Sermons Preached Upon Several Occasions, Sermon 6
SERMON VI.
CANT. 2. 3. I ſat down under His Shadow with great delight, and His Fruit was ſweet to my Taſte.
I Shewed you what is this ſhadow of Chriſt, and what it is for a ſoul to ſit under this ſhadow: I made Application the laſt day: But I ſhall proceed to the laſt clauſe of the verſe, and his fruit was ſwee to my taſte.
I have conſidered the ſhadow, now for the tree it ſelf, and his fruit was ſweet to my taſte. Here is another benefit comes in by Chriſt! It's a merciemercy to ſit under a ſhadow: a Poor weary man in a wilderneſs rejoyces that he finds the ſhadow of a fruitful tree to ſit under, where he may not only ſit and reſt him, but ſit and eat with delight, he'l account this a double merciemercy: and truly thus beneficial is Chriſt to his ſervants, he is willing they ſhould ſit under his ſhadow, and he is willing they ſhould eat of his fruit, and it's the ſweeteſt and the moſt delectable and delightful fruit that ever poor creature taſted: The taſte is one of the external ſenſes, the Object of it is meat and drink, here it's applyed to the inward man, to that taſte the ſoul hath of Chriſt by faith, becauſe the ſoul it doth taſte Chriſt, and it doth taſte the ſweet fruit of Chriſt, and it finds pleaſure in them, in feeding upon Chriſt: even as the palate doth find delight in ſavorie meats and delightful drinks: I ſhewed Chriſt yields both ſhadow and fruit: you ſee the mercies that Chriſt gives to his people, they are compleat mercies, for he is a compleat and a perfect ſaviour: he is not only a ſhadow, he is not only a defence unto them, he doth not only keep off evil, he doth not only keep off the ſcorching beams of the ſun, he doth not only keep off the wrath and diſpleaſure of the Father, but he is a pleaſant ſhadow and yields pleaſant fruit, under whom they may ſit, and eat with delight and pleaſure. So he is a perfect ſaviour: he is not only a privative but a poſitive Salvation; this is that which the Lord holds forth to Abraham, ſays he, I am thy buckler, and thy exceeding great reward: I am thy buckler, there's the ſhadow, and I am thy exceeding great reward, there's the fruit which the Lord gives him to feed upon. Chriſt doth not only deliver from wrath, but he brings in Life, glory and ſalvation, in Dan. 9. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy City, to finiſh the tranſgreſſion, and to make an end of ſins; and to make reconciliation for iniquitie, and to bring in everlaſting righteouſneſs, &c. he ſhall carry out ſin, and bring in righteouſneſs; to take off ſin that's not enough, but to brings in righteouſneſs, an everlaſting righteouſneſs, far more glorious and excellent than the righteouſneſs of men, or Angels; he ſhall deliver his people from the fear of death, this is a merciemercy: but that's not all, Chriſt, he brings in a glorious hope, hope of life, hope of glory; who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, ſays the Apoſtle. He doth not think it enough to deliver his people from the Slavery of ſin, but he tranſlates them into the freedom and liberty of the Sons of God, he delivers them from the power of ſin, and he puts them under the power of grace, he brings them out of the Kingdom of darkneſs, and he brings them into the Kingdom of his own glorious light: it was not enough, to free them from wrath, to ſave them from hell, but he will put them into the poſſeſſion of glory, and therefore he prayes his Father in John 17. that he would let them be where he is: he hath been a ſhadow to them, but that's not enough, they ſhall eat of his fruit, let them be with me where I am that they may behold the glory thou haſt given me, which is and which was before the foundations of the world were laid. And
1. Firſt, therefore brethren let your expectations and faith be according to the largeneſs of the heart of Chriſt, don't think it enough that you ſit under his ſhadow, that the Lord Chriſt is one that can free you from wrath, don't think that enough; but look further to taſte of his fruit, look up for thoſe joyes and conſolations of his Spirit, which he is willing to pour into your ſouls, as well as to free your ſouls from the apprehenſion of wrath; and ſo don't think it enough that you are delivered from the ſlavery and bondage of ſin, that ſin hath not dominion over you, don't think that enough, but look out further for the life of Chriſt to be revealed in you, to be manifeſted unto you, for life and righteouſneſs to raign gloriouſly in your hearts, let your expectations be according to the largeneſs of the heart of Chriſt. And then
2. Secondly, you ſhould deal with the Lord Chriſt as he deals with you. He did not think privative ſalvation enough; it was not enough to make a ſhadow for you, but he prepares fruit for you: and therefore don't think it enough that you have bare negative holineſs, that what you do is not againſt Chriſt, but that you do what you do for Chriſt; for he that is not with me (ſays Chriſt) is againſt me. Don't think it enough, that you paſs your time and ſpend your dayes, without being conſcious of any wilful Sinning, but what you do from day to day, deal with Chriſt as he deals with you, that you may lift up his name, and honour him who will in due time honour and lift up you. That's the firſt particular. Again,
2. Secondly, Chriſt brings you firſt unto the ſhadow, and then he gives of his fruit to eat, and then he cauſes you to taſte of his fruit. Becauſe ſhe was brought under his ſhadow, therefore ſhe ſhall eat of his fruit: ſee how the Lord doth make one mercy to be the beginning of another merciemercy unto his people: it's Gods ordinary way of dealing with his Servants, becauſe he hath ſhown them mercy, therefore he will ſhew them mercy, becauſe he hath brought them under his ſhadow, he will have them to eat of his fruit. See Gen. 18. 17, 18. Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do, ſays God, ſeeing Abraham ſhall ſurely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth ſhall be bleſſed in him? in his ſeed, in the Meſſiah that ſhall come out of his loins; yea and becauſe I have given out this mercy, I won't hide what I will do: God makes one mercy to be the beginning of another. And ſo when he promiſed to bring his people unto the mount a in in Iſa. 56. 7. it was a mercy to be brought to the mountain of God, yea but God does not leave his people there, but that mercy ſhall be a ſtep to many a mercy, which he intends to give out: when I have brought them thither, when I have got them thither, then will I make them joyful in my houſe of prayer I will make a feaſt to them, a feaſt of fat things; I'le chear, hearts their and accept of their ſacrifices and ſervices: and thus God makes one mercy, the beginning of another. And therefore Brethren do but ſee what a large teſtimony this gives unto the infinite goodneſs, and riches of free grace, which is in our God; well might the Apoſtle ſay, God who is rich in mercy, for the great love wherewith he hath loved us, what riches of mercy is here? what fulneſs of grace and mercy in Chriſt is here? that he ſhould make mercy the way to mercy, and mercy the beginning of mercy. Oh what fulneſs of grace and mercy is there in Chriſt? he is never well but when he is giving out: we ſee the glory, the glory of the only begotten ſon of God, full of grace and truth; there's a fulneſs indeed, all infinite fulneſs, and this fulneſs doth delight to empty it ſelf and to communicate it ſelf unto poor empty creatures; the riches of grace is mightily held forth in this. And then what encouragement is here to poor ſouls, that are conſcious of their own unworthineſs? They want ſuch and ſuch mercies, and ſuch and ſuch graces and ſtrength, and I have received more mercy, than ever I can be thankful for, and how can I, or dare I be ſo bold with God, to ask more mercy than I am able to expreſs thankfulneſs unto him for what I have received? Why, if thou haſt no argument to plead with God, he will make this an Argument, becauſe he hath done thee good already; this is not the manner of men, but it's the way of God: it's no argument with men; you ſhewed me ſuch and ſuch kindneſs, and therefore do me another ſuch kindneſs; but the Lord he doth thus, he will make this an argument, his doing of thee good, from thence he will do thee good again. But then again,
3. Here is a third particular obſervable, Firſt the ſhadow, and then the fruit. See how the Lord doth proceed gradually in a way of mercy in doing good to poor creatures; the longer they are with him, and the more they know him, the greater mercy he gives out: it's a greater mercy to eat of the fruit, than to ſit under the ſhadow: well, after Chriſt hath cauſed thee to ſit under his ſhadow, then he will give thee to eat of the fruit: the Lord deals with his ſervants as you deal with your ſervants; it may be you are not ſo friendly to them at firſt when they come to be apprentices, but afterward when they have ſerved you long, and you have learnt them more of the myſtery of their trade, you will uſe them more friendly and communicate yet more of the myſtery of your trade, and ſecrets, and the like: and ſo the Lord deals with his ſervants, though he may hide his face for a time, yet at laſt he will ſhine graciouſly upon them, he will deal friendly with them, he will uſe them as friends and not as Servants, he will communicate of his ſecrets to them; I call you not Servants, but I call you friends, as Chriſt did to his diſciples at laſt, for he reveals the whole will of his father unto them; and therefore what encouragement is here to all you who are Chriſts? although it may be for the preſent, you have not ſuch comings in from Chriſt, you may ſay, bleſſed be God, I ſit under the ſhadow, and the Lord Chriſt is a ſafety to me: but you have not found of that ſweetneſs which is ſpoken of him; yet let me tell you, you ſhall eat of his dainties, the longer you are his ſervants the more gently will he deal with you, and learn you, and ſhew you great things; the Lord Chriſt will ſhew greater and greater things to his people, the longer they are in his houſe, the longer they ſerve him, the more they ſhall know of his Fathers mind and will, and the more friendly will he deal with them; and therefore don't fear things to come, or conditions to come, and don't think that things to come may ſeparate from his love, for certainly the longer you are with him, the better he'l uſe you; and as it may be ſaid of wicked men, the worſt is ſtill to come, ſo of the righteous man, the beſt is ſtill to come, the beſt is ſtill behind; ſo long as they are on this ſide the grave, on this ſide of Heaven, the beſt is ſtill behind, for Chriſt reſerves better and better for his people: Theſe are the particular obſervations that do offer themſelves▪ I ſhall make entrance into the main general propoſition or obſervation which the words hold forth, and that is this.
Obſer. That the fruit that grows upon Chriſt it exceeding pleaſant to the believing Soul: the fruit that grows upon Chriſt is exceeding pleaſant and ſweet; he is a generous Vine of Gods own planting, the choiceſt tree that ever the hand of God planted, and therefore the beſt fruit; the ſweeteſt fruit that ever grew upon tree, it grows upon Chriſt: It was fruit that the great King of Heaven intended for his own ſpending: it muſt needs be ſweet fruit, excellent fruit; God intended that all the fruit that he would feaſt his ſervants and his friends and children with, ſhould grow upon this tree; and therefore it muſt needs be pleaſant fruit, he intends to make a feaſt unto his people, a feaſt of fat things, as is promiſed in Iſa. 25. 6. and in this mountain ſhall the Lord of Hoſes make unto all people a feaſt of fat things, a feaſte of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined: now all the fat things that are at the feaſt with which God doth refreſh the ſouls of his people upon this mountain, grow upon this tree, all the fatneſs I ſay it comes from this Olive-tree, and all thoſe cups of ſweet conſolations which the Lord doth ſtay poor fainting and bleeding Souls with, it's the fruit of this tree; nay the great feaſt that God ſhall make in Heaven, at the great ſupper of the Lamb, with which God ſhall feaſt all his people for ever and ever, and ſit and riſe no more, and all the dainties that ſhall be at the ſupper of the Lamb, it ſhall be the fruit of this tree, they ſhall ever feed upon Chriſt, and for ever feed upon that fruit which grew upon Chriſt, they ſhall feed for ever upon this one diſh, and ſhall never be weary of this fruit; and therefore certainly the fruit that grows upon Chriſt, it muſt needs be exceeding ſweet and delightful fruit.
Queſt. But you will ſay, what is the fruit that grow upon this tree? What is this fruit that is ſo ſweet and delightful?
Anſw. Why, there are innumerable kinds, more than can be reckoned. I ſhall give you a taſte of ſome.
1. Firſt of all, there's the fruit of Chriſts heart, the fruit that grows upon Chriſts heart. Oh! the abundance of precious fruit; all thoſe gracious thoughts which are in the heart of Chriſt to his people, are one kind of precious fruit that grows upon this tree: in Iſa. 10. 12. I will puniſh the fruit of the ſtout heart of the King of Aſſyria: God ſpeaks of the fruit of the ſtout heart of the King of Aſſyria, but the fruit that grows upon the heart of Chriſt it's other kind of fruit: it's not the fruit of a ſtout heart, but it's the fruit of a gracious heart: many are thy wonderful works, O Lord, ſays the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 40. 5. and thy thoughts which are to us ward; the gracious thoughts of the heart of Chriſt towards his people, they are many, they are more than can be numbred. But more particularly, to conſider the fruit that grows upon the heart of Chriſt.
1. Firſt of all, there's abundance of meekneſs and lowlineſs of mind, and tenderneſs towards poor creatures which grows upon the heart of Chriſt; in Mat. 11. when he calls poor creatures to him, v. 28, 29, I am meek and lowly in heart; it's an argument by which Chriſt doth invite poor heavie laden ſinners to come to him: why, but they may be diſcouraged from coming, by looking upon Chriſt as full of wrath, anger and implacable, ſaying, Chriſt will not be reconciled: you are miſtaken of me, ſays Chriſt, there is no ſuch ſowr fruit grows upon my heart, though this be your diſpoſition, yet it's not mine, I am meek. But I am a poor worm, ſaith the ſoul, and will the Lord ever look down on ſuch a poor worm? he is aſcended and ſits in glory, and will he look upon a poor worm? I am meek and lowly, ſays Chriſt, though I be never ſo high, I can look upon poor creatures, I am meek and lowly in heart.
2. Secondly, there are in Chriſts heart very earneſt deſires of reconciliation with poor creatures, this is another gracious fruit that grows upon Chriſts heart: I ſay vaſt deſires and large deſires, if poor creatures will come in and accept of thoſe tenders of grace and ſalvation which he is pleaſed to make in his Goſpel, let them come, ſays he, let them come, he that is a thirſt let him come, and whoſoever will let them come, and let them drink of the water of life freely; I deſire you ſhould come, ſays Chriſt, let no man hinder, let him not lay blocks in his own way, I am willing he ſhould come: and thus doth Chriſt hold forth his golden Scepter, as Ahaſhuerus did his golden ſcepter to Heſter, come in Heſter, ſays he; ſo ſays Chriſt, Poor Soul, come, let him come, in and drink of the water of life freely. And ſo, as though God did beſeech you by us, we pray you in Chriſts ſtead, that you would be reconciled unto him. That's a ſecond fruit that grows on Chriſts heart. Again,
3. Thirdly, there are affections, that grow upon Chriſts heart, ſympathizing affections: Oh! how tender is he of his people, he ſuffers when they ſuffer, he bears the leavieſt end of the burden; in all their afflictions he was afflicted: and therefore he is called a merciful High Prieſt, and he is one that knows how to have compaſſion, and how to be tender, ſee Heb. 5. 1, 2. for every High Prieſt taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and ſacrifices for ſin, who can have compaſſion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way, for that he himſelf alſo is compaſſed with infirmity. He can have compaſſion, he is able to have compaſſion, he hath a compaſſionate diſpoſition within him, he knows how to pity them when ignorant, and when they are out of the way, he knows how to portion out grace to every of his peoples conditions, he knows how to ſympathize with them in their burdens, for he was compaſſed about with our Infirmities, he knows well what afflictions are, and what temptations to ſin are, and he beſt knows how to compaſſionate his people; theſe compaſſions are a gracious fruit growing in Chriſts heart.
4. Fourthly, But then again, there are thoughts of delight in Chriſts heart. Oh how doth he rejoyce over his people with joy, with great joy! He doth ſolace himſelf in their communion: I am the roſe of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys, as the lily among thorns, ſo is my love among the daughters; ſhe is unto him as the lily among thorns, let me hear thy voice, for ſweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely: the expreſſions of the great delight, that Chriſt takes in his people, this is the fruit of Chriſts heart.
2. Secondly, There is the fruit of his lips; not onelyonly the fruit of his heart is exceeding delightful, but the fruit of his lips is exceeding ſweet: ſee Iſa. 57. 19 I create the fruit of the lips Peace, peace to him that is afar off and to him that is nigh, ſaith the Lord, and I will heal him: peace it's a fruit of Chriſts lips; as there are thoughts of peace in his heart, ſo there are words of peace in his mouth, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will ſpeak; therefore it's ſaid, that the tongue of the learned is given to him, the Lord hath given to him the tongue of the learned, and he knows how to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon; there is none in all the world can ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to the wounded Soul but Chriſt, his lips are like unto the lilies dropping ſweet-ſmeling myrrhe: every promiſe in the Goſpel is a fruit of the lips of Chriſt, and Oh! how ſweet and refreſhing is this fruit, how delightful is the leaſt promiſe of Chriſt! if he be pleaſed to bring it home to the ſoul, it ſtays it as with flaggons of wine, when Chriſt ſhall bring home a promiſe to the Soul; elſe a promiſe will do us no good, will be of no uſe to us, for all the promiſes of God, they are in him yea, and in him Amen; all the promiſes they grow upon this tree, and it's moſt precious fruit: if you will take Davids commendation of it, he eat and commended it, Pſal. 19. 10. more to be deſired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold▪ he ſpeaks of the word of the Lord, the promiſes of the Lord, they are ſweeter than the honey; nay take it when it is at the ſweeteſt, when it is in the Comb, the word of the Lord goes beyond it, Sweeter than the Honey, and the honey Comb: Oh! how gracious and acceptable is the leaſt word that drops from Chriſts Mouth, out of Chriſts lips to the poor wounded bleeding Soul? A word in ſeaſon, ſays Solomon, is like Apples of gold in Pictures of Silver; pleaſant and exceeding acceptable fruit unto a poor ſoul. Again,
3. Thirdly, There's not only the fruit of Chriſts lips, but the fruit of Chriſts loins. Oh the fruit of his womb! he hath a ſeed which he brings forth unto God, which are pleaſant and much be to delighted in; all that are brought in to God by the preaching of the Goſpel, they are called the fruit of Chriſt, they are his ſeed, he ſhall ſee the travail of his Soul and be ſatisfied; this fruit is mighty delightful to Chriſt, and therefore ſhould be delightful and is delightful to the Saints. Chriſt had a mighty delight in children, he cared not what he ſuffered, what pains, what travails; let the travail of the Soul be never ſo great, ſo he might bring forth children he cared not, nay though he knew he ſhould die in travail, yet he cared not, and though he knew he ſhould die of it, and alſo live again and riſe again, he askt no other reward but only that he might have children, and it was the great promiſe in Iſaiah 53. 10, 11. He ſhall ſee his ſeed, he ſhall prolong his days, and the good pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand; he ſhall ſee the travail of his Soul and ſhall be ſatisfied: he ſhall have a multitudinous offspring, becauſe he was ſuch a lover of children. And therefore when the promiſe was made to Abraham, I'le bleſs thee, and thy ſeed ſhall be as the Stars of heaven that could not be numbred: and therefore you read in the Revelations of a great number which no man can number, and he brought them all unto the Father and preſented them, Here am I and the Children thou haſt given me. They are exceeding delightful to him; and as Chriſt takes delight in them, ſo
The ſaints can't but take delight when they ſee ſouls brought in to God and brought forth for heaven, they cannot but rejoyce in it, and take great delight in this fruit of Chriſt: To name no more,
4. A fourth ſort of fruit, and that's the fruit of Chriſts life. Take him as he was here upon earth in the dayes of his fleſh, when he was planted in the Orchard of the world, he brought forth exceeding much fruit unto God, he was the moſt fruitful tree that ever the Father planted, he brought forth a world of precious deſirable fruit; there was never any part of Chriſts life that was not fruitful, he went up and down doing good. He ſought all opportunities to do good: I muſt work the works of him that ſent me while the day laſts, for the night cometh when I ſhall not work; he took all opportunities for the doing good to the ſouls of men, and the bodies of men, and glad was he that he had an opportunitie. There is never a part of Chriſts life, if you look into the hiſtory of it, as it lies before us by the Evangeliſts, but was altogether fruitful, and all that fruit was exceeding pleaſant and deſirable, and affords an abundance of matter of refreſhment: there is matter of much contemplation when you look into the life of Chriſt. And theſe are ſome of the kinds of fruit which grow upon this Apple-tree, upon Chriſt the tree of life; they are the fruit of his heart, the fruit of his lips, the fruit of his womb, the fruit of his loins, the fruit of his life. There are divers other kinds of fruit, but I ſhall ſpeak no more at this time, the Lord help you to feed upon this fruit.