and our souls
together, to make a spiritual marriage, to lay open his riches and to draw
you to him, 1 John i. 9. If you confess your sins, he will forgive them,
and you shall have mercy, ' He relieves those that are wearied and heavy
laden,' Mat. xi. 28, and bids those come to him that are thirsty, Isa. Iv. 1.
Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost. Christ offers himself
in mercy to the worst soul.
Therefore if there be anj' that have lived in e\'il courses, in former times,
consider that upon repentance all shall be forgotten, and as a mist scattered
away and cast into the bottom of the sea. Cluist offers himself to you.
These are the times, this is the hour of gi'ace. Now the water is stirring
for you to enter ; do but entertain Christ, and desire that he may be yours
to rule you and guide you, and all will be well for the time to come.
Ohj. Do not object, I am a loathsome creature, fall of rebellions.
Ans. Christ doth not match uith you, because you are good, but to make
you good. Christ takes you not with any dowry. All that he requires is to
confess your beggary and to come with emptiness. He takes us not be-
cause we are clean, but because he wdl purge us. He takes us in our blood
when he fii'st takes us, Ezek. xvi. 9. Let none despair either for want of
worth or of strength, Eph. v. 27. Christ seeth that for strength we are
dead, and for worth we are enemies ; but he gives us both spiritual strength
and worth, takes us near to himself and enricheth us. Let none therefore
be discouraged. It is our office, thus to lay open and offer the riches of
Christ. If you will not come in, but love your sinful courses more than
Christ, .then you perish in your blood, and we free our hands, and may free
our souls from the gudt thereof. Therefore as you love your o^vn souls,
come in at length and stand out no longer.
And for those that have in some measure given themselves up to Christ,
and can say, ' He is mine and I am his,' let them go on with comfort, and
never be discouraged for the infu-mities that hang about them. For one
part of Christ's office is to purge his church by his Spirit more and moi'e ;
not to cast her away for her infii-mities, ' but to wash and cleanse it more
and more till it be a glorious spouse like himself,' Eph. v. 27. For if the
husband vnW, by the bond of nature, bear with the infirmities of the wife,
as the weaker vessel, doth not Christ bind himself by that which he accounts
us bound ? Is there more love and mercy, and pity in us to those that wo
take near us, than there is in Christ to us ? What a most blasphemous
thought were this to conceive so ! Only let us take heed of being in
league with sin ; for we cannot give our souls to Christ, and to sinful
courses too. Christ will allow of no bigamy or double marriage. Wlierc
he hath anything to do, we must have single hearts, resolving, though I
fall, yet I purpose to please Christ, and to go on in a good conversation ;
and tf our hearts tell us so, daily infirmities ought not to discourage us.
188 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON XX,
We have helps enough for these. First, Christ bids us ask forgiveness ;
and then we have the mercy of Christ to bear with weaker vessels. Then
his advocation.* He is now in heaven to plead for us. If we were perfect,
we needed not that office, 1 John ii. 2. Let none be discouraged there-
fore ; but let us labour more and more that wo may be able to comprehend
in some measure the love of Christ, so will all duties come off sweetly and
easily ; and then we shall be enabled to suffer all things, not only willingly,
but cheerfully, and rejoice in them. Love is of the nature of fire, which as
it severeth and consumeth all that is opposite, all dross and dregs, and
dissolves coldness, so it quickens and makes active and lively. It hath a
kind of constraining force, a sweet violence. As the apostle saith, ' the
love of Christ constraineth,' 2 Cor. v. 24.
Let a man that loves the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, be called to part
with his life, he will yield it as a sacrifice with comfort. Come what will,
all is welcome, when we are inflamed with the love of Christ ; and the more
we suffer, the more we find his love. For he reserves the manifestation of
his love most for times of suffering ; and the more we find the manifesta-
tion of his love, the more we love him back again, and rejoice in suffering
for him that we love so. Whether they be duties of obedience, active or
passive, doing or sufiering, all comes oli' with abundance of cheerfulness and
ease, where the love of Christ is, that the soul can say, ' I am my beloved's,
and my beloved is mine.' Nothing in the world is able to make such a
soul miserable. It follows.
' He feedeth among the lilies. The church here shews where Christ
feeds.
Quest. But the question is, Whether it bo the feeding of the churcn and
people that is meant, or whether he feeds himself ?
Alts. For answer, he both feeds his church among the lilies, and delights
himself to be there. The one follows the other. Especially it is meant of
the church. Those that are his, he feeds them among the lilies. How ?
Lilies are such kind of flowers as require a great deal of nourishment,
and grow best in valleys and fat ground. Therefore when she saith, ' He
feeds among the lilies,' the meaning is, he feeds his church and people
in lat pastures, as sheep in such grounds as are sweet and fruitful. Such
are his holy word and the communion of saints. These ai'e especially the
pastures wherein he feeds his church. The holy truths of God are the
food of the soul, whereby it is cherished and nourished up to life everlast-
ing. This whole book is a kind of pastoral (to understand the word a little
better), a ' song of a beloved' concerning a beloved. Therefore Christ in
many places of this book, he takes upon him the term and carriage, as it
were, of a loving shepherd, who labours to find out for his sheep the fattest,
fruitfulest, best, and sweetest pastures, that they may grow up as calves of
the stall, as it is Majachi iv. 2, that they may grow and be well liking.
You have, to give light to this place, a phrase somewhat like this, where he
follows the point more at large. Cant. i. 7. The church there prays to
Christ, ' Tell me, 0 thou wlmm my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where
thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon.' Those that are coming up in the
church desire to know with whom they may join, and what truths they may
embrace. ' Tell mo where thou feedest, and where thou makest thy flock
to rest at noon :' that is, in the greatest heat and storm of persecution, as
at noon-day the sun is hottest. ' For why should I be as one that turns
aside by the flocks of thy companions ?' that is, by those that are not true
* That is, ' advocacy.' — Ed.
Cant. VI. 3.] * he feedeth among the lilies.' 189
fi-iends, that arc false shepherds ; why should I be drawn away by them ?
I desire to feed where thou feedest anaong thy sheep. Why should I be as
one that turns aside by the flocks of those tlaat are emulators to thee ? as
antichrist is to Christ. Thus the church puts forth to Christ, whereunto
Christ replies, verse 8. ' If thou know not, 0 thou fairest among women,
go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flocks, and feed thy kids beside the
shepherds' tents :' that is, if thou know not, go thy way forth, get thee out
of thyself, out of the world, out of thy former course, put thyself forward,
stay not complaining, go on, put thyself to endeavour, go thy way forth.
Whither ? ' In the footsteps of the flocks.' See the steps of Christians in
the best times of the church in former times. Tread in the steps of those
that lived in the best ages of the church. ' Feed thy kids,' thy Christians,
' beside the shepherds' tents,' the best shepherds. Mark where the apostles
and prophets fed their sheep ; there feed thou. And mark the footsteps of
the flock that have lived in the best times ; for of all times since the apostles
and prophets, we must follow those virgin best times. All churches arc so
far true churches, as they have consanguinity with the primitive apostolical
and prophetical chui'ches.
Therefore, ' we are now to go out by the footsteps of the flock.' Mark the
footsteps of former Christians, Abraham, Moses, and David ; and in Christ's
time, of John, Peter, and the rest. Blessed saints ! walk as they walked,
go their way, and ' feed yourselves by the shepherds' tents.' Mark the
shepherds where they have their tents ! So these words have reference to
the prophetical, especially to the evangelical times, whereunto we must con-
form ourselves ; for the latter times are apostate times. After a certain
season the church kept not her purity; which the Scriptures foretold directly,
that we should not take scandal at it. The church did fall to a kind of
admiration of antichrist, and embraced doctrines of devils, 1 Tim. iv. 1.
Therefore now we must not follow these companies that lead into by-paths,
contrary to the apostolical ways, but see wherein our church agrees with
the apostolical churches and truth, and embrace no truth for the food of
our souls, but that we find in the gospel. For antichrist feeds his flocks with
wind, and with poison, and with empty things. For what hath been the
food in popery ? Sweet and goodly titles ; as if they, poor souls, had the
best pastors in the world, whenas they administer to them nothing but that
which will be the bane of their souls, full of poison and fraud. This is
spoken to unfold that place which gives Hght to this, spoken of the pastoral
care of Christ, ' he feeds his flock among the lilies,' plentifully and sweetly.
From hence may be briefly observed, fij.-st,
That Christ feeds as xvelL as breeds. And we have need of feeding as well
as breeding. Where dost thou feed ? that is, build up tliy children, and
go on with the work begun in them. We have need to be fed after we are
bred ; and Christ (answerable to our exigence and necessity) he feeds as
well as breeds ; and that word which is the seed to beget us, is that which
feeds too, 1 Peter i. 23. What is the seed of the new birth ? The word
of God, the holy promises, they are the seed, the Spirit mingling with them,
whereby a Christian is born, and being born, is cherished and bred. There-
fore, ' as new-born babes,' saith the apostle, ' desire the sincere milk of
the word, that you may grow thereby,' 1 Peter ii. 1. So that the same
thing is both the seed of a Christian, and that which breeds him ; the blessed
truth and promises of God.
Quest. If you ask, why we must grow up and be fed still ?
, Ans. 1. Do but ask your own souls, whether there be not a perpetual re-
190 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XX.
newing of corruption, which still breaks out into new guilt every day. There-
fore we have need to feed every day anew upon the promises, upon old pro-
naiscs with new affections. Somewhat breaks out ever and anon which
abaseth the soul of a Christian, that makes him go with a sharp appetite to
the blessed truths that feed his soul.
Ans. 2. And then again, we need a great deal of strength, which ig
maintained by feeding. Besides the guilt of the soul, there needs strength
for duty, which must be fetched fi'om the blessed word of God, and the com-
forts thence, wheieby we are able to withstand and resist, to stand and do
all that we do.
Alls. 3. And then we are set upon by variety of temptations within and
Vv'ithout, which require variety of wisdom and strength, all which must be
gotten by feeding ; and therefore you see a Christian for his subsistence and
being, hath need ol a feeding, cherishing, and maintaining still, by the sweet
and blessed directions and promises out of the word of God.
Therefore you may see what kind of atheistical creatures those are, and
how much they are to be regarded, that turn off all with a compendium in
religion. Tush, if we know that we must love God above all, and our neigh-
bours as ourselves, and that Christ died for all, we know enough, more
than we can practise. They think these compendiums will serve the turn,
as if there were not a necessity of growing still further and further in distinct
knowledge. Alas ! the soul needs to be fed continually. It will stagger
else, and be insufficient to stand against temptation, or to perform duties.
A second general point out of the text is this, fliat as Christ feedeth still
his J^ock and people, so he feeds them fully, plentifully, and sweetly among the
lilies. There are saving truths enough. There is an all -sufficiency in the
book of God. Whdt need we go out to man's inventions, seeing there is a
fulness and all-sufficiency of truth there ? "Whatsoever is not in that is
wind, or poison. In the word is a full kind of feeding. In former times
when they had not the Scriptures, and the comforts of them to feed
on, what did the poor souls then ? and what do those remaining in popery
feed on ? Upon stones as it were. There was a dream of an holy man in
those times, divers hundred years agone, that he saw one having a deal of
manchet* to feed on, and yet all the while the poor wretch he fed on stones.
Wliat folly and misery is this, when there are delicate things to feed on,
to gnaw upon stones ! And what is all the school learning almost, (except
one or two that had better spirits than the rest) but a gnawing upon stones,
barren distinctions, empty things, that had no substance in them ? They had
the Scriptures, though they were locked up in Latin, an unknown tongue.
They had the sweet pastures of Christ to feed in ; and yet all this while
they fed, as it uere, on stones.
This should shew ns, likewise, our own blessedness that live in these timeSy
wherein the streams of the gospel run abundantly, sweetly, and pleasantly.
There is a fulness among us, even in the spirits of the worst sort. There
is a fulness almost to loathing of that heavenly manna : but those souls,
who ever were acquainted ^vith the necessity of it, rather find a want than
a fulness ; and still desire to grow up to a further desire, that as they have
plentiful means, so they may have plentiful affections after, and strength by
those means. Let us know our own happiness in these times. Is it not
a comfort to know where to feed and to have pastures to go to, without
suspicion of poison ? that we may feed ourselves with comforts fully without
fear of bane, or noisome mingling of coloquintida in the pot, which would
* That is, ' wliite-bread.' See Holinshed, Description of England, B. ii. c. 6. — G.
Cant. VI. 3.] ' he feedeth among the lilies.' 191
disrelish all the rest? to know that there are truths that we may feed on safely?
This the church in the former place, Cant. i. 6, 7, accounted a great pri-
vilege, ' Oh, shew me where thou feedest at noon.' In the gi-eatest heat of
persecution, that I may feed among them. So then it is a great pri^^lege
to know where to feed, and so to be esteemed, that thereby we may be stirred
up to be thankful for our own good, and to improve these privileges to our
souls' comfort.
But the second branch that must be touched a little is, that there is ful-
ness iiouJiere but in God's house; and that there, and there only, is that iihich
satisfieth the soul u'ith fatness and sweetness.
Nay, not only the promises, but the very rebukes, of Scripture, are sweet.
The rebukes of a friend, they feed the soul. For we have many corrup-
tions which hinder our communion with God, so that a Christian delights
to have his corruptions rebuked ; for he knows, if he leave them, he
shall grow into further communion with Christ, wherein stands his happi-
ness in this world, and the fulness of his happiness in the world to come.
If this be so, let us know then that when we come to religion we lose
not the sweetness of our lives, but only translate them to a far more ex-
cellent and better condition. Perhaps we fed before upon vain authors,
upon (as it were) gravel, vain company ; but now we have our delight (and
perhaps find more pleasure) in better things. Instead of that which fed
our idle fancy (vain treatises and the like), now we have holy truths to
delight our souls. Believe it, a Christian never knows what comfort is to
purpose till he be downright and sincere in religion. Therefore Austin
saith of himself, ' Lord, I have wanted thy sweetness over long. I see all
my former life (that I thought had such sweetness in it) was nothing
at all but husks, empty things. Now I knov\' where sweetness is, it is in
the word and truth.' * Therefore let us not misconceive of religion as of a
mopish and dull thing, wherein we must lose all comfort. If we give our-
selves over to the study thereof, must we so ? Must we lose our comfort ?
Nay, we have no comfort till we be religious indeed. Christ feeds not his
among thorns and briers and stinking weeds, but among lilies. Dost thou
think he feeds thee among unsavoury, harsh, fretting, galling things ? No ;
' he feeds among lilies.' Therefore when thou comest to religion, think
that thou comest to comfort, to refresh thy soul. Let us make use of this
for our soul's comfort, to make us in love more with the ways of Christ.
Now, to seal this further, see what the Scripture saith in some parallel
places. ' The Lord is my shepherd ;' and what is the use that David pre-
sently makes hereof? Why, 'I shall want nothing,' Ps. xxiii. 1. He will
feed me plentifully and abundantly. The whole psalm is nothing but a
commenting upon that word, 'the Lord is my shepherd.' How doth he
perform the duty of a shepherd ? ' He makes me to lie down in green
pastures, and leads me by the still waters.' It is not only meant of the
body, but of the soul chiefly, ' he restore th my soul ;' that is, when my
soul languisheth and is ready to faint, he restores it, and gives me as it
were a new soul ; he refresheth it. We sec say,-;= re-creation is the creating
of a thing anew. So he restores my soul ; he gives me my soul anew,
with fresh comforts. Thus the blessed Shepherd doth, and how ? Because
* he feeds among the lihes,' the promises of the gospel. Then he doth not
only do good to the body and soul, but he guides all our ways, all our
goings out, 'he leads us in the paths of righteousness.' And why?
♦ Confessions, b. x. p. [xxviii.] 38. — G.
t That is, ' wc seo that people, etymologists, say.' — Ed,
192 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XX.
Because I deserve so much at his hands ? No ; ' for his own name's sake,'
because he hath a love to me ; because he hath purchased me with his
blood, and given his life for his sheep ; hath bought me so dear, though
there be no worth in me. He goes on, * Though I walk through all temp-
tations and troubles,' which are as 'the valley of the shadow of death,'
that is, where there is nothing but disconsolation and misery ; ' yet I will
fear none ill; thou, with thy rod and staff, dost comfort me.' If I, as a
wandering sheep, venture to go out of the way, thou, out of thy care, being
a sweet and loving shepherd, wilt pull me in with thy hook and staff again.
He hath not care only to feed us, but to govern us also. What a sweet
Shepherd and Saviour have we in covenant, that deals thus with us I
And so he proceeds, ' Thou wilt prepare my table in the presence of mine
enemies.' And for the time to come he promiseth himself as much, that
God, as he hath been a Shepherd for the present, to provide all things
necessary for body and soul and guidance, so sui'ely the goodness of the
Lord shall follow me all the days of my life ; for he is a perpetual Shep-
herd. He will not leave us till he hath brought us to heaven. Thus we
see in this pkce the sweet care of Christ.
The like place you have — ' He shall feed his flock hke a shepherd ; he
shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and
shall gently lead those that are with young,' Isa. xl, 11. So he leads them
into the pastures, and feeds them plentifully and sweetly, not only with
sweet things, but with a tender care, which is sweeter. As a shepherd, he
takes into his bosom the poor lambs that cannot walk themselves, and the
sheep that are heavy with young. He cares for them ; ' he gently leads
them ' that are poor, weak Christians, that struggle and conflict with many
temptations and corruptions. Christ hath a tender care of them. He
carries them, as it were, in his bosom and in his arms, and leads them
gently ; for indeed all Christ's sheep are weak. Every one hath somewhat
to complain of. Therefore he hath a tender care ; he feeds them tenderly
and sweetly, or else they might perish.
Another place notable for this pm'pose, see Ezek. xxxiv. 14, se^'., wherein
you have the same metaphor from a loving shepherd ; and it is but a com-
ment upon the text. Therefore, being parallel places, they may help our
memories : ' I will feed them in good pastures upon the high mountains of
Israel; there shall their fold be; there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a
fat pasture. I will feed my flock, and cause them to lie down, saith the
Lord God. I will seek that which is lost, and bring back that which was
driven away ; I will bind up that which was broken, and strengthen that
which is sick, and destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them with
judgment.' Those that are Christ's true sheep have somewhat to complain
of. Either they are sick, or broken, or driven away. Somewhat is amiss
or other. But Christ's care preventeth all the necessities of his sheep. He
hath a fit salve for all their sores.* And, to apply this to the business in
haud,f doth not Christ feed us ' among the lilies ?' Doth he not now feed
us with his own body and blood in the sacrament ? Would you have better
food ? ' My body is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed,' — that is,
it is the only meat, with an emphasis ; the only meat and drink that our
Bouls could feed upon. God gave his Son to death, to shed his blood for
my sins. What would become of the hunger-bitten, thirsty soul, that is
* This is tlie title of one of Tliomas Powell's excellent practical treatises, viz. : —
' Salvo for Soul-Sores.' — G.
t That is, celebration of the sacrament. — G.
Cant. VI. 3.] ' he feedeth among the lilies.' 193
stung with Satan and his temptations, were it not for the blood of Christ
to quench our thirst, and the body of Christ given by the Father to death
for sin ? Were it not that the soul could think upon this, where were the
comfort of the soul ? All this is represented to us here in the sacrament.
We feed on the body and blood of Christ spiritually, and are refreshed
thereby, as verily as our l^odies are refreshed with the bread and wine.
For God doth not feed us with empty symbols and representations, but
with things themselves, that the soul which comes prepared by faith is
partaker of Christ crucified, and is knit to him, though now in heaven.
There is as sure an union and communion between Christ and the Chris-
tian soul, as there is between the food and the body, when it is once
digested.
Therefore let us come to this blessed, to this sweet food of our souls
with hungi-y appetites and thankful hearts, that God hath given us the best
comforts of his word, and fed us with the sweet comforts of the sacraments,
as a seal of the word. We should even spend our lives much in thankful-
ness for this, that he will feed us so sweetly, that thinks nothing is good
enough for our food, but his own self, with his own gracious word and
truth. Thus we should be very thankful unto God, and now at this time
labour to get hungry appetites fit for this blessed food to receive it.
How shall we do that ?
1. Think seriously of the former part of thy life, and this week past.
For Christ, the food of the soul, relisheth well with the sour herbs of repent-
ance. Let us stir up in our hearts repentance for our sins, and sorrow in
the consideration of our own corrupt nature and hfe ; and when we have
felt our corruptions and have the sense of our want, then Christ will be
sweet to us. The paschal lamb was to be eaten with som' herbs ; so Christ
our passover must be eaten with repentance.
2. Then withal there must be purging. There are many things which
clog the stomach. Come not with worldly, wicked, malicious affections,
which puff up the soul, James i. 21 ; ' but lay aside,' as the apostle wish-
cth, ' all guile, malice, and superfluity,' 1 Pet. ii. 1. Empty the soul of
all sin and prepossessing* thoughts or affections.
3. And then consider the necessity of spii'itual strength, that we have need
to grow up more and more in Christianity, to be feeding still. We have need
of strong faith and strong assurance that Christ is ours, and that we arc his.
Let us often frequent this ordinance, and come prepared as we should, and
we shall find Christ making good his own ordinance, in his own best time ;
so as we shall be able to say, in truth of heart, experimentally and feelingly
with the church, * My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feedeth among
the lihes.'
FINIS.
NOTES.
(a) P. 4. — ' Some would have Solomon, by a spirit of prophecy, to take a view here
of ail the time,' &c. For a very full ami valuable, tbough, in respect of the early
En<^lish expositors (of wliom there arc many in whole or part), defective and meagre,
* Historical Sketch of the Exegesis of the Book' coTisult Ginsburg's ' Song of Songs,
.... with a Commentary, Historical and Critical,' (London, Longman, 1857, 8vo)
pp. 20-lOL The opinions referred to by Sibbes will be found duly recorded.
* That is, ' pro-occupying." — G.
VOL. U. N
194
BOWELS OPENED.
(6) P. 35. — • One soul in two bodies.' This definition of friendship, which is
again and again introduced by Sibbes and his contemporaries, is ascribed to Aristotle
by Diogenes Laertius (v. § 20), as follows: I^UTrjOBig rl 'seri (piXog, 'e<prj, /xia
■^vy^^ dvo aufjuadiv ' BvoiTCovoa. Cf. Aristotle, Eth. Nic, ix. 8, § 2, Ovid. Trist.,
iv. 4, 72. Probably Sibbes derived it from Augustine (a favourite with him), who
applies it to his friend Nebridius. Materials for an interesting paper on this saying,
in its multiform variations, have accumulated in my hands.
(c) P. 37. — ' This goeth in the world for unnecessary nicely.' This reminds us of
n anecdote of the saintly Richard Eogers, who was remarkable for seriousness and
gravity in all kinds of company. Being once engaged in conversation with one of
the ' wits,' who said to him, ' Mr Eogers, I like you and your company very well,
only you are too precise;' he replied, 'Oh, sir, I serve a precise God.' — Firmin's
Eeal Christian, p. 67, ed. 1670.
(d) P. 38. — ' Postill-like.' The allusion, no doubt, is to the over-subtle distinctions
and uselessly curious speculations of the scholastic expositions of Scripture, which
are called ' Postilla.' Various had been translated in the time of Sibbes, under the
title of ' Postils.'
(e) P. 48. — ' Da mihi cor.' Jesuitism, even in its present working, proceeds on
this maxim, of which there have been many startling evidences.
(/) P. 60. — ' God spake in me oft, and I knew it not.' This is the touching bur-
den of the early chapters of Augustine's Confessions.
(/*) P. 61. — ' Ballarmine makes this objection,' &c. An ignorat eos aperire non
posse ? An stultus non esset, qui ostium vicini pulsaret, si certo sciret neminem
intus esse qui aperire posset. Bell, de gratia et lib. : arbit. lib. i., cap. xi.
[g) P. 74. — ' She is now desirous to pity herself, and needs no Peter to stir her up
to it.' The allusion is to Mat. svi. 22. In our translation it is rendered, ' Be it far
from thee, Lord,' which obscures the pathos of the devoted apostle's mistaken, but
most loving appeal. It should be ' Fity thyself.' Hence Sibbes's reference.
(A) P 84. — ' It was a good speech of Ignatius the martyr,' &c. There are
various sayings resembling this in the epistles of Ignatius, e.g., to the Ephesians,
3. xviii., to the Trallians, c. ix-xi., to the Eomans, c. ii.-iv., and vi. Probably Sibbes
refers to the ancient narrative of the ' martyrdom of Ignatius.' Cf. § 2. Patrura
Apostolicorum Opera, ed. Hefele. 8vo. 1847.
{i) P. 03.— Hebrews xii. 1. Cf. Sibbes's translation, with Alford, "Webster and
Wilkinson, and Dr Sampson, in loc. He repeats this and other renderings in his
Parious books.
(J) P, 121. — 'Austin was forced to speak in his time against the Donatists.' For
a very masterly account of this and other of the great fathers' controversies, consult
Wigger's ' Historical Presentation of Augustinism and Pelagianism from the Ori-
ginal Sources,' (ed. by Emerson. Andover, 1840. 8vo).
{k) P. 125. — 'He [the Lord] . . . would have their [disciples'] society a.nd prayers .'
This is the popular view, but, like the popular understanding of Thomas, thrusting
his fingers into the side and nail-prints of the risen Saviour, (See note a, vol. i.,
p. 101), is probably a popular mistake. Our Lord sought the society of his disciples
certainly ; but nowhere do we read of his asking any one to pray for him. It is an
awful peculiarity of the divine man ' Emanuel,' that he never did that, — one of a
multitude of subsidiary assertions of his divinity.
(I) P. 132. — '" What is truth?" saith he, in a scornful, profane manner.' This,
almost verbatim the opening words of Bacon's Essay on ' Truth,' reminds one, with
others, of Sibbes's intercourse with him, noticed in our memoir.
(m) P. 149. — ' So should we now .... have ideas of Christ framed to our souls,'
&c. For a very valuable, and, in many respects, remarkably acute and suggestive
discussion of the question of framing ' ideas of Christ,' a subject keenly debated in
the last century in Scotland, consult the following little-known book, by Ealph
Erskine— ' Faith no Fancy ; or a Treatise cf Mental Images shewing that
our imaginary idea of Christ as Man (when supposed to belong to saving faith,
whether in its act or object), imports nothing but ignorance, atheism, idolatry, great
falsehood, and gross delusion.' Edinburgh, 1745, 12mo. This little work
may be prouounrcd the pioneer of the philosophy known as Scottish. Apart from
its bearing on the passage of Sibbes, it will be found to contain much uncommon
thought on ' ideas.' equal, to say the least, to the subsequent writings of Reid.
(n) P. 153. — ' All hung upon his lips, as the phrase is in the gospel.' The refer-
ence is to Luke iv. 20, which is here given in the original, to confirm Sibbes'a
BOWELS OPENED, 195
remark, — Kal vrv^ag to l3ij3Xlov aToSoug rw vTYj^irr,, ixuCigi xal -xavruv sv rf\
cwciyMyri o'l d(p6a?^fJi,oi ^ffav uTivfCrovic, avruj. anvrig = 'intent,' 'earnestly
fixed,' from tuvm, of. xxii. 50. Acts iii. 12, x. 4, xiv. 9.
(o) P. 153. — ' In the learned language, the same word signifietli speech and
reason.' Query — Is the allusion to y.oyog ?
(p) P. 154. — ' His belly ... .In the Hebrew it is used for the inward affec-
tions.' See prefatory note to the present treatise of ' Bowels Opened.'
[q) P. 160. — ' When Pilate sent him to him, [Herod] made nobody of him, as the
word in the original is.' Sibbcs's reference is to Luke xxiii. 11, rendered in
authorised version, ' set him at nought,' but literally runs, ' having set him at
nought,' i.e., etymologically, treated him as if he were nobody, or of no consideration.
The verb is it,ov'^ivm.
(r) P. 169. — ' Heavy will the doom be of many that live in the church's bosom, to
whom it had been better to have been born in America, in Turkey ' The
juxtaposition of America and Turkey is in curious contrast with the present position
of America among the Christian nations of the world. Yet with all this idea of the
' barbarousness ' of America (which was common to Sibbes with his contemporaries),
the Puritans shrank not from exiling themselves thither when the question of their
religious liberties came up. Hooker, Davenport, Cotton, Stone, and numerous
others of Sibbes's friends thus expatriated themselves.
is) P. 169. — ' They are lilies, being clothed with the white garment,' &c. It is
pity to destroy the ' line fancies ' of Sibbes on the supposed ' whiteness ' of the lily ;
but he was thinking of the home, not of the eastern ' lily,' which is purple coloured,
not ' white.' The ' purple ' gives greater vividness to the Lord's allusion to tho
imperial robes of Solomon, Mat. vi. 28, 29.
{t) P. 170. — 'The name of a church in the original is Ecclesia,' i.e., exxXTjSia.
Cf. 1 Cor. xi. 18, and Robinson and Liddell and Scott, sub voce.
(m) p. 173. — 'If Christ himself be mine, then all is mine.' The well-known
hymn, ' If God be mine ' (anonymous), is little more than a paraphrase of these sweet
words of Sibbes.
{v) P. 183. — ' As if we were Solifideans.' This sect derived its name from
solus, alone, and fides, faith. The following quotations will illustrate Sibbes : —
' Such is first the persuasion of the solifidians, that all religion consists in believing
aright, that the being of orthodox (as that is opposed to erroneous) opinions is all
that is on our part required to render our condition safe, and our persons acceptable
in the sight of God.' — Hammond. Works, i., p. 480.
' That we may be able to answer the Papists, who charge us with solifidianism,
as if we were of this opinion, that if a man do but trust in Christ, that is, be but
confidently persuaded that he will save him, and pardon him, this is suflScient, and,
consequently, he that is thus persuaded need not take any farther care of his salva-
tion, but may live as he list.' — Tillotson, iii., ser. 174. G.
THE SPOUSE,
HER EAENESI DESIEE AFIEB CHRIST.
NOTE.
' Tho Spouse ' is one of two sermons published together, but independent, in 1638.
The general title-page of both is given below [*] ; also the separate title of ' The
Spouse' [t]. Prefixed is an 'Epistle Dedicatory,' which will be found on the op-
posite page. ' The Spouse,' though from an earlier chapter of Canticles, as being
Bubordinate, follows ' Bowels Opened.' G.
* and t Title-pages —
TWO
SERMONS :
PREACHED
By that Faithfull
and Reverend Divine,
Richard Sieees,
D.D. and sometimes Prea-
cher to the Honourable So-
ciety of Grayes-Inne ;
And Master of Katherine
Hall in Cambridge.
Printed at London by T. Cotes* and
are to sold by Andr. Kembe, at his Shop
at S 3Iargarets Hill in Southwarke, 1638.
On the back of this title we read, ' Imprimator [sic] Tho. Wykes. Aprill 12.
1638.'
THE
S P 0 V S E,
HER
Earnest desire after
Christ her Husband
OR,
A Sermon preached on
Cant. i. Vers. 5.
By that Faithfull and Reve-
rend Divine, Richard Sibbes,
D. D. and sometimes preacher
to the Honorable Societie
of Grayes-Inne ;
And Master of Katherine Hall in
Cambridge.
Psal. 73. 25.
Whom have I in Heaven but thee ?
and there is none upon earth that I
desire besides thee.
* It may bo noted here that Coates was the publisher of the famous second folio
of the works of Shakespeare, 1632. — G.
TO THE EIGHT WORSHIPFUL
SIE JOHN HOWLAND, KNIGHT.
Sir, — These two sermons were brought unto me for that learned and re*
ligious divine, -whose name they bear ; and so far as I am able to judge, the
style and spiritualness of the matter argue no less. Being earnestly re-
quested to peruse them, I thought fit to commend them to the world under
youi' name, because I know that you so well afiected the author. My re-
quest tinto you is, that you would be pleased to accept the dedication of
them as a testimony of his sincere affection, who labom-s, and prays for
your good in the best things.
Your Worship's to be commanded in all Christian service,
R. T.*
* These initials R. T., probably represent Robert Town or Towne. In tho ' Non-
conformisfs Memorial,' (iii. 438) he is stated to have been one of the ' Ejected' of
16G2, being at the time in Howorth, Yorkshire, the same it is presumable with
Haworth, since rendered so renowned by the Brontes, and a little earlier by Grim-
shawe. He had at a former period been Vicar of Ealand, Halifax. He died in 1663,
aged about TO. Palmer adds, 'It was said that he had imbibed some unsound prin-
ciples, but he was a man of good character.' Neither Calamy, nor Palmer, nor any of
the Puritan historians, enumerate writings by him. But at the end of Burrough's
' Saint's Happiness,' (4to 1660), Nathanael Brook announces the following: 'Ee-
assertion of grace ? Vindicice Evangelii, or the Vindication of the Gospel ; a reply to Mr
Anthony Bridges [sic but Burgess is meant] Vindicix Legis, and to Mr Rutherford,
by Robert Town.'— G.
THE SPOUSE, HER EARNEST DESIRE AFTER
CHRIST.
X.et him Jciss me ivith the kisses of his mouth : for thy love is better than mne,
—Cant. I. 2.
The Holy Gbost is pleased here to condescend to our infirmities ; and,
that we might help ourselves in our spiritual estate by our bodies, he
fipeaketh here of heavenly things after an earthly manner, and with a com-
fortable mystery. As in other places the Holy Ghost sets out the joys of
heaven by a sweet banquet, so here he sets out the union that we have
with Christ by the union of the husband with the wife ; and that we might
the better understand what this union is, he condescends to our weakness,
that we might see that in a glass which we through our corruptions cannot
otherwise discern. This book is nothing else but a plain demonstration
and setting forth of the love of Christ to his church, and of the love of the
church to Christ ; so familiarly and plainly, that the Jews take great
scandal at it, and would not have any to read this book till they are come
to the age of thirty years, lest they thereby should be tempted to incon-
tinency ; wherein they would seem wiser than God himself. But the Holy
Ghost is pleased thus by corporeal to set out these spiritual things, which
are of a higher nature, that by thinking and tasting of the one they might
be stirred up to translate their affections (which in 3'outhful age are most
strong) from the heat of natural love to spiritual things, to the things of
God ; and all those who are spiritually minded (for whom chiefly the
Scriptures were ^vl'itten) will take special comfort and instruction thereby,
though others take offence and scandal at it. So here, the union between
Christ and his spouse is so familiarly and livelily set forth by that union
which is between the husband and the wife, that, though ungodly men
might take offence at it, yet the godly may be bettered by it.
' Let him kiss,' &c. These words are the words of the spouse to Christ,
containing in them two particulars.
First, an earnest desire, in these words, ' Let him kiss me with the kisses
of his mouth.'
hi which note three parts.
First, the person desiriiig, the church.
Secondly, the person desired, Christ.
THE SPOUSE. 201
Thirdly, the things desired, a familiar kiss of his mouth.
Secondly, the ground of the desire, fetched from the excellency of the thing
desired, in these words, ' For thy love is sweeter than wine.'
From the whole in general observe a spiritual contract between Christ and
his church. There is a civil contract between man and wife, answerable to
which the spiritual contract between Christ and his church holds firm re-
semblance.
1. That this civil contract may hold, both parties must consent. So it is
between Christ and his spouse. He was so in love with mankind, that
he hath taken our nature upon him ; and this his incarnation is the ground
of all our union with Christ. First, his incarnation is the cause or ground
of our union with him in grace here ; and, secondly, our union in grace is the
ground of our union in glory. Now, that we may be a spouse to him, ho
gives us his Spirit to testify his love to us, that we might give our consent
to him again, as also that we might be made a fit spouse for him.
2. Likewise in marriage there is a communicating of all good things.
So it is here. Christ here in this spiritual contract gives himself, and
with himself all good things. The Spirit is the church's. His happiness
is the church's. His graces are the church's. His righteousness is the
church's. In a word, all his privileges and prerogatives are the church's ;
as saith the apostle, 'All things are Christ's, and Christ is yours,' 1 Cor.
iii. 21 ; for all are Christ's, and all that are Christ's are yours by this spiri-
tual contract. This excellency is set down by the prophet Hosea in his
second chapter and latter end, where he, speaking of this spiritual contract
between Christ and his church, saith, Hos. ii. 19, &c. * In that day when
he shall marry her unto himself in faithfulness, he will make a covenant
for her with all creatures, with the beasts of the field, the fowls of heaven,
and all that creepeth upon the earth.' So that upon this contract cometh
in a league between the church and all the creatures. All that he hath
done, all that he hath sufi'ered by this contract is made ours. We have
the benefit of all.
Obj. But what have we to bestow upon him again ?
Solution. Nothing at all ; neither portion nor proportion, beauty nor
riches, but our miserable and base condition that he took upon him.
Use. This is a xvell-spring of much comfort, and a ground of much duty.
1. Christ condescended so far unto us, to such a near league, as to take
■as to be his spouse, who hath all things. "What then can we want when
we ai*e at the fountain of all things ? We can want no protection, for that
is the covering of this well. We can want no good thing but he will supply
it. We have free access unto him, as the wife hath to her husband. Who
hath free access to the husband if the wife hath not ? So who hath free
access to Christ but the spouse ?
Obj. Yea, but we have infirmities.
Solution. True, indeed ; but shall man bear with his wife because she is
the 'weaker vessel,' 1 Pet. iii. 7, and shall not Christ much more with his
spouse ? Herein then is our chiefest comfort, that this union, this con-
tract, is not for a time, but for ever : ' I have married thee unto myself for
ever,' Hos. ii. 19. And therefore we shall never want protection nor direc-
tion, nor anything that is good for us.
2. Now, the duty on our part is to love him again with a mutual love,
and obedient love ; to honour him as Sarah did Abraham, by calling him
Lord, 1 Pet. iii. 6 ; and manifest it by doing what he would have thee to
do, and by suffering what he would have thee to sufTcr.
202 THE SPOUSE.
To come to particulars.
First, of the person desiring, ' Let him kiss me.'
' Me' is here the speech of the whole church, and so of every particular
member which is the spouse of Christ.
Doct. All Christian favours belong to all Christians alike. We have one
faith, one baptism, one Spirit. As every Christian may say * me,' so may
the whole church, and every Clnristian as well as the church. All Christian
privileges belong to all alike.
Use 1. Herein have comfort then, that whatsoever belongs to the church
in general, belongs to every member in particular.
Use 2. This teacheth us to reason from one spiritual thing to another,
as thus Abraham believed, ' and it was counted to him for righteousness,'
Rom. iv. 22 ; and therefore if I believe I shall be counted righteous.
David sinned, and David repented and found mercy ; and therefore if I,
&c. So all privileges belong alike to all Christians. Every Christian soul
is the spouse of Christ as the whole church is. Therefore St Paul pro-
pounds himself an example to all that would believe in Christ. ' God had
mercy on him,' 1 Tim. i. 16, and therefore he encourageth all to come unto
Christ, by this, that he will have mercy on thee, as he had on him. What-
soever is promised to the whole church, that apply to thy own soul in par-
ticular ; and whatsoever is required of the whole church, that is required of
thee in particular by Christ, if thou be a member. But though in spiritual
favours all have a like portion, yet it is not so in outward things ; but some
are rich, some are poor, some honourable, some base. But in the best
privileges and best gifts there is an equal extending to all alike, to the poor
Christian as well as to the rich, to him that is base in the eye of the world,
as well as to him that is honourable.
Secondly, of the person desired, ' Let him.'
Many make love to the spouse ; as the devil, the world, and the flesh.
The devil and carnal persons make love to the soul, to draw her away from
Christ, but she looks to Christ still. ' Let him kiss me.' She goes not as
the papists do, to Peter and Paul, but to Christ and to Christ alone. He
* is my well-beloved, and I am his,' Cant. ii. 16 ; he is my peculiar, and I
am his peculiar ; none have ' I in heaven but him, and there is none that I
desire in comparison of him,' Ps. Ixxiii. 25. He hath singled out me, and
I have singled out him, ' Let him kiss me.'
Thirdly, of the thing desired, ' Let him kiss me,' &c.
The thing desired, it is a kiss. Thei'e are divers sorts of kisses spoken
of in Scripture. There is a kiss of superiors to inferiors, and of inferiors
to superiors. There is an holy kiss, Rom. xvi. 16, 1 Cor. xvi. 20, and an
hypocritical kiss, as Joab to Ainasa, 2 Sam. xx. 9, and as Judas to Christ,
Mat. xxvi. 49. There are kisses of love ; so Jonathan kissed David,
1 Sam. XX. 41. There are kisses also of subjection, as. Kiss ye the Son,
&c., Ps. ii. 12. But here is the kiss of a superior to an inferior. ' Let
him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,' that is, let him shew me further
testimony of his love by his presence ; let me enjoy further communion
with him still ; let him further assure me of his love. Consider what the
church meant ; howsoever she had interest in this spiritual contract and
covenant at the first, yet the church, according to the different degrees of
time, had different degrees of desires to be further and further as-
sured of his love. As in Solomon's time, so before from the beginning,
there was a desire in the chui'ch of the kisses of Christ, that is, that
lie would come in our nature, and that he would manifest by littlo
THE SPOUSE. 208
and little, clearer and clearer, his coming in the flesh ; and accordingly
he did by degrees reveal himself, as first in paradise, ' The seed of the
woman shall break the serpent's head, Gen. iii. 15 ; then to Abraham, ' In
thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed,' Gen. xii. 3. After
that to one tribe. Gen. xlix. 10, the tribe of Judah, Heb. vii. 14; then to
one family of that tribe, the house of David, Luke i. 27 ; then a virgin
shall conceive, Isa. vii. 14 ; and after that pointed out by the finger of
iTohn the Baptist, ' Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of
the world,' John i. 29. So you see how Christ did reveal himself more and
more by degrees unto his church. Answerable to these degrees were the
desires of the church for the coming of Christ, as the prophet Isaiah saith,
' Come down and break the heavens,' Isa. Ixiv. 1. ; and then prophesied of
by those that waited for the consummation of Israel. So that before Christ
came in the flesh the church had a longing desire after his incarnation, as
here, ' Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.' But that is not all.
For she knew this should not be till the last days, and therefore desireth
some further means of acquaintance and knowledge of him, desiring that ho
would manifest himself more and more by his word, by his grace, and by
his Spirit ; and therefore as then the desire of the church was for the
coming of Christ, so now that which Christians de.^ire and long after is, to
go to him that they may remain with him in glory. They love his appear-
ance, but because this shall not be yet, though the church be still in ex-
pectation of it, therefore she desireth to hear his words, and to have him
kiss her with his mouth in his word. But this is not all ; but let me find
his Spirit now walking with me here, and further, ' kiss me with his mouth,'
by increasing his graces in me, manifesting his love unto me more and more.
This is the desire of the church, and of every Christian soul, that Christ
would thus kiss her ; that he would reveal himself every day more and
more unto her, in his word, in his sacraments, by his Spirit, by his graces,
by increasing of them. This is the desire of the church and of every
Christian soul, that Christ would thus ' kiss her with the kisses of his
mouth.'
Now we are come to the ground of this desu-e, taken from the excellency
of the love of Christ, which is here said by experience of the whole chui'ch,
and of every Christian soul, to be ' sweeter than wine.'
From hence we note two things.
Voct. 1. First, that every Christian soul and the s])ouse in general hath a
siceet taste of tJie love of Christ even in tJiis life.
Doct. 2. That after tJiis contract and taste of this love, she hath ever spring-
ing up in her a further desire of the increase and manifestation of it.
Doct. 1. For the first, as after the contract there is a more manifestation
of love than was before, yet not a full manifestation of love tiU after the
marriage, so Christ, though he do give his spouse a taste of his love here,
and sends love-tokens unto her, some graces whereby his love is made more
manifest than before (as Isaac sent to Rcbekah some jewels and bracelets to
manifest his love to her. Gen. xxiv. 53) ; yet his love is not fully mani-
fested in this Hfe, but is kept until the great solemnity. Christ cannot
delight in the spouse unless she be decked with his graces, and therefore he
gives her of them ; and these are not only a taste of his favours, but the
Iruit of his favours.
The reasons are diverse.
licason 1. The first reason is to solace their lomj absence, that they may
not faint, but having a sweet taste of his love here, may stay their heart*
Wi THE SPOUSE.
thereupon until the day wherein he wdll fully manifest his love unto them.
The Lord seeth his children are subject to be oppressed with heaviness here;
therefore he gives them a taste of his love here, that thereby they might bo
comforted, when nothing else can.
Ficason 2. The Lord gives his children a sweet taste of his love heroj
tJiat when they hy weakness and frailty Jail away and lose their first love, xchen
by their former taste they might return and recover themselves again, con-
sidering how sweet, and how strong that love was, that once they had en-
joyed from Christ, and hereby they might say with the church, ' I will
return,' &c., Hos. ii. 7.
Reason 8. The third reason is, because the manifestation of this his love
cloth ivonderfidly strengthen a CJiristian to go lightly through the heaviest afflic-
tion ; for when Christ assures a Christian of his love, then affliction will
seem grievous, but he will through all, he will suffer whatsoever shall befall
him for Christ's sake with joy.
Beason 4. Lastly, Christ gives his church, and so every Christian, a taste
of his love in this life, because he knows we have many temptations in tJiis
icorld iiJiich are ready to steal away our affections, as carnal pleasures, riches,
honours, and the like. Now that these might not draw away our affections,
he gives us a taste of his love, which is better than all other things, ' which
is sweeter than wine,' that by this our affections might be preserved chaste
to him. So then Christ gives us, his spouse, a sweet taste of his love in this
hfe, that afflictions on our left hand might not too much press us down and
discomfort us ; nor the pleasm-es and delights on our right hand steal away
our hearts from him.
Use. The use is to teach us to adtnire-'' at the goodness of God in this,
that he is pleased so to provide for us, as to keep us from being too much
overcome with heaviness through the multitude of temptations and afflictions
which in this life we are subject unto ; expelling the bitterness thereof with
the sweetness of his love, thereby preserving our affections chaste unto him-
self.
Now we come to the second doctrine.
Doct. 2. That the church (and so every Christian) after this contract and
taste of Christ's love, hath evermore springing vp> in them an insatiable desire
for a further taste and assurance of his love.
The reasons of this doctrine are two.
Jxeason 1. The first reason is taken from the nature of true love, which is
never satisfied. And hence it is, that though Christ give his spouse a taste
•of his love in his word, by sending his ambassi^dors, his ministers with his
love-letters, the gospel of peace, giving therein a taste of his love, as also
by his Spirit, by his sacraments, by his gi'aces ; yet all this will not satisfy
her soul, but Christ having once manifested his love unto her, there is a con-
tinual desire to have a further taste and assurance of it.
Reason 2. The second reason is drawn from Christ's infinite riches, in-
finite in his glory, in his power, in his beauty, in his pleasures, and joys,
and the like. He hath all things, ' All power is given him in heaven and
in earth,' Mat. xxviii. 18 ; every way infinite in himself; and hence it is,
that the spouse hath an infinite desire to have a further taste of his love,
and a nearer communion with him. So you see whether we regard the
natiure of love, which is never satisfied, or whether v/e consider his infinite
riches, both manifest this truth, that there is an insatiable desire in a Chris-
tian, to be further filled with, and more fully assured of, the love of Christ.
* That is, ' wonder.' — G.
THE SPOUSE. 205
Where grace is, there is a further desire of growth in grace. It is an higher
degree of love to desire the enjoying of the presence of Christ, than to enjoy
heaven itself ; but this ^^'ill not be yet.
Use 1. Therefore let us try our love by our labouring for that sight of Christ
which tee may have; as in his ordinances where ho manifests himself in a
special manner. Is it the great grief of thy soul that thou art shut from
the presence of Christ in his ordinances, from the congregation of the saints,
where he by familiar lasses useth to manifest his love to thee more and more ?
I can but wonder that some persons dare to take upon them the name of
Christianity, and yet think that men be too holy. These want this cha-
racter of a Chi-istian, viz., a further desire of the manifestation of Christ's
love. Many of them neglect the ordinances of God, or if they do come
there, they desire not further inward kisses of his love, but content them-
selves with the outward.
AVhen the Spirit should witness and seal up the love, the love of Christ
to their souls, by an inward kiss, they only content themselves with the out-
ward, the bare hearing of the word. But where this further desire of
famiUarity with Christ is not, there is but a barren soul, there is no taste of
Christ's love. If there were a taste, there would be a further desire of
growth in that love. There are some that make a profession of religion, as
many that marry to cloak their adultery ; so these profess Christ, to cover their
strong covetousness and strong faults, that they may have the more strength
to commit sin. We must not content ourselves without these outward
kisses, but give, as the outward man, so sacrifice the inward man, Rom.
vii. 22, the soul unto God. Let those that find, after this trial, these de-
sires springing up in them, comfort themselves in this, that they are Christ's,
and Christ shall manifest his love more and more unto them. For God
hath promised to grant the desires of the righteous, Ps. xxxvii. 4. Hast
thou then a longing desii*e to have a fm-ther taste of the love of Christ ?
Use the means, and then be sure that Christ will manifest his love more and
more unto thy soul.
Use 2. The second use is for exhortation and spiritual direction hoic ice
shall come to a further assurance, sign, and fruit of Christ's love. K we de-
sire this, we must labour to have, first, chaste judgments, and secondly,
chaste affections. A chaste judgment from error, heresy, and schism ; and
our afi'ections chaste from the world, from pleasures and the like. For
Christ is wonderful jealous of om* judgments, and of our love. Therefore
Paul desires to present the Corinths* a * pui-e virgin unto Christ,' 2 Cor.
xi. 2. So then, as we must affectf goodness, so v^e must profess truth. We
must have chaste judgments as well as chaste afi'ections. The spouse of
Christ, as she is pure in aflections, so she is pure in judgment ; she hears
his voice and follows him. "Whatsoever comes not from the word, receive
it not, but reject it. Thus much for the judgment.
So likewise labour for chaste affections. Christ will not have us to divide
our afi'ections ; partly for him, and partly for the world, or partly to plea-
sures, and partly to him. He will not have it so. He will have the whole
heart and whole afi'ections, or he will have neither heart nor afi'ections. If
we give our hearts to the world or to the pleasures of the world, the love of
which is enmity with God, James iv. 4, then have we an adulterous heart ;
which to do is a double sin. As for a wife to commit whoredom is a double
sin, there is adultery and breach of marriage covenant ; so to embrace
the world after we are contracted unto Christ, is spiritual whoredom and a
* That is, 'Corinthians.' — G. t Tliat is, 'love.' — G.
206 >HE SPOUSE.
breach of oxu covenant in spiritual contract. Take heed of worldly-minded
ness, which will glue thy affections to the earth, and will not suffer them to
be lifted up to Christ. Take heed of the pleasures of the world, lest they
drown thy soul, as they do the souls of many that profess themselves to be
Christians.
Use 3. Thirdly, if we will grow in the assurance of the love of Christ,
and have more famUiar kisses of his mouth, then labour to get an humble
heart, by searching out our own unworthiness in respect of what we are, or
were by nature. Indeed, we may disparage our credits by abasing our-
selves in respect of men, but never can we be too much humbled to our
Saviour in acknowledging ourselves unworthy of all that we have. There
is no danger in thus debasing ourselves to our Saviour, nay, it is for our
honour with God. For those that thus honour him he will honour with
his graces ; for he giveth grace to the humble, and with such a spirit he
delights to dwell, Isa. Ixvi. 2. Let us with humility, then, acknowledge
all to be from his free grace, and with Jacob, acknowledge ourselves to be
less than the least of his mercies. Gen. xxxii. 10.
Use 4. Fourthly, if we will grow in the assurance of the love of Christ,
we must give Christ no ijcace. Take no nay of him, till he hath given thee
the kisses of his love. Many times he delays the manifesting of his love —
what though ? Yet wait his pleasure, for he hath waited long upon thee.
We see Mary Magdalen, what ado she made when she could not find
Christ. He having manifested himself unto her at the beginning, at length
he calleth her by her name, demanding for what she wept, and whom she
sought, Luke vii. 47. Give him no rest, take no denial, till he answer
thee, for he will do it. What did the woman of Canaan ? She gave him
no rest till he did apply himself unto her, Mat. xv. 22, seq. Jacob wrestled
with God, and would not let him go, till he had assured him of his love
and favour. Gen. xxxii. 24, scq. He hath promised to grant the desires of
the righteous, Ps. xxxvii. 4. Hath he given us such strong desires after
him ? Then continue constant importuning him by prayer, and he cannot
stand out with us long ; he cannot deny us some further assurance of his
love.
Use 5. Again, take everything to thine advantage, as his former love and
favour, his power, fidelity, and stability. Take advantage from these, and
plead for thy desires, as the woman of Canaan. Christ accounts her a dog.
Mat. XV. 26. I am indeed so, saith she. She taketh advantage of his
words, and thereby pleads for her desire. As the servants of Benhadad
catch at words of comfort from Ahab, 1 Kings xx. 33 ; so continually take
advantage from your o^vn experience. He hath been thus and thus good
unto thee, these and these means thou hast enjoyed, and thus and thus hath
it wrought for my good ; I will therefore follow him now until he assure me
of his love in a further degree.
Use 6. Again, consider thou must be modest in thy desires of this kind.
Desire no great matter at the first. I mean, not full assurance of the love of
Christ at the first ; but observe the degrees of his kisses, and manifestation
of his love. The thief on the cross desired but to be remembered of Christ
when he came into his kingdom, Luke xxiii. 42, — no great matter ; so do
thou desire any taste of his love, though never so little. Indeed, so the
children of God do. First they desire the pardon of their sins, and having
obtained this, they grow more and more in desiring the graces of the Spirit,
as seals to assure them of the pardon of them, and of his love unto them,
and nearer communion with him.
THE SPOUSE. 207
Obj. But this communion is not alway felt.
Sol, 1. I answer, if Christ be strange to us, it is from ourselves, not from
Christ; for he is all love. It is either because our loose hearts run after
some carnal contents ; and then no marvel though Christ shew himself
strange unto us, and we go mourning all the day long, without a sense of
his love.
Or else, 2, It is when we will not seek for his kisses, a further taste of his
love, as we should, in his ordinances, nor exercise those graces that we
have as wo should, in attending upon the ordinance, resting by faith upon
God's promise for a blessing.
Or else, 3, We are so negligent, that we do not stir up those graces of God
in us by private duties.
Or else, 4, We join ourselves to evil company, or to persons led with an
evil spirit. These are the causes why Christ is strange to us.
Or else, 5, It is to exercise and try our faith, and to let us see ourselves
and our own weakness. Thus he left Peter. Otherwise, it is Christ, his
nature, to manifest himself and his love by famihar kisses of his mouth.
Search into your hearts, and you shall find that these and such like are the
causes why Cbrist is strange unto you, and why you are senseless* of your
communion with him.
Use 7. Consider, again, when it is, at what time is it that ice have the
sweetest kisses, and are most refreshed ivith Christ's love. Is it not when we
put oui' strength to good means, as when we strive with God in prayer, and
labour in humility rightly, and profitably to use all his ordinances ? Mark
these two well as a means to preserve and increase the assurance of Christ's
love in you.
First, how you fall into deadness, and the causes of it.
Secondly, how you come to have most communion ivith Christ, and at what
time, and after what performances. Canst thou say, I was thus and thus
dead and senseless of Christ's love, but now I am thus and thus comforted
and refreshed ? either when thou deniedst anything to thyself, which thy
heart stood strongly for, or when thou hadst been most careful in holy
duties. If we deny ourselves in anything, that our hearts stand strongly
for, because it hinders us in holy courses, God will be sure to recompense
us in spiritual things abundantly, yea, and in temporal things many
times.
Use 8. Consider, again,' when I was afflicted and had none else to comfoH
me, tlien the Lord was most sweet unto me, then he refreshed my soul with a
sense of his love.
These may help us much in getting a further assurance of Christ's love.
Be stirred up, then, to desire to be where Christ is, and to have the kisses
of his love in his ordinances, as further testimonies of his favour, and
never rest from having a desire to increase in grace and communion with
Christ. So shall you never want assurance of a good estate, nor comfort
in any good estate. Cast such a man into a dungeon, he hath paradise
there. Why ? Because Christ comes to him. And if we have this com-
munion with Christ, then though we are compassed about with death, yet
it cannot afiright us, because the great God is with us, Ps. xxiii. 4. Do
■with such a one what you will ; cast him into hell, if it were possible ; he
having a sweet commimion with Christ, will be joyful still ; and the more
sense we have of the love of Christ, the less we sliall regard the pleasures
or riches of the world. For what joy can be compared with this, that
* That is, ' unconscious of,' ' without assurance of.' — O.
208 THE SPOUSE.
the soul hath communion with Christ ? All the world is nothing in com-
parison.
Now, then, seeing you cannot requite this love of Christ again, yet shew
your love to Christ in manifesting love to his members, to the poor, to such
poor especially as have the church of God in their families. As the woman
poured oil on the head of Christ, so shall we do well to pour some oil upon
the feet of Christ. That which we would do to him, if he were here, let
us do to his members, that thereby we may further om* communion with
Christ.
FINIS.
A BREATKIM AFTER GOD.
VOL. n.
A BREATHING AFTER GOD.
NOTE.
The ' Breathing after God ' is placed immediately after the sermons from Canticles,
as being not only on the same subject, though from a different portion cf Holy Scripture,
but also as partaking very much of their spirit. The original title-page is given
below.* Prefixed is the miniatm-e portrait, by Marshall, found in several of Sibbes's
smaller volumes. G
• Title-page: —
A
BREATHING
AFTER GOD,
OR
A CHRISTIAN.^
DESIRE OF (iODd
PRESENCE,
BY
The late Reverent [sic'] and worthy
Divine Richard Bibs,
Doctor in Divinity, Master of
Katherinc Hall in Cambridge, and
sometime Preacher of
Graies-Inne.
Psal. 42. 1.
As the Hart panteth after the water brooks;
so panteih my soul after thee, 0 God.
Lam. 3. 56.
Hide not thine eare at my breathing.
LONDON
Printed by John Dawson for R. M.
and are to he sold by Thomas Slater,
at the Swan in Duck-lane. 1639.
TO THE CHEISTIAN KEADEE.
Man in this world, especially since his defection frona God, standing at a
distance from his happiness in respect of full possession, it is not the
least part of his bliss to bo happy in expectation. Happiness being by
all men desii'ablc, the desire of it is naturally engrafted in every man ; and
is the centre of all the searchings of his heart and turnings of his life. But
the most of men, like the men of Sodom, grope and find not the right door,
Gen. xix. 11 . Only to a true Christian, by a supernatural light, is discovered
both the right object, and the right way to feUcity. Upon this discover}',
finding himself, while he is here, a stranger to his happiness, he desires
to take leave of this sublunary condition, that he may enjoy him who is
' the desire of all nations,' Hag. ii. 7.
Now although God cast common blessings promiscuously upon good and
bad ; yet he holds his best favours at a distance, as parents do cherries
or apples from their children, to whet theii* appetites the more after
them. And indeed the best perfection of a Christian in his military* con-
dition, is, in desire and expectation ; and it is enough to him that ; for
that he hath God's acceptation, who knowing whereof we are made, and how
unable to hold weight in the ' balance of the sanctuary,' Dan. v. 27, takes
his best gold with grains of allowance.
The soul of man is hke a cipher, which is valued by that which is set
before it. If it weary itself in the desire of earthly things, hke the silk-wonn,
it finisheth its work with its own destruction. But if on things above,
when this earthly tabernacle is turned to ashes, there shall result a
glorious phcenix for immortality.
There are no characters better distinguishing a Christian, than those
that are inward (hypocrisy like sale-work, may make a fair show outward ;
an h}-pocrite may perform external works, but cannot dissemble inward
afiections), and amongst them, none better discovers his temper, than
the beating of the pulse of his desires, which this worthy author (who de-
parted not without being much desiredf and no less lamented) hath most
livelily set forth in the ensuing treatise ; which a Christian, holding as
a glass before him, may discern whether he have life or no by these
breathings.
* That is ' militant.'— Q. t That is, ' longed after.'— Q
212 TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
For the object here propounded, what more desirable than the chief
good ? For the place, where can it be more desired, than in his house,
where his presence is manifested ? What better end to be in that house,
than to behold God in the ' beauty of holiness ? ' Ps, xxix. 2. What
term of happiness better than ' for ever' ? This was the desire of the holy
prophet David, and that it may be thy desire, is the desire of
Thy Christian friend,
H. I.*
* These initials are in all probability those of John Hill, reversed, intentionally
or by a misprint. See note on p. 251. — G.
A BREATHING AFTER GOD.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after ; that I may dvoeU
in the house of the Lord all the days of my life ; to behold the beauty of the
Lord, and to inquire in his temple. — Ps. XXVII. 4.
This psalm is partly a prophecy. It was made after some great deliveranco
out of some gi-eat trouble. The blessed prophet David, having experience
of God's goodness suitable to the trouble he was in, in the first part of this
excellent psalm he shews —
I. His comfort; and, II. His courage; and. III. His care.
I. His comfort. It was altogether in the Lord, whom he sets out in all
the beauties and excellency of speech he can. He propounds the Lord to
him in borrowed terms. ' The Lord is my light and my salvation, the
strength of my life,' Ps. xxvii. 1. So he fetcheth comfort from God, the
spring of comfort, ' the Father of all comfort,' 2 Cor. i. 4. He labours to
present God to him in the sweetest manner that may be. He opposeth
him to every difficulty and distress. In darkness, he is ' my light ;' in
danger, he is ' my salvation ;' in weakness, he is * my strength ;' in all my
afflictions and straits, he is the ' strength of my life.' Here is the art of
faith in all perplexities whatsoever, to be able to set somewhat in God
against every malady in om-selves. And this is not simply set out, but
likewise with a holy insultation.* * The Lord is my light and salvation;
whom shall I fear ? ' Ps. xxvii. 1. It is a question proceeding from a holy
insultation, and daring of all other things. ' The Lord is the strength of
my life ; of whom shall I bo afi-aid ? ' That is one branch of his comfort.
The second branch and ground of his comfort is, 2. The goodness of God
in the ruin and destruction of his enemies. ' AVheu the wicked, even mine
enemies and foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and
fell,' Ps. xxvii. 2. He describes his enemies by their malice, and by their
ruin.
[1.] His enemies were cruel enemies, blood-suckers, caters of flesh. We
call them cannibals. As indeed nicu that have not gi-ace, if they have
greatness, and be opposed, their greatness is inaccessible ; one man is a
devil to another. The Scripture calls them ' wolves, that leave nothing
* That is, ' defiance,'— G.
'214 A BREATHING AFTER GOD.
till morning,' Zeph. iii. 3. As the gi'eat fishes eat up the little ones, so
gi-eat men they make no more conscience of eating up other men, than of
eating bread ; they make no more bones of overthrowing men and undoing
them, than of eating bread. ' They eat up my people as they eat bread,'
Ps. xxvii. 2.
[2.] But notwithstanding their cruelty, they were overthrown. Saith
David, ' when my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled
and fell.' For, indeed, God's children, when they are delivered, it is
usually with the confusion of their enemies. God doth two things at once,
because the special grievance of God's children it is from inward and out-
ward enemies. He seldom or never deUvers them but with the confusion
of their enemies. So he sets down his own comfort in the Lord, by the
confusion of his enemies. This will be most apparent at the day of judg-
ment, when Satan, and all that are led by his spirit, all the malignant
church, shall be sent to their own place, and the church shall be for ever
free from all kind of enemies. When the church is most free, then the
enemies of the church are nearest to destruction ; like a pair of balances,
when they are up at the one end, they are down at the other. So when it
is up with the church, down go the enemies. So here are the two branches
of his comfort.
II. Now his courage for the time to come, that is, in the third verse.
' Though an host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.' He puts
the case of the greatest danger that can be. Though an host of men
should encompass me, ' my heart shall not fear ; though war rise against
me, in this I will be confident.' Here is great courage for the time to
come. Experience breeds hope and confidence. David was not so courageous
a man of himself; but upon experience of God's former comfort and assist-
ance, his faith brake as fire out of the smoke, or as the sun out of a cloud.
Though I was in such and such perplexities, yet for the time to come I
have such confidence and experience of God's goodness, that I will not fear.
He that seeth God by a spirit of faith in his greatness and power, he sees
all other things below as nothing. Therefore he saith here, he cares not
for the time to come for any opposition ; no, not of an army. ' If God
be with us, who can be against us?' Kom. viii. 31. He saw God in his
power ; and then, looking from God to the creature, alas ! who was he ?
As Micah, when he had seen God sitting upon his throne ; what was Ahab
to him, when he had seen God once '? So when the prophet David had
seen God once, then ' though an host encamp against me, I will not fear,'
&c. Thus you have his comfort in the double branch of it ; his courage,
also, and his confidence for the time to come.
ni. What is his care ? That is the next. I will not analyse the psalm
farther than the text. After his comfort in the Lord, and in the confusion
of his enemies, and his courage for the time to come, he sets down his care,
' One thing have I desired of the Lord, and that will I seek after, that I
may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,' &c. This was
his care. He had so sweet experience of the goodness and power of God,
being light, and salvation and strength to him in confounding his enemies,
that he studied with himself how to be thankful to God; and this he
thought fittest in the open great congregation, in the chui-ch of God, among
many others. Therefore he saith, ' One thing have I desired of the Lord,
and that will I seek after still, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life.''
Now, in the words of the text that I have read, there is contained the
A BUEATIIING AFTER GOD. 215
holy prophet's care and desire, set down first in general, ' One thing have I
desired of the Lord, and that I will seek after.'
And then a specification of that desire he specifies. What is that one
thing he desired ? That ' I may dwell in the house of the Lord,' with the
circumstance of time, ' all the days of my life.'
Now, after the desire in general, set out here by the object in general,
the transcendent object, ' One thing have I desired of the Lord,' and like-
wise by the frequency and fervency of the desu'C, ' I will seek after it still.'
I have desired it, and I will not cease. So my desire, it shall not be a
flash soon kindled, and soon put out. No ; but ' one thing have I desired
of the Lord, and that I will seek still.' I will not be quiet till my desire be
accomplished. There is the general deshe, and the degi-ees of it.
The particular is, ' that I may dwell in the house of the Lord.'
Then the grounds and ends of the particular desire of dwelling in the
* house of the Lord,' because it is ' the house of God.' There is a strong
argument to move him to dwell in the house of God. It is good dwelling
where God dwells, where his angels dwell, and where his Spirit dwells, ' in
the house of the Lord.' There is one argument that moved him, ' I desire
to dwell there,' because it is the house of God, which is set out by the ex-
tent of time, that ' I may dwell in the house of God all the days of my life,'
till I be housed in heaven, where I shall need none of these ordinances that
I stand in need of in this world. ' I desu'e to dwell in the house of the
Lord all the days of my life.'
Then the second end is, ' To behold the beauty of God.' That was one
end of his desire, to dwell in the house of God ; not to feed his eyes with
speculations and goodly sights (as indeed there were in the tabernacle
goodly things to be seen). No ; he had a more spiritual sight than that.
He saw the inward spiritual beauty of those spiritual things. The other
were but outward things, as the apostle calls them. I desire to dwell in
the house of the Lord, 'to behold the beauty of the Lord,' the inward
beauty of the Lord especially.
And then the third end of his desire is, ' that I may inquu-e in his
temple.' He desired to dwell in the house of God, because it w\as the
house of God, and to see the beauty of God, the sweet, alluring beauty of
God, that appeared in his ordinances ; and then his desire was to dwell in
the house of God, that he might inquire more and more of the meaning of
God still, because there is an unfathomed bottom, and an endless depth of
excellency in divine things, that the more we know, the more we may, and
the more we seek, the more we may seek. They are beyond om- capacity;
they do not only satisfy, but transcend it. Therefore, he desires still fur-
ther and further to wade deeper into these things, ' to inquire in God's
temple.' Thus ye see the state of the verse. There is a general desire
propounded. ' One thing have I desu*ed of the Lord, and that will I seek
after."
And then the desire specified, ' to dwell in the house of the Lord, and to
see the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.' These be the
three ends.
' One thing have I desired of the Lord,' &c.
To speak first of this desire generally propounded, * One thing have I
desired,' &c.
And then of the increase of it, in that he saith, ' I will seek after it still.'
He desired it, and he would seek more and more after it.
In the desire, consider —
216 A BBEATHING AFTEB GOD.
First, the object, ' one thing.'
And then the desire or seeking itself.
First, the object, ' one thing.'
Quest. Was there hut one thing for holy David to make the ohject of his
desire ? Was there but one thing needful ? Alas ! this poor life of ours,
it is a life of necessities. How many things are needful for our bodies ?
How many things are needful for the decency of our condition ? How
many things need we for our souls ? It is a life of necessities. How^
then, doth he say, ' One thing have I desired ? '
A71S. Yes. His meaning is, comparatively, I seek for other things in
their order and rank, and as they may stand with the main ; but, indeed,
one thing principally. All the rest will follow. ' Seek ye first the king-
dom of God, and all the rest will be cast on you,' Mat. vi. 33. The best
way to have all other things, is to seek one thing in the first place. There-
fore, in heavenly wisdom he saith, I desire unum unice ; one thing after an
entire manner. That I desire more than all things else.
Hence we ma}'- see that.
There is a difference of degrees of things. God hath established in the
world degrees of things. There are some good and some ill by his per-
mission ; and of good, there are some that are greater goods, and some less.
There are spiritual goods, and outward goods ; and of spiritual good, there
are some that are means leading to that which is spiritually good, and some-
that are spiritual good things in their o^\^l essence and nature. The lead-
ing preparing things are the means of salvation, the word, and sacraments,
and being in the visible church. The true spiritual good, the good that
we get by these things, faith and love, and spiritual inward strength. Now
that there is degrees of things, the prophet here insinuates when he saith,
* One thing have I desired ;' that is, of all these variety of things, he desired
the best, that includes all in it. God, to exercise the wisdom that he hath
given to man, hath planted a difierence in the creatures, and hath given a
faculty to man to make a right choice in those differences ; and then man
makes a right choice when he chooseth as God chooseth. Now, God
makes choice of spiritual things to be the best things, and them he gives to
his best friends. He knows they will make us good, and supply all out-
ward wants whatsoever, and sanctify all estates and conditions to us, and
they are eternal, suitable to the spiritual nature of our souls. God knows
this very well. Therefore, God hath set spiritual things, as the one only
thing ; and so the soul, when it is made spiritual, and hath the image of
God upon it, it chooseth as God chooseth.
* One thing have I desired.'
Quest. But here it may be asked, why doth he say, ' one thing ? ' He
desired not only to live near the tabernacle, but to hear and see, to have
the word read, and he desired thereupon grace, and then nearer communion
with God by grace, to have more communion here, and fuller communion
in heaven. Here is more than one thing.
Ans. I answer, it is all one. As a chain that hath many links, yet it ia
but one chain ; so all these are but one. ' I desire one thing.' What is
that ? To live in the church of God, to enjoy the ordinances of God, and
they will draw on faith and fear, &c. The Spiiit accompanying the ordi-
nances, it will be a spuit of faith, and repentance, and grace ; and by those
graces of faith, and the rest that accompany the ordinances, I shall have
nearer communion with God here, and eternal and everlasting communioo
A BREATHING AFTER GOD. 217
with God in heaven ; and all these are but one, because they are all links
of one chain. Therefore, when he saith, ' One thing have I desired,' ho
means that one thing that will draw on all other.
That is the scope of a gracious heart, when it attends upon the means of
salvation, and lives in the church ; not to hear that it may hear, and them
an end, and to read that it may i-ead, to perform it as a task, and all is
done ; but to have the work of the Spirit together with it, to have the
ministry of the Spirit in the gospel, and the Spirit to increase faith, and
faith to increase all other gi'aces, and so by grace to grow into nearer com-
munion with God in Christ. That is the scope of every good hearer.
Therefore, he speaks to purpose when he saith, ' One thing have I deshed.'
But to speak a Httle more of the object, why doth he say, ' One thing ?'
First, it is from the nature of God. We must have the whole bent and
sway of our souls to him. He will have no halting. The devil is content
with half, if we will sin, because then he is sure of all ; but God will havo
the whole heart. ' My son, give me thy whole heart,' Prov. xxiii. 26 ; and
' Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,' Luke
X. 27. The bent and sway of the soul must be that way ; for it is the
natui'e of excellent things, except we desire them in the chief place, they
take state upon them.-'.= God takes state upon him in this case. He will
not have us serve him and Mammon, Mat. vi. 24. He will not have the
heart divided.
Second. Then again, it is from the nature of the soul. Therefore, he saith,
' One thing.' It is the nature of the soul, when it is upon many things, it
can do nothing well. Therefore, that I may be religious to purpose, ' One
thing have I desired.' A stream cut into many channels runs weakly, and
is unfit to carry anything. Babylon was so taken. They cut the river into
many channels, and then he that took it easily passed over them, (a)
When the soul is divided into many channels, to many things, that it looks
after this thing and that thing, and that with expense and intention of care
and endeavour, alas ! where is the desu'e of one thing necessary all the
while ? For the soul cannot go with that strength as it should, except it
mind one thing. The soul of man is a finite thing. Therefore, except it
gather its strength, as a stream, that riseth of many particular lesser rivers,
which makes it run stronger ; so the soul it cannot desire one thing as it
should, except it bring all other petty streams to it, and make that the main
desire, to be saved in another world, and to have communion and fellowship
with God in Christ Jesus, by the Spirit of grace in this world, in tho uso
of the means. Unless this be the main care, the soul takes no good when
it is so much set on other things.
Then, thirdly, he sets down this ' one thing,' to ' dwell in the house of
God,' to grow in grace there * as a cedar,' to be a ' tree planted there,'
from the very nature of grace, which is to unite things to the main. The
Spirit of grace sets before the eye of the soul heavenly spiritual things in
their greatness and excellency ; and the Spirit of grace, seeing there are
many useful things in this world, it hath an uniting, knitting, subordinating
power, to rank all things so as they may agree to and help the main. Grace
confines the soul to one thing. Man, after his fall, ' sought out many in-
ventions,' Eccles. vii. 29, saith the wise man. He was not content with
his condition when he stood, but ' he sought out many inventions. When
man falls to the creature, he knows not where to stay. No creature can
afford a stay and rest for the soul long. The soul is never quiet till it come
* That is, ' are offcudcd.' — G.
218 A BREATHING APTER GOD.
to God again,* and that is the one thing the soul desireth. The soul being
san-ctified by the Spirit of God, it subordinates all things to this one thing.
David desired many things besides this one thing, but not in that degree,
but as they might stand with the desire of this one thing necessary, Grace
subordinates and ranks all things so as that the best things have the pre-
eminence. Therefore, he might well say, ' one thing,' from the disposition
that grace hath to rank all things to one. It is a promise in the covenant
of grace. Saith God, ' I will give you one heart,' Jer. xxxii. 39. As soon
as a man becomes a Christian, he hath one heart.' His heart before was
divided. There was variety of objects it was set upon ; God had the least
piece. The flesh had a piece, and this delight and that delight had apiece;
but saith God, ' I will give you one heart,' that is, a heart uniting itself in
desire to the best things, and regulating all things, so as all shall be but
one, that a man shall ' use the world as though he used it not,' so as it shall
help to the main. As I said, little streams they help the main stream run-
ning into it, so grace hath a subordinating power over all things in the
world, as they may help the main. ' One thing have I desired,' and I
desire other things, as they may help the main. Grace will teach us that
art. It hath a special art that way. So we see both in regard of God, and
in regard of the soul being finite, and in respect of the wise disposing of
grace that aims at the main, and ranks all things as they may help the
main, he doth well say, ' One thing have I desu-ed.'
Use. This shews the vanity and baseness of every worldly man, that makes
ike main work and labour his by-work, and the by-icork his main ivork. That
that is the ' one thing necessary,' Luke x. 42, is set after all. Indeed,
without grace, this is so. The first work of grace is to set the soul in
order, to subdue base afiections, to sanctify the judgment ; and when it
hath set the soul in tune and order, then it is fitted to set a right price on
things, to rank and order them as it should. So much shall be sufficient
to unfold the object itself in general, ' One thing have I desired.'
Now I come to the afiection itself, set forth here by the degrees.
' One thing have I desired, and that I will seek after.
I have desired it, and I will desire it still. Desires are the issues of the
heart. Thoughts and desires are the two primitive issues of the heart, the
births of the heart. Thoughts breed desires. Thoughts in the mind or
brain, the brain strikes the heart presently. It goes from the understand-
ing to the will and affections. What we think of, that we desire, if it be
good. So thoughts and desires, they immediately spring from the soul ;
and where they are in any efficacy and strength, they stir up motion in the
outward man. The desires of the soul, being the inward motion, they stir
up outward motion, till there be an attaining of the thing desired, and then
there is rest. Desire to the thing desired is like mot^is ad quietem, as motion
is to rest. When motion comes once to rest, it is quiet. So desire, which is
the inward motion, it stirs up outward motion, till the thing desired be
accomplished, and then the soul rests in a loving content, and enjoying of
the thing desired.
Now this desire, it was a spiritual desire. ' One thing have I desired of
the Lord.' Holy desu'es, they issue from choice. A holy, wise desire,
when it is not a mere notion, it ariseth from a choice of a thing that is
good ; for desire is nothing but the embracing and closing with a thing that
is good. The understanding must choose the good first, before the soul
embrace it. The will is but the carriage of the soul, the furthering and
* Augustine. — See note h, vol. I., page 214. — (i.
A BREATHING AFTER GOD. 219
promotion of the soul to the good things diseoverecl ; so it supposclh a
choice of good things.
And choice supposoth an esteem of the things before we choose them ;
and that supposeth a dehberate judging that works an esteem. So that it
was no hasty, sudden thing this desire ; but it rose from the sanctified
judgment of David, that bred a holy esteem of these excellent things ; the
means of salvation, having the Spirit of God accompanying of them, con-
taining such excellent comforts as they do. I say this desire supposes a
right judgment, and thence an esteem ; thence a choice upon all, choosin«
these things above all other contentments and things in the world besides.
For at this time he wanted in his family the comfort of his wife and house,
&c. Tush, what do I regard these things ? If I could enjoy the sweet,
and strong, and comfortable presence of God in his ordinances, other things
I could bear well enough, the want of house, and wife and children, the
pleasures and contentments of my country. Therefore, ' One thing have I
desii'ed.' It was a desire out of a high esteem and choice of that one
thing he speaks of.
The point of doctrine that I will observe in brief, because I hasten to tho
main thing, is this,
Tliat the Spirit of God in the hearts of his children is effectual in stirring
up hohj desires.
There is nothing that characteriseth and sets a stamp upon a Christian so
much as desires. All other things may be counterfeit. Words and actions
may be counterfeit, but the deshes and affections cannot, because they are
the immediate issues and productions of the soul ; they are that that comes
immediately from the soul, as fire cannot be counterfeit. A man may ask
his desii-es what he is ? According to the pulse of the desu-es, so is the
temper of the man. Desires are better than actions a great deal ; for a
man may do a good action, that he doth not love, and he may abstain from
an ill action, that he hates not. But God is a Spirit, and looks to the
spii'it especially. It is a good character of a Christian, that his desire, for
the most part, is to good ; the tenor and sway and bent of his desire is to
good. ' One thing have I desired.' The Spirit of God is effectual in stir-
ring up these desires.
Quest. But how shall we know that these desires are the chief things to
distinguish an hypocrite from a true Christian, and whether they be true
or no ?
Ans. To go no farther than the text: desires are holy and spiritual,
If they be about holy and spiritual things. ' One thing have I desired,'
saith David. What was that ? To be rich and great in the world, and to
be revenged on my enemies ? No, no ; that is not the matter. I have
many enemies ; God will take a course that they shall fall. That that I
desire, is to have nearer communion with God ; I desire to enjoy the ordi-
nances of God. So his desu-e it was set on spmtual objects, and that
argued it was a holy desu-e.
2. And then again, his desire. It was a, fervent desire, as he saith, ' One
thing have I desired, and that will I seek after.' It was not a blaze or
flash, that was soon in and soon out. It was not a mere velleity, a kind of
inefficacious desire. Fervency shewed that his desire was sound. Ho
would not be quieted without the thing accomplished.
8. And then constancy, when a man will not be taken off. There is not
the wickedest man in the world, but he hath good flashes, good ofl'ers, and
desires sometimes. * Lord, have mercy upon me,' &c. He hath good
220 A BBEATHING AFTEB GOD,
ejaculations sometimes. Ay, but what is the bent and sway of his desires ?
This was David's constant desire. As it was about spiritual, and was a
fervent and eager desire, that he would not be quieted, so it was constant.
That that is natural is constant, and that that is sup ernatur ally natural.
That that is natural in spiritual things, it is constant ; nature is constant.
For how doth nature difier from art ? Artificial things are for a time.
Teach a creature beyond his nature, he will shew his naturals. So let au
hypocrite act a part, if it be not his nature, he will soon turn to his naturals,
and shew that he is an hypocrite again. Constancy and perpetuity in good
things, a tenor of good desires, shew that the heart is good, because it is
constant.
4. And then again, this desire here, of David, it was kindled /?"owi the love
of God, and not out of base ends. Holy desires are kindled in the soul from
the love of God ; for what saith he here ? ' One thing have I desired.'
What was that ? ' To dwell in the house of the Lord.' ^Vhat to do ? ' To
behold the beauty of God ;' to see God in his excellency and beauty and
worthiness. All his desire was from this, that his soul was enamoured
with the beauty of God's house. The love of God stirred up this blessed
desire in the prophet. Therefore, it was a holy and spiritual desire.
5. Again, as they spring from the love of God, so they tend to the honour
of God ; for what comes from heaven, goes to heaven back again. Ag
waters that come from a spring, they go as high as the place they come
from ; so holy desires, being kindled from heaven from a spirit of love, they
go to heaven again. The love of God stirs them up, and he seeks God's
glory, and honour, and inward communion with God in this. For a man
out of a natural desire may desire holy things sometimes, to be free fi'om
such or such a sin, and to have such and such a grace, not out of a desire
to honoui" God ; but if he had gi'ace, he sees he might escape troubles, he
might be free from temporal judgments, and he might ingratiate himself,
and commend himself to this or that person, whom he desires to benefit
by. Therefore, he desires as much grace as may help forward his inten-
tions in the vforld. He joins the world and God together. Oh ! no, these
are not the desires that distinguish a Christian from another man ; but
those that spring from the love of God, that proceed inwardly from the
truth of the heart, and that the things themselves please God, and that
there is a loveliness in them, and that they tend to the honour of God
especially, and our o'fvn good in a secondary place. This is a character of
good desires. Thus we see, though I should go no further than the text,
how we may distinguish holy and heavenly desires from other deshes.
' One thing have I desired, and that will I seek,' &c.
Therefore, let us examine what our desires are, what our bent is.
Desires issue from the will and afiections, and they shew the frame of the
soul more than anything in the world. As the springs in low places are
discovered by the steams and vapom-s that come out of the place, men
gather that there is a spring below, because of the ascent of vapours ; so
the vapouring out of these desires shew that there is a spring of grace in
the heart ; they discover that there is a spring within.
And let those that mourn in Sion, that have some evidence (though
they are not so good as they would be), let them look to their hearts.
What is thy desire ? What is the bent of thy soul ? "When a man is once
converted and turned, wherein is his turning ? Especially, his mind and
judgment and esteem of things are altered. There is a change of mind,
and withal the desire and bent of the soul is altered ; that if a man ask
A BEEAXniNG AFTEll GOD. 221
him, and examine what the bent is of all the course of his life, oh ! that
God might be glorified, that his church and cause might prosper, that
others might be converted ; this is the bent of his soul ; not that he might
be great in the world, and ruin those that stand in his way (this shews that
a man is a rotten hypocrite). The bent and sway of the soul shews what
& man is.
Because I would not have any deceived in the point, take one evidence
and sign more with you, and that shall be instead of all, and it is out of
the text too, ' One thing have I desired, and that will I seek after,' not by
prayer only, but in the use of all means ; as, indeed, he was novcr quiet
till he was settled again in Sion, nor then neither till he had gotten materials
for the temple, and a place for God's honour ' to dwell in,' Deut. xii. 11.
If desires be not the desires of the sluggard, there will be endeavour ; as
we see in the desire of David here, ' One thing have I desired, and that will
I seek.' He used all means to enjoy communion with God sweetly.
The sluggard lusts and hath nothing. So there are many spiritual slug-
gards that lust and have nothing, because they shew not their desire in
their endeavours. There will be endeavour where the desire is true. For
desire springs from the will, the will being the appetite of the whole man,
Voluntas appetitus, &c. The understanding carries not, but the will. When
the will will have a thing, it carries all the parts. Hereupon, when the
desire is true, it stirs up all the powers and faculties to do their duty, to
seek to attain the accomplishment and possession of that that is desired.
Those, therefore, that pretend they have good desires to God, and yet
live scandalously and negligently, and will take no pains with their souls,
alas ! it is the sluggard's desire, if they take not pains to remove all lets and
hindrances. For a man may know the desire of a thing is good when he
labours to set the hindrances out of the way, if he can. If the lets and
hindrances be not impossible, he will remove it, if he can. Therefore, those
that pretend this and that, ' There is a lion in the way,' Prov. xxvi. 13,
when they might remove it, if they would, there is no true desire ; for
desire is with the removing of all possible hindrances of the thing desired.
Quest. But to resolve one question. How shall I know whether my
desire be strong enough and ripe enough or no to give me comfort ?
Ans. I answer, if the desire of gi-ace he above the desire of any earthly
thing, that a man may say with David, ' One thing have I desu-ed,' I desire
to be free from sin, as a greater blessing to my soul, than to be free from
any calamity. Oh ! it is a good sign. And surely a man can never have
comfort of his desire till his desires be raised to that pitch. For none ever
shall come to heaven that do not desire the things that tend to heaven,
above all earthly things ; nor none shall ever escape hell that do not think
it worse and more temble than all earthly miseries. God brings no fools
to heaven that cannot discern the difference of things. Therefore, let us
know, that our desires are to little purpose if we have some desire to be
good, &c. ; but we have a greater desh-e to be rich and great in the world,
to have such and such place. If the desire of that be greater than to be
gracious with God, if we hate poverty, and disgrace, and want, and this and
that more than sin and hell, to which sin leads, it is a sign that our judg-
ments are rotten and corrupt, and that our desire is no pure spiritual desire.
For it is not answerable to the thing desu-ed ; there is no proportion. David
saith here, ' One thing have I desired.' H^s desire carried him amain to
* one thing necessary,' above all other things whatsoever. Thus you see
out of the text, what are the distinguishing notes of true dcsii-es from those
222 A BREATHING AFTER GOD.
that are false. I need name no more, if we consider what hath been spoken..
Now for our comfort, if we find these holy desires : Oh ! let us take com-
fort in ourselves : for ' God will fulfil the desires of them that fear him,'
Ps. xxxvii. 4. Holy desires, they are the birth of God's Spirit, and there
is not one of them that shall be lost ; for God regards those desires, ' My
groanings are not hid from thee,' Ps. xxxviii. 9 ; my groanings in trouble,
and desires of grace. There is not the least thing stirred up in the soul by
the Spirit of God, but it prevails with God in some degree, answerable to
the degree of worth in it. Therefore, if we have holy desires stirred up by
God, God promotes those desires. God will regard his own work, and to
' him that hath shall be given,' Mat. xiii. 12. ' Lord, be merciful to thy
servants, that desire to fear thy name,' saith Nehemiah, i. 11.* It is
a plea that we may bring to God, * Lord, I desire to please thee,' as it is,
' The desire of our souls is to thy name, 0 Lord,' Isa. xxvi. 8. We fail
sometimes, that we cannot perform actions with that zeal and earnestness
as we should ; but the desire and bent of our soul is to thy name. A
Christian may make it his plea to God, — truly our desires ai'e towards thy
name, and we have some suitable endeavours ; and our desires are more
that way than to anything in the world. It is a good plea, though we be
much hindered and pulled back by our corruptions. So much for that, the
act upon this object, ' One thing have I desired.'
Of whom doth he desire it ? Of the Lord.
' One thing have I desired of the Lord.'
It was not a blind desire of the thing, but a desire directed to the right
object, to God, to fulfil it. Holy desires are such as we are not ashamed
of, but dare open them to God himself in prayer, and desires to God. A
Christian, what he desires as a Chi-istian, he prays for, and what he prays
for he desires ; he is a hypocrite else. If a man praj^ as St Austin, in
his confessions, f that God would free him from temptations, and 5'et is
unwilling to have those loving baits from him, he prays, but he doth not
desire. There are many that pray ; they say in their prayers, ' Lead 113
not into temptation,' Mat. vi. 13, and yet they run into temptation ; they
feed their eyes, and ears, and senses with vain things. You know what
they are well enough, their lives are nothing but a satisfying of their lusts,
and yet they pray, ' Lead us not in temptation.' And there are many
persons that desire that, that they dare not pray for, they desire to be sa
bad. But a Christian what he desires, he prays for. I desire in earnest
to be in the house of the Lord, I desu-c it of the Lord, I put up my request
to him; and what I pray to him for, I earnestly desire indeed. Learn this
in a word, hence, that.
When u'e have holy desires stirred up by God, turn them to prayers.
A prayer is more than a desire. It is a desire put up to God. Let us
turn our desires into prayers. That is the way to have them speed.
' One thing have I desired of the Lord.'
The reason why we should, in all our desires, make our desires known to
God, is to keep our acquaintance continually with God. We have continual
use of desires of grace, and desires of mortification of corruptions, and of
freedom from this and that evil that is upon us. As many desires as we have,
let them be so many prayers ; turn our desires into prayers to God, and so
maintain our acquaintance with God. And we shall never come from God
* Misprinted ' Ezechias' = Hezekiah. — G.
t Conf. A reminiscence rather than translation, of a recurring sentiment in tho
' Confessions.' — G.
A BKEATHINO AFTER GOD. 223
■without a blessing and comfort. He never sends any out of his presence
empty, that come with a gracious heart, that know what they desiro. And
it brings peace with it, when we make our desires known to God by our
prayer. It brings ' peace that passeth understanding,' Philip, iv. Put case
God doth not hear our request, that he doth not grant what we ask. * The
peace of God which passeth understanding, shall keep your hearts and
minds.' So that when we put up our requests to God with thankfulness for
what we have received, the soul will find peace. Therefore I say, let us
turn all our desires into prayers, to maintain perpetual communion and
acquaintance with God. Oh ! it is a gainful and comfortable acquaintance.
It is an argument, and sign of a good conscience, for a man to go oft to
God with his desires. It is a sign that he is not in a wicked course ; for
then he dares not appeal to the presence of God. Sore eyes cannot endure
the light ; and a galled conscience cannot endure God's presence. There-
fore it is good to come oft into the presence of God. It shews that the
heart doth not regard iniquity. * If I regard iniquity in my heart, God
will not hear my prayers.' Ps. Ixvi. 18. It is an argument of a good con-
science to come oft into the presence of God. But I will not enter into the
common place of prayer.
We see next his earnestness, ' I have desii'ed it of the Lox'd, and I vUl
seek after it.'
I will follow God still. Here is his importunity in prayer, his fervency,
his uncessancy and perseverance, as the apostle exhorts, he persevered in
prayer, Eph. vi. 18. ' I will seek after it.' In prayer, and in the use of all
good means, I will do what I can. So you see one qualification of prayer,
it must be with iicrseveraiice and importunity. God loves importunate suitors.
Though we cannot endure to be troubled with such persons, yet God loves
importunate suitors, as we see in Luke xviii. 1-8, in the parable of the
widow. God there vouchsafes to compare himself to an unrighteous judge,
that ' cared neither for God nor man,' yet the imporlunity of the widow
moved him to regard her. So the poor church of God, she is like a widow,
with her hair hanging about her. ' This is Zion, whom none regardeth ; '
yet this widow, the poor chui-ch of God, and every particular member of it,
they are importunate with the Judge of heaven and earth, with God ; and
will not he more regard the importunity of his children whom he loves, and
delights in, that ' caU upon him day and night' ? Ps. cii. 2, wiU not he re-
gard their petitions, when an unrighteous judge shall care for the impor-
tunity of a poor widow ? Thus you see the excellent fruit of importunity
in our blessed Saviour himself, and here in David, ' I will seek after it,' I
will have no nay. Therefore w^e are exhorted in the Scriptures, not to keep
silence, to give God no rest. ' You that are the Lord's remembrancers,
keep not silence, give him no rest.' As Jacob with the angel, wrestle with
him, leave him not tiU we have a blessing. As the woman of Canaan, let
us follow him still, and take no nay. Oh this is a blessed violence, be-
loved, when we can set upon God, and will have no nay, but renew suit
upon suit, and desii'o on desire, and never leave till our petitions be
answered. Can the hypocrite pray alway ? Would you know a comfort-
able note to distinguish an h}^50crite from a true Christian ? take it hence,
will the h3;^ocrite pray alway ? Sometimes he will pray ; but if God
answer him not presently he gives over ; but God's children pray always,
if the ground be good, if they see the excellency of the thing, and the neces-
sity, and withal join at the amiableness of it, that it may be gotten. "^Tien
they see the exaellcncy, and the necessity and usefulness of the thing, and
224 A BREATHING AFTER GOD.
the attainableness of it, and that it is attainable in the use of means, they
need no more, they will never give over. That is the reason of that in the
petitions, ' Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven,'
Mat. vi. 10. But can we do the will of God on earth as it is done in
heaven ? and doth God's glorious kingdom of heaven come while we are
here on earth ? No ; it doth not, but the soul that is guided with the
spirit of prayer, it rests not in this or that degree, but prays till it be in
heaven, ' Thy kingdom come.' I have grace now, but I desire glory.
' Thy will be done.' I desire to do it as thy saints in heaven, though I
cannot do it ; but I desire, and I will not give God rest, but pray, till all
my prayers be answered in heaven ; and then I shall do the will of God as
it is done in heaven indeed. Thus we ought eagerly, and constantly to
persevere in our desires, till they be fully satisfied, or else we are but hypo-
crites.
Let us make conscience, I beseech you, of this duty more than we have
done, and never give God over for grace ; for strength against our corrup-
tions ; for his church ; for the prosperity of the means of salvation ; for
those things that we have ground for ; let us never give him over till we
see he hath answered our desires. And when he hath answered our
desires, let us go on still to desire more ; for this life is a life of desires.
The life of accomplishment is heaven. Then all our desires shall be ac-
complished, and all promises performed, and not before then. This is a
life of desires, and we must be in a state of desires and prayers still till we
be in heaven.
Quest. "WTiat is the reason that God doth not presently accomplish our
desires ?
Ans. There be diverse reasons. First of all he loves to hear the desires of
his servants, he loves to be sued unto; because he knows it is for our good.
It is music that best pleaseth God's ears to hear a soul come to him to re-
quest, especially spiritual things of him, which he delights most to give,
which he knows is most useful and best for us. This pleaseth him so
marvellously, that he will not presently grant it, but leads us along and
along, that still he may hear more and more from us.
2. And then to keep us in a jwrpetnal hiimhle subjection and dependence on
him, he grants not all at once, but leads us along, by yielding a little and
a little, that so he may keep us in a humble dependence.
3. And then to exercise all our graces ; for a spirit of prayer is a spirit of
exercise of all grace. We cannot pray, but we must exercise faith, and love
to God and his church ; and a sanctified judgment to esteem what are the
best things to be prayed for ; and to exercise mortification. ' If I regard
sin, God will not regard my prayers,' Ps. Ixvi. 18. A spirit of prayer is a
spirit that puts all into exercise ; therefore God, to keep us in the exercise
of all grace, answers not at the first.
4. And then he would have us to set a high price ujjoii ivhat ice desire and
seek after. If we had it at the first, we should not set so high an esteem
and price of it.
5. And then, that ive might better use it when we have it. Then we use
things as we should do when we have gotten them with much ado ; when
we have won them from God with great importunity, then we keep and pre-
serve them as we should. These and the like reasons may be given, and
you may easily conceive them yom-selves. Therefore let us not be offended
with God's gracious dispensation if he answer not our desires presently,
but pray still ; and if we have the spirit of prayer continued to us, that
A BREATUING AFTER GOD. 225
spirit of prayer is better than the thing we beg a great deal. Ofttimes God
answers us in a better kind, when he gives us a spirit of prayer; for in-
creasing a spirit of prayer in us, he increaseth all graces in us. What is it
we would have ? this or that particular grace. But when God gives us a
spirit of prayer, he answers us better than in the thing we ask, for there is all
grace. He will answer in one kind or other. But I will not be large in
these points. You see then what was the affection of the holy prophet, to
that one thing. ' One thing have I desired.' And he did not only desire
it, but turned his desire into a prayer. He prayed to God ; and he not only
prayed once or twice, but he seeks it still, till God vouchsafed to grant it.
Obj. Well, but that that he prayed for, he was assured of, and therefore
what need he pray for it ? He had a promise, ' He shall prepare a table
before mine enemies, my cup doth overflow,' Ps. xxiii. 5, 6. But what is
that to this ? These be things of this life. Oh ! but, saith he, God will
be good to me in the things of another life, and all the days of my life too.
' Doubtless the lovingkindness of the Lord shall follow me all the days of
my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord.' He takes in trust his
dwelling in the house of God ; and that the lovingkindness of God should follow
him all the days of his life, he was assured of it, and yet here he seeks it
and prays for it.
A)is. I note it, to shew that the assurance of the thing takes not away
the earnestness of prayer. Daniel was assured (Dan. ix. 4, seq.) that God
would deliver the Jews out of Babylon. He had read Jeremiah's pro-
phecies, he knew the time was accomplished ; yet we see what an earnest
prayer he makes there. Christ knew that God heard him in all his desires,
that he should have all good from God, being his only Son, yet he prayed
whole nights sometimes, and a whole chapter, John xvii., is an excellent
prayer of his. So that the assurance of the thing takes not away prayer
to God ; nay, it stablisheth it, for God so makes good his promises for the
time to come, as that he makes them good this way, he will be sought to
by prayer. And I may know hence that he will make good his pro-
mises for the time to come to me, if I have a spirit of prayer for them ;
if I pray for perseverance to the end, that God would vouchsafe me grace
to live in the church, and to grow up as a cedar. God surely means to
grant this, because he hath given me holy and gracious desires, which he
would not have given me, but that he means to give the thing. For this is
an encouragement to pray, when I know I shall not lose my labour. I
pra}-, because I have a promise to have it, and I know the promise runs upon
this. ' But I will be sought unto of the house of Judah for this,' Ezek.
xxxvi. 37. For if we have it, and have not sought it by prayer, for the most
part we cannot have a comfortable use of it, unless we have things as the
fi-uit of our prayers. Though there be not a particular prayer for every
particular thing we have of God, yet unless it be the fruit of the general
prayer, that we put up daily, we cannot have comfort in it ; if God give it
by a general providence, as he fills ' the beUies of the wicked with good
things,' Ps. xvii. 14. But if we will have things for our good in particular,
we must receive them as the fruit of our prayers from God. You see here
he seeks, anddesu'es that that he had a promise to have, ' One thing have I
desired of the Lord, and that will I seek.'
' That I may dwell in the house of the Lord.'
It was generally propounded before. ' One thing have I desired, and
that will I seek after,' with all my might. And what is that ? The speci-
ticatiou of it is this :
226 A BKEATHING AFTER GOD.
' That I may dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
His desire is, not only to be in God's house, but to dwell in it, to abide;
and not for a little while, but to dwell, and to dwell ' all the days of my life.'
The house of God then was the tabernacle, the sanctuary. The temple
was not yet built. He desired to be near the tabernacle, to dwell in the
sanctuaiy, the place of God's worship. In the tabernacle, which in those
times was the house of God, there was the ark and the mercy-seat, types of
many glorious things in the New Testament ; the holy of holies, &c. And
he desired to dwell in the tabernacle, to be near the ark, the house of God.
Why ? Because God manifested his presence there, more than in other
places. The ark hath God's name in diverse places of Scripture ; because
God gave his answers in the ark, in the propitiatory, or mercy-seat. They
came there to know his meaning, what he would have ; he gave his answer
there. He is said to dwell between the cherubins. There were two
cherubins upon the mercy-seat, and God is said to dwell between the
cherubins, Exod. xxxv. 22 ; that is, there he was present to give answers
to the high priest, when he came to ask. David knew this well enough, that
God had vouchsafed a more special presence in the tabernacle, than in all
the places of the world, and therefore, saith he, ' I desire to dwell in the
house of the Lord all the days of my life.'
' House,' we take for the persons that are in it, and persons that are
ordered, or else it is a confusion, and not a house. It is a company of
those that are voluntary. They come not by chance into our house, those
that are members of our society ; but there is an order. There is a gover-
nor in a house, and some that are under government, and there is a volun-
tary conjunction and combination. So the chm'ch is a voluntary company
of people that is orderly, some to teach, and some to be instructed ; and
thereupon it is called a house.
And it is called the house of God, because he is present there, as a man
delights to be present in his house. It is the place where God will be met
withal. As a man will be found in his house, and there he will have suitors
come to him, where he reveals his secrets. A man rests, he lies, and
lodgeth in his house. Where is a man so familiar as in his house ? And
what other place hath he such care to protect and provide for as his house ?
And he lays up his treasures, and his jev/els in his house. So God lays up
all the treasures of grace and comfort in the visible church. In the church
he is to be spoken with as a man is in his house. There he gives us sweet meet-
ings ; there are mutual spiritual kisses. ' Let him kiss me with the kisses of
his mouth,' Cant. i. 2. A man's house is his castle, as we say, that he
will protect and provide for. God will be sure to protect and provide for
his church. Therefore he calls the church of God, that is, the tabernacle
(that was the church at that time), the house of God. If we apply it to
our times, that that answers the tabernacle now, is particular visible churches
under particular pastors, where the means of salvation are set up. Particu-
lar \'isible churches now arc God's tabernacle (h). The church of the Jews
was a national church. There was but one church, but one place, and one
tabernacle ; but now God hath erected particular tabernacles. Every par-
ticular church and congregation under one pastor, their meeting is the
church of God, a several church independent. Our national church, that
is, the Church of England, because it is under a government civil, which is
not dependent upon any other foreign prince, it is a particular church from
other nations.
In that God calls the church his house, it shews the special respect that
A BREATHING AFTER GOD. 227
he hath to his chui'ch. God, though he be present everywhere, yet ho is
present in another manner in his church. As for instance, the soul is pre-
sent in all the parts of the body; but the soul, as far as it understands, is only
in the brain ; as far as it is the fountain of life, it is in the heart. It hath
offices and functions in all the parts ; but in the special function, the rational
function of it, as it discourseth and reasoneth, it is in the brain. So for
our apprehension's sake, God is everywhere ; but as he sanctifies and pours
out his blessings, and opens, and manifests his secrets, so he is in his
church especially. God is everj^vhere, but he is in another way in
heaven than in other places. He is there gloriously. So in earth he
is eveiywhere, but he is in another manner in the church (the heaven
upon earth), than in other places. He is there as in his house to
protect them, and provide for them as his family ; and there he abides by
his ordinances, and takes solace, and delight. God delights himself in his
church and children that attend upon his ordinances. ' Where two or three
are met together, I will be in the midst of them,' Mat. xviii. 20. When God's
people meet together in the church, God is present among them. So you
see in what respect the tabernacle then, and particular churches now, which
answer it, are called the house of God.
Let us leam this for our duty, as well as consider our comfort, in that
the chm'ch is the house of God, let us carry ourselves as ive should, decently,
in the house of God. Those that are to look to the house of God, they
should purge out all unclean comers, that God may delight to dwell in his
house still, that we give him no cause to depart out of his house. ' That I
may dwell in the house of the Lord,' d'C.
The act here is, that I ' may dwell in house of the Lord.' He did not
desire to be in it for a day or a Httle time, to salute it, and so leave to it ; but
to ' dwell in the house of the Lord,' and to dwell there for ever. You see
here that Christians have a constant love to the best things, a constant
desire to dwell in the house of God. You may think it a strange desire of
this holy man to dwell in the house of God ; but think then of the con-
tiuuedness of his desire, it was even to heaven itself ; he desired ' to dwell
in the house of God for ever.'
For what end ?
1. I desire to dwell in the house of God, that I may dwell in the love of
God, and in the care of God to me in Christ for ever. I do not desire to
dwell in the house of God, as it is a meeting, and there an end ; but I desii'e
to dwell in the house of God, that I may dwell in the love and care of God,
and not only dwell in his care and love to me, and his care and esteem of
me ; but,
2. That I may dwell in my love to him, that I may ' abide in his love,'
and faith in him ; that I may abide in Christ. It is not only for a man
to abide in the house of God, and go no further than so, but to abide
in the love of God ; and in our love, and care, and faith, and dependence
upon him, to make God our house, to live, and walk, and abide in, ' to
dwell in God,' as St John saith, 1 John iv. 13 ; not only in the house of
God, but God hunself. And the upshot of all his desu-e, was to abide in
heaven for ever. The desires of God's people never rest till they come to
their proper centre, and there they are quiet. There is a rest of all desires
in htaven ; as fii-e, it never rests till it come to its clement above, and
heavy bodies rest not till they come to the centre below. So holy desires,
that are the motion of the soul, they rest not till they come to the centre,
the place of rest. So we must conceive of David's desire to dwell in the
228 A BREATHING AFTTCR GOD.
house of tlie Lord, to dwell in the care, and love, and protection of God
for ever, to dwell in love, and faith, and dependence, and in the whole
stream of my soul for ever while I live ; and then abide in heaven,
where there are * pleasures for evermore,' as he saith in another place,
Ps. xvi. 11.
Therefore when we have any thoughts and desires, while we are here
below, of grace and comfort, &c., let us extend, and stretch our desires to
the last, to heaven itself, where all desires shall be accomplished, where all
promises shall have their full performance. It is a poor thing only to
desire to live in the church militant, and there is an end. No ; here is the
comfort of God's people, that in their prayers and desu'es, and their en-
deavours suitable to their prayers and desires, they all lead them to heaven;
and there they have their full accomplishment. They have a constant desire
to dwell in the house of God.
1. The reason is, because the soul in this world is never fully satisfied
ivith the good things of God's house till it be in heaven. This life is a life of
desires and longing ; the church is but contracted to Christ in this world ;
the marriage shall be consummate in another world. Therefore the church
desires still further and further communion with Christ in his ordinances
here, and for ever in heaven.
2. And then there are remainders of corruptions still, that dead and dull
our performances, and 2nd us on to actions that grieve our sjnrits and the Spirit
of God ; to this end, that we may have a perpetual supply of the Spirit.
We desii'e to dwell in the house of the Lord, because there is corruption in
us still, till grace hath wrought it out fully.
3. There is more and more to ho had still in the house of God. We
never come to be full. The soul it is wondrous capable, being a spiritual
essence. It is capable of more grace and comfort than we can have
in this world. Therefore we pray, ' Thy will be done on earth as
it is in heaven.' A Christian desires to dwell in the house of the
Lord here, till he come to dwell in heaven, till he be translated from the
temple here, to the temple in heaven. InEphes.iv. 11, seq., God hath ordained
a ministry to the edification of the church, not only to constitute the church,
as some think and say, that preaching must constitute a church, and after
praying must edify it. Oh ! let both go together. ' God gave gifts to men,'
to preach, to edify the chm-ch more and more. So long as there is use of
building more and more, so long there is need of the ministry. Therefore
he desired to ' dwell in the house of the Lord.'
4. But the especial reason why he desired it, was because he knew God
rvas cdso present in his own house, and there is no good thing can be u-anting
where God is present. It is the presence of God that makes all things sweet
and comfortable. What makes heaven to be heaven, but because God is
there ? If the soul of a Christian were among angels, angelical comforts
would not be desired, if God were not there. If there were all the delights
in the world, it would not care for them, except God were present. Heaven
were not heaven without the presence of God. The presence of God in a
dungeon, in a lion's den, makes it a paradise, a place of pleasure ; the
presence of God makes all conditions comfortable. If there be not the
presence of God, the greatest comfort in the world is nothing. What
makes the church esteemed of by holy men ? God is present there ; and
wheresoever God is present, in the communion of saints, especially in his
ordinances, we should esteem them by this, that Goil is present. What
makes hell to be hell ? There is no presence of God there; no testi-
A BREATHING AFTER GOD. 229
niony of his presence in liell ; notliinrr but ' utter darkness.' What makes
the life of man comfortable? There is some presence of God in everything.
There is a presence of God in meat, in drink, in friends, that a man may say,
Oh, here is a good God, here is some presence of God. There is not the
vilest reprobate in the world, but he hath some testimony of God's presence.
He tastes of God in somewhat or other; though he see not God in it (but
like a beast is drowned in the use of the creature), yet God shews himself
to him in some comfort. But when God shall remove all his presence from
a man, that is hell itself. What is hell but where there is no presence of
God ? When there is no communion with the chief good, that the fountain
of good is removed, a man is in darkness, and horror, that is hell, as we
see in Dives, Luke xvi. 4, seq. It is the presence of God that makes
things comfortable. That is heaven, to enjoy nearer and nearer communion
with God.
Therefore let us labour to enjoy the presence of God in his ordinances,
that we may have a heaven upon earth, that we may desire still more and
more to dehght in them, till we come to heaven, where all desires shall be
accomplished, and there shall be no more desire. David knowing that God
was present in his church, he saith, ' Oh that I might dwell in the house of
God all the days of my Hfe.'
See the constant disposition of God's children hence. It is a torment to
carnal men to watch one hour with Christ. ' Could you not watch with me
one hour ? ' Mat. xxvi. 40, saith he to his disciples. It is a torment to
give God the hearing ; to sanctify the Lord's day. Alas ! it cannot stand
with then- carnal dispositions. But God's people long, and have a longing
desire. ' One thing have I desired, that I may dwell in the house of the
Lord.' Men that have not depth of grace, they are like comets. They
blaze for a time ; but when they are not fed with vapours from below, there
is a dispartition not long after. But fixed stars are always in the firmament ;
they never vary. So a true Christian is as a fixed star, he is fixed in the
firmament, in his desire. ' One thing have I desired, that I may dwell in
the house of the Lord all the days of my life ; ' and God seconds his desire,
and saith amen to it ; as I shall have occasion to press after, in the use in
the latter part of the verse. ' That I may dwell in the house of the Lord.'
' To behold the beauty of the Lord.'
This was another ground of the eager, constant, unsatisfied desu'e, ' To
dwell in the house of the Lord,' that he might ' see the beauty of the Lord,'
or the delight, the sweetness of God. Beauty is too particular a word to
express the fulness of the Holy Ghost, the pleasantness or the delight of
God. Take the word in a general sense, in your apprehensions. It may
be the object of all senses, inward and outward. Delight is most tran-
scendent for pleasantness ; for indeed God in his ordinances, is not only
beauty to the eye of the soul, but is ointment to the smell, and sweetness
to the taste, and all in all to all the powers of the soul. God in Christ,
therefore, he is delightful and sweet. ' That I may see the beauty of the
Lord.'
In this clause here are discovered these two things, the object and
the act.
There are these two points. That God is beautifid. And this is seen in
his ordinances, and in his church, especially, 'to see the beauty' of God's
house. And it is the happiness of a Christian, and he esteems it so by the
Spirit of God, to see, and to be partaker of this beauty of God. Sight is
put for the more full enjoying, one sense put for another, as indeed sight
230 A BBEATHING AFTER GOD.
is taken for all the senses, inward and outward. It is no benefit to us,
though there be beauty, if we have not eyes to see it, all is lost ; therefore
he desired to dwell in the house of the Lord, that he might ' see the beauty
of the Lord.'
Now, concerning the beauty of God, I will not speak of it at large, or
singly of the excellencies of God. The text aims especially at the beauty
of God, as discovered in his ordinances, in his church. A man may speak
gloriously, and largely of the beauty of God, of his excellency. That his
wisdom is wondrous excellent, and beautiful, that is seen in the ordering of
things, and his power is wonderful beautiful, and his mercy, &c. All this
is true ; but what is all to us, though God be never so beautiful in himself,
if he be not beautiful to us in Christ, and in his church ? Therefore we
will come to that that the holy prophet here aims at, ' The beau-ty of the
Lord ;' that is, God is especially beautiful in his church, in his ordinances,
and that was the ground of his desu-e. Omne pulchrum est amahile, every
beautiful thing is an attractive of love. It is no wonder he desired to dwell
in the house of the Lord, because there was the beauty of the Lord, and the
most excellent beauty of all.
The beauty of the Lord is especially the amiable things of God, which
IS, his mercy and love, that makes all other things beautiful that is in the
chm-ch.
"What makes his power sweet to his children ? and his justice, in con-
founding their enemies, and giving rewards ? and his wisdom sweet, in re-
conciling justice and mercy together wisely in Christ ? All that makes this
so lovely, is his grace and love, that set his wisdom on work, to devise a
way to reconcile justice and mercy by Christ Emmanuel, God and man.
So that that is most beautiful in God is grace ; as you have it, Exod.
xxxiv. 6. When Moses desired to see the glory of God, how doth God de-
scribe himself to Moses ? ' Jehovah, Jehovah strong, gi-acious, merciful,
longsufifering, full of kindness.' So that if we would see the glory of God,
it appears most in grace, and mercy, and lovingkindness, and such sweet
attributes. This makes all things in God amiable ; for now we can think
of his justice, and not fear. It is fully satisfied in Christ. We can
think of his power with comfort. It serves for our good to subdue
all our enemies. There is no atttibute, though it be terrible in itself,
but it is sweet and amiable, because God looks graciously on us in his
beloved.
Now this grace and love and mercy of God shines to us in the face of
Christ as beloved, as I have shewed out of that text, 2 Cor. iii. 18, ' We
all behold the glory of God as in a glass (c), that is, we behold the love of
God in Jesus Christ, in the miiTor of the gospel. We must take God, not
as considered abstractively^:'- and simply, but God in Christ ; for other no-
tions of God are terrible. God will not otherwise be seen by the eje of the
soul, nor otherwise known, than in Christ. Now God in the Messiah is
very delightful in his house. This beauteous grace of God shines in the
ftice of Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. iv. 6. For God is so gracious and merciful, as
that his justice must be fully satisfied, that is, only in Christ ; that being
satisfied, God in Christ looks on us with a gracious look. So that God is
beautiful now in regard of his mercy and grace, as it is revealed in Jesus
Christ, as he looks upon us in the face of his beloved Son. There are
two objects of religious worship. God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
and Christ Mediator. The beauty of both is wondrous in the church,
* That is, ' abstractly.' — G.
A BREATHING AI lER GOD. 231
wondrous towards the church of God, and it is most apparent in the ordi-
nances of God in the church. Christ is ' altogether lovely,' Cant. v. 16. Christ
in whom God is a Father, and reconciled to us ; and now we can sweetly think
of, ' He is altogether lovely, the chief of ten thousand.' The church sets
him out there particularly, his head, his arms, his breasts, his eves. * His
Ups drop myiTh,' Cant. v. 13. She singles out every excellency of Christ,
a,nd dwells upon it in her meditation, and sums up all together, ' Christ is
lovely.' What makes beauty but a mixture of diverse colours ? as we say,
white and red mix together sweetly. Now to see justice and mercy in
Christ so sweetly mixed, what an excellent beauty it makes ! To see the
justice of God fully satisfied, that his mercy might ran amain to us now.
Here is a sea indeed if we should enter into it, to see the love of God, which
is the most beautiful and amiable grace of all ; the love of God in Christ,
and the love of Christ towards us.
Christ was never more lovely to his church than when he was most deformed
for his chui-ch ; * there was no form nor beauty in him,' Isa. liii. 2, when
he hung upon the cross. Oh ! there was a beauty to a guilty soul, to see
his surety enduring the wrath of God, overcoming all his enemies, and
nailing the law to his cross. And that should endear Christ to us above all
things. He should be the dearer to us, the more vile and base he was made
for us, and he should be most lovely in our eyes, when he was least lovely
in his own, and when he was deformed, when our sins were upon him.
"VVe should consider those times especially. The world is most offended at
that, that a Christian most joys in. ' God forbid that I should joy in any-
thing but in the cross of Christ,' Gal. vi. 14, saith St Paul ; so we should
joy in and love that especiallj'' in Christ.
Now this love of God in Christ, and this love of Christ, is expressed to
us in the Scriptures at large ; it is published by the ministry, sealed by the
sacrament. It is too lai'ge an ai'gument for me to wade into. I need but
only give you a touch and taste of it.
Now, that that makes the house of God so beautiful, then, is the love of
God, and the love of Christ shewed and manifested, and the presence of God,
of Christ, and of the Holy Ghost in the church. Take it for the persons ;
God the Father, as he hath revealed himself a Father in Christ, he is
among the people of God in the church, and there is God the Son, and the
Holy Ghost, dispensing graces and comfort there. It is the presence of
the king that makes the com-t, and it is the presence of God in the chm-ch
that makes it so glorious and so excellent as it is. ' Glorious things ai-e
spoken of thee, thou city of God,' Ps. Ixxxvii. 3.
The chm'ch likewise is beautiful in regard of the anrjels, that are alicaij
attending in our assemblies, and see how we carry ourselves. Here is not
only the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost distributing gi-ace and mercy, but
likewise the blessed angels, as pure instruments are in our assemblies.
Therefore in the cm-tains, in the hangings of the ark, there were pictures of
cherubins, to shew that the angels attend about the church, especially the
church gathered together ; for God more respects the church gathered to-
gether than any several member. We are all temples severally, but espe-
cially the church is the temple when it is met together. Now by the
cherubins in the curtains of the tabernacle, was set forth the angels' at-
tendance upon the church. They are servants to do good to the church ;
and they are fellow-students with us. They study the mysteries of salvation,
the beauty of God, the wonderful transcendent love, and grace, and mercy
of God to his church, as it is in 1 Pet. i. 10, 11. ' The angels pry into the
232 A BREATHIXO AFTER GOD.
mysteries of salvation ; ' they are students \Yith us of those blessed mysteries.
Something is revealed to them, some grace and mercy to the church, that
they knew not before experimentally.
And it is beautiful likewise in regard of the church itself. The people of
God themselves are beautiful ; for order is beautiful. Now it is an orderly
thing to see many together to submit themselves to the ordinance of God.
' The glory of a king is in the multitude of subjects,' Prov. xiv. 28 ; and
it is a glorious thing for God to have many subjects meekly meeting to-
gether to attend his pleasure. An army is a beautiful thing, because of the
order, and of the well disposed ranks that are within it. In this regard the
church is beautiful.
That which makes the house of God beautiful more especially, is the
means of salvation : not only God's presence, but the means, solemn and
public prayer, the word and sacraments, and likewise the government, that
should be in purging the church, — all make the church of God beautiful
and lovely. All the ordinances of God in the church of God have a dehght
in th«m to spiritual senses.
1. As for the ordinance of the ivord, it is wondrous delightful, 'sweeter
than the honeycomb,' Ps. xix. 10, especially the ordinance unfolding the
word, the word as it is preached, which is the ' opening of the box.' A
box of sweet ointment, if it be not opened, it casts not a sweet savour all the
house over ; but when the box is opened, the savour comes over all the
house. So the publishing of the word in the ordinance, is the opening of
the box, the lifting up of the brazen serpent. If the serpent were [not]
lift up for the wounded person, he could not behold it. Now [that] Christ
is lift up in the ordinance, every wounded soul may look to Christ. The
preaching of the word, is the lifting up of the banner of Christ's love. As
it is in the Canticles, Christ's love as a banner draws all after him. When
the beauty of Christ is unfolded, it draws the wounded, hungry soul unto
him. The preaching of the word doth that that shews the sweet love of
God in Jesus Christ. This makes the ordinance of the ministry so sweet.
The ordinance of the ministi-y is that that distributes the portion to every
child of God. The ministers of God are stewards, as it were, to distribute
comfort and reproof to whom it belongs. Now where there is a convenient
distributing of the portion to every one, that makes the ordinance of God so
beautiful, when the waters of life are derived from the spring of the
Scriptm-e to every particular man's use. The word, in the application ot
it, is a sweet thing. For good things, the nearer they are brought home,
the more delightful they are. This ordinance of preaching, it lays open the
' riches of Christ.' There may be a great deal of riches wrapped up in a
treasuiy, but this opens the treasury, as St Paul saith, ' to lay open the
unsearchable riches of Christ,' Eph. iii. 8. The ministry of the word is
ordained to lay open the treasure to God's people, that they may know
what riches they have by Christ ; and the end of the ministry is to \^^n the
people's love to Christ. Therefore they come between the bride and bride-
groom to procure the marriage ; therefore they lay open that that procures
\he contract here, and the consummation in heaven ; so to woo for Christ,
md ' beseech them to be reconciled to God,' 2 Cor. v. 20. This is the
end of the ministry. This makes the church of God so beautiful, that it
hath this ordinance in it, to bring God, and Christ, and his people together :
to contract them together. There be rich mines in the Scripture, but they
must be digged up. The ministry serves to dig up those mines. God
hath therefore set apart this calling of the ministry, to shew what belongs
A BREATHING AFTER GOD. 233
to God's people. Thus 3'ou see in this respect, of the ordinance of the
ministry, God is beautiful in his house.
2. Then likewise for the other ordinance, the sacrament, it is a sweet and
delifjhtj'ul thing. There is a wondrous beauty in the sacrament ; for there-
in we taste the love of God, and the love of Christ. That they would
condescend so low, as to seal our faith with the sacrament, to help our souls
by our bodies, by outward things ; to help our souls by that that feeds our
bodies, to teach us what feeds our souls, namely, the death of Christ, as satis-
fying divine justice, — the thinking and digesting of this is wondrous com-
fortable, as any food is to the body, and incomparably more sweet, considering
our continual necessity to relish that spiritual food, and our daily sins and
breaclies, that enforce a daily necessity to relish Christ. That God should
appoint such means, that he should in the sacrament feed us with his own
body and blood. He thought he could not manifest his love enough, unless
he had told us that he would give himself to us, and make over himself
wholly to us : You shall have me, my body and blood; as in the sacrament
we are as verily partakers of the body and blood of Christ, as we are of the
bread and wine. Cm* souls have as much spu'itual growth by Christ, and
his benefits, as our bodies have by the outward elements. He feeds us
with himself ; he esteems and prizeth our souls that are bought with his
blood, so that he thinks no food good enough but his own body and blood.
What a gracious sweet love is this ! He is both the inviter and the banquet,
and all. He invites us to himself.
8. There is a loveliness likewise in all other ordinances that belong to the
church ; as in the good order and government of the church, in purging the
church of offenders ; the discipline that is in the church, which is as the
snuffers in the sanctuary to purge the lights ; so that there should be a
casting out of persons that are openly scandalous. The lights should be
purged, the temple should be cleansed, scandals should be removed, that
God's house might be the more beautiful. They are blemishes of God's
house, open swearers and blasphemers. Those that Uve in scandalous
sins, they are spots in the assembly, they are leaven, and this leaven should
be purged out ; and where there is the vigour of this, there is a great beauty
of the church. "Where these things are looked to as they should be, they
are the bonds, and nerves, and sinews that knit and tie a church together.
It makes a chui-ch wondrous lovely, the neglect of which makes the church
as a garden overgrown. So you see how, in respect of the ordinances of
the word, and of the sacrament, and this government that should be, that
the house of God is a beautiful place.
4. Then again, it is a comfortable, a sweet and delightful thing, the
praises of God. It is a marvellous sweet thing, when all as one man hear
together, pray together, sing together hymns, and spiritual songs, and praise
God together, and receive the sacrament together, all as one man, — what a
comely thing is this to a spiritual eye ! Every Christian hath a beauty
severed in himself ; but when all meet together, this is more excellent. As
we say of the via lactea, or milky way in the heavens (we call it so), it is
nothing but a deal of light fi-om a company of little stars, that makes a
glorious lustre. So if there be a beauty in every poor Christian, what a
beauty is there when all meet together ! A beauty, nay, strength too ,
for the prayer and the praise of such, they offer a holy violence to God,
they can obtain anything at his hands. We see burning glasses, when there
is a confluence, and meeting of divers beams in one point, it strengthens
the heat, and inflames a thing ; so when there ai"e many sweet desires meet
234 A BREATHING AFTER GOD.
together, many strong desires of spiritual things, they bind God, There is
not only beauty but strength in the prayers of the church. They are in
Christ's own esteem comeliness. He loves to see his church, especially when
they are together. ' Let me see thy face, and hear thy voice, thou that hidest
thyself in the clefts of the rock,' Cant. ii. 14. He marvellously desires to
see his children, and to hear them speak, especially when they present
themselves before him. Harmony is a sweet and pleasant thing. The
comparing of the state of the church in former times with the present, is a
harmonious thing. Da\dd, he lived under the Old Testament, and yet he
saw under that the Nev/, so we should see the Old in the New, compare
them together, . to see shadows in substances, types in truths. So that
there is nothing in the church, but it gives special delight.
5. God's beauty likewise appears, his gracious, amiable, sweet beauty,
in his house, his church in regard of the evidences of his love that he hears to
his church, in protecting it, and providing for it. ' They shall not need a
wall,' saith he in Zechariah, ' I will be a wall of fire,' Zech. ii. 5. God
hath a special care of his congregation. ' God dwells in the congregation
of the righteous,' Ps. Ixxxii. 1. He hath his dwelling, his special residence
there, where his name is called on. This will appear more if we see all the
sweet privileges aud comforts that are in the house of God. God is not
only beautiful in himself, but in regard of the privileges that the church
hath from him. For all our beauty and excellency is borrowed. The
church shines in the beams and beauty of Christ. Now these privileges
that the church hath by Christ, to name a few. (1.) We see in the golden
chain of salvation, what sweet, amiable love is in all those Hnks; as what
a wondrous sweet love of God is it. (2.) To call men out of the wilderness of
the world, out of the kingdom of Satan, to be his children ! A marvellous
love to single us out of the rest of mankind to be Christians, and being
Christians, to be professors of the truth, and being so, to be true professors
of the truth. What a wondrous love of God was it to call us, and thereby
to have the eternal purpose of God opened to us. As when we are drawn
to God by his Spirit and by the ministry, then the good pleasure of God,
that was hid from eternity, is discovered to the soul. Here is the amiable
love of God.
(3.) And then in the pardon, and forgiveness of sins, and justification after
— what a wondrous grace is that forgiveness of sins, and adoption to be the
sons and heirs of God, ' fellow-heirs with Jesus Christ,' Eom. viii. 17, and
thereupon to have angels our attendants. What beauty have we in justifi-
cation, to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ; that perfect righteous-
ness, that can answer the justice of God much more Satan's cavils and the
troubles of our own consciences. That that satisfieth the justice of God,
being the righteousness of God-man, it will satisfy conscience, and Satan's
temptations. It is a garment without spot. Satan can pick no hole in
that glorious garment, the righteousness of Christ. If we have the ward-
robe of Christ, we shall be beautiful in that we have from Christ, we shall
shine in his beams.
(4.) So go to sanctifcation. How amiable is God in the privilege of sanc-
tification, to set his image upon us, to make us new creatures, to be like his
Son, that before were like the devils, full of maUce and base affections.
Now for God by his Spirit to frame a new temple for his Spirit to dwell
in, to set his stamp upon us, what a wondrous beauty is this ! The
church of God is the house where God frameth new creatures. There he
sets a stamp upon his creatures.
A BREATHING AFTER GOD. 235
The graces that belong to the church of God are wondrous delight.
* Wisdom makes a man's face to shine,' Eccles. viii. 1 ; and there is no
wisdom out of ihc church. All is but darkness and foil}'. So of all other
graces whatsocw r. Graces are the anointing of the Spirit, the oil of the Spirit.
They make sweet and delightful, delightful to God, and to the church,
and to one another. They are anointed with the oil of gladness and of
grace. It ran fii-st upon Christ's head, upon Aaron's head, but then upon
the skirts, the meanest Chi-istian.
And so the beginning of gloiy here ; for all is not kept for the life to
come. For God distils some drops of glory beforehand. We see the
beauty of God here, marvellously even in this world, in regard of the be-
ginning of glory. For upon justification, and the beginning of holiness
wi'ought in our natm-e by the Spirit, we have inward peace of conscience,
and joy and comfort in all discomforts whatsoever. We have not only the
oil of gi-ace, but the oil of comfort. Oh ! the comfort of the children of
God, that are members of the churchj that are so in the church, that they
are of the church too, that are of the church visible, so as they are of the
church invisible. Oh ! the comfort that belongs to them, all the comfort
in God's book. So you see the v^^ondi'ous sweet prerogatives and privileges
we have in all the passages of salvation in the house of God, and in God
reconciled in Jesus Christ.
Nay, God is so lovely to those that are his, his church and people, he is
so good to Israel, that he makes everything good to them in the issue.
* All things work for the best to them that love God,' Kom. viii. 28, in the
issue. He makes a covenant between eveiything. So that all the en-
deavours of Satan and his instruments, all then- plottings, shall turn for
the good of the church. When they think to do most hurt, they do most
good ; so sweet, and good, and gracious is God.
Indeed, 'glorious things are spoken,' Ps. Ixxxvii. 3, of the people of God.
Take the chui-ch for a visible congi-egation, a mixed congregation ; glorious
things are spoken of that. It is the house of God. Take it as visible, ' the
vessels of honour and dishonour,' 2 Tim. ii. 20, and the field, the ' tares and the
wheat,' Mat. xiii. 1, seq., it is God's field. Though we take the church as
visible, it hath a glorious name for the good that is in it, specially for the
wheat. But take the church of God for the company of his children that are
gathered by the means dwelling in the visible church, enjoying the visible
means : so they are the house and temple of Christ, the ' temple of the Holy
Ghost, the body of Christ, the spouse of Chi-ist.' They are God's delight,
they are spiritual kings and priests, &c. The most glorious things that
can be, all other excellencies in the world, are but titular things, mere
shadows of things. There is some little reality, but it is nothing in com-
parison, it is scarce worth the name of reaUty, but Solomon calls them ' vanity
of vanities.' In comparison of the excellencies of the church all is nothing.
I might be large in these particulars. It is enough to give you the gene-
rals of the dehghts and excellencies of God's house, ' the beauty of the
Lord.' We see amiableness of God in Christ, in his ordinances, the pri-
vileges that we have in the ordinances, graces, and comforts. Indeed the
church of God, beloved, is a paradise. Since we were cast out of the fii'st
paradise, this second paradise is the church of God, and the thii-d is heaven
itself. This paradise, this chm-ch, it is the seminaij* of young plants,
that must be transplanted hence to heaven in due time. In paradise there
was the tree of life, Gen. iii. 22 ; in the church, there is the tree of life,
* Tliat is, ' seed- plot.' — G.
236 A SEEATHING AFTER GOD.
Chi'ist. In paradise there was waters, streams, the rivers of paradise,
Gen. ii. 10 ; so there ' is a river that makes glad the city of God,' Ps. xlvi.
4, streams of grace and comfort that run through the church of God.
In the church we are as plants by the rivers of waters, that bring forth
fruit in due season, as it is in Ps. i. 3, seq. Speaking of blessed men that
live in the church, ' Blessed is the man that meditates in the word day and
night,' that attends upon the ordinances. He is ' planted as a tree by the
waters' side,' his leaf is alway green. What food to that food that is mi-
nistered to us in the word, and sacraments — Christ himself to feed us to
life eternal ! And what raiment to the raiment of justification ; for Christ
to clothe these poor souls of ours, poor, naked, beggarly souls ! What
riches to the riches of God's graces and comforts ! What strength to that
that is in the church, to overcome our own corruptions and lusts ! What
beauty to'the image of God shining and stamped on his children ! What
company so sweet, as those that we meet with in the earth, in good exercises,
and that we shall live ever with in heaven ! What company to God the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and the angels, that we enjoy in the church!
What discourse so sweet, as that of God, hearing him speak in his word,
and us speaking to him by prayer, so that it is a resemblance of heaven
upon earth, the church of God !
Therefore we should be in love with the beauty of God's temple and
sanctuary. And the rather because all things now in this age of the church
wherein we live are in a more glorious manner than in David's time.
David when he saw the beauty of God's sanctuary, it was but in a shadow ;
and when he looked upon the mercy-seat, then he did think of Christ, the
true propitiatory, the true mercy- seat. When he looked on the high
priest, he thought on Christ the true high priest. When he thought of
Canaan, it put him in mind of heaven, whereof Canaan was a type. When
he saw the sacrifices, he thought of the true sacrifice for our sins, Christ.
When he thought of the oblations and incense, he thought of the sacrifice
of thankfulness. When he thought of the passover, he thought of Christ
the true passover, whose blood is sprinkled on our souls, that the destroy-
ing angel hath nothing to do with us. He saw all in shadows ; we see
them naked. So our condition is more glorious in this latter age of
the church, than it was in David's time. Therefore our desu-es should be
more stirred up; for instead of the shadow we have the substance. Then the
Spirit was but dropped, but the Father hath poured out the Spirit since
Christ's time. Then the pale of the church was straitened, now it is en-
larged. Then there was but one church, the national church of the Jews.
Then the service of God was wondrous burdensome, and chargeable, but
it is not so now. So that there be many difierences. All things are more
lightsome and clear now than they were then. Therefore having many
things to commend the frequenting of the congregation more than David
had in his time, we should much more make this one thing our desire ' to
dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of om- life, to beJiohl the beauty
of the Lord.'
Quest. If this be so, that there is such a beauty in the house of God,
then what shall we think of those that see no such beauty at all, that see
no such dehght and contentment in the house of God ?
Ans. I answer, it is a discovery to them, if they would think of it, that
they have vo spiritual senses at all; as St Austin saith of men that com-
plain, that they do not taste and relish these things. Surely, saith he,
thou wantest a spiritual palate to taste these things. What do swine care
A BKEATHING AFTER GOD. 237
for sweet marjoram or roses ? They care more for a dunghill or a puddle.
What do your base filthy swine in men's shape care for these things ? They
care more for pleasures and such things, that they may spend their lives
as beasts. Now when we speak of the delights, and dainties, and excel-
lencies of God's house, we speak to those that we wish, and we hope have
spiritual senses answerable to these things. Every creature delights in its
proper clement. These things are the element of a Christian. Beetles
delight in dirt, and swine in mire, the fish in the sea, man hath his element
here, and spiritual things are the element of a Christian, so far as he is a
Christian, and that is his uhi, the place that he delights in. I speak to
such. They can make it good in some measure, that ' one day in the house
of God is better than a thousand elsewhere,' Ps. Ixxxiv. 10, that one hour
in the unfolding the sweet mysteries of salvation, it is worth twenty-four
hours in other emplo3^ment ; and they are so taken with the sweetness, that
they are content that God should take them out of the world, in the un-
folding of these sweet things. When they hear the promises of salvation
opened, though by a poor weak man, yet when it is in the ministry, it so
ravisheth their hearts, that they are content to go to heaven at the same
time ; it so convinceth them of the excellency of religion. I speak to such
of the beauty of God.
Now David here, he desires to behold God's beauty, to see or consider
this excellency of God in his church, for to true delight these things must
concur. There must be something sweet in the thing itself. There must
be a power in the soul to apprehend it. There must be an affection in the
soi\l to that good thing. If the afiection be flat, though there be never so
beautiful and sweet things, and a power to apprehend them, if there be not
afiection, they are nothing ; and then, upon the afiection, there must be
complacency and contentment in the thing when we have it. All these
things are in delight from that that is beautiful and pleasant, David desired
to see. He knew there was a beauty in the presence of God in his ordi-
nances and gifts and graces ; but he desired to see and to contemplate
these things, that the faculties and powers of his soul might be answerable
to the things, that as they were excellent, so he might have a power in his soul
answerable. And then he had afi'ections to carry that power of his soul to
the things, ' One thing have I desired.' And then there was a complacency
and delight in the things, upon enjoining,* answerable, as we see how he ex-
pressed his delight when he danced before the ark. We see what a psalm
he made when he did but pui"j)ose ' to build the temple,' Ps. cxxxii. Ho
had a wondrous joy. So answerable to our delights is our joy and com-
placency in the thing when we have it.
Now that he might have the sweeter complacenc}', he desired to see the
beauty and the things in God's house. Of all senses, sight hath this pro-
perty above the rest (as it is more spiritual, more refined, and more
capable ; a man may see many things at once, it is a quick sense ; so), it
hath this privilege, it stirs afi'ections more than any sense, more than hear-
ing, that is a more dull sense. Things stir afi'ections more that are seen,
than by that we hear. He desired therefore to see the beauty of God's
house, that he might be enamoured. Of sight comes love.
David had spiritual eyes, and he desired to feed his spiritual eye-sight
with the best object that could be, for therein is the happiness of man.
'^^^lerein stands a man's happiness ? "WTien there is a concun-ence of the
most excellent object, with the most excellent power and faculty of tho
* Qu. ' enjoying? ' — Ed.
238 A BEEATHING AFTEK GOD.
soul, with deligM and content in it. Now lie desired to see the beauty of
God in his house, that his soul might be ravished in the excellency of the
object, and that the highest powers of his soul, his understanding, will, and
affections might be fully satisfied, that he might have full contentment.
Since the fall, all our happiness is out of om-selves, it is derived from
God in Christ ; and it is taken out of the promises of God in the word.
For God will be seen in Christ, and God and Christ will be seen in the
glass of the ordinances till we come to heaven, and there we shall see ' face
to face,' 1 Cor. xiii. 12. So that now all our happiness is fetched by look-
ing on the love of God, out of om*selves, fetched out of the ordinances.
David desired to see the beauty of God. God's love is diffusive. It spreads
and communicates itself to his church in the ordinances. Thus he, know-
ing, desired more and more to communicate of this diffusive, abundant,
transcendent love of God.
Quest. But how shall we come to have these desires that David had, to
see the beauty of God ?
Aiis. In a word — we must have sphitxial senses. The spiritual life of a
Christian is furnished with spiiitual senses. He hath a spiritual eye and a
spiritual taste to relish spiritual things, and a spiritual ear to judge of holy
things, and a spiritual feeling. As every life, so this excellent life hath
senses and motion suitable to it. Now we should labour to have this
spiritual life quickened in us, that we may have a quick sight of heavenly
things ; and a taste of heavenly things, that we may smell the ointment of
Christ. 'For the sweetness of thy ointments the virgins run after thee,'
Cant. i. 3. The soul hath senses answerable to the body, let us desire God
to cleanse all our senses, and to reveal himself in Christ more and more in the
ordinances.
This St Paul calleth the ' Spirit of revelation,' Eph. i. 17. Let us praji
to God that in his ordinances he would discover that amiable love of his in
Christ, to shine on us in the face of his Son, in his ordinances ; for the
Spirit must help us to see the beauty of God. When we have spiritual
senses, except the Spirit give us a spiritual Ught to see, we cannot see.
Therefore let us desire that God would give us spiritual senses, to the
spiritual light.
When God made the world, light was the first creature. Why ? That
all the excellency of the creature might be discerned by light. If God had
made never so many excellent creatures, if the light had not discovered
them, where had been his glory '? So there are many excellent, beautiful
things in Christ, wonderful grace and comfort ; if these be discovered in
the word and we have no senses, and no light, if there be not light in the
understanding, God shall want his glory, and we the comfort.
It is light that makes things that are beautiful to be beautiful to us. A
blind man cannot judge of colours, nor a deaf man of sounds and harmony.
A man that hath lost his taste cannot judge of sweetness, so that there
must be senses, and the Spuit of God must reveal these things unto us.
And likewise let us labour more and more to see our own deformity, and
then we shall see Christ's beauty, the more ice desire to know our own vilcness.
Indeed the Spirit of God carries these parallel one with another. He dis-
covers by the same light our own deformity and necessity, and the beauty and
excellency of God in Jesus Christ. The one will set an edge on the other, and
he that will come to see the height and breadth, and depth of God's love in
Christ, must see the height, and breadth, and depth of his own corruption,
and our misery by it out of Christ. And thev are good thoughts for us.
A BREATHING AFTER GOD. 239
every day to think of these two objects, the misery of the condition of man
out of Chiist, and the excellency now that we have in Jesus Christ ; the
amiableness of Christ towards us, and our amiable condition in him. He
delights in us, as we delight in him. The consideration of this, and of
the loathsome, terrible, fearful condition out of him, will keep us closer to
Christ, and make us value the ordinances more, that we may grow up in
faith and knowledge of Chiist more and more, till we come to a fulness in
Christ.
And present to the eye of our souls, God in Christ in the relations he
hath taken upon him, to be a Father in Christ. Let us make that benefit
of this beauty that is presented to us in the gospel, especially when it is un-
folded in the ministry, because Satan hath a special policy to present God
and Christ otherwise to us. Especially in the time of temptation, he presents
God as a judge, sitting upon his throne, and God as a ' consuming fire,'
Heb. xii. 29. It is true he is so out of Christ, but in him he hath taken the
relation of a father, and looketh on us sweetly in the relation of sons.
Christ must be considered in the sweet relation of a Saviour, and the Holy
Ghost in the sweet relation of a comforter ; and the word is all written for
our comfort, if we believe, and the sacraments feed us to eternal life. Let
ns represent these things beautifully to the soul, and this will strengthen
faith, and cherish afiection, that Satan shall not rob us of our comfort, nor
say to us, what do you, ye unclean persons, loathsome creatures, what do
you come to the sacrament, and come to the holy things of God ? It is
true, if we mean to be so still, but as soon as ever the desire of our souls is
to come to God, and that there is a divorce between us and our sins, and we
desire to leave them, let us have all the sv^eet conceits of God that maybe.
We see in Revelations, Laodicea was lukewarm, and that is a hateful tem-
per. * Behold,' saith he, ' I stand and knock, if any man open to me, I
will come, and sup with them,' Rev. iii. 20. A strange love, to come to
them that were in such a lukewarm estate. He was ready to cast them
out. His stomach was loaden mth them. ' I stand at the door and
knock,' 3'et if any of you lukewann professors vrill open, I will come and
6up with him, and refresh him with the refreshings of God. So in Cant, v.,
when the chm-ch shghted Christ and offended him, yet he woos his church.
' My locks are wet with the dev\^ of the night,' Cant. v. 2. Oh ! marvellous
patience, that notwithstanding her lukewarmness and neglect, yet Christ
gives not over ! Let us not entertain hard conceits of God in Christ, but
labour to present them sweetly to our meditations.
This is the wisdom of a Christian, to have sights of faith, that is, to pre-
isent several things that faith may work on to strengthen itself, as for faith
to have a sight of God in Christ, a gracious Father ; and to have a spiritual
sight of Christ sending ambassadors wooing and beseeching us to be re-
conciled ; and a sight of the joys of heaven, that we shall have full posses-
sion of after. Let us think of them, and present them to om- souls ; and
present to our souls by meditation, the excellency, and royalty, and prero-
gative of God's children, that they are the most excellent people in the
world. These sights that faith helps itself b}', are an excellent means to
make us in love with the beauty of God's house. But to answer two or
thi'ee objections briefly before I proceed to more particulars.
Ohj. Some will object, what need we now in these glorious times of the
church stand upon the ordinances so much? Indeed in darker times there
was more need, &c.
Alls. I will not be large, but to answer in a word. The more Gud dis-
240 A BREATHING AFTER GOD.
covers himself, and his excellent things here, the more ice should eoqvess our
thankfulness in labouring to grow in knowledge ; for there is such a breadth
in them, that we can never have enough of them, and there is such a daily
exigence of spiritual things, of comforts and graces, that are all conveyed in
the use of means, that a Christian cannot bo without them ; he can no more
be without the use of the ordinances than he can without his daily
food.
Olij. Oh ! but what need we be so eager and earnest after these things
as some are ? Is not now and then enough ?
Ans. Are we better than David? See how earnest he was, Ps.
Ixxxiv. and Ps. xlii. ' As the hart panteth after the rivers of water, so my
soul thirsteth after thee, 0 God,' Ps. xlii. 1, Ixxiv. 2. For there is a
presence of God in his ordinances that other men are not sensible of.
There is a presence to their spirits that they feel that they marvellously
love, and are affected with. And if they want the presence of God, as
David here, they are wondrously discouraged. As good Nehemiah, when
he heard it went not well with the church, he gi'ew sad; and David, we see
how he takes it here when he was banished, as it were, from the house and
ordinances of God. But I will not stand long upon these objections.
Obj. Some think they may as well read at home good books and sermons,
and not come to the ordinances.
Ans. But David loved the ordinances ; he loved the j)lace. Might not he
think of what he heard before ? might not he have help of the prophets ?
Oh ! but there is a blessing in the very meeting, ' Where two or three are
met together, I will be in the midst of them,' Mat. xviii. 20. And Christ
walks in the midst ' of the golden candlesticks,' Kev. i. 12. There is a
more powerful, gracious presence in the very assemblies of God's people.
Put case thou mayest do much good in private, with contempt of the public
ordinance ; it is a cursed study. Like manna that did stink when it was
gathered out of season. When it was gathered when it should not, it
putrefied. There is a curse upon that study, and upon that knowledge
that we get when we should attend upon the public means. For it is
not knowledge that will bring to heaven, for the devil hath that, but it is
knowledge sanctified, seizing upon the affections. Now, what is it that
maketh us good ? The Spirit working with the ordinance ; and will the
Spirit work when we neglect the ordinance ? It is but a pretence. They
spend their time otherwise, it is to be feared not so well. But put the case
they should, there never comes good of it. It may enrich them in know-
ledge to grow more devilish ; but more holy they cannot be, for holiness
comes from the Spirit, and the Spirit will work by his own ordinances. So
much for that, and of all other objections in regard of the beauty of God.
I will not raise any objections, but only answer those that commonly
popish spirits trouble some withal. I will answer, I say, some of them
briefly.
Obj. They trouble us about our churches. Indeed, if your particular
churches were churches of God, if you could make that good, then you
might delight in them, but you are heretics and schismatics ; your churches
are not good churches. Thus they trouble good Christians that are of the
simpler sort; especially with this, where was your church a hundred years
ago ? before Luther's time ? (d) Your church is an upstart, and your con-
gregations are nothing but a meeting of a company of heretics together.^
* Tlie commonplaces of the popish controversy. Consult Faber's ' Difficulties of
Eomanism.' — G.
▲ BREATHING AFTER GOL 2il
Avs. Beloved, that that makes a church to be a catholic church., to he a
brunch of the catholic church, -which we beheve in the creed, it is the
catholic faith. The faith and truth that is the seed of the church, it is be-
gotten of the word of God. Wheresoever the word, the cathohc truth of
God, is, there is the church, a branch of the catholic church. Now our
faith that we believe hath consanguinity with the first churches ; for what
do we believe, but it is fetched out of the Testament, and from the primi-
tive church ? And indeed in their own confession, if they would be modest,
that might be extorted from them, that we are more catholic, and our
doctrine is more cathohc than theirs. Why ? For that that agrees with
the ancient trath, ' and faith once given,' as St Jude saith, ver. 3, it runs
through all ages ; and that wherein we agree with them is more agreeable
and catholic than that they hold severed fi'om us. It is more catholic in regard
of all times, before Christ, and in Christ's time, and in the apostles' times ;
and that that the papists themselves hold with us, is more cathohc than that
they hold severed. Now wherein they differ from us, and we account them
heretics, they differ fi'om the Scriptm-es, and from the chm'ch sis hundred
years after Christ ; and many of them are of late standing. Therefore in
those tenets of ours we agree with the papists, and with the primitive
church. W^hat do we hold but they hold? But they add traditions that are
pernicious. We hold the Scriptures. They hold that, and traditions too.
We hold two sacraments. They add five more. We hold Christ to be
the Mediator. They make saints mediators too. Whatsoever we hold
they hold, but they add their own patcheries* to them. Therefore our
doctrine is more catholic, because we have the evidence of Scripture for all
ours, and we have them to justify om's ; and wherein they differ from us,
they have neither Scripture nor antiquity ; but they are only a company, a
mass of things of their own. But I will not be much in this point. And
then, say they, where was your church before Luther's time, and two
hundred years ago ? Where was it ? Where their church was. Our
church was amongst them, in the midst of them. Witness their fire and
inquisition, and persecution ! They found out oui* church well enough.
But to make it a little clearer. The church of God, take it in general
for good and bad in it, and for the means of salvation that they had in
some measm'e, it may be called a kind of visible church, though veiy cor-
ruptly ; and so considered, our church, those that possessed our rehgion,
was the best of that chm'ch in the declining times of it. As in a lump of
gold that is not yet refined to bullion there is gold, and a gi'eat deal of
earth: take it in the whole, we say it is gold; but when it is refined to bul-
lion, we say it is gold severed. Now our chm'ch in the midst of popery
was as gold in the midst of earth unrefined ; that is, there weref many Romish
Churches, and ours was in the midst of them, the temple in the midst of
the court ; that is, the tnie church in the visible chmxh. There were a great
company that held the tenets of the gospel, especially at the hom-s of death,
that denied popery. But then there were some that were refined as bullion
after, as the Waldenses,^ that were a severed company of people, besides
other holy men and women that gi'ew up b}' hearing somewhat of Christ
in their sermons, and somewhat in the sacrament. They left out that that
was bad, and took that that was good. Besides the lump of gold, there was
some refined gold, when popery was in its perfection ; and those they
termed Waldenses, and the like. There was alway a company that held the
* That is, ' patchwork,' = additions. — G. f Misprinted ' was.' — G.
X Consult Stanley Faber's 'Waldenses and Albigenses' — able and trustworthy. — Q.
VOL. II. o
242 A BKEATHING AFTER GOD.
truth against them. I am sorry to mention these things, in a point tend-
ing more to edification. Our churches therefore are refined churches, that
is, gold singled out of the dross of popery. They are a corrupt, and our
church a refined, a visible congregation.
Now to cut off these objections, to come nearer to ourselves, to make
good our particular congregations, and to shew that of necessity we ought
to frequent them, and to take heed of all objections that the devil and the
flesh may make to bring us out of love with our particular congregations,
know therefore these three or four rules in a word.
First, that there hath been a church from the beginning qf the world, where
God hath been xvorshipped. Christ is a King, and he must have a kingdom.
To believe a catholic church is an article of our faith, and there cannot be
an act without an object. I have faith, I believe a visible church, therefore
there must be a church. So that there hath been a chm-ch from the be-
ginning of the world. It is an article of our faith. *
Secondly, the mark whereby this church is known is esjjecially the truth
of God. That is the seed of the church, the truth of God discovered by
his word and ordinance. To which is annexed the sacraments and ecclesi-
astical government ; but the former most necessary. And these three were
typified in the ark ; for there was the law signifying the word, and the pot
of manna signifying the sacrament, and the rod to shew the discipline.
Those three were, as it were, types of the three marks of the church. But
especially the word. For that is the seed of the new birth. Wheresoever
the word hath been published, and there hath been an order of teachers,
and people submitting themselves, there is a church, though perhaps there
might be some weakness in other regards. A man is a man though he
want the ornaments of a man ; and a city without walls is a city. Put case
there might be some wealmess in some things, yet as long as the vitals of
the church remain it is a church.
The third thing that I observe, to clear this point, to hasten to things of
more edification, is this, abuse takes not aivay the use. A neglectful use or
abuse takes not away the true use of things. Put case the Scripture be
abused many ways, that the sacraments have many additions, that these
things are not so pure ; yet it takes not away the just use ; for then we
take away the cause of things. Then the conclusion of all is this, that of
necessity, notwithstanding somewhat may be found fault with in all visible
chm-ches, some errors there may be ; yet we ought to cleave to a visible
church, because it hath been alway, and we ought to know it by these
marks. If the word of God be taught there, then of necessity we must
cleave to it. ' God added to the chm-ch such as should be saved,' Acts ii.
47, to the visible church. Those that are saved must be saved in submis-
sion to the visible church. But these things I list notf to be large in.
This may give satisfaction.
Use 1. If this be so, that we ought to submit to the ordinance of God in
the visible church, to come into the ark as it were (the visible church is callerl
the ark), or else we must be drowned and ■perish, ivhat shall we think then of
those that are cast out of the ch urch by excommunication (but that is for their good) ?
But their case is very ill, because they are cut ofi"from the house and beauty
of God. Their case is miserable. But it is worse with those that depart out
of themselves, as apostates, &c. Some are cast out, some are apostates and
go out. They fall away from the church of God to the Romish strumpet,
* Consult Pearson, and also John Smith, in loc. — G.
t That is. ' choose not.' — G.
A BREATHING AFTER GOD. 243
to Babylon ; bcinj,' Jazzlrcl with the pomp of that church, not seeing the
spiritual beauty ot" the ordinances of God with us. What think we of those
that ought to join with visible congregations, that excommunicato them-
selves -willingly, such as schismatics, and such profane separatists, that
when they may, will not ; partly because they will not have their con-
sciences awaked, and partly because they will give liberty to the ftesh to
other things at that time. Some are cast out, and some go out, some ex-
communicate themselves. They ai'e of the disposition of the devils, that
will not be ' tormented before their time,' Mat. viii. 29. They think they
shall hear somewhat that will awake their conscience, and they are very
unwilling to have conscience awaked, but they will have all their torment
at once. All these are in a woeful condition. If the gracious presence of
God be in the church above all other places in the world (as we see David
desired ' to dwell in the house of God, that he might see the beauty of God')
if there be a beauty in the divine ordinances, how miserable are those
that are cast out, or that go out ! that rent themselves from the chm'ch, or
willingly excommunicate themselves like wild creatures ? They are worse
than Cain. He grieved when he was to depart the presence of God. He
fell into a desperate temper. They are worse than he, that when they
have the hberty of the ordinances of God, they go on in a wild licentious
course, and neglect all means that God hath sanctified to bring them to
heaven.
Use 2. But to come nearer, to make an use of trial, how shall ice know
whether we have benefit by, and whether ive he trubj in love with, the beautij of
God's house or no, because many come hither ? As in Noah's ark there were
beasts that were clean and unclean, so there are many that come to the
visible congregations ; they are in the church (as excrements are in the
body), but they are not of it.
To know therefore whether we come to purpose, and heartily love the
beauty of God in his ordinances, and comforts and gi-aces, as David did
here or no, we may know it easily, for sight, as I said before, it ivorhs
affection. "We may know by om' affection whether we see the excellency of
God or no in his ordinances. There is no sense that stii's up affection
answerable to sight ; the affection of love especially.
How shall we know that we love the ordinances of God ?
That is an affection that of all others is least to be concealed. "What we
love we will boldly profess ; we will joy and delight in it if we have it. You
see how David joyed in the ordinance of God, how he danced before the
ark. There was no joy that he had comparable. He preferred it before
all other joy that he had whatsoever. It was a transcendent joy. And
what we love and delight in we meditate much on. ' Oh how I love thy
law ! my meditation is on it continually,' Ps. cxix. 97. Om- minds \vill
run on it. Therefore we are exhorted to think of the word of God, to have
it before our eyes, to have it written before us in our courses, that we may
meditate upon it at home and abroad. Moses he gave those helps. ^Vhere
there is love there is meditation. Those that love the good things of God,
their minds wiU be often on them.
Again, there will be zeal for the holy things of God. A man will not
endure them to be disgraced, but he will have a good word to speak in the de-
fence of God's ordinances, of holy things and rehgion. Those that suffer
religion to be betrayed in the company of base carnal people, they have
never seen the beauty of God's house ; [they] that have not a word to say.
Those that have seen God's beauty, and felt the comfort of the delights of
244 A BREATHING AFTER GOD.
God's house, they are able to justify it against all opposers whatsoever,
that there is good to be taken and done there, by their own experience, by
the comfort they have felt. They will be able to tell others what ' the Lord
hath done for their souls,' Ps. Ixvi. 16, and in their souls, what graces they
have been strengthened in, what comfort they have felt. They can dis-
cover this, and can justify all the ordinances of God from their own ex-
perience. Do not we see daily under the ordinance of God by weak men,
the blind see, the spiritually deaf hear, the spiritually dumb be able to
speak, to pray to God ; the dead, those that are dead in sin, they receive
life. Do not all these justify the excellency of God's ordinance, which gives
spiritual life, and spiritual senses ? Those therefore that have been dead
in former time in sinful courses, and have found the power of God's Spirit
with his ordinances, they are able to justify it. Those that are not able to
justify these things by some experience, they never felt any good by them.
By these and the like evidences, we may try the truth of our affection,
whether we have seen this beauty or no to purpose.
Quest. If we find that we have little comfort and strength by the word of
God, that we have not seen the beauty of it, what shall we do, what course
shall we take ?
Am. 1. Wait still. Wait still at the pool for the angel's stirring, John
V. 4 ; for God at length will discover his power by his Spirit ; he will dis-
cover his goodness, if not at the first, yet at length. Therefore let us use
all sanctified means. And know this for a rule, that God's Spirit is an ex-
cellent worker. He will only work by his own instruments.
2. And come to the ordinances icith a spirit of faith, because they are God's
ordinances. God will discover himself in some excellency or other; he will
discover some comfort and gi'ace, somewhat that is useful to our souls to build
us up to eternal life. Let us come with a particular faith that he will do so.
Faith must answer God's promise. God hath promised, ' where two or
three are met together in his name, he will be in the midst of them.' He
hath made a promise to bless all his ordinances. Therefore let our par-
ticular faith answer God's ordinances. Lox'd, I go to thy house to hear
thy word, to receive thy sacrament in thy fear, in reverence of thy majesty,
and in a spirit of faith, I expect thee to make good thy own ordinance.
This brings a marvellous efficacy with it. If we go with a particular faith,
know that God will be as good as his word. This course we must take to
see the beauty of the Lord.
3. And then, as I said before, often let our thoughts he iqwn these spiritual
excellencies. Let us balance and weigh things in our thoughts. Love comes
from judgment, love comes from an esteem of things, of the goodness of
things, and that comes from a right judgment. Let us therefore labour to
have a right judgment of things to be as they are. Solomon was the wisest
man, next to him that was God-man, that ever was, and he knew what
spiritual things were, and what all other things in the world were, and what
verdict doth he give ? This is the whole man, ' to fear God and keep his
commandments, Eccl. xii. 13. And how doth he commend wisdom in Prov.
viii. 1, seq. All precious things are nothing in comparison of the wisdom
of God's word. But what saith he of other things ? He that had run
through all things by experience, and thought to extract the quintessence of all
that the creature could give, he saith they were but ' vanity and vexation
of spirit,' Eccles. i. 2 ; trust my experience. Therefore let us be able to
lay in the balance the good that we got or may get by the blessed ordi-
nances of God, with other things whatsoever. Oh iJae beautv and excel-
A BREATHING AFTER GOD. 245
lency of spiritual things, it is above all other beauty whatsoever ! Alas !
what is outward beauty ? it is but a lump of well-coloured earth.* What is
gold, and all the lustre of it ? It is but earth refined. And what are all
honours and goodly delights that way ? It is but a puflf of smoke, it is
nothing ; in one word, it is vanity, and expei'ience proves this every day.
Oh ! but the ' word of the Lord endureth for ever,' 1 Pet. i. 25, that is,
the comforts, and the privileges that we have by the word of God, they
endure for ever ; and then more especially the comfort of them when out-
ward comforts fail most, even upon our deathbed. When conscience is
awakened then, and hath presented to it the former life, and the guilt of
many sins, what will comfort a man then ? his goodly apparel, or his
goodly featm-e, or his great place and honour? (Perhaps these will increase
his grief as they have been instruments of sin.) Oh no ; this will do him
good. Such a comfort I heard in such a sermon ; such good things I heard
read, and such good things come to my mind ; such experience I have of
God's Spirit working at such and such a time; these mil testify that God's
Spu-it went with his ordinance to fasten somewhat on my soul, and they
will comfort when nothing else will.
Let us oft compare all other things with the beauty of God, and his
ordinances, as if all were nothing to them. Thus holy Moses, he saw a
beauty and a glory in the despised people of God that made brick ; he saw
they were the people that God set his delight on, and that the church of
God was there. When ho saw that, he despised all the glorj' of Pharaoh's
court, and accounted the worst thing in religion, ' the reproach and shame,'
better than all the pleasm-es of sin, Heb. xi. 23. Beloved, the bitterest
things in the ordinance of God are better than any worldly thing. What
is the bitterest thing in the ordinance of God ? Reproofs ! They are as
precious balm. If the ordinance of God meet with our particular sins, and
tell us, and discover to us what an enemy it is, that it will be the bane of
our souls if we live in it, and it send us away to look to ourselves, this wiU
be as a precious balm ; our souls will come to be saved by it. And if for
religion we suller reproach and shame, it will be as a crown, as holy Moses
accounted the reproach of Christ better than the treasures of Egypt, Heb.
xi. 2G. If the worst and bitterest things in God's ordinance be so sweet,
what are the best things of all ? The comforts of rehgion. What is the
peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost, and eternal glory in heaven ?
What are the excellencies of religion, when the shame and disgrace are to
be preferred before all other things whatsoever ?
So blessed St Paul, he weighed things after this fashion. He was an excellent
man, and had excellent privileges to glory in. Oh but, saith he, I account
all ' dung and dross ' in comparison of the excellent knowledge of Christ that
he had, Phil. iii. 8. Our blessed Saviour, that was the most able of all to
judge, he would have all ' sold for the pearl,' that is, for the field where the
pearl is (e), to buy that, to get the ordinances of God. He accounts him a
wise man that will sell all for that. And when Martha and Mary enter-
tained him, Mary sat at his feet to hear him expound the truth of God ;
' she chose the better part,' Luke x. 42, saith Chi'ist. If we will believe
him * in whom all the treasures of wisdom are,' in his judgment, ' Mary
chose the better part ; ' ' One thing is necessaiy,' saith he. He justified
David's choice, * One thing have I desired;' and saith Christ, 'One thing is
necessary.' All things in comparison of that are not necessary ; they
may well enough be spared. Thus we see how we may come to love God
♦ Seo note a, vol. I., p. 31.— G.
246 A BREATHING AFTER GOD.
in his ordinances, and to see the * beauty of hoUness,' the beauty of God
in his sanctuary.
4. And because there are two things needful to see a beauty, an object re-
vealed, and a sight, let us desire God to reveal himself hi his ordinances to us
more and more, and desire him to give us spiritual eyes more and more to
see him. Sometimes he hides himself in his ordinances, that we cannot see
the beauty of things. Let us therefore desire him to reveal himself, to take
away that veil that is between us and holy things, and between us and
grace, and comfort, that he would take away that spiritual veil, and reveal
himself to us, and shine on us in Christ, that he would manifest his love to
us, and give us spiritual eyes to see him.
Prayer is an excellent means before we come ; and when we are there,
and oft in attending on the ordinances, let us lift up our hearts to God to
reveal his truths to us.
There are many veils between us and holy things. Let us desire God
to take them all away — of error, and ignorance, and unbelief — and to shine
so clearly to us by his Spirit, that we may see him more clearly. And ob-
jects have a special influence when they are clearly discerned. Now a man
may more clearly see and feel God at peace with him by the Spirit, and
clearly see and feel the comfort of forgiveness of sins, and of any promise
that is unfolded ; and it hath a marvellous influence upon the afi'ections,
to comfort and to breed peace and joy. And that is one sign that we profit
by the ordinance of God, when it is so with us ; when we find an influence
from the things, upon our daily prayers, to work peace and comfort, and
spiritual strength against temptations and corruptions. All in the ordi-
nance is by the power of the Spirit. Therefore we are to pray to God that
he would join his Holy Spirit, that he would reveal his secrets to us, and
with revelation work an influence into our souls, that there may be a dis-
tilling of grace and comfort through the ordinances to our souls. Prayer
must accompany the ordinances ; because the ordinance of itself is an
empty thing unless the Spirit accompany it.
To stir us up a little to this, more and more to see the beauty of God in
his ordinances, to see the glory of God, as the Scripture speaks — indeed
God is not only delightful and beautiful, but glorious in his ordinances ;
and the ark is called the ' glory of God,' Esod. xl. 34; and the knowledge
of God in Christ it is a glorious knowledge, and the gospel is called a
'glorious gospel,' 1 Tim. i. 11 — this idll only* make us truly glorious.
These things, they put a glory upon our souls. St Paul calls it * the
glorious gi-ace,' Eph. i. 6. What a glorious thing is it when, by the ordi-
nance of God, a weak man shall have power against the strong devil, against
all the ' gates of hell,' Mat. xvi. 18 ; when a poor creature, ' flesh and
blood,' by some virtue distilled through the ordinance by the Spirit of God,
shall have such a strong faith in the promise of forgiveness of sins ; such
a faith in the promise that all such f turn to his good ; that God is recon-
ciled to him in Christ ; that all the gates of hell shall not prevail over a
weak soul. And what a glorious grace is it when, by the use and attend-
ance upon the ordinance of God, a poor soul shall have strength over these
corruptions and sins that others are slaves to, and cannot get the victory
over, that when they see the spiritual beauty in God's ordinances, they
grow out of taste with all other things that others are besotted with, that
are of more excellent natural parts than they, what a glory of grace is this !
Therefore let us with all fear and reverence attend upon the ordinances of
* Tliat is, ' this only.'— G. f Qu- ' shall ?'— Ed.
A BBEATHING AfTER UOD. 247
God, that God may be glorious in us by his Spirit, and strengthen us
against Satan and our beloved corruptions.
2. And let lis know what our souls were made for. What are our souls
more for than to dwell in the meditation of the beauty of God ? What are
our souls made for, but for excellent things ? and what is excellent but in
God's ordinances ? Is the soul made to study debates and jars between
man and man in our particular callings ? Is the soul made to get a little
wealth, that we shall leave perhaps to an unthrifty generation after ? Are
our souls, that are the most excellent things under heaven (the world is not
worth a soul ; they are the price of the blood of the Son of God ; in his
judgment the world is not worth a soul), are they for these things? No.
They are for union and communion with God in his ordinances, to grow
in nearer communion with God by his Spirit, to have more Imowledge and
aflcction, more love and joy and delight in the best things daily. Our
souls are for these things that will make us gracious here, and glorious for
ever after in heaven.
It is a great deordination,* when we study and care only for earthly
things, and have slight conceits of those things that are incomparably the
best things, in the judgment of God and of Chiist himself, and of Solomon,
and of all good men.
3. And the rather let us be stirred up to affect these things, lest God
dejmrt from us. The glory of God departed out [of J the temple before the
destruction of Jerusalem, Ezek. xi. 23 ; so the glory of God, that is, a
visible sign of his glory, it departs from a church ; the beauty and excel-
lency of God departs when we esteem them not. And if anything in the
world make God to leave a church, as he loft the Jews, and as he may leave
any particular church (he will alway have a catholic church in the world ;
but he is not tied to England or France, or any country), if anything move
him to this, it is because there is not a prizing of the heavenly things we
have ; of the blessed liberty we have to meet God in his ordinances ; that
we have not a care to improve these ordinances, to get grace and comfort
against the evil day. For however we esteem these things, God sets a high
price on them ; and if we do not, God will deprive us of them, or of the
power and beauty of them. Therefore as we desire God to continue his
ordinances, and his blessing, and power in his ordinances, let us improve
them the best waj' to get gi'ace and comfort. He hath made a great pro-
gress in religion, that hath gotten a high esteem and a sanctified judgment
of the best things. Though perhaps he find himself dull and dead, and
complain of it, yet when God shines so far that he is able to approve, and
to justify the best things, that they touch his affections so much, that the
bent of his soul is that way, and he cannot be long without them, and he
'finds much comfort by them, though it be joined with much corruption,
these things argue a good temper and frame of soul.
And of all other dispositions of soul, let us preserve that spiritual dis-
position of soul, whereby our soul is fitted to the things themselves. The
things of God's Spirit are holy and excellent, when there is such a taste
and relish wrought in the soul suitable to the things. There is a happy
combination then. We may know there is a powerful work of the things
upon the soul, for all gi'ace \vi-ought by the things of God, we may know it
when the soul hath a suitable relish of them, and longs after them, and de-
lights in them, and improves them to the best; and such a soul never wants
evidence of a good Christian. Ask a Christian what is the best evidence of
* That is. ' disordering;,' == placini; out of order. — G.
248 A_BgEATHING AFTER GOD.
salvation, and tliat you belong to God ? ' My sheep hear my voice,' John
X. 4, saith Christ, ' and as children newborn, desire the sincere milk of the
word, that ye may grow thereby,' 1 Pet. ii. 2. A man may know he is a
true child of the church if he desire the sincere milk of the word, to grow
better and more holy and comfortable. If he delight in the voice of God
in the ministr}', and so be affected to the truth and ordinances of God, it
is a comfortable character of a good Christian. There are more hidden
evidences sometimes, but this for an ordinary evidence is a good one and
comfortable. Davidmarvellously comforted himself with this. *0h! how do
I love thy law,' Ps. cxix. 97. Oh ! that we could say as he did, ' Oh how do
I love thy law, and love thy truth,' that we could wonder at our own affec-
tions, that we could delight in this beauty of God, as David saith here,
* One thing have I desired of the Lord, and that will I seek after, that I
may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the
beauty of the Lord,' &c.
FINIS.
NOTES.
(a) P. 217. — ' Babylon was so taken,' &c. Consult Herodotus, I. 177, seq., with
the annotations and illustrations of Kawlinson, in loc; also Xenophon, Cyrop. vii. 5.
For very interesting explorations confirmatory of the fact cf. Kich, ' Babylon and
Persepolis;' Ainsworth, 'Researches in Assyria;' and Chesney, 'Exped. for Survey
of Euphrates.' It need hardly be stated that it was Cyrus who took Babylon in the
manner referred to by Sibbes.
{b) P. 226. — ' Particular visible churches are now God's tabernacle.' In a tract
by Philip Nye, entitled ' The Lawfulness of the Oath of Supremacy, and Power of
the King in Ecclesiastical Affairs ' (4to, 1683, p. 41), the above and otlier context is
quoted. On the margin is placed ' Gospel Anointings,' which misled us into inquir-
ing after such a book (of which none had ever heard) by Sibbes. Another tractate,
by Bartlet, his ' Model of the Primitive Congregational Way' (4to, 1647), explains
the mistake of Nye. The following was evidently his authority : — ' I shall produce
only one more that was famous for his Gospell-anointings [in italics, the usual mode
of exi^ressing quotations], and little thought by most men to have been of this judg-
ment [in the margin here, "see Dr Sibbs"]. And yet you shall find in a little
treatise of his (printed before these troubles brake forth in England), called A
Breathing after God, that he speaks fully to this purpose, his subject leading him to
discover himself herein, being, as I suppose, a little before his death.' Bartlet then
quotes the passages to which the present note refers. The manner in which Nye
was led into his mistake is quite apparent on an examination of Bartlet's tractate.
Sibbes's name in the margin is exactly opposite the words ' his Gospell Anointings,'
while the title of the book actually quoted does not apppear till several lines lower
on the page.
(c) P. 230. — ' As I have shewed out of that text, 2 Cor. iii. 18,' &c. The sermons
here referred to comprise the second half of Sibbes's ' Excellency of the Gospel above
the Law.' 18mo, 1639.
{d) P. 240. — ' Where was your church before Luther ? ' &c. There have been
many polemical answers to this taunting question. For thoroughness none perhaps
excels the old Scottish tractate by Andrew Logie, ' Answer to the question. Where
was your religion before Luther?' Aberdeen, 1634, 4to.
(e) P. 245. — ' The field where the pearl is.' Either Sibbes uses pearl as = trea-
sure, or here, and elsewhere, he makes a slip. It is ' treasure,' not a ' pearl,' that
is hidden in the ' field.' — Mat. xiii. 44. G.
THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER.
THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER.
NOTE.
' The Returning Backslider ' passed tlirough three editions, viz. : —
(a) 1st, 1639, 4to, ) Portrait cetat 58 prefixed, without the verses. (See prefatory
{b) 2d, 1641, 4to, / note to ' Bowels Opened.')
(c) 3d, 1650, 4to.
It will be remembered that it is on a copy of this work that Isaak Walton's memor-
able couplet is found (Memoir of Sibbes, vol. i., page xx). Our text follows c. Its
title-page is given below.* The ' Saint's Privilege ' therein mentioned is an ad-
mirable little treatise on John xvi. 8-10, which will be included, with otlier of
Sibbes's minor writings, in a subsequent volume. It will bo remembered that
Bishop Eeyuolds also has a series of expository sermons on 14th chapter of Hosea^
entitled ' Israel's Prayer in Time of Trouble, with God's gracious Answer,' 4to, 1638.
G.
* Title-page : —
THE
EETVRNING
BACKSLIDER:
OR,
A COMMENTARIE
upon the whole XIV. Chapter
of the Prophecy of the Prophet Hosea.
"Wherein is shewed the large extent of Gods free Mercy,
even unto the most miserable forlorne and wretched sinners
that may be, upon their Humiliation and Repentance.
Also the Saints Priviledge, S^c.
Preached by that Learned and ludi-
cious Divine, Dr. SiBS, late Preacher to the Ho-
nourable Society of Grayes Inne, and Master of
Katherine-Hall in Cambridge.
Published by his own Permission before his Death.
The third Edition.
Jerem. 3. 12, 13.
Goe and Prodaime these words towards the North, and say, Return thou
Backsliding Israel, saith the LORD ; and I tvill not cause mine Anger to fall
upon you : for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will 7iot keep anger for
ever. Onely acknowledge thine iniqnity, &c.
LONDON.
Printed by T. Mab and A. Coles for John Saywell dwel-
ling in Little Brittain without Aldersgate at the signe
of the Grey-hound. M D C L.
TO THE EEADEE.
Good reader ! this treatise begs the favour of those concerning whom espe-
cially it is said Chiist came for, poor trembling sinners, ' the blind,' 'the pri-
soners of hope,' * and such who by the assiduity, iteration, and multitude of
Satan's discouragements and temptations, sit, as it were, in darkness, and
in the valley of death, to whom every sour thing is sweet. • Because these,
most of all, rehsh and stand in need of mercy ; for when the least flame
of that unsupportable wrath breaks forth in show, which is poured out like
fire, and ' kindled by the breath of the Lord of Hosts, like a river of brim-
Btone,'f which can make ' the mountains quake, the hills melt,' | ' burn up
the earth, and all that is therein,' § the poor soul for the time thinking on
nothing but 'blackness and darkness of tempest,' || whilst bj-past sins,
without sight of the Mediator, stares them in the face, with millions of
imconceivable horrors and astonishments : then to see light in inrkness,
mercy in ^vrath, the sunshine of righteousness, a gracious God appeased
by a Mediator, with some sight and sense of itu interest therein, this must
needs overjoy the troubled soul, which is the main subject of this book.
How ga-acious God is to encourage miserable sinners to return ! What
encom-agements and helps he gives them, what effects his gracious working
hath in them, and how sweetly they close with him again ! Wherefore,
though this mess comes not unto thee set forth in a 'lordly dish,' ^ not hav-
ing passed, since the preaching thereof, under the exquisite hand of the
most worthy author, yet despise it not. For many times, though things of
gi-eater judgment affect the understanding most, yet things of lesser con-
ciseness work more upon the affections in a plain flowing way, which hap-
piness, with all other felicities, ho wisheth thee, who is ever
Thine in the best bonds,
J. H.**
* Isa. Ixi. 1. t Isa. xxx. 33. t Amos ix. 5,13. § 2 Peter iii. 12.
II Heb. xii. 18. t Judges v. 25.
** This J. H. was probably the John Hill who writes an 'Epistle Dedicatory' to
Elton's work on the ' Ten Commandments,' entitled, ' God's Holy Mind Tovching
Matters Morall,' &c. (4to, 1625). He therein addresses the parishioners of ' St Marie
Magdalen's in Barmondsey,' {i.e., Bermondsey), who were formerly under the charge
of Elton, as his ; but there appears to be little known of him beyond this. He ia
not the ' John Hill' noticed in the Nonconformist's Memorial, ii. 64. — Gt.
THE RETUENING BACKSLIDEE.
SEKMON I.
0 Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
Take with you words, and turn to the Lord; say unto him, Take away all ini-
quity, <&c. — Hos. XIV. 1, 2.
The whole frame of godliness is a mystery, Col. i. 26. The apostle called
it ' a great mystery,' comprehending all under these particulars : ' God was
manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto
the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glorj',' 1 Tim. iii.
16. Amongst which mysteries, this may well be the ' mystery of mysteries.'
' God was manifest in the flesh,' which includeth also another mystery,
the graciousness and abundant tender mercy of God towards miserable,
wretched, and sinful creatures ; even in the height of their rebellion,
appointing such a remedy to heal them. \\Tiich is the subject of this
chapter, and last part of this prophecy : which, as it thunders out terrible
judgments against hard-hearted impenitent sinners (such as wefe the most
part of Israel), so is it mingled full of many and sweet consolations to the
faithful, in those times, scattered amongst the wicked troop of idolaters
then living.
The time when Hosea prophesied was under the reign of Uzziah, Jotham,
Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah ; and in the days of Jeroboam, the son
of Joash, king of Israel, in whose days idolatry was first universally set up,
and countenanced by regal power. This Jeroboam, ' who caused Israel to sin,'
1 Kings XV. 34, that he might strengthen himself, made use of religion,
and profanely mixed it with his civil affairs in carnal policy, and so leavened
the whole lump of Israel with idolatry, that shortly after, the whole ten
tribes, for their sin, and their injustice, cruelty, lust, security, and such
other sins as accompanied and sprang from this brutish idolatry, were led
away captive by the king of Assyiia, and the Lord's righteous judgment
made manifest upon them.
There being, notwithstanding, amongst these some faithful ones, though
thinly scattered, who mourned for, and by their good examples, reproved
these abominable courses : there being also a seed of the elect unconverted ;
and of the converted, some that were carried down too far in the strength
of this stream of wickedness : in this chapter, therefore, being the con-
HOSEA XIV. 1,2.] THE BETURNING BACKSLIDER. 253
elusion of this prophecy, there are many excellent and heavenly encourage-
ments ; also many earnest incitements to repentance and retui-ning to the
Lord, with free and gracious promises, not only of pardon and acceptance,
but of great rewards in things spiritual and temporal to such as should thus
return.
' 0 Israel, return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine
iniquity.'
' Take with you words, and turn to the Lord ; say unto him, Take away
all iniquity,' &c.
In this chapter we have,
1. An ea-hortation to repentance, ivith the motives enforcing the same : ' 0
Israel, return unto the Lord thy God,' ver. 1.
2. The form : ' Take with you words, and say unto the Lord,' &c., ver. 2.
8. A restipidation, ivhat they should do : and return hack again, having their
prayers granted. 1. Thanksgiving : ' So will we render the calves of our
lips.' 2. Sound reformation of their beloved sin: ' Ashur shall not save us,'
&c. ; with the reason thereof: ' For in thee the fatherless findeth mercy,'
7er. 3.
4. God's answer to their petitions, 1. In what he ivill do for them : ' Heal
their backsUding, love them freely, and be as the dew unto Israel ; ' ivith the
reason thereof : ' For mine anger is turned away from him,' ver. 4. 2. What
he uill ivork in them, a jjroportionable speedy growth in height, breadth, and
depth : * He shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon,'
&c. ; which mercy is further amplified by a blessing poured out also upon their
families : ' They that dwell under his shadow shall return,' ver. 6-7.
5. There is set down a further effect of this repentance and gi-acious
work in them, a sound and strong well-rooted indignation against their former
darling sins ; ' Ephraim shall say. What have I any more to do with idols ? '
backed with a strong consolation : ' I have heard him and observed him,'
&c., ver, 8.
6. The diverse event and issue of this God's so gracious dealing, is shewed
both in the godly and wicked. 1. The wise and prudent vmderstand and
!6now that the ways of the Lord are right, and shall walk in them; but, 2.
' The transgi'essors shall fall therein,' ver. 9.
' 0 Israel, return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine
iniquity.'
Every word' hath his weight, and, in a manner, is an argument to en-
force this returning.
'0 Israel!' Israel, we know, 1, is a word of covenant. Jacob was
Israel, a prince and wrestler with God, as they also ought to be. There-
fore he enforceth. You also ought to return, because you are Israel. And,
2, It was also an encouragement for them to return, because God so acknow-
ledgeth them to be Israel, and will be gracious unto them, though they were
Buch hideous sinners.
' Return,' saith he, ' unto the Lord Jehovah,' who is the chief good. For
when a man retui'neth to the creature, which is a particular, changeable
good, unsatisfying [to] the soul, he is restless still until he come unto
Jehovah, who is the all-sufficient, universal good, who fills and fills the soul
abundantly. Therefore, ' return ' to him who is the fountain of all good,
and giveth a being unto all things, and not to ' broken cisterns,' Jer. ii. 13.
He is Jehovah, like himself, and ' changeth not.' And then he is thy God.
Therefore, return to him who is thy God in covenant, who will make good
his gracious covenant unto thee, and did choose thee to be ' his people bo-
254 THE EETUKNING BACKSLDDEB. [SeRMON I.
fore all the nations of the world.' This, therefore, is also an encouragement
to return. And then,
' Thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.' Therefore, because thou art fallen
by thy iniquities, and thine own inventions have brought these miseries
upon thee, and none but God can help thee out of these miseries, seeing
he only can, and is willing to forgive thy sins and revive thee, therefore,
* 0 Israel, return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine
iniquity.'
Now, in that he forewarneth them of the fearful judgments to come, which
were to fall upon them unless they were prevented by true repentance, hence
in general it is to be observed.
That God comes not as a sudden storm upon his people, hut gives them learn-
ing before he smites them.
This is verified in Scripture. When the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah
was great, the Lord said, ' Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great,
and because their sin is very grievous, I will go down now and see whether
they have done altogether according to the cry of it which is come unto me ;
and if not, I will know,' Gen. xviii. 20, 21. And wherefore was the ark of
Noah so long in building, but to give warning to that sinful age, which were
nothing bettered by it. The like we have of Pharaoh and all the Egyptians,
who had so many warnings and miracles shewed before their destruction
came, Exod. si. 1, seq. Thus God dealt in Amos : ' Therefore, thus will I
do unto thee ; and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thj
God, 0 Israel,' Amos iv. 12. ' 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem,' saith Christ,
' thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee,
how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen
gathereth the chickens under her wings, and ye would not,' Mat. xxiii. 37.
What need we stand upon proofs ? Are not all the threatenings of Scrip-
ture as so many warning-pieces of approaching judgments ?
1. The reason hereof is, his own nature. ' He is a God of long-suffering,'
Exod. xxxiv. 6. He made the world in six days, yet hath continued it six
thousand years, notwithstanding the many sins and provocations thereof,
* his mercies being over all his works,' Ps. cxlv. 9.
2. And partly _/>o»i a special regard to his own dear children, these terrible
threatenings not being killing and wounding, but, like Jonathan's warning
arrows, who, though he shot, yet meant no other harm to David save to
forewarn him of harm, 1 Sam. xx. 20.
Use. Let us, therefore, observe God's gracious and mild deaUng in so
much mercy, who giveth us so many warnings by his servants, and lesser
judgments which we have had amongst us ; let us take notice and believe,
so as behef may stir up fear, and fear may provoke care, and care stir up
endeavours to provide us an ark, even a hiding-place betimes, before winter
and worse times come upon us.
Hence issueth another general point, that
The best 2}rovision for preventing of destruction is spiritual means.
God himself is a spirit, and spiritual means reach unto him who is the
first mover of the great wheel of all the affairs of this world. It is pre-
posterous to begin at the second cause. We trouble ourselves in vain there,
when W3 neglect the first. We should therefore begin the work in heaven,
and first of all take up that quarrel which is between God and our souls.
If this be done first, we need not fear the carriage of second things, all
which God, out of his good providence and gracious care, will fi-ame to work
for good to his, Rom. viii. 28, for whose sakes, rather than help should fail,
■HOSEA XIV. 1, 2.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 255
he will create new helps, Isa. iv. 5. Wherefore, in all things it is best to
begin with God.
The third general point is this, that
OJ all spiritual means, the best is to return to the Lord.
In this returning, 1. There must he a stop. Those who have run on in
•evil ways must first stop their lewd courses. For naturally from our birth
and childhood wo are posting on to hell ; and yet such is our madness
(unless the Spirit of God shew us ourselves) to be angry with those who
stand in our way.
To make this stop, then (which is always before returning).
(1.) There must be examination and consideration xvhither our icays tend.
There be stopping considerations, which both waken a man and likewise
put rubs in his way ; if a man, upon examination, find his ways displeasing
imto God, disagreeing from the rule, and consider what will be the end and
issue of them (nothing but death and damnation), and withal consider of
the da}' of judgment, the hour of death, the all-seeing eye of God, and the
like. So the consideration of a man's own ways, and of God's ways to-
wards him, partly when God meets him with goodness ; — I have hitherto
been a ^^le wretch, and God hath been good to me, and spared me ; — and
partly when God stops a wicked man's ways with thorns, meets him with
crosses and afilictions. These will work upon an ingenious* spirit, to
make him have better thoughts and deeper considerations of true happiness,
and the way unto it. God puts into the heart of a man, whom he intends
to save, serious and sad considerations, what estate he is in, whither his
course leads ; and withal he lets them feel some displeasure of his, towards
them, in those ways, by his ways towards them ; whereupon they make
a stop.
(2.) There must be humiliation, with displeasure against ourselves, judging
and taking revenge of ourselves, working and reflecting on our hearts, tak-
ing shame to ourselves for our ways and courses ; and withal, there must
concm- some hope of mercy. For so long as there is hue and cry, as we
say, after a traitor, he returns not, but flies still and hastes away ; but ofler a
pardon, and he returneth. So, unless there be hope of pardon, to draw a
man again to God, as the prodigal was moved to return by hope of mercy
and favour from his father, Luke xv. 18, we will not, we dare not else return.
(3.) There must be a, resolution to overcome impediments. For when a
man thinks or resolves to turn to God, Satan will stir up all his instru-
ments, and labour to kill Christ in his infancy, and to quench good while
it is in the purpose only. The dragon stood watching for the birth of the
child. Rev. xii. 4 ; so doth Satan observe the birth of every good resolution
and purpose, so far as he can know them, to destroy them.
Use. Let it be thought of by us in all our distresses, and in whatsoever
other evidences of God's anger, whether this means have been taken up by
us. It will be thus known.
[1.] Turning is a change of the posture of the body ; so is this of the
frame of the mind. By this we know a man is in a state of turning. The
look of his intentions, purposes, the whole bent of his soul is set another
way, even upon God ; and his word is the star of direction towards which
he bends all his thoughts.
[2.] His present actions, also, be contrary to hisfonner. There is not only
a change of the disposition of his soul, ' Behold all things are become new ;*
not some things, but all ; not only ' new,' but with a ' behold ' new, 2 Cor.
* That is, ' ingenuous.' — G.
256 THE EETUBNING BACKSLIDEE. [SeBMON I,
V. 17. This change undoubtedly sheweth that there is a true conversion
and unfeigned.
[3.] By our association. He that turns to God, turns presently to the
company of God's people. Together with the change of his nature and
course of life, there is a change of company ; that is, of such as we make
choice of for amity and friendship, Isa. xi. 10, seq. Other company, by
reason of our callings, and occasionally, may be frequented.
[4.] It is a sign that one is not only turned, but hath gone backwards
from sin a great way, ichen the things of heaven only are great things in his eyes.
For, as the further a man goeth from a place, the lesser the things behind
him seem, so the greater the things before, he being nearer to them. The
more sublime and high thoughts a man hath of the ways of God, and the
meaner thoughts of the world and worldly matters he esteemed so highly of
in the days of his vanity, the more he is turned unto God.
This returning is further enforced, saying, ' Return unto the Lord thy
God.'
It is very emphatical and significant in the original [a). Return, usque
ad Jehovam, even to Jehovah, as though he should say. Do not only begin
to return towards Jehovah, but so return as you never cease coming tiU you
come to Jehovah.
' Even unto the Lord thy God.'
It is not enough to make a stop, and forbear the lyractising of our former
sins ; but we must come home, even unto the Ltord our God, to bex>cirdoned and
healed of him.
The prodigal son had been never a whit the better to see his sin and
misery, and to be grieved for his wicked life past, unless he had come unto
his father for pardon and comfort, Luke xv. 20. And when those were
pricked in their hearts at Peter's sermon, asking Peter ' what they should
do ? ' he exhorted them, ' To repent, eveiy one to be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and so they should receive the
Holy Ghost,' Acts ii. 38. And when Christ imates all those who * are
weary and heavy laden to come unto him,' Mat. xi. 28, he bids them not
now be further humbled and grieved for then- sins, but by faith to come
unto him to be healed, and so they should find rest and peace to their soids.
It is not sufficient for a wounded man to be sorry for his brawling and
fighting, and to say, he will fight no more ; but he must come to the sur-
geon to have his wounds stopped, dressed, and healed, or else it may cost
him his life. So it is not enough to be humbled and grieved for sin, and
to resolve against it. We shall relapse again, do what we can, unless we
come vmder the wing of Christ, to be healed by his blood.
Use. Many think they have repented, and are deceived upon this false
ground. They are and have been giieved for their sins and offences ; are
determined to leave and forsake them, and that is all they do. They never
lay hold on Christ, and come home to God.
* For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.'
Here divers points might be insisted on.
1. That u-liere there is a falling into sin, there ivill be a falling into misery and
judgment.
This is made good in the experience of aU times, ages, persons, and
states. Still the more sinful any were, the more fearful judgments fell upon
them ; and as soon as any man came into a sinftd state, he entered into a
declining state ; as Jacob said of his son Reuben, who had defiled his bed,
' Unstiible as water, thou shalt not excel ; because thou wentest up to thy
HOSKA XrS''. 1, 2.1 THE RETURNING RACKSLIDER. _,_
father's bed,' Gen. xlix. 4. So sin still dcbaseth a man. So much sin, so
much loss of excellency.
The use hereof is, first, against those that complain of their troubles and
miseries, as though God and men had dealt hardly with them ; whereas
their own ways, indeed, have brought all these evils upon them, Ijam. iii.
39. God is a sufficient, wise, and holy disposer and orderer of all the ways
of men, and rewarder of good and evil doings. God being wise and just in
his disposing of all things, it must needs follow, that it shall go well with
those that are good; as the prophet speaks, ' Say unto the just, th't it
shall be well with them, for the reward of their works shall be given them,'
Isa. iii. 10. And if it fall out otherwise than well with men, the blame
must be laid on their own sin. As the church confesseth, and therefore
resolveth, ' I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned
against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me ; he
will bring me forth in the light, and I shall see his righteousness,' Micah
vii. 9. If Adam sin, he shall find a hell in a paradise. If Paul return, and
return to God, he shall find a heaven in a dungeon.
.Secondly, It should move ns therefore to seek unto God by unfeigned repent-
ance, to have our sins taken au-ay and pardoned; or else, however we may
change our plagues, yet they shall not be taken away ; nay, we shall still,
like Pharoah, change for the worst; who, though he had his judgments
changed, yet sin, the cause, remaining, he was never a whit the better, but
the worse, for changing, until his final ruin came.
' The wages of sin is death,' Rom. vi. 23. Sin will cry till it hath its
wages. Where iniquity is, there cannot but be falling into judgment.
Therefore they are cruel to their own souls that walk in evil ways ; for un-
doubtedly God will turn their own ways upon their own heads. We should
not therefore envy any man, be he what he will, who goeth on in ill courses,
seeing some judgment is owing him first or last, unless he stop the cm-rent
of God's wrath by repentance. God, in much mercy, hath set up a court
in our hearts to this end, that, if we judge ourselves in this inferior court,
we may escape, and not be brought up into the higher. If first they be
judged rightly in the inferior court, then there needs no review. But
otherwise, if we by repentance take not up the matter, sin must be judged
somewhere, either in the tribunal of the heart and conscience, or else after-
wards there must be a reckoning for it.
Thirdly, Hence we learn, since the cause of every man's misery is his
own sin, that therefore all the poiver of the world, and of hell, cannot keep a
man in misery, nor hinder him from comfort and happiness, if he will part
uith his sins by true and unfeigned repentance. As we know, Manasseh, as
soon as he put away sin, the Lord had mercy upon him, and turned his
captivity, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 12, 13. So the people of Israel, in the Judges.
Look how often they were humbled and returned to God, still he forgave
them all their sins. As soon as they put away sin, God and they met again.
So that, if we come to Christ by true repentance, neither sin nor punish-
ment can cleave to us, Ps. cvi. 43, 44; cvii. 1, 9.
' Thou hast fallen,' &c. Fallen blindly, as it were. Thou couldst not
see which way thou wentest^ or to what end thy courses did tend. There-
fore thou art come into misery before thou knowest where thou art. A
sinner is blind, ' The god of this world hath put out his eyes,' 2 Cor. iv. 4.
They see not their way, nor foresee their success. The devil is ever for
our falling. That we fall into sin, and then fall into misery, and so fall
into despair, and into hell, this pleaseth him. ' Cast thyself down,' saith
258 THE RETURNING iJACKSLIDEE. [SeRMON I.
he to Christ, Mat. iv. 6. * Down with it, down with it,' saith Edom, Ps.
cxxxvii. 7. Hell is beneath. The devil drives all that way.
Use. lake heed of sin ! take heed of blindness ! Ponder the path of
your feet ! keep your thoughts heavenward ! stop the beginnings, the first
stumblings ! pray to God to make our way plain before us, and not to lead
us into temptation !
' Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him,' &c., ver. 2.
These Israelites were but a rude people, and had not so good means to
thrive in grace as Judah had. Therefore he prompts them here with such
words as they might use to God in their returning. ' Take with you words,'
whereby we see how gracious God is unto us in using such helps for our
recovery, and pitying us more than we pity ourselves. Is not this a suffi-
cient warrant and invitation to return, when the party offended, who is the
superior, desires, entreats, and sues unto the offending, guilty inferior, to
be reconciled ?' 2 Cor. v. 5.
But this is not all. He furtber sheweth his willingness in teaching us,
who are ignorant of the way, in what manner and with what expressions
we should return to the Lord. He giveth us not only words, and tells us
what we shall say, but also giveth his Spirit so effectually therewith, as
that they shall not be lifeless and dead words, but ' with unexpressible
sighs and groans unto God,' Rom. viii. 26, who lieareth the requests of his
own Spirit. Christ likewise teacheth us how to pray. We have words dic-
tated, and a sphit of prayer pom'ed upon us ; as if a great person should
dictate and frame a petition for one who were afraid to speak unto him.
Such is God's gi'aciousness ; and so ready is he in Jesus Christ to receive
sinners unto mercy.
' Take unto you words.' None were to appear empty before the Lord
at Jerusalem, but were to bring something. So it is with us. We must
not appear empty before our God. If we can bring nothing else, let us
bring words ; yea, though broken words, j^et if out of a broken and con-
trite heart, it will be a sacrifice acceptable.
This same taking of words or petitions, in aU our troubles and afflictions,
must needs be a special remedy, it being of God's own prescription, who is
so infinite in knowledge and skill. Whence we observe, that
They tcho would have help and comfort against all sins and soiroivs, must
come to God ivitli icords of prayer.
As we see in Jonah's case, in a matchless distress, words were inforcive,*
and did him more good than all the world besides could. For after that he
had been humbled, and prayed out of the whale's belly, the whale was
forced to cast him out again, Jonah ii. 10. So the prodigal son being undone,
having neither credit nor coin, but all in a manner against him, yet he
had words left him : ' Father, I have sinned against heaven and before
thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son : make me as one of thy
hired servants,' Luke xv. 18, seq. After which, his father had compassion
on him. And good Hezekiah, being desperately sick of a desperate disease,
yet when he set his faith a-work, and took with him words, which comfort
only now was left unto him, we know how after he had turned his face to-
wards the wall, and prayed with words, God not only healed him of that
dangerous disease, but also wrought a great miracle for his sake, causing
the sun to come back ten degrees, Isa. xxxviii. 2, 8. Thus, when life
seemed impossible, yet words, prayers, and tears prevailed with God.
Jehoshaphat, also, going to war with Ahab, against God's commandment,
•"■= That ii, ' prevailing, or invested with a power of enforcing." — Ed.
HOSEA XIV. 1, 2. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 259
ami in the battle, being encompassed with enemies, yet had words with
him ready, and after prayer found deliverance, 1 Kings xxii. 32. Elijah,
likewise, after a great drowth and famine, when rain had been three years
wanting, and all in a manner out of frame for a long time, ' took with
him words,' James v. 18 ; and God sent rain abundantly upon the earth
again.
The reason is, because prayer sets God on work ; and God, who is able
and wilUng to go through with his works, sets all the creatures on work,
Hos. ii. 21, 22. As we heard of Elijah, when he prayed for rain, tho
creatures were set a-work to effect it, 1 ffings xviii. 45, seq.
Obj. Where it may bo objected, Oh, but rain might come too late in that
hot country, where all the roots and herbs might be withered and dried up
in thi'ee years' space.
Ans. Yet all was well again. The land brought forth her increase as
formerly. For faithful prayer never comes too late, because God can never
come too late. If our praj'ers come to him, we shall find him come to us.
Jehoshaphat, we read, was in gi-eat distress when three kings came against
him ; yet when he went to God by unfeigned and hearty fasting and prayer,
God heard him, fought for him, and destroyed all his enemies, 2 Chron.
XX. 3. i^eq. The Scripture sheweth, also, how after Hezekiah's prayer
against Sennacherib's blasphemies and threatenings, the Lord sent forth his
angel, and destroyed in one night a hundred fourscore and five thousand
of the Assyrians, 2 Chron. xxxii. 21, scq.
Use 1. This is, first, /or reproof oi iho^Q who, in their distresses, set their
wit, wealth, friends, and all a-work, but never set God a-work, as Hezekiah did
in Sennacherib's case. The first time he turned him ofi" to his cost, with
enduring a heavy taxation, and yet was never a whit the better for it,
2 Kings xviii. 15, seq.; for Sennacherib came shortly after and besieged
Jerusalem, until Hezekiah had humbled himself and prayed ; and then God
chased all away and destroyed them. He had better have done so at first,
and so saved his money and pains, too. The like weakness we have a proof
of in Asa, who, when a greater army came against him of ten hundred
thousand men, laid about him, prayed and trusted in God, and so was de-
livered, with the destruction of his enemies, 2 Chron. xiv. 11, j'et in a lesser
danger, 2 Chron. xvi. 2, against Baasha, king of Israel, distrusted God,
and sent out the treasures of the house of God and of his own house unto
Benhadad, king of Syria, to have help of him, by a diverting- war against
Baasha, king of Israel, which his plot, though it prospered, yet was he re-
proved by the prophet Hanani, and wars thenceforth denounced against him,
2 Chron. xvi. 7. This Asa, notwithstanding this expenment, afterwards
sought unto the physician, before he sought unto God, 2 Chron. xvi. 12.
Use 2. Secondly. This hlameth that barrenness and icant of uvrds to r/o
unto God, which, for want of hearts, wo often find in ourselves. It were a
strange thing to see a wife have words enough for her maids and servants,
and yet not to be able to speak to her husband. We all profess to be the
spouse of Christ. What a strange thing, then, is it to be full when we
speak to men, yet be so empty and want words to speak to him ! A beg-
gar, we know, wants no words, nay, he aboundeth with variety of expres-
sions ; and what makes him thus fruitful in words ? His necessity, and,
in part, his hope of obtaining.
These two make beggars so earnest. So would it be with us. If wo
found sufficiently our great need of Christ, and therewith had hope, it
* That is, ' diverging or dividing. — Q.
2G0 THE RETTJENING BACKSLIDER. [_SeKMON IT.
■would embolden us so to go to God in Christ, that we should not want
words. But we want this hope, and the feeling of our necessities, which
makes us so barren in prayer.
Prepare thyself, therefore, to prayer, bj' getting unto thee a true sense of
thy need, acquaintance with God, and hope to obtain, and it will make
thee fervent in prayer, and copious in thy requests.
Use 3. Thirdly, this is for consolation. Though one should want all
other means, yet whatsoever their misery be, if they can take words, and
can pray well, they shall speed well, Isa. xxxviii. 3. If the misery be for
sin, confess it, and ask pardon for it, and they shall have it, ' and be
cleansed from aU unrighteousness,' 1 John i. 9. Words fetch the comfort
to us, though it be the ' blood of Christ only that hath paid the debt,' Isa.
Hii. 5.
THE SECOND SERMON.
Take with you words, and turn to the Lord ; say unto him, Take away all
iniquity, and receive us graciously : so will we render the calves oj our lips,
— Hos. XIV. 2.
As we lost ourselves in the first Adam, so the mercy of God, in the cove-
nant of grace, found out a way to restore us again by the ' second Adam,'
1 Cor. XV. 47, Jesus Christ, in whom all the promises are ' yea and amen ;
yesterday and to-day, and the same for ever,' Heb. xiii. 8. And as the
wisdom of God did freely find out this way at first, comforting our first
parents with it in paradise ; so this bowels of incomprehensible love of his
hath so gone on from time,* in all ages of the church, comforting and raising
up the dejected spirits of his church, fi-om time to time, and awakening
them out of their drowsiness and sleepy condition. And many times, the
greater sinners he dealt with, the greater mercies and tender bowels of
compassion were opened unto them, in many sweet and gi'acious promises
tendering forgiveness, and inviting to repentance ; as here in this chapter,
and whole prophecy, is shewed. What tribe so wicked, so full of idolatry
and rebellion, as Ephraim ? and yet here Ephraim and Israel are taught a
lesson of repentance. As the tender nurse feeds her child, and puts meat
in its mouth, so here the Lord puts words in the mouth of this rebellious
people.
' Take with you words, and turn unto the Lord.'
Obj. What need God words, he knows our hearts before we speak
unto him ?
A71S. It is true : God needs no words, but we do, to stir up our hearts
and affections ; and because he will have us take shame unto ourselves,
having given us our tongues as an instrument of glorifying him, he will
have our ' glory,' Ps. xvi. 9; Ivii. 8, used in our petitions and thanksgivings.
And therefore, in regard of ourselves, he will, as was said, have us take
words unto ourselves, for exciting of the graces of God in us by words,
blowing up of the affections, and for manifestation of the hidden man of
the heart. God will be glorified by the outward, as well as by the inward
man.
' And turn to the Lord.' He repeats the exhortation of returning, to
* That is, 'from time to time,' or 'through all time.' — Ed.
HOSEA XIV. 1, 2.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 2G1
shew that icords vinst not be empty, but such as are joined with a purpose of
turning to God. For otherwise, to turn to him with a purpose to live in
any sin, is the extremity of profane impudence. To come to ask a pardon
of the king, with a resohition to Hve still in rebellion against him, what is
this but mockery, as if one should come with a dagg* to shoot him ? Such
is our case, when we come to ask forgiveness, with a purpose to offend.
It is the extremity of profaneness, to come to ask a pardon, to the intent
that we may sin still. Therefore he repeats it again, ' Take unto you
words, and turn to the Lord.' The form is —
* Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously,' or ' do good to us :'
* so will we render the calves of our lips ;' wherein we have,
1. Apctition: (1.) I'o take away all iniquity; (2.) To receive them graciously.
2. A re- stipulation, or promise of thankfulness back again to the Lord,
* So will we render the calves of our lips.' So that wo may observe,
hence —
What God u-ill grant us. He will have us ask of him. * Yet for all
these things I will be sought unto of the house of Israel,' Ezek. xx. 31,
saith God ; because he will have us acknowledge our homage and depend-
ence upon him. Therefore we must ask what be hath purposed to give.
' Take away all iniquity,' &c., where there is an implication of a confession
of their sins and great iniquities. ' Take away iniquity,' and ' Take away
all iniquity,' that is, our manifold guilt. So, before petition, there must
be a free and full confession, as was shewed before.
Now, this confession here is made to God, and to God only, saith Austin
in this case. Because it is a point in controversy, it is good to hear what
the ancients say. There are a curious sort of men, who are busy to search
into other men's lives, and are careless in amending their own. Saith he,
* What have I to do with men to hear me confess, when I have offended
God ? We must confess to God, and to God only.'t But in some cases
there may be public and private confession to men. Public, in public
offences, for the satisfaction of the church, and the glory of God ; for
preventing of scandal. Private, to ministers, for the quieting of conscience.
But this is only in some cases. Men go not to the chirurgeon, as the
papists would have it, for every little prick of their finger. No ; but yet
in some cases it is good to open the matter to a minister, ' who hath the
tongue of the learned,' Isa. 1. 4. But the sin is toward God, against
him, he only being able to forgive sins, as the Pharisees confessed : ' None
can forgive sins but God,' Mark ii. 7. The papists, therefore, herein are
worse than the Pharisees.
The petition is, ' Take away iniquity,' and ' all iniquity.' Why all ?
First. Because where there is any true goodness in the heart, that hatred
which carries the bent of the soul against one sin, is alike against all, as
I shewed ; and the devil carries thousands to hell by this partial obedience,
because he knows at any time where to have such. God and a purpose to
sin will not stand together, nor dwell in a heart that allows itself in any
sin, be it never so small. He saith. Take away all, because the Spirit of
God works in a man renewed, such a disposition of sincerity to hate all
alike.
Secondly, he saith, ' Take away all iniquity,' because the heart, which
desires to be at peace with God, desires also to be like God, who hates
all sin. Therefore, saith the sanctified soul, forgive all sin. Take all
away, that I may have nothing in me displeasing unto thee. I desire to join
♦ That is, ' small pistol.' — G. t Augustine, Conf. Introd., ei alibi.— G.
262 THE KETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SsRilON II.
■with the Lord ; to hate what he hateth, and as he hateth ; to carry a perfect
hatred to the whole kind. ' Take away all iniquity.' Hatred is not satis-
fied, but with the utter abolishing of the thing hated. Therefore it hath
this extent here. ' Take away all sin,' both the guilt and the reign of every
sin, that none may rule in me ; nay, by little and little, purge out all.
' Take away iniquity,' and the train of all which it draws after it — -judgments.
* Take away iniquity,' that is, forgive the sin, and overcome the power of
it by sanctifying grace, and remit the judgments attending it.
' Take it away.' That is, take away the guilt of it utterly by pardon,
and the remainders thereof by sanctifying grace, so as the Sphit may rule,
and be all in all in us. They see sin is an offensive thing, and therefore
they say, ' Take it away,' as an offensive, odious thing, and as a burden.
Tor howsoever it be sweet as honey in the committing it, afterwards, when
the conscience is thoroughly awaked, it is most offensive and bitter. So
as in this case, a sinner would gladly run from his own conscience, and
from himself ; run anj^where from the tormenting and racking thoughts of
conscience awaked, and withal hates the place where it was committed, and
the company with whom, yea, the thoughts of them. As Absalom hated
Tamar after he had lien with her, so a sinner awaked from sin hates what
he formerly loved. As good men love the circumstances of anything which
puts them in mind of any good they have done, loving both place and
person. So it is vath a sinner. When his conscience is awaked, he hates
all things which puts him in mind of his sins. Therefore, ' Take it away,'
forgive it, cast it into the bottom of the sea, blot it out of thy remembrance,
cover it, impute it not ; all which phrases shew a taking away.
Therefore, I beseech you, let us examine ourselves hereby, whether our
desire of forgiveness be sound or not. If we desire sin should be taken
away, we cannot think of it with comfort. For in that many think with
delight of their old sins, what do they else, but repeat them over again and
again ? But where the heart is soundly touched with a saving sense of
sin, 0 then he cries, ' Take it away ; ' take it out of my conscience, that it
cause not despair there ; and out of thy remembrance, that no advantage
be taken against me for it. ' Take it away.' But it is no otherwise taken
away than by satisfying of divine justice. How much are we beholden ta
Christ, therefore, who hath borne and taken away om- sins, and as the
scape-goat, gone away with the burden of all into the wilderness of oblivion.
Blessed be God, and the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sms of the
world ! We can never bless God too much, nor sufficiently, for Christ.
' Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,' Eph. i. 3. Now
we may think of sin without shame and despair. 0 blessed state, when a
man can think of his former odious, and filthy, loathsome sins, and yet
not despair ! Because, when he believes in Christ, the blood of Christ
purgeth all away, takes away all sin. He hath taken them away.
You see here, in the first place, they pray for the taking away of their
iniquity. For, take away this, and all other mercies follow after, because
this only is it which stops the current of God's favours, which removed, the
current of his mercies run amain. As when the clouds are gone, the sun
shines out ; so let our sins be removed, and God's favour immediately
shines upon us. Therefore, first ' Take away all iniquity,' and then we
shall see nothing but thy fatherly face in Christ. You see what the care
of God's children is, to seek mercy and favour in the first place ; as David,
'Have mercy on me, 0 Lord!' Ps. h. 1. This he begs first of all.
Whereas God had threatened other terrible judgments, as that the sword
HOSEA XIV. 1, 2.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 263
should never depart from his house, &c., yet he neglects all, as it were, and
begs only for mercy, ' to take away iniquity.' For a sinner is never in
Buch a blessed condition as he should be in, until ho prize and desire mercy
above all ; because, though we be in misery, until then, with sinful
Ephraim, Hos. vii. 14, we howl upon our beds for corn and wine, preferring
earthly, sensual things before all. But that soul and conscience which is
acquainted with God, and the odiousness of sin, that soul God intends to
speak peace unto in the end, desires pardon of sin and mercy above all.
For it knows that God is goodness itself, and that, when the interposing
clouds are vanished, God cannot shew himself otherwise than in goodness,
grace, and mercy. ' Take away all iniquity.'
Quest. Before I go further, let me answer one question. Ought we not
to think of our former sins ? Shall God take them away altogether out of
the soul ?
Ans. Oh no ! Take them away out of the conscience, 0 Lord, that it
do not accuse for them ; but not out of the memory. It is good that sin
be remembered, to humble us, to make us more thankful, pitiful, and
tender-hearted unto others, to abase us and keep us low all the days of our
life, and to make us deal gently and mercifully with others, being sensible
of our own fi-ailties. As they are naught in the conscience, so they are
good to the memory. Therefore, let us think often of this, what the chief
desire of our souls to God should be for — mercy, to have sin taken away.
In all the articles of our creed, that of chiefest comfort is, that of ' remission
of sins.'* Wherefore are all the other articles of Christ, his birth, death,
and crucifying, but that he might get the church ? and that the privileges
thereof might be, ' forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body, and life
everlasting ; ' but forgiveness of sins is in the first place.
Quest. But may some say. How shall I know whether or no my sins be
forgiven ?
1 . By something that goes before.
2. By something which follows after.
Ans. There is somewhat which goes before, viz.: —
First, an humble and hearty confession, as, * If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all un-
righteousness,' 1 John i. 9. Therefore, whether I feel it or not, if I
have heartily, fully, and freely confessed, my sins are forgiven. God in
wisdom and mercy may suspend the feeling thereof, for our humiUation,
and for being over-bold with Satan's baits ; yet I ought to believe it. For
I make God a bar else, if I confess heartily, and acknowledge my debt, to
think that he hath not cancelled the bond.
Secondly, sin is certainly pardoned, idien a man finds strength against it ;
for where God forgives, he gives strength withal : as to the man whom he
healed of the palsy, * Thy sins are forgiven thee ; take up thy bed and
walk,' Mat. ix. 2, 6. When a man hath strength to retm-n to God, to run
the way of his commandments, and to go on in a Christian course, his sins
are forgiven, because he hath a spirit of faith to go on and lead him forward
still. Those who find no strength of gi-ace, may question forgiveness of
sins. For God, where he takes away sin, and pardons it, as we see here
in this text, after prayer made to take away iniquity, he ' doth good to us.'
The third evidence is, so7ne jwace of conscience ; though not much, perhaps,
yet so much as supports us from despair, as, ' Therefore, being justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,' Rom. v. 1 ;
* Creed, Article X.— G.
2G4 THE KETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeEMON II.
that is, being acquitted from our sins by faith, we have peace with God ;
so much peace, as makes us go boldly to him. So that one may know his
bonds are cancelled, and his sins forgiven, when with some boldness he dare
look God in the face in Jesus Christ. A Judas, an Ahithophel, a Saul,
because they are in the guilt of their sins, cannot confess comfortably, and
go to God, which, when with some boldness we can do, it is a sign that
peace is made for us.
Fourth. Again, where sin is pardoned, our hearts will he much enlarged
with love to God; as Christ said to the woman, ' Her sins, which are many,
are forgiven her, because she loved much,' Luke vii. 47. Therefore, when
we find our hearts inflamed with love to God, we may know that God hath
shined upon our souls in the pardon of sin ; and proportionably to our
measure of love is our assurance of pardon. Therefore we should labour
for a greater measure thereof, that our hearts may be the more inflamed in
the love of God. It is impossible that the soul should at all love God
angry, offended, and unappeased ; nay, such a soul wisheth that there were
no God at all, for the very thoughts thereof terrify him.
Fifthly. Again, where sin is forgiven, it frames the soul suitahhj, to be
gentle, merciful, and to pardon others. For, usually, those who have
peaceable consciences themselves are peaceable unto others ; and those
who have forgiveness of sins, can also forgive others. Those who have
found mercy have merciful hearts, shewing that they have found mercy with
God. And, on the contrary, he that is a cruel, merciless man, it is a sign
that his heart was never warmed nor melted with the sense of God's mercy
in Christ. Therefore, ' as the elect of God,' saith the apostle, ' put on
bowels of compassion,' 1 Peter iii. 8, as you will make it good that you are
the elect of God, members of Christ, and God's children.
Therefore, let us labour for the forgiveness of our sins, that God would
remove and subdue the power of them, take them away, and the judgments
due to them, or else we are but miserable men, though we enjoyed all the
pleasures of the world, which to a worldly man are but like the liberty of the
tower- to a condemned traitor, who though he have aU wants supplied with
all possible attendance, yet when he thinks of his estate, it makes his heart
cold, damps his courage, and makes him think the poorest car-man or
tankard-bearer, at liberty, happier than he, who would not change estates
with him. So it is with a man that hath not sued out his pardon, nor is
at peace with God. He hath no comfort, so long as he knows his sins are
on the file,! that God in heaven is not at peace with him, who can arm all
the creatm'es against him to be revenged of him. In which case, who shall
be umpire betwixt God and us, if we take not up the controversy betwixt
him and our souls ? Therefore, it being so miserable a case to want
assurance of the forgiveness of sins, it should make us be never an hour
quiet till we have gotten it, seeing the uncertainty of this life, wherein there
is but a step betwixt hell, damnation, and us. Therefore sue unto God,
ply him with broken and humble hearts, that he would pardon all the sins
of our youth and after-age, known and unknown, that he would pardon all
whatsoever. ' Take away all iniquity.'
' And do good to us.' For so it is in the original, | but it is all one,
' Receive us graciously, and do good to us.' All the goodness we have from
God, it is out of his grace, from his free grace and goodness. All grace,
every little thing from God is grace. As we say of favours received of
* That is, the state-prison. — G. f See note b, vol. I. p. 289. — G.
X Seb note a. — G.
IIOSEA XIV. 2.j TUE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 2G5
great persons, this is his grace, his favour ; so this is a respect which is
put upon all things which we receive from God, when we are in covenant,
all is gracious. Take we the words as they are, the more plain, in the
original. ' Take good, and do good to us : ' take good out of thy treasure
of goodness, and do good to us, bestow upon us thy own good. First,
' take away our iniquities,' and then take good out of thy bounty, ' and do
good to us.' Whence we see —
Doct. That God's mercy to his children is complete and full.
For he takes away ill, and doth good. Men may pardon, but withal
they think that they have done wondrous bountifully when they have
pardoned. But God goes further. He takes away ill, and doth good ;
takes good out of his fountain, and doth good to us.
Use. Therefore, let us make this use of it, to be encouraged, when we
have the first blessing of all, forgiveness of sins, to go to him for more and
more, and gather upon God further and further still. For because he is
a fountain of goodness that can never be drawn dry, he is wondrously
pleased with this. We cannot honour him more than by making use of
his mercy in the forgiveness of sins ; and of his goodness, in going to him
for it ; and having interested ourselves in his goodness, go to him for more.
Lord, thou hast begun : make an end ; thou hast forgiven my sins ; I want
this and that good ; together with the pardon of my sins, do me good.
* Receive us graciously,' or, ' do us good.' Now, good is the loadstone of
the soul, the attractive that draws it. Therefore, after forgiveness of sins,
he saith, ' do good.' The petition is easy, God will soon grant it. For
nothing else interposeth betwixt God and us, and makes two, but sin,
which being removed, he is all goodness and mercy. ' All his ways are
mercy and truth,' Ps. xxv. 10. Yea, even his sharpest ways are mercy, all
mercy. When sin is forgiven, there is goodness in all, in the greatest
cross and affliction. ' Do good to us.'
The soul, we see, desires good, and needs good. It is a transcendent
word here, and must be understood according to the taste of God's people,
of a sanctified soul. ' Do good.' Especially do spiritual good to us.
Together with the forgiveness of sins, give us the righteousness of Jesus
Christ, sanctifying grace, such good as may make us good first. For the
desire must be such as the person is, who makes it. Wicked men, as it is
said of Balaam, have good gifts, without the good God ; but we must
not be so pleased with gifts, unless we be good ourselves, and see God
making us good. ' Can an evil tree bring forth good fruit ? ' Mat. vii. 18.
Therefore, the apostle calls the regenerate person ' God's workmanship,' &c.,
Eph. ii. 10. We are God's good work, and then we do good works ; being
made good, good comes from us. ' Do good to us.'
It is an acknowledgment of their own emptiness, ' Do good to us.' We
are blind in our own understandings, enlighten us. We are perplexed, set
us right. We are dull, quicken us. We are empty, fill us. We are dark,
ehine upon us. We are ready to go out of the way, establish us. Every
way do good to us suitable to our wants. The best that we can bring to thee
is emptiness. Therefore do thou good to us ; fill us with thy fulness. Do
good to us every way, whereby thou usest to convey spiritual things to thy
servants' souls. Give us first thy grace, thy Spirit, which is the spring of
all good things ; for the Spirit of God is a Spirit of direction, of strength,
of comfort, and all. Therefore he who hath the Spirit of God hath tho
spring of all. That is begged in the first place. And then give us good
magistrates, to rule us well, and good ministers, who are the dispensers of
26G TEE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IE.
grace, instruments of our salvation, the conduit pipes whereby thou derivest
and conveyest good to us. When thou hast made us good, continue the
means of salvation for our good every way. The church, when she saith,
* Do good to us,' hath a large desire. Here be seeds of wondrous large
things in these two short petitions, ' Take away aU iniquity,' and ' do good
to us.' A bono Deo, &c. From the good God nothing can come but what
is good. Therefore do good to us in all spii'itual things. The prophet
David aims at this excellent good, saying that other men are for corn, wine,
and oil, and say, ' Who will shew us any good ? But, Lord, lift thou up
the light of thy countenance upon us,' Ps. iv. 6, 7. Thy lovingkindness
is better than life, therefore do good to us. When thou hast forgiven our
sins, shine graciously upon us in Jesus Christ.
And it extends its limits likewise to outward prosperity, this desire of
doing good. Let us have happy days ! Sweeten our pilgrimage here !
Let our profession of religion be comfortable ! Do not lay more crosses
upon us than thou wilt give us strength to bear ! Do good to us every-
way ! But mark the wisdom of the Holy Ghost in dictating of this prayer
to them. He speaks in general, ' Do good to us ; ' not to do this or that
good, but he leaves it to the wisdom of God, as they here frame their hearts
unto the will of God. ' Do good to us,' spiritual. That needs no limita-
tion, because we cannot more honour God than to depend upon him for all
spiritual good things. Thou art wiser, and knowest what is good for us
better than we ourselves. Beggars ought to be no choosers. Therefore
' do good to us,' for the particulars we leave them to thy wisdom. Oh,
beloved, it is a happy and blessed privilege to be under the conduct of so
wise and all-sufficient a God, who is good, and as he is good, knows best
what is good for us. AVe would have riches, Uberty, and health ; aye, but
it may be it is not good for us. ' Do good to us.' Thou, Lord, knowest
what is best. Do in thine own wisdom what is best.
Use. Which should teach us not to limit the Holy One of Israel in
our desires of anj' outward thing whatsoever. Especially desire forgive-
ness and spiritual good things, leaving the rest to his wise disposing. Yet
notwithstanding, out of the sense of pain and grief, we may pray either for
the mitigation or removing of a cross, if God be so pleased. Because he
hath put in us self-love, not sinful, but love of preserving our nature, there-
fore he permits us, if it may stand with his good pleasure, to desire the
good of our outward man, as. Lord, give us bodily health, for we cannot
else be instruments of serving thee. With reservation of God's good plea-
sure, we may desire such and such things, conditionally, that when we see
God will have it otherwise, we rest contented, sit down quietly, knowing
that whatsoever health, sickness, or crosses he sends, it comes from his
goodness and love, and shall turn to our good at length. If we love God,
all shall work for good.
' Take away our iniquity, and do us good.' We should make this peti-
tion for the church and ourselves. Pai'don our sins, and do good to us, to
our persons, to the state, to the times wherein we live, to the church at
home and abroad, do good to all.
And we may observe this from the order, and know what good we have.
It comes from God in love, when it comes after forgiveness of sins. How
then, may we take comfort of all the good things we have enjoyed, having
seen many good days, enjoyed many good blessings, in health, wealth, good
magistracy, ministr}', peace, plenty, and the like ! If all this goodness of
God lead us to God, and draw us nearer to him, ' after forgiveness of sins '
HOSEA XrV. 2.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 267
grounded on the fonncr evidences I spake of, then tbcy come in love. But
never let us think to have true comfort with a blessing, or any good thing
we enjoy, till we have assurance of God's love and mei'cy in the forgiveness
of sins, lest God strip us naked of all the good things wo have, and make
us as naked as Dives in hell, who had not anything that was good to refresh
his body or soul. So that all good things we enjoy here without this, will
only aggi'avate our condemnation. Let us observe, therefore, how all our
good things are joined with spiritual good (whether we ourselves are made
better by them or not), having our sins pardoned. I beseech you, let us
renew our requests for forgiveness of sins every day, making our accounts
even with God, desii'ing grace to set our souls in a holy and sanctified frame
with God, that ourselves may be good, our conversation good, and that then
he would ' do good to us ' all other ways, and sanctify all other things.
This is the method of God's Spirit in setting us right onwards in our hea-
venly journey, first to have forgiveness of sins, then sanctification, to be
better ourselves, and then to look for peaceable and comfortable days in
this world, if God see it good. What can be more ? ' Take away all
iniquit}', and do us good,' all manner of good.
Therefore, since all good comes from God, the first and chief good, let
us labour to have communion with him by all sanctified means, that so he
may take away our ill, and do us every way good to our souls, bodies,
conditions. Oh, what a blessed thing is it for a Christian to keep a strict
and near communion with the fountain of goodness, who can do more for
us than all the world besides ! When we are sick on our deathbeds, or
when conscience is thoroughly awaked, then to speak peace comfortably to
us in this great extremity, is more worth than all this world. Therefore
let us labour to keep communion with God, that he may speak peace to
our souls when nothing else can.
I beseech you, therefore, let us take heed how we break or walk loosely
with God, seeing we can have no further comfort of any good thing we
enjoy, than we are careful to keep and maintain our peace and communion
with him at all times. And when we run into arrearages with God, then
be sure we lie not in sin, but say, ' Take away aU iniquity, and do good to
us,' labouring to be in such an estate as God may give us his Holy Spirit,
both to make us good and to sanctify unto us all other good. There be
good things which are good of themselves, and which make all other things
good. Thus, by communion with God, we ourselves are made good, and
all other things likewise are made good to us, all his ways being mercy and
truth unto those who fear him. Therefore resign we ourselves and all that
we have unto his wisdom and disposing, because ofttimes there is good
where we imagine the worst of evils to be, as it is sometimes good to have
a vein opened to be purged. The physician thinks so, when yet the patient,
impatient of reason's issue, thinks not so. But as the physician is wiser
than the patient, to know what is best for him, so God is wiser than man,
to know what is good for him, who intends us no hurt when he purgeth us
by affliction.
All our care, therefore, should be to annihilate ourselves, to come with
empty, poor souls to God, ' Do good to us.' In which case it is no matter
what our ill be, if he do us good, who hath both pardon acd rich grace to
remove the evil of sin, and convey all grace unto us out of his rich treasur}-.
' So will we render the calves of our Ups.'
Here is the re-stipulation or promise. They return back again to God,
for there is no friendship maintained without rendering. When God hath
2G8 THE EETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON II.
entered into covenant with us, then there is a kind of friendship knit up
betwixt him and us, he becoming our friend. We must not, therefore, be
like gi-aves, to swallow up all, and return nothing, for then the intercourse
betwixt God and us is cut off. Therefore the same Spirit which teacheth
them to pray, and to ' take to them words,' teacheth them likewise to take
unto them words of praise, that there may be a rendering according to
receiving, without which we are worse than the poorest creature that is,
which rendereth according to its receipt. The earth, when it is ploughed
and sowed, it yields us fruit. Trees being set, yield increase. Beasts be-
ing fed, render in their kind. Yea, the fiercest, untamed beasts, as we
read of the lion, have been thankful in their kind. The heavens, saith
the psalmist, declare the glory of God, and the firmament shews forth his
praise, Ps. xix. 1. So there must be a return, if we be not worse than
beasts. Therefore the church here promiseth a return by the same
Spirit which stirred her up to pray. ' So will we render the calves of
our lips.'
Now, this promise which the church makes here of praise, is a kind of
vow, ' So will we render,' &c. To bind one's-self is a kind of vow. The
church therefore binds herself, that she may bind God ; for binding herself
by vow to thankfulness, she thereby binds God ; who is moved with no-
thing we can do so much as with setting forth of his praise, which was his
end in all the creation, the setting forth of his glory. The end of the new
creature is the end of all things both in nature and grace ; the end whereof
is God's glory, from whence all things come and wherein all things end :
as we say of a circle, all things begin and end in it. All other things are
for man, and man for God's glory. When the soul can say, 'Lord, this
shall be for thy honour, to set forth thy praise,' it binds God. Hence, that
they might move God to yield to their prayers, they bind themselves by a
kind of vow. Do thus, 0 Lord, and thou shalt not lose by it, thou shalt
have praise ; ' so will we render thee the calves of our lips.'
So promises and vows of praise are alleged as an argument to prevail
with God, for the obtaining of that the chm'ch begs for : ' So will we
render,' &c. Not to enter into the commonplace of vows, only thus much
I say, that there is a good use of them, to vow and promise thankfulness
when we would obtain blessings from God. That which a promise is to
men, that a vow is to God ; and usually they go together in Scripture,
as it is said of David, that ' he vov/ed unto God, and sware unto the mighty
God of Jacob,' Ps. cxxxii. 2. So we have all in baptism vowed a vow.
So that it is good to renew our vows often, especially that of new obe-
dience ; and in this particular to vow unto him that we will praise him,
and strive that his glory be no loser by us.
1. It is good thus to vow, if it were but to excite and quicken our dulness
and Jorgetfulness of our general vow ; to put us in mind of our duty, the
more to oblige us to God and refresh our memories. This bond, that
having promised, now I must do it, provokes the soul to it. As it helps
the memory, so it quickens the affections.
2. Besides, as by nature we are forgetful, so ne are inconstant; in which
respect it is a tie to our inconstant and unsteady natures. For there are none
who have the Spirit of God at all, with any tenderness of heart, but will thus
think : I have vowed to God. If it be a heinous thing to break with men,
what is it wittingly and willingly to break with the great God ? A vow is
a kind of oath. This is the sacrifice of fools, to come to God, and yet neither
to make good our vows, nor endeavom* to do it.
HOSEA XIV. 2.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 209
Let US consider therefore what tvc have done in this case. By pcrmis-
eion of authority, there was a fast lately, when we all renewed our "vowa
(we mocked God else), [and] received the communion. Will God be
mocked, think you ? No ; but howsoever man may forget, God will not,
but will come upon us for non-payment of our vows and covenants. Lay
we it to heart therefore what covenants we have made with God of late.
And then, for the time to come, be not discouraged if you have been faulty
in it. There is a general vow, wherein, though we have failed (if we be his
children, and break not with God in the main, cleaving to him in purpose
of heart, occasionally renewing our purposes and covenants), yet let not
Satan discourage us for our unfaithfulness therein. But be ashamed of it,
watch more, look better to it for the time to come, and make use of the
gracious covenant ; and, upon recovery, say with the church, ' So will we
render the calves of our lips.'
It was the custom under the Jewish policy, you know, to offer sacrifices
of all sorts. But the Spirit of God speaks here of the church of the Jews
under the New Testament ; especially what they should be after their con-
version, having reference to the Jews in Christ's time, and to the believing
Jews in all times, implying thus much ; howsoever, not legal sacrifices of
calves, bullocks, sheep, and lambs, yet the ' calves of the lips,' which God
likes better, are acceptable to, him. And it likewise implies some humilia-
tion of the church. Lord, whatsoever else we could offer unto thee, it is
thine own, though it were the beasts upon a thousand mountains ; but
this, by thy grace, we can do, to 'praise thee,' Ps. 1. 23. For God must
open and circumcise our lips and hearts before we can offer him the ' calves
of our lips.' Thus much the poorest creature in the world may say to
God, Lord, ' I will render thee the calves of my lips.' Other things I have
not. This I have by thy gracious Spirit, a heart somewhat touched by the
sense of thy favour. Therefore ' I will render thee the calves of my lips ; '
that is, praise, as the apostle hath it, ' By him therefore let us offer the
sacrifice of praise to God continually ; that is, the fruit of our lips, giving
thanks to his name,' Heb. xiii. 15. ' So will we render thee the calves of
our lips.' Whence the point is,
Doct. That GocVs children at all tlwes have their sacrifices.
There is indeed one kind of sacrificing determined* and finished by the
coming of Christ, who was the last sacrifice of propitiation for our sins.
The more to blame those who yet maintain a daily sacrifice, not of laud
and praise, but of cozening and deluding the world, in saying mass for the
sins of the quick and the dead ; all such sacrifices being finished and closed
up in him, our blessed Saviour ; who, ' by one sacrifice,' as the apostle
speaks, 'hath perfected them that are sanctified,' Heb. x. 14, vii. 27 ; and
that, ' by one sacrifice, when he offered up himself,' Heb. x. 12 ; when all
the Jewish sacrifices ended. Since which, all ours are but a commemora-
tion of Christ's last sacrifice, as the fathers say : the Lord's supper, with
the rest, which remain still ; and the sacrifice of praise, with a few others,
I desire to name.
1. First, The sacrifice of a broken heart, whereof David speaks, Ps. li.
17 ; which sacrifice of a wounded, broken heart, by the knife of repentance,
pleaseth God wondrously well.
2. And then, a broken heart that offers Christ to God every day ; who,
though ho were ofl'ered once for all, yet our believing in him, and daily
presenting his atonement made for us, is a new ofiering of him. Chi'ist is
* That is, ' abolished ' = fulfiUed.— G.
■270 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON II.
crucified and sacrificed for thee as oft as thou behevest in Christ crucified.
Now, upon all occasions we manifest our belief in Christ, to wash and bathe
ourselves in his blood, who justifieth the ungodly. So that, upon a fresh
sight of sin, with contrition for it, he continually justifieth us. Thus, when
we believe, we ofier him to God daily ; a broken heart first, and then Christ
with a broken heart.
8. And then when we believe in Christ, we ofier and sacrifice ourselves
to God ; in which respect we must, as it were, be killed ere we be ofiered.
For we may not ofier ourselves as we are in our lusts, but as mortified and
killed by repentance. Then we ofi'er ourselves to God as a reasonable and
living sacrifice, when we offer ourselves wholly unto him, wit, understand-
ing, judgment, aflections, and endeavour ; as Paul saith of the Macedonians,
* they gave themselves to God first, and then their goods,' 2 Cor. viii. 5.
In sum, it is that sacrifice Paul speaks of, ' to present our bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,' &c., Rom. xii. 1. For a Christian
who believeth in the Lord Jesus is not his own, but sacrificeth himself to
him that was sacrificed for him. As Christ is given to us, so he that be-
lieves in Christ gives himself back again to Christ. Hereby a man may
know if he be a tnie Christian, and that Christ is his, if he yields up him-
self to God. For ' Christ died and rose again,' saith the apostle, ' that he
might be Lord both of quick and dead,' Rom. xiv. 9. ' Therefore,' saith
he, ' whether we live or die, we are not our own,' Rom. xiv. 8. What we
do or sufier in the world, in all we are sacrificed. So saith a sanctified
soul. My wit, my will, my life, my good, my afiections are thine ; of thee
I received them, and I resign all to thee as a sacrifice. Thus the martyrs,
to seal the truth, as a sacrifice, yielded up their blood. He that hath not
obtained of himself so much as to yield himself to God, he knows not what
the gospel means. For Christian religion is not only to believe in Christ
for forgiveness of sin ; but the same faith which takes this great benefit,
renders back ourselves in lieu of thankfulness.
So that, whatsoever we have, after we believe, we give all back again.
Lord, I have my life, my will, my wit, and all from thee ; and to thee I
retm-n all back again. For when I gave myself to believe in thy dear Son,
I yielded myself and all I have to thee ; and now, having nothing but by
thy gift, if thou wilt have all I will return all unto thee again ; if thou wilt
have my life, my goods, my liberty, thou shalt have them. This is the
state of a Christian who hath denied himself. For we cannot believe as
we should unless we deny ourselves. Christianity is not altogether in
believing this and that ; but the faith which moves me to believe forgiveness
of sins, carries us also unto God to yield all back again to him.
4. More especially, among the sacrifices of the New Testament are alms,
as, ' To do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices
God is well pleased,' Heb. xiii. 16.
5. And among the rest, the sacrifice of praise, which is in the same
chapter, verse 15. First, he saith, By him, that is, by Christ, let us offer
the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the firuit of our lips :
which is but an exposition of this place, which, because it is especially here
intended, I will a little enlarge myself in.
The ' calves of our lips ' implies two things :
Not only thankfulness to God, but glorifying of God, in setting out his
praise. Otherwise to thank God for his goodness to us, or for what we
hope to receive, without glorifying of him, is nothing at all worth. For in
glorifying there are two things.
HOSEA XIY. 2.j THE KETURNING BACKSLIDER. 271
1. ./ siqjjwsition of excellency. For that cannot be glorified, whicli hath
no excellency in it. Glory in sublimity hath alway excellency attending it.
And
2. The manifestation of this glory.
Now, when all the excellencies of God, as they are, are discovered and
set out, his wisdom, mercy, power, goodness, all-sufficiency, &c., then we
glorify him. To praise God for his favours to us, and accordingly to glorify
him, is ' the calves of our lips ; ' but especially to praise him. Whence the
point is —
That the yielding of praise to God is a tvondrous acceptable sacrifice.
Which is instead of all the sacrifices of the Old Testament, than which
the greatest can do no more, nor the least less ; for it is the sacrifice and
fruit of the Hps. But to open it. It is not merely the sacrifice of our lips ;
for the praise we yield to God, it must be begotten in the heart. Here-
upon the word, Xoyog, speech, signifieth both reason and speech, there
being one word in the learned language for both.* Because speech is
nothing but that stream which issues from the spring of reason and under-
standing : therefore, in thanksgiving there must not be a Hp-labour only,
but a thanksgiving from the lips, first begotten in the heart, coming from
the inward man, as the prophet saith, * Bless the Lord, 0 my soul ; and all
that is within mc, bless his holy name,' Ps. ciii. 1. Praise must come
from a sound judgment of the worth of the thing we praise for. It must
come fi-om an aflection which desires that God may have the glory, by the
powers of the whole inward man, which is a hard matter, to rouse up our-
selves to praise God with all the powers of our soul, ' all that is within me,
praise his holy name,' Ps. ciii. 1. There goeth judgment, resolution of
the will, strength of afi'ections, and all with it.
And then again, besides this, ' the calves of our lips ' carries us to work.
The oral thanksgiving must be justified by our works and deeds ; or else
our actions wUl give om* tongue the lie, that we praise him with the one,
but deny him in the other. This is a solecism, as if one should look to the
earth, and crj-, 0 ye heavens ! So when we say, God be praised, when
yet our life speaks the contrar}'-, it is a dishonouring of God. So the praise
of our lips must be made good and justified by our life, actions, and con-
versation. This we must suppose for the full understanding of the words,
' We will render,' from our hearts, ' the calves of our lips ; ' which we must
make good in our lives and conversations, ever to set forth thy praise in
our whole life.
Quest. But why doth the prophet especially mention lips, ' the calves of
our hps,' which are our words ?
Aus. 1. Partly, because Christ, who is the Word, delights in om- words.
2. Because our tongue is our glory, and that whereby we glorify God.
3. And especially because our tongue is that which excites others, being
a trumpet of praise, ordained of God for this purpose. Therefore, ' the
calves of om- hps ; ' partly, because it stirs up ourselves and others, and
partly, because God delights in words, especiaUy of his own dictating.
To come then to speak more fully of praise and thanksgiving, let us
consider what a sweet, excellent, and prevailing duty this is, which the
church, to brad God, promiseth unto him, ' the calves of our hps.' I will
not be long in the point, but only come to some helps how we may come to
do it.
First, this praising of God must be from an humble, broken heart. Tho
* Cf. p. 153 and note o, p. 195.— G.
272 THE KETUKNING BACKSLIDEK. [^ERMON II,
humble soul that sees itself not worthy of any favour, and confessetli sin
before God, is alway a thankful soul. ' Take away our iniquity, and then
do good to us.' We are empty ourselves. Then will ' we render thee
the calves of our lips.' \Vhat made David so thankful a man ? He was
an humble man ; and so Jacob, what abased him so in his o^\^l eyes ? His
humility : ' Lord, I am less than the least of thy mercies,' Gen. xxxii. 10.
He that thinks himself unworthy of anything, will be thankful for every-
thing ; and he who thinks himself unworthy of any blessing, will be con-
tented with the least. Therefore, let us work our hearts to humility, in
consideration of our sinfulness, vileness, and unworthiness, which will make
us thankful: especially of the best blessings, when we consider their great-
ness, and our unworthiness of them. A proud man can never be thankful.
Therefore, that religion which teacheth pride, cannot be a thankful religion.
Popery is compounded of spiritual pride : merit of congruity, before con-
version ; merit of condignity, and desert of heaven, after ; free will, and
the like, to puff up nature. What a religion is this ! Must we light a
candle before the devil ? Is not nature proud enough, but we must light
a candle to it ? To be spiritually proud is worst of all.
2. And with our own unworthiness, add this : a consideration of the
greatness of the thing we bless God for ; setting as high a price upon it as we
can, by considering what and how miserable we were without it. He will
bless God joyfully for pardon of sin, who sees how miserable he were with-
out it, in misery next to devils, ready to drop into hell every moment. And
the more excellent we are, so much the more accursed, without the forgive-
ness of sins. For the soul, by reason of the largeness thereof, is so much
the more capable and comprehensible of misery ; as the devils are more
capable than we, therefore are most accursed. Oh, this will make us bless
God for the pardon of sin ! And likewise, let us set a price upon all God's
blessings, considering what we were without our senses, speech, meat,
drink, rest, &c. 0 beloved ! we forget to praise God sufficiently for our
senses. This little spark of reason in us is an excellent thing ; grace is
founded upon it. If we were without reason, what were we ? If we
wanted sight, hearing, speech, rest, and other daily blessings, how uncom-
fortable were our lives ! This consideration wiU add and set a price to
their worth, and make us thankful, to consider our misery without them.
But, such is our corruption, that favours are more known by the want,
than by the enjoying of them. When too late, we many times find how
dark and uncomfortable we are without them ; then smarting the more
soundly, because in time we did not sufficiently prize, and were thankful
for them.
3. And then, labour to get further and further assurance that ice are God's
children, beloved of him. This will make us thankful both for what we
have and hope for. It lets out the life-blood of thankfulness, to teach
doubting or falling from grace. What is the end, I beseech you, why the
glory to come is revealed before the time ? That we shall be sons and
daughters, kings and queens, heirs and co-heirs with Christ, and [that] ' all
that he hath is ours?' Rom. viii. 17. Is not this knowledge revealed
beforehand, that our praise and thanksgiving should beforehand be
suitable to this revelation, being set with Christ in heavenly places already.
Whence comes those strong phrases ? ' We are raised with Christ ; sit
with him in heavenly places,' Eph. ii. 6 ; ' are translated from death to
life,' Col. i. 13 ; ' transformed into his image ; ' ' partakers of the divine
nature,' &c., 2 Pet. i. 4. If anything that can come betwixt our believing,
HOSF.A XIV. 2.] TUE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 273
and onr sitting there, could disappoint us thereof, or unsettle us, it may as
well put Christ out of heaven, for we sit with him. If we yield to the un-
comfortable popish doctrine of doubting, we cannot be heartily thankful for
bloRsiugs ; for still there will rise in the soul surmises, I know not whether
God favour me or not : it may be, I am only fatted for the day of slaughter ;
God gives me outward things to damn me, and make me the more inex-
cusable. What a cooler of praise is this, to be ever doubting, and to have
no assurance of God's favour ! But when upon good evidence, which
cannot deceive, we have somewhat wrought in us, distinct from the greater
number of worldlings, God's stamp set upon us ; having evidences of the
state of gi-ace, by conformity to Ciirist, and walking humbly by the rule of
the word in all God's ways : then we may heartily be thankful, yea, and
we shall break forth in thanksgiving ; this being an estate of peace, and
'joy unspeakable and glorious,' 1 Pet. i. 8, wherein we take everything as
an evidence of God's love.
Thus the assurance of our being in the state of grace makes us thankful
for everything. So by the contrary, being not in some measure assured of
God's love in Christ, we cannot be thankful for everything. For it will
always come in our mind, I know not how I have these things, and what
account I shall give for them. Therefore, even for the honour of God, and
that we may praise him the more cheerfully, let us labour to have further
and further evidences of the state of grace, to make us thankful both for
things present and to come, seeing faith takes to trust things to come, as if
it had them in possession. Whereby we are assured of this, that we shall
come to heaven, as sure as if we were there already. This makes us praise
God beforehand for all fevours ; as blessed Peter begins his epistle,
* Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, accord-
ing to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorrup-
tible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,'
^c, 1 Pet. i. 3, 4. As soon as we are newborn, we are begotten to a
kingdom and an inheritance. Therefore, assurance that we are God's
children will make us thankful for grace present, and that to come, as if we
were in heaven already. We begin then the employment of heaven in
thanksgiving here, to praise God beforehand with cherubims and angels.
Let us, then, be stirred up to give God his due beforehand, to begin heaven
upon earth ; for we are so much in heaven already, as we abound and are
conversant in thanksgiving upon earth.
THE THIRD SERMON.
So Kill we render the calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save lis ; we ivill not
ride upon horses: neither w ill xve say anymore to the works of our hands, Ye
are our gods : for in thee the fatherless Jindeth mercy. — Hos. XIV. 2, 3.
The words, as we heard heretofore, contain a most sweet and excellent form
of returning unto God, for miserable, lost, and forlorn sinners ; wherein so
far God discovers his willingness to have his people return unto him, that
he dictates unto them a form of prayer, ' Take with you words, and turn to
the Lord ; say unto him, Take away iniquity.' Wherein we see how
VOL. II. s
274 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDEB. f SeEMON III.
detestation of sin must be as general as the desire of pardon, and that none
heartily pray to God to ' take away all iniquity ' who have not grace truly
to hate all iniquity. ' And do good to us,' or do gi-aciously to us ; for there
is no good to us till sin be removed. Though God be goodness itself, there
is no provoking or meriting cause of mercy in us. But he finds cause from
his own gracious nature and bowels of mercy to pity his poor people and
servants. It is his nature to shew mercy, as the fire to burn, a spring to
run, the sun to shine. Therefore, it is easily done. As the prophet
speaks, ' Who is a God like unto thee ? ' Micah vii. 18.
Where we come to speak of the re-stipulation, ' So will we render the
calves of our lips.' Where God's favour shines, there will be a reflection.
Love is not idle, but a working thing. It must render or die. And what
doth it render ? Divers sacrifices of the New Testament, which I spake
of ; that of a broken heart ; of Christ offered to the Father, to stand be-
twixt God's wi-ath and us ; ourselves as a living sacrifice ; alms-deeds and
praise, which must be with the whole inward powers of the soul.
' Praise is not comely in the mouth of a fool,' saith the wise man, nor of
a wicked man. Saith God to such, ' What hast thou to do to take my
words in thy mouth, since thou hatest to be reformed, and hast cast my
words behind thee?' Ps. 1. 16, 17. There are a company who are ordi-
nary swearers and filthy speakers. For them to praise God, James tells
them that these contrary streams cannot flow out of a good heart, James
iii. 10, 11. Oh, no ; God requires not the praise of such fools.
I gave you also some directions how to praise God, and to stir up your-
selves to this most excellent duty, which I will not insist on now, but add a
little unto that I then delivered, which is, that we must watch all admntages
of 2}raising God from our dispositions. ' Is any merry? let him sing,' saith
James, v. 13. Oh ! it is a great point of wisdom to take advantages with
the stream of our temper to praise God. When he doth encourage us by
his favours and blessings, and enlarge our spirits, then we are in a right
temper to bless him. Let us not lose the occasion. This is one branch of
redeeming of time, to observe what state and temper of soul we are in, and
to take advantage from thence. Is any man in heaviness ? he is fit to
mourn for sin. Let him take the opportunity of that temper. Is any dis-
posed to cheerfulness ? Let him sacrifice that marrow, oil, and sweetness
of spirit to God. We see the poor birds in the spring-time, when those
little spirits they have are cherished with the sunbeams, how they express
it in singing. So when God warms us with his favours, let him have the
praise of all.
And here I cannot but take up a lamentation of the horrible ingratitude
of men, who are so far from taking advantage by God's blessings to praise
him, that they fight like rebels against him with his own favours. Those
tongues which he hath given them for his glory, they abuse to pierce him
with blasphemy ; and those other benefits of his, lent them to honour him
with, they turn to his dishonour ; like children who importunately ask for
divers things, which, when they have, they throw them to the dog. So
favours they will have, which, when they have obtained, they give them to
the devil ; unto whom they sacrifice their strength and cheerfulness, and
cannot be merry, unless they be mad and sinful. Are these things to be
tolerated in these days of light ? How few shall we find, who, in a temper
of mirth, turn it the right way ?
1. But to add some encouragements to incite us to praise God unto the
former, I beseech you let this be one, that ive honour God by it. It is a
HOSEA XrV. 2, 3.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 275
well-pleasing sacrifice to liim. If we would study to please bim, we cannot
do it better tban by praising bim.
2. And it is a r/aiiifid tradiivj ivilh God. *For in bestowing bis seed,
wbero be finds tbero is improvement in a good soil, witb sucb a sanctified
disposition as to bless bim upon all occasions, tbat tbere comes not a good
tbougbt, a good motion in tbe mind, but we bless God wbo bath injected
sucb a good tbougbt in our beart ; tbere, I say, God deligbts to sbower
down more and more blessings, making us fruitful in every good work to
the praise of his name. Sometimes we shall have holy and gracious per-
sons make a law tbat no good or holy motion shall come into their hearts,
which they will not be thankful for. Ob ! when God seeth a heart so
excellently disposed, how doth it enrich the soul ! It is a gainful trade.
As we delight to bestow our seed in soUs of great increase, which yield
sixty and an hundredfold, if possible, so God deligbts in a disposition
inclined to bless bim upon all occasions, on whom he multiplies his
favours.
3. And then, in itself, it is a most noble act of relhjion, it being a more
base thing to bo always begging of God ; but it argueth a more noble,
raised, and elevated spirit, to be disposed to praise God. And it is an
argument of less self-love and respect, being therefore more gainful to us.
Yea, it is a more noble and royal disposition, fit for spiritual kings and
priests thus to sacrifice.
4. Again, indeed, ive have more cause to praise God than to pray ; having
many tbings to praise him for, which we never prayed for. Wbo ever
prayed for bis election, care of parents in om* infancy, their affection to us,
care to breed and train us to years of discretion, besides those many
favours dail}' heaped upon us, above all tbat we are able to think or speak ?
Therefore, praise being a more large sacrifice tban prayer, we ought to be
abundant in it. For those that begin not heaven upon earth, of wbicb this
praise is a main function, they shaU never come to heaven, after they are
taken from tbe earth ; for there is no heavenly action, but it is begun upon
earth, especially this main one, of joining with angels, seraphim, and
cherubim, in lauding God. Shall \hey praise him on our behalf, and shall
not we for our own ? We see the choir of angels, when Christ was born,
sang, ' Gloiy be to God on high, on earth peace, and goodwill towards men,'
Luke ii. 14. WTiat was this for? Because Christ the Saviour of tbe
world was born ; whereby they shew that we have more benefit by it than
they. Therefore, if we would ever join with them in heaven, let us join
with them upon earth. For this is one of the great privileges mentioned
by tbe author to the Hebrews, unto which we be come to, ' communion
with the spirits of just men made perfect, and to tbe company of innumerable
angels,' Heb. xii. 22, 23. We cannot better shew that we are come to that
blessed estate and society spoken of, than by praising God.
5. And lastly, if we be much in praising God, «e shall be much injoij,
wbicb easeth misery. For a man can never be miserable that can be joy-
ful ; and a man is always joyful when he is thankful. When one is joyful
and cheerful, what misery can lie upon him ? Therefore, it is a wondrous
help in misery to stir up the heart to this spiritual sacrifice of thanksgiving
by all arguments, means, and occasions. Our hearts are temples, and we
Jire priests. We should alway, therefore, have this light and incense burn-
ing in our hearts, as tbe fii'e did alway burn on tbe altar in Moses's time, that
we may have these spiritual sacrifices to ofier continually. Where this is
not, the bcaii of tbat man or woman is like ' the abomination of desolation,'
27G THE RETTJRNING BACKSLIDER. [SeH.MON HI,
Dan. xii. 11, wliich, wlien the daily sacrifice was taken away, was set up in
the temple. And certainly where there is not praising of God, the heart is
* an abomination of desolation,' having nothing in it save monsters of base
lusts and earthly affections.
Qiies. But how shall we know that God accepts these sacrifices of
praise ?
.^?is. How did he witness the acceptation of those sacrifices under the old
law ? ' By fire from heaven,' Judges vi. 21 ; 1 Kings xviii. 24, et seq. This-
was ordinary with them. So, if we find our hearts warm, cheered and en-
couraged with joy, peace, and comfort in praising God ; this is as it were
a w tness by fire from heaven that our sacrifices are accepted. Let this
now said be effectual to stir you up to this excellent and useful duty of
thanksgiving, without multiplying of more arguments, save to put you in
mind of this, that as we are exhorted to * dehght ourselves in the Lord,'
Ps. xxxvii. 4, one way, among the rest, to do it, is to ' serve him with
cheerfulness.' It is an excellent thing to make us delight in God, who
loves a cheerful giver and thanksgiver. ' So will we render the calves of
our lips.' But to proceed.
After this their solemn covenant and promise of yielding praise to God,
that if he would forgive all their sins, and do good to them, then he should
have the best they could do to him again : praise here is a promise of new
obedience, which hath two branches,
1. A renunciation of the ill courses they took before.
' Asshur shall not save us ; we will not ride upon horses ; neither will we
say any more to the works of our hands, Ye are our gods.'
2. Then there is a jMsitive duty implied in these words, ' For in thee the
fatherless findeth mercy.'
"Whereof, the one springs from the other ; ' Asshur shall not save us, we
will not ride upon horses ; neither will we say any more to the works of our
hands. Ye are our gods.' Whence comes all these ? ' For in thee the
fatherless findeth mercy.' Thou shalt be our rock, our trust, our confi-
dence for ever. What will follow upon this ? ' Asshur shall not save us
any longer; we will not ride upon horses,' &c. For we have pitched and
placed our confidence better ; on him in whom ' the fatherless findeth
mercy.'
' Asshur shall not save us.' The confidence which this people had placed
partly in Asshur, their friends and associates, and partly in their own
strength at home, now promising repentance, they renounce all such con-
fidence in Asshur, horses and idols. ' Asshur shall not save us,' &c.
First, for this, ' Asshur shall not save us,' that is, the Assyrians, whom
they had on the one side, and the Egyptians on the other : it being, as we
see in the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah, ordinary with God's people,
in any distress, to have recourse to the Assyrians, or Eg}'ptians, as if God
had not been sufiicient to be their rock and their shield. We see how often
the Lord complains of this manner of dealing. ' Woe unto them that go
down into Egypt for help, and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because
they are many,' &c., Isa. xxx. 2, and xxxi. 1. The prophets, and so this
prophet, are very full of such complaints : it being one of the chief argu-
ments he presseth, theu* falseness in this, that in any fear or peril, they
ran to the shelter of other nations, especially these two, Egj-pt and Assyi'ia,
as you have it, ' Ephraim feedeth on wind, and foUoweth after the east
wdnd ; he daily increaseth lies and desolation, and they do make a cove-
nant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Eg}^pt,' Hoseaxii. 1, that is,
HoSEA XIV. 2, 3. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 277
lialui, who haci this priviloi^o above all other nations, to abound in pi-ccious
bahus ; which balm and oil they carried into Egypt, to win their i'avour
against the Assj'riaus. Sometimes they relied on the one, and sometimes
on the other, the story and causes whereof were too tedious to relate.
Wherefore I come to the useful points arising hence. ' Asshur shall not
save us.'
1. That man, naturally, is prone to put confidence in the creature.
2. That the creature is insufficient and unable to yield us this prop
to uphold our confidence.
3. That God's people, when they are endowed with light supernatural to
discern and be convinced hereof, are of that mind to say, ' Asshur shall not
save us.'
But, to make way to these things, we must first observe two things for
a preparative.
Doct. First, That reformation of life miist be joined with jnriyer and jyraise.
There was prayer before, and a promise of praise ; but, as here, there must
be joined reformation of their sin. That it must be so, it appears, first,
for prayer. It is said, ' If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not
hear my prayer,' Ps. Ixvi. 18. And iov piraise, ' The very sacrifice of the
wicked (who reforms not his ways) is abominable,' Prov. xv. 8. So that,
without reformation, prayer and praise is to no purpose. Therefore it is
brought here after a promise of praise. Lord, as we mean to praise thee,
so we intend a thorough reformation of former sins, whereof we were guilty.
We will renounce Asshur, and confidence in horses, idols, and the like.
Therefore let us, when we come to God with prayer and praise, think also
of reforming what is amiss. Out with Achan, Josh. vii. 19. If there ba
any dead fly, Eccles. x. 1, or Achan uncast out, prayer and praise is in vain.
' Will you steal, lie, commit adultery, swear falsely, and come and stand
before me,' saith the Lord, by the prophet Jeremiah, Jer. vii. 9. Will
you ofier to pray to me, and praise me, living in these and these sins ? No ;
God will abhor both that prayer and praise, where there is no reformation.
* What hast thou to do to take my name in thy mouth, since thou hatest
to be reformed, and hast cast my words behind thee, saith God,' Ps. 1. 16,
where he pleads with the hypocrite for this audacious boldness in severing
things conjoined by God. Therefore, as we would not have our prayers
turned back from heaven, which should bring a blessing upon all other
things else : as we would not have our sacrifices abominable to God, labour
to reform what is amiss, amend all, or else never think our lip-labom- will
prove anything but a lost labour without this reformation.
A second thing, which I observe in general, before I come to the particu-
lars, is,
Doct. That true repe)itance is, of the p)o.rticular sin which we are most ad-
dicted to, and most guilty of.
The particular sin of this people, whom God so instructs here, was their
confidence in Assyria, horses, and idols. Now therefore repenting, they
repent of the particular, main sins they were most guilty of ; which being
stricken down, all the lesser will be easy to conquer. As when Goliath
himself was stricken down, all the host of the Philistines ran away, 1 Sam.
xvii. 51. So when Goliath shall be slain in us, the reigning, ruling,
domineering sin, the rest will easily be conquered.
Use. Therefore let us make an use of examination and trial of our repent-
ance. If it be sound, it draws with it a reformation ; as in general, so
especially of our particular sins. As those confess and say, ' Above all
278 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON III,
other things we have sinned in this, in asking a king,' 1 Sam. xii. 8. We
were naught, and had offended God many ways before ; but herein we have
been exceeding sinful, in seeking another governor, being weary of God's
gracious government over us. So a gi'acious heart will say, I have been a
wretch in all other things, but in this and that sin above all other. Thus
it was with the woman of Samaria, when she was put in mind by Christ of
her particular grand sin, that she had been a light woman, and had had
many husbands, he whom she lived with now not being her husband, John
iv. 18. This discovery, when Christ touched the galled part, did so work
upon her conscience that it occasioned a general repentance of all her
other sins whatsoever. And, indeed, sound repentance of one main sin
will draw with it all the rest. And, for the most part, when God brings
any man home to him, he so carries our repentance, that, discovering
unto us our sinfulness, he especially shews us our Delilah, Isaac, Herodias,
our particular sin ; which being cast out, we prevail easily against the rest.
As the charge was given by the king of Aram against Ahab, ' Fight neither
against great nor small, but only against the king of Israel,' 2 Chron. xviii.
30 ; kill him, and then there will be an end of the battle. So let us not
stand striking at this and that sin (which we are not so much tempted to),
if we will indeed prove our repentance to be sound ; but at that main sin
which by natm'e, calling, or custom we are most prone unto. Repentance
for this causes repentance for all the rest ; as here the church saith, ' Asshur
shall not save us ; -we will not ride upon horses,' &c.
It is a grand imposture, which carries many to heU ; they will cherish
themselves in some gross main sin, which pleases corrupt nature, and is
advantageous to them ; and by way of compensation with God, they will
do many other things well, but leave a dead fly to mar all ; whereas they
should begin here especially. Thus much in general, which things pre-
mised, I come to the forenamed particulars. First,
Doct. That naturally we are apt and prone to confidence in outward helps
and ])resent things.
This came to our nature from the fii'st fall. What was our fall at first ?
A turning from the aU-sufficient, unchangeable God, to the creature. If I
should describe sin, it is nothing but a turning from God to one creature
or other. When we find not contentment and sufficiency in one creature,
we run to another. As the bird flies from one tree and bough to another,
so we seek variety of contentments from one thing to another. Such is
the pravity of our nature since the fall. This is a fundamental conclusion.
Man naturally will, and must, have somewhat to rely on. The soul must
have a bottom, a foundation to rest on, either such as the world afi"ords, or
a better. Weak things must have their supports. As we see, the vine
being a weak thing, is commonly supported by the elm, or the like supply.
So is it with the soul since the fall. Because it is weak, and cannot up-
hold nor satisfy itself with itself, therefore it looks out of itself. Look to
God it cannot, till it be in the state of grace ; for being his enemy, it loves
not to look to him or his ways, or have deaUng with him. Therefore it
looks unto the creature, that next hand "unto itself. This being naturally
since the fall, that what we had in God before when we stood, we now
labour to have in the creature.
Eeason 1. Because, as was said, having lost communion with God, some-
what we must have to stay the soul.
2. Secondly, Because Satan joins with our sense and fancy, by which we
are naturally prone to live, esteeming of things not by faith and by deeper
HOSEA XrV. 2, 3. J TUE EETUENING BACKSLIDER. 279
grounds, but by fancy. Now, fancy baving communion witb sense, what it
discovers and presents for good and great, fancy makes it greater. And
the devil, above all, having communion with that faculty of fancy, and so a
spirit of error being mixed therewith, to make our fancy think the riches
of the world to be the only riches ; the greatness and goodness of the crea-
ture to be the only greatness and goodness ; and the strength thereof the
only strength. This spu'it of en-or joining with our own spirits, and with
the deceit of our natures, makes us set a higher value on the creature,
enlargeth and eni*ageth the fancy, making it spiritually drunk, so as to
conceive amiss of things.
Use. Briefly for use hereof, it being but a directing point to others. Let
us take notice of our corruption herein, and be humbled for it ; taking in
good part those afflictions and crosses which God sends us, to con\'ince and
let us see that there is no such thing in the creature as we imagined ; be-
cause naturally, we are desperately given to think that there is somewhat
more therein than there is. Now affliction helps this sickness of foncy,
embittering unto us all confidence in the creature. Therefore it is a happy and
a blessed thing to be crossed in that which we over-value, as these Israelites
here did the Assyrians and the Egyptians : for being enemies, they trusted
in a ' broken reed,' 2 Kngs sviii. 21, as we shall see further in the second
point.
Doct. How these outirard things cannot help us.
How prone soever we are to rely upon them, they are in effect nothing.
The}' cannot help us, and so are not to be relied upon. ' Asshur shall not
save us.' Indeed it will not, it cannot. These things cannot aid us at our
most need. So that that which we most pitch upon, fails us when wo
should especially have help. Some present vanishing supply they yield,
but little to pm-pose. They have not that in them which should support
the soul at a strait, or great pinch, as we say.
Reason. The reason is largely given by Solomon in the whole book of
Ecclesiastes, ' All is vanity and vexation of spirit,' Eccles. i. 14. There is
a vanity in all the creatures, being empty and not able to support the soul.
They are vain in their continuance, and empty in regard of their strength.
They are gone when we have need of them. Riches, as' the wise man
saith, are gone, and haye -s^dngs to fly away, in our most need, Prov. xxiii.
5. So friends are fugitive good things, being like to the brooks men-
tioned in Job, vi. 15 : which when in summer there is need of, then
they are dried up, and yet run amain in winter, when there is no need of
them. So, earthly supports, when there is no need of them, then they are
at hand ; but when we have most need of them, are gone. ' They are
broken cisterns,' as the prophet calls them, Jer. ii. 13. Cisterns, that is,
they have a limited capacity. A cistern is not a spring. So all their sup-
port, at the best, is but a bounded and a mixed sufficiency ; and that also
which will quickly fail : like water in a cistern, which if it be not fed with
a continual spring, fails or putrefies presently. Likewise these outward
things are not sufficient for the gx'ievance ; for being limited and bounded,
the grievance will be above the strength of the creature ; which though
sometime it be present and do not fail, yet the trouble is such, that it is
above the strength of the creature to help. So that for these and the like
respects, there is no sufficiency, nor help to be expected from the creature.
' Asshur shall not save us.' He is not a sufficient ground of trust. Why ?
1. He is but a creature.
2. He is an enemy.
280 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON HE.
3. He is an idolater.
So that, take him in all these three relations, lie is not to be trusted.
1. He is a creature. What is a creature ? Nothing, as it were. Saith
the prophet, ' All creatures before him are as nothing, and as a very little
thing.' And what it is, when he pleaseth, he can dissolve it into nothing,
turn it into dust. Man's breath is in his nostrils, Isa. ii. 22. ' All flesh
is grass, and all his glory as the flower of grass,' Ps. ciii. 15. If a man
trust the creature, he may outlive his trust. His prop may be taken from
him, and down he falls. Asshur must not be trusted, therefore, as a crea-
ture, nor as a man, for that brings us within the curse. Thus saith the
Lord, ' Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm,'
&c., Jer. xvii. 5. So trusting in the creature not only deceives us, but
brings us within the curse. In that respect, Asshur must not be trusted.
2. But Asshur likewise was an enemy, and a secret enemy. For howso-
ever the ten tribes unto whom Hosea prophesied were great idolaters, yet
they were somewhat better than Asshur, who was without the pale of the
church, and a wholly corrupted church. Therefore, they were enemies to
the ten tribes, and, amongst other reasons, because they were not so bad
as they, nor deeply enough dyed with idolatry.
Manj^ think they may comply Avith popery in some few things, to gain
their love, and that there may be joining with them in this and that ; but
do we think that they will ever trust us for all this ? No ; they will alway
hate us, till we be as bad as they, and then they will despise us, and secure
themselves of us. Therefore, there is no trusting of papists, as papists ;
not only creatures, but as false, and as enemies. For this is the nature of
wicked men. They will never trust better than themselves, till they be-
come as bad as they are, after which they despise them. Say they. Now
we may trust such and such a one ; he is as bad as we, becom'd'" one of
us. Which is the reason why some of a naughty dispositson take away the
chastity and virginity of men's consciences, making them take this and
that evil course, and then they think they have such safe, being as
bad as themselves. Wherein they deal as Ahithophel's politic, devilish
counsel was, that Absalom should do that which was naught, and then he
should be sure that David and he should never agree after that, 2 Sam.
xvi. 21 ; and that then by this discovery the wicked Jews, set on mischief,
might secure themselves of Absalom. So they, now that they join with us,
God will forsake them ; we shall have them our instruments for anything.
First, they would have the ten tribes as bad as they, and then give them
the slip whensoever they trusted them.
3. Again, neither were they to be trusted as idolaters, to have league and
society with them. There may be some commerce and ti'aftic with them,
but amity and trust, none. Asshur and Egvqot were horrible idolaters, and
therefore not to be trusted in that respect. As we see the prophet in this
case reproved good Jehoshaphat, when he had joined with wicked Ahab,
king of the ten tribes, ' Shouldst thou help the ungodly, and love them
that hate the Lord ? therefore wrath is upon thee from before the Lord,'
2 Chron. xix. 2. So we see it is a dangerous thing to be in league with
idolaters, even such as the ten tribes were, who had some religion amongst
them. This good king was chidden for it.
' We will not ride upon horses.'
What kind of creature a horse is, it is worth the seeing. What a descrip-
tion God gives of him, that we may see what reason the Spirit of God hath
* That is, ' become.' — G.
HosEA XIV. 2, 3.] Tin: returning backslider. 281
to instance in the horso. Sailli God to Job, ' Hast tliou given the horse
strength '? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder '? canst thou make
him afraid as a grasshopper ? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He
paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength : he goeth on to meet
the firmed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted ; neither turncth
he back from the sword. The quiver rattletii against him, the glittering
spear and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage :
neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among
the trumpets, Ha, ha ; and he smelleth the battle afar ofi', the thunder of
the captains, and the shouting,' Job xxxix. 19-21. A notable and excellent
description of this warlike creature. And yet for all this excellency, so
described by the Spirit of God, in another place the psalmist saith, 'A horse
is a vain thing for safety, neither shall he deliver any by his great strength,'
Ps. xxxiii. 17. ' Some trust in chariots, and some in horses ; but we will
remember the name of the Lord our God,' Ps. xx. 7. So in another place,
' The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but victory is of the Lord,'
Prov. xxi. 31.
How oft have you in the Psalms that proud warlike creature disparaged,
because naturally men are more bewitched with that than with any other
creature. If they have store of horses, then they think they are strong.
Therefore God forbids the king ' to multiply horses to himself, nor cause
the people \to return to Egypt, to the end he should multiply horses,' kc,
Deut. xvii. IG, because God is the strength of his church, when there is no
multitude of horses. You see it is a bewitching creature, and yet a vain
help. A place hke this we have, Isa. ii. 7, complaining there of the naughty
people which were among the Jews, at that time as bad as the IsraeUtes.
Saith he, ' Their land also is full of silver and gold ; neither is there
any end of their treasures ; their land is also full of horses, neither is
there any end of their chariots.' What, is there a fault in that ? No.
Luther saith, * Good works are good, but the confidence in them is dam-
nable.' So gold and silver, horses and chariots, are good creatures of God.
But this was their sin, confidence in these things. ' There is no end of
then- treasures.' If they had treasure enough, they should do well enough.
' Their land also was full of horses.' Was this a fault ? No ; but their
confidence in them. They thought they were a wise people to have such
furniture and provision of munition for war. But God was their king, and
the chief governor of his people ; and for them to heap up these things, to
trust over-much in them, it was a matter of complaint. * Their land also
is fuU of idols.'
Thus you see there is no confidence to be put neither in the one nor the
other, neither in the association of foi-eign Mends, who will prove deceit-
ful, ' reeds of Egypt,' that not only deceive, but the sphnters thereof fly
about, and may run up into the hand. Such are idolaters and fixlse friends,
deceitful and hurtful. Nor in home. There is no trust in horses, muni-
tion, or such like. What doth this imply ? That to war and have provi-
sion in that kind is unlawful and unnecessary, because he finds fault here
with horses and the like ? No ; take heed of that ; for John Baptist, if
the soldier's profession had been unlawful, he would have bid them cast
away their weapons ; but he bids them ' do violence to no man, neither
accuse any falsely,' &c., Luke iii. 14. And God would never style himself
' the Lord of hosts, and a man of war,' Isa. xlii. 13, and ' he that teacheth
our hands to war, and our fingers to fight,' Ps. xnii. 31, unless it were
282 THE RETURNING BACKSLTDER. [SeRMON III,
good in the season. Therefore war is lawful, seeing in the way to heaven
we live in the midst of enemies.
Therefore it is hut an anahaptistical fancy to judge war to be unlawful.
No, no ; it is clean another thing which the Holy Ghost aims at : to heat
back carnal confidence. For it is an equal fault to multiply help and to
neglect them. Either of both are fatal many times : to multiply horses,
trusting in them, or to spoil horses and other helps vainly, so to weaken
a kingdom. Therefore there is a middle way for all outward things, a fit
care to serve God's providence, and when we have done, trust in God with-
out tempting of him ; for to neglect these helps is to tempt him, and to
trust in them, when we have them, is to commit idolatry with them. Be-
ware of both these extremes, for God will have his providence served in
the use of lawful means. When there is this great care in a Christian
commonwealth, there is a promise of good success, because God is with us.
Otherwise, what is all, if he be our enemy ? So we see the second point
made good, that these outward things of themselves cannot help. Therefore
comes this in the thu'd place : —
Ohs. That when God alters and changes and moiddeth aneic the heart of a
man to repentance, he altereth his confidence in the creature.
A Christian State will not trust in Asshur, nor in horses. It is true both
of State and persons. The reason will follow after in the end of the verse,
* For in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.' Because, when a man hath
once repented, there is a closing between God and him, and he secth an
all-sufficiency in God to satisfy all his desires. Therefore he will use all
other things as helps, and as far as it may stand with his favour. For he
hath Moses's eye put in him, a new eye to see him that is invisible, Heb.
xi. 27, to see God in his greatness, and other things in their right estimate
as vain things. What is repentance but a change of the mind, when a man
comes to be wise and judicious, as indeed repentant men are the only wise
men ? Then a man hath an esteem of God to be El-shadai, all-sufficient,
and all other things to be as they are, uncertain ; that is, they are so to-
daj', as that they may be otherwise to-morrow, for that is the nature of the
creatures. They are in p)otentia, in a possibility to be other things than
they are, God is alway ' I mi,' alway the same. There is not so much
as a shadow of changing in him. Wherefore, when the soul hath attained
unto this spiritual eyesight and wisdom, if it be a sinful association with
Eg}'pt or Asshur, with this idolater or that, he will not meddle ; and as for
other helps, he will not use them further than as subordinate means. When
a man is converted, he hath not a double, not a divided heart, to trust
partly to God and partly to the creature. If God fail him,* he hath Asshur
and horses enough, and association with all round about. But a Christian
he will use all helps, as they may stand with the favour of God, and are
subordinate under him. Now for trial.
Quest. How shall ice know whether we exceed in this confidence in the crea-
ture or not ?
Sol. 1. We may know it by adventuring on ill courses and causes, thinking
to bear them out with Asshur and with horses. But all the mercenary sol-
diers in the world, and all the horses at home and abroad, what can they
do when God is angiy ? Now, when there is such confidence in these
things as for to out-dare God, then there is too much trust in them. That
trust will end in confusion, if it be not repented of, for that lifts up the
heart in the creature. And as the heathen man observes, ' God delights
* That is, the ' double-minded' man.— G.
HOSEA XIY. 2. 3. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 283"
to mako great little, and little great.' It is his daily work to ' cast down
mountains, and exalt the valleys,' Isa. xl. 4. Those that are great, and
boast in their greatness, as if they would command heaven and earth, God
delights to make their greatness little, and at length nothing, and to raise-
up the day of small things. Therefore the a]jostlo saith, ' If I rejoice, it
shall he in my infirmities,' 2 Cor. xii. 9, in nothing else ; for God delights
to shew strength in weakness.
2. B;/ security and resting of the soul in meaner thim/s, never seeking to
di\'ine and religious helps when we are supplied with those that are out-
ward. For these people, when they trusted to Assyria and Egypt, those-
false supports and sandy foundations, they were careless of God, and there-
fore must trust in somewhat else. Wherefore, if we see a man secure and
careless, certainly he trusts too much to uncertain riches, to Asshur, to
Egypt, to friends, or to outward helps. His security bewrays that. If a
man trust God in the use of the means, his care will be to keep God his
friend by repentance and daily exercises of religion, by making conscience
of his duty. But if he trust the means and not God, he will be careless
and weak in good duties, dull and slow, and, out of the atheism of his
heart, ciy, Tush ! if God do not help me, I shall have help from friends
abroad, and be suppoi'ted with this and that at home, horses and the hke,
and shall be well.
Use 1. Let us therefore enter into our own souls, and examine ourselves,
how far forth we are guilty of this sin, and think we come so far short of
repentance. For the ten tribes here, the people of God, when they re-
pented, say, 'Asshur shall not save us ; we will not ride upon horses.' He
speaks comparatively, as trusted in. Therefore, let us take heed of that
boasting, vain-glorious disposition, arising from the supply of the creature.
Saith God, ' Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom ; neither let the
mighty man gloiy in his might : let not the rich man glory in his riches ; but
let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth this,
that I am the Lord, which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteous-
ness in the earth,' &c., Jer. ix. 23, 24. Let a man glory that he knows God
in Christ to be his God in the covenant of grace ; that he hath the God of all
strength, the King of kings and Lord of lords to be his : who hath all other
things at his command, who is independent and all-sufficient. If a man will
boast, let him go out of himself to God, and plant himself there ; and for
other things, take heed the heart be not lift up with them.
1. Consider what kind of thing boasting is. It is idolatry, for it sets
the creatm-e in the place and room of God.
2. And it is also spiritual adultery, whereby we fix our affections upon
the creature, which should be placed on God ; as it is in James, ' Ye
adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is
enmity with God?' &c., James iv. 4.
3. Habakkuk calls it drunkennness, Hab. ii. 4, 5, for it makes the
soul drunk with sottishness and conceitedness, so as a man in this case is
never sober, until God strip him of all.
4. And then again, it puts forth the eye of the soul. It is a kind of
white, that mars the sight. When a man looks to Asshur, horses, and
to outward strength, where is God all thif\ while ? These are so many
clouds, that they cannot see God, but altogether pore upon the creature.
He sees so much greatness there, that God seems nothing. But when a
man sees God in his greatness and almightiness, then the creature ia
■284 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [Ser:ION III.
nothing, Job xlii. 6. But until this be, there is a mist and blindness in the
ej'e of the soul.
And when we have seen our guiltiness this way (as who of us in this case
may not be confounded and ashamed of relying too much on outward
helps ?), then let us labour to take off our souls from these outward things,
whether it be strength abroad or at home. Which that we may do, we
must labour for that obedience which our Saviour Christ exhorts us unto
in self-denial, Mat. xvi. 24, not to trust to our own devices, policy, or
strength, wit, will, or conceits, that this or that may help us, nor anything.
Make it general ; for when conversion is wrought, and the heart is turned
to God, it turns from the creature, only using it as subordinate to God. We
see, usually, men that exalt themselves in confidence, either of strength, of
wit, or whatsoever, they are successless in their issue. For God delights
to confound them, and go beyond their wit, as we have it, Isa. xxx. 3.
They thought to go beyond God with their policy, they would have help
out of Egypt, this and that way. Oh, saith the prophet, but for all this,
God is wise to see through all your devices ; secretly hereby touching them
to the quick, as sottish persons, who thought by their shallow brains to go
beyond God. You think religious courses, and the obedience God pre-
scribeth to you, to be idle, needless courses ; but, notwithstanding, God is
wise. He will go beyond you, and catch you in your own craft. ' There-
fore, the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame, and the trust in the
shadow of Egypt your confusion,' Isa. xxx. 3. Thus God loves to scatter
Babels fabrics. Gen. xi. 8, and holds that are erected in confidence of
human strength against him. Ha delights to catch the wise in their own
craft, to beat all down, lay all high imaginations and things flat before him,
that no flesh may glory in his sight. There is to this purpose a notable
place in Isaiah : ' Behold, all ye that kindle a Me, that compass yourselves
about with sparks,' Isa. 1. 11. For they kindled a fire, and had a light of
their own, and would not borrow light from God : ' \VixlL" in the light of
your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled.' But what is the con-
clusion of all ? ' This shall ye have of mine hand.' I dare assure you of
this, saith the prophet. ' You shall lie down in sorrow.' Those that
walk by the light and spark of their own fire, this they shall have at God's
hands : ' they shall lie down in sorrow.'
Let us therefore take heed of carnal confidence. You have a number
who love to sleep in a vv^hole skin, and will be sm-e to take the safest
courses, as they think, not consulting with God, but with ' flesh and blood.'
It might be instanced in stories of former times, how God hath crossed
emperors, and great men in this kind, were it not too tedious. But for
present instance, you have many who will be of no settled religion. Oh,
they cannot tell, there may be a change. Therefore they will be sure to
offend neither part. This is their policy, and if they be in place, they will
reform nothing. Oh, I shall lay myself open to advantages, and stir up
enemies against me. And so they will not trust God, but have carnal
devices to turn off all duty whatsoever. It is an ordinary speech, but very
true, policy overthrows policy. It is true of carnal policy. When a man
goes by carnal rules to be governed by God's enemy and his own, with his
own wit and understanding, which leads him to outward things, this kind
of policy overthrows all policy, and outward government at length. Those
that walk religiously and by rule, they walk most confidently and securely,
as the issue will shew. Therefore, consider that, set God aside, aU is but
vanity. And that.
HOSE.V XIV. 2, 3. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 285
First, In regard they do not yield that which we expect they should
yield. There is a falsehood in the things. They promise this and that in
shows, but when we possess them, they yield it not. As they have no-
strength indeed, so they deceive.
2. Then, also, there is a mutability in them ; for there is nothing in the
world but changes. There is a vanity of corruption in them. All things
at last come to an end, save God, who is unchangeable.
3. Then again, besides the intrinsical vanity in all outward things, and
whatsoever carnal reason leads unto, they are snares and baits unto us, to
di'aw us away from God, by reason of the vanity of our nature, vainer than
the things themselves. Therefore take heed of confidence in anything, or else-
this will be the issue : we shall be worse than the things we trust. ' Vanity
of vanities, all things are vanity,' Eccles. i. 1 ; and man himself is lighter
than vanity, saith the psalmist, Ps. Ixli. 9. He that trusts to vanity, is-
worse than vanity. A man cannot stand on a thing that cannot stand
itself, — stare non stante. A man cannot stand on a thing that is mutable
and changeable. If he doth, he is vain with the thing. Even as a picture
drawn upon ice, as the ice dissolves, so the picture vanisheth away. So it
is with all confidence in the creature whatsoever. It is like a picture upon
ice, which vanisheth with the things themselves. He that stands upon a
slippery thing, slips with the thing he stands on. If there were no word
of God against it, yet thus much may be sufficient out of the principles of
reason, to shew the folly of trusting to Asshur, and horses, and the like.
Let this be the end of all, then, touching this carnal confidence : to
beware that we do not fasten our afieclions too much upon any earthly
thing, at home or abroad, within or without ourselves. For ' God will
destroy the wisdom of the wise,' 1 Cor. i. 19. Let us take heed, therefore,
of all false confidence whatsoever. Let us use all outward helps, yet so as
to rely upon God for his blessing in the use of all. And when they all
fail, be of Jehoshaphat's mind : ' Lord, we know not what to do,' 2 Chron.
XX. 12. The creature fails us, our helps fail us ; ' but our eyes are upon
thee.' So when all outward Asshm-s, and horses, and helps fail, despair not ;
for the less help there is in the creature, the more there is in God. As
Gideon with his army, when he thought to carry it away with multitudes,
God told him there were too many of them to get the victory by, lest Israel
should vaunt themselves of their number, and so lessened the army to
three hundred, Jud. vii. 2 ; so it is not the means, but the blessing on
the means which helps us. If we be never so low, despair not. Let
us make God ours, who is all-sufficient and almighty, and then if we
were brought a hundred times lower than we are, God will help and
raise us. Those who labour not to have God, the Lord of hosts, to go out
with their armies, if they had all the Asshurs and horses in the world, all
were in vain. It was therefore a good resolution of Moses. Saith ho to
God, ' If thy presence go not with us, carry us not hence,' Exod. xxxiii. 15.
He would not go one step forward without God. So, if we cannot make
God our friend to go out before us, in vain it is to go one step forward.
Let us therefore double our care in holy duties, renewing our covenant
with God, before the decree come out against us. The moi-e religious, the
more secure we shall be. If we had all the creatures in the world to help
us, what are they but vanity and nothing, if God be our enemy ! These
things wo know well enough for notion ; but let us labour to brmg them
home for use, in these dangerous times abroad. Let us begin where we
should, that our work may be especially in heaven. Let us reform our
286 THE EETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRJION IV.
lives, beinw moderately careful, as Christians should, without tempting
God's providence, using rightly all civil supports and helps seasonably, and
to the best advantage ; for, as was said, the carelessness herein for defence
may prove as dangerous and fatal to a State, as the too much confidence
and trust in them.
THE FOURTH SERMON.
AssJuir shall not save ns ; tre will not ride upon horses ; neither will we say any
more to the ivorks of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless
findeih mercy. — Hos. xiv. 3.
We shewed you heretofore at large, how the Spirit of God, by the prophet,
doth here dictate a form of turning unto these Israelites, ' Take unto you
words ;' and then teacheth them what they should return back again,
thanks. ' So will we render the calves of our lips.' Wherein they shew
two things. 1. They that have no great matters to render, oxen or sheep,
&c. 2. They shew what is most pleasing unto God, the calves of our lips ;
that is, thanksgiving from a broken heart, which, as the Psalmist speaks,
pleaseth God better than ' a bullock that hath horns and hoofs,' Ps. Ixix. 31.
But this is not enough. The Holy Ghost therefore doth prescribe them,
together with prayer and thanksgiving, reformation. ' Asshur shall not save
us ; we will not ride upon horses ; neither will we say any more to the works
of our hands. Ye are our gods : for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.'
So that here you have reformation joined with prayer and praise. Whence
we observed divers things : that without reformation our prayers are abomin-
able ; that in repentance there must be reformation of our special sin ;
which here they do. Take this one thing more in the third place, which
shall be added to the former.
Obs. In refovmation, ve must go not only to the outward delinquencies, but
to the spring of them, wliich is some breach of the first table.
The root of all sin, is the deficiency of obedience to some command of the
fii'st table. When confidence is not pitched aright in God, or when it is mis-
applied, and misfastcned to the creature : when the soul sets up somewhat for
a stay and prop unto it, which it should not do, this is a spiritual and subtle
sin, and must be repented of, as here, * Asshur shall not save us,' &c. It
were good therefore for all those who seriously intend the work of repen-
tance, to take this course. If the gross fault be of the second table, take
occasion of sorrow and mourning thence. But when you have begun there,
resolve and bring all to the breeding sin of all, which is the fastening of the
soul falsely, when it is not well fastened and bottomed in the root. And
therefore it was well done by Luther, who, in a Catechism of his, brings in
the first commandment into all the commandments of the first and second
table, ' Thou shalt have no other gods but me.' Therefore thou shalt
sanctify the Sabbath, honour thy father and mother, shalt not take my name
in vain, shalt not commit adultery, shalt not steal, &c., (b). Because he
that hath no God but that God in his heart, will be sm-e to sanctify the
Sabbath, honour his father and mother, not commit adultery, nor steal.
And whence come all the breaches of the second table ? Hence, that there
is not the true fear and love of God in our hearts ; and it is just with God,
for their spiritual sins, to give them up to carnal and gross sins. Therefore,
HOSEA XIV. 3. J THE BETUKNING BACKSLIDER. 287
tliougli the Israelites here had many gross sins to repent of, yet they go to
the spring-head, the breeding sin of all, false confidence. This is to deal
thoroughly, to go to the core. ' Asshur shall not save us ; we will not ride
upon horses.' From whence, in the third place, may descend to the next
branch of their sin, idolatry.
' Neither w;ll we say any more to the works of our hands. Ye are our gods.'
All false confidence hath two objects : for it is always either,
1. Out of religion ; or,
2. In religion.
For the first, all ill confidence and trust, if it be out of religion, it is in
the creature ; either,
1 . Out of us ; or,
2. In ourselves.
Secondly, if it be in religion, it is in a false god, as here, ' Neither will
we say anj- more to the works of our hands, Ye are our gods.' Observe
hence in the first place.
Ohs. Man 7mt}(raUy is prone to idolatry.
The story of the Bible, and of all ages, sheweth how prone men are to
idolatiy and will-worship, and what miseries ensued thereupon. Amongst
other instances, we see how presently after that breach in the kingdom of
David and Solomon, by Jeroboam's setting up of two calves, how suddenly
they fell to idolatry, 1 Ivings xiii. 33, seq. ; 2 Chron. xiii. 8. So that after
that, there was not one good king amongst them all, until the nation was
destroyed. And so in the story of their antiquities, see how prone they
were to idolatry in the wilderness. Moses doth but go up to the mount,
and they fall to idolatry, cause Aaron to make a calf, and dance round
about it, Exod. xxxii. 4, seq. ; Ps. cvi. 19. The thing is so palpable, that
it need not be stood upon, that man's nature is prone to idolatry which
will not raise itself up to God, but fetch God to itself, and conceive of him
according to its false imaginations.
Now idolatry is two ways committed, in the false, hollow, and deceitful
heart of man : either,
1. By attributing to the creature that which is proper to God only, in-
vesting it with God's properties ; or,
2. By worshipping the true God in a false manner.
1. So that, in ihojirst place, idolatry is to invest the creature ivith God's
properties. Go to the highest creature, Christ's human nature. We have
some bitter spii-its (Lutherans they call them) Protestants, who attribute to
the human nature of Christ, that which only is proper to God, to be every-
where, and therefore to be in the sacrament, (c). You have some come
near them, both in their opinion and in their bitterness. They will have a
vescio quomodo. Christ is there though they know not how. But this is
to make Christ's human nature a god, to make an idol of it. So prayers
to saints and angels, this makes idols of them, because it invests them with
properties to know our hearts, which he must know unto whom we pray.
And then, it gives unto them that which is proper to God, worship and
prayer. But, we must call upon none but whom we must believe in, and
we must beheve in none but God. Therefore, worshipping of saints or
angels is idolatry.
Secondhj, idolatry is to worship the true God in a false manner ; to fix his
presence to that we should not fix it to ; to annex it to statues, images,
crucifixes, the picture of the Virgin Mar}' and the like. Not to run into
the common place of idolatry', but to come home unto ourselves.
288 THE EETUEMNG BACKSLIDER. [SeKMOX IV,
Quest. Whether are the papists idolaters or not, like unto these Israelites,
who say (being converted), ' Neither will we say unto the works of our hands,
Ye are our gods ?'
Ans. I answer, Yes ; as gross as ever the heathens were, and worse. The
very Egyptians, they worshipped none for gods but those who were alive ;
as a papist himself saith (though he were an honest papist), the Egyptians
worshipped living creatures, but we are worse than they ; for we worship
stocks and stones, and a piece of bread in the sacrament. And to this
purpose, one of their Jesuits confesseth this, and yielded the question for
granted, that if there be not a transubstantiation of the bread turned into
the body and blood of Christ, we are worse idolaters than these and these
nations ; because we worship a piece of bread, which is a dead thing. But
we assume (according to the Scriptures, the judgment of the church, and of
the truth itself), the bread is not transubstantiated, at least it is a doubtful
matter, for if it be not the intention of the priest, it is not. See here upon
what hazard they put the souls of people !
Ohj. But they have many shifts for themselves ; as, among the rest, this
is one, that they do not ivorship the image, hut God or Christ before the
image.
Ans. To which the answer is, that the fathers who wrote against the
heathens meet with this pretence. The Pagans had this excuse. We wor-
ship not this statue of Jupiter, but Jupiter himself. Thus they have no
allegation for themselves, but the heathen had the Fame, which the ancient
Fathers confuted. They are guilty of idolatry in both the forenamed kinds.
For, first, they worship things that they should not, as appears by their invo-
cation of saints, vows to them ; their temples, altars, and the like, full of their
images, giving them honour due unto God. And then, they worship the
true God in a false manner before their images. There is no kind of
idolatry but they are grossly guilty of it. Whereof let this be the use.
Use 1. First of all, of thankfulness, that God hath brought us into Goshen,
into a kingdom of light ; that we are born in a time and place of knowledge
of the true God, wherein is the true worship of the true God. It is a mat-
ter that we cannot be too thankful to God for.
Quest. How shall ice shew ourselves thankful ?
Ans. In keeping fast the true worship of God we have, and keeping out
idolatry ; in reviving laws in that kind, if not making new. What if
there were liberty given for men to go about the country to poison people !
Would we endure such persons, and not lay hold of them ? So in that
we are freed from Jesuits who go about to poison the souls of God's people,
let us shew our thankfulness for this, and shun idolatry of all sorts what-
soever.
Use 2. Secondly, See from hence that there can be no toleration of that
religion, no more, as was said, than to suffer and tolerate poisoners. As
they said of coloquintida in their pottage, 2 Kings iv. 40, so ' there is
death in the pot' of Romish religion. Therefore it were good to compel
them to come in and serve the Lord their God. As it is said, good Josiah
compelled those in his lime to serve the Lord, 2 Chron, xxxiv. 33, so it
were good such courses were taken to reform and reclaim them. As
Saint Augustine said of himself in his time, being a Donatist, he altered his
judgment by force. In which case it would be with them as with children,
who, when they are young, must be forced to school, but afterwards they
thank them who forced them. So it is in religion, though it cannot be
forced, yet such might afterwards bless God for them who brought them to
HOSEA XIV. 3.] THJs EETUllNING BACKSLIDER. 289
the means ; who, instead of their blindness, trained them up in more
knowledge, by forcing them to use the means for which, when God should
open their eyes, they might bless God another day. But this point of
gi-oss idolatiy, so largely handled in books, is only touched by the way,
that we may hate idolatry the more ; which could not be left out, the
words leading to say somewhat of it, seeing how these converts here hate
it, and out of that hatred make this profession, * Neither will we say any
more to the works of oui* hands, Ye are our gods,' &c.
But this is not all ; we must know that there be other idols than the idols
which we make with our hands. Besides these religious idols, there be
secular idols in the world, such as men set up to themselves in their oavu
hearts. "Whatsoever takes up the heart most, which they attribute more to
than to God, that is their idol, their god. A man's love, a man's fear, is his
god. If a man fear greatness rather than God, that he had rather displease
God than any great person, they are his idols for the time. ' The fear of a
man brings a snare,' Prov. xxix. 25, saith the wise man. And those who get
the favour of any in place, sacrifice therefore their credit, profession, reli-
gion, and souls, it is gross idolatry ; dangerous to the party, and dangerous
to themselves. It was the ruin of Herod to have that applause given to him,
and taken by him, ' The voice of God, and not of man,' Acts xii. 22. So
for any to be blown up with flatterers, that lift them up above their due
measm-e, it is an exceeding wrong to them, prejudiceth their comfort, and
will prove ill in the conclusion ; indeed, treason against their souls.
So there is a baser sort of idolaters, who sacrifice their credit and state,
whatsoever is good within them, their whole powers, to their base and filthy
pleasures. Thus man is degenerate since his fall, that he makes that his
god which is meaner than himself. Man, that was ordained for everlasting
happiness and communion with God, is now brought to place his happiness
and contentment in base pleasures. AVhereas it is with the soul of man
for good or ill, as it applies itself to that which is greater or moaner than
itself. If it apply itself to confidence and afliance in God, then it is better.
For it is the happiness of the soul to have communion with the Spring of
goodness, as David speaks, ' It is good for me to draw near to God,'
&c., Ps. Ixxiii. 28. When we sufler the soul to cleave in affiance to earthly
things, it grows in some measm-e to the nature of the things adhered to.
When we love the world and earthly things, we are earthly. Till the Spirit
of God touch the soul, as the loadstone doth the hea^'^^ iron, drawing it up,
as it were, it will cleave to the creature, to baser things than itself, and
so makes the creature an idol, which is the common idolatry of these
times. Some make favour, as the ambitious person ; some their pleasures,
as baser persons of meaner condition ; and some riches. Every man as
their temper and as their temptations are.
Now, it is not enough to be sound in rehgion one way in the main ; but
we must be sound eveiy way, without any touch of idolatry. In a special
manner the apostle calls the 'covetous man an idolater,' Eph. v. 5, because
he makes riches his castle, thinking to carry anything with his wealth. But
his riches oftentimes prove his ruin ; for whatsoever a man loves more than
God, God win make it his bane and ruin ; at least, be sure to take it away,
if God mean to save the party. Therefore, here they say, ' Asshur shall
not save us ; we will not ride upon horses ; neither wUl we say any more
to the works of our hands. Ye are our gods.'
' For in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.'
Here he shews the reason of their rejecting of all false confidence in
VOL. n. " T
290 THE EETUENING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IV.
Asshur, in horses, in idols ; because they had planted their confidence in
the true God. They said so when they had smarted by Asshur, and by
idolatry. Then ' Asshur shall not save us,' &c. They knew it by rule
before ; but till God plagued them, as he did oft by Asshur and by Egypt,
when he broke the reed that it did not only not uphold them, but run into
their hands, they made no such acknowledgment. Hence observe,
Obs. Usually it is thus ivith man, he never repents till sin be embittered to him.
He never alters his confidence till his trusts be taken away. When God
overthrows the mould of his devices, or brings them upon his own head,
setting him to reap the fruit of his own ways, embittering sinful courses to
him, then he returns. Instruction without correction doth for the most
part little good. When Asshur had dealt falsely v/ith them, and idolatry
would do them no good, then they begin to alter their judgment. What
makes men, after too mach confidence in their wit, when they have, by
their plots and devices, gone beyond what they should do, and wrapped
and entangled themselves in a net of their own weaving, as we say, alter
their judgment ? They are then become sick of their own devices. This
makes the change. For till then the brain hath a kind of net to wrap our
devices in. So, many have nets in their brains, wherewith they entangle
themselves and others with their idle devices ; which, when they have
done, and so woven the web of their own misery, then they begin to say,
as the heathen saith when he was deceived, ' 0 fool am I, I was never a
wise man ! ' Then they begin to say, I was a fool to trust such and such.
I have tried such and such policies, and they have deceived me. I will
now alter my course. And surely men of great parts are seldom converted
tiU God confound their plots, and lays flat all their false confidence. When
Asshur disappoints them, then ' Asshur shall not save us,' &c.
Use. Therefore make this use of it, not to be discouraged when God doth
confound any carnal plot or policy of ours, as to think that God hates either
a nation or a person when they have ill success in plots and projects which
are not good. Nay, it is a sign rather that God intends good, if they
make a right use it. God intends conversion, to translate false confidence
from the creature to himself, and to learn us to make God wise for us. It
is a happy thing when in this world God will disappoint a man's courses
and counsels, and bring him to shame, rather than he should go on and
thrive in an evil and carnal course, and so end his days. There is no evidence
at aU which can be given of a reprobate, because there may be final repent-
ance, repentance at the last. But this is one and as fearful a sign as may
be, to thrive and go on in an evil course to the end. When God shall dis-
appoint and bring a man to shame in that he prided in and built upon, it
is a good sign. If thereupon we take advantage to turn to God, and lay a
better bottom and foundation, as we see here, ' Asshur shall not save us ;
we will not ride upon horses,' &c.
' For in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.'
As if he should say. We have that supply of strength and comfort from
thee that Asshur, horses, and idols cannot give. Therefore we will alter
om* confidence, to fix and pitch it upon thee, and trust thee ; because ' in
thee the fatherless findeth mercy.' We shall not need to say. In thee will
we trust ; for, if God be apprehended thus, as one in whom ' the fatherless
findeth mercy,' afiiance will follow. For the object is the attractive and
loadstone of the soul ; so that if a fit object be presented unto it, affiance,
confidence, and trust will of itself follow. Therefore the Spirit of God for-
bears multiplication of words, and sets down this, ' For in thee the father-
HOSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER, 291
less findeth mercy ; ' and doth not sa}', In thee will I trust, for that is
implied. Whatsoever conceives that God is so gracious and merciful to
despicable, miserable persons, such as are set down in this one particular,
* fatherless,' they cannot but trust in God. Therefore the one is put for the
other, ' for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.' Whence, from the de-
pendence of the words, observe,
Ohs. That it is not sufficient to disclaim affiance in the creature, but ive must
pitch that affiance aright upon God.
We must not only take it off where it should not be placed, but set it
where it should be. ' Cease from evil, and learn to do well,' Isa. i. 16,
17. Trust not in the creatm-e. * Cease from man,' as the prophet saith,
' whose breath is in his nostrils,' Isa. ii. 22 ; ' Commit thy ways to God,
trust in him,' Ps. xxxvii. 5. The heathen, by the light of nature, knew
this, that for the necfative there is no trusting in the creature, which is a vain
thing. They could speak wonderful wittily* and to purpose of these
things, especially the Stoics. They could see the vanity of the creature.
But for the positive part, where to place their confidence, that they were
ignorant in. And so for the other part here, ' Neither will we say any
more to the works of oui- hands. Ye are our gods.' Idolaters can see the
vanity of false gods well enough. In Italy you have thousands of the
wittier and learneder sort, who see the folly and madness of their religion.
And among ourselves, how many witty men can disclaim f against popery,
who yet in then- lives and conversations are not the better for it ; because
they think it enough to see the error that misleads them, though they never
pitch their confidence as they should do. It is not enough therefore to
rest in the negative pai't. A negative Christian is no Christian ; not to be
an idolater, not to be a papist ; no, there must be somewhat else. We
must bring forth good fruit, Mat. iii. 10, or else we are for the fire, and are
near to cursing and burning, Heb. vi. 8. This is spoken, the rather because
many think themselves well when they can disclaim against the errors oi
popery ; and that they are good Christians, because they can argue well.
Oh ! such make religion nothing but a matter of opinion, of canvassing an
argument, &c. But it is another manner of matter, a divine power exer-
cised upon the soul, whereby it is transformed into the obedience of divine
truth, and moulded into it. So that there must be a positive as well as a
negative religion ; a cleaving to God as well as a forsaking of idols.
Again, in the severing of these idols from God, we must know and observe
hence,
Ohs. That there is no communion between God and idols.
' Neither will we say any more to the works of our hands, Ye are our
gods : for in thee the fatherless fijideth mercy.' There must be a re-
nouncing of false worship, religion, and confidence, before we can trust in
God. * Ye cannot serve God and Mammon,' saith Christ, Mat. vi. 24.
We cannot serve Christ and Antichrist together. We may as well bring
north and south, east and west together, and mingle light and darkness,
as mix two opposite religions. You see here, one of them is disclaimed
ere affiance be placed in the other. Therefore the halters betwixt two
religions are here condemned. It was excellent well said by Joshua.
They had there some mixture of false worship, and thought therewith to
serve also Jevovah. 'No,' saith he, 'you cannot serve Jehovah,' Josh,
xxiv. 19. What is Joshua's meaning when he saith they could not ? Not
only that they had no power of themselves ; but, you are a naughty, false
* That is, ' with wit ' = wisdom. — G. t 1'iiat is, ' declaim.' — G
292 THE RETUENING BACKSLIDER. [SeEMON IY.
people, you think to jumble God's worship and that of heathens together ;
' you cannot serve God ' thus. So a man may say to those who look
Homewards, for worldly ends, and yet will be Protestants, You cannot
serve God ; you cannot be sound Christians, halting thus betwixt both.
These are not compatible, they cannot stand together ; you must disclaim
the one if you will cleave to the other. We see the ground here, ' Neither
will we say any more to the works of our hands. Ye are our gods : for in
thee the fatherless findeth mercy.'
Again, whereas upon disclaiming of false confidence in the creatures and
idols, they name this as a gi'ound, ' For in thee the fatherless findeth
mercy,' observe,
In ivhat measure and degree we apprehend God aright to he the all-sufficient
true God, in that measure we cast away all false confidence xvhatsoever.
The more or less we conceive of God as we should do, so the more or
less we disclaim confidence in the creature. Those who in their afiections
of joy, love, afiiance, and delight, are taken up too much with the creature,
say what they will, profess to all the world by their practice that they
know not God. By the contrary, those who know and apprehend him in
his greatness and goodness as he should be apprehended, in that propor-
tion they withdraw their afi"ections from the creature and all things else.
It is with the soul in this case as with a balance. If the one scale be
drawn down by a weight put in it, the other is lifted up. So where God
weighs down in the soul, all other things are light ; and where other things
prevail, there God is set light. ' Asshur shall not save us,' for he can do
us no good ; nor ' horses,' because they are vain helps. How attained they
to this light esteem of Asshur and horses ? ' For in thee the fatherless
findeth mercy.' That which is taken from the creatm-e, they find in God.
And this is the reason why the world so malign good and sound Christians.
They think, when God gets, that they lose a feather, as we say, some of
their strength. Surely so it is ; for when a Christian turns to God and
becomes sound, he comes to have a mean esteem of that which formerly
was great in his sight. His judgment is otherwise, as we see here, Asshur,
horses, idols, and all, they esteem nothing of them. Horses and the like
are good, useful, and necessary to serve God's providence in the use of
means ; not to trust in, or make co-ordinate with God. In the world
especially, great persons would be gods in the hearts of people ; therefore,
when they see any make conscience of theu' ways, they think they lose
them ; because now they will do nothing but what may stand with the
favour of God. Thus far from the connection. Now to the words them-
selves.
' For in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.'
Wherein we have set forth unto us for our consideration of God's rich
goodness towards poor miserable sinners —
1. The attribute of God, mercy.
2. The fit object thereof, the fatherless.
Mercy is God's sweetest attribute, which sweeteneth all his other attri-
butes ; for, but for mercy, whatsoever else is in God were matter of terror
to us. His justice would affright us. His holiness likewise (considering
our impm'ity) would drive us from him. ' Depart from me,' saith Peter to
our Saviom', ' for I am a sinful man,' Luke v. 8. And when the prophet
Isaiah saw God in his excellency a little, then he said, ' Woe is me, for I
am undone, because I am a man of unclean Hps,' &c., Isa. vi. 5. His
power is terrible ; it would confound us ; his majesty astonish us. OIi !
Rosea XIV. 3.] the returning backslider. 293
but mercy mitigates all. He that is great in majesty, is abounding in
mercy ; he that hath beams of majesty, hath bowels of mercy. Oh ! this
draweth especially miserable persons. ' In thee the fatherless findeth
mercy.' And now, in the covenant of grace, this mercy sets all awork.
For it is the mercy of God by which we triumph now in the covenant of
grace ; in that mercy which stirred up his wisdom to find out a way for
mercy by satisfying his justice. So that the first moving attribute of God
that set him awork about that great work of our salvation by Jesus Christ,
in the covenant of gi'ace, was mercy, his tender mercy, his bowels of mercy.
Therefore, of all others, that attribute is here named. ' For in thee the
fatherless findeth mercy.'
Mercy in God, supposeth misery in the creature, either present or pos-
sible ; for there is, 1. A preventing; 2. A rescuing mercy.
A prevent wfi mercy, whereby the creature is freed from possible misery
that it might fall into ; as it is his mercy that we ai'e not such sinners in
that degree as others are. And every man that hath understanding is be-
holden to God for their preventing, as well as for their rescuing mercy.
We think God is merciful only to those unto whom he forgives great sins.
Oh ! he is merciful to thee that standeth. Thou mightst have fallen foully
else. Mercy supposeth misery, either that we are in, or may fall into. So
that mercy in God may admit of a threefold consideration.
1. It supposeth s/?!. So there is a ^jart?o»/»^ ?»erc!/ for that. Or,
2. Misery ; that is, a delivering mercy. Or,
8. Defect or want in the creature, which is, siqyplying mercy.
Wheresoever mercy is conversant, it is usually about one of these three,
either sin, or misery, or defects and wants ; that is, to persons in misery.
For, indeed, the word is more general than fatherless. Deserted persons,
that are forsaken of others, and have no strength of their own, they are
here meant by the fatherless, who have no means, wisdom, power, or ability
of their own, but are deserted and forsaken of others. Whence the chief
truth that oflers itself to be considered of us is this.
That God is especially merciful to those persons uho stand most in need of
mercy.
First, Because these do relish mercy most, and give him the glory of it,
applying themselves most to his mercy, being beaten out of the creature ;
and the more we have communion with God, being driven out of the crea-
ture and other comforts, the more he discovers himself to us. As the
nearer we are to the fixe, the hotter it is ; so the nearer we are to God, the
more good and gracious he every way shews himself unto us. Now, what
mates us near him, but extremity of miseiy, whereby we are beaten from
all other holds whatsoever ? It is acknowledged to be his work, when he
doth it for those that are deserted of all others, Hosea v. 15. Then ho
hath the chief glory of it. This is one end why God sufiers his children
to fall into extremity of great sorrows and perplexities, to fall very low in
depths of miseries (as the Scripture speaks), Ps. exxx. 1, that he might
discover a depth of his mercy beyond the depth of their miseiy, to shew
that there is a depth deeper than that depth, for their misery is fijiite.
Oh ! but the bowels of his compassions are infinite, both in measure and
time. ' His mercy endureth for ever,' Ps. cxxxvi. 1, scq.
Again, God is jealous of their affiance and confidence, knowing that natur-
ally, unless we fall into some straits and weaning extremities, we shall
place our affiance upon the creature. Therefore, he deals thus with us.
He knows our sickness well enough, that we are desperately addicted to
294 THE EETURNING EACKSLIDEE. [ SeKMON IV.
present things. Therefore, to cure this sickness in us, he draws us by ex-
tremities from the creature to himself, which, when it fails, we go to him.
* Help, Lord ! ' Why ? ' For vain is the help of man,' Ps. Ix. 11. It is
time then to help. ' Help, Lord, for the godly are perished from the
earth,' Ps. xii. 1. It is time to help, Lord, for if thou do not, none will ;
whereby they come to have their confidence upon the rock, which is worth
all. Other men, they run from creature to creature, from help to help, as
sick bodies do to this and to that drug, and to this and that potion. They
seek to many things to beg comfort from ; but a Christian hath a sure
foundation that he may stay upon. ' In thee the fatherless findeth mercy.'
To come now to speak of the words as they lie in the whole. They
carry another instruction.
That God is very gracious and mercifid to fatherless and distressed persons.
As we have it, Ps. x. 18, 'that God will judge the fatherless and op-
pressed ; that the man of the earth may no more oppress ;' so Ps. cxlvi. 9,
it is said, ' The Lord preserveth the strangers, he relieveth the fatherless
and widow,' &c. And for the general we have it, ' The Lord relieveth all
that fall, and raiseth up all that be bowed down,' Ps. cxlv. 14. God he
opens his ear to hear their cry, to judge the fatherless and the oppressed.
The like we have in Exodus, ' Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger,'
for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of
Egypt,' Exod. xxiii. 9. And saith he, * Thou shalt not afflict any widow or
fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto
me, I will surely hear then* cry,' Exod. xxii. 21. These, among many, are
direct places to shew the truth of this, that God is merciful, not only in
general, but to those persons set down by a synecdoche, a figure where one
is set down for all of the same kind. God is merciful to all persons,
in any kind of misery or distress whatsoever. As the apostle speaks, God
is he * who comforteth the abject person,' 2 Cor. vii. 6, the forlorn, the
castaway persons of the world ; and he is ' a very present help in trouble,'
Ps. xlvi. 1. So as when there are none to help, then he awaketh and
rouseth up himself to lay hold for us. ' His o^ti arm brings salvation for
his own sake.'* So when there is misery, and none to help, God will find
cause and ground from his own bowels to shew mercy, to take pity and
compassion upon his poor church and children. Which should teach us.
Use 1. First of all, to take notice of this most excellent attribute of God,
and to make use of it upon all occasions at our most need, then to present
to our souls God thus described and set out by his own Spirit, to be ' he
that comforteth the abject,' and sheweth mercy to the fatherless and op-
pressed. This we should make use of for the church in general, and for
every one of ourselves in particular. The church hath been a long time
like a forlorn widow, as it were. God hath promised that he will have a
care of the ' widow and the fatherless,' and so he will of his poor church.
We see in the parable, the widow, with her importunity, prevailed with
an unrighteous judge, Luke xviii. 5. The church now being like a widow,
what is wanting but a spirit of supplication and prayer 7 Which spirit, if
the church had to wrestle with God, and lay hold upon him as Jacob did,
Hos. xii. 4, and not suffer God to rest till he had mercy on his poor church,
certainly it would be better with it than it is, for God comforteth the widow,
Isa. Ixii. 7. If one, what will he do for the whole spouse, which hath so
long been a despicable and forlorn widow ? And for the time to come it
ought to minister matter of comfort for the church. Certainly, God that
* Isa. xii. 17, lix. 16, Ixiii. 6, xlviii. 9.
HOSEA XIV. 3.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 295
is merciful to the fatlicrlcss, he will be merciful to the poor church. We
see in the Revelation, though the woman was persecuted by' the dragon, yet
there were given two wings of a great eagle to her, that she might fly unto
the wilderness, where she had a place provided of God, Rev. xii. 14. It
alludes to the story of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. God
provided for them in the wilderness. They had manna from heaven, and
water out of the rock ; and till they came to Canaan, God provided every
way for them in a marvellous manner. So God will be sure to provide for
his in the v,'ildei-ncss of this world. He will have a harbour still for the
church, and a hiding-place from the stormy tempests of her adversaries,
Isa. iv. 5, 6. Therefore let us not despair, but stir up a spirit of prayer
for the church, that ho who shews mercy to the fatherless, and commands
mercy to be shewed to the widow, that he would shew that himself which
he requires of us. And why may not we hope and trust for it. The chm'ch
in this world is, as it were, a fatherless person, a pupil, an orphan, a sheep
in the midst of wolves, as Daniel in the lions' den, as a ship tossed in the
waves, as a lily among thorns. It is environed with enemies, and of itself,
like the poor sheep, is shiftless.* What is the church but a company of
weak persons ? Not so witty f for the world as worldly-wise men are, not
so strong in the arm of flesh, nor so defenced, but a company of persons
who have a hidden dependence upon God we know not how, and hang, as
it were, by a thread, as the church in this land, and abroad in other places.
The true church is maintained, w^e know not how. God keeps up religion,
the church, and all, because he is merciful to the fatherless, who have no
shifting wits, as the woi'ldly Ahithophels have. God is wise for them that
are not wise for themselves, and powerful for them that have little strength of
their own. Therefore let us not be discouraged though we be weak creatures,
a little flock, like a company of sheep, yet notwithstanding we have a strong
shepherd, Ps. xxiii 1. The church is like a vine, a poor, despicable, withered,
crooked, weak plant, which winds about, and must be supported, or else it
sinks to the gi'ouiid ; yet it is a fruitful plant, Isa. v. 1, 7. So the church
of God, a number of weak Christians professing religion, they want many
helps, yet God supports them, and hath ordained this and that haven for
them, as this magistrate and that person. God hath one support or other
for them. While they are fruitful and true vines, God will have a care of
them, though they be never so weak and despised in the eye of the world,
Isa. liv. 11.
Use 2. Again, this should teach us to mahe God our all-sufficiency in all
estates u-Jiatsoever, and not to go one hair's breadth from a good conscience,
for fear of after-claps. J I may be cast into prison, I may lose my goods.
"What of all this ? Is not God all-sufficient ? And is not he especially
seen in comforting of those who stand in most need of comfort, who want
other helps ? And will he be indebted to any man who stands out in a
good quarrel for his cause ? Isa. xli. 17. Will he not give needful supply,
if not in this world, yet in a better, of all comforts whatsoever ? It is a
good supply when the loss is in outward things, and the supply in inward
peace, gi-ace, and strength. It is a happy loss that is lost to the advantage,
Isa. Ix. 17 ; Ixiv. 5. There was never any man yet, from the beginning of
the world, who lost by cleaving to religion and good causes. God ever
made it up one way or other. Therefore this is a ground of courage to
cast ourselves upon doing good when God offers the occasion, relying upon
* That is, ' without expedients.' — G. f That is, ' wise.' — G.
J That is, 'judgments, trials.' — G.
296 THE EETUENING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IV.
God, as Esther did, ' If I perish, I perish,' Esther iv. 16. She meant, ' If
I perish, I shall not perish.' Such have a better condition in the love and
favour of God than they had before, or should have had, if they had not
perished. It is the way not to perish, so to perish. It is as clear and
true as the sunshine, but we want faith to believe it.
Use 3. And then, again, let us make use of it in another kind, to resist
another temptation. What will become of my poor children, if I do thus
and thus, stand thus and thus, and go on in my innocency ? What \Yi\l
become of thy childi-en ? It was well spoken by Lactantius, ' Because God
would have men stand out and die in a good cause willingly, therefore he
hath promised in a special manner to be a father to the fatherless, and a
husband to the widow ' (d). Are we the chief fathers of our children ? No ;
we are but under God, to bring those who are his children into the world.
We are but instruments. God is the chief father, best and last father,
' The everlasting father,' Isa. ix. 6, who takes upon him to be a father to
the fatherless, whom he chargeth all not to hurt. Experience shews how
he blesseth the posterity of the righteous, who have stood in defence of the
truth. Therefore let us make no pretences either for baseness, dejec-
tion of spirit, or covetousness, to keep us from well doing, for God will
reward all.
Quest. Oh, say some, I could be content not to be so worldly, but it is
for my children.
Ans. What saith the apostle ? ' Let those who are married be as if they
were not married,' 1 Cor. vii. 29, meaning in regard of this scraping of
wealth together by unla^vful means of covetousness, or in regard of readi-
ness to do works of mercy. What, doth God appoint one ordinance of
marriage, to take a man olf of all duties ? No ; notwithstanding this we
must do fitting works of mercy. God will be the father of the fatherless.
Many use oppression, and ^o to hell themselves to make their children
rich. Who commands us to make our children, in show, a while happy
here, to make our souls and bodies miserable for ever ? There is a mo-
derate care, as the apostle speaks, so that ' he who cares not for his own,
is worse than an infidel,' 1 Tim. v. 8 ; but we must not make this pretence
to excuse injurious and extortive com'ses. But let God alone. He will do
aU things well ; trust him. Or, if anything should befall us otherwise than
well, what if it do ? God is the God of the fatherless. Whatsoever he
takes away, he supplies it better another way. For whence have the crea-
tures that infusion to help ? Is it not from God ? And when the crea-
ture is taken away, is not God where he was ?
Use 4. And let us also learn hence that we answer God's dealing, in
shewing mercy to the fatherless and such as stand in need, as the apostle
exhorts, ' Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels
of mercy,' &c., Col. iii. 12, as if he should say, as you would prove your-
selves to be elect members of Christ and children of God, so shew your
likeness in this particular, ' The bowels of mercy and compassion.' This
hath ever been, and yet is at all times, a character of God's children, and
shall be to the end of the world. It is a sign such a one hath found bowels
of mercy, that is ready upon all occasions to pour forth those bowels of
compassion upon others, as hard-heartedness this way shews a disposition
which yet hath not rightly tasted of mercy. As we say in another case, those
that are appeased in their consciences, in the sense of the forgiveness of sins,
they are peaceable to others, because they feel peace. So here, those that
feel mercy will be merciful, those that have felt love will be loving to otherS/
HOSEA XTV. 3.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 297
* A good man is merciful to his beast, but the mercies of the wicked are
cruel,' Prov. xii. 10. Those, therefore, that arc hard-hearted and unmer-
ciful, hardening themselves against the complaints of the miserable, there
is, for the present, no comfort for them, that the Spirit of God hath wrought
any change in their hearts ; for then it would stamp the image of God upon
them, they would be merciful to the fatherless, widow, and distressed per-
sons. AVhat shall wc think, then, of a generation of men who, by gripping
usury and the like courses, have made many widows miserahle ? Let such
profess what they will, whilst they are thus hard-hearted they have not the
bowels of Christ. God is so merciful that you see, as the Jews call them
{e), he hath hedges of the commandments, that is, he hath some remote
commands which are not of the main, and all to hedge from cruelty, as,
' Thou shalt not kill the dam upon the nest,' Deut. xxii. 6 ; ' Thou shalt
not seethe a kid in his mother's milk,' Exod. xxiii. 19. "What tends this
to ? Nothing but to shew the mercy and bowels of God, and that he would
have us to abstain from cruelty. He that would not have us murder, would
have us keep aloof off, and not be merciless to the very dumb creatures,
birds and beasts. Therefore let us labour to express the image of our hea-
venly fiither in this.
Use 5. Again, we should use this as a j)lea against dcjectedncss at the hour
of death, in regard of those we leave behind us, not to be troubled what
shall become of them, when we are to yield up our souls to God ; but
know that he hath undertaken to be ' the Father of the fatherless, and of
the widow.' Therefore, for shame, for shame ! learn, as to live, so to die
by fliith ; and as to die by faith in other things, so to die in this faith ;
that God, as he will receive thy soul, so he will receive the care of thy
posterity. Canst thou with affiance yield up thy soul unto God, and wilt
thou not with the same confidence yield thy posterity ? Thou art an
hj^Docrite, if this distract and vex thee, when yet thou pretendest to die in
the faith of Christ. Canst thou yield thy soul, and yet art grieved for thy
posterity ? No ; leave it to God. He is all-sufficient. ' The earth is the
Lord's, and the fulness thereof,' Ps. xxiv. 1. "We need not fear to put our
portion in his hands. He is rich enough. ' The earth and all is his.'
Therefore, when we are in any extremity whatsoever, rely on this mercy of
so rich and powerful a God ; improve it, for it is our portion, especially in
a distressed condition. Were it not for faith, wrought by the blessed
Spirit of God, he would lose the glory of this attribute of mercy. Now,
faith is a wise power of the soul, that sees in God what is fit for it, sing-
ling out in God what is fit for the present occasion of distress. Is a man
in any extremity of misery ? let him look to mercy. Is a man oppressed ?
let him look to mercy, to be revenged of his enemies. Is a man in any
perplexity ? let him look to mercj^ joined with wisdom, which is able to
deliver him. Religion is nothing else but an application of the soul to
God, and a fetching out of him somewhat (as he hath discovered him-
self in the covenant) fit for all our exigents ; as there is somewhat
in God, and in the promises, for all estates of the soul. Faith, there-
fore, is witty to look to that in God which is fit for its turn. Let us
therefore take heed of Satan's policy herein, who in our extremity, useth
this as a weapon to shake our faith. ' Tush,' as it is in the psalm, ' God
hath forsaken and forgotten him,' Ps. x. 11. Hath he so ? Nay; because
I am in extremity, and deserted above others, rather God now regards me
more than before ; because, * he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth,'
Heb. xii. 6. So retort Satan's fiery darts back again. For indeed, that
298 THE EETUKNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IY.
is the time wherein God exalts and shews himself most glorious and
triumphant in mercy, where misery is greatest. ' Where sin abounds,
there grace abounds much more,' Rom. v. 20. So where misery abounds,
mercy superabounds much more. Therefore let us be as wise for our souls,
as Satan can be malicious against them. What he useth for a weapon to
wound the soul, use the same as a weapon against him.
To end all, let faith in God's mercy answer this his description ; and let it
be a description ingrafted into us at such a time. Doth God care for the
fatherless, and mean persons, who are cast down and afflicted ? Why,
then, I will trust that God who doth so, being in this case myself. If he
will help in extremity, trust him in extremity ; if he will help in distress,
trust him in distress ; if he will help when all forsake, trust him when we
are forsaken of all, Hab. iii. 17. What if a stream be taken away ? yet
none can take away God from thee. What if a beam be taken away ? thou
hast the sun itself. What if a particular comfort be taken away ? So long
as God, ' who comforteth the abject,' and is merciful to the distressed,
fatherless, and widows, continues with thee, thou needst not fear. A man
cannot want comfort and mercy, so long as the Father of mercies is in
covenant with him. If he sin, he hath pardoning mercy for him ; if weak,
he hath strengthening mercy ; if in darkness, he hath quickening mercy ;
if we be dull, dead, and in danger, there is rescuing mercy; and if subject
to dangers we may fall in, there is for that preventing mercy, Ps. xxxii. 10.
Therefore there is mercy ready to compass God's children about in aU
conditions. When they are environed with dangers, yet God is nearer to
guard their souls, than the danger is to hurt them.
Therefore let us take the counsel of the blessed apostle. ' Be careful
for nothing ; but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanks-
giving, let your requests be known to God.' And what then ? Will God
grant that I pray for ? Perhaps he will not ; but yet, ' the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus,' Philip, iv. 6, 7. As if he should say, in nothing be over-
careful. Let your care be, when ye have used the means, to depend upon.
God for support in the event and issue of all. If God deny you what you
pray for, he will grant you that which is better. He will set up an excel-
lent inward peace there, whereby he will stablish the soul in assurance of
his love, pardon of sins, and reconciliation : whereby their souls shall be
guarded, and their hearts and minds preserved in Christ. So they become
impregnable in all miseries whatsoever, when they have ' the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding,' to guard them within. Therefore let us
not betray and lose our comforts for want of making use of them, or for
fear some should call us hypocrites. And, on the other side, let us not
flatter ourselves in an evil course ; but make the conscience good, which
will bear us out in all miseries, dangers, and difficulties whatsoever. No-
thing makes losses, crosses, banishment, imprisonment, and death so
terrible and out of measure dreadful unto us, but the inward guilt and
sting in the inside, the tumults of conscience. Gen. xlii. 21. Clear this
well once, make all whole within, let conscience be right and straight, let it
have its just use and measure of truth and uprightness, and go thy way in
peace ; I warrant thee, thou shalt hold up thy head, and wind thyself out
of all dangers well enough : nothing shall daunt or appal thy courage.
For, saith Solomon, ' The righteous is bold as a lion,' Prov. xxviii. 1.
What can, what should he fear, who is heir of all things,' Rev. xxi. 7,
whose all things are, and who is reconciled to God in Chi'ist, having all the
HOSEA XIV. 4. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER, 299
angels and creatures for his servants, Heb. i. 14, for wlaosG sake * all tlungs
must needs work together for good ? ' Rom. viii. 28.
THE FIFTH SERMON.
1 will heal their backsliding, I ivill love them freehj : for mine anger is turned
aivay from them. — Hos. XIV. 4.
The snpcrabounding mercies and marvellous lovingkindnesses of a gracious
and loving God to wretched and miserable sinners, as we have heard, is
the substance and sum of this short, sweet chapter, wherein their ignorance
is taught, their bashfulness is encouraged, their deadness is quickened,
their untowardness is pardoned, their wounds are cured, all their objections
and petitions answered; so as a large and open passage is made unto them,
and all other miserable penitent sinners, for access unto the throne of grace. If
they want words, they are taught what to say ; if discouraged for sins past, they
are encouraged that sin may be taken away ; yea, all iniquity may be taken
away. ' Take away all iniquity.' If their unworthiness hinder them, they
are taught for this, that God is gracious. ' Receive us graciously.' If
their by-past unthankfulness be any bar of hindrance unto them, they are
taught to promise thankfulness. ' So will we render the calves of our lips.'
And that their repentance may appear to be sound and unfeigned, they are
brought in, making profession of their detestation of their bosom sins, of
false confidence and idolatry. * Asshur shall not save us ; we will not ride
upon horses ; neither will we say any more to the works of our hands. Ye
are our gods.' And not only do they reject their false confidence, to
cease from evil, but they do good, and pitch their affiance where it should
be. For ' in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.'
None must therefore be discouraged, or run away from God, for what
they have been, for there may be a returning. God may have a time for
them, who, in his wise dispensation, doth bring his children to distress,
that their delivery may be so much the more admired by themselves and
others, to his glory and their good. He knows us better than we ourselves.
How prone we are to lean upon the creatui'e. Therefore he is fain to take
from us all our props and supports, whereupon we are forced to rely upon
him. If we could do this of om-selves, it were an excellent work, and an
undoubted evidence of the child of God, that hath a weaned soul in the
midst of outwai'd supports, to enjoy them, as if he possessed them not ;
not to be pufled up with present greatness, not to swell with riches, nor
be high-minded ; to consider of things to be as they are, weak things,
subordinate to God, which can help no further than as he blesseth them.
But to come to the words now read.
' I will heal their backshding, and love them freely,' &c.
After that the church had shewed her repentance and trath of returning
to God : now in these words, and the other verses, unto the end of the
chapter (saving the last verse, which is a kind of acclamation issuing from
all the rest of the foregoing verses, ' Who is wise, and he shall understand
these things ? ' &c.), is set down an answer unto that prayer, repentance,
and reformation which the church made ; all the branches of which their
former suit the Lord doth punctually* answer. For they had formerly
* That is, ' poiut by point.'— Ed.
300 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON V.
prayed, 'Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously; do good unto
us.' Unto wliicli he answers here, * I will heal their backsliding,' &c.
Which is thus much : I will pardon their iniquities, I will accept graciously
of them, I will love them freely, and so of the rest, as will appear afterwards ;
and, in sum, God answers all those desires which formerly he had stirred up
in his people. Whence, ere we come to the particulars, observe in general,
Obs. Where God doth give a spirit of prayer, he nill answer.
It needs no proof, the point is so clear and experimental. All the saints
can say thus much from their experience of God's gracious dealing with
them ; and the Scriptures are full of such instances and promises, which
we all know. To name a place or two for all the rest, ' Call upon me in
the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me,' Ps. 1. 15.
So in another place, ' And it shall come to pass that before they call, I
will answer; and whilst they speak, I will hear,' Isa. Ixv. 24. It hath
been made good to persons, as Daniel, Elijah, Solomon, Jacob, and others ;
and it hath been, and is, made good unto all ages of the church, from time
to time, and shall be unto the end of the world. And therefore the pro-
phet sets down this as a conclusion undeniable from the premises, ' 0 thou
that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come,' Ps. Ixv. 2. Whence
he draws this excellent consolation, ' Iniquities prevail against me ; as for
our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.'
Reason. The reason is strong, because they are the motions of his own
Spirit, which he stirs up in us. For he dictates this prayer unto them,
' Take with j^ou words,' &c., ' and say unto the Lord, Take away all
iniquity, and receive us graciously,' So that, where God stirs up holy
desires by his Spirit, he will answer exactly ; there shall not a sigh be lost.
' Likewise,' saith the apostle, ' the Spirit also helps our infirmities : for wa
know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes
intercession for us, with groaniugs which cannot be uttered,' Rom. viii. 26.
Therefore there cannot a groan be lost, nor a darting of a sigh. Whatso-
ever is spiritual must be effectual, though it cannot be vented in words.
For God hath an ear, not only near a man's tongue, to know what he
saith ; but also in a man's heart, to know what he desires, or would have.
As the observing, careful, tender mother many times knows what the
chUd would have though it cannot speak ; so God, he knows the desires,
sighs, and groans of the heart when we cannot speak. For sometimes
there may be such a confusion upon the soul, by reason of divers disturb-
ances, that it cannot express nor vent itself in words. Therefore the Spirit
vents itself then in sighs and gi-oans, which are heard and accepted, be-
cause they are the desires of his own Spirit. Thus much the j)rophet
David excellently sheweth, ' Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the
humble : thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear,'
Ps. X. 17. God, he jBirst prepares the heart to pray, then his ear to hear
their prayers and desires. If this will not encourage us to be much in suit
to God, and put up om- petitions to him, to labour for a spirit of prayer,
I know not what will prevail ; when we know that no petition shall be
turned back again unanswered. When we are to deal with princes upon
earth, they oftentimes regard neither the persons nor their petitions, but
turn their backs upon both. Oh ! but a Christian hath the ear of God
and heaven open upon him ; such credit in heaven, that his desires and
groans are respected and heard. And undoubtedly a man may know that
he shall be heard when he hath a spirit of prayer ; in one kind or other,
though not in the particulars or kinds we ask, hear he will for our good.
HOSEA XIV. i.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 801
God will not lose the incense of his own Spirit, of a spirit of prayer which
he stirs up, it is so precious. Therefore let us labour to have a spirit of
prayer, which God regards so much ; seeing for a certain, wheresoever he
gives a spirit of prayer, he means to give that we pray for ; but according
to his heavenly wisdom, as here his answer is,
' I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely,' &c.
God answers them exactly unto all they prayed for, beginning first with
the ground of all our comfort, ' forgiveness of sins.' According to their
petition, ' Take away all iniquity,' he answers, * I will heal their backslid-
ing,' or their rebelUon. Backsliding is an aggravation of sin. Every sin
is not a rebellion, apostasy, or backsliding • for there be also sins of in-
firmities. We usually rank sins thus, in
1. Sins of ignorance.
2. Sins of infirmity.
3. Sins against knowledge, with a higher hand ; and
4. The sins against the Holy Ghost.
Now, this is more than to cui'e sins of ignorance and of infii-mity when
he saith, * I will heal their backsliding.'
Quest. But why doth he answer the higher pitch of an aggravation, when
their petition was in a lower strain only, ' Take away all mine iniquity ' ?
Ans. To shew that he would answer them folly ; that is, that he would
heal all sins whatsoever, not only of ignorance and of infirmity, but also
sins willingly committed, their rebellions and backslidings. For, indeed,
they were backsliding. From the time of Jeroboam, that made the rent, the
ten tribes grew worse and worse continually, so that they had been utterly ex-
tinguished, but that God was wondrous gracious to send them prophets to
presei-ve many that they should not bow the knee to Baal, being merciful
to them to bear with their backsliding so long. For besides their calves,
they had false gods. They did not only worship the true God in a false
manner by the calves, but they had Baals also. So that we see, God, when
he will comfort, will comfort to purpose, and take away all objections that
the soul can make, a guilty soul being full of objections. Oh ! my sins are
many, great, rebellions and apostasies. But, be they Avhat they will, God's
mercy in Christ is gi-eater and more. ' I will heal their backsliding,' or
their rebellion. God is above conscience. Let Satan terrify the conscience
as he will, and let conscience speak the worst it can against itself, yet God
is greater. Therefore, let the sin be what it will, God will pardon all
manner of sins. As they pray to pardon all, so he ^vill ' take away aU
iniquity, heal their backsliding.' But to come nearer the words.
' I will heal,' &c. The healing meant here is especially in the pardon of
their sins, answerable to their desu-es in justification. And there is a heal-
ing also in sanctification by the Spirit. When God takes away the venom
from the wound, then God cures in sanctification. Both are meant, but
especially the first. In a wound we know there is,
1. The malignity and venom of it ; and then,
2. The wound itself, so festered and rankled.
Now, pardoning grace in justification takes away the anguish and malice
of the wound, so that it ceaseth to be so malignant and deadly as to kill
or infect. And then sanctification purgeth and cleanseth the wound and
heals it up. Now, God through Christ doth both. The blood of Chi-ist
doth heal the guilt of sin, which is the anger and malignity of it ; and by
the Spirit of Christ he heals the woimd itself, and purgeth out the sick and
peccant humour by little and little through sanctification. God is a perfect
302 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON V.
healer. ' I will heal their backsliding.' See here the state of the church
and children of God. They are prone to backsliding and turning away.
We are naturally prone to decline further and further from God. So the
church of God, planted in a family in the beginning of the world, how soon
was it prone to backsliding. This is one weakness since the fall. It is
incident to our nature to be unsettled and unsteady in our holy resolutions.
And whilst we live in the midst of temptations, the world, together with the
fickleness of our own nature, evil examples, and Satan's perpetual malice
against God and the poor church, are ill pilots to lead us out of the way.
This is spoken to make us careful how to shun backsliding. For we see how
many opinions are foisted in amongst us, and have got some head, that
durst not before once be named amongst us. Popery spreads itself amain.
Even churches are prone to backsliding. Therefore, St Paul's advice is,
' Be not high-minded, but fear; for if God spared not the natural branches,
take heed lest he also spare not thee,' Rom. xi. 20, 21. What is become
of Rome ? So the same will become of us if we stop not our backslidings.
Now, in that God's promise is, ' I will heal their backslidings,' observe,
in the first place,
That sin is a ivound and a disease.
Now, as in sickness there is, 1, grief troubling and vexing the party who
feels it ; and, 2, deformity of the place affected, which comes by wounds
and weaknesses ; so in all sin, when we are sensible of it, there is first
grief, vexation, and torment of conscience, and then, again, deformity. For
it takes away the beauty and vigour of the soul, and dejects the counte-
nance. It debaseth a man, and takes away his excellency. As Jacob saith
of Reuben, * Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel, because thou wentest
up to thy father's bed,' Gen. xlix. 4. Saith God to Cain, ' Why art thou wroth,
and why is thy countenance fallen?' Gen. iv. 6. And the prophet Da\id, he
confesseth, ' When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring
all the day long,' Ps. xxxii. 3, 4, So again, ' There is no soundness in
my flesh, because of thine anger ; neither is there any rest in my bones,
because of my sin,' Ps. xxxviii. 3. So that sin is a wound and a disease,
whether we consider the miseries it brings on soul and body, or both.
Therefore, howsoever a sinful person think himself a goodly person, and
wear his sins as ornaments about him, pride, lust, and the like, yet he is a
deformed, loathsome person in the eyes and presence of God ; and when
conscience is awakened, sin will be loathsome, irksome, and odious unto
himself, fill him full of grief and shame, so that he cannot endure the sight
of his own soul.
Now, all sins whatsoever are diseases. The first sin of all sins, which
we call hereditary, original sin, what was * it but an hereditary disease ? A
leprosy, which we drew from our first parents, spread over all the soul,
having the seeds and spawn of all sin in it. The church of Rome makes it
less than other sins, as indeed popery is ignorant both of the height of
grace and of the depth of corruption, for if they knew the one, they would
be more capable of the other. Why do they not conceive aright of grace
and of the height of it ? Because they know not the depth of original sin.
And, indeed, the true knowledge of this disease is proper only to the child
of God in the true church. None but he knows what original sin is.
Others can dispute and talk of it, but none feels it but the child of God.
Now, aU other particular, actual sins be diseases flowing from hence. So
that all diseases in this kind arise either, 1, fi-oru ourselves, as we have a
-^' Qu. 'isit?-— G.
HOSEA XIV. 4."! THE RETURNING BACKSLIBER. 303
Beminary of them in oiir own hearts ; or else, 2, from the infection and
contagion of others ; or, 3, from Satan, who hath society with our spirits,
as men have with the outward man, coming in by his suggestions, and our
entertaining of them. So that in that respect sin is hko unto a wound
and a disease, in regard of the cause of them.
And, in regard of the effects, sin is Uke a disease. Diseases, if they bo
neglected, breed death itself, and become incurable. So it is with the dis-
eases and sins of the soul. Neglect them, and the best end of them will
bo despair in this world. Whereupon we may have advantage to fly unto
the mercy of God in Christ. This is the end of sin, either to end in a
good despair or in a fruitless barren despair, at the hour of death leading
to hell, when they have no grace to repent. ' The wages of sin is death,'
&c., Rom. vi. 23. Sin itself is a wound, and that which riseth from sin
is a wound too, doubting and despair ; for this disease and woimd of sin
breeds that other disease, a despair of mercy, which is the beginning of
hell, the second death. These things might be further enlarged. But for
the present only in general know that sin is a disease and a wound of the
.soul ; so much worse than the diseases of the body, by how much the soul
is more precious than it, and the death of the soul more terrible than the
death of the body. Sin is a disease and a wound ; for what is pride but a
swelling ? What is anger but an intemperate heat of the soul, like an ague,
as it weie ? What is revenge but a wildfire in the soul ? What is lust
but a spreading canker in the soul, tending to a consumption ? What is
covetousncss but a sword, a perpetual wounder of the soul, piercing it
through with many sorrows ? What is security but, as it were, the lethargy
and apoplexy of the soul ? And so we might go on in other resemblances (/).
Quest. But, it may be demanded, how shall we know that we are sick of
this sickness and disease you speak of ?
Ans. How do we know that we are sick in body ? If the body be ex-
treme cold we know there is a distemper, or if it be extreme hot. So if
the soul be so extreme cold that no heavenly motives or sweet promises
can work upon it, stir it up, then certainly there is a disease upon the soul.
If the soul be inflamed with revenge and anger, that soul is certainly dis-
eased. The temper of the soul is according to the passions thereof. A
man may know by his passions when he hath a sick soul.
If a man cannot relish good diet, then we count him a sick man ; so
when a man cannot relish holy discourse nor the ordinances of God. You
have some men that can relish nothing but profits and pleasures, and such
vanities, but no di\'ine thing. Such have sick souls undoubtedly.
So, again, a man may know there is a deadly sickness and soreness upon
the soul, 1, when it is senseless of its wounds ; and, 2, is senseless of that
which passeth from it. As men, we say, are ready to die when excremen-
tal things pass from them without any sense, so a man may know that he is
desperately soul-sick when oaths, lies, and deceitful speeches pass from
him, and yet he is senseless of them. They think not of them. They
mean no harm. Doth that argue a sound state of body, when a man is so
desperately ill that he feels not his bodily hurts ? And is this a good state
of soul, when these filthy things come out from it insensibly ? It is an
argument of extreme deadness of spirit and irreverence, and of a desperate
sin-sick soul, when there is no dread or awe of the majesty of God. Let
such look about them. It is an aggravation of the danger of the soul this
kind of temper. We usually say, when the stomach is so weak that it can
hold no nourishment without casting it up again as fast as it receives it,
304 THE EETUENING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON V.
certainly sucli an one is sick, and in a dangerous state of body. So when
a man hears and hears, and reads and reads, and digests nothing into
nourishment, but all is left where he heard it, it is a sign they have sick
souls when their retentive power is so weak. And there is certainly some
sickness, some dangerous obstruction in that soul that cannot digest the
wholesome word of God, to make use of it ; some noisome lust then cer-
tainly obstructs the soul, which must be purged out.
It is a pitiful thing to see the desperate condition of many now, who,
though they live under the tyranny of sin, yet flatter their ovm disease,
and account them their greatest enemies who any way oppose their sick
humour. What do they most cordially hate ? The sound preaching of
the word. The very sight of such an one whose calling hath been to
put us in mind of our sins, e\il courses, and vanities of the world, is
loathsome and ofiensive to carnal men, in whom corruption is grown
up to such a tyranny that it sways the whole soul to devise how to satisfy
it. Man is so diseased that those lusts in him, which he should labour to
subdue and mortify by the power of the Spirit, do so oversway him that all
his life is nothing else but a disease and backsliding into sin. And as il
we were not corrupt enough ourselves, how many are there who feed their
corruptions when they frequent ill places and company, whom they cannot
do without, and are as fish in the water, feeding the old man in them. So
that such are not only sick, but defend, maintain, and feed then- sickness,
their whole life being spent this way, which they laugh at, and make ' pride
their chain and ornament,' Ps. Ixxiii. 6, as the prophet speaks. This is
spoken that we may take up a lamentation for the vileness of man's nature,
and to teach us how to judge aright of men when they devise how to have
their liberty strengthened to go to hell, as it were, with an high hand, having
their will so fortified that no man is able to deal with them, thwart them,
or teach them anything. If it v/ere offered to most men to have what
estate they would in this world, what are their wishes and desires ? 0 that
I might live as I list, that I might have what would content my pleasures
without control, that I might have no crosses, but go smoothly on ! Yet
this, which is the deske of most men, is the most cm'sed estate of all, and
most to be lamented. Thus it appeareth sin is a wound and a disease.
What use may we make of it ?
Use 1. If this be so, then, in the first place, let us know and consider,
that no man uho lives in sins unrepented of and uncured, is to he envied, be
they never so great. Who will envy a man that hath a rotten body, covered
over with glorious attire ? when every man knows that he carries a rotten
disease about him ; either some disease in the vital parts, or from the rot-
tenness of sin, which puts a kind of shame and scorn. Can we pity a man
thus in glorious attire, having a filthy body under it ? thus covering their
nakedness, in whose case we would not for anything be. And are they
not much more to be pitied, who have ulcerous souls, galled and pierced
through with many sins ? When we see men that are blasphemers,
swearers, men guilty of much blood and filthiness, and of many sins hang-
ing upon them, to envy such a man's greatness is extreme folly. Oh, he
carries his death's wound about him, as we say. He is stricken already in
his side with a deadly dart. Without the healing mercy of God, there is
but a step betwixt him and eternal death ; wherefore no man is to be
envied for his sinful greatness.
Use 2. Again, if this be so, that sin is a disease and wound of the soul,
let us therefore labour to cure it presently. It is desperate folly in men to
HOSEA XIV, 4. J THE RETURNI.S'G BACKSLIDER. 805
neglect their bodies, when they know that they are prone to such and such
diseases, which are growing upon them every day. How careful are men,
perceiving thus much, to prevent diseases by timely physic ! All sins are
diseases, and growing like diseases, run from ill to worse, worse and worse.
' Wicked men,' saith the apostle, ' grow worse and worse,' 2 Tim. iii. 13.
Therefore, if sin be a disease, prevent it presently. For as we see, heretics
and other the like are hardly sound but at the first, and then are hardly
cured. So, if we neglect the diseases of our souls, they will breed a con-
sumption of grace, or such an ill temper of soul, as that it cannot well
desire to repent. Nay, when a man lives in wicked, rebellious courses
long, God will give him up to such terrors of conscience, that it will not be
pacified, but upbraid itself. I have been a sinful, wretched creature; mercj
hath been ofi'ered me again and again, but now it is too late, having out-
stood all the means of grace, and rejected them. When they have con-
sidered thai their lives have for a long time been a mere rebellion, and thai
thev have put ofi" the checks of conscience, the admonitions of the word
and Spii'it, with the motions thereof. It is long in this case before a man
can have peace. For answerable to the continuance in sin, is the hard-
ness of the cure, if it be cured at all.
Therefore there is no dallying with sin. I shall repent at length, but
not now. Yet a while I will continue these and these courses, I shall do
well enough, &c. ; as if a man who were sick, or desperately wounded,
should say, I shall do well, and yet neglect to send for the physician. None
are so desperately foolish in case of the body, why should we for our sovds ?
Is not that in much more hazard than the body, if we had spiritual eyes to
consider of it ? The truth is, people are not convinced of this, that sin is
such a sickness, which is the reason they are so careless of it. But when
the conscience is awaked, as it will be one day, here or in hell, then they
will be of another mind. Nay, in this world, when friends, nor riches, nor
anything can comfort, then they cry out, 0 that they had not been so
fooHsh ! They would give a world, if they had it, for peace of conscience !
This will be the best of it, for men that go on in sin. Therefore, before
hardness of heart grow upon us, that disease following the disease of sin,
let us take heed, and labour to have our souls healed in time. Thus we
have found that sin is a sickness ; for so much is implied, when he saith,
' I will heal their backshding.' Whence the direct observation is,
That God is the great physician of the soul.
For he saith here, 'I will heal their backshding ;' so that healing implies
the taking away of —
1. The guilt of sin, which is the venom of it, by justification.
2. The rage of sin, which is the spreading of it, by sanctification.
3. The removing the judgment upon our estate.
For, unless God be the more merciful, these things follow. Where
there is sin, and breaking of his law, there is a state binding over to
damnation and guilt. When there is a sinful disposition raging, and bring-
ing us from one degree of sin to another, then there is God's judgment and
wrath revealed jfrom heaven against this. Now, when God heals, he heals
perfectly, but in some regards slowly, as we shall see hereafter. In regard
of forgiveness of sins, he healeth perfectly. But by Httle and little in
regard of the other, of sanctification. He stops up the issues of our cor-
ruption by little and little. For other things, and judgments in this world,
He removes the malice, and takes away the sting of them, which is the
venom; as he saith afterward, 'F<)r mine anger is turned away,' which
VOL. u. u
306 THE KETUKNING BACKSLIDEE. [SkILMUN V.
being removed and turned from things, tlien they are no more judgments.
What cared PAul for imprisonment, when he knew God's wrath accompanied
not the stocks ? Acts xvi. 19, seq. Let wrath be taken from the sulieriug,
that the soul be sound, then it is no matter what condition a man be in, he
carries heaven and paradise with him. Therefore, so far God removes
those diseases and sicknesses of condition, as thej carry venom in them ;
ED changing the condition, that whatsoever wo suiier, it hath the nature of
an exercise, medicine, or correction only. But that which envenoms all,
and makes the least cross a curse, and sinks deep, is the anger of God
joined with things, Ps. Ixxxix. 46. The least cross, when it carrieth with
it tho anger and vengeance of God, and reports that to the soul, I have
offended God, and it is just with him thus to inflict wrath upon me : this
is terrible, and it puts a sting to the cross. Now, God here promisclh to
remove that, ' I will litni thru- backsliding.' This principally, in the first
place, is meant of healing in regard of justification ; taking away that guilt
from the soul which enthrals it, and binds it over to condemnation and
judgment. God will set the soul at a spiritual liberty, and so heal it.
Thus you see the point clear, that God is the gi-eat physician of the
soul.
Reason 1. For God who made the soul, Imous all the diseases, windings,
and turnings of it. He is an excellent anatomist : * all things are naked
and open before his eyes,' Heb. iv. 13. He knows the inward part of the
soul, the seat of all sin. We know not ourselves as he knows us. There
is a mystery of self-deceit in the heart, v>'hich he knows who can search all
the hidden corners of the heart, which is the reason why he is so good a
physician, and so excellent. Because he is a discerner and searcher of the
heart, who can see all, and so can cure all, being above the sting of con-
science, he hath a remedy above the malady. He is greater than our con-
science. Therefore he can cure our conscience.
Reason 2. And in the next place, as he can hen! our souls, so he is icilling
to do it, which his willingness we ma^ ■ ''■■->. medicine he doth it by,
his own dear Son. He hath proviat , ; .^. - of his Son's blood to heal
us. And besides his own inward willingness, being now a gracious father
to us in Christ Jesus, he sends his ambassadors to heal and cure us in his
name, 2 Cor. v. 20, to apply his medicines, and to beseech and entrc:it us
to be reconciled. God, by them, entreats us to entreat him for pardon
and mercy, and is so willing to be entreated, that ere we shall set out he
teacheth us words, as we heard, ' Take unto you words,' &c. As he is an
able, so he is a willing physician, Christ, the great physician, together
with his Father, expects not that we should first come to him, but he comes
first, and sends to us. The physician came to the sick, though for the
most part the sick, if able, go to the physician, 1 John iv. 9, 10, But
here is the contrary. He came from heaven, took our nature upon him,
and therein died, by which his blood-shedding, he satisfied the wrath of
God, justly offended with us, Isa. liii. 10. So he heals our souls that way,
having undergone the anger and wrrath of God, that his blood might quench
and appease that anger by a plaster thereof made, and applied to om- souls,
Isa. liii. 11, 12.
Do we doubt of bis willingness, when he comes to us and calls us,
' Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest' ? Mat. xi. 28. It is his ofiice which he hath assumed to heal our
soul. The many cures he hath done sheweth the ability and willingness of
the physician ; cures whereof we are incapable, by reason of om- mean coiv
HOSEA XIV. 4. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 307
dition. A king, as his place is gi-eater, so sometimes his sins are greater
than others are ; yet he cui'ed Mauasseh, that sinful king, 2 Chrou. xxxiii.
23, together with Mary Magdalen, Pf.nl, Peter, and the rest, who were a
company healed by this physician. Therefore all this is for the glory of
our physician. We may see what ho can do by what he hath done ; as
amongst us physicians are sought after according to their skill and cures
done. Consider in the sacrament how ready God is to cure and to heal us,
how gracious he is in the sacrament of baptism, wherein he engageth us to
beheve, admitting us into the covenant, and preventing us with mercy, be-
fore we knew what a covenant or seal was, Ezek. xvi. 6, seq. And so to per-
suade us of his willingness to forgive our sins and heal our rebellions, he
hath ordained the sacrament, not for his sake, but to strengthen our weak
faith, and help us. The point is easy for matter of our understanding,
but hard in regard of use and application, especially when it should be
made use of, in time of temptation. Then let us lay it up as a comfortable
point, this gracious promise of God, ' I will heal their backsliding, I will
love them freely,' &c. Lay this up against the hour of temptation, make
use of it then, alleging unto God his own promise and nature, as David
did, ' Lord, remember the promise wherein thou hast caused me to trust,'
Ps. cxix. 49. Thou hast promised pardoning and healing [of] all our
trangressions, &c. Remember thy free promises made in Jesus Christ.
God cannot deny himself nor his word, but loves to have his bonds sued.
Remember this. And when conscience is surprised with any sin, though
it be never so great, look not on the disease so much as who is the physi-
cian, and what his plaster and medicine is. God is the physician, and the
blood of Christ is the plaster. What if our sins be mountains ! There is
an ocean and a sea of mercy to swell above and cover these mountains of
our sins, Mic. vii. 18, 19. Our sins in this case are hke fire, which, fall-
ing into the sea, is by and by quenched. \Vhat if our sins be of never so
long standing (as these then- backsHdings here had continued hundreds of
years, wherein they were a backsliding generation), yet it is no matter of
what standing or continuance the disease is, so long as God hath promised
to be the physician, and the blood of Christ is the plaster that healeth us,
Isa. i. 18, 19. The question is not, What ? How many ? How great '? and
of what continuance our sins ? but how we stand affected towards them,
hate them, and resolve against them ? That sin cannot hurt us which we
fight against, mourn for, complain of, resolve to leave, and truly hate.
Let us never stand, then, in comparisons with our sins, which bear no pro-
portion to the infinite skill and power of our great physician, and to the
infinite work of Christ's all-suflicient satisfaction. What canst thou object,
0 man ? ' It is Christ that justifieth the ungodly, who art thou that con-
demneth ? It is he that died, yea, rather, who is risen again, who is also
at the right hand of God, and also maketh intercession for us,' Rom. viii.
33, 34. Thou canst not satisfy for the least sin. God hath laid upon
him the iniquities of us all. Lev. x^i. 21. ' The chastisements of our
peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed,' Isa. liii. 5.
Let us, therefore, be wise for afterwards, hear, read, lay up, and medi-
tate for the time to come. For times will come, if we belong to God, that
nothing will content or pacify the soul but the infinite worth and merit
of an infinite and free mercy apprehended in the face of Jesus Christ.
"WTien om* sins are set in order before us, the sins of our youth, middle,
and old age, our sins against conscience, against the law and gospel, against
examples, vows, promises, resolutions, and admonitions of the Spirit and
308 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeKMOX V.
servanta of God ; when there shall be such a terrible accuser, and God
shall perhaps let the wounds of conscience fly open and join against us ;
when wrath shall appear, be in some sort felt, and God presented to the
soul as ' a consuming fire,' Heb. xii. 29, no comfort in heaven or earth
appearing, hell beneath seeming ready to revenge against us the quarrel
of God's covenant. Oh then for faith to look through all these clouds ! to
see mercy in wi'ath ! love in correction ! Heb. xii. 6, life in death ! the
sweetness of the promises ! the virtue and merit of Christ's sujQferings,
death, resurrection, and intercession at the right hand ! the sting of death
removed, 1 Cor. xv. 55, sin pardoned and done away, and glory at hand !
In sum, this promise made good, which leads unto all this happiness, as
we shall by and by hear, ' I will heal their backsliding, I will love them
freely, for mine anger is turned away.' Oh, this is a marvellous matter,
then, to be persuaded of ! Therefore let us make a right use of these
words in due season, for they are ' like apples of gold, with pictures of
silver,' Prov. xxv. 11, Hke balm to a green wound, like delivery in a ship-
wreck. But, indeed, all comparisons come far short of this illustration, as
the terror of incensed wrath in the fearful apprehension of eternal, unspeak-
able misery, is beyond any other fear, apprehension, or joy.
But lest this grace be abused by others (for we must not withhold the
children's bread, for fear others partake with them unto whom it belongs
not), let them know thus much : that those who turn this grace into wan-
tonness, and will be evil, because God is thus gracious — that there is no
word of comfort in the whole Scripture for them, who stand resolved to go
on in their sins, presuming of mercy. See what God saith in this case,
' Lest there should be among you a root that beareth gaU and wormwood ;
and it come to pass when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless
himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the ima-
gination of mine heart, to add di-unkenness to thirst : the Lord will not
spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke
against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie
upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven,' Deut.
xxix. 18-20. 'God will wound the hairy scalp of such an one,' Ps. Ixviii.
21, who goes on in his wickedness, and means to be so. And in the New
Testament those who thus make a progress in sin, what do they ? They
are said ' to treasure up unto themselves wi'ath against the day of wrath,
and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,' Kom. ii. 5. Therefore
God's word speaks no comfort to those who purpose to live in any sin.
All the comfort that can be spoken to such is, that yet they are not in
hell ; that yet they have time to return to this great Physician of the soul.
But take such an one in his present condition, he can have no comfort in
this estate, wherein there is but a step between him and hell. So as
when the rotten thread of this uncertain life shall fail, or is cut asunder,
down they fall. We have no comfort here for them, till they return.
This precious balm belongs to the wounded conscience. Briefly for
use then.
Use. Seeing that our God is a healing God, as we can admire the wisdom,
skill, and excellency of our physician, so let us much more make use of
him upon all occasions. Trust and cleave to him, not like good Asa (but
not good in this), who forgot himself, and sent first to the physicians,
2 Chron. xvi. 12. But let us especially rely upon God, and look to him,
who can * create help,' Isa. iv. 5, and must bless all means whatsoever.
He is a healing God, who will heal all rebelhons, and the most gi'ievoua
IIOSEA XrV. 4.] THE KETURNING BACKSLIDER. 809
sicknesses. He is a physician that is good for all turns. There are some
diseases which are called the scorn of physicians, as the gout, the ague,
and the like ; wherein, in some cases, they are put to a stand, and know
not what to do. But God is never at a loss. His skill cannot be set
down. He is good at all diseases, to pardon all manner of sins. There-
fore let us go to him for cure, seeing there is neither sin, nor grief, nor
terror of conscience arising thereupon, which can be so great but God can
cure both the sin and the terror, if we take a right course, and speak peace
to the soul. God is a healing God, arising when he comes * with healing
in his wings,' Mai. iv. 2. As he saith, ' I will heal their rebellion,' &c.
And as he is a healing physician, so ho puts his patients to no charge.
For as he saith, ' I will heal their backslidings ; ' so he saith, * I will love
them freely.'
Therefore let us the more build upon this truth, which is indeed the
sum of all godliness. For what is the gospel but the triumph of mercy ?
Do but consider the scope of God in the new covenant, whereof the sacra-
ment is a seal, which is only to shew forth the exaltation of the grace and
mercy of God in Jesus Christ, above all unworthiness whatsoever. For
all there is for the glory of his mercy. For in the covenant of gi-ace, mercy
doth triumph against judgment and justice ; which mercy of God in Christ
is said by the apostle * to reign unto life everlasting, by Jesus Christ our
Lord,' Rom, v. 21. It reigns, and hath a regiment* above, and over all.
For mercy in God stirred up his wisdom to devise a way, by shedding of the
blood of Christ Jesus, God-man, to satisfy divine justice, and rejoice against
it. But whence comes this, that justice should be so satisfied ? Because
a way is found out, how none of God's attributes are losers by mercy.
Wherefore in any temptation, when we are prone to doubt of God's love,
say. What ! shall we wrong God more, by calling in question his mercy,
and the excellency of his lovingkindness, which is more than any other sin
we have committed ? This is a sin superadded against his mercy, power,
goodniess, graciousness, and love in healing of sin ; which takes away the
glory of God in that attribute, wherein he labours to triumph, reign, and
glorify himself most, and ' which is over all his w'orks,' Ps. cxlv. 9.
Therefore he that offends herein, in denying God the glory of his great,
tender, unspeakable mercy, whereby he would glorify himself most in the
covenant of grace, he offends God most.
Therefore let us, at such times as God awakens conscience, be so far
from thinking that God is unwilling to cure and help us, as to think that
hereby we shall honour God more by believing than we dishonoured him
by our sin. For the faith of an humble, contrite sinner, it glorifies God
more than our better obedience in other things doth ; because it gives him
the glory of that wherein he delights, and will be most glorified, the glory
of his mercy and truth, of his rich, abundant mercy that hath no bounds.
There is no comparison between the mercy of God in the covenant of
grace, and that to Adam in the state of nature. For in the first he did
good to a good man ; fii-st he made him good, and then did him good.
But when man did degenerate, and was fallen into such a cursed estate as
wo are, for God then to be good to a sinner, and freely to do good, here is
goodness indeed, triumphant goodness. Cain was a cursed person, who
eaid, ' My punishment is gi'eater than can be borne,' Gen. iv. ] 3. We
know who spake it. No ; God is a physician for all diseases. If they be
* crimson sins,' he can make them * white as wool,' Isa. i. 18.
That is, ' government.' — G.
310 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON V.
Who would not be careful therefore to search his wounds, his sins tc
the bottom ? Let the search be as deep as we can, considering that there
is more mercy in God, than there can be sin in us. Who would favour his
soul ? especially considering, if he neglect searching of it, sins will grow
deadly and incurable upon that neglect. Let this therefore encourage us
not to spare ourselves, in opening the wounds of our souls to God, that he
may spare all. Thus we saw formerly, the church here is brought in deal-
ing plainly with God, and confessing all (for she had an excellent teacher),
and God answers all ; beginning with this, ' I will heal their backsliding.'
They were idolaters, and guilty of the sins of the second table iu a high
measure (no petty sins), yet God saith, ' I will heal their backsliding,' &c.
Which being healed, then an open highway is made for all other mercies
whatsoever, which is the next point we observe hence :
Obs. That the chief mercy of all, which leads unto all the rest, is the paydon
and forgiveness of sins.
Healing of the guilt of sin, we see, is set in the front of these petitions for-
merly shewed ; which as it is the first thing in the church's desire, ' Take
away all iniquity,' &c, so it is the fii'st thing yielded to in God's promise,
' I will heal their backsliding,' &c. Pardon of sin, and cure of sin, whereby
the conscience ceaseth to be bound over to condemnation, is the first and
chiefest blessing of God, and is that for which the church falls out in a
triumph. ' Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and
passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage, because he de-
lighteth in mercy,' &c., Micah vii. 18, 19, 20. And this is that excellent
and sweet conclusion of the new covenant also, whereupon all the rest of
those former foregoing mercies there are grounded. For, ' I will forgive
their Iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more,' Jer. xxxi. 34. Yea,
this IS the effect of that grand promise made to his church after the return
of their captivity. ' In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, the
iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none ; and the sins
of Judah, and they shall not be found ; for I v/ill pardon them whom I
reserve,' Jer. 1. 20. The point is plain and clear enough ; it needs no fol-
lowing. The reason is.
Because it takes away the interposing cloud. God is gracious in him-
self. Pardon of sin removes the cloud betwixt God's gracious face and the
soul. Naturally, God is a spring of mercy ; but our sins stop the spring.
But when sin is pardoned, the stop is taken away, and the spring runs amain.
God is not merciful as a flint yields fire, by force ; but as a spring, whence
water naturally issues.
Quest. Seeing forgiveness of sins unstops this spring, why do we not feel
this mercy ?
Ans. Surely, because some sin or other is upon the file uncancelled,*
perhaps unconfessed ; or because we are stuffed with pride, that we bcUeve
not ; or are so troubled, or trouble ourselves, that we apprehend not, or
believe not the pardon of sins confessed and hated. But sure it is, for-
giveness of sins unstops the spring of mercy, and unveils God's gracious
face in Jesus Christ unto us. Sin being not pardoned, this stops, as the
prophet speaks. Our iniquity is that which keeps good things from us.
Therefore the chief mercy is that which removes, that which unstops the
current of all mercy. ' I will heal their baekshdiug,' &c. Look at a con-
demned prisoner in the tower ! Let him have all contentment ; as long as
he is iu the displeasure of the prince, stands condemned, and the sentence
* See note b, vol. I., p. 289.— G.
IIOSEA XIA^ 4. J TETE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 811
niircverscd, what true contentment can he have ? None at all. So it if5
with a sinner, that hath not his pardon and quietus est from heaven. Yield
him all contentment which the world can afford ; all the satisfaction that
can issue from the creature ; yet what is this to him, as long as he hath
not mercy, and that his conscience is not pacified, because it is not cleansed
and washed with the blood of Christ ?
Sin is like Jonah : whilst he was in the ship, there was nothing but tem-
pest, Jonah i. 4 ; like Achan in the army, Joshua vii. 11, 12 : whilst he
was not found out, God's judgment followed the camp. Sin is that Vi'hich
troubleth all. Therefore it must be taken away first ; and therewith all
evil is taken away. Therefore, the fii'st mercy is a forgiving, pardoning,
and quieting mercy. When the blood of Jesus Christ, by the hand of faith,
is sprinkled upon the soul, God creating a hand of faith to sprinkle and shed
it upon the soul, ' Christ loved me, and gave himself for me,' then the
soul saith. Though my sins be great, yet the satisfaction of Christ is
greater. God hath loved me, and gave his own Son for me ; and I apply
this to myself, as it is oflered to me, and take the ofi'er. This pacifieth the
'^■oul, as it is written, ' The blood of Christ, who tlirough the eternal Spii'it
ofiered himself without spot to God, is that which purgeth our conscience
fi'oni dead works to serve the living God,' Heb. ix. 14. To a repentant
sinner, this ' blood of sprinkling speaks better things than the blood of
Abel,' Heb. xii. 24 : not as his blood cried for vengeance, but mercy,
mercy. When the soul is thus pacified, there is the foundation of all other
mercy whatsoever. The order is this : when God is reconciled, all is recon-
ciled ; whon God is at peace vnth us in the forgiveness of sins, then all is
peaceable at home and abroad. Conscience is in pedi:'0 within, and all the
creatures at peace without ; all which, with all that befalls us, have a com-
mand to do us no hurt ; as David gave charge to the people, of Absalom.
^Yhen God is reconciled and at peace, all things are at peace with us. For
IS not he Lord of hosts, who hath the command of all the creatures ? There-
fore this grace of forgiveness is the chief grace.
To shew it in one instance more. David was a king and a prophet, a
comely and a valorous person. But what esteemed he most ? Did ha
say. Blessed is the man who is a king, or a prophet, or a valiant warrior,
or hath dominion, obedience, or great possessions, as I have ? Oh, no.
' Blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven, and whose iniquities are
covered,' Ps. xxxii. 1. You see wherein this holy man David sets and
pitcheth happiness, in the forgiveness of sins. Blessed is such a man.
Though he were a king, he knew well enough that if his sins were not par-
doned and covered he had been a wretched man.
Use 1. Therefore, this should teach us to desire of God continually th&
pardon of our sins ; and we should make it the chief desire of om- souls
that God would shine upon them in Jesus Christ, pardon and accept us in
his beloved. They go together.
Use 2. And hless him for tJiis above all other blessinr/s, as it is Ps. ciii.
1,3,' Bless the Lord, 0 my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy
name,' &c. Why ? ' Who forgiveth all thy iniquities, and healeth all thy
diseases.' We should bless God most of all for this, that he hath devised
a way by Christ to receive satisfaction for sin, to pardon it, and say unto
our souls, ' I am thy salvation,' Ps. xxxv. 3. This is the greatest favour
of all.
Quest. But you ask. How shall I know that God hath healed my soul in
regard of the forgiveness of sins ?
812 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDEE. [SeRMON V,
A71S. The answer is, If, together with pardon of sin, he heal sin. For God,
when he takes away the venom of a wound that endangers death, the
deadly disease, he takes away also the swelling of the wound and glowing
of it. When he ceaseth to make it deadly, he heals the soul withal, and
subdues our iniquities, as his promise is, Micah vii. 19. So there is, together
with pardoning mercy, curing mercy in regard of sanctification. Where
God is a Father to make us sons, he is a Father to beget us anew. So
where Christ comes by blood to wash away our sins, he comes by water
also and the Holy Ghost ; where he is a Comforter in the forgiveness of
sins, he is a sanctifier. And the soul of a distressed sinner looks to the
one as well as the other. Ask the soul of any man who is truly humbled,
What do you chiefly desire ? Oh, that God would pardon my sins ! But
is that all ? No ; that he would also heal my sins and subdue my re-
bellions, that I may not any longer be under the government and tyranny
of my lusts, but under God's gracious government, who will guide me
better than before, Hos. ii. 7. This we see to be the order in the Lord's
prayer. After we are taught to say, ' Forgive us our trespasses,' it
follows, * And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,' which
is for the time to come. Mat. vi. 12, 13. So David, * Cleanse me from my
secret sins, and keep me, that presumptuous sins have not dominion over
me,' &c., Ps. xix. 12, 13. So that this is the desire of an afilicted con-
science truly humbled, curing as well as covering of sin. This is a sure
evidence that our sins are pardoned.
2. Then again, when there is peace: when the soul feels this, it is a sign
that God hath healed the soul. * For,' saith the apostle, ' being justified
by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,' Eom.
v, 1. The blood of Christ hath a pacifying power in forgiveness of sins.
When Jonah was cast out, there was a calm, Jonah i. 12 ; so when sin is
cast out and pardoned, there is a calm in the soul, which comes from the
forgiveness of sins.
3. Again, healing is known by this, if ive have hearts idlling to be searched,
for then our will is cured, which in the state of grace is more than our
obedience. When we would be better than we are, then certainly our
will is not in league with corruptions. Now, where the wiU is so much
sanctified, I resolve to be better, I would be better, and I use all means,
being glad when any joins with me against my corruptions, I am glad of
all such advantages, here is a good sign. As now, when a man goes to
church, and desires, ' 0 that my corruptions might be met withal ! O
that I might be laid open to myself, and know myself better than I have
formerly done ! ' this is the desire of an ingenuous soul. Where there is
no guile of soul, a man is glad to have himself and his corruptions dis-
covered, whereas another frets and kicks, and rageth against the word of
God, which is a sign that there is some league betwixt him and his sin.
You have some that, above all things in the world, they would not have
such and such downright ministers. 0 take heed; this is a sign cf a
hoUow heart, and that a man is in love with his disease. Can there be a
cure where there is a love of the disease ?
4. Not to name many, the last, which is a high pitch, shall be, by our
estimation of things here and above. What hath this heaUng wrought in
thee ? What estimation of things ? How is thy heart weaned from the
world ? How are thy afiections set on things which are above ? Col. iii. 1.
When a sick man is soundly recovered, though his distempered palate
could not relish the best meats in his sickness, yet now he relishes and
HOSEA XIV. 4. J THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDER. 313
loves the best most of all. Look, then, to ourselves. How forget we,
with blessed St Paul, ' the things which are behind, pressing hard to the
mark which is before, for the high prize of that calling' ? Philip, iii. 13.
How stand we affected, to long for our country ? this world being only the
place of our pilgrimage. Surely a soul that is soundly healed is an under-
valuing soul, to use this world and all things therein as though we used
them not ; and it is also a valuing soul, to covet spiritual things above all,
1 Cor. vii. 29, 31. ' 0,' saith David, ' how I love thy law, it is my medi-
tation all the day ; I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine
gold,' Ps. cxix. 97, 127. The joy of this estate ' is a joy unspeakable and
glorious,' 1 Pet. i. 8, of which it is said ' the stranger shall not meddlo
with,' Pro. xiv. 10. Thus much concerning the disease. Before we come
to the cure a question ariseth.
Quest. Whence, then, comes a calm in a carnal person ?
A71S. From ignorance and deadness of conscience, or from diversion.
As a sick man, when he talks with another man that is his friend, his mind
is diverted that he feeleth not his sickness all the while, so wicked men,
either their consciences are seared, and they go on in sin, or else they have
diversions. Great persons are loath to hear, and are usually full of diver-
sions from the time they rise till they sleep again. All diversions busy
conscience about other things ; so they keep themselves, that it may not
trouble them. But the peace of a true Christian comes from another
-ground, from sound knowledge of his disease, and from sound satisfaction,
by faith knowing Chi'ist, the Spirit of God sealing this knowledge to the
soul. If peace be thus settled, it is a sign of a sound cure.
Quest. But you will say. How shall I know that my sins are pardoned
when I am subject to those sins still ?
Ans. Not to speak of transient actual sins, that are past and pardoned,
when we have repented of them ; but of the root of all sin, which is weak-
ness and corruption in us, fortified, and, as it were, intrenched by nature,
occasions and custom. Of this the question is. How to discern of pardon,
the root of sin remaining, and now and then foiling us ? The answer is
aflirmative. We may have that sin pardoned, which yet occasionally may
foil us still. For a man is in the state of health, though he have the dregs
of a disease hanging upon him, whereby a man ofttimes hath some little fit
■of the disease. When nature and physic hath prevailed over the disease,
yet after that, there may be grudgings. So when God hath cured the soul
by pardon, and hath begun to cure in sanctification, the cure is wrought,
though some dregs remain, because those dregs are carried away with daily
physic, and daily flying to God, ' Lord, forgive our debts ; Lord, heal us.'
Everj' prayer and renewing of repentance carries some debt away, till
death comes, that excellent physician, which once for all perfectly
cures both soul and body, bringing both there where both shall have
perfection.
Quest. But you wiU say. Is God's grace weak, that it cannot carry away
all dregs of corruption as well as pardon ? Why is pardon in the forgive-
ness of sins absolute, when yet God suffers the dregs to remain, so as we
still are subject to the disease of sin ?
Ans. God is wise. Let us not quarrel with our physician, for he is
wiser than we ourselves. For he makes these relics medicinal to us, as
thus : naturally we are prone to security and spiritual pride, therefore ho
makes a medicine of our infirmities, to cure spiritual pride and security,
and to set us a-work. Therefore the Jebusites, and the residue of that
314 TEE EETUENING BACKSLIDEE. [SeRMON V.
kind, v/ere left uncast out from among Israel, that thereby he might provo
Israel, and lest they should be a prey unto wild beasts to devour them.
Judges iii. 1. So some remainders of the flesh are left still in the best,
that these wild beasts might not prey upon their souls. Spiritual pride,
which is a detestable sir., robbing and denying God of his prerogative,
and securit}', the grave of the soul, to cure these two especially, God
makes the relies and remainders of sin a medicine unto us.
Quest. Why doth God sufier these infirmities and diseases to remain
in us ?
Ans. Diseases are suffered, to put us in mind of infirmities in the root,
which we knew not before. For if these should not sometimes break forth
into a disease, we would think our natm'e were pure. Therefore God suflers
them to break forth into diseases. Who would have thought that Moses had
been passionate ? Certainly, himself did not know himself, at the waters of
strife, that the seeds of anger should be in the meekest man in the world !
Num. XX. 2. Who would have thought that David, whose heart smote him
for cutting off the lap of Saul's garment, 1 Sam. xxiv. 4, that so mild a man
should have cruelty in him, and yet after that he committed murder ?
Who would have thought that Peter, who made such protestations of love to
Christ, that though all men forsook him, yet he would not ; j'et after that
should deny his Master, and forswear him ? Matt, xxiii. 33, 69, &c. All
which was to shew us, that it is useful for us sometimes to have our cor-
ruptions break out, to put us in mind what inward weaknesses we have
unknown and unsearched in us, and that we may know the depth of our
corruption. God's children are gainers by all their infirmities and weak-
nesses, whereby they learn to stand stronger. Here is a main difierencc
betwixt the slips of God's children, and the ordinary evil courses of others
They grow worse and worse. The oftener they fall into sin, the more they
are settled upon their dregs. But God's child hath the remainders of cor-
ruption in him, from whence he hath infirmities, and whence he breaks intO'
diseases. But notwithstanding, corruption is a loser, hereby. For the
oftener he falls into sin, it is the weaker and weaker. For the more he
sees the root of it, the more he hates it, resolves and strives against it, till
it be consummated by repentance and sanctifying grace. Let no man
therefore be too much cast down for infirmities, though ofttimes they break
out, if thereupon we find a renewed hatred, repentance, and strength
against them. For God looks not so much, how much corruption there is
in us, as how we stand affected to it, and what good there is, whether we
be in league with it, and resist it. It is not sin that damns men, but sin
with the ill qualities, sin unconfessed, not grieved for, and unresisted, else
God hath holy ends in leaving corruption in us, to exercise, try us, and
keep us from other sins. Therefore sin is left uncured.
Now the w-ay to have it cured, both in the pardon and likewise in sanc-
tification, we have it in the context. What doth God say ? * I will heal
their backsliding,' &c. After they bad searched their heai'ts, and there-
upon found iniquity, and then prayed, ' Take away all iniquity ;' after they
had desired a divorce from their sins, ' Asshur shall not save us;' and when
they had some faith that God would cure them, and accordingly put confi-
dence in God, ' the Father of the fatherless ;' then saith God, ' I will
heal their backsliding.' So that sense of pardon in the forgiveness of sins,
and sense of grace, comes after sight, sense, weariness, and confession of
sin. God doth not pardon sin, when it is not seen, sorrowed for, nor con-
fessed, and where there is not some degree of faith, to come to God, ' the
HOSEA XIV. 4.] THE HETUnNING BACKSLIDER. 315
Father of the fatherless,' and the great Physician of souls. "\Vlie:i v>c do
this, as it is said in the context, then we find the forgiveness of sins, v.-ith the
gi-acious power of God's Spirit healing of our diseases, ' I will heal their
backsliding.'
Let us therefore remember this, lest we deceive our souls, for it is not so
easy a thing to attain unto forgiveness of sins as we think.
And then again, though forgiveness of sins be free, yet notwitJistaJuling
there is a way whereby we come to forgiveness of sins that costs us some-
what. God humbles the soul first, brings a man to himself, to think ot
his coiu-se, to lay open his sins and spread them before God in confession,
and working upon the soul hearty repentance; so to come to God, and
wait for forgiveness of sins, perhaps a good while before there be a report
of it. There are none who have sins forgiven, but they know how they
come by it. For there is a predisposition wrought in man's soul by the
Spirit, which teacheth him what estate he is in, and what his danger is,
whereupon follows confession ; and upon that, peace. God keeps his chil-
dren many times a long while upon the rack before he speaks peace unto
them in the forgiveness of sins, because he would not have them think
slightly of the riches of his mercy. It is no easy matter to attain unto
the sense of the forgiveness of sms, though indeed wo should strive to
attain it, that so we may walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost. The
difficulty of obtaining or recovering the sense of forgiveness, may be seen
in David after his fall. Did he easily obtain sense of pardon? Oh no !
God held him on the rack a long time, ' He roared all the day long, his
moisture was turned into the drought of summer,' Ps. xxxii. 3, 4. But
when he had resolved a thorough, and no shght, confession ; when lie had
resolved to shame himself and glorify God ; then saitlx he, ' And thou for-
gavest my sin.' But till he dealt thoroughly with his soul v/ithout all
guile, he felt no comfort. So it is with the children of God. When in
the state of grace they fall into sin, it is no slight ' Lord, have mercy upon
me ' that will serve the turn ; but a thorough shaming of themselves before
God, and a thorough confession, resolving and determining to be under
another government ; to have Christ to govern them as well as to pardon
them. God will no othenvise do it. Because he would glorify his rich
mercy herein ; for who would give mercy its due glory, if forgiveness were
easily attained, without shaming of ourselves ? If it came easily, without
protestation and waitmg upon God, as the chui'ch here, we should never
be thoroughly humbled for our sms, and God would never have the glory
of his mercy, nor known to be so just in hating of sin in his dear children,
who long ago upon such tenns have attained sense of forgiveness of sins.
It is woi-th our trouble to search our souls and to wait at Christ's feet,
never to give over until we have attained the sense of forgiveness of sm.
It is heaven upon earth to have our consciences enlarged with God's favour
in the pardon of sin.
What is the reason that many profess that God is merciful, and Christ
hath pardoned their sins, &c. ? If the ground be right, it is a high
conceit of mercy ; and such have been soundly humbled for their sins.
But dost thou profess so, who livest carelessly in thy sins, and Hcentiously
still ? Sm-ely * thy ground is naught, for hadst thou been upon the rack,
in God's scalding-house, and smarted soundly for sin, wouldst thou take
pleasure still to hve in sin ? Oh no ! Those that go on carelessly in their
actions and speeches, not caring what they are, did they ever smart for sin^
* That is, ' assuredly.'— G.
816 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON VI.
who carry themselves thus ? Surely these were never soundly humbled for
sin, nor confessed them with loathing and detestation. Therefore let us mark
the context here inferred. After they had confessed, prayed, and waited,
resolving reformation in their false confidence, then God promiseth, ' I will
heal their backsliding.' It is a fundamental error in a Christian course,
the slighting of true humiliation, which goes along in all the fabric and
frame of a Christian course. Let a man not be soundly humbled with the
sight of his sins, his faith is weaker, and his sanctification and comfort
the sHghter. "Whereas, if a man would deal truly with his own heart, set
up a court there, and arraign, judge, and condemn himself (which is God's
end in all his dealings, afflictions, and judgments inflicted upon us), the
deeper we went in this course, the more would our comfort be, and the
report of God's mercy, in the sense of that which follows, * I will love them
freely : for mine anger is turned away.'
THE SIXTH SERMON.
/ will love them freely : for mine anger is turned away. I will be as the dew
unto Israel ; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his root as Lebanon.
— Hos. XIV. 4, 5.
It was a good speech of St Austin, * Those that are to petition great per-
sons, they will obtain some who are skilful, to frame then- petitions ; lest
by their unskilfulness they provoke anger, instead of carrying away the
benefit desired.' So it is here with God's people, being to deal with the
great God, and not being able to fi-ame their own petitions, God, as we
heard before, doth it for them, and answers them graciously with the same
mercies which he had suggested them to ask ; his answer being exact to
their petitions, ' I will heal their backsliding, I wiU love them freely,' &c.,
wherein God exceeds aU physicians in the world whatsoever. For they
have nature to help them. Physic is the midwife of nature, helping it
to do that which it cannot do itself. Physic can do nothing to a dead
man. But God is so great a physician, that he first gives life, and after
that spiritual life is in some degrees begun ; by httle and little he heals
more and more. ' I wiU heal their backshdings.'
We have an error crept in amongst some of the meaner, ignorant sort of
people, who think that God sees no sin when he hath once pardoned men
in justification ; who falsely smooth themselves in this wicked, sensual con-
ceit, think they can commit no sin ofiensive to God ; as though God should
frame such a justification for men, to bUndfold him, and cast dust, as it
were, in his eyes ; or justify men, to make them loose and idle. No ; it is
false, as appeareth by this place ; for how can God heal that he sees not ?
He sees it not to be revenged on them for it ; but he sees sin, to correct it
and to heal it. He sees ft not after a revengeful, wrathful justice, to cast
us into hell and damn us for it ; but he sees it after a sort, to make us smart
and lament for it, and to have many times a bitter sense of his wrath and
forsaking, as men undone without a new supply of comfort and peace from
heaven. Let a man neglect sanctification, daily sorrow and confession of
sin, and now and then even craving new pardon for sins past, casting all
upon a fantastic conceit of faith in their justification : what follows but
HOSEA XIV. 4, 5.] THE RETUKNINU BACKSLIDER. 317
pride, hardness of heart, contempt of others, and neglect of better than
themselves, and proneness out of God's judgment, to fall from ill to worse,
from one error to another ? In this case the heart is false and deceitful.
For whilst it pretends a glorious faith to look back to Christ, to live by
faith, and lay all on him by justification, it winds itself out of all tasks of
religion, sets the heart at liberty, neglects sanctification and mortification of
lusts, and beautifying the image of God in them, giving too much way to
the flesh. Therefore, away with this false and self-conceited opinion, which
draws poison out of that which God speaks to confirm and stablish us,
' That he sees no iniquity in Jacob,' &c.. Num. xxiii. 21. Whence from
these hyperbolical speeches, they think that God seeth not that which we
ourselves see. But, * He heals our backsli dings,' therefore he sees them.
For how can he heal a wound, if he see it not ? He sees it, but not to
their destruction who are freely justified by his grace. But we will leave
this point, it being too much honour to them to spend time in confutation
of it, and will rather say unto it, as Isaiah speaks of a menstruous cloth,
' Get thee hence,' Isa. xxx. 22.
Now as God is a most gracious God, never weary of well-doing and com-
forting his people, because it is his nature to be merciful, so he hath
suitable expressions of it ; he goes on with mercy upon mercy, loving-
kindness upon lovingkindness. He had promised before, ' I will heal
their backshdings," take in sum all their apostasy, all shall be healed. But
this is not all. He answers all the accusations and doubts of Satan, who
is still objecting against us our unworthiness, misery, wretchedness to have
such favours confeiTcd on such filthy creatures. Therefore, he takes ofi' all
with this which foUoweth. As they had prayed, ' Receive us graciously ;'
60 the answer is full, and suitable to their request, ' I will love them
freely.'
Put case, they out of conscience of their own guilt should see no worth
in theaiselves, or cause why they should be respected, yet I see reason in
mine own love. ' I will love them freely.'
Qi£st. But may some say. How can God love freely ?
Ans. Ask thyself. Doth not a father and mother love their child freely ?
What doth the child deserve of the father and mother a great while ? No-
thing. But the mother hath many a weary night and foul hand with it.
Hath God planted an afiection in us to love our children freely ; and shall
rot God much more, who gives this love and plants it in us, be admitted
to love freely ? But indeed there is absurdity and infidelity in distrust.
For it is against reason, to deny the mighty God that which we have in
ourselves. If he did not love freely, how could he love us at all ? What
could he foresee in us to love for beforehand ? The veiy manhood of Christ
deserved not the grace of union, it was freely given.
' I will love them freely.' That which, first of all, we observe hence is
thus much, that God loves his people freely. So saith the apostle, * God
commcndeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us ; much more being justified by his blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through him,' Eom. v. 8, 9. The like we have in Ezekiol.
Saith God, ' Therefore, say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord
God, I do not this for your sakes, 0 house of Israel, but for mine holy
name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen whither ye went,'
Ezek. xxxvi. 22. Adam when he had sinned that main, great sin, what
did he ? Fly from God, run away ; and when God called to him, and
debated the matter with him, he accused God, and excused himself, Gen.
318 THE RETUENING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON VI.
iii. 12, 13. Yet for all this God pitied him, and clothed him, and made
him that promise of the blessed seed. What desert was there here in
Adam ! nay, rather the quite contrary ; yet God loved him freely. The
same may be said of St Paul, for the time past a persecutor, what deser\ang
was there in him ? None at all ; yet he found God's free love in his con-
version ; for, saith God to Ananias, ' He is a chosen vessel unto me, to
bear my name before the Gentiles,' Acts ix. 15. Here was no deserving
in St Paul, but God's free election, which in time took place. Acts ix. 5.
And so we may say of the prodigal, having spent all, his father pardoned
all, and loved him freely, Luke xv. 20.
Reason 1. The reason hereof is, because it is his name and nature to be
gracious, and to love freely ; and whatsoever is God's nature, that hath a
freedom in the working.
Reason 2. Because no creature can deserve anything at God's hands. (1.)
Because by nature we are all God's enemies ; and therefore what can ene-
mies deserve ? Nothing but wrath and vengeance. (2.) K we have any
graces, they are the gift of God ; iind therefore we deserve nothing by
them, they being of his own gift. So St James speaks, ' Every good gift,
and ever}' perfect gift, is from above, and cometh down from the Father ol
lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning,' James i. 17.
And St Paul saith, ' That of him, and through him, and to him, are all
things,' Kom. xi. 86. What should follow hereupon ? ' To him be glory
for ever.'
Use 1. This, in ihe first place, serves for reproof of our adversaries of thi
Romish Church, who say that God loves us for something foreseen in us,
which is good, or for somewhat which in time we would do to deserve
favour at his hands. But both are false. The cause of love is free from
himself; for, ' when we have done our best,' yet, saith the Holy Ghost,
' we are unprofitable servants.' Luke xvii. 10.
Uso 2. Secondly, It is for reproof of God's oivn dear children , who, because
th^ J find no deserving in themselves, are therefore discouraged at the sight of
their own unworthiness ; whereas, quite contrary, the sight of our own un-
worthiness should make us the more fit subjects for Christ's free love,
which hath nothing to do with them that stand upon deserving. Many of
God's dear children are troubled with temptations, doubts, and fears of God's
love and favour towards them, because they expect to find it in the fruits of
grace, and not in free grace itself. If we would have any sound peace, let
us look for it in free grace. Therefore the blessed apostle, in the entrance
of his salutations in his epistles, still joineth grace, and then peace, to shew
us that if we look for sound peace, we can nowhere find it but in grace. We
would find peace in the grace that is in us, but it is labour in vain, for wo
shall never find it but in free grace.
Use 3. Hence we may also be comforted in the certainty of our salva-
tion; for that grace, and love, and favour, whereby we are saved, is in God,
not in us. Now, whatsoever is in him is immutable and sure. So saith
the apostle, ' Neverthele^^s, the foundation of God standeth sure, having
this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his ; and let every one that
nameth the name of Christ depart from iniQuit}^' 2 Tim. ii. 19. "Wliere
■speaking of election, which comes from the free love of God, he makes that
1 sure foundation to build on. If there be a reformation ' to depart from
iniquity,' we may be comfortably assured of omt .salvation. And ao it is
with election, so is it with all the other fruic?; of God's love : vocation,
adoption, justification, and perseverance. The foundation of God, lastly
Ho SEA XIV. 4, 5.] THE RETURKING BACKSLIDER. 319
sealed in the way of holiness, stands good and sure in all, Rom. iii. 24 ;
John xiii. 1.
Use 4. This further teacheth us thankfulness unto God, who hath sc
freely loved us ; for if there were deserving on our part, what place were
left for thankfulness ? We know, one who deserves nothing, and hath
small matters bestowed upon him, at least will be thankful for such favours.
But when one is so far from dererving anything, that by the contrary he
deserveth all plagues and punishment", hath yet many and abundant mer-
cies bestowed freely upon him, this doth exceedingly provoke (especially a
generous spii'it) to a suitable thankfulness, as much as may be.
Use 5. And let it likewise breed confidence in us to God, in all, our
miseries, both for pardon of sin, help in distress, and comfort in sorrows,
because he ' loves us freely,' and did love us whilst we were enemies.
Make, therefore, upon all occasions, the apostle's use of it. ' For if, when
we were enemies, we were reconciled to God b}'' the death of his Son, much
more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life,' Rom. v. 10.
' I will love them freely.'
In the next place, from hence we observe another point, which neces-
sarily followeth upon the former, — that God did not then begin to love them,
when he said, *■ I will love them freely :' but to discover that love vuto them,
uhich he carried unto them from all etcr:!iti/. For instance hereof, St Paul
was beloved of God, ere God manifested his love unto him ; as he testifieth
to himself, that the discoveiy of this free love was, ' when it pleased God,
who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to
reveal his son in me," &c., Gal. i. 15, 16. So the apostle blesseth God,
in his salutation imto them, ' who had blessed them with ail spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ,' Eph. i. 3. But whence letcheth
he the ground hereof ? ' According as he hath chosen us in him, before
the foundatiom of the world, that we should be holy and unblameable
before him in love,' verse 4. We need not multiply places more to prove
it. Our adversaries would fain seem to clear God only in all,* and so
shroud then- arguments under such needless pretences, shift, off all places,
name we never so many, with their strong heads, distinctions, and sophisms.
But God will one day give them no thanks for their labour : the will of God
(how imequal soever in our eyes, who cannot with our shallow conceits sound
the depth of such mysteries) being gi'ound enough to justify all his actions
whatsoever. We will therefore come to some reasons of the pomt.
Reason 1. Because uhatsoever is in God, manifested in time, is eternal and
"verlasting in him, without beginning and ending ; for whatsoever is in God
is God. God is not loving, but love, 1 John iv. 8 ; and he is not only
true, but truth itself, John xiv. 6. He is not wise only, but wisdom itself,
1 Cor. i. 24. And therefore his love, discovered in time, must needs be
from all eternity.
Secondly, If God did then first begin to love us, when he manifested his
love unto us, then there should be a change in God, because he should love
them now that he did not formerly love. As we see, those who loved Paul
after his conversion loved him not before. There was then a change in
the church. In which case, if God should so love, he should be change-
able, and so bo like unto man.
Thirdly, And then, again, Christ's prayer, John xvii., makes it clear that
the love of God beginneth not with the manifestation thereof; for Christ
there, knowing all the Father's secrets, as coming out of the bosom of the
* Tliat is, ' would fain seem rnly to clear Hod in all.' — G.
320 THE EETTIBNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON VI,
Father, intimates the contrary, where he makes one end of his prayer for
them to be, * That the world may know that thou hast loved them, as
thou hast loved me,' John xvii. 23. Now, how he loved Christ is also
shewed a little after, * For thou lovedst me before the foundation of
the world,' verse 24. Therefore the saints and children of God are loved
with an everlasting former love, not beginning at that instant discovery
thereof.
Use 1. The use hereof is, first of all, against those icho measure God's
love and favour by their own feeling, because, as God loved them before, so
he loves them as well and as dearly still ; when he hideth his face from
them, as when he suffered his lovingkindness to shine most comfortably
upon them. He loved Christ as dearly when he hanged on the tree, in tor-
ment of soul and body, as he did when he said,' This is my beloved son,
in whom I am well pleased,' Mat. iii. 17 ; yea, and when he received him
up into glory. The sun shineth as clearly in the darkest day as it doth
in the brightest. The difference is not in the sun, but in some clouds
which hinder the manifestation of the light thereof. So God loveth us as
well when he shineth not in the brightness of his countenance upon us as
when he doth. Job was as much beloved of God in the midst of his
miseries as he was afterwards when he came to enjoy the abundance of his
mercies, Job xlii. 7.
' I will love them freely,' &c.
The last point which we gather from hence, as a special ground of com-
fort, is this,
That this free love and favour of God is the cause of all other mercies and
free favour's, whereby he discovereth his love unto us.
(1.) It is the cause of election, ' Even so, then, at this present time also
there is a remnant, according to the election of grace,' Rom. xi. 5. So
(2.), For vocation. When the apostle had shewed that the Ephesians were
saved by grace, he adds, ' That in the ages to come he might shew the
exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us through Christ
Jesus,' Eph. ii. 7. He afterwards sheweth, when this grace began first to
have being, ' For we are his workmanship, created unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk therein,' Eph. ii. 10. (3.)
Forgiveness of sins. ' In whom we have a redemption through his blood,
even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.' Eph. i. 7.
So (4.), For the grace of love. ' We love him because he loved us first,'
1 John iv. 19. (5.) For justification and sanctification. It is said ' that
Christ hath loved us.' Why ? ' For he hath washed us from our sins in
his own blood,' Rev. i. 5 ; and St John saith, ' He hath made us kings
and priests unto God and his Father.' [1.] Kings to fight against the
world, the flesh, and the devil. [2.] Priests to teach, instruct, reprove,
and comfort ourselves and others by the word of God, and then to offer up
the sacrifice of a broken heart, in prayers and praises. All comes from
freedom of love. (6.) So every good inclination comes hence, ' for it is
God which worketh in us, both to wiU and to do of his good pleasure,'
Phil. ii. 13. So (7.) Every good work. ' For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which he had before ordained
that we should walk therein,' ' for by grace ye are saved,' saith he, * through
faith,' Eph. ii. 8, 10. So (8.) For eternal life. The apostle sheweth, ' It
is the gift of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord,' Rom. vi. 23.
Use 1 . This should teach us, in the first place, to be humbled, in that we
are so miserable, naughty servants, doins so little work, nay, nothing as we
HOSEA XIV. 1, 5,] THE EETUKNING BACKSLIDER. 321
slioulcl, yet bIiouIcI have so good Nvages. But * God loves us freely,' &c.
It should rather humble us the more than puff us up in pride, in regard
that there was nothing in us which might deserve anything at God's hand,
1 Cor. iv. 7 ; Eph. ii. 9.
Use 2. And hence also it folio we th that if he loved us from everlasting
with a free love, John xvii. 23, 24, in a sort as he loved Christ, that there-
fore the effects of his love towards us shall never fail, as the apostle sheweth,
* The gifts and calling of God are without repentance,' Eom. xi. 29. Faith
and repentance, hemg fruits of his love wrought in us, shall hold out. There-
fore the weakness of these graces, as they shall not hinder our salvation,
no more should they discourage us, or hinder the comfort of our profes-
sion ; because that faith and repentance which we have is not any work
of ours, but the work of God's free love in us. Therefore they shall be
continued and accepted. For our perseverance doth not stand in this, that
wo have strength in ourselves to continue faithful to God, but because he,
out of his free love, continueth faithful to us, and will never fail nor forsake
them whom he hath once taken into his everlasting favour, on whom he
hath set his everlasting free love, as the apostle speaks of Christ, ' Who
also shall confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day
of our Lord Jesus Christ.' But upon what ground ? * God is faithful, by
whom we were called unto the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,'
1 Cor. i. 8, 9. So that if any of the elect should fall away, God should be un-
f^xithful. The case in perseverance is not how faithful we are, but how faith-
ful God is, who ' guides us here with his counsel in all things, and after-
wards receiveth us into glory,' Ps. Ixxiii. 24. So in another place, after
the apostle had prayed, ' Now the very God of peace sanctify you whoUy ;
and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blame-
less unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.' What maketh the ground
of this his prayer ? * Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it,'
1 Thess. V. 23, 24.
Use 8. If, then, we would have God to manifest his free love to us, let us
strive to be obedient to his commandments, and stir up our hearts by all means
to love him who hath so freely loved us.
Quest. Now, how should we manifest our love toward God ?
Ans. Fu'st, in loving his word, as Ps. xix. and Ps. cxix. Secondly, in
loviruf his people, 1 John v. 1, 2. Thkdly, in longing for and loving his
second coming, Rev, xxii. 20.
Now followeth the reason of the discovery of this free love shewed now
in time to them.
' For mine anger is turned away from him.'
Here is the third branch of God's answer to their petition, ' Mine anger is
turned away from him,' which is included and implied in the former, ' I
will heal their backsliding.' How could he do this if he were angry ? No;
he saith, ' I will love them freely,' which argues that his anger was ap-
peased. God knoweth that variety of words and expressions are all little
enough to raise up and comfort a doubting, wounded, galled soul, which,
when it is touched with a sense of sin and of his displeasure, cannot hear
words enough of comfort. This God knows well enough, and therefore he
adds expression upon expression, ' I will heal their backsliding, I will love
them freely, for mine anger is turned away from him.' The soul which is
touched with the sense of wrath, and defiled with the stains of sin's dread-
ful impressions, receives all this cheerfully, and more too. Therefore, in
such cases we must take in good part the largeness of God's expressions,
VOL. II. X
822 THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON VI.
* For mine aoger is turned away from him.' To unfold the words,
therefore,
Anger is the inward displeasure which God hath against sin, and his pur-
pose to punish it, accompanied with threatenings upon his purpose, and
execution upon his threatenings. The point to be observed in the first
place is,
That there is anger in God against sin.
We need not stand to prove the point, it is so manifest to every man.
The Scripture is copious in it. If we consider either judgments executed
upon sinners, threatenings against sin, or the saint's complaining of it, as
Ps. Ixxiv. 1, Job xlii. 7, Ps. vi. 1, Ps. xc. 11, Ps. xxxviii. 1, 3, Isa. Ixiii. 6,
with many the like places, prove that there is anger in God against sin.
We will rather see the reason of it.
Because there is an antipathy betwixt him and sin, which is contrary to
his pure natm'e. Sia, as it opposeth God, so it is contrary unto him ; and,
indeed, sin would turn him out of his sovereignty. For what doth a man,
when he sins wittingly and willingly, but turn God out of his government,
and causes the devil to take up God's room in the heart ? When a man
gives way to sin, then the devil rules, and he thinks his own lusts better
than God's will, and his own carnal reason in contriving of sin above God's
wisdom in his word ; therefore, he is a proud rebel. Sin is such a kind of
thing, that it labours to take away God ; for it not only puts him out of
that part of his throne, man's heart, but for the time a man sins, he could
wish there were no God to take vengeance of him. Can you wonder,
therefore, that God is so opposite to that which is so opposite to his prero-
gative royal as sin is ?
The truth is, God is angry with nothing else but with sin, which is the
only object of his anger. That which foolish persons make a trifle and
sport of, swearing, filthy speaking, and lying, is the object of God's anger,
Ps. xiv. 1. For this offence of sin he did not spare the angels of heaven,
2 Pet. ii. 4, but tumbled them thence, never to return again. Sin also thrust
Adam out of paradise. Gen. iii. 23, and made God angry with him and the
whole world, so as to destroy it with a flood of water. Gen. vi. 13, and will
at last make him burn and consume all with a deluge of fire, 2 Pet. iii. 12.
Yea, it made him in a sort angry with his own dear Son, when he under-
went the punishment of sin as our surety, so that he cried out, ' My God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? ' Mat. xxvii. 46. If God thus
shewed his anger against sin, in punishing it in Christ our surety, who was
made sin for us, and yet had no sin in himself, how will he punish it much
more in those who are not in Christ ? Those who stand in their own
sin and guilt, what will become of them ? So that God is angry with sin,
and with nothing else.
The second thing we gather from this, where he saith, ' My anger is
turned away from him,' God's anger being taken especially for judgments, is,
That God's anger is the special thing in afflictions.
They come from his anger, as hath been shewed. Therefore he saith,
* I will take mine anger from you,' whereby he means judgments, the effect
of his anger. For in the Scriptures anger is ordinarily taken for the fruits
and effects of God's anger, which are terrible judgments, as we may see,
Deut. xxix. 20, and so in many other places.
Quest. [Why are] judgments, then, called God's anger ?
Ans, 1. Because they issue from his anger and displeasure ; for it is not
the judgments, but the anger in them, which lies heavy upon the soul.
UOSEA XIV. 4, 5. J TUE KETUKNING BACKSLIDER. 323
When they come from God's anger, they are intolerable to the conscience :
else, when we suffer ill, knowing that it is not from God's anger, but for
trial of our graces, or for exercise, we bear it patiently. Therefore God
saith, ' Mine anger is turned away from him :' for this, unremoved, embit-
tcrcth eveiy cross, though it be never so small. Let God's anger be upon
a man, and he will make a conceit, a very hght thing, to be as a heavy
cross upon him, and vex him both in body and state more than mightier
crosses at some other time shall. Will you see this in one instance, where
God threatened his own dear people thus : ' And the Lord will smite thee
with the botch of Egypt, and with the emrods, and with the scab, and
with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed,' Deut. xxviii. 27. What !
is a scab, and an itch, and the like, such a terrible judgment, which in
these days is set so light by? 0 yes ! When it comes with God's displea-
sure ; when the least scratch is set on fire by God's anger, it shall consume
us, it proves uncurable, as there it is threatened : ' whereof thou canst not
be healed.' When the vermin came in God's anger upon that hard-
hearted king, all Pharaoh's skill, and his magicians' skill, could not
beat them out, because, as they confessed, ' this was the finger of
God,' Exod. viii. 19. Let any thing come as a messenger of God's
anger, it comes with vengeance, and sticks to the soul, like a ' fi-etting
leprosy,' Lev. xiv. 45, 46, which, when it entered into a house, many
times could not be gotten out again with pulling out stones, or scraping them,
till the house were demolished. So, when God's anger is raised and kindled
against a person, you may remove this and that, change place and com-
pany, and use of helps ; yet it will never leave fretting till it have con-
sumed him, unless it be removed by repentance. If it be never so small a
scratch or itch, all the physic in the world shall not cure it. For as the
love of God makes all other things in God comfortable unto us, so it is his
anger which makes all his attributes terrible. As, for his power, the more
he loves me, the more he is able to do me good. But otherwise, the more
he is angry and displeased, the more his other attributes are terrible. If
be be wise, the more he will find out my sins : if he be powerful and angry,
the more he can revenge himself on me. Is he angry and just ? the more
woe to me. So there is nothing in God when he is angry, but it is so
much the more temble. For this puts a sting in everything : which, when
it is removed out of mahgnant creatures armed with a sting, then they are
no more hurtful. The sting of every evil and cross, is God's anger
and wrath. This being removed, nothing hurts. All crosses then are
gentle, mild, tractable, and medicinal, when God hath once said, ' For
mine anger is turned away from him.' After that's gone, whatsoever re-
maineth is good for us, when we feel no anger in it. What is that which
blows the coals of hell, and makes hell hell, but the anger of God, seizing
upon the conscience ? This kindles Tophet, and sets it a-fire like a river of
brimstone, Isa. xxx. 33. Therefore this is a wondrous sweet comfort and
encovu*agement when he saith, ' For mine anger is turned away fi'om him.'
Whence, in the next place, we may observe,
That God ivill turn auay his anger upon repentance.
When there is this course taken, formerly mentioned, to turn unto the
Lord and to sue for pardon, to vow reformation, ' Asshur shall not save us,'
and a thorough reformation of the particular sin ; and when there is wrought
in the heart faith to rely on God's mercy, as the ' Father of the fatherless,'
in whom they ' find mercy,' then God's anger is turned away. God, upon
repentance, will turn away his anger. The point is clear. We see, when
824 THE RETUr.NIXG BACKSLIDER. [SeEMON VI,
the Lord hath threatened many grievous judgments and plagues for sin,
one upon the neck of another, denounced with all variety of expressions in
the most terrible manner ; yet, after all that thundering, Deut. xxviii. and
xxix., it follows, ' And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come
upon thee, the blessings and the curses, which I have set before thee, and
thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations whither the Lord thy
God hath driven thee, and shalt return unto the Lord thy God, &c. ; that
then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon
thee,' &c., Deut. xxx. 1, 2, 3. After repentance, you see the promise
comes presently after ; not that the one is the meritorious cause of the
other ; but there is an order of things. God will have the one come with
the other. Where there is not sense of sin and humiliation, and thence
prayer to God for pardon, with reformation and trusting in his mercy,
there the anger of God abides stiU. But where these are, ' his anger is
turned away.' God hath established his order, that the one of these must
still follow the other.
Another excellent place to the forenamed, we have in the Chronicles,
' If my people that are called by my name shall humble themselves and
pray,' (as they did here in this chapter, ' take words unto yourselves') ' and
seels my face and turn from their wicked ways,' 2 Chron. vii. 14 ; as they
did here, ' Asshur shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses,' &c.
We will no more rely on the barren false helps of foreign strength. What
then ? ' I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal
their land,' 2 Chron. vii. 14. Here is the promise, whereof this text is a proof.
So in all the prophets there is a multiplication of the like instances and
promises ; which we will not stand upon now, as not being controversial.
It is God's name so to do, as we may see in that well known place of
Exodus. ' Jehovah, Jehovah, God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering,
and abundant in goodness and truth ; keeping mercy for thousands, for-
giving iniquity, and transgression, and sin,' &c., Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. And
so it is said, * At what time soever a sinner repents himself of his sins from
the bottom of his heart, I will put all his sins out of my remembrance, saith
the Lord God,' Hebrews viii. 12. The Scripture is plentiful in nothing
more ; especially it is the burden of Ezek. xviii. and xxxiii., forgiveness
of sins, and removal of wrath upon repentance.
And for example. See one for all the rest. Let the greater include the
lesser. Manasseh was a greater sinner than any of us all can be ; because
he was enabled* with a greater authority to do mischief, (all which no pri-
vate man, nor ordinary great man, is capable of, not having the Uke power) ;
which he exercised to the full in all manner of cruelty, joined with other
gross and deadly sins ; and yet the Scripture shews that, upon his humili-
ation and praying, he found mercy. God turned away his anger, 2 Chron.
xxxiii. 12, 13.
That of the prodigal is a parable also fitted for this purpose, who had
no sooner a resolution to return to his father, Luke xv. 23. Filius timet
convitium, dc. The son fears chiding ; the father provides a banquet. So
God doth transcend our thoughts in that kind. We can no sooner humble
ourselves to pray to him heartily, resolving to amend our ways and come
to him, but he lays his anger aside to entertain terms of love and friendship
with us. As we see in David, who was a good man, though he slubbered
over the matter of repentance, all which while God's hand was so heavy
upon him, that his moisture was turned into the drought of summer, he
* That is, ' endued.' — G.
HOSEA XIV. 4, 5.] THE RETURKING BACKSLIDER. 325
roai-ing all. the day long, Ps. xxxii. 3, 4. But when once he dealt throrghly
in the busmess, and resolved, * I will confess my transgression unto the
Lord ; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.' Lot our humiliation be
real and thorough, with prayer for pardon, and pui-pose to reform, an 1 pre-
sently God will shew mercy.
The reason is clear, because it is his nature so to do. His nature is more
inclined to mercy than anger. For him to be angry, it is still upon supposition
of our sins. But to be merciful and gracious, it always proceeds from his own
bowels, whether we be sinners or not. Without all supposition, God is still
merciful unto whom he will • shew mercy. • "Who is a God like unto thee,'
saith the prophet, ' that pardoneth iniquity ? he passeth by the transgres sion of
the remnant of his heritage, and retaineth not his anger for ever ; because he
delighteth in mercy.' Things naturally come easily, without pain ; as beams
from the sun, water from the spring, and as heat from fire ; all which come
easily, because they are natural. So mercy and love fr-om God come e asily
and willingly. It is his nature to be gracious and merciful. Though w e be
sinners, if we take this course here, as the church doth, to pray and be hum-
bled, then it will follow, ' Mine anger is turned away from him.' The use is,
First, to obser\'e God's truth in the performance of his gracioKs prom ses,
who, as he makes gracious promises to us, so he makes them good. His
promise is, ' If we confess our sins, he will forgive them and be merciful,'
Prov. xxviii. 13. So here he says, ' Mine anger is turned away.' As they
confess, so he is merciful to forgive them. It is good to observe the ex-
periments* of God's truth. Every word of God is a shield, that is, we may
take it as a shield. It is an experimental tnith, whereby we may ai-m oui
souls. This is an experimental truth, that when w^e are humbled for n.
sins, God, he will be merciful unto our sins, and allay his anger, as it is in
this text. Therefore it is said, ' Those that know thy name will trust in
thee, for thou never failest those who put theu' trust in thee,' Ps. ix. 10
Let us then open our hearts unto God, and confess our sins unto him ; and
if we resolve amendment, we shall find the truth of his gracious promises.
He will turn aside his anger, and will never fail us, if we put tnist in him.
' The name of the Lord is a strong tower, and the righteous fly to it and are
safe,' Prov. xviii. 10. This name of mercy, grace, and favour, is a strong
tower to distressed consciences. Let us therefore remember to fly unto it,
when our consciences are awaked and distressed with sin, and sense of God's
displeasure. Seeing these kinds of promises are as a city of refuge, let us
run unto them, and we shall not be pulled from the horns of this altar, as
Joab once was from his, 1 Kings ii. 28 ; but shall at all times find grace
and mercy to help us at the time of need. It is a comfortable point, * Mine
anger is turned away from him,'
Quest. But it may be said. How is God's anger turned away from h is
childi-en, when they feel it ofttimes after in the course of their Uves ?
Ans. The answer is, that there is a double anger of God, whereby wt
must judge of things, for either it is,
1. Vindicative; or, 2. Fatherly anger.
God, ofter our first conversion, he removeth his vindicative anger, after
which, though sometimes he threaten and fi-own upon us, yet it is with a
fatherly anger, which God also removes, with the shame and correction
attending it, when we reform and amend our wicked ways.
There is, 1. A child of anger ; 2. A child under anger.
God's children are never ' children of wrath,' Eph. ii. 3, and anger, after
* That is, ' experiences' = trials of.— G. .
326 THE EETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeEMON VI.
their first conversion. But sometimes children under wrath, if they make
bold with sin, so as they cannot use their right of sonship, to go boldly to
the throne of grace. Because then, though they have the right of fear,*
they conceive of God as angry with them, and cannot use it, so long as they
live in any sin against conscience, and so continue, until they reform and
humble themselves, as the church doth here ; after which they can and do
rejoice again, claim their right, and are not either children of wrath, or
under wrath. David, after he had sinned that foul sin, Ps. li. was a
child under wrath, not a child of wrath. So, if we make bold to sin, we
are children under ^vrath, for ofttimes God begins correction at his own
house, if there be any disorder there, 1 Pet. iv. 17. You know God was
so angry with Moses, that he was not suffered to enter into the land of
Canaan, Num. xx. 12. And David, when he had numbered the people,
God was angry with him, 2 Sam. xxiv. 1 ; and with the Corinthians also,
for unreverent receiving of the Lord's Supper, 1 Cor. xi. 30. But here is
a course prescribed to remove his fatherly anger, and to enjoy the beams of
his countenance, and sunshine of his favour in Christ. If we humble
ourselves, confess om* sins, and fly unto him, as the church here doth, then
we shall find this made good, ' For mine anger is turned away from him.'
But it may be asked.
Quest. In times of aflliction, how may we know God's anger to be re-
moved, when yet we endure the aflliction ?
Ans. The answer is, that God is infinitely wise, and in one affliction
hath many ends ; as,
1. When he afflicts them, it is to correct them for their sins; after
which, when they have pulled out the sting of sin by confession and hiimi-
liation, if afflictions continue, his anger doth not continue.
2. Affliction sometimes is for an exercise of patience and faith, and trial
of their graces, and for the exemplary manifestation to others of God's
goodness to them.
But even then they may know that things come not in anger unto them
by this ; that aft;er repentance God speaks peace unto their conscience ; so
that, though the grievance continue, it is with much joy in the Holy Ghost,
and peace of conscience, in which case, the soul knows that it is for other
ends that God continues it. Therefore the first thing in any affliction is,
to remove away the core and sting thereof by humbling ourselves, as the
church here doth, after which our consciences will be at peace for other
things. God hath many ends in correcting us. He will humble us, im-
prove our afflictions to the good of others, and will gain himself honour by
our afflictions, sufierings, and crosses. When God hath shed abroad his
love in our hearts by his Spirit, then we can rejoice in tribulation, and
rejoice under hope, Kom. v. 5. Though the afflictions continue, because
the sting is gone, anger is removed.
* For mine anger is tm'ned away from him.'
The last point we observe from hence, and gather from all these general
truths, is this,
Where there is not humiliation for sin, and hearty prayer to God, with
reformation of our ways, flying unto God for mercy, who is merciful to the
fatherless, there God's ivrath continues.
For as where they are performed his anger is turned away, so must .it
needs follow, that where they are not performed, his anger continueth.
Therefore, let us examine ourselves. The Spirit of God here speaks of
* Qu. ' the right, of fear they conceive ? ' &c. — Ed.
HOSEA XIV. 4, 5.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 327
* healing backslidings,' and of ' turning away iniquity.' Let us look well
to ourselves, and to the present state of things, that our diseases be soundly
cured, our personal diseases ; and then let us be sensible of the diseases of
the land, and pray for them. For there are universal diseases and sins of
a kingdom, as well as personal. And we are guilty of the sins of the times,
as far as we are not humbled for them. Paul tells those who did not punish
the incestuous person, 'Why are you not humbled rather for this deed ?'
1 Cor. V. 2. "Where there is a public disease, there is a public anger hang-
ing over upon that disease ; the cure whereof is here prescribed, to be hum-
bled, as for ourselves, so for others. Therefore let us beware of sin (if we
would shun wrath), especially of idolatry, or else we shall be sure to smart
for it, as Ephraim did, of whom the Spirit of God saith, ' When Ephraim
spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel ; but when he offended in
Baal, he died,' Hosea xiii. 1. Ephraim had got such authority, what with
his former victories, and by the signs of God's favour among them, that
when he spake ' there was trembling,' and he ' exalted himself in Israel ;'
but when he * offended once in Baal,' that is, when he became an idolater,
♦ he died.' It is meant of the civil death especially, that he lost his former
credit and reputation. We see then the dangerous effects of sin, especially
of idolatry. Wherefore let us fortify ourselves against it, and bless God
that we live under such a gi'acious, just, and mild king, and good govern-
ment, where there are such laws against this gi'eat sin especially, and
beseech God long to continue his life and prosperity for our good amongst
us. For use then.
Remember, when we are to deal with God, that he is the great Mover of
oil things; who, if he be angry, can overturn all things, and cross us in
all things ; and can also heal us of all our diseases. But what must we do
if we would be healed ? We must take the course prescribed here, ' Take
unto us words ;' humble ourselves, and have no confidence in Asshur,
munition, people, or in ' the works of our hands ; ' but trust in God, so
shall we be happy and blessed. Whatsoever our enemies be, yet if we can
make God our rock, fortress, and shield, then it is no matter who be our
enemies. * If he be on our side, who can be against us ?' Rom. viii. 31.
Let us all, ministers and all, reform ourselves, and stand in the gap, after
the course here prescribed, and go to God in a right manner ; so we may
dissipate all the clouds of anger which may seem to hang over our heads,
and find God experimentally making this promise good to us, which he
made then to his people, ' I will heal their backsUding, I wiU love them
freely : for mine anger is turned away from him.'
Therefore let us do as Jacob did with Esau, when he came incensed
with mighty displeasure against his brother. Jacob comes before him
humbly, prostrates himself before him, and so turns away his anger, Gen.
xxxiii. 3. So when God is angry with us, and comes against us, let us
humble ourselves before him to appease him. As Abigail quieted David,
by humbling herself before him, when he had a purpose to destroy her
family, 1 Sam. xxv. 23, seq., so let us come before God in humility of
soul, and God will turn away his anger. As when there was a great
plague begun in the anny, Aaron stood with his censer betwixt the living
and the dead, offering incense and making atonement for them, whereby
the plague was stayed. Num. xvi. 48 ; so in any wrath felt or feared, for
ourselves or the State we live in, let every one hold his censer and offer
the incense of prayer, ' Take with you words,' Rev. viii. 4. God is won-
drously moved to pity by the incense of these sweet odours offered up by
"828 THE EETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON VII.
Christ unto the Father, Believe it, it is the only safe course to begin in
heaven. Such a beginning will have a blessed ending. Other courses,
politic and subordinate helps must also be taken, but all is to no purpose,
unless we begin in heaven ; because all things under God are ruled and
moved by him ; who, when he is favourable, makes all the creatures pliable
unto us, but especially makes this good, ' I wiU heal their backsliding, I
will love them freely ; for mine anger is turned away from him.'
THE SEVENTH SERMON.
I will be as the dew tinto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his
root as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the
olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. — Hosea XIV. 5, 6.
The church, as we heard, had been humbled, and therefore is comforted.
It is usual in the Scriptures, especially in the prophetical parts thereof,
after terrible threatenings to come with sweet promises ; because God in
all ages hath a church.* Therefore God in this chapter takes this course.
He makes gracious promises to this people, grounded upon the former part
of the chapter, wherein God had dictated unto them a form of prayer,
repentance, and reformation. ' Take with you words, and turn to the
Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously,' &c.
Whereupon a reformation is promised, ' Asshur shall not save us, we will
not ride upon horses,' &c. Which was a reformation of that national sin
which they were guilty of, false confidence. Now, as we have heard, God
answers them to every particular. He makes a gracious promise, ' that he
will heal their backsliding,' according to their prayer, * Take away all
iniquity.' And to that, ' receive us graciously,' he answers, ' I will love
them freely, for mine anger is tui'ned away from him.'
Now, it cannot be but that God should regard the desires of his own
Spirit, when both the words and Spirit proceed from him. Therefore he
goes on more fully to answer their desire of ' doing good to them,' saying,
' I will be as the dew to Israel,' &c.
In which words the holy prophet doth first, by a metaphor and borrowed
speech, set down the ground of all happiness. So that there is here given
a more full satisfaction to the desires of the church.
1. The cause of all—' I will be as the dew,' &c.
2. The particular persons to whom — ' to Israel.'
3. The fruit of this follows — ' he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his
root as Lebanon.'
Now the words read are a fuller satisfaction to the desires of God's
people, which were stirred up by his own Spirit. * I will be as dew unto
Israel.' Where,
1. You have set do^vn the cause of all, which follows. God by his
gracious Spirit will be ' as the dew unto Israel.'
2. And then upon that, the prosperous success this dew of God's Spirit
hath in them, * They shall gi'ow as the lily.'
Obj. 1. Aye, but the lily grows, but hath no stability. Everything that
grows is not well rooted. Therefore he adds, in the second place, * They
» Joel ii. 27, 28; Hos. ii. 14, 15; Isa. i. 18, 19; Deut. iii. 1, seq; Jer. iii. 12;
Jer. XXX. 1, seq.
HOSEA XTV. 5, G.]' THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER, 329
shall cast out their roots as Lebanon;' that is, with growth they shall have
stability ; not only grow in height speedily, but also grow fast in the root
with firmness.
Ohj. 2. And likewise, as everything that grows in root and firmness,
doth not spread itself, he says, he shall not only grow upward, and take
root downwards, 'but his branches shall spread;' whereby he shall be moro
fruitful and comfortable to others.
Ohj. 3. Oh! but everything that grows, is rooted and spread, is not for
all that fruitful ; therefore, he saith, they shall be as the olive tree, ' His
beauty shall be as the olive tree for fruitfulness.'
Ohj. 4. Yet, though the olive be fruitful, it hath no pleasant smell nor
good taste. Therefore he adds another blessing to that. They shall, in re-
gard of their pleasantness to God and man, that shall delight in them, bo
* as the smell of Lebanon ; ' which was a wondrous pleasant, delightful
place, which yielded a pleasant savour round about. So we see what a
complete kind of growth this is, wherein blessing upon blessing is promised.
The Holy Ghost cannot enough satisfy himself in variety of comfortable
expi'essions. Nothing is left unsatisfied that the heart can propound. He
will make them grow, be stedfast, fruitful, delightful, and pleasant. So
that we have here to consider:
1 . The favour and blessing that he promiseth, to be ' as the dew to
Israel.'
2. The excellency of it in divers particulars.
3. The order wherein it is promised.
Before we come to the words themselves, if we remember and read over
the former part of the prophecy, we shall find it full of terrible curses, all
opposite unto that here promised : to shew.
We can never be in so disconsolate a state, but God can alter all.
He hath a right hand as well as a left ; blessings as well as curses ;
mercy as well as justice ; which is more proper to his natm-e than that.
Therefore let Christian souls never be discouraged with their condition and
state whatsoever it is.
Reason. For, as there are many maladies, so there are many remedies
opposite to them. As Solomon saith, ' This is set over against that,' &c.,
Eccles. vii. 14. If there be a thousand kinds of ills, there are many
thousand kinds of remedies. For God is larger in his helps than we can
be in our diseases and distresses, whatsoever they are, Zech. i. 19, 20, 21.
Therefore it is good to make this use of it, to be so conceited of God, as may
draw us nearer unto him upon all occasions.
Again, we see here how large the Spirit of God is in expressions of the
particulars. ' I will be as the dew unto Israel : and he shall grow as the lily,
and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his
beauty be large,' &c. Whereunto tends all this largeness of expression?
God doth it in mercy unto us, who especially need it, being in a distressed,
disconsolate estate. Therefore they are not words wastefully spent. We
may marvel sometimes, in Isaiah, and so in some other prophets, to see
the same things in substance so often repeated, though with variety of
lively expressions, as it is, for the most part, the manner of every prophet.
Surely, because it is useful and profitable, the people of God need it.
There is, nor never was any man in a drooping, sinking condition, but he
desires line upon Une, word upon word, promise upon promise, expression
upon expression.
Obj. One would think, is not a word of God sufficient ?
830 THE KKTURNING BACKSLIUEE. [SeRMON VII.
Ans. Yes, for him, but not for us. We have doubting and dxooping
hearts, and therefore God adds sacraments and seals ; not only one sacra-
ment, but two ; and in the sacrament not only bread, but wine also ; to shew
that Christ is all in all. What large expressions are here, thinks a profane
heart, what needs this ? As if God knew us not better than we know ourselves.
Whensoever thou art touched in conscience with the sense of thy sins, and
knowest how great, how powerful, how holy a God thou hast to deal with,
who can endure no impure thing, thou wilt never find fault with his large
expressions in his word and sacraments ; and with the variety of his pro-
mises, when he translates out of the book of nature into his own book, all
expressions of excellent things to spread forth his mercy and love. Is this
needless ? No ; we need all. He that made us, redeemed us, preserves
us, knows us better than we know ourselves. He who is infinite in wisdom
and love takes this course.
And mark again, in the next place, how the Holy Ghost fetcheth here
this comfort from things that are most excellent in their kind. ' They shall
grow as the lily,' that grows fairly and speedily ; ' and they shall take root
as Lebanon.' To shew that a Christian should be the excellent in his
kind, he compares him in his right temper and state, to the most excellent
things in nature ; to the sun, to lions, trees of Lebanon, cedars, and olive
trees for fruitfulness ; and all to shew that a Christian should not be an
ordinary man. All the excellencies of nature are little enough to set out
the excellency of a Christian. He must be an extraordinary singular man.
Saith Christ, ' What singular thing do ye ?' Mat. v. 47. He must not be a
common man. Therefore, when God would raise his people, he tells them,
they should not be common men, but grow as lilies, be rooted as trees,
fruitful as olives, and pleasant, beautiful, as the goodly, sweet- smelling
trees of Libanus. How graciously doth God condescend unto us, to teach
us by outward things, how to help our souls by our senses, that when we
see the growth, fruitfulness, and sweetness of other things, we should call
to mind what we should be, and what God hath promised we shall be, if
we take this course and order formerly prescribed. Indeed, a wise Chris-
tian, endowed with the Sj^irit of God, extracts a quintessence out of every-
thing, especially from those that God singles out to teach him his duty by.
When he looks upon any plant, fruit, or tree that is pleasant, delightful, and
fruitful, it should put him in mind of his duty.
' I will be as the dew to Israel,' &c.
These sweet promises in their order follow immediately upon this, that
God would freely love them, and cease to be angry with them. Then he
adds the fruits of his love to their souls, and the efiiects of those fruits in
many particulars ; whence first of all we observe,
God's love is a fruitful lore.
Wheresoever he loves, he makes the things lovely. We see things lovely,
and then we love them ; but God so loves us that in loving us he makes us
lovely. So saith God by the prophet, ' I have seen his ways, and will heal
him ; I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his
mourners,' Isa. Ivii. 18. And from this experience of the fruitfulness of
God's love, the church is brought in rejoicing, ' I will greatly rejoice in the
Lord ; my soul shall be joyful in my God : for he hath clothed me with the
garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth
herself with her jewels,' Isa. Ixi. 10. Thus he makes us such as may be
amiable objects of his love that he may delight in.
IIOSEA XIV. 5, 6.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 331
Eeason. For his love is the love, as of a gracious, so of a powerful, God,
that can alter all things to us, and us to all things. He can bring us good
out of everything, and do us good at all times, according to the church's
prayer, * Do good unto us.'
Ike. Wherefore, seeing God can do us good, and since his love is not
only a pardoning love, to take away his anger, but also so complete and
fruitful a love, so full of spiritual favours, * I will be as the dew unto Israel,
and he shall grow up as the lily,' &c., let us stand more upon God's love
than wo have formerly done, and strive to have our hearts inflamed with
love towards God again, as the prophet David doth, * I love the Lord, be-
cause he hath heard my voice and my supplications,' Ps. cxvi. 1. It may
be for outward condition that even where God loves they may go backwards
so and so ; but for their best part, their souls, God will be as the ' dew to
them,' and ' they shall gi'ow as Lebanon.' God will be good to them in
the best things ; and a Christian, when he begins to know what the best
things are, concerning a better life, he then learneth to value spiritual
blessings and favours above all other whatsoever. Therefore God suits his
promises to the desires of his children, that he would water their dry souls,
that he would be as the dew unto them. God's love is a fruitful love, and
fruitful in the best things. As we know what David saith, ' There be many
who say. Who will shew us any good ? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy
countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in
the time that their corn and their wine increased,' Ps. iv. 6, 7. So God
fits his gi'acious promise, answerable to the desires of a gracious heart,
' I will be as the dew to Israel.'
2. To come to the words, in particular, for this is the gi'ound of aU that
follows, ' I will be as the dew unto Israel.'
Quest. How will God be as the dew to Israel ?
Ans. This is especially meant of, and performed to, the church under the
New Testament, especially next unto Christ's time, when the dew of grace
fell in greatest abundance upon the church. The comfortable, sanctifying,
fruitful gi-ace of God is compared to dew in many respects.
First, the dew doth come from above. God sends it, it drops from above,
and cannot be commanded by the creature. So aU other gifts, and espe-
cially this perfect gift, the grace of God, comes fi'om above, from the Father
of lights. There is no principle of grace naturally wdthin a man. It is as
childish to think that grace comes from any principle within us, as to think
that the dew which falls upon a stone is the sweat of the stone, as children
think that the stone sweats, when it is the dew that has fallen upon it.
Certainly our heaiis, in regard of themselves, are barren and dry. "\\1iere-
fore, God's gi'ace, in regard of the original, is compared to dew, which
should teach us to go to God, as the church doth here, and pray him to
deal graciously w^th us, to do good to us, for this cause laying open our
souls unto him, to shed his grace into them.
Secondly, the dew doth fall insensihhj and invisibhj. So the fjrace of God.
We feel the comfort, sweetness, and operation of it, but it falls insensibly
without observation. Inferior things here feel the sweet and comfortable
influence of the heavens, but who sees the active influence upon them ?
■which, how it is derived from superior bodies to the inferior, is not ob-
servable. As our Saviour speaks of the beginnings of grace and workings
of it, ' The wind bloweth where it Hsteth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth : so is
every one that is born of the Spirit,' John iii. 8. It works we know not
-S32 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON VII
how. We feel the work, but the manner of working is unknown to us.
Grace, therefore, is wrought undiscernibly. No man can see the conver-
sion of another ; nay, no man almost can discern his own conversion at
first. Therefore, this question should not much trouble you, Shew us
the first hour, the first time of your conversion and entrance into the state
of grace. Grace, to many, falls like the dew, by little and Httle, drop and
drop, line upon line. It falls sweetly and undiscernibly upon them at the first.
Therefore, it is hard to set down the first time, seeing, as our blessed Saviour
speaks, grace at the first is wondrous little, likened to a grain of mustard-
seed ; but though it be small at first, yet nothing is more glorious and beauti-
ful afterwards, for from a small seed it grows to overspread and be great,
shooting out branches, Mark iv. 31, 32, And as the root of Jesse was a
despised stock, and in show a dead root, yet thence Christ rose, a branch
as high as heaven ; so the beginning of a Christian is despised and little,
like a dead stock, as it were ; but they grow upward and upward still, till
they come to heaven itself, Prov. iv. 18. Thus we see there is nothing in
the world more undiscernible in the beginning than the work of grace,
which must make us not over-curious to examine exactly the first begin-
nings thereof, because it is as the falling of the dew, or ' the blowing of
the wind.'
Thirdly, Again, as it falls undiscernibly and invisibly, so very sweetly
and mildly, not violating the nature or course of anything, but rather
helping and cherishing the same ; or if it make any change in anything, it
doth it mildly and gentty. So usually, unless it be in some extraordinary
case, God works upon the soul by his grace mildly and sweetly. Grace
works sweetly upon the soul, preserving its freedom ; so as man, when he
begins to be good, shall be freely good, from inward principles wrought in
him. His judgment shall like the course he takes, and be clean opposite
to others that are contrary, from an inward principle ; as free now in
altering his course, as formerly he was in following the other. There is no
violence, but in regard of corruption. God works strongly and mildly :
strongly, for he changeth a stone into a fleshly heart ; and yet sweetly : he
breaks not any power of nature, but advanceth it. For grace doth not
take away or imprison nature, but lifts it up, and sets it at liberty. For it
makes the will stronger and freer, the judgment sounder, the understanding
clearer, the affections more orderly. It makes all things better, so that no
violence is ofiered to nature.
Fourthly, Again, grace is compared to" dew, in regard of the operations
of dew. For, what effects hath dew upon the earth ?
(1.) It cools the air when it falls, and then with coolness it hath a fructi-
fying virtue ; for falling especialty on tender herbs and plants, it soaks
into the root of them, and makes them fruitful. So it is with the grace of
God's Spirit. It cools the soul, scorched with the sense of God's anger ;
as indeed all our souls will be, when we have to deal with God, who is * a
consuming fire,' Heb. xii. 29, till we take that course to look upon him in
Christ for the pardon of sin ; after which his grace and the sense of it cooleth,
assuageth, and speaks peace to an uncomfortable, disconsolate heart. This
voice, ' Son, be of good comfort, thy sins are forgiven thee.' Oh, this hath a
cooling in it ! and this also, ' This day shalt thou be with me in paradise.'
Oh, how it cooled and cheered the good thief, and comforted him ! And
so when God says unto the soul, ' I am thy salvation ; ' Oh, when the soul
feels this, how is it cooled and refreshed !
(2.) And the soul is not only cooled and refreshed, but it is also sweetened
HOSEA Xn^. 5, 6.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 33&-
Ofiid wade /mil/ill uith comfort to the soid. If wo were to see a man in the
pangs of conscience, stung with fieiy temptations, as with so many fiery-
serpents and poisoned darts, which drink up the spirits, and presents God
a consuming fire ; and hell beneath, full of insupportable torments, set on
by the insupportable wrath of God : then we should know what it were to
have grace in this efficacious manner, cooling and refreshing the soul, that
hath these fiery darts stuck into it of violent strong temptations, which to
the present sense are the flashes and beginnings of hell. Oh, it is an
excellent thing to have the grace of God in such a case to assuage and cool
the maladies of a distressed soul, which for the present seems to burn in
a flame of wrath ! As it cools, so also it makes the heart fruitful, our
hearts of themselves being as the barren wilderness and wild desert. Now
God by his grace turns ' the wilderness into water-springs,' as it appcareth
in many places of the prophets. Saith God, ' For I will pour water upon
him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground ; I will pour my Spirit
upon thy seed,' &c., Isa. xliv. 3 ; xlv. 8. So grace, it turns the barren
wilderness, the heart, dry of itself, and makes it fruitful. We know what
Paul said of Onesimus, a fruitless servant, nay, a fugitive thief. He is
unfruitful no longer, saith he, now that he is become a convert, another,
a new man, now he will do good service, Phil. xvi. A man is no sooner
altered by the dew of grace, but howsoever formerly he were a naughty,
hurtful person, of whom every man was afraid because of his wicked-
ness, yet now he is a fi'uitful person, and strives to bring forth fruits
worthy of amendment of life, Mat. iii. 8.
Fifthly, And we may add one more, in the next place, in regard of the
miresistibleness thereof; for as nothing can hinder the dew from falling
from the sweet influence of heaven unto us, or hinder the working of those
superior bodies upon the inferior, or hinder the wind from blowing ; so
who can hinder God's grace ? Job xxxviii. 37. They may, out of malice,
hinder the means of it, and hinder the gracious working of the Spirit, by
discouragements in others ; which is a sign of a devilish spirit, when yet
God hath a hand in that too after a sort. For it raineth in one city, and
not in another, by God's appointment ; but nothing can hinder, where God
will have the dew and water, and shine of the influence of grace, work.
Nothing in the world can stop it. So it is said in that excellent prophecy
of Christ and his kingdom, * He shall come down like rain upon the mown
gi'ass, as showers that water the earth,' which as they cool and fructify, so
come they unresistibly, Ps. Ixxii. 6.
Use. Let none, therefore, bo discouraged with the deadness, diyness, and
barrenness of their own hearts ; but let them know that God doth graciously
promise, if they will take the course formerly set down, to be ' as the dew
unto them.' Therefore let them come unto the ordinances of God, with
wondrous hope, confidence, and faith, that he will be as dew unto them ;
that, seeing he hath appointed variety of ordinances, the word and sacra-
ments, he will bless those means of his own ordaining and appointing, for
his own ends. He that hath graciously appointed such moans of grace,
will he not bless them ? especially having promised, ' I will be as the dew
unto Israel.' Therefore lot us attend upon the ordinances, and not keep
away, though our hearts be ban-en, dry, and unfruitful. God is above the
heart, and able to turn the wilderness into a fruitful place. He can make
the heart a fit habitation for himself to dwell in. Let us by laith attend
upon the ordinances. If we find not comfort in one ordinance, let us go
unto another, and another. Comfort and help shall come, especially if, with
BSi THK EETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON VII.
the churcli, we ' go a little further,' Cant. iii. 4 ; for the promise is, * I
will be as the dew unto Israel.'
But mark the order wherein he makes this promise.
First, He gives grace to pray to him. ' Take away all iniquity, and receive
us graciously ; ' ' Do good to us.'
Then, second, he gives a spirit of reformation, promising amendment ;
whereupon this foUoweth, 'that he will forgive their sins, love them freely,'
&c., and be ' as the dew unto Israel.' He will be as the dew unto Israel ;
but he will give them grace first to be humbled, confess sin, and pray to
God for grace and forgiveness. There is an order of working in the soul.
God giveth justification before sanctification ; and before he freeth from the
guilt of sin, he gives grace to confess sin. * If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from them,' saith
St John, 1 John i. 9. Where these go before, grace will follow ; and
where they do not, there will be no sanctification. Therefore let us con-
sider the order ; for wheresoever God ' takes away iniquity,' and heals their
souls, in regard of the guilt of their sins, unto those he will be as dew.
Therefore, if we have still barren souls, without desires or strength to
goodness, certainly our sins are still upon the fiJe ;* for justification is
never without holiness of life. ' Whosoever is in Christ, he is a new
creature,' 2 Cor. v. 17. When this is done, God will be ' as the dew;'
because he doth pardon our sins for this cause, that he may thereby fit us
to be entertained in the covenant ; and are we fit to be in covenant with
him, until our natures be altered ? Therefore, whensoever he enters into
covenant with any, he changeth their natures, that they may be friends,
and have communion with him. Then the same soul which crieth, ' Take
away all iniquity,' desireth also the dew of grace to make it better. This
order is not only necessary on God's part, but in regard of the soul also.
For was there ever any soul, from the beginning of the world, that truly
desired forgiveness of sins, which did not also therewith desire grace ? Such
a soul were but a hypocritical soul. For if it be rightly touched with sorrow,
it desires as well ability to subdue sin, as forgiveness of sin ; holiness and
righteousness, with forgiveness, Luke i. 75.
Use 1. Therefore, lest we deceive ourselves, let this be an use of trial
from the order, that if we find not grace wrought in our natures to restrain sin,
and alter our former lewd courses, our sins are not yet forgiven. For, where-
soever God takes away sin, and ' loves freely,' there also he gives the best
fruits of his love, bestows the dew of his grace, to work upon and alter our
natures. Christ came not by blood alone, to die for us ; but by water also,
to sanctify us, 1 John v. 6. He will not only ' love freely,' but he will be
' as the dew,' where he loves freely. Therefore, if we have not sanctifying
grace, we have not as yet pardoning grace. For we know the prophet joins
them both together. ' Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth
not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile,' Ps. xxxii. 1, 2. If we
retain a guileful, false spirit, our sins are not forgiven. We see both these
are put together.
Use 2. And seeing all *these good things come from God, it is necessary
to take notice of what hath been said of God's goodness, that ive do not rob
God of his due glory, nor ourselves of the due comfort that we may draw
thence. The Egyptians had the river Nylus, that overflowed the land every
year, caused by anniversary winds, which so blew into the mouth of the
river, that it could not discharge itself into the sea ; whereupon it over-
* See Note b. vol. I. p. 289.— G.
HoSEA XIV. 5, 6.] THE RETURNING BAOKSLIDEB. 335
flowed the banks, and left a fruitful slime upon the ground, so that they
needed not rain as other countries, because it was watered with Nylus.
Hereupon they did not depend upon God's blessing, nor were so holy as
they should ; but were proud of their river, as is intimated by Moses unto
the people. ' But the land whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the
land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowest thy seed,
and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs : but the land whither
ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the
rain of heaven : a land which the Lord thy God careth for,' &c., Dcut. xi.
10, 11. They having more immediately rain from heaven, saw God's
hand in watering it, whereas the Egyptians did not. And what makes a
papist to be so unthankful ? He thinks he can with his own industry water
bis own ground with somewhat in himself. What makes another man
thankful, on the other side ? Because he knoweth he hath all things by
dependence from the first Cause : for as in nature, ' In God we live, move,
and have our being,' Acts x\'ii. 28, much more in grace. We have all our
nourishment, spiritual being, moving, and life from the dew of heaven. All
our heat is from the Sun of righteousness,' Mai. iv. 2, which makes a
Christian life to be nothing else but a gracious dependence. ' I can do all
things,' saith St Paul,' Philip, iv. 13. Big and great words ! Oh, but it is
' through Christ that strengthens me.' These things must not be forgot-
ten. For a child of the church is a child of grace. By grace he is what
he is ; he hath all from heaven. Suitable to the former place is that in
Ezeldel. ' And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste ; and they
shall know that I am the Lord ; because he hath said, The river is mine,
and I have made it,' Ezek. xxix. 9. He shall be desolate, because he
boasts and brags of his river, and depends not upon God for the sweet
showers of the former and the latter rain. They boasted because it was a
fat, fruitful country, which the Romans called their granary. But we must
look for all from heaven. God by his Spirit will be as the dew.
You know in paradise there were four- rivers that watered the garden of
God, that sweet place, and made it fruitful ; but the heads of all these
rivers were out of paradise. Gen. ii. 10, So it is with the church of God,
' There is a river, the streams whereof makes glad the city of God,' as the
Psalmist speaks, Ps. xlvi. 4 : many precious comfortable graces, the parti-
culars whereof follow. But where is the head-spring of the river ? It is
in heaven. We have all from God, through Christ the Mediator. So,
though we have of the water and dew, yet notwithstanding the head
and spring of all is from without the church ; in heaven, in Christ, in the
Mediator. And, therefore, in all the excellent things we enjoy in the
church, let us look to the original first cause, Christ by his Spirit. He is
' as the dew' to his church.
Use 3. This aflbrds likewise an itse of direction, how to come to have
grace to sanctify and alter our natures.
Ans. Do as the chm-ch doth here ; desire it of God. Lord, teach me to
see and know my sins : Lord, * Take away all iniquity, and receive me
graciously;' Heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee. 0 love me
freely. Turn away thy angry face from my sins, and be as the dew imto
my barren soul ; my dead soul, 0 quicken it ; make good thy promise,
come swiftly, come speedily, come unresistibly, ' like rain upon the mown
grass,' Ps. Ixxii. 6 ; as showers, to water with the dew of grace, and fruc-
tify my dry, parched soul. Thus we should be earnest with God for grace
for om'selvcs, and for the chm-chcs abroad, for our church and state at
830 THE EETUKNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON VII.
home. Therefore, let such an use be made of it generally, as God, and
not other foreign helps, may especially be trusted in : for it is the only
■way to destruction, to let God alone, and to trust to this body and that
body. For in this case, many times, God makes those we trust in our
destruction, as the Ass}Tians and Babylonians were the ruin of the ten
tribes. But begin always first in heaven : set that great wheel a-worldng,
and he will make all things comfortable, especially for our souls. Then we
shall not only find him to make good this promise, ' I wiU be as the dew
unto Israel ;' but the residue which follow after.
' He shall grow as the lily,' &c.
Those unto whom God is dew, [he gives] a double blessing. He will
make them grow, and so grow as they shall grow up as the lily. Thistles,
and nettles, and ill weeds grow apace also, but not as lilies. But God's
childi'en are lilies, and then they grow as lilies.
Quest. How do Christians grow like lilies ?
Ans. First, for beauty and glory. There is such a kind of glory and
beauty in that plant, that it is said by our Saviom-, that Solomon ' in all
his royalty was not arrayed like one of these,' Mat. vi. 29. Because his
was a borrowed glory from the creature, but the lily hath a native beauty of
its own.
2. Again, the lily hath a sweet and fragrant smell. So have Christians
a sweetness and shining expressed in their conversation ; as we have it a little
after, ' His smell shall be as Lebanon,' &c.
3. And then again, in regard of purity and whiteness. So, Christians are
pure and unspotted in then- conversation, and their aim is purity and un-
spottedness. Whiteness betokens an unstained conversation. So the
people and children of God, they are hlies, beautiful and glorious in the
eyes of God, and of all those who have spiritual eyes, to discern what spi-
ritual excellency is ; howsoever in regard of the world, their life be hidden.
Their excellency is veiled with infirmities, afflictions, and disgraces by the
malignant church ; yet in God's esteem, and in the esteem of his children,
they are lilies. All the dirt in the world cast upon a pearl cannot alter the
nature of it. So, though the world go about to besmear these lilies with
false imputations, yet they are lUies still, and have a glory upon them.
For they have a better spirit and nature than the world hath. And they
are sweeter in their conversation than the world ; for when they have be-
gun to be Christians, they sweeten their speeches and discourses. There is
no Christian who is not of a sweet conversation. So far as grace hath
altered him, he is beautiful, lovely, and sweet, and hath the whiteness of
sincerity.
4. Now as God's children are liHes, and then grow as lilies for sweet-
ness, glory, and beauty ; so they are like lilies, especially in regard of
sudden growth. When God gives a blessing, there is a strange growth on
a sudden, as it is observed of this plant, that it grows very much in a night.
So God's children, when his blessing is upon them, they thrive marvellously
in a short space. To make this clear. When the dew of grace fell in our
Saviour's time upon the Christian world, what a world of lilies gi-ew sud-
denly ! Three thousand in one day, at one sermon, converted by Peter,
Acts ii. 41. The kingdom of heaven sufiered violence in John Baptist's
time, that is, the people thronged after the means of grace, and offered a
holy violence to the things of God, Mat. xi. 12. So when this dew of
grace feU, it was prophesied of it, * The youth of thy womb,' saith he,
' shall be as the morning dew,' Ps. ex. 3. The dew comes out of the womb
HOSEA XrV. 5, G.J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 337
of the morning, for the morning hegets it : * Thy youth shall be as the dew
of the morning,' that is, they shall come in great abundance, as we see it
fell out in the first spring of the gospel. In the space of forty years, by the
preaching of the apostles, what a deal of good was done through a great
part of the world ! How did the gospel then break out like lightning, by
means of that blessed apostle Paul, who himself carried it through a great
part of the world !
And now, in the second spring of the gospel, when Luther began to
preach, in the period of a few years, how many countries were converted
and turned to the gospel ! England, Scotland, Swethland,* Denmark, the
Palatinate, a great part of France, Bohemia, and of the Netherlands. How
many lilies grew up here on a sudden ! Sudden growths are suspected, and
well they may be. But when God will bless, in a short space a great deal
of work shall be done. For God is not tied to length of time. He makes
water to be wine every year in tract of time ; for he turns the water of
heaven into the juice of the grape. So there is water. turned into wine ;
that done in tract of time, which he can do in a shorter time, as he did in
the gospel, John ii. 1, &c. Where is the diflerence ? That he did that
miraculously in a short time, which he usually effects in continuance of
time. So now many times he doth great matters in a short time, that his
power may be known and seen the more, as we see now in these wars of
Germany (7) how quickly God hath turned his hand to help his church,
and hiss for a despised, forgotten nation to trample down the insulting,
afflicting, menacing power of the proud enemy. And he can do so still, if
our sins hinder him not. Surely if we stand still and behold the salvation
of the Lord, we shall see great matters effected in a little time. ' They
shall grow as the lily.' The accomplishment of this promise is not wholly
yet come, for there be blessed times approaching, wherein, when the Jews
are converted, ' they shall grow as the lily ' in those glorious times there
spoken of, at the conversion of the Jews and ' fulness of the Gentiles '
coming in, Rom. xi. 12, the accomplishment whereof we expect, to the re-
joicing of our hearts, that they should at length prove indeed with us the
true children of Abraham.
Use 1. Therefore, we should make this use of all. Labour that the dew
of God may prove the dew of gi'ace, that God would make us lilies. If we
would be beautiful and glorious, have a lustre upon us, and be as much be-
yond others as pearls are beyond common stones, and as lilies are better
than thorns and briers, let us labour to have the grace of God, so to be
accounted lUics, whatsoever the world accounts of us.
Use 2. Again, if the work be wrought upon us, though the imputations
of the world be otherwise, let us comfort ourselves, God accounts me a
lily. Set this against the base esteem of the world, considering how God
judgeth, and those who are led by his Spirit, who judge better of us. And
in all association, combination, and linking in acquaintance, labour to join
with those that are liUes, who cast a good and a sweet savour. For we
shall gain by their acquaintance whom Solomon affirmeth to be better and
more excellent than their brethren, Prov. xii. 26. What are other people
then ? They are but thorns. Therefore, let not those which are lilies
have too much or near acquaintance with thorns, lest they prick us, and,
as our blessed Savour saith, turning again all to be-rentf us. Mat. vii. 6.
It is said of our blessed Saviour in the Canticles, ' He feedeth among the
lilies,' ii. 16. And, indeed, where is there any true delight to be had under
«■ That is, ' Swndeo.'— G. + That is, ' rciul.'-G.
VOL. U. Y
338 THE EETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeKMON VII.
heaven but in their company who are gracious ? What can a man receive
from profane spirits in regard of comfort of soul ? Nothing. They are as
the barren wilderness that can yield nothing. Their hearts are empty.
Therefore, their tongues are worth nothing. But let our delight be with
David, toward the most excellent of the land, Ps. ci. 0, and then we shall
not only ' grow as the lily,' but, as it foUoweth, ' we shall cast forth our
roots as Lebanon.'
' And cast forth his roots as Lebanon.'
Because we have spoken of growth, and shall have occasion to touch it
hereafter, we will not be large in the point. God here promiseth a growth
not only to the church, but to every particular Christian ; and it is very
necessary it should be so. For without growth neither can we give God
his due honour, nor he receive the smell of a sweet sacrifice from us, as is
fit. Nor can we without it withstand our enemies, or bear our crosses that
God may call us to. Again, without gi-owth and strength we cannot per-
form those great duties that God requires at our hands, of thankfulness ;
nor do things so cteerfuUy and sweetly as may be comfortable to us. In
Bome-;= without growth we can do nothing acceptably either to God or his
people. The more gi'ace, the more acceptance, which is spoken that we
may value the promises, this especially, that we shall grow up in grace and
knowledge ' as the lily, and cast forth our roots as Lebanon.'
Quest. But how shall we come to gi'ow ?
Alls. 1. Go to God, that we may continually have from him the sanctify-
ing clew of his grace. Go first for pardon of sin, then for a heart to reform
our ways, to enter in a new covenant for the time to come, that we will not
' trust in Asshur,' but will renounce our particular personal sins ; after
which we shall find sanctifying grace, so as the dew of God's Spirit will
make us grow. Therefore take this order to improve the promises. Go
to God for his love in Christ, for the pardoning of sin, and accepting of us
in him, that wo may find a sense of his love in accepting of our persons,
in the pardoning of oui- sin, which is the gi-ound of love ; for then this
sense of his love will kindle our love towards him again, feeling that we are
in the state of grace. Then go to God for his promise in this order: Lord,
thou hast promised that thou wilt be as the dew, and that we shall grow as
lilies. Make good thy promise then, that I may find the effectual power of
it transforming my soul into the blessed image of thy dear Son !
2. And know that tve must use all the means of groivth, together icith the
promise ; for, in the things of this life, if a man were assured that the next
year would be a very plentiful year, would men therefore, because they
were thus forew-arned, hang up their ploughs, and not prepare their gi-ound?
No ; but they would the rather be encom-aged to take pains, because they
know that howsoever God be pleased to vouchsafe plenty, yet he will do it
in the use of means, observing and depending on his providence. So when
he hath made gracious promises of the dew of his grace, and of growth as
lihes, &c., this implieth a subordinate serving of his gracious providence.
Therefore it is a way to stir us up unto the use of aU means rather, and
not to take us off from them. Even as God, when he told the Israelites,
' I will give you the land of Canaan,' Gen. xvii. 8, did only promise it,
leaving the remainder to their conquest in the use of means. Should this
have made them cast away their swords ? No ; but it was that they
might fight, and fight the more courageously. So when God hath promised
gi-owth in grace, should this make us careless ? Oh no ; it should make us
* Qu. ' in sum ? '— Ed.
HOSEA XIV. 5, G.J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 339
more diligent and careful, and comfort us in the use of means, knowing
that our labour shall not bo in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. xv. 58. Now,
Lord, I know I shall not lose my labour in hearing, in receiving of the sacra-
ment, in the communion of saints, and use of sanctified means, for thou
hast made a gracious promise that ' I shall grow as the lily,' and that thou
wilt be ' as the dew unto me.' Therefore make thy good work begun, efiec-
tual unto my poor soul, that it may flourish and bo refreshed as a watered
garden. But there are several sorts of growth formerly touched, either
1. A growing upward ; or
2. A growing in the root ; or
3. A spreading and growing in the fruit, and sweetness.
Therefore Christians must not always look to have their growth in one
and the same place, but must wisely consider of God's prudent dealing with
his children in this kind, as will be further seen hereafter in the particulars.
* He shall cast forth his roots as Lebanon.'
That is, he shall cast and spread, and so put forth his roots as Lebanon.
He shall grow upward and downward. In regard of firmness, he shall be
more rooted. In what proportion ? Trees grow upwards, in that propor-
tion they take root downwards, because otherwise they may be top-heavy
and overtm-n, a blast of wind taking advantage of their tallness and weak-
ness, to root them out the sooner. Therefore, proportionable to their
spreading above, there must be a rooting in the gi'ound. As the prophet
speaks to Hezekiah of God's people, * And the remnant that is escaped of
the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit up-
ward,' 2 Kings xix. 80. There must be firmness in the root, as w^ell as
gi-owth in the branches, for which cause God here promiseth to the church
and every Christian stability and fixedness, that as he groweth upward liko
the lily, so he should grow downward, firm and strong.
Quest. Now, whence comes this rootedness and firm stability of God's
children ?
Alls. Especially from this, that they are now in the covenant of grace,
rooted in Christ, who is God-man, in whom they are firmly rooted. In
Adam we had a root of our own, but now our root is in Christ. All grace
is first poured into Christ's blessed nature, John i. 16, and then at a second
hand, ' out of his fulness we all receive grace for grace.' Being rooted^in
Christ we become firm, for there is in him an everlasting marriage and
union. ' The root beareth us, we bear not the root,' Kom. xi. 18. Christ
beareth us, we bear not him. So now, in the covenant of grace, all the
firmness is out of us. Even as salvation itself was wrought out of us by a
mediator, so it is kept by a mediator out of us. All goodness, grace, and
favour of God to us is not in us, but in Christ ; but it is so out of us, as
Ciu'ist and we are one. But now we only speak of the cause of our firm-
ness and stability, that because wo are in the state of grace we have an
everlasting finnness, as we are in Christ Jesus. God now making a second
covenant, he will not have it disannulled as the first was, for his second
works are better than his fii-st. His first covenant was, ' Do this and live,'
Lev. xviii. 5 ; but his second is, ' Believe this and live,' Rom. x. 9. So
as howsoever our state in grace be but little, yet it is of a blessed, growing,
spreading, firm nature, so sure as what is begun in grace will end in glory.
Where God gives the first fruits he will give tenths, yea, the full harvest
and all, because by the covenant of gi'ace we are one with Christ, who is
an everlasting head that never dies. Subservient to this now we have pro-
mised in the covenant of grace that we shall never depart from him, and
840 THK EETXmNING BACKSLIDSR. [SeRMON VII.
that he will never depart from vis to do us good. He puts an awe-band
into our hearts, that we shall never depart from him. But this point being
often touched, leaving it, we will come to answer some objections.
Ohj. 1. It may seem that these things are not so. God's children do
not always grow and spread themselves, but they are often overturned and
fall.
Ans 1. This is nothing. They are moved, but not removed. They are
as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever, Ps. cxxv. 1,
which, though it may be shaken with earthquakes, yet is not removed
thereby. The gates of hell and sorrows of death may set sore upon them,
but not prevail against them, Mat. xvi. 18. They may fall, but not fall
away. They may be as a weather-beaten tree, but not as a tree pulled up
by the roots. Therefore they are compared here to a tree whose root
stands fast still. Thus much the church, after a sore trial and endurance
of much affliction, confesseth, 'All this is come upon us, yet have we not for-
gotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant ; our heart is not
turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way, though thou
hast broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of
death,' &c., Ps. xliv. 17, 18, 19.
And again, though they fall, yet they learn to stand fast by their falls,
are gainers by their losses, and become stronger by their weaknesses. As
tall cedars, the more they are shaken by the winds, the more deeply they
take rooting ; so Christians, the more storms and blasts they have, the
more they are fastly rooted. That which we think to be the overthrow of
God's children, doth but root them deeper. As Peter after his fall took
deeper rooting, and David, &c., so after all outward storms and declinings,
here is the fruit of all. They take deeper rooting, whilst their sins are
purged away by their fiery afflictions, Isa. xxx. 15.
Object. 2. But why then are they not more comfortable in their lives, in
feehng and seeing of God's wise ordering of things ?
Ans. 1. First, Because though God work strongly and surely in them,
yet he doth it for the most part slowly, as the wise man speaks, ' all his works
being beautiful in time,' Eccl. iii. 11. Therefore they apprehend not their
comforts as they ought, and so go mourning the longer : the time of knit-
ting divine experiences together not being yet come.
Secondly, Because the anguish of the cross, if it be quick and sharp, many
times takes away the apprehensions of God's excellent ends in the same ; as the
children of Israel could not hearken unto Moses, for anguish and vexation
of spirit, Exod. vi. 9. ' No affliction,' saith the apostle, ' for the present is
joyous,' though afterwards it brings forth the quiet fruit of righteousness,
Heb. xii. 11.
Thirdly, Then again, Satan's m.alice, who casts in floods of temptations,
is fjreat. So that the soul cannot enjoy that sweet tranquillity and peace it
otherwise might, casting in doubts and numbers of what-ifs into the soul.
So that for a time, he causes a strong diversion in them, whence after that,
there foUoweth peace again, when those temptations are seen and overcome.
Fourthly, It is long also of ourselves, who are not armed for crosses and
afflictions, until we are suddenly surprised by them. And then leaving our
watchfulness, and forgetting our consolation, we are struck down for the
present by them, and cannot support ourselves against them.
Fifthly, and lastly. It comes also from God's ivise ordering and disposing
providence, who will not do all at once. Our comforts must come by de-
grees, now a little and then a little. Our experience, and so our comforts,
IIOSEA XIV. 5, G.j TUE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 341
come together, after \\c have honoured God in dependence upon his will
and pleasure. And j-et this hinders not, but a Christian grows still, though
he be for the present insensible of it, as a man is aUve and grows whilst he
sleeps, though he be not sensible of it. Other objections have been
formerly touched.
* He shall cast forth his roots as Lebanon.'
We see then that the state of God's childi'en is a firm and a stable condi-
tion, whence we may observe the difference betwixt God's people and
others. God's people are rooted, and spread their root ; but the other
have rottenness in their root, being cursed, without any foundation. For
take a man who is not a good Christian, where is his foundation ? Only
in the things of this world. Now all here is vanit}^, and we ourselves by
trusting vanity become vain, ' Every man in his best estate is altogether
vanity,' Ps. Ixii. 9, vanity in himself, and trusts in vanity. What stable-
ness can there be in vanity ? Can a man, stare non stante, stand in a thing
that stands not in itself ? Will a picture continue that is drawn upon the
ice ? Will it not fail and melt awa}^ when the ice upon which it is drawn
thaws ? So all these who have not the dew of God's grace, they are as a
picture upon the water, have no foundation, and stand upon that which can-
not stand itself. Therefore the Scripture compareth them to the worst of
grass, which hath no good root ; gi'ass upon the housetop, which hath no
blessing of those that come by, but there stands perking up above others,
Ps. cxxix. 6. So it is with men that have no grace, they can perk up above
others ; but as they have no stable root, nor the blessing of God's people,
stability with the Spirit of God inwardly, and the prayers of God's people
to water and bless them, so they perish and wither quickly. Nay, whole
nations, if wicked, have no foundation. What is become of the great
monarchies of the world, the Assyrian, Persian, Grecian and Eoman
monarchies ? And for cities themselves, they have died hke men, and had
their periods. Only a Christian hath a kingdom, a stable condition which
cannot be shaken, Heb. xii. 28. He takes his root strongly, and gi'ows
stronger and stronger till he grows to heaven, nay, indeed, while he lives,
he is rooted in heaven before his time ; for though we be in earth, we are rooted
in heaven. Christ our root is in heaven, and his faith which is wrought
from heaven, carrieth us to Christ in heaven ; and love, that grace of imion,
following the union of faith, carrieth us to Christ also. Even before our
time, we are there in faith, love, and joy. Therefore a poor Christian is
firm and stable even in this life, having union with Christ. Though he
creep upon the earth, and seem a despised person, yet his root is heaven,
where he hath union with Christ. ' His life is hid with God in Christ,'
who ' when he shall appear,' he shall appear with him likewise in glory,
Col. iii. 3, 4. Therefore, if Christ be firm, the estate of a Christian
must needs be firm, for he is a cedar. Another man is as gi'ass or com
upon the house-top. ' AH flesh is gi'ass,' saith the prophet, Isa. xl. 6.
Oij. Aye, but they have wit, and memory, and parts, &c. Yet they
are but as the flower of the gi-ass, perhaps better than ordinary grass, * but
the grass withereth, and the flower fadeth.' What continueth then ? Oh,
the word of the Lord, and comfort and grace by that word, ' endures for
ever,' 1 Pet. i. 25, and makes us endure for ever. This is excellently set
down by the prophet David. We see there, the righteous man is compared
to a troe planted by the water side, his leaf fails not, Ps. i. 3. So a Chris-
tian is planted in Christ, he is still on the growing hand, and his leaf shall
not wither : ' Those who are planted in the house of the Lord, shall floarish
Qi2i THE EETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeEMON VII.
in the courts of our God, they shall still bring fruit in their old age, they
shall be fat and flourishing, they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon,' Ps.
xcii. 13.
Use 1. This clear difference should stir us up to be comforted in our con-
dition, which is firm and stable. "Why do we value crystal above glass ?
Because it is brighter, and of more continuance. Why do we value con-
tinuing things ? inheritance above annuities ? Because they continue. If
by the strength of our discourse, we value things answerable to their last-
ing, why should we not value the best things ? Our estate in grace, this is
a lasting condition : for a Christian is like a cedar that is rooted, and takes
deeper and deeper root, and never leaves growing till he grow to heaven.
' He shall cast forth his roots as Lebanon.'
Use 2. Again, let all them make use of it, that find not the work ofgrace upon
their hearts. Oh ! let them consider what a fading condition they are in.
They think they can do great matters. Perhaps they have a destructive
power. They labour to do mischief, to crush whom they will in this world.
But what is all this ? We see what the psalmist saith of a Doeg, a cursed
man, who had a destroying power. ' Why boastest thou thyself in mischief,
0 mighty man ? the goodness of God endureth continually,' Ps. lii. 1.
Why boastest thou thyself, that thou canst do mischief and overturn God's
people ? &c. Know this, that the good will of God continues. Boast not
thyself ; thy tongue deviseth mischief, as a sharp razor ; God shall destroy
thee for ever. He shall cast thee away and pull thee out of thy dwelling,
and root thee out of the land of the living. Those men that rejoice in a
desti^uctive power, in their ability to do mischief, and exercising of that
ability all they can, they shall be plucked out of their place, and rooted out
of the land of the living. And as it is in Job, they shall be hurled away
as a man hurls a stone out of a sling, Job. xxvii. 21. Then what shall the
righteous say ? They shall see and fear, and say, ' Lo, this is the man that
made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and
strengthened himself in wickedness,' Ps. lii. 7. He thought to root him-
self so fast, that he should never be removed ; but at the last it shall come
to pass, that all that see him shall say, * Lo, see what is become of him !
this is the man that trusted in his riches, and made not God his strength.'
What is become of him ? Saith David of himself, ' I am like a green
olive tree in the house of God ; I trust in the mercy of God for ever and
ever,' Ps. lii. 8. Let them trust, if they will, in riches, power, strength,
and favom* with Saul and great men ; yet notwithstanding, be Doeg what hd
will, ' I shall be a green olive planted in the house of God,' &c.
So here is a double use the Scripture makes of these things. 1. The
godly man rejoiceth in his condition ; and 2, Other men fear and grow
wise, not to trust to their fading condition. They are, as the prophet
speaks, ' as a bay tree,' Ps. xxxvii. 35, that flourishes for a time, and then
after come to nothing, ' their place is nowhere found.' They keep a great
deal of do in the world for a time, but afterwards, where is such an one ?
Their place is nowhere found, nowhere comfortably. They have a place in
hell, but comfortably a place nowhere. This is the estate of all those who
have not a good root. For, saith Christ, ' Every plant that my heavenly
Father hp.th not planted, shall be rooted up,' Mat. xv. 13. It is true of
every condition, and of every man, if God have not planted him in that
excellent state, or do not in time, he shall be rooted up. For the time wiU
come that the earth wiD hold him no longer. He roots himself now in the
earth, wiTiich then shall cast him out. He cannot stay here long. Heaven
HOSEA XIV. 5, 6. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 845>
will not receive liim, then hell must. Wliat a miserable thing is this, when
we place and bottom ourselves upon things that will not last ! when our-
selves shall outlast our foundation ! when a man shall live for ever, and
that which he builds on is fading ! "What extremity of folly is this, to
build on riches, favour, gi-eatness, power, inheritance, which either must
be taken from him, or he from them, he knoweth not how soon !
What makes a man miserable, but the disappointing of his hopes anc
crossing of his affections ? Now when a man pitcheth his soul too much
upon his worldly things, from which there must be a parting, this is, as it
were, the rending of the skin from the flesh, and the flesh fi-om the bones.
When a man's soul is rent from that he pitcheth his happiness on, this
maketh a man miserable ; for misery is in disappointing the hopes, and
crossing the afi"ections. Now only a Christian plants his heart and affec-
tions on that which is everlasting, of equal continuance with his soul. As
he shall live for ever, so he is rooted for ever in that which must make him
everlastingly happy. These things we hear, and they are undeniably true.
But how few make use of them, to desist from going on in a plodding,
swelling desire of an earthly condition, to overtop other men. Such labour
to grow in tallness and height, but strive not to be rooted. Now that which
grows perking up in height, overtopping other things, yet without root,
what will become of it ? It will be turned up by the roots.
Now, how shall we grow to be rooted ? For to attain hereunto, it is not
only necessary to apply the promises, and challenge God with them, but to
consider also what ways he will make them good.
First, Labour to know God and his free r/race in Jesus Christ. * Grow in
grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,' 2 Pet. iii. 18. They
go both together. The more we grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and of the grace of God in him, the more gi-ace and rootedness we
shall have. For that which the soul doth cleai'ly apprehend, it fastens
upon in that measure it apprehendeth it. Clearness in the understanding
breeds earnestness in the affections, and fastness too. So the more we
grow in knowledge, the more we root ourselves in that we know. And
therefore the apostle prays for the Ephesians, that they might have the
Spirit of revelation, &c., that they might know the height, breadth, depth,
and length of God's love that passeth knowledge. ' For this cause I bow
my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole
family of heaven and earth is named, that he would gi-ant you, according
to the riches of his gloiy, to be strengthened by his Spirit in the inner man ;
that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ; that ye, being rooted and
grounded in love,' in the sense of God's love to us, and so of our love to
him again (for we are not rooted in love to God, till we be rooted in the
sense of God's love to us), ' that you may be able to comprehend with all
saints the height and breadth,' &c., Ephes. iii. 14.
Second, And withal, labour to know the r/racious promises of Christ. For
we are knit to him by virtue of his word and promises, which like himself
are ' yea and amen.' ' Jehovah, yesterday, to-day, and the same for ever,'
2 Cor. i. 20. So all his promises made in him, they ai-e ' yea and amen,'
in themselves firm, and firm to us in him. They are * yea and amen;' that
is, they are made and performed in Christ, in whom they are sure to be
performed ; and thereupon they are finn too. God made them, who is
Jehovah, and they are made in Christ that is Jehovah. So God the Father
Jehovah, he promiseth, and he makes them good in Christ Jehovah, who
is unchangeable.
344 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SermON VII.
Thlnllij, But this is not enough. We must labour to have our hearts
stahlished, that they may rely firmly on that which is firm. For if a thing
be never so fii'm, except we rely firmly on it, there is no stabiUty or strength
from it. Now, when there is strength in the thing, and strength in the
soul, that strength is impregnable and unconquerable strength. In Christ
they are ' yea and amen ;' in whom he stablisheth us, anoints us, seals us,
and gives us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
How doth God stablish us upon the promises ? The rest which followeth
is an explication of this. When he gives us the ' earnest of the Spirit,'
2 Cor. i. 22, and seals us to be his, in token he means to make good the
bargain, then we are established. But we are never firmly established till
we get the assurance of salvation. Then, as the promises are yea and
amen in themselves, so we are stahlished upon them when we are sealed
and have earnest of the Spirit. Let us labour therefore to grow in the
knowledge of God's love in Christ, to know the height, breadth, depth, and
length of it, and to grow in all the gracious promises which are made in
Christ, who is Amen himself, as his promises are ; and then, when we are
sealed and anointed by the Spirit, we shall be so stahlished that nothing
shall move us. Therefore let us use all means for the establishing of
growth in us, the word and sacraments especially. For as baptism admits
us into the house of God, so by the sacrament of the Lord's supper, the
blessed food of the soul, we are strengthened. In the use of these means,
let us make suit unto God to make good his gracious promise unto us, that
we shall ' grow as lilies, and take root as the cedars in Lebanon.'
Let us know, that we ought every day to labour to be more and more
rooted. Do we know what times may befall us ? We have need to grow
every day, to grow upward, and in breadth and in depth. If we considered
what times we may live to, it should force us to gi'ow every way, especially
in humility, that root and mother of graces, to grow downward in that ; to
grow in knowledge and faith, until we be filled with the fulness of God.
Obj. A poor Christian ofttimes makes this objection. Oh ! I do not grow !
Therefore I fear my state ; I am oft shaken ! Therefore this promise is not
fulfilled to me !
Ans. To this I answer. Christians may be deceived ; for they do grow
ofttimes in firmness, strength, and stability, though they do not spread out.
They may grow in refinedness, that that which comes from them may be
more pure, and less mixed with natural corruption, pride, self-love, and
the like. This is a temptation that old men are subject to especially, in
whom the heat of nature decays, who think withal that grace decays. But
it is not so ; for ofttimes when grace is carried with the heat of nature, it
makes a greater show, being helped by nature. The demonstration, but
not the truth, of grace is thus helped. Therefore this clause of the pro-
mise is made good in old Christians. They are every day more and more
rooted, firm, stable, and judicious, and more able in those graces which
belong to their place and condition. Therefore they should not be dis-
couraged though they be not carried with the stream and tide of nature,
helped with that vigour that sometime was in them. They grow in judi-
ciousness, mortifiedness, in heavenly-mindedness, and in ability to give
good counsel to others. This is well, for we grow not in grace one way,
but divers ways ; not only when we grow in outward demonstration, and
in many fruits and actions, but when we grow in refinedness and judicious-
ness, as was said, then we are said to grow likewise.
Yet notwithstanding it should be the endeavour of all to grow what they
IIUSKA XIV. 5, G.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 345
can in grace. When, if they grow not so fast as others, let them know that
there are several ages in Christ. A young Christian cannot be so planted
and so deeply rooted as another that is of a greater standing. This should
not discourage any, seeing there are ' babes in Christ,' 1 Cor. iii. 1, as well
as ' strong men,' Rom. xv. 1. Therefore where there is truth of heart,
with endeavour to grow better and better, and to use all means, let no man
be discouraged. Remember alway this for a truth, that we may grow, and
we ought to grow, and the children of God ordinarily have grown more and
more, both in fruitfulness and stedfastness every way, but not with a like
growth in measure or time. Therefore labour to make use of these pro-
mises, and not to favour ourselves in an ungrowing estate, for grace is of a
growing nature. If it grow not in fruitfulness, yet it grows in the root; as
a plant sometimes gi'ows in fruitfulness, sometimes in the root. There is
more virtue in winter time in the root than in the fruit which is gone. So
a Christian groweth one way if not another ; though not in outward demon-
stration, yet in humiliation. God sometimes sees it necessary that our
branches should not spread for a while, but that we should grow in
humility ; by some foults and sins we fall and slip into, that we may see
our own weakness and look up.
Let us labour therefore, who have so long enjoyed such store of blessed
moans, under the dew of God's grace and the influence of his Spirit, in the
paradise of God, his house and church. Having so long lived in this Eden,
let us labour now to spread and grow in fruitfulness, that so we may be
filled with the fulness of God. It is the chief thing of all, to be rooted and
grow in grace. You see, God when he would single out a blessing, he tells
them not that they shall grow rich, that they shall spread out and grow
rich in the world. No ! But, you whom I love freely, take this as a fruit
of it, ' you shall grow as the lily,' you shall gi-ow fruitful ' as the olive,' &c.
This is the comfort of a Christian. Though he gi-ows downward oft in the
world, and things of this natural life, yet he grows upward in another con-
dition : as lilies and cedars, they grow downwards one way, but they grow
upwards another. Perhaps they may decay in their state and favour, and
in their practice and cunning in this life ; but a Christian, if he be in the
use of right means, and put in suit the gracious promises, he is sure still
to grow in grace, in faith, in love, and in the inner man.
Is not this a comfort, that a Christian hath a comfortable meditation of
the time to come in all his crosses ? that it is for better and better still ;
that as in time he is nearer heaven, so he shall be fitter and fitter, and
nearer and nearer still, with a disposition suitable to the place ; that the
time to come is the best time ; and that he shall grow every way, in height,
in breadth, in depth and length, and apprehension of God's love, and that
the more he grows in knowledge of these things, the more he shall grow in
all dimensions, being as sare of things to come as of things past, and that
neither things present nor to come shall ever separate him from the love of
God in Christ ? Rom. viii. 35. What a comfortable state is a Christian in,
who is always on the mending hand, that is such a child of hope, when the
hope of the wicked shall perish ! Let us labour, therefore, that we may be
in such a case and state of soul as that thoughts of the time to come may
be comfortable, that when we think we must be transplanted hence out of
the paradise and Eden of God's church into a heavenly paradise, that all
our changes shall be for the better. What a fearful thing is it to be in the
state of nature ! What foundation hath a man in that estate, who hath no
root here, and that root he hath will fail him ere long ? How fearful is
34G THE EETUKNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON VIII.
it for such a man to think of a change, when it is not a change for the
better ?
Here is wisdom. If we will be wise to purpose, let us be wise this way.
Labour, in the first place, to prize God's favours, and to know how to come
by them in the use of all means. Look to God for the performance of
these gracious promises. For they are not of what we shall do in our-
selves, but what God will do in the covenant of grace. And if a Christian
should not be rooted and grow stronger and stronger, we should not fail,
but God and Christ should fail, who is our root and bears us up. There-
fore, God hath taken upon him the performance of all these things. What
remaineth for us but a careful using of all means ? and in the use of all,
a going out of ourselves to God, that he would be ' as the dew to us,' and
cause us, by the dew of his Spirit, to grow more and more rooted in grace
as long as we live in this world ? And then our rooting and stability lies
upon God, not upon us. He fails if we fail, who hath undertaken that * we
shall grow as the lily, and cast forth our roots as Lebanon.'
THE EIGHTH SERMON.
His brandies shall sjn-ead, his heaxitij shall he as the olive-tree, and his smell
as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return ; they shall
revive as the corn, and grow as the vine : the scent thereof shall be as the
vine of Lebanon. — Hos. XIV. 6, 7.
We have heard at large heretofore what petitions God put into the heart
and mouth of his church, as also what gracious answer God gives his own
petitions. He cannot deny the prayers made by his own Spirit ; and as he
is goodness in itself, so he shews it in this, that he goes beyond all that we
can desire, think, or speak. His answer is more transcendent, as the
apostle speaks. He does * exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think,' &c., Ephes. iii, 19, 20. For whereas they in particular and in
brief say, * Do good to us, and receive us graciously,' he tells them, * He
will be as the dew unto them.' And from thence, being dew to them, is
their spreading and growing as a lily, and casting of their roots as Lebanon.
' And their branches shall spread,' &c. And all this to encourage us ta
come to so powerful and large-hearted a God, who, as he is able to do more
than we desire of him, so he will also do it. * He will be as the dew unto us.'
This is the general of all, for all other fruitfulness comes from this :
1. God will be as the dew; and then, 2. They shall grow as the lily, and
cast their roots as the cedars in Lebanon. They shall not only grow up-
ward, but downward, for the lily quickly spreads itself forth ; but they
shall be like the trees of Lebanon for stedfastness, and then spread in
breadth, grow in all dimensions, which is fulfilled of the church in general,
and of every particular Christian, when once he is in Christ, using sancti-
fied means. They grow, then, in the root, and upright, and in every dimen-
sion. ' His branches shall spread.' And then,
* His beauty shall be as the olive-tree.'
Which, though fruitful and excellent, yet because it hath no sweet smelly
it is added,
' His smell shall be as Lebanon.'
HOSEA XIV. 6, 7.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 347
These excellencies promised to the church of God are not all in one tree,
but yet they are in some sort in every Christian. What agrees not all to
one plant agi-ees to the ' plants of righteousness.' They grow upwards and
downwards, spread, and are savoury and fruitful. All agrees to a tree of
righteousness. We say of man, He is a little world, a compendium of this
great world, as indeed there is a comprising of all the excellencies of the
world in man, for he hath a being with those creatures who have only that,
and therewith he hath growing sense and reason, whereby he hath com-
munion with God, and those understanding spirits, the angels. So that he
is, as it were, a sum of all the excellencies of the creatures, a little world
indeed (h). The great world hath nothing, but the little world hath the same
in some proportion. So it is in grace. A Christian hath all excellencies
in him, that are in the world. There is not an excellency in any thing,
but it is an higher kind in a Christian. He hath the beauty of the lily, and
he grows up in spreading, smell, and fruitfulness. His wisdom exceeds that
of all the creatures. There is not an excellency in nature, but we have
some proportionable excellency in grace which is above it. God useth these
outward things to help us, that we should do both body and soul good by
the creatures. "Whatsoever doth our bodies good, either by necessity or
delight, they help our souls ; as plants and trees not only refresh the
outward man, and the senses, but also they teach our souls, as here the
Holy Ghost teacheth them by outward things. First it is said,
' His branches shall spread.'
When God enriches the soul with saving grace, one shall grow every way
and flourish abundantly, extending forth their goodness on every side largely
to the knowledge and open view of others ; and then further,
' His beauty shall be as the olive-tree.'
What is the beauty of the olive-tree ? To be useful, fruitful, and k)
bring forth good frait. Indeed, the glory of a tree is to be loaden mth
fruit, and useful fruit ; which is the best property of fruit, to be useful and
delightful. So the glory of a Christian, who is a plant of righteousness, of
God's own planting, is to abound in fruits of righteousness. Indeed, the
olive is a very fruitful tree, and the oil which comes and distils fi-om it hath
many excellent properties agreeing to gi'aces.
1. Amongst the rest, it is a royal kind of liquor, that will be above the
rest. So grace it commands all other things ; it gives a sanctified use of
the creature, and subdues all corruption.
2. And then it is unmixed. It will mingle with nothing. Light and
darkness will not mingle, no more will grace and corruption ; for the one
is hostile to the other, as Solomon speaks, ' The just is abomination to the
wicked,' Prov. xxix. 27.
3. Further, it is sweet, strengthening, and feeding the life, as in Zechariah
there is mention made of two olives before the Lord, which feed the two
candlesticks, Zech. iv. 3. And olives of gi-ace have always fatness distilling
from Christ to feed his lamp with oil. God's church hath always oil ; and
those that are olives, they keep the chm-ch by their particular calhng.
1. He shall be fi-uitful as the olive ; and,
2. Abimdant in fniit, as the ohve.
3. Constant in fruit, like the olive.
For it bears fruit much, and never fails, no not in winter, and hath a
perpetual greenness. Indeed, the child of God hath a perpetual verdure ;
as it is, Ps. i. 3, ' His leaf never fails,' because that which is the cause
of flourishing never fails him. Which causes are two,
848 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON "Viii.
1. Moisture.
2. Heat.
For we know, moisture and heat, these two are the causes of all kindly
growth. If a tree have more moisture than heat, then it is waterish ; if
it have more heat than moisture, then there is no bigness in the fruit. So
true it is, that moisture and heat are the causes of fruitfulness in a good
proportion. So God's children, having the Sun of righteousness always
shining upon them, and being always under the dew of grace (the promise
being, ' to be as the dew to Israel'), having all dew to faU upon them for
moisture, and having the Sun of righteousness to shine upon them to make
them fruitful, their leaf never fails, they never give over bringing forth
fruit ; because they have in them causes perpetuating fruitfulness, though
not alike ; because Christ by his Sj)irit is a voluntary, and not a natural,
cause of their fruitfulness, that is, he is such a cause, as works sometimes
more and sometimes less, to shew that grace springs not from ourselves,
and to acquaint us with our owti weakness and insufficiency. Heaven is
the perfection of all, both graces and comforts. Wherefore Peter calls the
state of heaven, ' an inheritance, immortal and undefiled, that fades not
away,' 1 Peter i. 4. Wliy is that an estate of grace and comfort, more
than this of this world ? Because it is a never-fading estate. There they
are alway in one tenure ; and because Christ shews himself alway there.
There is abundance of water to moisten them, and heat to cherish them.
There is no intermingling or stopping in gi*owth, as is here. Therefore it
is an inheritance that fadeth not away, having the supply of a perpetual
cause of flourishing.
This in some degree is true of the church on earth. It is the inheritance
of God that fades not, and Chi-istians therein are olives that bring forth
fruit constantly, having a perpetual fi-eshness and greenness. So the right-
eous man is compared to the cedars of Lebanon, Ps. xcii. 12, which bring
forth much fruit in their age. He shall be fruitful as the olive. From all
which this point, formerly touched, foUoweth :
That it is the excellency and [/lory of a Christian, to be fruitful in his i^lace.
Both to be fruitful in his place as a Christian, and in his particular call-
ing ; to be fruitful as a magistrate, as a minister, as a governor of a family,
as a neighbour, as a friend ; to be fruitful in all. Because in religion, every
near relation is as it were a joining together of the body in Christ, one to
another, by which some good is derived from one to another. God uses
these relations as conduits to convey graces. A good Christian, the meanest
of them is a good neighbour, and doth a great deal of good, being fruitful
as a neighbour, fruitful as a friend ; much more as a husband, as a magis-
trate, as a minister. These relations are a knitting to Christ, by which
fatness and sap are derived from the head for the good of the whole body.
Therefore a Christian in all relations is fruitful. When he comes to be a
Christian, he considers, like good Mordecai, what good he may do ; as he
told Esther, ' What if thou be called to the kingdom for this purpose,'
Esther iv. 14 ? So a Christian will reason with himself, What if I be called
to be a magistrate, or a minister, for this purpose ? What if I be called
to be a friend, for such or such a purpose, to do this or this good ? In-
deed such are gracious quares* made to a man's soul, to inqufre for what
purpose hath God raised me ? To do this or that ? To be idle, or barren,
or noisome ? 0 no ; to be a plant of God's planting. My glory shall be
my fruitfulness in my place.
* That is, ' queries.' — G.
HOSEA XIY. G, 7.] TUE RETURNIXG EACKSLIDEF.. GIO
Therefore let us every one consider \Yith ourselves, -wherefore God hath
Bet us in the church in our particular standings. "Wherein let us remember
this, that howsoever God may endure barrenness out of the church, in want
of means, yet he will never endure it under means. It is better for a
bramble to be in the wilderness, than in an orchard ; for a weed to be abroad,
than in a garden, where it is sure to be weeded out, as the other to be cut
down. If a man will be unprofitable, let him be unprofitable out of the
church. But to be so where he hath the dew of gi'ace falling on him, in
the means of salvation, where are all God's sweet favours, to be a bramble in
the orchard, to be a weed in the garden, to be noisome in a place where we
should be fruitful, will God the great husbandman endure this ? He will
not long put it up. But that he exerciseth his children with such noisome
trees to try them, as he hath some service for these thorns to do, to scratch
them. So, were it not for such-like services for a time, he would weed
them out and bui-n them. For whatsoever is not for fi'uit, is for the fii'e.
' Yea, every tree that bringeth forth not good fruit, shaU be hewn down
and cast into the fire,' Mat. iii. 10.
And the more to stir us up hereunto, let us know that wheresoever the
dew of grace falls, and where there is the means of salvation, that at that
veiy time there is an axe, an instrument of vengeance, laid to the root of
the tree, which is not struck down presently, but ' it is laid to the root,'
Mat. iii. 10 ; that is, vengeance is threatened to the tree, to that plant which
hath the means, and brings not forth good fruit in time and season, "What
is the end thereof ? To be hewn down and cast into the fu'e. As we see
the church of the Jews, when Christ came, the Messiah, the great prophet
of the church, never was there more means of salvation ; yet even then,
what saith John Baptist ? ' Now,' even now, ' is the axe laid unto the root
of the tree,' Mat. iii, 10 ; and indeed, in a few years after, the whole tree,
the church of the Jews, was cut down. And, Rev, \i. 2, 4, we see, after the
rider on the ' white horse,' which is the preaching of the gospel, there comes
a ' red, bloody horse,' and ' a pale horse,' war and famine. After the ' white
horse,' his triumphant chariot, the preaching of the gospel. If this take
not place, that it win and gain not, what follows after ? ' The red and the
pale horse,' war, famine, and destruction. It will not be always with us
as it is ; for the gospel having been so long preached, we having been so
long planted in God's paradise, the church, if we bear not fruit, ' the axe
is laid to the root of the tree,' God will strike at the root, and root up all.
Therefore let every one in their place be fruitful.
Every one that is fruitful, God hath a special care of. If any tree were
fruitful, the Israelites in then- conquest were to spare that, because it was
useful, and they might have use of it, Deut, xx, 19, 20, So God will
always spare fruitful trees, and have a special care of such in common cala-
mities. Let us therefore be exhorted not only to bring forth fruit, but to
bring forth fruit in abundance, to study to excel in good works. The word in
the original is, 'a standard-bearer ' (i), to stand before others in good works.
As it is in Titus, 'labour to be as standard-bearers,' Titus iii, 8, to go before
others in good works. Strive to out-go others in fruitfulness ; for therein is
the excellency. For those both in the sight of God and men are in most esteem
who are most fruitful in their callings and places. The more we excel in
fruitfulness, the more we excel in comfort ; and the more we excel this
way, the more we may excel. For God will tend and prune good trees,
that they may bring forth more and better fruit, John xv, 2. And the more
majesty we walk with, the more we damp the enemies, seeing them ail
350 THE EETURNING BACKSLIDER, [SeRMON VIII.
under our feet. A growing Christian never wants abundance of encourage-
ments, for he sees such grounds of comfort, as that he walks impregnable
and invincible in all the discouragements of this world, breaking through
all. As Solomon saith, it is a comely thing to see a lion walk, Prov. xxx.
29, 30. So much more it is to see a valiant, strong, well-grown Christian,
who is bold as a lion, abound in good works.
It is said, ' His beauty shall be as the olive, and his smell as Lebanon.*
The olive of itself hath no sweet smell. Therefore it is made up by another
resemblance,
' His smell shall be as Lebanon.'
Lebanon stood on the north side of Judea, and was a place abounding
with goodly trees, and all sweet plants w^hatsoever, which cast a wondrous
sweet scent and smell afar off ; as some countries abound so in sweet fruits
and simples, as oranges, lemons and the like, that the fragrancy of the
smell is smelt of passengers as they sail along the coast (j). So was
this Lebanon a place full of rare fruits and fragrant flowers, which cast a
scent afar off. Now, hence the Holy Ghost fetcheth the comparison.
* They shall smell as Lebanon,' that is, as those plants in Lebanon which
cast a sweet and delightful smell afar off. Whence we will only observe this ;
That a Christian by his fndt/uhiess doth delight others.
He is sweet to God and man, as the olive and the vine speak of their
fruitfulness. ' They delight God and man,' Judges ix. 9, 13. So a Chris-
tian, both alive and dead, he is pleasing and delightful to the spirits of
others, to God, and all that have the Spirit of God. As for God himself,
we know that works of mercy are, as it were, a sweet odour. He is de-
lighted with good works, as with sacrifice, Philip, iv. 18, smelling a sweet
savour from them ; and their prayers ascend as sweet incense before him,
Ps. cxli. 2. Every good work is pleasing and delightful to God, who dwells
in an humble heart, and broken spirit. ' The upright are his delight,'
Prov. xi. 20. We see likewise how Christ commends the graces of his
church, which whole book is full of praises in this kind one of another.
The chui'ch sets out the praises of Christ, and Christ the praises of the
church. The church is sweet : ' Oh, let me hear thy voice, for it is sv/eet
and lovely,' Cant. ii. 14. The church's voice is sweet, praying to God, or
praising him. So whatsoever comes from the Spirit of God in the hearts
of his children, is sweet. God lays to heart the voice of his children.
And as it is true of God, so is it of God's people. They are delighted
with the favour of those things that come from other of God's people. For
they have graces in them, and therewith the Spirit of God, which is as fire
to set a- work all those graces in them. For it is the nature of fire, where
it encounters with sweet things, to kindle them, and make them smell more
fragrant and sweet. So a spirit of love makes all sweet and pleasing what-
soever, in the children of God. It puts a gracefulness upon their words,
making their reproofs, admonitions, comforts, and whatsoever comes from
them, to have a dehghtfulness in them ; because all is done in love, and
comes from the Spirit of God, which carrieth a sweetness in it, to all those
endowed with the same Spirit.
Use 1. Let this be an encouragement to be in love with the state of
God's childi-en, that so our works, and whatsoever comes from us, as far as
it is spiritual, may be acceptable unto God and to the church, while we
are living, nay, when we are dead. The very works of holy men, when
they are dead, are as a box of ointment, as the ointment of the apothecary;
as the wise man says of Josiah, whose very name was like the ointment of
HOSEA XIV. G, 7.] THE KETUENING BACKSLEDEB. 351
the apothecary.* So the name of those who have stood out for good,
and have been good in their times, it carries a sweetness with it when
they are gone. The church of God riseth out of the ashes of the
martyrs, which hitherto smells sweet, and puts hfe in those who come after,
so precious are they both dead and alive (k).
Use 2. And then, let it be an encouragement to be led by God's Spirit,
and planted in God's house, and to be fruitful in our places, that so we
may delight God and man, and when we are gone, leave a good scent be-
hind us. Good men, as it were, with their good scent they leave behind
them, perfume the times, which are the better for them dead and alive.
What a sweet savom* hath Paul left behind him, by his writings to the
church, even to the end of the world ! What fragrancy of delightful smells
have the holy ancient fathers and martyrs left behind them ! A good man
should be like the box of ointment spoken of in the gospel, which when it
was opened, the whole house was filled with the sweetness thereof, Mat.
xxvi. 7, seq. So a good man should labour to be full of sweetness, willing-
ness and abilities to do good, all kindled by a spirit of love in him ; that
when he is opened, all should be pleasing and delightful that cometh from
him. Chi'ist never opened his mouth, but good came from him ; and the
heavens never opened in vain. Therefore, in opening of our mouths, we
should labour to fill the places where we are with a good savour. Oh, how
contrary is this to the condition of many ! What comes from them ?
Filthy speeches and oaths ; nay, that which should be their shame they
glory in. We see it is the glory of a tree to be fruitful, and to cast forth
a good savour, hke the trees of Lebanon. What vile spirits, then, are
such men led withal, who delight to ofiend God and man with their impious
speeches ! who yet are so bold as to shew their faces, to outdare others
that are better than themselves. Such are contrary to all God's senses.
The Scripture condescends so far to our capacity, as to attribute senses
unto God, of feeling, smelling, and touching, &c. So God is said to look upon
his children with delight, and to hear their prayers. ' Let me hear thy
voice,' &c., Cant. ii. 14. And he tastes the fruit that comes from them.
So, on the contraiy, all his senses are annoyed with wicked men and vile
persons, who are abominable to God, as the Scripture speaks. As a man
that goes by a stinking dunghill, stops his nose, and cannot endure the
scent, so the blasphemous breath of graceless persons, it is abominable to
God, as it were ; God cannot endure such an odious smell ; and for his
eyes, he cannot endure iniquity, to look upon the wicked ; and for his ears,
their prayers are abominable. How abominable, then, are their persons
whence those prayers proceed ! They have proud hearts, hating God and
man. "WTierefore, praying out of necessity, not love to him, they are
abominable. And so for feeling. Your sacrifices are a burden unto me,
I cannot bear them, Isa. i. 11 ; and the prophet complaineth that God was
burdened and loaded under their sins, ' as a cart pressed till it be ready to
break under the sheaves,' Amos ii. 13. All his senses are ofiended with
wicked men. This, hardened wretches think not of, that, whilst God fills
their bellies wilh good things, go on in sin-security. But the time will
come when they shall know the truth of these things, what it is to lead an
odious, abominable Hfe, contrary' to God and all good men. Hence we see
what we should be, that we may give a sweet scent : ' His smell shall be
as Lebanon.'
* The passage is in Ecclesiasticus xlix. 1. This is the first reference that ■ve
have found in Sibbes to tho Apocrypha- — Ed.
352 THE EETUKNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON VIII.
Wicked men know this very well, that the lives, speeches, and coui'ses
of good men, for the most part, are fruitful beyond theirs. Therefore, what
they can, they labour to cast aspersions upon them, that they may not
smell so sweet. So, crying down those who are better than themselves,
that they may be the less ill thought of, and setting a price upon all things in
themselves, and their companions. Take me a knot of cursed companions,
and they are the only stout, the only wise and learned men : all learning it
must live and die with them ; and all other men, though incomparable beyond
them in abilities, in grace, in fruitfulness to do good, they are nobody.
And this policy the devil teacheth them. But this will not serve the turn ;
for God, both in life and after death, will raise up the esteem of such who
have been fi-uitful, when ' the memory of the wicked shall rot,' Prov. x. 7,
and not be mentioned without a kind of loathing. Therefore let no man
trust to this foolish policy, to cry down all others that are better than them-
selves, thinking thereby themselves shall be better esteemed. This will
not do ; for as all other things, so our good name is at God's disposing.
It is not in the world to take away the good name or acceptance of good
people ; for they shall have, in spite of the world, a place in the hearts of
God's people, who are best able to judge. The next thing promised is,
' They that dwell under his shadow shall return.'
The Holy Ghost, it seems, cannot express in words and comparisons
enough, the excellent condition of the church, and of the children of God,
when they are once brought into the state of grace. The former words
concern the excellency of the children of God in themselves, and these the
fruitfulness and goodness of them that are under them, who shall be
brought into the families and places where they live. ' They that dwell
under his shadow,' under the shadow of Israel, ' shall return and revive as
the corn, and grow as the vine,' &c. For so it is most fitly meant of
Israel. For formerly it is said, ' I will be as the dew unto Israel.'
Originally it is meant of Christ's shadow ; but because whosoever dwells
under the church's shadow dwells under Christ's, therefore it is most
fitly applied to Israel. They that dwell under Israel's shadow shall return.'
What returning ? Return to God by repentance. This is supposed ; for
those that dwell in the church of God, if they belong to God, by the help of
good means they shall attain to reformation and repentance. But it is
especially meant of that which follows upon it, ' They shall retui'n ;' that is,
they shall revive, as a man's spirits after a swoon are said to return, and
things after a seeming decay and deadness are said to be quickened and return
again. So all that dwell under the shadow of Israel, they shall return to
God by repentance. ' They shall return,' having a greater vigour and
liveliness, recovering that which they seemed to have lost before.
' They that dwell under his shadow shall return.'
When God will bless any people, he will bless all that belong to them
and are imder them, because they are blessed in blessing them, even as we
are touched when our children are stricken. God strikes the father in the
child, the husband in the wife, the master in the servant, because there is
some relation and dependence betwixt them. As it is in ill so it is in good.
God blesseth the father in the child, the king in the subject, and the sub-
ject in the king. God blesseth one in another. And in blessing, because
God loves the church, all the friends of the church are the better for it.
They prosper that love the church, Ps. cxxii. 6, though they be not mem-
bers of it. All that bless Abraham shall be blessed. Though they be not
actually good, yet if they wish him well, a blessing is promised. So when
IIOSEA XIV. 0, 7.] THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDER. 353
God blesseth a man to purpose, he blesseth all that belong to hira. All
that be under his shadow fare the bet'er. The point to be handled is this,
Jliat the church itself yields a shadow, being shadowed itself by Christ,
who spreads his wing over it. Now, what is the use of a shadow ?
1. It is for a retiring place to rest in.
2. It is for defence against the extremity of heat.
3. It is for delight, if the shades be good and wholesome.
For, as philosopliers express the nature of trees, there bo some trees
which yield noisome shadows, some trees have a heavy, noxious, danger-
ous shadow, because there comes a scent from the tree, as naturalists ob-
serve, which annoys the brains. But he speaks here of good trees. Israel
is a tree that yields a shadow unto all ; that is, all that are under Israel
shall rest quietly, and not be annoyed with the heat of God's wrath, and
the like. They shall be delighted, having a sweet refreshing under the
church.
GolI, in Scripture, is often said to be a shadow, and his people to be
under ' the shadow of his wings,' Ps. xxxvi. 7. But God and the church
are all one in this, for they that are under the church's shadow are under
God's shadow ; for the church is Christ's, and Christ God's. Therefore
to be under the church is to be under God, and to be in the church is to
be under God's protection. They both agree, as we see, Mic. v. 7. The
church is said to be dew, because God bedews the church, and the church
bedews others ; and here the promise is, ' I will be as the dew unto Israel,'
where the same name is attributed unto God. Christ is a vine, and the
church is a vine, John xv. 1. Christ is a dew and a shadow. So is the
church, because Christ communicates his excellencies to her, and she hers
unto others. Therefore there can be no offence in applying this to the
church, which is the proper meaning of the place ; for the church is a sha-
dow for rest and freedom from annoyance unto all that come under her.
Quest. To clear this a little. What solace and rest do men find under
the shadow of the chmxh ?
Ans. There is a rest and a peace in the church, for all things are at peace
with the church, even the very stones in the field. Job v. 23 ; nothing can
hurt the children of the chm'ch, ' God will be and is a sun and shield unto
them,' Ps. xxxiv. 11 : a shield to keep off all ill, and a sun to confer all
good unto them. So his promise is to Abraham, ' I will be thy buckler,
and thine exceeding great reward,' Gen. xv. 1. A buckler to keep ill from
him, and ' an exceeding gi-eat reward' for good. Therefore it is a sweet
shadow to be under the church, where God is all in all to them, who makes
all things work for good unto them, even the gi'catest evil. Now, what a
delightful thing is it to have a resting-place with them which either suff
no ill, or God turns all ill to their groat good ! where God is a ' sun an
a shield,' a ' buckler,' and an ' exceeding great reward,' as he is to h
church and children !
And then, again, God is about his church as a ' wall of fire,' Zech. ii.
to protect it, not only as a shadow to keep off storms, but as a wall of fii
to keep off and consume enemies. God, in regard of protection of his
church, is a compassing unto them, as it is in Job. Saith Satan, ' Hast
thou not made a hedge about him, and all that he hath?' Job i. 10.
There was a hedge about Job, his wife, children, and goods, which the
devil durst not enter, nor make a gap in, until God gave him leave.
Therefi.)re those that are under the shadow of the church, they are safe,
and may rest quietly.
354 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON VTTT.
But this is especially understood spiritually. The church is a shadow,
and herself under a shadow spiritually, that is, in regard of spiritual evils,
from the worst enemies. For out of the church, where is any fence for
the greatest ill of all, the wrath of God ? In the church of God there is
set down a way of pacification, how the wrath of God is taken off and ap-
peased in reconciliation by the death and sufferings of Jesus Christ, whereby
the believing soul attaineth peace and joy unspeakable and glorious. Out
of the church there is no means at all to pacify the greatest ill. Therefore
there is no true rest out of the church, nothing but stings and torments of
conscience. And as there is a shelter against the wrath of God, which
bums to the bottom of hell, so here is a remedy against death and damna-
tion. For now death is made a friend to the church, and the children of
the church, for the sting of it is taken away, so that it doth them more
good than anything in the world, ending all their misery and sinning, and
opening a passage unto eternal happiness. All other petty ills that attend
upon death are nothing. There is a rest from all these whatsoever, for all
afilictions have a sanctified use to God's people for their good. There is
therefore a rest and refreshing in the chm'ch for all that come under it.
And as this is true of the church in general, so it is true of particular
families, that are little churches. There is rest and happiness in them.
God blesseth all under the roof of a godly man. Whosoever comes under
that shadow comes for a blessing, or for further hardening. We see in the
current of Scripture ordinarily that when God converted any one man, he
converted his whole family. ' Salvation is this day come to thy house,' saith
Christ to Zaccheus, Luke xix. 9. When salvation came to his heart, it
came to his house ; all was the better for it. So the jailor, when he be-
lieved, he and his whole house were baptized. Acts xvi. 33. AVhen God
blesseth the governor once, then it is supposed all the house comes under
the covenant of grace. Abraham and his house were blessed, Gen. xxii. 17.
But this holds not always, for there was a Ham in good Noah's family.
StiU there will be the ravens and wild beasts among the tame beasts.
There will be an Ishmael in Abraham's family, a Doeg in the church of
Judah, a Judas in Christ's family, and a Demas among God's people. That
is, let the family be never so good, you shall have some by God's judgment
naught in the same. As it is said of Jeremiah's figs, the good figs were
exceeding good, and the bad exceeding bad, Jer. xxiv. 3. There is none
so good as those that are in a gracious family, and none so naught as such
who are naught there. Because they are cursed and under a curse, being
bad under such gracious means, being like the ground which receives the
rain and showers from heaven, and yet is not the better for it, and so is
accursed, Heb. vi. 7, 8. If a man who is untoward were in a gracious
family, it is supposed he would be better, but those who are naught, where
they should be good, under abundance of means, such are in danger to be
sealed to eternal destruction. Such being bad, are very bad, who though
they break not out to dangerous enormities, because of the place, yet to
have a barren, untractable heart under abundance of means, is to be hard-
ened to destruction, without a special mercy to make it work afterwards.
For some who have lived in gi-acious families, though for the present the
seed fructified not, yet have afterwards found that seed fructify after a long
time, and have blessed God that ever they came under such a shadow.
Therefore, though such barrenness be a dangerous sign, yet must we not
suddenly either condemn ourselves or others in this case. Because in the
things of God in the church it is as in nature. The seed springs not as
IIoSEA XIV. G, 7.] TIIK RKTURNING BACKSLIDER. 855
Boon as it is sown. So that grace at length which hath seemed to lie dead,
after many years may sprout out. Monica, St Austin's mother, was a gra-
cious woman whilst he was an untoward young man, as appeareth by his
ovm. Confessions, yet his mother having prayed much for him, he was con-
verted after her death, and became a glorious f\xtlier and instrument of the
church's good (I). It is ordinary amongst us. Many, when they
have gone astray, reflect home upon themselves, consider under what
means they have been, calling to mind the gracious instructions they have
had, and so, by God's assistance, are new men. Therefore let none despair
in regard of time or place, because God may have further aims than we can
reach to. But unless God give a special blessing after such watering, it is
for the increase of condemnation not to profit under such abounding
means, but still to be like Pharaoh's lean kine, fall fed and lean still, Gen.
xli. 17, scq. For the promise is, ' Those that are under his shadow shall
return.'
There is here a flt occasion offered to spend much time in pressing care
upon those that are governors, that even out of love unto those that are
under them, they would labour to be gracious; because if they be gi'acious,
God will give them those that are in their family. The whole family was
baptized when the master was baptized ; and when any man was called,
the whole family came within the covenant. When Shechem and Hamor
were cu'cumcised, all the city was circumcised also. Gen. xxxiv. 24. It is
true especially of governors. There is no man hath grace for himself alone.
God gives special graces to special persons, to be a means to draw on many
others. Wheresoever grace is, it is of a spreading nature. It is said here
of such, ' their branches shall spread.' It is communicative, and of a
piercing nature, a little whereof will work strangely. As we know, a little
short speech of a poor maid to Naaman the Assyrian,* how it wrought, and
was the occasion of his conversion, 2 Kings v. 3. So a little savoury speech
will often minister occasion of many heavenly thoughts. God so assists it
\^-ith his Spirit, that it often doth a great deal of good.
Quest. But why are all in the family the better for the governor that is
good ?
Ans. Because God gives them grace and wisdom to walk holy before
them, and to shine as lights, expressing and shewing forth the virtues of
God which they have felt ; as we see David professeth, Ps. ci. 2, to walk
singularly and exactly in all things in the ])erfect way, that so he might
please God and men, shining out before them in an holy, glorious conversa-
tion in the midst of his family. And as by their example, so by their
authority, they use to bring all under them to outward obedience at the
least, which bringeth a blessing to the family. Because, when grace is once
kindled in the master, he will see all at least come to outward conformity.
They cannot work grace in them ; but as the prophet speaks, they may
compel them to use the means, or else not to sufter a wicked and unto-
ward person to dwell under their shadow. We know why God said that he
would not conceal his secrets from Abraham, because he knew he would
instruct and teach his fiimily in the fear of God, Gen. xviii. 19. So this
may be said of every one that is an Abraham, a governor of a family.
They labour to tell them all things that have done good to themselves.
Therefore they are the better for living under their shadow. Nay, further,
not only the governor of the family, but if there be any graciously good in
the family, they do much good. Laban's family was the better for Jacob,
* Syrian. — Ed.
356 THE BETURNING BACKSLIDEB. [SeEMON VIII.
Gen. XXX. 27 ; and Potiphar, he and the jailor both, prospered the better
for Joseph's sake, Gen. xxxix. 5, 23 ; so Naaman, that great captain, fare.d
the better for his poor maid, 2 Kings v. 3, seq. It is a true position. God
stablisheth grace in none who are gracious for themselves merely, but foi
the good of others also that converse with them. Whether it be governor
or servants, no man liveth to himself, and for himself only, but for the
good of all within their reach.
Use 1. For use therefore, first, this shall be for encouragement to all
governors of families, to he good, if not for themselves, yet in love to those
that are theirs. It may be, some have no care of their own souls or good.
But hast thou no care of thy children, of thy wife that Heth in thy bosom,
or of thy servants ? If thou hast not a heart of stone or marble, surely
thou wouldst desire that for them, that thou dost not for thyself. Think
of this, at least thou wouldst have thy children good and prosper. Labour
then, if we would have all prosper who come under our roof, that our
families may be little churches of God, that all who come under our shadow
may revive and return. Therefore, out of love to those that belong to us,
let us labour to be good. Is it not a pitiful thing, that some who are go-
vernors of others, they look to them as to beasts, and use their service as
a man would use the service of his beast ? They feed their bodies, and
think they have no charge of their souls. Now this is one reason why all
that come under the shadow of a good governor are the better ; because
they take care for their instruction and best good ; that they live in obedi-
ence to God's ordinances, and not like wild creatures, ruffians, vagabonds,
Cains, and the like. What a strange thing is this, to have a care of the
body, the worser part, and neglect the more excellent part, their souls !
Use 2. Make we also this use, of trial. Ai't thou a good and a gracious
governor indeed ? Then grace in thy heart is commnnicative. It will spread
over thy family. Thou wilt labour to make thy children and thy servants
good ; to make all good that come under thy roof. Other things are not
always communicative. Gold is a dead thing, and other goods thou
mayest keep by thee, which do not spread. But if thou hast the best
good, faith and love, with a gracious heart, this is like oil, or like fire,
which will not be held in, but out ; and shew themselves they will, and
shine in their kind. So grace is a spreading, communicative thing. All
that comes therefore under the shadow of a gracious family, are said to re-
turn and be the better for it. Make this therefore an use of trial, whether
thou be a gracious governor or not. If thou canst say with Joshua (when
he called the people together, saith he. Do what you will, I know what I
will do, ' I and my house will serve the Lord.' If you will be, idolaters, or
BO and so; ' but I and my house will serve the Lord,' Josh. xxiv. 15). So
certainly there is no man who in truth of heart fears the Lord, but he is
able to say, ' I and my house will serve the Lord.'
Use 8. Lastly, for terror, Jet us behold the dangerous and cursed estate of
those that dicell out of Christ's shadow, the church, and good means ; wha
lie open to the indignation of God and storm of his wrath ; who howsoever
they may bless themselves in a thing of naught, yet it is a fearful thing to
lie under a curse ; and that soul must needs be barren where the dew of grace
falls not, for God usually derives* spiritual and heavenly things by outward
means. ' They that dwell under his shadow shall return.' They shall return
to God ; and by returning to him, return as it were and revive ; as when in
a swoon, a man's spirits return again, he is said to revive. But the ground
'*' Til at is, ' comumnicates. — G.
HOSEA XIV. 7.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 857
of returning is, that they shall return to God, and come under his roof in
the church. But more immediately this is true, ' they shall return,' and
shall quicken and revive in returning ; which we spake of in the beginning
of the chapter. Onl}' this shall be added to that, that a wicked man, out of
judgment of the danger of his estate, may make a stop ; but turning is
more than so. In this case a man turns his face to God and heavenwards ;
io good things formerly neglected, on which he turned his back formerly.
What is turning, but a change of posture, when the face is turned to-
wards that the back was to before ? So it is in this spiritual turning to
God. When heavenly things are in our face, when God and Jerusalem,
the church, are in our eyes, still minding heavenly things and not earthly,
then we are said to return. And therefore these converts mentioned in
Jeremiah are thus described in their conversion, * asking the way to Zion,
with their faces thitherward,' Jer. 1. 5. Whereas before in the days of our
corruption, we turned our backs to God; now when we return, * we set the
Lord always before us,' Ps. xvi. 8, in everything. This is properly to return, to
revive and flourish also in returning. Thus we have heard how all who live
under the shadow of Christ do return, and what use we should make of it.
THE NINTH SERMON.
They that dwell under his shadoic shall return ; they shall revive as the coriif
and grow as the vine: the scent tliereqf shall be as the vine of Lebanon.
— Hos. XIV. 7.
Our desire of good things is not so large as God is bountiful in satisfying
our desires, and going beyond them, as we see in this chapter. Their
hearts were too nan-ow to receive all that good which God intended them.
* Receive us graciously.' This was their petition : whereunto God answers,
* That he would bo as the dew unto them ; that they should grow as the lily,
and cast forth their root as Lebanon, and their branches shall spread :'
that they should grow in all dimensions, upwards and downwards, and
spread in beauty and smell. ' Their beauty shall be like the olive, and
their smell like Lebanon.' And because he would be God-like, like him-
self, that is, thoroughly and abundantly gracious and merciful, he doth not
only, as we have heard, promise a blessing to Israel himself, but unto all
near unto him, and belonging to him. ' Those that dwell under his
shadow shall return; they shah, revive as the corn.'
We are all too shallow to conceive either the infinite vastness of God's
justice to impenitent sinners, or his boundless mercy and goodness to his
poor church and children. Therefore God, to help our weak conceit in
this kind, borroweth all the excellencies of nature, and makes use of them
in grace. He takes out of the book of nature, into his book, what may
instruct our souls ; and therefore sets down the growing estate of a Chris-
tian, by all excellent comparisons that nature will afi"ord ; many whereot
we have gone over. The last we spake of was, that mercy which God
superabundantly shews unto the friends and servants of the church, ' Those
that dwell under his shadow shall return.' Now, those that shall thus
return, they revive in returning ; for they turn to the fountain of life, to
the Sun of righteousness. They come under God's grace. Therefore
they must needs return and revive in vigour, as they return to God : which
358 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IX.
vigour is especially meant here, when he saith, ' Those that dwell under
his shadow shall return.'
* They shall revive as the corn.'
Now, how doth the corn revive ? Not to speak of that comparison that
the godly are corn, and not chaff, as the wicked are, who are driven to and
fro, Ps. i. 4, without any solidity, which, though true, is not here especially
aimed at. For it is supposed that they who are good and gracious, have
a substance, solidity, usefulness, and goodness in them, like corn, not
being empty chaff which the wind blows away. This is useful to mention ;
but to come to the scope indeed* by the prophet.
1. ' They shall revive as the corn.' In this, first, that as the com when
unsown, it lies dead in the granary, fructifieth not, but when it is sown
springs up to an hundredfold, as we read of in Isaac's time, who received
so much increase. Gen. xx\i. 12. So it is with converted Christians.
Before they were under any gracious means, or in a good place, they lay as
it were dead, and did not spring forth. But afterwards, being planted and
sown under gracious means, in good company, in a good family, then they
increase and grow up and multiply. ' They revive like the corn.'
2. And then again, as it is with the corn, though it seem to die, and
doth indeed die in some sort, covered with winter storms, ere it spring out
from the oppressions of frost and snow, and hard weather, as if it were
altogether perished ; yet, notwithstanding, it is all the while a-preparing for
springing up again more gloriously. So it is with the church, which seems
to die often in regard of spiritual mortification by afliictions, whereby it is
dead to the world ; yet all this while there is a blessed life in the spirit,
preparing the soul, under the hard pressures of all weathers, to a glorious
springing up again. Therefore the church hath no hurt by afflictions, no
more than the corn hath by the winter, which is as necessary for it as the •
spring-time or summer. For else, how should the earth be ripened and
prepared ? How should the worms and weeds be killed, if it were not for
hard weather ? So it is with a Christian : those afliictions that he suffers,
and under which he seems to be buried, they are as useful to him as all
his comforts. Nay, a Christian is more beholden to afliictions for his
graces and comforts than he is to outward blessings. One would think
that the goldsmith were a-spoiling his plate when he is a-burning of it,
when all that while the dross is but a-consuming out of it ; and the vessel
so hammered and beaten out, is but a-preparing to be a vessel of honour, to
stand before some great man. So it is with a Christian : an ignorant per-
son looking but one way, thinks God neglects such a one ; and that if God
cared for such a one, or such a one, would or could such and such things befall
them ? they conclude hence, as the Psalmist saith, ' God hath forsaken him,'
Ps. Ixxi. 11, and forgotten him. And as Christ the head of the church was
thought to be forgotten and neglected, even when he was most dear and
precious unto God, so even they all this while. The Spirit of God is
working an excellent work in them, preparing and fitting them for grace and
glory. Therefore, in that respect also, ' They shall revive as the corn.'
3. Thirdly, ' They shall revive as the corn' in regard of fructification.
It is true both of the church and of particular gi-aces. We see one grain
of corn, when it is almost perished and turned to froth, nothing in a man-
ner ; presently out of it springs a stalk, and thence an ear, and in that
many ears, God giving it a body sixty or a hundredfold, as he pleaseth.
So it is with a Christian : when he is planted, he will leaven others, and
* Qu. 'intended?'— Ed.
IIoSEA XIY. 7.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 359
those, others and others. A few apostles leavened the whole world, scatter-
ing the gospel like lightning all over the same. So it is true of grace in
God's childi-en ; it is like a grain of mustard-seed at the first, yet it grows
up and fructifies, Mat. xiii. 31, from knowledge to knowledge, faith to
faith, and grace to grace ; from virtue to virtue, from strength to strength,
from one degree to another ; nothing less at first, and nothing more great or
glorious in this world in progress of time ; nothing so admired of God, and
pleasing unto man, as this which makes one all glorious and without spot.
Oh, what can be said more to encourage us to come under gracious
means, to love God and his ordinances, good company, and the communion
of saints — considering they are such happy people ! ' Those that are under
their shadow shall return,' revive, and be vigorous. ' They shall revive as
the corn,' which doth, when it seemeth to be dead, notwithstanding all
weathers, grow up and multiply. And whereas it seemed dead before
and lay hid, being sown it grows. So being planted in the church, we
shall grow. For there is a hidden virtue in the least grace, in the least of
God's ordinances, more than we are aware of. Saith Christ, ' Where two
or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of
them,' Mat. xviii. 20. Much more is this made good in great congrega-
tions and families. But this is not all ; he saith,
' They shall gi'ow as the vine.'
Howsoever, the church which is the mother church grows before in the
former words : the new church that comes under her shadow, shall grow
in the same manner. ' They shall grow as the lily ; their branches shall
spread ;' and mox'e, it is said here, ' They shall grow as the vine.' It is a
comparison delightful to the Holy Ghost, to compare Christ to a vine ; the
church to a vineyard, and Christians unto vines, but such as draw all
their moisture and fotness in them from Christ the true vine, their sweet-
ness being a derivative sweetness,
' They shall gi'ow as the vine.'
1. The vine we know is a fruitful plant, as we read in the Judges,
ix. 9, 13. The olive and the vine would not forsake their sweetness to
be a king ; for it is said by them, that they revive God and man, being
pleasing to them. So every true Christian is like a vine for fruitfulness.
He is a tree of righteousness ; a plant of God's own planting ; a vine that
spends himself in bearing fruit.
2. Again, as it is fruitful, so it is exceedingly fruitful, abounding in fruit,
So Christians are vines, not only for a little fruit that they bear, but be-
cause they are abundantly fruitful, which is premised, that if they do as
they should do, they shall be vines abundant in the work of the Lord.
3. And further, the vino as we Imow is never a whit the worse for prun-
ing ; but is pruned and cut, as our Saviour speaks, ' that it ma}'' bring
forth the more fruit,' John xv. 2. So the church and people of God are
never a whit the worse for afflictions ; for as the best vines need dressing
and pruning, the best ground ploughing, the best linen washing, the best
metal the fire, to consume away the dross, the best things we use having
something amiss, so the best Christians need dressing and purging from
the great Husbandman, whereby they are not the worse, but the better ;
having thereby much corruption purged away from them. As the pruning
of the vine makes it not the worse, but draws wild things from it, which
would draw away the strength of the vino, a Christian is the better for his
afflictions, wherein the glory of the church especially consists. For the
church never thrived better than in Egypt, where they laboui'od to crush
360 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeEJION IX.
and to cut the vine. God brought his vine out of Egypt for all this,
maugre all the malice of the enemies. The church was never more glorious
in its own seat than it was in Babylon under the captivity. How glorious
then was the church in Daniel and others !
4. Again, to the outward appearance, the vine is a nigged, unseemly
plant, being not sightly and beautiful to look on ; yet it is abundantly
fruitful under that unsightliness. So if we look to the outward state and
face of the church, it is nothing else to look to but a deformed company,
defaced by affliction, lifeless here, as it were, ' having their life hid up with
God in Christ,' Col. iii. 3, as the apostle speaks. Their life here is covered
over with many afflictions, crosses, infirmities, and disgraces, whereunto
they are subject, like unto other men. Therefore as it was the state of
the Head to have no outward foim or beauty, though inwardly he was all
glorious, so the beauty of the church is inward ; for outward show, it being
unsightly like the vine, crooked and uneven, there being nothing delightful
in it, unless it be in regard of the fruit that comes from it. So it is with
the chui'ch of God and particular Christians ; who, though in outward
government they have not that policy and outward glory other governments
have, yet there is an inward secret work of God's government of the church
by contraries which exceeds all other policies, wherein he brings glory from
shame, life by death. He brings down and lifts up. When he is about
his excellent work he humbleth first. This is an ordinary way. Therefore
we must not take oftence at any outward deformity that we see in the
church, and in God's children, when they seem to be trampled upon.
They are but as vines, unsightly to the eye ; they have a life, though it be
a hidden one.
It is excellently set down by Ezekiel, Ezek. xv. 3, what the vine is of
itself. It is serviceable for nothing. We cannot make a pin of it. It is
such a brittle wood, as is good for nothing but to bear fi-uit. So, take a
Chi"istian that professeth religion, if he be not fruitful in his place, of all
men he is the worst ; of all men he is either the best or the worst. As
the vine, if it bear fruit, it is the best, though it be an unsightly tree ; but
otherwise it is fit for nothing but the fire. Therefore let no man glory in
his profession, that he is baptized, hears sermons, and reads. But where
is thy fruit ? Wherefore serves the dressing and pruning of the vine but
for fruit ? If there be no fruit, a Christian is the worst man that lives ;
worst, in regard that he is bad under good means ; and in condition, he
is the worst of all men, his torment is the greater. Those that are barren
and unfruitful under means, the time will come that they wdl wish they had
never enjoyed such a testimony against themselves.
5. And further, a vine is so weak that it must be propped and supported
along, or else it will lie on the ground. Such is the estate of the church,
which must have something to fence it and underprop it. God is the
strength of the church. It is a wondrous weak plant. The children of
God are wondrous weak, and exposed to a wonderful deal of misery. In
regard whereof, and of the injuries and weaknesses they are exposed to, they
must have support. A Christian is compared to the shiftless things, sheep,
lambs, and doves ; and in the plants they are compared to the vine, which
needs a strong support. And, as Solomon saith of the conies, though
' they are a weak people of themselves,' Prov. xxx. 26, yet notwithstanding
they have a strong rock over their heads, where they are safe ; though
they be as weak as the vine. So God's people, though they be weak of
themselves, yet they have a strong support to uphold them. God, by th^
IIOSEA XIV. 7.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 3G1
ordinances of magistracy and ministr}^ especially by his Spirit, keeps
them up and supports them, that they spread in largeuses and in fruit-
fulness.
Use 1. Is this so? Then let us examine ourselves, what our fruit is. If
•wo be vines, what is our fruit ? what comes from us ? Certainly if we do
not shew forth that fruit we should, in our lives and conversations, in our
speech, carriage, and actions, when we are called to it, it is an argument
that as 3'et the dew of God's grace hath never fallen upon us, so as it must
before we come to heaven. As was said before, a man may endure a dead
plant in his gi'ound, but in his orchard he will not. He may endure weeds
in pastures, in neglected grounds, but not in his garden. If wc be lilies in
God's garden, and vines in his orchard, we must be fruitful and grow, or
else God will not endure us. Of all woes, the greatest woe lies upon
them who enjoy plentiful and abundant means, and yet are not fruitful,
Mat. xi. 21.
Use 2. That we are vines, and God's vines, it is in the next place an use
of comfort, that God therefore will have a care of us if we be fruitful. He
will have a special care of that place where his vines are planted. If we
see many gracious persons and families, who are conscionable in their
practice and conversation, wc may rest assured that God the great husband-
man will have a special care of those choice vines, and the places they live in.
They carrj^ the blessing of God with them wheresoever they go, with a
shadow and protection, making every place the better for them. For God
t\-ill care for those vines which bring forth much fruit ; as it is in Isai;ih, ' Spoil
it not, for there is a blessing in it,' Isa. Ixv. 8. If a Christian be fruitful,
and labours to be more fruitful, God gives a prohibition — ' He is my vine,
do him no harm.' ' Touch not mine anointed, nor do my prophets no
harm,' Ps. cv. 15. Satan himself, and all creatures in heaven and inearth,
have a prohibition to touch his vines no further than shall be for their
good. Will a man suffer men to come into his orchard to break down his
vines ? He will not. Surely though the sins of this nation be very great,
yet one thing ministereth hope; God hath a great many vines under
his shadow and protection, many conscionable magistrates, ministers,
and people of other professions, governors of families and the like, which
walk holily. God will spare the vineyard, even for the vines that bear
fruit. A notable place amongst others we have, Cant. ii. 15, ' Take
us the foxes and the little foxes that spoil the vine; for our vines have tender
grapes.' There is in every church not only gross papists, and foreign
enemies, that would root out aU, if it were in then- power, but subtle foxes
also ; men that pride themselves in devilish policy, to undermine the church
and children of God ; who wheresoever they see vine or grapes, they malice
that. Both the means, and grace wrought by the means, is the object of
their cruelty. Subtle foxes they are ; who account it a great deal of glory
to be accounted politic men ; to do mischief secretly and closely in tbe chm-ch.
Will God suffer these foxes ? No ; he will not. ' Take us the foxes, the
httle foxes that destroy the vines,' Cant. ii. 15. God hath young growing
vines, so as he will not onlj- care for the great vines, but for the tender vines
also. Christ hath a care of his lambs ; as he said to Peter, ' Lovest thou
me,' &c., ' Then feed my lambs,' my little ones, John xxi. 15. So Christ
speaks in the gospel of these little ones. * I tell you (of a truth) that the
angels of these little ones behold the face of my Father,' &c.. Mat.
xviii. 10. And so he speaks in another place, ' A bruised reed will he
not break, and smoking flax will he not quench, until he bring fortli judg-
362 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IX,.
mentunto victory,' Isa. xlii. 1, 2. So likewise he promiseth, ' that he will
carry the lambs in his bosom, and gently lead them that are with young,'
Isa. xl. 11.
Use 3. The next use shall be for encouragement unto weak ones. Should
tender and weak Christians then be discouraged, for whom God is so care-
ful? Surely no. Put case they bring forth but little fruit ; yet, 0 destroy
it not, for a bleasing is in it. Therefore let us not be discouraged, if we
be God's vines ; which is known and discovered, not by the abundance of
fruit only, but by the kind of our fruit also. If it come from the Spirit of
God, and relish of the Spirit, though it be not in such plenty, yet a vine
is not a thorn. A Christian is not to be discouraged, though he bring not
forth abundance of fruit at the first. There are different degi'ees and tem-
pers of soil, and of ages in Christianity ; which is spoken to encourage those
that are good ; and yet are discouraged, because it is not with them, as
with some other Christians of their acqnaintance. Know, that there is no
set measure of grace necessary to salvation, but truth. God doth assign us
a measure of grace according to his good pleasure, and according as he hath
purposed to make us profitable to others in the use of means. Those whom
he means to use for suflering or doing of great matters in the church, those
he fits suitably for that he means to call them to ; others have not that
abundance of grace, out of God's wisdom, who knows best how to dispense
his own graces to his own glory. If we allow not ourselves in our weak-
nesses, but groan under them, hate them, and strive against them, reaching
towards perfection; in this case our weaknesses shall not hurt our salvation,
but God will perfect his power in our weakness, 2 Cor. xii. 9.
So we see it is not the multitude of fruit, but the sincerity of it. If it
be true, that makes a Christian. If there be truth of grace, it will out and
spread the branches ; it shall not always be so with us. Sincerity
and endeavour to grow, with a desire and thirst after growth, makes
a man a Christian. Therefore, as was said, we must not be discouraged,
though our growth and spreading be not like others. Every Chris-
tian hath his measure. Though every one be bound to go further and
further, from faith to faith, and grace to grace ; yet there is a blessing in
a little, and a promise also to him that useth it well. ' To him that hath,
it shall be given,' Mat. xiii. 12. Christ hath a care that the foxes do not
hurt the little tender grapes. Let none therefore be discouraged for their non-
proficiency in the ways of God, so as to go back and leave ofi". He knows
best, when and how to take away the baits, snares, and temptations that
are set to catch them and discourage them. Let God alone with his own
work, who is the great vine-dresser. Do thou thine own work ; attend
upon good means ; wait upon God ; and then let the mahce of the world
and the devil be what they will, he will have a care of his vines ; and the
more cai'e, the more young and tender they are, &c.
These considerations may afiect us, not only to take good by the vine
for our bodies, but for our souls also, and so the same thing may cherish
both body and soul. A Christian by grace hath an extracting virtue to draw
holy uses out of everything ; as the Holy Ghost hei'c compares us to a vine,
to teach us these and the like things now unfolded. The last thing pro-
mised is,
' The scent thereof shall be as the vine of Lebanon.'
This Lebanon was a mountainous place, on the north side of Judea, won-
drous fruitful in all kind of trees, in cedars, and goodly vines ; so it did
abound in spice, and all goodly things. Therefore, to shew that a Christian
HOSEA XrV. 7.J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 863
should be the best of his rank, he fetches comparisons from the best things
in nature.
' The scent thereof shall be as the vine of Lebanon.'
Now the vine of Lebanon had a sweet scent in it, both to draw to the
hking, and then to delight in the taste and taking thereof. So it is with
the gi'acos of God in his children, they carry, as it were, a sweet scent with
them, both to draw others to delight in, and taste of the same things.
Quest. But how comes it to pass that Christians send forth so sweet as cent?
Alls. Because they are in Christ, in whom the ointment and all sweet-
ness is in fulness. From him the Head, fii'st, and from thence it is derived
unto the members ; all who* must partake of this ointment. As it is said
of the head of Aaron, that that ointment which was poured on his head ran
down to his skirts, and all his rich attire about, Ps. cxxxiii. 2. So that sweetness
in Christ is poured on the skirts, all along upon his members ; even the
meanest Christian receiveth ' grace for grace,' John i. 16, sweetness from
Christ. The \argins, that is, such as defile not themselves with idolatiy,
and such other lewd coiurses, they follow after Christ in the smell of his
sweet ointments, Cant. i. 3. It is spoken of Christ, who carrieth such a
sweet smell with him, as ' all his garments smell of mj-rrh, aloes, and
cassia,' &c., Ps. slv. 8. So sweet is the smell of Christ, when he is un-
folded in his benefits and ofiices, that the pure and holy virgin souls of the
saints follow after it. ' His name is as an ointment poured out,' Cant. i. 3 ;
that is, himself is his name, and his name is himself, as the Hebrew pro-
verb is: Christ made known in the unfolding of the word, that is, his name.
When the box is opened, all in Christ is like ointment. La the preaching
of the word, all is sweet, and nothing but sweet in Jesus. Now a Christian,
being a member of Christ, and a virgin soul following Christ, must needs
draw sweetness from him, casting out that scent unto others, drawn from
him, because they partake of Christ's anointing. What is the name of a
Christian, but a man anointed with Christ's ointment, one anointed to be a
king and a priest in some sort ? Rev. i. 6. Therefore they carry the favour of him
wheresoever they go. Aaron the high priest had sweet garments, Exod.
xxxix. 26, which made a savour where he went, having bells and sweet
pomegranates at the bottom of his garment. He had not only bells to dis-
cover him, but sweet pomegranates also. So it is with every Christian.
Not only the minister, but every Christian, is a priest under the New Testa-
ment, and carrieth a savom- with him ; graces that spread and cast a sweet
scent in all places wheresoever, which they exercise upon all good occasions.
As St Paul expresseth it, ' They savour the things of the Spirit,' Rom.
viii. 5. Those who are in Christ, they have the Spirit of Christ, or they
are none of his. And ha\'ing the Spirit of Christ, they savour of the things
of the Spirit ; that is, their thoughts, speeches, actions, and conversation
are savoury. Those ' that are in the flesh,' saith the apostle, * cannot
please God,' Rom. viii. 8, they are unsavoury. A carnal man hath no
savour in his speeches. They are either worldly or civil, without spiritual
savour ; because he hath nothing of the Spirit of Christ to savour of. * His
heart,' saith Solomon, ' is little worth,' Prov. x. 20. The like we may say
of his thoughts, actions, and afiections ; they are unsavoury and little
worth. He hath a dead heart to goodness ; and thence whatsoever good-
ness Cometh from him is forced, and against the hair, as we say. But a
Christian having the Spirit of Christ, and therewith communion with Christ,
all his discourses and actions are for the most part savoury ; those he acteth
» That is, ' all of whom.'— lio.
364 THE EETUENING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IX.
as a Christian. Therefore from his communion with Christ, it is said here,
' His smell shall be as Lebanon.'
' The scent thereof shall be as the vine of Lebanon.'
Delightful both to God and holy, blessed spirits, likewise to the church
and to the angels which are about us, and pleasing to our own spirits ; for
there issueth a wondrous contentment even to the conscience of a person,
which is fruitful and abundant in goodness. That soul receiveth an answer-
able proportion of comfort. As it is with heat, that accompanieth fire
alway, so there is a kind of heat of comfort which naturally accompanieth
the heat of any good action. There remaineth a sweet relish to the con-
science of the performer, reflecting, with humility upon himself, with thank-
fulness to God, from whose dew, as we have heard before, cometh what-
soever is good. Reflecting on this with an eye to the principal cause, it
breeds a great deal of comfort to the soul. As it was said of Josiah, the
memory of Josiah was like the ointment of the apothecaiy ; whereas, on the
contrary, it is said, ' The remembrance of the wicked shall rot,' Prov. x. 7.
God threateueth the Jews that they should be a hissing to all nations, and
that they should be abominable to all kind of people, Deut. xxviii. 37 (for
what is so odious now as the name of a Jew ?), j-et certainty this whole pro-
mise shall be verified even of them, this whole chapter having an eye unto
the calling of the Jews. The time will come that the scent of these odious
people, who are now the object of hatred unto all people, ' shall be as the
■^ne of Lebanon.'
Use 1. If this be so, it cuts off a carnal exception of senseless persons,
that think they can stop men's mouths with this, I cannot make so much
show as you, but I hope I have as good a heart to God as joxx or as the
best. But a Christian is a vine that brings forth grapes and much fruit,
and casts a scent from him, as ' the scent of Lebanon,' upon all fit occa-
sions ; for his words should be ' as the apples of gold set with pictures of
silver,' Prov. xxv. 11. He is seasonable in his actions of consolation, and
bringeth forth his fruit in due season, as the promise is, Ps. i. 3 ; for
Solomon sheweth that everything is made beautiful in his season, Eccles.
iii. 11. Those, therefore, that have not a good word to speak, but rather
express the contrary, rotten, unsavoury discourse, vain in their conversa-
tion, savouring nothing that is good, how have they as good a heart to God
as the best ? No ; this is not to be a Christian, who should savour like
Aaron's garments, or like these graces coming from his Head to him ; who
should spread abroad his sweetness unto others, ' shining out as a light,'
Philip, ii. 15, amongst others. Therefore, away with this base plea. A
rotten speech argueth a rotten heart. What can come out of a vessel but
such as is within it ? If the issues be naught, what is the vessel but naught ?
If all be unsavoury outward, what is there but a rotten heart within ?
Use 2. Again, if Christians should cast a scent and savour, this should
move and stir them up, if they will answer their title to be Christians, sweet,
anointed persons, priests to God, to labour more and more to be spiritual,
and savour the things of the Spirit, and to labour for more and more com-
munion with Christ in the use of all sanctified means, that they may have
the Spirit of Christ in their conversation, shewing forth the humility,
patience, love, and obedience of Christ. As Peter speaks and exhorteth us,
' to shew forth the virtues of him who hath called us from darkness into his
marvellous light,' 1 Pet. ii. 9. Then we answer our title, and ' cast forth
a scent like Lebanon,' when inwardly and outwardly all things join to make
us fruitful and savoury before God and man.
HOSEA XIV. 7.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 365
Quest. What will come of it if we be fruitful and savoury ?
Ans. 1. God will be more pleased in all our actions, and will * smell a
Bweet savour of rest,' as it is said of Noah, Gen. viii. 21, after his coming
out of the ark ; for God delights in his own graces, which ho admireth in
us. As he said to the woman of Canaan, ' 0 woman, great is thy faith, be
it unto thee as thou wilt,' Mat. xv. 28. God, as it were, stands admiring
his own graces, he is so delighted with the faith, love, prayers, and patience
of his children, which is further excellently expressed in the Canticles, ' Who
is this that cometh up out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed
with myrrh and frankincense, and all the spices of the merchant?' Cant,
iii. G. Christ there is brought in admiring* at his church and children,
conflicting through all the miseries and incumbi'ances of this world, which
hinder and oppose their journey to heavenwards, wherein they thrust forth
all the practice of their holy graces, which smell like spices. Then let us
not envy God, the saints, and holy people the sweetness of our graces,
but let our scent smell abroad to the content and comfort of all, that they
may delight in these graces that come from us, in our humility, patience,
faith, love, sincerity, and all these graces wherein we resemble Christ and
shew forth his holy virtues. Therefore, for our own comfort and delight of
all, and to assm'e ourselves of heaven and of the love of God whilst we live
here, let us labour to be fruitful in our conversation, and to cast forth a
scent in regard of others, which hath an attractive, drawing force. For
when they see a holy, fruitful, and gracious conversation, it casts forth a
scent, and makes others like religion. So God is glorified, and religion is
adorned. What greater ornament to religion than to see a fruitful, gracious
Christian, who hath ability and a heart to do good upon all occasions, with an
humble, meek, peaceable spirit, taught of God to be so for the good and
love of others ?
There must be pomegranates with bells, a sweet conversation with words,
a little whereof will do more good to others than a great many words. A
good conversation is sweet, and hath a kind of oratory joined with it.
Therefore, if neither for God, or Christ, or others, yet for our own sakes,
and the reflection of that good scent upon ourselves, let us be fruitful. A
man cannot grow in fruitfulness but he must needs grow in comfort, peace,
and joy. Nothing cheereth and solaceth the heart of a Christian more than
this, the consciencef that God honoureth him to be fruitful, to do good,
and cast a sweet savour, to draw others to good things. This will com-
fort us upon our deathbeds more than all other things. Therefore, in all
these respects, for love of God, others, and ourselves, which are delighted
with the expressions of our graces, let us labour to be fruitful trees in God's
garden, and to bring forth much fi.-uit, that we may send forth ' a scent like
Lebanon.'
Now, who would not be in such an estate and condition as this, as to
have title to all these gracious promises, for ' the dew ' of grace to fall upon
him, ' to grow as lilies ' in height, and to spread as other plants do, to
grow upwards and downwards, to be * rooted as cedars ' and ' fruitful as
vines' ? The Spirit of God sets himself here to shew spiritual things by
earthly comparisons, to make us the more capable of them. The misery of
the contrary condition may well stir us up to seek after the forementioned.
For what a misery is it to have the curse of God upon one's soul, to have
it like the barren wilderness, void of all grace and comfort that may delight
others, or is spiritual, savoury, or savingly good. So all these promises tend
* That is, ' wondering.' — G. t Tliat is, ' cousciousness.' — Hd
866 THE KETUENING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON X.
to encourage us to be in tlie condition of God's children, that when we are
in that estate we may comfort ourselves, and be able to claim our part, por-
tion, and interest in these excellent promises.
Thus, by God's blessing, we have passed over the particulars of God's
gracious promises to his church and all that shall come under the church,
aU which should encourage us to go to God, and do as the church doth
here, ' take words to ourselves,' and desire God ' to take away all iniquity,
and heal all our backslidings,' and that we may renounce aU vain confidence,
as the church doth here, who is taught to trust horses no longer, ' Asshur
shall not save us.' And then let us, as was said, cleave unto the blessed
promises, that we may improve them and make them our own every day
more and more. Therefore, let us have in the eye of our soul the excel-
lency of growth, or else we shall not value these promises. Let us consider
what an excellent condition it is to gi'ow, flom-ish, and be fruitful, having a
due esteem of all these promises beforehand. Do but consider how excel-
lent a Christian is that groweth above others, what a majesty he hath in his
carriage, how undauntedly he walks in all oppositions whatsoever, as a lion
in his courses, Prov. xxviii. 1 ; how he overlooks hell, wrath, death, damna-
tion, and all ; what a sweet communion he enjoyeth with God in all the dis-
consolations that the world puts upon him. He carrieth his heaven in his
heart and a paradise within him, which is planted with all graces ; whereas
another man carrieth his hell about him.
Wherefore, let us take such courses to help ourselves as the church doth
here, trust in God, and not in man or in the arm of flesh, and be en-
couraged, from all that hath been said, to have a good conceit* of God, to
be fruitful, and draw on others to goodness, that God, his saints, and angels
may be delighted with the scent of our graces, and ourselves comforted ;
that we may rejoice in our portion and lot that God hath dealt so graciously
to us, and glory more that he hath made us members of Christ and
heirs of heaven than in any condition of this world. 0 the incom-
parable, excellent state of a Christian, above all the g-'''7 of this world!
who not only groweth, but shall grow to heavenwards still ; and as he hath
begun to hate sin, shall hate it more and more. God hath undertaken it
shall be so. Ephraim, after all these sweet promises and dew of grace, shall
say, ' What have I any more to do with idols ? ' &c., the prosecution
whereof must be referred f until the next time.
THE TENTH SERMON.
Ephraim. shall say, What have I any more to do ivith idols ? I have heard
him and observed him: I am like a green fir-tree : from me is thy fruit found.
— Hos. XIV. 8.
We have heard at several times heretofore, how God, out of the largeness
of his goodness, goeth beyond those desires which he putteth into his people's
hearts. They briefly entreat him to ' do good' to them, and to deal gra-
ciously with them ; and he answereth them largely, ' That he will be as the
dew to them, that they shall grow as the lily, and cast forth their roots as
Lebanon.' All set out by most excellent comparisons, helping gi'ace by
nature, our souls by our bodies, and our spirits by our senses. As we have
* ' Tliat is, ' conception.' — G. t That is, ' delayed.' — G.
HOSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDER. 3G7
souls and bodies, bo God applieth himself to both : ' His branches shall
spread ; his beauty shall be as the oUve, and his smell as Lebanon.'
Then in the seventh verse, his gracious promise reachcth unto those who
dwell under the chiu'ch. ' Those that dwell under his shadow shall return,
they shall re\dve as the corn, and grow as the vine,' Sec. The new church
that shall come under the shadow of the old, shall flourish as the ancient
did. ' They that dwell under his shadow,' that is, under Ephraim's and
Israel's shadow, ' shall retm-n,' and be partakers of the same dew of
gi-ace.
Now this eighth verse containeth a further gracious promise to Ephraim,
upon his repenting and fonner resolutions. Ephraim said, ' Asshur shall
not save us, we will not ride upon horses : neither will we say any more to
the work of our hands, Ye are our gods.' Now what saith God here,
repeating the words of Ephraim ? Ephi-aim ' shall say ' is not in the original ;
but only set down to express what the meaning is ; whereas Ephraim said,
* What have I any more to do with idols ? ' Ephraim shall have this answer,
' I have heard him, and observed him, I am like a green fir-tree : from me
is thy fruit found.'
As though the Lord had said, let not Ephraim think that when he hath
forsook idols, he hath forsaken his comfort, as though there were no com-
fort in walking according to the rule of my word and laws. Let him know,
that mstead of these poor and base comforts, either in gi'oss idolatry, or
other more cunning idolatries whatsoever, which foiTuerly took him up, that
now he shall exchange them for more solid and substantial comforts. For
' I have heard him and observed him.' So that let him see what he loseth
in parting with base corruptions, worldly lusts, pleasures, and the like, he
shall find it more abundantly supplied in a far more excellent manner in
me, and in the fruits and effects of my love unto him ; so as he shall find
thcit there is nothing lost by entering strictly into my service. And whereas
formerly he walked in a vain shadow, in relying on ' Egypt, Asshur, and the
works of his own hands ; ' now he shall have a far more excellent shadow,
which no stonn, nor rain, nor injuiy of weather can pierce through. ' I
am like a green fir-tree unto him.' Not such a shadow as those his idols
were, who could not keep off the storm of God's wrath from him ; nor such
a shadow as Jonah's gourd was, which flourished for one da}^, and vtas nipt
the next, Jonah iv. 7. No ; I will be constant and permanent as myself,
' I will be as the green fir-tree ; ' a constant shadow to keep back all annoy-
ance whatsoever ; not like the cursed noisome shadow of idols, under which
Ephraim rested before. But ' I will observe and regard him, and be like a
green fir-tree unto him.' I will not only be a shadow and shelter of defence
unto him from injury and molestation, that he may rest quietly; but he
shall be also fruitful. Though the fir-tree be not so fruitful, yet ' fr"om me
is thy fruit found.' Whatsoever he is in himself, yet this shall not be
matter of discouragement unto him. I am all-sufficient, there is enough in
me to supply him with ; ' from me is thy fruit found.' But to take them
in order.
' Ephraim shall say. What have I any more to do with idols,' &c.
Some think the words come upon Ephraim's observing and hearing of
him ; so as when God is seen in his most excellent majesty and glory, and
observed as he is just, merciful, and wonderful, terrible in himself, that this
manner of hearing and observation causeth flesh and blood so to stoop and
reform, as they j'ield themselves, and resign up all unto God ; seeing htat
miserable conditiou they arc in, and what an infinite distance there is be-
868 THE EETTJENING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON X.
twixt tbeir impurity and God's most excellent holiness. As we read of
Isaiah, when he had seen God in his throne of majesty, ' Woe is me ! ' saith
he, ' for I am undone ; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in
the midst of a people of unclean lips : for mine eyes have seen the King,
the Lord of hosts,' Isa. vi. 5. And so of Job, * I have heard of thee by
the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee ; wherefore I abhor my-
self, and repent in dust and ashes,' Job. xlii. 5, 6. Which, indeed, is true
in the general, that a man then truly repenteth and turneth imto God, when
he knoweth God and himself to purpose, and never effectually until then;
for Christ, who cannot lie, and is truth itself, calleth this kind of knowledge
eternal life. ' This is life eternal, to know thee to be the only very God,
and whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ,' John xvii. 3. But, though this be
a general truth, yet wo take it here rather for an encouragement unto
Ephraim, as before, that nothing is lost by cleaving unto God's ways, and
forsaking of sin. Now whereas, ' Ephraim shall say, what have I any more
to do with idols ? ' In the words we may consider.
1. 2'he manner of expression, with a great indirjnation of soul, ' What have
I any more to do,' &c.
2. Tlie matter so hated with indignation, is idolatry, their former idols,
* Ephraim shall say. What have I any more to do with idols ? '
Ephraim, Ave see, renounceth idolatry. But in what manner is this done?
with an high indignation of zeal and hatred : ' What have I any more to do
with idols ? ' He doth not say, Now that Ephraim hath left idolatry, I will
supply all these comforts that they had by idols. But Ephraim loathes
idolatry. Therefore he saith, 'What have I any more to do with idols?'
It is a ligurative question, implying a strong denial with a strong indigna-
tion, ' What have I any more to do with idols ? ' I have had too much
to do with them : I have now nothing to do with idols. It is a negation
and denial, with as great aversation * and abomination as can be possibly
expressed : for in such questions, the denial is set forth more strongly by a
negation, and with a greater emphasis, than by any affirmation is possible
to express. So elegant is the Spirit of God, in setting forth spiritual things
in a heavenly and transcendent manner.
* Ephraim shall say, What have I any more to do with idols ?' &c.
Hence, in that Ephraim shall say thus, and say it with such vehemency
of spirit and indignation, we may observe in general,
There is excellent use of the affections.
God hath planted the affections in us, to be as the wind, to carry the
Boul to and fro, forward or backward : for affections are planted in the
Boul, answerable to things aimed at by it. For, as in the nature of things,
there be good and bad, delightful and hateful, hurting or pleasing ; so an-
swerably God hath framed the soul to the nature of things. For good
things, God hath planted affections in us to join, clasp, embrace them and
welcome them ; as love, joy, delight, and such like. And for evil things,
he hath planted affections to avoid them ; as indignation, hatred, and the
like. Indeed, religion is mainly in the affections, whereof there is excellent
use. Take away them, and take away all religion whatsoever. A man,
■were it not for his affections, is like mare mortuuvi, the dead sea that never
Btirreth. Therefore it is but a doting, idle conceit of these rigid men, that
take away affections ; much like the folly of them, who, because they have
been drunk with wine, do therefore cut up all the vines. But the way were,
to moderate the excess, not to cut up the vines. So for the affections, we
* That is, ' aversion.' — G
HOSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 869
must not root them up, or cut them down, but order them aright. For
what doth the first commandment require, Thou shalt have no other gods
but me ; but a right ordering of all the afiections of the soul, joy, delight,
trust, and fear, and the whole frame of them to be earned to God ? For
the inward worship of God is nothing else but the excellent working of these
affections suitably to the law, with the detestation of the contrary. It is
not knowledge that makes a man a good man, but the affections. The
devil and wicked spirits know much ; but they have no love, joy, or delight
in them. Therefore we must value ourselves and things, as we are in our
will and affections ; for so God valueth us, and we should value others
thereby. This well done would bring us a wondrous deal of comfort, and
stop our too much and rigid judging and censuring of others.
' Ephraim shall say, What have I any more to do with idols ?'
Now in particular we see here, that Ephraim not only leaveth idols, but
there is planted in him a sound indignation against them ; whence we may
learn,
lliat it is not enough to leave sin, but ice must loathe sin also.
A notable place to this purpose, we have in the prophecy of Isaiah, what
they should do after their conversion, in the case of hatred to idolatry.
' Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the
ornament of thy molten images of gold : thou shalt cast them away as a
menstruous cloth ; thou shalt say unto it. Get thee hence,' Isa. xxx. 22.
There is a hatred and a strong loathing indignation against sin, when it is
discovered in the pollution and vileness thereof ; which affection of hatred,
God hath planted to di-aw the soul away from anything that is truly hurtful
to it. It is not enough to leave sin for some by-ends, as fear of punish-
ment, shame, and the like ; but we must loathe it also. The prophet David,
when he professeth his love to the law, how proveth he it ? 'I hate and
abhor lying,' Ps. cxix. 163. And so again, ' Do not I hate them, 0 Lord,
that hate thee ? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee ?
I hate them with perfect hatred, I account them mine enemies,' Ps. cxxxix.
21. Here is hatred, and perfect hatred with abomination.
Reason 1. The reason is, because God is a Spirit, John iv. 24 ; and looks
to the bent of our spirits, seeing what we love and what we hate. Therefore
the strength of this consideration draweth the soul to hate and love, with
God, as he hates and loves ; and as much as may be, to hate sin as he
doth.
Reason 2. And then again, he requireth our heart especially. ' My son,
give me thy heart.' Give me thy love in that which is good, and hate that
which is ill. What ill we leave, we must hate first ; and what good we do,
we must first love, or else we shall never do either of them acceptably to
purpose. "What the heart doth not, is not done in religion. If it hath no
hand in the avoiding of ill, it is not avoided. If it have no hand in the
doing of good, it is not done before God. Therefore in true conversion,
there must be a loathing of sin.
Reason 3. Thirdly, because in all true conversion there is a new nature
put in us. Now the new creature, which partaketh of the divme nature,
whereby we resemble God, it hath an antipathy to the gi'eatest ill, which is
sin, the cause of all other evils whatsoever ; which maketh us opposite to
God, defileth the soul, and hindereth our sweet communion with him. A
new creature, we know, hath a new disposition, and is opposite to the
works of the flesh ; they are contrary to one another. So that we see it
clear, that we must not only leave but loathe sin.
VOL. II. A a
Sc70 THE RETURNING BAOKSLEXER. [SeEMON X.
Quest. But how may we know, discern, and try this true hatred of sin ?
Ans. First, true hatred is universal. He who hates ill truly, hates in
nniversally in the whole kind. As we see in wicked men and devils, who
hate God and all goodness. So on the contrary, those that are good hate
all ill whatsoever, whether it pleasure or displeasure them ; they stand not
upon it, they hate the very nature of all ill. Those whose obedience and
affections are partial, they hate some evils, but not others, which is not
true hatred wrought by the Spirit of God, for that is universal to the whole
kind.
2. Then also, wheresoever true hatred is, it is implacable and unappeasable.
There's no true end of sound hatred, but by the abolishing altogether of
that thing it hates ; as v/e see the hatred of Satan to the church and people
of God is imappeasable and unquenchable. Nothing in the world can stay
Satan's hatred, nor the hatred of his instruments, who hate the remembrance
of God's people. Therefore the very name of Calvin and Luther must be put
out of their books, to satisfy their hatred, not only when they are dead,
bum their bones, but abolish their memory, if they can, (m). So there is
the like disposition in God's people to that which is ill. A godly disposi-
tion, it hateth sin even to the death, and is not quiet until all sin be abo-
lished. Whereupon it is never quiet in this life, but desires heaven, not
enduring patiently the least relics and rags of sin ; desiring that that which
it so hateth, might have no being at all. Those who mince and cull things,
who are so gentle and tender towards their sins and corruptions, in them-
oelves and others ; is this that hatred which is unappeasable, and never
rests, till it see either a thorough reformation, or abolishing of what it so
hateth ? Wherein it is a more rooted affection than anger. For hatred is
a rooted offensive displeasure, against persons and things ; and so rooted,
as that nothing in the world can root it out. Anger may be appeased. It
is appeased in God, and it may and must be in men. But hatred is im-
placable, aiming at the annihilation of the thing so hated.
3. Again, where true hatred and indignation is, there the nearer the ill is
to us, the more ive hate it, dx. As we hate it in itself, so we hate it the
more, the nearer it is to us. As a toad or any venomous thing, the nearer
it is to us, we loathe and abhor it the more, so certainly, whosoever hates
and abhorreth sin as sin (as it is a hateful thing to a renewed soul), so he
hateth sin more in himself than in others, because it is nearest in his own
bosom. Every man hates a snake more in his bosom than afar off, because
it is more likely to do him harm there. Therefore those that flatter their
own corruptions, and are violent against others, as Judah against Tamar,
' She shall be burned, bring her forth and burn her,' when himself had
gotten her with child. Gen. xxxviii. 24. So many are severe in punishing
of others, as if they were wondrous zealous ; but what are they in their owoi
breast ? Do they reform sin in their own hearts and lives ? He that truly
hates sin, he hateth his own sin more than others, because it is near him.
4. And so, in proportion, he that hates sin truly xdll hate it in his own
family, children and servants, more than in others abroad. It was a great
fault in David, that he cockered* up Adonijah, and others in his own house,
whilst he was more strict abroad. Can men think to redress and hate sin
in the commonwealth, and yet suffer it in their families ? True hatred is
most conversant in its strength near hand. Those who suffer deboistnessf
and profaneness in their families, and never check it in their children and
servants, they hate not sin. Whatsoever countenance they may take upon
* That is, ' indulged.'— G. t That is, ' debauchery.' — G.
Hose A XIV. 8. J the keturning backsi^idek. 371
them, of reformation abroad, it cometh out of by-respects, and not out of
true hatred.
5. Again, he that hateth sin truly as sin, will hate the greatest sin in the
greatest vicasure, because he hates it as it is hateful. Now in the nature of
things, the greatest sin deserveth the greatest abomination, and aversation*
from it. Therefore he who truly hateth sin, he hates the greatest sin
most of all. Those therefore that are very nice in less matters, and loose
in greater things, it is but hypocrisy. For he who truly hates sin as sin,
where the greatest sin is, thither he directs the edge of his hatred, which is
the strongliest carried against the strongest ill. And such a one will not re-
spect persons in evil, but wheresoever he findeth it, if he have a calling,
there will be an answerable hatred of it. Therefore if one be a minister of
the word of God, he vnW do as good Micaiah did, and will not balkf Aliab
for his gi'eatness, 1 Kings xxii. 9, seq. ; and like good John Baptist, he will
tell Herod of his faults. Because he hates sin as sin, therefore, where he
hath a calling to it, he will hate it proportionably in the greatest measure.
Good Eli in this case was too indulgent over his sons, 1 Sam. ii. 27, seq. ;
but we must love no man so nearly, as to love the ill in them.
6. Again, a man may know that he truly hates sin, if he can endure ad-
monition and reproof for sin. He that hates a venomous plant which
troubleth the ground, will not be displeased if a man come and tell him
that he hath such a plant in his ground, and will help him to dig it up :
surely he cannot be displeased with the party. So here, if a man do truly
hate sin, will he be angry with him that shall tell him that he is obnoxious
to such an evil, which will hm't him dangerously, and damn his soul if it
be not helped ? Surely no. Therefore let men pretend what they will,
those who swell against private reproof, they do not hate sin as sin. Only
add we this caution : a reproof may be administered with such indiscre-
tion, out of self-love, and with a high hand, as that a man may dislike the
carnal manner of reproving ; but if it be done in a good manner, he that
hates reproof, because he loveth himself and his sin, pretend what he will,
he hates not sin.
7. So, if a man love to he flattered in his sin, it is a sign he hates not sin
truly. For there is naturally a great deal of self-love in man, which makes
him that he loves to be flattered in his sins ; whereupon he comes to be
abused to his own destruction, especially great men. Now, it is a sign of
an ill state of soul to be subject to be abused by flattery, and to hate in-
struction. Saith Paul, ' Am I your enemy, because I have told you the
truth ? ' Gal. iv. 16.
8. Again, we may know what our hatred to sin is, by our ivillingness or
unwillingness to talk of it or mention it, or to venture upon the occasions
thereof. Where hatred is, there is outward aversation. We fly from what
we hate, and shun to frequent places where we may receive offence.
Whatsoever hath an antipathy to nature, that we hate and run away from.
Therefore those that present themselves to the occasions of sin, upon no
calhng, say what they \.ill, they feed sin, and live according to the flesh.
Those that hate a thing will never come near it if they can choose. There-
fore, those that present themselves willingly to places infected, where there
is nothing religious, but scorning of religion, your common representations
of abomination, pretend what they will, their intent is to strengthen their
own corruption, against the good of their souls. This is the issue. Those
that hate sin will hate all that which may lead to it, the representations of
* That is, ' aversion' — turning from. — G. t That is, ' avoid.' — (J.
372 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeKMON X.
sin also. Can a man hate sin and see it acted ? Wickedness is learned
when one seeth it acted, as one of the ancients saith well. Therefore let
us by these and the like trials take notice what our hatred to sin is.
Only this our zeal and indignation to sin must have a mitigation and be
regulated, lest, like an exorbitant river, it exceed the bounds. Therefore,
not to follow the school niceties in the exactness of differences, we will
touch the mark a little, how this zeal and hatred to sin, in reproof especially,
must be qualified ; wherein we must consider divers things.
1. First, our calling must he respected. For howsoever we must carry an
universal hatred to sin thus far, that we must not do it, yet in the dis-
covery of hatred and dislike to others, we must consider what calling we
have, and how far we go.
2. And it must be done idth a sweet temper, keeping our distance, and
reserving the due respect unto those in whom we shew our dislike. As we
see Nathan, when he came to tell David of his fault, how he doth it, what
art he useth ! It must so be done as that it may appear to be done out of
pure zeal, that it is no wild-fire nor no heat of nature ; but that it cometh
merely fi-om the Spirit, and in much love, with mildness and pity, in which
case it carrieth a wondrous authority. The discovery of hatred to the
faults either in a minister or in a magistrate, though they must be truly
dealt with, and have their faults told them, yel there must be respect had
to their place, by reason of the weakness of men. As it is with the body,
great men have their physicians as well as meaner, only their physic must
be more costly, because perhaps of the tenderness of their constitutions ; but
as for their bodies, they must not be suffered to perish, nor will not. So
for their souls, they must have that which other men have to help them,
but it must be done with reservation and respect ; as Paul, speaking to
Festus the governor, calleth him 'most noble Festus,' &c.. Acts xxvi. 25.
Pressing also goodness in some sort upon king Agrippa, ' 0 king Agrippa,
believcst thou the prophets ? I know thou dost,' Acts xxvi. 26. So we see
how we may examine whether our hatred to sin be true or not.
Let every one therefore make use of it in their calling. Those that are
entrusted with God's message, let them know that God's ambassadors are
to be faithful in their message, for they serve a greater Lord than is upon
the earth ; and let them shew their true hatred of ill, and the danger of
sin, wheresoever they find it. And for those that are governors of others,
let them not think that they hate sin in themselves except they hate sin
also in all that belongs to them, and reform it. For we see here an evi-
dence of conversion. When Ephraim was converted, ' What have I any
more to do with idols?' and, 2 Cor. vii. 11, there is an excellent descrip-
tion of the nature of repentance, by many parcels. The Corinthians had
repented : how is this evidenced ? ' Oh, behold,' saith he, ' this selfsame
thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in
you ; yea, what clearing of yourselves ; yea, what indignation ; yea, what
fear ; yea, what vehement desire ; yea, what zeal ; yea, what revenge ! *
What revenge and indignation against sin ! A kind of extremity of hatred,
a hatred quickened and kindled, the height of hatred. What indignation !
Insinuating that wheresoever there is the truth of conversion, there will be
indignation against sin in ourselves. As David confesseth of himself,
having sinned, ' So foolish was I, and ignorant : I was as a beast before
thee,' Ps. Ixxiii. 22. When he suffered such a thought to lodge in his
breast, that it was better with the children of the world than with the
chiu-ch of God, he was troubled for it. But when he went into the church
HoSKA XIV. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 873
of God, and saw the end of wicked men, then he saw his own foolishness
in being so deceived, and speaks against himself with indignation. So
wheresoever there is true conversion, there is hatred with indignation
against ourselves. As in that place before alleged, they shall say unto
their idols, ' Get thee hence,' Isa. xxx, 22, what have I any more to do
with you ? AVhich is a phrase of speech shewing a disposition of hatred
to the utmost extension, ' Get you hence.' So Christ to the devil, ' Get
thee behind me, Satan.' This is the right temper of a truly converted
Christian, expressed by divers phrases in Scripture : by a denial of our
lusts, by killing and crucifying, by pulling out the eye, and cutting oft" the
right hand. Which phrases, do they not imply a great strength of hatred
and indignation, when we must, as it were, pull out our own eyes ; that is,
our beloved sins, which are as dear to us as our eyes, and as useful as our
right hands imto us ? Yet these must be cut off, mortified, crucified, and
denied. Col. iii. 5. Therefore let us not deceive ourselves ; but let us
judge of the truth of our conversion by our trae hatred to sin in ourselves
and others, and in all who are committed to our charge.
If this be so, what shall we judge of a cold, lukewarm temper ? It is the
nature of cold, to gather heterogeneal bodies together. As we see in the
ice, there are straws, and stones, and heterogeneal things incorporated,
because the cold congeals them together ; but where there is fire, there is
a separating of the dross from the good metal. So where the Spirit of
God is, it is not so cold as to jumble sin and sin, this and that together;
but it purgeth away that which is ill, and that which is good it makes bet-
ter. For in what proportion the fire of God's Spirit stirs up that which is
good, in that proportion there is a hatred of that which is ill. They are
unparalleled affections. Those that love God, they hate evil. Those that
are alike to all things, do shew that they have not this active tnie hatred
against sin. No ! ' Ephraim shall say. What have I any more to do with
idols ?'
Quest. But now, How shall we come to get this hatred against sin, and
holy revenge and indignation against ourselves for that which is amiss
in us ?
Ans. First, we must every day labour to get a clearer sight of the exccl-
lenqi of that uhich is good, and a nearer convnnnion with God by prayer and
meditation. And then, when we have been with God, it will work an abo-
mination of whatsoever is contrary unto him. Thus Moses, when he had
talked with God in the mountain, at his return, seeing them dancing and
sacrificing to the calf of gold, Exod. xxxii. 19, what did Moses ? He brake
the tables asunder. So it is with those that have communion with God,
who is ' light itself, and in whom is no darkness,' 1 John i. 5, who is holi-
ness and purity itself. Those who have eftectually conversed with God in
his ordinances, meditation, prayer, and the like, when they look upon sin,
which is contrary to God, they look upon it with a more perfect hatred.
So Isaiah vi. 5. When God appeared to the prophet, and touched his
tongue* with a coal from the altar, saith he, ' Woe is me, for I am undone,
because I am a man of unclean lips,' &c., ' for mine eyes have seen the
King, the Lord of Hosts.' Thus, when once he had communion with
God, he began to loathe himself. So, if we would hate evil, let us labour
more and more to be holy, and to increase in that divine aflection of love.
For in what measure we love that which is good, in that measure we hate
the evil : as it is, Ps. xcvii. 10, ' Ye that love the Lord, hate evil ;' insinua-
* Lips.— G.
374 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON X.
ting, that all that love the Lord hate evil. All those that are near unto
God, they hate all sin. The more they grow into communion with God, the
more they grow in the hatred of all that is contrary. Let us therefore never
talk of love to God, and of piety, and such like ; for if there be any grace or
communion with God, we hate all sin in that measure as God hateth.
He who hath no zeal to refoirm. that which God hateth, he hath no love
at all.
2. Again, the way to stir us up to hate sin in ourselves and others, and
out of that hatred to reform it, is to set before us, 2chat it is in itself; that
it is the loathsomest thing in the world, worse than the devil himself: for it
is sin which makes him a devil. That corruption, pride, worldliness, and
profaneness, which we cherish, is worse than the devil himself, because
this made him a devil. Let us make sin therefore as loathsome as we can,
and then we shall hate it : and let us present it to our souls, as the most
dangerous thing of all, the ill of ills, which bringeth all other evils upon us.
This may appear more ugly in our sight, in that the foulness thereof could
not be expiated but by the death of the Son of God. And consider what
great torments he hath prepared for that which we so cherish. This proud,
sinful, and carnal disposition of ours, so opposite to all goodness, God
hath appointed to punish it with eternal separation from his presence. It
maketh God hate his o^vn creatures. * Go, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels,' Matt. xxv. 41.
3. And to stir us up to reform sin in all that belong unto us, we must
consider the dangerous condition that they live and die in, in ichom this is not
reformed. Eternal torments, and separation from God. These things may
help to work in our hearts a hatred of sin : and from this hatred, a refor-
mation of it, with a zeal and indignation. Therefore let us labour more
and more for this temper of soul, that we may be like God, and carry the
characters of the children of God in us. There is no affection will distin-
guish U.S from hypocrites more than hatred, which cometh of love, which is
the first-born and breeding affection of all others. For why do we hate
any thing, but because it is opposite to that we love ? Why do we hate ill,
but because it is opposite to God and to Christ, whom we love ? Amongst
others, take we along this consideration with us, that it is the spear which
wounded our blessed Saviour ; and that it is that he hates most which we
love most. Consider the holiness of God, that he would punish it in his
own Son, ere it should not be punished.
4. And consider that it is the bane of all our comfort, this which we so
cherish, and that it embitters all things to us. We cannot rejoice, no, not in the
good blessings of God, whilst we are guilty of sin ; neither can we pray com-
fortably whilst our hearts regard it, Ps. Ixvi. 18. In this case, that which should
rejoice the heart, communion with God, is terrible to us. What have I to
do to take his name in my mouth, when I embrace such sins ? Ps. 1. 16.
The day of judgment is terrible also ; for how can a man think comfortably
thereof, if therewith he expect a heavy doom for his sins he liveth in ? So
we may say of the day of death. None of these can be thought upon with-
out terror, when therewithal it cometh to one's mind, the cutting off from
their sins, and the ' terror of the Lord' against all sin whatsoever, 2 Cor.
V. 11. It should be the joy of our hearts to think of these happy times :
therefore, there must needs be a great deal of sin and atheism in our hearts
when we cannot think comfortably of them. For eiiher we believe not
these things, and so are plain atheists ; or else, if we believe them, we are ex-
ceeding foolish to lose futiu*e joys for the poor ' pleasures of sin for a season.'
HOSEA XIV. 8.1 THE BETURNING BACKSLIDER. 875
5. Let us labour to fjroiv in r/race more and more ; for the more wc grow
in the love of God and good things, the more we shall hate sin. For,
whatsoever may be said for the growth in love, and cherishing of it to
good things, the same may be said for the hatred of ill, in a contrary
sense.
6. The last place shall be, to place and drive our affections a contrary uay,
to translate and place them on a contrary object, when they are stirred up to
evil attempts. As, when hatred is stirred up, du'ect it to its proper object,
sin ; when love is irregular, think with ourselves, that God hath not planted
this affection for this object, but to carry me another way ; I must love God
above all, and all that he loveth, for his sake. Hath God put love and
hatred into my heart, to hate my brother whom I should love, and to love
the devil, and hate God ? Oh no ! I should love God above all, and my
brother as myself; and hate the devil and all his works, whom I have
renounced in my baptism. Therefore, in distempers of the affections,
make a diverson, and turn them the right way. As physicians use to do,
when the distempered blood runs dangerously one way ; if they cannot stop
that, they open a vein to drive the course of the blood another way. So it
is Christian policy, when the affections run dangerously one w-ay, then to
reflect thus upon ourselves : Aye, But is this the end why God hath placed
this affection in me ? Certainly no ! He hath planted this affection in me
for another purpose. Therefore, I will hate that which I should hate ; sin
in general, and my own sin most of all, which makes me hate my brother.
This should be our daily task and study, to take off the affections where
they should not be placed, and to fix them where they should be placed ;
and there to let them go amain, the faster the better ; restraining them
whore they should not run out.
Thus we ought to temper ourselves, and to work in ourselves as much
as may be, a sound hatred to all sin, not only of the second table, but of
the first also. The church here saith, * What have I any more to do with
idols ? ' Now I hate all vain inventions. And think not, with Gallio, that
this belongeth not to us ; if we be magistrates, and called to do it, to stand
for the cause of the church and true religion.
' What have I an}' more to do with idols ? '
The last thing to be observed from Ephraim's manner of expressing his
indignation is —
Obs. That ivhere love is not well contracted and begun, it will not hold to
the end, but icill end in eternal hatred.
The sei-pent and Eve* had some poor acquaintance together, as the issue
proved. What did it end in ? ' The seed of the woman shall break the
serpent's head,' Gen, iii. 15. This association and acquaintance ended in
everlasting war and breach. So all covenants, leagues, and associations
with those we should not join with, can never soderf handsomely together,
but will end in everlasting hatred. What a strict league was in fonner
times betwixt Ephraim and idols 1 But when Ephraim's eyes are opened
to see his idols devils, he detests and loathes all abominations, and is of
another mind. ' What Jhave I any more to do with idols ? ' He abomi-
nates them, as the word importeth.
Let us therefore bev.'aro with whom we join in intimate league. For
what makes miserable so much, as the renting \ of the affections from that
they were strongly placed on ? when love is rent from the thing beloved ?
If we place our affections, for some by-respects, upon wicked persons, this
* Printed ' Hevah.'— G. f That is, 'solder.'— G. % That is, ' rending.'— G.
376 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON X.
will cause so much the more torment and indignation against ourselves,
that were so foolish to suffer our affections to enter so deeply where they
should not. Those that glory in their league with antichrist, and wonder
at the beast, Rev. xvii. 8, seq., thinking him a demi-god : will this bs
alway so ? Oh, no ; when God opens the eyes of any of his people, they
shall hate them for ever. So wicked persons, that now are led on to this
and that wicked course : shall this be always so ? Woe to thee, if it be I
But the time may come that thou shalt say, ' What have I any more to do
with idols,' or with such an one's acquaintance ? I cannot endure to look
on him : he tainted me, and misled me, and tempted me. Now we must
be two, part we must, and I would we had never met together. Therefore,
before we place our affections on any, consider who they be, whether we
be likely to live with them for ever or not ; whether there be any evidence
of grace in them. If not, let them be two to us. For whatsoever vanity
is in the things or persons we love, if we belong to God, we must be
separate from them, unless we will be damned. Therefore we must be
wise to prevent the danger betimes. Ephraim might have known before
the danger of idolatry, had he been wise and prudent ; but it is well he
knows it now at length, which causeth him so to abominate idols. ' What
have I any more to do with idols ?' Thus much is spoken, because of the
lukewarmness and cold temper, neutrality and halting of a great many in
the world, having so many sinful combinations and associations one with
another, as if these things were not material.
Now, let men consider what a disposition this is, and how it stands
with that disposition which must be in those that are members of Christ,
and look for heaven. Let a Christian always remember what he is, and
what he hopes for, and this will put him in a right temper. 1. What he
is : a king, and an heir of heaven, &c. After which he should reason with
good Nehemiah, ' Shall such a man as I fly ? ' shall such a man as I do
this ? I am redeemed from my sins, and advanced to be a king to rule
over my lusts, to be an heir of heaven and eternal happiness in the
world to come, to reign with Christ ; and shall I do thus and thus ?
Doth this stand with my new temper, this sin, this filthiness, this base
action and thoughts that I am tempted to and encumbered with ? Shall
such a man as I follow these base actions, ways, and companions ? Con-
sider we this well, and then it will breed Ephraim's resolution, • What
have I any more to do with this base lust ? ' What hath it to do with me,
or I with it ? Is this and this action befitting a king, and an heir of
heaven, and a new creature ? And if a man be in authority, then let him
consider what Mordecai said to Esther, ' What if thou be called to the
kingdom for such a purpose ?' Esther iv. 14. What if thou be called to
this place or dignity for this purpose, to reform such and such abuses ?
Think with thyself, not only in particular what thou art, but in thy place,
what if thou be called to reform such abuses ; such unsound doctrines ; to
stand for God and for the truth. This will breed this resolute indignation
of Ephraim in us, ' What have I any more to do with idols ? ' All which
is for the manner of Ephraim's indignation : a strong negation of an
abominated thing. ' What have I any more to do,' &c. The next, which
is the substance and matter abominated — idolatiy — must be reserved for
some other time.
HOSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDER. 377
THE ELEVENTH SERMON.
Ephraim shall say, What have I any more to do with idols ? I have heard
him, and observed him: I am like a green fir-tree: from me is thy fruit
found.— Ros. XIV. 8.
We have heard at several times heretofore how graciously God deals with
his people, alluring them by many free and gracious promises to his ser-
vice ; the particulars whereof we heard heretofore at large.
This 8th verse hath reference unto that which went before, ver. 3. There
Ephraim rcnounceth his foirmer idols. ' Asshur shall not save us,' &c. ;
and here, ' Ephraim shall say, What have I any more to do with idols ? '
Unto which the answer is, ' I have heard him, and observed him : I am
like a green fir-tree unto him : from me is thy fruit found.' Now, in that
' Ephraim shall say, What have I any more to do with idols ? ' this in
sum is only the first part of the third verse, repeated in another manner :
That Ephraim shall and will go on in abominating idols, be constant in his
former resolution. Therefore, in that Ephraim shall, by the Spirit of grace,
go on in renouncing all false confidence, God sheweth here that Ephraim
shall lose nothing by it, for he intends here the continuance of time. ' I
have heard him,' and I do hear him, and I will hear him, and respect him,
and be like a shady green fir-tree to shade him, causing him also to be
abundant in fruit. ' From me is thy fruit found.'
' Ephraim shall say, "WTiat have I any more to do with idols ? ' Here we
considered the manner of expression, and then the matter itself.
' Ephraim shall say, "What have I any more to do with idols ?'
To come, therefore, to the matter itself specified, idolatry, against which
Ephraim' s indignation is directed :
' What have I to do with idols ? '
In handling whereof we must take in all these four together, that is —
1. False doctrine, which is the foundation o{ idolatry.
2. Idols themselves ; or,
3. Idolatry, which they tend to (for he which hates idols, hates them
because he hates idolatiy) ; or,
4. Idolaters ; as if he had said.
What have I any more to do with idolatrous doctrines, opinions, or con-
ceits, or with idols framed according to these conceits, or with idolatry or
idolaters ? For these go together. No man worships idols, but because
he is poisoned in his conceits ; and idols are forbidden, because idolatry is
dangerous ; and communion with idolaters is forbidden, because of idolatry.
So that the doctrine, idols, idolatry, and communion with them, all these
are objects of Ephraim's abomination and indignation.
' Ephraim shall say, "\Miat have I any more to do with idols ? '
It were to misspend precious time, appointed for better uses, to tell you
of the abominable distinctions of the papists, of Latria and Didia, (»)
or to insist upon a discourse of heathenish idolatry ; truths, but not
so profitable for us to spend time in. Therefore, we will rather come to
shew the reasons why Ephraim so abhorreth idolatry, idols, and conceits
ofaU.
1. To bepfin, in the first place, with idols. When Ephraim is truly con-
verted, he hates them, because idols are abominable to God, unto whom
378 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XI.
Epliraim is now converted. Ephraim hates idols, for idolatry is spiritual
adultery. Religion is, as it were, a conjugal act of marriage ; so that a
breach in religious worship is a breach of spiritual marriage. Now, the
worshipping of idols being a breach of the conjugal act of marriage betwixt
God and the soul, spiritual adultery, it must needs be abominable. For
adultery is an abominable, filthy thing ; much more spiritual adultery.
Therefore, saith Ephraim, ' What have I now any more to do with
idols ? '
2. And then again, idolatry f ram eth base conceits of God, Whereas, on
the contrary, we should elevate and raise up our hearts unto him ; idolatry
pulls him down, and conforms him to our base conceits. Were it not a
wrong to man to make him like a swine, or an ape, or some such ridiculous
creature ? Who, in this case, would think himself well used ? There is
not such disproportion betwixt any creature and man as there is betwixt
the great God of heaven and earth, and the best creature that can be made
to resemble him. Therefore, it is an abominable abuse and dishonour to
the great majesty of God to be represented any kind of way.
3. Again, consider the opposition hetiveen any representation of God, and
God. They are corruptible things ; God is incorruptible. They are visible ;
God is invisible. They are vain and nothing ; God a being of himself, who
giveth being unto all things. God is the living God, and the cause of all
life. To be brief: the Scripture, to shew God's hatred of them, calleth
them dunghill-gods, and Abel, as it is in this book, vanity, nothing, a name
to alienate the affections from them, (o)
4. Yea, further, because God is a jealous God, Exod. xxxiv. 14, and will
not give his glory to another. Ephraim, therefore, as soon as he cometh
to know God, he hateth idols ; because he knows God, being a jealous God,
could not endure them, Isa. xlii. 8.
Now, idolatry is committed when either we set up false gods in place of
the true God, or when we worship the true God in a false manner.
Quest. But now another question may be moved, Whether the papists be
idolaters or not ? For we live amongst many of them ; therefore we can-
not be too wary of them.
Ans. The answer is affirmative. They are idolaters, and worse in some
sort than the heathen idolaters were. Only change the names of the popish
saints which they in popery worship, and the names that the heathen wor-
ship, and they will be all one. Now, names be no reahties.
How may this be cleared ?
First, they give the honour due to God to others, which is idolatry. The
religious worship only due unto God, they give unto other things. Christ,
when he said, ' Him only shalt thou serve,' Mat. iv. 10, excepted the least
divine worship from the creature. The devil, we know, would have had
him fall down before him ; but Christ's answer is, ' Him only shalt thou
serve ;' that is, him only shalt thou religiously prostrate thyself unto. So
that religious worship is proper to God only. Now, this they give to
Baints ; for they pray to them, which is religious worship.
Ohj. But they object, that they pray not directly to them, but to them
as mediators, that they may pray to Christ for them.
Ans. 1. First, they raise them above their degree, to make them mediators,
and so dethrone Christ of his office of Mediator, at least join copartners-
with him.
2. But this is not all. They pray directly to saints to help them against
several ills, as they have several saints for several evils. Whatsoever they
HOSEA XIY. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 079
eay, who are not ashamed of lying to further their designs, yet their books
and wTitings do testify the contrary.
3. Then again, they vow to saints, as in the form of their vows is seen.
I vow to the Virgin Mary, &c. Now, a vow is a reHgious act. They vow
to saints, and burn inceuse unto them, erect temples, and set apart days
for their worship, and so break all the four commandments of the first
table. In a good fashion, it is not unfit to remember them, that their
memorial may be kept ; but we are not to worship them.
4. And, besides saints, they have other false gods ; for their head of the
church is an abominable idol, unto whom they ascribe that which is proper
unto Christ, to be the head of the church, which hath no influence from
him, but all from Christ, the spiritual head thereof. Therefore the apostle
complaineth of such ' who hold not the head,' &c.. Col. ii. 19. Those of
the Romish Church ' hold not the head,' hold not Christ, because they attri-
bute that to saints and men which is proper to Christ only. They make
the pope judge of aU controversies, who must give authority to the word,
and determine Scripture to be Scripture. What a shameful thing is this,
to make him judge of the Scriptures, which must judge him at the last day.
A pitiful thing it is to see ' a man of sin ' go about to judge the righteous
law of God, and to determine of that which must ere long determine him
unto eternal torments, without particular repentance. Yet, being spiritually
drunk, this folly they are given to, that they will be judge of that which
must be judge of them. Many waj's they make him an idol, ascribing that
to him which is proper to Christ.
5. So likewise, they make their sacraments to he idols.
For, 1, they ascribe to the ivater in baptism power of conferring grace.
Now, grace is God's creature only ; for all the creatures in heaven and
earth cannot confer the least dram of grace. It is a thing of God's making.
Now, to raise an element to confer grace, and then to trust in it, ex opere
operato, for the conferring of it, is to make an idol of it.
2. And for the bread. None of all the heathens ever had such an abo-
minable idol as the mass, a breaden god, for they worshipped living crea-
tures, and there is not the worst living creature but it is better than a piece
of bread ; and yet they worship that, for, by their own confession, if the
intention of the priest be not to the action, there is nothing but bread.
How may the minds, then, of men be tormented when they may or shall
think perhaps the priest hath no such intention, an*! so are in danger of
idolatry. For, saith the psalmist, ' their sorrows shall be multiplied that
hasten after another god,' &c., Ps. xvi. 4. So certainly the sorrows and
scruples of those that are idolaters shall be multiplied. They cannot but
be much tormented in soul sometimes. Coster (p), himself a forward Jesuit,
acknowledgeth ' that if, upon the words of consecration, the bread be not
turned and transubstantiated into the body of Christ, we are the most abo-
minable idolaters of the world.' But we make the minor and assumption,
long since proved by the late worthies of our church ='• (q), but there is no
such transubstantiating of the bread into the body of Christ. Therefore, by
their own consent, they are the most abominable idolaters of the vorld,
worse than the heathen.
3. And in their equalising traditions, which are but the inventions of
man's brain, ivith the Scriptures, they commit idolatry, in that they make
their very church an idol. But what should we speak of their church,
* B. Jewel, D. Eainolda, D. Fulk, D. Whitaker, D. Willet, Perkins, &c. Seo
Note q.—G.
380 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XI,
wlien thej' have the pope, who is their church virtually ? for what is said
of the one may be said of the other. When they come to the issue, the
church is nothing but the pope. Whatsoever their church or councils say,
he is the whole church. Many ways they are gross idolaters, especially
the common people. For though they say they give not Latvia, worship
to the image, but Dulia, service, but can the common people distinguish, who
give worship to all aHke ? To say we worship not the image, but God
before the image, was the heathen's excuse, as we may see in Arnobius (r).
Can the common people distinguish ? No ; for they are ignorant images
themselves. In this they are worse than the heathens, because they have
more light, and still the more light the more sin. For they have been fore-
told that the whore of Rome should be the mother of all foi'nications, the
spiritual Babylon, Sodom, and Egypt in regard of idolatry, the mother of
all these abominations. Rev. xvii. 6. Now, for them who have been fore-
warned hereof, and in so much light still, to continue idolaters, and persist
in false worship, is to be worse than the heathens, who had not the like
light and warning.
Qiies. But what is the reason that they arc so impudent and audacious ?
Alls. 1. First, to answer with the Scriptures, they are drunk with the
whore's cup, Rev. xvii. 2 ; and we know a drunken man dares do anything.
2. And then, again, as the psalmist speaks, because those who worship
idols become blockish and stupid like unto them, for an idol is a blockish, dead
thing, so idolaters are stupid, dead things in a sort, who are seldom con-
verted, partly because they are drunk, and partly because they are stupid,
like the idols they worship, Ps. cxv. 8.
Use 1. If this be so, as it is too true to the eye of the whole world, then
hoiv ought ive to bless God, who hath brought iis out of this paljoable Egyptian
darkness, out of sjnritual Sodom, as Lot was out of that Sodom ! Gen. xix. 17.
Oh, we cannot be thankful enough, nor ought we to desire to return to Sodom
again, or unto Egypt. Where, then, is place left for neutrality ? Those
neuters, that will be of neither religion ! Is such a disposition from the
Spirit of God, which maketh Ephraim say here, ' What have I any more
to do with idols ? ' Ephi'aim would not be a neuter. Therefore, what
shall we say unto them that present themselves to Masses, in their travels
especially ? Is this to say with Ephraim, ' What have I any more to do
with idols ? ' We must ' believe with the heart, and confess with the
mouth, to salvation,' Rom. x. 9. If a man might escape with having his
heart to God-wards, and his body prostrate, where were confession ? In
Elias's time, God told him, that there were left seven thousand in Israel,
who had not bowed the knee to Baal, that is, who made no bodily prostra-
tion, 1 Kings xix. 18. Therefore, as the papists do not join with us, so
neither ought we with them, if we hold the contrary religion false. In this
case we should not present ourselves with them in any service.
Use 2. Again, if this be true, what do we think of reconcilers of religion ?
A thing impossible, as the apostle sheweth. ' For what communion hath
God with Belial? Christ with antichrist?' 2 Cor. vi. 14, 15. What
communion ? The question is a strong negation, as that of Ephraim here.
* What have I now any more to do with idols ? '
Obj. But some may say, We differ from them only in circumstance.
Ans. We may ask any man who hath his brains in his head, irhether
idolatry be a circumstance or not ? it being clear that they are as great
idolaters as the heathens, in many instances. If any affirm that idolatry
is a circumstance, there is no disputing with such a one. That which is
HOSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 381
tho sin, which makes GoJ abhor and desert his own people, is that a
circumstance ? Is that a circumstance, which is tho chief sin against the
first table ? Granting that they are idolaters, that the pope is ' antichrist,'
and Rome to be ' Babylon ' (s), and Babylon to be the ' mother of all fornica-
tion,' this must needs follow, that there can be no reconciling of these two
religions. We may come near them, and become papists, but they will
never come near us, to be good Christians.
Use 3. Again, if this be so, that popeiy be idolatry, and that we must
beware of all idolatry, let us take heed, therefore, that we have nothinrf to do
with them more than we must needs. Converse with them in our callings,
we may ; because, as an ancient father saith, we be compossessors of the
world, and not of religion. We must go out of the world, if we will not
have to do with them sometimes in the places where we live ; but amity is
rery dangerous with such. The Scripture runs much upon it. Should we
love them whom God hates ? It was Eve's fault, that without a calling
she ventured to talk with the serpent. We should therefore shun convers-
ing and parley with^them as much as may be. As there were rails set about
Mount Sinai, to keep ofi" the people from touching the mountain ; so God
hath set hedges about the second commandment, to keep us off from
ofieuding in it, as it was usual with God in this kind. As, when he would
keep them far from murder, he forbade them to kill the dam with the
young, Deut. xxii. 6, and not to seethe a kid in his mother's milk, Exod.
xxiii. 19; only to restrain them from murder, that abominable sin. Such
precepts the Jews call 'the hedges of the commandments' (i). So for
idolatry, the Scripture would have us ' hate the gairment spotted with the
flesh,' Jude, verse 23 ; 'to defile the coverings of the images, to account
them as a menstruous cloth,' &c., Isa. xxx. 22 ; and ' to have nothing to
do with the unfruitful works of darkness,' Eph. v. 11 ; [and] to hate all
monuments of idolatry. As Augustine saith of monuments, ' Any monu-
ment moves and stirs up the mind ;' so anything that may move or stir* us
to idolatry, we should abhor, and keep afar off from it.
And therefore the commandments are set down in the highest pitch of
the sin, to shew that we should avoid all the degrees under that which
leads to so gi-eat a breach, and that we should hate all those steps and
leadings to the sin itself. We should therefore beware of popish writers,
and do with them as was done with the magic books in the Acts, bum
them all, lest they corrupt ourselves and others. Acts xix. 19. Learn we
this of the papists, who hate our books, bm-n them, or lock them up safe ;
yea, hate the very names of Luther and Calvin, much more their books.
In this case it is with the soul of man as with water, that relisheth of
that soil through which it runs, if it run through a hot soil, as baths thi'ough
a sulphury soil, it tastes of that. So the spirit of a man tastes of those
authors he runs through. Therefore such who converse much in popish
writings, unless ministers who have a calling that way to confute them, are
in danger to be ensnared by them.
Use 4. And then, again, if we must hate all idolatry, we must take heed of
occasions. Not hkc some looser Christians, which make no matter of
crucifixes. How doth the spirit of Ephraim here agree with such ? A
crucifix is but a teacher of lies, representing only the outside, and that
falsely ; for there is no expression in Scripture, what kind of man Chi-ist
was. And if there were, yet the apostle sheweth, ' that we must now no
more know him any more after tho flesh,' 2 Cor. v. 16. Not as such a
man, as tall and fair, &c. ; but know him as the Mediator, as long of
382 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XI.
heaven and earth, avoiding all lewd, base conceits of him. People in this
kind are too bold, and run too near popery. A father saith well, ' No man
is safe that is near danger.' We are commanded to ' fly from idolatry,'
1 Cor. X. 14. We must not come near the pit's brink, lest we fall in.
Run and fly from it as from a serpent, dally not with the occasions.
But to leave this gross idolatry, to speak of something which more nearly
concerneth us, and which we are prone to. Though we hate the gross
idolatries, yet there be some we are more nearly addicted to ; as,
First of all, there is a proneness in us, in our worship, to conceive false
conceptions and ideas of God ; and so in place of worshipping God, we wor-
ship an idol of our own brain.
Quest. It may be said, How shall we conceive of God when we worship
him?
Ans 1. First of all, negatively, do not dishonour God in imagining any
character of an infinite incomprehensible God, but conceive of him as an in-
finite essence.
2. And then, conceive not absolutely of God, but of God distinguished in
three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; or else we conceive an
idol. For there are three persons in one common nature ; and in our
prayers we must not conceive the nature without the persons.
3. In the third place, we must not in our prayers conceive of God, with-
out Christ the Mediator. For even as God was oxAj to be known and spoken
to towards the tabernaclej; so Christ is the tabernacle now, where God mani-
fests his gracious presence, and will be worshipped in him the Mediator.
For God, considered out of Christ, is a ' consuming fire ; ' without Christ,
no converse with God. Let us therefore take Christ along with us, when
we go to God. Go to him by God in our nature, our Immanuel ; and so
we shall conceive of God aright, and not worship an idol of our own
brain.
4. Again, there is another thing which is a common abuse among Chris-
tians, wherein they come near to idolatry, when they transform God to be
like themselves in their affections, as it is the property of all unregenerate
men to do so. Idolatry is so natural, it cannot but transform God to be
hke itself. As for instance, a man that is not a gracious man, in the pride
of his sinful course, thinks that God is like unto him. ' Thou though test
that I was like unto thyself; therefore I will come against thee,' &c., Ps.
1. 21. As oppressors, and such who grow gi-eat by ill courses, they justify
thus much. Would God let me alone if he did not approve of my courses ?
So they make God like themselves. And so the good fellows of the world,
they make God to allow all their dissoluteness, because he lets them alone.
So those that are fierce and cruel by nature, who delight in cruelty, vexa-
tion, and blood, they transform God, as though he delighted in such
things, and make him a God of blood. So others transform God to be all
mercy. This is to make God an idol, and as ill as if they transformed
him into this and that creature ; worse than the heathens, in regard of
their light under the gospel ; yet this is the disposition of many Christiana
now- a- days.
Quest. \Vliat was the reason why the heathens worshipped Bacchus and
Venus, such abominable gods ?
Ans. They, to countenance their lusts and drunkenness, deify them : an
abominable sin of the heathen, for which God gave them up to other sins.
Doth not our sin come near theirs, when we make God to countenance our
sin, and cite Scripture for it, as if God can countenance sin in his word ?
HOSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDEB. 383
This is to transfonn God into our own abominable conceits. Those, there-
fore, who bless themselves in any sinful course, they are guilty of idolatry
iu the worst kind that may be ; for it is as ill to transform God to allow of
such courses, as to transform Christ to die for such who go on in their sina
without remorse, or to transform him into the likeness of such and such
vile creatures.
5. Further, there is another sort of idolatry Christians are subject unto —
to set up somewhat in their hearts hi(jher than God. There is no man with-
out grace, but he doth so until his conversion. Nay, when a man ia
converted, he is prone to this, to idolize and set up something above that
which should be in the heart. Hereupon Paul, Col. iii. 5, calleth covetous-
ness, idolatry ; because a covetous man placeth those aflections upon hia
own wealth, which should dwell in God : for, ' he saith to the wedge of
gold, Thou art my confidence,' Job xxxi. 24, thinking his wealth shall bear
him out in any ill cause whatsoever. And then, again, that time which he
should spend in thinking of God and of a better life, he buried those
thoughts in his muck and wealth, toihng and moiling in the world, when
he should serve God. Thus the covetous man is an idolater.
6. And there are some guilty of idolatr}^ likewise, in another kind, such
as have men's persons too mnch in admiration, that deify them, especially if
they be iu great place : such who will ofieud God before they will offend
them ; and whereas for God's gloiy they should deny themselves, they
deny themselves, and make themselves fools, for men ; and to please them
by whom they hope to rise, deny both wit and honesty. This is abominable
idolatry', and such are as far from heaven and salvation, as those that faU
before an idol, if they repent not. Oh, if these men that study to please
men, and deny themselves for them, would be as careful to please God, as
they have been to please men, how happj', and what excellent Christians
would they be ! As a great man-pleaser in his time said, ' If he had served
God as well as he had served his master the king in that time, God had
not left him so in his old years ' {ii).* To set up any man so high in our
affections, as for him to deny ourselves, crack our consciences, and do
things unlawful, will be misery in the end. ' K I please men,' saith Paul,
* I am not the servant of Christ,' Gal. i. 10. He meaneth sinful pleasing,
for there ought to be service and respect. Due honour must be given
unto those who carry God's image, our governors, yea, great respect and
honour, and nothing in this kind can be too much ; but to go beyond our
bounds herein, is to commit idolatiy. As the heathen did, when the
government of Rome was turned into an empire, some of their emperors
were made gods by them after Augustus's time, wherein they could not
have devised to have done them greater wrong, for they came most of them
to fearful ends (f). It is ill for any man to have God his co-rival ; for no
greater misery can befall a man, than to be set up in God's room, so to rule
a man's honesty, will, and conscience at his pleasure ; for God is a jealous
God, and will not endure such idolatry.
7. And so, in the next place, they frame Christ an idol, in taking him
uithout his cross. They will be of the true rehgion ; but when they come
to suffer anything, if it be but a frown, a reproach or disgrace, they give
out and fall back. Such, they frame to themselves an idol, a false Christ ;
for the knowledge of Christ is never without the cross, some cross or other,
some persecution or other in some kind. ' All who will live godly in
Christ, shall suffer persecution,' 2 Tim. iii. 12. A man may live godly,
* A Scottish Eegent before bis execution. See Note u. — G.
38-4 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XI.
and not suffer persecution ; but he that will live godly in Christ, so as he
sheweth his nature to be altered, carrying an antipathy against all false
courses, and so as the world may conceive that he is such an one, it is
impossible that he should live in the world without persecution, because
he shall meet with those that are of an opposite disposition. Therefoi'e, to
frame a smooth Christ, all comfort, is to frame a false Christ, and a false
religion, — to frame an idol that hath no truth in it, that never was, nor
never will be to the end of the world.
8. Again, unconverted persons especially are prone to another idolatry,
to set yp their own ivits and ivills instead of God's. So as there is not a
greater enemy to religion than our own conceits and wills, which will have
a model of religion of our own brain, which must stand, let what will come
of it. This is the fault especially of great learned persons, who take upon
them conceits and apprehensions of things, and then doat upon these brats
of their own brain. And so for will, to have our own will in all things ; as
the speech is, ' My mind to me a kingdom is.' I will have my will, what-
soever come of it. This is idolatry ; for whosoever will come to heaven
must deny his will. The first lesson in Christ's school is self-denial, Mat.
xix. 21, 24 : denial of wit and will, to have no more wit and wisdom,
especially in divine things, than God will teach us ; and no more will, which
is distinct and opposite to Christ's will, but to bring our wills to his in all
things. When men will go about great affairs, and set upon things in their
own wit and strength, never praying nor depending upon God for a bless-
ing, this is a kind of idolising of parts to work out things by policy, strength,
wits, and parts. As that heathen atheist could say, ' Let cowards pray, if
they will ;' but his success was answerable. So is it not the common
atheism of the world ? They go about things in confidence of their wit
and parts, and so hope to attain a glorious issue ; whereas God, who over-
throws Babels, takes delight to confound all their devices. It is his daily
practice ' to send the rich empty away, and exalt the humble and meek,'
Luke i. 52. Those who set upon things rashly without prayer, as though
they were lords of all, and without dependence upon God, promising them-
selves good success, they make idols of themselves. As a proud man is an
idol, ' he worships himself,' whilst he leans to his own wit, plots, and parts.
Carnal men thus idolise themselves.
9. Again, you have some who are none of the worst who commit this
great sin of idolatry, by trustinrj to the outward performances and tasks of
reUyion, thinking that God must needs be bound unto them, when they
have done so many tasks, read, and prayed, or heard so many sermons, or
done a good deed. But here lieth the spiritual subtlety, in that they set
up these things too high, when, if they find not that success they look for,
then they inwardly murmur against God ; when rather all these things
should be done with a spirit of humility and subjection, using them only as
means whereupon we expect God's blessing, craving his assistance and
strength to do them in a holy and a self-denying manner. When we dd
otherwise, and trust to the outward tasks and performances we do, we maka
them idols. And you have many that go along with outward performances
who never come to a dram of grace, because they trust to the out-
ward performances, and look not to the life and soul of them, which is
the Spirit of God assisting, quickening, strengthening, blessing them.
The life of a Christian is a perpetual dependence upon God in the use
of means, and not an idolising of them, to be careless when he hath done
his task.
HOSEA XIV. 8.- THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 385
10. But a more subtle idolatry than this is of another kind, trhcn ice
trust too vmch to the work of (j race, and rely not upon God in Christ, in the
matter of justification and acceptation to life everlasting, which is a fault,
both,
1. Before conversion.
2. After conversion.
First, before conversion. When we think we have not done so much
good, and been sufficiently humbled, and therefore that God will not be
merciful to us, as if Christ must take us with dowry of good deeds, or else
ho cannot ; whereas all grace is promised upon our entry and coming into
the covenant of grace, upon our believing, when we come with empty hearts
and hands. ' The poor,' saith Christ, ' receive the gospel ; and those that
are lost, Christ is sent to save them, and to call in the weary and heavy
laden,' Mat. xi. 5, ix. 13, xi. 28.
2. And after conversion. Those that are in the state of grace oftentimes'
want that comfort in the main point of justification and acceptation to life
everlasting, which they should have, because they look into their imperfec-
tions, seeing this and that want, and so are swallowed up of discomfort ;
whereas, if we had all the graces in the world, yet we must live by faith,
relying upon th« merits of Christ. For our good works bring us not to
heaven, as a cause, but only are helps and comforts to us in our walking to
heaven. For if we had all the sins of all men, yet Christ's all-sufficient
righteousness is sufficient for to do them all away, if we can go out of our-
selves, and cleave to that. Therefore, in trouble of conscience we must not
look either to our good or our ill, but to God's infinite mere}', and to the
infinite satisfaction of our blessed Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ ; there, as
it were, losing ourselves, seeing our sins as mountains drowned in the in-
finite sea of his mercy. The blood of Christ ! That will pacify and stay
the conscience. Nothing else can give rest to our souls. If we look to
our works and to the measure of our sanctification, what saith holy Paul in
the like case ? ' Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have
sufiered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may v\-in
Chi'ist,' Phil. iii. 8, even his righteousness and best works. Therefore
there is no regard to be had of them in that case. Wherefore when we
would speak comfort to a distressed conscience, we must not look to his ill
or good, but to the command, ' This is his command, that we believe,*
1 John iii. 23. And look to the all- sufficiency of God in Christ, and the
promises, whereby we honour God in giving him the glory of his truth, and
depart with comfort. Therefore, though we hate gross idolatry, yet we see
there are many ways wherein the soul may be seduced, whereby we may
come very near that sin which our soul hateth, by trusting too much to
something out of God.
Use 5. If then the case be thus, how shall we come to reform it, for a uso
of direction, so as to fly from all idolatry, and to say with Ephraim, ' What
have I now any more to do with idols ?'
First of all, do but consider God's hatred unto all sorts of idolaters ; for he
accounts such to hate him, and so accordingly punisheth them. In the
second commandment, those that are given to idolatry in any kind, are such
as hate God, which is a horrible thing ; and yet, notwithstanding, this is
the disposition of all such as are idolaters. So far forth as they are
idolaters, they hate God, for the more wo know God, the more we shall
hate all idols, ' What have I now any more to do with idols ?'
VOL. II. B b
886 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XI.
2. Labour to grow in the sound knowledge of God and of Christ, and of
their all-sufficiency. Mark St Paul's method, Col. ii., and in other places,
when he would draw us from all outward things, he speaks gloriously of the
fulness of Christ, ' In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,'
Col. ii. 9 ; and, ' In him you are complete.' When he would draw them
from ' touch not, taste not, handle not, worshipping of angels, and from
counterfeit humility,' Col. ii. 21, &c., he labours to dispossess them of these
idolatrous conceits, and to possess them of the fulness of Christ. If in him
we have fulness, why should we look for any thing out of him ? If we be
complete in him, if all fulness be in him, why do we seek any thing out of
that fulness ? Thus the holy apostle shutteth up his first epistle, ' Babes,
keep you from idols,' 1 John v. 21. What is promised there ? Christ is
eternal life, all is in him ; whereupon presently comes this, ' Babes, keep
you from idols ?' If life and happiness, and all be in Christ, if we be com-
plete in him, and the fulness of all be in him, why should we go out of him
for anything ? "WTien God would persuade Abraham to leave aU idolatry.
Gen. xvii. 1, and all things else, to depend wholly upon him, what doth he
first possess him with ? ' I am God all-sufficient,' &c. Know God in
covenant all-sufficient, and Christ in the fulness of his high perfections as
Mediator, in whom is all fulness and life eternal, in whom we are complete ;
we shall then be so far from going out of him for any thing, as we shall
be of the same mind with Ephraim, ' What have I now any more to do
with other intercessors and mediators ?' what have I to do with will-wor-
ship ? what need I go to other cursed means, when God is all-sufficient ?
It is the scope of the new covenant of grace, that we should glory in God
only, who hath made Christ unto us ' wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption,' 1 Cor. i. 30. And all^this, because that whosoever glo-
rieth in him, should not go out of him for any thing. The more we know
therefore the frdness of Christ, and God's mercy in him, the more we shaU
abhor all idolatry, with the kinds and degrees of it.
3. Another help and means to cure this disposition in us is, to know
that we are naturally wondrous prone to it in one degree or another. It
is reckoned up, Gal. v. 20, as a work of the flesh ; and, naturally, man
hath a working fancy, to set up somewhat in his heart and understanding
above, and besides God, imaginations to adulterate things. Men live by
sense, and imagination is next to sense, so that naturally all men are idola-
ters before conversion, in one kind or other, and doat so upon their own,
that they will not be driven out of themselves unto God in Christ, without
a great deal of grace. As men naturally love the child of their own body,
so men love the children of their own brain.
Quest. What is the reason that it is so hard to convert a papist ?
Ans. Because it is wiU-worship, a device of their own brain, suiting their
natural will and appetite. And what makes them so furious, as all idola-
ters are cruel : though they be mild of their own nature, yet as idolaters,
they are cruel. It is because it is a device of their own brain, a brat, a
child of their own begetting, wherefore they strive to maintain it, because
it is their own. Let us therefore conceive thus much, that it is no easy matter
to free the soul from idolatry, and all the degrees of this cursed disposition.
This will make us beg earnestly the Spirit of God, by which only we shall
subdue this idolatrous proud conceit, Rom. viii. 5, and lay ourselves open
to Christ, to be disposed of as he pleaseth. Beg the Spirit only, whereby
we shall mortify the cursed deeds of the flesh, for nature will never subdue
nature. The Spiiit of God therefore is that which can, and must free us
HOSEA XIV. 8. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 887
from all dregs and tainture of this cursed disposition, which the Jews were
60 scourged for, and hardly* driven from.
4. Again, consider God's punishments in this kind. As we see, Rev. ix.
20, where the Turk is said to be raised up against all these idolaters, that
would not be kept fi'om worshipping the devil and the image of the beast ;
yet for all this, it is said, ' they did not repent.' And so the Jewish church
was still punished with enemies raised up against them for their idolatry.
And it is to be expected that the idolatry of these western churches will at
length pull down antichrist himself, which must be before the conversion
of the Jews. For what hinders their conversion now ? The world is full
of idolaters, even Christians ; and therefore there must be a confusion of
antichrist's idolatrous worship before the conversion of the Jews, who will
not return whilst that scandal is in their eye. Therefore, that we may help
forward that glorious work, let us labour as much as we can to purge the
church of this, in drawing others fi'om idolatry, that we may help to make
way for those glorious times a-coming ; for this Scripture specially hath
relation unto the calling of the Jews, not to be fulfilled till then, when
' Ephraim shall say. What have I now any more to do with idols ? ' with
that for which we have been so plagued for in fonner times.
5. And withal let us consider this, that the end of all false worship, when
it is left, is {jricf and shame, befooling and shaming of ourselves for it.
' Ephraim at length shall say, What have I any more to do with idols ? '
to cherish pride and self-conceit ? which, if ever I come to heaven, I must
renounce, hating myself for my ovra pride and folly.
6. And so for idolaters themselves, why should u'e consort ourselves with
these, of whom ive shall sag one dag, Wliat have we ang more to do with them?
We must be separated from them here, or in hell live with them for ever.
^^^lat win then be the hell of hell ? Mutual cursing of one another. Thy
familiarity and acquaintance, thy provocations and allurements, brought
me into these torments ! If we belong to God, late or soon, there must
be these speeches, ' What have I now any more to do with such and such
lying vanities ? '
Therefore let us not think -^-ill- worship a slight matter ; for, we see,
popery is nothing else but a bundle of man's devices. We see in Scrip-
ture, when the dearest friends of Christ came unto him \riih. devices of
their own, and good intentions, Christ notwithstanding saw the devil in
them. Peter made a great confession, ' Thou art the Son of the living
God,' Mat. xvi. 16, and then he came 'Master, spare thj-self,' ver. 22;
whereunto Christ replied, ' Get thee behind me, Satan,' ver. 23. God is
never more provoked than when men think to honour him with their own
devices ; stablishing a false, and neglecting his own true, worship. And
there is usually little amendment of these kind of persons, because they
carrj' with them a show of wisdom, as Paul saith. Col. ii. 23, and great
humility ; which things being so carried with a show of some grace and
wisdom (though they be desperate folly in the conclusion), men hardly
will part withal. As we see of corporal adulteiy, few of them are re-
claimed, because it hath a bewitching, alluring power ; which is most true
of the spiritual adulterers. There are few of them reclaimed, until God,
by some severe judgment, alter and bring down the proud imagination to
serve him as he will be served ; so as to say with Ephraim here, ' 'What
have I now any more to do with idols ? '
Well, that we may abhor idolatrj' the more, consider two or three direct
* That is, ' with difficulty.'— G.
388 THE EETURNING BACKSLIDEK. [SeKJION XJ,
places. * Who required these things at your hands ? ' saith God, Isa. i. 12.
When we think to please him with voluntary devised things, this will strike
them dumb then. The things that God requires being so easy and so few,
yet we to omit them all, and to devise new things of our own, our reward
shall be, ' Who required these things at your hands ? ' And then again
saith God, ' In vain they worship me, teaching for my precepts the devices
of men,' Mat. xv. 9. See then the vanity of idolaters, who, though they
would do nothing in vain, yet do all their will-worship in vain. It is not
only idolatry, but obstinate idolatry, the Eomish doctrine. * We would
have cured Babel, but she would not be cured,' Jer. li. 9. Is this a
light cause of our coming out of Babylon ? Do we leave them for trifles,
when they stand guilty of abominable idolatry ? You may see here, if so
be Ephraim out of holy afiection say, ' What have I now any more to do
with idols ? ' what to think and judge of those that would bring God and
idols together. If Ephraim had been of the temper that many men now
are, he might have said, ' Tush ! what need we care for idols, crucifixes, and
the like ? There is not such a distance betwixt them and us, why may not
both religions stand together ? This new-fangled niceness is but the dis-
tempered devices of some few giddy-headed men, who know not what they
would have.' This is the wisdom of many men in our times, who reckon
that there is not an eternal, irreconcilable distance between light and dark-
ness, the service of God and that of idols. ' We cannot serve two masters,'
saith Christ, Mat. vi. 24. Yes, they say, we may serve two masters. Anti-
christ and Christ, God and Belial. Oh ! but what saith Ephraim ? ' What
have I now any more to do with idols ?' There can be no mixture, you
know, where there is abomination. That church, Rev. iii. 15, which was
neither hot nor cold, may parallel many now in our times, who are neither
hot nor cold, papists nor protestants, but politic athaists, who will be both
or neither, whatsoever may best serve and advance their worldly ends.
How doth God look upon such ? Saith he, ' I will spue them out of my
mouth.' God hates such most of all : ' now I would thou wert either hot
or cold.' If this be the affection of God's people toward idols and
idolaters, an utter aversation ; and shall we think to jumble and mingle
contrary things together, to serve God and the devil, Christ and anti-
christ ?
Thus we see what to think of the temper of these men. In lighter
matters indeed we may enjoy our own private opinions in some things.
As St Paul saith in lesser things, ' If any man be otherwise minded, God
shall reveal it unto him,' Phil. iii. 15. But when he comes to the point of
justification by Christ in God's worship, what saith he ? 'If any man be
otherwise minded, God shall reveal it ? ' No. But ' if I, or an angel from
heaven, teach otherwise, let him be accursed,' Gal. i. 8. Now, when men
teach another doctrine and worship, joining with gross idolaters in that wor-
ship, there we must be of Paul's spirit, * If I, or an angel from heaven, teach
otherwise, let him be accursed.' The Holy Ghost at first appeared in the
form and shape of a dove. Mat. iii. 16, which is a meek and mild creature,
that hath no talons to hurt with. Yet notwithstanding, at another time,
he appeared in ' fiery tongues,' Acts ii. 3, to shew that the same Spirit
that in lesser things maintaineth peace and love, when it is set against any
sin, especially against that sin of sins, idolatrj^, which brings God's vengeance
upon kingdoms and states, and roots them out ; there the Holy Ghost
must appear in fire. That element must be in the hearts of people against
sin. That, though to persons that have their slips, and in lesser matters,
HOSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 389
there must be the spirit of a dove, yet there must be in men the spirit of
courage, indignation, abomination, and hatred unto the idolatry of the
times, that we may say from our hearts with Ephraim, * What have I
now any more to do witla idols ? '
Therefore, let us join icith those that we shall live for ever tcith in heaven,
and go in the best courses, and we shall never need to fear separation, nor
want encouragements to well-doing. Thus shall we neither grieve nor be
ashamed to say with Ephraim, ' What have I now any more to do with
idols ?' At the length the kings of the earth, who adore the wliore, they
shall come and eat her very flesh, Rev. xvii. 16. So it will be the end of
those that reign in other men's consciences, and in a manner will be
accounted gods, that all which is gotten with wrong to God, shall be
renounced with grief, shame, and detestation of the persons of those that
make idols of others, and will be made idols in the hearts of others ; think-
ing themselves not enough respected, unless they command the conscience.
The end of such cannot be good. All this must end in loathing, shame,
and detestation. ' What have I now any more to do with idols ?' said
Ephraim ; and what have I now any more to do with such and such pro-
faneness, hj^ocrisy, double-dealing, and the like ? shall such persons,
thus sinful, say one day, with shame and horror of conscience. Wherefore,
let us meet God betimes, and renounce our idols of all sorts, that God may
come ' to hear us, observe us, and be as a green fir-tree unto us,' &c.
Whereof, if God please, we shall hear more the next time.
THE TWELFTH SERMON.
Ephraim shall say, What have I any more to do uith idols ? I have heard
him and obseired him : I am like a green Jir-tree : from me is thy fruit
found.— Ros. XIV. 8.
The words, as we heard heretofore, are a gracious answer unto the prayer
which God himself, by his Spirit, had dictated to Ephraim : as hkewise a
reward of Ephraim's reformation. Aided by grace, Ephraim shall say,
* What have I now any more to do with idols ?' ' God will hear him and
observe him, and be hke a green fir-tree unto him.' For, saith God, ' from
me shall Ephraim's fruit be found.' Whereby we see, that whensoever
God doth alter the soul by his grace, there he also breeds divorce and divi-
sion between it and all idolatrj' ; a disposition in some sort like himself,
having those sympathies and antipathies he hath towards sin and goodness.
Now, because God is a jealous God, and cannot abide idols ; therefore
Ephraim, being sanctified by the Spirit of God, is minded as God is,
* ^Vhat have I any more to do with idols ?'
1. God hath framed the soul, that it may enjoy the chief good, and avoid
the chief ill especially ; for petty goods and petty ills are not so behoveful.
Yet notwithstanding, God will have us avoid all ill, and embrace all good,
and he hatb made the soul into an answerable condition. Therefore hath
be planted aflections therein tending to good ; as love, and joy, and dehght,
especially made for the embracing of the main good, thereby to go out of
itself, and close with that main chief good, in closing wherewith it may be
happy.
890 THE RETUENING BACKSLIDEE. [SeRMON XII.
2. And then, to avoid the chief ill, sin and damnation, he hath planted aifec-
tions of aversation, abhorring, hatred, gi'ief, and the hke. Thus hath he
framed the soul for these main ends, without which aflfections the soul were
as mare mortimm, that dead sea. The affections are the wings and the wind
of the soul, that carry it unto all which it is carried unto. Especially,
when the wind of God's Spirit blows upon it, then it is carried out of itself;
for of itself it cannot love or hate as it should ; but God must raise the
affections, and lay them down again. We have not the management of our
hearts. Grace teacheth us to do all.
The particular then here is, indignation and hatred. ' What have I now
any more to do with idols ?' So that the proper affection in God's chil-
dren, which should be conversant about that which is ill, and sinfully ill,
is hatred and indignation. Here is hatred with indignation, the extent of
the affection.
Reas. 1. The reason whereof is, when God's children are once con-
verted, they have a new nature x>ut into them, like unto Christ, whose Spirit
they have. What he hates, they hate. He hates all sin, and nothing but
sin. He hates the devil himself for sin, and no further.
2. Then, again, when once they are God's children, they have a neiv life
put into than, which hath antipathy to all that is contrary to it. Every
life in any creature hath antipathy to every enemy thereof. There is anti-
pathy in doves to birds of prey ; and in the lamb to the wolf, because they
are enemies to the life and being of them. So in the soul of a Christian,,
so far as grace is renewed, there is an antipathy, aversation, and abhorring
of that which is contraiy. What have I to do with sin in any kind ? When
grace hath altered the disposition of a man's heart, then sin and he are
two ; two indeed, in the most opposite terms that may be. What have I any
more to do with my former delightful sins ? We are two now, for we were
before nothing but sin. And, indeed, where this hatred is not, there men
may leave sin, because sin leaves them ; but this is not enough, God
would have us to hate it with indignation. ' What have I now any more
to do with it ?'
Quest. But how should we come to have this true hatred of sin, as
Ephraim should have ?
Ans. 1. Amongst those helps formerly named, this is a main one, to
represent to the soul (as the soul is quick and nimble in such apprehensions)
the odioitsness of sin, that it is a truly hateful thing; and therefore, that our
affection of hatred cannot be better set nor employed upon any object than
that of sin. For let us consider that it is not only ill in itself, defiling the
soul and hindering communion with God ; but it is also the cause of all
ills, being the ill of ills, as God is the good of goods. For our troubles
and terrors of conscience, we may thank sin, and for all that we suffer every
day in our conditions of life. What is all, but the fruit of our own ways ?
' Wherefore suffereth living man ? ' saith the prophet ; ' man snffereth for his
sin,' Lam. iii. 39. ' Thine own inventions have brought these things upon
thee ; therefore they are bitter unto thee, they shall pierce thy bowels,' Jer.
iv. 18. Shall we not, therefore, hate that which is the cause of all mischief
to us ? If we had an enemy, especially if he were a soothing false enemy,
that under pretence of love should seek our bane and ruin, and join with
our worst enemies, would we not hate such an enemy ? Sin is the greatest
enemy which we have in the world, and doth us more harm than the devil
himself ; for it betrays us to the devil, and, under pretence of favouring and
Dleasing our nature, betrays us. It is a false, deceitful enemy, which
HOSEA XIV. 8.j THE RETURNING BACKSLIDEE. 391
comcth not in an ugly shape, but closes with the soul in a kind of conjugal
love, Delilah-like enticing and alluring us, whereby it hath the more advan-
tage and strength, in that it appears in a lovely, pleasing, and not in an
imperious, commanding manner. Therefore, it should be the more hateful
to us. Shall wo not hate such an enemy as always dogs us, and hinders
us ? hinders us from doing anything well, and puts us on to all that is ill.
It is such an enemy, that we cannot go about to pray, or do any good thing,
but it hangs upon us, and clogs us in all our performances. If a man knew
that such an one as made love to him and all his were his great grand
enemy, aiming at his destruction, would a man ever love such a man ? Thy
base, false, revengeful, covetous, worldly heart, it joins with Satan, without
which he could not hurt thee. Shall a man cherish that which betrays him
to his worst enemy, the devil ? and t^^ien, should he cherish that which
makes a breach betwixt him and his best friend ? If a man saw one so
maliciously evil towards him, as to sow dissension by all means he could
betwixt him and his best honourable friend, by whom he was maintained in
all things, would not a man hate such a one ? What doth sin else but
breed division and enmity betwixt God and us ? And further, when it hath
moved us to do ill, it crieth for vengeance against us at God's hands. Con-
science, soundly awakened, is always clamorous to pull somewhat from God
against us. Axe not sinners justly called fools ? Either men must be
atheists to deny all, or else, if they cherish sin, they must needs be fools,
and stark mad, if they confess this, that they join with that which is their
chief enemy. Therefore, learn to be wise to salvation ; make not with
Solomon's fool a sport of sin, Prov. x. 23, of swearing, of defiling ourselves
and others, seeing God threateneth damnation unto such.
Ans. 2. And then again, avoid all parley and intercourse ivith sin in the
first suggestions, or with wicked persons that may draw us away. Use sin
ruggedly and harshly, as they do here. ' What have I to do with idols ? '
Do but entertain parley with it, and it is of such an insinuating nature, that
it will encroach daily, and spread over the soul suddenly, betraying it to the
devil. Therefore, use it hardly in the first beginnings, and avoid Satan in
the fii-st suggestions, if we love the peace of our souls ; as Ephraim here,
' "What have I any more to do with idols ? ' For as we say in case of
honesty, they come too near that come to have the refusal. They should
not have so much hope from a chaste person. There should be such a
modest carriage as should not give any one the boldness to adventure in
that kind. So if a man carry himself remotely from sinful courses, he shall
have a great deal of peace from wicked men, who dare not so much as ad-
venture to draw away such a one. They know he is resolved. Therefore,
constant resolution against all sin and wicked men will breed a great deal
of peace, so as to say with Ephraim, ' What have I any more to do with
idols ? '
Ans. 3. And we must know that tlus hatred comes from the life of God in us.
Therefore we must by all means maintain spiritual life ; and then, as we
grow spiritual, we shall grow in the detestation of sin, a sense of joy in
good things, with a hatred of all that is contrary. A man can never hate
sin till he hath the Spirit of Christ in him. For there be three queries,
whereof this is the last.
1. The first is set down, * No man said, "WTiat have I done?' Jar.
viii. G. "When conscience in a man is awakened once, he saith, Oh ! what
have I done ? what case am I in ?
2. The second query of a wakened conscience is, ' What shall I do ' '
'392 THE EETUENING BACKSLIDEE. [SeRMON XII.
As that, ' Men and brethren, what shall we do to be saved ? ' Acts ii. 37. He
that truly saith, ' What have I done ?' if conscience be awakened, will also
say, ' What shall I do ?' You shall not need to drive him when the ques-
tion is answered, ' What shall I do to be saved ?' that is, by casting myself
upon God in Christ.
3. We need not put the question, he will say of himself, ' What have I
any more to do with that which is contrary to that which saves me ? '
^ What have I to do with idols ?' This comes in in the last place. 1. A
man is awakened out of his natural condition. 2. Then he goes to God
in Christ. And then, 3. There is a spiritual life wrought in him, which
stirs him up to hate all that is contrary unto it. ' What have I now any
more to do with idols ? '
' For I have heard him and observed him.'
* I have seen and observed him,' some read the words, but very few (iv) ;
which is thus a very good and pious construction of them. ' What have I
now any more to do with idols ? ' As if Ephraim should say these words,
* I have seen him and observed him ;' that is, because I have seen him and
observed ; therefore, ' What have I now any more to do with idols ?' As
soon as a man comes to hear God speak, and to observe God, down goes
all idols ; for, indeed, the respect to idolatry, and anything that is naught,
it falls down in the soul, as the Imowledge of the true God is lifted up, and
as affection to good things are raised up in the soul. ' What have I to do
with idols any more ?' 'I have seen and observed him.' As Job said of
himself when he had seen God, * I abhor myself, and repent in dust and
ashes,' Job xlii. 6 ; much more all false courses. I abhor them all, now
that ' I have seen and observed him.'
This is a safe, pious, and good sense ; but the words, under correction,
are fitliest applied unto God himself, as if God rather than Ephraim said
thus, ' I will hear him and observe him ;' I will do thus and thus ; ' I will
be as a green fir-tree,' to shade him from danger, and to make him fruitful.
Obj. But you will say, Ephraim cannot cast away idols till God respect
him first. Therefore, this is promised in the second place. ' Ephraim
shall say. What have I to do with idols ?' And God shall say, ' I have
seen him, heard him, and observed him,' when he hath cast away idols.
Ans. To this the answer is : Indeed, in the order of nature, God doth
first stir us up to praj' to him, and promiseth us respect and hearing of our
prayers, after which we cast away idols ; but the experience of it is after
we have done the deed. After that we have found God experimentally
gracious, protecting and hearing of us, then we cast away idols. So this
experience a Christian finds when he abominates and rejects ill ways. Then
he finds God all-sufiicient, as indeed God is never fully felt and known till
we renounce all other helps. So the general point is,
Obs. That nothing is lost by renouncing idolatry and carnal confidence in any
worldly thing.
For God makes a supply in himself. ' I will hear him and observe him.'
Nothing is lost, for God will be true of his promise. ' Seek ye first the
kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall be minis-
tered unto you,' Mat. vi. 33. The truth of God, and then his mercy, makes
this good. Is not God merciful to his children when they renounce all
false confidence ? In regard of the truth of his promise and mercy, he will
make good this, that nothing is lost by cleaving to him. We read in the
story of our own times, in King Edward the Sixth's reign, the same day
that there was reformation of idolatry in London, purging of churches from
IIOSEA XIV. 8.] THE KETURNING BACKSLIDER. 393
roods* and idols, the same day was that nohle victorj'^ and conquest in the
north parts over the enemies (.r). So God answered their care in reforming
things amiss with good success.
On the contrary, when we go on with favouring abuses and corruptions,
yd expecting good success, it is in vain. Let Ephraim come to say, 'What
have I to do with idols ? ' and see then whether God will respect him or
not. Do nations or persons think that God will respect them or bless them,
whilst they do that which is abominable to him ? No ; when Ephraim
saith, ' What have I to do with idols ?' then presently comes, God ' will
hear and observe him, and look to him ;' as you have it in that gracious
promise, * The ej'-es of the Lord are open unto all them that fear him, and
his ears are open to their prayers,' Ps. xxxiv. 15. His eyes and his ears.
Indeed, God is all eye and all ear. The best friend in the world cannot
have his eye always upon us. The mother's eye cannot be always upon
her child. She must have a time to sleep, when neither her eyes nor cars
are open to her child's prayers. It may cry, and die in crying sometimes,
before she can help it. But if we renounce sin, we have a gracious
Father ' who will hear us, observe us, and see us,' and not only hear
and see, but, as the Scripture phraise s, do that that follows all this.
Where he sees, he will pity and reheve ; and where he hears, he will pity
and protect.
' I have heard him, I have observed him.' God will hear, when once
we renounce sin. ' If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear my
prayers,' Ps. Ixvi. 18, saith David. But when I do not regard iniquity,
God will hear my prayers. Then a man may know that God will hear
him, when once he hath renounced sin, and comes with clean hands and
heart to God. As it is in Isaiah, they were corrupted in their course,
and yet came to God, Isa. i. 11, scq, but he rejects all ; so in the last of
that prophecy, he accounts of their sacrifices as of the cutting off of a dog's
neck, because their hands were full of blood, and they were full of sin, Isa.
Ixvi. 3. Reform abuses, let there be personal and national reformation ;
and then come and reason the matter wi'th God, and see whether he will re-
gard us or not. The Spirit, it is said, makes requests for the saints, and
' God knoweth the meaning of the Spirit, because it makes request accord-
ing to the will of God,' Rom. viii. 27. The same Spirit that stirs us up
to amend our lives, and fly idolatrous courses, the same Spirit stirs us up to
pray to God, according to the will of God ; and then God hears the desires of
his own Spu-it. Of all judgments in the world, this is the greatest, to pray
and not to be heard ; for when we are in misery, our remedy is prayer.
Now when that which should be our remedy is not regarded, what a pitiful
thing is that ? Now, here is an excellent blessing set down, to pray, and
for God to hear, ' I will hear him, and observe him.' Because then, God
and Ephraim were of one mind, and join in one, therefore God cannot but
hear and regard Ephraim, being of his mind, to love and to hate what he
loves and hates. As soon as ever the prodigal began to hate his former
courses, the father came out to meet him, Luke xv. 20, seq. ; and so of
David, ' I said I will confess my sins to God,' Ps. xxxii. 5. I said, that is,
in my heart, I resolved to confess to God, and thou forgavest mine iniquity.
God heard his resolution. We cannot else entertain a full purpose to go to
•God, unless there be a cessation from sin. The prodigal, for all his con-
trition, was afraid to be shaken off his father, for his dissolute life. Oh,
ibut the father provides a banquet. So it is when we turn to God, and re-
* That is, 'crosses,' as in Scotland, Holyrood = holy crjss. — G.
394 THE RETUBNING BACKSLIDEE. [SeRMON XII.
solve a new life, to cast away our idolatries, and former abominations ; pre-
sently, ' God hears us, and observes us,' and is ready to meet us.
There is an excellent place, even touching Ephraim himself. ' I have
surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself : Thou hast chastised me, and I
was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke : turn me to thee,
and I shall be turned ; thou art the Lord my God, &c. Is Ephraim a
dear son ? is he a pleasant child ? for since I spake against him, I do
earnestly remember him still ; therefore my bowels are troubled for him : I
will have mercy upon him,' Jer. xxxi. 18. If Ephraim begin to bemoan
himself for his folly, presently follows, that God's bowels are turned to
him ; so it is said of Ephraim here. After he had 'renounced idols, God's
bowels are turned towards him, ' I have heard him, and observed him.'
Which yields us a sweet and comfortable consideration, to turn to Godfrom
all our sinful courses, becaiise God is so ready to forgive, and to forgive
great sins. What if our sin be idolatry, the grand sin of the first table ?
Yet if Ephraim say, ' What have I do with idols ?' (though it be spiritual
adultery), yet if Ephraim begin to renounce idolatry, God will say, ' I have
heard him, and observed him.' If your sins were ' as red as crimson,'
saith God, ' I will make them as white as wool,' &c., Isa. i. 18. Crimson
sins, double-dyed sins, it is no matter what they are, if we come to God.
There is more mercy in him than sin in us. If Ephraim say. What have I
to do with my former evil courses, ' God will hear him, and observe him.'
It is never better with a Christian, than when he hath renounced all
wicked courses, (though he thinks himself undone if he leaves his former
Delilah delights). But there is no such matter, for we shall find an hun-
di-edfold more in God, as Christ speaks, ' Whosoever leaves father or
mother, brother or sister, house or kindred for me, shall have a hundred-
fold in this world,' Mat. xix. 29 ; that is, they shall have it in contentment
and grace, in peace of conscience, and perhaps in the things of this life lo
another kind. What lost Abraham when he obeyed God, and forsook his
father's house ■? God was all-sufficient for him. He grew a rich man. And
what lost he by giving Isaac to God ? He received his son again, of whom
there came an innumerable seed. And what lost holy David, in waiting for
the time that he should come unto the kingdom, without making haste ?
He came quietly to the possession of the crown ; whereas Jeroboam, who
made more haste, after God had told him he should reign, he was cursed
in his government, and none of his posterity came to good. There is no-
thing lost by depending and waiting upon God, and renouncing of carnal
confidence. We think naturally we are undone. Oh, there is no such
matter, as David speaks, ' When my father and mother forsaketh me, yet
the Lord taketh me up,' Ps. xxvii. 10. As we know in the gospel, when
the blind poor man was excommunicated and cast out, after he had spoke
somewhat stoutly to the Pharisees, ' Will ye also bo his disciples ?' John
ix. 27, yet then Christ takes him presently into his company, being expelled
by them. What lost he by this ? So when Israel had lost all their flesh-
pots in Egypt, they had no loss, for God provided them manna from heaven,
and what lost they by that ? They had angels' food instead of their garlic
and onions.
' I have observed him.'
That is, I will have a special eye to him ; I will look to him in all con-
ditions and states whatsoever. God never slumbers nor sleeps. Like the
master of the house in the parable, who, when the poor man came for bread,
Luke XI. 5, ull the rest being asleep, is awaked, and raised up by the im-
Hose A XIV. 8.] the returning backslider. 395
portunity of the poor man. So the great master of the family of heaven
and earth, that governs all, he wakes day and night, and never sleeps ;
heroin going beyond the care of the dearest friends we have in the world,
for they must have a time to sleep. The mother, though she love the child
as her own bowels, yet notwithstanding she must have a resting time, and
perhaps in that time the child may miscarry ; but God always observes ;
his eye is always upon his children, they are before him, written ' in the
palms of his hands, he hath them in his eye,' Isa. xlix. 16 : as in Exodus,
you have there God brought in observing the children of Israel. ' I have
seen, I have seen the affliction of my people Israel,' Exod. iii. 7. They
thought themselves neglected of God, but he tells Moses, ' I have seen, I
have seen,' I know it very well ; he adds knowledge to sight. So there is
no affliction in this world to God's children, but God in seeing sees. As
before, he hears the groans and sighs ; so he sees the most intimate in-
ward affliction whatsoever that afflicts the soul ; as they were grieved in
very soul at the tj'rann}^ of Pharaoh. Oh, but God in seeing he sees, whose
eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the sun ! This is a consolation,
when one thinks that no man sees and regards ; alas, what shall become of
me ! Why should any man say so, that hath God to go to, who is all eye,
and all ear ! God hears and sees ; his ears are always open, as it is often
shewed, especially, Ps. xxxiv. 15.
It is said, ' His ears are open to their prayers, and his eyes to see their
afflictions.'
Quest. But with what kind of eye doth God see the afflictions of his
children ?
Solution. He sees them with a tender, compassionate eye ; for he
aboundeth in those affections which he hath put into a father and mother.
There is no mother would sufier her child to miscarry, if she could help it.
God sees surely* some afflictions are for our good, or he would relieve us ;
for as he hath a compassionate eye, so he hath a tender heart, and a power-
ful hand. He sees wicked men also ; but his eyes in regard of them are
' like a flame of fire,' not only because he is quick- sighted, but because he
sees with a revengeful} eye ; and as his eyes are like a flame of fire, so
likewise he hath feet of brass to tread them to powder. Rev. i. 14, 15.
Use 1. And this likewise is no little pai-t of our comfort ; for when we
sufl'er anything in this world, it is from ill men for the most part, except it
be in those afflictions wherein we more immediately deal with God, as in
sickness, &c. But in pei'secution in the world, our trouble lies with men.
Therefore it is our comfort, God sees our trouble, and their malice ; and
as he is ready to help the one, so he is to revenge the other.
Use 2. And as it is a point of comfort, so of great encouragement to be
bold in God's cause. What ! shall we be baser than the base creatures ?
Take but a dog in his master's sight, you see how he will fight. Take the
meanest and basest creature, when it hath a superior nature to itself, that
it I is wiser and greater, that encourageth and sets it on, that it knows will
see it take no hann, these base creatures will be courageous ; which
otherwise if it had none to set it on, had no courage at all, at least not so
much. And shall we in the sight of God, and when we are set in his
quarrel, and have his encouragement and his command, with promise of his
presence and assistance, flinch and fly ofl' then ? It argues a great deal of
atheism and infidelity of heart. God sees me and looks on me while I
fi,i;ht, and while I stand for his cause. God's cause is true and just, God
* That is, 'assuredly.' — G. f That is, 'avenging.' — G. X Q^i- 'it knows?' — Ed.
596 THE EETUENING BACKSLIDEB. [SeRMON XII.
sees me, and he sees who opposeth me. In regard of the eye of God
therefore, let us be courageous in these things that are agreeable to the
mind of God, whatsoever they be, whether matters of justice or piety.
Use 3. Again, if God have such an ear to hear us, let us have an ear to
hear him, and an eye to look to him. Let us have Moses' eye to look on
him who is invisible, Heb. xi. 26. His eye is upon us, and let our eye be to
him ; both may be together. When these two eyes meet ; when my heart
tells me that God seeth me, and that I see God looking upon me, this
makes courageous. Therefore as God hears and sees us, so we must have
an eye to see him that is invisible. And so we pass from these words, ' I
have heard him and observed him ; ' and what the prophet's meaning is.
' I have heard him, and will hear him ; I have observed him, and will ob-
serve him.' For they contain a perpetual action in God; not that he hath,
end will not do it now, but what he hath done and will do. That he sets
down here in borrowed speeches, for he saith also,
' I will be like a green fir-tree to him: from me is thy fruit found.'
God will be ' like a green fir-tree ' in regard of shadow. A fir-tree is a
high tree, a goodly, smooth tree, barren in regard of fruit, but it hath thick
leaves, which hinders rain from falling upon those who rest under the
shadow thereof, and likewise keeps the sun from annoying them. So it is
a fit tree for shadow, and the fitter, because it hath no fruit. For usually
those trees which spend not themselves this way, they spend themselves in
leaves, and have a perpetual greenness, which is supplied with that which
should be fruit in fruitful trees. Therefore he sets it down by this com-
parison of a fir-tree, that so God will keep back all showers, tempests, and
storms, and all annoying heat, and he will do it perpetually, as the fir-tree
hath a perpetual greenness ; and he will do it with pleasure and delight, as
it is a delightful shadow. But because the fir-tree hath no fruit on it, God
will not only be a shadow to his children to keep ill from them, but he will
be a fruitful tree to them. ' From me,' saith God, ' shall thy fruit be
found ; ' that is, whatsoever good thou doest, thou shalt have it from me.
All fruitful comfort comes from me, and all grace. Whatsoever is good for
thee, for prosperity of soul or body, all is from me. So we see how God
conveyeth himself and his mercy here by s^^'eet comparisons, dealing very
familiarly with us, and speaking to us in our own language. We will take
both in order as they lie.
God will be as a fir-tree in regard of shadow to the passenger, and keep-
ing off of storms. The great God, and the good God, who is goodness itself,
hath provided in this world not only good for us, but hath also promised de-
fences against all annoyances. In the comparison itself, we will observe
somewhat concerning the goodness of God ; for as in this life we are subject
to many inconveniences, wants, and necessities ; so God hath supply for
all, even outward necessities. We are subject to cold, for that we have
the element of fire ; we are subject to storms, he hath provided garments,
and skill to make them ; so in our travels, he hath provided some trees
especially to shelter us. We cannot name any inconvenience of this life,
but the rich God in his goodness hath provided a suitable supply. Doth
God take care for this fading, perishing life, which is but as a vapour ? and
hath he good things for it, and fences from the ill and annoyances of it, till
we have fulfilled our pilgrimage upon earth ? And will not that God have
a care of our best life of grace that shall end in glory, that we shall have
all things necessary for life and godliness, which hath the promise, not of
this life only, but of a better, 1 Tim. iv. 8. He that is so good to this
Hose A XTV. 8.] the BEixmNiNG backslider. 397
natural life, mil be much more in things concerning a better life, which he
would have us mind more. ' I will be as a green fii--tree unto him.'
God will be as a fir-tree, especially in regard of shadow, to keep from all
annoyance both of storm and of the sun ; for the sun in those hot countries
annoys them very much, as the spouse complains of her blackness, 'because
the sun hadshined upon her. Cant. i. 5, ' to be black as the tents of Kedar,'
&c. "Whence we may observe by the way,
There is not the most comfortable refreshing creature in the world, but take
it 171 excess, it harms and annoys.
"What more comfortable than water ? yet if it prevail and abound, it is a
destroying creature, as wc see in the deluge and divers inundations. "What
more comfortable than fii'e ? and what more terrible if it exceed ? "What
more cherishing, refreshing, and quickening than the sun ? Yet in the
excessive heat thereof, it scorcheth and parcheth things. So in the sun of
prosperity and all other good things in the world, it is best to have and
enjoy all things with moderation ; for if we have grace to qualify them, all
things are good ; otherwise the excess hurts us. Therefore beg of God
wisdom to temper and moderate the best good in this w^orld, which other-
wise hurts us. For even the excessive heat of the sun in those countries
makes them glad of the shadow of the fir-tree.
Thus God doth not only give a shadow, but a comfortable shadow and
defence to his people, which is therefore called ' the shadow of his wings.'
' How oft,' saith Christ to Jerusalem, ' would I have gathered thee, as the
hen gathereth her chickens under her wings ? ' Mat. xxiii. 37. It is not only
a shielding from hurts, and dangers, and storms, but a sweet defence, with
rest and quiet. As those that are weary compose themselves to rest under
a shadow, so in God is our rest ; ' Come unto me,' saith Christ, ' all ye that
are weary and heavy laden, and ye shall find rest to your souls,' Mat. xi. 28.
All rest is in Christ, and in God's mercy in Chi'ist. We see, then, after
we have forsook idolatry, God is to us instead of all the good we had by
idols. Vi'e lose nothing by it, ' God will be as a green fir-tree.'
"VNTience the point is, there is a protection, rest, and defence pi^'ovided for
God's people, when once they have renounced their idolatry and sinful courses.
Those who refuse the shelter of idols, God will be a shelter unto them,
* a green fir-tree unto them,' another manner of shelter than that which
idols or any other creature can give them. Every man will have some
shelter, shield, or other to cover him, this or that great man to shield or
shelter himself under. A rich man, he hath riches ; another, this or that
defence. Every man that hath any wit about him will have some shelter,
and not lie open to all storms when they come. But the only true shelter
is God himself to a Christian. All other refuges are but shadows, that is,
they are nothing, but like Jonah's gourd, which may shelter for a time, but
there is a worm of vanity that will eat them out. Kiches and the favour of
men may shelter for a time, but there is a woiTn at the bottom which will
root them out. Death will consume them and those they depend upon.
But God is a true shelter to his people, an everlasting habitation, as it is
\\Titten, ' Thou art our habitation from generation to generation, Ps. xc. 1.
"SVe dwell in him as in our rock and castle. He is an everlasting habita-
tion, not only a shadow, but a tower and a castle to dwell in. Therefore
the only wise man is the Christian. For, as Noah, when the flood came
upon the old world, and swept them away, had an ark to save himself in,
so have all God's children a house to get over their heads in the worst
times, which is God's blessed protection, in whom they are safe. Let us-
398 THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XII.
think often of these things. What a blessed thing it is to be in the state
of a Christian, that hath alway a certain and sure protection, quiet, and rest
in God ! And what a fearful thing is it to be as the Ahithophels of this
world ! to be as Cain, Judas, or Saul ! who are shrewd in counsel and
policy, and yet, when conscience is awakened by the storm of God's wrath,
want a shelter, whilst he who is above conscience, and should be a shelter
to them, frowns upon them. What a pitiful state is this ! The wickedest
man in the world, though he have never so great dependence, parts, and
strength from human helps, yet when the storm of God's wrath comes, he
is as a naked man in the midst of a storm, and knows not whither to go.
Therefore let us be wise to have God for our shelter, if we would not be
like these miserable politicians and worldlings.
Now, from this, that the shadow is comfortable in those hot countries,
where the sun is directly over their heads, comes these sweet phrases in the
Psalms and other Scriptures : ' Thou shalt keep me under the shadow of
thy wings. As the apple-tree amongst the trees of the forest, so is my be-
loved amongst the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight,'
&c.. Cant. ii. 3. The chm-ch speaks of Christ, ' I sat under his shadow
with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.' The like you have
in many places in the Psalms. I will name one or two, more pregnant
than the rest, to help our memories, and to breed a deeper impression of
BO comfortable a point. Ps. Ixiii. 7. There the psalmist speaks of resting
Under the shadow of God's wings. And so in that other sweet and excel-
lent psalm, in the greatest extremities of God's people, ' He that dwelleth
in the secret place of the Most High,' that is, God, ' shall abide under the
shadow of the Almighty,' Ps. xci. 1. He says after, 'I will say of the
Lord, He is my refiige and fortress ; ' for where God tells a man that he is a
hiding-place and a shadow, there faith adds the application presently ; and
then he goes on, speaking of himself, ' He shall cover me with his feathers ;
under his wings will I rest ; his truth shall be my buckler. Thou shalt not
be afraid of the terror by night ; nor of the arrow by day ; nor of the pesti-
lence that walketh in the dark. A thousand shall fall,' &c., vers. 4-7. So
that we see how God doth that to our souls and conditions that the fir-tree,
which is God's good creature, doth to the body in the time of storm and
heat, that is, he doth refresh us under the shadow of his wings. He is a
sweet, comfortable, and gracious God unto us. This, you see, is a clear
truth ; yet, because it is so comfortable, we will enlarge it further. Look
what God speaks, ' The Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount
Zion, and upon her assembly, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining
of a flame of fire by night ; for upon all the glory shall be a defence,' Isa.
iv. 45. See what a comfortable shadow God is ! He saith, ' He will
create.' If they want the comfort of the fir-tree, and such like shadows,
he says, ' God will create,' that is, make them of nothing. He will ' create
upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion,' where his children dwell, and
upon their assemblies, ' a cloud and a smoke by day ;' that is, when they
are annoyed by the sun, God will create a cloud to keep the rage and the
scorching heat of the sun from them, and then a ' shining flame of fire by
night,' because in the night we need light, for ' upon all the glory shall be
a defence,' that is, upon all the glorious saints of God, They are glory,
for there is a Spirit of glory put into them, 1 Pet. iv. 14. The people of
God, in whom God will glorify himself, are glorious, and shall be further
glorified, and they shall in the mean time have a defence by da}^ and by
night from all dangers whatsoever.
HOSEA XTV. 8. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 399
Thus it is clear that God will be a shadow to his people, as the fir-tree,
which is an allusion to that grand passage of his providence in conducting
the childa-en of Israel out of Egypt, where God, to guide them, provided a
' cloud by da}-, and a pillar of fire by night,' Exod. xiv. 20. The same
pillar which was lightsome to the Israelites, was dark to the Egj'ptians,
which cloud and pillar of fii'e continued, God conducting them, till they
came into the laud of Canaan. He shadowed them by day with a cloud,
and lighted and heated them by a pillai- of fire at night, thus conducting
them till they came to Canaan. So we, passing through the wilderness of
this world till we come unto our celestial Canaan, heaven, God will be a
' cloud' by his gi'acious special providence, to keep all ill whatsoever from
us, and a ' pillar of fire ' to lighten and direct us till we come to our hea-
venly Canaan, where he will be all in all, when we shall need neither sun
nor moon, nor have anything to annoj' us. Rev. vii. 16. There the noon-
day shall not burn us with heat of the sun, nor the fire by night. AVhen
we are in heaven there shall be no annoyance of the creature. There shall
be no more want of light, because we shall have all light and refreshing
there for ever and ever. For, as it is written, then ' all tears,' all sorrow,
and cause of sorrow, shall be for ever wdped away, an allusion whereunto
we have comfortably set down, Ps. cxxi. 7. The more we shall enrich and
rafresh our memories with thinking of these things, the more comfort will
sink into oui- hearts. The 121st psalm is all spent on comfort in this kind.
* I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, whence cometh my salvation. My
help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth,' all my help is
from him. ' He will not sufler my foot to be moved ; he that keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.' ' He will not slumber;' that is, his eyes
are always open to see, as his ears to hear. ' Behold, he that kcepeth
Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper, thy sha-
dow, so that the sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, fi-om this time
for ever.' Thus we see this Scripture is a large gloss and commentary
upon this truth, that God, with a special providence and protection, cares
for his children, to keep them from all ill. He will be as the fir-tree to
them in regard of shadow. Whence we observe in special.
That this life of ours, uhiht* ice come to heaven, is subject to scorchings and
many annoyances, and those loth outwardly and inwardly, from ourselves and
from others.
First, for outward annoyances, how many of them is our poor life subject
unto ! and for inward terror and boiling heat of conscience, when God in
anger discovers himself unto us, and sets our sins in order before us. Oh
then, if we have not a shadow ; if God in mercy through Jesus Christ be
not a shadow to keep that boiling heat from us, what will become of the
poor conscience ? especially if Satan adds his poisoned fiery darts, poison-
ing, inflaming the conscience with temptations to despair, Ps. 1. 21, as if
God had forsaken and were angry ; or when God seems angry, then he
seems like a consuming fire. Oh, who can abide it, when all these fieiy
temptations are joined with God's anger ! Yet the dearest of God's saints
are subject to these inward boiling heats of God's anger. * My God, my
God, why hast thou forsaken me,' said the head of the church himself,
Matt, xxvii. 40 ; and see how Job complains, ' Thou hast set me as a butt
to shoot at,' Job xvi. 12. And, in regard of this spiritual desertion, David
complains much throughout the Psalms. So this our life is subject to out-
♦ That is, ' until.' — Eu.
400 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XII.
ward aud spiritual annoyances from God, from Satan, and from ourselves
and the world ; every way annoyed with scorchings and heat, what need [of]
a shadow, a protection, a defence else ? That supposeth this.
If this be so, then consider how fearful the condition of those people is,
that are not under the shadow of the Almighty ; who have not God as a fir-
tree to shadow and cover them ; that he is not a cloud by day to, and a
pillar of fire by night ; that have not him for a hiding-place to spread the
wings of his mercy over them. What is the state of such people ? surely
howsoever God feed them, and fills their belly with good things in this
world for a time ; yet their case will be fearful, when God lets loose con-
science, and Satan's fiery darts against them. Judge then hereby what our
state is by nature without God. The same sun which cherisheth and com-
forteth, also tortures and scorcheth us : so God is a sun, a quickening sun
to his children, Mai, iv. 2, yea, a vigorous sun, who hath healing under his
wings ; but to the wicked he is a scorching and consuming fire, Heb. xii. 29.
' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,' Heb. x. 31, who
is so dreadful. He will not be a shadow to the wicked in an excellent man-
ner. He indeed permits them to have many shadows in this world, many
sweet comforts, and keeps them also from many dangers ; but they have not
that worthy portion which Hannah had from her husband, 1 Sam. i. 5, love
at the hour of death. And in time of temptation, when these comforts leave
them, what shadow have they then ? none at all, but are as naked men in
a stoi-m, subject to the fury of God's eternal wrath. The things which are
most comfortable to God's people are most terrible to them, as it is said in
one of those plagues poured out upon antichrist (for all the vials there
spoken of tend to the punishing of antichrist), there is a vial poured
forth upon the sun, Kev. vi. ; which reflecting and lighting upon them,
causeth them to blaspheme, they were so scorched with it. The sun, by
probable interpreters, is said to be the word of God, which, when it is
opened, is sweet and comfortable to God's people, but shining upon men
that are naught, especiaUy at the hour of death, in affliction and in dis-
tress, it speaks no comfort to them, but causeth them to despair, rage and
storm. Nay, profane men, when they are at the best, they rage and storm
at the direction of the sun, because it discovers to them that which they
would not have known.
Use 1. Now, what use should we make of this ? "Will God be a shadow
to his people to keep them from all evil, as his promise was to Abraham
in the covenant of gi-ace : * I will be thy buckler,' to keep ill from thee, and
' thy exceeding great reward,' Gen. xv. 1. And in the Psalms, God pro-
miseth to be a sun for good, and a shield to keep ofi" all iU, Ps. Ixxxiv. 11.
Will God bestow good, and keep oft' ill from us ? Then labour to come
willingly under the shadow of the Almighty, to serve him, and to make God
in covenant our God, that he may be a ' shield and a hiding-place ' unto us,
and a shadow in all extremities whatsoever. Those that attend upon great
persons, they do it upon this hope : Oh, if I belong to such a great person,
he vpill shelter me, that every base person shall not wrong me ; I shall now
have some prerogatives. Doth carnal policy teach poor creatures who are
subject to abuse it, to get some shelter of great, noble men to be privileged ?
and shall not spiritual wisdom teach us to get under the great God, under
the shadow of his wings ? None can come near to annoy us without his
special will and leave, as in the story of Job. The devil durst not annoy
him. Job i. 12, nor enter into the swine. Mat. viii 31, much less hurt God's
children. Shall we not, therefore, get under the service of our God ? can
HOSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 401
any man shelter us better ? There is no service to that of a king ; but is
there any service to the Iting of kings, and Lord of lords ? Will he suffer
his cliildrcu to be abused in his own sight, or his followers disgraced ?
Surely no. Therefore make this use of it, to get into the service of the
great God, which is a rich, secure, and safe service.
Unc 2. Again, it j'ields us an use of resolution, for to obey God, and to
go boldly on in a good course. What should we fear, when God is our
master ? He will shield us, and keep us safe, and give his angels charge
over us, to shew that he hath a care over us. Indeed, he hath many
keepers under him, but he is the gi'aud keeper, who sets all a-work. For
angels, magistrates, ministers, and our friends keep us ; but God's Spirit
within us, and his gi'acious good providence without us, are our chief keepers.
Therefore let all our care be to serve God, and to be in his ways. He
will keep us in his ways. What an encouragement is this to be in good
courses, where we may look for the shadow of the Almighty God, without
tempting of him ! If a man be in an ill way and coui'se, he cannot look
that the Almighty should shadow him. His heart will tell him, now God
may withdraw his shelter and wing from me ; he may leave me naked to
the devil and to the malice of men ; he may strip me of all comfort in my
soul and conscience, and give me up to terrors of heart out of his way. If
I trust him now, I tempt him, because he will be a defence only in his own
ways. Therefore let us labour always to be in those ways, and then God
will be as a gi'een fii*-tree unto us.
L'se 3. And, last of all, let it be an use of comfort unto us, for all the
time of our life to come. Whatsoever may come, we yet pass under a
buckler. Let a whole shower and shot of arrows* fall upon us, we have a
buckler. * Thou, Lord, art my buckler ; thou, Lord, art my defence, my
hiding-place, my castle,' Ps. x\iii. 1, 2. We are subject to a world of
dangers whilst we live here, but we have God instead of all, to keep off all.
He is a buckler, a shield, a shadow, and a hiding-place. Let what ill
soever be presented to our thoughts, there is in God some fence against it.
For this purpose we have many excellent passages in Ps. xviii., which was
made after a great deliverance. ' I love the Lord, my buckler, my shield,
my defence,' as if he should say, I have in my lifetime been annoyed with
many troubles, but I have found experience of God in all. ' He is my
buckler, my shield, my fence,' everything to me. So let us comfort our-
selves in this. Let come what will come, all shall come well to God's
children. He will keep them, if not outwardly, yd in that they most desire
to be kept in. He will preserve their spirits ' from every evil work,' 2 Tim.
iv. 18, from doing ill, and from desperate falhng from God ; and he will
guard them inwardly, ' by the peace of God which passeth understand-
ing,' Philip, iv. 7. It shall guard their hearts ; they shall have inward
peace in the midst of all the troubles of this world : a great comfort ! ^Vhat
a rejoicing is it to a poor passenger, when he passeth by the highway side
in a hot, burning day, or in a storm, to see a goodly high tree, with spread-
ing boughs, that he may hide and repose himself under it from the storm
or heat. This pleaseth him mar\-ellously, as Jonah's gourd did him. Do
tliese outward poor contentments so refresh us in this world ? and shall we
not think that God, which provides such poor contentments for this sorry
life in this world, will he not provide a shadow in regard of the main
dangers ? Surely he will, if we trust him, and shew our trust by casting
ourselves upon him in obedience suitable to our calling. Saith the apostle,
Qu. ' a whole shower of shot and arrows ? ' — G.
A'OL. II. c 0
402 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XII,
' I am persuaded that neither things present, nor to come, nor life, nor
death, nor anything, shall be able to separate us from the love of Christ
Jesus our Lord,' Kom, viii. 38, 39. Therefore let us bo afraid of nothing
that can befall us. God will be a shield and a buckler, and all in all to
us in a good way. We have abundance of comfort everywhere in Scrip-
ture, and want nothing but faith to apply it home in practice. Therefore
we ought to beg of God so to enlarge our faith, that as his promises and
comforts are very large, so may our vessels be to retain all these excellent
comforts and sweet promises.
All other comforts in the world are but like Jonah's gourd ; for all other
shadows yield only a shadow for a while, and then the simshine or east
wind is like a worm to nip them asunder. Never trust, then, or lean to
such shadows as these be, of friends, riches, &c., which are shadows men
ordinarily rely upon. I have such and such a friend, a place, and the like,
my mountain is thus and thus strong. All these are Jonah's gourds.
There is a worm of vanity will be at the root of all, and consume all. All
other shadows are but mere shadows. ^Vhat is more transient than a
shadow ? But God's shadow is like a green fir-tree. It never fails nor
forsakes us, as all other shadows and contentments do whatsoever. But
God saith, * He will be like a green fir-tree unto thee.' Yet this is not aU,
nor enough, for after this he adds,
' From me is thy fruit found.'
God is not only to his children a fir-tree in regard of shadow, that tree
abounding in leaves veiy thick, whereby we are kept from annoyance of
scorching heats of troubles and terrors of conscience and persecution, &c.
This is not all, but he saith also,
* From me is thy fruit found.'
A fir-tree, though it be for thickness of the leaves a very good shade, yet
it is a barren, fruitless tree ; but God is such a tree as hath both shadow
and fruit. In God there is a supply of all wants whatsoever. All the
scattered excellencies of all creatures being united in God, and eminent in
him, it is in him, and in him in a divine, gi-acious, eminent, and comfort-
able manner. All the creatures, as they come from God, are his creatures,
neither is there any creature but hath somewhat of God in it. Therefore,
God vouchsafes to take names from the creatures. To be a rock of salva-
tion, he is as a rock to build on ; to be a shadowing tree, because he is a
defence from ill ; and to be a fruitful tree, because he yields good, and com-
fort, and grace, as he doth fruit. When we see anything that is useful, we
may sa}^ this we have from God in an eminent manner, this preservation
and comfort. Do I in my passage to heaven find such comfort in the
creature ? When I am passing through a wild place, have I such comfort
in the shadow of a tree ? or when I am hungry, am I so refreshed by a
fruitful tree ? What comfort, then, is there in God, in heaven, in glory,
when there are such comforts in the way of my pilgrimage in this world ?
Therefore, God is said here, both to be a fir-tree and a fruitful tree. For
then the passenger travelling through a wild, barren place, thinks himself made
when he can retire from the scorching of the heat, and also therewithal find
fruitfalness. Shade and fruit concurring, he thinks himself marvellously
happy. This is the state of a Christian that hath God for his God, being in
covenant with him. He is not only a strong protection and defence from
all annoyance (as God shadows us, and is a buckler from all evils, both in-
ward and outward, from Satan, and all kind of evils and wrath), but he is
also a fruitful tree too. ' From me is thy fruit foimd.'
HOSEA XIY. 8.] THE BETUBNINa BAOESLIBEB. 403
THE THIRTEENTH SERMON.
I am like a green fir-tree ; from vie is thtj f nut found. — Hos. XIV. 8.
This holy prophet, as wc hoard heretofore, did prophesy more than sixty
years among the ten tribes, even until the time immediately preceding
their captivity and misery, in like manner as Jeremiah and Ezekicl did to
the other Jews. Now, because in the worst times God always had a rem-
nant, and yet hath, therefore it is the prophet's care, in this chapter which
we have gone over, to instruct them in divers particulars of reformation, as
we have heard at large, ' to return to the Lord,' ' to take words to them-
selves,' which words, as we have heard, are also taught them, backed with
many sweet promises and encouragements in God's answer to their peti-
tions : the last whereof insisted and stood upon was this, that God promiseth
to be like a gi'een fir-tree unto Ephraim, who personated all the ten tribes.
Ephraim thought before to shadow and fence himself by idols, and league
with other idolatrous nations, which were like Jonah's rotten gourd unto
them, poor shadows and defences ; but saith God, ' I will be a fir-tree ' for
shadow to Ephraim, to defend him from all dangers whatsoever ; and then
in the next place he adds,
' From me is thy fruit found.'
A fir-tree is a green tree, but it hath no fruit. The excellencies of the
creatures are applied to God, but not the defects. Therefore, when com-
parisons are taken from the creatures and given to God, we must always
except the defects, supplying the same by some other clearing comparison.
So God is not only a fir-tree for shelter and defence, but he is a fruitful
tree. So a fir-tree is not ; and therefore without comparison, God hath more
in him than any creature hath. For all that excellency which is in all the
creatures is in him, and that in a far more eminent manner; therefore, he
is both a shelter and fruit. If a passenger in distress have not only a fir-
tree to shelter him and shadow him, but a fniit-tree also to feed him, he
thinks he is made when God thus comforts him. So a Christian, he hath
not only shelter from the wrath of God, but he hath also a place of rest and
quiet, the mercy of God to keep him, and the word and sacraments to feed
him. God is a fruit-tree as well as a fix-tree.
' From me is thy fruit found.'
That is, whatsoever is gi'aciously or comfortably good to us, in us, or
issues from us, is all from God. Hence first of all we observe for our in-
struction,
From a maris self comes nothing that is graciously good.
"VMiatsoever is savingly good is altogether from God. ' Without me,'
saith Christ, * you can do nothing,' John xv. 5. Saint Paul was wondrous
char}'- of this point. 1 Cor. xv, 10 he saith ' he laboured more abundantly
than they all : yet not I ' (he recalls himself), ' but the grace of God in him
that did all;' and of myself, as of myself, I cannot so much ' as think a
good thought.' It is from God that we have means to make us fruitful,
and from the gracious working of his Spirit comes it that they are eS"ectual.
That we think a good thought, or open our mouths to speak a good word,
it is from God's Spirit enabling us thereto. ' Open thou my mouth,' saith
the psalmist, * and my lips shall shew forth thy praise.' We are tongue-
* That is, ' wary ' = circumspect — O.
404 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XUL
tied and our lips sealed unless God open them. We cannot speak one
savoury, seasonable word to further our accompt. We may speak empty
words, but never a word comes from the heart that is gracious and good,
but it must be by the Spirit of God. It is he who works all our works in
us and for us. ' He begins the good work in us, and perfects it to the
day of the Lord,' Isa. xxvi. 12, Phil. i. 6. The truth of this is wondrous
clear.
* If this be so, then undoubtedly the differences in the graces of men, it is
from another, merely from God and God's Spirit. There is indeed dif-
ference in men, but this is originally fetched from the grace of God's Spirit.
The good use of freedom, that we talk so much of, it is from God, as well
as the endowments of it. We have free will, but the use of it is not in our
power, to use this or that at our pleasure ; for ' it is God which gives the
will and the deed,' Phil. ii. 13, of his good pleasure. Not only the deed,
but the will too ; we should make the will an idol else. For so many wills,
so many idols, if we think one man in himself can difference himself by his
will.
Again, in that God saith, ' From me is thy fruit found,' we may learn
hence,
That fruit that is gracious conies from us and from God too.
It is our fruit and God's, so that there is a subordination of gracious
works under God. The fruit we have is from God, yet it is our fruit too.
Quest. How can this be ?
Sol. Yes, easily. We speak the words, but it is God that opens our lips.
We believe, but it is God that gives us grace to believe. We do the action,
but God gives us grace to do it. God opened the heart of Lydia to believe,
Acts xvi. 14, so that God and we meet together in the same action. We
have parts, understanding, will, affections, bodies and souls. Therefore
the actions are said to be ours, because God works in us as understanding
creatures ; but God sets the wheel a-going, so that the actions are originally
his, and ours subordinately under him, ' From me is thy fruit found.'
If so be that God and man join in one action (' From me is thy fruit
found ;' as though he should say. Whatsoever thou hast or sayest that is
good, it is from me ; here we see how, and why good works cannot merit,
though they come from God, as all goodness doth), yet in regard they come
from us too, we add some tainture thereunto from our corrupt nature.
What God and Christ himself doth, is absolute and perfect, as justification ;
but what fruit he works in us, there is somewhat of the old Adam in us,
which taints the beauty of the work. It is God's fruit, coming from him,
and yet our fruit also, coming from us ; which being so much tainted
should humble us, in that we add nothing to the truth of God's work in us,
but abasement and defilement by our corruptions. ' From me (saith God) is
thy fruit found,' so much as is supernaturally good ; but because our
nature is not altered on the sudden, but still tastes of the ' old leaven,'
1 Cor. V. 7, therefore there can be no meriting of salvation by any works we
do, because they are not perfectly good.
Use 1. The clearing of these points, in our judgment, they serve to work
in us a deep humiliation, seeing that we have nothing in ourselves but stains
and defilements, all that is good in us coming from God, ' From me is thy
fruit found.' What is from ourselves then, if all good in us comes from
God ? We are a barren and a cursed soil, nothing that is good can come
from us. Even as the earth was cursed after Adam's fall, and brought forth
nothing but briers and thorns, so our soul naturally is a cursed soil in
HOSEA XIV. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 40£
itself, and brings forth nothing but weeds and thorns. Our hearts are hke
the barren wilderness, full of evil, noisome lusts and affections. Therefore
this serves to abase us, that wc be not lifted up with any good in us ; for
as that is altogether from God's Spirit, so likewise wo of ourselves add
nothing to it, but somewhat which ma}' diminish the value thereof.
Use 2. Here, again, for matter of judgment, ijou hare a difference between
the state of nature and the state of cjrace, I mean of innocent nature, for in
Adam we had a standing in ourselves, being trusted with our own good ;
but now under the second covenant, under the second Adam, Christ Jesus,
we have many graces to fit us for heaven, and many good works we do, but
all the fruit we have and yield is from God. So that now this is a grand
difi"erence. Adam, as it were, had the keeping of his own happiness locked
up in himself; but we have our happiness, graces, and whatsoever is good
for us, shut up in Christ as the spring and fountain, which is the reason of
the perpetual stability and permanent condition of God's children, once his
and ever his. And put the case, we want this or that help, yet this pre-
judiceth not the perpetuity of the condition of God's children, because those
graces which come immediately from God's Spirit, may be conveyed some-
times without means, as well as with them. Therefore, whatsoever decay
is in the branches that are grafted into this noble Vine, Christ Jesus, in
whom we bear all the fruit we bear, yet notwithstanding there is life ever-
lasting for us in the root, which is by little and little distilled into us. The
leaves may fall, outward things may decay, but there is life alway in the
root of a Christian, because he is in Christ, and hath his fruit from him ;
he cannot want fruit, no more than Christ can want influence and vigour,
John XV. 5. Which shews us the excellent state of a Christian under the
new covenant of grace, that now we fetch all out of ourselves, and it is
happy for us that we do so. For without Christ we can do nothing. As
without the soul the body can do nothing, so without the Spirit of Christ
we can do nothing ; from him is all. This is the reason why we must not
trust to any grace in ourselves, that comes from us, because grace comes
from God in Christ. Trust God, the spring whence it comes, whose the
fruit is : God the Father in Christ, from whom all fulness comes, and is
derived unto us, or else we make but an idol of grace, if we trust too much
to grace. Look to the spring whence all comes to us. ' From me is thy
fruit found.'
Quest. Again, for further instruction, What is the reason that some have
more grace than others, and more comfort, some having grace and comfort
in one degree, and some in another ?
Sol. Hence it is : ' From me is thy fruit found.' It comes from the freedom
of God in Christ, who according to liis good pleasm-e gives the will and the
deed, whence we have grace sometimes in the vigom*, sometimes in a weaker
and lesser degree, the fault being in ourselves too. Yet, notwithstanding,
there is a liberty in the Spirit of Christ, to give a more or less measure of
grace, to shew that our good we do springs not from ourselves. Which
also is the reason of the difierence betwixt Christians, because God will
shew that he is the disposer and the dispenser of his own graces and com-
forts. And that is the reason also why we must perform this duty of wait-
ing upon God in the use of means, though we find no sense of gi-ace and
comfort from him for the present, ' From him our fruit is found.' Wait
his leisure. He suspends grace and comfort until a fit time, in regard of
the degree ; but yet there is alway some grace left, though he suspends the
increase thereof until a fit time, because he would have us know that it is
406 THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDEB. [SeRMON XIII.
of his giving. Christians who are acquainted herewith, they will not tie
God to their time, but humbly go on in the use of means, who though they
find not their spirits and their comforts enlarged so as at other times, nor
so great, nor as other folks are ; yet can say. Lord, thou givest the will and
the deed according to thy good pleasure, all comes from thee ; therefore I
will use the means and depend upon thee because I have all from thee
freely. God gives a spirit of prayer, and then the thing we pray for,
all is fi'om him, ' From me is thy fruit found.' Do we find the ordinances
fruitful, the preaching of the word to open our understaudidgs, to kindle
our affections, to enlighten our judgments ? It is the Spirit of God that
joins with the means, that are dead of themselves, to make them fruitful.
What are the ordinances without God, but empty conduit-pipes of them-
selves ? Therefore, ' From me is thy fruit found.'
Use 3. This should teach and direct us also in all things to look up to
God in all use of means. Lord, I may read, hear, and use helps and
means long enough, to little or no purpose, unless thou give a blessing.
Paul may plant and Apollos may water, but if thou give not fruit from
heaven, all is to no purpose, 1 Cor. iii. 6. We forget this, and therefore
prosper accordingly. We think we can work fruit out of the means, by
our own wit. Oh ! it is not so ! Whatsoever is comfortable or gi-acious
in the use of means, it is merely God's blessing. And therefore seeing all
our fruit whatsoever, that is good, comes from God, let us stir us up to
practise the spiritual worship of God, to adore God, to beg of his fulness
in Christ Jesus, and likewise to resign ourselves in all conditions unto him.
Lord, I put myself upon thee ; all my fruit is from thee ; thou canst sanc-
tify any condition unto me. This adoration and resignation are parts of
the spiritual worship of God. And likewise the service of the Lord in fear
and reverence, that inward service of the Spirit ; all depends upon this,
that all our fruit is from God. Therefore I must serve him, and serve
him as he must be served, in spirit and truth, John iv. 24. What makes
a man reverence another ? I depend upon him ; without him I sink.
Will this make a man serve man ? And will it not make us serve God,
and serve him with fear ? What breeds an awful fear ? This, that if he
withdraw his influence, I fall into sin, despair, and discomfort. So that
the ground of all fear of God, and service springing from this fear, it is
from hence, that from him all my fi-uit, all my grace and comfort, is
found ; therefore I must have grace to serve him, as a God in fear. For if
the soul be not possessed and seasoned with this heavenly doctrine, that all
comes from him, then surely where is God's service ? What becomes of
it ? Where is that adoration and magnifying of God in our hearts ?
Where's that putting off ourselves upon him in all conditions ?
Use 4. Again, this enforceth another part of God's spiritual and heavenly
worship, cleaving to God in our affections, especially these two, in our faith
and love ; that as all comes from and by Jesus Christ, so thereby we may
draw from him the fruit of grace and comfort. So that this spiritual cleav-
ing and uniting of our souls to Christ, it comes from this, that I have all
from him, therefore I must cleave to him ; seeing whatsoever is spiritual,
holy, and comfortable I must have from him. Therefore if we would wor-
ship God in spirit and truth, as we should do, and set him up in his due
place in the soul, let us labour to have our judgments sanctified in this,
that all comes from God. If we were surely grounded in the goodness,
mercy, and riches of God's grace, and knew that all our fruit comes and is
from him, this would make us to conclude that therefore it is reason that
HOSEA XrV. 8.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 407
we should -worship him and depend upon him strictly. As the prophet
spealis of idols, that they can neither do us good nor harm, Jer. x. 5, en-
forcing that they should not fear them, so we may say of all other things
distinct from God, they can neither do good nor harm, except God enable
them. Will you bo slaves to men ? They cannot do good nor hann, but
as God uses them, whose creatures they are. Therefore the worship of
God is also founded hence, that God does all good or harm. If men do it
they do it from him, he gives them leave ; as it is said of Sliimei, God
bid him rail on David, 2 Sam. xvi. 10. If they do us good, they are his
conduits, whereby he deriveth good to us ; therefore all is from him. We
see then how all the trae and hearty worship of God comes fi'om this, ' From
me is thy fruit found.'
Use 5. This should make us likewise, as to worship God in spirit and in
truth, so to be resolute in good causes, whatsoever come of it. Look for a
ground, and then be resolute ; because all comes from God, who will stand
by us in his own cause and quarrel.
But if I forsake this and that support, I shall lay open myself to injuries
and wrongs.
Mark what the Spirit of God saith, ' Ye that love the Lord, hate that
which is evil,' Ps. xcvii. 10. But if I hate that which is evil, idols, &c.,
as Ephraim here doth, I shall be despised and trampled upon. No ! saith
he, ' God preserves the souls of his ; he will be a shield and a buckler ; a
sun and a shield ; and no good thing shall be wanting to them that lead a
godly life,' Ps. Ixxxiv. 11. God will be a sun for all good, and a shield to
keep oft" all ill ; therefore let us be resolute in good causes. Whence comes
all shifting, halting, imperfect walking, and inconstances in the ways of
God, but from this, that men know not where to have men ? They are
not gi-ounded on this, that whatsoever is fruitful and good comes from
God, who will give whatsoever is fruitful and good in depending upon him.
This made the three children in Daniel courageous. They knew they
should have frait from God ; that is, grace, comfort, and peace, the best
fruit of all. And therefore ' know, 0 king, that we will not worship thine
idol, nor fall down before it,' Dan. iii. 18. So holy Esther, being well
grounded, could say, ' If I perish, I perish,' Esth. iv. 16. I know the
cause is good ; and if all help in the creature be removed and taken av/ay,
yet I shall have fruit in God.
Let us therefore carry this about us, as a principle of holy life, to know
that our good is hid up in God, and not in the creatm'e ; so that if all help
were taken away, yet we have it immediately, purer and better in the foun-
tain. What if there were not a creature in the world to help me ? What
if all were against me ? Yet God may make all their powers and endea-
vours fruitful. There is such fruit from God, that he can make the worst
things which befalleth us fruitful when he pleaseth. There is a blessing in
curses and crosses, a good fruit in them ! Who can do him harm that God
tumeth the bitterest things he suffers to his good ? Let none be daunted
in a good cause, but go on resolutely, seeing God hath all in himself.
Was not Moses forty days Tvathout any earthly comfort on the mount ?
Exod. xxxiv. 28. And Christ also without natural sustentation so long ?
Mat. iv. 2. Did not God give light without a sun in the first creation ?
We are tied to means, but he is not. We think if such friends and helps
be taken away, that then all is gone ; but what were they ? Were not they
means which God used at his good pleasure, and cannot he give comfort
without them ? Yes, certainly ! The greatest comfort and grace is oft-
408 THE RETUENING BACKSLIDER, [SeRMON XIII.
times given immediately from God, when he salutes the soul by his own
Spirit, as he did Paul and Silas in the dungeon ; who, in the midst of dis-
comfort, had their spirits enlarged to sing hymns at midnight, Acts xvi. 25,
God reserving that comfort for that time. Therefore seeing all comfort is
from God, and he is not tied to this or that means, nay, can bless all con-
trary means, is not this a ground of resolution ?
Use 6. Therefore now make a use of comfort of it, seeing all fruit is from
God, who is in covenant with his children in Jesus Christ, and who will
improve all his attributes for their good, his wisdom, goodness, power, and
mercy. Let them therefore take comfort to themselves, that howsoever the
world may take their friends from them, riches, liberty, and ichat you iviU,
can they take God and fruit from them ? No ! ' From me is thy fruit
found.' If they could take away the Spirit of God, grace, and comfort
from us, it were something ; but can they do that ? No ! The worst they
can do is to send us to heaven, to the fountain of all grace and comfort ;
so that in this world they cannot cast us into any condition wherein we
cannot have communion with God, in whom all the scattered excellencies
of the creature are gathered together, meeting as it were in a centre. It is
he that comforts us in our friends, that shews bowels to us in our mothers,
wisdom and care towards us in our parents. The bowels of a mother, the
care of a friend, the strength of wise assistance, hath he not all in himself,
if all be taken away ? He hath all. Therefore let Christians comfort them-
selves, that they can never be in a condition wherein fruit shall be taken
from them. The poor worldling labours all his life for fruit, riches, and
friends ; and when he dies, then his fi'uit faileth him and falls, his leaf
withereth. What becometh of his fruit then ? He laboured for that
which yields him nothing but vexation and death. But a Christian doth
otherwise ; he labours for grace and comfort to keep his communion and
peace with God ; and when all is taken away, either by the injury and
wrongs of men, or by the extremity of the times, or as all will, in the hour
of death, his fruit is most after, in death, and after death, more than can
be by our narrow hearts conceived in the excellency thereof. Oh ! the
excellent estate of a Christian ! Imagine such a one to have a tree that
grows in heaven, and sends forth fruit and branches to him in whatsoever
state he is in. And so indeed God reacheth fruit from heaven to the soul,
being in prison and misery. He reacheth from thence the fruit of grace,
of spiritual strength and comfort : a blessed estate ! Therefore let Chris-
tians comfort themselves in their condition, ' that all their fruit is from
him ; ' and that God especially will then shew himself abundant when they
stand most in need of him. Other trees bear no fruit in winter and in
storms, but God giveth fruit most in the worst times. He is a God that
comforteth the abject. As it is 2 Cor. vii. 6 ; and here is said, that ' in
him the fatherless findeth mercy.' "We have most fruit from him in the
worst times. Then especially he delighteth to shew himself a God, when
no comfort can be had from the creature.
Therefore do not despair, but lay up this against evil times ; never fear
for the time to come. Let the mountains be cast into the midst of the
sea, and let the earth and all rage, as the psalmist says, and let things run
upon a head; come what can come, God is where he was, and God's children
are where they were, in regard of the main comfort, Ps. xlvi. 2. They
cannot be in such a condition, as that they can be deprived of their God,
and of his assistance : * From me is thy fruit found.' Therefore care not
for any condition that thou art in, this or that, thou shalt have that condi-
HOSEA XIV. 8.j TUE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 409
tion -which shall be comfortable to thee, though many like beasts go on,
and look for no fruit from God.
Use 7. And let this also be an encouragement, to uallc with God sincerely
and uprightly in all times, not fearing any creature, or danger from the
creature, because our fruit is from God. What if we lose this or that? We
know what was said to Amaziah by the prophet. But what shall become of
the hundred talents ? saith he. God is able to give thee much more,
2 Chron. xxv. 9. So in the loss of friends, having this and that took*
from us, let us comfort ourselves. Aye, but God is not taken from us.
He who derives f comfort by this or that friend, can supply it better by his
own Spirit. And whatsoever we part with in a good cause, let us remember
what Christ saith. ' He that parts with father or mother, with house or
land for my sake, shall have a hundredfold in this world, and afterwards
life everlasting. Mat. xix. 29. He shall have all made up in grace, which
is a hundred times better than anything that is here. He shall have con-
tentment, which is better than the things themselves. Sometimes he shall,
missing one worldly comfort, have more friends stirred up ; but howsoever,
in want of one, he shall be supplied in another comfort that he never
dreamt of in this world. So that God is abundant to them that stick close
to him in sincerity ; he shall find him abundant in the things of this life,
in one comfort or other.
Therefore, by these mercies of God here mentioned, let us be entreated
to be in love with the condition of a Christian life, and say, as Ephraim
"here, ' What have I any more to do with my former corrupt courses, or
idols ? ' Give a peremptory answer to all sinful courses and suggestions,
either from others or from our own corrupt nature. ' Wliat have I any
more to do with you ? ' No ; God shall be my God : for if I can resign
myself wholly to God, and renounce the creature and all things else, God
will be as a ' green fir-tree,' and hear me. I shall lose nothing by it. Be
then in love with a Christian course ; for it is the sweetest and the safest
course, and never wants comforts from heaven : and it is the most honour-
able course that can be, for it will hold our communion and peace with the
great God of heaven and earth ; for though we break with others, we shall
be sure of him. In which case take heed of that base suggestion which
the devil himself was ashamed to own, ' that we serve God for nought,' Job
i. 9. What ! shall we renounce idolatry and wicked courses, and think
that God will not have fruit for us ? Shall I think, if I leave my sinful gain,
that I or my posterity shall beg or starve for it ? Do we serve a God that
hath no fruit, that is a dead tree, or a barren wilderness ? No ; we serve
a God that had all in himself before he made the world, and hath all the
exceUenc}' in himself contained in the creatures. It is not in vain to serve
him. ' Doth Job serve God for nothing ? ' said the devil. Therefore it is
a suggestion worse than Satanical, to think we serve God for nothing, or
to think, like those hypocrites mentioned by the prophet, that God regards
not our fasting or our devotion, Isa. Iviii. 3. No ; we shall not lose a
good word for God. Not a tear, but he hath a bottle for it, Ps. Ivi. 8 ;
not a sigh, or a groan, or a farthing, not a minute's time well spent shall
be lost. He will pay us for every ill word we endure for his sake, for every
disgrace, loss, or ci'oss. Do we serve that God there is no fruit in ? 'From
me is thy fruit found.'
Whatsoever our condition be in the world, let us comfort ourselves with
these things, and think that it is not in vain to serve the Lord ; for we
* That is, ' taken.' — G. 1 Tliat is, ' conveys.' — G.
410 THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDEB. [SeRMON XTV.
cannot serve a richer, nor a more kind master and Lord. First of all, he
gives us opportunity and means whereby fruit may be wrought in us, and
then he works the fruit of grace and comfort in us, and afterwards rewards
and crowns his own fruit. But we add imperfections and inventions of
our own, and so mar or stain all. But we deal with a gracious God in
covenant, who pities us as a father doth his children, accepts and rewards
what is his, and pardons what is our own. Therefore let thus much be
effectual for the guiding of our lives, and comforting of us in a good course.
If we take ill courses, we must look for no fruit from God, but fruits of his
displeasure ; if we eat of the forbidden tree, we shall eat and reap ' the
fruits of our own ways,' bitter fruits. For in this case, Jesus Christ, who
is a sweet Saviom*, will be a judge to us ; and he who is ' the Lamb of
God,' will be angry, so as we shall reap the fruit of his indignation. In
the Revelation, divers are brought in desiring ' the hills and mountains to
fall upon them, to cover them from the presence of the Lamb,' Rev. vi. 16
Let us not, therefore, turn a sweet Saviour to a rigorous Judge, by adven
turing upon courses wherein we cannot look for fruit ; but let us commend
* our souls in well-doing unto him, as unto a faithful Creator and Redeemer,
1 Pet. iv. 19. And as it is, * Let us acknowledge him in all our ways,
Prov. iii. 6 ; for it is good to acknowledge and look to him, that is, look
to him for strength, quickening, success, grace, and light to direct us
acknowledge him in all our ways, and treasure up this comfort, that ' all
fruit is found from God.' If we take good courses, we shall ever be fruit-
ful, and have fruit from him, ' out of his fulness ; for, saith he, ' From me
is thy li'uit found.'
THE FOURTEENTH SERMON.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things ? prudent, and he shall
know them ? jor the ways of the Lord are equal, the just shall ivalk in
them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. — Hos. XIV. 9.
These words seal up the whole prophecy ; for the prophet, imme-
diately before prophesying of the captivity, discovers to them at length their
sins, as we heard, their idolatry, adding new idols to their former idols,
Baal to the calves. The princes removed the bounds, old orders and laws ;
the prophets they were fools, and did not see the judgments of God hang-
ing over their heads ; and none of them all could see their ' grey hairs,'
Hosea vii. 9, that is, the signs of their own ruin. After which, out of a
Christian love, care, and conscience of his duty, by direction of the Spirit
of God, he prescribes an excellent way how they should carry themselves^
by returning to the Lord. ' Take words unto yourselves,' renounce all
false confidence in Asshur, and all domestic helps at home, horses and the
like, and fly to God as your best sanctuary. Then he shews what God will
do to them, answer all the desires he had put into their hearts. ' I wiU
heal their backslidings, and love them freely,' &c.
Now, because these were great matters of great consequence, to make
them either happy in the observing them, or miserable in neglecting them,
you see how he shuts up all in a most weighty close. * Who is wise, and
he shall understand these things ? prudent, and he shall know them ? for
the ways of the Lord are equal,' &c.
HOSEA XIV, 9.j THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 411
Wherein the scope of the prophet is to stir up a holy regard of what huth
been spoken. He would not have all lost for want of attention or avplica-
tion ; and therefore he here stirs them up to a holy use of all, which stir-
ring up is excellently and figuratively clothed with an epipJionennj, or
acclamation, ' Who is wise, and he shall understand these things ?' &c. He
doth not say. Let men understand these things, but * Who is wise, and who
is prudent ? ' let them consider of these things ; and then the exhortation is
backed with many reasons.
1. It is icisdom and prudence to regard these things I have spoken.
' Who is ivise / and who is prudent 1 '
2. And then again, the>/ are the ivaijs of God that are spoken of, and they
are straight and equal in themselves. ' For the ivays,' &c.
3. And they lead to happiness directly, without ivinding and turniiuj. A
man is sure to attain his journey's end in them ; and if they will take ex-
ample of those who only are exemplar}^ to them, he tells them, ' the just
shall walk in them.' They shall not walk alone ; they shall have the com-
pany of ' a cloud of witnesses,' who prosper and walk on cheerfully in this
way, and attain happiness in the end.
4. Then the last argument is taken from the contrary end of all them uho
cavil and snarl at God's icays and truth, that think themselves witty to pick
quarrels with somewhat in God's book, as it is a common fashion now-a-
days to have a di\anity of men's own. ' Transgressors,' such as are oppo-
site to God's ways, ' they shall fall in these ways ;' that is, they take
offence at these ways, and so fall into sin, and by falling into sin, fall into
misery, till at last they fall into hell, which is the end of all quarrcllers
with divine truths. They fall and dash themselves upon them, and so
eternally perish.
Now, these are strong and forcible reasons to enforce care and attention
of what hath been spoken. It is ' wisdom and prudence ;' and ' the ways
of the Lord' here ' are straight,' and then ' all godly people walk in them,'
' and those that stumble at them are sure to perish,' and do perish in
them ; not that they are a cause of their perishing, but by reason of the
malice of men, finding fault and picking quarrels with them, they fall fii'st
into sin, and then into misery. Thus we have the scope of the words.
' Who is wise, and he shall understand these things.'
First of all, we must know that the prophet here in this figurative speech
makes a kind of exclamation, ' Who is wise ! ' He doth, as it were, secretly
mourn at the apostasy and fewness of those that be truly wise ; as if he had
said, I have given you many directions, and shewed you what sins lead to
destruction ; I have shewed what course ye are to take, and the bounty of
God to those that return ; but ' who is wise and prudent to regard these
things ? '
In the words, therefore, in regard of the speaker, the prophet, we may
observe this ere we come particularly to them, the character of a holy, mer-
ciful, gracious, and icise man ; that when he hath spoken things to excellent
purpose, he would not have those things lost, but out of mercy and com-
passion, mingled with a great deal of heavenly wisdom, would have the best
fruit of all he hath spoken. Which was the custom of the men of God in
the Scriptures, the Spirit of God leading them to strike the nail home ;
when they taught truths, to lay the word close upon the conscience, as-
much as they could. Wliat is the whole book of Deuteronomy, as the
word significth,* but a repeating of the former laws ? Mosos thought all tO'
* Deuteronomy, i.e., AiVTisovo/JLiov = the Law again or repeated. — G.
412 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XTV.
no purpose, unless he repeated laws, and fastened them upon the soul. So
our Saviour Christ still when he had spoken excellent things, saith, ' Let
him that hath ears to hear, hear,' Mat. xi. 15. So saith Jeremiah, ' Who
is wise to consider these things ?' Jer. \z. 12 ; and the conclusion of that
excellent psalm is just thus, ' Who is wise to consider these things ? ' Ps.
cvii. 43. And saith Moses, ' 0 that they were wise, that they would think
of these things,' &c., Deut. xxxii. 29. So everywhere in Scripture you
have such fastening of things, where truths have been spoken, in applica-
tion of them ; which doth justify the course of God's messengers in bring-
ing the word home unto men's consciences, because that which is spoken
loosely in general, no man applieth in particular to himself. We who are
messengers of God must therefore bring things home to the conscience.
' Who is wise, and he shall understand these things,' &c.
But that which more nearly concerneth us is, whereas first of all he pro-
pounds this exhortation, to regard these things under this holy acclamation,
' Who is wise, and who is prudent ? ' we see, first of all,
Obs. That there are hut few ivho are truhj wise and prudent.
Few that enter the right way ; for our Saviour sheweth that ' narrow is
this way, and few there be that find it,' Mat. vii. 14. The point needs not
much proof, it is so plain and well known ; wherefore it is now touched
only, making way to other things. The reason hereof is clear.
Reason. Most men, we see, live by sense, will, and passion, and not by
faith, whereby they enthral the wisdom they have, and make it prisoner to
sinful passions and afiections, rejecting thoughts of their own future happi-
ness ; and though it behove them in this world to be broken of their will,
yet they will have it here, though they perish and be damned for it here-
after. This is the state of the unbroken heart of man, till he have gTace in
him. Yea, it is the state of all men, especially those that are pufied up,
either by their own place, humour, or the flattery of others. They will
have their will. Mens mihi pro regno, as one said. Now, this being the
proud, poisonful nature of man, we must not think it a strange thing that
there are so few wise and prudent ; for a man cannot be wise and passionate ;
for his passion transforms him to be a beast, a devil. Now, because most
men live by sense and by humour, which is a life they are nuzzled* in
(especially those that are subject to flatterers), therefore few come to be
truly wise and prudent, to have so much steadiness and sobriety of spirit
as to deliberate what is to be done. They will not in cold blood give
leisure to their humours (but feed them), to consider what is best. This
being the humour of the world, no wonder that there be so few prudent and
wise.
Use 1. Since things are thus, learn this of it. If there be so few prudent
and wise, as the prophets complain in all times, ' To whom is the arm of
the Lord revealed? and who hath beHeved our report?' &c., Isa. liii. 1,
then take heed of living hy example, that we be not led away with the sway
and error of the times ; for seeing there are few ' wise and prudent,' it is
better and safer to follow one man reformed by judgment than a thousand
others. One man is worth a thousand, who is led with judgment and by the
Spirit of God.
Use 2. And likewise take no scandal\ if you see men run xipon heaps in the
broad and u-orst way, for that men have always done. It is the complaint of
all the prophets in all times, calling the better sort few. ' As the grapes
after the vintage, like a few scattered ears of corn after harvest,' Isa. xvii.
* lliat is, ' nursed.'— G. f That is, ' let it not be a stumbling-block.'— G,
HOSEA XrV. 9. J THE RETURNING BAUESLIDER. 413
5, G. ' One of a city, and two of a tribe, a few of all,' Jcr. iii. 14. There-
fore now let us seal this truth with this exhortation.
Use 3. That we labour to be of that few that are titdy wise and prudent.
Examine, arc we of those few or not, and what have we in us that may
secure us to be of this small number ? for if wc be not, we shall never be
saved. For Christ's flock ' is a little flock,' Luke xii. 32 ; and few there
be that shall enter in at that strait gate. What hast thou, then, which
may discover unto thine own soul that thou art of that number, and not of
the common multitude that shall be damned ? It is a thing worth the
inquiring of our souls. What have we in us that may characterise us to
be God's true servants, Christ's true children, and members of the church ?
and never rest in a common persuasion of common grace, which castaways
may have as well as we. We must strive for some distinct grace, that
reprobates cannot attain unto.
' Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? pradent,' &c.
But to come more particularly to the words, ' Who is wise, and he shall
understand these things ? ' The holy man of God here in his exhortation,
naming wisdom, singling out ' wise and prudent ' men, ' Who is wise, and
who is prudent ?' he toucheth men upon the quick, right vein ; for who is
there that would not be thought wise and prudent ? A corrupt man naturally
rather desires to be thought sinful than weak; judge him as you will, so you
judge him not to be an unwise, an unpradent man. A proud man, till he be
subdued and humbled, had rather be thought dishonest than simple, because
if he be dishonest, he thinks it is out of choice ; but to be simple, this argueth
impeufcction, and not freedom and bravery of spirit. Therefore, it being
the natural desire and instinct of all men to be thought wise and to be so, he
endeavom-s to work upon that afiection in them, ' Who is wise ? ' &c. Well,
saith he, I know you all desire to be thought ' wise and prudent men.'
Would you make it good that you are so indeed ? Believe my sayings ! This
is the way ; whosoever is wise, let him understand these things; and he that
is prudent let him hearken to these things that I have spoken.
Man at first, when he had communion with wisdom itself, was a wise
creature till he hearkened to Satan, and so lost all, ' becoming as the beasts
which perish,' Ps. xlix. 12. Yet in that glorious building, since the corrup-
tion of nature, this amongst that rubbish is reserved, that above all things
there is a desii-e to be happy and wise, which two desires are naturally the
leading desires in men, to desire to do well, and to be wise. Therefore, the
prophet here, upon that which is loft m man's nature, takes advantage to
build true wisdom and knowledge indeed.
To come, then, in brief, to shew what this wisdom and prudence is ; for
there is some distinction between wisdom and prudence. Wisdom is a
heavenly light set up in the soul by the Spirit of God, whereby it discemeth
the general truths concerning God, ourselves, the state of the chm-ch, the
privileges of Christianity, and such like. In sum, it is a right, divine appre-
hension of spiritual truths.
And prudence: this is a kind of sharpness of spirit, whereby the Spirit of
God directs the soul, knowing the right general principles, to particular
cases. Prudence is an application of the general knowledge of general
things to particulars, and is an ordering of the life in particular exigencies
and cases in a right order, according to the direction of the Spirit, as we have
it, Prov. viii. 12, ' I wisdom dwell with prudence.' Divine wisdom, where-
soever it is, dwells with prudence ; that is, where God dolh enlighten the
understanding to conceive aright of the mysteries of salvation, there it
414 THE EETUKNING BACKSLIDER. [SeEMON XIV.
dwells with prudence ; that is, it directs the soul to an orderly carriage of
life towards God and man, and in regard of itself, every way as it should
do, in all estates, times, and conditions. That is meant here by prudence,
a particular gift whereby a man is fit to consult and deliberate of things in
particular to be done, in particular cases of conscience, and the like. Now,
wisdom and prudence, they are both together in God's people, howsoever
perhaps one is more excellent than another. Some are wiser, who have
a deeper search of truths in general ; and some are more prudent in their
ways, that are •^eaker Christians for the main general truths. Yet there is
not a good Christian but he hath so much prudence as will bring him to
heaven. But God giveth extraordinarj^ wisdom to some, because they are
leaders of others. Yet though in God's dispensation there be a difference,
yet in every Christian they are joined together. There is no Christian but
he is wise for himself, v/hich is prudence. This is, as it were, the salt
which seasoneth all other graces and knowledge whatsoever ; for what is
knowledge without discretion but a foolish humour ? what is patience but
blockishness if a man do not discern how, why, and upon what ground to
be patient ? what is religiousness without this but superstition ? and what
is zeal but an indiscreet heat, if it be not seasoned with this prudence ? yea,
and what is constancy itself but an indiscreet rigour and stiffness without
wit ? So that it is the seasoning of all other graces whatsoever, that which
puts bounds and measure unto all. Therefore, he joins it with wisdom,
* Who is wise? and who is prudent?' Good, as we say, consists of a whole,
entire cause, unto which must be occurrence* of all circumstances together.
One defect may make it to be sinful. So this is prudence, to observe a due
order, clothed with circumstances of the manner and season of every good
action and duty. Therefore, he joins here prudence, ' Who is wise, and
he shall understand these things ? prudent, and he shall know them ?'
Now, these be the two graces that lead and guide a man's life. There
must be first a general understanding and light of the soul, and then there
must be a particular light to apply this general to particulars. Prudence
is, as it were, the steward of the soul, which dispenseth the light thereof,
according to particular occasions.
Now, for wisdom and prudence, we will not insist long on them, only we
will draw towards a right discerning of them, squared and proportioned to
our understandings by resemblances of other things. For a man may know
what they are in divine things by some proportion to human things, vvhat
they are there as to give a little light to it.
1. He is a wise, prudent man in the world that wiU be sure to make the
greatest his friend. So God, being the greatest of all and most able to do
us good, he is a wise and prudent man that makes him his friend, and cares
not who he break with, so he break not with God.
2. And we account him also a wise and prudent man in the world, that,
like the wise steward in the gospel, provides for the worst times. What
course did he take for himself herein ? He provides for, as he foresees,
danger. Mat. xvi. 3. So spiritual wisdom and prudence will direct a man
what is best for his latter end, his eternal rest and happiness in another
world. Heavenly wisdom prefixeth tof a man a full view of his latter end,
and that which followeth thereupon in another world, and so makes him
provide beforehand and direct all things to that end. A wise man will not
have things to seek when he comes to make use of them, like the foolish
virgins, who had their oil to seek when they should have had it ready,
* That is, 'concurrence.' — G. t That is, 'sets before." — Ed.
HOSEA XrV. 9.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 415
Mat. XXV. 8. He is truly spiritually wise towards his latter end, that, as he
knows there is a state to come, so is truly prudent to have all things ready
against that time, that, considering the uncertainty of this life, he may not
be surprised unawares, like those glorious* virgins who had a lamp without
oil.
3. And amongst men he is also counted a wise and prudent man ihat
snakes a rvjht choice ; for this is wisdom when a man discerncth a differ-
ence, and answerably makes his choice. Simile mater crroris, saith one,
Likeness is the mother of error (?/). There is a hkeness between good and
bad in the world, and between truth and error. Now, he is a wise man
who is not catched with these resemblances, but disccrneth a difference be-
tween temporal and eternal things, shadows and substances, realities and
appearances of things, and suitably chooseth eternals before temporals, the
favour of God before the favour of men, and, in a word, those things which
concern everlasting happiness before those that are perishing. Wisdom is
seen in choice. B}- these few instances named, we may see what heavenly
wisdom and prudence is, by proportion of wisdom and prudence in earthly
things. Now, considering that there is a better state in another world than
in this, he must needs be a wise man that orders things so as that he may
not lose eternity. Most men in the world are penny-wise and pound-foolish,
as we say, wise to a particular end, to get particular favours and riches,
so to satisfy their intentions ; but for the main, which is wisdom indeed, to
look to their last estate and happiness, and to fit their actions and courses
that way, how few are wise to purpose ! How few provide for eternity !
Therefore, no marvel the prophet saith, ' ^Vho is wise ? and who is prudent?'
because men live by sense, and not by faith.
' Who is wise, and he shall understand these things ? prudent, and he
shall know them ? '
Obs. Now, the next thing to be observed hence is this, that the wise and
pnident only knoiv these, thinrjs. There must be wisdom and prudence be-
fore we can know divine truths, and make use of them.
Obs. And then observe further, that true wisdom and prudence carries men
to God's xcord. ' Who is wise to understand these things ? ' By divine
truth we grow\\ise and prudent, the Spirit joining with the same, and then
we come to make a right use of them. There must be first a spiritual
wisdom and prudence, enlightened by the Spirit, ere we can make use of
the word aright, to taste and relish it. Because, though the word be light,
yet light alone is not sufficient to cause sight, but there must concur unto
the outward light an inward sight. Grace must illuminate the understand-
ing, and put a heavenly light into the soul. As by the light within meet-
ing with the light without, the eye being the instrument of sight, applying
itself to the thing, thence comes sight. So there be divine truths out of
us, wherewith, when the Holy Ghost puts an inward light into the soul,
sanctified wisdom and prudence, then the inward light meeting with the
light without, we see and apprehend. The Spirit, therefore, must join
to work wisdom and prudence. Naturally we are aU dead, and have lost
our spiritual senses. Therefore the Spirit of God must work in us spiritual
senses, sight, and taste, that we may see, discern, and rehsh heavenly
things, which, ere we can do, there must be an harmony betwixt the soul
and the things ; that is, the soul must be made spiritual, answerable to the
heavenly things pitched upon, or else, if the soul be not set in a suitable
frame, it can never make a right use of them.
* That is, ' over-confident.' — Ed.
416 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. ^^SeRMON XIV.
Now, vfhen the understanding of a man is naade wise by the Spirit of
God, it will relish wisdom and prudence. For the Spirit of God, together
with the Scripture, takes the scales ofl' the eyes of the soul, subdues rebel-
lious passions in the affections, especially that rebellion of the will, putting
a new relish in all, so as they come to love, affect,* and joy in heavenly
things. Now, when these scales of spiritual blindness are fallen off the eyes
of the soul, and when rebellion is removed from the will and affections,
then it is fit to join and approve of heavenly things, else there is a con-
trariety and antipathy betwixt the soul and these things. As the body,
when the tongiie is affected with some aguish humour, cannot relish things
though they be never so good, but affecteth and relisheth all things suiting
that distemper ; so it is with the soul. When it is not enlightened it
judgeth all things cai-nally, there being an antipathy between the soul and
divine truths brought home unto it. Perhaps a soul not enlightened or
sanctified will apprehend the generalities of truth very well, but when they
are pressed home to practice, then, unless the soul be changed, it will rise
up and swell against divine truths, and reject the practice of them. With-
out subduing grace, to alter and change the soul, the afiections thereof are
like the March suns, ''which stir up a great many humours, but not spend-
ing them, they breed aguish humours and distempers. So the light of the
word in a carnal heart, it meets with the humours of the soul, and stirs
them ; but if there be not grace in the soul to subdue these affections, it
stirs them up to be the more malicious, especially if they be pressed to par-
ticular duties in leaving of sinful courses. So that the Spirit of God must
alter the understanding, and subdue the will and affections, ere there can
be a conceiving of divine truths savingly. Therefore, before these acts, he
joins these graces. ' Who is wise ? and who is prudent?' &c.
Use. The use hereof is thus much : Not to come to the divine tnith of
God with human affections and spirits, but to lift up our hearts to God.
Why, Lord, as things themselves are spiritual, so make me spiritual, thai
there may be a harmony between my soul and the things ; that as there is
a sweet relish in divine truths, so there may be a sweet taste in me, to
answer that relish which is in divine truths ; that the wisdom of thy word
and my wisdom may be one ! Then a man is wise. There is not the
commonest truth, or practical point in divinity, but it is a mystery, and must
be divinely understood, and must have prudence to go about it as we should
do. Repentance and the knowledge of sin, it is a mystery till a man be
sanctified in his understanding. He can never know what' spuitual misery
is till the inward man be enlightened and sanctified, to know what a contra-
riety there is between sin and the Spirit of God. As no man can know
thoroughly what sickness is but he that hath been sick ; for the physician
doth not know sickness so well as the patient who feels it ; so it is with a
holy man, sanctified with the Holy Ghost. Tell him of sin, he feels it, and
the noisomeness of it, the opposition of it to his comfort and communion
with God. Only the spiritual enlightened man can tell what repentance,
sin, sorrow for sin, and the spiritual health of the soul is. Therefore it is
said here, * Who is wise ? and who is prudent ? and he shall understand
these things.'
* That is, ' choose ' = cherish. — G. ,
HOSEA XIV. 9.] THE KETUENING BACKSLIDER. 417
THE FIFTEENTH SERMON.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these ihinrfs? j>^'udent, and he shall know
them ? for the ways of the Lord are rijlit, the just shall walk in them: but
the tra)isr/ressors shall fall therein. — Hos. XIV. 9.
At length, by dinne assistance, we are como unto the conclusion of this
short chapter, wherein the Holy Ghost, from God, hath shewed such bowels
of mercy and tender compassion unto miserable sinners, encouraging them
to return unto the Lord by many and several arguments, being formerly
insisted upon. Our last work was to shew you what wisdom and prudence
was, the difference of them, and how that none, without these endowments,
ai-e able to know and make use of divine truths and mysteries of religion.
' Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall
know them ?' &c.
We came then to shew, that there must be prudence and wisdom, before
we can understand divine truths ; there must be an illumination withiru
It is not sufficient to have the light of the Scripture outwardly, but thero
must be a light of the eye to see ; there must be wisdom and prudence
gathered from the Scriptures. Now, wisdom and prudence, if they be
divine, as here is meant, it is not a discreet managing of outward affairs of
om- personal condition, but an ordering of our course to heavenward.
Wherefore a man may know whether he be wise and prudent by his relish-
ing of divine truths, for otherwise he is not wise and prudent in these things
which are the main.
Now, having shewed that only the wise and prudent can conceive and
make a right use of these great things delivered, he comes to shew and
defend the equity of God's ways, how crooked soever they seem to flesh
and blood. These things ought to be hearkened unto, because they are the
ways of God.
* The ways of the Lord ai'e right.'
By irays here, he understandeth the whole law and gospel, the whole
word of God ; which he calleth riyht, not only because,
1. They are righteous in themselves ; but,
2. Because they refonn whatsoever is amiss in us, and rectify us ; and
3. Work whatsoever is needful for our good and salvation.
Now more particularly, God's ways are,
1. Those ways wherein he walks to us ; or,
2. The ways that he prescribes us to walk in ; and,
3. Our ways, as they are conformable to his.
Any of these are the ways of God ; of all which more hereafter.
1. The ivays ivherein he xvalks to ^is, because many of them are untrace-
able, as unsearchable to us, are not here meant ; as those of election, pre-
destination and reprobation ; the reasons whereof, if we take them compara-
tively, cannot be searched out. Why God should take one and nol another,
it is an unsearchable way. But take a man single, out of comparison, the
ways of God will appear to be right, even in that harsh decree which many
men stumble so much at. For none are ever brought in the execution of
that decree to be damned, but you shall see ' the ways of the Lord right,'
who a long time together offers them a great deal of mercy, which they re-
fusing, and resisting the Holy Ghost, taking wilfully contrary courses, work
out their own danmation. So that at length the issue of those unsearch-
VOL. II. D d
418 THE RETURKING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XV,
able ways will appear to be rigbt in every particular ; howsoever the com-
parative reason at the first, why God singles out one man and not another,
will not appear.
2. As for the tvays of his providence, in governing the world, and ruHng
of his church, this is the way of God which is right ; all which ways, though
we cannot in all particulars see in this world, yet in heaven, in the light of
glory, we shall see what cannot now be seen in the light of grace and nature.
For there be mysteries in providence. Who can tell the reason why, of
men equally good, one should be sorely afflicted, and the other should go
to heaven without any affliction in a smooth way ? None can give a reason
of it ; but we must subscribe to the hidden wisdom of God, whose ways are
unsearchable in his providence. Yet are they most right, though they be
above our conceit. If we could conceive all God's ways, then they were
not God's ways ; for in his ways to us, he will so carry them, as he will
shew himself to be above and beyond our shallow conceits.
But the ways especially here meant, are the ways which he prescribes us
to walk in ; and they are,
1. What we must beUeve ; and then,
2. ^Vhat we must do. There is.
First, obedience of faith, and then obedience of life.
These are God's ways prescribed in the word, and only in the word.
3. Now our ivays, when they join with GocVs ways, that is, when our life,
purposes and desires of the inner-man, in our speeches, carriage, and con-
versation, agree with God's ways, then in some sort they are God's ways,
' the just shall walk in them.' They shall walk in these ways, that is, in
those ways which God prescribeth. As for those ways wherein God walks
to us, we have not so much to do here to consider them. But by walking
in the ways which he prescribes, we shall feel that his ways to us will be
nothing but mercy and truth. ' The ways of the Lord are right,' Ps. cxlv.
17. Those ways that he prescribes to men to be believed and done, they
are right and straight, that is, they are agreeable to the first rule of all.
Right is the judgment and will of God. He is the first truth and the first
good ; the prime truth and good, which must rule all others, mensura men-
surans, as they use to speak in schools ; the measure that measures all
other things. For all other things are only so far right, as they agree to
the highest measure of all, which is God's appointment and will. So the
ways of God are said to be right ; because they agree to his word and will.
They are holy and pure, as himself is just, pure, and holy.
* The ways of the Lord are right.'
Right, as they agree to that which is right and straight ; and right like-
wise, because they lead directly to a right end. We know a right line is
that which is the shortest between two terms. That which leads from point
to point, is the shortest of all other lines. So God's u-ays are right and
straight. There are no other ways which tend directly to happiness, with-
out error, but God's ways ; all other ways are crooked ways. So God's
ways are right, as they look to God, and as they look unto all other inferior
courses. They are right to examine all our ways by, being the rule of them.
And they are right, as they look to God's will, and are ruled by him.
' The ways of the Lord are right.'
Hence observe we in the first place, that the first thing we should look
to in our conversation, must be to know this for a ground.
Obs. That man is not a jnresaiber oj his own way, and that no creature's
will is a rule.
HOSEA XIV. 9.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 419
We must embrace, therefore, no opinion of any man, or any course en-
joined or prescribed b;>- any man, further than it agrees with the first truth
and the first right. God's ways are right ; right as a standard, that is, a
measure to measure all other measures by. So God's will and truth re-
vealed is a right rule, and the measure of all other rules whatsoever. Direc-
tions therefore, which we have of things to be beheved and done from men,
must be no further regarded than as they agree with the first standard.
Therefore they are mistaken, and desperately mistaken, that make any
man's will a rule, unless it be subordinate to that which is higher, at which
time it becometh all one with the higher rule. AVhen a man subordinates
his directions to God's, then God's and his are all one. Otherwise without
this subordination, we make men gods, when we make their will a rule of
our obedience. * The ways of the Lord are right.' But of this only a
touch by the way ; the main point hence is.
Obs. The u-ord of the Lord is every ivay perfect, and brings its to per-
fection.
As we may see at large proved, Ps. xix. 7, &c., where whatsoever is good,
comfortable, profitable or delightful, either for this life or the life to come,
is all to be had from thence. And the wise man saith, * Every word of God
is pure,' &c., Prov. xxx. 5 : a similitude taken from gold, which is fined
till it be pure, as it is expressed in another place, ' The words of the Lord
are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, and purified seven
times,' Ps. xii. 6. And so the apostle to Timothy. ' All Scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for re-
proof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works,' 2 Tim. iii. IG.
Use 1. Since then the ways of God are so right, just, pure, and perfect,
this is first for reproof of them that add hereunto ; as our Romish adversaries,
who do herein, by their traditions and additions, condemn God either of
want of wisdom, love, and goodness, or of all. So as all defects charged
upon the word, are charged upon God himself, who did not better provide
and foresee for his church what was good for it. But the wise man con-
demneth this their audacious boldness, where he saith, * Add thou not unto
his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar,' Prov. xxx. G.
They bar reading of the Scriptm-es, or to read them in English especially,
lest the people become heretics. They think it safe to read their own
books and idle dreams, but reject the word of God, and then, as Jeremiah
speaks, ' "\Miat wisdom is in them ?' Jer. viii. 9. Surely none at all ; for
the only wisdom is, to be governed by God's most holy word.
Use 2. Again, it is for instruction unto us, to rest and rely upon this so
holy, right, pure, and perfect word. Since it is so sure and finn, we are to
rest upon the promises, and tremble at the threatenings, though we see not
present performance of them, because not one of them shall fail. For,
saith Christ, * Heaven and earth shall pass away, but one jot and tittle of
the law shall not fail,' Matt. v. 28. "What maketh so many judgments to
overtake men, but their unbelief? what made their carcases to fall in the
wilderness, so as they could not enter into the land of Canaan, but their
unbelief ? for, saith the text of them, ' They could not enter, because of
unbelief,' Heb. iii. 19. Lifidelity, and not belienng God, is the root and
cause of all our woe. It began with our first parents, and it cleaveth too
close unto us, even unto this day. This cometh from our atheism and self-
love ; that if a mortal man promise or swear unto us, we believe him, and
rest UDon his word ; but all that the great God can do unto us by pro-
420 THE RETUENING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XV.
mises, commandments, threatenings, allurements, and gracious examples,
will not make us give credit to his word, but rather believe Satan, and our
own false and deceitful hearts. As, for instance, God hath promised, that
* if our sins were as red as scarlet, yet he will make them whiter than the
snow,' Isa. i. 18 ; though they be never so strong for us, yet he hath pro-
mised ' to subdue them,' Micah vii. 19. If our wants be never so great,
yet if we will trust in God, he hath promised to reheve us, and hath said,
' that he will not fail us nor forsake us,' Isa. 1. 10 ; Heb. xiii. 5, if we cast
om* care upon him. So, for the threatenings, we must believe that there
is never a one of them but they shall come to pass, as sure as the promises
shall be made good. If these thoughts were firmly settled in us, that ' the
ways of the Lord are right,' and therefore must be all accomplished in their
time, it would make us restless to fly from sin, and the punishments threat-
ened, which all ' lie at the door,' Gen. iv. 7, and will quickly be upon us,
if they be not avoided by sound and hearty repentance.
Use 3. Lastly, if every commandment be right, sure, and just, then when
God commandeth do it, though the apparent danger be never so gi'eat,
and though it be never so contrary to flesh and blood, pleasure, profit,
or preferment, yet know it is firm and sure, and that our happiness stands
in doing it, our misery in disoheyinrj it, — as we know it was with Adam.
What a sudden change did his disobedience work in himself, all the world
since being leavened with that miserable contagious fall of his ! And for
the whole world this is a general, we never want any good, but for want of
love and obedience unto it. ' Great prosperity shall they have,' saith
David, ' who love thy law, and no evil shall come unto them,' Ps. cxix. 165.
And we never had nor shall have any hurt, but from our unbelief and dis-
obedience to the holy, pure, and perfect word of God, which is attended
with comfort and prosperity here, and endless glory hereafter.
' The ways of the Lord are right.'
In the next place, if the ways of the Lord be right and straight, so
straight that they lead directly to the right end, then it is clear,
Obs. That the best way to come to a good and right end, is to take God's
xvays. For it is a right way, and the right way is always the shortest way.
Therefore, when men take not God's ways, prescriptions, and courses, they
go wide about, and seldom or never come to their intended end. God's way
is the right way, and therefore brings a man to his right end. Sometimes
men will have their turnings, their diverticula, and vagaries, but they find by
experience that God's ways they are the right ways, so as they never attain
to comfort and peace until they come again into those ways. God until
then sufiereth them to be snared and hampered, and to eat the fi'uit of their
own ways, and then they see the difierence of God's ways and theirs,
and that God's ways are the best, and the straightest ways unto true hap-
piness.
Indeed, God sufiers sometimes men that will have their own ways to
come quickly to them, as some men hasten to be rich, and God suffers
them to be rich hastily : yet they are none of God's ways which they take,
but climb up by fraud and deceit. Aye, but that is only a particular end
which God sufiereth them to attain by byeways ; but what will be the up-
shot ? Where will all these ways end at length ? Surely in hell. For when
a man goes out of the right, and straight, and direct wa}^ to be great in the
world, he is like a man who goes out of his way, which is further about ;
who yet, when he is in that way, goes on through thick and thin, because he
will gain some way. He goes on through thickets and hedges, fair and
HOSEA XIV. 9.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 421
foul, -where he gets many scratches, brushes and knocks. Doth any think
in the world to attain his particular ends without* the direct ways of God ?
God may suffer him to attain his particular end, but with many flaws,
knocks, and brushes upon his conscience, which many times he carrieth
with him imto his grave ; and finds it a great deal better, both to attain
imto his particular ends by God's ways, and to have no more of anything
in the world than he can have with a good conscience. For, though they bo
good men, ofttimcs God suffers such men to have bruises in their conscience
all their days, that they and others may know that the best way is the
straight and right way, which at last will bring us best to our end.
Having thus made it good, * that the ways of the Lord are right,' now,
for conclusion of all, the prophet begins to shew the divers effects these
right ways of God have in two sorts of people, the godly and wicked.
I. The just shall walk in them :
n. That the transgressors shall fall therein.
I. The just shall walk in them. Who be the just men here spoken of?
Such are just men who give to every one their due ; that give God his due
in the first place, and man in the second place, whereby it is framed. ' The
just shall walk in them ;' that is, they shall proceed and go on in them till
they be come to the end of their race, the salvation of their souls. And,
more particularly,
(1.) Just men first, are such, ivho have respect unto all God's command-
inents, Ps. cxix. G. Though in their disposition they find some more hard
to them than others, yet they do not allow themselves to break any, but
strive so much the more earnestly and constantly to observe them, as they
find their natures opposite to them. Now hypocrites, howsoever they do
many things in show, yet, like Herod and Judas, their hearts run in a
wrong channel ; they allow themselves to live in, and like of some sin. The
^•oung man in the gospel had not a respect unto all God's commandments,
though Christ loved his amiable parts, Mat.x. 21. To this pinrpose James saith,
' Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is
guilty of all,' James ii. 10. That is, he who alloweth himself in any one
sin, he is guilty of all. Ask Judas, Is murder good ? He would have said,
no : but he was covetous, and allowed himself in it, and so drew upon him
the guilt of all the rest. God is he who forbids sinning against them all.
He who forbids one, forbids aU ; and being rightly turned to God, the same
authority makes us leave all. It is not sin, but the allowance of it, that
makes an hypocrite.
(2.) Again, they do things to a good end, the glory of God, and the good
of man. For want hereof, the alms, prayers, and fasting of the scribes and
Pharisees (because they did nothing out of love to God or man, but for vain-
glory' and carnal respects), are condemned of Christ. So some are brought
in at the last day, saying, ' Lord, Lord, have we not in thy name pro-
phesied, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many won-
derful works,' Mat. vii. 22 ; and yet Christ professeth not to know them,
but calleth them ' workers of iniquity.' They had gifts and calling, and
delivered true doctrine, &c. But here was their failing, ' They prophesied
in his name, but not for his name.' Their actions were good in them-
selves, and for others, but the end of them was naught, and therefore both
they and their works are condemned. Yet this is not so to be understood,
but that God's children have some thoughts of vainglory, which accom-
panieth and crcepeth into their best actions ; but they do acknowledge this
* That is, ' outside of.' — Ed.
422 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XV.
for a sin, confess it, and desire the Lord to pardon and subdue it, and then
it shall never be laid to their charge. Because having of infirmities is not
contrary to sincerity, but allowing of them, and living in them ; in which
case the Lord is more pleased with our humiliation for our sin, than the
motions to vainglory did ofi'end him.
(3.) Thirdly, a desire to rjrow in grace, and to become better and better, is
a sign of uprightness. Christian righteousness, as it sees still need, so it
still desires more grace and less sin ; because he who hath a true heart,
seeth both the want and worth of grace, and feeleth his want. A man feels
not the want of faith, humility, and love, till he have it in some sort, as it
is said, Philip, iii. 15, 'As many as are perfect are thus minded,' to wit,
so many as are upright : all is one.
(4.) Lastly, this just uprightness is known by love of the brethren. * By
this we know we are translated from death to life, because we love the
brethren,' 1 John iii. 14. Contraiy to which is that disposition which
envieth at all things which suits not with their humours : as James speaketh
of those who prefer men, and have their persons in admiration, in regard
of outward things, despising inferiors, James ii. 2.
Use 1. If therefore we will ever be counted righteous persons, let us
keep these rules set down here, have a respect to all God's commandments,
do all things to the glory of God, desu'e to grow in grace, and love the
brethren.
2. And so it is also for consolation unto such who are thus qualified ;
for unto them belongeth all the promises of this life, and of that to come.
They are in a blessed estate, for * all things are theirs,' 1 Cor. iii. 21,
because they are Christ's. Therefore it is their bounden duty, having an
upright heart, to rejoice in God, as the prophet speaks : ' Rejoice in the
Lord, ye righteous, for praise is comely for the upright,' Ps. xxxiii. 1 ; Iii.
9. None have cause to rejoice but upright men.
1. Because they of all others have title and right to joy. 2. Because
they have command to do it, seeing heaven is theirs. All the promises
are theirs, and they are heirs of all things. It is a comely service, and
the work of heaven.
Ohj. Against this some object. Oh, but I find many sins, passions, and
infirmities in myself ; how then can I joy in God ?
Alls. To this we answer briefly, that the passions and infirmities of
God's servants are not contrary to Christian uprightness and righteousness ;
for St James saith, that ' Elias was a man subject to like passions and
infirmities as we are,' James v. 17, yet he was a righteous man, though
a man subject to the like passions as we are. Therefore the passions of
Christians are not contrary to Christian, but to legal, righteousness. But
* we are not under the law, but under grace,' Rom. vi. 15. The first
covenant of works bids us have no sin ; the other covenant bids us allow
no sin. Thus much is for that question. What is meant by just men ? It
remains now that we should further inquire into that mystery, how it is
that just men walk in the ways of God, and prosper therein, when yet
wicked men, called ' transgressors,' fall therein. But this being a mystery,
by your patience we will take time to unfold what we have to speak hereof
the next time, if God be so pleased.
HOSEA XIY. 9. J THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 428
THE SIXTEENTH SERMON.
The ways of the Lord are right : the just shall walk in them ; hut the trans-
gressors shall fall therein. — Hos. XIV. 9.
God's children have their times of deadness and desertion, and again their
times of quickening and rejoicing. Weeping doth not always remain unto
them for their portion, ' but joy cometh in the morning,' Ps. xxx. 5. In
the worst times the saints have always some comforts afi'orded them, which
supporteth them against all the storms and tempests they endure. They
have always a Goshen, Exod. ix. 22, to fly to. Others shall perish in
that way, wherein they shall walk and escape.
* The just shall walk in them, but the transgressors shall fall therein.'
Thus far we are now come in the unfolding of this chapter, having shewed
God's rich and incomparable mercies to miserable and penitent sinners ;
how ready God is to embrace such, as this rebellious people named were,
with all the arguments used to make them return unto the Ijord. We are
now come at last unto the upshot of all, a discovery of the several efiects
and works God's word hath upon both sorts of people here named and
aimed at.
' The just shall walk in them, but the transgressors shall fall therein.'
These were veiy bad times ; yet there were just men, who walked in tho
ways of God : so that we see- —
In the icorst times, God mil have always a people that shall justify wisdom.
God will have it thus, even in the worst times, that ' the just shall walk
in them.' Though before he saith, ' "Who is wise ? and who is prudent ?'
yet here he shews that there shall be a number who shall ' walk in God's
ways,' who though they go to heaven alone, yet to heaven they will.
Though they have but a few that walk in God's ways with them, they will
rather go with a few that way, than with the wdcked on the broad way to
hell. Alway God hath some who shall walk in his way ; for if there were
not some alway who were good, the earth would not stand ; for good men
they are the pillars of the world, who uphold it. It is not for wicked men's
sake that God upholds the frame of the creatures, and that orderly govern-
ment. We see aU is to gather together the number of his elect, of whom
in some ages there are more, and in some less, of them born, thereafter as
God breathes and blows with his Spirit. For according to the abundant
working of the Spirit, is the number of the elect. Yet in all ages there are
some, because it is an article of our faith, to believe ' a holy catholic
church.'* Now it cannot be an article of faith, unless there were alway some
that made this cathohc church ; for else there should be an act of faith,
without an object. Therefore we may always say, I believe that there are
a number of elect people that walk in the ways of God to heaven-wards.
And what is the disposition of these some ? To have a counter motion
to those of the times and places they live in. Some are foolish, not carjng
for the ways of God, caviUing at them. But the 'just shall walk in them,'
that is, they take a contrary course to the world, that slights wisdom.
Thus in all times it is the disposition of God's children to go contrary to
the world in the greatest matters of all. They indeed hold correspondency,
in outward things, but for the main they have a contrary motion. As wo
say of the planets, that they have a motion contrary to the wrapt motion.
* Creed, Article IX. Cf. Pearson and Smith, in loc — G.
424 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XVI:
Being carried and laurried about every twenty-four hours with the motion
sf the heavens, they have another motion and circuit of their own, which
ihey pass also. So it is with God's people : though in their common
carriage they be carried with the common customs and fashions of the
times, yet they have a contrary motion of their own, whereby being carried
by the help of God's Spirit, they go on in a way to heaven, though the
world discern it not. They have a secret contrary motion, opposite to the
sins and corruptions of the age and times they live in. Therefore, in all
ages it is observed for a commendation to go on in a contrary course to
the present times. Noah in his time, Lot in his time, and Paul in his
time, who complains, ' All men seek their own,' Philip, ii. 21. It is a
strange thing that Paul should complain of aU men seeking their own, even
then when the blood of Christ was so warm, being so lately shed, and the
gospel so spread ; yet ' all men seek their own.' And he speaks it with
tears ; but what became of Paul, and Timothy, and the rest ? ' But our
conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for the Savioui*, the Lord
Jesus Christ,' &c., Philip, iii. 20. Let all men seek their own here below,
as they will, we have our conversation contrary to the world. ' Our con-
versation is in heaven,' &c. So that they hold out God's truth in the
midst of a crooked and perverse generation, that is, when every man takes
crooked ways and courses in carnal policy ; yet there are a company that
notwithstanding walk in the right ways of God, clean contrary to others.
The just will walk in the right ways of God. As holy Joshua said,
' Choose you what you will do, but howsoever, I and my father's house will
serve the Lord,' Josh. xxiv. 15. So when many fell from Christ for a fit,
because his doctrine seemed harsh, Peter justified that way. When Christ
asked him. Will ye also leave me with the rest who are oflended ? ' Lord,*
saith he, ' whither shall we go ? ' We have tasted the sweetness of the
word, and felt the power thereof : ' Whither shall we go, Lord ? thou hast
the words of eternal life,' John vi, 68. So God's people have an affection,
carriage, and course, contrary to the world.
Reason. The reason is taken from their own disposition; they are par-
takers of the divine nature, 2 Pet. i. 4, which carrieth them up to God-
wards against the stream and current of the time.
Use. The use hereof, shall be only a trial of ourselves in evil times,
whether or not then, we justify God's icays and the best things. If we do, it
is a sign we are of the number of God's elect, to defend and maintain good
causes and right opinions, especially in divine truths, which is the best cha-
racter of a Christian. Others in their own sphei'e have their degree of
goodness, but we speak of supernatural divine goodness. A man may
know he belongs to God, if he justify wisdom in the worst times, if he stand
for the truth to the utmost, thinking it of more price than his life. It is
the first degree to religion, ' to hate father and mother, wife and children,
and all for the gospel,' Luke xiv. 26. Now when a man will justify the
tnith, with the loss of anything in the world, it is a sign that man is a good
man in ill times.
Therefore, in ill times let us labour to justify truth, both the truth of
things to be believed, and all just religious courses, not only in case of
opposition being opposed, but in example, though we say nothing. Noah
condemned the world, though he spake not a word, by making an ark, Heb.
xi. 7 ; so Lot, Sodom, though he told not all Sodom of their faults. So a
man may justify good things, though he speak not a word to any man, for
auch a one's life is a confutation and sufficient witness for God against the
H0f,J:-.\ \1.T. 9.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 425
world. Therefore it is go;>(l, though a man do not confront the world in
his speeches, yet notwithstanding, at least to hold a course contrary- to the
world in his conversation. We have need of a gi'cat deal of courage to do
this ; hut there is no heavenly wise man, hut he is a courageous man.
Though in his own spii'it ho may be a weak man, yet in case of opposition, grace
will bo above nature, he will shew then his heavenly wisdom and prudence,
and of what metal he is made, by justifying wisdom in all times, ' The just
shall walk therein.' But to come more directly to the words,
' The just shall walk in them.'
A just and righteous man that is made just by them, shall walk in them.
Hence we may observe,
Obs. That Jirst men must have spiritual life, and be just, before they can
n-allc. Walking is an action of life. There must be life before there can be
walking. A man must first have a spiritual life, whereby he may be just,
and then he will walk as a just man. For, as we say of a bowl,* it is
Austin's comparison, it is first made round, and then it runs round ; so a
man is first just, and then he doth justly. It is a conceit of the papists,
that good works do justify a man. Luther says well, that ' a good man
doth good works.' Good works make not the man. Fruit makes not the
tree, but the tree the fruit. So we are just first, and then we walk as just
men. We must labour to be changed and to have a principle of spiritual
hfe ; then we shall walk and have new feet, eyes, taste, ears, and senses ; all
shall then be new.
Again, in the second place, the necessity of it appears hence, that there
must be fii-st spiritual life in the inward man, ere a man can walk, because
there will not else be a harmony and correspondency betwixt a man and his
ways. A man will not hold in those ways that he hath an antipathy to ;
therefore, his nature must be altered by a higher principle, before he can
like and delight in the ways of God. This is that which God's children
desire first of God, that he would alter their natures, enlighten, change and
quicken them, work strongly and powerfully in them, that they may have
a sympathy and liking unto all that is good ; first they are just, and then
they walk in God's ways.
' The just shall walk in them.'
Obs. In the next place, we may observe hence, that a just man, he being
the 2)rudent and wise man, he walks in God's uatjs. That is, spiritual wis-
dom and prudence, together with grace, righteousness, and justice, they
lead to walking in obedience. Let no man therefore talk of grace and wis-
dom or prudence altering him, further than he makes it good by his walk-
ing. He that is just, walks as a just man ; he that is wise, walks wisely ;
he that is prudent, walks prudently, ■\\1iich is spoken to discover hypo-
crisy in men, that would be thought to be good Christians and wise men,
because they have a great deal of speculative knowledge. Aye, but look we
to our ways, let them shew whether we be wise or foolish, just or unjust.
' If a man be wise, he is wise for himself,' Prov. ix. 12, as Solomon saith,
to direct his own ways ; ' The wisdom of the wise, is to understand his own
way that he is to walk in,' Prov. xiv. 8. If a man have not wisdom to
direct his way in particular, to walk to heavenward, he is but a fool. For
a man to know so much as shall condemn him, and be a witness against
him, and yet not know so much as to save him, what a misci-able thing is
this ? Now all other men that know much, and walk not answerable, they
.know so much as to condemn them, and not to save them. Our Saviour
* That is, a 'ball' for bowling.— G
42G THE RETUKNING BACKSHDEB. [SeEMON XVI»
Christ he calleth such ' foolish builders,' Matt. vii. 27, that know and will
not do ; so unless there be a walking answerable to the wisdom and pru-
dence prescribed, a man is but a foolish man.
Therefore let it be a rule of trial, would we be thought to be wise and
prudent, just and good ? Let us look to our ways. Are they God's ways ?
Do we delight in these ways, and make them our ways ? Then we are
wise, prudent, and just.
' The just shall walk in them.
As the just shall walk in them, so whosoever walks in them are just,
wise, and prudent ; for is not he prudent, who Walks in those ways that
lead directly to eternal happiness ? Is not he a wise man, that walks by
rule in those ways where he hath God over him, to be his protector, ruler,
and defender ? Is not he a wise man, who walks in those ways that fits
him for all conditions whatsoever, prosperity or adversity, life or death, for
all estates ? He that walks therefore in God's ways, must be the only wise
man.
Now, what things doth this walking in the ways of God imply ?
1. First, perspicuity. Those who walk in the ways of God, they discern
those ways to be God's ways, and discern them aright.
2. Then when they discern them to be God's good ways, answerably
they proceed in them from stej) to step ; for every action is a step to heaven or
to hell. So a just man, when he hath discovered a good way, he goes on still.
3. And then he keeps an uniform course, for so he doth who walks on in
a way. He makes not indentures^" as he walks, but goes on steadily in an
uniform course to a right end. So a just man, when he hath singled out
the right way, he goes on in that steadily and uniformly.
4. And likewise where it is said, the just walks in them, it implies re-
solution to yo on. in thos'' icays till he come to the end, though there be never
BO much opposition.
But how shall we know whether we go on in this way or not ?
First, he that goes on in a way, the further he hath proceeded therein,
looking back, that ichich he leaves behind sceyns lesser and lesser in his eye
and that which he goes to greater and greater. So a man may know his pro-
gress in the ways of God, when earthly profits and pleasures seem little, hia
former courses and pleasures seeming now base unto him. When heaven
and heavenly things seem near unto him, it is a sign he is near heaven,
near in time, and nearer in disposition and in wisdom to discern, because
the best things are greatest in his eye and esteem. In this case, it is a sign
that such a one is removed from the world, and is near unto heaven, having
made a good progress in the ways of God.
It implies likewise in the second place, an uniform course of life. Such a
one doth not duties by starts now and then, but constantly. Therefore we
must judge of men by a tenure of life, what their constant ways are. Some-
times though they be good men, they may step away into an ill way, and
yet come in again. Sometimes an ill man may cross a good way, as a thief
when he crosseth the highway, or a good man steps out of the vray ; but
this is not their way, they are both out, and to seek, of their way. A wicked
man when he speaks of good things, he is out of his way ; he acts a part
and assumes a person he is unskilful to act ; therefore he doth it untowardly..
But a man's way is his course. A good man's way is good, though his
startings be ill ; and an ill man's way is naught, though for passion, or for
by-ends, he may now and then do good things. Therefore, considering.
* That is, ' zigzags.' — Ed.
HOSEA XIV. 9.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 427
that the walking in the ways of God is uniform and orderly ; let us judge
of ourselves by the tenure of our life, and course thereof. And let those
poor souls who think they are out of the way, because they run into some
infirmities now and then, comfort themselves in this, that God judgeth not
by single actions, but according to the tenure of a man's life, what he is. For
oftentimes God's children gain by their slips, which makes them look the
more warily to their ways for ever after that. He that walks in the way
to heaven, if he be a good man, he looks to make surer footing in the ways
of God after his slips and falls. He labours also to make so much the
more haste home, being a gainer by all his slips and falls. Let none there-
fore be discouraged, but let them labour that their ways and courses may
be good, and not only so, but to be uniform, orderly, and constant, and then
they may speak peace to their own souls, being such as are here described,
* The just shall walk in them.'
Third, again, he that will walk aright in God's ways, he must be resolute
against all opposition ivliatsoever, for we meet with many lets, hindrances,
and scandals,* to drive us out of the way. Sometimes the ill lives of those
who walk in these ways, sometimes their slips and falls, sometimes perse-
cution, and our own natures, are full of scandals, subject to take this and
that ofience, and then we arc ready to be snared on the right hand, or
feared and scared on the left. And our nature, so far as it is unsanctified,
is prone to catch, and ready to join with the world ; therefore we have need
of resolution of spu'it and determination. As David, ' I have determined,
0 Lord, and I will keep thy laws ; I have sworn that I will keep thy right-
eous judgments,' Ps. cxix. lOG. This is a resolute determination.
Fourth, and then again, pray to God with David that he would direct our
n-nijs. ' Oh, that my ways were so directed to keep thy laws !' Ps. cxix. 3.
1 see that my nature is ready to draw me away to evil, and perverse crooked
courses. I see, though I determine to take a good course, that there is
much opposition ; therefore, good Lord, direct me in my course, direct thou
my thoughts, words, and carriage. Therefore, that we may walk stedfastly,
let us resolve with settled determination, praying to God for strength ;
otherwise resolution, with dependence on our own power, may be a work of
the flesh. But resolve thus, these are right ways and straight, they lead to
heaven, happiness, and glory ; therefore I will walk in them, whatsoever
come of it. We have aU the discouragement which may hinder us in the
ways of God. For as we ai'e travellers, so we are soldiers, warfaring men
that meet with many rubs, thorns. Therefore to walk amidst such danger-
ous ways we must be well shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace,
that is, patience, and reasons taken from thence. God hath provided
spiritual armour in the word against all oppositions that meet with us, so
that by resolution and prayer to him, using his means, we may go through all.
Now for a further help for us to walk constantly and resolutely in the
ways of God.
1. Take first the help of good company. If we see any man to walk in a
good way, let him not walk alone, but let us join ourselves with those that
walk in God's ways ; for why doth God leave us not only his word to direct us
which way to go, but likewise examples in all times, but that we should
follow those examples ? which are hke the pillar of fire which went before
Israel unto Canaan. We have a cloud and a pillar of examples before us,
(unto which he alludes, Heb. xii. 1), to lead us unto heaven, not only the word,
but examples in all times, ' Walk, as you have us, for an example, Philip.
* That is, 'stumLling-Llocks.' — G.
428 THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDES. [SeEMON XVI.
iii. 17, saith Paul. Therefore it is a character of a gracious disposition to
join with the just, and those who walk in the ways of God. We see there
is in all the creatures an instinct to keep company with their own kind ; as
we see in doves, sheep, geese, and the like. So it comes from a superna-
tural gracious instinct of grace, for the good to walk and company with the
good, helping them on in the way to heaven. It is therefore a point of
special wisdom to single out those for our company, who are ahle to help
us thither, as it is for travellers to choose their company to travel with.
2. Again, if we would walk aright in the ways of God, let us have our end
in our eye, like unto the traveller. Look on heaven, the day of judgment,
those times either of eternal happiness or misery, Avhich we must all come
to. The having of these in our eye, will stern* the whole course of our
life ; for the end infuseth vigour in our carriages, and puts a great deal of
life in the use of the means, breeding a love of them, though they be harsh.
Therefore we must pray and labour for patience, to conliict with our own
corruptions, and those of the times we live in. This is unpleasant to do ;
but when a man hath his aim and end in his eye, this inspires such vigour
and strength in a man, that it makes him use means and courses contraiy
to his own natural disposition, offering a holy violence unto himself. As
thus, it is not absolutely necessary that I should have this or that, or have
them all, or in such and such a measure ; but it is absolutely necessary
that I should be saved, and not damned ; therefore this course I will take,
in these ways I will and must walk which lead to salvation. Let us there-
fore with Moses have in our eye, ' the recompence of the reward,' Heb. xi.
26 ; and with our blessed Saviour, the head of the faithful, have before our
eyes ' the joy that was set before him,' which will make us pass by all those
heavy things that he passed through. Let us with the holy men of ancient
time, have ' the prize of that high calling' in our eye, to make us, notwith-
standing all opposition, press forward towards the mark.
3. And then again, because it is said indefinitely here, ' They shall walk
in these waj's,' remember always to take icisdom and 2Jrudence along ivith
you in all your walkings. It is put indefinitely, because we should leave
out none. For, as we say in things that are to be believed. Faith chooseth
not this object, and not another; so obedience chooseth not this object; I
will obey God in this, and not in this, but it goes on in all God's ways.
Therefore, if we would walk on aright in God's ways, there must be con-
sideration of all the relations as we stand to God. First, ivhat duties ice
owe to God in heavenly things, to please him above all, whomsoever we dis-
please, and to seek the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness before all,
that all things may follow which are needful for us, Mat. vi. 33. So, in
the next place, when we look to ourselves, to know those ways which are re-
quired of Its in regard of ourselves ; for every Christian is a temple wherein
God dwells ; therefore we are to carry ourselves holily, to be much in
prayer and communion with God in secret. A man is best distinguished
to be a good walker by those secret ways betwixt God and his soul, those
walks of meditation and prayer wherein there is much sweet intercourse
betwixt God and the soul. Therefore, in this case a man makes conscience
of his communion with God in his thoughts, desires, affections, using all
good means appointed of God to maintain this communion.
4. Then we should look to our own carriage in the use of the creatures,
to carry ourselves in all things indifferently, because wisdom and prudence
is seen in those things especially, to use things indifierent, indifferently ;
* That is, ' steer, guide, regulatcu' — G.
HOSEA XIV. 9.] THE RETUKNING BACKSLIDER. 429
not to be much in the use of the world, in joy or sorrow, but in moderation
to use these things, being sure to set our aflfections upon the main.
5. And so in things indifferent, not to do them icith offence and excess ;
but to see and observe the rule in all things of indiffcrency.
6. And for our carriage to others in those ways, let us consider what we
owe to those above %is, what respect is due to governors, and what to others;
what to those who are without ; what to those who are weak. We owe an
example of holy life unto them, that wo give no occasion of scandal ; and
also to walk wisely towards them that are without, that we give no occasion
for the ways of God to be ill spoken of.
7. And for all conditions which God shall cast us into, remember that
those he ways tvhich we should walk seemly in. If prosperity, let us take
heed of the sins of prosperity, pride, insolency, security, hardness of heart,
and the like. If adversity, then let us practise the graces thereof, take heed of
murmuring and repining, dejection of spirit, despair, and the like. This is
to walk like a wise man in all conditions, in those relations he stands in.
8. For our uords likewise and expressio)is to others, in that kind of our
walking, that they may be savoury and to purpose, that we labour to speak
by rule, seeing we must give an account of every ' idle word ' at the day of
judgment, Mat. xii. 36. So that in all our labours, carriage, and speech,
we must labour to do all wisely and justly. These are the ways of God,
and ' the just shall walk in them.'
Negatively, what we must avoid in all our walking.
Kemember in general, we must never do anything against reUgion,
against conscience, against a man's particular place and calling, or against
justice. Let us not touch upon the breach of any good thing, especially of
religion and conscience. Thus a man shall walk in the ways of God, if
with wisdom and prudence he consider what ways are before him to God,
to himself, to others ; in all conditions and states of life, to see what he
must, and what he must not do, and then to walk in them answerably.
For our encouragement to walk in God's ways in our general and parti-
cular callings.
1. Know fii'st, they are the most safe ways of all. Whatsoever trouble
or affliction we meet withal, it is no matter, it will prove the safest way in
the end. For as it was with the cloud which went before God's people, it
was both for direction and protection ; so the Spnit of God, and the ways
of God, as they serve for direction, so they serve for protection. God will
direct and protect us if we walk in his ways. Let him be our director, and
he will be our preserver and protector in all times.
2. Again, they are the most pleasant ways of all. All wisdom's ways are
paved with prosperity and pleasure ; for when God doth enlarge and
sanctify the soul to walk in thom, he giveth withal a royal gift, inward peace
of conscience, and joy unspeakable and glorious, with an enlarged spirit.
God meets his children in his own ways ; they are therefore to walk there.
Let a man start out of God's ways, he meets ■svith the devil, with the devil's
instruments, and many snares. But in God's ways he shall be sure to
meet with God, if ho walk in them with humility and respect to God, look-
ing up for direction and strength, and denpng his own wisdom. In this
case a man shall be sure to have God go along with him in all his ways.
In God's ways expect God's company. Therefore they are the safest and
the most pleasant ways.
3. And they are the cleanest and holiest ways of all; having this excellent
property in them, that as they lead to comfort, so they end in comfort ;
480 THE KETUENING BACKSLIDER. [SerMON XVI.
they all end in heaven, Ps. xix. 9. Therefore let us not be weary of God's
ways, of Christianity and our particular callings ; wherein what we do, let
us do as God's ways, having sanctified them by prayer, and do it in obedi-
ence to God. They are God's ways when they are sanctified. God hath
set me in this standing, I expect his blessing therein, and what blessing I
find, I will give him the praise. God hath appointed that in serving man
I serve him ; therefore we must go on in our particular ways, as the ways
of God, doing everything as the work of God, and we shall find them the
comfortablest and pleasantest ways which end in joy, happiness, and glory.
Use 1. The use hereof may be first reprehension unto those ivho can talk
but not walk, that have tongues but not feet, to wit, affections; that come
by starts into the narrow way ; but yet be never well till they turn back
again into the world, that broad way which leads unto destruction.
Use 2. Secondly, it is for instruction, to stints iq) to icalk in God's ways;
as Ps. i. 1, 2, * Blessed is the man that walkethnot in the counsel of the un-
godly, &c. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in that law doth
he meditate day and night.'
Use 3. Thirdly, this is for consolation ; if this be our walk, then God
will ivalk ivith us, and the angels of God shall have charge of us to keep us
in all our wags, Ps. xxxiv. 7 ; and though, like David, we slip out of
the way, jei this not being our walk, we come to the way again. Though
God's children miss of their way, yet their resolution, choice, and en-
deavour was to walk in the way ; therefore such are still in a blessed
estate, and keep their communion with God. A man is not said to
alter his v/ay till he alter his choice and resolution. The best man
may have an ill passion, and miss the way, but he will not turn from
it willingly. And the worst man may have a good passion, and come into
the way, but never continue in it to make this walk.* From all which it
appeareth that they arc only righteous persons who continue to walk in the
ways of God. It is therefore consolation unto them who take that course.
Though all the world go another way, yet they must imitate just men.
And for us, we must imitate these just men, though they be never so few
in the world and despised. If we would be counted the servants of God,
we must imitate those that walk in those paths.
II. Now it is said that the other sort, wicked men, the ways of God shall
have quite a contrary course in them.
' But the transgressors shall fall therein.'
As one and the selfsame cloud was both light to the Israelites and
darkness unto the Egyptians, Exod. xiv. 20 ; so the same ways of God
prove both light and darkness, life and death, to the godly and wicked. As
the apostle speaks, unto ' the one they are the savour of life unto life, and unto
the other the savour of death unto death,' 2 Cor. ii. 16. Therefore now
here is the conclusion of all. If no warning will serve the turn of all what
hath been given and said, yet the word of God shall not return empty, it
shall eftect that for which it was sent, Isa. Iv. 11 ; one work or other it will
do, even upon the most perverse.
* The transgressors shall fall therein.'
06s. Whence we see and may observe, that the same ivord which is a
word of life and salvation to the godly, is an occasion of sin and perdition unto
the wicked. The same sun which makes flowers and herbs to smell sweet,
makes carrions to smell worse. The same word which made the apostles
beheve and confess Christ, did also make many others of his disciples go
* Qu. ' to make it his walk? ' — G.
HOSEA XIV. 9.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 431
back from him, saying, ' This is a hard saying, who can bear it ?' John xiii. 60.
So, Acts xiii. 48, the same word which made the unbeHeving Jews blas-
pheme, did make ' as many as did belong unto eternal life believe.' And
when Christ preached, many blasphemed, and said he had a devil ; others
trusted and defended him. So saith Paul, the same word to some is, ' the
savour of death unto death, and to some the savour of life unto life,' 2 Cor.
ii. 16 ; and so in another place he speaks of the same word, ' But we preach
Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness ; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ
the power of God, and the wisdom of God,' 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. To this
purpose, Peter speaks of Christ, ' Unto you therefore who believe, he is pre-
cious ; but unto them which are disobedient, &c., a stone of stumbling, and a
rock of offence, even unto them who stumble at the word, being disobedient,
whereunto also they were appointed,' 1 Pet. ii. 7, 8. The reasons are,
Reason 1. Because ' The natural man perceiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God : for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned ; but he that is spiritual judgeth
all things,' &c., 1 Cor. ii. 14.
Secondly, ' Because they who do evil hate the light,' John iii. 19, and
therefore, cannot love what they hate. ' This,' Christ saith, ' is the con-
demnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness better
than light, because their deeds were evil.'
Thirdly, Because they are blinded, 2 Cor. iv. 4 ; therefore they are led
away by the god of this world, Satan, so that they cannot perceive anything
that is spiritual, for God hath not given them a heart to perceive, &c.,
Deut. xxix. 4.
Fourthly, Because they want faith, which is called ' the faith of God's
elect,' Tit. i. 1 ; and we know, ' without faith it is impossible to please
God,' Heb. xi. 6 ; for it is said that ' the word profited not those unbe-
lie^ing Jews, because it was not mingled with faith in those who heard it,'
Heb. iv. 2.
Fifthly, Because the word is like the sun, which causeth plants to smell
sweet, and a dunghill to smell stinking. So it works grace in some, and
extracts the sin and foul vapours out of others.
Use 1. The use is, first, reproof unto them who stumble at the xchole-
some doctrines of the tcord ; of election, reprobation, predestination, and the
like. Such indeed stumble at Christ himself. He is a stumblingblock unto
them, as Peter speaketh, 1 Pet. ii. 8. They stumble at Christ who stumble
at his word.
Use 2. Secondly, 7iot to love the icord the worse, because evil men be made
the worse by it ; which shews rather the mighty power of the word which
discovereth them, and will not let them be hid, vmmasking h\^ocrites to
themselves and others. As we must not like the sun the worse, because it
makes carrion smell; nor the fan, because it winnoweth away the chaii";
so must we not fall out with the word, because it hath these effects upon
wicked men.
Use 3. Lastly, it is for consolation unto them that, when their sin is
reproved, /all not out icith the word, but icith their sin. When they are
excited to dutj-, they hate their corruption, and do endeavour to walk
honestly without reproof. This shews the word is not the savour of death
unto death to them, but the savour of life unto life ; which St Paul makes
a sign of election, ' When they receive tlie word of God, as the word of
God, with thanksgi\'iug,' 1 Thes. ii. 13. This indeed is a matter of praise.
432 THE EETTJKNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XVI.
to give God thanks for his good word, which saves our souls, and comforts
us here in the way of all our pilgiimage, till we arrive at heavenly glory.
For conclusion of all, what then remaineth on our part to be done ?
Surely, to hearken no more to flesh and blood, to the world or the devil ;
but to hear what God saith in his most holy word, Ps. xxxii. 10, and to
frame our hearts with a strong resolution to this ' retuniinr/,' here exhorted
to. Oh, if we knew the many miseries and sorrows which attendeth wretched
and miserable sinners, and sinful courses here and hereafter, it would be
our first work to follow God's counsel to his people ; to return from our
sinful ways ; to meet so gracious and merciful a God ; that he may, as his
promise is, * heal our backslidings,' and be ' as the dew unto us,' to make
us fruitful and abundant in every good and perfect work.
What can be said more for our encouragement than that which hath been
delivered in this chapter ? God, the party offended, who is Jehovah, God
all-sufficient, exhorts us to return unto him, who is able and willing to help.
And he also, out of his rich goodness, forewarneth us of the dangerous
estate a sinner is in ; who, being ' fallen by his iniquity,' ought therefore
to pity himself. Eeturn and not run on in a further course of disobedience
and backsliding. And words are put in our mouths, dictated by God him-
self, which needs must be veiy prevailing with him. What an encourage-
ment is this ! Yea further, as we have heard, these petitions are all answered
graciously and abundantly, above all they did ask ; wherein God surmounteth
our desires and thoughts, as we heard at large. Whereby we also may bo
confident to have our petitions and suits in like sort granted ; if we go imto
God with his own words and form prescribed. If we ' take with us words '
of prayer, we shall be sure to vanquish all our spiritual enemies ; for faithful
prayer works wonders in heaven and earth, James v. 17. And that God
doth not bid us be religious to our loss, he sheweth that we shall lose
nothing by following his counsel, and walking in a religious course of life ;
having abominated our idols, ' He will observe us, and see us,' and be a
shelter unto us, having a derivation of fruitfuLness from his fulness. ' Ih
me is thy fruit found.'
Lastly, we have heard who can make right use of these things delivered.
Only ' the wise and prudent ; ' such only can understand heavenly things
to purpose. ' His secret is with them that fear him,' Psa. xxv. 14 ; and
'wisdom is only justified of her children,' Mat. xi. 19. When others have
no heart given them to perceive God's ways aright, as Moses speak eth,
'transgressors' fall in God's 'right ways,' whilst the just walk comfort-
ably in them. 0 then let us hate sin every day more and more, and be in
love with religion and the ways of God ; for that is the true good, which is
the everlasting good, that better Mary's part, which shall never be taken
away, Luke x. 42. ' Wliosoever drinks of this living water shall never
thirst again,' John iv. 14. The best things of this world have but a
shadow, not the substance of goodness. Let us then be wise for ourselves,
and pity ourselves in time, ' whilst it is called to-day,' because, as om* Sa-
viour speaks, ' the night approacheth, wherein no man can work,' John
ix. 4. 0 then let us often examine our hearts and covenant with them, let
U3 see our sins as they are, and God's goodness as it is ; that our ' scarlet
sins' may be done away as a mist from before him, Isa. i. 18. 0 banish
away our atheism, which, by our sinful conversation, proclaimeth us to be
of the number of those fools, who have said in their heart that there is no
God, Psa. xiv. 1. This serious consideration always makes first a stop,
and then a returning ; to believe indeed that there is a God who made the
IIOSEA. XIV. 9.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 43^
world, and a judgment to come. This, God by Moses, calleth true wisdom
indeed, ' To remember our latter end.' ' Ob,' saitb be, ' tbat tbey were wise,
tbat tbey would tbink of tbese tbings,' Deut. xxxii. 29. Of wbicb tbiugs ?
Tbe miseries wbicb attend sin bcre and bereafter ; and tbe blessings and
comforts wbicb follow a godly life botb bere and bereafter, ' Tbat tbey
would remember tbeir latter end,' tbe neglect wbereof, Jeremiab sbeweth,.
was tbe cause ' tbat they came down wonderfully, and bad no comforter,,
because tbey remembered not tbeir latter end.'*
Therefore, let us study this point well, that there is a God, and a judg-
ment to come ; and this will compel us, even out of self-love, to return from,
our sinful courses, and make a stop. By this means, we shall not need a
Philip's boy [z) to cry to us every day, we are mortal and must die ; if our
meditations once a day be botb in heaven and hell. Tbese strong consi-
dtu-ations (aided with strong rational reflectings on ourselves) will keep us
within compass, overawe us, and make us quake and tremble to go on in
sin ; wbicb is worse than the devil in this, that thereby he became a devil.
This will drive us to fly unto God, tbat be may * heal our backslidings,'
who is described ' with healing under bis wings,' Mai. iv. 2 ; who, in the
days of his flesh, healed all miserable and ' returning backsUders,' who
ever came unto him. Therefore, let us lay to heart these things, tbat so
we may be kept in soul and body, pure and unspotted, holy and without
blame in his sight, until the day of redemption, ' When our mortality shall
put on immortality, and our corruptible incorruption, to reign with God for
ever and ever,' 1 Cor. xv. 54, seq.
* Qu. Isaiah ? and the reference, xlvii. 7. — Q.
NOTES.
(a) P. 256. — ' Eeturn,' &c. It is very emphatical and significant in the original.
Cf. Ackerman (Prophdce Minores Vienna, 1830) ; and Henderson (8vo, 1845),
the latter especially, confirmatory of Sibbes.
(6) P. 286. — ' It was well done by Luther, who, in a Catechism,' &c. See his
' Catechesis' in Opera, in loc.
(c) P. 287. — ' We have some bitter spirits (Lutherans they call tliem .... there-
fore to be in the sacrament).' The reference is to the well-known dogma of consub-
stanliation as contrasted with, and even opposed to, the papists' transvbstantiation.
Both are explained in the following sentence from Barrow (Serm. 31, Vol. II.) : ' It
may serve to guard us from divers errours, such as are tliat of the Lutheran consul-
stanlialists, and of the Roman transubstantiaiors, who afBrm that the body of our
Lord is here upon earth at once present in many places (namely), in every place
where the host is kept, or the eucharist is celebrated.' Of. Richardson, sub voce.
(d) P. 296.—' It was well spoken by Lactantius,' &c. The thought is found seve-
ral times in his De Divino Proemio and De Opificio Dei and De Falsa Reliyione. Cf.
Edition by Aldus, 1515, pp.240, 304, and 1, seq.
(e) P. 297. — ' As the Jews call them, he hath hedges of the commandments.*"
Consult Kalisch (' Historical and Critical Commentary on the Old Testament . . .
Exodus [8vo, 1855]) ; on Exodus xxiii. 19 ; and Maurer there ; and on Deuteronomj
xxii. 6.' For Rabbinical and other lore on the subject. Works of John Gregory,
4to, 1665, pp. 90-98.
(f) P. 303.—' And so we might go on in other resemblances.' To all wishing to
see the analogy carried out with wealth of quaint tlioughtand illustration, we would
commend the ' Soul's Sickness' of Thomas Adams (Works, Vol. I., pp. 471-506) ; also,
as not at all inferior, and indeed abounding in even more recondite lore and unex-
pected Hashes of wit, Bishop Gr. Williams, ' Of the Misery of Man,' in his ' Seven
Golden Candlesticks.' (Folio, 1635. pp. 565-661.)
(g) P. 337. — ' As wo see now in these wars of Germany.' Cf. Memoir, Vol. I., pp.
Ivii.-viii. The ' now' from 1620-21. onwards.
VOL. U. E e
434 THE KETURNING BACKSLIDER.
(h) P. 347. — ' Man is, as it were, a sum of all the excellencies of the creatures a
little world indeed.' This idea will be found worked out in quaint fashion by Bishop
Earle, in his ' Micro-cosmography,' and by Capt. T. Butler, in his ' Little Bible of
Man.' 1649.
(?) P. 349. — ' The word in the original is a " standard-bearer," ' Titus iii. 8. . . .
Cf. EUicott, in loc, together with extracts and illustrations given in Kypke, Ob-
Berv. ii. 381 ; Loesner, Obs. p. 430. The word is 'Jt^oiGrrifx,!. The noun, 'Tr^oardrrn
= a leader, champion. Wycliffe renders it ' Be bisie to be abouen other in good
werkis ' (Hexapla .... Bagster) ; and, perhaps, ' standard-bearer' catches the idea,
if it departs from the exact wording.
(f) P. 350. — ' The fragrancy of the smell is smelt of passengers as they sail along
the coast.' One of Eichard Sibbes's hearers, John Milton fsee our Memoir, Vol. I.,
p. liii.), has finely put this : —
' .... As when to them who sail
Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past
Mozambique, off at sea north-east winds blow
Sabean odours from the spicy shore
Of Araby the blest:— Paradise Lost, B. IV., 159-163.
{k) P. 351. — ' The church of God riseth out of the ashes of the martyrs, which
hitherto smells sweet, and puts life in those who come after, so precious are they
both dead and alive.' The sentiment is preserved by the poet, concerning the ' actions
of the just,' in the familiar lines : —
' . . . . The actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.'
{James Shirley, ' Death's Final Conquest ').
Shirley was a ' student ' of Catharine College, Cambridge.
[l) P. 355. — ' Monica, St Austin's mother, .... he was converted after her death.'
&c. This is a somewhat singular blunder on the part of Sibbes. Augustine was
' converted' before his mother's death, as the touching narrative in the ' Confessions '
has made immortal. Cf. B. VIII., 30 ; B. IX., 17, et alibi.
(m) P. 370. — ' Calvin and Luther .... burn their bones,' &c. If this does not
apply literally to Calvin and Luther, it yet holds good of many like-minded. Every
one remembers what was done to Wycliffe's ' bones,' and also Fuller's characteristic
conceits upon the scattered ashes, to which none will refuse Dr Vaughan's approving
' "Well-spoken— Honest one ! ' Cf. Vaughan's John de Wycliffe, D.D., a monograph
(4to. 1853), pp. 521, seq. To "Wycliffe may be added Bucer, concerning the ' burn-
ing of whose bones I take the following verses from Faithful Teat's rare ' Ter Tria '
(18mo. 1669, 2d edition, pp. 142,143).
' "What though revengeful papists burne
Dear Bucer's bones ? still hope's his urne,
Till's ashes to a phcenix turne.
And live afresh.' (From ' Hope.')
(m) p. 377. — ' The abominable distinctions of the papists of Latria and Dulia.'
That is, "Kar^iia and dovXiicc, commonplaces in the popish controversy. Cf. Faber,
' Difficulties of Eomanism,' and almost any of the standard treatises pro and con.
(o) P. 378.—' Calleth them dunghill-gods, and Abel, as it is in this book, vanity,'
&c. The allusion of Sibbes in the former is perhaps to Beelzebub, worshipped by
the Philistines of Ekron = the fly-god, i. e., dunghill-bred fly. 'Abel' means
' vanity,' and the reference is not to Abel — the proper name of Adam's second-born
son — but to Hosea xii. 11.
{p) P. 379. — ' Coster himself, a forward Jesuit.' That is, John Costerus or
Costerius in his ' Comment .... pro Catholicse Fidei Antiquitate et Veritate,'
(Paris, 1569).
(q) P. 379. — ' Late worthies of our church.' The following are the principal
works on the popish controversy, by the eminent writers enumerated : —
1. Bishop Jewel. — (1.) ' Apologia Ecclesise Anglicante,' 1562. (2.) 'An Apology
for Private Mass ; with a learned annswere to it by Bishop Jewell,' 1562. (3.)
Various ' Answers ' to Hardinge and others.
2. John Rainolds, D.D. — ' The summe of the Conference betweene John Rainoldes
and John Hart, touching the Head and Faith of the Church,' &c., &c., 1584, and
various editions.
THE KETURNIXG BACKSLIDER. 435
3. ^VilIiam Fulkc— Very manj' works. For list, consult "Watt's Bill. Brit, sub
nomine.
4. 1)t William Whitaker.— Cf. our Memoir of Sibbes, pp. Ixxxi-ii.
5. Andrew Willet.— His great work is his ' Synopsis Papismi,' 1600 ; but he is
author of other masterly, if somewhat vehement, treatises on the controversy. Con-
sult Watt sub nomine.
6. William Perkins. — His ' Works ' abound in confutations of popish errors, written
with great intensity. He has one special treatise of rare merit, ' The Reformed
Catholike ; or a Declaration shewing how neere we may come to the present Church
of Rome in sundrie points of Religion ; and wherein we must for ever depart from
them.' (Cambridge, 1597.)
fr) P. 380. — ' To say we worship not the image but God . . . so we may see in
Arnobius.' Arnobius here referred to was one of the apologists of Christianity in the
African church during the third century. His ' Disputationura Adversus Gentes
Libri ' (ex Editione Fausti Sabsei, Rome, 1542), remains a still vital book. It has
passed through many editions. Again and again the question of image-worship
comes up in it.
(«) P. 881.— 'Rome to be Babylon.' Cf. Canon Wordsworth's conclusive little
work, ' Babylon ; or the question considered, " Is the Church of Rome the Babylon
of the Apocalypse ?" ' 12mo.
(t) P. 381. — ' Hedges of the commandments.' Cf. note e.
(u) P. 383. ' As a great man-pleaser,' &c. Sibbes places in his margin, ' A Scot-
tish Regent, before his execution.' This must refer to the Earl of Morton, Regent
of Scotland, beheaded in 1581, on a very doubtful charge of treason. It is difficult
to explain Sibbes's use of ' man-pleaser,' in relation to Knox's illustrious friend.
But ' man-pleaser ' was a favourite term of reproach with the Puritans, which John
Squier, in his extraordinary introduction to his sermon from Luke xviii. 13, thus
sarcastically notices, ' If my text should lead me to avouch the dignity and authority
of the superiours in our clergy, I shoiild not escape that brand, behold a time-
servant and a man-pleaser ' (4to, 1G37, page 2). Better example far he might have
taken from his contemporary, Shakespeare. I refer to the famous saying of Wolsey,
(Henry VIII. iii. 2) —
' 0 Cromwell, Cromwell !
Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal
I serv'd my king, he would not, in mine age,
Have left me naked to mine enemies.'
(v) P. 383. — ' Were made gods . . . came ... to fearful ends.' This holds of
nearly all the Cresars. For ample proof, consult Smith's Dictionary of Greek and
Roman Biography and Mythology, under the respective emperors, especially Caligula
and Nero.
(w) P. 392. — ' " I have seen and observed him," some read the words, but very
few.' Cf. authorities cited in note a.
(x) P. 393. — ' The same day was that noble victory and conquest in the north
parts over the enemies.' The allusion is to the Battle of Pinkie, on September 10.
1547, between the English, under the Earl of Hertford, Protector, and the Scotch,
when the latter were totally defeated. It was one of the most decisive victories, with
least loss to the conquerors, of any in history. There fell scarcely two hundred of
the English ; while, according to the lowest computation, above ten thousand Scots
perished, besides fifteen hundred taken prisoners. 1547 (and according to Sibbes,
10th September) is usually reckoned as the 'completion' of the English Reforma-
tirn, although the reformed religion was not established until the accession of
Elizabeth, in 1558.
(y) P. 415.—' Simile mater erroris.' This is a principle which is very often stated,
in various forms, in the writings of Bacon.
(2) P. 433.—' We shall not need a Philip's boy.' The allusion is to the (I sup-
pose), apocryphal story of Philippus II., father of Alexander the Great, having a boy
appointed for the purpose of reminding him, by a daily repetition of it, of his ' mor-
tality." So sensual and volatile a nature was very unUkely to do so wise a thing.
Q.
THE GLORIOUS FEAST OF THE GOSPEL.
THE GLORIOUS FEAST OF THE GOSPEL.
NOTE.
' The Glorious Feast ' was published in a thin quarto in 1650. The title-page ia
given below.* For various mistakes in the pagination of the original edition, consult
bibliographical ' List ' in our last volume. G.
* Title-page : —
THE
GLORIOVS FEAST
OF THE
GOSPEL.
OR,
Christ's gracious Invitation and royall
Entertainment of Believers.
"Wherein amongst other things these comfortable
Doctrines are spiritually handled :
/I. The Marriage Feast between Christ and his Church.
2. The I'aile of Igiiorance and Vnbeliefe removed.
3. Christ's Conquest over death.
4. The wiping away of tear es from the faces of God's people.
5. The taking away of their Reproaches.
I 6. The precious Promises of God, and their certaine performance.
7. The Divine Authority of the Uoly Scriptures.
The Duty and comfort of waiting upon God.
Delivered in divers Sermons upon Isai. 25 Chap. 6, 7, 8, 9 Verses,
BY
The late Reverend, Learned and faithfuU Minister of the Gospell,
PiiCHAED SiBBS, D.D. Master of Katharine-
Hall in Cambridge, and Preacher at Grayes-Inue, London.
Prov. 9. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Wisdome hath buildcd her house ; she hath hewen out her seven nilars.
She hath Jailed her beasts ; she hath mingled her wine ; she hath alio furnished her
Table.
She hath sent forth her Maidens ; she cries, tj-c.
who so is simple let him tvrne in hither, ^c.
C(m.e eate of my bread, and drink of my wine that 1 have mingled, Sfc.
Perused hy those that were intrusted to revise his Writings.
London, Printed for John Kothwell at the Sun and Fountaine in Paula
Church yard, neare the little North doore. 1650.
Viz
TO THE EEADER.
So much of late hath been written about the times, that spiritual discourses
are now almost out of season. Men's minds are so hurried up and down,
that it is to be feared they are much discomposed to think seriously as
they ought, of their eternal concernments. Alas ! Christians have lost
much of their communion with Christ and his saints — the heaven upon
earth — whilst they have wofuUy disputed away and dispirited the life of
religion and the power of godliness, into dry and sapless controversies about
government of church and state. To recover therefore thy spiritual relish of
savoury practical truths, these sennons of that excellent man of God, of
precious memory, are published. Wlierein thou art presented.
I. With an invitation to a great and wonderful feast, the marriage feast of
the Lamh. An admirable feast indeed ; wherein Jesus Christ, the eternal
Son of God, is the bridegroom, where every believer that hath ' put on' the
Lord Jesus, Rom. xiii. 14, ' the wedding garment,' Mat. xxii. 11, is not
only the guest, but the spouse of Christ, and the bride at this wedding sup-
per. Here Jesus Christ is the master of the feast, and the cheer and pro-
vision too. He is the ' Lamb of God,' John i. 29, the ' ram caught in the
thicket,' Gen. xxii. 13. He is the ' fatted calf,' Luke. xv. 23. When he
was sacrificed, ' wisdom killed her beasts,' Prov. ix. 2. At his death, ' the
oxen andf atlings were killed,' Mat. xxii. 4. 'AXri&oJ; ^foJsi; -/.a! dXri^uig 'Trieig.
His ' flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed,' John vi. 55.
And that thou mayest be fully delighted at this feast, Christ is the ' rose of
Sharon,' the ' lily of the valley,' Cant. ii. 1. He is a ' bundle of myrrh,'
Cant. i. 13, a ' cluster of camphire,' Cant. i. 14 ; his name is ' anointment
poured out,' Cant. i. 3, and ' his love is better than vvine,' Cant. i. 2. In
Christ are ' all things ready,' Mat. xxii. 4, for ' Christ is all in all,' Col. iii.
11. And great is the feast that Christ makes for believers, for it is the mar-
riage feast which the great King ' makes for his Son,' Mat. xxii. 2 ; the great
design and aim of the gospel being to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ, and give
'him a name above every name,' Philip, ii. 10. Great is the company
that are bid, Luke xiv. IG, Jews and Gentiles. God keeps open house, ' Ho,
every one that thirstcth, come,' Isa Iv. 1, and ' whosoever will, let him
come, and freely take of the water of life,' Rev. xxii. 17. Great is the cheer
that is provided. Every guest here hath Asher's portion, ' royal dainties
and bread of fatness,' Gen. xlix 20. Here is all excellent best wine, ' wine
upon the lees well refined,' Isa. xxv. 6. Here is ' fat things,' yea, ' fat
things full of marrow,' Rev. ii. 17, the ' water of life,' Rev. xxii. 17, and
the fruit of ' the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God,'
Gen. ii. 9. All that is at this feast is of the best, yea, the best of the best.
440 TO THE EEADEB.
Here is variety and plenty teo. Here is * bread enougli and to spare.'
Caligula and Heliogabalus their feasts, who ransacked the earth, air, and
sea to furnish their tables, were nothing to this. And above all, here is
welcome for every hungry, thirsty soul. Super omnia vultus accessere boni.
He that bids thee come, will bid thee welcome. He will not say eat when
his heart is not with thee. The invitation is free, the preparation great,
and the entertainment at this feast — suiting the magnificence of the great
King — is full and bountiful. All which is at large treated of in these ex-
cellent sermons, which are therefore deservedly entitled, ' The marriage
Feast between Christ and his Church.' We read of a philosopher that,
having prepared an excellent treatise of happiness, and presenting it unto
a great king, the king answered him, ' Keep your book to yourself, I am
not now at leisure,' {a). Here is an excellent treasure put into thy hand ;
do not answer us, I am not now at leisure. Oh, do not let Christ stand
' knocking at thy heart, who will come and sup with thee,' Rev. iii. 20, and
bring his cheer with him. Oh, let not a ' deceived heart turn thee any
longer aside to feed upon ashes,' Isa. xliv. 20 ; feed no longer with swine
* upon husks,' Luke xv. 16, while thou mayest be filled and satisfied ' with
bread in thy father's house,' Luke xv. 17.
But this is not all ; if thou wilt be pleased to peruse this book, thou wilt
find there are many other useful, seasonable, and excellent subjects handled
besides the marriage -feast.
n. Jesus Christ hath not only provided a feast, but because he is desirous
that all those for whom it is provided should come to it (which only they
do that believe), he takes away the veil of ignorance and unbelief from off
their hearts ; and here you shall find this skilful preacher hath excellently
discoursed what this veil is, how it naturally lies upon all, and is only
removed by the Spirit of Christ. And if the Lord hath ' destroyed this
covering from ofi'thy heart,' we doubt not, but the truth of this heavenly
doctrine will shine comfortably into thy soul.
III. Jesus Christ, to make his bounty and mercy further appear in this
feast, he hath given his guests the ' bread of life,' and hath secured them from
the fear of death. They need not fear. There is no mors m o//a at this
feast. We may feast without fear. Jesus Christ by his ' tasting of death
hath swallowed it up in victory,' 1 Cor. xv. 54. Christ doth not make his
people such a feast as it is reported Dionysius the tyrant once made
for his flatterer Damocles, who set him at a princely table, but hanged a
drawn sword in a small thread over his head.* But Christ would have ug
triumph over the king of fears, who was slain by the death of Christ, and
we thereby delivered from the bondage of the fear of death, Heb. ii. 14, 15.
At other feasts they were wont of old to have a death's head served in
amongst other dishes, to mind them in the midst of all their mirth of their
mortality (which practice of the heathens condemns the ranting jollity of
some loose professors in these times). KarriXdiv ilg ddmrov d&dvaTog, xat ru
^avarw xakTki &dmTov. But here, Christ serves in death's head, as David
• the head of Goliah,' 1 Sam. xxxi. 9, the head of a slain and conquered
death. Our Sampson by his own death ' hath destroyed death, and hath
thereby ransomed us from the hand of the grave, and hath redeemed us
from death,' Hos. xiii. 14, and the slavish fear of it. All which is at large
handled in these following sermons for thy comfort and joy, that thou
mayest triumph in his love, through whom thou art more than conqueror.
* For this well-known anecdote, consult Cicero [Tii^c. v. 21.), and Horace {Carm,
iii., 1. 17).— G.
TO THE EEADER. 4.41
rV. Because ' it is a meny heart that makes a continual feast,' Prov.
XV. 15, and that this feast might be a gaudy-day* indeed unto thy soul,
Christ doth here promise, ' to wipe away all tears from off the faces of his
people,' Isa. xxv. 8. The gospel hath comforts enough to make glad the
hearts of the saints and people of God. The ' light of God's countenance'
will refresh them with 'joy unspeakable and glorious,' 1 Pet. i. 8, in the
midst ' of the valley of the shadow of death,' Psa. xxiii. 4, A truly godly
person can weep for his sins, though the world smile never so much upon
him ; and though he be never so much afflicted in the world, yd he can
and will ' rejoice in the God of his salvation,' Hab. iii. 18. In these ser-
mons thou hast this gospel-promise sweetly opened and applied ; wherein
thou shalt find directions when, and for what, to mourn and weep, and the
blessedness of all true mourners, ' whose sorrow shall be tm-ned into joy,'
John xvi. 20.
V. In these sermons you shall further find, that though Jesus Chrht
respect his people highly, and entertain them bountifullij, yet they have but
coarse usage in the world, who are wont to revile them as ' fools' and ' mad-
men,' as ' seditious rebels,' ' troublers of Israel,' ' proud and hypocritical
persons.' But blessed are they that do not ' stumble at this stone of
offence,' Rom. ix. 32, that wear the ' reproaches of Christ as their crown,'
and by ' well-doing put to silence the ignorance of foohsh men,' 1 Pet. ii. 15 ;
for let the world load them with all their revilings, yet ' the spirit of gloiy
rests upon them,' 2 Cor. xii. 9, and in due time he will roll away their
reproach, ' and bring forth their judgment as the light, and their righteous-
ness as the noon-day,' Ps. xxxvii. 6.
VI. And because a Christian here hath more in hope than in hand, more
in reversion than in possession, ' walks by faith' rather than sense, and
* lives by the word of God, and not by bread alone,' Mat. iv. 4, thou
shalt have here. Christian reader, a sweet discourse of the precious promises
of Christ which he hath left us here to stay the stomach of the soul, till we
come to that feast of feasts in heaven ; that by this glimpse we might in
part know the ' greatness of that glory which shall be revealed,' 1 Peter v.
1 ; that the first fraits might be a pa-wn of the harvest, and the ' earnest
of the Spirit,' Ephes. i. 14, a pledge of that full reward we shall have in
heaven, where we shall be brimful of those ' pleasures that are at God's
right hand for ever,' Ps. xvi. 11. Christ hath given us promises to uphold
■our faith and hope, till faith be perfected in fruition, and hope end in vision,
till Jesus Christ, who is here the object of our faith, be the reward of our
faith for ever.
VII. Now because the comfort of the promises is grounded in the faith-
fulness of him that hath promised, this godly and learned man, hath
strongly asserted the divine authority of the holy Scriptures, proving that
they are Oiorrviveroi, that they are the very word of God, that they are aurdziSTQi
and a^&cr/(jro/, worthy of all acceptation, and belief, for their ov,ti sakes ;
a truth very seasonable for these times, to antidote thee against the poison-
full errors of blasphemous anti-scripturists.
VIII. Lastly, because that God often takes a long day for performance
of the promise, thou shalt find herein the doctrine of ivaiting upon God, ex-
cellently handled ; a duty which we earnestly commend unto thy practice,
as suitable to these sad times. Say, 0 say with the church, * In the way
of thy judgments, O Lord, we have waited for thee,' Isa. xxvi. 8 ; and
vfiih. the prophet, ' I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the
* That is, = a ' day of rejoicing." — G.
442 TO THE EEADEE.
house of Jacob, and I will look for him,' Isa. viii. 17. And rest assured^
that ' none of the seed of Jacob shall seek him in vain,' Isa. xlv. 19 ; he
will not ' disappoint their hope, nor make their faces ashamed that wait for
him,' Isa. xhx. 23.
Thus we have given you a short prospect of the whole, a brief sum of
that treasure which these sermons contain. We need say nothing of the
author ; his former labours ' sufficiently speak for him in the gates,' Prov.
xxxi. 23 ; his memory is highly honoured amongst the godly-learned. He
that enjoys the glory of heaven, needs not the praises of men upon earth.
If any should doubt of these sermons, as if they should not be truly his,
whose name they bear, let him but observe the style, and the excellent and
spiritual matter herein contained, and he will, we hope, be fully satisfied.
Besides, there are many ear- witnesses yet living, who can clear them from
any shadow of imposture. They come forth without any alteration, save
only some repetitions (which the pulpit did well bear), are here omitted.
The Lord make these, and all other the labom's of his servants, profit-
able to his chui-ch. And the Lord so ' destroy the veil ' from off thy heart,
that thou mayest believe, and by faith come to this feast, the joy and com-
fort whereof may swallow up all the slavish fear of death, dry up thy tears,
and roll away all reproach. And the Lord give thee a waiting heart, to stay
ihy soul upon the name of the Lord, to believe his word, and his faithful
promises, that in due time thou mayest ' rejoice in the God of thy salvation.'
This is the earnest prayer of
Arthur Jackson.*
James Nalton.j
Will. Taylor. f
London, April 19. 1650.
* Jackson, like Sibbes, was a native of Suffolk, having been born at Little Wald-
ingfield, in ]593. He won the respect of even Laud. It is told that when the
' Book of Sports ' was commanded to be publicly read, he refused compliance, and
T as complained of for his contumacy to the Archbishop, but that prelate would not
suffer him to be molested. ' Mr Jackson,' said he, ' is a quiet and peaceable man,
and therefore I will not have him meddled with.' Sheldon manifested like esteem
J or him. At tlie Eestoration, when Charles IL made his entrance into the city,
Jackson was appointed by his brethren to present to him a Bible, as he passed
through St Paul's Churchyard, which was in his parish ; when he addressed the
king in a congratulatory speech, which was graciously received. He was also one
ol the Commissioners of the Savoy. He died, Aug. 5. 1666, one of the most vener-
able of the ' ejected ' two thousand. Consult ' Nonconformist's Memorial,' vol. i.
pp. 120-124 ; also ' Memoir ' prefixed to his ' Annotations,' vol. iv.
t This ' man of God,' beloved by Eichard Baxter, and all his like-minded con-
t mporaries, was called ' The Weeping Prophet,' because of his peculiarly tender and
h firful nature. He also was one of the ' two thousand,' but died shortly afterwards
ii. 1663. In a copy of Sedgwick's ' Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Ever-
li fting Covenant' (folio 1661), in our possession, is the following inscription, Mary
KjJton, her book, given by her dear husband, Ja. Nalton, Sept. 14. 1661.' Consult
' Koncf. Mem.,' vol. i. pp. 142-144.
X TMs ' William Taylor,' was probably the author of a sermon in the ' Morning
Exercises,' and the same for whom Dr Spurstowe preached a remarkable fuoeral
Bermon. He died in 1661. Q.
THE MARRIAGE FEAST BETWEEN
CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH.
In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of
fat things, a feast of ivincs on the Ices ; of fat things full of marrow, of
wi)ie on the lees ivell refined. — Isaiah XXV. 6.
In the former chapter the holy prophet having spoken of the miseries and
desolation of the church, in many heavy, sad, and doleful expressions ; as
' the vine languisheth, the earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof,
because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, and
broken the everlasting covenant ; therefore the earth shall be accursed, and
they that dwell therein shall not drink wine with a song,' &c. Here you
see all sweetness and rejoicing of heart is departed from them ; yet even in
the midst of all these miseries, God, the God of comforts, makes sweet and
gracious promises to his church, to raise it out of its mournful estate and
condition. And therefore the prophet, in the former part of this chapter,
speaks of blessing God for the destruction of his enemies, and for his great
love to his church. And when he had spoken of the ruin of the enemy, he
presently breaks out with thanksgiving, breathing forth abundant praises to
his God ; as it is the custom of holy men, guided by the motion of the
blessed Spirit of God, upon all occasions, but especially for benefits to his
church, to praise his name, not out of ill afi'ection at the destruction of the
adversaries, but at the execution of di\ine justice, for the fulfilling of the
truth of his promise ; as in the fij'st verso of this chapter, ' 0 Lord, thou
art my God ; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name ; for thou hast done
wonderful things ; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.' When
the things that were promised of old were brought to pass, the church was
ever ready to give God the glory of his truth. Therefore, rejoice not when
thine enemies fall ; but when the enemies of the Lord are brought to deso-
lation, then we may, nay, we ought to sing, ' Hallelujah' to him that Uveth
for ever and ever.
I will now fall upon the very words of my text. ' In this mountain shall
the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things,' &c. Thcso
words they arc prophetical, and cannot have a perfect performance all at
once, but they shall be performed gradually. The promise of ' a new heaven
and a new earth,' 2 Pet. iii. 13, shall be performed. The conversion of
■444 . THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeRMON I.
the Jews, and tlie bringing in of the fulness of the Gentiles, shall gradually
be brought to pass. All the promises that ever God hath made, before the
second coming of Christ to judgment, shall be accomplished. God hatli
made his peace with us in the gospel of peace ; and when all these promises
shall be fulfilled, then all imperfection shall be done away, and we shall
never be removed from our Kock ; but our joy shall then be full. Nay,
even in this life we have some degrees of perfection. We have grace, and
the means of grace ; the ordinances of Christ, and a testimony of everlast-
ing glory.
' In this mountain will the Lord of hosts make a feast.'
In these words ye have set down a glorious and a royal feast ; and the
jylace where this feast is to be kept is ' Mount Zion ;' the feast-maker is ' the
Lord of Hosts ;' the pavtles invited, are ' all people ;' the issues of it, and the
provision for the feast, are ' fat things,' and ' wine' of the best ; a feast of
the best of the best, a feast of the fat and of the marrow, a feast of ' v/ine
on the lees well refined.'
Here you may see that God doth veil heavenly things under earthly
things, and condescends so low as to enter into the inward man by the
outward man. For our apprehensions are so weak and narrow, that we
cannot be acquainted with spiritual things, but by the inward working of
the Spirit of the Almighty.
This ' mountain' is the place wiere this feast is made, even ' mount
Zion ;' which is a type and figure of the church, called in Scripture, ' the
holy mountain.' For as mountains are raised high above the earth, so the
church of God is raised in excellency and dignity above all the sorts of
manldnd.
Obs. 1. As much as men above beasts, so much is the church raised above all
men. This mountain is above all mountains. The ' mountain of the Lord'
is above all mountains whatsoever. ' Thou, 0 mountain, shalt stand im-
moveable,' when all other mountains shall smoke, if they are but touched.
This is the mountain of momitains. The church of God is most excellent
in glory and dignity, as ye may see in the latter end of the former chapter,
how the glory of the church puts down all other glories whatsoever. ' Ihe
moon,' saith the prophet, ' shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when
the Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before
his ancients gloriously.' So that the brightness of the chm'ch shall put
down the glory of the sun and of the moon. Thus you see the church of
God is a mountain.
Reason. First, Because God hath established it upon a stronger foundation
than all the world besides. It is founded upon the goodness and power and
truth of God. Mountains of brass and iron are not so firm as this moun-
tain. For what sustains the church but the word of God ? And being built
upon his word and truth, it ma}^ very well be called a mountain, for it shall
be as mount Zion, which shall never be removed, Ps. cxxv. i. It may be
moved, but never removed. Thus, in regard to the firmness and stability
thereof, it may rightly be termed a mountain.
Obs. 2. Again, xve may here speak in some sort of the visibility of the
church. But here will arise a quarrel for the papists, who when they hear
of this mount, they presently allude* it to their church, Their church, say
they, is a mount ; so saith the Scripture.
I answer, Firstly, We confess in some sort their church to be a mount
{though not this mount), for Babylon is built on seven hills; but if this
* That is, = ' make it refer to.' — G.
ISA. XXV. G.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 445'
prove her a church, it is an antlchristian church. Secondly, That the
CathoHc Protestantial* church had always a being, though sometimes invi-
sible. The apostle, writing to the Komans, exhorts them ' not to be high-
minded, but fear ;' for, saith he, ' if God hath broken off the natural
branches, perhaps he will break off you also,' Eom. xi. 21, 24. And, indeed,
for their pride and haughtiness of mind, they are at this day broken off.
Christ, that * walks between the seven golden candlesticks,' Rev. i. 12, did
never say that the church of SmjTna or Ephesus should always remain a
visible church to the eyes of the world, neither were they ; for to this very
day they lie under bondage and slavery to the Turk. The mount hath
been always visible, though not always alike gloriously visible. For there
will be a time when the church shall fly into the wilderness, Rev. xii. 6.
Where, then, shall be the glorious visibility of the church ? There is a
time when all shall follow the beast. The papists themselves confess that
in antichrist's time the church shall scarce be visible. The essence of a
thing and the quahty of a thing may differ. The church is a church, and
visible, but not always equally, and alike gloriously visible ; yet those that
had spiritual eyes, and did look upon things with the spectacles of the
Scripture, they could always declare the church was visible ; for, from the
beginning of the world, the church had always lustre enough sufficient to
delight, and draw the elect, and so shall have to the end of the world,
though sometimes the church may have a mist before it, as Austin speaks :
' It is no wonder that thou canst not see a mountain, for thou hast no eyes.'
But the papists have seen this mountain. As they have always been bloody
persecutors of the church, they have seen enough to confound them. For
we have nothing in our church, but they have the same ; only ours is
refined, and freed from idolatry. We have two sacraments, they have
seven. We have Scripture, they have traditions, which they equal with it.
We have Scriptures pure, they, corrupt. So that our church was in the
midst of theirs, as a sound and more uncorrupt part in a corrupt body.
This mountain is the church. ' The Lamb standeth upon mount Zion,
and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name
\vritten m their foreheads,' Rev. xiv. 1. Christ standeth in the church,
and standing in mount Zion he is accompanied with those that his Father
hath given to him before the world was. Therefore those that belong to
this holy mountain, they are Christ's. ' And in this mountain shall tho
Lord of hosts make a feast for all people.' And this feast is a royal feast,
a marriage feast, wherein the joy and comfort of God's people are set down
by that which is most comfortable among men. The founder of the feast is
' the Lord of hosts.' It is only he that is able to prepare a table in the
•wilderness, that is mighty and of abihty to feast his church with a spiritual
and holy banquet. We all hve at his table for the feeding of our bodies,
but much more in regard of our souls. He can make a feast for the whole
man, for he is Lord of the conscience ; and he is to spread a table for the
whole world. Nay, more, if there were so many, he can furnish a table for
ten thousand worlds. He is the God of all spii-itual comforts, and the
* God of all consolation.' He is infinite, and can never be drawn dry, for he
is the fountain of eternal Ufe. All graces and comforts in the Scripture are
called tho comforts and graces of the Holy Spirit, because God is the giver
of them by his Spirit. Who can take away the wound of a guilty con-
science, but he that hath set the conscience in tho hearts of men ? He, if
he pleaseth, can take away the burden of a grieved conscience, and supply
* That is, ' Protestaut.' — G.
446 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeRMON I.
it, instead thereof, with new and solid comforts. He knoweth all the
windings and turnings of the soul, where all the pain and grief lieth ; and
he cannot but know it, because he only is above the soul. He is therefore
the fittest to make the soul a feast. He only can do it, and he will do it.
' In this mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make a feast.'
Why is he called the ' Lord of Hosts ? '
It is an usual term to set forth the glory of God, to make his power and
the greatness of his majesty known amongst the children of men.
' He shall make a feast for all people.'
Those that are invited to this glorious feast are ' all people.' None excepted,
none excluded, that will come to Christ ! Some of all sorts, of all nations,
of all languages ! This hath relation to the time of the gospel. The
church at first had its being in particular families, but afterwards more
enlarged. The church at the first was of the daughters of men, and the
sons of God. The children of the church mingled with a generation of
corrupt persons, that would keep in no bounds ; but after Abraham's time
there was another generation of the church, that so it was a little more
enlarged. Then there was a third generation, a divided generation, con-
sisting of Jews and Gentiles. So that, when Christ came into the world,
the bounds of the church began to enlarge themselves more and more, so
that now it is in this happy condition, ' Come ye all unto me, all that are
hea\'y laden,' Mat. xi. 28. Both Jews and Gentiles, all are invited, who-
soever they are, ' nothing is now unclean,' Acts x. 15. Christ is come,
and hath made ' to all people a feast of fat things.' It must be a feast,
and of fat things, for all the world shall be the better for it. The Jews
shall be converted, and the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in. And
yet it is no prejudice to any particular man, because the things ye are to
taste of are spiritual. Go to all the good things in the world : the more
one hath of them the less another must have, because they are earthly, and
so are finite. But in spiritual things all may have the whole, and every
man in particular. Every man enjoyeth the light of the sun in particular,
and all enjoy it too. So the whole church, and only the church, enjoys
the benefit and comfort of this feast ; but under the name of this church
come all the elect, both Jews and Gentles, and therefore it must be the
Lord of Hosts that can make such a feast as this is, a feast for all people.
No other is able to do it.
This feast is ' a feast of fat things, full of marrow and of wine on the
lees well refined,' the best that can be imagined, the best of the best. A feast
is promised, a spiritual feast. The special graces and favours of God are
compared to a feast made up of the best things, full of all varieties and
excellencies, and the chief dish that is all in all, is Christ, and all the gra-
cious benefits we by promise can in any wise expect from him. All other
favours and blessings, whatsoever they are, are but Christ dished out, as
I may speak, in several ofiices and attributes. He is the original of com-
fort, the principle of grace and holiness. All is included in Christ. Ask
of him and ye shall obtain, even the forgiveness of your sins, peace of
conscience, and communion of saints. Ask of Christ, as of one invested
with all privileges for the good of others. But yet this is by his death.
He is the feast itself. He is dished out into promises. Have you a pro-
mise of the pardon of sins ? It is from Christ. Wouldst thou have peace
of conscience ? It is from Christ. Justification and redemption ? It
is from Christ. The love of God is derived to us by Christ, yea, and aJl
that we have that is good is but Christ parcelled out.
Is,V. XXV. 6.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 447
Now, I will shew why Christ, with his benefits, prerogatives, graces, and
■comforts, is compared to a feast.
First. In regard of (he choice of the thinijs. In a feast all things are of
the best ; so are the things we have in Christ. Whatsoever favours we
have by Christ, they are choice ones. They are the best of every thing.
Pardon for sin is a pardon of pardon. The title we have for heaven,
through him, is a sure title. The joy we have by him is the joy of all joys.
The liberty and freedom from sin, which he purchased for us by his death, is
perfect freedom. The riches of grace we have by him are the only lasting and
durable riches. Take anything that you can, if we have it by Christ, it is
of the best. All worldly excellencies and honours are but mere shadows
to the high excellencies and honour we have in Christ. No joy, no com-
fort, no peace, no riches, no inheritance to be compared with the joy,
peace, and inheritance which we have in Christ. Whatsoever we have by
him, we have it in a glorious manner. And therefore ho is compared to
fat, to ' fat things full of marrow,' ' to wine, to wine on the lees,' that pre-
serveth the freshness of it ; the best wine of all, that is not changed from
vessel to vessel, but keepeth its strength. And, indeed, the strength and
vigour of aU floweth from Jesus Christ in covenant with us.
The love of Christ is the best love, and he himself incomparably the best,
and hath favours and blessings of the choicest.
Second. Again, as in a feast, besides choice, there is variety, so in Christ
there is variety answerable to all our wants. Are we foolish ? He is
wisdom. Have we guilt in our consciences ? He is righteousness, and
this righteousness is imputed unto us. Are we defiled ? He is sanctifica-
tion. Are we in misery ? He is our redemption. If there be a thousand
kinds of evils in us, there is a thousand ways to remedy them by Jesus
Christ. Therefore, the good things we have by Christ are compared to all
the benefits we have in this world. In Christ is choice and variety. Are
we weak ? He is meat to feed us, that we may be strong. He will refresh
us. He is the best of meats. He is marrow. So, are our spirits faint ?
He is wine. Thus we have in Christ to supply all our wants. He is variety.
There is a plant among the Indians called by the name of coquiis ; '■■• the
fruit thereof serveth for meat and drink, to comfort and refresh the body.
It yieldeth that whereof the people make apparel to clothe themselves
withal, and also that which is physical,! very good against the distempers of
the body. And if God will infuse so much virtue into a poor plant, what
virtue may we expect to be in Christ himself ? He feedeth our souls to all
eternity, puts upon us the robes of righteousness, heals the distempers of
our souls. There is variety in him for all our wants whatsoever. He is
food, physic, and apparel to clothe us ; and when we are clothed with him,
we may with boldness stand before the majesty of God. He is all in all.
He is variety, and ail. There is something in Christ answerable to all the
necessities of God's people, and not only so, but to their full content in
everything.
Third. Again, as there is variety in a feast, so there is sufficiency, full
sufficiency. ' We beheld the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and
truth,' John i. 14. And being full of grace, he is wise, and able to furnish
this heavenly banquet with enough of all sorts of provisions fit for the soul
to feed upon. There is abundance of grace, and excellency, and sufficiency
in Christ. And it must needs be, because he is a Saviour of God's own
sending. ' Labour not therefore for the meat that perisheth, but for the
That is, 'cocoa.' — G. t That is, ' medicinal.' — G.
448 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeEMON I.
meat that t-he Son of God shall give you ; for him hath God the Father
sealed,' John vi. 27 ; that is, sent forth for this purpose, to ' feed the church
of God,' 1 Pet. V. 2. As there is an all-sufficiency in God, so in Christ,
who by the sacrificing of himself was able to give satisfaction to divine
justice. Therefore saith he, ' My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is
drink indeed,' John vi. 55 ; that is, spiritually to the soul he is food in-
deed, and can satisfy God's justice. If we consider him as God alone, he
is a ' consuming fire,' Heb. xii. 29 ; or as a man alone, he can do nothing ;
but considered as God-man, he is meat indeed, and drink indeed. And
now the soul is content with that which divine justice is contented withal.
Though our conscience be large, yet God is larger and above our con-
sciences. Therefore, as thei'e is variety of excellency, so is there sufficiency
and fulness in Christ. What he did, he did to the full. He is a Saviour,
and he fiUeth up that name to the full. His pardon for sin is a full pardon ;
his merits for us are full merits ; his satisfaction to divine justice a full
satisfaction ; his redemption of our souls and bodies a full redemption.
Thus all he did was full.
Fourth. A feast is for company. It is convivium. There is converse at it.
So Cicero prefers the name of convivium among the Latins before the Greek
name avfi^iroeiov (li). And this feast is not for one. We are all invited to
it. The excellency of Christ's feast consisteth in the communion of saints ;
for whosoever takes part of it, their spirits must agree one with another.
Love is the best and chiefest dish in this feast. The more we partake of
the sweetness of Christ, the more we love one another. Christ by his
Spirit so works in the hearts of the children of men, that, bring a thousand
together of a thousand several nations, and within a little while you shall
have them all acquainted one with another. If they be good, there is
agreement of the spirit and sympathy between them. There is a kindred
in Christ. He is the true Isaac. The death of Christ and the blood of
Christ is the gi'ound of all union and joy and comfort whatsoever. The
blood of Christ sprinkled upon the conscience will procure that peace of
conscience that shall be a continual feast unto the soul. This feast must
needs be wonderful comfortable, for we do not feast with those that are like
ourselves, but we feast with God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, sent by
Christ, procured by the death of Christ. The angels at this feast attend us ;
therefore, it must needs be joyful. No joy comparable to the joy of a feast.
This is not every feast. This is a marriage feast, at which we are con-
tracted to Christ. Now, of all feasts, marriage feasts are most sumptuous.
This is a marriage feast for the King's Son, for Christ himself; and there-
fore of necessity it must be full of all choice varieties, and of the sweetest of
things, of the most excellentest of things, and of the quintessence of things.
Here is all joy that belongeth to a feast. Here it is to be had with Christ.
What acquaintance can be more glorious than that which is to be had be-
tween Jesus Christ and a Christian soul ? when we have hope of better
things to come, then we find the sweetness of this communion. No har-
mony in the world can be so sweet as the harmony maintained between
Christ and the soul. When we have this, and are made one with God in
Christ, our joy must needs then be unspeakable. When the contract is
once made between the soul and Christ, there cannot but be abundant joy.
When the soul is joined with Christ by faith, it cannot but solace itself in a
perpetual jubilee and a perpetual feast in some degrees.
Fifth. Again, for a feast ye have the choicest gamients, as at the mamage
of the Lamb, * white and fine linen,' Rev. xix. 8, which is the righteousness
IsA. XXV. 6. J BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 449
of the saints. When God seeth these robes upon us and the Spirit of
Christ in us, then there is a robe of righteousness imputed, and a garment of
sanctity, whereby our souls are clothed. So this is a feast that must have
wonderful glorious attire ; and when this marriage shall be consummated,
we are sure to have a garment of glory put upon us.
Suih. This was signified in old time by the Jews.
1. In the feast of the passover (not to name all resemblances, but only
one or two). The lamb for the passover, you know, was chosen out of the
flock from amongst the rest four days before the time appointed for that
feast. So Christ is the true Paschal Lamb, chosen of God before the
foundation of the world was laid, to be slain for us.
2. Again, mauna was a type of Christ. It came from heaven to feed the
hungry bodies of the Israelites in the wilderness. Even so came Christ,
sent from God the Father, to be the eternal food and upholder of the souls
and bodies of every one of us. Manna was white and sweet ; so was Christ,
white in righteousness and holiness, and also sweet to delight the soul.
Manna fell upon the tents in the night ; and Christ came when darkness
was spread over all the world. God gave manna freely from heaven ; so
Christ was a free gift, and he freely gave himself to death, even to the
cursed death of the cross, for us. All, both poor and rich, they gathered
manna. Christ is a common food for king and subject. All take part of
Christ. Neither Jew nor Gentile are exempted, but all may come and buy
freely without money. Of this manna he that had least had enough. So
here he that hath least of Christ, though he take him with a trembling hand,
yet he shall have enough, for Christ is his. Whosoever hath the least grace,
if it be true and sound, hath grace enough to bring him to eternal life.
The Jews wondered at the manna, saying. What thing is this ? (c). So it
is one of Christ's names to be called ' Wonderful,' Isa. ix. 6. Grace and
favour from Christ is true spiritual manna to the soul. Manna fell in the
wilderness : even so must we remain in the wilderness of this wretched
world until we come to heaven. Christ is manna to us, and very sweet in
the conveyance of his word and sacraments. When the Israelites came
into the land of Canaan the manna ceased, not before. So when we come
to heaven, the elect's purchased possession, we shall have another kind of
manna for our souls. We shall not there feed on Christ, as in the sacra-
ment ; no, but we shall see him ' face to face, and know as we are known,'
1 Cor. xiii. 12. In the wilderness of this world it is fit God should convey
this heavenly manna to the soul whatsoever way he pleaseth. Manna
could not fall until the Israelites had spent all the provision they brought
with them out of Egypt ; and we cannot taste of that heavenly manna of
our Father until our souls are drawn away from all worldly dependences
and carnal delights. Then, indeed, manna will be sweet and precious.
What is this heavenly manna, what is Christ and his Father, what is the
word and sacraments, to a depraved, vicious heart, stufied full with earthly
vanities ? Alas ! it loatheth all these. As none tasted of manna but those
that came out of Egypt, so none shall taste of Christ but those that are not
of the world, that are come out of Egj'pt, out of sin and darkness. Manna
fell only about the tents of Israel, and in no other part of the world, but
only there, that none might have the privilege to eat of it but God's peculiar,
chosen ones. Christ falls upon the tents of the righteous, and none shall
taste of this blessed, spiritual food Ijut such as are the Israel of God,
such as are of the church, such as feel the burden of sin and groan under
it. Oh ! the verj' taste of this heavenly manna is sweet to their souls,
V'^».. u. F -
450 THE MAREIAGE FEAST [SeRMON I.
and to none but tlaem. Thus ye see the feast that Christ maketh for us
in mount Zion, and that this manna doth typify Christ with all his benefits.
3. Again, the hard rock in the tvildeniess, when it was strucken* with the
rod of Moses, presently water gushed out in abundance, which preserved
life to the Israelites ; so Christ, the rock of our salvation, the strength of
his church, the rock and fortress of all his saints, when his precious side
was gored with the bloody lance upon the cross, the blood gushed out, and
in such a manner and such abundance, that by the shedding thereof our
souls are preserved alive. He is both manna and the rock of water. Manna
had all in it, so had the rock ; and all necessities are plentifully supplied by
Christ. The church of God hath always had bread to satisfy spiritual
hunger. It never wanted necessary comforts. It is said, Eev. xii. 6,
' When the church fled into the wilderness, God fed her there,' alluding
to the children of Israel fed by manna. The Jews did not want in the
wilderness, nor the church of God never wanted comfort, though in the
midst of the persecution and oppression of all her enemies. When Elias
was in the wilderness, he was fed,' 1 Kings xvii. 4, 6. The church of God
shall not only be fed in her body, but in her soul, for Christ hath hidden
manna for his elect. This doth typify the exceeding joy of the church, the
hidden manna, ' that neither eye hath seen, nor ear heard of, neither
can it enter into the heart of man to conceive of those joys,' 1 Cor. ii. 9,
that the church of God shall have when the marriage shall be consummated.
Joy in the Holy Ghost, and peace of conscience, they are hid from the world,
and sometimes from God's people themselves, though they shall enjoy them
hereafter.
4. All the former feasts in times past were but types of this. The feast
of tabernacles, the feast of the passover, the spiritual manna, and all other
holy feasts, were but to signify and to shew forth this feast by Christ. But
there is this difference between the type and the thing signified. By the
type, the passover lamb was quite eaten up ; but this passover, Christ, that
was slain for sin, can never be eaten up. We feed upon him with our souls.
He cannot be consumed as the passover lamb, nor as manna, which was
gone when the sun arose. Yea, that manna that was laid up for a remem-
brance before the ark, became nothing, but Christ is in heaven for ever-
more for the soul to feed upon. Though these were resemblances, yet these
failed, as it is fit resemblances should fail, that is, come short of the body
of the thing itself. Thus you see the spiritual comforts of a Christian may
well and fitly be compared to a feast.
5. Thus you see God pro^ddeth a feast, and in\ateth all. In the sacra-
ment you have a feast, a feast of varieties, not only bread, but wine — to shew
the variety and fulness of comfort in Christ. He intendeth full comfort.
As for our adversaries the papists, they have dry feasts. They give the
people the bread, but the wine they keep for themselves. But God in Christ
intendeth us fuU comfort. Whatsoever Christ did, it was fuU. His merits
are complete, and his joy was full. He is fulness itself; and, therefore,
whatsoever comes from him must needs be, as he himself is, both full and
sweet. He intendeth us full consolation.
Use. Therefore, we ought to be prepared to partake of this feast, in such
a manner as that we may have full joy, and full comfort ; for there is in
Christ enough to satisfy all the hungry souls in the world, he himself being
present at this heavenly banquet. ' All fulness dwells in him,' Col. i. 19,
from which * we have all received, and grace for grace.* Therefore,
* That is, 'struck.'— G.
ISA. XXV. 6.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 451
1. Let us labour to have large hearts: for as our faith groweth more and
more, so we shall cany more comfort and more strength from this holy
feast. As the poor widow, if her vessels had not failed, the oil had not
ceased ; if there had been more vessels, there had been more oil, 2 Ivings
iv. G. Our souls are as these vessels. Let us therefore labour, and
make it our great business to have large souls, souls capable to drink
in this spiritual oil of gladness ; for as much faith as wo bring to Christ, so
much comfort we shall carry from him. The favours of God in Christ
being infinite, the more we fetch from him, the more glory we give unto
him. But if they were finite, we should offend his bounty, he might soon
be drawn diy, and so send us away with an imcomfortable answer, that ho
was not able to reUeve us. But Christ is infinite, and the more we have
fi-om him, the more we may have. ' To him that hath shall be given,'
Mat. xiii. 12. The oftener we go to Christ, the more honour and glory we
bring unto him. This is a banquet to the full.
We are now come to the banquet, and Christ is the founder of it ; nay,
he is the feast itself. He is the author of it, and he it is that we feed upon.
Use 2. Let us labom- not to be straight* receivers of the sacrament, but
suck in abundance from Christ with a great deal of delight, that we may
come together not for the worse but the better, considering what a gi-eat
deal of strength and grace is required as very necessary for the maintaining
of spiritual hfe.
THE SECOND SERMON.
In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of
fat things, a feast of ivines on the lees ; of fat things full of marrow, of
nines on the lees ivell refined. — Isaiah XXV. 6.
I have shewed that Christ and his benefits are compared to a feast, and in
what respects they are fitly resembled by a feast, and have pressed that we
should prepare for it, first by getting large hearts. Now, in the second
place, that we may have comfort at this feast, ice must labour for spiritual
appetite ; for to what end and purpose is that man at a feast that hath no
stomach ? I shall therefore shew what means we are to use to get eager
stomachs and holy appetites after this feast.
(1.) The appetite is raised ivith sour things, as anguish of spirit and moum-
fulness of heart for sin. If we wUl ever relish Christ aright, we must labour
to have a quick apprehension of our sins. We must do as the Jews did at
the passover. They ate it with sour herbs, that they might thereby have the
sharper stomachs. So must we. We must cast our eyes . into our own
hearts, and consider what vile wretches we are, how full of sin and vanity ;
and this will be as sour herbs to the Paschal Lamb. We must join the
sweet benefits and privileges that we have in Christ with the consideration
of our own wi'ctched and miserable condition, and then this heavenly ordi-
nance cannot but be sweet and comfortable to our souls. I beseech you,
enter into j-our own souls, and consider seriously under what guilt you lie,
and this will whet your appetite. * A full stomach despiseth the honey-
comb,' Prov. xxv-ii. 7 ; but in this appetite there is sense of emptiness, and
from that sense of emptiness pain, and from pain an earnest desii-e of satis-
faction. Thus it is in spiritual things. .We want Christ, and all the spi-
ritual comforts that flow from him. There is an emptiness in us, and we
* Qu. 'strait?'— Ed
452 THE MAEEIAGE FEAST [SeRMON II.
see a need every day to feed upon the mercies of God in Christ. There is
an emptiness in our souls, and there must be a sense of that emptiness,
and pain from that sense, which must stir up a strong endeavour to follow
after that that we do desire. Then Christ indeed is sweet, when we find
our souls hungering and thii'sting after him.
(2.) Again, if so be we would have that appetite of spirit that is fit for
this feast, we mtist purge our souls from the corruptions of flesh and spirit,
' perfecting holiness in the fear of God,' 2 Cor. vii. 1. We must cleanse
our souls from those lusts and passions that daily cleave unto them. All cru-
dities must be taken away, that the edge of the stomach may not be flatted :*
for while these earthly carnal corruptions lie upon the soul, we can expect
no spiritual appetite to heavenly things. Let us therefore examine our-
selves, what filth lies upon our souls, and what coiTupt inclinations are
there, that so they may be purged, and our desires be carried fully after
Christ in the sacrament.
(3.) Another means to get appetite is to consider thoroughly what is required
of a Christian, well to maintain the trade of Christianity. It is another man-
ner of thing than we take it for, to entertain communion with God, to per-
form holy duties in an holy manner, to bear the yoke as a Christian should
do. Here is a great deal of strength required ; and because corruptions
will mix themselves amongst our best performances, there must be a great
deal of mercy from God to pardon them. And whence is all this but by
the death of our blessed Saviom* Jesus Christ ? For his sake, God hath a
forbearing eye. Now, if we consider what a degree of spiritual strength
and %dgour we should have to go through with these duties, this would
sharpen our stomachs and spiritual appetites, to furnish ourselves with
grace from Christ to go through with these holy services. There must be
an exercising of all the duties of Christianity, which is an estate that must
be maintained with a great deal of charge and labour. A man can do no
service acceptable to God but by grace ; and grace must feed the soul with
fruitful knowledge in the power of faith. And when the soul feeleth a
necessity of grace. Oh ! then, beloved, it hungers and earnestly thirsteth
after the love of God in Christ. We need to every trade a great deal of
knowledge. Then surely the calling of Christianity needeth a great deal.
A Christian must expect much both in prosperity and adversity, as the
apostle saith, ' I have learned to want and to abound, to be in honour and
to be in disgrace, and I can do all things through Christ that strengthens
me,' Philip, iv. 12. Now, because there is so much goings so, out for the
maintenance of Christianity, we must also bring in much grace, and faith,
and love, and hoHness, or else we shall never be able to uphold this condi-
tion. Where there is an exercise of Christianity, there will be an appetite
to heaven ; that is our best calling. For when that we have done all that
we can, that, that we must have comfort from, is Christianity. Therefore,
labour with all labour to be holy and able Christians. All other callings
are but for this present Kfe ; but that that is for eternity is this calling of
Christianity. And this is only to fit us here in this world for an everlast-
ing condition of glory in the world to come.
(4.) Again, if we would have a desire and appetite to heavenly things,
we must labour to get acquaintance, and constantly converse with those that are
good. The old proverb is, * Company will make a man fall to,' especially
the company of those that are better than ourselves. For very emulation,
men will be doing as others do. When men live amongst those whose
* That is ' flattened,' »= appetite destroyed. — G.
IsA. XXV. 6. J BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 453
hearts are framed this way, they must be equal. Conversation with those
that have good rehsh of spiritual things, and shew forth grace in their lives,
setteth an appetite upon our desires, to desire the same things that they do.
Thus St Paul writeth to the Gentiles to stir up the emulation of the Jews.
Therefore receive this likewise for the procuring of a spiritual appetite.
To go on.
(5.) The next thing that may stir up our desires to get an appetite
to the best things, is seriously to consider, that we cannot tell how long
we have to live, or may enjoy the benefit of the means of grace. Those
that sit at table and discourse away the greatest part of dinner time in talk,
had need at last to fall to so much the faster, by how much the more negli-
gent they had been before in eating. We cannot tell how long we may
enjoy this spiritual feast that God makes for us. Therefore, be stirred up
to get spiritual appetites ; for we know not how long God will spread a
table for us. We know not how long we shall enjoy our lives ; and if we
be surprised on the sudden, we may suffer a spiritual famine, a famine of
the soul, if we have nothing to comfort us beforehand ; and of all famines,
a spiritual famine is most grievous, most fearful. Therefore do as Joseph
did, and be wise. He in the seven years of plenty gathered for seven years of
famine that was to come upon the land of Egypt, Gen. xli. 36, seq. Alas ! if
we have nothing laid up beforehand, what will be our end ? We shall lie open
to God's wrath and anger. Nothing can support our souls in the evil time.
\Vlierefore, as you desire at that day to have comfort of those things ye
shall stand most in need of, labour to get a good appetite. For to perish
and starve at a feast is a shame ; to famish in the liberty of the gospel and
plenty of spiritual meat, is shameful and dishonourable. Thus you see,
beloved, not to be large in the point, how you may procure such an appetite
as is fit for such an holy feast. First, by getting a sense of sin ; secondly,
by seeing a necessity of Christ ; thirdly, by ])urging out those lusts that lie
upon the soul ; fourthly, by conversing with those that are spiritually
minded ; and lastly, by considering the time to come.
Use 3. It is not enough to have a stomach, but we must have a spiritual
dispositio7i of soul to heavenly tilings, as ive have to outward things. Labour
to have a taste of good things, and a distinguishing taste of heavenly things
from other things. God is the God of nature, and hath furnished us with
five senses ; and as he hath given us sense to apprehend, so he hath fur-
nished the creature with varieties of excellences, suitable to all our several
senses. He will not have objects in the creature without sense, nor sense
in man without objects. He hath furnished man with senses, and variety
of senses, and given fit and proportionable objects for those senses. The
soul also hath her sense. Wheresoever there is life, there is sense. God
having given spiritual life to the soul, he doth maintain that life with
spiritual food. As in a feast there is sight, and the eye is not only fed
there with rich furniture, but with variety of dainties ; the ear likewise and
the smell is satisfied, the one with music, .the other with sweet savours. So
in this feast there is to delight both the ear and the smell of the soul, the
one with hearing the gracious promises of Jesus Christ, and the other in
receiving the sweet savour of that sacrifice that was offered up once for all.
Nothing so sweet to the soul as the blessings of Christ. He is sweet in
the word, as the vessel that convey eth him into our souls. Thus you see
in this feast all the senses, the sight, the smell, the taste, and hearing, all
are satisfied, and a great care had, in the provision for the feast, that our
outward man may be pleased. And shall the Lord of Hosts make a feast,
454 THE MAEBIAGE FEAST [SeEMON II.
and not content the whole man ? He is for our sight, if we have spiritual
eyes to see ; the ear, if we have ears to hear. All the senses are exercised
here. What is the reason why carnal men cannot relish a pardon for sin,
and justification, and sanctification, and holiness, nor go boldly to God ?
It may be they have good, sweet notions of these, but they have no spiritual
taste or relish of them, and all because they want spiritual life. None but
a Christian can have spiritual taste answerable to a spiritual life. Taste is
a kind of feeling, one of the most necessary senses ; and a Christian can-
not be without relish and feeling. Yea, it is the very being of a Christian
to have a taste of spiritual things. Of all other senses, there is a stronger
application in taste. The other senses fetch their objects afar oif ; but as
for taste, there is a near application iu it, and therefore most necessary.
Every life is maintained by taste. * Taste and see how good the Lord is,'
Ps. xxxiv. 8.
Now, taste doth two things ; it doth relish that that is good, and disrelish
the contrary. There must be a spiritual taste to discern of differences.
There can be no spiritual taste but it must know what is good and profitable
for the soul, and what is not. Because God wiU not have our tastes to be
wronged, ye see what course he takes. First, the eye seeth what things
we taste on, and if the eye be displeased, so also is the smell. Thus God
layeth before us spiritual things, knowledge of good and bad, and giveth us
many caveats, and all because he would not have us to taste things hurtful
for the soul, nor poison instead of meat. Now, when we have tasted that
which is good, let us take heed it be not a taste only, lest we fall into the
sin against the Holy Ghost.
Use 4. Again, beside taste, there must he a digesting of what we taste, and
that thoroughly, in our understandings. When we apprehend a thing to be
true and good, it must be digested thoroughly into the afiections. Love to
the best things must be above all other love whatsoever ; yet this must be
digested. Men oftentimes have sweet notions, but, alas ! they are but
notions ; they do not digest them into their afiections. It is the last
digestion that nourisheth ; and when any spiritual truths are understood
thoroughly, then comes in spiritual strength ; and hereupon the soul comes
and sucks in that virtue which is for the nourishment of it. Thus it is in
the soul ; upon digestion there is nourishment.
Again, there must be a faculty to retain what we have received, that it
may be digested. Ye have many that love to hear, but they do not digest.
If there be nothing in the soul, nothing can be extracted ; and therefore we
must leam to retain necessary truths, that so upon occasion they may come
from the memory into the heart. Though, indeed, they are not in their
proper place when they are in the memory only, yet notwithstanding, if
they are there, they may with ease be brought down into the soul.
Use 5. Then we must labour to walk in the strength of spiritual things. For
what is the use of this feast but to cherish both soul and spirit ? The use
of spiritual things which we have through Christ is to cherish and enliven.
It conveyeth strength to us, that we may walk in the strength of Christ, as
Elias did forty days in the strength of his food, 1 Kings xix. 8. And consider,
though in our consciences and conditions we have variety of changes, yet
in Christ we have several comforts suitable to all our several conditions.
If so be our sins trouble us, we should watch over ourselves, that we be
not over much cast down, but feed upon spiritual things in consideration of
pardon for sin in the blood of Christ. This is the grand issue of all that
Christ hath traced out in the forgiveness of sins. He is not, he cannot be
ISA. XXV. 6.] BETWEEN CHEIST AND HIS CHURCH. 455
divided. Where he pardons sins, he sanctifieth ; where he sanctificth, ho
writes his law in their hearts. So that there is a chain of spiritual favours.
"Where the first link is, all the rest follow. Where forgiveness of sin is,
there is the Spirit, and that Spirit sanctifieth, and comforts, and is an ear-
nest of everlasting life. Therefore, feed especially upon the favours of
God, and got forgiveness of sins, and then all the rest of the chain of gi-ace
and spiritual life will foUow.
Sometimes v*e stand in need of present gi-ace and comfort, a..d we are
imdone if comforts and grace are not at hand, never considering the pro-
mises that are to come ; as that promise of Christ, ' I will be with thee to
the end of the world, fear not,' Mat. xxviii. 20. No temptation shall befall
us, but we shall have an issue out of it, and it shall work together for the
good of all those that fear God. This is oqua vita to the soul of man.
Therefore the gracious promises of Christ and his Holy Spirit we should
ever remember to get into our souls ; for when all other comforts fail, then
Cometh in the comforts of the Spirit, who will be with us and uphold us in
all extremities. If we had nothing in this world to comfort our spirits, yet
let us rejoice in hope of gloiy to come. ' Our life is hid with Christ,' Col.
iii. 3. We have ' the hidden manna,' Rev. ii. 17. ' In him we rejoice in
hope of glory,' Rom. v. 2. And the way to maintain a Christian, holy life,
is to make use of all the privileges of Christianity, and of those promises
that convey these privileges to our souls.
Now that we may the better do this, observe continually what it is that
hinders us, that we cannot feed upon spiritual things as we should do.
Whatsoever it is, we must labour constantly to remove it.
Now, what must follow after this feast ? (1.) Why! spiritual cheerfulness!
If we find this in our duties of Christianity, it is a sign w-e have fed upon
spiritual things. The nature of a spiritual feast is to empty the soul of
sin, and to fill it full of gracious thoughts and actions. Instead thereof it
moderates all things. It makes us use the world as if we used it not.
When we can do tlais, we may certainly know that our souls have tasted of
abundance of benefit by this feast.
A man that hath no spiritual joy is drowned for the most part in the
contentments of the world, di'owned in riches and honours ; and these are
like to strong waters immoderately taken, instead of cheering the spirits,
[they] exhaust and kill them. He that hath the joy of heaven here by
faith, is mortified to all other base delights, ' he only mindeth the things
above, where Christ is,' Col. iii. 1. And therefore the exhortation, or rather
command, ' Seek the things that are above,' hath this promise in fit
method annexed to it, ' and then all other things shall be cast in upon you,'
Mat. vi. 33. Riches and honours in the world ; and if not them, yet sc^
much as is necessary, and mortification of our sins, and the lusts of the flesh.
Again, if we have fed upon spiritual things for our souls, (2.) we shall be
thankful. That man that hath tasted how good and gracious the Lord
hath been to him in this world, and how full of joy and comfort he will be
to him in another world, in consideration of this, his soul cannot choose
but be thankful to God.
Here we see how to make this spiritual food fit for our souls, that Christ
p^o^•ideth for us. And if there be such joy as we have said there is ia
spiritual things, what use should we make further of them, but labour from
hence (8.) to justify the ways of yodlincss against our own false and carnal
hearts, and ayainst the slanderous imputations of the world. When our
hearts are ready to be false to us, and hanker after the contentments of
456 ' THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeEMON II.
the world, and are ready to say the best contentments that they can enjoy
is in the things below ; let us answer our base and false disputing hearts,
that the ways of wisdom, the ways that God directs us to, they only are
the ways of pleasure. And religion is that that makes the hearts of the
children of men joyful; and 'a good conscience only makes a continual
feast,' Prov. xv. 15, so long as man liveth. But especially at the hour of
death, when all the comforts of the world cease, then conscience standeth
our friend.
Obj. But the world's objection is, that of all kind of men in the world,
those that profess religion are the most melancholy.
Ans. But if it be so, it is because they are not religious enough. Their
sins are continually before their eyes. They have pardon for sin, and free-
dom from the guilt of sin, but know it not. They have good things, and
do not know them. And so in regard of spiritual comforts, God's people
may have spiritual joy, and inward consolation, and yet not know of it.
There may be such a time when they may be sad and droop, and that is
when they apprehend God doth not look pleasantly upon them. But the
true character of a Christian is to be cheerful, and none else can be truly
cheerful and joyous. Joy is usurped by others. There is no comfort in
them that can be said to be real. All the joy of a man that is a carnal
man is but as it were the joy of a traitor. He may come to the sacra-
ments, and feast with the rest of God's people, but what mirth or joy can
he have so long as the Master of the feast frowns upon him ? Where
Christ is not, there God is not reconciled. No joy like that joy of him
that is assured of the love of God in Christ. A man may sometime
through ignorance want that joy that belongeth to him. * Rejoice, ye
righteous, and be glad,' Ps. xxxiii. 1. It belongeth to those that are in
Christ and to the righteous to rejoice, for joy is all their portion. They
only can justify the ways of God against all reproaches whatsoever. But
the eyes of carnal men are so held in blindness, that they can see no joy,
no comfort in this course. As it is said of Austin before his conversion, he
was afraid to turn Christian indeed, lest he should want all those joys and
pleasures that the world did then afford him ; but after he was converted,
then he could cry, ' Lord, I have stayed too long from thee,' and too long
delayed from coming in to taste of the sweetness of Jesus Christ.*
Take a Christian at the worst, and he is better than another man, take
him at the best. The worst condition of God's children far surpasseth the
very best condition of graceless persons. The issue of things shall turn to
his good that is a member of Christ, a child of God, an heir of heaven.
The evil of evils is taken away from him. Take him at the worst, he is
an heir of heaven ; but take the wicked at the best, he is not a child of
God, he is a stranger to God, he is as a branch cut off, and as miserable a
wretch as ever Belshazzar in the midst of his cups, trembling and quaking
with fear and astonishment, when he saw the writing on the wall, Dan. v.
24, seq. When a man apprehends the wrath of God hanging over his
head, though he were in the greatest feast in the world, and amongst those
that make mirth and jollity, yet seeing vengeance ready to seize upon
him, it cannot but damp all his joy and all his carnal pleasures ; and there-
fore only a Christian hath a true title to this feast.
I beseech you, let us labour earnestly to have our part and portion in the
things above. But what shall they do, that as yet apprehend no interest
in Jesus Christ ? Why ! let them not be discouraged, for all are compelled
* See footnote p. 89.— G.
IsA. XXY. 6. J BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 457
to come into this feast, both blind and lame. The servants arc sent to bring
them in. The most wretched people of all, God doth invite them. All
are called to come in to this feast that are sensible of their sins ; and that,
God requires at our hands, or else we can have no appetite to taste of this
feast. God saith, ' Come all,' Isa. Iv. 1. Aye, but, saith the poor, sinful
soul, I have no grace at all ! Why ! but yet come, * buy without money ;'
the feast is free. * God's thoughts are not as thy thoughts are ; ' ' but as
heaven is high above the earth, even so are his thoughts above thy thoughts,'
Isa. Iv. 8, 9. Poor wretch ! thou thinkest thou hast led a wicked life, and
so thou hast ! Aye, but now come in, God hath invited thee, and he will
not always be inviting thee. Therefore come in, and study the excellencies
of Christ. When such persons as these see they need mercy, and grace,
and reconciliation, and must either have it or else be damned for ever,
now they are earnest to study the favour and love of God in Christ ; now
they bestir themselves to get peace of conscience and joy in the Holy
Ghost ; now they see salvation to be founded only on Christ, and all other
excellencies belonging to Christianity ; and therefore he goeth constantly
provided with grace and holiness, so in this Ufe that he may not lose his
part in glory in the life to come. Think of this and pray for it, as they
in the gospel. ' Lord, evermore give me of that bread,' John vii. 34. Here
is hope that thou mayest be saved, because thou art invited to come in. To
what end is the ministry of the gospel, but to entreat thee to be reconciled ?
Oh ! let this work upon our souls when we hear of the excellencies of these
things ! And together with them, consider of the necessity that is cast
upon us to obtain them, and that we must have them or else be damned
eternally. We must do as the lepers did, who said one to another, ' Why
sit we here till we die ? If we say. We will enter into the city, why, the
famine is in the cit}', and we shall die there : and if we sit still here, we
shall also die.' Now, what course took they? ' They said one to another,
Let us enter into the camp of the Syrians, there is meat to feed us,' 2 Kings
vii. 3, 4. So saith the soul. If I go into the city of the world, there I shall
be starved ; if I sit still, I shall also perish. What shall I now do ? I
will venture upon Jesus Christ ; he hath food that endures to eternal life,
and if I perish there, I perish. If I have not Christ I must die, the wrath
of God hangeth over my head, and I cannot escape. Alas ! poor soul,
now thou seest thy wretchedness, cast thyself upon him, and come in. If
thou venturest, thou canst but die ! Adventure therefore, put thyself upon
God's mercy, for he is gracious and full of compassion.
Those that have given up themselves to Christ, let them study to honour
God and Christ, by taking those comforts that are allotted to them. When
any man inviteth us to a feast, he knoweth if we respect him we will fall
to. God hath bestowed his Son upon us, and will he not with him give
us all things ? Let us not therefore dishonour the bounty of our good God, but
come in, and labour to have our hearts more and more enlarged with the
consideration of the excellency of these eternal comforts. The fulness of
Christ is able to satisfy the soul, though it were a thousand times larger
than it is. If it were possible that we could get the capacity of angels, it
could not be sufficient to shew forth the fulness of pleasures that are pro-
vided for a Christian. Let us therefore labour with all labour to open our
hearts to entertain these joys, for we cannot honour God more than of his
bounty to receive thankfully what he freely offers. To taste plentifully in
the covenant of grace, of these riches, and joy, and hope of things to come,
glorious above all that we arc able to think of; I say, this is the way to
458 THE MAEEIAGE FEAST [SeEMON IIE.
honour God under the gospel of hope. Of things that are infinite, the more
we take, the more we may take, and the more we honour him that giveth.
Let us therefore enter deeply into our special sins, there is no fear of de-
spair. Think of all thy wants, and of all thy sins ; let them be never so
many, yet there is more to be had in Christ than there can be wanting in
thee. The soul that thinks itself full of wants is the richest soul, and that
that apprehendeth no want at all, no need of grace or Christ, is always sent
empty away. Grieve therefore for thy sins, and then joy that thou hast
grieved, and go to God for the supply of all thy wants. The seeds of joy
and of comfort are sown in tears and grief in this world ; but yet we know
we shall reap in joy in the world to come.
Remember this, we have we know not what to go through withal in this
valley of tears. That speech of Barzillai was good and excellent, who being
by David himself invited to the court, answered, 'I am now grown old, I am
not fit for the court, for my senses are decayed and gone,' 2 Sam. xix. 32,
seq. Even so the time vnll come when our sense of relishing earthly plea-
sures will utterly be lost. We are sure to go to our graves, and we know
not Avhat particular trouble we may meet with in this world and go through,
if we live to a full age. Alas ! what are all comforts here to the comforts
of eternity ? When our days are spent on earth, then comes in the eternity
of pleasure or everlasting sorrow. Oh then if, when we shall leave all be-
hind us, we have the joy of the Holy Ghost in our hearts, it will advance
us above all the suggestions of siu or Satan, and bring us cheerfully above
to the tribunal seat of Christ. Labour therefore to have a spiritual relish
of soul, to grow in grace and comforts of the Holy Ghost; for the time will
come when we shall wish that we had had more than we have. Every one
will repent of looseness and slackness in the ways of holiness. Therefore
let us labour earnestly to be good husbands for our souls for the time to come.
THE THIRD SERMON.
And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast, dc.
And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all
people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. — Isaiah XXV. 6, 7.
I HA^'E heretofore spoken of the feast that God makes to his church, spe-
cially in the latter times, which was specially performed at the first coming
of Christ, when the Gentiles came in ; but the consummation and perfec-
tion of all will be at the day of judgment. Then God will spread a table for
his to all eternity.
We have spoken heretofore at large of the resemblance of spiritual good
things, by this comparison of a feast. God sets out spiritual things by
outward, because we cannot otherwise conceive of them ; the best things in
grace, by the best and sweetest things in nature. And thus God enters into
our souls by our senses, as we see in the sacrament.
But we have spoken at large of this. Our care must be to have a special
taste, a spiritual appetite to relish this feast that God provides. Naturally
we are distasteful. We relish not spiritual and heavenly things ; wg savour
not the things of God. And the Spirit of God must alter our savour and
taste, as he doth. Wlieresoever there is spiritual life, there is spiritual
relish of heavenly truths.
Now let me add this further, that though it he made by God, yet we mutt
ISA. XXV. G, 7.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 459
brlnrf snmethbui to this feast. Christ feastetli with us, as ye have, Rev. iii.
20. He sups with us, not that we have grace from ourselves, or can bring
an}i,hing ; he bringeth his own provision with him when he suppeth with
us ; but yet by the covenant of grace whereby he enters into terms of fr-iend-
ship with us, we must sup with him, we must have grace to entertain him,
though it is at his own cost ; yet we must have something. He doth not
require us to pay our debts, but he giveth us wherev.ith. Secretly he bids
us come, but giveth a secret messenger to draw us ; he sends his Spirit
certainly. Certainly he will have us bring something when wc come to
feast, but it is of his own giving. And that we are to bring is humble and
empty souls, wherein we are to delight ourselves in sense of our unworthi-
ness ; and the spirit of faith to believe his promises. That pleaseth him,
when we can honour him with a spirit of faith, and then a spirit of love,
and new obedience springing from a spirit of faith and love. These be the
things Christ requires we should have. Our souls must be thus furnished
that Christ may delight to dwell with us ; and therefore it is a good impor-
tuning of God, ' Lord, I desire thou shouldst dwell in me, and prepare
my soul as a fit temple ; ' vouchsafe me the graces thou delightest in,
and delightest to dwell in. So we may beg of God his Holy Spirit to
furnish our souls, so as he may dwell and delight in us.
But we have spoken largely of the fonner verse. I will now speak of the
next that followeth.
' And I will destroy in this mountain the face of covering cast over all
people, and the veil spread over all nations, to swallow up death in victory;
the Lord will wipe away tears from all faces ; and the rebukes of his people
shall be taken from the earth, for the Lord hath spoken it.'
These depend one upon another, being the several services of the feast.
He promiseth a feast in the sixth verse. And what be the several services ?
He will destroy in this mountain, this church, the face of covering cast over
all people, &c. He will take away the veil of ignorance and unbehef, that
they may have special sight of heavenly things, without which they cannot
relish heavenly things ; they can take no joy at this feast.
And then, because there can be no feast, where there is the greatest
enemy in force and power, he swallows up death in victoiy. Death keeps
us in fear all our lifetime. That that swalloweth up all kings and
monarchs, the terror of the world, death, shall be and is swallowed up by
our head, Christ, and shall be swallowed up by us in victorj\ In the mean
time we are subject to many sorrows which cause tears ; for tears are but
drops that issue from that cloud of sorrow ; and sorrow we have always in
this world, either from sins or miseries, or sjTupathy in tears of that kind.
Well, the time will come that tears shall be wiped away, and the cause of
tears ; all sorrow for our own sins, for our own misery, and for sympathizing
with the times wherein we live. Our time shall be hereafter at the day of
resurrection, when all tears shall be wiped from our eyes. God will per-
form that office of a mother to wipe the children's eyes, or of a nurse to
take away all cause of grief whatsoever, else it cannot be a perfect feast.
Aye, but there are* reproaches cast upon religion and religious persons !
It goeth under a veil of reproach, and the best things are not seen in their
own colours ; nor the worst things ; they go under vizards here.
But the time will come that the rebukes of his people shall be taken away.
The good things, as they are best, so shall they be known to be so ; and
Bin, and base courses, as they are bad, and as they are from hell, so they
* Misprinterl 'is.' — G
4G0 THE MAREIAGE FEAST [SeEMON III.
shall be known to be. Everything shall appear in its own colours ; things
shall not go masked any longer. And what is the seal of aU this ? The
seal of it is, ' The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.' Truth itself hath
spoken it, and therefore it must needs be. Jehovah, that can give a being
to all things, he hath said it.
We have heard why the church is called a mountain. He will destroy,
or swallow up,* as the word may signify, the face of covering, or the cover-
ing of the face ; the veil which is the covering of the face, and particularly
expressed in that term always ; the veil that is spread over all nations.
God will take away the spiritual veil that covers the souls of his people, that
is between them and divine truths. It hath allusion to that of Exod. xxxiv.
84, 35, about Moses when he came from the mount. He had a veil, for the
people could not behold him. He had a glory put upon his face, that they
could not look upon him with a direct eye, and therefore he was fain to put
a veil upon his face, to shew that the Jews could not see, as Paul interprets
it, 2 Cor. iii. 15, ' To this day,' saith he, ' when Moses is read, there is a
veil put upon their hearts.' They could not see that ' the law was a school-
master to bring to Christ,' Gal. iii. 24, the ceremonial law and the moral law.
God had a blessed end, by the curse of it, to bring them to Christ. They
rested in the veil, their sight was terminated in the veil, they could not see
through to the end and scope of it. Nevertheless, when they shall turn to
the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
1. From the words, consider first of all, that naturally there is a veil of
ignorance xipon the soul.
2. Secondly, God doth take away his\ veil; and God by his Spirit only
can do it.
3. Thirdly, that this is only in his church. And where this veil of ignor-
ance is taken oflf, there is feasting with God and spiritual joy, and delight
in the best order ; and where it is | taken off there is none of it.
First of all, by nature, there is a veil of covering over all men's spints. To
understand this better, let us unfold the terms of veil a little. There is a
veil either upon the things themselves that are to be seen, or upon the soul
which should behold them.
(1.) The veil of things themselves is when they be hidden altogether, or
in part ; when we know part, and are ignorant of part. And this veil upon
the things ariseth from the weak apprehension of them ; when they are not
represented in clear expressions, but in obscurity of words or types ; when
we see them only in types or obscure phrases, which hideth sometime the sight
of the thing itself. The manner of speech sometimes casteth a veil on
things ; for our Saviour Christ spake in parables, which were like the cloud,
dark on the one side, light on the other, dark towards the Egyptians, light
towards the Israelites. So some expressions of Scripture have a light side,
that only the godly see, and a dark side, that other men, good wits, as
natural men, see not.
(2.) Again, there is a veil iqjon the soul and upon the sight. If the things
be veiled, or the sight veiled, there is no sight. Now the soul is veiled
when we be ignorant and unbelieving; when we are ignorant of what is
spoken and revealed, or when we know the terms of it, and yet beheve it not.
(3.) Now, this veil of ignorance and unbelief continueth in all unre-
generate men until grace takes away the veil. Besides, before a thing can
be seen, the object must not only be made clear, and the eyesight too, but
* ' Swallow.' — Dr J. A. Alexander in liis ' Commentary' adopts tlie rendering of
Sibbes here.— G. f Qu, ' this ? '—Ed. J Qu. ' is not ? '—Ed.
ISA. XXV. 6, 7.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 4G1
there must be lumen deferens, a light to carry the object to the eye. If
that be not, we cannot see. As the Egyptians, in the three days of dark-
ness, had their eyes, but there wanted light to represent the object, and
therefore they could not go near one to another. It is the light, and not
sight. If there be sight and no light to carry and convey the object, wo
cannot say there is sight.
That which answereth to this veil is the veil of Scripture, whereby
heavenly things are set out by a mystery. A mystery is, when something
is openly shewed and something hidden.
When something is concealed, as in the sacrament, they be mysteries.
We see the bread, we see the wine, but under the bread and wine other
things are intended, the breaking of the body of Christ, and the shedding
of his blood, and in that the love and mercy of God in Christ, in giving
him to death for us, and Christ's love to give himself to satisfy divine jus-
tice. These be the things intended, which only the soul sees and appre-
hendeth. And so all things in the church, indeed, are mysteries, the in-
carnation of Christ, the union of both natures, that Christ should save the
world by such a way as he did, that he should bring us to glory by shame,
to life by death, to blessing and happiness by being a curse for us. It is
a mystery to bring contrary out of contrary : that so glorious a person as
God should be covered with our weak and sinful nature. It was a mystery,
the Jews stumbled at it. Light came, and the darkness could not compre-
hend the light. And, as Christ was a mystery himself, so the church is a
mystery. That God should so much delight in a company of poor men,
the off-scouring of the world, to make them temples of his Holy Spirit, and
heirs of heaven, men that were under the scorn of the world, this is a mys-
tery. So all is mystical, the head, the members, the body, the church,
and eveiy particular point of religion. There is a mysteiy in repentance.
No man knoweth what sorrow for sin is but the true gracious person. No
man knows what it is to believe but he that hath an heart to believe. No
man knoweth what peace of conscience and joy of the Holy Ghost is but those
that feel it. So that is a mystery. And therefore ' great is the mystery
of godliness,' saith the apostle, 1 Tim. iii. 16. Not only in the points
themselves, but even the practice of religion is a mystery too. Repentance
and faith, and new obedience and love, and the comforts of religion, are all
mysteries. There is a veil upon them in all these points, that a carnal
man cannot see them.
You see, then, in what sense there is a veil of the things, and in what
sense there is a veil on men's hearts ; that is, either the things themselves
are hid, or if the things be open, they want sight and light of knowledge,
and they want faith to believe. Beloved, we live in times that the object
is clear to us, the things themselves are made clear ; as who knoweth not
what Christ is, and the notion of the incarnation, and of the union
with him. We know them notionally. They be opened and revealed to
us veiy clearly, all the articles of faith, and mysteries of religion, so tliat
there is no obscurity in the object. The things are clear, specially in these
places of knowledge. But yet, notwithstanding, there is a veil upon the
soul. The soul of every man that is not graciously wrought upon by the
Spirit of God hath a veil of ignorance and unbelief.
First of all, of ifjnorance. There is a vale* of ignorance in many, and in
all men naturally a veil of ignorance of spiritual things. For, unless they
be revealed, they can never be known to angels themselves. The angels
* Qu. *Teil?'—ED,
462 THE MAEKIAGE FEAST [SeEMON III.
themselves know not the gospel till it be opened, and therefore they be
students in it continually, and the best men in the world know nothing in
the gospel further than it is revealed. But there is a veil of ignorance
upon them that know these things notionally, because they do not know
them as they should know them ; they do not know them in projyria specie,
spiritual and heavenly things as spiritual and heavenly things. They do
not know spiritual things as spiritual things, they have a human knowledge
of spiritual things. Those that want grace, they know the grammar of the
Scripture and divinity, and they know how to discourse as schoolmen do,
from one thing to another, and to argue. They know the logic and rhe-
toric of the Scripture, but they stick in the stile. There is something they
are ignorant of; that is, they have not an eye of knowledge, as we call it.
They do not see the things themselves, but only they see things by another
body's spirit, and they have no light of their own. And so no man knoweth
naturally but the children of God what original sin is, what coiTuption of
nature is, nor loiows sin in its own odious colours, to be filthy, and to be
dangerous as it is. To draw the curse and vengeance of God upon it, this
is not known, but by the Spirit revealing the odiousness of sin, that the
soul may apprehend it, as Christ did when he suffered for it, and as God
doth. A gracious man seeth it as God seeth it, because by the Spirit of
God he seeth the filthiness and odiousness of it, and the danger it draweth
after it.
Second. And so in any points of religion naturally, a man sees not them
spiritually, as they are, and as God sees them, but he seeth them by a human
light. He seeth heavenly things by a human light, notionally, artd merely
to discourse of them. He seeth not intritively - into the things themselves.
He seeth them sub alicna specie, under another representation than their
own. Only a godly man seeth spiritual things as the Spirit of God, and
seeth them as they are, knows sin as it is, knoweth grace to be as it is,
and knoweth faith. "What it is to believe, what it is to have peace of con-
science, and the pardon of sins. He knoweth these things in some sense
intritively, though not so as he shall do when he shall see these things
in heaven, when he shall see face to face. There is a great difference
in it. He sees them intritively in respect of the knowledge of other men,
though he sees but in a glass in regard of the knowledge he shall have
in heaven. As St Paul saith, ' For we see but as in a glass.' But he that
sees in a glass seeth more life than he that sees the dead picture of a man.
So, though we see but in a glass heavenly things, yet we see them better
than those that see them in a dead notion. Though it be nothing to the
knowledge we shall have in heaven, yet it is incomparable above the know-
ledge of any carnal natural man upon the earth.
Third. Again, naturally men have veils of ignorance upon the most divine
things. Of spiritual things, such as is union, and as is the communion
between Christ and us, and the mystery of regeneration in the new creature,
such as is the joy in the Holy Ghost, the inward peace of conscience. I
will not name the particulars to insist on them, but give you only an in-
stance. Though they know the notion of these things, yet they are alto-
gether ignorant of them. Their knowledge is a mere outward light. It is
a light radicated f in the soul. It is not as the light of the moon, which
* Qu. ' intuitively,' or ' interiorly ? ' — G. ; or, ' introitively ? ' — Ed.
t There seems to be a confusion here, as if a sentence had been left out. It must
De the knowledge, not of ' natural,' but of ' gracious,' men, that is as a ligh.t radicated
or rooted in the soul.— Ed.
I3A. XXY. 6, 7.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHUBOH. -163
receive til light from the sun, but it is a light radicated and incorporated
into the soul, as the light of the sun is, by the Spirit. It is in the soul.
It is not only upon the soul, but in the soul. The heart sees and feeleth,
and knoweth divine truths. There is a power and virtue in the sight and
knowledge of a gracious man. There is none in the knowledge of a carnal
man. The light of a candle hath a light iu it, but no virtue at all goeth
■with it ; but the light of the sun, and the light of the stars, they have a
special virtue, they have heat with them, and they have an influence in a
special kind on inferior bodies w^orking together with the Ught. So it is
with heavenly apprehension and knowledge. It actually conveyeth light.
But with the light there is a blessed and gracious influence, there is heat
and eflicacy with that light. But though a carnal man know all the body
of divinity, yet it is a mere light without heat, a light without influence. It
is not experimental. As a blind man can talk of colours, if he be a scholar,
and describe them better than he that hath his eyes, he being not a scholar.
But he that hath his eyes can judge of colours a great deal better. Often-
times, by book, a scholar can tell you foreign countries better than he that
hath travelled, yet the traveller that hath been there can tell them the more
distinctly. So he that is experienced in that kind, though a stranger, can
measure another man's ground better than himself. He can tell you here
is so many acres. But he that possesseth them knows the goodness of
them, the worth of them, and improveth them to his own good. And so it
is with many. They can measure the points of reHgion, and define and
divide them. Aye, but the poor Christian can taste, can feel them, can
relish and improve them. His knowledge is a knowledge with interest, but
other men's knowledge is a knowledge with no interest or experience at all.
So that there is naturally a veil of ignorance on the heart of eveiy natural man.
Christianity is a mystery. Till conversion there is a mystery in every
point of religion. None know what repentance is but a repentant sinner.
All the books in the world cannot inform the heart what sin is or
what sorrow is. A sick man knoweth what a disease is better than all
physicians, for he feeleth it. No man knoweth what faith is but the true
believer. There is a mystery also in love. Godliness is called a mystery,
not only for the notional, but the practical part of it. Why do not men
more solace themselves in the transcendent things of religion, which may
ravish angels ? Alas ! there is a veil over their soul, that they do not know
them, or not experimentally. They have no taste or feeling of them.
And so there is a veil of unbeHef. There is no man without grace that
believeth truly what he knoweth ; but he beheveth in the general only, he
believeth things so far forth as they cross not his lusts. But when par-
ticular truths are enforced on a carnal man, his lusts do overbear all his
knowledge, and he hath a secret scorn arising in his heart, whereby he de-
rideth those truths and goeth against them, and makes him think certainly
these be not true, and therefore he believeth them not. If a man by nature be-
lieved the truths he saith he knoweth, he would not go directly against them.
But the ground of this is, there is a mist of sinful lusts that are raised out of
the soul, that darkens the soul, that at the present time the soul is atheistical
and full of unbelief. For there is no sin but ignorance and unbelief breatheth
it into the soul, and maketh way for it ; for if a man knew what he were
about, and apprehended that God saw him, and the danger of it, he would
never sin. There is no sin without an error in judgment, there is a veil of
i<:jnorance and unbelief. What creature will rim into a pit when he seeth
it open ? What creature will run into the fire, the most dull creature ? Man
464 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeRMON III.
will not run into that danger that is open to the eye of the soul, if there
were not a veil of ignorance, at least unbelief, at that time upon the soul.
All sin supposeth error.
And this should make us hate sin the more. Whensoever we sin, spe-
cially against our conscience, there is atheism in the soul at that time, and
there is unbelief. We believe not the truth itself. No sinner but calleth
truth into question. When he sinneth, he denieth it or questioneth it ; and
therefore there is a veil on every man naturally over his heart by ignorance
and unbelief. The truths themselves are clear. God is clear, and the
gospel is light, 77iens, lux; you know they know things in the object, but in
us there is darkness in our understandings ; and therefore the Scripture
saith not we are dark only, but ' darkness itself,' 2 Cor. vi. 14. The clouds
that arise are like the mists that do interpose between our souls and divine
things, arising from our own hearts ; and the love of sinful things raise such
a cloud, that we know not, or else believe not, what is spoken. To proceed.
Obs. 2. God only can reveal and take away the veil of ignorance and un-
belief from off the sold. I will speak specially of this veil.
Beason 1. The reason is, there is such a natural unsuitableness between
the soul and heavenly light and heavenly truths, that unless God opens the
eye of the soul, and puts a new eye into the soul, it can never know or
discern of heavenly things. There must be an eye suitable to the light,
else there will never be sight of it. Now, God can create a new spiritual
eye to discern of spiritual things, which a natural eye cannot. Who can
see things invisible ? Divine things are invisible to natural eyes. There
is no suitableness. He that must reveal these and take away the veil must
create new light within as well as a light without. Now, God, and only
God, that created light out of darkness, can create light in the soul. ' Let
there be light.' He only can create a spiritual eye, to see the things that
to nature are visible.*
There be four things in sight. 1. The object to be beheld. 2. The light
that conveyeth it. 3. The organ that receiveth it. 4, And the light of
the eye to meet the light without. So it is in the soul. Together with
divine truths, there must be light to discover them ; for light is the first
visible thing that discovers itself and all things else. And then there must
be a light in the soul to judge of them, and this light must be suitable. A
carnal, base spirit judgeth of spiritual things carnally like himself, because
he hath not light in his own spirit. The things are spiritual, his eye is
camal. He hath not a light in his eye suitable to the object, and therefore
he cannot judge of them, for the Scripture saith plainly 'they are spiritually
discerned,' 1 Cor. ii. 14. Therefore, a camal person hath carnal concep-
tions of spiritual things, as a holy man doth spiritualise things by a spiritual
conception of them.
There be degrees of discerning things. The highest degree is to see
things ' face to face ' as they be in heaven ; the next to that is to see them
in a glass, for there I see the motion and true species of a man, though not
so clearly, as when I see him face to face ; therefore we soon forget the
species of it in a glass. We have more fixedness of the other, because there
is more reality. We see things put into water, and that is less ; but then
there is a sight of man in pictures which is less than the rest, because we
see not the motion. It is even so ; a carnal man scarce sees the dead re-
semblance of things. In Moses's time they saw things in water, as it were
blindly, though true ; but we see things in a glass of truth as clearly as
* Qu. ' invisible?'— Ed.
ISA. XXV. 6, 7.] BETWEEN CHBIST AND HIS CHURCH. 465
possibly we can in this world. In heaven we shall see face to face, snail see
him as he is. And then will be the joy of this excellent feast, and the con-
summation of all sweet promises, which here we can but have a taste of.
lieason 2. So that is the first reason of it, that God is only * the taker away
of the veil, which ariseth from the unsuitableness between the soul and divine
truths.
There is nothing in the heart of vian but a contrariety to divine light. The
very natural knowledge, that is contrary. Natural conscience, that only
checketh for gross sins, but not for spiritual sins. Obedience and civil life,
that makes a man full of pride, and armeth him against self-denial and against
the righteousness of Christ and justification. There is nothing in the soul
but, without grace, riseth against the soul in divine things.
liecison 3. Again, there is such disproportion beticeen the sold, being fidl
of sin and guiltiness, and heavenly things, that are so great, that the heart of
man will not believe unless God convinceth the soid, that God is so good and
(jracious, though they be great and excellent, yet God will bestow them uj)on our
souls ; and therefore he sendeth the Spirit, that overpowers the soul, though
it be full of fear and guilt that sin contracts.
Though we be never so unworthy, he will magnify his grace to poor
sinners ; and without that the soul will never believe there is such an in-
finite disproportion between the soul and the things, between the sinful soul
and the Spirit, so that God must overpower the soul to make it believe.
The Scripture is full of this. As we are naturally ignorant and full
of unbelief, so God only can overpower the soul and take away the veil of
ignorance.
Reason 4. All the angels in heaven, and all the creatures in the ivorld, the
most skilful men in the world, cannot bring light into the soul, they cannot bring
light into the heart. They can speak of divine things, but they understand
them little. But to bring light into the heart, that the heart may taste of
them and yield obedience to believe, that they cannot do. And therefore,
all God's children, they be theodidactoi,f taught of God. God only hath
the privilege to teach the heart, to bend and bow the heart to believe.
So that God only by his Spirit takes away the veil of ignorance and un-
belief.
Obs. 3. Now, the third thing is, that this is peculiar to the church and to
the children of God, to have the veil taken off. ' In this mountain,' saith
the Scripture, * the veil of all faces shall be swallowed up or taken away.'
I partly shewed in the former point, that it is pecuhar to God's children
to have the veil taken off. There is a veil in all things. Either the things
be hid from them, as amongst the Gentiles, or if the things be revealed,
there is a veil upon the heart ; their lusts raise up a cloud, which, until God
subdue by the Holy Spirit, they be dark, yea, darkness itself. Goshen was
only light when all Egypt was in darkness ; so there is light only in the
church, and all other parts in the world are in darkness. And amongst men
in the church there is a darkness upon the soul of unregonerate men, that be
not sanctified and subdued by the Spirit of God. And all godly men are
lightsome, nay, they be ' lights in the world,' Phil. ii. 15. As wicked men
are darkness, so gracious men, by the Spirit of God, are made lights of the
world from him that is the true light, Christ himself.
It is pecuhar to the church to know the greatest good, and the greatest
evil. It is nowhere but in the church, who are the people of God. None
* That is, ' God only is.' — G.
t That is, ^iohihaxroi. Cf. John vi. 45 ; 1 Thess. iv. 9.— Q.
TOL. n. G g
466 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeRMON III.
but God's elect can know the greatest evil, that is, sin, which the Spirit of
God revealeth ; and the greatest good, that is, God's mercy in Christ, and
sanctifying grace. The same Spirit doth both. As light doth discover
foul things as well as fair ; so the same Spirit of God discovers the loath-
someness of sin, and the sweetness of grace. Where the one is,* there is
never the other ; where there is not truly a deep discerning of sin, there is
never knowledge of grace ; there is none but in the church. Those that
have the spirit of illumination, they have sanctiflcation likewise.
We shall make use of all together. You see, then, what naturally we
are, and that God's grace must take away the veil ; and this is from all
them within the church, and in the church those whom God is pleased to
sanctify.
Obs. In the fourth place. Where this veil is taken off from any, there is
with it spiritual joy and feasting, as here he joineth them both together.
^ I will make a feast of fat things, and will take away the veil,' ver. 7.
Reason. The reason of the connection of this, is, that same Spirit that is
a Spirit of revelations, is a Spirit of comfort ; and the same Spirit that is
the Spirit of comfort, is a Spirit of revelation. All sweetness that the soul
relisheth cometh from hght, and all light that is spiritual conveyeth sweet-
ness, both together. Beloved, there is a marvellous sweetness in divine
truths. In Christ is all marrow, and in rehgion forgiveness of sins, and
inward peace, and joy, and grace, fitting us to be like to Christ, and for
heaven. They be incredibly sweet, thej' be all marrow. Aye, but they
are only so to them that know them. Now God's Spirit, that revealeth
these things to us, doth breed a taste in the soul. The Spirit of illumina-
tion to God's children, is a Spirit of sanctiflcation likewise ; and that
sanctiflcation alters the taste and relish of the will and affections, that with
discovery of these things, there is a taste and relish of them. It is sapida
scientia, a savoury knowledge they have. And therefore where he maketh
a feast, he taketh away the veil ; and where he takes away the veil, he
makes a feast. What a wonderful satisfaction hath the soul, when the veil
is taken off, to see God in Christ reconciled ! to see sin pardoned ! to see
the beginnings of grace, which shall be finished and accomphshed in glory !
to discern that ' peace which passeth understanding,' &c., Philip, iv. 7.
What a marvellous sweetness is in these things !
They cannot be revealed to the knowledge spiritually, but there is a
feast in the soul, wherein the soul doth solace itself ; so both these go
together.
And therefore we should not rest in that revealing that doth not bring a
savour with it to the soul. Undoubtedly, that knowledge hath no solace
and comfort for the soul, that is not by divine revelation of heavenly truths.
We see the dependence of these one upon another. Then let us make
this use of all :
Use 1. Since there is a veil over all men by nature, the work of ignorance
and unbelief, and since God only taketh it away by his Holy Spirit, and
since that only those that be godly and sanctified have this taken off : while
this is, there is a spiritual feast, joy, and comfort, and strength ; then let
us labour to have this veil taken off; let tis labour to have the eyes of our
understandings enlightened, to have our hearts subdued to believe ; let us take
notice of our natural condition. We are drowned and enwrapt in darkness,
the best of all. It is not having knowledge w^hat we are by nature ; it is
not any knowledge that can bring us to heaven ; there must be a revelation,
* Qu. 'is not? '—Ed.
IsA. XXV. G, 7.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 467
ft taking away of the veil. How many . content themselves with common
light of education, and traditionary knowledge ! So they were bred and
catechised, and under such a ministry ! But for spiritual knowledge of
spiritual things, how little is it cared for ! And yet this is necessary to
salvation. There is great occasion to press this, that we rest not in common
knowledge. If religion be not known to purpose, it is like lightning, which
directs not a man in his way, but dazzles him, and puts him quite out of
his way. Many have flashes of knowledge that affect them a little ; but
this affection is soon gone, and directs them not a whit in the ways of life.
And therefore labour that the will and affections may be subject. Beg of
God a ' fleshy heart,' 2 Cor. iii. 3, an heart yielding to the truth. We
know ear-truths will harden, as none is harder than a common formal
Christian. A man had better fall into the hands of papists, than into the
hands of a fonnal hypocritical Christian. Why ? They pride themselves in
their profession. No persecutors worse than the Scribes and Pharisees,
that stood in their own light. They were more cruel than Pilate. And
therefore if we be iufonned, but not truly transformed, to love the truth we
know, and hate the evil we know, it maketh us worse.
And then it cnrageth men the more. The more they know, the more they be
enraged. Men when truths be pressed, which they purpose not to obey, they
fret against the ordinance, and cast stones, as it were, in the face of truth.
When physic doth raise humours, but is not strong enough to carry them
away, they endanger the body ; and where light is not strong enough to
dispel corruption when it raiseth corruption, it enrageth it. When men
know tinith, and are not moulded into it, they first rage against it, and then by
little and Httle fall from it, and grow extreme enemies to it. It is a dangerous
thing, therefore, to rest in naked knowledge. Beg then of God that he
would take away the veil of ignorance and unbehef, that light and life may
go together, and so we shall be fit to feast with the Lord.
Means. Now that we may have true saving knowledge, first, we 7nust
attend meekhj iipon God's ordinances, which be sanctified to this end to let
in light to the soul.
1. Will we know sin and our state by nature, and how to come out of
it ; then together with this revelation must come an heavenly strength into
the soul, a heavenhj taste and relish; and therefore attend upon the ordi-
nances, and labour for an humble soul, empty of ourselves ; and do not
think to break into heavenly things with strength of parts. God must reveal,
God must take away the veil only by his Holy Spirit in the ordinance.
The veil is taken away from the object, in opening of truths ; but the veil
must be taken away from the object, and from the heart too. There must
be knowledge of the object, as well as an object. The object must be
sanctified and fitted to the persons, else divine truths will never be under-
stood divinely, nor spiritual truths spiritually. Labour to be emptied of
yourselves. In what measure we are emptied of our self-conceitedness and
understanding, we be filled in divine things. In what measure we are
emptied of ourselves, we are filled with the Spirit of God, and knowledge,
and grace. As a vessel, in what measure it is emptied, in that measure it
is fit to be filled with more supervenient liquor ; so in what measure we
grow in self-denial and humility, in that measure we are filled likewise with
knowledge. He will teach an humble soul that stands not in its own light,
what it is to repent, to believe, to love ; what it is to be patient under the
cross ; what it is to live hohly, and die comfortably. The Spirit of God
wiU teach an humble, self-denying soul all these things ; and therefore
468 THE MAKEIAGE FEAST [SeRMON HE.
labour for an humble, empty soul, and not to cast ourselves too much into
the sins and fashions of the times, as the apostle, ' Be not conformed to
this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,' &c.,
Eom. xii. 2.
2. When a man casteih himself into the mould of the times, and will live as
the rest do, he shall never understand the secrets of God, and the good pleasure
of God ; fo-r the world must be condemned. The world goeth the broad
way. And therefore we must not consider what others do, but what God
teacheth us to do.
3. And add to this, ichat ive know, let us labour to practise. ' But he
that doth the will of my Father, shall know of every doctrine, whether
it be of God or no,' Johnvii. 17. We must do, and we shall know.
Quest. But can we do before we know ?
Ans. The meaning is this, that we have, first, breeding and education,
and some light of the Spmt* turneth it presently to practice, by obedience
to that knowledge. And then you shall know more. He that doth these
things, he shall know all. They shall know that do practice what they
know already. ' To him that hath shall be given,' Mat. xiii. 12 ; that is, to
him that hath some knowledge, and putteth in practice what he hath, God
will increase the talent of his knowledge ; he shall know more and more,
till God revealeth himself fully in the world to come.
4. And therefore be faithful to ourselves, and true to the knowledge ice have,
love it, and put it into practice. When divine truths are discovered, let
the heart affect them, lest God giveth us up to believe lies. We have
many given up to this sin. Because when truths are revealed, they give
way to their own proud scornful hearts, they know not the love of the
truth. God knoweth what a jewel the truth is ; and since they despise it,
God giveth them up to believe lies. And take heed, practise what we
know, and love what we know, entertain it with a loving affection.
A loving affection is the casket of this jewel. If we entertain it not in
love, it removes from us its station, and being gone, God will remove us
into darkness.
And remember it is God that taketh away the veil of ignorance and un-
belief. And therefore make this use of it.
2. To make our studies and closets, oratories,^ not to come to divine truths, to
out-wrestle the excellency of them mth our own wits ; but to pray to God, as
you have Ps. cxix. 18, ' Open mine eyes, and reveal thy truth.' And St Paul
prayeth for the ' spirit of revelation,' Eph. i. 17. And so desire God to reveal
and take away the veil from us, that he will open divine truths to our souls;
that since he hath the key of David, that ' opens, and no man shutteth,' Rev.
iii. 7, that he would open our understandings to conceive things, and our
hearts to believe. He hath the only key of the soul. We can shut our
souls, but cannot open them again. So we can shut our hearts to divine
truths, we can naturally do this ; but open them without the help of the
Spirit we cannot. He can open our understandings, as he did the disciples'.
He can open our hearts to believe ; he can do it, and will do it. If we
seek to him, he will not put back the humble desires of them that fear him.
And therefore for heavenly light and heavenly revelation, all the teaching
of the men of the world cannot do it. If we know no more than we can
have by books, and men that teach us, we shall never come to heaven ; but
we must have God teach the heart, as well as the brain. He must teach
not only the truths themselves, as they be discovered, but the love of them,
* Qu. ' of the spirit ; turn, &c. ? ' — Ed. f That is, ' places of prayer.' — Q.
ISA. XXV. C, 7.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 469
the faith in them, the practice of them ; and he only can do this, he only
can teach the heart, he only can discover the bent of the heart, and Satan's
wiles that cast a cloud upon the miderstanding. The Spirit only can do it ;
and therefore in all our endeavours, labour to get knowledge, and join holi-
ness and divine grace, and pray to God that he would reveal the mystery of
salvation to us.
Quest. But how shall we know whether we have this heavenly light and
revelation or no 7 whether the veil be yet upon our hearts or no ? I will
not be long in the point.
Ans. 1. We may know it by this. The apostle Peter saith to express
the virtue of God's power, ' He hath called us out of darkness to his mar-
vellous light,' 1 Pet. ii. 9. The soul that hath the veil taken from it, there
is a marvelliiuf at the goodness of God, a ivondering at the things of faith.
And the soul sets such a price upon divine things, that all is ' dung and
dross' in comparison of the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ, Philip,
iii. 8. Wherefore is it that thou wilt reveal thyself to us, and not unto the
world ? as admiring the goodness of God. What are we ? What am I,
that God should reveal these things to me, and not to the world ? that
many perish in darkness and shadow of death, though they hear of divine
things, yet they, teaching rebelUon and unbelief, are not moulded to them,
and so perish eternally ? There is a secret admiration of the goodness of
God to the poor soul, and a wonderment at spiritual things. ' 0 ! how
sweet is thy law,' saith David, Ps. cxix. 103. And teach me the wondera
of thy law, and joy unspeakable and glorious, and peace that passeth under-
standing, Philip, iv. 7. These things be high to the soul.
Ans. 2. By the taste of what they have, they wonder at that little, and
at that they look for, and are carried uith desire still further and further,
which is a farther evidence. They that have any spiritual knowledge, they
be carried to grow more and more, and to enter further and further into the
kingdom. Where there is not a desire still, till they come to the full
measure that is to be had in Jesus Christ, there is no knowledge at all.
Certainly a gracious soul, when once it sees, it desires still to feel the
power and virtue of Christ in it, as Paul counted all dung in comparison of
this knowledge, to know myself in Christ, and feel the power of his death in
dying to sin, and virtue of his rcsm-rection in raising me to newness of hfe.
It was Saint Paul's study to walk still to the high price* of God's calling,
and where that is not, no grace is begun.
Ans. 3. And again, where divine light is, and the veil taken away, it is
the sanctified means; for God works by his own instruments and means, and
they be able to justify all courses of wisdom. ' Wisdom is justified of her
children,' Mat. xi. 19. By experience they be able to say the word is the
word. I have found it casting me down, and raising me up, and searching
the hidden corners of my heart. I have found God's ordinances powerful,
the word and sacrament. I have found my hope, faith, strength, and
spiritual comfort, and therefore I can justify them ; for I have found, tasted,
and rehshed of these things, which worketh that upon the soul which Christ
did on the body. I find mine eyes, I find my deaf ears opened. I can
hear with another reUsh than before. I find a life and quickening to good
things, though it be weak. I had no life at all to them before. I find a
relish which I knew not before. So that there be spiritual senses whereby
I am able to justify that these things be the things of God. So that they
that have divine truths can justify all the ordinances of God by their own
* The old way of spelling ' prize.' — Q.
470 THE MABEIAGE FEAST [SeRMON IV.
experience. As Peter answered when Christ asked him, Will you be also
gone ? Be gone ! said Peter ; ' Whither should we go ? thou hast tne
words of eternal life,' John vi. 68. I have found thy words efficacious
if) comfort and strengthen and raise, and shall I depart from thee, who
nast the words of eternal life ? And so take a soul that the Spirit of
God hath wrought upon. Ask whether they will be careless of means
of salvation, not to pray, or hear, or receive the sacrament. By these
have I eternal life conveyed. God hath let in by these comfort, and
strength, and joy, and shall I leave these things ? No ; I will not.
' Whither shall I go ? thou hast the words of eternal life.' Are we able to
justify these things by the sweetness we have found in them ? Then
certainly God hath shined upon the soul, and, together with strength and
light, conveyed sweetness to the soul.
Ans. 4. A godly man seeth things ivith life, his sight icorketh upon him. It
is a transforming sight. As the apostle saith, ' We all behold the glory of
God, and are changed,' 2 Cor. iii. 18. Sight of light and life goeth toge-
ther with a Christian ; as Christ saith, ' he is the light of the world,' John
ix. 5, and ' the life of the world,' John i. 4. First light, for Hfe cometh
with light, and light conveyeth life. All grace is dropped into the will
through the understanding ; and wheresoever Christ is life, he is light, be-
cause true knowledge is a transforming knowledge. But if religion be not
known to purpose, it hardens and makes worse.
We are now by God's good providence come to farther business, to par-
take of these mysteries ;* yet it should be the desire of our souls that our
eyes may be opened, that in these divine and precious mysteries he would
discover hidden love, which is not seen with the eyes of the body. They
may see and taste and relish his love and goodness in Jesus Christ ; that
as the outward man is refreshed with the elements, so the inward man may
be refreshed with his Spmt, that they may be effectual to us ; that we may
justify the course God takes, so far as to come charitably and joyfully to
them.
THE FOURTH SERMON.
I will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and
the veil that is spread over all nations. He ivill swallow up death in victory,
dc.—IsA. XXV. 7, 8.
We have heretofore at large spoken of the spiritual and eternal favours of
God, set out in the former verse, ' In this mountain will the Lord of Hosts
make a feast of fat things.' While our soul is in the body, it is much
guided by our fancy. Spiritual things are therefore presented by outward,
and conveyed to the soul that way ; only we must remember that there is a
far gi-eater excellency in the things themselves than in their representation.
For what is all banquets, fatness with marrow, wine on the lees, to the joy
and sweetness of religion, begun here, and accomplished in the world to
come ?
In Christ there is nothing but aU marrow and sweetness in religion, that
may refresh a man in the lowest condition, if he can but have a taste of it.
Now because the spiritual things of Christ do us no good, as long as they
are hid, therefore the Holy Ghost setteth down a promise, ' that God will
* In tlie margin, 'Application of this to the sacrament.' — G.
ISA. XXV. 7, 8.] BETWEEN CHBIST AND HIS CHURCH. 471
take away the covering cast on all people, and tbe veil spread over all
nations.'
But there be some things that will damp all mirth. Now here is securitj'
against them, that our joy may be complete ; and this in the next verse, to
which I now come, * He will swallow up death in victory, he will wipe away
teai-s from all faces.' The prophet having spoken of a great feast before,
an excellent feast, sets forth here the services of that feast. What is it that
accompanies it ?
First of all, there shall be light to discover the excellency of the feast;
the veil is taken away, and a knowledge given to know divine things in a
spiritual manner.
Then, which will damp all feasts, the fear of death is taken away. ' He
will swallow up death in \dctory, and wipe away all tears,' that is, all sorrow.
The effect is put for the cause. This is an excellent promise, an excellent
service in this spiritual banquet. Suppose a man were set at a feast fur-
nished with all dehcates, royally attended, clothes suitable, and had a sword
hung over his head ready to fall upon him, it would cast such a damp on
his spirit, as would spoil the joy of this feast. So to hear of spiritual ex-
cellencies, and yet death, and hell, and damnation coming along, alas ! where
is the comfort you speak of. And therefore to make the feast more perfect,
there is not only hght and knowledge, but removal of it ever may damp the
feast. So this must needs come in to comfort all the rest. ' He shall
swallow up death in victoiy, and wipe away tears from all faces.' Death
is here represented to us under the word victory, as a combatant, as one
that we are to fight withal, a captain.
And then here is the victory of him, Christ overcomes him, and ovei*-
comes him gloriously. It is not only a conquest, but a swallowing of him
up. Usually God useth all sorts of enemies in their ovm. kind. He causeth
them that spoil to be spoiled, them that swallow up to be swallowed up.
So death the great swallower shall be swallowed up.
Beloved, death is the great king of kings, and the emperor of emperors,
the great captain and ruling king of the world ; for no king hath such do-
minion as death hath. It spreads its government and victory over all
nations. He is equal, though a tyrant. As a tyrant spares none, he is
equal in this. He subdueth young and old, poor and rich. He levels
sceptres and spades together. He levels all. There is no difference be-
tween the dust of an emperor and the meanest man. He is a t}Tant that
governeth over all. And so there is this equity in him, he spares none.
He hath continued from the beginning of the world to this time ; but he
is a tyrant brought in by ourselves, Rom. v. 19, scq. Sin let in death. It
opened the door. Death is no creature of God's making. Satan brought
in sin, and sin brought in death. So that we be accessory ourselves to the
powerful stroke of this prevailing tyrant. And therefore sin is called the
cause of death. Sin brought in death, and armeth death. The weapon
that death fights with, and causeth great terror, it is sin. The cause is
armed with the power of the wrath of God for sin, the fear of hell, and
damnation. So that wrath, and hell, and damnation, arming sin, it bringeth
a sting of itself, and puts a venom into death. All cares, and fears, and
Bon-ows, and sicknesses, are less and petty deaths, harbingers to death
itself; but the attendants that follow this gi'cat king are worst of all, as Rev.
vi. 8, ' I saw a pale horse, and death upon it, and after him comes hell.'
What were death, if it were not for the pit, and dungeon that followeth it ?
So that death is attended with hell, and hell with eternity. Therefore hero is
472 THE MARRIAGE FEAST SeRMON. IY.
a strange kind of prevailing. There is no victory where there is no enemy,
and therefore death must needs be an enemy, yea, it is the worst enemy,
and the last enemy. Death is not planted in the forlorn hope, but it is
planted at last for the greatest advantage, and is a great enemy. What
doth death ? It depriveth us of all comfort, pleasure, communion with one
another in this life, callings or whatsoever else is comfortable. The grave
is the house of oblivion. Death is terrible of itself, even to natui-e, as
Augustine saith, where it is not swallowed up of Christ ; for it is an evil in
itself, and as I said, armed with a sting of sin, after which follows hell.
Now this death is swallowed up. When the Scripture puts a person
upon death,* it is not uncomely for us to speak as the Scripture doth. The
Scripture puts a person upon death, and a kind of triumphing spirit in
God's children over death. ' 0 death, where is thy sting ? 0 grave, where
is thy victory ?' 1 Cor. xv. 55. Death is the greatest swallower, and yet it
is swallowed up by Christ. Death hath swallowed up all, and when it hath
swallowed up, it keepeth them. It keeps the dust of kings, subjects, great
and small, to the general day of judgment, when death shall be swallowed
up of itself. It is therefore of the nature of those that Solomon speaks of,
that cry, ' Give", give,' Prov. xxx. 15, and yet is never satisfied, like the
grave, yet this death is swallowed up in victory.
But how Cometh death to be swallowed up ? Christ will swallow up death
in victory, for himself and his.
Reason. First of all, because sin brought in death, our Saviour Christ
became sin, a sacrifice to his father's justice for sin. He was made sin for
us, he was made a curse for us, to take away the curse due to us ; and sin
being taken away, what hath death to do with us, and hell, and damnation,
the attendants on death ? Nothing at all. Therefore, Col. ii. 10, upon the
cross Christ did nail the law, and sin, and the devil. There he reigned over
principalities and powers, which were but executioners let loose by reason
of our sins. And God being satisfied for sin, the devil hath nothing to do
with us, but to exercise us, except it be for our good. So that he hath
swallowed up death, because by his death he hath taken away sin, and so
the power of Satan, whose power is by sin. And therefore it is excellently
set down, Heb. ii. 14, ' He also took part of flesh and blood, that through
death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.'
So Christ by death overthrew Satan, that had the power of death, because
by death he took away sin, the sins of all, and bore our sins upon the cross,
and was made sin for us, that knew no sin. He is ours, if we believe. For
then Christ is given to a particular man when he believes. Beloved, Christ
upon the cross did triumph over all our spiritual enemies, sin, and death,
and all. It was a kingdom of patience. You know there is a double king-
dom of Christ ; a kingdom of patience, and a kingdom of power.
1. Christ on the cross sufiering punishment due to sin, overcame the
law, and the devil, and sin, which is the kingdom of patience.
2. The kingdom of power he hath in heaven. If Christ were so able in
his kingdom of patience to conquer our greatest enemies, what will he do
in his kingdom of power ? As Paul reasoneth, ' If by his death we are
saved, much more now he triumphs in heaven, and appears for us, is he able
to convey greater matters to us,' Rom. v. 21.
If Christ in the days of his flesh did conquer, how glorious will his con-
quest be at the day of judgment ! Noiv, Christ hath conquered all in his
own person, as our head ; then he will conquer for us in his mystical body.
* That is, 'personifies.' — Ed.
IsA. XXV. 7, 8.] BETWEEN CURIST AMD HIS CHURCH. 473
What is now done in his person, shall be done in his members. In the
mean time, faith is our victory, his conquest over death our victoiy; his
victory over all our spiritual enemies is our victor3\ Every one that be-
lieveth is a conqueror of death, though he die, because he sees it conquered
in Christ his head ; and as it is truly conquered in him, so Christ will con-
quer it in all his members. For as Christ in his natural body is gone to
heaven, there to appear in our behalf, so shall mystical Christ be wholly in
glory. He will not leave a finger. We shall all triumph over all our spi-
ritual enemies. As Christ's natural body is glorious in heaven as our head,
so shall also his mystical body be.
You see then how death is swallowed up by Christ as our surety, as the
second Adam upon the cross ; and truly swallowed up in him. And by faith
this victory is ours, and time will come when in our own persons it shall
be swallowed up in victory.
This might be enlarged, but I haste to make use of it.
Mai-k, I beseech you, how death is swallowed up by Christ in his own
person for our good. He gave a great way to death, for death seized on
him upon the cross. Death severeth soul from body. Death had him in
his own cabinet, his grave, for three days. Nay, this great king and tyrant
death, had a great conquest over Christ himself. But here was the glory
of this victory ! When death, this great conqueror of the world, had Christ
upon the cross, and in his own dominion, in the grave, where he rules and
reigns, consuming and swallowing up all, death was fain to give up all ;
and Satan thought to have had a great morsel when he devoured Christ,
but there was an hook in his divine power that catched him, that when he
thought to have swallowed up Christ, was swallowed up himself. His head
was then broken. He never had such a blow, as by Christ on the cross,
when he was overcome, being a scorn of the world visibly, yet invisibly in
God's acceptation of that sacrifice, and in a spirit of faith. Christ triumpheth
over Satan. Death was subdued even in his own kingdom, and that makes
the victoiy great.
Death by seizing on Christ without right, Christ hath freed us from the
evil of death when it had right to us. Death hath lost all its right by fasten-
ing on Clii'ist, and so is become as a drone* without a sting. So the gi'cat
swallower of all is swallowed up itself at last by Christ.
Use 1. Now for comfortable use of it. First, let us consider that God
oftentimes giveth a great deal of tcaij to his greatest enemies. God useth a
stratagem of retiring ; he seems to retire and give liberty to his enemies,
but it is to triumph and trample upon them with greater shame. He will
tread them to dust afterward. Christ gave death a great deal of liberty.
He was crucified and tormented, then had f to the grave, and there he lay.
And this was to raise a greater triumph over this great prevailer, over tho
world and death itself.
It is continued so in the church. Doth not he give way to the enemies
of the church ? They may come to say. Aha, aha, so would we have it.
Now the poor children of God are where we would have them, but then
comes sudden destruction. God, to make his victory more glorious, and
more to discover their cruelty, comes upon them when they be in the top
of pleasure, and the church in the bottom of abasement. Then God swal-
loweth up all in victory, as Christ did death when it seemed to have been
itself victorious.
This is a very comfortable consideraticn, for if death be overcome when
* Tl)at is, llie ' drone' bee— G. t That is, ' taken.' — G.
474 THE BIAKRIAGE FEAST [SeEMON IV.
it seemed to overcome Christ, what need we fear any other enemy ? Christ
hath broken the net, as an eagle or great bu-d, and the rest escape by him.
You may enlarge this in your own meditations. He will swallow up
death in victory. This is said for the time to come, he will swallow up
death. But Paul saith it is also past, and swallowed up already. Faith
saith it is done ; and so it is in our head. Were it not comfortable now to
all true-hearted Christians, to hear that the church fareth better, and that
the enemies were swallowed up, for they be but the instruments of this in-
ferior death ? Let us get the spirit of faith, and see them all conquered, for
certainly they shall have the worst at last. He that hath swallowed up
death in victory, will swallow up all that be the cause of death. And there-
fore the Scripture speaks of these things as past, ' Babylon is fallen, as a
millstone cast into the bottom of the sea,' Rev. xviii. 21.
Get a spirit of faith, and we shall never be much troubled with Babylon ;
for all the enemies of Christ, and adherents to that man of sin, must down,
and partake of the judgments threatened in the Revelations. Heaven hath
concluded it, and all the policy of Rome and hell cannot disannul it. They
be already swallowed up to faith, and Christ will rule till he hath put them
all under his feet, Ps. ex. 1 ; which shall be done, not only to destroy them,
but to raise himself higher, in giving them up to their confusion.
Use 2. Again, if death be swallowed up in victory, labour to he one ivith
Christ crucified, for union ivith him. Begin with union with Christ crucified.
The first union is with Christ abased, and then with Christ glorified. And
therefore labour to see sin, that brought in death, subdued by the power of
Christ's death in some measure, and then we shall have comfort in his death
glorified. For in my ' holy mount' death is swallowed up, that is, the true
church of Christ. Labour to be members of Christ, otherwise death will
come as a tyrant indeed, armed with a terrible sting, in his full force to
assail you. It is the most terrible thing to see death come armed with the
wrath and anger of God, and attended with hell and damnation. Labour,
therefore, to be one with Christ crucified, to get our sins crucified, and our-
selves partakers of his death ; and then no damnation, no fear of death to
them that are in Christ. They may die, but they are freed from eternal
death, and they shall rise again, even as Christ's body rose, to glory.
Get, therefore, into Christ, and desire the power of his death subduing
sin. In what measure we grow in that, we grow in boldness and joy, and
whatsoever pri\dleges follow Christ.
Use 3. Again, when we be in Christ, true members of him, then let us be
thankful to God for this victory, thankful to Jesxis Christ that hath given us
victory. When we think of death, of sin, of judgment, of hell, of damna-
tion, let us be framed as a Christian should. Now let him that hath the
most terrible and fearful things in the world as conquered enemies, say,
Oh, blessed be God for Christ, and blessed be Christ for dying for us, and
by death disarming death of his sting ! That now we can think of it in our
judgments quietly ; now we can think of all these as conquered enemies :
this is the fruit of Christ's death. They are not only enemies, but friends
in Christ. Sin, the remainder of it — (the guilt of it, that bindeth over to
damnation, is taken away) — the remainders of it serve to humble us, make
us feel the power of pardon, and to desire another world, where we shall be
all spiritual. So that death is a part of our jointure. ' All things are
yours, life and death,' 1 Cor. iii. 22. Death doth us many excellent ser-
\'ices. It is a door and passage to life. Death is the death of itself,
destroyoth itself. We never truly live till we die, and when we die, we are
ISA. XXV 7, 8. J BETWEEN CHKIST AND HIS CHURCH. 475
past fear of death. So that sin dieth, misery dieth, death dieth. Though
it takes us from comforts, aud employments, and friends here, yet it is a
change to a better place, and better company, and better employments, and
better condition, to be in a glorious condition to eternity ; and therefore vre
have cause to bless God in Christ, that took our nature, and in our nature
disarmed our greatest enemy, sin, and so disanned death, and freed us
from the WTath of God, and hell, and damnation. Oh, we can never be
thankful enough for this !
Use 4. Again, if death be swallowed up in victory, let its he ashamed of
the fear of death, because Christ saith he will swallow him up, as he hath
already in his own person. Shall we be afraid of an enemy that is swal-
lowed up in our head, and shall be swallowed up in every one of us ? If
we cherish fear, we shew we look not for an interest in this promise ; for
it is a promise, that ' in this holy mountain death shall be swallowed up in
victoiy,' and why should we fear a conquered enemy ? None v,-ill fear an
enemy that is conquered.
Obj. But how came Christ to fear death, and we not to fear ?
Ans. Christ had to deal with death armed with a terrible sting, with sin,
and the wTath of God for sin. And, therefore, when he was to die,
' Father, let this cup pass from me,' Matt. xxvi. 39. But death is dis-
armed to us. He had to encounter with sin and the wrath of God, and
death in all its strength. But we are not so. We are to deal with death
like the brazen serpent, that hath the shape of death, but no sting at all.
It has become a drone ever since it lost its sting in Christ. Life took death,
that death might take Hfe, as he said. The meaning is, Christ's life itself
took death, that we that were so subject to death, that we were death itself,
might take life. Oh blessed consideration ! Nothing comparable to the
consideration of the death of Christ ! It is the death of death.
And then again we are sure of victory. It is conquered in oui' head, and
shall be in us. But you say we are to conflict with the pangs of death,
and many troubles meet in death. It is true, but it is conquered to faith,
and in Christ our head. We must fight. Christ traineth us to overcome
death ourselves by faith, and then we are sure of victory. Join these two
together. It is conquered in Christ our head, and shall be conquered of
us. Death keeps our dust, and must give them aU again.
Obj. But in the mean time we die.
Ans. 'Tis so, but we are sure of victory. He will protect us in our com-
bat, that hath conquered for us. We fight against death and the terror of
it, in the strength and faith of his victory. Join these three together.
He that hath been our Saviour in life, will be so to death, and not exclu-
sively, then to leave us, but to death, and in death, for ever ; yea, most
ready to help us in our last conflict. Indeed, to wicked men death is ter-
rible, for he sendeth the devil to fetch them out of the world ; but for those
that be his, he sendeth his angels to fetch them, and he helps them in their
combat. We must not therefore fear over much. There is a natural fear
of death. Death wrought upon Christ himself, God-man ; not only death,
but such a death. He was to be left of his Father, and he under the sense
of the wrath of God ; the separation of that soul fi'om the body he took upon
him was terrible ; and therefore he saith, ' If it be possible, let this cup
pass from me :' that was nature, and without it he had not been true man.
But that I say is, that grace may be above nature. Death is a time of
darkness. It strips us of earthly comforts, friends, callings, employments ;
but then comes the eye of faith to lay hold of the victory on Christ in time
476 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeRMON IV.
to come, when death shall be only swallowed up in victory ; and then the
glorious state to come, to which death briageth us. So that here faith
must be above sense, and grace above nature, and therefore I beseech you,
let us labour for it.
There be two sorts of men to whom I would speak a little.
First. Those that in a kind of bravery seem to slujht death ; men of base
spirits, as we call them ; fools, vain-glorious spirits, empty spirits. Is there
any creature, unless in Christ, able groundedly* to slight so great an enemy
as death, armed with a sting of sin, and attended with hell and damnation ?
The Romish and devilish spirits are terrible ; but if thy sins be not par-
doned, it is the most terrible thing in the world to die, for there is a gulf
afterwards. What shall we say, then, of single combatants, that for vain-
glory are prodigal of their lives, that for a foul word, a little disgrace, will
venture on this enemj^, that is armed with sin, and if they die, they die in
sin.f And which is the miserable condition of him that dies in sin : his death
opens the gate to another death, which is eternal. They say they have
repented, but there is no repentance of a sin to be committed. Canst thou
repent of a sin before it be committed ? that is but a mockery of God. And
what saith the Scripture ? Is it not the most terrible judgment under
heaven to die in our sins ? A man that dies in sin dies in hell : he goeth
from death to hell, and that eternal.
I wonder, therefore, that the wisdom of flesh and blood should take away
men's wit, and faith, and grace, and all, so much as to slight death, and
repentance, as if it were so easy. Now, beloved, death is a terrible thing.
It hath a sting, and thou shalt know it. If thou hast not grace to feel the
sting of it whilst thou livest, when thou diest the sting will revive ; then
thy conscience shall awake in hell. Drunkenness and jollity take away
sense of sin ; but sin will revive, and conscience will revive. God hath not
put it into us for nought. Death is terrible, if not disarmed beforehand.
And if thou go about to die without disarming it before, it will not be out-
faced. It is not an enemy to be scorned and slighted. And, therefore, be
Christians in good earnest, else leave profession, and perish eternally. For
we must all die ; and it is a greater matter than we take it. But if we be
true Christians, it is the sweetest thing in the world, an end of all misery,
a beginning of true happiness, an inlet to whatsoever is comfortable. Blessed
are they that are in the Lord by faith, and them that die in the Lord.
Their death is better than the day of life. Our birthday brings us into
misery ; and therefore let me speak to true Christians, and bid them be
ashamed of fearing death too much, which, of an enemy is become a recon-
ciled friend.
Second. This may in the next place yield great consolation to those that are
in Christ Jesus, that death by Christ is swallowed up in victory ; and the
rather, because the Holy Ghost meaneth more than a bare victory over
death. Death is not only subdued, but is made a friend to us, as Ps. ex. 1,
it is said ' his enemies shall be his footstool.' Now a footstool is not
only trampled upon, but an help to rise. And so death is not only subdued,
but it advanceth God's children, and raiseth them higher. It is not only
an enemy, but a reconciled friend ; for he doth that which no friend in the
world can do. It ends all our misery, and is the inlet into all happiness
for eternity. And whatsoever it strips us of here, it giveth us advantage of
better in another world. It cuts ofi" our pleasures, and profits, and com-
* That is, ' on good grounds.' — G.
t In the margin, ' of [the] duellist.' — G.
ISA. XXV. 7, 8.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 477
pany, and callings here ; but what is that to our blessed change afterward,
to our praying of God for ever, to the company of blessed souls, and the
profits, and plensures at the right hand of God for evermore ? And there-
fore it is not only conquered, but to shew the excellency of his power, he
hath made it a friend of an enemy, and the best friend in the world. It
indeed separates soul from body, but it joineth the soul to Christ ; so that
the conjunction we have by it is better than the separation, if the conjunc-
tion makes us partake of our desire. ' I desire to be dissolved,' saith St
Paul, Philip, i. 23, but that is not well translated. ' I desire to depart,
and to be with Christ, which is best of all.' So that it is not only not an
enemy, but a friend. And therefore the apostle makes it our jointure,
part of our portion, all things are yours. Why ? ' You are Christ's, and
Christ is God's,' 1 Cor. iii. 22. Wliat are ours ? ' Thmgs present, things
to come, life, death,' 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. And well may death be ours, be-
cause sin is our enemy ; that remainder, that is kept in our natui'e to exer-
cise us, and humble us, and fit us for gi-ace. As Austin saith, I dare be
bold to say, it is profitable for some to fall, to make them more careful and
watchful, and to prize mercy more. So that not only death, but sin and
the devil himself is ours; for his plots are for our good. God over- shooteth
him in his owti bow. ' He will give them over to Satan,' saith the apostle,
' that they may learn not to blaspheme,' 1 Tim. i. 20. Yet though they
have a spirit of blasphemy by the humbling of their bodies, they be taught
not to blaspheme ; so that not only death, but sin, and he that brought sin
into the world, the devil, are become our friends.
This being so, it may be for special comfort that we fear not the king of
fears. The devil hath great advantage by this affection of fear, when it is
set upon this object death. Overcome death, and all troubles are overcome.
"Who will fear anything that hath given up himself to God? ' Skin for skin,
and all that a man hath, will he give for his Ufe,' Job ii. 4. The devil
knoweth that well enough. Therefore ' fear not,' saith Christ, ' them that
can kill the body,' Mat. x. 28. Fear causeth snares, saith Solomon, Prov.
xxix. 25, snares of conscience. But if a man hath overcome the fear of
death once, what more is to be done ? "What if they take away hfe, they
cannot take away that that is better than life, the favom- of God. If we
die in the Lord, we die in the fiivour of God, which is better than life ; and
we shall be found in the Lord at the day of judgment, and shall be for ever
with the Lord in heaven ; and therefore this is a ground of resolution in good
causes, notwithstanding all threats whatsoever, because death itself is
swallowed up in victory.
The worst the world can do is to take away this nature of ours. "When
they have done that, they have done all they can; and when they have done
that, they have done a pleasure. That is not to be feared, saith Tertul-
Uan, that frees us from all that is to be feared {d). "What is to be feared
in the world ? Every sickness, every disgrace ? Why, death fi'ees us firom
all. We do see every day takes away a piece of one's Hfe, and when death
cometh it overthroweth itself; for the soul goeth presently to the place of
happiness. The body sleepeth a while, and death hath no more power.
' He that believeth in me,' saith Christ, ' he shall not see death, but is
passed from death to Hfe,' John v. 24. He shaU not see spiritual death ; but
as he lives in Christ, shall die in Christ, and rise again in Christ. He that
hath the life of grace begun, shall have it consummate without interruption.
It is a point of wonderful comfort, that death is so overcome that we be in
heaven already. And it is no hard speech, but stands with the truth of
478 THE MAEEIAuE FEAST [SeEMON IV.
other points ; for are not Christ and we all one ? His body is there, and
is not he the head of his mystical body ? He that earned his natural body,
will not he carry his mystical body thither too ? will he be in piecemeal in
heaven? Therefore we are in heaven already the best part of us. We are
represented in heaven, for Christ represents us there as the husband doth
the wife. He hath taken up heaven for us.
Christ cannot be divided, as Austin saith. ' We sit in heavenly places
already with Christ,' Eph, i. 3. And what a comfort is this, that while we
live we are in heaven, and that death cannot hinder us from our resurrec-
tion, which is the restoring of all things. And therefore, as the apostle
saith, ' Comfort one another with these things,' 1 Thess. iv. 18. These things
indeed have much comfort in them.
Let us labour then to be comfortable : this use the apostle makes of it ;
and fruitful in our places, upon consideration of the victory we have by
Christ. 1 Cor. sv. It is an excellent chapter that largely proveth Christ's
victoiy, as the cause of our victory, because he is the first fruit that sancti-
fieth all the rest. ' Finally, my brethren, be constant, immoveable, always
abounding in the works of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain
in the Lord.' He raiseth that exhortation of fruitfulness and constancy
from this very ground of the victory Christ hath gotten by death. ' 0 death,
where is thy sting ? 0 grave, where is thy victory ? Thanks be to God
through Jesus Christ.' " And therefore be constant, immoveable, always
abouudmg in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour shall not be
in vain in the Lord,' 1 Cor. xv. 58. Make that use the apostle doth of
fruitfuhiess to God for Christ, that we can think of death, and sin, the
devil, and all his malice, and not be afraid ; yea, think of them all with
comfort, that we be not only freed from their tyranny, but they be ourfriends.
Christ hath the key of hell and death ; a saying taken from the custom
of governors that carried the key. He hath the government and command
of hell and death. Now if Christ hath command of death, he vvill not suffer
death to hurt his members, or triumph always over them. He will keep
them in the grave. Our bodies are safe in the gi-ave. The dust is fitted
for a heavenly, for another manner of body than we have now ; and Christ
that hath the key will let them out again. Therefore trust a while till
times of restoring come, and then we shall have a glorious soul, and glorious
body, as the apostle saith, 1 Cor. xv. 43. I beseech you, think of these
things, and get comfort against the evil day. And to that end, be sure to
get into Christ, that we may be in Christ, living, and dying, and be found
in Christ. For what saith the Scripture ? ' Blessed are they that die in the
Lord,' Kev. xiv. 13. It is an argument of blessedness to die for the Lord,
but if it be not in the Lord, it is to no purpose. If there is granted this happi-
ness of dying for the Lord, it is well ; 'but blessed are they that die in the
Lord.' Why ? ' They rest from their labour.' Death takes them off from
their labours. All their good works go to heaven with them. So saith
the Spirit, whatsoever the flesh saith. And there is no resting till that
time. Their life is full of troubles and combers,* and therefore labour to
get assm-ance that we are in Christ, that we be in Christ, and die in Christ,
and then * there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ.'
How besotted are we to put away preparation of death till it comes !
He that forgets Christ and getting into Christ, all his lifetime, it is God's
just judgment that he should forget himself in death. We see how a villain
that hath no care of his own life, may have power of another man's hfe.
* That is, ' cumbers,' cares. — G.
IsA. XXV. 8.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 479
And therefore labour to be engrafted into Christ by faith ; and that we
may know it by the Spii'it of Christ prevailing in us over our natural cor-
ruptions more and more. As the apostle saith, ' There is no condemnation
to them that are in Christ ; ' for the spirit of life, ' the law of the spirit of
hfe which is in Chiist, hath freed me from the law of sin and death,' Rom.
vi. 7, seq., the condemning law of sin. If the law of the spirit of life which is
in Christ the head, be in us in any measure, it frees us from the condemning
law of sin, that it carrieth us not whither it would. Then we may say with
comfort, ' There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ ; ' for the
law of the spirit of life in Christ hath freed us from the condemning, tyran-
nizing law of sin and death,
Sin hath no law. It is in us as a subdued rebel, but it sets not up a
throne. Some hope to be saved by Christ, and yet they set up sin a throne
in the soul. Sin biddeth them defile themselves, and they must obey it.
This is a woeful estate ! How can they expect to die in the Lord, but such
as are freed by the law of the spirit of life ? New lords, new laws. When
kings conquer, they bring fundamental laws ; and when we are taken from
Satan's kingdom into the kingdom of Christ, the fundamental laws are then
altered. Christ by his Spirit sets up a law of believing, and praying, and
doing good, and abstaining from evil. The lav/ of the spii'it of life frees us
from the law of sin and death.
I beseech you, enlarge these things in your thoughts. They be things
we must all have use of beforehand, against the evil day. It should be
comfortable and useful to us all, to hear that our enemy, our greatest enemy,
death, is swallowed up in victory. And yet there is more comfort in the
text.
THE FIFTH SERMON.
And all tears shall be wiped away from all faces. — IsA. XXV. 8.
Not only death shall be swallowed up in victorj^ but God * will wipe away
all tears from all eyes.' Rehgion shall be reUgion ; good things shall be
good things. Nothing shall go under false notions. All tears shall be
wiped away. We have now many causes of tears. In the world there is
continual raising of clouds, that distil into drops of tears. Had we nothing
without us to raise a vapour to be distilled in tears, we are able to raise up
mists from our own mists, from om* own doubts and conflicts within.
As we should weep for our own sins, so for the sins of others. As we
may see in Jeremiah, where the prophet saith, ' 0 that my head were a
fountain of tears, that I might weep continually for the sins of my people,'
Jer. ix. 1. And indeed good men are easy to weep, as the heathen man
observeth (e). They are easy to lament, not only for their own sins, but
the sins and misery of another.
Our blessed Saviour himself, we never read that ho laughed. We have
heard that he wept, and for his very enemies, ' 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem,'
Mat. xxiii. 37. He shed tears for them that shed his blood. Tears were
main evidences of Christ's sweetness of disposition ; as that he would be-
come man, and a curse, and die for us, and that he would make so much
of little children, and call all to him that were weary and heavy laden, that
he never refused any that came to him. He that wept specially for the
480 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeRMON V.
miseries and afflictions, this shewed his gracious and sweet disposition.
And that in heaven, he is so full of sympathies in glory, that when Paul
persecuted the church, ' Why dost thou persecute me ? ' Acts x, 4 ; so,
though he is free from passion in heaven, he is not free from compassion,
from sympathy with his church. And so every child of God is ready, not
only to grieve for his own sins, and the misery that foUoweth them, but the
sins and miseries of others. ' Mine eyes gush out with rivers of tears,'
saith the prophet David, Ps. cxix. 136, when he saw that men brake the
law of God, whom he loved.
A true natural child takes to heart the disgrace of his father. If we be
not grieved to see our father disgraced, we are bastards, not sons. They
that make sport of sin, what are they ? Alas ! they have not one spark of
the spirit of adoption. They are not children, who rejoice at that at which
they should grieve.
So St Paul, ' I have told you often, and now tell you weeping, there be
many enemies of the cross of Christ,' Philip, iii. 18. When he saw some
men preach against, and others enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end
is damnation, he telleth them of it weeping.
We have cause, therefore, to mourn for the sins of others, and for the
miseries of others, whether we respect God, or the church, or ourselves.
First, the love of God moveth us to weep when we see him dishonoured.
Second, if we love the church, we should mourn for any sins that may
prejudice their salvation.
Doth it not pity any* man to see an ox go to slaughter ? to see a man of
parts otherwise, by sinning against conscience, going to slaughter ? to see
an ordinary swearer, an unclean person, a profane wretch, covering himself
with pride as a garment, scorning God, and the world, and all ? Can a
Christian look upon this, see flesh and blood, like himself, under the gospel,
under a cursed condition unavoidable, without serious repentance, and
not be affected with it ? Can a man see a poor ass fall under a burden,
and not help to take it up, and yet see man falling to hell, and not be
affected with it ? Thus we see we have cause enough of tears. And as
there is cause, so we should be sensible. We ought to take to heart the
afflictions of Joseph. He is a dead man that hath not sense in this kind.
If we go to the body and state, or anything about a man, there is cause of
grief. Hath not every member many diseases ? and is not our lives a kind
of hospital, some sick of one thing, some of another ? But as there is cause
we should be sensible of it, we are flesh and not stones, therefore it is a
sottish opinion, to be stockish and brutish, as if to outface sorrow and grief
were a glory.
Use 1. When our Saviour was sent into the world, Christi dolor, dolor
maximus, there were no patience without sensibleness. Away, then, with that
iron, that flinty philosophy, that thinks it a virtue to be stupid ; f and as
the apostle saith, ' without natural affections,' Kom. i. 31. He counteth
it the greatest judgment of God upon the soul, yet they would have it a
virtue. Why should I smite them any more ? saith God ; they have no
sense, no feeling, Isa. i. 5.
The proud philosopher thought it was not philosophical to weep, a proud
stoical humour,! but Christians desire it.
And therefore we ought to labour to be more sensible, that we might
make our peace, and reverence the justice of God, and be more sensible of
*■ That is, 'draw pity from any mfin.' — G. f That is, ' insensible.' — G.
J One of the commonplaces of Stoicism. — G.
ISA. XXV. 8.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 481
him afterwards. It is most true, that Sapiens miner, plxs miser ; the more
wise any man is, the more sensible of misery. And therefore of all men,
the best men have most grief, because they have most quick senses. They
be not stupified with insensibility and resoluteness, to bear it bravely,
as the world ; but they apprehend with grief, the cause of gi'ief And as
they have a more sanctified judgment than other men, so they have a more
wise aftcction of love, and a quicker life of grace. Where life is, there is
sense ; and where there is a clear sight or cause of gi'ief, there is most grief.
Therefore the best men have most grief, because they be most judicious,,
most loving.
Then they have most gi'ace to bear it out of all others. Therefore, con-
sidering there is cause in ourselves and in others of grief continually, w©
ought to labour to be sensible of it, else it were no favour to have tears
wiped away.
So that there is cause of tears, and tears is a duty of Christians, sensible
of the cause both of sin and misery upon one and another.
Use 2. And as it is an unavoidable grief, so it is rjood ice should grieve.
We must stoop to God's course, we must bring our hearts to it, and pray
(that since our necessities and sins do call for this dispensation, that we
must under correction, he will make us sensible of his rod), that he would
make good his covenant of grace, * to take away our stony hearts, and give
us hearts of flesh,' Ezek. xi. 19, that we may be sensible.
Most of gi'aces are founded upon affection, and all graces are but affections
sanctified. What would become of grace, if we had not affections ?
Therefore, as there is cause of grief, and tears from grief, we ought to
grieve. It is a condition, and a duty : a condition following misery, and a
duty foUowdng our condition.
Take heed of that which hinders sensibleness of troubles and judgment,
that is, hardness of heart, forgetfulness, studying to put away sorrow with
sin. For we ought to be sensible, and ought to labour to be sensible, to
know the meaning of every cross in ourselves and others.
But suppose we have crosses, and we must be sensible of them, then it
foUoweth, ' God will wipe away all tears from our eyes.' Is there nothing
for the present, no gi-ound of comfort ? Yes. As we ought to be sensible
of grief, so we ought to be sensible of matter of joy for the present, specially
if we consider the time to come. The life of a Christian is a strange kind
of life. He ought to giieve, and he ought to joy. He hath occasion of
both, and he ought to entertain both ; for that that we ought to aim at
specially is joy, and if we grieve, it is that afterwards we might joy. We
must be sensible of any atfliction, that we might joy afterwards, and we
ought to labour for it. For is not the joy of the Lord our strength ? Are
not we fit to do service, when our spirits are most enlarged ? And is it
not a credit to religion, when we walk in comfort of the Holy Ghost ? Is
it not a scandal, when we droop under the cross ? We ought to be sensible,
yet not so as to forget matter of joy and comfort. And therefore, as wo
ought to grieve, so we ought, when we have grieved, to keep up the soul
with consideration of joy for the present as much as we can, yea, to pick
out matter of comfort from the very cross. That is the heart of a Chris-
tian, not only to joy in other matters, but to pick comfort out of grief.
God suffers me to fiiU into this or that condition. It is a fruit of his
fatherly love. He might suffer mo to run the broad way, to bo given up
to a reprobate sense and hard heart, but he doth not do so. Pick out
matter of comfort from grief.
VOL. II. H h
482 THE MARRUGE FEAST [SeRMON V.
Then consider the presence of God in it. Indeed, I have matter of
:grief, but I find God moderating it. It might be far worse, it is his mercy
I am not consumed ; I find God by it doing me good, I find myself better
by it, I cannot well be without it. Who would not labour to be sensible
of a cross, when he looketh up to God's cross, and justice, and mercy? He
hath rather cause to joy, than to grieve in the very cross itself.
But specially mark what the Holy Ghost saith here. We ought not to
be cast down overmuch with any cross, considering God ' will wipe away
all tears from our eyes,' that is, all natural tears, and the miseries of this
life. There shall be no more misery, no more sickness, no more trouble.
And then all tears that arise from consideration of sin, and misery fol-
lowing sin. Death is the accomplishment of all mortification. It is a com-
fort we shall not always lead this conflicting life, but the war between the
flesh and spirit will be taken up ; the sense will be removed. We shall be
out of Satan's reach, and the world's reach one day, which is a great com-
fort to consider. Whatsoever the cause is, the cause shall be removed ere
long. K the cause be desertion, for that God leaveth us comfortless, we
shall be for ever hereafter with the Lord. If the cause be separation from
friends, why we shall all meet together ere long, and be for ever in heaven.
If the cause be our own sins, we shall cease hereafter to ofi'end God, and
Christ will be all in all. Now sin is almost all in all. Sin and corruption
bear a great sway in us. If the matter of our grief be the sins of others,
and the afilictions of others, there is no sin in heaven, ' no unclean thing
shall enter there,' Rev. xxi. 27. The souls of perfect men are there, and
all are of one mind. There is no opposition to goodness, there all shall go
one way ; there, howsoever they cannot agree here, all shall have mutual
solace and contentment in one another : they in us and we in them, and
that for ever. You cannot name them, or imagine a cause of tears, but it
shall be removed there. Nay, the more tears we have shed here, the more
comfort we shall have. As our troubles are increased here, our consolation
shall increase. That we sufier here, if for a good cause, will work our ' eter-
nal and exceeding weight of glory,' 2 Cor. iv, 17. We say April showers
bring forth May flowers. It is a common speech, from experience of com-
mon life. It is true in religion. The more tears we shed in the April of
our lives, the more sweet comfort we shall have hereafter. If no tears are
to be shed here, no flowers are to be gathered there. And, therefore, be-
sides deliverance from trouble, here is comfort, God will take away aU
cause of grief, and all kinds of grief whatsoever.
And therefore thus think of it.
The next thing to be considered is the order. First, we must shed tears,
and then they must be wiped away. After a storm, a calm ; after sowing
in tears, comes reaping in joy. What is the reason of that order ?
Reason 1. The reason is onr own necessity. We are in such a frame and
condition since the fall, that we cannot be put into a good frame of grace
without much pain. The truths of God must cross us, and afflictions must
join with them. For the sins contracted by pleasure, must be dissolved by
pain. Repentance must cost us tears. We may thank ourselves if we have
brought ourselves to a sinful course. For the necessity of this order, a
diseased person must not be cured till he feel some smart of the wounds.
Reason 2. Again, consider it is for our increase of comfort aftoncards, that
God will have us shed tears ; and then to have our tears wiped away, be-
cause we be more sensible of joy and comfort after sorrow. We cannot
be sensible of the joys of heaven, unless we feel the contrary here. And
IsA. XXV. 8. J BETWEEN CllIUST AND HIS CHURCH. 483
therefore of all men, heaven will be the most heaven to them that have had
their portion of crosses and afflictions here. First, therefore, shed tears,
and then they must be wiped away, because joy is most sensible. As it is
with the wickedest of all men, they be most miserable that have been hap-
l)i(.'st, because their soul is enlarged by their happiness, to apprehend sor-
row more quickly and sensibly. So they that have been most miserable
here, shall have most joy hereafter.
Use 1. Now for use. Here is not only the mercies of God in Christ, but
the tender mercy ; that whereas our life is full of tears, which we have
brought upon ourselves, j'et God stoops so low as to wipe our eyes, like a
father or mother. His mercy is a sweet and tender mercy. And, as the
psalmist saith, when we are sick ' he maketh our beds in our sickness,' Ps.
xli. 3. Christ will come and serve them that watch and serve him ; nay,
ho will attend them, and * sup with them,' Rev. iii. 20. He is not onlj'
mercy and goodness, but there be in him bowels of mercy. He not only
giveth matter of joy and comfort, but he will do like a tender-hearted mother,
wiping away aU tears from our eyes. We cannot apprehend the bowels in
God's love, the pity and mercy of God towards them that be his, and
afflicted in the world, specially in a good cause. Though they be never so
many, if they be penitent tears, he will wipe them all away.
x\nd whereas we must shed tears here, that we may be comforted here-
after, take heed that we do not in this life judge by sight, but by faith. * If
wo live by sight, we are of all men most wretched,' 1 Cor. xv. 19. In
the world the children of God are most miserable, and of the children of
God, the best saints. Who hath more cause of tears than the best saints ?
It is but seed-time here. While seed-time continues, there be tears. The
husbandman, while it is seed-time, cannot do his office but with trouble.
The minister cannot do his office, but he is forced to take to heart the sins
of the times, to see his work go backward. Governors of families and such,
they carry their seed weeping. Yea, the best men cannot do good some-
times, but they do it with trouble in themselves, and with conflict of cor-
ruptions. There is no good sown here, but it is sown in tears ; yet take no
scandal at this, ' God will wipe away all tears.'
The Head of the church, our blessed Saviour, and all his gi'acious apos-
tles, what a life did they Uve ! The glorious martyrs that sealed the truth
with their blood ! And therefore, as the apostle saith, ' If our happiness
were here only, we were of all men most miserable,' 1 Cor. xv. 19. If we
judge by sight, we shall condemn the generation of the righteous. We live
i)y sight, when we see any cast down with sight of sin, sense of temptation,
distress of conscience, [andj we think him forlorn. Oh, take heed of that !
For those that shed tears here, God will wipe them all away. ' Woe to
them that laugh now, for they shall mourn hereafter,' Luke vi. 25. Though
we weep here, yet matter of joy enough shall spring up hereafter. ' Afflic-
tions will yield a quiet fruit of righteousness to them that are exercised
thereby,' Heb. xii. 11. We may not see their fruits presentl}', but after-
wards. And therefore be not discouraged for anything we can sufler here,
or for the church, if we see her under pressure. As darkness is sown for
the wicked, the foundation of their eternal torment is laid in their joy ; so
the ground and foundation of all a godly man's joy is laid in tears. * Blessed
are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted,' Mat. v. 4. Yet for the
present there is more matter of joy than grief, if we look with both eyes ;
us we ought to have double eyes, one to be sensible of our grief, as we must
be, the other of our comfort, that we may not be surprised with grief. There
484 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeEMON V.
is a sorrow to death, an overmuch sorrow. It is unthankfulness to God to
forget our comforts, as it is stupidity to forget our sorrow. Take us at the
worst, have not we more cause of joy than sorrow? Mark Eom. v. 1, seq.:
' Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, and rejoice under hope
of glory.' Nay, afterwards, saith he, ' we rejoice in tribulations.' And
why ? upon what ground ? ' Knowing that tribulations bring experience,
and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed.' Now we rejoice in
God reconciled in Christ. So that as we ought to look with one eye upon
the grief, that we may have ground to exercise gi'ace, which we are not
capable of without sensibleness, so we must look to grounds of joy. Our
life is woven of matter of sorrow and joy ; and as it is woven of both, aflec-
tions should be sensible of both, that they may be more apprehensive of the
grounds of comforts.
When the day of persecution approaeheth, this will make us comfortable,
for our life is a valley of tears ; and shall not we go through this valley of
tears, to this mount where all tears shall be wiped away from all eyes ?
When we be dejected with the loss of any friend, they say as Christ said to
the women, ' Weep not for me,' Luke xxiii. 28. They be happy, ' and all
tears are wiped away from their eyes.' And therefore as it is matter of
comfort while we live, so ground of comfort when we die. For there is
occasion of sorrow in death, parting with friends and comforts of this world.
Then tears are shed in more abundance, and then we bethink ourselves of
former sins, and there is renewing of repentance more than at other times ;
yet then are we near the time of joy, and nearest the accomplishment of
the promise that ' all tears shall be wiped away.'
And so you have the whole state of a Christian life, an afflicted condi-
tion. Aye, but it is a comfortable condition. The more afflictions here, the
more comfort here, but specially hereafter. The life of a carnal man is all
in misery. If he falls to joy, he is all joy ; if to sorrow, he is all sorrow.
He hath nothiag to support him. He is like a Nabal, he sinketh like a
piece of lead to the bottom of the sea, 1 Sam. xxv. 37, 38; like Ahithophcl,
down he goeth, 2 Sam. xvii. 23. When he is upon the merry pin, he is
nothing but joy. But a Christian's state and disposition are both mixed.
He hath ground of sorrow for his own sins, and for the sins and miseries
of the times. So he hath matter of comfort for the present, in the favour
of God, in the pardoning of sins, in the presence of God, in delivering him
from trouble. He hath special ground of joy in hope of glory in time to
come. Therefore, as we have a mixed state, labour for a mixed disposition,
and labour to be in a joyful frame, so to grieve, as out of it to raise matter
of joy. And when we would joy, grieve before, for joy is sown in grief.
The best method of joy is for to take away all that disturbeth our joy.
Search the bottom of the heart ! see what sin is unconfessed, imrepented
of! Spread it before God, desire God to pardon it, to seal the pardon !
When our souls are searched to the bottom, then out of that sorrow springeth
joy ; and out of these sighs and groans that cannot be expressed, cometh
joy unspeakable and full of glory. If a man will be joyful, let him labour
to weep first, that the matter that interrupteth his joy may be taken away.
Those that will be joyful, and not search to the bottom, must needs with
shame be brought back to sorrow. When we will joy to purpose, let us
judge ourselves, that we may not be judged of the Lord ; mourn for our
sins, and then lay hold upon the promise, that ' all they that mourn for
sin shall be comforted,' Mat. v. 4. And blessed are they that shed teara
here, for all tears shall be wiped away.
IsA. XXV. 8. J BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 485
AVe are subject to -vrrong ourselves, both good and bad : for the good
think, if they bo iu misery, thoy shall be ever so ; the bad, if they be in pros-
perity, they shall always be so, and they bless themselves in it. Now tho
joy of the hypocrites is as tho ' crackling of thorns,' Eccl. vii. 6, and tho
grief of the godly is but short. And therefore let not the wicked fool them-
selves Nvith groundless hopes, nor the godly vex themselves with needless
fears ; but put off conceitcdncss of the long continuance of troubles. Time
is but short, and ere long God * will wipe away all tears from our eyes.'
No mists, no clouds, shall be extended to heaven. The state iu heaven
shall be like the state of heaven, and there is no cloud there, but all pure,
all serene. Therefore in Christianity consider not their beginning but their
ends. ' Mark the end of the upright, for the end of the upright is peace,*
Ps. xxxvii. 87. "Ways have their commendation from the term in which
they end. ' If by any means I may attain the resurrection of the dead,'
saith Paul, Philip, iii. 11. Through thick and thin, fair and foul, rugged
winds, dry or bloody death ; if by any means I may come to the resurrec-
tion of the dead, the first degree of glory, all is well. It is a good way
that ends well. No)i qua, sal quo. Consider not what way he brings us
to heaven, but whither he brings us. If he bring us to heaven through a
valley of tears, it is no matter ; for in heaven ' all tears shall be wiped
from our eyes.' And therefore Christianity is called wisdom. * And this
wisdom is justified of her children,' Mat. xi. 19. What is the chiefest
point of wisdom ? To look home to the end, and to direct all means to
that end. He is wise that is wise for eternity. The wicked will have their
payment here. ' But woe to them that laugh, for they shall mourn,' saith
Christ, Luke vi. 25. They will not stay for ground of joy hereafter, but
will have present payment. But though the ways of Christians be foul, and
wet with tears, yet blessed are they ; for God ' will wipe away all tears from
their eyes.' ' Comfort one another with these words,' 1 Thess. iv. 18.
THE SIXTH SERMON.
And heshaU swallow up death in victory; and God ivill wipe away tears from
all faces; that the rebukes of his people may he taken away from off the earth:
for the Lord hath spoken it. — IsA. XXV. 8.
You have heard heretofore of b, feast provided for God's people, ihe founder
of it being God himself, who only can indeed comfort (that which is spe-
cially to be comforted) the soul and the conscience, he being above the
conscience. The place where the feast is kept is ' mount Zion,' the church
of God. The delicacies are described by ' fat things, wine refined on the
lees,' &c. The best of the best that can be thought of, which is Christ
with all his benefits ; who is bread indeed, and drink indeed, that cherisheth
and nourisheth the soul to life everlasting. And because there should be
nothing to disturb the solemnity of the feast, he promises to ' destroy the
face of covering,' 'to take away the veil spread over all nations,' the veil
of ignorance and infidelity, to shine upon the soul, and fill it full of know-
ledge and heavenly comfort. And because there can be no comfort where
death is feared, being tho greatest enemy in this hfe, therefore he will
' swallow up death in victory,' and all that makes way for death, or attends
death. And when this is taken awsy, all the attendants vanish with it,
* God will wipe away all lear^ .Hiiu all faces.' Because the best things
486 THE MAKEIAGE FEAST [SeRMON VI.
have not the best entertainment in the world, nor the best persons, God
promiseth that the rebukes of his people shall be taken away from off the
earth ; what they are they shall be known to be. These be very great
matters, and therefore there is a great confirmation, they have a seal, and
what is that ? ' The Lord hath spoken it.'
The last day I shewed that God's children shall shed tears, and that
they have cause to do it. I will now enlarge it a little.
It is the condition of men since the fall. In paradise before there was
no cause of tears, nothing was out of joint, all in frame. There was no
sin, therefore no sorrow, therefore no apprehension of sorrow. And so in
heaven there shall be no tears, because no cause of it ; they shall be as far
from heaven as the cause. This life is a valley of tears, a life of misery,
and therefore we shed tears here. And we want no cause of it as long as
sin is in the world, and sorrow, and misery that foUoweth sin ; our own
sins and the sins of others, our own miseries and the miseries of others.
And surely a child of God finds this the greatest cause of mourning in this
world, that he hath a principle in him always molesting him in the service
of God. He cannot serve God with that cheerfulness. His unfeelingness,
that he cannot be so sensible of God, dishonoui'ed by himself and others, is
his burden. He is grieved that he cannot grieve enough. He can find
tears for other things, matter of this enough, as the heathen man could
say (/). A man loseth his estate, and hath tears for them; but forceth
tears for other things which are the true ground of gi-ief. A child of God
hath a remainder of corruptions, which puts him on to offend against God,
and hinders him in his service, in the liberty and cheerfulness of it. And
this he complains of with Paul and others, ' Miserable man that I am,' not
for his afiliction, though that was much, but ' who shall deUver me from this
body of death ? ' Rom. vii. 24.
Case 1. I will here add a case. Some say they cannot iveep, hut they can
grieve; ivhether then is it necessary or no to weej)? Tears are taken for the
spring of tears ; grief, all grief, shall be taken away. Tears are but the
messengers of grief; and oftentimes the deepest apprehension, that takes
things deeply, cannot express it in tears. In some the passages fetching
the conceit to the heart are made more tender that they can weep. Now,
the grief of a Christian is a judicial* grief ; a rational grief, not only sensible
tears must have sensible grief, but a Christian's grief is a sensible, judicial
grief. He hath a right judgment of things that cause sorrow, wiUeth it,
and tears are only an expression of it.
But how shall I know whether grief be right or no ? There be tears
God hath no bottle for. * Thou puttest my tears into thy bottle,' Ps. Ivi. 8.
He makes much of them. They be viniim anyelicuni, as he saith. God is
an angel to his people, to wipe away their tears. But some tears God hath
no bottle for, hypocritical tears, Delilah's tears, tears of revenge and anger,
Esau's tears. And therefore the true tears that God will wipe away, are
such as first of all follow our condition here, our misery. God will vnpe
them away. If we speak of tears from a judicial ground,
1. The spring of true tears is the love of God, and of Christ, and of his-
church, and the love of the state of Christianity. Tears spring fi'om love,
these tears specially.
Oh ! a Christian takes to heart that God should be so ill used in the
world ; that Christ, the Saviour of the world, should find such entertain-
ment, that he should have anything in him that should offend such a
* That is, 'judicious.' — Ed.
IsA. XXV. 8.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS l/IIURCH. 487
Saviour ! This unkindncss stingeth him to the heart. He takes it griev-
ously that God should be abused. Lcctitia habet suas lachnjmas, there is
not only grief that is the immediate cause of tears, but another cause
beforehand ; that is, love. Joy likewise hath its tears, though they be
not here meant specially.
2. Again, tears are good and sound when we weep /or our own sins as
u-cll as the sins and miseries of others. And I will add more, we must weep
for the sins of others as well as for our own. For it is a gi-eater sign of
the truth of grace to take to heart the sins of others more than our own.
You will say this is a kind of paradox, for often a man may take to heart
his own sins as matter of terror of conscience ; not his sins, as contrary
to God, having antipathy to him, being opposite to the state of the soul,
not as sin is properly sin, but to be grieved and vexed for sin as it hath
vexation and terror of conscience. When a man can take to heart the sins
of another, and that truly as it is an offence of his good God, and a crucify-
ing again of his sweet Saviour, these be true tears indeed. It is more
sign of grace than to weep for a man's own sins.
Some are taken up with terrors of conscience, that let their children,
family, and fiiends alone. Their heart is eaten up with self-love, and they
be near eaten up with their own terrors of conscience. But here is true
giief and an hatred of sin in a right respect, when it exerciseth itself upon
others as well as upon ourselves.
3. Again, tears arise from the right spring, from true grief, nken we can
weep in secret. Oh ! saith Jeremiah, if you do so and so, ' My soul shall
weep in secret for your pride,' Jer. xiii, 17. Here was a good soul indeed.
Many will have tears of comfort in pubHc, &c. Aye, but when they can
weep in secret for their own sms and the sins of others, it is an evidence
of a right spring of grief.
4. Again, when tears tend to reformation of what they grieve for; for else
they hesterilcs lachnjma, barren tears. Do they tend to reform what we
weep for ? Do they tend to action ? Affections are then good when they
carry to action ; as gi'ief, love, joy, they are all for action. When we weep
and grieve, and reform withal, it is a good sign. I will name no more.
You see then that gi-ief is sound when it springcth from the love of God,
and is for the sins of others as well as our own, and our own as well as
others ; when it stirs up to reformation ; when it is in secret ; and there-
fore let us examine our grief by these and the like evidences. It will be a
good character of a gracious soul. Then God will carry himself as a sweet
nurse, or loving mother to her child, that sheddeth tears. God will ' wipe
away all these tears.' Oh ! the transcending love of God ! His love is a
tender love. The love of a mother, the love of a nurse ! It is not love, but
the bowels of love, the bowels of mercy and compassion. How low doth he
stoop to wipe away the tears of his children ! ' God will wipe away all tears.*
I will propound one question more, and then proceed. But we are bid
to rejoice always. Why then is it required that we weep and mourn? Can
two contraries stand together ?
Case 2. I answer, veiy well. For we may grieve, as we have matter of
grief, and are in a condition of grief; and we may rejoice, and ought to
rejoice, as we look to the promise that God ' will wipe away all tears.'
"VMien we think of the present cause, we cannot but grieve ; but when wo
look beyond all troubles, we cannot but joy ; it hath influence of joy into
our heart. Nay, for the present we may joy and grieve, without looking
to eternity sometimes. If we consider that we have offended God, done
488 THE MAKRIAGE FEAST [SeKMON YL.
tliat that giieveth his Spirit, that is matter of grief. But when we con-
sider we have Christ at his right hand, that speaketh peace for us, and
makes our peace by virtue of his mediation, that giveth comfort. So that
we have cause of joy, and cause of grief, about the same things at the same
time.
We are never in such a state of grief here, but if we look about us, look
forward, look upward * A Christian, that is, a good Christian,
is a person that hath many things to look after, that he may manage his
estate of Christianity wisely. He is to look to himself and his sins, to the
mercies of God in Christ, to the constancy of it, that it is answerable to the
fruit of it in peace and joy here, and happiness hereafter, which are con-
stant too. His grace, as himself, is constant, the fruits of it constant.
Therefore ' rejoice evermore.' And, saith the apostle, ' I know what I say,
I am well advised, ' evermore rejoice,' PhiUp. iv. 4. So that the life of a
Christian is a mixed life, nay, the ground of our joy is our sorrow and grief,
and joy is sown in grief. If we will rejoice indeed, let us mourn indeed.
True joy ariseth and springs out of sorrow.
I proceed to the next. ' And the rebukes of his people shall be taken
away from off the face of the earth.' Another benefit that makes the feast
sweet and comfortable is this : ' He wiU take away the rebukes of his peo-
ple.' And here is the same method to be used, that God's children, his
church, and peoiAe, are under rebukes, and under reproach.
We need not stand to prove the truth of it. It is true, first, the head of
the church, and the church itself, and every particular member, they go under
rebukes. For the head of the church, we should spend the time to no purpose
to prove it. What was Christ's life ? It was under a veil. He appeared
not to be what he was. You know he was esteemed the chief of devils, an
enemy to his prince, to Csesar. I will not spend time in clear truths.
For the church itself, you see in the book of Esther, iii. 8, ' There is a
strange people that acknowledge no law, they be against the laws of the
prince.' They pass under the imputation of rebels. The poor church,
that had thoughts of peace, the meek church of God, they counted as ene-
mies of the state, as Christ, the head, was. And so the church in Babylon,
under what rebukes was it ? They reproached them, ' By the waters of
Babylon we sat down and wept, when they said, Sing us one of the songs
of Zion,' Ps. cxxxvii. 1. The church sitteth by the waters of Babylon all this
life. The world is a kind of Babylon to God's people, and then sing us
one of your songs. Where is now your God ? say the hearts of wretched
people, when they saw the people of God in disgrace, Tully could say of
the nation of the Jews, ' It sheweth how God regardeth it ; it hath been so
often overcome.' j Thus the heathen man could scorn the state of God's
people. You see how the psalmist complains in the name of particular
Christians, ' Where is his God ? he trusted in him, let him save him,' Ps.
xxii. 8. Oh, this was daggers to David's heart. ' It pierced to my heart
when they said. Where is thy God?' Ps. xlii. 10. To touch a Christian
in his God, as if God had no care of him, it is more than his own grief and
affliction. So when a child of God is rebuked and afironted, when religion
must sufier by it, so that the head of the church, the members of the church,
are under rebukes, as it may be proved, if I carry you through all stories.
At this day, the church of the Jews, you see what it is come to : the
nation of the Jews, under what reproach it is. And surely this prophecy
* This sentence is left thus unfinished. — G.
t Cicero Orat. Pro Flacco, c. 28. See footnote, vol. I., p. 303.— G.
ISA. XXV. 8.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND niS CHURCH. 489
airncth partly at tho conversion of the Jews. It shall be accomplished at
the resurrection, when all tears shall be perfectly wiped away. But it hath
relation to tho conversion of the Jews. In what state are they now ? Are
they not a word of reproach ? Moses's speech is verified of them, ' They
shall be a hissing to all nations,' 2 Chron. xxix. 8. And is not it a pro-
verb. Hated as a Jew ?
Eeason. But what is the reason of it ? Not to stand long upon the point,
you know there be two seeds in the world, the seed of the serpent and the
seed of tho woman ; and the enmity between them is the true ground, and
the antipathy in the hearts of carnal men to goodness. There is a light
shincth in the life of them that be good, and them that be ill hate the light,
as discovering themselves to themselves, and to the world, not to be that
they seem to be. There is a saltness in the truth. It is savoury, but it is
tart, whether in the word preached, or howsoever truth layeth open what is
cross to corruption. And hereupon pride and self-love in carnal men
studieth how to overcast all they can the names of those that be better
than themselves with a cloud of disgrace. It is the property of vile men
to make all others vile, that they may be alike. Men cannot abide dis-
tinctions of one from another. The Scripture distinguisheth the ' righteous
man, more excellent than his neighbour,' Prov. xii. 20 ; but they will not
have that. The hatred of distinction is the cause they make all as bad as
they can. And hereupon it is that good things were never clothed in the
right habit, nor ill things neither, but do pass under a veil. Take away the
true garment of grace and holiness and goodness, and put a false veil upon
it, it passeth not under that that it is in this world, because wicked men
will not suffer it, but will raise up the ci'edit of other things, of empty
learning, or empty things, or vain courses, and cry up the credit of worldly
things, that they may seem to be wise, and not fools, that are carried to
those things. The best things had never the happiness to pass under their
own names ; but they had other coverings. Truth goeth alwaj-s with a
torn and scratched face ; it is a stranger in the world, and hath strange
entertainment.
Use 1. If this be so, we ought to take heed of laying a scandal or re-
proach upon religion. Salvian complains in his time that wickedness had
gotten that head, that those that were good and honourable, mali esse volunt,
ne a ynalis abhorreantur (g), they that were good studied to be vile, that they
might not be vilified of others. ' Oh,' saith he, ' how much is Christ be-
holden to the world, that those that own him, and own goodness, and own
his cause, should be therefore base, because they be his friends.' Take
heed of taking scandals.
Use 2. We had need be wise, that we be not taken in this snare of Satan,
to mistake error for truth, and good for evil. Satan and his agents make
things pass under contrary representations. Superstition goeth for religion,
and religion for superstition, schism, and heresy. It hath always been so.
Therefore seek wisdom to discern aright. The de\'il hath two properties,
he is a liar and a murderer ; the one makes \vay for the other, for he could
not murder unless he did lie. The devil himself will not be an open mur-
derer if he can help it. The fraudulent persecution is worse than the vio-
lent. K he can bring to hell by fraud and lying, he will never do it by
violence. He is a bar, that he may be a murderer ; for when he can raise
an imputation upon the church and children of God, that they be rebels,
enemies of state, then he may cum privilegio be a murderer. ^Mien he
hath tainted God's people in the conceit of the world, then they find that
490 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeKMON VI.
entertainment not "which they deserve, but which they be apprehended to
deserve, when the conceit of other men towards them is poisoned. * Oh,
this sect is spoken against everywhere,' say they to Paul, Acts xxviii. 22.
Therefore we had need be wise ; for if the instruments of Satan, led with
his spirit, had not hoped that slanders should take, they would never have
been so skilful in that trade. But they know they shall find some shallow
fools that will believe them, without searching into the depths of them, and
take up persons and things under prejudice. It is enough for them that
this is said of them. They have neither wit nor judgment, nor so much
patience, from following their lusts, as to examine them ; and that makea
them so mad as they are. Calumniare audacter, aliquid harebit, slander
stoutly, something will stick, they are sure of it. That which hath raised
and ruined many a man, is that of Haman's casting of jealousy upon those
that are better than themselves. That was Haman's trick, and so will be
the practice of the wicked, as it hath been from the beginning, so to the
end of the world. ' Thou art not CcCsar's friend,' say they, and it is enough
to Pilate, John xix. 12. Thus it has been, and will be to the end of the
world. Therefore we had need to be wise, that we be not misled. Men
will never leave to speak ill till they have learned to speak better, till the
Spirit of God hath taught them.
Now, it is said that Christ will take away the rebukes of his people.
That is the promise. As they are, they shall be known to be. He will
set all in joint again. Harmony is a sweet thing, and order is a sweet
thing. Time will come when things that are now out of order to appear-
ance, shall be all set in their due order again. Those that are basest shall'
be lowest, and those that be excellent shall be highest. This is a-working
and framing now. In this confusion we must look to the catastrophe, the
conclusion of all. He will ' take away the rebukes of all.' God is the
father of truth, and truth is the daughter of time. Time will bring fortb
truth at last. And those that be honourable indeed shall bo honourable.
It is as true as God is just ; for goodness and holiness are beams of God ;
and will he suffer it always to pass under a false veil ? There is not an
attribute of God but shall shine forth gloriously, even all his excellency and
dignity. There is nothing shall be above him and his excellency. No ;.
though he seems for a while not to rule in the world, or have power, but
suffers them to go away with it that are his enemies, he is working another
thing by suffering them, he is working the glory of his children, and con-
fusion of his enemies. There is nothing in God but shall gloriously shine,
and nothing in his children, no beams of God, but shall gloriously shine, to
the confusion of the world. They that are good shall be known to be good,
God will bring their righteousness to light. The witnesses that vexed the
world, and had base entertainment, they were slain and disgraced, but they
rose again, and were carried to heaven. Rev. xi. 12, seq., as Elias. So-
there will be a resurrection of name, a resurrection of reputation. That
that is good shall be good, and that that is bad shall be bad. It shall be
known to be as it is. This is for comfort.
Use 1. You hear, therefore, what course to take under disgrace. What
shall we do when the church passeth under disgrace, as it is now ? A pro-
testant is worse than a Turk or a Jew amongst the railing papists. Among'
ourselves we see under what reputation the best things go. It is too well"
known to speak of. And the scandal taken from hence doth extremely
harden. It keeps men from religion, it draweth many from religion that
have entered into it, because they have not learned so much self-denial as-
ISA. XXV. 8.] BETWEEN CHKIST AND HIS CHURCH. 491
to venture upon disgrace. And surely where no self-denial is, there is no
religion. Christ knew what doctrine he taught when he taught self-denial
in this respect.
What shall we do, therefore ? 1. Labour first of all for innocency, that
if men will reproach, they may reproach without a cause.
2. Then labour for a spirit of patience to serve Christ with. ' Great is
your reward when men speak evil of you,' Mat. v. 12, for a good cause.
It is the portion of a Christian in this Ufe to do well and sufier ill. Of
all, certainly they are best, that, out of love to goodness, are carried
to goodness, without looking to rewards or disgrace ; that follow with a
single ej'e. Labour, therefore, for patience, and not only so, but,
3. For courage. For the moon goeth its course, and lets the dog bark.
We have a coui'se to run, let us keep our course constantly ; pass through
good reports and bad reports ; be at a point what the world thinks. We
seek applause at another theatre than the world.
4. Again, then, labour for sincerity under rebukes, that we have a good
aim, such an aim as Paul had, ' If I be mad and out of my wits,' 1 Cor. v.
13, 14. He being earnest for his master, Christ, they count him out of his
wits. If I be out of my wits it is for Christ. ' If I be sober, it is for you, the
love of Christ constraineth me to be so,' 2 Cor. v. 14. Get the love of Christ,
and that will make a man care for nothing. If I go beyond myself, it is to
God. As David said, when he was mocked by Michal, ' It is to the Lord,'
when he danced before the ark,' 2 Sam. vi. 20, 21. Bonus Indus, a good
dance, where Michal scofleth, and David danceth. Where gracious men
magnify God, and have Michals to scoff at them, it is bonus Indus. God
will look upon them, for it is to the Lord. Labour that our aims be good,
and it is no matter what the world judgeth of them.
5. And when all will not do, commend our credits to God by prayer. As
we commend our souls and conditions, so our reputations, that he would
take care of them, that he would bring our righteousness to light, that it
should shine out as the noonday. So David doth, he complains to God,
and commendeth all to him, prayeth him to take part against his enemies,
to right his cause. And when we have done that, we have done our duty.
Yet withal hope for better things, be content to pass under the world as
unknown men, and to be inwardly worthy, and pass as unknown men.
Rich men, if truly rich, they will applaud themselves in their bosoms, though
the world disgrace them, yet at home I am thus furnished. And so a
Christian that knoweth his worth, that he is a child of God, heir of heaven,
that he is attended upon by angels, that he is a jewel to God in his esteem,
[he thinks this] to be absolutely the best thing in the world. He knoweth
the worth of a Christian, and his own worth as being a Christian. He
applauseth* and comforteth himself, in that he knoweth he hath a hidden
life, a state of glory hidden in Christ. Now it is covered with disgrace and
disrespect in the world, scorned and reproached, but what is that to him ?
It is an hidden life, and for the present he knoweth his o\vn excellency, and,
therefore, can pass through good report and bad report. * I care not for
man's day,' saith Paul, 'there is another day to which I must stand,' 1 Cor.
iv. 3.
And thus if we do, as Peter saith, * There is a spirit of glory shall rest upon
us,' 1 Pet. iv. 14. The ground we have of comfort under rebuke and dis-
gi-ace, there is a spirit of glory. What is that ? A largo spirit enlarging
our hearts with inward comfort, inward joy, inward love of God. ' A
* That is, ' applaudeth.' — G.
492 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeKJION VII.
spirit of glory shall rest upon you,' and shall continue with you as long as
disgrace shall continue. He opposeth this to all disgrace he meeteth with in
the world.
God putteth sometimes a glory and excellency upon his children under
disgrace and ill usage in the world, that he will daunt the world, as Ste-
phen's face did shine as the face of an angel, which came from a spirit of
glory that rested upon him, and expressed himself to be the servant of God.
He that takes away from our good report, if we be good, he addeth to our
reward. Our Saviour Chi'ist saith as much, ' Blessed are you when you be
iU spoken of, for great is your reward,' Mat. v. 11, 12.
THE SEVENTH SERMON.
And the rebukes of his j^eople shall he take away from all the earth : for
the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. — Isa. XXV. 8.
Use 3. This is a great promise, and I pray you be comforted idth it. For
of all grief that God's people sufier in the world, there is none greater than
reproach, disgrace, and contumely. Movemur contumeliis jjIus quam injuriis,
we are more moved with reproaches than injuries. Injuries come from
several causes, but disgrace from abundance of slighting. No man but
thinks himself worthy of respect from some or other. Now, slanders come
from abundance of malice, or else abundance of contempt ; and therefore
nothing sticks so much as reproaches, specially by reason of opinion and
fancy, that raiseth them over high.
Our Saviour, Christ, ' endured the cross and despised the shame,' Heb.
xii. 2. That shame that vain people cast upon religion and the best things,
they despise that and make that a matter of patience. They knew the cross
would not be shaken off, persecution and troubles must be endured, and
therefore they ' endured the cross, and despised the shame.' Now, to bear
crosses, take the counsel of the holy apostles, look up to him, consider
Christ ; and whatsoever disgrace in words or carriage we shall endure, we
are sure, though we shall never know it till we feel it by experience, ' the
spirit of glory shall rest upon us,' and rebuke shall be taken away.
Ere long there will be no glory in heaven and earth but the glory of Christ
and of his spouse, for all the rest shall be in their own place, as it was said
of Judas, that ' he went to his place,' Acts i. 25. Their proper place is not
to domineer, but to be in hell, and ere long they shall be there. Heaven
is the proper element of the saints ; that is the place of Christ, the head,
and where should the body be but with the head ? where the spouse but
with the husband ? I say this shall come to pass, that all the wicked shall
be in their place, and all the godly in theirs with Christ, and then shall the
rebukes of God's people be taken away. A great matter, and therefore it is
sealed with a great confirmation, ' The Lord Jehovah hath spoken it.' There-
fore it must and will be so. ' The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.' This
is not in vain added, for the Lord knoweth well enough we need it to be-
lieve so great things, that there is such a feast provided, and that there is
such a victory over death, our last enemj', and that there will be such
glory, that all the glory shall be Christ's and his spouse's, that the wicked
that are now so insolent shall be cast into their proper place with the devil,
by whose spirit they are led. They be great matters, and there is great
disproportion between the present condition and that condition in heaven ;
ISA. XXV. 8.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHUBOH. 493
and infidelity being in the soul, it is hard to fasten such things on the soul,
that so great things should be done. But they are no greater than God
hath said, and ho is able to make good his word. ' The Lord hath said it,'
and when God hath said it, heaven and earth cannot unsay it. When
heaven hath concluded it, earth and hell cannot disannul it. ' The mouth
of the Lord hath spoken it ; ' that is, truth itself hath spoken it that cannot
Ue. A man may he and be a man, and an honest man too. He may some-
times speak an untruth ; it taketh not away his nature. But God, who is
pure truth, unchangeable truth, truth itself, cannot he.
When we hear of great matters, as matters of Christianity be great
matters, they be as large as the capacity of the soul, and larger too, and
yet the soul is large in the understanding and affection too; when we hear
of such large matters, u-e need a great faith to believe them. Great faith
necdeth great grounds, and therefore it is good to have all the helps we can.
When we hear of great things promised, great deliverances, great glor}^, to
strengthen oui* faith, remember God hath spoken them. He knoweth our
weakness, our infii-mity, and therefore helps us with this prop, ' The mouth
of the Lord hath spoken it.' Let us therefore remember those great things
are promised in the word of God, in the word of Jehovah, that can make
them all good, that gives a being to all his promises. He is being itself,
and gives being to whatsoever he saith. He is able to do it. Set God and
his power against all opposition whatsoever from the creature, and all doubts
that may arise from our own unbeheving hearts, ' The mouth of the Lord
hath spoken it.'
Quest. But ye will say, the prophet Isaiah saith it, whose words they were.
Alls. I answer, Isaiah was the penman, God the mouth. The head dic-
tateth, the hand writeth. Christ the head dictates, and his servant writeth.
So that, holy men write as they were inspired by the Holy Ghost, a better
spirit than their own. ' Why do ye look on me ? ' saith Isaiah. Think
not it is I that say it ; I am but a man like yourselves ; but ' the mouth of
the Lord hath spoken it.'
We should not regard men, nor the ministry of men, but consider who
speaks by men, who sendeth them, with what commission do they come.
Ambassadors are not regarded for themselves, but for them that send them.
And therefore Cornelius said well, ' We are here in the presence of God to
hear what thou wilt speak in the name of God,' Acts x. 33. And so people
should come with that reverend* expression. We are come in the presence
of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in the presence of the blessed angels,
to hear what thou shalt say in the name of God, by the Spirit of God. Wo
are not to deal with men, but with God. And therefore he saith, ' The
mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.'
Quest. 2, Hence may this question be easily answered, "WTience hath
the Scripture authority ?
Ans. Why, from itself. It is the word ; it carrieth its own letters testi-
monial with it. Shall God borrow authority from men ? No ; the autho-
rity the word hath is from itself. It hath a supreme authority from itself.
And wo may answer that question about the judge of all controversies,
What is the supreme Judge ? The word, the Spirit of God in the Scrip-
tures. And who is above God ? It is a shameless, ridiculous impudency
of men that wiU take upon them to be judges of Scripture, as if man would
get upon the tlironc, and as a judge there judge. The Scriptures must
judge aU ere long, yea, that great antichrist. Now an ignorant man, a
* That ia, ' reverent.' — G.
494 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeRMON VII,
simple man, that perhaps never read Scriptures, must judge of all contro-
versies, yea, that that is judge of all and of himself, the word, which is from
the very mouth of God,
Quest. 3. You will ask me, How shall I know it is the word of God if the
church tells us not ?
Ans. A carrier sheweth us these be [letters from such a man, but when
we open the letter, and see the hand and seal, we know them to be his.
The church knows the word, and explaineth it ; and when we see and feel
the efficacy of the word in itself, then we beHeve it to be the word, for there
is that in the word that sheweth it to be the word :
1. The majesty that is in it.
2. The matter that is mysterious, forgiveness of sins through a mystery,
forgiveness of sin,* victory over death, life everlasting in the world to come,
great matters, * which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the
heart of man,' 1 Cor. ii. 9. If it had not been revealed, it could not have
entered into the heart of angels, it containeth such glorious, transcending
mysteries. And then again,
3. The word to all them that belong to God hath the Spirit of God,
by which it passeth, rightly accompanying it, witnessing to the soul of
man that it is so ; and, 4, by a divine efficacy it is mighty in operation.
What doth it in the heart? (1.) It warmeth the heart upon the hear-
ing, and speaking, and discoursing of it, as when the disciples went
to Emmaus, Luke xxiv. 32. (2.) It hath a heat of Spirit going with it ta
affect the heart xcith heavenly joy and delight; it hath power going with it
by the Spirit to raise joy unspeakable and glorious ; it hath a power to
pacify the soul amidst all troubles. When nothing will still the soul, the
Spirit of God in the word will do it by its divine power. (3.) Yea,
it will change a man fi.'om a beastly or devilish temper to a higher
and happier estate, as you have it, Isaiah xi. 6—9. It makes lions lambs,
leopards kids. And what is the ground of all ? In that very place
' the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord.' The knowledge of
God reconciled is such a powerful knowledge that it hath a transforming
virtue to alter men's dispositions. What was Paul before conversion ? and
Zaccheus ? Therefore, it is the word, because it hath divine operation to
heat the soul, and raise the soul, and change the soul, and (4.) cast down the
soul, as low in a manner as hell, in sense of its own misery. It will make
a Felix to tremble, a man that it doth not effectually work upon. The
truths of it are so moving that it will make a carnal man to quake. When
Paul spake of judgment to come, of giving account of all that is done in the
flesh, when a possibility of it was apprehended, it made Felix to quake.
It makes mountains level, and it fills up the valleys. The word can raise
up the soul ; when man is as low as hell, and looketh for nothing but
damnation, the Spirit with the word wUl fetch him from thence ; as the
jailor. Acts xvi. 31, there was little between him and hell, ' What shall I
do to be saved ? Why, believe in the Lord Jesus.' And with these words
there went out an efficacy. He believed, and he afterward was full of joy.
The first gospel ever preached in pardon was by God himself. Never
was any creature so near damnation as our first father Adam, cast from the
greatest happiness, miserrimum est fuisse felicem ; for he that enjoyed before
communion with God and his angels, having sinned, and having conscience
of his sin, considering his great parts, and apprehension of the state he had
been in, this must needs affect him deeply ; and being in this condition,
* Probably a misprinted repetition. — G.
ISA. XXV. 8.] BETWEEN OHKIST AND HIS CHURCH. 495
the promise of the ' seed of the woman to break the serpent's head,'
revived him.
There is a strange efficacy in the gospel. The Koman empire was the
greatest enemy that the church ever had The ten persecutions you see
what they were ;* and yet notwithstanding the word grew upon them and
never rested, the spreading of the gospel, and the Spirit with it, till the
cross got above the crown, as it did in the time of Constantine, and so it
•continueth.
5. And must not this be a divine word which hath this efficacy, to revive,
comfort, change, cast down, raise up again, search secrets, search the heart to
tlw bottom? A poor idiot f that comes to hear the word of God, when
he hears the secrets of his heart laid open by the word, he concludes
•certainly, ' God is in you, and you are God's ministers,' 1 Cor. iv. 25.
The word ' dindeth between the marrow and the bone,' Heb. xv. 12 ; it
aiTaigneth the heart before God's tribunal seat. Those that are saved, it
hath these effects in them that I have named. And if you ask how they
know whether the word be the word ? A man may answer, I have found
it to be so, raising me up, comforting me, and strengthening me. I had
perished in my affliction if the word had not raised me. Principles are
proved, you know, from experience, for they have nothing above them. There
is no other principle to prove the word, but experience from the working of
it. How know you the light to be the light, but by itself, and that fire is
hot, but by itself? Principles prove themselves only by experience; and
this principle is so proved by itself, that there is no child of God but can
say by experience, that the word is the word.
6. If a man might go to reason, one might bring that which coidd not be easily
ansivered for the satisfaction of an atheist. Let him but grant there is a
God, he will grant one thing in religion or another. But let him grant
there is a God and a reasonable creature, then there must be a service, a
religion ; and this service must be according to some rules prescribed ; for
the superior will not be served as the inferior pleaseth. He must discover
what good the superior intendeth, and what duties he expects. This must
be revealed in some word. God and the reasonable creature, and religion,
make a necessity of a word, and that must be the word we have, or an-
other ; and what word in the world is probable to be the word but this ?
Obj. You will say it may be corrupt.
Ans. The Jews looked to the Old Testament, that it should not be cor-
rupted ; for they knew every syllable in it, and preseiwed every letter. It
is one part of their superstition, and God blesseth that superstition to take
away all such cavils. For the New Testament the Jews cared not for ; but
heretics on their side watch over it that there should be no corruption ; they
will so observe one another. But what are these reasons to those which
the soul of a gracious Christian knoweth by the operation of the word upon
the heart ?
Use 1. And, therefore, let us regard it as the word of God; hear it as the
word of God ; read it as the word of God. A company of profane wretches
you shall have, the scums and basest of the people, that will discourse, and
to grace their discourse, they must have Scripture phrases ; but whose
word is it ? It is the word of the great God. Eglon was a heathen king,
and yet when a message came from God, he arose up and made obcyance,J
• See Note 6, vol. I. p. 384— G. t See Note e, vol. I. p. 290.— G.
X This interpretation of the ' rising up' of Eglou anticipates Bishop Patrick m
loc. — G.
496 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeEMON VII.
Judges iii. 20. We should never read the word but with reverence, con-
sidering whose book it is, and that we must be judged by it another day.
Use 2. If it be the word, I beseech you consider what we say, and know
that God will make every jjart of it r/ood. There shall not a jot of it fail,
nothing of it shall miscarry. God speaketh all these words. And, there-
fore, if you be blasphemers, you shall not carry it away guiltless. God
hath said it. If you continue not to obey, you are under God's curse.
Unless you repent you shall perish. Every threat God will make good.
You must repent and get into Christ, else perish eternally. God hath said
it, and we may confirm it in the unfolding and reading of it. The time is
coming for the execution of it, and then God is peremptory. Now God
waiteth our leisure, and entreateth us, but if we will not repent, we shall
have that arrow in our sides that will never be gotten out till we die in
hell. Whose sins are condemned in Scripture, they are condemned by
God ; and whom we shut heaven to, by opening the Scriptures, God will
shut heaven to. The opening of the Scriptures is the opening of heaven.
If the Scripture saith, a man that liveth in such a sin shall not be saved,
heaven shall be shut to him ; he is in a state of death, he is strucken, and
remaineth in danger till he repenteth. How many live in sins against con-
science, that are under the guilt and danger of their sins. They be wounded,
they be struck by the word. There is a threat against their sins, although
it be not executed ; and they be as much in danger of eternal death as a
condemned traitor, only God suffers them to live, that they may make their
peace. They have blessed times of visitation. Oh, make use of it ! It is
the word of God ; and know that God wiU make every part of his word
good in threats as well as in promises.
Use 3. Take occasion from hence likewise to shame ourselves for our infi-
delity* in the promises. When we are in any disconsolate estate, we are
in Job's case. Being in trouble, the consolation of the Almighty seemed
light to him, Job. xv. 11. These be the comforts of God. When we come
to comfort some, though the sweet promises of the gospel be opened, yet
they do not consider them as being the word, the consolations of the
Almighty, and therefore they seem light to them. But it should not be so.
Consider they be the comforts of the word, and therefore we should hear
them with faith, labour to afiiectf them, and shame ourselves. Is this
God's word that giveth this direction, that giveth this comfort, and shall I
not regard it ? Is it the consolation of the Almighty, and shall not I em-
brace it ? Therefore we should be ashamed, not to be more afiected with
the heavenly sweet things promised of God than we are.
A man that refuseth heavenly comforts to embrace comforts below, how
should he reflect upon himself with shame ? Hath God promised such
things, God that cannot lie ? and shall I lose my hope of all these glorious
things, for the enjoying of the pleasures of sin for a season ? I profess
myself to be a Christian, where is my faith ? where is my hope ? A man
must acknowledge either I have no faith ; for if I had faith believing God
speaking these excellent things, I would not venture my loss of them to get
the enjoyment of poor temporary things here, for the good things promised
in another world. Labour, therefore, to bring men's hearts to believe the
word, and desire God to seal it to our souls that it is so.
Means. I will give one direction. Labour for the Spirit of God, that
writ the word, that indited the ivord. Beg of God' to seal to our souls that it
Ib the word, and that he would sanctify our hearts to be suitable to the
* That is, * disbelief,' or ' unbelief.'— G. t That is, to ' love' them.— G.
IsA. XXV. 8.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 497
word, and never rest till we can find God by his Spirit seasoning our hearts,
so that the relish of our souls may suit to the relish of divine truths, that
when we hear them wc may relish the truth in them, and may so feel the
work of God's Spirit, that we may be able to say, he is our God. And
when we hear of any threatening, we may tremble at it, and any sin dis-
covered, we may hate it. For unless we, by the Spirit of God, have some-
thing wrought in us suitable to the word, we shall never believe the word
to be the word. And therefore pray the Lord, by his Spirit to frame our
hearts to be suitable to divine truths, and so frame them in our affections,
that we may find the word in our joy, in our love, in our patience, that all
may be seasoned with the word of God. When there is a relish in the
word, and in the soul suitable to it, then a man is a Christian indeed to
purpose. Till then men will apostatize, turn papist, turn atheist, or any
thing, because there is a distance between the soul and the word. The
word is not engrafted into the soul. They do not know the word to be the
word by arguments fetched from the word, and therefore they fall from the
power of the word. But if we will not fall from divine truths, get truth
written in the heart, and our hearts so seasoned by it, and made so harmo-
nious and suitable to it, that we may embrace it to death, that we may Uve
and die in it.
To go on :
' In that day shall it be said, Lo, this is our God ; we nave waited for
him.'
Here is a gracious promise, that shutteth up all spoken before. He
spake of great things before. And now here is a promise of a day,
wherein he wiU make all things promised, good to the soul of every believ-
ing Christian.
' In that day it shall be said. This is our God ; we have waited for him ;
be will save us.'
It is an excellent portion of Scripture to shew the gracious disposition
that the Spirit of God will work in all those that embrace the gracious pro-
mises of God. The time shall come when they shall say, ' Lo, this is our
God ; we have waited for him, and now we enjoy him.'
The points considerable are these :
1. First of all by supposition that there be glorious excellent things pro-
mised to the people of God ; rich and precious promises of feasting, of taking
away the veil, of conquest over death by victory, of wiping away tears and
removing rebukes. Great things, if we go no farther than my text.
2. Secondly, these have a day when they shall he j)e)formed, which is not
presently ; for the end of a promise is to support the soul till the perform-
ance. God doth not only reserve great things for us in another world, but
to comfort us in the way, doth reach out to us promises to comfort us till
we come thither. There is a time when he will perform them, and not
only a time, but there are likewise promises of performance. At that time
the promises of these great things shall be perfonned.
3. The next thing is, that God uill stir up in his children a disposition
suitable. That is, the grace of waiting. As great things were promised
before, so the soul hath a grace fit for it. ' We have waited for thee.'
4. And as they wait for them, while they arc in perfomiing, so they shall
enjoy them. ' We have waited for thee, and we will be glad in thy salva-
tion.' We shall so enjoy them, that we shall joy in them. Good things,
when they be enjoyed, they be joyed in.
5. Again, ' we shall rejoice in our salvation, we shall glory in our God.'
VOL. II. I i
498 THE MABRIAGE FEAST [SeEMON VII.
After they be a while exercised in waiting, then cometh performance, then
they be enjoyed, and they he enjoyed icith joy, in glorying in God. For that
is the issue of a Christian, when he hath what he would enjoy, when he
enjoyeth it with joy, when the fruit of it is that God hath his glory, and
therefore the heart can rejoice in his salvation.
Then there is a day, as for the exercising of his people here by waiting,
so there is a day of performing promises. ' In that day.' That is, a day
•of all days. When that day cometh, then all prophecies and promises shall
be accomplished to the uttermost.
But before that great day, there is an intermediate performance of pro-
mises assisted by waiting, to drop comfort to us by degrees. He reserveth
not all to that day. There be lesser days before that great day. As at the
first coming of Christ, so at the overthrow of antichrist, the conversion of
the Jews, there will be much joy. But that is not that day. These days
make way for that day. Whensoever prophecies shall end in performances,
then shall be a day of joying and gloi-jang in the God of our salvation for
ever. And therefore in the Revelations where this Scripture is cited, Eev.
xxi. 4, is meant the conversion of the Jews, and the glorious estate they
shall enjoy before the end of the world. ' We have waited for our God,'
and now we enjoy him. Aye, but what saith the church there ? ' Come,
Lord Jesus, come quickly.' There is yet another, * Come, Lord,' till we be
in heaven. So that though intermediate promises be performed here, yet
there is another great day of the Lord to be performed, which is specially
meant here.
6. The last thing considerable in the words is the manner of expression.
They are expressed full of hfe, and with repetition, to make them sure and
more certain, ' In that day it shall be said. This is our God ; we have waited
for him ; he shall save us.' He bringeth them in speaking these words of
affection.
Indeed, when we come to enjoy the performance of God's gracious pro-
mises, if we should live to see the fulness of the Gentiles come, and Jews
called, we should speak of it again and again. Affections are large, and
few expressions will not serve for large affections. It will be no tautology
to say, * This is our God ; we have waited for him.'
Beloved, times are yet to come which may much affect the hearts of the
children of God. Howsoever we may not live to see the performance of
these things, yet we shall all live to see that day of judgment, and then we
shall say, * This is our God ; we have waited for him.' We now see God
in the promises, and then we shall see him ' face to face,' whom we have
waited for in the promises, and we shall see him in heaven for ever.
' Lo, this is our God ; we have waited for him.' While we live here we
are in state of waiting, we are under promises, and a condition under pro-
mises is a waiting condition ; a condition of performance is an enjoying
condition. We are in a waiting condition till our bodies be raised out of
the grave ; for when we die we wait for the resurrection of our bodies.
We may say as Jacob when he was dying, ' I have waited for thy salvation.'
We are in a waiting condition till body and soul be joined together at the
day of judgment for ever.
And there we should labour to have those graces that are suitable for
this condition. The things we wait for are of so transcending excellency,
as glory to come, that they cannot be waited for, but* the Spirit, by the things
waited for, fitteth us to wait for them. A man cannot wait for glory of soul
* That is, ' unless.'— Ed.
IsA. XXV. 8, 9.] BETWEF.X CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 490
and-body, but the Spirit that raiseth up faith to believe, and hope to wait,
will purge, and fit, and prepare him for that glorious condition. ' He that
hath this hope purifieth himself, as he is pure,' 1 John iii. 3. Oh, it is a
quickening waiting, and a purging waiting. It is cilicacious by the Spirit
to fit and purify his soul suitable to that glorious condition he waits for.
Where that is not, it is but a conceit. A very slender apprehension of the
glory to come will make men better. He that hath hope of heaven and
happiness under glory, it will make him suitable to the place he looketh for.
THE EIGHTH SERMON.
He shall swallow up death in victory ; and the Lord God uill wipe away tears
from off all faces ; and the rebukes of his people shall he take away from off
all the earth : for the Lord hath sjwken it. And it shall be said hi that
day, Lo, this is our God; tve have waited for him, and he will save us :
this is the Lord ; we have rraitedfor him, ice will be glad and rejoice in his
salvation. — Isa. XXV. 8, 9.
To come closer to the particulars. * It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is
our God.' The mouth of the Lord hath spoken gracious things before,
hath promised a feast, and an excellent feast. God's manner is first of all
to give promises to his church. Why ? His goodness cometh from his
goodness, his goodness of gi'ace cometh from his goodness of nature. ' He
is good and doth good.' Now the same goodness of disposition which we
call bounty, that reserveth heaven and happiness for us in another world,
the same goodness will not saffer us to be without all comfort in this world,
because the knowledge and revelation of the glory to come hath much com-
fort in it. Therefore in mercy he not only intendeth performance of glory,
but out of the same fountain of goodness he intendeth to reveal whatso-
ever is good for his church in the way to glory. So that promises of good
come fi'om the same goodness of God by which he intendeth heaven. For
what moved God to come out of that hidden light, that no man can
come into, and discover himself in his Son ? The word in his promises to
reveal his mind to mankind, and make known what he will have us to do,
and what he will do to us. But only his goodness is the cause of all.
And therefore the end of promises in God's intention is to comfort us in
the way to heaven, that we may have something to support us. They are
promissa, quasi pramissa. They are promises and premises, and sent before
the thing itself.
Now here it cometh that the glory to come is termed the joy of heaven
and the glorious estate to come. 'You have need of patience, that you may
get the promises.' Heaven and happiness is called the promises, because
we have them assured in promises. The blessings of the New Testa-
ment are called promises ; as the children of the promise, yea, the heirs of
glory ; because all is conveyed by a promise, therefore all happiness is con-
veyed by a promise.
Now the promises are of good things. They are for the spring of them,
free, from God's free goodness ; for the measure of them, fuh , for tlie
truth of them, constant, even as God himself that promiseth. And there-
fore we may well build upon them.
Use. Before I go any farther, I beseech you let us account the promises
500 THE MAEKIAGE FEAST [SeEMON VIII.
of the good we have to he our best treasure, our best portion, our best riches, for
they be called precious promises, 2 Pet. i. 4 ; not only because they be
precious in themselves, but because they are from the precious love of God
in Christ to us. They are likewise for precious things. They are laid hold
of by precious faith, as the Scripture calleth them, and therefore they are
precious promises. Let us not only account of our riches that we have ;
for what is that we have, to what we speak of, to that we have in promise ?
A Christian is rich in reversion, rich in bills and obligations. Christ hath
bound himself to him, and he can sue him out when he pleaseth. In all
kinds of necessity, he can sue God for good. He can go to God and say,
' Remember thy promise, Lord, wherein thou hast caused me thy servant
to trust,' Ps. cxix. 49 ; and can bind God with his own word.
But I take this only in passage as the foundation of what I am to speak.
From the mouth of God you see the great promises delivered ; and now
we have waited for them. That which answereth promises is expectation
and waiting.
The second thing, therefore, between the promises, wherein God is a
debtor, and the performance, is, that there is a long time, a long day. Often-
times God takes a long day for performing of his promise, as four hundred
years Abraham's posterity went to be in Egypt. And it was four thousand
years from the beginning of the world till the coming of Christ, which was
the promise of promises, the promise of the seed, a great long day. And
therefore Christ is said to come in ' the latter end of the world.' Abraham
had promise of a son, but it was not performed till he was an old man.
Simeon had a promise to see Christ in the flesh, but he was an old man,
ready to yield up the ghost, before it was performed. God taketh a long
day for his promises ; long to us, not to him, ' for to him a thousand years
are but as one day,'
Reason 1. The promises of God are long in performing ; for to exercise
our faith and our dependence to the full :
Reason 2. To take its off from the creature ; and
Reason 3. To endear the things promised to us, to set the greater price upon
them when we have them. Many other reasons may be given, if I intended
to enlarge myself in that point. A Christian hath a title to heaven. As
soon as he is a Christian, he is an heir to heaven. Perhaps he may live
here twenty or forty years more before God takes him up to glory. Why
doth he defer it so long ?
Reason 4. The reason is, God will fit us for heaven by hnle and little, and will
perfume us as Esther was perfumed before she must come to Ahasuerus,
Esth. ii. 12. There were many weeks and months of perfuming. So God will
sweeten and fit us for heaven and happiness. It is a holy place ; God a
holy God. Christ is that holy one ; and for us to have everlasting com-
munion with God and Christ in so holy a place, requireth a great prepara-
tion. And God, by deferring it so long, will mortify our affections by little
and little, and will have us die to all base things here in affection before we
die indeed. David had title to the kingdom as soon as ever he was
anointed ; but David was fitted to be an excellent king, indeed, by deferring
the performance of the promise till afterward. So in our right and title
and possession of heaven, there is a long time between.
Our Saviour Christ was thirty-four years before he was taken up to
heaven, because he was to work our salvation. And he was willing to sus-
pend his glory for such a time, that he might do it ; to suspend his glory
due to him from the first moment of his conception. For by virtue of the
IsA. XXV. 8, 9.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 501
union, glory was due to him at the first ; but because he had taken upon
him to be a Mediator, out of love ho would suspend his glory due to him,
that he might suflcr. And so God, by way of couformit}', will suspend the
glory due to us, that we may be conformed to Christ. Though we have
right to heaven as soon as we are born,-:'- yet God will suspend the full per-
formance of it ; because he will by correction and by length of time subdue
by little and little that which maketh us unconformable to our head.
And can we complain for any deferring of heaven when we are but con-
formed to our glorious head, who was content to be without heaven so long ?
But to go on. As there be gracious and rich promises, and they have
long time of performance to us, and ' hope deferred makes the soul lan-
guish,' Prov. xiii. 12 ; so God vouchsafeth a spirit to fit that expectation of
his, a spirit of hope and waiting. And this waiting hath something perfect
in it, and something imperfect. It is a mixed condition. There is good,
because there is a promise ; for a promise is the declaration of God's will
concerning good. But because it is a promise of a thing not performed,
there is an imperfection. So there is a mixture in the promise, and a mix-
ture in the grace. Hope and expectation and waiting is an imperfect grace.
That there be glorious things, it is perfection of good ; that we have them
not in possession, that is the imperfection. So that hope is something, but
it is not possessed ; a promise is something, but it is not the performance ;
a seed is something, but it is not the plant.
Thus God mixeth our condition here of perfection and imperfection. He
will have us in state of imperfection, that we may not think ourselves at
home in our country, when we are but in our way. Therefore he will have
us in a state of imperfection, that we may long homeward ; yet he will have
it a state of good, that we may not sink in the way.
And not only promises ; for in the way to heaven God keeps not all for
heaven. He lets in drops of comfort oftentimes in the midst of misery.
He doth reveal himself more glorious and sweet than at other times. There
is nothing reserved for us in another world, but we have a beginning, a
taste, an earnest of it here, to support us till we come to the full possession
of what remaineth. We shall have fuU communion of saints there ; we
have it here, in the taste of it. We know what it is to be acquainted with
them that be gracious spirits. We have praising of God for ever there.
We know the sweetness of it here in the house of God, which made David
desire this one thing, ' that he might dwell in the house of God, to visit the
beauty of God,' &c., Ps. xxvii. 4. There we shall have perfect peace ;
here we have inward peace, unspeakable and glorious, ' a peace that passeth
understanding,' Philip, iv. 7, in the beginning of it. There we shall have
joy without all mixture of contrariety ; here we have joy, ' and joy un-
speakable and full of glory,' 1 Peter i. 8. There is nothing in heaven that
is perfect, that is sweet, and good, and comfortable, but we have a taste
and earnest of it here. The Spirit wiU be all in all there ; there is some-
thing of it in us now. More light in our understandings, more obedience
in our wills, more and more love in our afiections, and it is growing more
and more.
And therefore all is not kept for time to come ; we have something oe-
ginning here besides promises. There is some little degrees of performance.
So that the state between us and heaven is a state mixed of good and im-
perfection.
Now God hath fitted graces suitable to that fiondition, and that is ex-
* That is, ' born again.' — Q.
502 THE MAKRIAGE FEAST [SeKMON A^II.
pectation or waiting, a fit grace and a fit disposition of soul from * imperfect
condition, that is aftei-wards to be perfected ; for fruition is the condition
of perfect happiness, not of waiting ; for waiting implieth imperfection.
This waiting carrieth with it almost all gi'aces. Waiting for better times
in glory to come, it hath to support it. It is a carriage of soul that is sup-
ported with many graces. For, first, we wait for that we believe. We
have a spirit of faith to lead to it. And then we hope before we wait, and
hope is the anchor of the soul, that stayeth the soul in all the waves and
miseries of the world. It is the helmet that keeps ofi" all the blows. This
hope issues from faith ; for what we believe, we hope for the accomplish-
ment of it.
So that all graces make way for waiting, or accompany it. The graces
that accompany the waiting for good things in time to come are patience, to
endure all griefs between us and the full possession of heaven ; then lo7ig-
suffering, which is nothing else but patience lengthened, because troubles
are lengthened, and the time is lengthened. So there is patience, and
patience lengthened, which we call long-suflering ; and then, together with
patience and long-suffering, there is contentment, without murmuring at the
dispensation of God ; something in the soul that he would have it to be so.
He that hath a heart to rise, because he hath not what he would have, he
doth not wait with that gi-ace of waiting that issueth from a right spring.
God reserveth joy for the time to come, for our home. We should be
content to have communion with God and the souls of perfect men ; and
not murmur though God exerciseth us with many crosses here. And there-
fore the Scripture calleth it a silence, ' In silence and in hope shall be your
strength,' Isa. xxx. 15. The soul keepeth silence to God in this waiting
condition, and this silence quells all risings in the soul presently ; as David,
' My soul kept silence unto the Lord,' Ps. xxxix. 2. It will still all risings of
the heart, issuing from a resignation of the soul to God, to do as he wiU
have us to do. So it implieth patience and longsuffering, contentment,
holy silence, without murmuring and repining.
And then it implies ivatchfulness over ourselves, tiU we come to the fuU
accomplishment of the promises, that we carry not ourselves unworthily in
the mean time ; that we should not spend the time of our waiting in
wickedness, to fetch sorrow from the devil, and the world to comfort us, or
to be beholden to Satan. This is no waiting, but murmuring and rebel-
lion, when in crosses and discomforts we cannot be content, but must be
beholden to the devil, so there must be watchfulness ; and not only so,
hut f raitf Illness in waiting. For he waits that waiteth in doing good, that
waiteth in observance. He waiteth for his master's coming, that is doing
his duty all the time in a fruitful course of observance and obedience ; else
it is no waiting. Waiting is not merely a distance of time, but a filling up
of that time with all gracious carriage, with obedience, and with silence,
with longsufi'ering and contentment, and watchfulness [that] we take not any
ill course, and observance, and with fruitfulness, that we may fiU up times of
waiting till performance, mth all the gi-aces, that we may have communion
with God.
It is another manner of grace than the world thinks. What is the reason
of all the wickedness of the world, and barrenness, and voluptuousness, but
because they have not learned to wait ? They hear of good things, and
precious things promised ; but they would have present payment, they will
have something in hand. As Dives, ' Son, son, thou hast had thy good
* Qu. 'for?'— Ed.
IsA. XXV. 8, 9.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 503
tilings here,' Luke xvi. 25, they will have their goods things here. And what
is the reason of wickedness, but because they will have present pleasures of
sins ? We must prefer the afflictions of Christ before the pleasures of sin,
Heb. xi. 25. Now that shortness of spirit to have reward here is the cause
of all sin. They have no hope, nor obedience, nor expectation to endure
the continuance of diutumity.* Where then is patience, and hope, and
contentment ?
The character of a Christian is, that he is in a waiting condition, and
hath the grace of waiting. Others will have the pleasures of sin, their pro-
fits and contentments, else they will crack their consciences, and sell Christ,
God, heaven, and aU.
A Christian, as ho hath excellent things above the world, so he hath th©
grace of expectation, and all the graces that store up and maintain that
expectation till the performance come.
And therefore it is an hard thing to be a good Christian, another thing
than the world taketh it to be. For mark, I beseech you, what is between
us and heaven, that we must go through, if ever we will come there. Be-
tween us and heaven, the thing promised, there be many crosses to be met
withal, and they must be borne, and borne as a Christian should do. * Through
many afflictions we must enter into the kingdom of heaven,' Acts xiv. 22.
Besides crosses, there be scandalous oflfences, that be enough to diive us
from profession of religion, without grace. Sometimes good men by
their fiiilings, and fallings out, they fall into sin, and fall out ; and that is a
scandal to wicked men. Oh, say they, who would be of this religion, when
they cannot agree among themselves ? This is a great hindrance and stop.
It is a scandal and rub in the way, not so much in themselves. We are
full of scandal om-selves, catch at anything that we may except against the
best ways. There is a root of scandal in the hearts of all, because men
will not go to hell without reason.
Now because we are easy to take oflence, rather than we will be damned
without reason, it is not easy to hold out. Besides this, Satan phes it with
his temptations from affliction, and from scandal ; he ampUfies these things
in the fancy. "Who would be a Christian ? You see what their profession
is. And so he maketh the way the more difficult.
And then again, look at our own disposition to suffer, to hold out, to fix.
There is an unsettledness, which is a proper f infirmity in our natm'es since
the fall. We love variety, we are inconstant, and cannot fix om'selves upon
the best things, and we are impatient of suftering anything. We are not
only indisposed to do good, but more indisposed to sufter any ill. The Spirit
must help us over all this, which must continue all our life long. Till we
be in heaven, something or other will be in om* way. Now the Sphit of
God must help us over all these afflictions. We shall never come to heaven
to overcome afflictions, and scandals, and temptation, which Satan pHes us
here withal. And then to overcome the tediousness of time, this needeth a
great deal of strength. Now this gi-ace of expectance doth all. And there-
fore it is so oftentimes stood upon in Scripture. In Isaiah, and in the
Psahns, how often is it repeated ; Ps. xxxvii. 7. ' Wait on the Lord; if he
tarry, wait thou.' The Lord will wait for them that wait for him ; and it is
the character in Scriptm-e of a Christian. Moses, he saith, such as waited
for the consolation of Israel, Gen. xUx. 18, before Christ came in the flesh,
such a one is one that ' waiteth for the consolation of Israel,' Luke ii. 25.
To have a gracious disposition, and a grace of waiting was the character ot
♦ That is, ' long continuance.' — G. t That is, ' natural.'— G.
601 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeRMON VIII.
good people. Now sicce the coming of Christ, the character of the New
Testament is, to wait for Christ's appearance. ' There is a crown of glory
for me, and not only for me, but for all them that love his appearance,' 2 Tim.
iv. 8. That is an ingredient in waiting, when we love the thing we wait
for. And so Titus ii. 12, ' The grace of God that teacheth to deny ungod-
liness and worldly lusts, and to live holily, and justly, and soberly in this
present evil world, looking for and waiting for this glorious appearing of
Jesus Christ.'
So that looking with the eye of the soul partly on the first coming of
Christ, which was to redeem our souls, and partly upon the second, which
is to redeem our bodies from corruption, and to make both soul and body
happy, it makes a man a good Christian. For the grace of God on the
first, teacheth us to deny ungodliness ; and looking for Christ's appearing,
maketh us zealous of good works. You have scarce any epistle, but you
have time described for looking for the coming of Christ, as Jude, ' Pre-
serve youselves in the love of God, and wait for the coming of Christ.' So
that as there be gracious promises, and a long day for them, God vouchsafeth
grace to wait for the accomplishment of them.
Now as God giveth grace to wait, so he will perform what we wait for ;
as they say here, ' We have waited.' That is the speech of enjoying. God
will at length make good what he hath promised ; and what his truth hath
promised, his power will perform. Goodness incliueth to make a promise,
truth speaks it, and power performeth it, as you shall see here.
' We have waited,' &c.
In God there is a mouth of truth, a heart of pity, and an hand of power.
These three meeting together, make good whatsoever is promised. . ' He
will fulfil the desires of them that fear him,' Ps. cxlv. 19. The desires
that God hath put into his children, they be kindled from heaven ; and he
will satisfy them all out of his bowels of pity and compassion. He will not
sufier the creature to be always under the rack of desire, under the rack of
expectation, but he will fulfil the desire of them that fear him. And there-
fore learn this for the time to come.
Though we wait, God will perform whatsoever we wait for. And there-
fore, ' Lo, we have waited for him.' As there is a time of promising, so
there is a time of performing ; as there is a seedtime, so there is a time of
harvest. There is a succession in nature, and a succession in grace ; as
the dayfoUoweth the night, and the Sabbath the week, and the jubilee such
a term of years ; and as the triumph foUoweth the war ; and as the consumma-
tion of marriage foUoweth contract; so it is a happy and glorious condition,
above all conditions here on earth. Therefore in this text you have not
only the seedtime of the Christian (we may sow in tears, and in expecta-
tion, as in sowing), but here is likewise the harvest of a Christian. As
there is time of sowing, so there is time of reaping ; as time of waiting, so
of enjoying. We have waited, and now, lo, we have what we waited for.
But why doth not the Holy Ghost set down a certain time, but leaveth it
indefinite, ' In that day.' God keeps times and seasons in his own power ;
the point of time in general he leaveth it. There is a day ; but the point
and moment of time he keepeth in his own power. It is enough to know
there is a day, and a day that will come in the best season. God's time is the
best time. When judgments were threatened upon the wicked, they say,
' Let us eat, and drink, for to morrow we shall die,' 1 Cor. xv. 32. So
Saul, ' To-morrow thou shalt die,' 1 Sam. xxviii. 19, and was he the better?
So where there is a certain time of God's coming in judgment, godly men
ISA. XXV. 8, 9.] BETWTiEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 505
would not be the worse, and wicked men never the better. Therefore God
reserveth it indefinite, ' In that day.'
There is a day, and it is a glorious daj^ a day of all days, a day that never
will have night, a day that we should think of every day, * That day,' by
way of excellency. And before that day there be particular days in this
world, wherein God sheweth himself, and fulfils the expectation of his chil-
dren, to cherish the grand expectation of life everlasting. As in times of
trouble they expect of God, and wait for deliverance in God's time, and
they must be able to say, ' Lo, we have waited.' Because it is a beginning
and pledge of the great performance that shall be consummate at that
great day, and of all the miseries that shall then be removed ; so there is
a day when the Jews shall be converted, and the fulness of the Gentiles
brought in, and the man of sin discovered, and consumed by the breath of
Christ. And when the church of God seeth them, they may say, ' Lo, we
have waited for the Lord,' and lo, he is come ; that we looked for is now
fulfilled. So that God resex-veth not the fulfilling of all the promises to the
gi'eat day of all days, but even in this life he will have a * that day.'
And it were veiy good for Christians in the passages of their lives to see
how God answereth their prayers, and delivereth them. Let them do as
the saints in the Old Testament, that gave names to places where they saw
God, as Peniel, Gen. xxxii. 30, he shall see God, and Abraham, ' God will
be seen in the mount,' Gen. xxii. 14. So Samson and others they gave
names to places where they had deliverance, that they might be moved to
be thankful. A Christian taketh in all the comforts of this life to believe
the things of the last great day. ' Lo, we have waited for him.'
That shall be a time of sight and fruition, of full power and full joy,
which is reserved for heaven ; then we shall say, ' Lo ! behold, this is
the Lord.' The more we see God here, the more we shall see him here-
after. There be many ways of seeing, so as to say, ' Lo, this is the Lord ! '
We may say, from the poorest creature, ' Lo, this is the Lord ! ' Here are
beams of his majegty in the works of his justice and mercy, * Lo, here is
the Lord ! ' The Lord hath brought mighty things to pass, the Lord is
marvellous lo-\'ing to his children. * Behold and see the salvation of the
Lord ! ' "We may say, ' Lo, here,' and see something of God in every
creature. No creature but hath something of God. The things that have
but mere being have something of God ; but the things that have life have
more of God. And so in some there is more, in some less of God.
But in the church of God specially, we may see his going in the sanc-
tuar}^ Lo, this God hath done for his church. And in the sacraments, we
may say, I have seen the Lord, and felt the Lord in his ordinance by his
Holy Spirit. We do all this before we come to see him in heaven. But
that is not meant specially.
We shall say, ' Lo, this is the Lord ! ' when we shall see him in heaven.
All sight here Icadeth to that sight. Faith hath a sight here, but it is in
the word and sacrament, and so imperfect ; but the sight in heaven is im-
mediate and perfect, and therefore opposed to faith. We live by faith, and
not by sight. In heaven we shaU hve by sight ; not that we live not by
sight here in some degree, for the lesser sight leadeth to the greater sight.
But in comparison of sight in heaven, there is no sight. The Scripture
speaketh of sight of God comparatively. Moses ' saw God,' that is, more
than any other ; and Jacob * saw God,' that is, comparatively more than
before, but not fully and wholly. We can apprehend him, but not compre-
hend him, as they say. We may see something of him, but not wholly.
50G THE SIAERIAGE FEAST [SeeMON VULI.
But in heaven we shall have another sight of God, and then we shall
sa3% ' Lo, this is the God we have waited for ! ' We shall see Christ face
to face.
Beloved, that is the sight indeed. And if ye will ask me whether we
shall see God then or no, consider what I said before. This is the God we
have waited for in obedience, and fruitfully.
If we shall be ravished with the sight of God, surely if we see him here,
we may see him there. We see him with the eye of faith, we see him in
the ordinance, we have some sight of God that the world hath not. God
discovereth himself to his children, more than to the world ; and therefore
they say, ' Thou revealest thyself to us, not unto the world,' John xiv. 22.
A Christian wonders that God should reveal his love, and mercy, and good-
ness to him, more than to others. And therefore, if we belong to God,
and shall see him hereafter, we must see him now. As we may see him,
we must have some knowledge of him. And if we see God any way, aU
things in the world will be thought of no request, in comparison of the
communion of God in Christ, as, ' We have seen the Lord, and what have
we to do with idols ? ' Hosea xiv. 8, The soul that hath seen Christ,
grows in detestation of sin, and loatheth all things in comparison.
And then, again, if we shall ever see God in glory, in this glorious and
triumphing manner, ' This is the Lord,' this sight is a changing sight.
There is no sight of God, but it changeth, and alters to the likeness of
God, when he calls to look up to him, and he looks on us in favour and
mercy. The best fruit of his favour is grace, of peace, and joy, for these
be beams that issue from him, grace, as beams from the sun. But where-
evcr God looks with any favour, there is a conformity to Christ, a gi-acious,
humble, pitiful, merciful, obedient disposition, which is an earnest of the
Spirit of Christ.
And there is a study of pm-ity, of a refined disposition from the pollutions
of the world. ' The pm-e in heart shall see God,' Mat. v. 8. They that
hope to see God for ever in heaven, will study that purity that may dispose
and fit them fo^ heaven. And there is such a gracious influence in it,
that they that hope for heaven, the very hope must needs help to purify
them.
As there is grace suitable to waiting, so there is an influence from the
things hoped for, to give vigom- to all grace. As all the graces of a Chris-
tian fit and enable him for heaven, so hope of heaven yields life to all
grace. There is a mutual influence into these things. God vouchsafeth
discovery of these glorious things, to help us to wait, to be patient, and
fruitful, and abimdant in the work of the Lord. And the more we wait
fruitfully, and patiently, and silently, the more we see of heaven. So that
as in 'nature, the seed bringeth the tree, and the tree the seed ; so in the
things of God, one thing breeds another, and that breeds that again. So
that waiting and grace fit us for heaven, and the thought of heaven puts
life and vigour into all the gi*aces that fit us for heaven. What is our faith
to those glorious things we shall see hereafter ? What is patience, but for
consideration of that ? What is hope, but for the excellency of the object
of hope ? And what were endurmg of troubles, if something were not in
heaven to make amends for all ? They help us to come to glory, and the
lively, hopeful thoughts of those things, animate and enliven all the graces
that fit for heaven. If ever we shall hereafter possess heaven, and say,
* Lo, this is he we have waited for,' we must see him here, so as to under-
value all things, to see him with a changing sight ; for the object of glory
ISA. XXV. 9.] BETWEEN CnRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 507
cannot bo revealed, but it will stir up a disposition suitable to glory. If
this be not, never hope for a sight of him in heaven.
And therefore let me entreat and beseech you, with the apostle Paul, to
* look to the end,' look to the main chance that can come in this world,
and that shall come hereafter. It is wisdom to look to the end. A man
that buildeth an house will think of the end, that is, dwelling and habita-
tion, that he propoundeth. We are for everlasting communion with God ;
we arc to be perfect, as in grace, so in glory. Heaven is our element ; wo
rest not till then, — we are in motion till then, — that being our station. Then
think often of this, never to rest in any intermediate condition, because v.-o
are in waiting till we come to that condition. Let us so carry ourselves,
that we may say, this we waited for ; it is the glory we expected. It is
our wisdom often to have the end of our lives in our eyes, that we may be
helped to wait patiently, cheerfully, and comfortably, till the consummation
come, when all promises shall end in performance, when all that is ill and
imperfectly good shall be removed — a consumption of ill, and a consum-
mation of all good.
Oh, have that day in our eyes, that day of all days, and the very thoughts
of it will fit us for the day. The thoughts of our end will fit and stir us
up to all means tending to that end. Physic is good, if it tend to health.
The veiy thoughts of that prescribes order and means. Wo read, ' Seek
the kingdom of heaven first, and all other things shall be added to you,'
Mat. vi. 33. The thought of the end prescribes order to all means, and it
prescribes measure, ' How to use the world, as though I used it not,' 1 Cor.
vii. 31, for the thoughts of my end stir me up to use all our courses suitable to
that end. And therefore the best wisdom in Christians is often to prefix
the end, and to be content in no grace nor comfort, as it is in a way of
imperfection, but to look upon every grace, every comfort, every good, as
it tends to perfection. David desired not to dwell in the house of God for
ever, because he would terminate his desire in the house of God here, but
he aimeth at heaven. And so when the saints of God bound and teiminate
their desires and contentment, it is with reference to the last day, the rest
of a Christian, beyond which they cannot go, even communion with God
himself.
THE NINTH SERMON.
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him,
and he will save us : this is the Lord; ice have waited for him, we will be
glad and r^oice in his salvation, — Isa. XXV. 9.
In the worst age of the church, that the church may not be swallowed up
with fear, in the worst times, God doth prepare promises for his people.
It was the case of our blessed Saviour himself to his poor disciples, that
they might not be overwhelmed with sorrow. Therefore he addeth sacra-
ments to passover, and the New Testament to the Old, and all to confirm
faith, knowing that our hearts are very subject to bo daunted.
The Lord promiseth here a feast of fat things, and all things pertaining
to a feast, the best of the best, and removal of all that may hinder joy, as
taking away the veil, which hinders them from the sight of it. And then
death is swallowed up in victory, as it is already in our Head, who is glori-
508 THE MARRIAGE FEAST [SeRMON IX.
ously trimaphing in heaven ; and then all tears shall he wiped from all
faces. There is a vicissitude of things. They are now in a valley of tears,
but it will not be always thus. Time shall come when all tears shall be
wiped away, and the cause of all tears are sorrow. The rebukes of his
people shall be taken away, the scandal that lieth upon the best things shall
be taken away. The worst things go under a better representation, and
the best things under a veil ; but one day, as things are they shall be. The
God of truth will have truth to be clear enough. And all this is sealed up
with the highest authority, that admits of no contradiction. ' The Lord of
hosts hath spoken it.'
We came the last day to these words, ' Lo, this is our God,' &c. ; wherein
we may consider first of all, that God hath left to his church rich and precious
promises, such as is spoken of before : a feast, and removal of all hindrances
whatsoever. He not only vouchsafeth heaven when we die, and eternal
happiness ; but in this world, in our way, he vouchsafes precious pro-
mises to support our faith, that we may begin heaven upon earth. What
these promises are we shewed the last day.
The second observation was, in that God's people are here in a state of
expectation, it shall be said, ' Lo, we have waited for him.' We are in a
condition of waiting while we live in this world, because we are not at
home. Our state requires waiting ; heaven requires settledness and rest.
There all appetites, all desires shall be satiated to the full. Our estate
here is a passage to a better estate, and waiting is a disposition fit for such
a condition.
And in this there is good and imperfection. Good, that we have some-
thing to wait for ; imperfection, that we are to wait for it, that we have it
not in fruition ; and till we be in heaven we are in a state of waiting. In
the Revelations, ' Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly,' Rev. xxii. 20, there is
a glorious state of a church set forth ; but while all is done, it hath not
what it would ha;ve. We cannot be in such a state in the world ; but
there is place for a desu-e, namely, immediate and eternal communion
with Christ in heaven. And therefore ' it shall be said in that day, Lo,
this is our God ; we have waited for him.'
I will add a little to this state of waiting before I go farther. God will
not have our condition presently perfect, but have us continue in a state of
waiting.
Reason 1. First of all, it is his pleasure that u-e should live hy faith, and
not hy sight. We have sense and feeling of many things ; he reserveth not
all for heaven. How many sweet refreshments have we in the way ! But
the tenor of our life is by faith, and not by sight. God will have us in
such a condition.
Reason 2. Again, xve are not fitted for sight of the glory to come here. Our
vessels are not capable of that glory. A few di-ops of that happiness so
overcame Peter in the transfiguration, that he knew not himself,
Reason 3. God is so good to us that he icould have us enjoy the best at
the last. The sweeter is heaven, by how much the more difiicult our way
thither is. Heaven is heaven, and happiness is happiness, after a long
time of waiting. For waiting enlargeth the capacity and desires of the
soul to receive more ; it commendeth the happiness afterwards. And
therefore God keepeth the best for the last, because he will never interrupt
the happiness of his children. When they be in heaven, there is a banish-
ment of all cause of sorrow. He will have a distinction between the church
militant and triumphant. He will train up his children here before ha
ISA. XXV. 9. J BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 509
bringoth tbcm to heaven. He will perfume his spouse, and make her fit
for an everlasting communion with him in heaven.
The third thing is, that as there be promises, and these promises are
not presently fulfilled, which put us in a state of waiting, so God giveth
grace to xiphoid in ivalting. Waiting is not an empty time, to wait so long,
and no grace in the mean time ; but waiting is a fitting time for that we are
to receive afterwards.
We see in nature, in the winter, which is a dull time to the spring and
harvest, and the times are very cold ; yet it ripens and mellows the soil,
and fits it for the spring. There is a great promotion of harvest in winter.
It is not a mere distance of time. So between the promise and heaven it-
self, it is not a mere waiting time, and there is an end ; but it is a time
which is taken up by the Spirit of God in preparing the heart, in subduing
all base lusts, and in taking us ofi" from ourselves, and whatsoever is contrary
to heaven. The time is filled up with a great deal of that which fits us for
glory in heaven. The gracious God that fits us for heaven, and heaven for
us, fits us with all graces necessary for that condition. As faith to believe,
patience to wait for, and to depend on that which he seeth not, to be above
sense ; a grace of hope to wait for that which he believeth, to be an anchor
to his soul in all conditions whatsoever. And then a grace of patience to
wait meekly all the while. And then long-sufiering, patience lengthened
out. As the tediousness is long between us and heaven, so there be
lengthening graces. We would have all presently, ' How long, Lord, how
long ? ' Rev. vi. 10. We are so short, even David and others ; and there-
fore God giveth gi'ace to hold out and lengthen our spiritual faith, and hope,
and perseverance, and constant courage to encounter with all difficulties in
the way. When the spirit of a man beholds heaven, and happiness, and
God, it makes him constant, in some sort as the things he beholdeth, for
the Spirit transformeth him to the object. Now, he beholds a constant
covenant ; and as faith looks upon a constant God, constant happiness,
and constant promises, it frameth the soul suitable to the excellency of the
object it layeth hold upon.
And then the Spirit of God in the way to heaven subdueth all evil mur-
murings and exceptions, in suffering us not to put forth our hands to any
iniquity. Though we have not what we would have, he keeps us in a good
and fruitful way ; for to wait is not only to endure, but to endure in a good
course, fitting us for happiness, till grace end in glory.
In the fourth place, God will jjerform all his promises in time. As the
church saith here, ' This is the Lord ; we have waited for him.' Now, he
hath made good whatsoever he hath said.
To enlarge this point a little. As there is a time of waiting, so there
will be a time when God's people shaU say, ' Lo, this is the Lord, we have
waited for him.' Why ?
Reason 1. God is Jehovah. A full and pregnant word! A word of
comfort and stay for the soul is this v,'ord Jehovah ! He is a God that
giveth a being to all things, and a being to his word, and therefore what
he saith he will make good. He is Lord of his word. Every man's word
is, as his nature, and power, and ability is, the word of a man, or the word
of an honest man, but being the word of a God, ho will make all good.
lleason 2. And then he will make all good, because he is faithful. God,
he saith it, and he will do it.
Reason 3. You need no more reason than pity to his people, his bowels of
compassion. The hearts of people would fail if he should stay too long.
510 THE MAKRIAGE FEAST [SeEMON IX.
And therefore out of his bowels in his time, which is the best time, not
only because he is faithful, but because he is loving and pitiful, he will make
good all his promises. And then he will do it.
Reason 4. For ivhat is grace, but an earnest of that fulness ice shall have in
heaven ? What is peace here but an earnest of that peace in heaven ?
And what is joy here but an earnest of fuhaess of joy for evermore ? And
will God lose his earnest ? Therefore we shall enjoy what God hath pro-
mised, and we expect, because we have the earnest. It is not a pledge
only, for a pledge may be taken away, but an earnest, which is never taken
away, but is made up in the full bargain. Grace is made up in glory, as
beginnings are made up with perfection. Where God layeth a founda-
tion, he will perfect it. Where God giveth the first-firuits, he will give the
harvest.
But it will be a long time before, because he will exercise all grace to
the uttermost. You see how Abraham was brought to the last. In the
mountain God provideth for a sacrifice, when the knife was ready to seize
on Isaac's throat, Gen. xxii. 12, 13.
We should answer with our faith God's dealing ; that is, if God defer,
let us wait, yea, wait to the uttermost, wait to death. He is our God to
death, and in death, and for ever. If God perform his promise at the worst,
then, till we are at the lowest, we must wait.
And, therefore, one character of a child of God from others is this. Give
me the present, saith the carnal, beastly man, the world ; but God's people
are content to wait. He knoweth what he hath in promise is better than
what he hath in possession. The gleanings of God's people are better
than the others' harvest. The other cannot wait, but must have pre-
sent payment. God's child can wait, for he Kveth by faith. And there-
fore we should learn patiently to wait for the performance of aU God's
promises.
And to direct a little in that, remember some rules, which every man
may gather to himself, as,
1. God's time is the best time. Dens est optimus arbiter 02'>portunitatis,
the best discerner of opportunities. And ' in the mountain will God be
seen.' Though he tarry long, he will come, and not tarry over long ; and
then all the strength of the enemy is with God. Robur hostium apud Deum.
The strength of the enemy is in his hand ; he can suspend it when he
pleaseth.
2. Then, though God seems to carry things by contrary ways to that hepro-
miseth, which makes waiting so difficult, yet he wiU bring things about at
last. He promiseth happiness, and there is nothing but misery. He pro-
miseth forgiveness, and opens the conscience to ciy out of sin. Aye, but
Luther's rule is exceeding good in this case, Summa ars, the gi'eatest art
of a Christian is, credere credibilia, &c., and sjjerare dilata, to hope for
things a long time, and to believe God when he seemeth contrary to himself
in his promise.
But though God doth defer, yet in that day he doth perform. It is set
down indefinitely, for it is not fit we should be acquainted with the par-
ticular time. And therefore he saith, ' in that day.' He sets not down a
particular time, but ' in that day,' wherein he meaneth to be glorious in the
performance of his promise. There is a time, and a set time, and there is
a short time, too, in regard of God, and a fit time. If the time were
shorter than God hath appointed, then it were too short ; if longer, too
long. ' My times,' saith David, ' are in thy hands,' Ps, xxxi. 15. If they
lax. XXV. 9.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 511
were in the enemy's hands, we should never be out ; if in our own, we
would never enter ; if in our friends', their goodwill would be more than
their ability. ' But my times ;' — he saith not, ' my time,' but — ' my times are
in thy hands ;' that is, my times of trouble and times of waiting. And it
is well that they be in God's hands, for he hath a day, and a certain day,
and a fit day to answer the waiting of all his people.
And when that day is come, you see how their hearts are enlarged, they
will say, ' This is the Lord, we have waited for him.'
When God meaneth to perform his promise, either in this world or in
the world to come, the world to come specially, when there shall be con-
summation of all promises, God shall enlarge the hearts of his people.
' This is the Lord ; we have waited for him.' * This is the Lord.' He
repeats it again and again.
Our soul is very capable, being a spiritual substance ; and then God
shall fill the soul, and make it comprehend misery, or comprehend happi-
ness, when eveiy corner of the soul shall be filled ; and then having bodies
too, it is fit they should have a part ; so the whole man shall express forth
the justice or mercy of God.
For the natm-e of the thing, it cannot be otherwise. Every member of
the body shall be fit to glorify God. \Vhat the psalmist saith of his tongue,
' Awake, my glorj^' he may say of every member. Do thy ofiice in glorifying
the Lord, and rejoicing in the Lord. Pectus facit disertos. The heart
makes a man eloquent and full. So the performance of any promise fills
the heart so full of aflections, the aflections are so enlarged ; and therefore
we must not have affections to a court-kind of expressions, as they in old
time, and the like court-eloquence, when men might not speak fully. But
when joy possesseth the heart to the full, there be full expressions. ' This
is the Lord, this is the Lord ; let us rejoice in him.' And therefore there
seemeth so many tautologies in the Psalms, though they be no tautologies,
but mere exuberances of a sanctified affection.
Oh ! beloved, what a blessed time will that be when this large heart of
ours shall have that that will fill it ; when the best parts of us, our under-
standing, will, and affections, shall be carried to that which is better and
larger than itself, and shall be, as it were, swallowed up in the fulness of
God. And that is the reason of the repetition of the word, ' This is the
Lord, this is the Lord.'
And it foUoweth, * We will rejoice and be glad in his salvation.' When
a gi-acious heart is full of joy, how doth he express that joy? A wicked
heart, when it is full of joy, is hke a dirty river that rmis over the banks,
and carrieth a deal of filth with it, dirty expressions. But when a gracious
heart expresseth itself, being full of joy, it expresscth itself in thanks and
praises, in stirring up of others. ' Lo, this is our God ; we will rejoice and
be glad in his salvation.' ' Is any merry ?' saith the apostle Saint James,
• let him sing,' James v. 13. God hath affections for any condition. 'Is a
man in misery ? let him pray.' This is a time of moummg. Doth God
perfoi-m any promise, and so give cause of joy ? let him sing. There is
action for every affection, affection for every condition. And this may stir
us up to begin the employment in heaven on earth here. We shall say so
in heaven, ' Lo, this is the Lord; we have waited for him.'
For every performance of promises, be much in thankfulness. ' Our con-
versation is in heaven,' saith the apostle, Philip, iii. 10. And what is the
greatest part of a Christian's conversation, but in all things to give thanks.
Here the holy church saith, their matter of praise was too big for their soul,
512 THE MAERIAGE FEAST [SeRMON IX.
and therefore they brake out in this manner. And so oftentimes a child of
God, His heart is so full, that it is too big for his body in the expression
of matter of praise. But it is his comfort that in heaven he shall have a
large heart, answerable to the large occasion of praise. I will not enlarge
myself in the common-place of thanksgiving.
In this condition we can never be miserable ; for it springs from joy,
and joy disposeth a man to thankfulness, and upon thankfulness there is
peace, and can we be miserable in peace of conscience ? Therefore, saith
the apostle, ' In all things give thanks, and let your requests be made
known to God,' Philip, iv. 6 ; and what will follow upon that, when I have
made known my requests, and paid my tribute of thanks ? ' Then the
peace of God which passeth understanding shall guide your mind,' Philip,
iv. 7. When we have paid to God the tribute we can pay him, then the
soul, as having discharged a debt, is at peace. I have prayed to God, I
have laid my petition in his bosom, I am not in arrearages for former
favours, * therefore the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall
keep your hearts and minds.' Hannah had prayed once, went not away,
but prayed again, 1 Sam. ii. 1, seq. The happiness of heaven foUoweth
the actions of heaven. Praisings being the main employment of heaven,
the happiness and comfort of heaven followeth.
And howsoever these promises be fulfilled in heaven, yet they have a
gradual performance on earth. For he speaks certainly of the state of the
Jews yet to come, wherein there shall be accomplishment of all these
promises.
' We have waited for him ; he will save us.' Experience of God's per-
formance stirs them up still to wait for him, and rejoice in his salvation.
Experience stirs up hope. The beginning of a Christian, and midst, is to
hope for the end ; and surely our beginning should help the latter end !
All a Chi-istian's life should help the end. All former things should come
in and help his latter.
Beloved, we are too backward that way to treasure up the benefit of ex-
perience. There be few of years but might make stories of God's gracious
dealings with them, if all were kept ; the comforts past, and for time to
come, and all little enough. It was David's course, ' Thou art my God
from my mother's womb, and upon thee have I hanged ever since I was
born ; fail me not when I am old,' Ps. xxii. 10. Go along with God's
favours, and use them as arguments of future blessings. As fonner victories
are helps to get the second victory, every former favour helpeth to strengthen
our faith.
In the next, God is an inexhausted fountain, and when we have to deal
with an infinite God, the more we take of him the more we ofi'er him.
It is no good plea to say, you have done courtesies, therefore do them still.
But we cannot honour God more than from former experience to look for
great things from the great God.
* We have waited for him, he will save us ; we have waited for him, and
we will rejoice in his salvation.' That which a child of God gives thanks
for and rejoices in, and labours for, is more and more experience of his
salvation. ' We will rejoice in his salvation.' There is not a stronger
word in all the Scripture, not in nature. He doth not say rejoicing in this
or that benefit, but in his salvation, that is, in deliverance from all evil.
We will rejoice in his preservation, when he hath delivered us, we will re-
joice in his advancement of us, and we will rejoice in his salvation. And
therefore, when the wisdom of heaven would include all in one word, he
Is.V. XXV. 9.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND UIS CHURCH. CIS
useth the word Jesus, all happiness in that word, that pregnant, full word,
a Saviour.
So that God's carriage towards his children is salvation. He is the God
of salvation, or a saving God. And God sent his name from heaven, and
the angels brought it, the name of Jesus. Therefore look to the full sense
of it. We have a Saviour that will answer his name ; as ho is Jesus, so he
will save his people from their sins, Mat. i. 21. And therefore we will
rejoice in his salvation. God dealt with us like a God, when he delivered
us from all misery, fi'om all sins, and advanced us to all happiness that
nature is capable of. As he said before, he will wipe away all tears from
all faces, and take away the rebukes of all people. He will punish the
wicked with eternal destruction. And if he advanceth a people he will
be salvation, than which he can say no more.
And this shcweththat the children of God rejoice, more than in anything
else, in salvation, because it is the salvation of God, and because God is
salvation itself. Heaven were not heaven, if Jesus and God in om- nature
were not there. And therefore the apostle saith, * I desire to depart,' not
to be dissolved, ' and to be with Christ, for that is better.' The sight of
God, specially in our nature, God the second person taking our nature,
that we might be happy, will make us happy for ever. In loving God, and
joying in God, and enjojnug God, makes full happiness ; but that is not the
cause of joy in heaven, but the cause of all is God's influence into us.
Here in the world happiness is mediate, in God's revealing of himself to us
by his Holy Spirit, in the use of means, in his dealings and deUverances,
letting us see him by his grace, to see him, and joy and dehght in him for
ever. It is no good love that resteth in any blessings of God for them-
selves. It is an harlotry affection to love the gift more than the giver. So
the saints of God they do all desire to see him as they may, and to joy in
God, and enjoy God himself, and to see God in our nature, and to be with
him for ever. Before he spake of a feast, and if the feast-maker be not there,
what is all ? In a funeral feast there is much cheer, but the feast-maker
is gone. In heaven there is joy, but where is God, where is Christ, he
that hath done so much, suffered so much for us, that hath taken posses-
sion of heaven, and keepeth a place for us there ? What is heaven without
him ? Salvation, severed from him, is nothing.
We shall say when we are there, Lo, here is David, Abraham, St John,
here the martyrs ! Aye, but here is Christ, here is God, here is om- Sa-
viour, the cause of all, and the seeing of him in them, that he will be glo-
rious in his saints, that maketh us rejoice. We shall see all our friends in
heaven. There we shall see the excellency of the happiness of Christ, his
love, his grace, his mercy.
The words are expressed with a kind of glorying, * Lo, this is our God.'
So that the joy of a Christian cndeth in glory, and in the highest degree of
glory, as you have it, Rom. v. 3, ' We glorj' also in tribulation, we gloiy
in hope of glory,' nay, we glory in God as ours reconciled. And if we
glory in him now as a God reconciled, what shall we do in heaven ? Can
a worldUng glory in his riches, his gi-eatness, his favour from such a man,
as Haman did ? And shall not a Christian glory in his God ? and make
his boast in his God ? And therefore in this world we should learn to
gloiy, before we come to that glory in heaven, specially when we be set
upon by anything that is apt to discourage us. Glory then in our Head.
Perhaps a Christian hath no wealth, no great rents to glory in, aye, but he
hath a God to glorj' in, let him glory in him. The world may take all else
VOL. TT, K k
514 THE MAERIAGE FEAST [SeEMON IX.
from him, but not his God, As the church, in Cant. v. The virgins put the
church to describe her beloved, ' What is thy beloved more than another
beloved ? My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousand.'
Then she goeth on in particulars, ' my beloved is thus and thus ; ' and if
you would know what my beloved is, ' this is my beloved.' So a Christian
that hath a spirit of faith should glory in God here, for heaven is begun
here, and he should glory in Christ his Saviour, and should set Christ
against all discouragements and oppositions. If you will know what is my
beloved, ' this is my beloved, the chief among ten thousands.' Ps. cxv. 3.
' Our God is in heaven, and doth whatsoever he pleaseth, in heaven, and
earth, and the deeps,' yea, we make our boast of God, saith the psalmist,
when there is occasion. ' This is the Lord, this is our God ; we have waited
for him,' specially in times of affiictions ; and what is the reason ? This
will hold out to eternity. ' This is our God.' As in the Kevelations, it is
a plea, and a glory for ever ; for God is our happiness. As the schoolmen
say, he is our o6jec;«-e happiness, and owe formal happiness ; he is our hap-
piness, as he is ours, and he is ours in life and death, and for ever. So
there is always ground of glory, only God doth discover himself to be ours
by little and little, as we are able to bear him. He is ours in our worst
times. ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? ' Yet viy God
still, Mat. xxvii. 46.
He is our God to death, and he is ours in heaven. ' This is our God ;
we will rejoice in him.' And therefore well may we boast of God, because
in God is everlasting salvation. If we boasted in anything else, our boast-
ing would determine with the thing itself; but if we rejoice in God, we re-
joice in that which is of equal continuance with our souls, and goeth along
with the soul to all eternity.
And therefore we should learn to rejoice in God, and then we shall never
be ashamed. It is spoken here with a kind of exalting, a kind of triumph-
ing over all oppositions, ' Lo, this is our God.' Beloved, this, that God is
our God, and Christ is ours, is the ground of rejoicing, and of all happi-
ness. All joy, all comfort is founded upon this om- interest in God ; and
therefore,
1. We must make this good ichile we live here, that God is our God, and
that we may do so, observ^e this. Christ is called Emmanuel, God with us.
God, in the second person, is God-man, and so God with us, and the
Father in Emmanuel is God with us too. So we are God the Father's, be-
cause we are his. * All things are yours,' saith the apostle, * whether Paul
or Apollos, things present, things to come. ' Why ? ' Because you are
Christ's,' 1 Cor. iii. 22. Aye, but what if I be Christ's, Christ is God's? So
we must be Christ's, and then we shall be God's. If Christ be ours, God is
ours, for God is Emmanuel, in Christ, Emmanuel, God is with us in Christ,
who is with us. God is reconciled to us in God and man, in our nature.
And therefore get by faith into Chi'ist, and get union, and get communion ;
by prayer open our souls to him, entertain his speecbes to us by his word
and Spirit and blessed motions, and open our spirits to him, and so main-
tain a blessed intercourse.
2. Make it good that God is our God hxj daily acquaintance. These
speeches at the latter end are founded upon acquaintance before. ' This
is our God.' Grace and glory are knit together indissolubly. If God be
our God here, he will be ours also in glory ; if not here, not in glory.
There is a communion with God here, before communion with him in glory,
and therefore make it good that God be oui' God here fii'st, by union with
JSA. XXV. 9,J BETWEEN CHRIST AND HXS CHURCH. 515
bim. And then maintain daily acquaintance with him, by seeing him with
the eyeof faith, by speaking to him, and hearing him speak to us by his
Spirit, joining m his ordinances, and then he will own us, and be acquainted
with us. In heaven wo shall say, ' Lo, this is our God.' We have had
sweet acquaintance one with another : ho by his Spirit with me, and I
by my prayers with him. Our Saviour Christ will not be without us in
heaven. We are part of his mystical body, and heaven were not heaven
to Christ without us. With reverence be it spoken, we are the fulness of
Christ, as he is the fulness of his church. And if he should want us, in
some sort he were miserable, he having fixed upon us as objects of his eter-
nal love. In what case were he if he should lose that object ? And there-
fore, as we glory in him, he glorieth in us. ' Who is this that cometh out
of the wilderness ? ' Who ? ' His beloved,' Cant. iii. 6. And, ' Woman,
IS this thy faith ?' Mat. xv. 28. He admires the gi'accs of the church, as
the church admires him. ' This is the Lord.' The church cannot be with-
out him, nor he without the church. These words are spoken with a kind
of admiration. ' Lo, this is the Lord, we will rejoice in him.' So I say,
as there is thanks and joy, so there is admiration, ' Lo, behold ! ' This is
a God worthy beholding, and so he wonders at the graces of his children.
Beloved, there is nothing in the world worthy admiration. Sapientis non est
adinirari. It was a speech of the proud philosopher, a wise man will not
admire, for he knoweth the gi-ound (A). But in heaven the parts are Hfted
up so high that there is nothing but matter of admiration, things ' that eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath entered into the heart of man to
conceive of,' 1 Cor. ii. 9. They be things beyond expression, and nothing is
fit for them but admiration at the gi-eat things vouchsafed to the chm-ch.
And as with admiration, so with invitation. That is the nature of true
thankfulness. There is no envy in spiritual things. No man envieth an-
other the light of the Scriptures, but lo, behold with admiration and invita-
tion of all others, ' This is the Lord.'
Let us therefore rejoice beforehand, at the glorious times to come, both
to ourselves and to others ; be stirring and exciting one another to glory,
and rejoice in God our salvation.
1. And, therefore, learn all to be stirred up from hence, not to he of ended
uith Christ, or ivilh rclujion. Be not oflended, saith Austin, with tiie par-
vity* of rehgion. Every thing to the eyes of the world is httle in religion.
A Christian is a despised person, and the church, the meanest part of the
world, in regard to outward glory. But,
2. Consider with the littleness, and baseness, and despisedness of the
church, the cjJonj to come. Time will come when we shall rejoice, and not
only see, but boast with admiration, to the stirring up of others, ' Lo, this
is the Lord.' And, therefore, say with our Saviour Christ, ' happy is he
that is not ofi"ended with me,' Mat. xi. (5, nor with rehgion. There is a time
coming, that will make amends for all. Who in the world can say at the
hour of death, and day of judgment, Lo, this is my riches, this my honours !
Alas ! the greatest persons must stand naked to give account; all must stand
on even gi-ound to hold up their hands at tlie gi-eat bar. We may say to
the carnal presumptuous man, Lo, this is the man that put his confidence
in his riches. And none but reconciled Christians can say, ' Lo, this is om
God.' Therefore take heed of being oflended with anything in religion.
3. Again, if time to come be so transcendently glorious, let us not be afraid
to die, let us not be overmuch cast down, for it shall end in glor}-. And
* That is, ' iusignificancc, smallucss.'— G
51G THE MAKPJAGE FEAST [SeKHON IX.
let US be in expectation still of good times, ■'.yait for this blessed time to
come, and never be content with any condition, so as to set up our rest
here. We may write upon every thing, hie noa est requies vestra. Our rest
is behind; these things are in passage. And therefore rest content with no-
thing here. Heaven is our centre, our element, our happiness ; and every
thing is contentedly happy, and thriveth in its element. The birds in the
air, the fish in the sea, beasts on the earth, they rest there as in their
centre. And that that is our place for ever, it is heaven, it is God. The
immediate enjoying of God in heaven, that is our rest, our element, and we
shall never rest till we be there. And therefore he is befooled for it, in the
gospel, that setteth up his rest here. Whosoever saith I have enough, and
will now take contentment in them, he is a fool. ' There is a rest for God's
people,' Heb. iv. 9, but it is not here.
4. Neither o-est in any measure of grace, or comfort. What is faith to
sight ? We have hope, an anchor, and helmet, that keepeth up many a
soul, as the cork keepeth from sinking. What is this hope to the fiuition
of what we hope for ? Here we have love, many love tokens from God.
Aye, but what is love to union ? Ours is but a love of desire. We are but
in motion here, we lie in motion only; and our desires are not accomplished.
What is this love to the accomphshing of the union with the thing beloved
for ever ? Here we have communion of saints. But what is this com-
munion of saints to communion with God for ever ? We have infirmities
here, as others, which breedeth jealousies and suspicion. Aye, but we shall
have communion in heaven, and there shall be nothing in us to distaste
others, but everlasting friendship. Yea, our communion shall be with per-
fect souls. Our communion of saints here is our heaven upon earth, but
it is communion with unperfect souls. Peace we have, aye, but it is peace
intermixed, it is peace in the midst of enemies. There we shall have peace
without enemies. Christ doth now rule in the midst of enemies. In heaven
he shall rule in the midst of his friends. So that we can imagine no con-
dition here, though never so good, but it is imperfect. And therefore rest
not in anything in the world, no not in any measure of grace, any measure
of comfort, till we be in heaven, but wait for the time to come, ' and rejoice
in hope by which we are saved,' Rom. xii. 12. Wait still, and though we
have not content here, yet this is not our home, this is a good refreshment
by the way. As when the children of Israel came from Babylon, they had
wells by the way, as in Michae,''- they digged up wells. So from Babylon
to Jerusalem we have many sweet refreshments ; but they be refi-eshments
far ofi" the way. God digs many wells ; we have breasts of consolation to
comfort us, aye, but they are but for the way. And therefore let us answer
all temptations, and not take contentment with anything here. It is good,
but it is not our home. Cui didcis j^eregrinatio, non amat 2)atriam. If we
have t eternity, love heaven, we cannot be overmuch taken with anything in
the way.
5. And so for the church, let iis not he overmuch dejected for the desola-
tion of the church, but pray for a spirit of faith, which doth realise things to
the soul and presents them as present to the soul, seeth Baby'on fallen, pre-
sents things in the Scripture phrase, and in the words, ' Babylon is fallen,' for-
asmuch as all the enemies of the church fall. Mighty is the Lord that hath
spoken, and will perform it, and, as the angel saith, 'it is done,' Rev. xix. 17.
* Sic . . . But qu. ' Micali' and the reference, Micah i. 4 ?— G. Or ' Baca ? ' Ps.
Ixxxiv. 6. — Ed.
t Qu. 'love? '—Ed,
ISA. XXV. 9. J BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 517
So time will come ere long when it shall be said, ' It is done.' The church
shall be gathered, and then, ' Lo, this is our God.'
It was the comfort of the believing Jews that the Gentiles should come.
And why should it not be the comfort of the Gentiles that there be blessed
times for the ancient people of God, when they shall all cry and say, ' Lo,
this is our God ; we have waited for him long, and he will save us.' There-
fore, be not overmuch discouraged for whatsoever present desolation the
church lieth under. If it were not for this, ' we were of all men most
miserable,' as Paul saith, 1 Cor. xv. 19. But there be times to come when
we shall rejoice, and rejoice for ever, and make boast of the Lord. If it
were not, ' we were of all men most miserable.' Howsoever happiness is
to come, 5'et of all persons he is most happy that hath Christ and heaven.
The very foretaste of happiness is worth all the world. The inward peace of
conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, the beginnings of the image of God and
of happiness here, is worth all the enjojTuents of the world. Ask of any
Chi-istian whether he will hang with the greatest worldling, and be in his
condition ; he would not change his place in grace for all his glory. And
therefore, set heaven aside, the very fii-st fruits is better than all the harvest
of the world. Let us therefore get the soul raised by faith to see her hap-
piness. We need it all, for till the soul get a frame raised up to see its
happiness here, specially in the world to come, it is not in a frame fit for
any service, it mil not stoop to any base sin. "Where the affections are so
possessed, they look upon all base courses as unworthy of their hope.
What ! I that hope to rejoice for ever with God in heaven, that am heir of
heaven, that have the image of God upon me, that am in covenant with God,
to take any bestial course, to place my happiness in things meaner than
myself, that have God to delight in, a God in covenant, that hath taken me
into covenant with himself. So I say in all solicitations to sin, get our-
selves into a frame that may stand fii'm and immoveable.
In all troubles let us know we have a God in covenant, that we may joy
in him here, and rejoice with him in heaven for ever hereafter.
NOTES.
(a) P. 440. — ' Keep yot,r book to yourself.' Thomas Brooks in his ' Epistle Dedi-
catory ' to his 'Apples of Gold,' thus introduces the anecdote. 'I hope none of
you, into whose hands it may fall, will say as once Antipater, King of Macedonia,
did, when one presented him with a book teaching of hajipiness. His answer was
(ou scholazo), ov a^oXd^u, 'I have no leisure.'
{b) P. 448. — ' Cicero prefers the name of convivium.' Tlie allusion is to Cicero
de Sen, 13 ^n, which may be here quoted: — 'Bene majores nostri accubitionem
epularem amicorum, quia vitaj conjunctionein haberet, convivium nominarunt, melius
quam Grseci, qui hoc idem turn compotationem, tum conccenationem, vocant.'
(c) P. 449. — ' The Jews wondered at the manna, saying, What thing is this ? '
' Manna,' meaning ' What's this?' itself expresses and records their wonder.
(d) P. 477.—' That is not to be feared,' saith Tertullian, ' that frees us from
all that is to be feared.' This is taken from Tcrtullian do Tcstimonio animae § iv.,
Non est timendum, quod nos liberat ab omni timendo.'
(c) P. 479. — ' Good men are easy to weep, as the heathen man observeth.' Cf.
Juvenal, xv. 133.
518 lEH MaRBIAGE feast between CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH.
(/) P. 486. — ' He can find tears,' &c. Cf. Seneca de Consolatione ad Polybium,
4, I 2, larga flendi et adsidua materia est.'
{(/) P. 489. — ' Salvian complains in his time,' &c. The thought is found in
Salvianus de Gubernat. Dei., lib. 4, p. 74 (edition 1669), .... ' mali esse coguntur,
ne Tiles habeantur.'
(h) P. 515. — ' A wise man will not admire,' i.e., wonder. Cf. Horace, Epist. lib. i.
p. 6, V. 1 ; — ' Nil admirari,* &c. The maxim is ascribed to Democritus.
G.
mw OP VOL. n.
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