Bowels Opened, Sermon 2
THE SECOND SERMON.
CANT. V. I.
I am come into my Garden, my Sister, my Spouse: I have gathered my Myrre with my Spice, I have gathered my hony-combe with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milke: eate O friends, drinke, yea drinke abundantly, O Beloved!
THIS Song is a mirror of Christs love, a discovery of which wee have in part in this verse. Wherein Christ accepts of the invitation of the Church, and comes into his Garden: and he entertaines her with the termes of Sister and Spouse. SERM. II.Herein observe the description of the Church, and the sweet Compellation, [My Sister, my Spouse.] Where there is both Affinity and Consanguinity, all the bonds that may tye us to Chri…t and Christ to us.
1. His Sister, by Bloud.
2. His Spouse, by Mariage.
Christ is our Brother, and the Church and every particular true member thereof is his Sister. I go faith Christ, Iohn 20. 17.To my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God. Go (saith he) and tell my Brethren this was after his resurrection, his advancement did not change his disposition. Go tell my brethren that left me so unkindly, goe tell Peter that was most unkinde of all, and most cast …owne with the sence of it. Hee became our Brother by Incarnation: For, all our union is from the first union of two natures in one person Christ became bone of our bone, and fl…sh of our flesh; to make us spiritually bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh.
Therefore let us labour to be like to him, who for that purpose became like to us Immanuell God with us,Isa 7. 14. 2. Pet. 1. 4. that we might be like him, and and partake of the divine Nature. Whom should we rather desire to be like then one so great so gracious so loving?
Againe, Christ was not ashamed to call us Brethren, nor abhorred the Virgins wombe, to be shut up in those dark cells and streites: but tooke our base nature, when it was at the worst, and not only our nature, but our miserable condition and cur…e … unto us. Was not he ashamed of us, and shall we be ashamed to owne him and his cause? Against this Cowardize it is a thunderbolt, which our Saviour Christ pronounceth.Mark. 8. 38. He that is ashamed of me before men, him will I be ashamed of b…fore my Father, and all the holy Angels. It argues a base disposition, either for frowne or favour to desert a good cause in evill times.
Againe, It is a point of comfort to know that we have a Brother, who is a favourite in Heaven, who though he abased himselfe for us, is yet Lord over all. Unlesse he had beene our Brother, he could not have beene our husband, for Husband and Wife should be of one nature. That he might marie us, therefore he came, and tooke our nature, so to be fitted to fulfill the worke of our Redemption. But now he is in Heaven, set downe at the right hand of God: the true Ioseph, the high Steward of Heaven, he hath all power committed unto him, hee rules all. What a comfort is this to a poore soule that hath no friends in the world, that yet he hath a friend in Heaven, that will owne him for his Brother, in, and through whom he may goe to the Throne of Grace boldly and powre out his soule.Heb. 4. 15, 16. What a comfort was it to Iosephs brethren that their brother was the second person in the kingdome?
Againe, It should be a Motive to have good Christians in high estimation, and to take heed how we wrong them, for their Brother will take their part. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me? …aith the head in Heaven,Acts 9. 4 when his members were troden on upon earrh. It is more to wrong a Christian, then the world takes it for; for Christ takes it as done to himselfe. Absolom was a man wicked, and unnaturall, yet hee could not endure the wrong that was done to his sister Thamar. Iacobs sonnes tooke it as a high indignity, that their sister should be so abused. Hath Christ no affections now he is in Heaven, to her that is so neere him as the Church is? howsoever he suffer men to tiranize over her for a while, yet it will appeare ere long, that he will take the Churches part, for, he is her Brother.
My Sister, my Spouse.
The Church is the Daughter of a King, begotten of God,The Churches Royall discent. the Sister, and Spouse of a King, because she is the Sister, and Spouse of Christ, and the Mother of all that are spirituall Kings; the Church of Christ is every way Royall. Therefore, we are Kings, because we are Christians. Hence the Holy Ghost doth add heere to Sister, Spouse: indeed taking the advantage of such Relations as are most comfortable to set out the excellent, and transcendent Relation, that is betweene Christ, and his Church, all other are not what they are termed so much as glasses to see better things. Riches, Beautie, Mariage, Nobility, &c. are scarce worthy of their names; these are but Titles, and empty things, though our base nature make great matters of them, yet the reality and substance of all these are in Heavenly things. True Riches, are the heavenly Graces, true Nobility is to be borne of God, to be the Sister and Spouse of Christ, True pleasures are those of the Spirit, which endure for ever, and will stand by us, when all outward comforts will vanish.W…y the variety of Christs love to the Church, is so diversly expressed That mysticall union and sweet communion is set downe with such variety of expressions, to shew, that whatsoever is scattered in the Creature severally, is in Him intirely. He is both a friend, and a Brother, a Head, and a Husband to us, therefore hee takes the names of all, whence we may observe further,
That The Church is the Spouse of Christ. Observ.It springs out of him, even as Eve taken out of Adams Rib; (so the Spouse of Christ) was taken out of his side (when it was pierced) the Church rose out of his Bloud, and Death; for he Redeemed it, by satisfying divine justice: we being in such a Condition, that Christ must Redeeme us, before he could wed us. First, he must be incarnate in our Nature, before he could be a fit husband; and then, because we were in Bondage and Captivity, we must be Redeemed before hee could marrie us: hee purchased his Church with his owne bloud. Act. 20. 28.Christ hath right to us, he bought us dearely.
Againe, another foundation of this Marriage betweene Christ and us, is Consent; he workes us by his Spirit to yeeld to him, there must be consent on our part, which is not in us by nature, but wrought by his spirit, &c. We yeeld to take him upon his owne tearmes; that is,How Christ must be taken of us. that we shall leave our fathers house, all our former carnall acquaintance, when he hath wrought our consent, then the marriage betweene him and us is strooke up.
Some few resemblances will make the consideration of this the more comfortable. 1. The Husband takes his wife under his owne name, she loosing her owne name is called by his. So we are called Christians of Christ. 2. The Wife is taken with all her debt, and made partaker of the honours, and Riches of her Husband. Whatsoever hee hath is hers, and he stands answerable for all her debts, so it is heere, we have not only the name of Christ upon us, but we partake his honours, Revel. 1. 5, 6.and are Kings, Priests, and Heires with him. Whatsoever he hath, he hath taken us into the fellowship of it; so that his Riches, are ours, and likewise, whatsoever is ours, that is ill, he hath taken it upon him, even the wrath due to us, for hee came betweene that and us,2 Cor. 5. 21. when he was made sinne, and a curse for us; so There is a blessed change betweene Christ and us; his honours and Riches are ours; We have nothing to bestow on him, but our Beggery, sinnes, and miseries, which he tooke upon him.
Those that bring together these two different parties, are the friends of the Bride; that is, the Ministers, as it is Iohn 3. 23. They are the paranymphi the friends of the Bride,The duty of Ministers. that learne of Christ what to report to his Spouse, and so they wooe for Christ; and open the Riches, Beauty, honour, and all that is lovely in him, which is indeed the especiall duty of Ministers, to lay open his unsearchable Riches, that the Church may know what a Husband she is like to have, if she cleave to him, and what an one she leaves, if she forsake him. It was well said in the Counsell of Basil out of Bernard, Nemo committit sponsam suam Vicario; nemo enim Ecclesiae sponsus est; None commits his wife to a Vicar, for none is the husband of the Church. To be Husband of the Church is one of the incommunicable titles of Christ, yet usurped by the Pope. Innocent the third was the first that wronged Christs bed by challenging the title of Sponsus, Husband of the Church. Bernard forbids his scholler Eugenius this title, Epist. 237. ad Eugenium. It is enough for Ministers to be friends of the Bride. Let us yeeld him to be Husband of the Church that hath given himselfe to sanctifie it with washing of water and blood, Ephes. 5. 26. we are a wife of blood to him.
In this sweet Conjunction we must know, that by nature, we are cleane otherwaises then Spouses for what was Salomons wife Pharoahs daughter? a Heathen, till shee came to be Salomons Spouse. And as we reade in Moses the strange woman must have her haire cut off, and her nayles pared, before she should be taken into the Church, there must bee an alteration; so before the Church (which is not Hesthenish, but indeed Hellish by nature, and led by the spirit of the world) be fit to be the Spouse of Christ, Isa. 11. 7, 8.there must be an alteration and a change of nature;Iohn 3. 3. Christ must alter, renew, Purge, and fit us for himselfe, the Apostle saith, Ephes. 5. 16, it was the end of his death, not onelyonly to take us to Heaven, but to sanctifie us on Earth, and prepare us that we might be fit Spouses for himselfe.
Let us oft thinke of this nearenesse betweene Christ and us Vse. 1.(if we have once given our names to him) and not be discouraged for any sinne,Consolation. or unworthinesse in us.Vxori … non intenditur. Who sues a wife for debt, when she is married? Therefore answer all accusations Thus; Goe to Christ; if you have any thing to say to me, go to my husband; God is just, but he will not have his …ustice twice satisfied, seeing whatsoever is due thereunto, is satisfied by Christ our Husband? What a comfort is this to a distressed Conscience; if sinne cannot dismay us, which is the ill of ills and cause of all evill, what other ill can dismay us? He that exhorts us to beare with the infirmities one of another, and hath enjoyned the husband to beare with the wife (as the weaker vessell) will not he beare with his Church (as the1 Pet. 3. 7. weaker vessell) performing the duty of an husband in all our infirmities?
Againe, His desire is to make her better, and not to cast her away for that which is amisse. And for Outward ills, they are but to refine, and make us more conformable to Christ our Husband, to fit us for heaven, the same way that he went. They have a blessing in them all, for he takes away all that is hurtfull, he pitties, and keepes us as the apple of his eye. Zach. 2. 8.Therefore, let us often thinke of this, since he hath vouchsafed to take us so neere to himselfe. Let us not loose the comfort that this meditation will yeeld us. We love for goodnesse, beauty, riches, but Christ loves us to make us so, and then loves us because we are so in all estates whatsoever.
And if Christ be so neere us, Vse 3.Let us labour for chast judgements, that we doe not defile them with errours, seeing the whole soule is espoused to Christ, Verit…s est spōs… intellectu…Truth is the Spouse of our understandings it is not left to us to be wanton in opinions to take up what conceipt we will of things, so we ought to have chast affections not cleaving to base things, it hath beene oft times seene, that one husband hath had many wives, but never from the beginning of the world, that one wife hath had many husbands. God promiseth to betroth his Church to him in righteousnes & faithfullness, that is, as he will be faithfull to her, so she shall by his grace be faithfull to him, faithfullnes shall be mutuall, the Church shall not be false to Christ; so there is no Christian …oule must think to have many husbands; for Christ in this case is a jealous husband. Take heed therfore of spirituall harlotrie of heart, for our affections are for Christ, and cannot be better bestowed. In other things we loose our love, & the things loved; but heer we loose not our love, but this is a perfecting love, which drawes us to love that which is better, then our selves. We are, as we affect, our affections are, as their Objects be, if they be set upon better things,That our affections are like their objects. then our selves, they are bettered by it, they are never rightly bestowed, but when they are set upon Christ; and upon other things as they answer, and stand with the love of Christ. For, the prime love, when it is rightly bestowed, it orders, and regulates all other loves whatsoever. No man knowes how to use earthly things, but a Christian, that hath first pitched his love on Christ, then seeing all things in him, and in all them a beame of that love of his, intending happinesse to him, so he knowes how to use every thing in order. Therefore let us keepe our Communion with Christ, and esteeme nothing more, then his love, because he esteemes nothing more then ours.
But how shall we know, whether we be espoused to Christ, or not?Quest.
Our hearts can tell us, whether we yeeld consent to him, or not.Answ. 1 In particular, whether wee have received him,How to know if we …e espoused to Christ or not as he will be received, as a right Husband, that is, Whether we receive him to be ruled by him, to make him our Head. For the wife, when shee yeelds to be married, therewith also surrenders up her owne will to be ruled by her husband; so farre she hath denied her owne will, she hath no will of her owne. Christ hath wisedome enough for us, and himselfe too, whose wisedome, and will must be ours; To be led by divine Truths so farre, as they are discovered unto us, and to submit our selves thereunto, is a signe of a gratious heart, that is married to Christ.
Againe, a willingnesse to follow Christ in all conditions as he is discovered in the Word. The right disposition of the Spouse of ChristTo suffer Christ to have the soveraignty in our affections, above all other things and persons in the world. This is the right disposition of a true Spouse. For as it was at the first institution, there must be a leaving of Father, and Mother, and all, to cleave to the husband: so heere, when any thing and Christ cannot stand together, or else we shall never have the comfort of this sweete Name. Many men will be glad to owne Christ to be great by him, (but as S Austin complaines in his his time) Christ Iesus is not loved for Iesus his owne sake,Vix diligitur Iesus propter Iesum. but for other things, that he brings with him, peace, plenty, &c. as farre as it stands with these contentments; if Christ and the world part once, it will be knowne which we followed. In times of peace this is hardly discerned. If he will pay mens debts, so as they may have the credit and glory of the name to be called Christians, if hee will redeeme them from the danger of sinne, all is well; but onelyonly such have the comfort of this Communion, as love him for himselfe. Let us not so much trouble our selves about signes as be carefull to doe our duty to Christ, and then will Christ discover his love cleerely unto us.
Now, they that are not brought so neere to this happy condition by Christ, may yet have this incouragement,Vse 4. there is yet place of grace for them,Incouragement and direction for such as are not yet in Christ let them therefore consider but these three things.
1. The excellency of Christ, and of the state of the Church, when it is so neare him.
2. The necessity of this to be so neare him.
3. That there is hope of it.
There is in Christ whatsoever may commend a Husband, birth, comelinesse, riches, friends, wisdome, authority, &c.
The Excellencie of this condition to be one with Christ, is that all things are ours. For he is the King, and the Church the Queene of all, all things are serviceable to us, it is a wond…ro…s nearenesse to be nearer to Christ, hen the Angels, who are not his body, but servants that atend upon the Church: the Bride is nearer to him,Heb. 2. 16. then the Angels, for, he is the Head, and Husband thereof, and not of the Angels. What an excellent condition is this for poore flesh and bloud, (that creeps up and downe the earth here despised.)
But especially, If we consider the Necessity of it, we are all indebted for more then we are worth; to divine justice we owe a debt of obedience, and in want of that we owe a debt of punishment and we cannot answer one for a thousand. What will become of us if we have not a husband to discharge all our debts but to bee imprisoned for ever?
A person that is a stranger to Christ though he were an Achitophel for his braine, a Iudas for his Profession, a Saul for his place. Yet if his sinnes be set before him he will be swallowed up of despaire, fearing to be shut up eternally under Gods wrath; therefore if nothing else move, yet let necessity compell us to take Christ.
Consider not onelyonly how sutable and how necessary he is unto us, but what hope there is to have him, when as he sueth to us by his messengers, and woeth us when as we should rather seeke to him, and with other messengers sendeth a privy messenger, his Holy Spirit to incline our hearts; let us therefore as we love our soules, suffer our selves to be won. But more of this in another place. The next Branch is
3. Christs Acceptation, Christs acceptation.I have gathered my Myrrh with my Spice, &c. So that together with Christs presence, here is a Gratious acceptation of the provision of the Church, with a delight in it; and withall, a bringing of more with Him. The Church had a double desire, 1 That Christ would come to accept of what shee had for him of his owne Grace, which he had wrought in her soule. And 2 shee was also verily perswaded, that he would not come empty handed, only to accept of what was there, but also would bring abundance of Grace and comfort with him. Therefore, shee desires, Acceptation and Increase: both which desires He answers. He comes to his Garden, shewes his acceptation, and withall he brings more. I have gathered my Myrrh with my Spice, I have eaten my honey-combe with my honey: I have drunke my wine with my milke, &c. Whence we observe,
That God accepts of the Graces of his Children,Observ. and delights in them.
First, Because they are the fruits that come from his Children, his Spouse, his friend, love of the person wins acceptance of that which is presented from the person. What comes from love is lovingly taken.
They are the Graces of his Spirit. If we have any thing, that is good all comes from the spirit, which is first in Christ our Husband, and then in us.Psal. 133. As the Oyntment was first powred on Aarons head, and then ran downe upon his rich Garments: so all comes from Christ to us. Saint Paul calls the wife the Glory of her Husband, because (as in a glasse) she resembleth the Graces of her husband, who may see his owne Graces in her, so it is with Christ and the Church; face answereth to face (as Salomon …aith in another case) Christ sees his owne face, beauty, glory in his Church, she reflects his Beames, he lookes in love upon her, and alwaies with his lookes conveyes Grace, and comfort; and the Church doth reflect backe againe his Grace; Therefore Christ loves but the reflection of his owne Graces in his Children, and therefore accepts them.
3. His kindnesse is such as he takes all in good part, Christ is love and kindnesse it selfe. Why doth he give unto her the name of Spouse, and Sister but that he would be kinde, and loving, and that we should conceave so of him? We see then the Graces of Christ accepting of us and what we do in his strength. Both we our selves are sacrifices, and what we offer is a sacrifice acceptable to God thorough him that offered himself as a sacrifice of sweet smelling savour, from which God smells a savour of rest. God accepts of Christ first & then of us, and what comes from us in him. We may bouldly pray as Psal. 20. 3. Lord remember all our offerings and accept all our sacrifices. The blessed Apostle Saint Paul doth will us,Rom. 12. 1. to offer up our selves a holy and acceptable Sacrifice to God, when we are once in Christ. In the Old Testament we have divers manifestations of this acceptation. He accepted the Sacrifice of Abel (as it is thought) by fire from Heaven; and so Eliahs sacrifice, and Salomons by fire.1 King. 18. 18. So in the New Testament,1 Chron. 21. 2. he shewed his acceptation of the Disciples meeting together,Acts 2. 1. by a mighty wind and then filling them with the Holy Ghost. But now the declaration of the acceptation of our Persons, Graces, and Sacrifice, that we offer to him, is most in peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost, and from a holy fire of love kindled by the spirit whereby our sacrifices are burned. In the incense of prayer how many sweet spices are burned together by this fire of faith working by love, as humility, and patience in submitting to Gods will, hope of a gratious answer, holinesse, love to others, &c.
If so be,Vse 1. that God accepts the performances and Graces (especially the Prayers of his Children) Let it be an Argument to incourage us, to bee much in all holy duties. It would dead the heart of any man, to performe service, where it should not be accepted, and the eye turned aside, not vouchsafing a gratious looke upon it; this would be a killing of all comfortable endeavours. But when all that is good is accepted, and what is amisse is pardoned, when a broken desire, a cup of cold water shall not goe unrespected nay unrewarded, what can we desire more? It is infidelity which is dishonorable to God and uncomfortable to our selves that makes us so barren and cold in duties.
OnelyOnly let our care be to approve our hearts unto Christ. Vse 2.When our hearts are right, wee cannot, but thinke comfortably of Christ. Those that have offended some great Persons, are afraid▪ when they heare from them, because they thinke, they are in a state displeasing to them; So a soule, that is under the guilt of any sinne, is so farre from thinking that God accepts of it, that it lookes to heare nothing from him, but some message of anger, and displeasure. But one that preserves acquaintance, due distance, and respect to a great person, heares from him with comfort before he breakes open a letter, or sees any thing, he supposes it comes from a friend, one that loves him. So as we would desire to heare nothing but good newes from Heaven, and acceptation of all that we doe, let us be carefull to preserve our selves in a good estate, or else our soules will tremble upon any discovery of Gods wrath.The discourse of a guilty conscience. The guilty conscience argues, what can God shew to me, being such a wretch. The heart of such an one cannot but misgive, as where peace is made it will speake comfort. It is said of Daniel, that he was a man of Gods desires; and of Saint Iohn, that Christ so loved him, that he leaned on his breast. Every one cannot bee a Daniel, nor one that leanes on Christs bosome, there are degrees of favour, and love: but there is no child of God, but he is beloved and accepted of him in some degree, but something of this before in the former Chapter.
I have gathered my Myrrh with my Spice; I have eaten my honey-combe with my honey, &c.
That is, I have taken Contentment in thy Graces together with acceptation, there is a delight, and God not onelyonly accepts, but he delights in …he Graces of his Children. All my delight (saith David) is in those that are excellent, but this is not all, Christ comes with an inlargement of what hee findes.
Christ comes, and comes not empty; whensoever he comes, but with abundance of Grace. If Saint Paul (who was but Christs instrument) could tell the Romanes, Rom. 15. 29.I hope to come to you in abundance of Grace and comfort, because he was a blessed instrument to convey good from Christ to the people of God, as a Conduit-pipe? How much more shall Christ himselfe, where he is present, come with Graces and comfort? Those that have communion with Christ therefore, have a comfortable communion, being sure to have it inlarge…,Mat. 25. 29. for To him that hath shall be given. It is not onelyonly true of his last comming (when hee shall come to judge the quicke and the dead) I come, and my reward is with me; Revel. 22. 12.but also of all his intermediate commings, that are betweene, when he comes to the soule, he comes not onelyonly to accept what is there, but still with his reward with him, the increase of Grace, to recompence all that is good with the increase thereof. This made his presence so desired in the Gospell with those that had gracious hearts; They knew all was the better for Christ, the company the better, for he never left any house, or table where he was, but there was an increase of comfort, and of Grace. And as it was in his Personall, so it is in his Spirituall presence, he never comes▪ but he increases Grace and Comfort.Exhortation to have Communion with Christ.
Therefore, let us be stirred up to have communion with Christ (by this motive) that thus w…e shal have an increase of a further measure of grace. Let us labour to be such, as Christ may delight in, for our Graces are Honey and Spices to him, and where he tasts sweetnesse, he will bring more with him. To him that overcommeth, he promiseth the hidden Mannah; they had Mannah before, but he meanes they shall have more abundant communion with me,Revel. 2. 17. who am the hidden Mannah. There is abundance in him to be had, as the soule is capable of abundance. Therefore we may most fruitfully and comfortably be conversant in holy exercises, and communion with Christ, because our soules are fit to be inlarged more and more, till they have their fullnesse in heaven, and still there is more Grace and Comfort to be had in Christ, the more we have to deale with him.
But to come to shew what is meant by Honey and Wine, &c.W…y Grace is set forth by Honey and Wine. not to take uncertaine grounds from these words, but that which may be a foundation for us to build comfort and instruction on; we will not shew in particular what is meant by Wine and Honey, for that is not intended by the Holy Ghost; but shew in generall how acceptable the Graces of the Spirit of Christ are to him, that they feed him, and delight him, as hony and hony doe us, because in the covenant of grace, he filleth us by his Spirit of grace, to have comfort in us as we have in him. For, except there be a mutuall joy in one another, there is not communion. Therefore Christ furnisheth his Church with so much Grace, as is necessary for a state of absence heere, that may fit her for communion with him for ever in heaven.Ge…. 2…. 22. As Isaack sent Rebe…ah before the marriage Iewells, and ornaments to weare, that she might be more lovely when they met. So our blessed Saviour he sends to his Spouse from heaven, Iewells, and ornaments (that is) Graces wherewith adorned, he may delight in her more and more till the mariage be fulfilled. Therefore in this Booke, the Church is brought in delighting in Christ, and he in the Church. Thy love (saith the Church to him) is sweeter then wine. Cant. 1. 2.Christ saith to the Church againe, Thy love is sweeter then wine. Whatsoever Christ saith to the Church, the Church saith backe againe to Christ, and he backe againe to the Church; so there is a mutuall contentment, and joy one in another.
Eate O friends, Drinke, &c.
Heere is an Invitation; That all are stirred up to rejoyce in the Graces of the Church.when he comes stored with more Grace, and comfort, he stirs them up; both the Church, others, and all that beare good will to his People that they would delight in the Graces, and comforts of his Church. Whence observe, That
We ought to rejoyce in the Comforts and Graces of others,Observ. …nd of our selves.
He stirreth up the Church heere as well as duplicate page duplicate page others, for he speakes to all, both to the Church, and the friends of it, he had need to stirre her up to injoy the comfort of her owne Grace; for They are two distinct benefits, to have Grace; and to know that wee have it, though one spirit worke both. 1 Cor. 2, 12.The spirit workes Grace, and shewes us the things that God hath given us, yet sometimes it doth the one, and not the other. In the time of desertion, and of Temptation we have Grace, but we know it not; right to comfort, but we feele it not. There is no comfort of a secret unknowne treasure: but so it is with the Church, she doth not alwaies take notice of her owne Graces, and the right she hath to Comfort.
We have need to have Christs spirit to helpe us to know what good is in us. And indeed a Christian should not onelyonly examine his heart for the evill that is in him, to be humbled, but what good there is, that he may joy and be thankfull. And since Christ accepts the very first fruits, the earnest, and delights in them, we should know what hee delights in, that we may go boldly to him, considering, that it is not of our selves, but of Christ, whatsoever is gratiously good. Therefore wee ought to know our owne Graces, for Christ, when he will have us comfortable indeed, will discover to us what Cause we have to rejoyce, and shew us, what is the worke of his owne Spirit, and our right to all comfort.
And so, for others, we should not onelyonly joy in our selves,That we ought to rejoyce in the graces of others. and in our owne Condition, and Lot, but also in the happy condition of every good Christian. There is joy in heaven at the conversion of one sinner.Luke 15, 10.… God the Father joyes to have a new So…ne. God the Sonne to see the fruit of his owne Redemption, that one is pulled out of the state of damnation. And God the Holy Ghost, that he hath a new Temple to dwell in. The Angels, that they have a new charge to looke to, that they had not before, to joyne with them to praise God, so there is joy in heaven, the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost with the Angels joy at it: And all True hearted Christians joy in the graces one of another.
For God, Christ,Reason 1. and the Holy Ghost have glory by it, and the Church hath 2 comfort by the increase of a Saint. The prayer of a Christian adds new strength to the Church: what a happy condition is it when Gods glory, the Churches comfort and strength, and our owne joy meet together? So that we should all take notice of the Grace of God in others.
We ought to take notice of the workes of God in creation and providence; when we see plants, starres, and such like, or else we dishonour God. What then should we doe for his gifts and Graces in his children, that are above these in dignity, should we not take notice of what is gratiously good, and praise-God for it? Thus they did for Pauls conversion, They glorified God; for when they saw,Gal. 1. 24. that Paul of a Woolfe, was become not only a sheep, but a Shepheard and leader of Gods flocke, they glorified God.
So the beleeving Iewes, when the Gentiles were converted they glorified God, that he had taken the Gentiles to be his Garden, and People. Act 11. 18When Paul and others had planted the Gospell, and God gave the increase, the godly Iewes rejoyced at that good. So we that are Gentiles should rejoyce, to heare of the conversion of the Iewes, and pray for it, for, then there will be a generall joy when that is. Want of joy shewes want of grace. There is not a surer Character of a Satanicall, and Cainish disposition, then to looke on the Graces of Gods children with a malignant eye: as Caine, who hated his Brother, because his workes were better then his. Those that deprave the Graces of God in others, and cloud them with disgraces, that they may not shine, and will not have the sweet ointment of their good names to spread, but cast dead flies into it, shew that they are of his disposition that is the accuser of the Brethren, it is a signe of the child of the divel, all that have Grace in them, are of Christs and of the Angels disposition, They joy at the Conversion, and growth of any Christians: Here such as they are stiled friends and Beloved, and indeed none but friends and beloved can love as Christ loves, and delight as Christ delights.