Bowels Opened, Sermon 9
THE NINTH SERMON.SERM. IX.
CANT. V. VI.
I rose to open to my Beloved, but my Beloved had withdrawne himselfe, &c.
NAturally wee are prone to delaies in heavenly things, and then to cover all with excuses. A man is a Sophister to himselfe, whom hee first deceives, before the Divell, or the World deceive him; Which is the reason why so oft in Scripture you have this mentined.Gal 6. 7. B…e not deceived, God is not mocked. Bee not deceived, neither Adulterer, nor Covetous person, nor such and such, shall ever enter into the kingdome of Heaven. Bee not deceived. 1 Cor. 6. 9. 19.Which is an intimation, that naturally wee are very prone to bee deceived in points of the greatest consequence in the world, to flatter our selves (as the Church doth here) with false excuses. I have put of my coate, &c. But wee shall now see in this next verse, what becomes of all those excuses, and backewardnesse of the Church whereby she puts of Christ.
My Beloved put in his hand by the hole of the doore,Verse. 4. and my bowels were mooved for him,
I rose to open to my Beloved,Verse. 5. And my hands droopped with mirrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling mirrh upon the hand'es of the locke.
I rose to open to my Beloved,Verse. 6. but my Beloved had withdrawne himselfe, &c.
This comes of her sluggishnesse, and drowsiness, that Christ absented and withdrew himselfe. There are 3. things here set downe in these Verses now read.
1. Christs withdrawing of himselfe.
2. His gratious dealing having withdrawne himselfe.
Hee doth not altogether leave his Church, but puts his finger into the hole of the doore, and then leaves some sweetenes behind him before he goes. After which is set downe,
3. The successe of Christs departure, and withdrawing of himselfe from her.
1. Her Bowells were mooved in her, which were hard before.
2. Shee rose up out of her bed wherein for merly shee had framed, and composed her selfe to rest.
3. Shee seekes and calls after him.
But the Doctrinall points, which are to be observed out of these verses, are these,
1. That Christ doth sometimes use to leave his Children, Obser. 1.as he did the Church here.
2. That the cause is from the Church her selfe,Obser. 2. as wee see how unkindly shee had used Christ, to let him attend her leisure so long. Therefore hee taking a holy state upon him, leaves the Church; The cause of his forsaking us, is in our selves, we may thanke our selves for it.
3. That though Christ deale thus with us, Yet notwithstanding,Obser. 3. hee never leaves us wholly, without some footestepps of his saving grace, and everlasting love, some remainders and prints hee leaves upon the soule. So as it lingers after him, and never rests till it find him, he alwayes leaves something. There is never a totall desertion: as we see here in Christs dealing, hee puts his finger into the hole of the doo…e, he stands at the doore, and leaves myrrh behind him, something in the heart that causeth a lingering, aud restlesse affection in her towards Christ.
4. That the Church by reason of this gratious dealing of Christ (leaving somewhat behind him) is sensible of her former unkindnesse,Obser. 4. is restlesse and stirrs up her selfe to indeavour more and more, till shee have recovered her former communion, and sweet fellowship with Christ, which she had before. Shee never gives over till Christ and shee meet againe in peace (as wee shall see in the prosecution,) These be the chiefe points considerable.
First,Obser. 1. Christ doth use sometimes to leave his Church, as here he doth, My Beloved had withdrawne himselfe, &c.
But what kind of leaving is it?
Wee must distinguish of Christs leavings; and withdrawings of himselfe. They are either in regard of outward or inward comforts and helpes.
1. Outward, as Christ leaves his Church sometimes, by taking away the meanes of Salvation, the Ministery, or by taking away outward comforts; which is a withdrawing of his, especially if hee accompany the taking of them away with some signes of his displeasure, or sense of his anger, as usually it falls out. This doth imbitter all crosses, and losses, namely when they come from Christ, as a Testimony of his anger for our former unkindnesse.
2. Sometimes his forsaking is more inward; and that is double, Either in regard of peace, and joy, sweet inward comfort that the soule had wont to feele in the holy Ordinances by the Spirit of Christ; Or in regard of strength, and assistance. There is desertion in regard of Comfort and in regard of strength. Sometimes hee leaves them to themselves in regard of strength and supportation to fall into some sinne to cure some greater sinne perhaps.
Now that Christ thus leaves his Church it is true of all, both of the body and of each particular member of the Church.
It is true of the whole body of the Church, for you have the Church complaining,In the whole Body. Isa. 49. 14. God hath forgotten me. Can a mother forget her child? (saith God againe) so Psal. 44. 9. and in other places, the Church complaines of forsakings, The Scripture is full of complaints in this kind.
It is true of the sever all members and especially of the most eminent members; as we see holy Iob complaines,Iob. 7. 2. as if God had set him (as it were) a but to shoot at, and had opposed himselfe against him. So David complaines (Psal. 88. 11. Psal. 77. 9. and Psal. 60. 1. and in other Psalmes) of Gods anger. Correct mee not in thine anger. The Psalmes are full of this; so as it would be time unprofitably spent to be large in a point so cleare, that every one knoweth well enough, who reads and understands the Psalmes.Ionah. 2. 4, 5. So Ionab likewise felt a kind of forsaking, when he was in the middest of the sea, when the waves were without, and terrors within, when he was in the middest of h…ll, (as it were) thus you see the instances cleere the point▪
The ends, To indeare former slighted presence.that God hath in it, are many, First, To indeare his presence the more to us, which we slighted too much before. It is our corruption, the not valuing of things till they be gone, wee set not the true price upon them when wee enjoy them. When we enjoy good things, we looke at the grievances which are mingled with the good, and forget the good, which when it is gone then wee remember the good.Numb. 11. 5. The Israelites could remember their onyons and garleeke, and forget their slaverie. So because Manna was present, they despised Manna, and that upon one inconvenience it had, It was ordinary with them. Thus the corrupt heart of man is prone in the enjoying of favours, If it have any grievance, it murmures at that, and it troubles and makes them forget all the goodnesse and sweetenesse of what they enjoy. But on the contrary when God withdrawes those good things from us, then we forget those former inconveniences, and begin to think what good we had by them. This is the poyson and corruption of our Nature.
Againe, Christ seemes to forsake us, to try the truth of the Graces and affections in us, To trie the truth of our graces and affections.whether they be true or not, and to cause us to make after him, when hee seemes to forsake us, as undoubtedly wee shall, where there is truth of grace planted in the heart in any measure.
And In regard of others,To teach us wisdome how to deale with others. he doth it to teach us heavenly wisdome how to deale with those in affliction, It makes us wise, tender, and successefull in dealing with others, when wee have felt the like particular grievance our selves,2 Cor. 1. 4. as Gal. 6. 1. Bretheren if a man be overtaken in a fault, you that are spirituall restore such an one in the spirit of meekenesse, considering thy selfe, least thou also be tempted, Experience of spirituall griefe in this kind, will make us fit, able and wise every way to deale with others.
This serves likewise To weane us from the world,To weane us from the world. in the plenty and abundance of all earthly things; For take a Christian that hath no crosse in the world, let him find some estrangement of Christ from his spirit, that he finds not the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and that inlargement which in former times he enjoyed, and all the wealth hee hath, the earthly contentments he enjoyes please him not, nor can content that soule, which hath ever felt sweet communion with Christ. Againe, how should we pray with earnestnesse of affection, Thy Kingdome come (in the time of prosperity,) except there were somewhat in this kind to raise up the soule to desire to be gone? Now it is our subjection to these alterations, and changes, ebbings, and flowings, sometimes to have the sence of Gods love in Christ, and sometimes to want it, sometimes to feele his love, and sometimes againe the fruits of his anger and displeasure, which serves exceedingly to stirre up mens desires of Heaven.
5. In this place heere,To correct our securitie. the especiall end was To correct the security, and ill carriage of the Church.
And likewise,To prepare the soule for a neerer communion with him. To prepare the Church by this desertion, and seeming forsaking for neerer communion. For indeed Christ did not forsake her, but to her feeling, to bring her in the sequell, to have neerer communion and union with himselfe then ever shee had before, God forsakes, that he may …ot forsake; hee seemes strange, that hee may be more friendly, this is Christs usage, hee personates an adversary, when he intends to show the greatest effects of his love, as wee may see afterwards in the passages following.
And also, To make us to know throughly the bitternesse of sinne, That wee may know throughly what the bitternesse of sin is.that we may grow to a further hatred of that which deprives us of so sweete a communion; Wee thinke sinne a trifle, and never know it enough till the time of temptation, that conscience be awakened and opened, that it appeares in its right colours.
And then againe, That wee may know what Christ suffered,That wee may taste a little what Christ suffered. and underwent for us in the sence of Gods wrath, in the absence of his favour for a time. This the humane Nature could never have suffered, if his divinity had withdrawne it selfe. Now all of us must sip of that cup, whereof Christ dranke the dreggs, having a tast what it is to have God to forsake us, for the most part, those beleevers who live any time, (especially those of great partes,) God deales thus with, weaker Christians hee is more indulgent unto; at such times we know of what use a Mediatour is, and how miserable our condition were without such an one, both to have borne and overcome the wrath of God for us, which burden hee could never have undergone, but had sunke under it, but for the Hypostaticall u… on.
Let us not therefore censure any Christian,Vse. 1. when we find that their course hath beene good,Not to censure other Christians wanting comfort. and gratious, yet notwithstanding they seeme to want comfort, let us not wonder at them, as if God had utterly forsaken them, indeed sometimes they thinke themselves forsaken, and the world thinks them so too, that God regards them not, They are people of no respect either to God or to others, as you have the Church in the Psalmes complaining,Psal. 44. 9. as if God had forsaken them, so they thinke themselves forsaken, and the world thinks them so too, and neglects them. Therefore in so dooing we shall censure the generation of the Righteous. It was thus with the Head of the Church, with the whole Church, and with every particular member; neither is it fit wee should alwayes enjoy the sence of Gods love. Christ by heavenly wisedome dispenseth of his sweetenesse, comforts and peace, as may stand with our soules best good, and wee should as much take heed of censuring our selves in that condition, as if we were rejected and cast away of God. Wee must judge our selves at such time by Faith, and not by feeling; looking to the promises and Word of God, and not to our present sense and appreh…nsion.Vse. 2.
Againe if this be so,To prepare and looke for desertion. Learne to prepare and looke for it before hand, and to get some grounds duplicate page duplicate page of comfort, some promises out of the word, and to keepe a good conscience. O it is a heavy thing, when God shall seeme to be angry with us, and our conscience at the same time shall accuse us, when the Divell shall lay sinnes hard to our charge, and some affliction at the same time lie heavy upon the sore and guilty soule. If we have not somewhat layed up before hand, what will become of the poore soule, when Heaven, and Earth, and Hell, and all shall seeme to be against it. There are few that come to Heaven, but they know what these things meane. It is good therefore to looke for them, and to prepare some comforts before hand.
But what here should be the inward mooving cause: It is in the Church her selfe, for marke the coherence; she had turned of Christ with excuse, pretences, and delatory answers, and now presently upon it Christ forsakes her in regard of her feeling, and of the sweet comfort she formerly enjoyed, The point is.
That the cause rests in our selves why Christ withdrawes comfort from our soules.Obser. 2.
If we search our owne hearts we shall find it so,Causes of desertion in our selves. and usually the causes in our selves are these, as it was in the Church here. 1. When we are unkind to Christ, and repell the sweet motions of the Spirit. 2. When we improove not the pretious meanes of Salvation that we enjoy. 3. When wee are carelesse of our conversation and company. 4. When we linger after carnall liberties, and ease. 5. When we yeeld to carnall policie, and shifts to keepe us of from the power of Religion, to goe on in a luk… warme course. 6. When we linger after earthly things and comforts, and wrap our selves up in fl…shly pollicy for ease. 7. When we tremble not at Gods judgements, and threatnings, and at the signes of them; with many such things. Where these dispositions are, we need not wonder if wee find not the comforts of Christ, and of the Holy Ghost in us with the gratious presence of his Spirit; the cause is in our selves. But security hath beene at large spoken of before, where the Churches sleepe was handled, therefore the point shall not be here inlarged, but onelyonly some use made of it, as may serve for the present purpose.
If Christ should take away the comforts that we enjoy,Vse. 1. and remoove himselfe; and his dwelling from us, (for he is now yet among us and knocks at our doores,) doe we not give him just cause to depart? what a spirit of slumber possesseth us, which will be awaked with nothing to seeke after Christ? how few lay hould upon God, presse upon him, wrestle with him by prayer? to hide themselves before the evill day come, as they should doe. Therefore if Christ have absented himselfe a long time from the Church in generall, and withdrawne the comfort and presence of his ordinances and in particular withheld the sweet comforts of our spirits, and our peace, so that we see him in the contrary signes of his displeasure and anger, as if hee did not regard and respect us, we have given him just cause so to doe. Wee see here how the Church used Christ and so doe we with the like security, and a spirit of slumber, with unkindnesse, notwithstanding all the provocations that Christ useth to winne us; hee leaves us not, untill he be left first, for he desires to have neerer acquaintance, communion and fellowship with the soule; as we have seene in the former verse, My love, my dove, my undefiled, Open to mee, &c. Therefore if we doe not injoy more acquaintance with Christ then we doe, and walke more in the comforts of the Holy Ghost;Acts. 9. 39. it is meerely from our owne indisposition and security. Therefore let us censure our selves in this kind,The best way to recover spirituall …. and not call Christ an enemie, as if he had forgotten, and God had forsaken. Take heed of such a spirit of murmuring, If such a state befall us, let us labour to lay our hand upon our mouth, and to justifie Christ. It is just with thee thus to leave me, to give mee over to this terrour, to deale thus with me, that have dealt so unkindly with thee; so to justifie God, and accuse our selves, is the best way to recover spirituall comfort.
Well,Obser. 3. for the third Point. That howsoever Christ be provoked by the Churches … drowsinesse, and carelesse carriage, … regard of her feeling, and of inward comfort. … notwithstanding he is so gracious, … to leave some thing behind him, that shewes indeed, that hee had not left the Church altogether, but onelyonly in some regard. For howsoever Christ (in regard of some order of his providence) leave it, yet in regard of another order of his providence, care and mercy, he doth not leave it, so as one way which he takes must sometimes give place to another way of his working in ordering things. Sometimes he is present in a way of comfort, that is one order of his dispensation: and wh…n he sees that that is neglected, then hee withdrawes his comforts and hides his gratious countenance, yet he is then present still in an other order and way, though we discerne it not, that is, in a way of humbling the soule, letting it see its sinne. So here howsoever Christ had withdrawne himselfe in regard of this manner of his dealing, in respect of comfort, that the Church did not now see his grace, favour, yet he left behind him a spirit of grace, to affect her heart with griefe, sorrow, and shame, and to stirre up her indeavours to seeke after him, (as it is said here,) I rose to open to my Beloved and my hands dropt myrrh, and my fingers sweet swelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lockes.
Here observe these three things which shall be briefly named because they shall be touched elfe where.
Christs grace is the cause of our grace,Obser.
He first leaves myrrh, and then her fingers drop myrrh: our oyle is from his oyle, the head beeing …,Psal. 133. 2. & 36. 9. the oyle ran downe to the skirts of … garments;Joh. 1. 16. Out of his … we receive grace for grace, that is, our grace is answerable duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page to the grace of Christ, wee have all from him, favour for his favour, because he is beloved we are beloved, we have the grace of Sanctification from him, he was Sanctified with the Spirit, therefore we are Sanctified, we have Grace of priviledge for his grace, he is the Sonne of God, therefore wee are Sonnes: Hee is the heire of Heaven, therefore wee are heires, so that of his grace it is we receive all, whether we take grace for favour, or for the grace of Sanctification, or the grace of Priviledge and Prerogative, all our graces are from his, our myrrh from his myrrh.
This should teach us,Vse. the necessity of dependance upon Christ for whatsoever we have or would have, which dependance upon Christ is the life of our life, the soule of our soules.
Againe observe from hence, that the Churches fingers dropped myrrh when she opened the doore, and stirred up her selfe to indeavour. When first her bowels were mooved, then shee makes to the doore, and then her hands dropped myrrh, so that:
Wee finde experience of the grace of Christ especially when we stirre up our selves to ind…avour. Arise and be do…ng and the Lord shall be with thee, Observ.(saith David to Salomon,) so let us rowse up our selves to indeavour,1. Cron. 28. 20. and we shall find a gracious presence of Christ, and a blessed assistance of the Spirit of Christ, who will shew himselfe in the midst of indeavours. To him that hath shall be given: what is that? To him that hath (if hee exercise and stirre up the grace of God in him) shall be given. Therefore let us stirre up the graces of God in us,Mat. 25. 29. let us fall upon actions of obedience, second them with prayer, whatsoever we pray for and desire set upon the practise thereof; we mocke God else except we endeavour for that we desire. There was myrrh left on the doore, but she feeles it not till she arose opened the doore, and layed her hand upon the locke.
I speake to any Christians experience, if in the midst of obedience they doe not find that comfort they looked for, and that it is meate and drinke to doe Gods will. Therefore keepe not off and say, I am dead and drowsy, therefore I shall be still so; you are deceived, fall upon obedience and practising of holy duties, and in the midst thereof thou shalt find the presence and assistance of Gods Spirit, that will comfort thee.
The third thing observeable from hence is this: That Gods Graces are sweet.
Pleasant and sweet,Obser. 3. compared here to myrrh which was an ingredient in the holy oyle, grace makes us sweet, prayers are sweet, as it is Rev. 8. 4. Christ mingleth them with his owne sweet odours, and so takes and offers them to God. Holy Obedience is sweet and delightfull to God and to the conscience, it brings peace and delight to others, therefore they are called fruites; fruit doth not onelyonly imply and shew the issuing of good things from the root. duplicate page duplicate page but there is also a pleasantnesse in it, so there is a delightfulnesse in good workes as there is in fruite to the taste: Therefore if we would be sweet and delightfull to God, let us labour to have grace. It we would thinke of our selves with contentment, and have inward sweetnesse, Let us labor for the graces of Gods Spirit, these are like myrrh.Prov. 15. 8. The wicked are an abomination unto the Lord, who abhors them and whatsoever is in them. But, the righteous and sincere man is his delight. Therefore if we would approve our selves to God, and feele that hee hath delight in us; labour to be such as hee may delight in.
Wherefore let the discouraged soule make this use of it;Vse. not to be affraid to doe that which is good upon feare we should sinne. Indeed sinne will cleave to that we doe, but Christ will pardon the sinne, and accept that which is sweet of his owne Spirit, Let us not esteeme basely of that which Christ esteemes highly of; nor let that be vile in our eyes that is pretious in his; let us labour to bring our hearts to comfortable obedience, for it is a sweet sacrifice to God.
Now whence came all this? from this that is mentioned, verse. 4. My Beloved put in his hand by the hole of the doore, and my bowels were … for him. First for that expression, he put his finger in by the hole of the doore. It implies here that Christ before he departed left by his Spirit an impression on the Churches heart which deepely affected her to seeke after him.
The Fingers spoken of, are nothing but the power of his Spirit: as the usuall Scripture phrase is,Exod. …. 19. This is Gods finger, Gods mighty hand, without which all ordinances are ineffectuall, Paul may plant and Apollos may water, 1. Cor. 3. 7.but all is nothing without the working of the Spirit, The motions whereof are most strong, being Gods finger, whereby he wrought all that affection in the Church, which is here expressed. Christ before he leaveth the Church, puts his finger into the …ole of the doore, that is, he workes somewhat in the soule by his Spirit, which stirred up a constant indeavour to seeke after him. For why else followes it, her bowells were mooved after him, which implies a worke of the Spirit upon her bowels, exprest in her griefe for his absence, and shame for her refusing his entrance, and whereby her heart was mooved, and turned in her to seeke after him. From whence thus explained observe,
That outward means will doe no good unlesse the finger of Christ come to doe all that is good.Obser.
The finger of Christ is the Spirit of Christ, that is, a kind of Divine power goes from him in hearing and speaking the word of God, and in prayer, there is more then a mans power in all this, if these work any effect Christ must put his finger in, when … are unfolded to us in the Ministery of the word, all is to no purpose, but the founding of a voyce, unlesse the finger of Christ open the heart and worke in the soule.
Let us make this use of it therefore, not to rest in any meanes whatsoever,Vse. 1. but desire the presence of Christs finger to moov…, and to worke upon our hearts and soules; Many carelesse Christians goe about the ordinances of God, and never regard this power of Christ, this mighty power, the finger of Christ. Thereupon they find nothing at all that is divine and spirituall wrought in them. For as it required a God to redeeme us, to take our nature, wherein he might restore us; so likewise it requires the power of God to alter our natures. We could not be brought into the state of grace without Divine satisfaction, and we cannot be altered to a frame of grace without a Divine finger, the finger of God working upon our hearts and soules. This should moove us in all the ordinances of God that we attend upon, to lift up our hearts in the midst of them: Lord, let me feele the finger of thy Spirit writing thy word upon my heart. Turne us O Lord, and wee shall be turned. Pray for this quickning, and in livening; for this strengthening Spirit: all comes by it. 2. From this that it is said here, That Christ puts his finger into the hole of the doore before hee remooved it and withdrew himselfe, Observe.
How graciously Christ doth deale with us, That he doth alwayes leave some grace,Obser. 2. before hee doth offer to depart? Let us therefore for the time to come, lay, and store this up as a ground of comfort, that howsoever Christ may leave us, yet notwithstanding hee will never leave us wholly, but as he gave us his holy Spirit at first, so he will continue him in us by some gracious worke or other, either by way of comfort, or of strength to uphold us. Perhaps we may need more sorrow, more humility, then of any other grace. For, Winter is as good for the growing of things as the Spring, because, were it not for this, where would be the killing of weedes, and wormes, and preparing of the ground, and land for the spring; So it is as needfull for Christians to find the presence of Christ in the way of humiliation, and abasement, causing us to afflict our owne soules, as to feele his presence in Peace, Ioy, and Comfort. In this life we cannot be without this gracious dispensation. We may therefore comfort our selves, that howsoever Christ leaves us, yet he will alwayes leave somewhat behind him, as here he left some myrrh after him upon the handle of the doore; some myrrh is left alwayes behind him upon the soule, which keepes it in a state and frame of grace, and sweetens it. Myrrh was one of the ingredients in the holy oyle, as it is Exod. 30. 30. and so this leaving of myrrh behind him, signifies the oyle of grace left upon the soule, that inabled the Church to doe all these things, which are after spoken of.
But you will say,Object. How doth this appeare when in some desertion a Christian finds no grace, strength, or comfort at all? that nothing is left?
It is answered,Answ. they alwayes do…. Take those who at any time have had experience of the love of God, and of Christ formerly, take them at the worst, you shall find from them some sparkles of grace, broken speeches of tryed secret comfort, some inward strength and strugling against corruptions, their spirits end eavouring to recover themselves from sinking too low, and with something withstanding both despaire and corruption. Take a Christian at the worst, there will be a discovery of the Spirit of Christ left in him, notwithstanding all desertion. This is universally in all in some measure though perhaps it is not diceerned to a Christian himselfe, but to those that are able to judge. Sometimes others can read our evidences better then our selves. A Christian that is intemptation cannot judge of his owne estate, but others can; and so, at the very worst, he hath alwayes somewhat left in him, where by he may be comforted, Christ never leaves his Church and Children that are his wholly. Those that are wholly left, they never had saving grace, as Achitophell, can, Sa…le and I…da… were left to themselves. But for the Children of God, if ever they found the power of sanctifying grace, Christ whom he loves,Ioh. 13. 1. he loves to the end; From whom he departs not, unlesse he leaves somewhat behind him, that sets an edge upon the desires to seeks after him.
Make this 2.Vse. 2. use of it, To magnifie the gratious love and mercy of Christ; that when we de…erve the contrary to be left altogether, yet notwithstanding so graciously he deales with us. Behold in this his dealing the mercy of Christ, hee will not suffer the Church to be in a state of security, but will rather (to cure her) bring her to another opposite state of griefe and sorrow, as we shall see in the next point, How that which Christ left in the heart of the Church, so afflicted her, That her bowels were turned in her. Whereupon she riseth, seekes, and inquires after Christ by the watch-men, and others. So she saith of her selfe.
My bowels were mooved in mee, &c.
What was that? My heart was affected full of sorrow and griefe for my unkind dealing with Christ. Hereby those affections were stirred up (that were afore sleepy and secure) to godly griefe, sorrow, and shame: For, God hath planted affections in us, and joyned them with conscience, as the executioners with the judge. So that, when as conscience accuseth of any sinne, either of Omissi… or Commission, affections are ready to be the execucutioners within us. Thus to prevent eternall damnation, God hath set up a throne in our own hearts to take reveng… and correction by our owne affections, godly sorrow and mourning, as here the Church saith, My …owels were …, It was a shame and griefe, springing ou… of love to Christ that had beene so kind, patient and full of forbea…ance to her. My … mee, that is, sorrow and griefe w…re upon me for my unkind dealing.
The observation from hence is,
That security, and a cold dull state, produceth a contrary temper: that is,Observ. those that are cold, dull, secure, and put of Christ, he suffers them to fall into sharpe so…rowes and griefes.
We usually say, cold diseases must have hot and sharp remedies; It is most true spiritually, security, which is a kind of lethargy, (a cold disease) forgetting of God, and our duty to him, must have a hot and sharpe cure; And the lethargy is best cured by a Burning Ague. So Christ deales here, he puts his finger in at the hole of the doore, and leaves grace behind to worke upon the bowels of the Church, to make her grieve and be ashamed for her unkind dealing. Thus he cures security by sorrow. This is the best conclusion of sinne.
And we may observe withall,Observ. That even sinnes of omission they bring griefe, shame, and sorrow, And in the issue through Christs sanctifying them, these which they breed, consume the Parent, that is, sinne brings forth sorrow, shame, and griefe, which are a meanes to cure sinne. Securitys breeds this mooving of the bowe's; which mooving helpes security. Would wee therefore prevent sorrow, shame, and griefe, Take heed then of security the cause that leads to them; yea of sinnes of omission, wherein there is more danger, then in sinnes of commission. The sinnes of carnall wicked men, are usually sinnes of commission, most which breake out outragiously, and thereby taynt themselves with open sinnes. But the sinnes of Gods people (who are neerer to him) are for the most part sinnes of omission, that is negligence, coldnesse, carelessenesse in duty, want of zeale, and of care they should have in stirring up the graces of God in them, as the Church here, which did not give way to Christ, nor shooke of security.
Let us esteeme as slightly as we will of sinnes of omission, Vse.and carelessenesse; they are enough to bring men to hell if God be not the more mercifull. It is not required onelyonly that we doe no harme, and keepe our selves from outward evills, but we must doe good in a good manner, and have a care to be fruitfull, and watchfull, which if wee doe not, this temper will bring griefe, shame, and sorrow afterwards; As here even for sinues of omission, deadnesse, and dullnesse, wee see the Church is left by Christ; and her bowells are turned in her: For careles neglect, and omission of duty to God, is a presage, and forerunner of some downfall and dejection. And commonly it is true, when a man is in a secure and carelesse estate, a man may read his destiny, (though he have beene never so good) nay the rather, if hee be good, Such a one is in danger to fall into some sharpe punishment, or into some sinne; for of all states and tempers, God will not suffer a Christian to be in a secure, lazy, dead state, when he cannot performe things comfortably to God, or himselfe, or to others, a dead secure estate is so hatefull to him, (decay in our first love, this lukewarme temper) that he will not endure it, it either goes before some greate sinne, crosse, affliction, or judgement.
My bowells were moved in me.
And good reason, it was a suitable correction, to the sinne wherein shee offended. For Christ his bowells were turned towards her in love and pitty, My love, my dove, my …nd…filed, in which case, shee neglecting him, it was …it shee should find moving of bowels in another sence (out of love too) but in shame and mourning. Christ here leaves her to seeke after him, that had waited and attended her leisure before, as we shall see after.
The next thing wee may hence observe, in that, That her bowels were … in her from something left in the hole of the doore by the Spirit of Christ, is,
That Christ hath our affections in his gover… ment.Obser.
He hath our bowels in his rule and governement, more then we our selves have. Wee cannot of our selves rule our griefe, shame, sorrow, or such affections as these, The wisest man in the world cannot award griefe, and sorrow, when God will turne it upon his bowells, and make a man ashamed and confounded in himselfe. All the wit and pollicy in the world cannot suppresse those affections. For Christ rules our hearts. The heares of Kings are in his hand,Prov. 21. 1. as the rivers of water, as well as the hearts of ordinary persons.
If hee set any thing upon the soule to afflict it and cast it downe, it shall afflict it, if it be but a conceit, if hee will take away the raines from the soule, and leave it to its owne passion, removing away its guard, (for he by his Spirit guards our soules with peace, by commaunding of tranquillity;) So as let him but leave it to its selfe, and it will teare it selfe in sunder,2 Sam▪ 17. 23. as Achitophell who being left to himselfe, did teare himselfe in peeces;Gen. 4. C…in also being thus left, was disquicted, tormented, and wracked himselfe.Mat▪ 27. …, 4. So Iudas in this case, being divided in himselfe, you see what became of him; Let Christ but leave us to our owne passion of forrow; what will become of us but misery? Hee hath more rule therefore of our passions then we our selves have, because we cannot rule them graciously, nor can we stay them when we would.
Therefore this should strike an awe in us of God,Vse. with a care to please him: For, there is not the wisest man in the world, but if he remove his guard from his soule, and leave him to himselfe; if there were no Divell in hell, yet he would make him his owne tormentor and executioner. Therefore the Apostle makes this sweete promise, Phil. 4. 7. He bids them pray to God; And the …eace of God which … all … [guard] the… soules, &c. So the word is in the originall. It is a great matter for the …eeping of Gods people, to have their soules guarded.
Her bowells were turned in her.Obser.
Here againe, as the conclusion of all this, we seeing this estate of the Church, may wonder at Christs carriage towards her in this world.1 Thes 3. Christ is wonderfull in his Saints, and in his goodnesse towards them, Sometimes alluring them, as we see Christ the Church here; wondrous in patience, notwithstanding their provocation of him; wondrous in his desertions, wondrous in leaving something behind him in desertions Those that are his he will not leave them without grace, whereby they shall seeke him againe. Nay, the falling out of lovers, shall be the renewing of fresh and new love, more constant then ever the former was. Thus our blessed Saviour goes beyond us in our deserts, taking advantage (even) of our security (for our greater good) making all worke to good in the issue,Rom. 8. 28. which shall end in a more neere and close communion between Christ and his Church, then ever before. Carnall men feele not these changes, ebbings and flowings; they are not acquainted with Gods forsakings. Indeed their whole life is nothing but a forsaking of God, and Gods forsaking of them, who gives them outward comforts, peace and friends in the world, wherein they sollace themselves, but for inward communion with him, any strength to holy duties, or against sinne, for to be instruments for Gods honour, and service, to doe any good, they are carelesse. For they live here to serve their owne turnes, leaving their state and inheritance behind them. The Scripture saith,Psal. 35. 19. They have no changes, therefore they feare not God, and so they goe downe to Hell quietly and securely. O but it is otherwise with Gods Children, they are tossed up and downe, God will not suffer them to prosper, or live long in a secure, drowsy sinfull state, the continuance wherein is a fearefull evidence, that such an one as yet hath no saving grace, nor that he yet belongs to God, seeing Christ hates such an estate, and will not suffer his to be long therein, but will shift and remove them from vessell to vessell, from condition to condition, till hee have wrought in them that disposition of soule that they shall regard and love him more and more, and have neerer, and neerer communion with him.
The end of the ninth Sermon.