Bowels Opened, Sermon 10
THE TENTH SERMON.
CANT. V. VI.
I opened to my Beloved, but my Beloved had withdrawne himselfe, and was gone: my soule failed when he spake, I sought him but could not find him, I called him but hee gave no answer.
THus we see that the life of aSERM. X. Christian is trouble upon trouble as wave upon wave, God will not suffer us to rest in security, but one way or other he will fire us out of our starting holes, and make us to runne after him, how much better were it for us then to doe our workes chearfully and joyfully, so to runne as we may obtaine, then to be thus hurried up and downe, and through our owne default comming into desertions and there receiving rebukes and blowes and delayes ere we have peace againe, as it fell out with the Church in the sequell, for this text is but the beginning of her (seeming) misery. The watch-men after this, found her, and wounded her, &c. But Heaven is more worth then all, now that her affections are set on fire, from thence shee bestirrs her selfe, is resolute to find out her beloved, whom she highly values above all this world. How her affections were stirred by Christs putting in his finger at the hole of the doore we have heard. Now followes her action therupon, for here is rising, opening, seeking, calling and enquiring after Christ.
Action followes affection. After her bowells are moved she ariseth and openeth, from whence we may further observe,
That where truth of affection…s,Obser. it will discover it selfe in the outward man, one way or other. If there be any affection of love and piety to God, there will be eyes lift up, knees bended downe, and hands stretched forth to Heaven. If there be any griefe for sinne, there will be the face dejected, the eyes looking downe, some expression or other: If there be a desire there will be a making forth to the thing desired. For, the outward-man is commanded by the inward, which hath a kind of soveraigne commanding power over it; and sayes, doe this and it doth it, speake this and it speakes it, therefore those whose courses of life are not gratious, their affections and their hearts are not good, for where the affections are good, the actions will be sutable. Her bowells were moved in her, and presently she shewes the truth of her affection, in that she maketh after him.
1. Her soule failed when hee spake.
2. Shee makes after him,
My scule failed when he spake, I sought him but I could not find him.
Of Christs withdrawing himselfe we spake in generall before, wherefore we will leave that and proceed.
My soule failed when he spake.
That is, her soule failed when she remembred what he had spoke, when he stood at the doore, and said, Open to me my Sister, my Love, my Dove, my Vndefiled, for my head is wet with the dew, &c. Now when Gods Spirit had wrought upon her, then she remembred what Christ had said: all those sweet allurements were effectuall now unto her, especially when she saw that after those sweet allurements Christ had withdrawne himselfe, for that is the meaning of these wordes: (My soule failed when hee spake unto mee) Hee did not speake now: but her soule failed after he spake; for so it should be read, that is, after she remembred his speech to her: for, now when she opened he was not there, therefore he could not speake to her.
The Word of Christ howsoever for the present it be not effectuall,Obser. yet afterwards it will be in the remembrance of it.
To those that are gracious it will be effectuall when the Holy Ghost comes to seale it further upon their heart: Christ spake many things to his Disciples which they forgot, but when afterwards the Holy Ghost the comforter was come, his office was,Io…, 14. 26. to bring all things to their remembrance that they had forgotten before. The Holy Ghost taught them not new things, but brought former things to their remembrance; for God will make the word effectuall at one time or other, perhaps the word we heare is not effectuall for the present, it may afterwards, many yeares after, when God awakes our consciences.
And as this is true of Gods Children, the seed now sowne in them perhaps will not grow up till many yeares after, so it is true also of those that are not Gods Children, they thinke they shall never heare againe of those things they heare, perhaps they will take order by sensuallity▪ heardning of their hearts (and through Gods judgements withall concurring) that conscience shall not awake in this world, but it shall awake one day; for it is put into the heart to take Gods part and to witnesse against us for our sinnes. It shall have and performe its office hereafter, use it as you will now, and it will preach over those things againe that you now heare. You shall hea…e againe of them but it shall be a … hearing. Now we may heare fruitfully to doe us good, but afterwards we shall call to mind what we have heard and it shall cut us to the heart. Dives (wee know) had Moses and the Prophets to ins…ruct him,Luk. 16. 25. but he never heeded them in his life, untill afterwards to his torment. So men never heed what they heare and reade, they put of all and lay their consciences …, but God will bring them afterwards to remembrance: but because it is a point especially of comfort to the Church.
Labour we all of us to make this use of it,Vse. to be diligent and carefull to heare and attend upon the ordinances of God,To attend diligently upon the ordinances of God for how soever that we heare is not effectuall for the present but seemes as dead seed cast into the heart, yet God will give it a body after, 1 Cor. 15. 28.as the Apostle speakes, at one time or other. And that which we heare now the Holy Ghost will bring it to our remembrance when wee stand in most need of it.
My soule failed when hee spake.
She was in a spirituall swoone and deliquium upon his withdrawing, whence the point considerable is,
That Christ doth leave his Church sometimes and bring it very low in their owne apprehensions,observ. that their …earts …ayle them for want of his prefence. So it was with David,Psal. 38. 2, 3. so with Ionah, so with the Church, Ionah. 2. 2.Lam. 3. 1. we see it at large.
The necessity of our soules and of our estates requ…e this,Reason. as sometimes a body may be so duplicate page duplicate page corrupt that it must be brought as low as possible may be before there will be a spring of new and good blood and spirits: so we may fall into such a state of security that nothing will bring us to a right temper, but extreame purging. And usually God deales thus with strong wits and parts (if they be holy) David and Salomon were men excellently quallified, yet when they tasted of the pleasures and contentments of the world too deepe, answerably they had and so (usually) others shall have such desertions as will make them smart for their sweetnesse, as was shewed before;
But, upon what occasions doth a Christian thinke especially, that God doth leave, forsake and fayle him.
First,The heart sinks This fayling and fainting of the soule is sometimes upon an apprehension,When God appeares an enemy. as if God and Christ were become enemies, as Iob saith, and as having set us as a but to shoot at, but this is not all that a gracious and pure heart sinkes for.Iob. 7. 20.
But also Secondly, For the absence of Christs love,When Christs love is absent and not selt. though it feele no anger. Even as to a loving Wife, her husband not looking lovingly upon her as he used to doe, is enough to cast her downe and cause her spirits to fayle;Simile so for God to looke upon the soule; put the case not with an angry, yet with a countenance withdrawne, it is sufficient to cast it down, for any one that hath dependance upon another to see their countenance withdrawne and not to shew their face as before, if there be but a sweet disposition in them it is enough to daunt and dismay them.
Nay, Moreover when they find not that former assistance in holy dutyes,When they misse of forme… a…sistance in holy dut…es. when they find that their hearts are shut up and they cannot pray as formerly when they had the Spirit of God more fully, and when they find that they cannot beare afflictions with wonted patience; certainely Christ hath withdrawne himselfe; (say they) This is first done when we heare the word of God not with that 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 tast and relish in the ordinances of God as they were wont to doe; they conclude certainely God hath hid his face, whereupon they are cast downe, their spirits fayle. And doe not wonder that it should be so, for it is so in nature; when the Sunne hides it selfe many dayes from the world it is an uncomfortable time, the spirits of the creatures lower and wither, we see it so in the body, that the animall spirits in the braine (which are the cause of motion and sence) if they be obstructed there followes an Apoplexie and deadnesse. So it is betweene Christ and the soule, he is the Sunne of Righteousnesse, Mal. 4. 2.by whose beames wee are all comforted and cheared, which when they are withheld then our spirits decay and are discouraged. Summer and Winter arise from the presence and absence of the sunne: what causeth the Spring to be so cloathed withall those rich ornaments? the presence of the sunne which comes neerer then. So what makes the summer and winter in the soule but the absence or presence of Christ, what makes some so vigorous beyond others, but the presence of the Spirit? As it is in nature, so it is here, the presence of Christ is the cause of all spirituall life and vigour; who when hee withdrawes his presence a little the soule fayles.
My soule failed when hee spake to me, I sought him but I could not find him, I culled but hee gave mee no answer.
The Church redoubleth her complaint to shew her passion,Obser. A large heart hath b…rge expressions: shee tooke it to heart that Christ did not shew himselfe in mercy, therefore she never hath done, I sought him but I could no… find him; I called but he gave me no answer.
Affection makes eloquent and large expressions,
But mainely observe from this …ay ling of the Church.Obser. The difference betweene the true children of God and others. The child of God is cast downe when he finds not the presence of God as he was wo…t, his spirits faile? A carnall man that never knew what this presence meant, regards it not, can abide the want of it, he finds indeed a presence of God in the creature which hee thinks not of, there is a sweetenesse in Meate, drinke, rest, and a contentment in honour, preferment, and riches; And thus God is present alwayes with him. But other presence hee cares not for. Nay, hee shunnes all other presence of God, labouring to avoid his spirituall presence. For what is the reason that a carnall man shunnes the applying of the word and the thinking of it, but because it brings God neere to his heart, and makes him present. What is the reason hee shunnes his owne conscience: that he is loath to heare the just and unanswerable accusations that it would charge upon him? but because he cannot abide the presence of God in his conscience. What is the reason hee shunnes the sight of holier and better menthen himselfe? they present God to him being his image,1 King. 17. 18. and call his sinnes to memory, and upbraid his wicked life. Hence comes that satanicall hatred more then humane in carnall vil emen, to those that are better then themselves: because they hate all presence of God: both in the word, ministery, and all Gods holy servants; all such presence of God they hate, whereof one maine reason is, because they are melefactors, wicked rebells, and intend to be so. And as a malefactor connot endure so much as the thought of the judge, so they cannot thinke of God otherwife (in that course they are in) then of a judge, whereupon they tremble and quake at the very thought of him, and avoyd his presence.
You know that great man Felix Paul spake to in the Acts, when he spake of the judgement to come,Acts. 24. 25. and those vertues, as Temperance, and Righteousnesse, which he was voyd of, and duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page guilty of the contrary vices: he quaked and could not endure to heare him speak any longer. Wicked men love not to be arraigned, tormented, Mark. 5 7.accused and condemned before their time, therfore whatsoever presents to them their future terrible estate, they cannot abide it. It is an evidence of a man in a cursed condition, thus not to endure the presence of God: but what shall God and Christ say to them at the day of judgement? It was the desire of such men not to have to doe with the presence of God here, and it is just with Christ to answer them there as they answer him now, Depart depart,Iob 22. 17. we will have none of thy wayes (say they) depart ye cursed (saith he) He doth but answer in their owne language, Depart ye cursed with the Divell and his angells.
But you see the Child of God is cleane of another temper, he cannot be content to be without the presence of God and of his Spirit inlightning, quickning, strengthening and blessing of him in spirittuall respects. When he finds not his presence helping him, when he finds Christ his life is absent from him, he is presently discouraged.Col. 3. 4. For, Christ is our life. Now when a mans life fayles all fayles, when therefore a man finds his spirituall taste and comfort not as it was before, then oh, the life of my life hath withdrawne himselfe, and so is never quiet till he have recovered his life againe,Col. 3. 4. for Christ is his life.
And because there is a presence of God and of Christ in the Word and Sacraments a sweet presence: the godly soule hee droopes and failes if he be kept from these, he will not excommunicate himselfe as many doe, that perhaps are asleepe when they should be at the ordinances of God; but if he be excommunicated and banished, O how takes he it to heart! Psal. 42. 1. As the hart panteth after the wa…er br…okes, so longeth my soule after thee O God: the whole 84. Psalme is to that purpose, O how aymiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of hosts? He finds a presence of God in his word and sacraments, and when he doth not taste a sweet presence of God therein he droopes and sinks.
A carnall man never heedes these things because he finds no sweetnesse in them, but the godly finding Christ in them they droope in the want of them and cannot live without them, Whither shall we goe… (saith Peter to Christ) thou hast the words of eternall life, Ioh. 6. 68.I find my soule quickned with thy speaking. So a soule that feeles the quickning power of the ordinances, he will never be kept from the meanes of salvation, but he droopes and is never well till he have recovered himselfe againe?
Againe another difference may be observed. Carnall men when they find the sence of Gods anger they seeke not Gods favour but thinke of worse and worse still, and so run from God till they be in hell. But those that are Gods children, when they faile and find the sence of Gods displeasure they are sencible of it, and give not over seeking to God, they run not further and further from him.
The Church here though shee found not Christ present with her yet she seekes him still and never gives over.
Whence againe we may observe,Observ. That although the Church be said to faile and not to find Christ, yet he is present then with her. For who inabled her to seeke him. To explaine this, there is a double presence of Christ.That there is a double presence of Christ …elt and not …elt.
1. Felt.
2. Not Felt.
The presence felt, His presence …elt.is when Christ is graciously present and is withall pleased to let us know so much, which is a Heaven upon Earth: the soule is in Paradice then, when she feeles the love of God shed abroad in the heart, and the favourable 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, for she finds a presence and a manifestation of it, a more glorious state then the world can afford.
But, There is a presence of Christ that is secret, Christ unfelt secret presence.when he seemes to draw us one way, and to drive us another, that we are both driven and drawne at once: when he seemes to put us away and yet notwithstanding drawes us; when we find our soules goe to Christ, there is a drawing power and presence, but when we find him absent here is a driving away. As we see here in the Church and in the Woeman of Canaan, Mat. 15.we see what an answer she had from Christ, at first none, and then an uncomfortable, and lastly a most unkind answer. Wee must not give the childrens bread to d…ggs. Christ seemed to drive her away, but at the same time he by his Spirit drawes her to him and was thereby secretly present in her heart to increase her faith. When Christ wrestled with Iacob though he contended with him,Gen. 32. yet the sametime he gave Iacob power to overcome him, to be Israel a prevailer over him: so at the same time the Church seemes to faile and faint, yet notwithstanding there is a secret drawing power pulling her to Christ, whereby she never gives over but seekes and calls still after him.
It is good to observe this kind of Christs dealing, because it will keepe us that we be not discouraged when we find him absent. If still there be any grace left mooving us to that which is good, if we find the Spirit of God moving us to love the word and ordinances, to call upon him by prayer and to be more instant, certainely we may gather there is a hidden, secret presence here that drawes us to these things. Nay more that the end of this seeming farsaking and str…ng…nesse is to draw us neerer and neerer, and at length to draw us into heaven to himselfe. Gods people are gainers by all their losses, … by all their weakenesses, and the better for all their crosses whatsoever they are. And you sh…ll find that the Spirit of God is more … in them after a strangenesse, to … eagerly after Christ then before; as here the Church doth for her eagernesse, constancie and instantnesse it groweth as Christs withdrawing of himselfe groweth.
Let us therefore learne hence how to judge o… our selves,Vse. if we be in a dead livelesse state,How to judge of our selves in a dead livelesse estate both in regard o… comfort and holy performances. both in regard of comfort and of holy performances, whether we be content to be so. If we be not contented but make towards Christ more and more it is a good signe that he hath not forsaken us, that he will come againe more gloriously then ever before. As here we shall see after it was with the Church, he seemes strange but it is to draw the Church, to discover her affection and to make her ashamed of her former unkindnesse, and to sit surer and hold faster then she did before, all ends in a most sweet communion.
Wee should labour therefore to answer Christs dealing in sutable apprehensions of soule when he is thus present secretly,Vse. 2. though he seeme in regard of some comforts and former experience of his love to withdraw himselfe,We should depend upon Christ in a seeming absence. It should teach us, to depend upon him, and to beleeve though we feele not comfort, yea against comfort when we feele signes of displeasure. If he can love and support me, and strengthen my soule, and shew it a presence of that which is fit for me. Certainely I should answer thus with my faith, I will depend upon him (though he kill me) as Iob did; our soules should never give over seeking of Christ, praying and endeavouring, for there is true love where hee seemes to forsake and leave; therefore I ought in these desertions to cleave to him in life and in death.
The end of the tenth Sermon.