What Wesley Left Out

~267 words

and joy in the Holy Ghaſt ; hee comes | 
| (indeed ) to muk our hearts ( as itwere) wu 
Doe 


ll. 


as the husband rules in his familie, and a King SERM. /. 


2 Cor.10, 


Conſiderations 
inſorcing us 10 | 


I_ FI 


» 


Math.7. 7. 
Habak.2. 3» 


Ia.30.18, 


Ila,60. 16, 


Iſa,64-3. 
James.1,4. 


| Iſa.40. 


| | 155 a It is the voice of my Belwwed 


| 


_ 


a pner—_ — 
Doe bur conſider this, hee comes not for his 


our hearts, as a breaſt that deſiresro emprie it 
ſelfeavhen it is full. Soe this fountaine, hath 
the fulneſſe of a fountaine, which ſtrives tg 


out of love tous; Let theſe conſiderations melt | 
our hearts for our unkindnefle, that we ſuffer 
him to ſtand ſo long ar the doore knocking, 
AS it is {aid heere. 

If wee find not our ſuits anſwered ſo ſoone as 
we would ; Remember, we have made himalſo 


— 


wairte for us;perhaps to humbleus,and after that 
to incourage us, he will make us waite, forwe 
have made him waite. Let us notgive over, for | 
certainely he that defires us to © 


emma he may 
powreout his Graces upon us, hewill notrejea 


us when we cometo him, Ifhe anſwers us notat| 
firſt, yet he will at laſt, Letus goe on,and waite, | 
ſecing there is no one duty preſſed more in 


owne ends ; but to emptie his goodneſſeinto| 


emptic his goodnefle into our ſoules; he comes 


Scripture then this. And wee ſee it is equitic, 
Hee waites for #, it is good reaſon wee ſhould | 
waite for him, if we have not comfortpreſently, 
when wee'defire it, let us attend upon Chriſt, | 
as he hath attended upon us, for when he comes, 
hee comes with adyantage ; ſo that when we. 
waite, wee looſe nothing thereby, but are 
_ by it, encreaſing-our patience. The 
0 


nger wee walte, hee comes with the more 


ſhewes himſelferich,and bountifullrothem that 
waitc upon him. | 


The end of the fift Sermon

~126 words

one 
Spirit, and one inheritance,&c, This is a ſweet | 
relation, Chriſt beeing our Brother, his heart 
' cannot bur melt towards us in any affliction. | 
Toſeph diſfembled a while out of politicke wiſe- 
dome, bur becauſe hee had a Brothers heart to 
Benjamin, therefore at laſt hee could not hould, | 
but melted into teares, though hee made his 
countenance, as though he had not regarded. 
So our Toſeph now in Heaven, may ſceme to 
withdraw all tokens, and ſignes of Brotherly 
love from us, and not toowne us, but it is onely 
lin ſhew, hee is our Brother ſtil], his heart firſt 
orlaſt, will melt rowards his Bretherento their | 
wonderfull comfort. My S:ſter,&c. 
eMy Love, 
Thar word we had not yet. It is worthy alſo | 
alittle tanding on; for all theſe foure words 
bee ( as it were) the attractive cords to draw : 
the Spouſe, not onely by ſhewing what hee had 
ſuffered, bur by ſweet titles, My Lowe, My 
Dove. 
| WhathadChriſt no love but his Spoyſe2 did his | 
love goeout of his own heart to her (as itwere?) 


It is ſtrange, yertrue, Chriſts love is fo gre. | 
| IS 


| - 


l[oh, 20,17, 


ES, —— 


it. Aud 
—__—G___—_—_——— 


| w72 
OCERM NL 


—— 


Ioh.17.ult. 


I. 


Ioh,1 7.6. 


— 


My Lone

~183 words

for it the moſt excellent ornaments F 
Fe hath foode and ornaments proportionable. | 
What love is this, that he ſhould feede our 
{oules with his owne Bodie,and cloathe us with 


——_— 


| his owne Righteouſneſſe. Hee loved mee ( ſaith! Gal.uzo, 
| Paule) what was the effe& of his love ? Hee| 


gave himſelfe for mee, Hee gave himſelfte borh 
that wee might have a Righteouſneſleto cloarhe, 
us with inthe fight of God, and he gave him-| | 


ſelfe, that he might be the bread of life, My 70h.6.55. 


fleſh is meate indeed, and my bloud is drinke indeed. 
The guiltie, theſelfe accuſing ſoule feedes upon 


| Chriſt dying for its ſinnes, Againe,Revel.1.6., 
| you have his love ſer forth, Hee loved ws, and ' 
| 


how doth he witreſſe it2 Hee hath Preany | 
wit 


pe ER 


w 


———Y_P 


Sz RM. VI. with his owne bloud, and hath made us Kings, and 
-————|Prieſts, &c; the like you have, Epheſ.5. Hee 
| loved us, and gave himſelfe a ſwee:e Sacrifice ty 
God for ws. When this world is at an end, we 
ſhall ſee what his love is; hee is not ſatisfied, 
till we beall inone place. What doth he pray 
for to his Father, 10.17.24. Father I will, that 
thoſe whom thou haſt given me be with me where | 
T am,&c. runne through all the whole courſe 
of Salvation, Ele&ion, Vocation, Juſtification, 
Glorification, you ſhall ſee his love in all of 
them. But

~1,951 words

a moſt tender love, as > have wy 

, Can a mother forzet hey fuckin 

floald yetwill nt 7 et thee? birt art Nw 
on the palmes of my hands, 8&c. He hath vs in his 
hart in his cye, inhis hand, in a mothers hart, 
and beyond ir; he hath a render eye anda 
powerfull hand to mainraine his church. 

Itis a moſt tranſcendent, and carefull love, all 
compariſons are under it. 


M 


Jo + 


And it is amoft intimate invincible love,that 
nothing could _ it, as we fe heere the 
and had maty infirmities, 
et the is Chriſts love, ſo thar the love of 
hriſtis kinds of love that is uncoriquerable, 
no waterwill ever quench it, no finne of ows, 
no infirmitie z So as it is very comfortable. 
that the Church conſidered under infirmities 
is yet the love of Chriſt, ? feepe, but my hart 
waketh, yer Chriſt' comes with ay love, my 
ave, &c. a 
© Bur what Cannot Chriſt ſee matter of weake- 
nefle, finfullnefſe; hatred, and Uſlike i in the 


Church? 
Oh yes, ts pitty, is fo and heale inbue 
ov 


not at alto diminiſh his e, but ro manifeſt | 
it 


Anſw. 


pn EEE —_———— 


inns of | 


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| 


| } 1, 
| Itis the Trike 
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29s | « IMd:horn | 


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it {o much the more, Hig love is atcnder love, 
ſenſible of all things wherewith we diſpleale 
him, yet it is ſoinvincible and ncoogarall | 

that it overcomes all,. Againe he ſees ill indeed. 

| by us, but, he [ces, in u3 {ſome good of his owne 

a fo, which. moves him: more to love, then 
[chat that 1s 1ll in us; moves him to hate, for 

|what, he ſecs of. ours, he {ces with, a purpoſe 
to vanguiſh, mortfic, andeare tout; the Spirit 
isas firc to conſume.it, He. is as water to waſh | 
it, bur what he ſees. of his owne, he ſees with 
a purpoſe ro encreaſe it more and more, and! 
| to perfect ir, therefare: he ſayes. my. Love, not- 
| withſtanding that the Church was 4 /le:pe. | 
Ye. »,, This therefore ſerves greatly for our comfort, | 

to ſearch what good Chriſt by his Spirit hath! 

Wrought mn our. harts, what faith, whar love, 
what ſanftified judgement, what fire of holy 
affeftions to him, and to the beſt thinos 0 

| . 1 4, «8G ” 4 155) 
[let us, value our. {lves by that that'is good, 
| char Chriſt hath in us, We: axe. Chcifts ov 
2 notwithſtanding. we are ſIcepic, if we be dil. 
| [pleaſed with this, our..\tate, thatas: Chriſt diſ- | 
Jikes it, ſo. if xe; by che” Spirit diflike ir,, the 
Matter 1s -not, what Ginne we have in vs;. bur: 
| how. we arc affceted to it... Haye we thar ill 
| tnus, which isrrulythe griefe of our harts and 
——— {oulcs, whichas Chriſt diſlikes, ſo, weabhorre| 

it, and would be purged, and ridd of it; and | 

of our harts ahd ſoules, thar we 

= cannor vc better, and more loyely in, Chrifts | 
eye? then let. u$ not. be. diſcomraged. For | 
| WAL N43 23502 HS CI! Lib id POO 6=p.cn. 
— E, 00s FEOBRRR ”, Be SS, 


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——_—— 


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edi I. _—_— OO On tt 


: My Love. 
| Chriſt cſtemes of his Church. highly, evenas 
| his very love, event ar that time' when »ſhe was | at 
leepic. And may teach us'in time of rempta-| 
tion notto hearken to Sathan, who'then moves} 
|. s to looke altogether vporr that! which is] 
naught in us, thereby toabate curlove to Chriſt 
andour apprehenſion of his to us; for heknowes 
if we be ſenſible of. the love of Chriſt tous, we 
ſhall love him ap ine. ' For love- is a-kinde. of | 
fire, an ative quality, which: will ſet; us about | 
elorifying God, and pulling dowre Sathans 
kingdome; | As we ſay in nature (fire ao: all) | 
| what worke almoſt - can a man worke wirhout 
fire, by which all -inftruments are made'and 
heated &c. So grace doth allwith love; God | . 
firſt doth: manifeſt to our ſoules: his Joveitons 
in Chriſt, and -quicken us by, his Spurit,r wit- 
nefling his-love tor us wherewith he: warmes 
| our harts,kindles and inflatnes them ſo withlove, 
| that. 'welove: him againe ,-: which, love: batha 
conſtraining;{wect violence. to put-us- upon all 
durics, ro-ſuffer, to do, to--reſiſt-any: thing, If 
a man bein tove with Chriſt, what will be harſh 
tohim in the world? the divell | knowes this 
well cnough, therefore one! of his maine-ch- 
gines, and-temptations is:to weaken -aur'harts; 
in the ſence .of 'Gods - love and of Chriſts. 
' Therefore let us be as wiſe -for-our ſoules as | 
he is ſubrill, - and politique againſt them ;:as 
warchfull'for our, owne. comfort, as:heis-to/ 
 diſcomfoxe us, and. make us deſpair; Ler us: 
| bewiſcto. gather all the arguments of Chriſts| 
| | N 2 love, 


td 


| 99 | 
Six VI. 


_ 


: 


| 


p— EEE 
—_— 


178 \ 
Sunu,V1- CE: | bi . wont? 
—_ now that Chr: (tf tOVes Ms j11 
uf : the peculiar manner : 

{| Aoſw. | Firſt, Search what courſe he takes and hath 

Heb. x2. | Aken to draw thee neerer unto him, he chaſti- 

ſeth every one that he loveth, Seaſonable cor- 
reRions ſanRificd is a ſigne of Chriſts love, 
when he will not ſuffer us to thrive in ſ1nne, 
when we cannot ſpeake nor doc amiſſc; but 
|eirherhelaſherh us in our conſcience for: it,and 


|by his Spirit checks us, or elſe ſtirrs up others, 


onething or other to make us our of love with 


.  Apaine, we may gather Chriſts love by 
 |rhis, if we have any love to divinethings and 
|canſerta grear price upon xhe beſt things, 

upon the word, becauſc it is Chrifts word;| 
upongrace, prizing the image of Chrift, and 
rhe new. creature, when we can ſet an high 
value upon communion with Chriſt,the-ſcnce| 
of hislove in our hearts and- all ſpirituall pre- 
rogmives , and exccllcncirs above all things; | 
thas is an excellent argument of Chriſts love 
vo us, 'Onr love 1s bur a refteion 'of his, and 
|rherefore if we have love ro any thing that is] 
good, we haveirfronthim firft, If awall tha | 
cold becomchot, we fay, the Swe, of nece!- 
{xy muſt thine on it fit, becauſe it is nothing 


|bur cold ſhone of ir ſelfe. So if our heans, that | 


OI Þ 'with the love of 
cenainely we may ſay , Chriſt 
: for naturally' our harts | 

arc 


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| | | 
Lo Ady Love. | £29 
| xe of a cold temper, there is no ſuch thing as} Sun V1. 
 ſpirituall lovegrowing inour natures and. harts, | | 
You have many poore fſoules ed with| 
this, who cannottell whether Chriſt love them 
or noe, but this helpcs them a little, they can 
find undoubred arguments of rheir- love to 
Chriſt,his Jmageand fervants, and of 'reliſhing 
rheword, though they find much; corrupriong 
and this their love to divine things tells'them | 
by demonſtrations from the effcQs, that Chevſd 
loues them, becauſe theres «1 no loye to divine, 
and ſupernaturall things withoue the love:of 
Chriſt firſt. And the graces inour heans,'they 
are lovetokens given torhe ſpouſe. Common 
favours : he gives, as: ud4braham: gifts: to his |. 
ſervants and 'others, * but” ſpeciall gifts/to hig | 
ſpouſe, iftMerefore there be any grace, a render |: 
and ſoft heart, a prizing of heavenly things, |. 
love ts Gods people and truth, then we may 
comfortly conclude 'Chrift loves us,' not only 
becauſethey are refletions of Gods: love, but 
becauſe they are iewels and ornaments thar 
Chriſt onely-beſtowes upon his ſpouſe, and nor 
upon reprobares , fuch pretious jewclls as 
theſe. | 
By diſcovering his ſecrets tous, forthat is an are. | 
mere of love. Doth 'Chrift by his Spirit bf. 
cover the ſecrer tovehe hath borne to-us befare 
all worlds? doth he diſcover the breaſt of his 
father, and his owne- hear to us? this diſed- 
Jo'? "oo ſecreraffedions, of intire love ſheweth 
ourhappieſtare; for that .is one prevogative of | 
EE Vt N 3 | fricnd- 1 


———— —— 


gy — 


— —— "* 0 Wo 


Sz xm. VI. \freindſhip, and the cheefeſt diſcovery of le. 
— crc, when he gives us a particular _ to 
[trurhes, as our owne, thatwe can:goe challenge 
rhem,-theſe are mine, theſe belong ro me, 
theſe promiſes are;mine, this diſcovery of the 
17ſec. 1. ſecret love of God, and of the intereſt we have 
in the promiles, is a fignethat Chriſt loves us, 
andrthatin: a'peculicr manner weare his love. 
i | as ye I agen _—_ that pr 
Reprover wee ſee any ſaving goodneſſe in any let us 
he: = them: for hog not our love meete with 
| our Saviours love, -; Shall 'the Church of God 
bethe love of Chriſt,and ſhall it be our hatred? 
Shall a good chriſtian be Chiſts love, and ſhall 
the be the objet of my hatred and {corne 2 can 
we-imitate a berter-patterne © O ler us neyer 


thinke our eſtate to be good, 7 het child 
I 


of God beour love as hee is Chriſts love. Can 
I love Chriſt, and cannotT love him in whomT| | 
ſeeChriſts Ir is'a figne that I hate himſelfe, 
whenT hate his Image. Ir isto bee wondered at 
that the Divell hath preyailed with any ſo 
much, as to thinke they ſhould be in a good 
eſtate, when they have hears rifing againſt the 
beſt people, and who as they grow ingrace, ſo 
they grow inthere diſlike of them. Is heerethe 
Spiritof Chriſt? And lctthem likewiſe be here 
reproved, that are glad to ſee any Chriſtian 
haulr,ſlip,and goeawry, The beſt Chriſtians in 
the world have that in part, which is wholly in 

other man ; he hath fleſh in him. Shall we| | 
ſuncrl diſtaſte a Chriſtian for. that « . The | 

[1  Churc 


——_——_ 


My Love. 
| Church was now in a ſleepie condition, and 
yet notwithſtanding Chriſt takes nottheadyan- 
tage of the weakeneſle of the Church to ca- 
ſheere, and to hate her, but he pitries her the 
more, and takes a courſe to bring her againe 
into a good ſtate and condition. Let us not 
therefore beglad at the infirmitics and failings 
of any, that diſcover any true goodneſle in 
them; it may be our owne caſe ere long, it caſts 
themnot out of Chriſts love, but they dwell 
in his love ſtill, why ſhould we then caſtthem 

out of our love and affeHtions? Letthem 
be our loveſtill, as they arcthe /ove 
of Chrift, norwithſtanding 
| their infirmities, 


” | X* »& 
« 


— ——  —_— 


The end of the Sixt 


Sermon. 


— —_ 


* 
LO —— —_— — 


mimenmint tit 


THE SEVENTH 


'SERMON. 


———— Mt. AL < ww AA”. 


 Canr. V. IL. 


 e M7 Love, my Dove, my Pa- 
defiled : for my head us filled with, 
dew, and my locks with the dropps 
of the nights | 
7 have pat of my coate, bow ſhall 
[put it on  F have waſhed my feet, 
bow fhall 1 defile them? 


KEI Hat the life of \ Cimiftianis 
[JOS a perpetuall conflicting, 
"I \ ns evidently an this 

| 14» Booke,thepalſages where- 

| 2-8 of joyned with our -0wne 
JJ LP) cxpcricnces,ſufficiqatly de- | 


Ve A Clarc what combats, Try-| 
alts and temptations the Saints are TubjeRt aker | 


mom 


rn. It 


183 | - e My Love. | 
San. VIL.| aftcr theirnew birth and change of life, now up, | 
=” J now downe, now full of goed reſolutions, now 
|  ]againe fluggiſhand ſlow nor to be waked, nor 
brought forwards by the voice of Chriſt, as it | 
was with the Church here, fhee will not out of 
her ſleepe to open unto Chriſt, though he call 
j\ and knocke, and ſtand waiting for cntrance, 
, She isnow deſirousto pirtic her ſelfe, and needs | 
no Petey to ftirre her up unto it, the flefl1 of it 
ſclfe is prone enough to draw backe, and make 
excuſcs to hinder the power of grace from its 
duc operation in us. She is layed along (as it 
i were) to reſt her; yetisnotſhe ſo aſleepe, but 
[1  ſhee-diſcernes the voice of Chriſt, bur up and 
| riſe ſhe will not | 
A . Thus we. may ſee thetruth of that ſpeech of 
Ioh.z.6, | our Saviour verified, That | which is boyne of the 
fleſh is fleſh, and that which i borne of the Spirit 
is Spirit, The fleſh pulls her backe, the Spirit 
| AF would raiſe her up ro opento Chriſt, he inthe 
| ; meane while makes her inexcnſable; and pre- 
pares her by his knocking, waiting and de- 


i 


li | parting : as for a ſtate of further Humiliation , 
| ſo forancſtare of further Exaltation. But how 
i | | | | lovingly doth he ſpeake to her ? 
} 


Open unto me my Love, 

| lymyLove.| Hee calles her my Love, eſpecially for two 
Ii | 1. | reſpeAts; panly becauſe his love was ſetled 
= wpon her, wewas in hisownebreaft, burit reſted 
'not there, but ſeated it ſclfe upon, and in the 
| heartof his ſpouſe, ſo that ſheebecame Chriſts 
love. Weeknow the heart of a lover is more 


_zxz ; .'--- * where 


di. dw 


- —— 


F eM)'Love. 


| 


| 
by 4 Eh: 

where it loves, then where it lives, ( as we uſe 
to ſpeake ) and indeed, there is: a kind. of a 


the affection is in any exceſle; it carries the 
whole ſoule with it. 1 2:16 

Bur beſides this, when Chriſt ſaith my love, 
he ſhews, thatas his love goes, and plants, and 


and is not ſcattered to other objets, There 
| are beames .of Gods generall loye ſcattered 
inthe whole World, but this love, - this excee- 
ding love, is onely faſtened upon the Church. 
And indeed thereis no love comparableta

~160 words

us upwards, and makes us 
| Ml heavenly minded; it makes ws defire further 
| | jou further communion withhim, ftillthere ls, 
TB. "WA ' A 


Wy ——_—_— = mm. WY Wor — _——T__W.. — ———— 
[/ — 
F 


+ 
P_— - "y 
- CC een rs" 
- 
i Wren 
rr Err —_—_ 
mtg, © 4. t II 
— 


| 


——_— 


My Love. 


| 


186 


whereſvever it is, it drawes the heart and affe- 


gumentto proove the ſtability ofthe Saints,and 
| the immortality of the ſoule, becauſe Chriſt | 


| place of happinefſe, if there ſhould not bee a 


Mons after it, 


a magneticall accraQtive force in Chriſts love, SB Re VIL 


And we may know from hence one Ar-|ſe.z, 


call.s the. Church his /ove, The want of love 
againe ( whereit is intire, and in any great mea- 

Fe) is amiſerie, Chriſt therefore ſhould ſuf- 
fer, if thoſe he hath planted his love upon, 
whom he loves truely, eitherſhould fall away 
for ever, or ſhould not be immorrall for ever. 

Chriſt will nor looſe his love; and as itisan 
argument of perſevering in Grace 5 Sois itof 
an everlaſting beeing that this ſoule of ours 
hath, becauſeit is capable of the love of Chriſt, 
{ceing there is a {weete union, and communion 
betweene Chriſt and the ſoule. Ir ſhould make 
Chriſt miſcrable ( as tt were) in Heayen, the 


mecting of hum and his{pouſe there muſt there- 


fore be a meeting, which marriage isfor ever, 


- 


fideratioh

~216 words

there is no mixture of fraude, nodu- 
plicity in the ſoule; 4 double hearted man is 
inconſtant and unſtable in all his wayes. Now 
| femplicity as it is a vertuc , ſo we mult im'tate 
the Dove init, for thcre is a ſinnefull Dove-like 
fillyneſſe. For Hoſea. 7. 11. Ephraim is ſaid there 
to be like a ſilly Dove without heart, they call ts 
Ezipt,they goe to Aſiria, There is a fatall (im- 
=_ uſually going before deſtrution, when 
wee hate thoſe that defend us, and account them 
cnemies, and rclie more upon them thar ate 
enemics indeed then upon friends, So it was 
with Ephraim before his deſtrution, he was 4 
ſilly Dove without heart, he called to Egypt and 
went to Aſſyria (falſe friends) that were enc- 
mycs tothe Church of God; yet they truſted 
them morc then God or the Prophets. Men 
have a world of, tricks to undermine their, 
friends, to. ruine them, and to deſerve. ill of 
thoſc that would with all their hearts deſerve 
well of them, when yet in the meane time 
[they can gratifie the enemy, pleaſe them and 
hold correſpondencic with them, as heere 
Ephraim did, Ephraim is a filly Dove;&c. This 
\therefore is.not that which wee muſt. aime 
(Fe but to. be {ſimple and children concemni 


vill, 


_— 


—— 


—— 


My Dove. 
' evill, but not in ignorance and fimplicitie that| Sz x. VII. 
way. 

E Abaine, this creature is a faithfull creature, 
that is mainely

~106 words

Heaven but him, and what ts 
there in Earth hee deſires beſide him, You know! 
in the Revelation, the Spouſe of Chrift is brought 
in like a /17 211 contracted, butthe Remiſh Church | 
like a whore, Therefore the Church of God | 
muſt rake heed of the Roman Church; for 'that is. 
not a Dove, wee muſt be Yirgins, who muſt 
keepe chaſt ſoules to Chriſt, as you have it. 
| Reve.14e 4. T, kofe that follow the Lamb, whereſo- | 
ever hee gocth , they Fave rot defiled themſelves 
with woemen, the meaning is ſpirituall, riamel 
thar they have not defiled themſelves with 3 
Idolatry and ſpirituall fornication: they haye| 
chaſt hearrs ro Chriſt. So in this reſpe they | . 
reſemble the Dove; Theſe therefore that 
draw away fromthe love of religion to mixture, | 
to be meretrices, and harlots in religion, they 
arc not Chriſts doves,. as farre as they yeeldto 
this, it isan argument thatthey have falſc hearrs; 
= | Chriſts Church isa Dove, ſhe keepes cloſe and 


Lo EE , 
| inviolateto him. 


— 


a aine, This creature is of 4 neate d.(poſction, 4-1 
ir

~203 words

birds of prey, when the Tirzles 
doemourne(becaulſcof their cruelty) itis a pre- 


O73: ſage 


” 


CE ee... AM. 


— cu D— — T— 


———_—_ — 


with ſtench, and annoyed that way, and like- 
[wiſe feedes neately on pure graine, not upon 
carrion, as you ſee inthe Arke, when the Ravey | * 
was ſent out it lights upon carrion, of which 
there wasthen plenty, and therefore never came 
| Gen.8.7, \intothe Arkeagaine, Butrthe Dove, when (he 
went out would not light upon carrign, or dead 
rhings; and ſo finding noe fir food came backe 
Sinzile. agiine to the CArke. Sn the Chriſtian ſoule 
 linthis reſpeis like a Dove, that will not feed 
upon worldly carrion, or ſinnefull pleaſures, | 
but upon Chriſt and ſpirituall things. The 
ſoule of a carnall, and a naturall man uſerh to 
[feed upon duſt, earth and carthly things, 
when rhe ſoule of a true Chriſtian, thar hath 
| rhe taſte of Grace, feedes x:atly, it will not feed 
on that which is baſe and earthly, but upon 
| heavenly and ſpirituallthings, 
HM It 1s Gregaria avs, a bird that loves commu- 
| won and fellowſhip, as the Prophet ſpeakes, 
Ia.6o.8, I|Whoarethoſe that flocke to the windowes as Doves, 
|  Iforſotheyuleto flocke totheirhouſes by com- 
_  ]panies. Sothechildrenof God love the com- 
munionand fellowſhip one of another, and keep 
|C{evered fromthe world, as ſoone as eyer th 
[are ſeperated from it; delighting in all tholc 
: of the ſame nature, Doves will conſort with | 
| | Doves,Chriſtians with Chriſtiansand none cle, 
they can reliſh no other company , theſe 
and ſuch like propertics may profitably bee 
conſidered of the Dove. The much ſtanding 
| [apontheſe were to wrong the imendmentof the 


—— Spirit 


— 


_— 
— dts. Milli. 


_ — 


A. Mt... 


| 
[ 


— — 


of Gods like the Twrtles, ro mourne in all af 
fictions, deſcrtions, and moleſtations of wicked 
men, to mourneto God who heares the bemo. 
ningsof his owne Spirit in them: and woe to all 


were as much. Theretore wee have touched 
- upon ſome properties onely. 


' a Dove inthis. The Dove is muleſted by all the 
Birds offrcy,it being the commen prey of all 


—_— 


——. 


"I 


E My Dove. 


Spirit of God ; to negle them alrogether, 


— 


Now For the ſufferings of the Church it is like 


oth«r ravenous birds. So the poore Church of | 
God is perſecuted.and molefted, 0h that IT had 
wings like a Dove, &c (faith holy David) It is 
an old ſpeech, and is for ever true, That Crowes 


and ſuch eſcazebetter then Doves. The puniſhment | 


that ſhould light' on Ravens oft times it lights 
on Doves, thus Gods Dove, Gods Churchis 
uſed. 

But,What defence hath Gods poore Church? why 


no defence.” But 
Firſt, flight, even as the Dove hath nothing 


194. 


but flight, it hath no tallents to wound, bur 


it hath flight, ſo we are to fly to God as to| 


our mountaine, fly to the C4rke that God may 
take us in. The Church of God hath no other 
refuge but to be houſed in God and Chriſt, he 
is our Arke. h 

Secondly, and to mourne as Hezekiah ſaith 
of himſclfe. ey. -8. Hee mourned 4s 4 Dove, 
and chatter:d like a Crane, The ſtate ofthe Church 


doe mourne (becaulcof their cruelty) itis a pre- 


I En 
om 


S ER - VII. 


2. 


Proy. 18,10, | 


——— 


_L——_—_ 


_— my tr Rr Ot; 


195 


—_—_— 


he 


3+ 


Object. 


Pſal,7 4-19 


San, VII- 


/ _ 


— 


| 


My Dove. 


ſagevf ruineto

~98 words

them, when they force the Tyr- 
zletoſorrow, and mourning. 

And then Thirdly, they have another re- 
fuge beſides fight and mourning, which is 70 
build bigh from wvermine-that would otherwiſe 
moleſt them. Inſtin&treacheth rhem thus to eſ- 
cape their enemies by building high, and lo to | 
ſecurethemſclyes...._So there is in, Gods chil-| 
_ 4... > ——_ 

; Etie, 

Em, 
tlia- 
d in 


Lrven v lar 


God 
_ that 
and 


Tatination, 


 |lyen among the pots (that is) ſmeared, and ſullied; 


_ |1he almighty ſcattered Kings in it, it was white 


poſt. |. 
| TV aith 


-—-————is Dove 
he would eſteeme more of it then hee doth, 


ind not fuffer itto bee perſecuted thus * 
God never forſakes his Dove, bur is an 
_Avketor it to ly to, a Rocke for it to buila on, 
The Develathalwayes arcfuge in God andin 
Chriſt inthe worlt times; You have a notable 
place for this. Pſal. 68. 13. Though you have 


(Fs 


che _I' DOM EREPET FP OB IRS Ron aeeu wr 


yet they jhall bee as thewingsof a Dove covered 
with ſilver and her feathers with yellow gold, when 


46 the ſnow in Salmon, Sothough the Church of 


- 
. 2 *%* a 


— 


_ Goes. 


—— 


God lies among the pots a whilcall ſmeared, | 
2nd ſoiled, and fullied with the ill uſage of the 
world, yetas long as it keepes it ſelfe a Dove, 
unſported of the filth of the world and ſinne, 
though it bee ſmeared withtheill uſagerhereof, | 
we ſec what God promiſeth heere; Ter ſhall they 
bee as the wines of a Dove covered with ſilver | 
and her feathers with yellow gold. So God will | 
bring forth his Dove withglory outof all theſe | 
abaſements atlength

~222 words

For there is an exchange 
ſo ſoone as ever weare unired ro Chriſt, our 
finnes are upon him, and his Rightcouſnefle is | 
made ours; and therefore in Chriſtthe Church | 
is undefiled. Chriſt himfelfe the ſecond Perſon | 
is the firſt lovely thing next the Father, andin | 
Chriſt al! things as they have relation to Him | 
are loved, astheyare in Him, Chriſts humane | 
Nature is nextlovedto the ſecond Perſon, ir is | 
Vnited, and is firſt pure, holy, and beloved, 
Then becauſe the Church is Chriſt miſticall, 
it 1s neere t9 him (and in a manner) as neere 

O 4 | | AS | 


—— —_—J—— —_— 
M.A — 


— 


+ O— - 
— _ « 
© = ITO II_Gy ——- —————— v4 © ” ax. 


moleſt them. Intin&teacheth rhem thus to eſ- 


| ſecure themſelves. 


the. enemies of it, which tends to their lafetie, 


him as ona rocke. to be ſafe in him. 


My Dove. 


ſageof ruineto them, when they force the Tye- 
zleto ſorrow, and mourning. 

And then Thirdly, they have another re- 
fage beſides fight and mourning, which is to 
build high from wcrmine-rhat would otherwiſe 


capetheir enemies by building high, and lo to 


So there is in Gods chil- 
deren a grattous inſtin& put, an Antipathie to 


inthat they mingle not themſelves with them, 
Andlikewiſe, God breeds in them a familia- 
ritie with himſclfe, and ſtirrs them to build in 


But youwill obje&, If rhe Church of God 


bee his Dove, why is it ſo with it as it is, that 
God ſhould ſufferhis love and his Dove, and 
ls turtle thus (45 it were) t2 bes preyed upon. 
Grve #8! the ſoule of the Turtle to the beaſts (laith 
:he Pſalmiſt) If the Church were Gods Dove 
he would eſteeme more of it then hee doth, 
ind not fuffer it to bee perſecuted thus s 
God never forſakes his Dove, bur is an 
_Arketor it ro fly to, a Recke for it to buila on, 
The Dave hathalwayes arcfuge in God andin 
Cir inthe worſttimes; You have -a notable | 
place for this. Pſal. 68. 13. Though you have 
lyen among the yer (that is) ſmeared, and ſullied; 
yet they ſhall bee 2s thewingsof a Dove covered 
with ſolver and her feathers with yellow gold, when 
the almighty. ſcattered Kings. in it, it was white 


46 the ſnow inSaimon. Sothough the Church of 


——— 


— — 


"281 My U ndefiled. 


God lics among the pots a whileall ſmeared, | 
3nd ſoiled, and fullied with theill uſage of the 
world, yet as long as it keepes it ſelte a Dove, 
unſpotted of the filth of rhe world and finne, | 
though it bee ſmeared withtheill uſagerhereof, | 
we ſee what God promilſerh heere; Ter ſhall they 
bee as the wings of 4 Dove covered with ſilver | 
and her feathers with yellew gold. So God will | 
bring forth his Dove withglory out of all theſe | 
abaſcments atlength. So much for the citle of | 
Dove. It followes  — 
AM) Y ndefiled. | 
yndefiled isa high word to be applied to the 
Church of God here, for the Church groning 
| under infirmities to be counted perfet and 
undefiled : bur Chriſt who judgeth arighr of 
his Church, and knowes beſt whar ſhe is z Hee 
yet thus judgeth of her. But, How « that ? 
The Church «s Vndefiled ( eſpecially ) in that is 
6 the ſpouſe of Chriſt and cloathed with the robes | 
of his Righteouſneſſe

~154 words

the Church, he gives 
his Righteouſneſle, his perfection, and holines, 
all is the Churches. 

But how can it be the Churches, when it is 
not inthe Church, bur in Chriſt - 

It is ſafe for the Church that it is in Chriſt | 
who is perfe&, and Yndefiled ; for us to make 
us appeare ſo : and ſo itis in C/rift the ſecond 
Adam for our good: it is not in him asanother 
perſon ; bur itis inhim, as the Churches Head, 
that make both one Chriſt. The hand andthe 
foot ſee not; but both hand and foot havebe- 
nefit by the eye that ſees for them. There isno 
member of the body underſtands, but the head | 
does all for them. Pur the caſe we have not 
abſolute Righteouſneſſe, and undefiledneſſe : 


__ nes $ ht 2 —_ ”_ 
0 


our owne Natures and perſons inheering in us. 
Yet we have it in-Chriſt thar is one with us, 


who hath ir forourgood. Iris ours ; Forallthe 


4 | comfort, and good that we may have by it,and 
| | =— |thereupon, The Church in Chriſt « undefiled : yea 
" | | ray then when it feeles its own defilements. | 


—— 


e My Vadefled, |, wg + 


A —— 


And here ariſcth that wondrous contradiction |2®R-_V IL. 
that is found in a beleevers apprehenſion. The 110 
nature of faith is to apprehend Rrghteouſneſſe, in 
the ſence of finne, 11apprneſſe, in the Jence of 
miſery, and favour in theſcnce of diſpleaſure | 
And the ground of it is; Becauſc that at the 

ſame time, the ſoule may be in ſome meaſure 
defiled in it ſelte, and yer notwithſtanding be 
undefiled in her head and husband Chriſt. 
Hence the guilty ſfoule, when it feceles corrup- 
tion and finne, yet notwithſtanding doth ſee it 
ſclfe holy, and cleane in Chriſtthe head, and 
ſoat once there is a conſcience of linne, and no_ 
more conſcience of finne, as the Apoſtle ſaith; | 
| Heb.10.2, when we believe in Chriſt, and are 
purged with his bloud, thatis, there is no more 
guilt of fin binding over to cternall damnation, 
yet notwithſtanding alwayecs there is a con- 
icience of ſinne, for we are guilty of infirmiries; 
And if we ſay we have no ſinne we lie and deceive 
our ſelves. | 

| Bur, How can thu be that there ſhou!d be con- 
| ſcience of ſinne, and noconſciencesf ſinne, a ſinner, 
and yet aperfett Saint and undefiled? 

| The Conſcience knowes its owne impers- | 
fefion

~234 words

us not in our 
preſent imperfeftions,butas he meanes ro'make | 
us cre long. In _ meane time thar hee may | 
looke upon us inove, he lookes upon us inthe 
obedience of his ſonne, in whom whatſoever 
is good ſhall be perfected art the laſt. off | 
W hart ſhould wee doe then, if Chriſt doth ' / ſe. 1. 
make his Church thus, h4& Love, his Dove, his | 
Vndtfiled, oy making his love to meecte in it as | 
the center thereof, whereunto hee doth confine 
all his love (asit were)wee ſhould confine onr; 
lovero him againe, and have no love out of 
Chriſt, fince hee hath no love out of us: There 


— 
ht 


fhould bee an everlaſting murmll ſhining, and | 
refleion betweene him and the ſoule. Wee | 

ſhould laie open oux ſoules to his love; (as in- 
deed hee deſires eſpecially the communion of | | 


our affeions, ) wee ſhould refle& love to him B | | 
BY | | © aMine. 1 ll 


1 x Cor..2%. 


; Phil.3.23, 


Col.z.1. 


203 


Sia. VII againe, This perpetuall everlaſting enrercourſe 


My Undefiled. 


| betweene Chriſt and his Spouſe, 1s her maine 
| happineſſe heere, and hererernall happineſſe in 
heaven; Inlooking on him who hath doneſo 
much for us, hce ſhines on us, and wee looke 
backe againe upon him. Doth Chriſt love us 
ſo-intimately., and fo invincibly, thar no in- 
dignitics 'nor 1inne could overcome his love, 
which made, that hee endured that which hee 
hates moſt, to become ſinne for ns, nay the want. 
of that, which was moreto him, then all the 
world, the wam of the ſence of the favour of 
God for a time, My God my God, why haſt 
tlos forſaken me: ? Hath Chriſt thus infinitly 
loved us, and ſhall not wee backe againe make 
him our love? In their degree the Saints of 
God have all done ſo, It was a good [peech of 
| Tgnatires the Martyr, My love Chr: ſt was crucified. 
So a Chriſtian ſhould ſay, A2ſy love was rrn- 
cificd, my love dyed,gny

~1,069 words

Chriſt, for indeed his 
love hath ſuch a magnences attractive force, 
that wherzit is, it will draw upthe heavie iron, 
rhe groſſe ſoule, and make it heavenly,tor there 
is abiading, adrawing force in this excclear 
affe&tion of love. 
My love, my Dave,&c. 

| Thereareall words of [1 weernelle, he labours 
to expreſſeallthe affection hee can,torthe con- 
ſcience is ſubje& to upbraid, and to claimour 
much, ſo that there muſt bee a great deale of 
perſwaſion to ſtill the accuſtng conſcience of a 
ſinner, to ſetit downe, make 1t quiet, and per- 
{wade it of Gods loye. Therefore hee. uſerh 
all heavenly Rhctoricketo perfwade and move 
the aff:ions, 

In this thatthe Church is undefiled in Chriſt, | 
Let us learne whenafflited in conſcience nor ſo 
much to judge of our ſclves by: whatwe feele in 
our ſelves as by what faith ſuggeſts.. In Chriſt 
therefore let us judge of our {elves by what wee 
{AIC as in him, Wee are poore in our ſelyes, bur 
ſhaverichesin him: wee de in our ſelves in re- 
gard ofthis life, but wee have a Lfe in him, an 
eternall | fe, and wee are ſinmers inour ſelves, but 
wee have a Righreouſneſſe m. him whereby . wee 
arc righteous inhis fight. Wee are fool: fb, wn- | 


| 


ms. 


labour toſce a full ſupplie of our wants made | 
up in Chriſt, this is.to glorifie God as..ganch as 


| 204. | 


IBR, VIL. | 


k— 


OO nn ooo AR 


F163; 


3: 


/ killfull, and 12n0:4it inourſelyes; bur hee is our |- 
w{dominall whatlocycr is amiſſe in us.. Let us | 


I Cor.5.20, 


if wee could fulfill the law, pzricaly:. 15 wee 


Were ) 


——_ ———_— "8 


_— 


| 


| 


0 


s is -f —_—  —___—____ _— DD ——— 
pH204 PETS nt eat t203* 4s. a a - 


2Q5 


_— 


Sun. VIL | wereas undefiled as Adam was, wee could not 


TJoh,4-19» 


' My Undefiled. | 


—_— Gs 


lorifke God more, then when wee finde {our 
{clves, and our conſcience guiltic of finnes, yer 


thus by theSpirit of God to go out of our ſelves, 
and to ſee our {elves in Chriſt, and thus to caft 
our ſelves on him, imbrace him, and take that 


|guifi of God given us, Chriſt offered to us, be- 
cauſe God ſo commands, wee honour God 
more, then if wee had the obedience that Adam 
{had ar firſt before his fall. Fornow inthe cove- 
nant of Grace,hce will bee glorified in his mer- 
cy in his forgiving, forbearing,rich tranſcendent 
| mercy, and in going beyond all our unworthi. 
neſſeand{innes, by ſhewing that there is a R/gh. 
| teouſneſie provided for us, the Righteouſneſie of 
(God man, whoſe obedience and farisf:Rion, is 
|more then our diſobedience, becauſe ir is the 
d: obedience of man onely, but his 04ed ence and 
' Righteouſneſſe is the Obedienee, and Righteouſneſſe 
of God-may, o it ſatisficth divine juſtice, and 
therefore oughr to fatisfic Conſcience to the 
full, our faith muſt anſwer Chrifts carriage to 
us, we muſttherefore account our ſelves in him 
#ndefiled, becauſe he accounts us ſo, not in our 
_ bur as we have a becing in him, we 


are »ndefilcd. 
Againe ſec here Chriſt accounts us ( even it 


'regard of habituall grace) wnatfiled, though | 


we have for the preſent many corruptions. Let 
us therefore Jearne a leſſon of moderation of fo 
excellent a teacher. let us not be aſhamed to 


_ of our Saviour. What ſpirit ſhall wee 


thinke 


| 


— —=——_ F 4 A tr = wu 


A—_ 


| becauſe they have ſome defilement and un- 
' brotherly brerheren, accounting them no 
| Churches, no Bretheren, becauſethey haveſome 
| imperfections. Why harh not Chriſt a quarrel] 
to the Church then? is hee blind s doth his | 


_— — 


"34 - * " ” SY . > - . _ , * 
SR En SR ry nt SEE - rw ow” Sf = LOSE rs, 5 , 


— 


We My Undefiled. A] 


— OS I_—- 


| 
| 


| 
[ 


of 11] in the Church, bur he ſees it topardon, | 


— ——. 


thinke they have.rhat will unchurch Churches, 


love make him blind ? No, hee ſeeth corrup- 


tion, but hee ſceth better things, ſomewhat | 


of his owne that makes him overlooke thoſe 
imperfections, becauſe they are ſuch as hee 
meanes to mortifie, fubdue, weare away; and to 
fire out by the power of his Spirit, which as fire 
{hall waſt all thoſe corruptionsintime. So itis 
with the Church; put the caſe, the hath ſome 
corruptions, thatit be not with her, as itſhould 


be, yet ſhee is a Churchnotwithſtanding. The | 


Church of Corinth ( we ſec) Paxl ſtiles them 
Saints,and Bretherew with all thoſe ſweernames, 
notwithſtanding they had many ' corruptions 


Wee have a company of malignant ſpirits 
worſethentheſe a great deale, Arheiſticall per- | 
ſons that have no Religion at all, who' out of 
malice and envic watch for the halting of 
good Chriſtians, who can ſee nothing bur de- 
filement in thoſe that have any goodin them, 
nothing bur hypocrifie, mopiſhnefle, all that is 
naught, who if they can deviſeanyblemiſh, pur 
it upon them, whereas Chriſt ſees a great deale | 


; lubdue,andro pitty the Church forit, extolling 


among them. 


Wo | Cor, Is 


; 
f 


V ſes. 


and magnifying its goodnefſe. Whar' ſpirits| 
F 


SITY te 


” wbwom... A TE 3 Rana 


—— — 


” — 


eat 


! | 206 | 


- MH UVnidefiled, 


— —»_  ___— w_—— 


— —O——— 


| Y ſe. 6. 


Sn. VII. are thoſe of, that watch to ſee imperfeRions 
| — 
| 


inothers, ( thatrheir hearts tell them are berrer 
then they, ) thar they may one!ly diſgracethem 
by it: for goodneſſe they will ſce none, 

And likewiſe,It ſhould teachus not to wrong 
out ſelves with falſe judgement. Wee ſhould 
have adouble eye, ont eyeto ſee rhat whichis | 
amifſein us, our owne impetfetions, thereby | 
ro carry our ſelves in a perpetinll humility: | 
but an other cyeof Faith, to {ce what we haye | 
i Chriſt, our perfeRion in him, ſotoaccount 
ofour ſelves, and glory inthis our beſt beeing, 
that if him wee have a glortous beeing, 
fuch arvone whereby God eſteemes vs perfett, 
and undcfiled in himonely. The one of which 
fights, ſhould inforce us to the other, which. 
is'ofie end, why God in this workd leayes cor- 
raption in his children. Oh, ſince I am thus. 
undefiled ſhall Treſt in my ftlfe » Ts-rhere any 
harbour for meto reſt in mine owne Righteonf- 
neſle? Ono,irdrivesa man outof all harbour; 
Nay, Iwill reſt in that Rightcowſnefle, which | 
Godhathwroughtby Chriſt, who is God-Man, 
That will indure the fight of God, beeing 
clbathtd with which, can indure the preſence 
of God, So, this ſightrof our owne unworthi- | 
neſſe, and wants, ſhould not be aground of 
 |difcoliragemeur, bm a ground'to drive us per- | 
 |fe&tly ourof our ſthves, that by fairh we mighr 
_ ourtitle _ ® ep reerrs wherein | 
is our efpeciallglbry, uldwenorjudge 
of our POT Chriftdorh” Canweifee aq 


kd 


EE in|! 


—_— OED —_ 


-— cw —- 


in qur ſelves, then hee doth 9 , yet natwei 
fxading all he ſees, þ&e 4ccquars us AS Fae | * 


Againe, fince hee acceunts 15'\4vdefiiee, 
becauſe hee meanes tq make. us, {0,. and naw, 
lookes onus

~97 words

thee good for that, as| Anſw, 


David ſaid, whenShemai curſed him. 
Bur I ſhall looſe my pleaſure £ 
O but ſuch pleaſures endin dearh: they are 
bur pleaſures of ſinne for aſcaſon, and thou ſhalt 
| not looſe by the change, the wayes of wiſadome 
are pleaſant weyes, one day religiouſly ſpent in 
keeping of a good conſcience, what a ſweet 
farewc!l hath it 2 Joy & i» the habitation of the 
Righteors. It becomes the Righteous to be joyfull. 
How ever outwardly it ſeemes yet there is 4. 
| Paraciſe within. Many ſuch objeRtians the | 
fleſh makes, ſorgetake ſcandall at the profpert- 


ty of the wicked, and aMigion of the. Saunts, 


R 4 nll 


-- . 


4 
4 


_— I ts. 
em —J__ 


SS =* 1B 
| IVY VII. 
|  Mat.an.6, 


Mar. 5.19. 


Object. 
| Anſw. 


Phil.z 20, 


—_— 


Ibavewsſhed my feete, Kc. 


and from he<ace take occaſion to ro: in thair 
dreggs of in, bur what {faith Chriſt, Haypy is 
the man who tis not off end:d in mite, As for the 
proſperity of the wicked, envy. them nar, they 
q in ſlippery places,and flouriſhlikea grecne 
5 preſently they vaniſh. Take no | 
ence atthem nor at the crofle, looke not at 
this, butat rhe enſuing comfort. Bleſſed are they | 
that ſuffer for Right:o1ſneſie ſake , binde ſuch 
words to your heid as yourcrowne, Gol re- 
ſerves the beſt comforts to the worſt rimes, his 
people never find itotherwilſe. 
I bur

~106 words

with the children of men, 
thencamethe flood, theſe and rhe like preten- 
ccs, _ men altogether from goodneſlc, 
or clſc from ſuch a meafure, as may bring 
| honourto God and comfortto themſelves. 
Orifmen be great, why this is not honour- 


{tan 


bay 
off 


ito Davi 


| 


rCcc, 


this day ? like a foole, &c. 


-—_—_ —_ 


|abletodothus, as you know what Atichall ſaid 
a, How: glor.ous was the Ki 


ng of Iſrael 
To attend upon the | 


mm 


_vord 


— 


. ce” gr. oh > &- 4=2_ pr 
m__— ha L 4, Mh> : y Ed ENT HS. 52 TAs: 

GNI ENT 20 : A DOT AE MTN IRE EIT LIENS WE Oo - 
So RET I IG Bi EE DIP IEA TR, EAR Py I os GI OE 4 ' : 
PLEA oth. nd LEI Sr od rat 58 4 w -_ n 


| I have waſhe1my {eete,&c, 


word of God wit! reverence, to make conſci- 
ence of Religion, O ir ſtands not with great- 
neſſe ec. But the Spirit of God anſwererh 
thisin him, 1 w/ll yet he more wile for God. Iris a 
mans honour heete to ſtand for God, and for 
good things and it is our honour, that God 
{1 hvnour us ſo much. 
Thoſe likewiſe that are wor/aly have excuſes 
| alſo; als 14ſt tend my calleng, and they have 
Scripture for it to. Hee

~768 words

is 


the cauſe why many cternally periſh. 
Againe, to cur of all vaine excuſes : let ws 


oft have in thouzht of or heart, what wee ſhould 
be and what we ſhould all arme at, and howfarre 
we come all ſhort of it ; a Chriſtian that hopes of 
| ood of his Religion, ſhould live by faith, and 
end upon God inthe uſe of lawtull meanes. 
If he beas he ſhould be, he ought to walke with 
God, keepe his watch with him, and doe no- 
thing unbeſeeming the eye of God, When his 
corruption drawes himto be careleſſe, then hee 
isnot as he ſhould be, for ina right temper, he 
oughtto be fitted to every good worke, read 
for all opportunities of doing any thing that 1s 
good: becauſethe time of this lite is the ſeeds. 
time, thetime of doing good, the time of rea: 
ping is inthe world to come; when therefore 
(the heart is ſhut when any opporrunitie is offe- 
'red of doing good, he may conclude,cenainely, 
|I am cold and dull, pretend what I will, Iam nor 


——— 


the worke of the Lord, eſpecially having ſuch 
abundance of incouragements as wee have. 


(ſtian? thereare none rothoſcof Religion, from 


houre of death, and in Glory hereafter, When 
'we are drawneto bee ſcantic, niggardly, and 


i 


| 


|as I ſhould be. A Chriſtian ought to abound in 


_ } 
SER, VIII. 


6. 
T oremember | 
what we jbouls 
all be,and wtat 


4ime at. 


| 


1Cor.14 58, 


Whar a world of incouragements hath a Chri- | 


the ingrard content that it brings hecre ar the | - 


- {baſero things thar are good, ſurely,this is notas | 
it 


” PY 


we ſhould all | 


I 


——_— 


1 
- 8 
mo 7 ; 
Ser VIII. it ſhould be, pretend what we will to the con- 
—— |trary this is a fault. A Chriſtian ſhould at all | 
times be firro yecld and torender vp his ſoule 
unto God, becauſe our life is uncertaine, When 
| theretorc, we are mooved by corruption to live | 
___ lijnaſtatethat wecannot abide to dic in, becauſe 
we are under the guilt of ſome finne : then cer. | 
| taincly pretend = We will, our ſtare 's {0 farre | 
naught, as farreasthere is unfitnellc and unwil- 
lingneſſero die, Let us have in the eye of our | 
foe therefore; what a Chriſtian ſhould bee, | 
 aime ar it,and thinkthat when we ſtop at a lower | 
' meaſure and pitch; that (pretend what wee 
| will) all is but from carnall wit and policie,the 
_ 'oxeateſt enemiethat Religion hath. 
| | Wepray inthe Lords Prayer, Thy Kinedome | 
come, thy will bee done in earth as it tsin Heaves, 
great deſires, and which ſhould be the deſires 
of all our hearts, But herein we play the Hypo- 
crites, whilſt wee pray thus that 7he Krne- 
done of God may come, that Chriſt may rule in our 
hearts over luſts and deſires: yet notwithſtan- 
| ding we pretendthis and; that excuſe, We? | 


4 have put of my coate, &C, 


we may be led with this and that luſt, we cro 
our own prayers ; yet it ſhewerh what pitch we | 
ſhould aſpireto,Toſanttifiethe Lord in our hearts, 
to delight in him, and truſt in him above all. 
When wee doe not this, wee fall ſhort of our | 
[owne prayers. And whenwe cannot bring our 
\heartsto ſuffer, and to doe what God would | 
have us to do, butare led away with our owne. 
| wills, weeare not as wee ſhould be ; our wills | 


ſhoulo 


w— 


— 


ee. A 


CCC 225 Oo 
Fhave put of my coate, &c. | 


_ | 
235 


7 Fo 


—  — 


Wm AA EA a te no a, PE ee eng 


Sax. VIlL 


ſhould be conformable to Chriſts in all things, 
| Ir is our prayer, and therefore we ſhould ayme | 


\at it. Now, when ficſh and bloud ſets up a | | 


, 


| picch of Religion, I am well enough: and yet 
' prais, /lollowed be thy Name; Thy Kingaome 
| come, Thy will be done, 8c, Such a man is an 
| hypocrite z for his prayer leades him further 
|. further till till he come to Heaven, where 
is all perfetion : untill when, our lifeis alife of 
indeayour and progreſſe, Though webe neyer 
ſo perfeR, yer Chriſt may more rule and ſer up 
his Kingdomeyert more inthe heart, andfurrher 
bring our will to his in all things : when fleſh 
and bioud ſets up cavills againſt this, we play 
the hypocrites with God and-croſſe our ſelves. 
Thercfore, Lerus juſtific a meaſure of Religion 
| beyond our preſcnt pitch whatſoever it is, 
-uſtific it more and more ſtill, Thinke wee are 


| never as WE ſhould be till webein Heaven and | 


never bleſſe our ſelves, bur thinke that wee | 
ſhould alwayes be on the growing hand, and | 
whatſoever excuſe comes to hinder us from 
. zealoulneſſe and carneſtneſſe (though it carry a 
ſhew of reaſon inthe profeſſion of Religion : ) | 
' account it tocome from our corrupt hearts, 
Againe, Remember to doe all thinzs

~152 words

Glory to come before our cyes, with CMHoſes 


our backward ſoules this way : that ſo, having 


they bee. Wee know Zachews, when hee 
was afhtaid that hee ſhould not ſee Chriſt, 


|to haye a Patriarks eye to him that i rmviſible,| | 
to ſce 4 Countrey afarre off, Now, we are never | 
ſalvatien then when wee%eleeved, ler us helpe 


— 


240 | 


* 
hb — 


: 


went "before the multitude; and getting _ 
| | © WE ___upo” 


Ro R——— 


4 injoying the/e | 


SB x. VIII, 


9 . 
The ſhortnege 


elps, 


TO, 


— 


- « >; Hz. 406. i. th 


| 
| 
fm 7To 


F 


['t Cor, 5.58, 


24.1 "I 


I have put of my .coate,&&C. 


— 


—— A — — .—"— — 
. 


| 


[pleaſed to bee accounted vile. 


| 


—r—re— Loco 


upon the top of a Tree, thus hel 3 him%lfe, 


;So doth Grace helpe irſclfe by Glory. And 


ſo. farre is, Grace, from obj:zMtinz and pre- 
rending lers, as it makes ſupplies in Gods 
ſervice: as David, wio in this caſe, was 
| Let us looke 

unto . the Recompence of. the

~318 words

of the Lord; 
knowing that, your labour is nat 
. twuaintintheLard. 

Ty” ) \ 


b 


'. 
- 
__— Sh — 
- 
a 


| | ' The end of the eighth Sermoy, 


— 


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FEI End Ka a2 N Ly” ian 0 -$:- Mar. & - a STS. - IIS >. w I fgaess XY Y, : 
- 6 : Coder Brant 4, FA MST TE SET CAT Rn OS en > = - AT EE EE IS 4 Ar Sore EAT OT; 
ee es nn Ee Si eee i a EEE 
ii Ae Ee EIS GE aA ee LICL TEENS! CE uE eos 


ſelfe, &c. 


ADE him W MON this reaſon vhdp ſooft 


[ 
2 


TBE — OI 55} | 


= 


CaNnT, V.VIL Ne 


F roſe to open to my Beloved, hut 
my Beloved had withdrayne 77A 


Aturally wee are prone | to 
delaiesin heavenly things, 
and then to coyer all with 
excuſes. A man is a So- 

| phiſtertohimſclfe, whom | 

F- 3 hee firſt deceives, before 
SC the Divell, or the World 


Ti 
@, 


R 4 in 


| Gn nx lX. in"Scripture you have this meatined, Be nos | 


243 | _ But my Beloved I 


_— 


| 


| 
4 
| 


! 


Gal 6.7. 


t Cor.6.9»19-| {{eavVen. ' Bee not deciived, Which is an inti-+ 


Verſe. 4. 


| Verſe.s5. 


| Verſe.6. 


deceived, God is not mocked, Bee nt d:ceived, 
neither Adulterer," nor Covetous perſs1, nor ſuch | 


| 


and ſuch, ſhatl 'ev:r enter into the kin 7dom? of | 


mation, that naturally wee are very prone to | 
bee deceived in points of the greateſt conſe- 
quence in the world, to flatter our ſelves { as 
the Church doth here ) with falſe excuſes, 7 
have put of my coate, &, But wee ſhall now | 
{ce in thisnext verſe, what becomes of all thoſe 
[exculcs, and backewardneſle

~243 words

he did the Church here, —& | © 

; 2. That the cauſe i from the Church her ſelfe, | 9 bſer.2. 

: as ivee {ce how unkindly ſhee had uſed Chriſt, | 

t to let himattend herlellis ſo long. Therefore A 

a, | hee taking a holy ſtate upon him, leaves the 

; Church; The cauſe of his forſaking us, is in 

[ our ſelves, we may thanke our (elves forit T | 

, 3. Thar though Chriſt deale thus with us, | 04{er, z, 

, Yernotwithſtanding, heenever leaves us wholly, | | 

f without ſome footeſtepps of his ſaving grace, and / 

Y everlaſting love, ſome remainaers = prints hee 

k leaves upon the ſoule, Soasit lingers after him, 

; [andneverreſtstill it find him, healwayes leaves 

: ſomething. There is never a totall deſertion: | 

, as we ſec here in Chriſts dealing, hee puts his 

7 | frzer into the hole of the dooxe, he ſtandsart the 

: (doorc,and leaves myrrh behind him, ſomerhi | 

: inthe heart that cauſctha lingering,aud "ctleſſ E 
affeRtion in herrowards Chriſt, fe 1 


i 4- That the Church by reaſon of this gratious obler. a. 
eding of Chriſt ( leaving ſumewbg behind him ) fr-4 
is ſenſible of her former unkindneſſe, is reflelſe) | 


ail 


Mitre 


wi.y _' _— 
our Weterrtoants ft AY ne » 
. —_ 


8 1 
1! 


24-5 


—_— 


— 


EE ee EG... 


'SzrmlX. and ſtirs up her ſelfe to indeavour more and mare, 


— 


oObſer.1. 


till ſhee have recovered her former communion, and 
| ſweet fellowſhip with Chriſt, which ſhe had before, 
Shee never gives over till Chriſt and ſheemeet 
againe in peace (as wee ſhall ſee in the pro-' 
ſecution,) Theſe be the chiefe points conſi- 
derable. 

Firſt, Chriſt doth uſe ſometimes to leave his 
Church, as here he doth, My Beloved had with. 
ar awne himſelfe, 8c. 

Burt

~1,140 words

Chriſt thus leaves his Church ir is 
true of all, bothofthe body and ob each par- | 
| ticular member of the Church, [7-: 
It is truz of the whole body of the! Church; | 1 | 
for you havethe Churchcomplaining, 7a 4.9. | 7n the whole 
14. Gcd hath forgotten me. Cam a mother forget Boi ww 
her child? ( ſaith God againe) ſo Pſal. 44. 9: | 
and in other places, the-Church complaines of'| 
forſakings, The Scripture is full of complaints 
in this kind. | 
Ir is true of the ſeverall members and eſpecially | 
of the moſt eminent members; as we ſee holy | 
10b complaines, as if God had ſet bim (ag it were) \ 1ob.7.2. 
4 but to ſhoot at, and had. oppoſed himſelfe 
againſt him. So David complaines (-Pſal. $8. 
IT, Pſal. 77. 9. and! Pſal60. 1: and'in other 
| Pſalmes) of Gods anger; Corrett mee not in-! 
thine anger. The Pſalmesare fultofthis; ſoas | if 
it would be time unproficably fpentro belarge\, _ I 
| in a point ſo clcare, that every one knoweth 
; well enough, who. reads and underſtands the | 
| Pſalmes.. So Tonab: likewiſe: felt a kind of for; Tonab. 2.425. | 
ſaking, when he was inthemiddeſt of theſea,' 
whenthewaves were witheyr;and:terrors within, | 
| when he was inthe middeſtof hed; ( as it were?) 
thus you ſee the inſtances cleererthe point. | 
The end;,,, that, God hath in-it;.are mary; | a | 
Firft,. To. indeave. hes: preſence» the' more” 18 wr, gre l rf 
which we. flighted.too. much:beforrr © It is | preſence. 
| our. + 312 


pe —_y 


eh a0 D— 


| 236 | But my Beloved © | 
Sx xm.1X-.|our corruption, the not valuing of things till | 
-——| they be gonc, wee ſct not the true price upon 

[chem when wee enjoy them, When weenjoy 

good things, we looke at the grievances which 
are mingled withthe good,and forger the good, 
which when it is gone then wee remember the 
Numb.11.5- [g00d. The Iſraclites could remember their 
onyons and garleeke, and forget their ſlaverie. 
So becauſe Manna was preſent, they deſpiſed!  Þ 
| Manna, and that upon one inconvenience it had, : 
Tt was erdinary with tham, Thus the corrupt ; 
| heart of man is prone in the enjoying of favours, | 5 

\TF ir have any grievance, it murnuwres at that, : 
| and it troubles and makes them forget all the ; 
goodnefle and fweeteneſſe of what they enjoy. x 
| Bur on the contrary when God withdrawcs 
thoſe good things from us, then we forget thoſe z 
former inconveniences, and begin tothink what | Þ 
good we had by them. This is the poyfonand a 


% 
M 4 "pw" —_— ee are 
' op IRS EiTie”  o e Ce pe aa ry Ons 
. —_ —_—_ f . Ls Ov, PO TT RO Ag $2 ag 
EE I So os © MN Ro oo ED TIES bet ng bor AER 
>. > > 4 =5 a /S Can - *z od it of” En be ; E” I S a ' oY 4 


corruption of our Nature. 
| "  Againe, Chriſt ſecmes to forſake 1s, to try the 7 
To trie thetrutb ryuth of che Graces and affettions in us, "whether 'd 


; $ | 
| ow —rpvn they be true ornot, and to cauſe us to make | 


after him, when hee ſeemes to forſake us, as 
, - | undoubtedly wee ſhall, wherethere istruth of 
grace planted inthe heartiin any meaſure, 
3- | And Imregardof others, he doth it toteach us 
To teach wwiſ-| þ,, 


mon avenly wiſdome how to deale with _ fn 4 
deale with | fiFHon, It makes us wiſe, tender, and ſucceſle- 

there Bl indealing with others, when wee have felt 

þ "-t-+ |thelike particular grievance our ſelves, as Gl. | 
MF } 6.1. Bretheren if 4 man be overtaken in a fault, 
4: WY 


 ————_ ——__ Nth. ——_— J - 
 — —_— 
On - ”* 


_— 


As 


—_ 


_ 


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| had withdrawnebimſelfe., | 24 "mb 


| Sur. IX. 


”] 


y ou that are [pt rituall reſtore ſach an oneinthe ſpirit 
of meekeneſse, conſiderong thy ſelfe, leaſt thou alſs 
be tempted, Experience of ſpirituall griefe in 
this kind, will make usfit, able and wiſe every 
way tO deale with others. | 
| This ſerves likewiſe To weane # from the | x, _ 
| world, in the plenty and abundance of all earthly | from the ' 
things; For takea Chriſtian that hath no crofſe| 794 | 
in the world, let him find ſome cſtrangement 
of Chriſt from his ſpirit, that he findsnot the 
comforts of the Holy Ghoſt, and that inlarge- 
ment which in formertimes he enjoyed, and all 
the wealth hee hath, the carthly contentments 
he enjoycs pleaſe him nor, nor can contentthar 
| {oule, which hath ever felt ſweet communion | 
with Chriſt, Againe, how ſhould we pray 
with, carneſtneſſe of affetion, Thy Kingdome 
come (in the time of proſperity, ) excepr | 
there were ſomewhat inthis kind to raiſe up the 
ſoule to defireto begone? Now itis -our ſub- 
jection to theſe alterations, and changes, eb- 
bings, and flowings, ſometimes to have the 
ſence of Gods lovein Chriſt, and ſometimes to | 
want it, ſometimesto feele his love, andſome. | 
timesagaine the fruits of his anger and dif, plea- 
ſure, which ſerves exceedingly to ſtirre up 
mens _ - Poo 2 , 
5. In this place heere, the eſpeciall end was s 

To corrett the ſecurity, and ill cavileb of the feorttls, Tr 
Church. | 6. 

| And likewiſe, To prepare the Church by this | To prepare th 
|deſertion, and ſeeming forſaking for neerer com- | 6 communion 
| f ©" anumon. withbim. ___ 


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{ 


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—— 


| ” ——2 eo er_ ooo 
__——— __ yy _—_— —— 


| SR 
| 249 | Sik 
SERM.IN-| warm. For indeed Chriſt did notforſake her, 
| 'buir to her feeling, to bring her'in'the'ſequell, 
- ' 'tb "have neerer *commitnion 'and ahion'with 
| hitgfelfe' then ever ſhee*had befote, God for- 
| ſakes, that he may hot forſake ; hee ſeemes 
ſtrange, that hee may be more friendly, this is 
Chtiſts ſage, hee perſonates an adverſary, whey 
he intends to ſhew the greateit tf efts of his love, 
as wee may {cc afterwards in the 'paſfages } 
following. | j 
7. And »lſo, To wake us to know throuzhly the \ 
That wee may | Hitterneſſe of ſine, that we may grow to a further 4 
now 157942" 9 | hatred ofthat which deprives us df ſo ſfweerea | Þ 
ternefſe of ſin is. | COtimunion 3 Wee thinke finne a trifle, and 
hever know it enough till 'the'time of tempera. 
tion, that conſcience be awakened and opened, 

tKir irappeares in its righit colottrs, if 

B$. 'And then againe, That wee ay know what 
| That wee may | Chriſt ſuffered, and underwent for us inthe ſaiceof 
| rafe _- Gods wrath, in the abſence of his favhr for atime., 
fafered This 'the humane Nature could 'never have 
| | ſuffered, if his divinity had withdraiwneit ſelfe, 
Now all of us muſt Gp of thit cup, whetcof 
"on { Chriſt dranke the dreggs, having ataſt what it 

4 | wid CThaikas PIE: w - { = 6 
[ | isto have Godto forſake us, forthe moſt patr, 
thoſe beleeverswho live any time, '( eſpecially 
| bi thoſe of great partes, ) 'God deales thus 
Bill | '| With, Weaker Chriftiahs Hee is moteindulgent 
it 4 { utito'; at ſich times'we know. of what uſe 2. 
| | | Mediatour is, and how miſerable our condition 


WE TO Ec. oy Mn EH SEE EF pSajact iu Bog C EI 
x,” 27 OW 3 + >a DI y 1 & 6 


—_— 


. 


| were'withour ſuch an 6 e, both'to have'borne! 
\ 8 | and overcome thewrathof God or'us, 'Which| 
\ | mA burden] 
nl | 

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| Let us not-therefore cenſure-any Chriſtian, 


had mithdrawnerbingelfe. = 


_— _ | 
— 
- 


burden hee c6uld never; have undergone, bur} S® 
| had. ſunke under it, but for. the Hypoſtatrcall: 


| HA 08s 


| whea we findthattheir courſehath beenegood); 


L 


ſomcrimes they thinke. themſelves forſaken, 
and the world thinks them ſo too, that God re- 
zards them, not, They are people of no reſpe&t 


had forſaken them; ſo they 


was thus.with the Head ofthe..C 


| member ; neither is _ir-fir-wee. ſhoul 


' comforts.. and. peaces. as may - ſtand-with" our 


 fſoules beſt goods. and wee ſhould ns muck take 


| heed,of cenſuring: our ſelves in-rhat condition, 
as if we-werg. rejected and:caft away of God: 


| Wee-muſt: judge our, ſelves at ſuch'times by 
| Fajth, and-nat, by een looking to the pro- 
miſcsand Word ok Godyandnorto our preſent| 


- 


f{enſcandapprehgations 


OO —— 


| V ſe.1. | 
| : , yp” h .. _| other Chriſitans| 
and gratious, yet: notwithſtanding they deeme; | 

| to wart-comfort, letcus not wonder atthem, as: 
if God. had wtesly. forſaken: them; indeed: 


cither-to. God-or to others; as you have-the+ 
| Church inthe Pſalmes complaining, as if God 
- thinke themſelves: 
forſaken, and the world thinks them ſotoo, and 
negle&stheia. Therefare.in-ſo dooing:we-ſhall | 
cenſure the, generation of ithe- Righteous. It 
Tale, with- 

| the, whole Church, . and -withy every-particular: 
F payne | 

enjoy the ſence-of Gods: love. Chriſt by- hea-/ 
 venly wiſedqgme, diſpenſcth of his-ſweereneſſs; 


_ Againestthigbe.ſo, Learne re» pugpare-and- 
logke for t-þefero handeandte peplomjoyrounce 
| O 


Not to cenſure, 


wanting com-|. 
fort. 


Plal. 44.9. 


——————. 
ky 


S——— 


V IG o*Do 

To prepare 
and loeke for 
« de{ertion. 


| EIIEEY 


—— we —— 
— — —_— 


| 


| 


—  —_—— — 


ED EE LESS 


————————— 


2 +9 3 
SERM.IN. 
- | 


That wee may 
know throughly 
what the bite 


op 
T bat wee may 


taſte a little 
what Chriſt 


faffered 


| Chtiſts uſage, hee perſonates an adverſary, when 


ternefe of ſin is, | COMMUNION ; 


Chriſt 


—_—_— 


| with, weaker Chr 
\ unto; ar'fich times'we know of whit'uiſe 2, 
Mediatour is, and how miſerable our condition! 


mui. For indeed Chriſt did notforſake her, 
bur to her feeling, to bring her'inthe'ſequell, 
to "have neerer *communion 'and anion'with 
himfelfe'theh ever ſhee had befote, God for- 
ſakes, that he may hot forſake 5 hee ſeemes 
ſtrange, that hee may be more friendly, this is 


he intends ro ſhew the greateit #ffefts of hu love, | 
as wee may ſec afterwards in the'paſfages 
followirg. | 
And olſo, To wake us to know throuthly the 
bitterneſſe of ſine, that we may grow to a further 
hatred ofthat which deprtves us af ſo \vecte'a 
Wee thinke ſinne a trifle, and 
never know it enough till the'time of tempera. 
tion, that conſcience be'awakened and opened, 
tHir irappeares in its right colors. - gs 
'And then againe, That wee Way know whar 
fuffered, and underwent for us inthe ſoice of 
Golds wrath, in the abſence of his favbar for atrme.) 
"This 'the humane Nature could "never have 
ſuffered, if his divinity had Withdrawne itſelfe, 
Now all of us muſt ſip of that cup, whetcof' 
Chriſt dranke the dreggs, having ataſt what it 
isto have God to forſake us, 'for the moſt pitt, 
thoſe beleeverswho live any tine, '( eſpecially 
thoſe of great perees, ) 'God deales thus 
|ſRiahs hee is moteindulgent 


] 


were'without ſuch an pne, both'to have borne: 


\ and overcome thewrathof God for us, "Which, 


——_—__— —— 


burden] 


_ orb. a Er Dan za PETE 0) A TT OO 
SS CREE LG ET SB Iv out PE = I 
mt 'y Rt "A" $4 _ po i : oy” 2 4 wt nn + 


A 
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8 Y 
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A 
$6 
We 


had mithdrawne-bimelfe. = 


-- 


—— 


burden hee could never: have undergone, but 


| 


Let us not-therefore cenſure any Chriſtian, 


| 


| When WE fin? thattheir courſe hath becnegoods! 
| and gratious, yet: notwithſtanding they 4eeme: 


he 
had. ſanke under it, but for. the Hypoſrat:call, . 


| 41A ORs 


to want.comforr, let.us not -wonder-atthem, as 


ſomcrimes. they thinke themſelves forſaken, 
and the world thinks them ſo too, that God ve. 
cards them, not, They are people of no reſpect 


had forſaken them, ſo they 


was thus.with the Head ofthe. C 


if God: had witesly. forſaken: themg indeed: 


either-to. God: or to others; as you haye-the: 
Church inthe Pſalmes complaining, as if God 
thinke themſelves: 
forſaken, and the world thinks them ſotoo, and} 
negleRsthem. Therefare.in-ſo dooing-weſhall | 
cenſure. the, generation ofithe- Righteous, Tt. 
ch, with 


| the, whole Church, . and -withr every-particular 


| member ; neither is. it fir. wee, ſhould jalwayes: 


enjoy the ſence-of Gods: love. Chriſt by-hea- 


 venly wiſedome; dilpenſcth of his-ſweereneſſe; 
| comforts.. and: peaceg. as may - ſtand-with'our| 


 foules beſt good; and wee ſhould ns auch take: 
heed of cenſuring: our ſelves in-that condition, 


| nſeandapprehqaſions 


Fajth, and nat by eling 


miſcsand Word ok Gadyandnorto our preſent 


Againgstthigbe.ſo, Learne to wpare and: 
looke tor wþeferc handandte wht! megrounds 
bf 


ll. 


as if we-werg.rez<ted and :caſunaway-of God: } 
Wee-muſt: judge our, ſelyes at ſuch'times by 
; looking\to the pro-| 


230 


”—m— 


—— 


Vſe.t. 


_—___ 
OY 


| 


Not to cen/ure\, : 


other Chriſtians |. 


wanting com-|. . 


fort. 


Plal. 44.9. 


Y ſe, '2s 
To prepare 
and louke for 


f) 


- de{ertion. 


—_ 


6 EI 


ee mac 


o 


pm. 


—_—— JS 


251 But my Beloved 


Sz rm lX.! of comfort, ſome promiſesout of the word, and | 
= 8 kecpe a good conſcience. O it is a heay 
| (thing, when God ſhall ſcemeto be angry wit 
2 us, and our conſcience at the ſang time ſhall 
|accuſe us, when the Divell ſhall lay finnes hard 
to our charge, and ſome affliction at the ſame 
time lic heavy upon the ſore and guilty ſoule.] | 
If we have not ſomewhat layedup before hand, 
whar will become of the poore ſoule, when 
| Heaven, and Earth, and Hcll,and all ſhall ſeeme 
to be againſt it. There are few that cometo 
Heaven , but they know whar theſe things 
meane., Ir is good therefore to looke for| 
| em, and to prepare ſome comforts before 
hand. s $0 
Burt what here ſhould be the inward moo- 
ving cauſe 2 It is in the Church her ſclfe, for! 
marke rhe coherence ; ſhe had rurned of Chriſt 
with excuſes, pretences, and delatory anſwers, 
and now preſently upon & Chriſt forſakes her in 
regard of herfecling, and of the ſweet comfort 
ſhe formerly enjoyed, Thepoint is. 
Obſer.1

~529 words

hearts we ſhall find it | 
ſelves. ſo, and uſually the caufes in ourſelves are theſe, 
1, \|asitwas inthe Church here. 1. When we are 
| wnkindtoChriſt, andrepell the ſweet motions of 
2 the Spirit. 2. When wepmproove not the pretious 
3- |ameanes of Salvation that weenjoy. 3. When wee 


are careleſſe of our converſation and company. 
4* |4. Whenwelinger after carnall liberties, andeaſe, 


5 
——  —.. — a —— —_ —— 


CO EET” 


| 1 opened to my Beloved, &c. 253 


__— — — — 


' 
nec cone rr rt 


5, When we yerld tocarnall policie, and ſhifts to] SEM 1X. 
keepe us of fromthe power of Religton, to goe! 5. 
on in aluk« warme courſe. 6&6. When we linger. 
aftcy earthly thinzs and comforts, and wrap our 
{elves vp in flcſhly pollicy for eaſe, 7. When = 
we t1emble not at Geas judgements, and, threat- 
nings, and at the ſienes of them; with many ſuch 
things. Where theſe diſpoſitions are, we need 
not wonder if wee find not the comforts of | 
Chriſt, and of the Holy Ghoſt in us with'the 
oratious preſence of his Spirit; the' cauſe isin 
our ſelves. Brut ſccurity hath beene ar large | 
fpoken of before, where the Churches ſieepe 
was handled, therefore the point ſhall'not be 
: here inlarged, bur onely ſome uſe made of it, 
; as may lerve forthe preſcnt purpoſe. / 
; It Chiiſt ſhould take away the comforts that | 7/e.x. 
| we enjoy,. and remoove himſclfe; and his 
dwelling from us, (for he is now' yet among | 
us and knocks at our doores,) doe we not give 
him juſt cauſe to depart © what a ſpirit of ſlum- 
ber poſſcfſeth us, which will be awaked with | 
nothing to ſeeke after Chriſt 2 how few lay| 
: hould upon God, prefſe upon him, wreſtle wit 
him by prayer ? to hide themſclves before the| 
| evill day come, asthey ſhould doe. Therefore 
\if Chriſt have abſented himſclfe a long time 
| from the Church in generall, and withdrawne 
the comfort- and preſence of his ordinances | 
and in particular withheld the ſweet comfofts 
| Ot ourſpirits, and our peace, ſotharwe ſee him 
in the contrary ſignes of his diſpteaſure' and | 
| g "FL anger,: — 


—— _ WOT” 


at aw wb AC 


SSIS + - > OTIS 


ae A A 4 - 


— — 


. 
— 
— 


eM y Beloved put in bus hand, & c 
Sunnllk. , aSif hee did ny reſpect us 
—_— = | ven, hin juſt ca In, 
ſee bere how rhe Church uſed Chriſt and 
doe we with the like (ccurity, and a Jickef 
| lumber, with uakindnefſe, notwithſtanding all 
the pravocations that Chriſt uſethto winne us , 
[hee leaves wnot, untill he be left farſt, for he 
 []defiresto have ncerer acquaintance,communion. 
( [and fellowſbip withtheſoule; as we have ſcene 
0 inthe farmer verſe, My love, my dove, my unde- 
| filed, Open tomee,&&c. Therefore if we doenor 
| injoy more acquaintance with Chriſt then we | 
| doc, and walke mote in the comforts of the 
Holy Ghoſt ; it is mcerely from our owne in- 
hg diſpoſition.and ſecurity. Therefore let us cen- 
The beff wayto ſure our ſelves in this kind, and not call Chriſh 
recover Firl-, .o enemic, as if he had tren, and God had 
wal eſe | Eorfaken. Take heed of ſuch a ſpirit of mur- 
w 1 | muriag, If ſuch a ſtate befall us, leruslabourto 
_ | fay our hand upon our mouth, and to jaſtifie | 
Chriſt Ic is juſt with thee tlms to leave me,to| 
| give mee qver to this terrrour,. to deale thus 
' with,me,thar have dealt ſounkindly withthee; | 
foro juſtife God, and.accuſc our felvcs, is the 
| obfer.; _—_ = to recaver fpirirmall comfort. : 


at 


_A——— 


for the third Point. Thes howfarver 
 Chniſt. be provoked. by the Charches inzras: td, 
| drowſenſſe, and cartleſſe carriage, taleaue her in 
| | negard of ber feeling, audef inward comfort. 18 
watwithſband:ag he 16 ſo gracious, ac.teleaueſome: 
| | 4lng brbindbim, i Lg Ia that bee had 

wat left the Chard dttogetber, but onely in foe | 


re | r egard. 


dl. 


RAINS O XS TORS Fo 9e EY FI , FAKS E547 _ oy 
i ET SOT Re OP. I 


_— 


My Beloved put in hithend,&c . 


{ He dint leaves myrrh, andrthen her'fineers 


regard, For howſocver Clnift « in regard of 
ſome order of his providexce ) teave it, yer in 
regard of another order of hs providence, -care 
and mercy, he doth not leaveat, ſoas-one way 
which he takes muſt ſomerimes give place ro 
another way of his working in or ts 4 
Sometimes he is preſent an a wayof comfort, 


countenance, yet be is then prefent 


that is, ina way of humbling theoule, lertingiit! 
ſee .its finne, So here howſoever Ohuift bad 
withdrawae himiclfte in regand of this:manner 
of his dealing, in refpe& of comfort, 'that the 
Church did not. now ſee hisgrace, favour, wet | 
ke left behind hima ſpiritof grace, to affert The 
heart with griefe, ſorrow, and ſhame, and:to 
ſtirre up her indeavours toſeckeafterhim, 1.as 
it is ſaid here, ) 1rofe to:open to my Beloved md 
my hands dropt myrrh, and my fingers ſweet favel. 
ling myrrh, upon the handles of thetockes. 
Here obſerve theſe three things 'which ſhall be 
briefly named becauſe they ſhall be royched 
elfc where. =þ4 
Chrifts grace us the cauſe of our grace, 


drop myrrh : -our oyle is from his oyle, the 


headl beeryy -annoynted, the oyle ran downe y0rhe 
ſkirts of i a avons garments; Ontofhis Jilweſie we 


thatis one erder of his diſpenſation: and whon | 

- | he ſees that that is negledted, rhenihee wich- || 

drawes his comforts and hides an pom) 
Hl in an 


other arder and way, though wediſcerne irner, | 


— 


IX 


a. —_— 
On Ve ens” 
: 
. 


meneive grace for grate, _ is, ourgraceisam- | 
2 


ſwerable 


- 


——__wuw*” w— 


| 


| 


V | 
oh 


2 | -  Butmy Beloved © 


Gr MlX.! of comfort, ſome promiſesout of the word, and | 


to kecpe a good conſcience. O it is a heay 
thing, when God ſhall ſeemeto be angry with 
us, arid our conſcience ar the ſame time ſhall | 
-Taccuſeus, when the Divell ſhall lay finnes hard 
to our charge, and ſome afflition at the ſame 
time lic hcavy upon the ſore and guilty ſoule, 
If we have not ſomewhat layedup before hand, 
what will become of the poore ſoule, when 
| [Heaven, and Earth, and Hcll,and all ſhall ſeeme 
|ro be againſt it.., There-are few that cometo 


L ++ theſe egy 
to looke for| 
nforts before 


wo | 
- ; 
LY 
« 


\rreqy \ar Ki 
\ 7 inward moo- 
Y | her ſclfe, for! 
— ned of Chriſt 
N WP i CON mw anſwers, | 
 wlakesherin| 
weet comfort 
| i 15. 

obſer.. 1099 w126-varje Teſts 112 our ſelves why Chriſt 
withdrawes comfort from our ſoules. | 

Cauſes of de- 


nf If we ſearch our owne

~141 words

after earthly things and comforts, and wrap our. 
{elves up in ficſhly pollicy for ealg. 7. When 


n:nes,and at the ſignes of them; with many ſuch' 
things. Where theſe diſpoſitions are, weneed 
not wonder if wee find not the comforts of 


Chriſt, and of the Holy Ghoſt inus with'the | 


oratious preſence of his Spirit; the cauſe isin 


our ſclves. Brr ſecurity hath beene ar large |- 
fpoken of before, where the Churches fleepe | 
was handled, therefore the point ſhall not be | 


. | ; by | 
here inlarged, bur onely ſome uſe made of it, 


5 my Beloved, $66, || 


as may ſerve forthe preſcnt purpoſe. HAT 
If Chiiſt ſhould take away the comforts that | 


| we enjoy, and remoove himſelfe; and his 


dwelling from us, ( for he is now yet among | 
us and knocks at our doores,)) doe we not give 

him juſt czuſcto depart * what a ſpirit of lum- 
ber poſſcſſeth us, which will be awaked with 


— 


him by prayer 2 to hide themſclves before the| 
evill day come, asthey ſhould doe. Therefore 
if Chriſt have abſented himſclfe a long time 

from the Church in generall, and withdrawne| 
the comfort and preſence of his ordinances | 
and ir} particular withheld the ſweet comfofts 


of our ſpirits, and our peace, ſotharwe ſee him | 
in the contrary ſignes of his diſpleaſure and | 
| S 


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SITBES 


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— —_— 


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AQs.9-39- 


| 


254. | 3 Beloved put in bis hand, &c- 


, 25if hee did not regard and reſpert us 
ck iver, hin juſt cauſe ſoto doe. Wee 


| Tinjoy more acquaintance with Chriſt then we 


The bef wayto ſure our ſelycs in this kind, and nor call Chaiſt 


| recover T4 


———- '"*"\ AN.CNEMIE, 25 if he had tten, and God had 


hee leaves us not, until} he be left farſt, for he 


ſce bere how the Church uſed Chriſt and 
doe we with the like (ecurity, anda & tniner 
ſlumber, with unkindnefſe, notwithſtanding all 
the pravocations that Chriſt uſeth to winne us , 


deſires to have neercer acquaintance,communion 
and fellowſbip with the foule; as we have ſcene 
inthe farmer verſe, My love, my dove, my unde- 
filed, Open to mee,&c. Therefore if we doenor 


doc, and walke

~106 words

heart was affected full 
of ſorrow and griefe for myunkind dealing with 
Chriſt. —_—_ _ 
( that were afor 
oricfe, Cajon had 4 


planted affetio 


: For, hath 
us, and joyned them with. 


| tonSare 


_ ſetup atkronein ourownhearrsto take 


| \ ſorrow and 


| conſcience, asc 
| So that, when 
| finne, either of 0 
ready to be the execurioners within us. | 
| | Thus roprevene cternall daymation, God harh 
S 

and corredtion by our avme affections, pod 1 
,as herethe Chureh ſaith, 
| _ _ were tarned is nee, It was a ſhame 


ad; pe ng anole Chrift that 


-wich the 
conſcience accuſerh 5-0 | 


peo to. her. 


that is, forrow and gricfe- wore upon-me for 
| mpunkind dealing 


263 


yholalioiions wereſtirred up AM 
and ewe) to-godly| 


a or Commiſſion, _ 


My carved in met, | 


| | 


The| 


: 


X 
1 s 
” Pe 


—  — 


| obſerv. 


/outragiouſly, and thercby.; rayfit-themſelves 


| 264 | My bowels were moved'in mee. | 
b [ITT þ$ The obſervation from hence is, was 
" —| That ſecurity, and acold dull ſtate, produceth a 
Obſerv. contrary temper - that is, thoſe rhat are cold,dull, 
| ſecure,and put of Chriſt, he ſuffers them ro fall 


into ſharpe ſo1rowes and priefes. | 
We uſually ſay, cold diſcaſes muſt have hot | 
and ſharp remedies ;z Iris moſt true ſpiritually, 
ſecurity, which is a kind of lethargy, ( a cold 
diſcaſe ) forgetting of God, and onr duty to 
him, nwſt have a hot and ſharpe' cure; And 
the Icthargy is beſt cured by a Burning Ague. 
So Chriſt deales here,:hc purs his fingerin ar 
thehole of the doore, and leaves grace behind 
\to worke upon the bowels of the Church, to 
make her grieve and be aſhamed forher unkind | 
dealing. - Thus he cures ſecurity by ſorrow. | 
This 1s the beſt concluſion of 'finne. . 
And we'may obſcrve withall, That even | 
ſinnes of omiſcion they bring eriefe

~1,230 words

to bring men to hell if God be not the more 


{ 


| 


may read/his deſtiny, (though he have becne 
never ſo good ) nay the, rather, ifhcebe good, | 


mercifull. Iris not required onely thatwe doc 


|noharme, and keepe our ſelves from outward 
evills, bur we muſt doe good ina good manner, | 


and have acareto be fruittull, and watchfull, 
which it wee doe not, this temper will bring 


dullnefſe, wee ſeerhe Churchis left by Chriſt; 
and. her boyells are tnrued.,in her > For.careles 
negle, and omiſſion of duty to God, is a pre- 
ſage, and. forerunner ; of ſome downfall and 
dejzetion,. And commonly.it is true, whena 
man/is in a-ſecure and carclefle eſtate, .a.man 


Such a one is indanger to fall into ſome ſharpe 
puniſhment, orinto ſome line; for of all ſtates 
andre;mpers, .God will not{uffer a Chriſtian to ' 


\ 


\performethings comfortably to God, or him- 
ſclfe, or.tq.others, a.dead..ſecurs eſtare. is ſo 


beina ſecure, lazy,dcad ſtate, when he cannot 


griefe, ſhame, and ſorrow afcerwards; As here | 
even for finnes of omiſſion, deadnefle,, and | 


harcfull 


| 


, nor ſthooke. of | 


| 
ſe. 


PI 


Em I errrn—n——  _—— — — | 


"1 


þ 


266 | eAy bowelis were moved tn mee, | 
| ]Suami IK. | parefall ro him, (decay in our firſt love, this 
 Inkewarme temper) that He will not endureit, 
| OY i either 'gocs before ſome grenre ſinne, crofſe, | 
__ | affiition,or judgement. 
My bowells were moved #1 me. 
And good reaſon;it wasa ſuitable correQion, 
| to the ftane wherein ſhee offended. For Chriſt 
| his bowells _ WE me love} 
and pitty, Ay love, my dove, my wn ; in 
| Which Cafe, flnenegiotiing him, it was f thee 
ſhould find weving of bowels in another ſence: 
(out of fove too) but in ſhame and mourning, 
| Chrifthere leaves her roſccke after him, that | 


had waired and attended her leifurcbeforc, as 
weſhall ſee afrer. 
"The next thing wee may hence obſerve, in| 
A © [hat, "That her bowels were rarnad im ber from| 
Ip ſomcthing left in the hole of the doore bythe 
| Spinrof' rift, 's, 
lobfer. That Chriſt hath our offe ions in bis rover. 
| £- "ext. | | 
| He hath our bowck inhisrule andgoverne- 
| ment, more then we our {elves have. Wee 
; cannor of our ſelves rule our oriefe, flame, 
| ſorrow, or ſuch affe@ionsastheſe, The nwiſcſt 
| man inthe world canot award priefe , and 
Torrow, when God will -tirne * upon his 
| _|{'bowells, 'and make a man aſhamed and con- | 
| fomdcd in himfelfe. All the wirand pellicy 


bs AUO HEY —_ 
= 


| in the world ccamorſnpprefſe thoſe affedions. 
| _  |ForChriſtrakesowrheans, The hewrs of King 
| well | 

as 


mp Lt. (are in "ris hand, as the rivers of water, as 
| - 


— 
et... A 


$ My bawells were moved in me. 


as the hearts of ordinary 

Ifhee ſet any thing 
and caſt it downe, is ſhall afflit ir, if it bebut a 
conceir, if hee will rake the raines from 
the ſoule, and leave it to its owne paſhon, re- 


—_ 


perſons. 


guards our ſoulcs with peace, by commaunding 
of tranquillity ;} So as ler him bar leave it to 


Achi who being left to himſelfe, didreare 
himſclfe in pecces; Gai-allo being rhus left, 
was diſquieted , tormented, a 
himſelfe. So Ids mn this cafe, being divided 
Chriſt bur leave us to our owne paſſion of for- 
row ; what wilt become of us bur mifery 2 
Hee hath more rule therefore of our paſſions 


rule them graciouſly, nor can we ftay them 


upen the ſoule to affiiRt ir) 


moving away its guard, ( tor he by his Spirir} 
| its ſelfe, and ir will tearc ir fele in ſunder, as| 


wracked 
in himſelfc, you ſee what became of him ; Ler| 


then we our ſelves have, becauſe we cannot | 


..2 Sam.,17.23, 


Gen. 4+ 
; Mat, 27.334» 
| 


| 


| 


when we would. | 

Therefore this ſhould firike an awe in us of 
| God, with a care to pleate him: For, there is! 
| nat the wiſeſt man inthe world, bur if he re-| 
move his guard from-hisſoule, and' teave hin 
to himſcltc ;, if there were no Divell in hell, yer 
he would make hins his owne tormentor and 
exccntioncr. Therefore the Apoſtle makes 
this ſweete promiſe, Phil.4.7. He bids them 
to God; Ani the prace of God whrebpaſ< 
ſeth all underfrewd:ug had f avad'} Ho 
ſoules,&e. So the worgis in the originall. Tt 


| 


yſe. 


!S$2great matter fox the koeping of Gods people, 


£0; 


— 


> — — _—_— 4 | : - 
288  MAMy bowels were moved in mee. 


| 
| 


\ Sz xm.lX.;to havetheir ſoules guarded, 
——T—| . Her bowells wcre turned in her. Y 
| obſer. Here againe, 'as. the concluſion of allthis, 
Fi! - {weſceing this cſtareofthe Church, may won- 
| [der at Chriſts carriage towards her in this 
: Theſ;z, |world. - Chriſt is wondertull in his Saizs, and 4 


in his gyodneſſe rowards them, Sometimes al. | 
| 


luring them, as we {ce Chriſt the Church here; 
wondrous in paticnce, notwithſtanding thei 
 |Iprovocation ofhim ; wondrous in his deſerttons, 

wondrous in leavinz ſomething behind him in 
| deſertiois Tholethat arc his he will not leave 
| them without grace, whereby they ſhall ſecke 
h | him againe. Nay, the falling our of lovers, 
ſhall be the renewing of freſh and new love, 
More conſtant then everthe former was. Thus | 
our bleſſed Saviour goes beyond vs in our de- 
ſerts, taking advantage ( even) of our ſecurity 
( for our greater good ) making all worke to 
good in the iſſue, which: ſhall end in a more 
| neere and cloſe communion berweene Chriſt” 
and his Church, then ever- before. Carnall 
| men feele not theſe changes, ebbingsand flow- 
Wh” ings; they are not acquainted with Gods 
| forſakings. Indeed their whole life is nothing 
| | | but aforſaking of God, and Gods forſaking of 
them, who gives them outward comfons, 
| _ | peace and friends in the' world, whercinthey 
{ollace themſelves, but for inward communion 
| with him, any ſtrength to holyduries,or againſt 
1 : {inne, for to be inſtruments for Gods honour,) 
| L-7 ha ſervice, to doe any 1661 ranma 
| | or. 


—— — — -—-- —— PX — 


—_— ——_— —Cc —_— 


"RR cw” 


| My bowels were movedinmee. | 


Wh 
ry 


Lo ———————. AA 


> ——O———— 
| — — | ———— 


————C—__ ce  _ — n— 


| For they live here to ſerve their owne turnes, 
| Jeaving their ſtate ard inheritance behind them. 


' The Scripture ſaith, They have no changes, there- 


fore tley feare not God, andſo =_ goe downe 
. to Hell quictly, and ſecurely, O but itis other- 


| wiſe with Gods Children, they are toſſed up | 


| and downe,God will notſufferthem to proſper, 
or live long in a ſecure, drowſy ſinfull ſtate, 


that ſuch an one as yet hath no ſaving grace, 
| nor thar he yet belongs to God, ſeeing Chriſt 
hates ſuch an eſtate, and will nor ſuffer his tobe 
long therein, but will ſhift and remove them 
from veſſel] to veſſell, from condition to con- 
dition, till hee have wrought in them thardiſ- 
poſition of ſoule that they ſhall regardand 
love him more and more, and have 
| Neerer, and neerer communion 


with him. 


* » 
- 


The end of the ninth Sermon, 


the continuance wherein is a fearcfull evidence, | 


269 
SB x. VIII, 


: Pſal, L 19, 


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SERMON. 


y Ca £0 M I. ra 


ſpate, ſoupht him but could not find 
in, 1 call 


m, 1 called him but hee gave no 
anſwer, Wl 
= Hus we ſee tharthe life ofa 

6/7 an Chriſtian is trouble upon 

TAP Ke Otroubleas wave upon wave, 

God will net ſuffer us to 

& reſt inſecurity,burone way 


' orother he will fire us our 


4 2970 


wee, 


| Fopened to my Beloved, but my| _ 
| Beloved had withdrawne himſelfe,| 
| | and was gone:my ſoule failed when hel 


| 


S axK X, 


FN # of our ſtarting hoſes, and | 
make us to runne after him, how much better | 
| KR 2 ; he WETE 


PEE CE AC A —  — 


pn ET 


BY 


- 271 | F roſe to opn to my Beloved, © 


__—_—— 
. 


.| were itfor usthen ro doe our workes chearfully 
and joyfully, ſo rorune a we may obtaine, they | | 
| ro wigs wn hurried up and downe, andthrough ; 
IE our owne defaulr comming into deſertions ; 
and. there recciving rebukes and blowes and| 
delayes ere we have peace againe, as it fell out. 
with the Church in the ſequell, forthis text is 
bur.the beginning of her ( ſeeming ) miſery, 
The watch-men after this, found her, and wounded | 
her,&c. But Heaven is moxe worth then all, | 
now that her affeRions are ſer on fire, from 
| thence ſhee beſtirrs her ſelfe, is reſolute to find 

out her beloved, whom ſhe highly valucs above 

E all this world. How her affeQions were ſtirred 


_——— 


| by Chriſts putting in his finger at the hole of 
| [rhe doorewe have heard. Now followes her | 
| aionthecupon, for here is riſing, opening, ſce- 


king,callingand enquiring after Chriſt, 
Attion followes affettion, Affer her bowells 
are moved ſheariſeth and opencth;from whence 
we may further obſerve, wb 
1 obſer. That where truth of aff eft;on-s, it will di ſcover | 
it ſelfe in the outward man, one way 'or other. 
If there be any affeion of love and piety to 


God, there will be eyes liftup, knees befided 


t - |downe, and hands ſtretched forth to Heaven. 
| '* © [If there be any griefe for ſine, there will be 
= - rhe face dejected, the eyes looking downe, 
| ſome expreſſion or other : If there be adcſire 
| there will be a making farth to the thing de- 


\fired. For, theourward-man is commanded by 
{ ( . ol * . » © 
WW! | 2 "ng inward, which hath a kind of ſoveraigne 


commanding ' 


VO OREN FI TOI TIO TW Ike 8 4K cp tee? 
Bos AP Þ RTE; ES FD, Hae TLV 


| | My ſoule failed when he [pake. ſ 


' and it doth it, ſpeake this and ir ſpeakes it, | 
therefore thoſe whoſe courſes: of life are not 
 gratious, their affeRtions and their hearts are 


| wrought upon her, then ſhe remembred whar 


| | had withdrawne himſelfe, forthar is thetmea- 


— —— 


her ſoule failed after he ſpake; for ſo it ſhould | 
| beread, thatis, after ſhe remembred his ſpeech 
| - to her: for, now when ſhe opened he was not 
| _ . | there, thereforchecould nor ſpeake to her. 


© w_—_— 
GE — — —— 


the actions will-be ſitable. Her bowells were i 


© | were effe&uall now unto her, eſpecially when |. 


—— —_—_ 


commanding power over it ; and ſayes,doethis: 


not good, for where the affeRions are good, 


moved in her, and preſently ſhe ſhewesthe truth 
of her affe&ion, in that ſhe makerh after him. |: 
'1. Hey ſoule failed when hee ſpake,, 

2. Shee makes after him, © © © + 
Ay ſeult failed when he ſpake, I ſoight himbut | 
Iconld not find pim,” i © -75 7 EET Ton 
Of Chriſts withdrawing himſelfe we ſpake | 
in generall before, wherefore we will leave that | 
and proceed. _ | 7 
"  CMy ſonlefailed when he a 
That is, her ſoule failed when ſhe remembred

~263 words

ſaid : all thoſe ſweet allurements | 
ſhe ſaw thatafeerthoſe ſweetallurements Chriſt 


ning of theſe wordes : ( My ſoule failed when hee 
ſpake unto mee) Hee did not ſpeake riow : bur 


m—_— 


-” <— 


mm 


'O 
By 
> | 
"I 8-| 
4, 


[oh, n 4+ 26, 


fi | |fontualliry, hearghi 


| "293 | eMyſoute failed when ba (phe, 


| vemembrance of it. E 
| Tothoſcthataregraciousitwill be effeQuill 


Former things to their remembrance; for God 


|ycares after, when God awakes our conſciences. 


1 | that conſcience ſhall nor awake in this wor 


The Word of Chriſt bawſoever far the preſeat it 
be nt effetbuall, yet afterwards it will be in the 


when the Holy Ghoſt comes to ſeale it farther } 
upan their heart: Chriſt ſpake many things to 
his Dsſciples which they forgot, bur whea after- 
wards the Holy Ghoft the comforter was come, 
his office was, #9 bring all things to thar remem. 
brance that they had forgotten before. The Holy 
Ghoſtaughtrhem not new things, bug broughr 


will make the word effeuall at one time or 
other, perhaps the word we heare is noteffe&- 
uall for the preſent, it may afterwards, many 


And as this is true of Gods Children, th: 


till many yearcs after, 1d it is true alſo of 
thac are not Gods Children, they thinks | 

| they (hall never heare againe of tholc things 
they heare, perhaps they will take order by 


rd1ning of their hearts ( and 
through Gods judgements withall concurring ) | 


but i ſhall awake one day ; for jt is put into 
the heart to take Gods par: and to witneſſe 


againſt ws for our finnes, It hall haye and per- 
__ its office hereaftor, uſe it as you will now, 


and it will preach over thoſe things againe 


ofth 


ſced now ſowne in them perhaps will not grow 


that you now heare. You ſhall hoare againe 
| crabur it thall be abacrcn hearing, Yew 
W 


__——_—\ 


d 
AAS MERE od edged oe BEE ES, i ni on Ae YR gl 
POIs” CIR Af RE We Pig Ds LOW af 9 No A . 
£2 cop he beg thag? i IE , oe 6 WR > Ie Of, OE a Cu: Ve 5 


| rs enle Jakawhen he jpake . 274 | 


uu may ay heare froitfully to doe us pood, bur [SER X.| 
afterwards we ſhall callto mind what we have} TT 
nd en Dives + 
: ( wee know ) had Arafes a Prophets to | Luk.16., 
j infirua-him, but he never heeded ridge his I" 1 - 
Y life, untill afterwards ro his torment. So men | | 
; never heed what they heareand reads, 
3 of all and lay their hag rey VE | | 
; God will bring them a wo remome | | 
| brance: but becauſe it is a point nay 1 

| corrforrtorthe Chutch. EY 
| | Iaboarweallefes ro make thisuſeofir, ro). _ 
| be diligert and Careful ro heare and nt Vþe. FE 50

~271 words

upon the ordinances of God, fot howſoever 77 witead 4 G7 
that we Heare is not effeQuall for: The prefent Whit | crdinanter of | F; 
bur ſeemes as dead ſeed caſt into'the heare, yer God . 
| God will give it « body fer, as the 
| Fpeakes, ac onerimeorother, Andcharwkich! 
we heate howrhe Holy Ghoft will bring itto | 
vut temembrance when wee ſtand mtnoft need 
of it. P 
My ſoulefailed when hee ſpake, | | 
or was in aſpirirudl faces and *deliqui- | 

tis withdrawing, whence the point] 


bent: leis, 


That Chrifl dothleave hs Church þ ſometimes WH! 


4 


: TY} 
: bring it very low i their owe appreberfions, that | Ie 8 | 
g their brarts fayle them for want of his yrefonee. 

| _ |So'trwas With David, fo with Tondh, fowith Ls 09g | 


the Church, a 1. weſce itzrlarpe. 
The necefity tr ſoules and: _— 
require 'this, % ſometimes a body'may be {6 | Reaſov, | 
T4 6 corrupt|_ SES. 


{| 


Fo 


SS — 


1Ovſer. 


| 


| 


[oh.1 4-26. 


| 293. | & failed Hee 
SuxM. Ne The Word of Chriſt bowſoever for the preſent it 
be wt effebuall, yet afterwards it will be in the 
rem:mbrance of it. 


upon their hear: Chriſt ſpake many things ta | 


I 7 foul: failed when bz [pthe.. 


—_ —— ——__ _  ——— R——— 


Totholc that are gracious it will be effeQuill 
when the Holy Ghoſt comes to ſeale it further | 


his D;ſciples which they forgot, bur whea after- 


wards t Holy Ghoft the comforter was come, 
his office was, #9 bring all things tothar remem. 
brance that they had forgotten before. The Holy 
Ghoſttaughtthzm not new things, bug brought | 
ormer things to their remembrance', for God 

will make the word effeQuall at one time or 
other, perhaps the word we heare is noteffe&- 
uall for the preſent, it may afterwards, many 
«-a2wac afrevauhen Godawakcs gr conſciences. 


. —_— the 
\ | be” ; | 'OW 


——————_—_ per- 
| formeits office hereaftcr,uuſc it as you will now, 
| and it will preach over thoſe things againe 
\chat you now hearc. You ſhall heave gun 
| of thom bur 5t hall be abarecn hearing. 

W 


—_—_—— 5 GEE 


_—_— wad 


mo 


3 
INFO Ren” eG Ups a ra rr gr, Ge 


life, wntill 


body «frer, -aS the 


' My ſoulefaled when hee ſpake, 
She was in aTpirtzudl ſwoone and 'deliqui- 
NB, whence the Pottir | 


| 
t very low ih their b berfions = 
it very 10w 19 We appre 5 
le them for wr of his 
|'So it was with David, fo with Jonth, 
the Church, La».3.1. wee itzrlaroe. 
ofort {oules and of onreſtites 
require this, 4s ſometimes 'n body 'tmay 'be 
T 


corrupt 


um upot; tris withdrawi 
That Chrifl dothleave his Church ſometinge 


their 'bearts fay 


Theneceffity 


| Ly Jowle failed when he ſpate. 
we may heare fruitfully to doe us 
" | afterwards we ſhall callto mind what we have | 
heard and it ſhall cut us to the heart. Drives 
( wee know ) had CAroſes and the Prophets to 
ut he never heeded them in his { 
rwards to his torment, So men 
hever heed what they heareand veade, 
of all and lay their coſciences 
God will bring them afreryvar 
brance: but beeaule it is a 
corriforttothe Chutch, 9 i 
Labour We all of 6s ro thake rhis uſe of it, 10! 

| be diligent and CTatefull re heare and attend 
| | xpon

~103 words

yet 
| God will give it 4 
| Fpcakes, ac onetime orother. Andthawhich 
we heate nowrhe Holy Ghoft will bring itto 
| Hur temernabrance when wee ſand matnoftneed 


good, bur 


— 


eferrce 


4 


oe te 


ards to remem- | 
point eſpecially of 


gently upon th 


| 1 Coprg,28 


0bpro. 
Plal.z8.2,z, 2 
[onah. 3.2. i 85 
(| 


fowith 


 Reafqn. | 
= 6 


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V ſe. 1 
To attend _ | 


ordinances of | 
God 


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275 | My foule failed 9e1 he ſpake. | 


—_— 


m__— 


| |Sanm. X 


umm_— 


corrupt thar it muſt b2 brought as low as pol- 
ible may be before there will be a ſpring of 
new and good blood and ſpirits: ſo we ma 
fallinto ſuch a ſtare of ſecuriry tharnothing will ; 
bring us to a righttenper, but extreame pur. ; 
ging. -And uſually God deales thus with : 
ſtrong wits and parts (if they be holy ) David : 
and Salomon. were men excellently quillified, 
|yect when they taſted of the pleaſures and con- | 
treatments of the world too deepe, anſwerably 
x = they had and' ſo (uſually) orhers ſhall ' have 
| By fack, deſertions as will make them ſmart for 
W | their ſweetneſle, as was ſhewed before 
| io - \ - Bur, upon what occaſions doth a Chriſtian 
| T:. thinke eſpecially, that God doth leave, forſake 
| = and fayle him. 
| | The beart finks| Firſt, This fayling and fainting of the ſoule 
| . T1. \|\is ſometimes upon an apprehenſton, as if God 
| S - hen GodaP

~176 words

is enough to caſt her 

| Sirvile. \Jowne-and. cauſe her ſpirits to fayle ; ſo for 
| i} + God.to looke upon the ſoule ; put the caſenot 
| 7 [with an angry, yet with a countenance with- ; 
11H | drawne,itis{ufficientrocaſt it down,for any ons : 
3 chat hath dependance upon another to ſcetheir ? 


Ky 
OY 


face 


— CT _— 


|; =?) ——— withdrawne and not to ſhew their 
(IN — 
voy 

| 


OE adeee® 3 4 WEEN 


Wy; » ſoule failed when he ſpake- ; 


[face as betore, itchere be bur a ſweet diſpoſition 
inthem it is enough to daunt and diſmay them, 

Nay, Moreover when they find not-thar 
former affiſtance in holy dutyes, 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 


certainely Chriſt hath withdrawne himſelfe ; 
( fay they ) This is firſt done when we heare 
the word of God not with thar delight and 
profit as we were wont, when they find how 
they come neere to God in holy communion 
and yet feele not that ſweet taſtand reliſh inthe 
ordinances. of God as they were wont to doe; 
they conclade certainely God hath hid his face, 
whereupon they are caſt downe; their ſpirits 
fayle. And doenot wonderthart itſhould be ſo, 
for it is ſo in nature; when-the Sunne hides it 
ſelfe many dayes from the world it is an un 
comfortable time ,, the ſpirits of the creatures 
lower and wither, we ſcc it ſoin the body, that 
rhe animall ſpirits in the braine ( whichare the 


I —— 


ſtrufted there followes an Apoplextre and dead- 
neſle. So it is berweene Chriſt and the ſoule, 
the is the Swnne. of Righteonſneſſe,..by whole 
beames wee are all comforted and cheared, 
which whenthey are withhcld then ourſpirits 
;decay and arc diſcouraged. Summer and 


cannot beare afflitions with wonted patience ; | 


| 


canſe of motion and ſence). if they be ob- | 


he fin

~663 words

the Spirit? As it is innarure, 
{6 it id here, the preſefice of Chriſt is the cauſd 
| of all ſpiritanll Hfe xfhd vigour; who when | 


| hee withdrawes his preſence a lite the foute 
 fayles 
| 


| Ny foute failed when Ju: ſpuke td mt, T1 foaoin 
bit bas T could wot find hit, I cated bat het vwoe 
\ nee nb #hfwer. 


The Cliurch redoublath Net complaint to 


9 I eres i 


lays * thee rooke itro Heart thir Chriſt di not 
thew himſclfe ih merey, therefore the never 


hich dofie, 1 ſought hi9%-But Teal art find him || 
1 catteatbir he 


gibvie we Wd ab fivey. Py 
AfecHoh Wakes Hopuent ahtlangoerepre 

But mmdy obſtfve from this Fayling of che 
| Church. The differth7e bativ ore the vrar chuldren 
\o Gol - avid #thers, The child of God is caſt 
whe Whenhe finds notthe nc&of God 


EEE AE AE ite co 


as he was worſt, his ite? A carnal 
mittthat hever kiiew Whit this preſchce mibarit, | 
regards it'nor, crhabide thewiihtok it, he finds 
Indeed a preſence of God th this ctentire 
\' which hee thirks 'hot of, there 'is A 
ſweeteneſſein Meite. ,drinke,reſt page | 
merit in hohour, prefevratrir, ard riches ; An 
this God &* pre nt ck: with tim. 


_other 


4 T7 _L—_—_ I _—  rRmoI—__—_— 


ya 


Lenght bim but Leould nas feed him 


other preſence hee cares not for. Nay, hee 
ſhunnes all orher prefence of God, labouring ta| 
avoid his ſpiriuall prefence, For what isthe. 
reaſon thatacarnall man ſhunnes the applying 
of the word and the thinking af ir, but becaule 
ir brings God neereto his heart,and makes him| |. 
preſent. What is the reaſgn hee ſhunnes his: 

owne confſcicuce : that he is loath to hieare rhe 
juſtand unanſwerable accuſations that it would 
charge upon him ? bur becauſe he canngtabide | 
the preſence of God in his conſcience. Whas | _ 
is the reaſon hee ſhunnesthe fight of holier and | ? £98-37-15- 
berter menthenhimſelfe 2 rhey preſent God to E 
mory, and upbraid his wigked- life, Hence 1-2 


—— 


of and | 
pullt 


o 
—_ 4 x 


277 7_]: I ſonght ray te I could r not find him. 


- —- — - a—_— OO 


Saw; X. 


| | 


obſer. 


clothed withall thoſe Hich omainens? the p pre 


| | ſee of the ſiitie Which comes never then, | 


$6 Whit takes the Aimiher and Wiſer if the 

ſoule but the abſence of prefence of Chriſt, 
Whit makes ſome {6 vigorous beyond others, 
| bar the preſence @fche Spirit? Us it is in 


nature, 
WELLS: L4 _— reſence of Chriſt is the cauſe 


| of all Tpiritakll Fs afd vigour; who when: 
ie withdrawes his preſence a licde the fonte 
arp fone 
| led when tit ſpike td 111, 7 fonglh 
hit 44 7 cdald wot find bits, I called var het wee | 
| nee 1d nhfwer. 
| "The Church te40ublath Net com plain 


| | ſhew her paſſion, A Targehearr hath binge 


| flhss - - Thee rooke itro Heart thir Chriſt —_ Ac 
| ſhaw hinſelfe in merey, therefore the never 
kh dof, T Jongh bins bat but Tema mb #nd him ,| 


thus God pr 


rarer 


i 


PRI 


| in the As, when he ſpaks of che judgement 


(1 ſonght bir but { could not find hims 


other preſence hee cares not for. Nay, hee 
ſhunnes all other prefence of God, laboy ring t0 
ayoid his ſpirituall prefence, For what is the 
reaſon thatacarnall man ſhunnes the applying 
of the word and the thinking of it, but Decaule 
ir brings God neereto his heart,and makes him 
preſent. What is the reaſgn hee ſhunnes his 
owne conſcicuce: that he is loath to heare the 
juſtand unanſwerable accuſations that it would 
chargeuponhim ? bur becauſe he cannqtabide 
the preſence of God in his conſcience. Whax 
is the reaſon hee ſhunnesthe ſight of holier and 
better menthen himſelfe ? they preſc ent God to | 


| 


mory, and upbraid his wicked: We Hence 
comes that ſaranicall hatred more then humang 
in carnall vile men, to thofe thar are better then 
themſelves: becauſe they hare all preſence of 

God: both in the word, miniſtery, and all 
Gods holy ſervants; all ſuch preſence of Gad 


they hate, wheroof one maine reaſon is, becauſe 


| tend to be ſo. And as a malcfactor connot 


| 


him being his image, and call bus finnes tome- 


| 


they are melefaRors, wicked rebells, and in-| 


\codure fo much as the thought of the judge, 

fo they cannotrhinke of Gag otherwiſe Ginthax 
courfe theyare in) then ofa Judge, whereupon 
they tremble and quake at the Verythoughtof 
him, andavoydhis preſence, | 


You knowthat great man Fas Paw {pekete 


to come, and thoſe venyes 


8s [ ANCC, and 


Rightcouſneſſe, which he oe of : y 


+ 


I King.17.18.| 


| 


277 Mi! I ſorght him;bus Teould ney arr 


Sanm: X = cloathed withall thoſe Heh otnamenrs? the pre: 


{obſer. | Gliweth, 7 The differthite batio eee tht vue chulilren 


3 | 


$6 whit takes the Awather and Wiſer if the 
ſoule but the abſence of prefence 6f Chriſt, 
wheat makes ſome {6 vigorous beyond others, 
| bar the preſence @fthe

~1,447 words

as it was before, then oh, che feof 


ny life hath withdrawne himſclfe, and fo 1s 
\never quier till he have recovered his life 
[againe, for Chriſt i hi life. | 


| And becauſe thereis a preſence of God and 


fo : of| 


co EE_Es 


' 299 | foughthim but F could not fmd him 

Gunn. X, euilty of the colitrary vices: he quaked and. 

——| could nor endure to heare him ſpeak any longer. 
| Wicked men fove nor to be arraigned, tor- 


| 


__—m— 


EN OREN 


ES 
bug 
Pr 
- 
So 4 
Dory 
by J. 
Y 
Kg 
iy 
- 
ip 
e-4 


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4: 
e LN 
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: 
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4 
by " [> < 
F, 
05 
745% 
pr 3 
1 
EE 
5 
oy k'7 
R] 
mL ny 
So 
S I 


till they be in hell. 'Burthoſe that are Gods | 


— ——— —{ 


mn — 
Re... 


”— — = — 


|of Chriſt in the Word and Sacraments a ſ\eet | 
| reſence : rhe godly ſoule hee droopes and 
 failes if he be kepr from theſe, he will not ex- 
| communicate himſelfe as many doe, that per: | 
haps are aflecpe when they ſhould be atthe or-! 
dinances of God butif he be excommunicated 
and baniſhed, O how takes he it to heart ! 
\ P[al. 42.1. As the hart panteth after the wa'er 
| brrokes, ſo longeth my ſoule after thee © God : the | 
whole #4. Plalme isto that purpoſe, 0 how | 


finds a preſence of God in his word and facra- 
ments, and when he doth nor taſtea ſiveer pre- | 
ſence of God therein he droopes and finks.” | ! 
A carnall man never heedes theſe things be- 

cauſe he finds no ſweetnefle in them, but the 
godly finding Chriſtin themthey droopeinthe 
want of them and cannot live without them, | 
Whither ſhall we gee» ( ſaith Peter ro Chriſt ) they 
haſt the words. of *ternall life, 1 find my ſoule 
[quickned with thy ſpeaking. * So a ſoute thar 


he will never be kept'from the meanes- of (al- 


| 


have recovered himſelfe againe - 


Carnall men when they find the ſence of Gods 


' 


[anger they ſeeke not Gods favour but thinke | 


of worſe and worle ſtil}, and ſo run from God | 


children; when they faile and find the ſenteof | 


{{ecles the quickning power of theordinances, | 


1 ſought him but Tcould not findbim.) 280 [ 


San, X, 


aymiable are thy Tabernacles 0 Lord of hoſts * He | : 


vation, buthe droopes and is never welltill he | 


| Againe another diffrencemay be obſerved. A 


- 


| Gods diſpleaſure rhey'are ſencible of it, and 


give | 


Toh,6,68. 


—} 


EF 


| : 28 | 


= RN. 
| 
| 


O bſerv. 


That there is 4 
double preſence 
of Chriſt jelt 
and not } elt. 
I, 

His preſence 


—_ 


2. 
Chriſt unfelt 
ſecret preſence. 


| If ought bim, but 1 could not find birs, | 


| prefenrand is withall pleaſed to letus know {0 | 


| God ſbed abroad inthe heart, and the favourable | 


| give not over {ecking to God, they run not fur. 

ther and further from him, 

| . The Church here though ſhee found not 
Chriſt preſent with her yer ſhe ſeckes him ill 

| and never glves over. : 


| Whence againe we may obſerve, That dl. 

though the Church be ſaid to faile and not to find 

Chriſt, yet he is _ then with her. For who | . 
#3 hr gi ro fe e him. To explaine this, 

there is a double preſence of Chriſt, 599; 8h 

E 06 I. + Fg , | | + | 

. 2. Not Felt. | | 

The preſence felt, is when Chriſt isgracioully | 


much, which is a Heaven upon Earth: the ſoule | 
is in Paradice then, when ſhefecles the love of 


countenance of God ſhining upon her, then ſhe 
deſpiſeth the world, the divell and all, and 
walkes as if ſhe were halfe in Heaven already, 
tor ſhe finds a preſenceand a manifeſtationofit, 
 amoreglorious ſtatethen the world can afford, 
But, There is 4 preſence of Chriſt that u ſecret, 
when he ſeemes to draw us one way, and to 
drive us another, that we are both drivenand 
| drawnear once: yhen he ſeemes to put usaway 
and yet notwithſtanding drawes us; whenwe 
| find our ſoules goe to Chriſt, rkere is a drawing | 
| power and preſence, but when we find him ab- 
ſent here is a driving away, . As we ſee bere in 
[the Church and in the Woeman of Canaan, we 
fee whatan anſwer ſhe had from Chriſt, ar firſt | 
[ 


none. 


—_— Ah— 


$4 
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pc 
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$4 
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© 
5 
*- * 
=D) 


. | Chriſt, whereby ſhe never gives over bur ſeekes; FT. 


_ | ſecret preſence here that drawes us to theſe 


| 
ER I EDT On LT - 


1 ſought bim but 1 ould not find bins | 282 | 


—t———_ 


none, and then an uncomfortable, and laſtly a SLLCE 
moſt unkind anſwer. Were mwnft wot give the = 
' childrens bread to doggs. Chriſt ſeemed to drive 1H 
heraway, but atthe ſame time he by his Spirit 
drawes her to him and was thereby ſecretly 
| preſent in herheartto increaſe her faith, When; 
| Chriſt wreſtled with Jacob though he conten- Gen,z3. 
ded with him, yerthe ſametime he gave Tacob | 
power to overcome himgo be Tfraela preyailer 
over him : ſo ar the ſame time the Church | 
ſcemes to faile and faint, yer notwithſtanding | 
there is a ſecter drawing power pulling herto| - 


and calls ſtill after him. 0 
Itis good toobſcrvye this kind of Chrifts dea- | | 
ling, becauſe i will keepe us that we be not' = 
Abaraged when wefindhimabſent. If All |* | 
there'be any —_ left mooving us to that] : 
which is good, if we find the Spirt of God 
| moving us to Joye the word and ordinances, to 
call upon him by prayeranto be moreinſtane, 
| cenainely we may garher there is a hidden, 


things. Nay.moreitharthe ond of this ſeeming 
farſaking and t e isto dtaw us neerer| 
and neerer, and at length to draw us into heaven 
to himlelfe, Gods people we painers by all 
their loſſes, ſronge# by all rheir weakenefſes, 
and the better for all rheir croſſes whitefocyer 
they are. And you fall Sindth che'Spirirof] © 
God is mort forceable irvthens dſecy aftrange- | 
| neſle, roſtir themrapawe capetly/ after CH e141] 


—— - 


| 


: 28; - Tfoupht him but F could not find bim 


| 


ee 


1% RM. X.' then before ' as here the Church doth rl 


—_— 


—|her eagerneſſe, conſtancie and inſtantneſſe it 
growah as Chriſts. withdrawing of himſclte | 


groweth, th * 
V ſe. Let us therefore learne hence how to judge: 
How to judge 0f | of gur (clves, if we be in acead livelefle ſtate, 


our ſelves in a 


lead livelege, POL in regard of comfort and of holy perfor- | 


_— 


| abſence. he ſceme inregard of ſome comforts and former | 


E that which, is fit for me;: 'Certainely I ſhonld 


| eſtate both in Mances, whether we be content to be lo; IF 


| 


regard oj M- vie be not contented but make rowards Chriſt | 
fort and bo'y | 


per/ormances, 


more and more it is agoed- ſigne that he hath 
not forſaken us, thathe will come againe more 
| gloriouſly then' ever before. As here we ſhall 
| {ce after it was with the Church, he ſeemes 
ſtrange bur it is ro draw the Church,to diſcover| 
her affeftion' and to miake her aſhamed of her; 
former unkindneſſe, and to fit furer and hold' 
faſter then ſhe did before, all ends.in a'moſt 
rh ſweet communion. & >. RW 
ſe. 2. Wee, ſhould labour therefore to anſwer | 
we ſpould de- Chriſts dealing in ſurable apprehenſians of | 
pen uponCbrif {gule when he is thus preſent ſecretly, though| 


in a ſeemi 


| experience of his love to withdraw himſclfe, 
It thouldteach us, to depend upon him, and to | 
beleeve. though we  feele- not comfort, yea 

ainſt: comfort when we fecle ſignes of dif- 
pleaſure. If he can love -andſupport me, and 
[ſtrengthen my ſoulg,and ſhew it a preſence of | 


anſwer thus with my faith, Iwill depend upon: 
| him ( though he killme )' as 70bdid ; our ſoules| 


ſhould nevergiveoverſeekingof Chriſt,” pray- 


yy 4 —— 


OO Jealledbim &e., 


leave ;therefore Torght intheſe 
deſcrtions to cleaveto him 
in lifeand indeath. 
*” *F | 
«. 


oO Rm 


—— — _— 


ing and cndeavouring, for there is true love 9 
where hee ſeemes to forſake and 


— _—_____— 
2” — wc *» = a.m,” wm 


Theend of the tenth ; 


Sermon, 


P 


_—_— —— —— —__ 


Re 


—_— —_— 


CIR Co A att as — 


oe Th 


a>. We 
. 
. 
| —_ i « 
—————<___ — 


_—_Þ__ 


$#TST4TSTSEGUSTS/ 
EEDLEEDD wes) 


THE ELEVENTH 


SERMON. 
Cant, V.VII'VIL. 


F opened to my Beloved, but my 
Beloved had withdrawne himſelfe, | 
and was gone:my ſoule fatied when be | 
[pake, 1 joug ht him but could not find 
him, F called him but he gave meeno| 


anſwer, &c, 


gHE pride and ſecurtic of | 
na the Spouſe provokes the | 
So Lord hg husband off to 
} % bring her very low, they | 
2 bcing incompatible with 
SB) Kea) Chiſts reſidence, 
& LA * Pride is an off etioy (08- 


travie ts bis prer:gative, for it ſets up ſomewhat | 


| 


LIL mn ni oYQIegy — ATI — cn ge——_ 


iathe ſoule higher _ God the higheſt: 
2 


Security }_ 


_—_— _— 


TH 


| 286 1 TFcalled him, &c, Fi 


p - _ __ 
OR EIS To oa 
— == | 
» 


SunM. XI Securiry is 2 dull remper or rather diſtein- 

i per that makes. the ſoule negleR. her wuch 
| and rely upon ſome outward priviledg:, 
where this 1ll cole 15 entertained, there 
| | 


Chriſt-uſeth to wichdraw himſelfe, evea to 
| the failing and fainting of the ſoule. 
==: The Spouſe is here in her fainting fir yet ſh> 
ſeckes after . hriſt: ſtill ſh2 gives not over, ſo 
Jonah,z, 7045, F ans caſt ovt of thy preſence ( ſaies hee ) 
yet notwithſta»d;n7 I will looke toward thy holy 
Temple. And David Pſal. 31. 22. I ſa'd in my 
haſt I amcaſt out of thy ſizht, ye: n»twithitand.ng 
thou hearde# the voice of my prayer. Hee ſaid 
it, butihee ſaidit in his haſte, Gods children 
are {urprized on the ſudden to thinke they are 
| caſtaway, bur it is in haſte and ſo ſoone as may | 
be they recover the:nſeclves. 7 ſaid it i' my 
Infirmitie, ſaid David Pſal. 73. Jr is butin a 
paſſion; here then is the diff-rence berweene 
the children of God and others in deſertions, 
"i they ariſe, theſe lye ſtill and deſpaire. There- 
_—=” is life in the ſubſtance of the Oake that makes it 
lifr up, its. head above ground though: it bee 
cut downe to the ſtumpes. Nay wee ſce further 


| | here the Churchis nottaken off for any diſcour- 
| ragements, bur her faith 


rowes ſtronger, as 
'Y; rad the womans of Canaan wid. 'S 
"I. ' The Reaſon whereof is, F4'th lookes to | 
| the Promiſe and-to the nature of God*not to | 
[| __—_— dealing. 
| | 2 


And then God by a ſecret 'worke of his 
| EE -4- | [Spirit (though he ſeeme to bee an-cnemy | 
| LS 


_ 
Os _ ——_— —_ _ PR” EI RIFT 3B) 1c. I | 


— 


1 ſonght bins but F cond noe find bom. 289 | 


| \ycr norwithſtanding ) drawes his chiklres 39% ». XL | 
| nceererand neerer to him by ſuch his doaling. |: | 
' All this firangenefle is bur to -mortifiofome | 
former luſt, or conſume ſame former drags of | 
 {ecuritie. - Ka 
"1 1 ſought him but 7 could not find him. 
|| Heere one of the greateſt. ci{couragements 
| of all other is, when prayer (which is left co | 
[the Church as a {alve for all ſores) hath no an- | 
| fver

~183 words

the complaint, but indeed an 
\Exrour ofthe Church ; for Chrift did heare the 
| Church though hce ſeemed. to turne his 
backe. Z | | 
But how (hal we know that God hearesour Prayers? | wow ts tnowl 
| Amongſt many .ether things this is 'ohe > | !h2!God bearce| 
when he gives us inward peace, then- he: heares | © ©7995: 
our prayers, for ſois the connexion. Phil.4.6.9. | if be therewith 
_ Or ſeconely, If wee find 2 ſpirit ts pray | gives inwer 
ſtill, aſpiricto waire and to hold aut, it-is an | fc: 
argument that God cither hath or will heave{ 
thole prayers. iN /pirir to bol | 
And as it is an argument that God heares { our 18 prayer] | 
our prayers,ſos it of the preſence of Chriftz |,,..* 
for how could wee -pray but from his inwat 
preſence 2 Chriſt was now preſent, and more 
prefene with the Church when hee fecmed ' 
notto be found of her, then. hee was when/ſhe | 
| was ſecure , for whence clfe comes this eerr- | 
neſſeof defire, this ſpirit of prayer, this earneſineſſe| 
of, ſeeking. ORLEes bs 17 
Icalled bus hee gave #d anſwer ec. *' | 
| Dixcions how to carry our ſelves nique | | :Þ 
| | V 3 an 


F tt 


——E———_— Co wn tr Wa we ” —_ 


| | 


whe we pray without ſucces & findnota preſet 
| anſwer?orarcin any ſuch like ſtate of delertion. 
I. Wee muſt believe againſt beliefe (as it were) 
hope againſt hope, and truit in God, Howſocver | 
| hee ſhewes himſelfeto us as an oppoſite, Jt is | 
| no matter what his preſent dealing with his | 
Church and children heere is, the nature,of 
Faithis to breake through all oppoſttion,to ſee 
Ju £or 6: the Sunnne

~740 words

faith , hope , love, 
_ | diligence, care, watchfullneſſe, and fuch like 
graces. 
| And letns know for our comfort, that evEthi 
_ | confliting condition isa good eſtate. Tn aficke 
| body it isaſigne of life and health approaching 
whenthehumoursare ſtirred, ſo as thar a man 
| complaines tharthe phiſicke workes. So when | 


i | | | WCC 


—_ _ 


| 


—_— 


| 


wee faile and find not what wee would, yer 
this will worke to: the ſubduing of corruption | 
at length. 1# « a ſigne of future wvittorie when wee 
we d' [content with eur preſent i11 eſtate, Grace 
will get the upper hand, as nature doth when 


the humours are diſturbed, | | 


4.Againe when wee are in ſuch a ſeeming 
forlorne eſtate, Let ws have recourſe to former 
experience, What is thereaſon that God vouch- 


ſates his children for the moſt part in the be-| 
ginning of their converſion (in their hrſt loye) | 
experience of his love to raviſhment? Jt is, that | 


afterwards they may have recourſe to that 


love of God then felt ro ſupport themlelves, |, 


and withall to ſtirre up endeavours, and hope; 
that finding it not ſo well with them now as | 
formerly ithath binn, by comparing ſtate with 


ſtate, deſires may bee ſtirred up to bee as they |. 


| 


were or rather better, 

Andasthe remembrance of former experi- 
ences ſerve to excite endeavour, ſo to ſtirreup 
Hope, I hopeitſhall be as it was, becauſe God| 
is Immutable. I change but Chriſt alters not, 
the inferiourclementary world changes, heere 
is faire weather andfoule,but the Sunne keepes 
his perpcruall courſe; and as in the gloomieſt | 


| day that ever was there was light enough to | 


make it day and to diſtinguiſh it from night, | BO 


(though the Sunne did not ſhine) So inthe molt | - 


diſconſolate ſtate of a Chriſtian ſoule, there 1s | 
light cnough in the ſoule ro ſhew that the Swmre, 


U4 


Wl. A 


— 


[1 ſought bim but] could not find him. | 230 


weetake to heart our preſent condition, though S3xm.XI. 


i —— 
— 
I 
—————— — eee —_— Ol. 


__ 
. \, ene = 

. 

- 


L741 


290 | 


LOTTO 


ht 


Pſal. L4B-4. 


of Righreonſpeſſe is there, and that Chriſt hath 


| 


| 


to waite Gods leafure,for hee hath waired ours, 


goes tay for our 18004, when hee withdrawes 


. 
—_— 


Icalled but he yave, &c. 


1 


ach 
ſhined upon the loule, rhat it is day with the 


ſ{6ule and not night, 
$5, And tearne when weeare in this condition 


Itis for ouc g004d, to prepare us for furrther 
bleſſings, tro mortifie and ſubJne our corrup. 
tions, to inlarge the capaciry 'of the ſoule that 
the Lord abſents himfelfe, therefore Bernard 


ſairh well, 776: arcid;t 8&2, Chriſt coms and} 


 D_—Ec_—_—_ — — HT 


the ſenceot his love , rhe ſonle thereupon is 
ſtretched with deſire, that itmay bee as it was 
in former time,in the daies of old. Thus much 
for that, 1-ſ0u2ht hine' but T conld "not find him, 
I culled bat hte gave me no anſwer. 


| and fitteſt. They that ſeek ſhall find, if they ſeck 


| inone meanes and not in another, they [ceke 
Chriſt in reading and not in the ordinance of 


Heere wee muſt anſwer one objeQion before 
weeleave the words. This ſeems to con tradidt 
other -$ cviptuves, which \promiſe that thoſe that 
ſeeke ſhall find. It is true they that ſeeke ſhall 
find burnot preſently, Gods times are the beſt 


conſtantly with their whole heat in all the 
Meancs. Somedoc'norfind; beeauſe rhey ſeeke 


heatifig, in private meditation, bur not in the 
comimunionof Sairirs; 'wee mult goe through: 


all meaties ro ſecke Chriſt; not ofie mult bee 
left. Thus if wee will ſeeke him, undoubredly 


ee 


hee will makegood his promiſe. Nay in ſome 
forr;hee'ss folrnd"bifore bre is ſought , for hee is 


- in; 


a. 


hs 


m_— 


—_— 
Ly 


| Fea 


— 


lled but he gave,&c, 


I I ee a es. B0YY © 


——— —IxD> 2 -_— 


in-our ſoulesto ſtirre up deſire of feeking:hing, 
hee prevents us with defires and anſwers us 
in ſome ſort before wee pray > when bee gives | 
u: a ſpirit of prayer, it s # pledge 10 us, that hee 
| reanes t0 anſwer us, Therefore it is a ſpiritu- 
all deceit when wee thinke Chriſt is nor in us 
| and wee are negleRed of him, becauſe wee } 
have not all that wee would bave. Among, 
| many ozher deceis that Chriſtians deceive | dzing of 
themſelves within this kind theſe be rwo. £3 mack. hes 
1. Thatthey judgegrace by the quantity andmnat | 111 as. yn 
by the valne and price of it, whereas the leaſt | »-Per.z,. 

| meaſure of grace and comfort is tobecfteemed, ” 
becauſer? i wn rmmoertall ſeed caſt into the ſoule| , ,. - 
by an immortall Godthe Father of Ztermity, ' feiver bs (ll 

2, Another deceit ts;that Wee judge of:our , 41d jeettng, 
| ſelves by ſenceand feeling-andnot by faith, | | 
Thewat chmen that went about the eitty foutd | 
mee and [mote meand tooke away wy Vaile from) 
me. mire" 
Heere the poore Church after the ſeting | 
downe of her owne cxercife tm her :diſcrtion | 
now ſers our ſome outward ill dealing hee | 
| met withand that from thoſethat ſhould have 
\beene-her greateft Comforters. The wwatchmen | 
that went bot the citty found me, they wounded | 
| | mae

~190 words

his inſtruments, and of our owne hearts, to dil. 
cover the dangers of Hiernſalew,and the errourg 
and fans of .the times wherein wee live. The 
Church is indanger, for God hath fet Watch- | 
men,now God and nature doth nothing invaine | | 
ornecdleflely, : Bs is 
Againe in thar God takes ſuch care forthe 
{oule,it ſhewes the woundrous worth of it, | 
many arguments there be to ſhew tharthe ſoule | 
em. 1s a pretious thing, it was breathed by Godat | 
nora. Bn firſt, Chriſt gave his lifero redeeme it, bur this | 
| of the ſoule. | isancſpeciall one that God hath ordained and | 
| eſtabliſhed a miniſtry and Watchmen ouer 
* _ \it. And as God hath ſer ſome men Watch- 
men over others, ſo hath hee m__—_ every \ 
man to beea Watchman to himfelfe. Hee hath 
— every man a Citty-to watch over, that 1s | 
| [his owne eſtate and ſoule, therefore let us not | 
[depend altogether on the watching of others. | 
rm planted « conſcience in every of ws, and | 


ID | uſcth 


| 


| have excommunicated Churches and Prin- | 


The Kezpers .of the Walls, &c. | 295 
uſcrhas others to our good, ſ> our owne care, | SuxM. XI. 
wiſdome, and: forclight, theſe hee elevateth \ 
and ſan&ificth. | 

The Wa'chmen that went about the citty found 


mee, they [mote mee, they wounded mee, &c. 


: | [- 
Come wee now to the cartiage of theſe How the Church 
| was wounded |} 


Watchmen, thoſe that ſhould have beene de- 


fenſive prove moſt offenſive. 

They ſmote the Chorch and wounded her | 
many ' wayes

~408 words

world , and then perſecuted her. Trwh 
| * _ - .- | hath alwayes 4 ſcrateh't face. 'Falſhood ' many 
| times goes under better habits then'its owne{ 
| ' | which God ſuffers' to exerciſe our skill _ 
LL - . 


hs. BZ 


eo. 
——_— —_ — _—_— . 


——__—_— 


[raſh judgment of others, but might conſider 
| what grounds they have; not what men doe 
or whom they oppoſe, but from what cauſe, 


Tealonſie and Pride,or from good grounds, 
clic if Chriſt himſclfe were on carth 
againe,we ſhould condemne him, @=Þ"_© 

as now men do the generation [ab 

of the juſt, whom the 

ſmite and wound an [2 

take away their vwle 

from them, 


nm_— 


Whether from a ſpirit of Favie, 1dleneſſe, | 


| The Keepers of thewall, &c, | 2909 
\wiſdome that wee might not depend'upon the S»n. XL. 


| 


Ei 


- 


0" III 


— —— — 
Theend of the elevembh © | 


Sermon, 14 


* > | 


7 


yw_ — 
| —_— 


$$$$C oC 


TCCCCCE eereeainges mw 


THE TVVELFTH 


SERMON: 


Ee V. VIL 


$$$$5C 


the citty found me, they [mote mee, 
they wounded me, the Keepers of the 


walls tooke away my vaule from me. 


© HE Watchmen. (Thoſe thar 
NL bythcirplacc and ſtanding 
Bo ſhould bee, ſoc) they ſmote. 
I, the Church ( as pon uy 
f complaines , almoſt 500. 
Hl yours agoc)alas,alas ſaith 

= hoſe that dee ſeck pri- 
decs in, the Church,are thefirſt in perſecu- 


itand(as his faſhion isto ſpeake in a kinde | 
[TED they were not. paſtors, but im- 


The Watchmen that went about 


C1. 
= 


EE CREPS 


— 


I LLP 50k, XIk-[ 


poſters « \There: two. ordinances Rho : 


—— 


—_m—_— — 


\Tke per/ceuted 
Props fe all 


The Keepersof the wall. &c. | 
whichthe world cannotſtand. 
2% "ts MagrHracie, 
27, eMiniſterie, | 
Magiſtrates are nurſing Fathers and nurſing 
Motherstothe Church. BE 
Miniſters are Watchmen by their place and 
ſtanding, v 
p Now for Shepheards ro become wales, 
for Watchmento become ſmiter, what a piti- 
full thing is it, butthus it is, the Church hath 
beene alwayes perſecuted with theſe men, 
. [under pretence of Religion, which is-the ſharp- 
(eſt perſecution of all in the Church; itis a gric- 
rom thing roſufferof an eazmy, bur work of 
a'country man, worſe then that of a friend, and 
worſt ofall of rhe Church. Notwithſtanding 
Gy the way) wee maſt know, that the perſecu- 
ted cauſe isnot alway the belt (as Anuſtine was 


— 


wayes the beft. forced to ſpeake in. his time again(t the .Doxva- | 


"fore was a tipeof the true, and 'Qagur of 
the falſe Church. Now Sarah ſh= corrected 


| ythe outward cat- 


off. Thar isif 
cneſſes, be laid 


” 


open by falſe imputations,” 
Ja

~566 words

tell him, that I am 
ficke of Loue &c.. . 
Heere the Church, after her ill uſage of the 


iti 


ſhall they rellhim. . 
Tell him 1 an ſickeof Love. | 
The Church is reſtles in her defire and pur- 

ſuitafter Chriſt, till ſhee find him, no; oppoliti-; 
voulcecan take ofher indea 

on you VOUTr. 
1. Chriſt ſcemestoleave her inwardly. 


—_—_— 


and wound her. 


then wee muſt labour for patience, knowing that/| 
one haire of our heads ſhall nor fall-to the! 
[ground withoutthe providence ofche Almigh- 


þ 


| 


Watchmen, is forced to the. ſociety .of other | 13 
Chriſtians, not ſo well acquainted with Chriſt | - 

as her ſelfe: Icharge yee O Daughters of Hieruſs | 1 
lems, if you find my Beloved &c.Tell him &c. What | 


2. Then ſhee goeth to the Watchmen, they ſmnite 


| 


TR as | 
Sun. XIE 
—— 
| 
O0jeZ.- F 


Anfw, "| 


3» Then fhe hath recourſe 10-che Danghters of | 
| | | R 3  Hiers- } 


bn Rn. i— 
— 


ht. 


{up 


zaÞ.. 


| 


| 


0b ſerv. 


] . 


| 


| (1(a.z8. 


| 


| 


rhe Nature if 
true Grace. 


fromthe connexion, wee may - 


Can. 8.7. 
| whets and kindles endeavour. 
How ſarre wee 


may bee Ic enſfuble 
of injuries. 


| was, ſhee was not a whit diſcouraged , but 


| [ſhee find himnot in one, ſhee will try in an'o- 


Generally before we come tothe particulars, 
| obſervethis. 
That, Love is a fire kindledfrom Heavey. 
Nothing in the. world will quench this 
Grace, no oppoſition, nay oppoſition rather 


The Church was nothing difcouraged by 
the ill uſageof the Watchn.en, onely thee com- 
plaines ſhe is not inſenſible. A Chriſtian may 
withour ſinne be fenfible of indigniries, onely | 
irmuſt bee the-mourninz of Doves, and not the 
roaring of Beares. It muſt not bee. murmuring 
and impatiencie, but a humble complaining to| 
God, that hce-may take onr caſe'to heart; as 
the-Church doth heere :' But as ſenſible as ſhee 


ſeekes after Chriſt fill in other meanes, if 


ther: wee ſee heare the nature of love; if it bee 
in any meaſure perfee, it caſteth our all' feare 
of diſcouragements. k 303 


Andindeed, 1t-is the nature of true Grace to 


| 
, 


| 


grow # with difficulties, as the Arke roſe higher | 
with the waters, fo Iikewiſe the foule growes | 


higher and higher, ir mounts up as diſcourage- 
mens. and oppoſttions grow: Nay the-foule 
takes vigour. and- ſtrength from difcourage- 
ments, as. the wind increaſtth the flame; So 
| the Graceof God, the more- the winds and 


|wayes of affliftion oppoſc it, with ſo'much | 


] Tohurpe.you O Danghters &c, | 
Gun. XI} Hicrnſalens for hclpe. | 
_ ITT 


the moreviolence; itbreakes through all oppo- 


fitions 


— —— 


—_— 


h.—_——— 


a Y 


po o_—_— oO I II 


as 


 [Thogeom 0 Doghan&k | 


firions, untill it atraine the deſired hope. 


diſcouraged, that pull in their homes preſently 


4 
> ; 


med 


hs a 


-. uy $9. __ 
» 
® 

| % 4 


pion, 


it isa ſigne they are very cold, and haye but 
little grace, for where there is any ſtrength 
of holy affeQtion, they will not be diſcouraged, 
nor their zeale be quenched, and damped. 
| Therefore they ſubordinate Religion to their | 
own ends,as yourtemporarie belieyers. Where 
isany loveto Chriſt, the love of Chriſt is of 
a violent narure, it {wales in the heart; as the | 
Apoſtle ſpeakes, The love of Chriſt conſtraineth 
oy | 


| 


| If wee finde this inconquerable reſolution 
in our ſclves, notwithſtanding all difcourage- 
| ments, togoc of in agood caule, let us acknow-. 
ledgethar fire to bee from Heaven, let us not 
looſe ſuch an _—_— of the ſtare of Grace, 
as ſuffering of afflitions with ioy. The more 
wee ſuffer, the more wee ſhould rejoyce, ifthe 


UW 
” 


= 


in one, ſeeke 
finde 


cauſc be good, asthe Apoſtles AZ. 5.4 r.rejoy- | 

ced that they were accounted worthy to ſuffer wed 
I charge you, ob Daurh 

you find my Beloved, that ye tell. him I aw ſfocke 

© Shee gocs to the Daughters of Hieruſalew for 
That, If wee find wot comfort in one mtanes, wee

~302 words

true members of the Church'that are: both 
| bred and fed in the Church. - Let us take a 
tryall of our ſelves, whether wee bee Dazehters 
of Hieruſalemor noc. Fhat wee may make this 
tryall of our ſelves. RKTTE ET 
1, If we find freedome 13 our conſcience from ter- 
rors and feares. If wee find ſpirituall liberty 
and freedome to ſerve God, it is a figne thar 
wee are Davehiers of Hieruſalem, becauſc Hie- 


ruſalem was tree. . dil by 
2, Or if weemind things above,andthings of 


. 
, " 


i. 
ad 


the truth, iris a figne wee are true Daughters of| 
Hier»ſalem, Wee know:whatthe Pſalmsft faith, 
Let my right hand forget her cunning, if I forget 
thee O Hieruſalem,if I doe not preferre Hieruſalem 
before my chiefe joy . ' If the canſe of the Church 
goctoour hearts, if we can joy inthe Churches 


- - 
—_— 


EY I OLD, Fs 
ſorthe Church of God, what were the world 


Gal, 26, 


| the Church, if wee take to heart the/cauſe of | 


Joy, and mourne in the. Churches abaſement 
and ſuffering, it is a figne wee are truc Daszh- 
ters of Hieruſalem and lively members of the 
body of Chriſt. Otherwiſe; when. wee hearc 
\rhat the Churchgoes downe, and that the ad- 
verſe part prevailes, and we. joy, itis afigne wee! 


arc daughters of Babylon and not of Hicruſalem. 
+Þ 'Therefors 


Sum; X1I. 


Plal.4 8 J. | 


5. 


Heb.na. 296. 


1Pet.1,20, +1 
rPer. 3,2, 


Obſervy, 3 


How to know 
that wee are 


Daughters 
H Ms ck, 


yy 


- 206 | 


1 
— — || a ms tm <A 


Pſal. 1379.6. | 


{Szn. XII. 


_— — yr_ I "OY 
FIT of 


's, bſervy 


A ſfizne of ute 
beliefe and 
coldneſſe. 


_ | us this obſervation, ' © © 


| _—_ 
F charge z0uO' Daughters &c. 
Therefore let us aske our affeRions what we 
are, as CAuſtine writesexcellently in his booke 
de Civitate Dei, aske thy hea of what city: 
thou arr. | L 
Bur what faiththe Church to the Daighter; 
of Hieruſalem in the firſt place. 
I Charge you. | 
It is a kinde of admiration ſupplied thus, 1

~435 words

caſe, that am 
thus uſed, as you will make it good that you| | 
are Davehters f Hieruſalemw and not of Babylon, 
tell my Beloved, that I am ſicke of Love. It is a 
ſtrong charge, a defeftive ſpeech, which yeelds 


That true A ffections are ſcriows in the things 
of Godand of Rel:gion. - THIN 

Shee layesa waight upon them, / charge you! 
0 D inghters of Hieruſalem.  Truc impreſſions} 
have ſtrong cxpreffions. | Therefore are wee 
cold in matters of Religion in our diſcourſes, | 
iris becauſe wee want theſe inward impreſſi 
ons. The Church heere was fill, thee could 
not conraine her ſclfe, in regard of the larg<- 
neſſe of her affefions. 7 charge you O Daugh- 
ters of Hieruſalem., 8&c. G 

Wee may find rhe truth of Grace in, the | 
heart, by the diſcoveries and expreſſions 10 
the 009% 959m in my uſa / 

IT chayze you, O Daughters of Hieruſalem, 1j you 
find my Sobovdphirys tell _ ſickeof Love. 
The Church heere ſpeakes ro others,meanc'| 


thei 


—_— 


HE 


f chargeyou-O Daughters G&cca 
then her ſelfe, ſhoe would 'have the Church $*3- NIL 
tell Chriſt, (by Prayer, the ſurcſt intelligencer) 
how ſhee was uſed, how ſhe. languiſhed, -and | 
was ficke for him, and cannot bee without 
him. : | \. - | 
| Why did not the Church tell. Chriſt her ſelfe. | weſt. 

Soe (hee did as well as ſhee could,: bur ſhee | Anſw. 
deſired the helpe of the Churchthis way alſo. | * . 
Sometimes it is ſo with the Children of God:} 
that they cannot pray ſo well as they ſhould, 
andas they would doe, becauſe the waters of, 
the ſoule are ſo-troubled,, that they can doc 
nothing but utter groanesand fighes, eſpecially 
in a ſtate of deſertiong) as | HeZekiah could | 
but chatter, and Moſes could not utter aword. 
at the red ſea though hee did ſtrive-in- his ſpirit, 
in ſuch caſes they mult bee þÞchoulding to the 
helpeof others. ©: 20 :irdl7 5Þþ ME 

Sometitnes a man js in, body-ſtcke,: (as -ZaMes | 
faith) 1f any man bee: ſficke les him ſend. forthe \ lam.y.14, 
Elders ,and let thems pray * There may 'bee ſuch | 
diſtemper-of botlie atd ſoule, that wee'are un-| © 
fitto lay-open our eſtate to our owne content. 
| Jr isoft ſoe. with the. beſt of, Gods: Children; | 
not that God doth nor reſpect thoſe broken 
ſighes and deſires, bur they: give nor content 
tothe ſoule, The poorepalhemaninthe Goſs | wir, 2,3 
pell not able.to goe himfclfe was cartied on | 
the' ſhoulders of others, and ——— 
houſe, to! Chriſt : oft ' rimes* wee may bee in | 1 
ſuch a palſie eſtate, that wee-cannor bring olir 4 
 ſelveszo pom mui be: — bee | 

orne 


_—— — 


EY 


| 
| 


F.C 


0 bſerv. 


Roti 5,20, 


a. T hel. LO 


209 [ charpe' yOu O 
Sun, X11, 


| 


__— 


bornetohim by others. — 
7 charge you O Daughters of Hieruſalem that 


yee 'tell my Beloved, T am ſicke of Love, 


obſerve is. 


” 


It is 'good to have a ſtocke going every 
where, and

~222 words

from unreaſonable men. ' It is uſuall with 


- |himto ſay Pray, Pray,and forus too, for ſuch are 


grarious inthe Court of Heaven. Deſpiſe none 
inthis caſe, a rrue downe right experienced 
Chriſtians prayers ate of mych'cſteeme with 
God. Our bleſſed Saviour himſelfe, when hee 


FT would havethcirſocicty,and prayers. -- 


wastogocinto thegarden, though his poore 
Diſciples were ſleeper, and very untowatd, yet 


every country, this is the happines ofthe Saints. | 
- |To inforce. this inſtrution, to defire the | 


is a wondrous force inthe prayers of Chriſtians! 
onefor another. Its morerhen a complement,” 


| - Thegreat Apoſtle Paal;ſchow he deſires the | 
"| Rowanes, thar they would ſtrive, and contend 


| 


| 


| 


Cr pany 


——— 


————O 


"Mt Ys 
| [ chargsyo4.O'Danghterc, GC. ZIO 
I charge you O Daughters of Hieruſalem,: if you| Sur. XI. 
find my Beloved, that ye tell him, I am ficke of with 
Love, -  -* a C7 214 2Þ1 
| To ſpeakealitleofthe matter ofthe charge, 
Tam ſicke of Love, 1 love him, becauſe J have 
found former comfort, ſtrength and ſweetneſſe 
from him, that I cannot bee without him.- To F 
bee Love ſicke then in the prefence of the | Love fete : 
| Church, is to have ſtrong affeftionsro Chriſt, | whar. | o 
from which comes wondrous . diſquictnefle of 
ſpirit in his abſence; heere is ſamewhat' good, 
and ſomewhkatill. This is firſt her vertue, that 
ſheedid fervently love, this was her infirmity, 
| that ſhee was ſo much diſtempered with her] 
preſent want, theſetwo breedes this fickneſle 
of love, whence wee obſerve, 1 
Where the thing loved is not preſent anſwer. 
able tothe d:ſires of the. ſoule that loves ; There 21 
followes diſquiet and diſtemper! of affettions : thitg | , 
is heere termined ſicknes of Love. 301 | | 2 IM 
The Reaſonheereof is, Natural contentment 
"4 inunion with the thine Loved. The more cx- | | 
cellent therhing is rhatis loved, the more con- 2 
|tenemene

~309 words

I would there were more 
ficke ofthe lave of Chriſt ; thereare many that 
ſurfir rather of fullneſſe, who thinke wee have | 


= 
- 
_ __ 


ofthis Goſpell, there is roo muchofthis know. 
ledge,of the ordinances, theſe are not ficke of 
love. nit: | 

Make a Uſe therefore of Tryall, whether we 
becin theſtateofthe Church or no, by valuing 
and prizing the preſence of Chri# in his Ordinan- 
ces,zhe Ward and Sacraments. 

Thereare many fond ficknefles in the world, 

there is Ammens fickneile , that was ficke of 
love for his Siſter Thamar, his countenance dif. 
covercd it,and Fhabhee is ficke' in defiring his 
Neighbours vineyard, you have many ſtrange| 
ſickneſſes.: many ficke with fires kindled from 
the flcſh, from Hell, but few ſicke of this fick- 
neſſe.heere ſpaken-of. 

If wee find ourſelves carried to Chrift, to 
runne inthatſireame asſtrong as the affections 
of thoſe that are diftempered: with (ickneſſe 
ofthelove af othertbings, : it will diſcover to 
us whether wee bee truely tr gu not. 

| Takea man that is ficke for any earthly 
thing, whether of 4habs or Amons ſickneſſe, or 
ofany thing, rake ir'as you will, 7hat mbich the 
ſoule is. ſicke of in love, it thinkes of daily © it 
dreames; of it int the night. What doe our 
ſoulestherefore thinke offs whar doc our me- 
dirations runne after. When wee! are; in-our. 
adviſed and beſt thoughts, what doe wee moſt; 


thinke 


| onethat is not'at home, you talke wich one ab- | 


itdwells. Surely where love isin any ftrengrh, | 
it drawes upthe ſoule, forthat a. man oft times | 
{ in his calling and ordinarie itnployments doth 
[nor heed them, bue paſſeth-thorough the. world 


| 
| 


and dravves all the affections to himſelfs. 


—_ 


T am ficks of Love 


Church heere, of Grace and Glory all is well, 
contentments to thinke all dung and drofle in | 


love to Chriſt, if our love bee infucha d ; 
asit makes us ſick of it, it makes us notto 

what wee heare,not to ſee, what wee fee, not 
to regard what is preſent :the foule is ina kind 
of extaſie, it is carried fo ſtrongly and taken up | 
withthings of Heaven , it is deaded to other 


nity, then if wee had none, and the fleth is fo 

mortified, as if wee were dead men, by redfon 

of the ſtrength of our afeRions that 'runne 

pamaygy way to better things which are a- 
OVC. | 


thatis inany heate of affeQions, you talke with 
ſent, The ſoule 1s. mare where is loves, then where 


asa manatrandome

~2,170 words

places where Chriſt is 
preſent intheWord and Sacrament,and thatwe 
L cometo have this affeRion. | 


ct us ſee what our ſoules are without him 
: 2 i meecre | 


—_— SR 


—_— 


"Tell him that: Fam ſicke of love. | = 3 | 


A IE 


meere dungeons of darkeneſſe and confuſion, Suk = 
| nothing comming from us that is good, this 
will breed lovetothe Ordinances, and then we 
ſhall relliſh Chriſt, both in the Word and Sacre. 

'| ment,'for he is food for thehungry ſoule, | 
and requires nothing of us but good 
appetites; and this- will make # 

_ us deſire his loye and [ 
preſence, i 


x | | | 
| 


> 
es ae 


 Theendof the twelfth 


Sermon. 


þ : f THE 


THE THIRTEENTH 


SERMON. 


"Cans V. V ILL. IX {| 


fax you0 daughters of Feru-| 
ale em if yee find my Beloved that ye 
tell bim Tam ficke of love, | 
What # thy Beloved more then) 
another Beloved O thou faireſt a- 


mong woemen,&%c, a} - 


&©&2F He foule as it is ofanimmor- | 
| tall ſubſtancesſo in the right! 

and true temper thercof, 
| 4 or towards immorta- 


— 


_ 


EY 


———_— 


AAS 
ee... 


4 Tell bim that { am ſicke of Love. | 
II 


| | SnrkoXl 


Simile. 


John. 4- 


—_— 


—_— — 


.| ſpeakes) which is the reaſon of thoſe many and 


1ned ſoule, now up-now. 


{ (till rrembleth till it ſtand at the North, forthe 


A 


—___ 


_ 


_ 


-— —— - 


— 


divers tofhi!gs: and wrongs of the inlight- 
OWNe, noW. running 

amaine homewards and now againe fluggiſh, | 

idle and lafte, untill rowſ{ed up by extraordinary | 

meanes it purs onagaine z as the fire mounteth 

| upwards unto1ts proper place, andas theneedle 


ſoule once inflamed with an heavenly fire, and | 

acquainted with her firlt originall, cannor be ar 

reſt untill itfind it ſelfe inthat comfortable way 
which certainely leads homewards. 

An inſtance whereof we have inthe Church 
heere, who having loſt her {weet communion 
with Chriſt, and ſo paid dearly for her former 
negleR and __ his kind invitations, ( as 
being troubled, reſtleſſe in mind, beaten and 
wounded by the watch-men, bereft of her vaile, 


—— 


ec.) Yet this heavenly fire of the bleſſed ſpirit, 
| this'water of life ſo reſtleſly ſpringing in her, 

makes her fetneſe of lvveand ardent defireatter 
Chriſt to be ſuch, thar ſhe cannor containe her 


ſelte, bur breakes forth inthis paſſionate charge 
and requeſt, | 


T charge you 0 daughters of Teruſalem if ye find 
my Beloved that yetell him,1 am ſickeof love. 

1 hus we may ſee thar the way to Heaven 1s 
full of changes, the ſtrength of corruption over- 
| clouds many times and damps our joyes. How 
| many ſeverall tempers hath the Church beenc 
in* Sometimes ſhe is all compounded of joy | 


—— 


vehemently deſiring kifſes of her beſt __—_ 
MK | | - 


h — —— 


__m—— 
———_ 


| If you find my Beloved, &c. | 


ſhe holds her beloved faft and will not let him 
—_ and ſometimes againeſhe is gone, hath loſt 


cr beloved, is in a ſca of troubles, ſeckes and | 
cannot find him, becomes ſluggiſh, negligent, | 


overtaken with ſelfelove, afterwhich when ſhe 
hath ſmarted for her omifſions ( as here againe) 


ſheis all a fire after Chriſt (as we ſay) noground | 


will hold her, away ſhe flies after him, and is 


reſtleſſe untill ſhe finde him, where by theway | | 


we ſee, That permanency and ability i for the 
life to to come; here our portion is to expett changes, 
florms and tempeſts, therefore they muſt not be 
ſtrange to particuler perſons, fince it is the por- 
tion of the whole Church, which thus by ſuffe- 
rings and conformity tothe head muſt enterinto. 
glory, whiles God makes his power perfe&in 
our weakeneſle, overcomes Satan by untikely 
meanes and ſo gets himſelfe rhe glory, even 
out of our greateſt infirmities, remptariens and 
abaſcments. | 

But God though he make all things worke 
for good unto: his children, even the Diyell, 
ſinne and death, deſertions, afflitions and all, 
yet wee muſt be warned hereby not to tempr 
God, by negleQing the meanecs appointed for 
our comfortable paflage : but open to Chriſt 
{when he knockes, imbrace him joyfwly in 
his ordinances, and let our hearts flic open unto 
| him. For though ( through his Mercy) our 
wounds becured ; yet who would be wounded. 


- 


totry ſuch dangerous experiments,as here befell 


a Cor,q4 17, 
2 Cor.l2,g, 


Rom.8.28. 


the Church in her deſertions, for her fluggiſh 


T1 _ negligence | 


| 


— tit. —_— 


— — om KA. 


Simile. 


John. 4- 


divers toffi:gs: and racy ings of the inlight- 
ned foille, now up now downe, now running 


meanes it puts onagaine; as the fire mounteth 
| upwards unto its proper place, andas theneedle 
(hill trembleth till it ſtand at the North, ſothe 
| ſoule once inflamed with an heavenly fire, and 
| acquainted with her firlt originall, cannotbe ar 
reſt untill it find it ſelfe inthart comfortable way 
which certainely leads homewards. + 


po 


heere, who having loſt her {weet communion 
with Chriſt, and fo paid dearly for her former 
negle& and \lighting his kind invitations, ( as 
| being troubled, reſtleſſe in mind, beaten 4nd 
| wounded by the watch-men, bereft of her.vaile, 

&c.) Y<t this heavenly fire of the bleſſed ſpirit, 
this'water of life ſo reſtleſly ſpringing in her, 
makes her fro of lvveand "ardent defireafter 
Chriſt to be ſuch, that ſhe cannor containe her 


———_— 


and requeſt, 
|  T charge you O daughters of Teruſalem if ye find 
my Beloved that yetell him,I am ſickeof love. 

1 hus we may ſee thar the way to Heavens 
full of changes, the ſtrength of corruption over- 
Clouds many times and damps eur joyes. How 
| many ſeveralltempers hath the Church beene 


vehemently defiring kifſes of herbeſt —_— 
| E 


———— 
— Ons ——— 


le many and. 


An inſtance whereof we have inthe Church 


wo | Tell bim that {am ſiche of Love. | 


Sur. XL. ſpeikes) which is the reaſon of tho 


—_— — 


 ſelfe, bur breakes forth inthis paſſionare charge | 


in? Sometimes ſhe is all compounded of joy | 


__—— 


— 


amaine homewards and now againe fluggiſh, | 
idle and laſte, untill rowſed up by extraordinary 


hm 


aw} ACN. at 


T Tfyou find my Beloved, &c. 


[ſhe holds her beloved faft and will not let him 
| goc, and ſometimes againeſhe is gone, hath loſt 


vw 


her beloved, is in a ſca of troubles, ſcekes and 
cannot find him, becomes ſluggiſh, negligent, 
overtaken with ſelfelove, afterwhich when ſhe 
hath ſmarted for her omifſions ( as here againe) 
ſheis all a fire afrer Chriſt (as we ſay) noground 


we ſee, That permancncy and ability us for the 

life to to come; here our portion « 18 expect changes, | 
ftorms and rempeſts, therefore they muſt not be 

ſtrange to particuler perſons, fince it is the por- 

tion of the whole Church, which thus by ſuffe- 

rings and conformity tothe head muſt enterinto/ 
glory, whiles God makes his power perfe&in 

our weakeneſſe, overcomes Satan by untikely | 
mcanes and fo gets himſelfe the glory, even 
out of our greateſt infirmities, temptariens and 
abaſcments. 


for good unto- his children, even the Diycll, 
ſinne and death, deſertions, afflitions and all, 
yet wee muſt be warned hereby not to tempt 
God, by negleCting the meancs appointed for 
our comfortable paſſage: but open to Chriſt | 
when he knockes, imbrace him joyfwly in 
his ordinances, and let our hearts flice open unto 


| him. For though ( through his Mercy) our | 
wounds becured ; yet who would be wounded. 


totry ſuchdangerous experiments,as here befell 


will hold her, away ſhe flies after him, andis| 
reſtleſſe untill ſhe finde him, where by theway | . 


fl 


37 | 


$»x. XITI 


2» Cor,q- 17, 


2 Cor.I2,g, 


But God though he make all things worke Rom.8.z8. | 


the Church in her deſertions, for her ſluggiſh 


W-22 Y'z _ negligence 


| 
| 


| 


i 


[. 


————__—_—_—____ 


TT Oe 


218 


Sun. X11L. 


re ee eer— — — na 


| loppoſitions inthe world, 


- {come into her, but whar enſued hereupon? ſhe | - 


{carcfulneſſe and opening to Chriſt knocking. 


| ſelves, but we ſhall finde it otherwiſe : ſee here 


 fupoh Gods indulgence, forthe neerer we are to 


_—_— i —— —  — —_—— Fe4 


 1fyoufinad my Beloved, | 


negligence, deadnefle and ſelfe-love. 

So that we fce there is nothing gotten by 
favouring our ſclvesin carnall liberty, ſceurity, 
or by yeelding tothe fleſh. The Church ſtood 
upon tearmes with Chniſt when he would have 


fell into a grievous deſontion, and not onely ſo 
but findes very hard uſage abroad, all which 
ſhee might have prevented by watchfulneſſe, 


It is a fpirituall error to which we are all prone, 
to thinke that much is gained by favouring our 


1gaine that God will beare with nothing' 
though in his owne, but he will ſharpely puniſh 
them cven for omiſſions, and that not only with 
deſertion, but ſometimes they ſhall meete with 


David cannot ſcape with a proud thought in 
numbring of the people, but he muſt ſmart for 
itand his _ alſo. Godis wonderous care- 
[full of his Children to corre them, when he | 
lets ſtrangers alone. Ir is a figne of love when 
he 1s arthis coſt with us, Andit ſhowld tie us to 
be carcfull of our behaviour, not to preſimac 


him the morecarcfull heis over us,he will be [ap- 
dhified in allthat com: neex2 hin, weſce the Corim- 


threns becauſe they came unrevercntly ro the | 
[Lords table, (though otherwiſe they were holy 
|men) fame of them ave ficke, ſome weake others ſleep, 


po nw:ght not be condemanad winh the world. 


———__—_— its bh 4 ——_ "— —_—_— 
e 


——— 


tg | 3i9 | 
Let none therefore thinke rhe profeſſton of Ssx.XIIL. 
Religian ro imply an imjnunity, but rather a | } 
ſtraighter bond ; for, Indgement begins 48 the 
houſe of God, whatſocver he ſuffers abroad he | 
will not ſuffer diſorders in his owne houſe, as} | 
the Propher ſaies, Towerely have I knowneof all} OO | 
the families of the earth, therefore yow ſhall nes goe | | 
w1”wifhed, The Churchisncere himyhis fpouſe| 


her,not induring any abatecment,or decay of the | 0 
firſt love in her: And forthis very cauſe hee} | 
threatrheth the Church of Bakeſws 70 remweve bes | Rey. 2, 
candieſtiche. -i1- 
To procced, the poore Church here & not 
diſcouraged, but diſcovers and cwptics her felfe 
to the davzWers of Terufalem, asit isthe nature of 
Culinary fire not onely to mount be ren 10 = 
alſoto bewray it ſelfeby light and heat, ſoof| c.,_-,, 
this heavenly fire when it is once kindled from cha | 
above, not onely to aſpire in its motion burts| ol 
diſcover it ſelfe in affeRing others with itsqua»| - | 
- | liries, it could not comaine it ſelfe hereinthe]  —- 
| Church bur that ſhe muſt goe to the dawghtars of 
Teruſalem, F charge you 0 daughters of Lerufalam,of 
| yeefinde my Beloved that yee tell bim that F wn fie 
of love. Therefore they may doube tharth 
have not this heavenly fire kindled inthem;thar 
exprefle it not. ſeriouſly, for of all affeftions it 
will nor be concealed. David wonders at his| Ml-119- 
owne love, 0h bow F love thy law,oh how aimeabic!) 
ore thy Tabernacles ? -qut! 16:01 ; 
Againe we ſee here, that where the ſeatei fiekr 
Y 4 . 


"—_— 


— 


_—_— 7 


Al. 


hed = CEC FEI. —_— 


whom he loveih, and therefore he will corre} - 7 


, 
. 


1 


| 


| Thel. 2.3. 
i Cor,13. 


Gen, 34.24 


PEI 


AQs.6, 


{Thor this fick 
nefſe of divine 


won tbe body. 
Plal.3a3. 
| 


| mo | 
»R.XlI1L, 


, 


Tell him that 4 am ſicks of Lowe. 


————_— — —"__—— 


of love, it ftands not upon any tearmrs, but it hum. 
bleth and abaſeth it ſelfe. We ſay that affeRion | 
ſtands not with Majeſty, therefore Chriſts loye 
to us mooved him to abaſe himſelfe in taking 
'our nature that he might be one with us, love 
ſtood not upon tearmes of greatneſle, we ſec 


the Churchgoes tothoſe that were meaner pro. 


ficients in religion then her ſelfe, to powre our 
her ſpiric to rhem, to the dawghters of Iernſalem, 


| ſhe abaſcth her ſelfe to any ſervice, loye endy- 


reth all things, anything to atriine tothe thi 


J—_ 
—_———_—————————_ 


Em .. 


loved, as we {ce Hamor the ſonne of Shichemhe 


| would indure painefull circumciſion for the 


loveheboreto Dirmh. So CAs.5.41.itis ſaid | 
they: went away rejoycing after they were 
whipped, becauſe they loved Chriſt. The ſpirit 


of love made them rejoyce when they were |. 
moſt diſgracefully uſed. 


love works alſ6 


Sometimes where this aff<&ion of heavenly 
love is prevalem,'ſ{o that a man is ſicke of it, 
the diſtempers thereof redounds to the body 


and refics upon that, as we ſec in David, Pſal. 
32.4 That his moyftnre became as the drought of | 
ſurmrer, becauſetherc is a marriage and afimpa- | 
| thy betweene the ſoute and the body, wherein 
the excefhve affefions of the one redoundand 
reflect upon the other. 


Tell bim that 1 ams ficke of lowe, here isa ficknes 


| butnort unto death bur unto life, a fickneſſe that 


never cndsbur in comfort & ſatisfaRion, bleſſed 
arcthoſethar hunger and thitft afterChriſt;they | 
ſhall -be ſatisfied; as we ſhall ſee afterwards more 


at large. Knowledge 


ot -— Hed 


i. 


— 


— — _ —— 
| Whatuthy Beloved, && | gan | 
| Knowledge gives not the denomination, for Sun, X1IL| 
we may krow:ll and beguod, and we my know good _ 
1d be evitl, bur it is-the affection of theſoule EE: 
which clcaves to the —_ known, the truth of | ,, ,, ,,, 1 
our love is that gives the denomination of a ſtate | inowleage that 
to be good or ill, love 1s the weight and wiegys makes ws g00 


EY A » Y. . -| 07 evil 
the ſoule, which Ccatrics 1t where irgocs,whi if cone 


it carry vsto earth we arc baſe and earthly, if to | <»« cleaved 10 
| heaven, heavenly, we ſhould have eſpeciall care Py w_—_ 
how we fixc this affeQion); for thereafteras it is, 
even ſo is our conditi6, Aske thy love of what City 
thou art whether of Ieruſal:m or of Babylon, (as Au- 
fin ſaith)Nowthe daughters of Jeruſalem reply 
unto the Church wondering at herearneſtneſle, 
What ts thy Beloved morethen another Belovid,o | 
thou faireſt among woe en, what thy Belowed maye 
then another Beloved that thou doft ſo charge us : 
In ſtecd of giving ſatisfaction to herthey re- 
ply with asking newQ 1cſtions, What & thy Be- 
loved more then anorher Beloved, 0 they faireſt 
among woemen? what ts thy Beloved, 8c.Where: | 
in ye have a doubling ofthe Queſtion, toſhew 
the fertouſnelle.of it, of rhis their anſwerthere | 
arctwWo parts. » 24t 6 2617608 
1. A loving and ſweet Compellation, 0 thou 
fereft among woemen: +48 
2. The Queſtion doubled, what us thy Beloved | 
 merethen another Beloved, And, againe, What is 
thy Beloved,8&c. thatthou doſt ſochargeus,asif | 
they ſhould ſay, Thou layeft « ſeriows charge wpor 
| as, therefore there is ſome great matter ſurely in thy 
Tamas that theu makeſft ſuch inquiry Lag 
q | | | us 


_— 


_ COT 


"=. 


TT 
— — w—_— 


+ res... —— 


222 | O 


Szx.XI1L.| Thus the weaker Chriſtians being ſtirred up by 

Th the example of the ſtronger, Top makethis 
| Queſtion and are thus inquiſitive, bur to ſpcake 
i of them intheir order. 

0 thou faireſt ang wormen, here is the com- 
pellation, rhe Church isthe faircſta wae- 
men inthejudgementof Chriſt, fo wr þ her, 
Cant.1.8., 0 than faire#t among woemen

~362 words

head of the 
Church Chriſt, the ſhines inthe beames of her | 
| husband: nor onely in Juſtification, but inSan-| 
- | iikication alſo, 
2. The Church is lively anudfa'reagaine, as from 
er roo Chriſts imputative righteeuſneſſe, ſo from bu 
- ; Toagdior be riehtoonſneſſe inherent in her races ſhe hath 
| from Chriſt ſh : , a L 
| ſhines. from hin : for of him, wee receive-Grace for 
Grace, thereis never agrace but itis beautifull 
| | and faire: for what is grace butthebeamesof 
Chriſtthe Sonne of Rightcoufnefſe,. ſothat all 


|\muſt"'be faire that comcs from the firſt _ | 


—_— 


vw q SR WE tem 


| 


| 


{_— asmakes' vsliving ſtones, there isa 


| O thoufairett among wormen, | 


all beautifull that comes fram the firſt beaury- 
This beauty of grace whereby itmakes the | 
Church ſo faire ſprings tromtheſe grounds, 
Firſt, 17 that it is from a arvine principle and | 
originall,s: i not baſely bred but from Heaven, and 
therefore it raiſeth the ſoule above nature and 


makes the ſubje&s wherein it is as farre ſurpaſſe | 


all other men as mendoe beaſts. 


Secondly, Inregard ofthe continuance, it is 
everlaſting and makes us continue for ever. Ad | 


feſh is graſſe, and as the flower of grefſe ( ſaith the 


Prophet, ) anditis repeated in the New Tefta- | 


men indivers places. All worldly exccllencie 
isasthe lower of gralle: the graſie wethereth and 


the flower fadath, but the word of the Lord, ( that is | 


the grace that is imprinted in che ſoute by the 
Spirit with the word ) #h4t abideth for ever, and 
makes us abide likewile. 5 | 


From this faircneſle ofthe Church letus cake 


occaſion to contemplate of the txcelNency of 
Chrift chat puts this tuſtre of beauty upon the 
Church. <AMoſes married a wocman that was 
not beautifull, but could not aker the comple. 
ion and condition of his ſpouſe. Bur Chrift 
dorh, hetakes vs wallowing in our bloud, de-: 
formed and defiled, he is ſuch a husband as can 
pur his Church into his owne difpoſition and 
trans forme her into his owne proportion. He is 
ſuch a Head as can quicken his members, ſuch a 
roote as inſtills life into all his branches ; ſacha | 


varnue and power inthis husband aboveall. | 
KY Bot & 


pi | 


Is 


That Chriff 4 


the moſt exce 
lent bunband. 


eo om. P__ I. 
—_— i. 
i... — Mt. mm 


} 


[ 


—_r_ 


P—ISY 


g—__ 


ERP —— _ A IOY 
| 324 | O thon faireft among woemen,&c. | 
Sun. X[[]. But ſhee is blacke 2 ER 


obje, | She is fo indeed and ſhe confeſſerh herſelfe || 
Anſw, | t© be ſo, Cant.r.5. I am blacke but comely, 
Se -- 


blacke 1n regard ofthe afflitions and perſecu- 
ruwhat regerd my ſhee meers oh My this world.  * 
foe Churc® cas) Blacke againe, In regard of ſcavdalls, for the 
bs —_— Divell hs the Church morethen all ſocieties 
in the world, therefore in the ſocicty of the 
Church there are often more ſcandalls then in 
other people,as the Apoſtletells the Corinthians, 
1 Cer,g. | there wasinceſt amongſt them rhe like was not 
among the heathen. | : 
ve She is blacke through the envie of the world 
: _ r oggt that lookes more at the Churches faults then vertues. 
this life comes The Church #s blacke and unlovely nothing 
pe eta . diff cring from others, In regard of Gods out- 
{ /ean42% | ward dealing, AU falls alike ro all, they arc 
Rcdleſ.9,z, | {1cke and deformed, they have all things out- 
wardly whatſoever is common with others. 


5. Laſtly and principally ſhe is blacke, In re- 
| spect of her Infirmities and weakeneſſes, ſubjeRto | 
weakeneſle

~1,211 words

the Church is inward and undiſcerned to ] 
the carnall cyec altogether : the Scribes and | 
Phariſees {ce no yertuc in Chriſt himſelfe. It 15] 
ſaid, that be cams anvone his owne, and hi own: 
John.t.x x, | £9874 n0t diſcern: of him + the darkeneſſe could uit | 

comprehend that light. Now as it was with 


Chriſt, ſoiris much more with the Church, let | 
- - — wo” bethe uſe ofir. F | 
"ppoſe tulge\ Oppoſe this ſtate of the Church tothe falſe judg6- 
"gag » ment of the world: they ſce all blacke andnothing 
| OT ES Os elſc 


——_— 


—_— 


mc 


4 


' O thou faireil among woemen,&C, y 3a5 | 


elſethat is good; Chriſt ſcesthat which is black | — 
too: but then his ſpiritinthem ( rogether with 
the fight of their b ackneſlſe ) {ceth their beauty 
| too. I amblacke but comely,&c. Be not diſcou- 
raged therefore at the ccniure of the world, 
blind men cannot judge of colours. Jt is ſaid of *# 
Chriſt, hee had no forme or beauty in him, when | W253. 
| wee ſhall ſee him. 1. Not in outward glory, ror | 
in the view of the world. If we be therefore | 
thought to be blacke, wee are no otherwiſe | 
thought of then the Church and Chriſt hath 
| beene before us. 
| Againe, Letus make this Ule of it, againſt | Yſe. 7. 
Sathan in the time of temptation, doth Chriſt | To , 1emember 
thinke us faire for the good we have, doth he nk Pl ” 
not altogether valew us by ourill 2 and ſhall we | cturch when 
beleeve Sathan, who joynes with the diftem- | 7 «re under 
pers of melancholly, or weakeneſſe wee are _—_— 
tn, which he uſcthas a weapon againſt theſoule, 
to makeus thinke otherwiſe, Sathas « not oxely a 
wourtherey, but a | yer from the beginning, We 
muſt not beleeve anenemy, anda lyer withall. 
Bur conſider how Chriſt and the Church jud- 
ecth, that have bertcr diſcerning. Ard let aw| 
beware wee be not ſathans to oir ſelves For if 
there were no Divell, yetin the time of temp- 
[tation and deſcrtion we are ſubje& to diſcou- 
| ragement, to give falſe witneſſe againſt our 
ſelves, we arc apt to looke on the darkeſideof 
| the Cloud. The Cloud that went before.the| £xod. x4. x0. | 
Iſraelites had a double aſpe&t, one darke, the 
other light ; In temptation WEE looke RR | ES 
arke =; 


. 


L&C 


w - —_ _—— 


326 | O thoufairelt among women, 
Sz x. XI1E.| darkefide of thefonle, and are wirty in pleadi 
| ———|againft our ſelves. Oh but conſider whar Cheiſt 
0: judgerh of us, O thow faireft ammeg wo:mes, and| - 
whar thoſe abour us thar are leamed, who eat 
reade our cvidences better then we our ſelves, 
| doc judge of us, let us traft the judgement of 
others in time of teriptation more then our 
"ou ine here, What 20 judge of the ſp 
carne agathe here, What t0 juate of the ſpriits 
=. Li of ſuch beds of men, as are all in dif, he" pecee 
| rerne/ſe of their| defacing the poore Church, their table talke is 
agent - of the infirmities of Chriſtians, they lighrupon 


or will n . c 
Zool in Gols | then as flies doe upon ſore places, and will ſee 
| Children. | nothing thar is good in them, O where isthe|_ 

Simile. | ſpirit of Chriſt, or of the Church of Chriſt 

in them that thus befcratch the- face of the 
Church £ when yet ( oft times ) their hearts 
| tell them theſe poore deſpiſed ones will be} 

better then themſclves one day, for grace ſhall 
havethe upper hand of all exccllencies. 

That al * The Church is fa're and fareft, Grace is a 
excellencies \ tratiſcendent good, all the excellency of civi- 
{goon *-\ lity and morallity is nothing to this, this deno- 
| cellencies. | Minares the Church the faireZ, ſhee is not gullt, 
bur pure gold, not painted, but hath atrae na- 

turall compleRion, all other excellencics arc 
| | but I excellencies. The whore of 
Babylon ſhee is wonderous faire, But wherein 
doth her beaury conſiſt? Jn ornaments and 
ceremonies to abuſe filly people, that goe no 
further then! faticy, it is an excellency thet 


comes norto the judgernent, buttheexcelleticic 


TEE ; TI nay 0 


—M 


te... 


———_— 


— 
LO ——— 
| I 


thou fawreH among weemen, | 327 | 


among woemen, ſhe hath a natyurall faircnefle, as 


| compoſition, glorious within. Jris forthe talſe 
whoriſh Church to be glorious without only, 
but cthetrue Church is glorious within. But that 
which wee ſhould eſpecially obſeryeis, That 
wee ſhould labour to anſwer this commendation, 
| not onely to. be jaire but the faireſt, to be tranſ- 

cendently fengulerly good, $0 doe ſomewhat more 
then others can, 10 have ſomewhat more in vs then 
others have. C< 1+] 

For it is anſwerable to the Nate of a Chriſti- 

an, is a Chriſtian in an exccllent ranke above 


of the Church is otherwiſe, the is The faireft Sn R-XIIL, 
gold js pure gold, ſo the Church is of a pure] 


{| That thi ftrife 


E: 
| 


obſerv. 


for eminency 
in Grace L [uu 


other men © let him ſhew it by a carriage more 
gtacious, more fruifull and plentifull ingood 
workes. There is 2 kinde of excellency af. 
fected in other things, much more ſhould we 
defire 10 be exceclient inthat that is good, that 
we may not be faire oncly but the ſa'reſt, This 
the ApoſtieS.Pawl excellently prefieth to Titus 
bis ſcholler, Tr#,2.14. and to all of us in other 
places, that we ſhould be, A peculiar people Jea- | 
lows of goed workes : not onely to doe them, but 
[ro be zealous of them, andto goe before others | 
| inthem, ſtanding as ſtanderbearers. Therefore 
| thoſe that thinkethey may goetoo farrein Re-! 
ligion, that they may be too fruitfull, arena : 
worthy the name of the ſpouſe of Chriſt, for 
ſhe is faire, yea the faireſt among woemen : 
The rightcom w mare excellens then his ueightavr, 


ow calling. | 


| 


te 
ee... I 


table ta a Chri1- 


nl 


T hat it is a fi 
fall fluggijſh 


ſeare to ſeare t: 
be religions. 


| 


| 


theretorewe ſhould cxcell in good workes ( 00 
| 1 in l 2 


—_—_ 75 5 7 on 


| rma—_— 
i. —— 
" OO "» CET 
"_ 


bk hottie 


In en act 


Ce eee EE Ys eee 
© iy lic SIA OM ov 6c 


"== 0 
228 | | 


S8R.X[[I.' the Apoſtle cxhorts us ) to labour after things that 
| r Cor.1z 31. | are excellent, as if he ſhould ſay, Is there any 
d PoEEes thing better then other, labour for that. You 

have ſome ſo farre from this diſpoſition, thar 
they cry downe the excellencies of others, 
| leaſt the faireneſſe of others might. diſcover 
thcir blackenefle. Thus we leave the Compella.,| 

fron and cometo the 9rneſtion, 
ueſt, What « thy Beloved more then another Beloved? 
and they double it, what « thy Beloved more then 

| | another Beloved that thou ſo chargeſt us ? 

Queſtions are of divers natures; we ſhall not 
ſtand upon them, this is not a 2»eſt;on meerely 
q of ignorance ( for they had ſome knowledge of 
Chriſt, though weake)) Nor was 't a curious 
| nor a catching Queſtion,like thoſe of the Scyibes 
and Phariſees unto Chriſt, to inſtancein that of 
Pilate, What «© truth? when Chriſt had told him 
the zruth, What # truth, (faith he) inaſcornfull 
prophane manner, as indeed prophane ſpirits 
| cannot heare ſavoury words, but they turne 
| them off with ſcorne, what is trurh? This herein 
the texr is not tuch, bur a Queſtion tending to 
further reſolution and fatisfattion, What # thy |. 

Belpued more then another Beloved ? J 
Firſt of all obſerve, thattheſe ofthe

~205 words

force in the examples of 
| Chriſtiazs to ſtir vp one ayother, We ſechere when | 
| the Church was ſizke of love, theother part + 
_ 1} t 


—— 


| What is thy Beloved, &c, | 


| EIN 


I rr 


' | 
Joh.18.383, 


D— 


pm. 
"—_— _ 


— 


he ed 


” 


— ——_— tt ——_— jy ET 


| 
| 


' Whatithy 


| make mountaines of molchills, the indeayours 


| 45 200d as hee. | 


thus we (hall doemore then we arcaware, there 


—  w<w<—__... 


Beloved, 8c. [ 229. 


__ 


che members began to: thinke, what is the Sz x. XIIT- | 


reaſon the Church is fo carncſt to ſceke after | 
Chriſt, there is ſome excellency ſureinhim; 
for, wiſe men doe not uſe great motions in little mat- 
ters, great things are carried with great monuings ; 

we ule not to ſtirre up tragedies for trifles, to | 


and carriages of great perſons that be wiſe, 
judicious and holy areanſwerable ro the nature 
of things. And indeed the Church judgerh | 
aright in this, then ſce the force of good ex- | 
ample, any man that hath his wits about him, 
when he ſees others ſerious, earneſt and carefull 
abour a thing whereof for the preſent hecan 
ſee no reaſon ( eſpecially if they have parts 
equall, or ſuperior to himſelfe ) will reaſon | 
thus preſently. . 
What i the matter that ſuch a one is ſo earneſt, 
ſo carefull, watchful laborious inquiſitive ? 1t ts not 
or want of wit, ſurely heehath parts enough, hee | 


. 


wnderſtands himſelfe well. And then he begins | 
to thinke, ſure I am 200 cold, hereupon comes! 
competition, and corriyalitic : ſurely I will bee 


A reaſoning 
os others 


neſine/. 


Let us labour therefore to be exemplaryto | Yſe. 


others, and to exprefle

~1,482 words

You ſee here 
the contrary practiſe ofthe Church,ſhe doubles 

the Queſtion ; What is thy Belowed more then 


woemen, what « thy Beloved more 
then another Beloved,that thou 
doit ſo charze us ? 
* » 


x. 


The end of the thirteenth 


Sermon 


another Beloved, © thou faireſt among 


Szx.XIII: 


AP 55 


4 


— 


— — — — 


$622629220082 
THE FOVRTEENTH 
SERMON. 
Canrt. V. I X. X. 


What u thy Beloved more then 
another Beloved, O thou faireſt a-| 
mong woemen, what #u thy Beloved 
more then another Beloved that thou 
doft jo charge us ? 

My Beloved i white aud ruddie 
| |rhechiefeſt among ten thouſand, 


2 IHE laſttime we metweleft 

x| Gan the Church ſicke of love : 
ZRq, which ſtrange affeQion in| 

jo% her, together with her paſ- 
2 fionate charge to the daugh- 
(SS) Lea>) tors of Ieruſalem, mooved 
LIVE them ro make this Queſti- 


on unto her, What i« thy Beloved more then another) 
| 'Þ v0 | Belowed,. 


—————— 


__ en e_ _  — 


0 thou faireit among woemen, 


Beloved, &c. To bein love is much : to con. 
| ceale it is grievous, to vent it with ſuch ferven- 

cie and paſſion breeds aſtoniſhment, in theſe 
younger Chriſtians, who wonder what that is 
| which can ſo draw away the Churches loye, 
| and runne away with her affe ions. They knew 
| no ſuch excellencies of the perſon rhe Church 
| ſo admired, and therefore they double the 
| Queſtion unto her, What #« thy Beloved, 8c. 
; what is thy Beloved, &c. Whereby we ſcethe 
| excellency of the ſoule which aſpires ill 
towards perfe&tion, not reſting in any ſtate 
| inferiour tothe moſt excellent. Therefore alſo 
) is the Churches fickneſle of love here, who 
| deſires a _neerer union and communion: with 
Chriſt then ſhe atthis time had. 


For there are degrees of ſpiritrall langui- 
ſhing, till we be in heaven we are alway under ſome 
degree of this ſickneſſe of love ; though the ſoule 

ave more communion at one time then at 
another. Yea the Angells are under this wiſh 
_ | ro ſee Chriſt rogether with his Church in full| 
perfe&tion, ſo thar untill: we be in Heaven 
where ſhall be a perfe@ reunion of ſoule and 
| body, and of all the members of the Church 
together ; there is a kinde of ſickneſſe attending 
_ { upontheChwrch and a languiſhing. ; 
| TheQueſtionasked is, = 
What is thy Beloved moye then anothers Beloved, 
'O thou faireſt among women? | 

What ! now faire when her v4ile was taken 
away 2 now. faire when the Watchmen abaſcd 


her 


—_—_— —_— 


m——_ 


 __—— 


O then faireft among woemen, | 


339 | 


now faire and row faire, in the fight of the 
daughters of Teru{alem, and in the fighrof Chriſt 
that calls her the faireſt among woewen - Sothat | 
under all dijgraces, infirmitics and ſcandalls, | 
under all the ſhame that riſeth in the ſoule upon 
finne, under all theſe clouds there is an exccl- 
lency of the Church, ſhe is, The faireſt among 


omen [4 woermen. | Weſt O | 
Whence comes this faireneſie under ſuch ſeeming 
fouleneſſe and diſgrace ? Auſw. 


| Ircomesfrom without,it is borrowed beauty 
as you have it, Ezek.16.1.2, Bynaturewe liein | 
jour bloud, there muſt bea beauty putupon ns, | 
[we are faire with the beauty that we have out 
of Chriſts wardrope. The Church ſhines inthe 


borne thus faire, but new borne fairer. The 
Church of Chrift is all glorious, bur it is with- 


a hidden life, owr glory and our life vs hiddenin 
| Chriſt - It is hid fomerimes from the Church 
it ſelfe, who ſees onely her deformity and not. 
her beauty, herdeath but not her life : becauſe, 
her life s hid : here is amiſterie of Religion, 


The Church #« never more fairethen when ſhejud.- | That the ehurch 
T eh ber ſelf eto be moſt deformed . Never were hap- ke wa wits 
pre then when ſhe judgeth herſelfe to be miſerable : _ = th when 


| 
ADAM rods] 
her: now fairewhen ſhe was diſeraced ? Yes, [SER»ALV. 


| woemeg, notwithſtanding all theſe : © thou faireſt | 


beames of Chriſts Rightcouſneſfle, ſhe is nor p- | a 


in, not ſecne of the world, ſhe hath a life, but iris Gu 


only 11akes us 
lovely to Chriſt, 


| never more flrong then when ſhe feeles herſelfe tobe | ſheſees © com- 


plaines moeſ# 0 


weake, never move righteous then when ſhe feeles | |* Iefdrmaities 


| her ſelfe to be moſt burthened with the guilt of her 


_ owne 


2 Cor. 12, : 


} 


34.0 What i thy Beloved, &c, | 
Sur. XIV.| owne ſinnes, becauſe the ſence of one contra 
| That the Texje _— tro _ = ſence of - forcerth us to 
% "b.+7| the fountaine of good, to have fupply thence: | 
/ ; o —_ | When I am weake then am I ſirong FCich Paul ) 
| Grace and ſtrength is perfcc in weakeneſle, 
Pe. | This ſhould teach us what to judge of the 
_ ts ju42f) Church and people of God, even under their 
xby Gods peo-| ſeeming diſgraces, yet to judge of themas the 
ple under ſee=| excellemeſt people inthe world, Pſalm.16. Al 
ming 418146") wy delight 15 1n thoſe that are excellent : tojoyne 
our ſelves to them : eſpecially this is hereto 
be underſtood of the Church as it is the myſti. 
call body of Chriſt, not as a mixed body, as a 
Heb.13.32, | viſible Church, but as it 1s the Temple of the | 
Holy Ghoſt. 
| | The viſible Church hath tearmes of excellen. 
| cy put upon it{ometimes, bur it is in regard of | 
Cianile the better part. As gold unrefined is called | 
* | gold becauſe gold is the better part : And 
a heape of wheate unwinnowed is called 
wheate, though there be much chaffe in ir, 
 thebody of Chriſt it ſe]fe hathalwaics excellent 
tearmes given it, Othowu faireſt among woemen, 
That the cau/e) Thoſe that looke upon the Church withthe 


why wicked ſpeQacles of malice can ſee no ſuch beauty in 
men ſee not this 


ra 6 hee) fs though to eſpy our faults, as the Divell 
| cauſe they looke| could in 70b, to quarrell, to ſlander, they are 
onGetrbroggh! quicklighted enough, but we ſee here the 
ne Fen364#9] Church in the judgement of the dauzbrers of 
lob.i. , | Teruſalem, that ſhe is the faireſt amongwoemen. 

The Paprſts have a painted beauty, for their 


Catholique Church,bur here is no ſuch beauty } 
a 2 bl 


— 


| 


— 


| O thonfaireit among woemen. | 


It becomes a whore to be painted, tobe as faire 
as her hands can make her, with feighned beau- 
ty. But the Church of Chriſt hath a beaury 
from her husband, a reall {pirituall beauty not 
deſcerned of the world, | 
| This ſhould be of uſe to Gods children 
themſelves, to helpe. them in the upbraidings. of 
| conſcience (as if they had nogoodneſſe in them) 
| becauſe they have agreat dealeofill, Chriſtians 
ſhould have a double eye, one to ſet and fixc 
uponthat which is ill in them, to humble them, 
and another upon that which is ſupernaturally 
gracious in them, to incourage themlelyes, 
they ſhould looke upon themſelves as Chriſt 
lookes upon them, and judge of themſelves as 


he judgeth of them, by the better part. He | 


lookes not ſo much whatill wehave, for, that 
ſhallbe wrought out by little and little, and be abo- 
liſhed, it i condermed already, and it ſhall be ex- 
ecuted by little: avd little til is be wholy aboliſhed. 
but he. lookes upon us in regard of the better 
part, ſo fhould wee looke upon our ſclyes, 
though otherwhiles upon out blacke feere (our 
infirmities) when we are tempted to pride and 
haughtinefſce,butalwaies let themeanethoughts 
we conceive of our ſclves, make us to flieto 
| (Chriſt, 147.3 © WI} Av —_ hk 
' What « thy Beloved more then another Belowed? 
| Here is4 2ueſtion, and a Que ſtton arſwered 
| with a 2ucffen : Queſtions they breed know- 
ledge ( a$the Grecke Proverbe is) doubrings 
breed reſolution. Whereupon the inquiſitiy 


4 
ſoulc 


V fe, 
Thkat Chriſt ians| 
in the upbrai-| 
dings of con/ci- 
ence ſhould. | 
locke upon the 
£004 as on thel 
it in them, 


That we ſhould 
looke upon our 
ſelves as Chriſt 
looks upon ws, 


Lo 


—_— 


T bat is a ſpeci 
all point of wiſ- 


What « thy B eloved, &c. 


ſoule (uſually ) proovesthe molt learned, judi- 
cious and wiſe ſoule, therefore that great Phi-| 
loſopher counted it as a vertue amongſt his 
ſchollers, that they would be inquilitive. $9 
the ſchollers of Righteouſneſle are inquiſitive, 
they inquire the way to Canaan, and the way to Zion 
with bi faces thither wards. | 

It is aſpeciall part of Chriſtians wiſdometo| 
improove the excellency of others by Queſti- 


the giſtrs; otber| ONS, tO have a bucket to draw out ofthe deepe 


by que/F1onc. 


wells of others ( as Salomon ſaith) the heart of 
awiſe man is as deepe waters, but a man of under- 
ſtanding can tell how to fetch thoſe waters ont : | 
There be many men of deepe and excellent| 
rts which are loſt in the world, becauſe men 
know not how to improove them. Therefore 
it is good while we have men excellent in any 
kind, ro make uſe of them. Ir is an honourto| 
| God as well as a commanditie to our ſelves. 
Doth God ſuffer lightsto ſhine inthe world that 
we ſhould rake no notice of them, It is a wrong | . 
to our ſelves anda diſhonour to God, 
What « thy Belowed mare then another Belo-| 
ved, &c.  FOIP 


A further.point from hence is, That if wee 
would give incourazement to others to repaire tous 
for any g81d, we ſhould labour to be ſs excellemt as to 
Rel: 7108. | 
O thou faireſt among woemen, what is thy Be- 
| loved, &c. They enquire of her becauſe they 
| have a g990d conceit of her : a world of g00d 
might be done if there were bred agood concett 


_—C————— 


_of 


Wha is thy Beloved, &C. | 


of men in others ; we fay in ſickneſſe, a good 
conceipt of the Phyſition # alfe the cure + 1o in 
teaching, agood conceiptofthe teacheris halfe 
the learnirg: The danghters of Teruſalem had a\ 
good conceipt here in thcir Queſtioning ofthe is 
' Church : 0 thos faireſt among woemen

~841 words

what is thy 
| Beloved more then another Beloved ? 44 -- -I- 
|| Let us labour therefore to be ſuch as may ; Tn PR" 
bring honour and credit to Religion, and make _—_— 
it lovely, that what we doe may make others | gion lovely. 
\{thinke we doe what we doe by gem purpoſe : 1 
which is oft times a ſpeciall meanes and occa- | 
| fionof their converſion. Though properly the 
' cauſe of converſion be the Spirit of God in the 
ordinances: yet the inducement ( many times ) | 
and occafion, is the obſervation of the courſe! 
and carriage ofthoſethat excell and are knowne 
to be eminent in pants and in graces, Emulation 
ads fpurrs 19 m0 the ſoule, Doe they take ſuch 
couriesrhatare wiſer then I, and ſhall nor Trake | 
| rhelike courſeroo £ Paul faith,the emulation of | Rom. 11.21, | 
the Gertiles ſhall be a meanes of the converfion 
| of the Tewes, when they ſhall ſee them imbrace 
| Chriſt, they will be incouraged to doe ſo alſo : | 
| what ſhall werhinke therefore of them thar live 
ſoas that they bring an evill report,ſcar:dall and | 
reproach upon Religion 2 Great and fearful js 
their wickednefſe, that by their ill converſation v2, 
like Hephny and Phinexs difcredit the ordinances | : Sam.2.17. 
ofthe Lord. vi (7 
' Now the Charch thus anſwers rhe former 
1 Queſtion rouching Chriſt, Hy Beloved « gy | 
56 and | 


_—. JE 
> —— 


Jn I 


—_— 


341 


____ 


Jef, $09. 


That is 4 
al 


ect 


— 


by que/F1one. 


SBR.XIV- 


1 


—_— improove the excellency of others by Queſti- 
thegi/tro) _ ons, to have a bucket to draw out ofthe deepe 


What « thy B eloved, &c. | 


ſoule (uſually ) prooves the molt learned, judi- 
cious and wiſe ſoule, rherefore that great Phi- 
loſopher counted it as a vertue amongſt his| 
ſchollers, that they would be inquiſitive. So} - 
the ſchollers of Righteouſneſle are inquiſitive, | 

they _ re the way t0 Canaan, and the way to Zion 
with their faces thither wards, DES 


It is aſpeciall part of Chriſtians wiſdometo 


wells of others ( as Salomon ſaith ) the heart of 
awiſe man is us deepe waters, but a man of under- 
ſtanding can tell how to fetch thoſe waters ont : 

There be many men of deepe and excellent 
parts which are loſt in the world, becauſe men 
know not how to improove them. Thereforc 
ir ts good while we have men excellent in any| 
kind, to make uſe of them. Tr is an honourto| 
| God as well as a commoditie to our ſelves. 
| Doth God ſuffer lightsto ſhine inthe worldthat 
| we ſhould rake no notice of them, It is a wrong 

to our {elves anda diſhonour to God. 

What «s thy Beloved mare then another Belo- 
ved, &c. | Loſe 
A further.point from hence is, That if wee 
would give incourazement to others to repaire tows 
for any g61d, we ſhould labour to be ſo excellent as to| 
Rel:7/08. bv FS 

 O thou faireſt among woemen, what is thy Be-| 
| {oved, &c. They enquire of her becauſe they 

have a g950d conceir of her: a world of 200d 
| might be done if there were bred agood concett 


_of| 


» 


it hat @ thy Beloved, &c. 


of men in others ; we fay in ſickneſle, 2 good 


| conceipt of the Phyſition # kalfe the care: Join] 


'teaching, agood conceiptotthe teacher is halfe 


Arie learnirg: The danehters of Teruſalem had a\ 
good conceipt here in thcir Queſtioning ofthe | 


' Church : 0 thos faireſt among woemen,what is thy 
Below id more then another Beloved ? 

| Let us labour therefore to be ſuch as may | 
bring honour and credit to Religion, and make 
it lovely, that what we doe may make others 
thinke we doe what we doe to great purpoſe: 
which is oft times a ſpeciall meanes and occa- 
fionof their converſion. Though properly the 


cauſe of converſion be the Spirit of God in the 
ordinances: yct the inducement ( many times ) | 
and occafion, is the obſervation of the courſe | 
and carriage ofthoſethat excelland are knowne 
to be eminent In parts and In graces, Fmlation | 
ads fpurrs 10 80 the ſoule, Doe they take ſuch 
courlesrhat are wiſer thenT, and ſhall not Trake 
| rhelike courſe too 9 Pal faith,the emulation of 
the Gentiles ſhall be a meanes of the converfion 
of the ewes, when they ſhall ſce them imbrace 
.| Chriſt, rhey will be incouraged to doe ſo alſo : 
' what ſhall werhinke therefore of them thar live | 
ſoas that they bring an evill report, ſcar:dall and 
reproach upon Religion 2 Great and fearfull is 
their wickednefle, that by their ill converſation 
like Hophny and Phinens diſcredit the ordinances 
ofthe Lord. : VEN 
' Now the Charch thus anſwers the former 
, Queſtion touching Chriſt, Hy Beloved « white 


and | 


T hat our inde 
vonrs muſt bee| 
to make Kelis» | 
gion lovely, 


Rom.11.11, | 


1 Sam.2.17. 


CT ——— — ____wH—lvw—_r — 


| 344+ | AdpBewvedirwhite.&c., 
| Sur, XIV! and rnddie, the chiefett of ten thou Gink hola 


| affcaidro ſer out her Beloveds beauty. For,there 
1 That there i n0 


reiano. 35. 99 envie in Spiritual things : It is want of 
_ _ | wiſdome amongft mento commend athing that 
ritui tOengy. | | 
where _ is very lovely ro others, and (o to fer an edge 
dance for «of yon their affections, when they cannot both 
m__ ſhare; and rhe more one hath;the lefle another 
hath of all things here below. But in Spirittual! 
things there is no envie art the ſharing of others 
in that we love our ſclves: becauſe all may be 
loved alike, Chriſt hath grace and affcQion 
enough forall his: he hath not(as Eſaw ſpeakes) 
but one bleſſing : No,he can make all his happy. 
Therefore the Church ſtands notupontearmes, 
when the davehters of Teruſalem enquire about 
= her Beloved, Itell you trecly ſaicsſhe whatmy 
| | | Beloved is : Firſt in generall the anſwer is, 
| My Beloved « white and ruddie, the chiefeſt 
among ten thouſand, then afterwards there is a 
ſpecification of the particulars, ſhe will not | 
| ſtand upon the grofle, but admires at every 
arcell in the thing beloved, every thing is 
Lg as wee ſhall ſee in particular afterwards. 
My Beloved is white and ruddie, the chiefeſt 
amone ten thouſand

~177 words

will have ſure footing ( as necre aswecan ) in | 
Queſt this miſticall portion of Scripture, what is 

: that white and ruddie, why doth the Church ſet 


forth the Spirituall excellencies of Chrift by that 
| which i's mo# outw 


ardly- excellent and maſt beau- 
| | tifull. | | 


| EDEN. © 


{ = Becauſe 


_—_—_—_—_— 


—_— 


| pleRion of theſe rwo colours white and ruddie ' 
isthe pureſtand the beſt, therefore ſhe ſets our 
| the beauty and the Spirituall excellency of 
Chriſt by this white andrudaje, beauty ariſerh 
of the mixture of theſe two. Firſt ſhe ſers our 
the beauty of Chriſt pofitively, and then by 


ſand. 
But what is this white and ruddic : what is 


beauty © wel v7 Way 
| To the making up of beauty thereis required 
a ſound healthy conſtitution, ſo as the par- 
ticulars hayea due proportion, there muſt be a 


for comelineſſe lands in oneneſce, when many 
things ( as' it. were) are. one.. YVncomlineſie us 1n 
&:verfity, when divers things are jumbled t0-. 


{it is uncomely to have an old mans head on. 
a young mans ſhoulders, but when all things 
are ſo ſuired that they make one agreeing Cx- 
ally there is beauty and comelinefle, 

Beſides ſoundneile of conſtitution and come-' 
lincfſe of proportion, there & 4 zrace of colour 
| that maketh beauty, which ariſcth out of the 


other, ſothat ſour dueſſe and goodne ſie of conſtitu-. 
tiou together with the exatt propertion of thewaricty 


| and complettion makes up that which we call beauty. 


ruddie

~323 words

Chriſt, in him there is wonderfyll 
purity and holineffe, and yet a wonderfull weat- 
neſſe, there is God the great God 1nd a peece of 
earth,of fleſh in one perſon, a bloudy pearced, and 


Juſtice, wonderfull juſtice and yer exceeding 
love and mercice: Juſtice ro his enemics, Mercic 
tohis Children, 63 


Chriſt is amoſt beautifull Perſon, 


Not as God onely but as man, the Mediator | 
God and man, the Perſon ofthe Mcdiatoris a 
| beautifull Perſon ; as Pſat.q5. there is anotable 


deſcription of Chriſt, and of his Church, 7» 
art fairer then the Children of men, grace is powred 
inte thy lips,8c, 


pecially go n regard of the graces of his 
Spirit, A deformed perfon, man or woman, of 


notwithſtanding when we diſcerne them by 
|their converſation to be very wiſe and of a 
lovely and fweer ſpirit, very able and withall 
wondrow willing to, impart their abilirics, 
being wondrons nſcfull -: what a world of love 
doth irbreced, though we ſee in their ourward 


{ | 


Wal joync- us to hint in ſpiricuall b 


But the /ovelineſſe and branty of Chrift Is if. 


man nothing lovely. The conſideration of 
what ſafficiency is tn Chriſt, wiſdome, power, 
goodneſſe and love, that made him come from 
Heaven to Earth, to rake ournatureupon him | 
eo marrieus and joyneonrnatureto his ( _— | 

) 


34s | 
E=4XTV. and (weete mixture thatmakes ſich 2 graceful- | 


a homely compleRion and conſtirttion, yet | 


the! 


| My Beloved wwhice and raddie. 


the conſideration of his weekeneſſeand gavelene(ſſi SBRe Nl1V- 
how he never turned any backe againe thac | Mat.1g.>z 
 cameto him, ſhould make us highly prize him, 
indced ſome went backe of themſelyes ( as the 
young man in diſcontent) Chriſt turned them 
not backe: nay he loved the appearance of 2M 

oodneſſcinthe young man and imbraced him. | 
Hee is of ſo ſweet a nature that he never up- | $ 
braided thoſe that followed him with their | 
former finnes 5 as Peter with deniall, andthe 
like. Heis of ſo gracious a nature that he tooke Wi 
not notice of petty infirmities inhis Diſciples, 
bur tells them of the dangerof thoſe finnes that 
might hurt them : being of ſo ſweet a nature 
that he will »#t quench the ſmoaking flax, nor 
bregke the bruſed reed, his whole life being no- 
, |rthing but a doing of good, Headid all vhings well 
( as the Goſpel! ſpeakes ) excellent well, 

Now the conſideration of what a gracious: 

Spiritis in Chriſt, muſt needs be a loadſtone of} 
love, and make him beautifull, Therefore 
Bernard ſaith well, When I thinke of Chriſt, 1 
thinke

~218 words

For, as the goodlieſt men uſeto 
| carry the Enfigne, the Banner, ſohe the good- 
| m— all orher is the umn bearer. , 
ence we pather, That Chriſt a heu 
| oo = { beautifull eve, ſo he > er beyond all 
tn Ho oj the] compariſon good, He i a ſtandard bearer one awonz 
agree) wo ere armoynted with the Oyle of gladn:fie 
bead in our ne above his Fellowes. | A _ | 
Þ-a Es n Firſt, for that he 1s ſo neere to God by the 
| | in regard at Pfrfonall union, 
bahay And in regard likewiſe, That all others have 
'þ Caſe oft from him : of his fulneſſe we receive grace for 
D - grace, _ 


% 


a M $] Beloved white, &c. | 349 


— td. tt. 


_— 


| 


grace, ours is buta derivative fulneſle, his glory Sn x, XIV,|” 
| and ſhining is asthe ſhiningof the body of the ' Simile, 
Sunne, ours as the light of the Aire, which is | 
derived from the glory of the Sunne, ours is | 
bur the fulnefſe of the ftreame, and of the | 
veſſcll, butthe fulneſle of the fountaine andof| 
the ſpring is his : thereupon he is called the | 
head of the Church ; the head 1s the tower of , Col.:.18. 
the body which hath all the five ſenſes in ir, | | 
| and wiſdome for the whole body. Ir ſeeth, 
heareth, underſtandeth, and doth all forthe | 
body ; having influence into the other parts 
of it. So Chriſt isaboveall, and hath influence 
into all his Church, not onely*eminencie, but 
influence

~2,727 words

this great Biſhop of our ſoules, the Angell 


| ther : ſohe isthe chiefe of ten thouſand : conlider} 


of the covenant, that xeyis, the meſenger of the Fa- 


him as Kinz.as Prieſt or as Prophet. | 


356 


he. mm 


And for his Prophetical! office, hee is a Pro-| 


; 


4A Prieft. 


o 


oF Prophet. 


Luk. 24. 


Pro,i. 


3 Pet.2, 25. 
A905 


——— tera 
_—. ” —_—_ os Vo 


8 


__————__ 


' 


| 


| 


2M; Brineda whe, &c. 


Then aſc Ir Thus 1SCXCECOINg pregnan, Com. | 
forrabic and large, char we have fuch 2 Say! our | 
tuch ant <mment 2e=on '0 nee { © pucultzr | 
T3 ms. Gary Brigid. my San ed, | E 2c Weres | 
—_— ne _ FX ten thee, \t more 20 

=27 Tart, ur 3e [5 mine, 3c is tus exceilenr: | 
| =xceilcnr "PI A Wt propriety? nit, and rY 
| peculiar proriiety, Eculi arty 174 wore y ts | 
| 72ther p:i7 ran(cendent — ; 14991 of 

there be aanv 21: 041289 Jr 17 ACTEZOFC TEPENT ROY | 

Tour {cives of your : writs Our hinkelT 

ave 10t catt away mv love,our have | 
ter it Upon 'uch mn obics 2s 
deferves it. for my Beiowed 

s the chrers ff. af f228 | 

:hoe/ang. 


< 


ae 4 


— 


T he endof the fourteenth 


DO —— 


IDS HH$H$HS$S$ÞSSS> 


SÞÞ ppþ HH Þ$ÞPÞ ÞHÞ$ 
THE FIFTEENTH 
SERMON. 


| 


Yo oh 


the chiefeſt among ten thouſand, 


ove is ſuch a boundlefleat- 
feRion that where 1t once 
? breakes foorth in praiſes 
> upon a good foundation, 


we ſee herein the Church, 


£3 ee who being provoked, and 


leruſalem to explaine the excellency of him 
ſhee had with fo much affection inceſſantly 


(cr 


—_— 


ECEEEEEEED DE 


A4y Beloved . white and ruddte 


it knowes no meaſure, as | 
( as it were ) exaſperated by the daughters of 


ſought after. Thar ſhe right juſtific her choice] 


O——. 


mt. — 


—_— ——— 


392 | 


| Happine: wha!s 


Sun XIV. 


me. 


 Theuſe of this is exceeding pregnant, com. 


| excellent conſidered with propricty inir, and a 


_— 


. «My Beloved s white, &c. 


fortable and large, that we have ſuch a Saviour 
ſuch an eminent perſon, ſo ncere ſo puculiar 
to us. Our Beloved, my Beloved, If he werea 
Beloved the chiefe of ten thouſand, it were no 
great matter, but he is mine, he is thus excellent: 


eculiar propriety, peculiarity and propriety to. | 
Tonkey wich a fo excellewcy _ hays if 
there be any enjoying ofit. 1 herefore repent not 
your ſclves of your repentings, but thinke 
have not caſtaway my love,bur haye 
ſet it upon ſuch an obje& as 
deſerves it, for my Beloved 
WW: i the chiefeſft of ten 
thouſand. 


| wo: 


The end of the fourteenth 


Sermons 


o 


1 | 353 


——S_ 


= _ 4 Szn.XV. 


[{S0-669$6$$2SSSSSS| | 
CELEELELEEET 1 
SPÞ HHÞGP IPOD ISPS |— | 


THE FIFTEENTH | / 
SERMON: 


| 


Caius VE 


Adv» Beloved : white and ruddte 
the chiefeſt among ten thouſand. 


OY (CF Ove is ſuch a boundlefleat- 

PSS > FJ feRion that where it once 
p L7Z2 breakes foorth in praiſes 
DB upon a good foundation} 
it knowes no meaſure, as 
we ſee herein the Church, | 


(cr 


ſought after, That ſhe might juſtific her choline! 


a. 


IEEE __——— 


— 


_ 


T he cheefeft among ten thouſand, | 


(ere ſhe deſcend into Particulars ) the breakes 
foonth into this gererall deſcription of her 
| Beloved, whereby ſhe curs of from all hopes of 
| equalling him, My Beloved i white and ruddee, 
( exceeding faire ) nay, the cheefe amone ten 
| | thouſand, ( none like him ) ſhe would nor have 
| us thinke ſh- had beſtowed her love bur on the 
moſt excellent ofall, the cheefe of ten thouſand. 
| Well were it for us that we could doe ſo in our 
\ love, that we might be able to juſtifie our 
choice, not to ſpend it on ſinful, vaine and un- 

| profitable things, which cauſe repentance and] 
mourning inthe concluſion, whereof the Church 
here worthily cleereth herſelfe; in that ſhe had: 

| choſen the cheefe among ten _—_ 
| And molt juſtly did ſhe placeher affeftions 
ES | upgn ſo excellent an obje&t, who'was ſo full of 
Coloſ.1.11, | wil the treaſares of wiſdome and knowledes, the life 
of our life, tw whom dwelt al! the fulneſſe ofthe Goa- 
head bogly, in whom was a gracious mixture 
and compound of all heavenly graces, whcie' 
Greatneſſe and Goodneſſe, Tuſtice and cert, God 
{and Aran meete in one Perſon. Such 1none 
{ Mat.12, | who breakes no braiſed reed, nor quenches the. 
4 ſmaiking flax,who refuſcsnorfinners, but invites 
them unro him: offering to hvale all and cure 

| all who come unto him : he is a King indeed ;| 
| Toh. s. | bur-this alſo approoves her choice; he rules 
[2 all, commands all, judges all, what then 

F can the want who hath ſuch a fricnd, ſuch 2| 
| husband, whoſe governmeat is fo winning) 


goa 


— 


_—_— 


— 
4 


\ _ P__ 


—_— 


The cheefeft cmeng ten thenſand. | 2.5 'f 


Ee nn 


thoriry by ſterneſle like Rehoboamm, But by thoſe | 
aimeable graces of gentleneſſe and love, al}the 
exccllencics of holinefſe, purity and rig hteoul- 
neſſe, are ſweetly tempered with love and 
meekeneſle in him : you may ſee forinſtance 
how hee takes his Diſciples part againſt the 
Pharifees, (and the poore womans that cameto 
waſh his feet and kifſed them,) againſt the 
| Phariſee 
Church is a company of deſpiſed people, thar | 
(are {corned of Pharifaicall proud ſpirits, who | 
| perhaps have morallity and ftrengrh of parts to 

praife them with. Now Chriſt takes part with 
the broken ſpirits againſt all proud ſpirits, | 
howſoever he be goneto Heaven ( where he is 
full of Majeſty ) yet he hath not forgotten his | 
meckeneſſe nor changed hisnature with change | 
.| of honour, He is now more honoured then 
he was, for, he hath « Name above all Names, in 
Heaven or in Earth, yer he is pittifull- ſtill. 
| Sax Saul why perſecuteſt thow mee? He makes 
| the Churches caſc his owne ſti]], rogether with 
| beames of glory there are bowells of pitty in 
' him, the ſame that he had here upon earth. 
| Which makes him fo lovely to the truly bro- 


| ken hearted beleeving foule, My Beloved s | 


' white andriddy. 
He is {ct our likewiſe by comparing him with 
all others whatſoever, kee is the cheeſe of te» 


thouſand, '2 cenaine number for _— | 
in all} 


He is not ſuch a Monarch as loves to getau- {S3R.XV. 


that had invited him to dinner. The | 4s 


/thar is, the chicfe among all, 


things | 


—_— — -- _— 


; 


of 


NI 


L uk, 7. 44. 
That Chriſt 


takes part with) 


the affliffted 


At g. 


| 


- 


_— 


356 | The chiefeſt among. ten thouſand, | 


Queſt. 
Anſw. : . £ 
That prcutiari-) his beauty and excellency is the - Churches, 
tie of inrer/?| becauſe heeis the Churches. Aly Beloved # 


| iayned with the 


' excelencie of 
' Chriſt u that 
which /7 r 4Vtls 
1 ſeth the 
Cburch, 


Cr e—oc—cs 


Sun XV. things Chriſt hath the preheminence: hee i rhe | 


=» 
COAT 


firſt borne from the dead, hee i the firſt borne 6 
every creature, he ts the eldeſt brother, he is F 
cheefe among all. For all Kings, Prieſts and 


Prophets before were but types and ſhaddowes 


of him : H:e the body, the truth andthe ſub- 
ſt ance. And ( aswas ſhewed before) he is all 
three in one, King, Prieſt and Prophet, the great 
Dottor and Prophet of his Church, that ſpakeby | 
all the former Prophets, and ſpeakes by his | 
miniſters to the end of the world. The Angell 8 
the covenant, that xeyes the word, that expreſſeth 
his Fathers breſt, that as he came from the bo. | 
ſome of his Father ſo laies open his counſel! to 
man-kind. It was he that ſpake by Noah, and 
preached by his Spirit to the ſoules thar are 
now in priſon, (as Petey ſpeakes ) ſo, he « the 
cheefe among all. Bur eſpecially in regard of his | 
Rrghtcouſneſle ; for which Paul accounted all 
dung and dro(ſ: to be foundin Chriſt not having hu 
owne Righteouſneſſe, but the Righteouſneſſe that is 
inChriſt : which is more then the Rightcoul-| 
neſſe ofan Angell, being the Rightcouſneſle of 
God-Man, and above all the Righteouſneſlc of 
the law. 


But what is this ts us or tothe Church ? yes, for 


whitc and ruddie,and my Beloved is the chiefe among 


renthouſand. It is the peculiar intereſt that the 
| Church hath in Chriſt char doth reliſh her ſpi- 


| rit, excellencie with propriety in him : 7 a» my | 


<0 4 Beloved \ 


CC CAGE AO Co. 


| Beloveds and my Beloved is mine, The more ex- 
cellent the husband is, the more excellent is' 
the wife, ſhee onely ſhines in his beames, there- 
fore it is the intereſt that wee have in Chriſt 
that indeares Chriſt ro us. Butto come to more 
particular application of it, Is Chriſt thus cx- 
| cellent, ſuperexcellent, thus tranſcendently 
| excellent, white andrudaje, the cheife of ten thou- 


| ſardchis ſerves, 
| To draw thoſe that are not yet in Chriſt unto 


him. 
| Tocomfort thoſe that arein Chriſt. 
{ Firſt, thoſe thatarenoryer in Chriſt,not con- 
tractedto him to draw themy what can prevaiie 
more th:nthat which is in Chriſt « Beauty and 
excellencics, greatneſſe and goodneſle. And 
indeed one maine end of ourcalling the minift- 
ery is, to lay open and unfold the unſcarchable 
riches of Chriſt,to digg up the mine, thereby 
to draw the affcions of thoſe that belong to 
God to Chriſt. | dg. 
Bur it ts not enovgh to know that there are 
excellencics in Chriſt to draw ustohim, bur, 


_— 


| The cheejeſl among ten thiuſand, | 


drawne to bim. 


I. 


2s 


Fſe. 1. 
T bat ſuperemi- 
xent . exceBen- 
cies in Chrift 
oug bt to draw 
thoſe to him 
who are notyet 


That with a 
fiebt of Chriſt's 
excelencie, wee 
muſt fee gur 


there muſt be a ſight of our miſery, what beggers we 
\ | are and how indebted. Before we arc in Chriſt 
we are not ourowne, the Divell layes claime to 
us that we are his, death lates claime to us, we 
are under finne, we cannot fſatisfie one of a 
thouſand, therefore this inforceth to make out 
to joyne with him that can diſcharge all our 
debts,anſwer all our ſuits, and non-ſuite Sathan 


inthe Court of Heaven, When once we are| 
married 


gery and miſery 


owne debt, yep- 


to draw us unto 
Chriſt, 


ſr 
ud 


— -- 


<—— 


\ 358 


CCCCOCT I_” 


Sn XV. 


| Cbrift, 


The cheefeft among ten thon/aud, 


I Cor. 3.23, 


Queſt 
Anſw . 


| 
T bat ſtein the | 
enl of our mi 

ſery #s to woe 
ks ts COR unite 


wee | 
ſhould not- be; 
diſcouraged to 
come unte 11a. 


Rom413.20, 
Mat 18.38. 
Luk. 9g. 29, | 


| 


married to the Lord of Heaven and Earth lis 


Por thoſe in the 


| [tate of grace 
fe {ee & A an 
exctRent p:r/on 


| rained. 


k 


ours, we have alarge Charter, MU thiwgs w: 
your 5s, andyou are Chriſts and Chriſt is Gods, | 
Why are all things ours? 

Becauſe wee are married to Chriſt who is| 
Lord of all. It isthe cnd of ourcalling toſue for 
a marriage betweene Chriſt and every ſoule, 
wee are the friends of the Bride, to 
bring the Churchto him, and thefricnds of the 
Church to bring Chriſtto them: It is the end| 
of our miniſtry to bring the ſoule and Chriſt 
together, and let no debts,no finnes hinder, for| 
eſpecially he invites ſuch as are ſenſible of their 
ſinnes, where ſinne abounds, grace abounds much | - 
more. Comeunteme all yethat are weary and heav 
laden, And, hee came to ſeeke avd to ſave that 
which was loſt, He requires no more, but that 
we bee ſenſible of our debrs and miſeries,} 
_ ſence hee workes likewiſe by hisholy 

Irit, 
ne for thoſe that have entertained 


| they have enter» 


Chrift, let them ſee what an excellent gracious 
Perſon they have entertained, who is the cheefe of 
tc# thouſand, The world thinks them a com- 
pany of filly meane people that make choiceof 
Chriſt, Religion, the Word, and ſuchthings, 
but here is a juſtification of their choice, they 
| chooſe him thar is the cheefe of tex thouſand, Let 
him ki(ſe me with the kiſſes of his mouth { ſaith the 
Spoulc, ) for thy love i betty then wine, nay the! 
life it felfe:: A Chriſtian may juſtifie the choice 
| that he hath made with Mary of the good port ; 


againſt 


| 


|ſcenein choiceeſpecially 3 and hereis the Choiceof 
that which is excellem and moſt excellent of 


The cheefeft among ten thouſand. | 


againſt all thoſe that ſhall diſparage his choice. 
Let the world accoufit Chriſtians what they 
will ; that they are a company of celuded be- 
ſotted perſons, fooles and madmen. The 
Chriſtian is the onely wiſe man: W:ſdome is 


all, the cheefe of ten thouſand. 
So alſo, Wee may ſee here the deſperate and baſe 


| 


| what doethey make choice of to joyne to, that 


folly of all whatſoever ( ſave true Chriſtians ) 


which is baſe, the co:demned world, vaine 
tranſitory rhings, and refuſe Chrift-e Are 


"Wl 


San. XV. 


| 
F ie. 
” AT 


miſerable choice 


of moſt men, | 


they intheir right wits who refuſe a Husband 


_ | of mee, 8&e, Whar ſhall weju 


that is noble for birth, rich for eftate, mighry | 
for power, abundant in kindneſfe and love it 
{elfe, every way excellent 2 and take a baſe, 


—___ 


þ 16 wortd, God complaines cy would none 

| ge therefore of 
thoſe that will none of Chriſt when he woes 
and fuesthem, bur prefer with Fſaw a meſſe of 


A dans an apple before Paradice, and with 
tudes thirty peeccs of filver before Chriſt him- | 
 ſelfe, this 1s the ſtare of many men, To be mur- 
ried 18 Chriſt i to take him for an husband, tobe 
ruled by hins vn all things. Now when we pre- 
fer baſe commodities and contentments before 
eace of conſcience and the enjoying of his 
ve; what isit, but for pelfe and commoditic, 


Srrle., 


ionoble, beggerly perſon 2 this is the choice of | 


portage before their eternall birthright, with | 


SO Er 


Don IE 


thiny peeces of fflver ( perhaps for fix pence 
] BE - | | 


Plal.8r, 


W hat it is ts be | 


married to 
Chriſt, 


| 


————t—. 


— 


Prn—_— 


he... tit. 


Oe En CO — RR. RE. 


| 


360 


1 R.XV. athing of nothin ) to refuſe 


Heb.1t. 


That the grea* 
reſt loſe of ai 
i Chriſt diſca- 
vered in bis ex- 
cellsoncte. 


Gal.y. 


To take beed 


ow we beare. | 


A— 


—_— ———— SS 


The chiefeit among ten thouſan C. 


the condition of baſe worldlings that live by 
ſenſe and nor by faith. So chea as it ſervesto 
coinfort thoſe that haye made atrue choice, { 
it ſerves to ſhew the madneffe and folly of all 


others, which one day will feeletheir hearts full 
of horrour and contuſion, and their faces of 


ſhwme, when they ſhall chinke,whar hath Chriſt 
made (uch ſure to my heartto winne mylove 2 
hath heordained a miniſtzry forto bring mein? 
made ſuch large promiles, is he ſo excellent ? 
and was this diſcoyered tome and yet would 
Inoneofhim 2 what did Ichooſe,and what did 
I leave? I left Chriſt with all his riches, and 
made choiſc of rhe pleaſures and profits of inn, 
which are but for a ſeaſon. Wheathe conſcience 


is once thoroughly awaked this will tormentir, | 
| the puniſhment of lofle, not of loſſe ſimply, | 
as the loſſe of Chriſt and the lofſe of Heaven, 


but, the lo% of Chriſt and of Heaven ſod ſcovered 
and open'd : therefore there 1s no condition in 
the world ſo terrible as of thoſe thatlive in the 
Church, and heare thoſe things of Chriſt cru- 
cified unfolded to them before their cyes, as 


Paul {pcakes of the miniſtery, it makes Chriſts | 


croſſe ſo open to them as if he had beene cru- 
cified before their eyes, yer notwithſtanding 


yeeld to their baſe hearts deſires and aff:Rions | 


before theſe excellencies, which if they had 
a ſpirit of faith would draw their hearts to him. 
Therfore let us conſider how we heare thoſe 


things, it concerncs us neerely : onthe one fide | 
ve 


Chriſt, yet this is 


| 


4 


| 


te 
* 


—_—_@_. 


_——_ 


"FT 


| _ The chiefe#t of ten chonſand. 7 zG1 
po NE "7 Sn RXV, 


we ſee what we get if we joyne with Chriſt, | 
we have himand his: onthe contrary we looſe 
him ; and not onely ſo, but wegaine cternall| 
miſery, and periſh eternally. O what baſcnefſe 
of mind poſſeſſerh us, Chriſt left all things in 
loveto us, and we leave Chriſt for any paultry 
thing in the world, almoſt to pleaſe and 
| content the humours of ſinnefull men, to attaine | 
a few cmpty titles, to get alittle wealth, injoy 
a little pleaſure, You ſee then the equiry of 
|thatterrible commination that you have, 1 Cor. 
15. If any man love not the Lord Teſus Chriſt let | 
| him be CAnathema maranatha. Let him be ac- 
{curſed for ever that loves nor the Lord Jeſus 
Chriſt, if any man finne there is a re- 
medy to diſcharge his finne in Jeſus Chriſt, 
if he will marry him and take him: but when 
Chriſt is offered and we will havenone of him, 
we ſinnc againſt the Goſpell; and thenthere js 
no remedy, there i3 nothing but «_Anathemea, | 
and maranathaxthercfore the moit dangerous ſinnes | 
of all, are thoſe againſt the light of the Goſpell : 
| when yet we chooſe rather to live as we liſt, 
then to joyne our ſelves to Chriſt. To this 
purpoſe Heb.2. S.Paul makes an uſcofthe firſt 
| chapter, whereinhe ſets out the excellency 
Chriſt whom the Angels adore, heis ſo beau- 
tifull, ſo lovely that God the Father is in love| . 
| with him, and pronounceth ths i my Beloved| wir.;.:7. 
ſonne : Inthe beginning of the ſecond chapter, 
| Wherefore ( ſaith he ) how "mug we eſcape if wee 
| neglect ſo great ſalvation, _ If they apa o Heb. 2. 
B+ that) 


———_u_ 


——_ 


| 362 


— 


| Thevhie/eſtof ten thouſand. © 


oo RXV. 


| - 


| Pſal.2. | 


perſons that thinke they have riches enough, 
not: onely dcbauched perſons, but ſelfe-{uf- 
ficient perſons, that thinke they have any Righ- 
reouſnefle of their owne, let them know, that 


of ſuch : Thus is the ſcope of the ſecond Pſalme, 


What it us to 
ki/ſe the Sunne, 


— 


that deſpiſed AMoſes law,8&c, How ſhall we eſcape 
if we neglect ſo great ſalvation ? he ſaies nor, rf 
we a Chrift : bur if we negle@ him, if we 
doe not love fo great ſalvation, as 2 Theſ.1.8. 
it is ſaid, Chrift wil! come in flaming fire to take 
vengeance of all thoſe that doe not know God, and 
| obey not the Goſpell of Chriſt, though they do not 
per ecute it, | 


Therefore this reprooves all civill morrall 


Chriſt ſhall come in flaming fire, to take vengence 


which yee know ſets out the excellency of 
Chriſt, I have ſet my King upon Zion, God the 
Father there annoints Chriſt King of the 
Church: Towhat end * That wee ſhould kiſſe the 
Sunne, kiſle him with the kiſſe of ſubjeRtion 
( as ſubjet?s doe their Prince:) with the kifſe of 
love, as the Spouſe doth her Hwsband, and with| 
the kiſſe of faith. But what if we doe not kiffe 
him, and ſubje& our ſelves tohim ; love him 
and beleevein him 2 7/hu wrath be once kindled 
happy are all thoſe that truſt in him: Hee is 4 
Lambe,bur ſuch a one as can be angry ,as Rev. 6. 
Ir is ſaid, The Kings and great perſons of the world, 
fly from the wrath of the Lamb,hethar is ſo ſweete 


| mild and gentle, if we joyne with him, onthe 


contrary, if we come not unto him, we ſhall 
findethe wrath of the Lamb, a terrible wrath, 


which 


| Thecbeefeft of ten thouſand. | 263 | 


which thegreateſt Potenrares in rheworld ſhall Sy eeI Lk 
deſiretobe hid from. If hs wrath be oncekinad.- | = 
led, bleſſed are all theſe that truſt in him, and woe 
beto them that doe nat receivehim. 
For us thar profeſle our ſelves to be in Chrift, | Vſe.2. 
andto be joyned

~160 words

and allowance of the Lord. - $ | | 
Make alſo, 4 Y fe of DirecHion, Howto come vſe.3. | 
to valew Chriſt thus: as to keepe an high | ror direftion. | 
eſteeme of him, for this: followes infal libly | _ 
and undeniably: If Chriſt be, che cheefe of ten | 
thosſand, he muſt have the cheeſe of our affeRi- | 
| ons, above tens thouſand: for, as he is in excel- 
lency, hee muſt have place in our hearts an- 
{werable thereuntoz for, then our ſoules areas |. | 
they ſhould be, when they judge of; and affeRt 
things asthey are in themſelves. © | 
B b 2 | __ Firff, | 


Y 


OI an 


km. am%; 


| 


Rr  .  — —_ 


—__ FP 


| 


—_—____ 


23%. 


T be chiefeſt of ten tho «ſand. =J 


Apuſw .1. 

| By @ deepe cor 
foderation of our 
neceſſity with 
oat him, 


That exa'tinz 
Cbriſ# bigb t. 


| þnne. 


the beart i a 


Larive apa 


on 
— 


{OBR-XV. | Firſt, Let us enter into a ſerious conſideration 


Lords , ina hearty ſubmitting of all the affeai- 


of the need we have of Chriſt, of our miſery | 
without him, of our happineſle if we be joyned 
with him, the ſoule being thus convinced, the 
affetions muſt needs follow the ſanRified 
judgement. | 

What will come of it, If Chriſt be ſetin

~156 words

hand pleaſures and profits and honours, 


and diſgraces, by —_ Chriſt againſt all. _ 
Againe, if we would have a right judgement 

and eſteeme of Chriſt, Let ws labowr ts weane our 

affections as much as may be from other things. 


 |Fleſhly hearts that have runne ſo deepely into; 
the world and vanities of this preſent life, Ir is 


in a ſorte an extraordinary taske for them to be 
drawne away, and pulled from the world (as 
a child from a full breſt ) which they have ſuc- 
ked ſo long. Now for ſweet affe&tions thatare 
tender; it isanexcellent adyantagethey have to 
conſider betimes-thar there is thatin Religion 
and in the Goſpell which is worth their beſt 
andprime affe@ions, the lowerand marrow of 
them, let them begin with young Timnthie, 


[to pur off the rep 


| 


| Danielland rſephto love Chrift from their child- 


hood. Iris adeſperate folly onthe other hand 
ard of good things till after 


| 


and on the left hand thieatnings, paines, lofles| 


Sun. XV. 


i 


; So 
W e muſt labousr' 
to weane our 
| hearts from 0- 
ther things, 


| 


Tim.z.ats, | 


The danger of 


delaying to ſeek 
Chriſt late it 


when we ſhall be lefle fir,when the «nder/tandin 
will be darkened, and the affections dinkeeT, 
when we ſhall not have thar edge, nature being 
decayed andthe world having taken ſuch pol- 
ſeſſion of the ſoule, that we ſhall not value this 


the foule, no time indeed is too late, but it] 
were to be wiſhed that thoſe that are young 
would be thus wiſe for their ſoules betimes. 
| B b 3 


RI 


excellencic. Therefore let us begin betimes| 
to make up the marriage betweene Chriſt and|. 


| our old age. 


_—_—___— 


\ 


Beſides 


Re _w__ 


etl 


To vaiueCcbr // 
we muſt beg «) 
God a iFirit ts 
judge aright v; 

Our 6077 pr tens. 


_— 


A. ———... Dd 


"266 | T he cheefeſt among ten 


—— ct. AM... AS hw At I" O——_ EE —_— 


thouſand. 5 


'.\ Beſides if wee would highly value Chrift

~1,598 words

are in by nature : they | 
Hove ſight, ſhallow and weake conceipts of ſinne, 
therefore they have an{ſwerable weake, and 


| ſhallow concerpts of Chriſt and of his Ry 
| 6 and 


— —— 


» 


DA. Atl A. —_— 


our ſinnes gocth before the conviRtion of 
rightcouſnefle in Chrift, (as it is ſaid, 194.16.) 
The Holy Ghoſt ſhall convince the world 0 


"fnne 
and then of righteouſneſſe . torexcept the Ry be 
convinced of finne and of ill in itfelfe, it will 
never bee truely convinced of good and of 
rightcouſneſſe in Chriſt. 

The Paſfcover was alwaics eaten with ſowye 
herbes, becauſe it ſhould ada re}liſh to the feaſt. 
So Chriſt the true Paſſeover we never relliſh 
truely without ſower herbes, the conſidgration 
of finne with the deſert of it. Chriſt ſavours 
otherwiſcto a man humbled for his ſinnes, then 


vourydiſcourſe of Chriſt reliſheth moreto anaf- 
| flitedſoule, then ſeven diſcourſes with ſuch as 
are drunk with proſperity, nothaving a brayne 
ſtrong enough to conceive, nor an appetite to 


relliſh heavenly things. 
Therefore why doe wee murmure at the 


| crofle, when all is to recover our ſpirituall taſte 
and relliſh 2 Salowos had loſthis taſte and relliſh 
of Chriſt, he never made bs ſong of ſonzs when 
he was.in his Idolatrous way, nor was ſo inlove 
with Chriſt and his excellencies when he dated 
ſo much upon his wives : no, but when he had 
| recovered his ſpirits'taſt and relliſh of heavenly 


things once, then made he the Booke of rhe 
| MEEe BEL. Preacher. 


ot 


| The cheefeſt among ten thouſand. | 367 | 
and excellency. Therefore the convidion of Sur. XV. 


- 
pP P 
fe 


- | 
| Why the Pafe- 


—_— 


_ —_ 


over was eaten 
with | [owre 
berbes, 


| he dothto another man notrouched therewith : | 

otherwiſeto a poore manthen he doth toa rich: | 
otherwiſeto a man that the world goes not well | 
on his ſide,then to aproſperous man. One ſa- | 


; 


| 


: 


4 


| 


> 
. ay | 
4 
- . 


That it is one} 
great fully Ty 
muurmure at the 


crof/t which re-| 


covers 0? b 
rituall taſte 
and relliſh. | 


——————— DA... 


es 


} 


268 | Thechiefeſt of ten thouſand, 
| _ 
Sun.XV. |Preacher, When he had runne through variny| 
[of things, and ſaw all to be nothing but veg! 
: In ation of ſpirit, and beſides that, vanitie : then 
E he paſſcrh lus verdict uponall things, that they 
were vanity. SO it 1s with us, we can hardly 
prize Chiiſt without ſome affliftions, ſome 
crolleor other:therfore here the Church is faine 
ro indure a ſpirituall deſertion, to ſet an edge 
upon her affe&ions 2 Now when ſhe isthus in 
her diſertions, Chriſt « white andruddie,the cheefe 
| often thouſand. 

' ant maker] We. valew more, and ſct a higher prize on 
| value 16g5\things inthe want of them ( ſuch is ourcorrup-- 
& More. . . "In . . 
tion) then in the injoying of them. And if} 
God remember us not with affliction, then let 
us afflict, humble and judge our ſelves: enter 
into our owne ſoules to view how we ſtand 
affeted to Chriſt, to Heaven, and to heavenly 
things : how doe I rcllifh and eſteeme them # 
if | have loſt my eſteeme and valuing, where 
have I loſt it, conſider in what finne, in what 
pleaſure, in what company ] loſt it; and con- 
verſe no more with ſuch as dull our affections 

ro heavenly things. 
Wis. And, Let ws make uſe mc our infirmities 
Tarif hovy and ſinnes to this purpoſe, to ſet an high prize on the 
| ufirg our in- |excellencies of Chriſt, we carry-about us alwaies 
een” les. |infirmities and corruptions, whar uſe ſhall we 
* king upon tea. make. of them 2 not to truſt to our owne righ- 
1G.64.5. {reouſnefle, which is as 4 defiledcloth + Bur flyto 
Chriſts Righteonſneſſe, which is the Reghteoufheſſe 
£ God-man, all being as dung and dyoſſein ___ 
\ IN | of 


jr en OO I 
ttt ———_—_—_____—___ 


—— 


: | | 
The chiefe#t of zen thouſand, | 
ofthat : Often thinke with thy ſelfe whatam T, | 
a poore finfull creature, but I havea Righteouſ- 
neſſe in Chriſt that anſwers all, T am weaken 
my ſelfe, but Chriſt is ſtrong, andI am ſtrong | 
in him. Jam fooliſh in my ſclfe, but Iam wiſe 
in him, whar I want in my ſclfe, I have in him: 
he is mine, and his Rightcouſneſſe is mine, 
which is the Righteouſneſſe of God-man, being | 
cloathed with this I ſtand ſafe,againſt Conſcrence, 
Hell, wrath and whatſoever. Though Ihave 
daily experience of my finnes,yct there is more 
Righteouſneſſe in Chriſt who is mine, and | 
who is the cheefe of ten thouſand, then 

thereis ſinin me, When thus we 

ſhall know Chriſt,then wee | | 
ſhall know him to | 

purpoſe. E 
+ # + 


— — 


The end of the fifteenth 


Sermons 


w 


| 


MM 


| by the rivers of waters, waſhed with 
milke and fitly ſet, &c. 


| 7 


SERMON. 


ES22624208928 


THE SIXTEENTH. 


Can, V. X,XI,XII, XI, 


the chiefeſt among ten thouſand. 


are buſhie and blacke as a raven, 


A4y Beloved uu white and ruddie 
Hu head u as fine gold, hu lockes 


Hu eyes are as the eyes of doves, | 


Ence likewiſe we may an- 


>. 


of value for ſatisfaRion for 
Oe the finnes of the whole 
ws world « how canthis be * 


= ” CA 
=_ RY 
= 
4 
[; 
OS ; 4 
- - ; of 
= _ 
% 
- 


« 7 - _ 
- Dl 
iz. =, 
= © 
A £ 


- 


O Bur what kind of man was he? 1he 


Object. 


{werſome doubts that may | How ove 
ſatisfattion 


& ariſe, as why the death of we 
one man (Chriſt) ſhould be 2s fr «> of 


cheefe | Anſw. 
NE 


_— 


| - 


i 


372 


—_— 


. 


The chiefeft of ten thouſand, . 


'[Sz &XVI. 


| paratively, Hee is the chiefeſtof ten thouſand. 


among ten thouſayd, eſpecially conſidering thar 
his excellency ariſeth from the grace of his 
Perſonall Union of God and Man. - The firſt 
cAdam tainted. thouſands, and would have 
tainted a world of men more if there had beene 
more, buthe was meere man thardid this, and 
(hall not Chriſt God and Man the ſecond Adam 
adyance the world, andten thouſand worlds if 
there had beene more, hee u cheefe among tex 
thouſand. | 


His head us as moft fine gold, hu lo 


and blacke as araven,8&c. 
1. Poſitvely, Hee is whiteandruddie, 2. Com- 


ckes are buſhie 


"The Church dorh nor-thinke ir ſufficientin 
gcnerall to ſet our Chrift thus, bur ſhe deſcends 


Love # e- 
ver induſt t9:4 


praiſes of the 
beloved, 


| 


The divers 

relations God 
takes upen him 
ſhewes the 

beames of bis 
excelency in 
the creatures. 


| parts of abody that are conſpicuous. Firſt in 


ro ſet out the, As the Church here, 


| 


into a particular deſcription of him by all the| 


generall obſerve hence, That it « the natures 
love upon all occaſions toreflet? upon the thing loved, 
from things that are ex- 
ccllent in the' world, borrowes phraſes and 
compariſons to ſetouttheexcellency of Chriſt, 
exalting him above any other thing. What- 
ſoever the ſoule of a Chriſtian ſees inHeavenor 
Earth, it takes occaſion thence to thinke of | 
Chriſt, 

Againe, In generall obſerve from hence, 
ſeeing the Church fetcheth compariſon from 
doves eyes, from the body of a man and other | 
things, That there are ſome beames of excellency in 
every creature, There is ſomewhat of God in 


every | 


—_ 


— 


creature to be uſefull, there is none, even the 


ſort ſers our the beeing of God. Why doth 
| Godſtile himſelfe a Shield, a Rocke,a Buckler, 


there is ſomething of himintheſe, andrherfore 
to teach us to riſe from rhemto him, in whom 
all thoſe excellenciesthat are ſcatteredinthem 
are united, NY 

In innocency we knew God, and in him we 
| had knowledgeof the creature, bur now weare 
faineto helpe our ſclves from the knowledge of 
the creatureto riſe to the knowledge of God. 
His head « as fine gold. 

A little in generall, ſce the' boldneffe and 
largeneſſe of the Churches affeRtions, who 
though ſhe had b=ene ill intreared by the atch- 
men and others, yet is ſhe notdiſheartned for all 
this 2 no, ſhe goes on and ſets out particular 
commendations of her Beloved. Where love 
| hath any ſtrength, no water can quench it. 
You ſce the Church here found bur cold in- 
tertainement from the Watch-men and others 
{that ſhould have beenebetter.. 
| Nay, She was in deſertion, yet ſhe was not 
diſcouraged, nay not from the deſertion thax 
Chriſt left her in ; bur ſhe ſeckes after him 
whom her ſoule loved. Oh, this is the ſigne 
of atrue ſanRified ſoule touchr from Heaven, 
never to giveover ſeeking of Chriſt, nor ſetting 
| out his praiſes, nothough it thinkes it ſelfe not 


© Thechifelloftentheuſand. 


[every creature, this makes the meditationofthe |2 


meaneſt bur ir hath a becing, and thereby ina 


a Shaddow , and the like, 'Bur to ſhew thar | 


—————_— 


That mothi 
can -—_ 
the Church from 


comment 
chi. © 


| 


beloved | 


— 
L— 


—_——— 


———_——— 


* 74. | Thecbiefeit often thonſand. 1 


VuR XVI, 


gerneſſe. 


| 


Hol. 3. 


I 


fefiions. 


bim. 


RK 


__ | 
Reaſon of the) Andrhis is one reaſon, which we may note 
firſ# loves ea- 


1 by thecburch 


is ſo exat? in reckoning up ſo many particulars of her Beloved, 
particularifing | 


ber Beloved | his Head, Lockes , Eyes, Lips, and ſuchlike 2 
Becauſe alarge, large heart hath alway large expreſſions, when 
beart bath 

us/atisfied 


2. 
| | necauſe Chriſt large affetions ;, therefore ſhee had ſutable 
hath nor one | , 


bat many ex-) expreſſions. gy : 
cellencies in | And then fhee is thus particular, becauſe 


beloved of Chrift. Aske ſuch ones doe you love | 
ary his Children, and his Word 2 Oh you 


ſhall haverhem eloquent, no words are enough 
to ſer our their afteCions. 


by the way, why God plants in his children, 
at their firſt converſion, a ſweete love, which we 
call, the. firſt love, that when deſertions come 
they may call to mind whar they felr from | 
Chriſt, and what they bore to him ; and there- 
upon the Church concludes, Hoſe.2. 7 will 
returne to my firſt love, for then was I bettey then 
| xow. The Chnrch here from what doth ſhee| 
| commend her Beloved but from ſome what 
| that was left in her ſoule, ſome inward taſte of | 
the love of Chriſt in her, ſhe called to mind 
how it was with her before in the former part 
ofthis, and inthe latter end of the former chap- 
ter, what an excellent eſtate ſhe had beene in 
this helped her to recover her ſelfe. | 


Now you may ſay, Why is ſhee ſo exatt in 


Why, It is from largeneſle of affetion. A 


x We are barren in expreſſions towards Chriſt, 
and of good things, whence comes this but 
from narrow pooreaffeftions. 1 he Church had 


Chriſt hath not one bur many excellencies ; 


. 


_cvery 


- _ or ey . * PA F _ F PD E ———_—_ 
3:5 voor ado At IT . 22 a 
ar y 4 s V 


h OBEY " Ge Cn ES ae rt 
Be 1 a eter 
: a fs i% a» fo p De Ek WU” — IR 2 - 


| cellencies of Chriſt, as the Church here, to 


| [and exaltation : what good we have by both 


| The chiefeftof ten thouſand. | 


every thing in him is excellent: inward and 
o:tward, as his head,&c. For indeed 'b 

conſiſts not in fweernefle of colour onely, bur 
in affinity and proportion of all parts. Now 
there is all ſweet proportion in Chrift, ſo it 
ſhould be with Chriſtians ; they. ſhould not 
have one cexcellency, but many :: thoſe that 
receive Grace for Grace from Chrift: have not 
onely Head, Eyes, Hands, and Feergood ; but 
all lovely, Grace for Grace, an{werable to the 
varicty of Graces in Jeſus Chrift, In whom 
all things joyntly, and every thing ſeveraliy are 
lovely. | 


tudy, to be exact in this knowledge of Chriſt, 
to ; him up and anotomize him thus from 
Head to foot,” it argueth ſhee had ſtudied Chriſt 
well cre ſhee could attaine this excellencie: 
lo it ſhould be the ſtudy and care of every 
Chriſtian, ro ſtudy the excellencies of Chriſt, 

not onely in the groſfle, to ſay as much as you 


Virgin Mary, was crucified, deadand buried,' 
to particularize the high perfections and cx- ! 


ſtudy his Nature, Offices, the State he was In, 
and how he carried himſelfe in his humiliation 


ſtates, Redemption by his abaſement ; application 
of it by his advancement. ' What he did forus 


*—— 


Then ſhee ſhewerh her particular eare and | 


3. 
| Becauſe ſhe had 
ſeriouſly and 
exatt'y ſtudied 
Chr it 0 pure 


have in the Creed; he was borne for us of the | 


&c. which every child can ſay, butto be able | 


on Earth, what he doth in Heaven: what 10 
SET | Tuſt ificatron 


375 


, SnRe XVI F. 


B-:auty wheri 


it conſiſts. 


poſe, 


"8 —_— 
Inflification, CA doption,SanZtification, and inthe} 
glory to come. Study every thing and warme 

the heart with the meditation of them. 
That at bumane) 0 This particular ſpreading and laying open} 
etr of che ex.) th© eatullecies of Chriſt is athing worthy of} 
cellencies 0/ a Chriſtian. Wee make ſlight worke of Reli- 
| Chrife. gion, Wecan be particular and cloquent enough 
mn, in other things, but in that whercin all « - 
q uence is too little; how barren are we, how 
amefac'd to ſpeake of Chriſt and his cxcel- 
lencies in baſe company , as if it were a dif- 
honour . Let us therefore learne this from the 
Church here, to be much in thoughts and me- 
{ ditarions of the excellencies of Chriſt, and ſo 
our expreſhons' will beanſwerable to our medi- 
rarions. So the holy Fathers that were godly 
(rill another kind of Divinity &ame into the 
world of Querkes and ſubrilties ) there was none 
of them bur was excellent this way. Pauladmi- 
rable, accounting all dung and drofſe in com- 
pariſon of Chriſt, Inſpeaking of him when he 
begins, he goes on from one thing to another, 
as if he were raviſhed ; and knew not how nor 
wheretoend. | 
That the ſoulef The ſoule hath fights of Chriſt that God| 
bath peculier| ſhewes to it, and which rhe ſoule preſents to 
febis of *\ir ſelfe by the helpe of the Spirit. The ſights | 
that God in this kind ſhewes, are to thoſe in' 
|afflition eſpecially, as Dawell and Iſay ſaw 
Chriſt in his glory ina viſion, ſo EJechiell had 
javiſion and bn, Rev.r. where Chriſt was pre- 
ſented to him gloriouſly. So thercisa | 
= deſcription 


CO 


2736 | Thechiefeit of ten thouſand, 


Sz Rr. XVI. 


: 


} 
( 


Rs 


. 


man i 


Hu bead us as fine gold. | _377_ 
deſcription of Chriſt preſent to the Churgh? Sun, XVI. 
| REV. 4+ 5o : 
And as there are ſights let downe from God | Sizhre of ſaith 
_ ' into theſoule, ſo thereare ſights that the ſoule robe /ary | 
frames of Chriſt, ſuch as the Church here con- | 
ceives of him by faith - Thus Aoſes ſaw him 
before he was incarnate, and _Abrabam ſaw his | tokn 8, | 
day and rejoyced: ſo ſhould we now have ſpi- | | þ 
rituall ſights, 17deas of Chriſt framed to our | | 
{oules, this is to beſtow our ſoules as we ſhould | 
doe. So much for generall, now we cometo ' 
ſome particulars. Hw Head u 4s fine gold, his | | 
lockes are buſhie and blacke as a raven, | 
His Head ts as fine gold. 
He begins to ſer out the excellency of the |. 
cheefe part the Head. The Head of Chriſt is | 73 
God, as itis 1 Cor.11.3. He is above all, and | 
God onely is above him. All is yours, and 
youare Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods, butthar is | 1 Cor. zz, 23. 
not ſo much intended here, as to ſhew Chriſts 
head-ſhip over the Church

~584 words

we 
live, and move, and haveour beeing. 
Why « Chrift «s King thus reſembled to an head 


Becauſe Gold is the cheefe, the moſt pre- | 
cious., durable mertall of all others. Chriſtis a 
King for ever and hath an everlaſting govern- 
ment. Gold is alſothe moſt pliable merrall, you 
may beate it out to leaves more then any other 
| mettall whatſoever. Chriſt is all gold indeed, 
his love hath beate himſelfe out as low as ma 

be, all for our good, What abaſcment like to 
Chriſts. That which 1s moſt precious is moſt 
communicating, as the Sunne a glorious crea- 


—_—_—_— 


as he is the moſt excellent of all, the cheefe of tex 
thouſand, (ots he alfo rhe moſt commmnicative, 
| what good to the good thar Chriſt did, hewas 
| beaten out of love to man-kindto loweſt abaſe- 
ment for us, though this benot mainely aimed 
at here, yet (by the way) ſpeaking of gold, we 
| may preſent'to our ſelves ſuch comfortable 
meditations, 


Ve. I. 


| Cbrift. 


olden bead 0 
the Church but 


That there «no 
c 


T leaving | 


_ , Wellthenis Chriſt ſuch an excellent head, a 

oldenhead, in whom arc hid all the treaſures 
of wiſedome to governe his Church, what need | 
we then goe to thar triple crowne, having ſuch | 
|a golden head, the Apoſtacie of the' Church | 
hath found out another golden head, is not 
| Chrift precious enough. Ler ns take heed of 


w— e 


nn" "IT 
4 — 


Hu bead u a: fine gold. | 379 
leaving the head Chrift, as it1s Col.2.19, It is Sun. XVI. 
| adamnablething to forſake him.-Ler the Apo- | 
_ | ſtaticall Church alonewith her Antichriſt. 


| Againe, if Chriſt be a golden head, let us| 2. 


i v | We muſ# be (u- 
his members labour every one to be furable, | oa Skip 


our begs. 


| 
a 


though there be difference betweene the head 
and the members in many reſpe&s, eſpecially 
in thoſe three formerly named, Eminencie, | 
government, and influence, yer for natute they 
A2re one, headand members make bur one. So | 
that as the head of the body is gold, fo ſhould | 
every member be: rherfore the feven Churches 
are ſtiled ſeven golden candleftickes. Every 
|rhing in the Tabernacle was gold, even to the | Simwle, 
ſnuffers, to ſhew that in the Church every thing | + 
is excellent. The Tabernacle was gold moſt ofit, | 
though it was covered with Badgers-skins. The 
Church indeed hath a poore covering as of | 
Badgers-skins, not guilded as hypocrites, but 2-44 
it is precious within; Againe, Chriſt as he is 11 
gold, ſo heis finegold, wholegold, he hathnot | = 
onely the crowne on him, but his head is gold | 

it ſelfe, Other Kings their crownes are of gold, 
bur their heads arc not ſo: but there is ſucha | 
precious treaſure of wiſedome in him that his FE | 
head is gold; ſo let the Church and every| 
Chriſtian labour, norro be guilt bur gold, to be | 
thoroughly good, to have the infide as good as i 
the outfide, the hearr as good as theconverſa- | 
tion, the Church is glorious within, P/al.45. 
Beloved, Is Chriſt an excellent golden head | . 
and ſhall he have a baſe body? Is he firto be 


CGE united 


. AS NCC 


—— 
— 


- ry nt. ht. 


* 


a EEE... EET OS 4  <———Y 


| 380 Hi head u as fine gold. 


>» ooeo_— * -—- _— . 4 


united toa goldenhead that is a common drun- 
kard, a ſwearer, that is a beaſt in his life and 
converſation, is this ſutable & 

| Againe, Isour head ſo golden, and whatſo- 


= - thar} Ever excellency we have 1s it from our head, 
allour excelten-| therefore as the Church in the Revelation, let 
[_ f 4] us caſt all our crownes at his feete, Have we 
a g0 en vead. . . 
Key.4.io, | CrOWNes of gold, any thing thar is excellent | 
within, any grace, any comfort, let us lay it 
downer his et, forall is from him. Naturall 
men have golden images of their owne, 1/rael/ 
| would have golden calves, Nebuchadne7Jar 
| ſets upa goldenimage, and all muſt worſhipir, 
ſointhe declining timesof the Church, they 
_ | framedgolden images,that is, a golden whorith 
religion, guilded, and painted, tramed by thcir 
owne braine, whereunto allmuſt ſtoope, Bur! 
thetrue gold is that we muſt reſpe& and ſubmit | 
our ſelves unto and admire, others are but gol- 
den dreames and images ( as Nebuchadnez2 ars 
was) Chriſts head alone is of fine gold - 
All muſt be fine gold that comes fromthis 


| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| | head, his word is gold, ſometimes purged in 
| 
| 


—_— 


J—— 


plalys-10, | the fire : his ordinances gold, in the ſcripture ! 

| phraſe, the city, the new Jeruſalem which ſig- 

nifies the ſtate of the Church -in this world, | 

when it ſhall be refined to theutmoſt, all is of 

| gold, the wallesof precious ſtones, the gatesof 

| Rey.21.21, pearle, and the pavement of the ſtreetes of pure 
{ 


gold, to ſhew the excellency of reformarion, 
which golden times are yet to come, in the 


' Rev 212 meane time let us goe onand waite for them. 


' 
. 
- s ] H i 
\ 
> % 
, : | 


Pr I I—=IS 


a - 


—_—_—__—_ 


Hs eyes are as Doves eyes. | 381 | 
| His lockes are buſhie and blacke as a raven, | ac —- 
I thinke this is but complementallto fillup 
theother, it is nothing but a commendationof 
his freſhneſle, a foile to beauty, therefore not 
particularly tobe ſtood

~203 words

that will | 
| pierce through all. Ithad need bea quickeeye 
that muſt judge of the heart and affeQions : but 
what may we learne hence, That we have a 
' Saviour that hath doves cyes, that is, cleare 
| eyesable rodiſcetne. 
\Yſe.1. Takeitas apoint firſt, of all comfort tothe 
Al comfort ro] Church, that when we have any impuration lies 
| — &- | uponus, that weaterhusandthus , Chriſt hath 
_ quicke eyes he khowes ourhearrs, thou knoweſt | 
( faith Peter ) Lord that I love thee, it all falſe 
| imputariorss reſt in the eye ſight of Chriſt, he 
| knowes it is orherwiſe withus. ; 
| Yſe.2. Then againe in all abaſement know, that 
4 betbee®| there's an =— ſees all, he ſees with his 
POTTY eyc and pitries with his heart, as he hatha 
quicke eye, ſo he hath a tender heart, rhough 
he ſcemies to ſleepe and to winke, it is but that 
we may wake him with our prayers, which 
when we have done we ſhall fre that Chriſt 
hath ſeene all rhis while, and that the violence 
the enemies of God haye offered rohis Church 
the _ hath beene inhis ſight, and thatthey 
ſhall know at length ro their coſt, 
" Likewiſe it is a point of tetror to all hypo-. 
| crites andothers that thinketoblindfold Cheift | 


—————_—_—  _— — | | againe, 


a 


Hu cheekes

~203 words

are as beds of ſpices. 3 
againe, Canthey blindfold him in Heaven that |? 
hath this ſharp eye? Noe he ſces all their courr 
| ſes and projets whar they are and what they 
rend to,- and as he ſces them ſo he will ſpread | 
themall openere long. 

And as it isa point of comfort and terror, ſo 
it is a point of inſtructian to us all, thax wee 
| haying to deale with 2 judge that ſces all, to 

worſtup Chriſt in ſpirit. If we had knomledg gh 
ſuch an eye of God is fixed uponys in allpla- 


ces, in all our affcRions and actions, would we | 
pc lhany to baſeand filthy choughts,to cryel] 

deſignes, and to trecherous aimes and intents, 
to hatch a hell (as it were) inour hearts, and to 
carry a fayre ſhew outwardly * it could nat be, 
Men axe not affraid of theix thoughts, affeRions, 
defires, and inward delights of theirſoule; be- 
cauſc there is no eye of juſtice upon them, bur 
if they did conſider that the alſccing God did 
| obſerve theſe inward cvills, and would call 
them to account one day for them, then they 
would be aſwell afraid ro think il] as to doe ill.} 

His cheekes are 4s

~398 words

us to Chriſt, that is in ſtead of allrous, 
-|burthe point is, 

obſerv. | That the manifeſtation of Chriſt to his Church 
\ | and children by hu Spiritin any of his ordinances, 
| & 4 ſweet man feſtation, and delectable as ſpices 


_—_—— — 


ſavour of thy good ointments, thy name is as 
an ointmcnt powred out, therefore the Virgins 
love thee. The very name of Chriſt when hets 
knowne and laid open by the miniſtry is a pre- 
cious ointment, and the Virgins, that is all 
chaſt ſfoules follow him by the ſmell of his 
PI ointments,all his ordinances convay aſweetneſſe 


Wrdinaxces are) ©O the foulc; his ſacraments are ſweete,: his |. 


ſweet andlove-| word ſweet, the communion of Saints ſweet. 
egy _ The preſence of the ſunndyou know is knowne. 
em them, \ inthe ſpringtime, by the freſhne1ic of all things, 
| whichput forth the life, and litrle livelines they 
| haye in them, ſome in bloſſoming, and ſoinein 
flowers, that which lay ( as it were) dead 1n 


winter, it comes out when the ſunne drawes 


wee are capable of here, this is as ſpices and | 


and flowers. as it is, Cart. 1, 3. Becauſe of the | 


 heare, raſt, and ſmell, and doth all, becauſe it] 


co 


A 


| HuCheekes are as beds of ſpices. | 
'ncere: ſo when Chriſt comes and ſhewes his 
reſ-nce and face to the ſoule, he refrcſheth | 
ard delights it. 
Hence we ſ{cethey are enemies to Chriſt and 
| to the ſoules of Gods people, that hinder the 
| manifcſtation of Chriſt, whereby his face 
' might be ſcene, and his lovely checkes diſcer- 
[ned ? thoſe that hare and undermine the or- 
 dinances of God, they hinder the comforts of 
their owne ſoules. | 
| And they arc enemies to Chriſt, for when 
( harh Chriit glory but when the Virgins follow 
him in the ſent of his ſweer ointment:, when 
the ſoule in the ſenſe of hi ſweetneſle followes 
him and cleave: 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 worke of the ordinances. Thoſe there- 
fore thatare enemies to the ordinances of Chriſt 
are enemies to the ſoules of Gods people, and 
| totheglory and honour of Chriſt himſelfe. 
Thus farre we may go ſafely upon 
compariſon of this with 


other Scriptures. . 
* » 
k x 


T he end ef the ſixteenth 


b Jermon, 


THE| 


44445444 44444 $$044444444444444 


FELSCATESGUAE 


THE SEVENTEENTH 


SERMON. 


| "—_— XIIL 


Hi lips are like lilies dropping 
[ſweet ſmelling mirrh, hit hands are 
| 45 gold rings fet with Berill, his belly 
is as by ight Ivory overlaid ib S$a- 
Mi his =” 


foundation as we haye in 


| * 12 ®# God heredid more intend 


to ſet our: the: large affecion

~1,128 words

heart by his words and his lips, 
| "- | as indeed the moſt excellear thing thar wecan 


\ thinke of is the expretiſion of the heart of Gol | 
| in Chriſt, and of Chriſts loverous, Hrs mouth 
is moſt ſwe:t., And indeed the beſt diſcovery , 
of atrue affetionro Chriſt, and of a true eſtate | 
| in grace, is from our affeRion to the word of | 
| Chriſt. Whereſaever there is intereſt into | 
| Chriſt, there is a high reſpe& to the word, w»y 
ſhe:pe heare my woice, Tohn, 10. and you know 
\ whar Peter (aizh, John. 6, Many of Chriſts 
hearers and followers forſooke him ( upon | 
{ome hard ſpeeches, as they thought that came | 
| from him) ſairh Chriſt to Peter, Will yee alſo | 
| leave mee, Peter anſwered againe, Whether Lord | 


| ſhall wee zoe, thou haſt the words of eternall life. | 


| The Apoſtles that had the Spirit of God per- | 

| ceived an incredible gratiouſneſle to fit on his bi 

| lips, and therefore they hung upon his lips, | 

| Whether (hall we goe, thou haſt the words of eternall 

| life. If we leave his ſpeech we leave ourcomforr, 

| welcave ourlife. 

| Asacommenthercupon ſce Pſal.19. Where 
we have a high commendation of Gods ex- 

cellencie, firſt from the booke of nature the 

| workes of God, the Heavens declaretheglory 
of God, rhen fromthe word of God, and here- 
in the Pſalmiſt is wonderous large. The law of 
the Lord is perfe& coverting the ſoule, the 

teſtimonies of the Lord are ſure making wiſe 


; and rejoyce the hear, the commandements 


CEI 


_ 


' the ſimple, the ſtarures of the Lord are ins 


G Oo 
he tt a 
o 


_— 


"Bis mouth is moſt ſweet. 393 | 


| ————czkrktn 
of the Lord are ſure, and enlighten the eyes STRAL 
more to be deſired then gold, yea then fine| 2 4] 
gold, ſweeter alſo then the hony or the hony 
comb. 

Bur marke the order, when is the word of Feſt, ; 
God precious as gold, ſweeter then the hony bo boyd on 
or the hony combe, but whenthe former com- | ow ro u asgotd | 
mencation takes place, where the word is per-| Auſw. 
fe& converting the ſoule, and: where it is ſure, 
making wiſe the fimple, and where the feare off | 
the Lord is cleane,gc. There it is moreto be] | 
deſired then fine gold, and ſweeter then the 
hony combe. So the Church here finding firſt} 
of allthe word to be a converting word, and | 
giving underſtanding to the fimple, ſhe cannot | 
but ſpeake of the fweetneſſe of the word of rd 
- | Chrift, his lips are as Lillics dropping ſweer|That our fare 
ſmelling myrrh, his mouth is moſt ſweet. Thus |/*2744 9 the 


| 


——_— 


rY : : | . word may bee 
\ a man may know his eſtate in grace by his re- diſcetned by our | 
liſh of the word. reliſh ro the | 


There is a divineand a heavenly reliſh in the |*** 
word of God, asfor inſtance take the doQrine| 
ofhis providence, That all things ſhall worke_ |. B, 
together for the beſt to themthat love God, What | 
a ſweet words this, a whole kingdome is not | 
worth this promiſe: that whatſoever befalls'a | 
Chriſtianinthis world, there is an over-ruling | 
providence to ſway all to goodto help forward 
hiseternall good. . | | 1.64 

That Chriſt will bepreſent with us in all vn | 
ties, whata fweet word and promiſe is this, _—_— AE 
| That he will givehi holy Spirit if we beg mak IT 
—— : 


| IS 


— 


oy 


| 39+. 
Sex, VII 


1 Iohn 1.9. 


| 


——_— — 


Iſa. 1, 


—_— 


Tor OE _ 


{ 


| 


| Exbortation to 
try our {ate in 
grace by our re- 


liſh of divine 
truths, 


Pſal.x1 9. 127. 


Plal.z1g.72- 


4. 
9 


”— 


He altopether lovely. 


— — — ww} 
he will got faile us nor forſake us, That if wel 


confeſſe our ſins and lay them open, be is muy. 


cifull to forgive them.That if our ſinnes were 
as red as ſcarlet, they ſhall all bee white us 


intheſc to a heart that is prepared for theſe com. 
farts, the dotrine of Recorcrliation, of 1_Adeprs. 
on, of Glory to come,otthe offices of Chriſt and 
ſuch like, how ſweet are they, they reliſh won- 
droufly to a ſanRified ſoule, 

Let us therefore diſcerne of oureſtate ingrace 
by this, how do we reliſh divinerruths? are they 
connaturall and ſurcable to us? doe we love 
them more then our appointed food? are the 
dearer unto us then thouſands of gold and fd 
ver2doe we like them above all other truthes 
whatſoever 2 Every truth in its ranke is loye 
ly and is abeameof God, For truth is of God. 


7 
That there wi 


 Antipathy to di 
vine truths. 


| 
| 


| 


eur nature an 


ſweet. 
 Inqurnature there is a contrary diſpofition 
and Antipathy to divine truth, We love the- 
Law better then the Geſpcll, aud any truth better 
then the Law, Welove a ftory, any rifling | 
baubling thing concerning our ordinary cal- 


| lings, better then divinetruth : 7» divine rrath 


as things are more ſpirituall, So the mare te- 


| | owe they are naturally from our love awd liking. 


cpangeveal)erxhs will not downe with a na- 
turall heart, ſych an one had rather here 


Mt —_—_—_—_ 


whereſoeer wefinde it, but whatare other truths 
| ro this heavenly ſoule ſaving-truth, this Gof. | 
pell-rruth thatis from Chriſt, his mouth is moſt 


 woole. Whar kinde of incredible ſweetneſle is} 


a quaint | 


_poine | 


He 1s altogether lovely, 


cliate by nature, but when the grace of God 


hath altered him, and his eyes are open to 
ſee his miſery, thep of all truthesthe truth of 


the mouth of Chriſt & our of the miniſtery con- 
cerning Chriſt they are moſt ſweete of all. Oh 


doc youthinke they went not to his heart, $9 
| tothe woman, Luk,7, her many finnes are for- 
iven her, forſhe loved much, Oh they were 


on the croſle, This day thou ſhalt be with me in 
Paradice, how do you think thoſe words affe&- 


abaſed in theſenceof our finnes, O how ſweet 
is a promiſe of mercy then. He that brings it 


man his righteouſneſſe, to lay open the mercy 


that belongs to a diſtreſſed ſoule, Oh the very 
feete of thoſe that bring theſe glad tidings- are 


her name, after that fhe had ſought him and 


Le Chriſt oncecall us by our names, for he 
knowes us by name, as he knew cMoſes, let 


: | him by his Spirit _— to us by name, and 


ooint of ſome viceor vertue finely Rood upotr| 
then any thing in Chriſt, becauſe he was never | 
truly convinced of his corrupt and miſerable | 


Chriſt ſavours beſt,thoſetruthsthat come out of 


| how ſweeteare thoſe words in the Goſpell to | 
the poore man: thy ſinnes are forgiven thee_,: 


| words that wentto her ſoule. And to the theefe | 
ed him. So it is with us if ever we have beene | 


is as one of tenne thouſand, that comes to declare to | 


beautifull ; When our bleſſed Saviour after his | 
refurreRion ſpakero Az ary and called her' Þy | 


could not finde him ( Oh Rabont ſaith ſhe ) | 
the words of Chriſt they melted her preſently. | 


d 2 own | 


_ OD _ 
P 


Luk.3z, 


Tob.z 3.23. 


Rom10,K5. 


T 


—_— 


— 


S»x-XVII 


CH. ee CC CO EE” 


Pſal.C1. 


very way confi- 


ther lovely. 


i... 


3-6 - 


That Chriff 6- 


dered # a'toge- 


Hetis alrogether lovely. 


III 


here, but ſaith further, 
He tis altogether lovely, 


gether from to 
e able = 
-; He ts altogether lovely. 


ro

~167 words

lovely all the treaſures of wiſ- 
dome arc in him, and of his fulneſſe we all re- 


| 


ceive grace for grace, he is made a ſtorc-houſe 
7 | of 


owne us then we call him Raboni, we owne him 
againe, for what is our love but the refletion 
of his backe againe, Therefore(ſatth the Pal. 


mitt) Let me heave the voyceofjoy and gladneſſe_ 
that the bones that thou haſt broken may rejoyce. 


Let me heare, thatis, Ilong for thy word to 
heare it,not the bare miniſteriall word, but the 
word of the Spirit, but the Church reſteth not 


Altogether deſireable, as if ſhe ſhould (ay, 
what ſhould ) ſtand upon particulars,he is alto- 


ptotoc aimiable,loycly and de. 
Lovely to God, ro us, tothe ſoule ; loyely 


us, and what doth God the Father judge of 
|| Chriſt, This is my beloved Sonne, he is the Son 


ed,outof him I am well pleaſed withno body. | | 


_—_— 


Hets altogether lovely. hn 


ſweat water and bloud, what lovelineſſe was 


| makes him more lovely,that out of love be would a- 


compaſſion. Majeſty aloneis not lovely, but 


Heis lovely ro God in whatſoever he did,} 
he carried himſelfe lovely and pleaſed his Fa-. 
ther in all his doings and ſufferings. God 1o-! 


ved

~211 words

Chriſt and the aſſurance of ſalva- 
Po gp te fouls tiON, that ſweet report of the Spiric, that we | 
i a lavgerow Are his,and yet be contented well enough, here | 
q condition. \i$anill ſighe,that a man isin an ill condition,the 
| Church was not ſo diſpoſed here, ſhe was never 
[ quiet nor gives over her inquiſition and ſpea- 
king of Chriſt, thatby ſpeaking of the objeR, 
ſhe might warme her affeftions, untill at the | 
[laſt ſhe mcets with Chriſt, theſe and the like 
| 1 fine of = ſignes there are of the truth of the love of 
[ #2%me love io Chrilt. But wherethere is a flaming love of 
cri, © | Chriſt, thereisthis degree further, a deſire of 
| the appearance of Chriſt, a defire of his pre- | 
ſence. For if Chriſt be ſo lovely in his Ordi- 
| \nances. If we finde ſuch ſweernefle in the 
Word and Sacraments, in-'the- communion 
of Saints, inthe motions of the Spirit, What 
is the ſweetnefle(thinke you) which the ſoules | 
5g in Heaven enjoy,where they ſee Chriſt face to 
| [face, '{ce him as he is, hereupon the Spouſe 
Tl | ſaith, \ 


0 —_— —— _—_— I DOES —- > >. > —-—_  - __——— _ 


<— 


INS 
— x Om 


—S 


| Hers altogether lovely. | 405 


|faith Let bins kifſe me with the kiſſes of his (Sun.XVII 
month : Oh that I might live in his preſence, by 
this isthe defire of a Chriſtian ſoule. When 
the flame of love is kindled in any ſtrength, 
Oh that I might ſee him, and therefore it longs 
cycn for death, foras farre as a manis ſpirituall, 
| he deſires to bee diſſolved, and to bee with | 
| Chriſt, as $;weon, when he ſaw him (though 7-30" 
inhis abaſement) Now I have enough, let thy | 
ſervant depart in peace, for mine eyes have ſeene_ 
thy ſalvation, The preſence of, Chriſt (though 
it were but in the wombe) When <A:ay| 
the mother of Chriſt came to Elizabeth, | 
it cauſed the Babe that was in her wombeto| | 
ſpring. Such comfort there is in the preſence | 
of Chriſt - (though he be but in the wombe ) 
as it made John to ſpring, What then ſhall be| 
his preſence in Heaven, how would it make 
the heart ſpring there thinke you 2 For thart | ' 
which is. moſt lovely in Chriſt is to come, 
Thereforethe Saints that have any degree of 
age inthe new Teſtament, they are ſect out 
y

~1,612 words

lovely, as he is lovely. | 
' Here wearenot altogether lovely, for we. That our many. 
have many dregs of ſinne, many infirmiries, pm 19% | 
and ſtaines, ſhall we not then defire that. time |make u lon? 
 whereinas he is _— lovely, ſo ſhall we 971527 rime 


. 'wheria we ſhall 
be made a fit ſpoule Or {ſo glorious 2 husband. be altogether 


O tove'y. 


CY 


A C— 


_ — —_— 
i 
— —— 


| 405 | 
\S»x.X VIII Toconcludethis point, let us try our af- 
bd 4: 4a: 6 tetions by the Churches affeQions- in this 
/runrt place, whether Chriſt be ſo lovely to us or 
fone. not,1/a.5.3+it is ſaid there is no beauty in him, 
when we ſhall ſee him, and he was diſpiſed of 
men, he was fo in regard of his crofle, and | 
ſufferings ro the eye ofthe world, and of car- 
nall men. Hcrod {corned him, when Pate ſent 
him to him, made no body of him ( as the 
wordin the Originall is) they looked upon 
the outſide of Chriſt in the fleſh when he was 
| abaſed. There was no forme ncy beaity in hins 
( faiththe Holy Ghoſt ) that is to the ſight of | 
carnall men, but thoſe that had the fehr of 
their finnes with ſpiriruall eyes, they could o- 
| therwiſe judge of Chriſt. The poore Certu- 
| rr0n, ſaw an cxcellency in him, when he ſaid, 
| He was not worthy that he ſhould come under his 
| roofe. The poore theefe ſaw the excellency of | 
Chriſt uponthe croſle in thoſe torments : Lord 
remember me when thou commeſt into thy king-\ 
domme. ; 

Sothoſe ſoules that were inlightned, that 
' had theſighr of rheir miſery and the fight of 
Gods love in Chriſt, had a high efteeme of | 
Chriſt in his greateſt abaſement. Therctore 
ifwe have a mcane eſtceme of the children of | 
God as contemptible perſons, and of the Or- 
dinances of God as meane things, and of the | 
overnment of Chriſt ( ſuchas he hath left in 
| Loword) as baſe,itis an argument of a finfa]l 
| |unwony diſpoſition in ſuch a ſoule, Chriſt 


__ hath 


, / 


— — — 


Heis altogether lovely, 


1 


_—_— —— 


| He is altogether lovely. | | 407 
—_ Sun XVII 


m—_ DAP... 


| hathnever bomeeBocully by his Spirit, for 
_ [everythingin him is lovely even the birrercſt 
| thing of all, There is a majeſtic and excel. 
lency in all things of Chriſt, the cenſures of 
the Church are excellent, when they procced 
and iſſue forth with judgement, as they ſhould 
doe,to deliver ſuch a man over to Satan, that he 
may be ſaved inthe day of the Lord. | 
Now if the Ordinances of Chriſt, the Word 
and Sacraments, and the ſhutting finners our 
of the Church, if theſe things be vilified as 
powerleflerhings, itſhewesa degenerate wick- 
cd heart not acquainted with the waics of God. 
If we have a meane eſteeme of men thar ſuffer | | 
| for Chriſt and ſtand out for him, if we account | 
them ſo and fo, ſhall we thinke our ſelves | 
Chriſtians in the meanetime, when Chriſt is al- 
together lovely, ſhall they be unlovely thar | 
carty the image of Chriſt, can we love him 
that begets and hate rhem that are begotten of | = 
him, canwe love Chriſt and hate Chriſtians.it | 
_— vn? =] p - 4 1 [How roger an 
ow that wee may get this affection and e-|,; 
ſteeme of Chriſt, thar is ſo lovely. Let us la- {#72 , 
bour to make our finnes bitter and loathſome,| T- 
that Chriſt may be ſweet. | - Kane fn 
FEM the reaſon we ſet uo higher a price of | 0yſt. 
Chriſt. a. 
ok we judge notof ourſelves, as we arc 4nſ. | 
| indeed, and want (pirituall gyeſalve to fee into 
our ſclyes rightly. | 
CANA us attenduponthe meancs of ſalvation fre  fal- 


HAVE) vation, 


oc. _— ww 
_ : og ds. —— ——————————_ *» x 


—__— 


— 


roattendenthel | 


—_— 


408 He 1s altogether lovely. | 
\Snn-XVIL joe the unſearchable riches of Chriſt : what makes 
any man lovely to us: but when we heare of 
their riches, beauty and good intent to us. In 
the Word we are made acquainted with the | 
good intent of Chriſt towards us, the riches of 
mercy in forgiving our ſinnes, and riches of 
glory prepared for us, the more we heare 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 arc held 
| forth with life and power, they have more 
| heavenly and inlarged affefions then others 


have, as the experience of Chriſtians will teſtt- 
fie, | | 


_ Againe, if we would cfteeme highly of 


| 
þ joyne with| Chriſt that he may bee lovely to us, let us 
uch company as 


bighly eſtceme joyne with company that highly eſtceme of 
of Chriſt, 


Chriſt, and ſuch as are better then our ſelves. | 
| What deads the affeQions ſo much as carnall, 
|worldly company, who have nothing in them 
but civility, by converſe with them who have 
diſcourſe of nothing but the world, if aman 
have heavenly affeions, he ſhall quickly dull 
them, and be in danger to looſe them, they 
may be converſed with in civill things, but 
when we would ſet to be heavenly, and holy 
minded , let us converſe with thoſe that arc | 
of an heavenly bent, as we ſee here,The daueh- 1 
ters of Hiernſalem are wonne to love Chriſt «| 
by what 2 By converfing with the Church, 
upon the diſcourſe that the Church makes 
of his excellencies in particular, they be- 


g1nnc 


W— 


— 


— 


_ 


—_— OT CO Pn CO "I 


— — 


= Tha is my Beloved. 


next Chaptcr, and ſs are all 
brought to the love of 
Chrift, 
- 


— 


The end of the ſeventeenth. 


Sermon. 


| 


ginne to aske where is Chrift, as in che : 


| 


. 


” tn 


44 247 £- ec. 


TT ED 


POYNOnT P 4 , d 7 # GS 
hy COB CA\2) ICY 


_— 2 
VERSES SHS SHSLGSGS 
THE EIGHTEENTH|\ 

SERMON. 
Ca N Ts V.XVL | 
| Hu mouth umofit ſwees, yea be i” 
altogether lovely,thu my Beloved, 
and thu u my friend,O daughters of * 
| Hteruſalem. - 
| _ Canr. VI.L IL, | 
Whither « thy Beloved gone, O| 
thou faireſt among woemen, whither 
1 thy BeJoved turned aſide that wie 
' may ſeeke bim with thee. bo. 
My Beloved is pone downe, &c. | 
[FEEBZAY thistimethe Church hath well || - 
I Fl quit her ſelfe inthar ſafe ſubj-, | 
 commending her beloved, tit 

10) ingencrall, and then in particu- 

==] lar; ſhe affirmes(incfc&):chere. | 


EB <e32 Was | 


| 


" 
_ rm. 


= _ -” 


Thisis my Beloved. | 


be cen... A 


wasnone like him in generall, which ſhe after 


makesgoodinallrheparticulars of her deſcrip- 

tion, now ſhe ſummes up all with a kinde of 
ſupcraboundant expreffion; What ſhall I ſay 

more of him? if that which is ſaid be not enough, they 
know farther, he s altogether lovely, there were 

no end to goe through allhis perfections, but looke_ 

on him wholly, ht is altozether lovely, and there- 
fore deſerves my love, ſo that there ts no cauſe why 
you [hou!d wonder at the ftrength of my affections 
and care to finde' ont this my Beloved and this my 
friend, 0 ye daughters of tiieruſalewm. Thus we 
ſee how the pitch of aninlightned ſoule is bent, 
it aſptresro things ſureablero its felfe, ro God- 
wards; to union and communion. with Chriſt, 
to ſupernaturall objeRs, nothing here below 
is worthy the name of its beloved. It faftens not 
on carthly baſe things,but this is my beloved, 
and this is my friend, this ſo excellent a perſon, 


| all, Lord of all, this chiefe of ten thouſand, 


bf farre beyond all compariſon. 
daughters of Hi __—_ 


this 1edidiab,this beloved ſonne, this Judge of 


{ here the ' Church pitches her alfe@ions| 
| which fhe conceales' not as' aſhamed thereof, 
bur in a kinde of triamphing, boaſting of her. 
| choice, ſheconcludes all with a kinde of reſo- 
b lute aſſurance,thatthe objeR ofthis her choice 


This is my Beloved and this is my friend, 0 


| Whichisthe cloſing up of her commen- 
dations of Chriſt : This & my Beloved and this 


_ | my friend, &&c. Which ſhall gncly be rouched|, - 
| 


[ 


I 
\ 


| 


becauſe 


| T hi is my Beloved, | 4B 
| becauſe we had occaſion to ſpeake thereof be. 25s = 
- foxe. Shecals Chriſt her beloved, howſoeecver 
| he had withdrawne himſelfe in regard of the} BE: 
comfort and communtonſhe had with him be-1 | 
fore,yet he « her beloved ſtill, wt 
That which is ſpecially to be ſtood upon is, | 
thar the Church here doth ſer our not onely in 
parcels, but in generall her beloved Chriſt: 
this is my beloved,ſhe doth as it were boaſt in| 
her beloved, whence obſerve : | | A 
_ Chriſtian ſowle ſeemes to glory 4s it were_| Obſerv. | 
in Chriſt, 
Thisis my beloved and this is my friend O! 
| yee daughters of Hieruſalem : but to unfold more why _— 
fully this point, there be three or foure ends | bu in general 
why the Churchthus ſtands upon the expreſ-| 94P4r!icater 


_—_— 


ſing of thecxcellencies of Chriſt in particular panda 194 
andin generall. Chriſt. 


Theone, Toſhew that it is moſt juſt that ſhej _ | 
jo love and reſpect = in whom there ts rt ro ſhew bow | 
to aeſerve love, both in himſelfe, in regard of hs | juſt it s tore 
_— ſo and in Kea fo wh regard CY” 
of bis merits and deſerts. ER 
Secondly, To juitifie her large aff ettions before) 2, 
the worldandall oppoſites, For the world thinks, | Ts juftifie ber 
| what meane theſe who are called Chriſtians to | "5 PH" 
hauntthe exerciſes of religion,toſpend ſo much} c6ri/iane. 
timeingood things,they wonderart it for want 
of better information 3 now the Church here 
|*o juſtifie her large expreſſions, ſayes, this ” 
ir beloved, this is my friend, O ye daughters 
: 7 


Hieruſalem 
= Bez LS 


| 
| 
_ 


{ 


| 


| which fhe conceales' nor as aſhamed thereof, | 


{ lute aſſurance,thatthe objeRof this her choice 


| Thicis my Beloved. 


1 wasnone like him in generall, which ſhe after 
makesgood in alltheparticulars of her deſcrip- 
tion, now ſhe ſummes up all with a kinde of 
ſuperaboundant exprefhon. What ſhall I ſay 
| more of him? if that which is ſaid be not enoxgh, they | 
knom farther, he s. altozether lovely, there were 
noend to goe through all hes per feitions, but looke_ 
on him wholly, h# i altozether lovely, and there- 
fore deſerves my love, ſo that there is no cauſe why 
you ſhould wonder at the ftrength of my ac | 
and care to finde' out this my Beloved an 
friend, 0 ye daughters of Hieruſalew. Thus we 


(tions | 
this my | 


ſee how the pitch of aninlightned ſoule is bent, 
it aſptresro things ſurcablexo its: felfe, ro God- 
wards; to union and communion. with Chrift, 
to ſupernaturall objeRs, nothing here below 

is worthy the name of its beloved.1t faftens not 
on carthly baſe things,bur this is my beloved, 
and this is my friend, this ſo excellepta perſon, 
this 1edid/ab,this beloved ſonne, this Judge of 
all, Lord of all, this chicfe of ten thouſand, | 
here the ' Church pitches her alfe&ions 


bur in a kinde of trim hing, boaſting . of her, - 
choice, ſheconcludes all with a kinde of reſo- 


| * farre beyond all compariſon. 


This i my Beloved and this is my friend, 0 
daughters of Hieruſalem, TINS 

| Whichisthe cloſing up of her commen- 
dations of Chriſt: Thx & my Beloved and this 
my friend, &&c. Which ſhall oncly be touched], 


becauſe 


| 


—————_ 


# 
CT _ 


[ 


T his is m 2y Beloved, 


| becauſe we had occaſion to ſpeake thereof be- 
- tore. She cals Chriſt her beloved, howſocyer 
| he had withdrawne himſelfe in regard of the}. 


| ſhould love and reſpect him tn whom there ts all this 


| of better information 3 now the Church here 
to juſtifie her large expreſſions, ſayes, 15 15 


comfort and communion fhe had with him be-1 
fore,yet he is her beloved ſtill, Pl 
That which is ſpecially to be ſtood upon is, 
thar the Church here doth ſer our not onely in 
parcels, but in generall her beloved Chrift 
this is my beloved,ſhe doth as it were boaſt in| 
herbeloved, whence obſerve : | 
A Chriſtian ſoule ſeemes to glory as it were | 
in Chriſt, | | 
 Thisis my beloved and this is my friend Of 
gee daughters of Hieruſalem : but to unfold more 
fully this point, there be three or foure ends 
why the Churchthus ſtands upon the expreſ- 
{ing of the cxcellencies of Chriſt in particular 
andin generall. 
 Theone, Toſbew that it is moſt juſt that ſhe 


to deſerve love, both in himſelfe, in regard of his 
owneexcellencies ſo and invelation to us,inregard 
of his merits and deſerts. 

Secondly, To juitific her large aff eftions before 
the worldandall oppoſites, For the world thinks, 
| what meane theſe who are called Chriſtians to 


@ per On. 1-4 


8 
Obſerv. 


Divers ends | 
why the Church\ 


and particular 
ſets forth the 
exce/lency of 
Cbriſt. 


TS ; | | 
To ſhew bow | 
Juſt it is to re- 


ipeft ſo excellent 


: 
20 

uſtifie ber 
pena ors 


hauntthe exerciſes of religion,toſpend ſo much 
timeingood things,they wonderar it for want 


my beloved, this is my friend, O ye daughters 


| 


| 


of Hieruſalem . 


Ec 3 Andi 


to the ſironger | 
Chriſtians. 


| ROS —_ 


| CCR 


thas in general 


—— 
—_— 


EEC —____c_u_-_ 


4 
414 T bis is my Beloved, 
benzene — 
SEE | Andnotonelyto juſtific, bur likewiſe to glory! 
 - therein, as you have it, Pſal. 44.3, the Church 
= bosf? 24 | there boaſts of God, I will wake my boaſt of thee 
Lelory in God. gs 
f all the day lonz. So that Chriſtians may not} 
| onely juſtific their courſe of life againſt ene-| 
| | mics, but in ſome ſort boaſt of Chriſt,as Paul 
 toftdoth, and he ſhewes the reaſon of it, that 
1} Godhath made Chriſtto us all in all,wi{dome, 
rightcouſneſſe, ſanRitication, and redemption, 
| that whoſocver glorieth might glory in the 
 \Lordiforisitnot a mater of glorying in the} 
| Church when ſhe hath ſuch a head and ſuch a 
- | husbandeThis is my beloved, the wife ſhines in 
the beames of her husband, therefore this | 
tang matter not onely of juſtification but of 
| S1OTY. | 
ty... i : And nextinthe fourth place,the Church is| 
[-onc affeAlioas | chus largeand ſhuts upall with a repetition, this' 
| is my beloved, To imlarge ber owne affections 
and to feed her owne leve. For loye teedes upon 
thisfuell (as it were) upon cxpreflions and 
irhatioves | Meditations oftheperſon or thing loved, Love | 
ages to it{elſe \ is as. it were wages of it ſelfe, the paines it rakes 
is gaineta it felfe,torhe Church hereit is an ar- 
gument pleaſing, ſhe dilates upon a copious 
 Theame, F may truly ſay there is no greater 
, comforttoa Chriſtian, nor a readier way to in- | 
large the affeCtions after Chriſt, then to ſpeake | 
'oft of the excelleccics of Chriſt, to have his 


———————_—.. 


» | 


Foeggravate ' TONgUE as rhe. pen of a ready: writer furniſhed | 
dunkindnege | this way, this & my beloved, 7c. 


Is /o fleighting 
Chrifts love. 


| 


In the fift place another end of this may be 
to 


= This my Beloved, ey 1 


—| 


mY 


10 aggravate hey owne ſhame, as indeed Gods 
childrenare much in this argument, that upon 
their ſecond thoughts of Chriſts worthineſſe k 
and therewithall refle&ting upon their owne E 
| unworthinefle and unkindneſle they may reliſh | 
' Chriſt the better. Therefore the Church here i 
that it might appeareto her ſelfe for her humi- | 
 liation how unkind ſhe had beene to ſhut the: 
| doore againſt Chriſt when he knocked, where. | 
' upon. he deſcrvedly did withdraw himſelfe 
| | and made her ſecke him fo long np I 
tell you ſayes ſhe whara kinde of beloved he is, | 
' thus and thus excellent. How did the confj- 
 derationof Gods kindneſle and love melt Da- 
vids heart after that horrible ſfinne in the matrer 
of Yriab,and the ſweet lookes of Chriſt upon | 
Peter, that had beene ſo unkind, melted him. | | 
| So here the Church when ſhe confidered how | | 
' unkinde ſhe had beene to Chriſt her beloved, 
| ſo incomparably excellent above other be- 
 loveds, to let him ſtand ar the doore, till his 
locks were wet with the Dew ofthe night. The | 
' conſideration hereof made her aſhamed of her 
| ſelfe, what ſocxcellent, ſo deſerving a perſon | 
' as my beloved is tome; to be ufed of me - fo? 
' what indignity is this ? Thus to raiſe up the 
| aggravation of her unkindnefſe, no queſtiofl 
' bur the Church takes thts courſe: for Gods: 3.44 
children are not as untoward worldlings and 1: 
hypocrits afraid to ſcarch and to underſtand | | 
themſelves, the child of God loyes to be well- 


| read in his owne heart and unworthy wales, 
Beg therefore | 


Gs CL or EOF AAS AGO 


— 


als. : a — 
—— —_— wer 


_ FIN 
- 416 


SER XVIIL, 


To wind up the 


| new beginning 
Chriſtians. 


affeAions of ber | 


Thiris my Belived . 


——— 


therefore he layes all rhe blame he can -upon 


himſelfeevery way, he knowes he loo'cth no- 
thing by this, for there is more mercy in Chriſt 
thenthere is ſinne in him, and the more ſfinne 
abounds in hisowne feeling, the more grace 
ſhall abound, he knowes the myſteric of Gods 
carriage inthis kinde. Therefore for this end 
( amongſt the reſt ) ſhe ſayes, this is my be. 
loyed,and this is my friend, whom I have ſoun- | 
kindly uſed. 
 Andthelaſt reaſon why the Church is thus 

large was, Todraw and wind up the affettions of 
thofe well meaning Chriſtians that were commers 
on, who were inquiſit: ve of the way to Syon, O ye 
daughters of Hieruſalem, that you may know 
thatrthere is ſome cauſe to ſeeke- after Chriſt | 


- > m— 


| 


more then you have done before, I tell you 
whatan excellent perſon my beloyed is,to whet 
their affeRions more and more, and we ce the | 
ſucceſle of this excellent diſcourſe in the be. 
ginning of the next Chapter, whetherisrhy be- 
loved gone,&c. Es 

Theſeand the like reaſons there are of the 
largeexpreſhions of the Church of- the excel- 
lencics of Chriſt, thisis my beloved,and this is 
my friend, Oh ye daughters of Hreruſalems. 
But we will ſingle out of theſe reaſons for 


= that which Ithinke fitteſt for usto make Ule 

of, 
Let us then oft thinke of -the-excgllencies of 
Chriſt for this end, to juſtifie our endeavours 
|andpaine wetake In the exetciſcs of religion 
and 


_ > Tiivons my Beloved. 417 


andto juſtific Gods people from. the falſe im-|***: Lo 


| putations of the world,that they lay upon them, 
{asif they werenegligentin other matters, and 
were too much bufied in ſpirituall rhings. | 
You ſce

~580 words

taxed that they are ſo| _ 
much.Our Saviour Chriſt ſaid, Mat, 11.19, 2519: 
Wiſcdome is juſtified of all her children, If 

you will make goodthat you are childrenof 
wiſedome, you muſt be able to juſtifie the| 
wiſcdome of God every way, to juſtifie your | 
reading, hearing, your communion of Saints, 

to juſtifie all the exerciſes of Religion from 
experimental] raſte and ſweetneſle of them, 
| 


P—_—_ 


as the- Church doth here this is my beloved) 
| What 


PT —— 


ne 


"w 


——— 


| AY 


This is my Beloved. 
What ſayes Toſhua, this choice J have made, 
doe you what you will ir matters me 
nor, but I and my houſe will ſerve the Lord. 


et 


SkR.XVINI 
1uih.34-1 | 


| | 
- So Paul makes a voluntary profeſſion of his! 
4 affetion, Rom, 1.2, Iam nor aſhamcd of the. 
| Goſpcll of Jeſus Chriſt, let the Goſpell bee: 
| entertained inthe world as it will, and let o- 
| thers thinke of meas they will, that I am for- 
| | ward inthe preaching of it, I am not aſhamed, 
| ; of it,and good reaſon he had notto be aſhamed, 
| | for it isthe power of God to falyation to all. 
that beleeve, yea the ſaving power to us, and 
3 havenort I canſc to (tand in the defence of it, and | 
pes. ſo he ſaith the 2T:m.1.12. I know whom 1 bave_ | 
| beleeved, 8&c. IT am not aſhamed to ſuffer 
bonds for his ſake. Thovgh the world thought 
| | | 
| him a meane perſon, ] will not be ſcorned out! 
Ez of my Faith and Religion by ſhallow empty | 
perſons, that know not what Chriſt and Rel:- | 
eion meaneth. No, 1 know whim I have be. 
 leeved; hets able to keepe that that I have commit- 
ted ro him againſt that dxy. Letus therefore be : 
able to. juſtifie from a judicious apprehenſion | 
| ſweet divine truths. You ſee whar juſtifica- 
tions thereare of the Chmch of God, where: | 
| fore ſhould the Heathen ſay, where is now | 
their God, and Pſalme 42.10. Oh it went to- 
Davids heart, when they ſaid where is now 
their God, what was become of his God when | 
| hewas |cfrintrouble, as the Church here, and | 
; what dorh ſhe anſwer, doth he let it goe with | 
| a queſtion: Noſayeshe our God is in Heaven | 


| ie and 


—_ 


—_— 
ee... A 


——- __w_ eo ow 


 Thicis my Beloved. | 


——— — — 


! 
| 


x O_— —— —— 


Ee mm I CCW_C_— ————_—__———_—— 


and hath done whatſoever he pleaſed. 

And this juſtification of Religion, you may 
know by this {igne, it is with the diſertion of 
| all diſcourſes oppoſite to Religion whatſoe- 

ver,he thar juſtifies the truth, he eſteemes mean- 
| | ly of other courſesand diſcourſes. Therefore 
| in the nexrverſe the Church vilifies the Idols, 
| our Godis in Heavenand doth whatſoever he 
| pleaſerh: the Idols are filver and gold, the 


| worke of mens hands, they have eyes and ſee 


' not, cares and heare not. And the more wee 


| juitifie Chriſt che morewe will be againſt An- | 


| tichriſt and his religion, wee may know the 


| other. Letus labour therefaretogrow to ſuch 
a convincing knowledge of Chriſt, the good 
things in him, and the wayes of God, as wee 
may be able to ſtand onr againſt all oppoſition 
of the gates of hell wharloever. 


| Chrift, and to a Ceeper ſearch of him, and of 
| the cxcellenciesand' good things in him, rhat 
| we may ſay as Micah7. Whoisa Godlike to 
thee, thar pardons finnes and iniquities, and as 
David Pſalme 113. 
| God that humblerh himſelfe to behold the 
things done here below. | 
And defirealſo to this purpoſe the Spirit of 


| owning of the one truth by the vilifying the | 


{ 


| 
And to this end procced in the ſtudy of 


Who is a God like our| 


nn - 


— - — 
The juftificatie 
of religio:es in- 
d:avours is 
with difertion 
0. oppoſite 


cour{e un 


| 


Togrowt oknow 


| 


| 419 | 


SER. XVIIL. 


| 
; 


| 


| his good things 
we muſt grow 
in admiration 


| of them, 
| 


We muſt pray| 
for the Spirit of 
Re velaiion. 


| Chriſt more & 


revelation,that which Paw! prayes for Epheſ.1. 
and Cap 3 that wemay know that knowledge 
' that is above all knowledge, the heigrh, deprh, 


TS See IE IIAEY PIR 


* 4 
Oe” ODE OO GO TO —_—_ — ——————— 
_ 


mn. — 
wm _—_— 


| and breadthof Gods lovein Ch:ift, So ſweet | 


IS] 


——_— 


This'is my Beloved. | 


| is Godin the greateſt abaſements of his chil- 
dren, that he leaves ſuch a taſte in the ſoule ofa 
Chriſtian, that from thence he may be able 
toſay, this is my beloved, when his beloved 
{cemesnot to care for him. Whenthe Church 
ſeemed to be diſteſpe&ted and negleQed of 
Chriſt, yet ſhe faics, This is my Beloved,and this 
is my friend, O ye daughters of Hieruſalem, 
Shall rich men boaſt of their riches, ſhall 


That if worldly 
end wicked men 


5a of earthy | Men thatarein favour, boaſt of the favour of 
 [rhings, much | great perſons, ſhall a man that hath large pofleſ- 
more ouzht wee \{1gng boaſt and think himſelf as good & as great 
_” * [as his eſtate is, ſhall a baſe minded worldling 

beableto boaft : why boaſteſt thou thy ſelte 


Plal.2. 1, | Oh mighty man? Nay you fhall have malig- 


7 nant ſpirited men;boaſt of their malignant dc- 
ſtrufive power,I candothis and that miſchicf, 
ſhall a man boaſt of miſchictc, that ke is able to 
do mi{chiefeandhath not a Chriſtian more cauſe 
to boaſt in God and in Salvation? Lord ſhine on 
\meſaies David, let me enjoythe light of thy 
countenance, and that ſhall bring me more joy 
then they have, when their corneand wine in- 
creaſeth : know this,as he goes on inthe ſame 
Pſalme,that Godaccepts therighteous man. | 
[That _ 7 Therefore letus thinke we have much more 
beſt portios. | Cauſe to boaſt of God and of Chriſt in a ſpi- | 
rituall manner, then the worldling hath of 
the world. Is not God and Chriſt our porti- | 
_ | on, and having Chriſt, have we not all things | 
with Chriſt, put caſeall things be tooke from 
us; if a man have Chriſt, he is rich though | 
* 


———————— 
EE r_ 


| 


du — 


- 
p ' 


| Whitheris thy Beloved yoneF' | aw 
—— EST 
he -have nothing elſe, if he have'allwirhboue 4 Eg 
him, ' His plenty 1s/ (as/2 Farhervfaith, /and:as | 
it is/in truth) beggery. Bur 'whoſoever hath/| 
Chriſt may thus rejoyce with D avid; The Joe &: Iala67, | 
fallen tome in pleaſant places,ye Thave agoodly He. | 
| ritage. Would we have'more then. God an\ 
Chriſt, a ring with a Dyamond very precious' 
in-it, Now the Daughters of Hieruſalem, | hea- 
- | ring this large expreſſion of atteRion,aske, 


— 


| Cuavy. VI. I: Lat 19 ot

~1,009 words

whither is he gone, that we 
| may {ccke him with thee. JUNE 
Weliece here. is a. growth in the defircs of 
| the Dawghters of  Hreruſalew, whence wee 
| Obſerv. —_—= leriengh it bein never ſo little proper 
ory. my -« 1107 4t te firſts iv growing ill. 


poumetad | Fromthefirit queſtion, whatis thy beloved, 


ble a bur. | RErC is a ſecond ( _ better information ) 
ning and grow-| VV hither is thy below Cone, that we may ſeeke_ 
ing. him with thee. Nothing is leſſe then grace ar 
the firſt, nothingiinthe world ſo little in pro-| 
portion. The Kingdome of Heaven is com- 
Mar 28. pared” to a-graine of muſtard-ſced, that is,the 
worke ofgrace in the heart, as wcll as in the 

preaching. of the Goſpell, in the, heginning 
| 15 littte. Ir is true: of the worke of igrace, as 
1 well as of the word of grace, that it is like a 
'Y raine of Muſtard-ſced at firſt, what is thy be-1 
ovedcnquires:the Church at firſt, bur when 
| ſhe. heares of the excellency of Chriſt; then 
whither is thy beloved gone, Grace begets grace, 

| there: is a connexion and knitting-together in 
Religion, goodthings bcger good things: it Is 
a ſtrange thing in Religion, how great a matrer | 
ariſcthof ailine beginning. The woman of | 
Samaris had but a ſmall beginning of grace, and | 
| yer ſhe'preſently drew many of her nacighbours | 

to belceve in Chriſt.So. Andrew, Tohn 1. AS 


7 —Y 


a —— — — _ ———— I" 
apa—i_y _ - 'n - we 
| —_——— — ——  — ——— ———_— 
” we 099 566 —_—— 


ſoone aShe was.converted he finds his brother | 


in $19910Þ 
| | Fu_ is . | —_—_— RT. 


——_ 


| 


bh. 


_— 


| 


| ſoone as he hadgor a {parke of Faith /himſclfe, 


| to be undergaed meanes.- Some ofthe Romiſts: 


\heartand wi 


I hither ts ehy Beloved gone. i 


Simon and tels bimtharhc had found the 3teſ* | 
fis5,and ſobrings himto Chriſt, and Philip as! 


he drawes alſo Nathamelt to come to Chriſt. 
Paul rctkes of his bonds, how the noife of 
them was in C2/ars Conrt, and many belecved 
the very report, which howloevet ir-is not a 
working.cauſc, yet it _ be apreparing, indu- 
cing, leading cauſe to fuch'things' from one 
thing toanother, till there follow this change 
and full converfion. You ſec here the \dawzheeys 
of Hiernſalemgrowing , Theretore letus labour 


and others which arc ill affefted and grounded; 
inthat poiat, they thinke that rhe cfficacie 'of 
gracc is, 2s we call it from the" congrutty, 
verts one and not another, becauſe there-isa 


add another 'is nor: 


| congruous and fit on Tmeancs/to him, 
oſcd, 


| fitly diſpoſed, therefore there followes not | 
on iteffeuallcalling, ſo that rhe vertue of rhe | 


when he is fitly difp 


mcanes offercd. depends upon {incableneffe 
and firnes inthe party towhonm che mceanes are 
offercd, and nor upon the:power and blefling 
of God, verily this1s plauſible, and goes down 


| 


God by his holy Spirit doe worke'by the 
meancs, no planting and warcring will bring 


nefle, and —_ the meanes to the |. 
ILof man, and thereupon Gol con- | 


Au erprsf ry 
Papiſts, tous 

inz the efficacy; 
of grace tn con- 


gruily. 


| "| That the me | 
yery roundly with many weake perſons : but| without a diſ7- 
this is a falſe and a grofſe error: >for wnlefle| in4 coping} » 
5 hes can doe 
nothing. | 


any increafc and change the: heart and minde, 


thought _ 


Phil. x, 


——_—_—— 


mo. 
hee tt _— _— Mt 


pn” 


[4k | WhitherithyBeloued gone? | 
Sr AVI —— 


though there; were: greater| meanes: ini'Chrift 
time,.\when; he —_ theſe:miracles then 
aty time before, yer all: thoſe could: not con: 
vertthat froward generation: and it was Moſes | 
complaint in the wilderneſſe, where they had 
abountlance of meanes: God hath nor. given 
youa heart to perceive, 'and eyes- to ſce, 
Deur.a9.s |and Cares to heare untill this day. When 
That uſualy |aman is planted under good meancs and fre- 
| 6e4 worker | quentsthem, then ordinarily it pleaſerh God 
"..- .-» | bytheinward workings of his owne powerfull 
ph | Spiritto worke greater mattcrs, and thoſe that 
| keepe out of Gods:rcach, that will not come 
|into places where they may heare good things, 
thercis ne hope of them, though there bemany 
ill iſhinche net,yetthere is no hope to catch 
þ them that are without the net. So thoſe thar 
E arc kept owt of all opportunitics and occaſions 
whereby, Gods Spirit may. worke upon them, 
there is no hope aka. | | 
| Let -uslearnethis heavenly wiſedome to ad- 
vantage .our ſelves this way, by improoving 
all good opportunities wharſoever wherby we 
may learne for Godworks by ourward meanes: 
| gaod company,andgood difcourſe;theſe breed 
| exccllent thoughts. As therefore we love 
our ſoules, take all advantages whercin the Spi- 
| rit of God works, we ſhall find incredible fruit 
thereof;more therr.we would beleeve, but to 
cometothe Queſtion. '- oo 
Sec here firſt of all inthis Queſtion, the bleſ- 
ſed ſuccefle of the Churches _—_ 
£77 ri 


| 


 Whitheris thyBeloued gong. | 425 | 


_—__—_u__ 


— 
- 


Chriſt: in, the daughters of Hieruſalom.; 
| they heard the _ explications, of the ny 
| lencies of Chriſt, eſpecially by the Church, | 
whom they had a good conceitoff, for they call! 
her,the faircſh among wowmen, th. | 
| And ſecing likewiſe the confidence of the | 7h«t demon- 
Church, ſhe ſtands to it, hi i« my. beloved, yea CETI 
alſo'eagerneſſe in the Church, te ſecke after | explication of | 
him they would ſeeke him with her, ſo. that | ©f7{/F-i never 
| where theſe meer, alargeunfolding af the truch | prong kat? | 
| of God, and that by perſons that are knowne | 
| | to be good, well accepted and conceitedoff, i 
and wherethere isalarge demonſtration of re- | 
| all affetian, and the thingsare ſpoken off with | 
confidence, as knowing what they ſay, the | | 
| 
' 


SY Wy XY. 
? TT YR” FS? 5 


| 1 


' word (I fay) ſomanaged it is never withoue | 
' wondrons ſucceſlc, : 
| For inthecourſe of reaſon, what can T have | 7+ 
to ſay , conſidering the party, who ſpeakes is an | 
excellent perſon, heis wiſer and holier then T, 
| herakes to heart theſe things, and ſhall nor I | 
affe&t that which thoſe that have better paits 
' and graces doc? | 
| Thenwithall I ſee not onely exccllent per- | 2+ 
ſons doe it, but ] (ce how earneſt they are, fure- 
ly there is ſome matter init; for perſons ſo ha- 
ly, ſo wiſe, and gratious to bee ſo earneſt, 
| ſurely citherthey aretoo blame,orI amtoo dull 
; and = dead, bur ] have moſt cauſc to ſuſpet 
| my lelfe, 
| "And to ſce them carried with a ſpirit of con- | 3: 
4 fidence, as if they were well enoygh adviſed. 
F f whn 


—_—— mn 


LE bs A "EIT 


426 W. hither JL thy Beloved gone? 
S6R.XVHE when they deliver this ( this is my Beloved) 
| in and thento ſhut up all in generall, 
- This is my beloved, and this is my friend : 1 ſay, 
| when there is grace and life in the heart, and| 
| carneſtneflc with confidence: this together 
with the explication of the heavenly cxcellen- 
cics of Chriſt, and of Religion, it hath admi- 
rable ſucceſle, as here inthe Church, the faireſt 
among wormen, the daughters of Hieruſalem, ſce- 
 \} ingthe Church was ſo carneſt, confident and 
MO fo large in the explication of the excellencies 
| of Chriſt, ſce how 1t works, it drawes ot this | 
| Queſtion with reſolution, they joyne with the 
| | Church in ſeeking Chriſt. Y//h:they rs thy be. 
| loved zont,” O thou faireſt amons woemen? whe- 
ther is thy beloved turned aſide, that we may ſecke_ 
| him with thee: Where by the way obſerve, as 
the Churchbefore doubles ir, this is my be- 
loved, and this is my friend: ſo they anſwer 
| witha double queſtion, whether is thy beloved 
— mtg gone, whether is he turned aſid:, O thou faireſt a- 
rocorvert o. | mw0ng woemen,8&c, fromthis app-llation note, | 
ou If we would be happy inſtruments to con. | 
+00 uh the | VEE hers, being converted our ſelves, labour 
' | world may think | to be ſuch as the world may thinkc to be good and 
ro be good ad | gyatious: O thou faireſt among woemen. Faire | 
row in the robes of Chriſt rooke out of his war- 
drop, all the beauty and ornaments thatthe 
| _ | Church hath, ſhe hath from Chriſt, let vs la- 
2 bourto be, ſuch as the world may conceit arc] | 
1} good perfons. Weſay of Phiſitians, whenthec 
: \ = 


J_— 


| 


| | patient hathagood conceit of them the cure is 
APE a MS half 


_— 


— 


——— —— —_— —_— 


our ſelves, 'natmraliſts could obſerve this, the 


| 


| 


' we ſpoke, asthe Apoſtle 74hn doth, in the-be-| 
ginning of his Epiſtleto bring others to be ber. | 
ter perſwaded of his dotrine, he affirmeth that 
' which was from the beginning, which we have 


| 
| 


| 


| 


to be deepely affeted with what we ſpeake, | 


| eycs, which we have looked upon, and theſe 


inſtruments of God togaine upon others. So 
Peter, wo followed not ( ſaies he) deceiveable) : per.r.rs, 


ſwaded, when there is a good: conceit of the 
ſpeaker, SrÞ-! 


Againe, labour to be earneſt: if we would] ro teeamet in 
thoſe thivgs we 
would inforce 


| 
| 


kindle others; we muft be warmed our ſelves, 
it we would make others weepe,we mult weepe | 


Church ſpake this with large expreſſions, in- | 
deed more then can be expreſt: let us labour 


and ſpeake with confidence,as if we knew what | 


heard, which we have ſeene with theſe ouy 


hands of ours have handled ofthe Word of life 
he delivered to them. ER 

For when we are confident from ſpirituall 
experience; itis wonderfull how we ſhall be 


fables, when we opened unto you the pawer 


and comming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt,butwith 
our eyes we-law his Majeſty. | 


| niſtry, there is an art of Converſion that be- 


to winne others. | 
VV hither is thy Beloved gone, O thou faireſt 4- 


M07 women. 7 
Fry 2 The, 


 Docnotthinke it belongs onely to the mi-. 


longs toevery onethatis a growne Chriftian| 


F-7 Whither 12 thy Peloved gane ? | | s 427 | 


vponatters, 


” s | 


3 .loh, 1.Ts 


balfe wrought: $o the Do@rine is halfe per+}22AXVII 


| 


' 


—— —— 
wp_ _ — 


TE ” 


———_ _—_—_ 
CO Cy Tm ——— — 


| OO ASSES ROY 
| 428 '\ -B/bigher is thy Belove agone. 
IST HL, de. 


— > oo Een 
— 


' Thenext obſcrvarion out of the words ( be. 
| cauſe it is the eſpecial!) which works upen 
che daughters of Hieruſalem, is from the large 
bor explication of Chriſt, 
| 08jerv.. That which moſt of all ſlirrs up holy aff eftions to 
ſearch after Chriſt is the large explications ofhis ex- 
| oeflencres. 
Thar we 6uzh!] Then be in love with the miniftry of the| 
to bein love | Goſpel, and the communion of Saints, who | | 
RS” have their tongues and their hearts raught of 
word, whereby] God fo _ excellently, their tongues are as 
ary refined filver, their hearts arc enriched to in- 
vorth. creaſc the communion of Saints. Marke this 
Pro.10.39 | oneexcellency of thar excellent ordinance of 
k _ _ | GodinChrift, whereof Paul ſaith, Epheſ.3. To 
if | weis commited this excellent office to lay open the 
| unſearchable riches of — ſuch riches as may | 
| drawyouta wonder, ſuch as cyc hath never 
ſecne, nor care heard, nor hath entred into the 


n _ 7 heart of man to conccive,and ſo to drawthe af- 
| |  feftions of people after them. : 
W | | Ther becewſe { Andbecauſcitistheſpeciall office ofthe mi- 

ll \Eotem | niftryrolayh hold up the rapiſt 


{ | "ifery 210 un! to nnfold the hidden myſteries of Chrift, la- 
| ſau wits | hour wethereforeto bealway ſpeaking ſomc- 
| diſcewrſe ſbould] Whatabour Chriftor tending that way, when 
| tendrbk way is! ye ſpeake

~173 words

duties, to teach us to walke 
worthy of Chriſt. Chrift, or ſomewhat ten- 


| | i ding to Chriſt ſhould be ourtheame and marke 


to 'ayme at. | 
Therctore what ſhall we judge of thoſe that 
arc) 


— 


| 0 Beloved # gone into huegarden. | 
E are hinderers of rhis glorious ordinance of | 
| Chriſt in the Goſpell, they are enemies of 5; | 
verſion and of the calling of Gods people, e.! 
nemics of their comfort : and what ſhall wee! 
thinke of thoſe wretched and miſerable rac | 
tures,thar like Caiz6are vagabonds, who wan-| 
derand will not ſubmit themſelves to any or- 
| dinance meekely, but keepe themſelves -out of | ENT 
this bleſſed opportunity of hearing the excel- | 
| lencics of Chriſt, which might draw their 
| heartsto him, we are made forcyer, if Chriſt |. 
and we be one, if we haveall the world withour 
him it is nothing; if we haye nothing in the 
world but Chit we are happy. Oh happ 
then when this match is made betweene Chriſt 
and the ſoule, the friends of the Bride and of 
Chriſt, they laying oyen the unſoarchable 
riches of Chriſt to the Spoufc, drawe the af- 
feions, worke faith, and ſo bring the Bride 
and the Bridegroome together. | | 
Thus farre

~198 words

regard that 
many Chriſtians are ſowne there that Chrifts 
[{oule delights in, #s in ſweer ſpices, This was 
ſpokenoft before at large inChaptey 5.1. why 
te Church is called a garden bcing a ſevercd 
lace from the waſte: the Church is ſcvered| 


| 


hd emaan 


E * PR! from 


—_— 7 


My Beloved gone into bis garden, 
from the wildernefle of the world in Gods || -—— 
care and love, likewiſe he tends and weeds (4 

| his Church and garden: as for the waſte of 
the world, he is content the wildernefſe ſhould | 
| have barren plants: but he will noe endure > | 
 fuch in his garden; therefore thoſe thar give | 
themſclves liberry to be naught inthe Church [ 
of God: he will have atime to roote themour: | G 


Trees thatare not for fruit, ſhall be for the fire, | 
and aboveall other Trees their doome ſhall be | 
the heavieſt that grow in Gods garden without þ Luke x3. | 
 fruir: thar _—_— ſhall be curſcd. "off | 
| Mecnareplcas'd with anſwering the bill of | 7b«/oty axd 
accufation agamſt them thus: are we not bapti- = X p_ 
| ſed2and doewe not Eometo Chuchr gr. what | ure /pices IT 
| doe you make ef us, yertheyare:abhominable [planrx af Gods 
| fvearersand filthy in their lives. To fueb/] [4942346 | 
| ſay, the more God hathlift you vp, and honou- | projanege. 
red you in thetfe of the means, the more juſt 
hall your damnationhe, thatyou. bring fapmh 
nothing but briers and brambles, the: grapes: of | 
Sodowee and the vine of Gomorrah: heavy will | —— 
|rhe doome bee of many that live in the | D:ur.33. 32, 
| Churches boſome,to whom ithad beene ber- 
| trerto have beene borne in CAmerica,in Turkey, 
or in the moſt barbarous parts in the world: | 
they have a heavie account to make that have | | 
beene ſuch 111 proficients under aboundance | 
of meanes, therefore it ought to bee Foy | 
heart. | o 
My B*lowed x gon? into hus garden tothe beds of | | 
| ſpices to feed 1n the gardews and to gather Lilies. | 
| F ft 4 The | WIT ws 7 | 
{: 


x; 
| 


| 
| 


* 1 ———— 


OOO CC 


T 
—_—— 
> —— 


CO et Oe OE O— 


ta = cen 
| _ 432 


' 'cAndito gather Lillies, N, 


S0R XVIHIL. |. Thatis having firſt planted them Lillies here, 
T bat Cbri/# 


[10 plant thewin | ChE

~529 words

be holy without blame, before 
| himin love. Godand Chriſt-looks upon them 
'\ without blame, not as they are here defiled 
and ſpotted; bur as they intend by little and lit- 
tleto purge and purifie themſelves. by the Spi- 
rit that is inthem, thatthey may be altogether 
without blame. They are Lillics being cloathed 
with the white garments of Chriſts righteouſ- 
neſſc, not having a naturall- whiteneſſe and 
purity : the whitenefle and puriry of Gods 
children is borrowed, all their beauty and 'gar- 
ments aretaken out of anothers wardrope, the 


Church 


"W— ——_— 


—— —— 


looke for Lilies tobather them, and to tranſport them out of 


| 


in the Paradiſe of tho. Church, they ſhall be | 


| 


L 


| 


| 


—_ 


eAnd to gather Lillies, 


\ Church is all lorious within : bur ſhe borrowes 


from the Sunne, the Churches excellency is 


| of God, her graces are her owne, that is the| 
| Spiritof God comes through her nature, pur-| - 


other men are compared tothornes,not onely 
for a noxious, hurtfull quality in them, but for 


| meane perſons, <Amtiochw isfaidto be avile| 


| among thornes, thatis among vile and abhomi-|. 
| nable perſons. f 


CEE er A ts cot OO OOO en 
OR — — — 


her glory, as the Moone borrowes all her light 


borrowed, itis her owne but by gift, but being 
once her owne it is her owne forever, 

The Church before waslikenedtoa garden 
culled out, an Eder, a Paradiſe, now there you 
know were foure ſtreames, ſweet and goodly| 
rivers. which watered Paradiſe, the heads of 
which rivers were without it. So the Church 


gcth and purificth it, but the ſpring of thoſe 
graces(as in Paradiſc)is out of her ſelfe, 

And then the Lily's a tall goodly plant, 
therefore the Church is compared to-them : 


their baſenefle likewiſe, what are thornes good 
for, but to cumber the ground, to cate out the 
heartofir, to hide ſnakes,and forthe fire, Wick- 
ed men arenot Lillies butthornes,they are baſe. 


perſonthough 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 arc vile perſons, though we mult refpeR 
them in regard of their places, yet as they are 
in their qualification, they. are vile and baſe 
thornes, but the Church is not fo, burasa Lilly 


—_ 


The: | 


433 | 


Becauſe it tu pl 


tall pooll 
plate. - 


Dan.11.81» 


] 


Sun XV1IT,| 


ORE — \— wu 


SyR.XNVILL) 


4b My Beloved is gone into bit garden | 


The Uſe isto comtort Gods children, they 
4d... A have an exccllency and glory in them, which 
childrow- | howſoeverir is not from them, yet it is theirs 


by gtfrand cternilly theirs: therefore ler them 
comfort themſelves againftall rhe cenſurcs of 
{ignetull perſons thar labour to trample them | 
\under foore, and thinke baſcly and meancly | 
of them,as of the off-ſcowring of the world. Let | 
the unworthy worldthinke of thera asthey will, | 
'theyare Lillies in Gods eſteeme, and arc ſo 
indced, glorious perſons that have the Spiric 
x Pet. 4: of glory reſting upon them, and whom the 
Heb.1z., |\Wworld isnot worthy off, though their glory be 
| within: therefore let us glory in it, that God 


vouchſafeth ſaving-grace to us aboye any other 
| priviledge. | 
_—_ Againe, it comforts us in all our wants whart- 
loever,that God will take care for us : Chriſt 
| uſerhthis argument: God faith he, clorherh 
the lillics of the field withan excellent beauty, 
he careseven for the meanceſt plants, and will 
a. (he not take care for you O ye of little faithe 
OS doth he care for Lillies

~180 words

Church and will gather 
them forever in Heaven. 

Thus we ſee rhe anſiver of rhe Charch to 
| the daughters of Hierofulems, what it was, with 
| the occaſion thercof : the queſtion of the 
"—_ of Hieruſalem whither is thy Beloved 


—— 


| 


| 


"Le /cattered 


gather them to Congregations and Churches: | 


, 
4 


That Chrifts | 
Lilites ſhall not] 


but be wilt £4- 
ther then toge- 
ther, 


| 
rbat the iffue 


if jruit\ufl con- 
ference is great 


at laft, though\ 


zone ? ſo that the Church was beholding " 


——_—_— 


rg 


had 
———— — 


JP —_ 


| 436 


Sek XVIIL 


| — 


| 


| 


firſt begets reſolutionar laſt, O that we could 

take occaſion hence, tothinke of this, what ex- 

cellent vertue isin the communion of Saints, | 

| whenthey mectabout heavenly exerciſes, whar | 

| | ablefſing followes, when though at the en- | 

try,thcir affeRions may be flac and dull, | 
| | yettheypartnotſo, Chriſt heates and 

| infames theirhearts to doe much 

| | good to onc another, O thoſe 

| _ "that ſhall forever live 

together in Heaven | 

ould they not de- | 

lightro livemore | 

| I | together on | 

| earth. 


ara 


| Theend of the eighteenth | 


| Jar mon. | 


_— 


—— ——— ——C—— — ne —_—_— 


FT "_ 


——_._— —— CS 


PR TT Ten 


NINETEENTH 


SERMON. 


| __ Canrn.VLIL, 
F ans my Belgveds and my Be- 


loved is mine, hefeedeth among the 
Lillees. - [2M 


ſages, asit were the foot 
ofthe Song, for whenthe 


Sl! 

IA d merly of her ill deali

~1,320 words

unto him, | 
upon his manifeſting of himſelfe ro her ſoule, 
I am my Beloweds and my Beloved is mine, hee_» 


— — 


fcedeth among the Lillies, 


| Thereis amutuall intercourſe,and viciſſitude 
of claiming intereſt betwixt Chriſt and his! 
Church, I am Chriſts and Chriſt is mine, ) am 
my Bcloveds and my Beloved is mine. | 

From the dependance ant order of the 
words, comming in after : deſertion for a' 
while, obſerve, 

Thai Chriſt will not be long from his Church, | © 

Theſpirituall deſertjons ( forſakings as we! 
uſe to call them) howſocver they be very 
irkſome to the Church {( that loves commu- 


nion with Chriſt ) and to aloving ſole, to be, 


| 


not be long from his Church, his love, and 
her defire will not ler him, they offcr violence, 


| ſo farre off, and hideſt thy 1c}fe? 7o/eph may | 
i Cenceale himſclfe foraſpace, but he will have 


[| 
[1 


much adoe ſoto hold long, tobe ſtraightned _ | 
| | NS 


I CE 


— 
5 Odd —_—_ 


i : tt 


i .. 


— CSR —— -  —— 


=” my Beloveds, [! 


——_— 


| his brethren, paiſion will breake our. So 
Chriſt may ſeeme hard to be intreated, and to 
 croſle his owne ſweet diſpoſition, as to the wo- 
man of Canan, but he will not long keepe at 
this diſtance, he is ſoone overcome, O woman 
grcat isthy Faith, have what thou wilt, when 
ſhe ſtrove withhima little ( as Faith is a ſtri- 
ving grace) {ce how ſhe did winne upon him. 
Sothe Angelland Taacob may ſtrive for a while, 
but 1aaces at the length prooves Iſrael, he pre- 
vailes with: God. So it is with the Chriſtian 


rion ( for cauſes before mentioned ) becauſe 
the Church wasncgligent ( as we heare ) and 
partly for the time to come, that Chriſt by his. 
cftrangement might {weeten his comming 
againe, howſocver there may be ſtrangencfle 


ſoule and Chrift, howſocver there be deſer-. | 


439 | 


S3R XIX,” 


em 


hy 


% 
en OO IEEE 


for a time, yet Chriſt will returne againe to: his 
Spouſe. 
The Uſe ſhould be, not onely for Comfort, 

| t0 ſtay us wr times, but to teach us hikewiſe_ 
10 waite and never give over, If the Church had 
| givenover hereſhe had not had ſuch: gratious | 
| manifeſtationsof Chriſt ro-her : learne hence 
therefore this uſe,to watte Gods leafure. God 


' | oppertunity of doing good to us, when God 
ſeemes not to anſwer. our prayers, let us yer 


| waite,we ſhall not looſe by our tarrying,he will | 


wil! waite to doe good to them that waite on-| 
him: if we waite his leiſure, he will waite an} 


| waite to doe us good. | 
| In thenexr place obſerve after this tempo- 
rary 


DC 


{ 


V '{c. Is ; | : 
Can/slstion to | 
ſupport us in de 

ſertion. | 


Iſa,30 28, 


m—_—— 


| 
'T hat wes looſe; 
{nothing by 'our| | f | 

Larzerefe of of Mt and I amhis, and Chriſt cannot hold, but 
\ jeffion ro Chriſt 


| for bsrerurne | Hacke againe z as the was large inhis commen- | 
| £9 087g is excee-! 


\v 


[- 440 | PF am my Beloveds. 


| 


SBR KIN, | —— 


| ding ours, ;dations, ſo he 1s large in hers, and morelarge, 


ery deſertion,Chriſt viſits his Church with 
| more aboundant comfortrhen ever before. 
| Nowthe Church cannot hold,2ty Beloved is 


\fals into a large commendation of his Spouſe 


he will have the laſt word, therefore learne by 
this experience: that all things worke roge- 
ther for the beſt to them that love God: all 
things, What evills I evill; why cven finnc 
turnesto their humiliation, yea and diſenion 
( thoſe ſpirituall ills) turnes to their good, for 
Chriſt {eemes to forſake for a while that he 
may come after with more aboyndanceof com- 
fort when once he hath enlarged the ſoule be- 
fore witha ſpatious deſire of his comming,to 
ſay, O that he would come, when the ſoule is 
thus ſtretched with deſire in the ſence of want, 
chen he fils it againe till ic burſt foorth, My 
| Beloved i mine and I am bi 3 it was a good ex- 
| periment of Berward, an holy man in ill times 
| ribs accidit, &c. ſpeaking of Chrifts dealing 
with his Church, he comes and he goeth a- 
way forthy good, he comes for thy good to 
comfort thee, after which if thou be not care- 
full ro mainetaine communion with him, then 
he geeth away for thy good to corre@ thy cr- |. 
ror,and to enlargethy defire of him againe, to | 
teach thee to lay fore and faſter hold upon 
|him when thouhaſt him, not to let him goc 


+ 


46. ————— a> 0 


—_— 


?A nd wy Beloved is mine. 
If .you waoult fee a paralell-place 'roxbig That are feer-| 
Tack. + Cavs 7» bers he like cafe ing of Chrif tn 
of rhe $ pouſt and Chrift , 3 w/ghr on wy bed al bl means we) 
I. j0«q5; vim, the Church ſought Chriſt pot | _ waile for, 
oncly by Cay but by: night, 1 ſovghr Wim who | 
my [64le loved, though fhewanted hind, yet hey | 
ſoule loved im conſtantly, though 4"Chriſtians | | 
ſoule have not preſent communion with Chriſt, | 
| yethe may truely ſay, my foule loves him, be- | = 
cauſe ſhe {eckes him diligetitly and confſtane- | = +1 
ly inthe uſc of all 'the meanes, ſo we ſe the | ;4; £ 1s 4. 
Chon bcfore my Text, cals him my be- | reſt ken Year 
loved till though ſhe wanted \commiihion | {72g Wrece, 
with him, well the goes on, 1 ſouzht hime,burr | © 
| found hims not, would rhe Church pive over | 
' there? no, then ſhe riſeth andgoeth abouw- the | 
citty and abour the ftreers and ſeeker him whom | | 
| her foule loved, feekes him and will not give | | 
over. So [ſought him ( but 1 wamted the ifſtte | 
of my ſeeking ) Jfound him not, what tomes | © | 


upon that, The Watchmen got abowt the City | 
| aud find her,of whom,when by her own ſeeking 
| ſhecould not finde Chriſt, the inquires,” Say ! 
y0u him whom my ſoule loveth, the eriquires of q 
the Watchmen, the guides of Gods people, | 
| who could not fatisfic her. fully, ſhe could not 
| find her beloved, yet whar dothfhe, ſhefhewes: 
| Verſe 4. Tt was but aliceterhatſhe ſtayed (after 
ſhe - had uſed all meanes private arid pitblike,: 
is ber bed,our of her bed, by the Watchmeys td. 
hers: yer ſairh ſhe, it was bur a ItlethaeT. 
| was paſt from them, ſhe had ndr' an' anſvet(| 
_—G g___........ _ provente |= 


—_———————- 


| 2 00 206 —————_—_—_ 7 RR 1 NT Pw 


| 44% j Tammy PBelovedr, | 
|S. preſently, though the ' Warchmen gave her| 
bay ſome good counſell, it was nor preſently, yer 
| not longafter. Chriſt will exerciſe us a while 
pI ' with waiting 7t was but 4 little that I paſſed 
from them, but I found him whom my ſoule loved. 
| After all our ſecking there muſt be waiting, 
and then we ſhall finde him whom our ſoule 
loveth : perhaps we have uſedall meanes pri-| 
| yate and publike, and yerfindenot that com- 
| fort welookfor,O butwairea while, God hath 
a long time waited for thee, bethou content to 
if Godwaite | waite a while for him, we ſhall not looſe by it, 
ns Hate for it followes inthe next verſe, after ſhe had 
for bin found him whom her ſoule loved, 7 held him, 
| I would not let him gee, ſo this is the iſſue of 
deſertions,they ſtirre up diligence and ſearch- 
ing in the uſe of meanes private and publike, | 
and exerciſe patience to waite Gods leiſure, 
who will not ſuffcra gratious ſoule to failc of 
Pſal, 14% its expectation, at length he will fulfill the de- 
fires of them that feare him, and this comes 
of their patience, grace growes greater and | 
ſtronger, I held him and would mot let him g6e5, 
| wntill I had.brouzht bim unto my mothers houſe_. 
| Thus you ſee how the Spirit expreſſcrh the 
| ſametruthin another ſtate of the ChurchCom- 
pare place withplace. Togoec on, 
| I ams.my Beloveds andmy Beloved is mine_. 
| }. "The words:themlelves are a paſſionate ex- 
| [preſtion of long looket for conſolation. AffeAi 
ons havecloquence of their ownbeyondwords 
| feare hathaproper expreſſion, lovevents iy ſelfe 


| M 
> R MWYLCD _ in 
Sn —_ * 


n——"I0 
— 


| 


hy FR. 
ee en it 


"Ur eAnd my Beloved 1s mine. 


ee  —.._—_—— 


—  —— —— — 


broken words, 8: ſighs,delighting

~173 words

world, the loweſt that ever| #44 | 
| was: Anditisnot meet thatthe Churchthould | 
goto heaven another way, | | 


; | 


_ "——_— nd —— -__ — 


To faſhion her 


| tobe like Chriſt 


That though 
Chriſt ſee 16 
bent in af fli- 
flien, yet be is 
ReVer more 
grationſly nes - 
rer then then, 


 I—_ tt. ——_— 


1am my Beloved, 


Then aine, © all this is but to faſhion the 
| Spouſe to 


like to Chriſt, but to bring the 
Churchand Chriſt neerer rogether, that is all 
the hurt they doe, ro drive the Church ncerer | 
to Chriſt then before, Chriſt is as neereto his 


Church as cver inthe greateſt affliions by his 
Spirit, Chriſt cries out on the Croſſe, ary 
God, my God, why haſt thou forſakew me; ir is. 
a ftrange voice, that God ſhould be his God, | 
and yet notwithſtanding ſecme to forſake him. 


teſt croges, 


T hat the ſwee- 
6ce/} Communion 
with Chrift is 

wader the grea- 


Bur God was never more his God then ar that | 
preſent; indeed he wasnot his God in regard 
of ſome feelings that he had enjoyedin former 
| times, he ſeemed to bee forſaken in regard of 
| ſome fence, as Chriſt ſcemes to forſake the 


bur yet his God ſtill. So the Church may ſay, 
 T amthine till, rhough ſhe ſeeme to be forſa- 
| ken in regard of ſome feelings, yet the is nor 


| deſerted inregard of Gods care for ſupport of | 


| the inward man and faſhioning to Chriſt. The 
Church hath

~643 words

times have proved the ground 
ofthegreateſt comforts, for Chriſt leades the 
Church into the wildernefſe, and then ſpeakes 
to her heart, Hoſes 2.14. Chriſt ſpeakes tothe 
heart of his Spouſe inthe wildernefſe, thatis, in 
'a-place of no comfort, there are no Or- 
| Chards or pleaſurcs, but all diſcomforts,there a 
manmuſt have ir from heaven, if he have an 

good in the wilderncfle, In that wilderneſſe 


thar 


_—_— 
a 


Church in regard of fome ſence and feeling, | 


_—_— 


| 


ON One 


- 


| 


. have heartsto give themſelyes to him,as hee 


thatis in adeſolate diſconſolate eſtate; Chriſt 
ſpeakes to the heart of his children, there is in 
the wildernefle oftentimes a {ſweet intercourſe 


of love incomparably beyond the time of| | 


proſperity. 
Againe, toſtay your hearts, | know this will 


not be long, as we (ce herethe Church ſeemed|: 
to be forſakenand negletted,fell into thehands]' 


of crucll Watchmen, and was faine to goe 
through this and that meanes, but irwas not 
long ere ſhe met with him whom ſhe ſought 


after, It may be midnight atthis time, bur the 


night continues not long, it will be morning ere] 
long. Therefore the Church may well ſay, | - 


Rejoyce not againſt mr 0 mint enemy ,as'itis Micah 
7. Forthough 1 be: fallen I ſhall riſe againe, 
though I fit in darkneſle, the Lord will bee a 
lightunto me. Ir fhallnot be alway ill with the 
Church, thoſe thar ſurvive us ſhall ſee other 
manner of daies.then we ſee yet (whatſoever 
we ſhall our ſelves) Hence we- have alfo an 
Uſe of triall ; Whoſoever are Chriſts, they 


ives himſelfe, not his goods or his honours, 
= himſclfe for his Church, So the Church 
gives her ſclfe ro Chriſt, my delight is in him,. 


 eAnamyBeloved us mine. || 


| | 


he hath my ſelfe,my heart, my love and affeQi- 


on, my joy and*delight, and all with my ſelfeg|”® 
if ] have any honour, he ſhall have it, I wilhaſe| 


it for his glory, my. riches I will give than to 
bimand his Church and 'Miniſtery' and 
dren, (as occafion ſhall 


ſerve). Iaml 


FY- . - 
, 
Chil-| 
POS \. hy LE "i 


Micah 7,8, 


Tria'l if ornot 


| wes bee Chriſts| * 


by giving our 
ſelves over to 
bins tobee rale 


by bin, 


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ht. AM 


ka I am my Beloved, 


| [7hst after wee 6: | 

, "_— tur hands.Itis ſaid ofthe HHacedonians, r 
(its aw cefie | and goods, It is an cafie maner to give our 
matter 10 part 


with al things) TICDES tO Chriſt when wee have given our 
unto bim. 


ſelves rſt. A Chriftian as ſoone as ever he 
{| a Cor.s.5. 


becomes 2 Chriſtian, and cver after to death 
_ | and indeathtoohe gives up himſelfe ro Chrifte 
they that ſtand with Chriſt, and will give this 
or that particular, wilt part onely with idle 
things that they may ſparc, are they Chriſts, 
No, a Chriſtian gives himſclfc, and all his to 


| Chriſt be ours, Jetus give up our ſelves to him, 
| 3 it is Rom.12. the ifluc of all that learned 

profound: diſcourſe in the:former part of the 
Epiſtle that Chriſt juſtificth us by his righte- 
auſncſle. and merit, and fanQifies us by his 
| Spirit, and hath predeftinated and eleQed us 


Give wp your bodies andſoules, ani all as a living 
That the _\ Sacrifice, holy ad acceptablewnte God. 

Chayohar can In bricfe theſe words imply renunciation 
refignetion in 
deepe ſexce. 


others that Rand not with his love and liking. 


get®>.. 
F > 


Jaw him abovcall that call for ir, but J'am 


will aye, if he will haveme hve hecre, 
| fill, F have not my ſclfe to diſpoſe of an 
| | ongers,' | have altogether: alienated: my ſc 


| Chriſt : ſo we ſce here whar we ſhould doe' if 


Tam not oncly his by way of ſervice, which | 


Shy way of reſignation, if he will have mc. 


4 fore all that I have is his if he aske it at — 
"ey yore 
{ebves Chriſt) themſclves to Chriſt, and then their a 


| 


| 


| 


| and refuſed others, is this, T beſeech yow , | 


Ione. T am his, that is I have given 
up my ſelfe to him, therefore I renounce all 


, | 


, 


+ 
PE? 
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n ds? 
> - J- Ehs 
: <&J 9A 
n we DER TONES. 
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end my Betvved is wine. 


l

~160 words

ſhould come 
that God ſhould honour us by ſerving himſelfe | 


| 
| 


| 


from my ſcife, Tam his.co ſervehim, hiv be 
diſpalcd off by him,I have renounced all other, | 


Satan, if he comc to us and ſolicire us to finne, | 
| ler the © hriſtians heart make this anfives, þ 
| am Not mine owne, what hath Saran and his} 
inſtruments to doe with me? is my body his to 
dcfile, is my tonguehis to ſweare arhispleaſure, | 
thall I make the temple of God the member of 
an harlot? ( as the Apoſtle reaſons) ſhall I 
defile my veſlell with finne2 Whatſaith con- 
vented Ephraim, Hoſea 14.%. What bave 1 

more to doe with Tdots, for I have ſeene and obfer- 
| vedhim. We ought to have ſuch reſolutions 
ready in our hears: indeed whena Chrattian |- 
is reſolute,the world counts ſuch to be loſt, hee | 
yous diſſohte | 
profane perſons Iris truethey have loſt him in- j 


Therefore here we have another anſwer to 


—_ 4 W 


1s gone, we have loft him, ſa 


decd, for he is nothis owne, much lefle rheirs 
any longer, but he is found to God and him- | 
ſelfe, and the Church, thus we ſee whar ſprings

~189 words

for 
others, it is for Chriſts ſake. Remember this 
| , forthe time tocome, ifthere be any thing 
| that weewillnot part with for Chriſts 
| fake, it will be our bane, we ſhall looſe 
. Chriſt and it too. If we will nor ſay 

| with aperfet Spirit, I am his, 
my life, my credir, my per- 
| on is his, any thing his, 
|, looke what wewillnor 
give for him;arlengrh 

we ſhall looſe and: 

part with itand 


him roo. 
» 
4+ 


7 AP 292 


0 I CE 


—— 


Om. comm __ 
= —_— — — _ 


Pm 


TT” > wer Ee ooo er i er Ee > > Eee ag oc — 


Theend of the nineteenth 


Jermnn. [| 


Ouemen— yy Bo oo 


TWENTIETH 


SERMON. 


CanrTt,VI.Il 
F am my Beloveds and my Be- 


| Lilies. 

Y though ſhe ſtood out a 

_ whileagainft all Chriſts 
invitation and knocking, 
yet at length: ſhee is 
brought ro yecld herſelfe 


\and to renounce her ſclfe, which courſe God 
| takes with moſt, yea in"'a manner with all his 


\ 5:20] _ people! 


loved uu mine, hefeedeth among the 


"= | | | | 
& HE Church you ſee here, 


{ 


[ [| 


| 


| 


4 


| 
| 


| Sg W Roan up wholy unto Chriſt, | 


e 


a 


Ss x XIX: _ 


1 Tammy Beloveds, | 


.elſc hath to doe with me, to claime any intereſt 


| with aperfe@ Spirit, Iam his, 


| 
| 


—  —— 


| 


the worlds,thatI amnotthe Divells, that none 


in me, bur lam Chriſts, if I doe any thing

~659 words

for 
others, it is for Chriſts ſake. Remember this 
| , forthe time to come, ifthere be any thi 

| that weewillnot part with for Chriſts 
ſake, it will be our bane, we ſhall looſe 
Chriſt and it too. If we will not ſa 


my life, my credir, my per- . 
on is his, any thing his, 

| | looke what we willnot 

give for him,atlengrh ; 
we ſhall looſe and: 
 partwith itand 


him roo. 
»X 


PI. — Xw_______ 
——_ o<—_— _—_ 


Pm 


Theend of the nineteenth 


Sermnn. | 


OI On IT IP» | 


TWENTIETH 


SERMON. 


| —-— mmm 
__ Canr.V.ME: | 


F am my Beloveds and my Be-| 


loved u mine, befeedeth amans the 
Lilles, 


$ | bs. | 


though ſhe ſtood out a 
while againſt all Chriſts | 
Invitation and knocking, 
yet at length: ſhee 1s 

RPE a brought to yeccld herſelfe 
| Ry WR up wholy unto Chriſt, 


(and to renounce her ſclfe, which courſe God | 


=3 HE Church you ſee kde E 


| takes with moſt, yea in*a manner with all his 
\ 40k 2 __-__ people 


CE 
- 


| 


| Lnk 14. | J-Þ 


, 
F 


| 
[ 


} 
[ 


466 | 


| 
| 


| — 


Reaſonr of elſe 
refignation to 
| chri# being 


i cet. 


Tam my Beloveds, 


_ —- _— _ < _ —_ OO 


paſs ere they goe out of this world to lay 
all hi 

thought and imagination, which cxaltcth it 
 (clfe againſt him,thar they ma 

| andall chey have to Chriſt ,tthe call for it, for | 
 herharderh not ſois not worthy of Chriſt, if | 
we doe not this at leaſt in preparation oof minde, | 
let us not owne the nanke tC 

| ownerhat which ſhall further -increaſe and ag- 
 grayatt our condemnation, profeſſing rcligion 
| one way,& yet alienating our minds to our luſts 
{and pleafures of the world another wayto have 


ligh things low, beate downe every high. 


give themſelves 


hbriſtians, leaſt we 


peculiar love fits of onr owne diftin® from - 
Chriſt, how ſtands this, with,1 am my Beloved 


and my Beloved is mine,how ſtands it with the (elf 


reſignation that was ſpoken off before. 


| Now this followes upon apprehenſion of : 


Chriſt being; ours, 7 am my Beloveds, becauſe 


my Bolowhihss wwe Poſs thereare fourc reaſons 
muſt 


why Chult given to us, before wee. 


A.: ir 
Fy x 7. 
»7 © 
k] 
FAY 


can give our ſelves to him by this {clfe refignt- | 
tion, $ 


7. Becauſe he is the chiefe ſpring of all good af- | 


\fed#tons, which he muſt plant in vs, loving us, 


2. Becauſe love deſcends, though it be of a | 
fiery nature, yet in this it is contrary, for love | 


\deſcends, whereas fire afcends, the ſuperiour 


firſtloves the inferiour, Chriſt muſt deſcend | 
inhisloveto us, exc we can aſcend to him in 


tour tions. | 
| | 3- Beganſe owr nature i ſuch that wee cannet 
$262 | 


— 


"OS 


EOS love 


!' cAndmyBelovedirimine. 
love but where we know our ſelves taku lowed fir ft» —— 
therefore God is indulgent to- us: herein, and | 
| that we may love him he manifeſts his love firſt 
rus, | 
4. Becauſe naturally tur febves being cemforois 
of guilt are full of feares Ha ; by that if the | 
| | foule be nos perſwaded firſt of Chriſfs lovegt ruunes' | 
(£04) from him, as Adam did from God, andac | 
Peter from Chriſt : depart from mee foy I aan but «| 
ſinnefull man So the ſfoule of every man | 
would ſay if firſt it were nor perſwaded of |  _ 
Gods love in Chriſt, who. amonegtt us ſhall | 1G ; ;. 
| dwell withthe everlaſting burning, therefore | | 
(to' prevent that difpofition of foule, which 
would riſe out of the ſenceof guilt: and; nunwor. 
\thineſfe, God firſt fpeakes to us it» Chriſt; | 
hu length ſaying unto our ſoules, 7 aw thy fol. 
| vation, whereupon the ſoule firſt finding his 
| love, loves him backe againe of whom it finds 
ir ſclfe ſo much beloved, fo tha our love is | 
| bura reflection of his, Tawmy Beloveds, becauf | 
Beloved is mine. * ; | 
[t is withthe Spirit of God, as with the ſpi- 
rits in the ſoule and body of a man, there is. 
| |a marriage betwixr the body and ſoule, the | 
ſpirits joyne both oy mgm of a middle 
nature,for they have fomewhar ſpirituall neare 
| the ſoule, and fomewhat bodily neare- the bo» 
dy, therefore they come betweene the body}. 
| and rhe foule, and are the inſtruments eheres 
whereby it workes. 'So'it is with the Spirit's? 
(God; the ſame Spitir'that tells the: { - woe 
rift: 


—_—_ 


*Þ 


ee. ec I, 


ht. Bt Ae 


= 1 am my Beloveds, : i 


=—_—= | Chriſt is ours, the ſame Spirit makes up the | 
matchon our part, and gives us up to Chriſt 
2gaine, 

Let this then bee the tryall, that wee are 
Chriſts by the ſpirituall Eccoe that our ſoules 
makes to that report which Chriſt makes to! 
our{oules, whether in promiſes or ininſtruRi-! 
| oNs. 
V ſer. See hence likewiſe

~3,044 words

my God and my Lord. 1 

| The ground hereof is, becauſe they are all 
oncin Chriſt,and there is one and the ſame Spi- 
rit in the whole Church and every particular 


the greater or leſſer ſtrength ofgracethar 1s in 
the one and in the other, bur-all comes from 
the ſame breath, the ſame Spirit. The Spirit 
in the Bride ſaith come; the whole Church 
faith ir and cvery particular Chriſtian muſt ſay 

it;becauſe as the body is ated by one Spirir 
| and makes bur one naturall body,though con. 
ſiſting of many parts weaker and ſtronger. So 
ſhould there be a harmony inthis my ſticall bo- 
dy ated by that one Spirit of Chriſt, who ſo 
{ regards Aall,as ifthere were bur one, and regards 


omnibus attent us ut n0n detentuws,&c.Chriſt ſo at- 
tends toallthat hee is not derteined from any 


particular, and he fo attends every particula| 


| that he is not reſtrained from- all, there'is the 


Chriſtian, as in pipes, though of different | 
ſounds, yet there is the ſame breath in them. |* 
| So Chriſtians may have different ſounds from | 


'Gal. 2, 


| Reve 3Þ 


every one {o,as he doth not forgetthe whole, Sic{ 


lame loveto all as to one, andto every one, as: 
hl, if 


_—— _——c 


——  wwCu_— Row on er reg ER 


Rs. em 


b 


1ammy Beloveds, 1 


_—_— —__———— 


3 4-72 | 
SERA, ifthere were no other, hee ſo loves cach one 


that _—— may ſay as well as the 


whole Church, Chriſt is mine and 1 am 
Chriſts. 


Inthoſc things that we call Homogeniall,there 
| is the ſame nature in cach quantity as in the 
| whole, as there is the ſame nature in one drop 
of water as in the whole Ocean, all is water, 
andthe ſame reſpe of a ſparke, and of all the 
clement of fire. So Chriſt beares the ſame 
| reſpeR to the Church as to every particular, 
| | and to every particular asto the Church. 
- ſe. —M To come to make an Ule of Drrettion, how 


direfion to bee [0p cometo beablecto ſay this, 7 am my. Beloveds | 


able to ſay with(and wy Beloved is mine * For anſwer hecreto 
the Churcb, 1 


ed; Kenotice in the firſt place from the depen- 
Fg  |dance,Chriſt muſt be firft ours before wee can. 
oive our ſelves to him, therefore we mni# dwell 
-| hs is the conſideration of Chriſts love, this muft di- 
[OE figs \Fetandleade ourmethodin this thing. Would | 
tionof chrifes | We have our hearts to love Chriſt, to truſt in | 
love tow. | him, and to embrace him, why then thinke 
whart is hee to us 2 beginne there, nay and 

what we ares Weake, and in our apprehen- 
ſion loſt, then goe to conſider his love, his 
| conſtant love to his Church and children, | 
John.13.3, | whom heloves he loves tothe end, we muſt warme 


our foulcs with the conſideration of the love | 
| of God in himto us, and this will ſtirre up our | 
Faithto him backe againe, For we are more- | 


Gal 4.9. ſafe inthat hee is ours, then that we give our ſelves 
' Phil.3.1 2. 


* him : me are mare ſafe in his _— 
VE Os of | 


——_—— i 


_— 


| And my Beloved ts mime. 494 
| pena —— 
of us ,then in our claſping and holding of him : ag — 
weſayof the mother and the childe both hold, | 
bur the ſafety of che child is that.the mother|. 
holds him ; 1f Chriſt once give himſelfe ro ws, 
he will make good his owne part alway, our ſafety 
is more on his ſide then on ours, If ever wee have 
felt the love of Chriſt, we may comfort our 
| ſelves with the conſtancy and perpetuity 
thereof, though perhaps we finde not our af- 
fetions warmed to him at all timesznor alike, | 
yet the ſtrength of a Chriſtians comfort lies 
| in this, that firſt, Chriſt Is mine, and then 11 the 
| ſecond place,that Tam hs, Now (I fay) that »,,' 
we may be oble to maintaine this bleſſed | Dwelin the 
tradition of giving our ſ{clves to Chriſt, Let conþderationo 
us dwell in the conſideration of his love to us, | kev bus + Ghrif 
and of the neceſlity that we have of him, how | ©14ur neceſſity 
| miſcrable weare without him, poore, beggerly, | ** **** kim. 
| in bondage to the Divell, therefore wee muſt 
| havehim to recover us out of debt, and ro en- 
tichus. For Chriſts love carries him foorth _ 
not onely to pay all ourdebts for us, but:to en. 
| rich us, and t is 4 protecting, preſerving love, 1 
| till he brings 5 0 Heaven his owne place, where 
we Pet cuer be with lim : The conſideration 
of theſe thiogs will warme our hearts, and for| 
| this purpoſe ſ{crvesthe Miniſtrie, 


| Weſhouldtherefore in the next place attend| 


| Jo 
; upon the Word, for this very end; Where- ap wuny | 
fore ſerves the Miniſtrie? Among many 0-|% minip1y of |- 
 thers, thisis one maineend, to lay open the wn-| theWord. | 


\ ſearchable riches of Chriſt therein you hayeſome- 


——m— 


— —— ——_—— 


{1 am my Beloved, 
| thing of Chriſt unfolded, of his Natures, Of- 


We mutt labour 
every day what : 
we can to con-| Þuining glaſſes, where the beames of the 


| ref, draw and Sunne meete in one, how forcible they are, 
to brirg all our 


loverszbrif, | becauſe there is an union of the beames in a lit-| 


ces,and benefirs we have by him, Redemption,and 
freedome, and aright toall things 1n him, the cx. 
| cellencies of another world, therefore arter,d | 
| uponthe mcanes of Salvation, that wee may 
know what riches wee have 1n him, this will 
keepe our affeQions cloſe to Chriſt, ſoas to ſay, 
I am his. | 
And labour wee alſo every day more and 
more to bring all our love to him, wee ſee in 


tle point. Ler it bee our labour that all the 
beames of our love may meere in Chriſt, that 
he may be asthe Church ſaith,our Beloved, My 
| Beloved is mine and I am my Beloveds (ſaith ſhee) 
as if the Church had no love out of Chrift. 
| And1s it love loſt 2 No, but as Chriſt is the 
Churches Beloved, ſo the Church is Chriſts 
| love againe, as we ſce in this booke oft, my 
wer Love, my Dove. As all ſtreames mecte in the 
may love other, Ereat Occan, fo letall our loves mectin Chriſt. 
things befdes\ Ve may love other things, and we ſhould doe ſo, 
OY - but no otherwiſe then as they convey love to us from 
| Chriſt, and may be mcanes of drawing up our af- 
| fections unto Chrt#. We may love our friends 
{ (and weought to doeſo) and other bleflings | 
of God, bur hows No otherwiſe then as 
| rokens of his loveto us: we love a thing that 
| our friend ſends ro us, -O- but it is as it doth 
convey his affetion to us. So muſt we love 


all 


__— ——_— 


it. A 


————_ 


eAndmyBelbnedss mine, | 


all thingsas they come from Gods-love to us 
in Chriſt, 

And indeed whatſoever we have is a love 
roken, even our very afflitions themſelves, ' 
whom I love, Irebuke and chaſtiſe. 

Againe, thatwe may intlameour hearts with | 
the love of Chriſt, as we are exhorted by 1ude, | 
| Letusconfider the vanity of all things thar 
ſhould cntiſe us from Chriſt, and labour every | 
day more and more to draw our affffe&ions from 
them, as we are exhorted, Pfalm.45. Hearkes | 
0 daughter and. conſider, and incline thipe eare—, 
forget alſo thine owne people and thy Fathers beuſe, 
ſo ſhall the King greatly deſire thy beauty. So if | 
we will have Chriſt to delight in us, that wee 
may ſay we are his, let us labour to ſequeſter 
| our affeions more and more from all carthly 
things, that we may not have ſuch hearts, as |} 
Saint Tames ſpeaketh of, adultcrous hearts. O 
ye Adulterers and Adultercfſes 'know you 
6 _ the love ofthe world is emnity with | 
God. | 

| Indeed there is reaſon for this exhortation, 
for all carthly things, they are all vaine and 
empty things, there is an emptineſſe in what- 
\ ſoeveris in the world ( ſave Chriſt) _there- 
fore we ſhould not ſet our affections too much 
upon them ; CA man cannot be wiſe in lovi 
any thing but Chriſt, and what heloves for Chriſt. | 
Therefare lexus follow.that counſel], ro draw 
qur {clves from our former company, acquain- 


© 


eds. Bh... ww TM —— 


35.) 


'That all were- 
ceive from | 
Chriſt even af-| 

fliFions are te, 


| love tokens. | 


| Tance, pleaſures, delights, and: vanities, wee | 
| : 


OS - cannot 


wee muſt pre- 
ſerve our hearts | 

in the love of, 
Cbrift. 
Jud.yer.31. 


| 


Tammy Þeloveds, 
CE {gr OO SONS el 
cannot beſtow our love and our affe@ions ber- 
| | terthen upon Chriſt, It is a happineſſe, that|- 
. | we have ſuch affeRions, as joy, delight and 
 lave planted inus by God, and whar a hap. 
| pineſe is it, that wee ſhould have ſuchan excel- 
lent obj<&to fill thoſe affeions, yea to tran- 
ſcend and more then fatisfie them. There- 
fore the Apoſtle wiſheth thatthey might know 
| | all the demenſions of Gods love in Chriſt, | 

 Eph.z.18. | there isa height, breadth,length, and depth of the 
love of God. 
|| And let us thinke of the demenftons, the 
 heighr,breadth and depth of our miſery out of 
| Chriſt The more excellent our natures are,the 
| more miſerable they are if not changed : for} 
looke what degree of exccllency wee have ( if 
it benot advanced in Chriſt ) we have ſo much 
miſery being out of him; therefore let us la-, 
, | bourto ſec this, as to value our being in him, 
foto be able upon good grounds to ſay, Iam my 
Beloveds and my Beloved is mine. 

Againe, let us labour to walke inthe light of 

[ aſanctified knowledge to bee attained by the 
_— 7.3- | Goſpell,for as it is, -1./0hn 1.3. the end of all 
$a preaching ts to aſſure Chriſt to the ſeule, 
that we may beable to ſay withour deceiving 

our owneſoules, 7 am my Beloveds and my Be- 
| The maine cud] loved is mine. All preaching (I ſay) is for 

7 pear: | this end, the terrour of the Law andthe diſ- 

| _ ] coveryof corruption is to drive us out of our 


JI" "EE 


——_—_— 


| 


ſelves to him, and then to- provoke us to grow 
[up into him. more and more. Therefore | 
— | ſaith 


— 


| ' eAndmy Beloved mine. 
| ſaith Tohn, AN our preaching 1s that wee may 
have fellowſhip with the Father and the Soune, 
and they withus : And what doth he make an 
evidence of that fellowſhip, walking 12 the- 
lizht, ashe is light, or elle wee are lyetrs; hee 
is bold in plaine tearmes to give us the lye, 
to ſay wee are Chriſts, and have communion 
with the Father and the Sonne, when yet wee 
vialke in darkenefle, in finnes againſt conſci- 


an evill life, wee have no communion with 


Chriſt - therefore it we will have communi- | 


oh with him, let vs walke in the light, and la-| 


| ence, in willfull ignorance, the darkeneſfle of | 
| 
| 
| 


 tohave a great deale of knowledge, and then 
| to walke anſwerable to that light and reve- 
lationthat we have. Thoſe that live in ſinnes 
againſt conſcience,and are friendsto the darke- 
nefle of ignorance, of an evill life, Oh they 
| never thinke of the fellowfhip with C hriſt 
and with God, theſe things are meere riddles 
to them, they haveno hope of them, or if any, 
their hope 1s in vaine, they barre themſclves 
of ever having comfortable communion with 
' Chriſt here, much lefle ſhall they enjoy him 
hereafter in Heaven. 

Therefore labour every day more and more | 
to grow rich in knowledgeto get light and to 


| walke in ther. light: tro which end pray with, 
. the holy Apoſtle, Zpheſ 1. That you may have— 


| 


| the Spirit of Revelation, that excellent Spirit of| 
God to reveale the things of God,that wee 
x 0- may! 


. © —_— - ——_— — —— — I _—”” oo AE —eo—_ —— wo - OOO SE oo OS 7 —————————— 


/ 


 bour to be lightſome in our underſtandings, | 


4.78 b-| 
JT%.0_ 


_—_—{ 


OOnn—_—y 


| 
The exceFency 
of a Chriſt iau 
walking in dt 
| vine light a- 
bove of bers. 


_— 


bortatian for 

ſuch who are 

not yet in 

| Cbriſ# ,to come 
in. 


| A ſerious ex- 


I am my Beloveds, 
may have the light diſcoveredto us. 
What a world af comfort hath a Chriſtian 
thathathlight in him and walks in that light, | 
aboyc another man, whether he live or dyc, 
the light brings him into fellowſhip with the | 
Father of lights, he that hath this light knowes | ' 
his condition and his way, and whither hee 
gocth, when he dycth he knowes in what con- 
dition hee dycth, and upon what grounds. ' 
The very lightof nature is comfortable, much 
| more that of grace, therefore labour to grow | 
daily more and moreinthe knowl.dge and 0- 
bedicnce of the light. | 
All profeſſors of the Goſpel! arc cither | 
{uchasare not Chriſts, or ſuch as are his, for 
 ſuchasarc not yct,that you may be provoked 
to draw to fellowſhip with Chriſt,Do bur confi- 
der you are as branches cur off, that will withcr 
 anddye,and be caſt ito the fire, unlefſe you be 
grafted intothe living ſtock,Chriſt, you are as 


wt. mt 


T hat iy the 


by t 
ſeiſe unto all. 


1 Tohn 1.9. 
Prov,zs. 
Mar. 11 ult« 


JCa, £7 


| Goſpeil Chriſt 
Mini/?- 
ery offereth bim 


naked perſons ina ſtorme not cloathed with any 
thing ta ſtand againſt the ſtorme of Gods wrath, 
let this force you to get into Chriſt. 

And next for incouragement confider, | 
Chriſt offercrh himſelfe to allinthe Goſpel] and 
that is the end ofthe Miniftrieto bring Chriſt & 
our ſoules together, to make a ſpirituall mar- 
riage, to lay open his riches and to draw you; 
to him, if you corfeſle your finnes he will for- 
give them, and you ſhall have mercy, Here- 
| heves thaſe that are wearied and heavy ledew, 2nd 
bids thoſe come to him that are thirſty, Chr:/? 
| Came | 


ne 


S— 


— 


SI 


eAnd my Beloved is mins. 


Came to on aud to (ave that which was lof Chriſt *** Loednots 
offers himſclfe in mercy to the worſt foule, | 
Therefore if there be any that have lived | 
in evill courſes, in former times, conſider rhat 
upon repentance all ſhall bee forgorten, and as 
a miſt ſcattered away and caſt into the bottome | 
of the Sea. Chriſt offers himſclfe to you, thele | 
arc thetimes, this is the houre of grace, now 
the water is ſtirring for you to enter: doe but | 


entertaine Chriſt,and defire that hee may bee 
yours to rule you and guide you, and all will be | 
well forthe timeto come. | 
| Doe not object I am a loathſome creature full of | 0Ljett 
rebellions. 18 
| Chriſt auth notmatch with you, becauſe you are | Auſw, 
good, but to make you good, Chriſt takes you not 
with any dowry, all that hee requires is to 


confeſſe your cry and to come with empti- 
ner becauſe we arc chan bet 
becauſc he wil purge nshe takes us inour bloud | Axole. os 
when hee firſt takes us. Let none deſpaire cither { aphe.5.97; 
for want of worthor of ſtrength, Chriſt ſceth | 
that for ſtrength we are dead,and for werth,we | 
are cnemics, but hee gives us both ſpirituall | 
ſtrength and worth, takes us neare to himſelfe | 
and enricheth us. Let none therefore bee diſ-| 
couraged, ir is our office, thus to lay open and 
| offer the riches of Chriſt, if you will not come | 
in, but love your finncfull courſes more-then 
Chriſt,then you periſh in your blood, and wee 
| free our hands, and may free our ſoules from, 
| the guilt thereot, therefore as you love yout | 
| Ii4  _ owne, 


Wee eG at 


0 


ao 


—. 


Dt 


| 480 
SER-XX | owne ſoules, come in art length and ſtand out 
| | no longer. RE, 


| Ectortation ro And for thoſerhar have in ſome meaſure gi-: 
| them that have! vent themſelves nprto Chriſt, and can ſay, He 


IT am my Beloveds, | 


— — ——  ———— — — —— 


— _—— 


| 


given them- | wijne and I am his, letthem gocon with com- 
ſelves to C bri/? 


| | fort, and never bee diſconrtged for the infirmi- 
| { tics that hang about them. For one part of 
Chriſts Office is to purge his Church by his 
Spirit morcand more, Epheſ.5.27, not to caſt | 
her away for her infirmitics, but to waſh and 
cleanſe it more and more till it bee a glorious 
Spouſe like bimſelfe, For it the husband will 
by the bondof nature, beare with the infirmi- 
tics of the wife (as the weaker veſlell) dothnot 
Chriſt binde:himſclfe by that which hee ac- 
counts us bound «2 Is there more love and mer- 
cy, and pittic in us to thoſe that we take neere 
us.then there is in Chriſt ro us? Whar a moſt | 
blaſphemous thought werethis to conceive ſo? 
| Only let us take heed of being in Teague with | 
| finne, for we cannot give our ſoules to Chriſt, 
and to finnefull courſes roo; Chriſt will allow | 
of no bigamy or double marriage where hee | 
 hathany thing to doe, wee miſt have ſingle | 
| hearts, reſolving though I fa]l,yer I purpoſe to, 
| pum Chriſt, and to goe onin a good conver- 
ſation, and if our hcarts.tell us ſo, daily infirmi- 


L tics ought not. to diſcourage ns, 'wee haye 
| | helpes enough fortheſe. Firſt, Chriſt bidsus 
{ aske forgivenefſe, andthen we have the mercy 
| [of Chriſtto beare with weaker veſſels; then his | 
| ' | Advocation, he is now in heavento pleade for 
H us : 


——_— 


—k_. 


| eAad my Beloved tn mine. © 
ES GR = — 
-| us: if we were perfet, we needed nor that 
office; let none be diſcouraged therefore, but 
| lctus labour more and more that we may bee 
; able to comprehend in ſome meaſure the love 
| of Chriſt, ſo will all duties come off ſweet! 
| andicafily, andthen we ſhall be enabled to ſuf- 
' ferall things, not onely willingly, but cheere- 
| fully, and rejoyceinthem. Love isof the na- 
ture of fire, whichas it ſevereth and conſumeth 
all that is oppoſite, all drofle and dregs, and 
| diſſolves coldneſſe, ſo it quickens and makes 
activeand lively, it hath a kinde of conſtraining 
force, aſweer violence, (as the Apoſtle ſaith) 
the love of Chriſt conſtraineth, 2 Cor,5.24. 
| Letaman thar loves the Lord Jeſus Chriſtin 
ſincerity, be called to part with his life, he will 
yeeld itas a Sacrifice with comfort. Come 


———_—. 


© GG WW} > OOO OS OO 


y we ſhould la- 


what will, all is welcome when wee are infla- 
med with the love of Chriſt, and the more we 
ſuffer, the more we finde his love, for hee re- 
ſerves the manifeſtation of his love moſt for 
| times of ſuffering, and the more we finde the 
| manifeſtation of his love, the more wee love) 
| himbacke againe, andrejoyce in ſuffering for 
him,that welove ſo,whcether they be duties of 
| obedience,attiveor paſlive, doing or ſuffering, | 
| | all comes off with abundance of cheerefull- | 
| nefle and eaſe, where the love of Chrilt is, 
' that the ſoule can ſay, 7 am my Beloveds, and 
| | may Beloved s mine: nothing in the world is 
able to make ſuch aſoule miſerable, Ie; fol- 


| 


L. 7 "on 


| 48 =; | 
Sun XX, 


— wi 
it loha,sz. 


That to {uſer 
and to facili. 
tate all duties 


bour more and. 
more for the 
tove of Chriſt, 


—__ —— — OO. 
_—_ 
-— 


ns INS 


ett 


|| 482 


lies, 
| 


| |theother,eſpecially it is meantof the Church, 


How. | 
ptr kd Lilliesare ſuch kinde of flowers as require | 
among the Lil-|2 preat deale of nouriſhment, and grow beſt | 


He feedeth among the Lilkes \_ 


” 
He ferdeth amone the Lilties. 


The Church here ſhewes where Chrift | 
feeds. Bur the queſtion is, Whether it bee the 


or whether he feeds himſelfe, For anſwer, hee

~849 words

in many places of this 
| |Booke, hetakes upon him the terme and car-. 


may 1 


— 


ht. ee 


A 


— 


em 


Jn" CET 
— —— 


| Chriſt : thus the Church puts forth to Chriſt, | 
whereunto Chriſt replies, verſe 8. 7f thou know | 


kids beſede the, Shepheards tents: thatis, if thou 
know not, goethy way forth, get thee our of | 
thy ſelfe, out of the world, our of thy farmer | 


may grow upas Calves of the Stall,. av-it is | 
HY 4-2. thatthey may grow and be well 
iking. 


You have (to give light to this place) a 
phraſe ſomewhat Ii 


ikethis, where hefollowes 
there praiesto Chrift, Tell me 0 thou whom my 


thy flocks to reſt at noone. Thoſe that are com. 
ming up in'the Church deſire to know with 
whom they may. joyne, and what truths they 
may embrace. Tell me where thou feedeſt and 
where thou make ſt thy flocke to reft at noone: thar 


thy companions? that is,by thoſe that are not true 
friends,thar are falſe ſhepheards, why ſhould I 
be drawne away by them? I defire tofeed where 
thou feedeſt among thy ſheepe. Why ſhould I 


that are Emulators to thee? as LAHntechrift is to: 


not 0 thou faireſt — women, zoe thy way 
forth by the fortiteps of the flocks, and feed thy 


| courſe, put thy ſelfe forward, ſtay not complai- 


| ning, goc on, purthy ſclfe oc 


ſoule loweth, where thou feedeſt, where thou makeſt | 


is in thegreatcſt heate and ſtorme of perſecuri- | 
' on, as atnooneday the Sun is hotteſt : For why | 
fhould I b: as one that turnes aſide by the flocks of 


be as one that turnes aſide by the locks of thole | 


\thy way forth, whither * in rhe faoriteps of the 


facks,| 


1H e feedeth among the Lillies. ( 483 | 


SBRAAX, 


the point morear large, Cant.1.7. the Church | ©, , 


— — —  ——— _—_— — — 
= 


a 


| 484 | He feeadeth among the Lillies, 
SEN | flocks, (ee the ſteps of Chriſtians in the beſt 
| times of the Church in forme times, tread in! 
J the ſteps ofthole that lived in the beſt ages of! 
; the Church ; feed thy kids, thy Chriſtians, be-| 
ſides the Shepheards tents, the beſt ſhepheards | 
marke where the Apoſtles and Prophets fed 
their ſheepe, there feed rhou, and marke the 
foorſtepsof the lock 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 are ſo farre true Churches 
| as they have Conſanguinity with the Piimi- 
| tive, Apoſtolicalland Propheticall Churches. | 
BE Therefore we are now 10 2oe ont by the footſteps 
of the flock. Marke the footſteps of formcr Chri- | 
ſtians, CA braham, cAtoſes, and David, and in, 
| Chriſtsrime, of John, Peter.,and the reſt, bleſſed 
Saints, walke as they walked, goc their way, 
'and feed your ſelves by the ſhepheards tents : | 
marke the ſhepheards where they have their 
tents. So theſe words havereference to the Pro. 
pheticall, eſpecially to the Evangelical times, 
whereunto we muſt conforme our ſelves, for the 
latter times are Apoſtate times, after a certzine 
ſeaſon the Church kept not her purity,which 
the Scripturesforerold dire&ly, that we ſhould . 
not take ſcandall at it, the Church did fall to a. 
kind of admiration of Antichriſt, and embra- , 
ced doctrines of divels; therefore now we muſt 
not follow theſe companics that lead into by- 
| paths,contrary to the Apoſtolicall wayes, but 
| ſcewherein our, Church agrees with the Apo- 
TR obs: | ſtolicall 


. 
j 
Io wo te > Gat ng OS wy of Io 6. 


= — 


- 
AA. ——_— GPEFITERT 


— 


1 Times. 


| He feedeth among the Lillies. 485 | 
| ftolicall Churches and truth, and embrace no NEED 
truth forthe food of our ſoules, but that wee 
finde inthe Goſpell. For Antichriſt teedes 
his flockes with winde, and with poyſon, and 
with empty things. For what hath beene the 
food in Popery? ſweet and goodly titles, as 
if they poore ſoules had the beſt Paſtors in the 
world, when as they adminiſter to them no- | 
thing butthat which will be the bane of their | 
ſoules,full of poiſon and fraud.This is ſpoken 
to unfold that place which gives light to this, 
ſpoken off the paſtorall care of Chriſt, he feedes 
hw flocke among the Lillies plentifully and (weet- 
ly. From hence may bee briefly obſerved, 
| firſt, 
That Chrift-feedes as well as breeds, Obſerv. 
And we have need of feeding as well as bree- | 7441 wee neede 
ding : where doſt thou fecd 2 that is,build 'up fs breding i 
thy children, and goe on with the. worke be- Chriſtianity. 
gun inthem,We havenced to be fed after wee 
are bred, and Chriſt ( anſwerable to: our exi- 
| gence and neceſſity)he feeds as well as breeds, | , peg,1.23. 
and that Word which is the {cede to beget | | 
us, is that which feeds roo. What is the ſeed | 
of the new Birth, the Word -of God, the holy 
Promiſes they are the ſeed; the Spirit ming- | 
ling with them, whereby a' Chriſtian is borne, | 
and being borne is cheriſhed and bred, there: 
fore, As new borne babes, {airh the Apoſtle,|_ 
| 1. Pet. 2.7. deſarethe ſincere milke of the Word, 
that you may. grow thereby. So thax the ſame| bk 
thing is boththe ſecede ofa Chriſtian, —_ i phe 
| : which * 


ha. At 


| 


= 


; 


— — —— - Wa —— —_ <— 


——— — 


4.86 | He feedeth among the Lillies. | 
SER | which breeds him, the 
miſes of God. | 


If you aske, why wee muſt grow up andbee fed | © 
aft. | 19 y wee muſt grow up fe 


Auſwerx, | Doc bur aske your owne ſoules, whether 
tnregard of

~330 words

be fed continually,it will 


| He feedeth among rhe Lillies, | 489 


YT» 2 


| 


| _ 


| 


| 


——. os. 


———— — 
—C 
———.—_——_—_—_———_——_———————— Re ent 


p_—_ — OA A I re IIs EO 


| 4.8 8 | He feedeth among the Lilies, 5 


SER XX. | 


| 
| 
54 


| Our bappine//e 
| fo bee borne un- 
| der ſuch plenty 
| of ſpiritual jood 


better ſpirits thenthe reſt) buta knawing up. 
on ſtones, barren diftintions, empty things, 
tharhadno ſubſtance in them 2 they had the 
Scriptures ( though they were locked up in 
Latine, an unknowne rongue ) they had the! 
{weere paſtures of Chriſt to feede in, and 
yer allthis while they fed (as it were) on 
ſtones. ; 

This ſhould ſhew us (likewiſe) our owne bleſſed. | | 
neſſe that livein theſe times wherein the ſreames 
of the Goſpell runne aboundantly, ſweetly and plea. 
ſantly. There is a fullneſſe among us ( even! 
in the ſpirits of the worſt ſort) therc is afulneſle 
almoſtto loathing of that heavenly Mannah: | 
bur thoſe ſoules who ever were acquainted | 
with the neccility of it rather finde a want i 
then a fullneſle, and ſtill defireto grow up to a! 
further deſire, that as they have plentifull | 
meanes, ſo they may have plentifull affeions | 
after, and ftrergth by thoſe meanes: ler us! 
know our - owne happineſſe in theſe times. | 
Is itnot a comfort to know where to feed and. 
to have paſtures to goe to, without ſuſpition 
of poylon * that we may feed our {clves with: 
comforts fully without feare of bane, or noy- 
ſome mingling of Coloquintida in the pot, which. 


|yould diſrcliſh allthereſt? ro know that there | 


traths that we may feede on ſafely, This 

-hurch in the former place, Cart. 1, 6,7. 
nted a great priviledge, 0h ſhew mee-| 
feedeſt at noone, In the greateſt heat 
; of perſecution, that I may feed among them; ! 


&- 2 Jo 


— 
>. 


Fd 


—_—_—_— 
| —_— 


| 


-to our ſoules comfort. 


houſe, and that there aud there onely 


weſſe. 
| 


| 


_——— 


the world to come. 


If this be ſo, letus know then, that when we 


He feedeth ano ng the Lilies. 


———— 


ſo then it isa great priviledge to know where 
tofeed, and ſo to be eſteemed, that thereby| 
we may beſtjrred up to be thankfull for our 
owne good,andto improove theſe priviledges/ 


But the ſecond branchthar muſt be tonched 
2 litre, is, That there i fulneſſe no where but in Gods 


#5 that 


| of Scripture are ſweet, the rebukes of a friend, 
they teed the ſoule, for we have many corrup-| 
| tions Which hinder our Commannion

~455 words

uſe of this for our ſoules com- 
| fort to make vs inloye more with the waies of 
Chriſt. 
Now to (calethis further, ſce whatthe Scrip- 


— 


Lord is my. Shepheard, and whart is the uſe that 
| Navid preſently. makes hereof? Why, 7 hall 
wart nothing, hee will feed me plentifully and | 


a 4g ahoundantly, the whole Pſalme is nothing but | 


[aCammenting upon that word, the Lord is my | 
phe, how doth he performe the duty of| 
heard, He makes me tolye downe in greene 
res aid leags me by the til waters,itis not on- | 
jly meant of thebody, bur ofthe ſoule chiefly, 


he_ 


Ummm—— 


| He feedeth among the Lillies, | 401 
he reſtoreth my ſoule, that is, when my ſoule 2 
languiſheth and is ready to faint, he reſtores| 
it,and gives me as it were a new ſoule, he re- 
freſheth it, We ſee ſay recreation is the crea-| 
ting of athing a new, ſo he reftores my ſoule, 
hegives me my ſoule a new with freſh com-| 
forts: Thusthe bleſſed Shepheard doth, and 
how 2 Becauſe, hefeedes among the Lillies, the 
promiſes of the Goſpell; then hee doth not 
onely doe good tothe body and ſoule, bur hee 
| guides all our waies, all our goings our, Hee 
leads us in the paths of Righteouſneſie, and why, 
| becauſe I deſerve ſo much at his hands? Noz 
for his owne name ſake, becauſe hee hath a 
love to me, becauſe he hath purchaſed me with 
his blood, and given his life for his ſheepe, 
hath bought me fo. deare, though there bee no | 
worthinme. He goes an, though 7 walke_ 
through all temptations and troubles, which arc 
as the valley ofthe ſhadow of death, thatis (where | 
there is nothing but diſconſolationand miſery ) 
yet I will. feare none ill, thou with thy rod and; 
ſtaffe doſt comfort me. It I, as a wandring ſheep, | 
venture to goe out of the way, thou out of thy| 
care being aſweete and loving Shepheard wilt| ... . M 
pull me in with thy hooke and ftaffe againe, | , | = 
he hath not care onely to feed us, bur to gf oe 7 
| verneus alſo, What a ſweet Shephegzd and]: | 
| Saviour have we in covenant that deffiles thus | | 
with us,and ſo he proceeds, thow mili prepare 
my tablein the preſence. of mine exſmes, and forji _ 
'the time to come hee promzleth himſclte as [ . 
K Fa much! 


<— 


ns 


L 8 
Lk t—— 


4.92 


Ssk. XX 


CE — 


WY 
oF CpG 
. 


( for the pre{en:) to provide all things ne- 
ceſlary for boly 8& ſ5u'e and guidance,fo ſurely 


{ 


| he will not leave us till he hath brought us to 
| Heayen, Thus we ſce in this place the ſweere| 


the goodneſle ofthe Lord ſhall follow me all the 
| daics of my life, for he is 2 perp=uual Shepheard, 


care of Chrilt

~728 words

ſweetly, or elſe they might pe- 


wherein you have the ſame 


bur 


———_— 
—_%_. 


——_— — — — 


| 


0. geforc he hath arender care, he feeds them | 


notheplace ( notable for this purpoſe) 


 H: feedeth ammeg the Lilbes, © 


mychthat Go4as he hath beene a Shepheard | 


' 


| 


| 


metaphor from dving Shepheard, and it is| 


| 


| 


| ſaith the Lord God, 1 will ſeeke that which' is loft,\ 
and bring backe that which was driven away, T\ 


Hefeedeth ep1ong the Lillies." © 


but a commenrupon the text, therefore" bein g 


I will feed them 13 good paſtures upen the high 
mountaines of Iſrael, there fhall their fold" be, 
t here ſhall they lycina good fold andin afat paſtare, 
I will feed my flocke and-cauſe them tolye downe, 


will bind up that which was broken, and fireng- 


then that which « Jon axd deſtroy the fat and | 


the ſtrong and feed them with judgement, Thoſe 
that are Chriſts true ſheepe have ſomewhat to 
complaine of,cither they are ſicke, or broken,or 
driven away,ſomewhat is amifle or other; but 
Chriſts care preventeth all the neceſſities of 
his ſhcepe, he hatha fit ſalve for all their ſores : 
And, ( toapply this to the buſineſſe in hand ) 
doth not Chriſt feede us awong the Lillies, doth 


| 


blood inthe Sacrament? would you have bet- 
ter food ? Aly body is meate indeed, and ny 


blood is drinke indeed, that is, it is the onely| 


meate (with an Emphaſis ) the' onely meate 
and drinke that ourſoules could feed upon, God 


paralcll places they may helpe our memories :! 


he notnow feede us with his owne body and| 


gave his Sonnetg72death to ſhed his blood for 
my finnes.. What would become of the h 
ger bitten, thirſty ſoule that is ' ſtung with 
| tan and his temptations, were it not þ 


| bloodof Chriſt to quench our thirgi 2p 
body of Chriſt given by the Fathglo death] 
for finnie, wete it not that the ſoylſ&ould think]: 
upon this, where _— Smifort of | the 


d the]. 


«4 
ht 


©. ſouletl. 


Son. XN 


\ How roger bun 
| | 


£2 tites to 
The S@acrament. 


| Is 


uo IT 
w 


| 494 He feedeth 21108 the Lilkes, 6 


} *u/ly of former 


life, and: 

| Tothinke /eri»| of the ſoul 

an! rein Jnr FR yer 
A 


Wt —— "0 
ſoule 2 All. this is repreſented to us heere in 
the Sacrament, we feed onthe bady and blood 
| of Chriſt ſpiritually,and are refreſhed thereby, 
| as verily as our bodies are refreſhe4 with the 
bread: and wine, For God doth not feede us 
with'. empty ſymbolls and repreſentations, but 
| with things themſelves, that the ſoule which 
comes prepared by Faith, 1s partaker of Chriſt 
crucified, and is knit to him though now: in 
| Heaven - there is as ſurc anunion and commu- 
| nion berweene Chriſt and the Chriftian foule, 
as there is betweene the food and the body 
whenit is once digeſted. 
Therefore let us come to this bleſſed, to 
this ſweet food of our ſoules with hungry ap- 
| petites, and thankfull hearts, that God hath 
given us the beſt comforts of his Word, and 
fed us-with the ſweet comforts of the Sacra- 
ments, as a Seale of the Word. Wee ſhould 
| even ſpend our lives mnch in thankfullneſſe 
to God for this, thathe will feedeus ſo ſweetly, 
| that thinkes weang is good cnough for our 
| food, but his owne ſelfe with his owne graci- 
ous Word and Truth. Thus wee ſhould bee 
very thankful! unto God, and now at this time 
abour to get hungry appetites fit for this bleſ- 
o0d to receive it. 
| we dothat * 
ſeriouſly of the former part of thy 
weeke pat, For Chriſt (rhe food 
iſheth wel with the ſowre hearbs 
ct us ftirre up in our hearts 


WC CO 


K -” 
p 
'IC. 
— « a 


. 3 & 
_ a © © WW 


—————_ . w— —_ 


| Repentance 


| 


| 


| 


| 


| 


| 


; 


<— 


| Hefeedeth among the Lilies, | 


| : 
Repentance for onr finnes, and ſorrow in the 

conſideration of our owne Corrupt nature and 

life, and when we have felt our corruptions an 


have the ſenſe of our want, then Chrift will 


be ſweet to us, the Paſchall Lamb was to bee 
eaten with ſowre kearbs, ſo Chriſt our Paſco 


ver muſt be eaten with Repentance. 


Then withall there muft be purging, there| 
are many things which clogge the ſtomacke;' 
come not with worldly, wicked, malicious af-| * 
fetions which puffeup the ſoule, But lay afide | Tam 1.21, 
| (asthe Apoflle wiſheth ) all guile, malice, and 
ſuper fluity, erapty the ſoule of all finnc and pre- 


poſlefling thoughts or affeRions. 


And then conſider the neceſſity of ſpirituall