Sermons Preached Upon Several Occasions, Sermon 5
SERMON V.
CANT. 2. 3. I ſat under his ſhadow with great delight, and his fruit was ſweet to my taſte.
I Gave you the ſeveral readings of the verſe: In his ſhadow I deſired and ſa…, ſo ſome ſay; in his ſhadow I deſired that I might ſit: others thus, In his ſhadow I delighted and ſat down; I have delighted. I come to the Application.
A word of Inſtruction. You ſee that every thing that is in Chriſt is very uſeful; not ſo much as the ſhadow of Chriſt is uſeleſs: and if the ſhadow be ſo uſeful and deſirable, what is the tree it ſelf, and what is the fruit that this tree brings forth? And if ſo, then by way of caution, I ſay, take heed of ſitting under the ſhadow of any one creature comfort. He that is not under the ſhadow of Chriſt, he is under the ſhadow of Death. It's a poor ſhadow that all creature comforts afford, it's a ſhadow that will not continue when the Sun ſhall break forth at noon day. You know the natural ſhadow it goes up when the Son is at the higheſt, and when men have moſt need of the ſhadow, the ſhadow goes up, and thus is the ſhadow of all creature comforts: in times of affliction, in times of diſtreſs when men have moſt need of them, then the ſhadow of creature comforts leaves them; but now Chriſts ſhadow it's always refreſhing, it continues even at noon day, he makes his flock to reſt at noon day. It's not poſſible for the Soul to hold out in time of perſecution, if it ſits not under Chriſts ſhadow: the ſtony ground is ſoon withered, why, becauſe Chriſt did not overſhadow it. Well then, I ſhall proceed to an uſe of Exhortation, and that is
Ʋſe. Firſt, To ſpeak to ſuch as are ſtrangers to Chriſt, to ſuch as for the preſent ſit under the ſhadow of Death, and under the ſhadow of Hell and deſtruction. Oh that the Lord would perſwade your hearts to come and ſit under the ſhadow of Chriſt! Poor ſinners, you that are working the works of the Devil, you that are drudges to Satan, and your luſts, the baſe luſts of your own hearts, you that have a long time wearied your ſelves in the ſervice of ſin, and ſpent your labour as the Prophet ſpeaks, for that which cannot ſatisfie; Oh that you would not be content to be perpetual drudges to Satan. The Devil hath been willing to make you drudges, be not you willing to make your ſelves everlaſting drudges; Oh bethink of ſome reſting-place where you may ſit down and reſt from this labour, from this bondage of Satan; it may be whilſt you are under the purſuit of ſin, you are not ſenſible of it, you are not ſenſible of thoſe labours, pains and travails of the Soul. It fares with the poor ſinner as it fairs with a labouring man or a ſervant that is over-wrought; it may be (eſpecially if he be uſed to it) he feels it not whilſt he is in it, he feels not the ach, nor the evil of it; but when the evening comes, when he lies down for reſt, he feels then the fruit of his former labour and travail in his bones; and truly ſo it is with many a ſinner, whilſt they are in the purſuit of ſin, they feel not the pain, they feel not the ach, ay but the time is coming, the evening is coming, the night is coming, when they muſt lie down, when they can no longer go on, when they muſt whether they will or no reſt from that Labour; then certainly they will find and feel the ſmart of their former drudgery and bondage in their Spirit: Our Lord Jeſus made that an argument, John 9. 4. I muſt work the works of him that ſent me whilſt it's day: The night cometh when no man can work; but let me ſay the contrary to you, Oh don't work the works of Satan whilſt it's day, do not work the works of ſin all the day long, the night comes when you muſt ceaſe the labour of ſin, and then of a certain you will feel the ſmart of your pains and former ſervices in ſin; Oh then that the Lord would help you to conſider when you ſhall have a reſting place, when you ſhall ſit down and reſt your Souls, before the ſtrength of your Spirits be ſpent in the labour of ſin: Let me ſpeak this word in your ear and tell you, the Lord Jeſus is willing that you ſhould ſit down under his ſhadow, here's a ſweet cool refreſhing reſting-place for you to take up in: And let me ſay further for your incouragement to come under this ſhadow,
That the Lord Jeſus, he will keep you for the future; he will be a defence to you, that your old Maſter ſhall not take you away again, and the Soul whom Chriſt hath taken to himſelf is free from the bondage of ſin, and if the Son make you free you ſhall be free indeed: if you ſit under any ſhadow but Chriſt, the Devil, your luſts and your own hearts will fetch you back again: it may be you have ſat down under your good works, vows, reſolutions, humiliations and repentances, and the like, yet notwithſtanding all this, the Devil and the corruption of your own hearts have fetcht you back again to the old ſlavery, and to the old bondage. Oh that you would truſt this ſhadow of Chriſt, this is ſuch a ſhadow as Satan dare not come nigh; it's the ſhadow of the day, it's not the ſhadow of the night, it's ſuch a ſhadow as is dreadful unto the powers of darkneſs. What have we to do with thee, ſaith the unclean Spirit, thou art the ſon of the living God; of a certain Chriſt will be a defence unto you, and a protection, and you ſhall not ſit under your former ſlaverie and bondage, if once you ſit under his ſhadow; Oh then that you would not toil your Spirits in the ſervice of ſin and Satan: Oh what a racking of the conſcience and ſoul have poor ſinners in the Service of Satan! They are ready to ſweat drops of water and blood, and they are not aware of it. Oh why will you tire your ſelves in the heat, and wearie and tire your ſelves, when as you might ſit down under ſuch a pleaſant ſhadow as the ſhadow of Jeſus Chriſt is?
2. Ʋſe. Secondly, Let me ſpeak a word to Poor Souls that are ſenſible of their bondage and miſery by reaſon of ſin, to ſuch as cry out with David in Pſam 38. 4. for mine iniquities are gone over mine head; as an heavy burden they are too heavie for me. Oh you ſay, you have travailed in the wilderneſs, and have ſet many a weary ſtep in a dry and barren wilderneſs where no water is, and never a tree for a ſhadow to ſhelter you; you dare ſit down under the ſhadow of your own comforts and the creatures righteouſneſs, you ſee there is no ſhelter but under the ſhadow of the Almighty. Well, let me tell you here's a tree of life that ſprings up in this your wilderneſs, that caſts a ſhadow over your Souls, here you may reſt in a cool ſhadow, here will be a defence and a protection from the wrath of the Almighty. And let me ſay (for your incouragement) unto you,
Firſt of all, That Chriſt is willing you ſhould ſit under his ſhadow, you have his own word for it, ſee what he ſpeaks in Math. 11. 28. Come to me all you that labour and are heavie laden, and I will give you reſt: Why do you ſtick ſo long in that condition, why do you ſay you are not laden enough? you know not whether your ſpirits be laden aright or no, or whether you be made ſenſible enough of ſin, or whether you may be ſo bold, as to come to Chriſt, and ſit under this his ſhadow.
Chriſt doth not offer himſelf upon any conditions, upon the condition of your wearineſs, It's not a conditional promiſe, but it's an abſolute promiſe, it's a ſweet incouraging promiſe, come unto me you that are wearie, ſays Chriſt, and I will give you reſt. The Lord Jeſus foreſaw that they were moſt apt to be diſcouraged, poor labouring Souls, ſuch as were preſt with the guilt and burden of ſin, and he knew that they were ſuch as were fearful in coming in unto him, but ſays he, come ye that are laden and wearie, and I will give you reſt, but then,
2. Secondly, Again, The Lord Jeſus he is not only willing that you ſhould ſit under his ſhadow, but he will be a defence unto you under this ſhadow; you ſay you are hunted and purſued by Satan, you are hunted with wrath, Oh then that you would flee unto Chriſt, go now and ſit under his ſhadow, there is no other ſhadow can defend you but this ſhadow of Chriſt. Adam you know he ran away from God when he was guiltie, he goes and runs his head into the buſhes, but the Lord found him out; there is no creature can be your defence. What ſays the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 139. 7. Thou haſt beſet me behind and before, &c▪ whither ſhall I go from thy Spirit, or whither ſhall I flee from thy preſence? there's no place of ſafetie but only in this ſhadow of Chriſt; and he is a ſure defence; If it ſhould rain Storms of fire and Brimſtone, if once in Chriſt, this ſhadow will keep off all the heat of wrath, for he is a ſafe and ſure defence. Nay let me ſay,
3. Thirdly, Further for your incouragement, The Lord Jeſus he will not deal Treacherouſly with you when you turn in unto him: If you take under his ſhadow, he will not deal treacherouſly with you; when you flee from the purſuit of your enemy, he will reſcue, ſave and deliver: The Lord Jeſus he will not deal treacherouſly with thoſe that come under his ſhadow, there is no drop of wrath ſhall fall from this tree to thoſe that are under his ſhadow; the Lord Jeſus he never made any prey upon Poor creatures that turn in to him for ſhadow and reſt.
Ay but will he not betray me into the hands of others, of thoſe that ſeek my ſoul to deſtroy it?
No certainly, Chriſt will not deal ſo with you, his honour is engaged to the contrary. You know what Lot ſaid concerning thoſe two ſtrangers that came in to him, when they came to him for ſhadow, he would not deliver them, he would let go his life firſt, Gen. 19. 8. for therefore came they under the ſhadow of▪ my roof. When they came under his ſhadow for protection, Lot would not be ſo baſe as to betray them. He tells them he hath two Daughters that are undefiled, and he will rather deliver them into their hands than he will deliver thoſe ſtrangers, who took ſhelter under his roof: why, ſo ſays Chriſt, if wrath ſhouſd demand you or juſtice ſhould demand you, I will not let you go, he will rather ſay, let my Daughters go for it, my body or Soul go for it, rather than they ſhall go my ſelf ſhall go for it: thus Poor diſconſolate Souls, you ſee Chriſt he will not betray you unto thoſe who ſeek your Souls to deſtroy them. But
3. Ʋſe. Again, Thirdly, a word to thoſe that have intereſt in Chriſt: Oh that you would make more uſe of this ſhadow of Jeſus Chriſt: That Chriſtians would ſit more under Chriſts ſhadow, make uſe of it.
1. Firſt of all, Work all your works under this ſhadow: Whatever you have to do for God, or for your Souls, or for eternity; whatſoever your hand finds to do, be ſure you do it under this ſhadow: it's hard working in the open Sun in the heat of ſummer, it makes mens labours very uncomfortable, it adds to their toyl; but if they work under a ſhadow, it's a ſweet refreſhment to him, and it's a great eaſe to his work, he toiles and ſweats leſs and with leſs pains: ſo Chriſtians if you ſet your ſelves directly under Chriſt when ever you have any work to do for God, or concerning your ſouls, or when ever you have any burden that is too heavie, ſet your ſelves under Chriſt, through Chriſt you may do all things, and you may bear your burdens with a great deal of more eaſe and comfort; the Soul under Chriſt feels not the weight, nor burden which would ſink another that is not under this ſhadow.
2. And then again, Secondly, as you ſhould work all your works under this ſhadow, ſo be ſure to Walk under this ſhadow: I ſay walk under this ſhadow in the whole courſe of your walking with God: Walk in the ſhadow, and it will be a great deal more comfortable unto you: Why, the Lord Jeſus himſelf delights to walk with the Soul when it's under the ſhadow of this ſun. God came and walked in the Garden, Gen. 3. in the cool of the day, God delights to walk with the Soul when it's under the ſhadow of Chriſt, he delights there to manifeſt himſelf much to the Soul. Oh it's hot walking with God when the poor creature is not under the ſhadow of Chriſt; why, the preſence of God, the very preſence of God will be very hot and uncomfortable, if the Soul be not under the ſhadow of Chriſt: Ye can't ſee my face and live: then be ſure you ſet your ſelves under the ſhadow of Chriſt in all your walkings with God: When you pray, pray under this ſhadow, ſet your ſelves under this ſhadow; and ſo when you hear, read, and meditate, in the whole courſe and way of your walking, be ſure you ſet your ſelves under this ſhadow of Chriſt.
Queſt. But you will ſay, what ſhadows of Chriſt ſhould you ſit under, walk under and work under?
Anſw. 1. I Anſwer, Firſt of all, look to the Humane nature of Chriſt, that is a ſweet comfortable ſhadow through which you may ſee the face of God; I ſay the human Nature of Chriſt it's a ſhadow, a vail through which you may behold the face of God: God out of Chriſt is a great way off, and you cannot ſee the face of God he is ſo glorious, he is too glorious for your eye, you can't behold him: Ay but God in our nature, look upon God as he hath taken our nature up unto himſelf, and there you may ſee God nigh unto the poor creature; it's very comfortable to look up unto God through Chriſt, upon or through the ſhadow of the fleſh of Chriſt.
2. Secondly, And then Secondly, make uſe of the ſufferings of Chriſt: thoſe are ſhadows that Chriſtians ſhould always walk under, and work under, and contemplate under; as I ſaid before, they were terrible ſhadows to Chriſt, they were ſhadows of the night unto Chriſt: Ay but they are comfortable ſhadows; all that Chriſt ſuffered, and every paſſage of his ſufferings, even the very ſhadow of Death that went over his head, it's a ſweet and comfortable ſhadow unto his people that ſit under him in it: Now poor ſouls ſitting under theſe ſhadows there is a great deal to be ſeen, and the Soul by faith ſits under theſe ſhadows: and under theſe ſhadows of the ſufferings of Chriſt, Oh the glorious ſight that it may have by faith; here it may ſee Juſtice and mercy meeting, and kiſs each other, here it may ſee Juſtice reconciled and ſin carried out and everlaſting righteouſneſs brought in: here it may ſee reconciliation purchaſed, and a way made for thoſe that were afar off to come nigh unto God: here it may ſee deliverance from that wrath which is to come; it may ſee Death, Hell, ſin and Satan and all trodden under foot; here it may ſee all grace, and all ſtrength purchaſed by Chriſt; here it may ſee a door of grace, and a door of Life ſet open, and Oh what a glorious ſight may the Soul ſee there!
3. Again, Thirdly, ſit under the Ordinances of Chriſt, take heed you neglect not theſe ſhadows of Chriſt, and look at all the ordinances as ſhadows of Chriſt: this is the way to uſe ordinances aright: men and women never uſe ordinances aright untill ſuch time as they look upon ordinances under this notion and conſideration, as they are ſhadows of Chriſt, as they repreſent Chriſt and hold forth ſomething of Chriſt. Take an Ordinance as it's out of Chriſt, and it's a ſhadow indeed, a meer ſhadow, a ſhadow of ſhadows, but take the ſhadow as it's in Chriſt, and then it's a glorious ſhadow, and holds forth abundance of ſweetneſs and grace and comfort and refreſhment; and then be ſure you keep under Chriſt in the ordinance; when the Soul thus looks upon ordinances, as ſhadows of Chriſt, then ordinances are ſweet and refreſhing, and the Soul may ſee cauſe for ever to bleſs the Lord that he hath provided ſhadows for poor Souls to ſit under; that's a Third particular.
Again, Fourthly, you that have Intereſt in Chriſt know it's not enough to ſit under his ſhadow, but delight your ſelves in ſitting under his ſhadow: be like to the ſpouſe in this; ſhe ſits and ſits with delight under this ſhadow of Chriſt.
Queſt. But you will ſay, what is it to ſit under the ſhadow of Chriſt with delight? when may a Soul be ſaid to ſit under the ſhadow of Chriſt with delight, under the ordinances?
Anſw. Delight, it's a complacency and reſt which the ſoul takes of a ſuitable good: ſo that then the ſoul may be ſaid to delight in Chriſt, or under the ſhadow of Chriſt, whenas it reſts and takes up in Chriſt, as in the moſt ſuitable good; Oh what is ſo refreſhing, and ſo ſuitable to a poor weary traveller as a comfortable refreſhing ſhadow is to ſit under? And Oh ſo, what ſo ſuitable to a poor weary ſoul as the comfortable ſhadow of Chriſt to ſit under? When the ſoul doth thus apprehend this ſuitableneſs of Chriſt to it, Oh here's a ſuitable ſhadow, here's a great ſhadow, it's long and large, it's able to cover multitudes of tranſgreſſions; here's a might ſhadow, that can fence off abundance of wrath and diſpleaſure. My ſin hath reacht up to heaven, but here's a ſhadow that is higher than the Heavens; here's the ſhadow of the day, a refreſhing ſhadow, and how ſuitable is that to a Poor ſoul, that hath ſat long under the ſhadows of the night, the ſhadows of darkneſs, or the ſhadow of death? When the Soul doth thus look upon Chriſt as the moſt ſuitable good, and ſo to take up in him, then may the ſoul be ſaid to ſit down with delight under Chriſts ſhadow. But then again,
2. Secondly, What a man delights in, that he is continually taken up withal; his thoughts they run out much upon it: So the ſoul that delights in Chriſt, ſits under Chriſts ſhadow with delight, it's much in the meditation of Chriſt, continually taken up with Chriſt. What ſays the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 1. His delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night: His delight is in the Law of the Lord, and how is that known? by his continual meditation of it: I know a gracious heart it may be weighed down by the prevalency of corruption, ay but it looks upon it as a burden, it crys out, Oh Lord how long ſhall my ſpirit cleave to the duſt! or with Paul in Rom. 7. Who ſhall deliver me from this body of ſin and death? from this carnal heart, and this ſenſual frame of ſpirit? He is never well but when with Chriſt, he is then in his Element, Oh then how doth he rejoyce when he ſees Chriſt lifted up and transfigured on the mount? Oh then it's good to be here always, let me never go down, but let me always live with God: here's a ſoul lifted up with delight in Chriſt.
3. Again, Thirdly, what the ſoul delights in, that it deſires, and deſires more of: a ſoul that delights in Chriſt, it deſires more of Chriſt, more communion with Chriſt, more acquaintance with Chriſt, it's never ſatisfied: See what David ſays, Pſalm 119. 174. I have longed for thy ſalvation O Lord, and thy Law is my delight: when the Law was his delight, he longed for the ſalvation of God; how did his ſoul long for God and after Chriſt? he expreſſes it in Pſalm 42. 1. As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, ſo doth my ſoul after thee O God: as the hart panteth and breatheth after the water-brooks, ſo his ſoul panted after God, and when ſhall he get nigher God; When ſhall I come and appear before thee? The deſires of the Soul prepare the ſoul for delight, and ſtretch the ſoul wide for delight, when it ſhall enjoy that which it doth deſire.
4. Again, Fourthly, delight in the ſoul doth beget ſtrong deſires in the ſoul, that it may enjoy more of God; and the ſoul that is thus carried out after Chriſt, deſires to ſee him more, and to enjoy him more, deſires to do all in Chriſt, to work under his ſhadow, and to delight under his ſhadow, to contemplate under his ſhadow, and walk under his ſhadow, then may the ſoul be ſaid to delight in Chriſt.
Well then poor ſouls, what care ſhould you take to ſit under the ſhadow of Chriſt, to ſit and to ſit under his ſhadow with great delight: with the more delight you ſit under the ſhadow of Chriſt, the more do you expreſs the power of grace, and the power of Godlineſs; for certainly it's the excellency of a Chriſtian, and the excellency of grace, that the ſoul can be taken up with delight in Chriſt: as it is with the ſinfulneſs of ſin, it's the height of wickedneſs and ſin, when the ſinner delights in ſin, when he doth not only act in ſin, but delight in ſin, and in doing evil; even ſo when the Soul doth not think enough to do that which is good, but deſires to do it with delight, and can delight in God and delight in Chriſt, and delight in grace and holineſs, delight in doing for God, and delight in ſuffering for God, the more you delight in Chriſt, the more ſhall you expreſs the power of grace.
5. But again, conſider what cauſe you have to expreſs your delight in Chriſt: remember what delight the Lord Jeſus took in ſitting under theſe ſhadows (which were moſt uncomfortable to him) for your ſakes; lo I come to do thy will, O my God, in the 40. Pſalm 8. I delight to do thy will O my God, yea thy Law is within my heart. It was hard work to Chriſt, and yet he delighted in it, becauſe it was his fathers work, and becauſe your ſouls were concerned in it; it was the work of your redemption, and though it was a bitter cup, yet the Lord Jeſus took delight in it: If Chriſt delighted in theſe uncomfortable ſhadows, in the ſhadow of Death for your ſakes, Oh why ſhould not you expreſs the comfort and Joy of your hearts, in taking delight in being under his ſhadow? Again, Chriſt, he is the delight of God the▪ Father: in Iſa. 42. 1. It's the father that ſpeaks of his ſon, he ſpeaks of Chriſt, Behold my Servant whom I uphold, mine Elect in whom my ſoul delights; he would have you not only behold him as a ſervant, but as his Elect in whom he delights: now if he be the delight of his father, what cauſe have you then to make him the delight of your Souls?
Nay further, It's the way to have all the deſires of your hearts to be ſatisfied, to be filled; there's an expreſs place for that, in Pſa. 37. 4. Delight thy ſelf alſo in the Lord, and he ſhall give thee the deſires of thine heart: He was ſpeaking before that he ſhould not fret becauſe of the wicked, yea think that they have all that heart can wiſh, but you are miſtaken, their deſires are not ſatisfied, the more they drink, the more they thirſt, they are not ſatisfied in the enjoyment of any creature comfort; but I will ſhew you the way of ſatisfaction, delight in the Lord, and he ſhall give thee the deſires of thine heart; it's the way to more grace and more ſtrength, it's the way to be more able to do for God, and more able to ſuffer for God, and abundance comes in, in this way in delighting in Chriſt: when the Lord hath brought the ſoul into this frame once, to take delight in Chriſt, under ſome ſhadows of Chriſt, Chriſt he is not far off from that Soul, but will ſatisfie and reveal himſelf to that Soul in a moſt glorious manner: ſee Mal. 3. 1. Behold I will ſend my meſſenger, and he ſhall prepare the way before me; and the Lord whom ye ſeek ſhall ſuddenly come to his temple, even the meſſenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in; and he ſhall come ſuddenly, he is not far off; and this is an evidence of this his coming, that he ſtirs you up to ſeek him and to delight in himſelf, to ſit under the ſhadow of Chriſt with delight. Oh then Chriſt he will come, and will come ſuddenly, and to manifeſt himſelf in a more glorious manner to that Soul that doth thus delight in him.
Well then, to conclude, I beſeech you Brethren that you would look up to the Lord to have this frame of Spirit wrought in your hearts. Do not think it enough to have theſe ſhadows, but delight your ſouls under theſe ſhadows. Chriſt calls for a great deal of delight from you to himſelf: he is a moſt comfortable ſhadow, a moſt pleaſant ſhadow, he is as the ſhadow of a tree, and as the ſhadow of a great rock in a weary Land: and as he is of great benefit to you, ſo he calls for much delight from you; Behold I bring you tidings of great joy, ſays the Angel to the ſhepherds; where Chriſt is, there's tidings of great joy: and ſo when Chriſt draws nigh to your ſouls in his ſhadows, he expects there ſhould be great joy and delight in him, that you ſhould ſolace your ſelves under theſe ſhadow of Chriſt, ſit down and meditate under theſe ſhadows: whilſt you look under the Sufferings of Chriſt and ordinances of Chriſt, ſee what a glorious proſpect the Lord hath ſet before your eyes, that you may take great delight: delight in every ſhadow of Chriſt, delight in his ordinances, ſet your ſelves under theſe ſhadows▪ It's ſaid thoſe that were ſick and diſeaſed, they laid them in the high way that the ſhadow of Peter might go over them; ſhall the ſhadow of Peter heal diſeaſed bodies? why it's Chriſt under whoſe ſhadow who ever comes will heal diſeaſed Souls, and he is greatly to be delighted in, he is a ſweet refreſhing ſhadow.