Bowels Opened, Sermon 5

Bowels Opened · Sermon 5

p. 127THE FIFT SERMON

CANT. V. VER. II.

It is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me my Sister, my Love, my Dove, my Vndefiled; For my bead is filled with dew, and my locks with the dropps of the …ight.

HItherto by Gods assistance, we have heard largely both of the Churches sleeping, and Heart-waking, What this sleeping, and Heart-waking is; How it comes, the tryalls of these opposite dispositions; of the danger of sleeping, and excellency p. 128of Heartwaking; and of the helpes, and meanes both to shunne the one, and preserve the other. Now the church having so freely and ingeniously confessed what shee could against her selfe, proceeds yet further to acquaint us with the particulars in her heart-waking disposition, Which were two-fold, shee heard and discerned the voice of her Beloved, who for all her sleepe, was her Beloved still, and more then that, she remembers all his sweete words and allurements, whereby hee pressed her to open unto him, Saying, open to me my love, my dove, my undefiled, which is set out, and amplified with a further mooving argument of those inconveniences Christ had suffered in his waiting for entertainement in her heart. For my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the dropps of the night. All which aggravates her offence, and his rare goodnesse, and patience towards miserable sinners, so to waite from time to time for admission into our wretched soules, that he may rule, and governe them by his holy Spirit. Therefore we had great need to shunne this sleepie distemper of soule, which for the present so lockes up the everlasting gates of our soule, that the King of glory cannot enter in; Psal. 24.Ps 24and to strive for this blessed heart-waking disposition, which may helpe us at all times to see our dangers, and by Gods blessing recover us out of them, as heere the Church doth at length, though first smarting and well beaten by the watch-men, in a world of perplexities, ere she p. 129can recover the sence of her former union, and Communion with Christ.

And surely, we find by experience, what a woefull thing it is for the soule, which hath once tasted how gracious the Lord is, to be long without a sence of Gods love, For when it lookes upon sinne as the cause of this seperation; this is for the time, as so many deaths unto it. Therefore the Churches experience must be our warning-peece to take heed how we grieve the Spirit, and so fall into this spirituall sleepe: Wherein yet this is a good signe, that yet we are not in a desperate dead sleepe, when we can with her say,

It is the voice of my Beloved that knocks, saying, open unto mee, &c.

In which words you have,

1. The Churches acknowledgment of Christs voice.

2. Of his carriage towards her.

1. Her acknowledgment is set downe heere, It is the voice of my Beloved.

2. His caraiage, Hee knockes, &c. wherein

1. His Patience in suffering things unworthy and utterly unbeseeming for him. He doth not onelyonly knocke, but he continues knocking, till his head was filled with dew, and his locks with the dropps of the night.

2. His friendly Commpellation, open to me my love, my dove, my undefiled. Loe here are sweet actions, sweete words, and all to melt the heart of the Spouse.

p. 130First, the Churches acknowledgement is to be considered, Confessing, It is the voce of her Beloved. The first thing to be observed in this acknowledgement is, That the Church however sleepie and drowsie she was, yet notwithstanding her heart was so farre awake, as to know the voice of her husband. The point is this,

That a Christian …oule doth know and may discer…e the voice of Christ,Obser. yea and that even in a lazie, sleepie estate.

But much more when in a good and lively frame. Gods Beleevers are Christs sheepe, Iohn. 10.John 10Now my sheepe (saith Christ) heare my voice. It is the eare marke (as it were) of a Christian, one of the characters of the new man,Iob. 12. 11Job 12:11 To …as…e words by the eare, (as Iob saith) he hath a spirituall taste, a discerning relish in his eare, because hee hath the Spirit of God, and therefore relisheth what is connaturall, and sutable to the Spirit. Now the voice of Christ without in the ministery, and the Spirit of Christ within in the heart are connaturall and sutable each to other.

And surely so it is, That this is one way to discerne a true Christian from an other, even by a taste in hearing. Difference of christians by a spirituall taste in bearing.For those that have a spirituall relish, they can heare with some delight things that are most spirituall. As the Heathen man said of a meadow, that some creatures come to eate one sort of herbs: others an other, all that which is fit for them; Men, to walke therein for delight; All for ends sutable to their nature. So in comming to heare the Word p. 131of God; some come to observe the elegancy of words and phrases, some to catch advantage (perhaps) against the speaker, men of a divelish temper, and some to conforme themselves to the custome of the places they live in, or to satisfie the clamours of a troubled conscience, that will have some divine dutie performed, else it goes on with much vexaction. But every true Christian comes, and relisheth what is spirituall; And when outward things can convey in similituds spirituall things aptly to the mind, he relisheth this not as elegant and pleasing his fancy so much, as for conveying the voyce of Christ unto his soule. So that a man may much be helpt to know his state in Grace, and what hee is by his eare: Itching eares usually are such as are led with lust, as the Apostle saith, and they must be clawed. They are sicke and nothing will downe with them, they quarrell with every thing that is wholesome (as they did with Manna) no sermons will please them, no bread is fine and vvhite enough. Whereas indeed, it is their ovvne distemper is in fault. As those that goe in a ship upon the Sea; it is not the tossing, but the stomacke, that causeth a sicknesse, the choler within, and not the waves vvithout. So the disquiet of these men that nothing vvill dovvne vvith them, is from their ovvne distemper. If Christ himselfe vvere here a preaching, they vvould be sure to cavill at something, as then men did, when he preached in his ovvne person; Because they labour of p. 132lusts, vvhichwhich they resolve to feed and cherish.

And againe, Observe it against our Adversaries: What say they? Hovv shall vve knovv that the Word is the Word of God? For this heretique saith thus, and this interprets it thus. This is the common Objection of the great Rabbies amongst them in their vvritings, hovv vve can knovv the Word to be Gods, considering there are such heresies in the Churches, and such contrariety of opinions concerning the Scriptures read in the Churches.

Even thus to object and aske, is an argument, and testimonie, that these men have not the Spirit of Christ, Iohn. 10.John 10for His sheepe know his voice; vvho hovvsoever they cannot interpret all places of Scripture, yet they can discerne in the Scripture vvhat is sutable food for them, or in the unfolding of the Scriptures, in preaching, they can discerne agreeable food for them, having a facultie to reject that vvhichwhich is not fit for nourishment, to let it goe. As there is in nature passages fit for concoction, and digestion, and for rejection; so there is in the soule to vvorke out of the Word, even out of that vvhichwhich is hard, yet vvholesome, vvhat is fit for the soule, and Spirit. If it be cast dovvne, it feeds upon the promises for direction, and consolation, and vvhat is not fit nourishment, that it rejects, that is, if it be of a contrary nature, heterogeniall. Therefore vve ansvver them thus: That Gods sheepe heare his voice, Iohn. 2. 20.John 2:20That his Word left in the Church (vvhen it is unfolded) his p. 133Spirit goes together with it, breeding a relish of the Word in the hearts of people, whereby they are able to taste and relish it, and it hath a supernaturall power and Majesty in it, which carries its owne evidence with it. How shall we know light to be light? It carries evidence in it selfe, that it is light. How know we that the fire is hot? because it carries evidence in it… selfe, that it is so. So if you aske, How we know the Word of God to be the Word of God? it carries in it selfe inbred Arguments, and Characters, that the soule can say none but this Word can be the Word of God, it hath such a majesty and power to cast down, and raise up,1 Cor. 14. 25.1 Cor 14:25 and to comfort, and to direct with such power,2 Cor. 10. 4, 5.2 Cor 10:42 Cor 10:5 and majestie, that it carries with it its owne evidence, and it is argument enough for it. And thus we answer them; which they can answer no way, but by cavills. Gods sheepe heare the voice of Christ, He speakes, and the Church understands him, and a strangers voice they will not heare. Ioh. 10. 5.

And indeed, this is the onelyonly sure way of understanding the word to be of God from an inbred Principle of the majesty in the word, and a powerfull worke thereof on the soule it selfe, and an assent so grounded is that which makes a sound Christian. If we should aske what is the reason there be so many, that Apostatize, fall away, grow prophane,Why so many aposta…ize. and are so unfruitfull under the Gospell? notwithstanding they heare so much as they doe; the answer is, their soules were never founded, and bottomed upon p. 134this, that it is the Word of God, and Divine truth, so as to be able to say, I have felt it by experience, that it is the voice of Christ. Therfore they so soone Apostatize, let Jesuites, or seducers set upon them, They were never perswaded from inbred Arguments, that the voice of Christ is the word of God: others from strictnesse grow prophane, because they were never convinced by the power and majesty of the truth in it selfe; and then in the end they despaire notwithstanding all the promises, because they were never convinced of the truth of them, they cannot say Amen to all the promises. But the Church can say confidently upon sound experience, It is the voice of my Beloved, &c.

Againe, Whereas the Church saith here, It is the voice of my Beloved, &c. and knowes this voice of her Beloved, we may note,

That the Church of God, and every Christian takes notice of the meanes that God useth for their salvation.

Obser.A Christian is sensible of all the blessed helpes he hath to salvation. To a dead heart, it is all one, whether they have meanes, or no meanes, but a Christian soule takes notice of all the meanes. It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, it seeth Christ in all.

And marke what the Church saith moreover It is the voice of my Beloved, A dictinction betwixt sleepe in divers Christians, even at the worst, and deadnesse in a naturall man.shee acknowledgeth Christ to be beloved of her; though shee were asleepe. So then here is a distinction, betweene the sleepe of a Christian, and the dead sleepe of p. 135another naturall man, The one when he sleepes, His heart doth not onelyonly wake, but it is awake to discerne the voice of Christ, it can relish in reading what is spirituall and good, what is savourie, and what not. And likewise take a Christian at the worst, when hee is asleepe, he loves Christ, he will do nothing against him. I can doe nothing (…aith Paul) against the truth, but for the truth; 1 Co. 13. 8.1 Cor 13:8hee will doe nothing against the cause of Religion, there is a new Nature in him, that hee cannot doe otherwise, he cannot but love, hee cannot sinne with a full purpose, nor speake against a good cause, because hee hath a new nature, that leads him another way, Christ is her Belovsds still though she sleepe.

Take a Christian at the lowest, his heart yearnes after Christ.Obser.

Acknowledging him to be his Beloved, There is a conjugall chastitie in the soule of a Christian, holding firme to the covenant and marriage betweene Christ and it, hee keepes that unviolable, though he may be untoward, sleepie, and drowsie, yet there is alwaies a conjugall spouselike affection. It is the voice of my Beloved, &c.

Now leaving the Churches notice of the voice of Christ, We come to Christs carriage towards her.

1. Hee knocketh, and then wee have,

2. His Patience in that Carriage.

My head is filled with dew, and my lockes with the dropps of the night, &c. Here is Patience, and MercieMercy to indure this indignitie at the Churches p. 136hand, to stand at her courtesie to come in, besides 3. the Compellation, afterwards to be spoken of, The generall observation from Christs carriage, is this,

That Christ still desires a further and further communion with his Church.Obser.

Even as the true soule, that is touched with the Spirit desires neerer and neerer communion with Christ. So hee seekes neerer and neerer communion with his Spouse, by all sanctified meanes; Christ hath never enough of the soule; he would have them more and more open to him, our hearts are for Christ, who hath the heaven of heavens, and the soule of a believing Christian for himselfe to dwell in, he contents not himselfe to be in heaven alone, but he will have our hearts. Hee knocks heere, waites, speakes friendly and lovingly with such sweete wordes, My Love, my Dove, &c. We had a blessed Communion in the state of innocencie, and shall have a glorious communion in heaven, when the marriage shall be consummated; but now the time of this life is but as the time of the contract, during which there are yet many mutuall passages of love betweene him and his Spouse, a desire of mutuall communion of either side. Christ desires further entertainement in his Churches heart and affection, that hee might lodge, and dwell there: And likewise there is the like desire in the Church, (when shee is in a right temper,) So that if any strangenesse bee betweene Christ, and any mans soule, that hath p. 137tasted how good the Lord is, let him not blame Christ for it, for he delights not in strangenesse; Hee that knockes and stands knocking, while his locks are …edewed with the dropps of the night? Doth he delight in strangenesse, that makes all this Love to a Christians soule? Certainely No.

Therefore looke for the cause of his strangenesse at any time in thine owne selfe;That the cause of Christs strangenesse to the Church is in our selves. As, Whether we cast our selves imprudently into company, that are not fit to be consulted withall, in whom the Spirit is not, and who cannot doe us any good, or they cast themselves to us. Evill company is a great dampning, whereby a Christian looseth his comfort much, especially that intimate communion with God, whence wee may fall into security.

Againe, Discontinuing of Religious exercises doth wonderfully cause Christ to withdraw himselfe; He makes no more love to our soules, when we neglect the meanes, and discontinue holy exercises, and religious companie, when we stirre not up the graces of Gods Spirit; being this way negligent, it is no wonder that Christ makes no more love to our soules, when we prize and value not the communion that should be betweene the soule, and Christ, as we should. Whom have I in heaven, but thee?Psal. 73. 25.Ps 73:25 Thy loving kindnesse is better then life. (saith the Psalmist) when we prize not this, it is just with Christ to make himselfe strange.Psal. 63. 3.Ps 63:3 Where love is not valued, and esteemed, it is estranged, and for a while hides it selfe. So that these with other courses, and p. 138failings, we may finde to be the ground, and reason of the strangenesse betweene Christ and the soule, for certainely the cause is not in him: for we see here,Lament 3.Lam 3 he useth all meanes to be entertained by a Christian soule, he knockes.

You knovv what he saies to the Church of Laodicea, Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the doore, and knocke, So here, It is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh, therefore in such a case, search your ovvn hearts, vvhere if there be deadnesse, and disertion of Spirit; lay the blame upon your selves, and enter into a search of your ovvn vvayes, and see vvhat may be the cause.

Novv to come more particularly to Christs carriage here knocking at the heart of the sleepie Church; That Christ takes not the advantage and forfeiture of the sins of his Church.We see, that Christ takes not the advantage, and forfeiture of the sinnes of his Church, to leave them altogether, but makes further and further love to them, though the Church be sleepie, Christ continues knocking. The Church of Laodicea vvas a luke-vvarme,Rev. 3. …0.Rev 3 proud, hypocriticall Church, yet Behold, (saith Christ) I stand at the doore and knocke, and it vvas such a Church as vvas vaineglorious, and conceited. I am rich and want nothing, when shee was poore, blind, and naked. And here he doth not onelyonly stand knocking, but he vvith all suffereth indignities, the dew to fall upon him, which we shall speake more of hereafter. Christ therefore refuseth not vveake sinners, he that commands, that we should receive him that is weake in the faith, and not cast him off from our fellowship, and companie, vvill he p. 139reject him that is weake, and sleepie? No, what Father will passe by, or neglect his Child for some failings, and weakenesses, Nature will move him to respect him as his Child.

Now Christ is mercifull both by his office, and by his nature; our nature he tooke upon him, that he might be a mercifull redeemer,Heb. 2. 17.Heb 2:17 And then as God also he is love,1 Joh 4 16.1 John 4:16 God is love, that is, whatsoever God shewes himselfe to his Church, he doth it in love, If hee be angry in correcting, it is out of love, if Mercifull, it is out of love, if he be Powerfull in defending his Church, and revenging himselfe on her Enemies, all is love, God is love (saith Iohn) that is,1 Ioh. 4. 8.1 John 4:8 hee shewes himselfe onelyonly in wayes, expressions and characters of love to his Church; So Christ, as God, is all love to the Church. And we see the Scriptures also to set out God as love, both in his essence, and in his relations, 1. in Relations of love to his Church; Hee is a Father,Psal. 103.Ps 103 As a Father pittieth his childe, so the Lord pitties them that feare him, and 2. also in those sweete Attributes of love, which are his essence, as we see, Ex…d. 34. 6. When God describes himselfe to Moses after his desire to know him, in the former Chapter, Thou canst not see me and live; yet he would make him know him, as was fit for him to bee knowne, Iehovah,Exod. 34. 6.Exod 34:6 Iehovah, Strong, Mercifull, Gratious, Longsuffering, &c. Thus God will be knowne in these Attributes of Consolation. So Christ as God, is all love, and merciemercy, Likewise Christ p. 140as man, hee was man for this end to be all love, and mercy, Take him in his office as Iesus to be a Saviour, he carrieth salvation in his wings, as it is Mal. 4. 2. both by Office, and by Nature.

And here how excellently is the expression of Christs merciemercy, love, and patience set out? He knockes, my Beloved knocketh, &c. saying, Hee knockes for further entrance (as was shewed before) some he had already, but he would have further, As you know we have divers roomes, and places in our houses; There is the court, the hall, the parlour, and closset. The hall for common persons, the parlour for those of better fashion, the closset for a mans selfe, and those that are intimate friends; So a Christian hath roome in his heart forworldly thoughts, but his closset, his inmost affections, are kept for his inmost friend Christ, who is not content with the hall, but will come into the very closset▪ he knocks that we should open, and let him come into our hearts, into our more intimate affections, and love▪ nothing will content him, but intimatenesse, for he deserves it, as we shall see,How Christ is said to kno…ke at our …earts. hee knockes for this end. But how doth he knocke?

1Every kind of way; It is taken from the fashion of men,By a voice. in this kind (God condescending to speake to us in our own language) Sometimes you know There is a knocking or calling for entrance by voice, when a voice may serve, and then there needs no further knocking.Sometimes both by voice and knocking.

Sometimes both by voice, and knocking, If p. 141voice will not serve, knocking comes after. So it is here, Christ doth knocke, and speake, useth a voice of his Word, and knocks by his workes, and both together sometimes, whether by workes of mercy or of judgement, he labours to enter into the soule, to raise the sleepie soule that way; he beginns with mercy usually. 1. By mercies, All the creatures, and blessings of God carrie in them (as it were) a voice of God to the soule, that it would entertaine his love, There goes a voice of love with every blessing. And the love, the merciemercy, and the goodnesse of God in the creature, is better then the creature it selfe. As we say of gifts, The love of the giver is better then the gift it selfe. So the love of God in all his sweete benefits, is better then the thing it selfe, and so in that we have, There is a voice (as it were) entreating us to entertaine God, and Christ in all his mercies, yea every creature (as one saith) and benefit speakes as it were thus to us; Wee serve thee, that thou maiest serve him, that made thee and us. There is a speech (as it were) in every favour, which mercies, if they cannot prevaile, then come corrections, which are the voice of God also,Mica. 6. …. Heare the rodd, and him that smiteth; but hath the rodd a voice?

Yes, for what doe corrections speak…, but 2amendment of the fault we are corrected for?By the rodd which hath a voice in corrections. so we must heare the rodd, all corrections tend to this purpose, they are as knockings, that we should open to God and Christ. And because corrections of themselves will not p. 142amend us. God to this kind of knocking adds a voice, he teacheth, and corrects together, Happie is that man that thou correctest, Psal. 94. 10.Ps 94:10and tea…hest out of thy Law, (saith the Psalmist) Correction without teaching is to little purpose, Therefore God adds instruction to correction. He opens the conscience, so that it tells us it is for this that you are corrected, and together with conscience, gives his Spirit to tell us, it is for this, or that you are corrected: you are too blame in this; this you have done, that you should not have done; So that Corrections are knockings, but then especially when they have instruction thus with them. They are messengers from God,Lev. 26. 24.Lev 26:24 both Blessings and Corrections, they will not away (especially corrections) till they have an answer, for they are sent of God, who will add seven times more; and if the first be not answered, then he sends after them, hee will be sure to have an answer, either in our Conversion, or Confusion, when hee beginns once.

3Many other wayes he useth to knocke at our hearts.God knocketh by the good examples of others. The examples of those we live among that are good, they call upon us, The patternes of their holy life.Luk. 13. … 3.Luke 13:3 The examples of Gods justice upon others,1 Cor. 10.1 Cor 10 are speeches to us, God knocks at our doore then, He intends our correction, when he visits another, when if we amend by that, he needes not take us in hand.

4But besides all this,By his Ministeriall knocking. there is a more neere knocking, that Christ useth to the Church, p. 143His ministeriall knocking, when he was here in the daies of his flesh, hee was a Preacher and Prophet himselfe, and now he is ascended into heaven,Ephes. 4.Eph 4 he hath given gifts to men, and men to the Church, whom he speakes by to the end of the world, they are Christs mouth, as wee said of the pen-men of holy Scripture; they were but the hand to write, Christ was the head to indite. So in preaching and unfolding the Word, they are but Christs mouth and his voyce, (as it is said of Iohn,) Now he is in heaven,Luk. 10. 17.Luke 10:17 he speakes by them; Hee that heareth you, heareth me, he that despiseth you despiseth mee. Christ is either received or rejected in his Ministers, as it is said of Noahs time, The Spirit of Christ preached in the daies of Noah to the soules now in prison, &c. Christ as God did preach before he was incarnate by Noah to the old world, which is now in prison, in hell, because they refused to heare Christ speake to them by Noah: Much more now after the daies of his flesh, that he is in heaven, he speakes, and preacheth to us, which if we regard not, we are like to be in prison, as those soules are now in prison for neglecting the preaching of Noah, 1 Pet. 3. 19. So the Ministers are Christs mouth, when they speake he speakes by them, and they are as Embassadours of Christ, (whom they should imitate in mildnesse)We therefore as Embassadours beseech and entreat you,2 Cor. 5. 20.2 Cor 5:20 as if Christ by us should speake to you; so we entreat you to be reconciled unto God. And you know p. 144what heart-breaking wordes the Apostle useth in all his Epistles (especially when he writes to Christians in a good sta…e) as to the Philippians, Phil. 1. 2.Phil 1:2If there be any bowells of mercy, if there be any consolation in Christ, then regard what I say, be of one mind. And among the Thessalonians, 1 Thes. …. 19.He was as a Nurse to them, So Christ speakes by them, and puts his owne affections into them, that as he is tender, and full of bowells himselfe, so he hath put the same bowells into those that are his true Ministers.

Hee speakes by them, and they use all kind of meanes that Christ may be entertained into their hearts. They moove all stones (as it were) sometimes threatnings; sometimes intreaties, sometimes they come as sonnes of thunder, sometimes with the still voice of sweete promises; And because one man is not so fit as another for all varieties of conditions and Spirits, therefore God gives variety of gifts to his Ministers, that they may knocke at the heart of every man by their severall gifts. For some have more rouzing, some more insinuating gifts, some more lagall, some more evangelicall spirits, yet all for the Churches good. Iohn Baptist by a more thundering way of preaching, to make way for Christ to come, threatneth judgement. But Christ then he comes with a Blessed are the poore in Spirit, Mat. 5. 3.Matt 5:3Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for Righteo…snesse, &c. All kind of meanes have beene used in the ministrie from the beginning of the world.

p. 145And because of it selfe this ministry it is a dead letter, Therefore hee joynes that with the 5Word,By the Spirit. which knockes at the heart together with the Word, not severed from it, but is the life of it, Oh the Spirit is the life, and soule of the Word, and when the inward vvord, or voyce of the Spirit, and the outward vvord or Ministry goe together, then Christ doth more effectually knocke, and stirre up the heart.

Now this Spirit with sweete inspirations knockes, mooves the heart, lightens the understanding, quickens the dull affections, and stirrs them up to dutie, as it is, Isay. 30. 21. And thine eares shall heare a voice behind thee saying, This is the way, walke in it. The Spirit mooves us sweetly agreeable to our owne nature, it offers not violence to us; But so as in Hosea. 11. 4. I drew them by the cordes of a man. That is, by reasons and motives befitting the nature of man, motives of love. So the Spirit together with the vvord, workes upon us, as we are men by rationall motives, setting good before us, If we will let Christ in to governe, and rule us; and by the danger on the contrary, so mooving, and stirring up our affections, These be the cords of a man.

And besides his Spirit, God hath planted in 6us a Conscience to call upon us,The Conscience also knockes. to be his Vicar, a little god in us to doe his office, to call upon us, direct us, checke, and condemne us, which in great mercy he hath placed in us.

Thus we see what meanes Christ useth here; p. 146His voice, Works, and Word, works of MercieMercy and of Correction, his Word together with his Spirit, and the Conscience, that he hath planted to be (as it were) a God in us, which together with his Spirit may moove us to dutie. This Austine speakes of when he saith,In …is Confessions. Deus in me, &c. God spake in mee oft, and I knew it not; He meanes it of Conscience together with the Spirit, stirring up motives to leave his sinfull courses. God knocked in mee, and I considered it not. J cried, modò and modò, sine modo. I put of God, now I will, and now I will, but I had no moderation, I knew no limits. And whilst Christ thus knocketh, all the three Persons may be said to doe it. For as it is said else where, that God was and is in Christ reconciling the world, 2 Cor. 5. 19.2 Cor 5:19&c. For whatsoever Christ did, he did it as annoynted, and by office, And therefore God doth it in Christ,Acts. …0. 26. and by Christ, and so in some sort God died in his humane nature, when Christ died. So here the Father beseecheth, when Christ beseecheth, because hee beseecheth that is sent from him, and annoynted of the Father. And God the Father stoopes to us, when Christ stoopes, because he is sent of the Father, and doth all by his Fathers commaund,Iohn. 5.John 5 and commission. So besides his owne bowells, there is the Father and the Spirit with Christ, who doth all by his Spirit, and from his Father, from whom he hath commission. Therefore God the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost knock at the heart. Open to me, my love, my dove, my p. 147undefiled, but Christ especially by his Spirit, because it is his office.

But some may object, Object.Christ can open to himselfe, why doth he not take the key and open, and make way for himselfe? Who will knocke, when he hath the key himselfe? and who will knocke, when there is none within to open? Christ can open to himselfe, and wee have no free will, nor power to open?

Bellarmine makes this Objection, and speakes very rudely, that he is an unwise man to knocke, where there is no man within to open; and that if Christ knocke, and we cannot open, it is a delusion to exhort to open, and that therefore there must needs be free-will in us to open?

The Answer is; First, Christ speakes to the Spouse here,Answ. and so many such exhortations are given to them that have the Spirit of God already,Why Christ knockes though he hath power to open to himselfe: and bid… us open▪ wh… want power to doe it. who could by the helpe thereof open. For good, and gracious men, are mooved first by the Spirit, and then they moove; they are Moti moventes, and Acti Agentes. They are acted first by the Spirit, and then they doe act 1by it, not of themselves: as the inferiour Orbes moove not, but as they are mooved by the superiour. The Question is not of them in 2the state of Grace, but at their first Conversion, when especially we say that Christ speakes to them that hee meanes to convert, He knocks at their hearts, and opens together with his speech, Then there goes a power that they shall open, p. 148for his wordes are operative wordes; as it was in the Creation, Let there be light, it was an operative word,Gen. 1. 3.Gen 1:3 and there was light. Let there bee such a Creature, it was an operative working word, and there was such a Creature presently; So hee opens together with that word. With that invitation, and commaund there goes an almighty power to inable the soule to open; Were it not a wise reason to say, When Christ called to Lazarus to come forth, Ioh. 11. 43.John 11:43that wee should reason hee had life to yeeld to Christ, when he bad him come forth? no, he was rotten in his grave almost; but with Christs speaking to Lazarus, there went an almightie power, that gave life to him, by which life he heard what Christ said, Arise Lazarus. So Christ by his Spirit cloaths his word in the Ministery, when he speakes to people with a mightie power: as the Minister speakes to the eare, Christ speaks, opens, and unlocks the heart at the same time, and gives it power to open, not from it selfe, but from Christ. Paul speakes to Lydias eare, Christ to her heart,Acts. 16. 13.Acts 16:13 and opened it, as the Text sayes, whereby shee believes, so Christ opens the heart;

But Why doth he thus worke?Quest.

Because hee will preserve Nature, Answ.and the principles thereof, and so he deales with us, working accordingly; the manner of working of the reasonable creature, is to worke freely by a sweet inclination, not by violence. Therefore when he workes the worke of Conversion, p. 149hee doth it in a sweet manner, though it bee mightie for the E…ficaciousnes of it, he admonisheth us with intreatie, and perswasion, as if we did it our selves. But though the manner be thus sweet, yet with this manner there goeth an almighty power. Therefore hee doth it strongly as comming from himselfe, and sweetly, as the speaking is to us preserving our Nature, so the Action is from him, which hath an almightie power with it.Bernard. As Holy Bernard saith Thou dealest sweetly with my soule in regard of my selfe, (That is, thou workest upon me, as a man with the wordes of love,)yet strongly in regard of thy selfe. For except he adde strength with sweetnesse, the worke will not follow; but when there are both, an almightie worke is wrought in the soule of a Christian; and so wrought, as the manner of mans working is preserved in a sweet and free manner, whilst he is changed from contrarie to contrarie; And it is also with the greatest reason that can be, In that now he sees more reason to be good, then in the daies of darkenesse he did to be naught, God workes so sweetly. God speakes to us …fter the manner of men, but he workes in us as the great God; he speakes to us as a man in our owne language, sweetly; but hee workes in us almightily, after a powerfull manner, as God; so we must understand such phrases as these, I knocke, open to mee, my Love, my Dove, &c. wee may take further notice,

That the heart of a Christian,Observ. is the House, p. 150and Temple of Christ.

Hee hath but two houses to dwell in; the Heavens, Ia. …7. 13.and the heart of an humble broken hearted sinner;

How can Christ come into the soule?Quest.

Hee comes into the heart by his Spirit,Answ. It is a speciall entertainement that hee lookes for: open thine eares that thou mayest heare my word: thy love, that thou… mayest love mee more: thy joy, that thou mayest delight in mee more: open thy whole soule that I may dwell in it. A Christian should bee Gods house, and a true Christian is the true Temple of God. Hee left the other two Temples therefore, but his owne body, and his Church he never leaves: for a house is for a man to solace himselfe in, and to rest in, and to lay up whatsoever is pretious to him. So with Christ, a man will repaire his howse, so Christ will repaire our soules, and make them better, and make them more holy, and spirituall, and every way fit for such a guest as he is.

How shall we know whether Christ dwells in our hearts or not.

Wee may know by the servants what Master dwells in an house, If Christ be in the soule there comes out of the house good speeches, and we watch the senses, so as there comes nothing into defile the soule, and disturbe Christ, and nothing goes out to offend God. When we heare men full of gratious sweet speeches, It is a signe Christ dwells there. If we heare p. 151the contrary, It shewes Christ dwells not there, for Christ would move the whole man to doe that which might edifie and comfort.

Againe, where Christ comes, Assistance comes there. When Christ was borne, all Ierusalem was in an uproare, so when Christ is borne in the soule, there is an uproare, corruption armes it selfe against Grace, there is a combate betwixt flesh and Spirit, but Christ subdues the flesh by little and little. Gods image is stamped upon the soule where Christ is, and if we have opened unto the Lord of Glory, hee will make us glorious.

Christ hath never enough of us, nor we have never enough of him, till we be in heaven, and therefore we pray, Thy Kingdome come, and till Christ comes in his Kingdome, hee desires his Kingdome should come to us, Open (saith he) Stupenda dignatio, &c. (as he cries out) it is a stupendious condescending, when hee that hath Heaven to hould him, Angells to attend him, those glorious creatures; hee that hath the commaund of every Creature, that doe yeeld presently homage when he commaunds, the Froggs, and Lice, and all the Host of Heaven are ready to doe his vvill! for him to condescend, and to intreate us to be good to our ovvne soules, and to beseech us to be reconciled to him, as if he had offended us, vvho have done the vvrong and not he, or as if that vve had povver, and riches to doe him good; Heere Greatnesse beseecheth Meanesse, Riches Povertie, p. 150duplicate page p. 151duplicate page p. 152Alsufficiencie Want, and life in selfe, comes to dead drowsie soules. What a vvondrous condiscending is this? Yet notvvithstanding, Christ vouchsafes to make the heart of a sinfull, sleepie man to be his House, his Temple. Hee knocks, and knocks heere, saying, Open to mee, &c.

This is usefull many vvayesVse., as first, cherish all the good conceites vve can of Christ; Time vvill come, that the Divell vvill set upon us vvith sharpe temptations, fierie darts, temptations to despaire, and present Christ amisse, as if Christ vvere not vvilling to receive us, vvhen as you see he knockes at our hearts to open to him, useth Mercies, and Iudgements, the Ministrie of his Spirit, and Conscience, and all; Will not he then entertaine us, vvhen vvee come to him, that seekes this entertainement at our hands? Certainely hee vvill; Therefore let us labour to cherish good conceits of Christ. This is the finisher and beginning of the conversion of a poore sinfull soule, even to consider the infinite love, and condescending of Christ Jesus for the good of our soules? Wee need not vvonder at this his vvillingnesse to receive us, vvhen vvee first knovv, that God became man, happinesse became miserie,Gel. 3 13. and life it selfe, came to d…e, and to be a curse for us. Hee hath done the greater and vvill he not doe the lesse? Therefore thinke not strange, that hee useth all these meanes, considering hovv love hev descended into the vvombe of the Virgin for us. Ephes. 4. 9.

p. 153Novv such considerations as these being mixed vvith the Spirit and set on by him, are effectuall for the conversion of poore soules. Is there such love in God, to become man, and to be a Sutor to vvoe me for my love? Surely thinks the soule then, he desires my Salvation, and Conversion; And to vvhat kind of persons doth he come? None can Object unvvorthinesse, I am poore;Isa. 61▪ 1.Isa 61:1 hee comes to the poore. I am laden,Mat 11. 28.Matt 11:28 and vvretched? Come unto mee all yee that are weary, and laden. I have nothing; Come and buy honey,Isa. 55. 1.Isa 55:1 milke, and wine, though you have nothing. He takes avvay all Objections. But I am stung vvith the sence of my sinnses?Mat. 5. 3, 5.Matt 5:3Matt 5:5 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst, &c. But I am emptie of all? Blessed are the poore in Spirit. You can object nothing, but it is taken avvay by the Holy Ghost, vvisely preventing all the Objections of a sinfull soule. This is the beginning of Conversion, these very conceits; and when wee are converted, these thoughts entertained with admiration of Christs condescending, are effectuall to give Christ further entrance into the soule, vvhereby a more happie communion is vvrought still more and more betvveen Christ, and the soule of a Christian.

Oh,Vse. 2. but take heed that these make not any secure. For if vve give not entrance to Christ, all this vvill be a further aggravation of our Damnation. Hovv vvill this justifie the sentence upon us hereafter, vvhen Christ shall set us on the left hand,Mat. 25.Matt 25 and say Depart from mee, for I p. 154invited you to come to me, I knocked at the doore of your hearts, and you would give me no entrance, Depart from us said you, therefore now Depart you from mee. What doe prophane persons in the Church? but bid Christ depart from them, especially in the motions of his Spirit, they entertaine him in the outward roome, the braine; they know a little of Christ, but in the heart, the secret roome, hee must not, come there to rule. Is it not equall, that hee should bid us,Mat. 23. 41.Matt 23:41 Depart yee cursed I know you not? you would not give entrance to mee, I will not now to you; as to the foolish Virgins he speakes, and Prov. 1. 28. Wisedome knockes, and hath no entrance, therefore in times of danger, they call upon Her, but shee rejoyceth at their destruction; Where God magnifies his merciemercy in this kinde in sweete allurements, and inviting by Judgements, Mercies, Ministrie, and Spirit, hee will magnifie his Judgement after. Those that have neglected Heaven with the Prerogatives, and advantages in this kind, they shall be cast into Hell.Mat. 11. 21.Matt 11:21 Woe to thee Chorazin, &c. as you know in the Gospell. This is one thing that may humble us of this place and nation, that Christ hath no further entrance, nor better entertainement after so long knocking? for the entertaining of his vvord, is the welcomming of himselfe, as it is, Colloss. 3. 16. Let the word of God dwell plentifully in you. And let Christ dwell in your hearts by faith. Ephes. 3. 17. Compare those places, let the word dwell plenteously p. 155in you by wisdome, and let Christ dwell in your hearts by faith. For then doth Christ dwell in the heart, when the truth dwells in us. Therefore what entertainement we give to his truth, wee give to himselfe. Now what meanes of knocking hath hee not used among us a long time? For workes of all sorts; he hath drawne us by the cords of a man, by all kind of favours. For Mercies, How many deliverances have we had (No Nation the like, we are a Miracle of the Christian World,) from forreigne invasion, and Domesticall conspiracies at home? How many mercies doe we enjoy? Abundance together with long peace, and plenty. Besides, if this would not doe, God hath added Corrections with all these, in every Eliment, in every manner, Infection in the aire, Judgements in inundations; We have had remours of warres, &c. threatnings, shakings of the rod onelyonly, but such as might have awaked us, And then he hath knocked at our hearts by the example of other Nations. By what hee hath done to them, he hath shewed us what he might justly have done to us, wee are no better then they.

As for his Ministeriall knocking; above threescore yeares wee have lived under the Ministerie of the Gospell, this Land hath beene Goshen, a land of light, when many other places are in darkenesse, especially wee that live in this Goshen, this place, and such like, where the light shines in a more abundant measure. p. 156Ministers have beene sent, and varietie of gifts, there hath beene piping, and mourning (as Christ complaines in his time) that they were like froward Children, that neither sweet piping, nor dolefull mourning would moove to be tractable to their fellowesMat. 11. 17.Matt 11:17 they had Iohn who came mourning, and Christ comforting with blessing in his mouth, all kind of meanes have beene used.

And for the Motions of his Spirit, who are there at this time, who thus live in the Church under the Ministerie, who cannot say that God thereby hath smote their hearts, those hard rockes againe and againe, and awaked their consciences, partly with corrections publike and personall, and partly with benefits: yet notwithstanding what little way is given to Christ? Many are indifferent, and lukewarme either way, but rather incline to the worst.

Let us then consider of it, The greater meanes, the greater judgement afterwards, if we be not won by them. Therefore let us labour to hould Christ, to entertaine him, let him have the best roome in our soules, to dwell in our hearts, let us give up the keyes to him, and desire him to rule our understandings, to know nothing but him, and what may stand with his truth, Not to yeeld to any errour, or corruption; let us desire that hee would rule in our wills, and affections, sway all, give all to him; for that is his meaning; when hee saies, Open to mee, so that I may rule, as in mine owne house, p. 157as the husband rules in his familie, and a King in his Kingdome, hee will have all yeelded up to him, And hee comes to beate downe all whatsoever is exalted against him, and that is the reason men are so loath to open unto him. They know if they open to the Spirit of God, hee will turne them out of their fooles Paradice, and make them resolve upon other courses of life, which because they will not turne unto, they repell the sweet motions of the Spirit of Christ, and pull away his Graces, building bullwarkes against Christ,2 Cor. 10.2 Cor 10 as lusts, strange imaginations, and resolutions. Let the Ministers say what they will, and the Spirit moove as he will, thus they live, and thus they will live. Let us take notice therefore of all the meanes that God useth to the state, and to us in particular, and every one labour to amend one. Every soule is the Temple, the House Christ should dwell in, let every soule therefore among us consider what meanes Christ useth to come into his soule to dwell with him, and to rule there.

And what shall wee loose by it?Con…iderations inforcing us to entertaine Christ. Doe wee entertaine Christ to our losse? Doth hee come emptie? Noe, he comes with all Grace, his Goodnesse is a Communicative, diffusive goodnesse; Hee comes to spread his Treasures, to inrich the heart with all Grace and strength to beare all afflictions, to encounter all dangers, to bring peace of Conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost; hee comes (indeed) to mak our hearts (as it were) a heaven. p. 158Doe but consider this, hee comes not for his owne ends; but to emptie his goodnesse into our hearts, as a breast that desires to emptie it selfe; when it is full. Soe this fountaine, hath the fulnesse of a fountaine, which strives to emptie his goodnesse into our soules; he comes out of love to us; Let these considerations melt our hearts for our unkindnesse, that we suffer him to stand so long at the doore knocking, as it is said heere.

If wee find not our suits answered so soone as we would; Remember, we have made him also waite for us; perhaps to humble us, and after that to incourage us, he will make us waite, for we have made him waite. Let us not give over, for certainely he that desires us to open, that he may powre out his Graces upon us, he will not reject us when we come to him,Math. 7. 7.Matt 7:7, If he answers us not at first,Habak. 2. 3.Hab 2:3 yet he will at last, Let us goe on, and waite, seeing there is no one duty pressed more in Scripture then this. And wee see it is equitie, Hee waites for us, Isa. 30. 18.Isa 30:18it is good reason wee should waite for him, if we have not comfort presently, when wee desire it, let us attend upon Christ, as he hath attended upon us, for when he comes, hee comes with advantage;Isa. 60. 16.Isa 60:16 so that when we waite,Isa. 64. 3.Isa 64:3 wee loose nothing thereby, but are gainers by it, encreasing our patience.James. 1. 4.Jas 1:4 The longer wee waite, hee comes with the more abundant Grace and comfort in the end,Isa. 40.Isa 40 and shewes himselfe rich, and bountifull to them that waite upon him.

The end of the fift Sermon.