Heaven Opened, Treatise · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. The Earth in the Covenant.
4. GOd hath put the earth into the Covenant: Though the Saints have not their reward in this life, their portion in this world, yet this world alſo is theirs, Mat. 5.5. The meek ſhall inherit the earth, 1 Cor 3.22. Things preſent and things to come, all are yours.
1. The good things preſent.
2. The evil things preſent.
1. The good things preſent, Mark 10.30. Houſes, and Brethren, and Siſters, and Mothers, and Children, and Lands, now in this time, Prov. 3.16. Length of daies are in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour. Houſes, and Lands, and Riches, and Honours, where are they? who are the poor of this World, the houſeleſs, harbourleſs, and friendleſs? who have wo, and want, and ſhame, and ſorrow? who are Strangers and Pilgrims; dwelling in tents, driven into corners; into dens, and caves; hunted up and down upon the mountains of the earth? to whom is hunger and thirſt? cold and nakedneſs, but to the meek of the earth? Is this to inherit the earth? All theirs, when nothing theirs? yet they do inherit the earth. For
1. They ſhall ever have as much as will ſuffice them; and thats as much as all. They ſhall not want any thing, but what they [may] want. Your Father knoweth that you have need of theſe things; and he knows how much they need. More than needs, is more then enough, and more then enough, is a prejudice. Many men have too much; too much money, too much eſteem, too many friends; more than they can bear; ſo much as to ſink them, and drown them in perdition and deſtruction.
Chriſtians ſhall have enough; they ſhall never be in ſuch a needy ſtate, but whatever is neceſſary for them in all the earth, they ſhall have it; The earth is the Lords, and the fulneſs thereof; and he hath ſaid, That thoſe that ſeek him, ſhall not want any thing that is good, Pſal. 34.10. if the whole world can ſupply them out of all its ſtore, they ſhall be ſupply'd.
2. What they have, they have a better and farther title to, then any others in the world. Though the dominion be not founded in grace, yet by grace it is eſtabliſhed. What they have, deſcends upon them not barely by providence, but by promiſe, Heb. 1.2. Chriſt is heir of all things; and they are fellow-heirs with Chriſt. A little coming from the promiſe, hath more in it, than the greateſt abundance that's only handed down by common providence; that which comes in from the promiſe, comes in with a bleſſing; if thou haſt but an handful, thou haſt a bleſſing in thy hand; if thou haſt but a corner, thou haſt a bleſſing in thy corner. A little from love, is a great bleſſing. Thou haſt God in every morſel thou eateſt, and in every drop that thou drinkeſt; a drop from heaven will turn thy bran into the fineſt flower, and thy Water into Wine.
O what ſerene and quiet lives, how void of care (diſtracting care) might the Saints live in the world! what are the burthens that do gall our backs? what are the briars that tear our fleſh? what are the thorns that pierce through our hearts ordinarily, but the cares of this life? what ſhall I eat? what ſhall I drink? wherewith ſhall I be clothed? where ſhall I dwell? how little have I for to day? what for to morrow? what for hereafter? how ſhall I ſecure what I have? when this is gone, whence ſhall I be ſupplyed? thus do we go on, piercing our ſelves through with many ſorrows. Our cares for ſupply eat up what we have; our thoughts cut deeper than our wants; we cannot at ſo cheap a rate fear, as we often bear the want of all things.
And why take ye thought? the earth is the Lords, and the fulneſs thereof; and he hath ſaid, All this is yours, you ſhall want nothing. You have not only your Deus providebit, providence to live upon; you have alſo your Deus promiſit, the promiſe before you, and this hath all things in it; all is yours. What for to morrow? what for hereafter? why, what ſaith the promiſe? Thou ſhalt want nothing; neither thou nor thine: Never ſaw I the righteous forſaken, nor their ſeed begging their bread.
Haſt thou two worlds made ſure to thee, and canſt thou want? thou mayſt as well whine, and make a pittiful cry at a full table, Oh where ſhall I have my next morſel? as under ſuch a full promiſe, Oh where ſhall I have my next meal? O how much beneath the ſpirit of Chriſtianity, are the carking anxious lives of too many Chriſtians? you do not believe, you do not believe; you talk of your Covenant-right, of your part in the promiſe, of living by faith; but where is any ſuch thing? can you truſt God for your ſouls, and can you not truſt him for your bodies, for your children? believe, and you'l make as much, and bee ſatisfied as well, with a penny in the promiſe, with a meal in the promiſe, with an houſe in the promiſe, as with a penny in your purſe, or a meal in your cupboard.
What doſt thou get by all thy cares? Which of you by taking thought, can add one cubit to his stature? one farthing to his ſtore? If thou loſe nothing by them, thou mayſt ſure put all thy gains into thine eyes; tears and trouble are all they will add to thee. Bee quiet, and nothing will ail thee; let not any ſtraits ſting thee before they are; want not before thou wanteſt; let not the Winters froſts nip thee, whileſt it is yet Summer.
Know when thou art well, and be content. All is thine; if thou inheriteſt thy God, thou inheriteſt the earth; nothing of all its ſtore ſhall be kept back from thee, that's neceſſary for thee: only thou muſt not look to be thine own carver; thy God will carve out what thou needeſt. Let enough ſuffice thee, and thou ſhalt never have too little. Thou ſhalt never have ſo little, but thou mayeſt ſay, this little is enough.
What if what thou wanteſt in Water, bee made up in Wine? if thou haſt but little in bran, but the more in flower? a ſhort meal with a ſmile from heaven, thou mayſt count no faſt but a feaſt; a little oyl in the cruſe, how far will it go with a ſmile the bleſſing of the Covenant? If the upper Springs run freely, thou mayſt abate a nether Spring.
Let my beloved comfort me with his apples, and ſtay me with his flagons; and let the reſt be as little and as courſe as it will. Let the promiſe be my portion, let the pipes be kept open to my ſoul, and then the leaſt pittance for this carkaſs ſhall ſuffice me. O my Lord, let me feed with thee, and I will not quarrel what-ever my fare bee. Let my portion bee from thy table, and then be it much or little. Let me hear thy voice, I am thine, and with me all things; and I am content to be at thy allowance. Let thy deed of gift ſtand ſure to me, put in my childrens names there, and I ask no more for my ſelf or them. Hold thy peace, keep ſilence O my anxious ſoul, know when thou art well; bee in nothing careful, the Lord is at hand.
2. The evil things of this earth are theirs: the Croſs is in the Covenant, Pſal. 89.34. If his children forſake my Law, and walk not in my Judgments; if they break my Statutes, and keep not my commandments; then will I viſit their tranſgreſſions with a rod, and their iniquity with ſtripes.
1. The Covenant hath its croſs. The Doctrine of the Goſpel is the Doctrine of the Croſs, the preaching of the Goſpel is the preaching of the Croſs, 1 Cor. 1. The Myſteries of a crucified Jeſus, and of his crucified Saints, do fill up the whole New Teſtament. The Croſs is not only impoſed upon the Saints, as their burthen, but bequeathed unto them as a Legacy. It's given unto them, as an honour and priviledge, Philip. 1.29. Ʋnto you it is given in the behalf of Chriſt, not only to believe on him, but alſo to ſuffer for his ſake. Its joyned with the moſt glorious gift [the gift of faith.] Yea, and it is a greater gift then this. To ſuffer in Faith, is more than barely to believe.
2. By vertue of the Covenant the Croſs is a Bleſſing. The word is now changed; 'tis no longer, Curſed, but Bleſſed is every one that hangeth on this Tree, Mat. 5.10,11. Bleſſed are they which are perſecuted for righteouſneſs ſake; bleſſed are ye when men ſhall revile you, and perſecute you, and ſhall ſay all manner of evil againſt you, falſely for my ſake. Why where is the bleſſedneſs? or wherein ſtands it? It ſtands in theſe things.
1. In the ſeparation of the Croſs from the Curſe.
2. In the ſanctification of the Croſs to its ends.
3. In the proportioning of the Croſs to their needs and ſtrength.
4. In the ſpecial comforts of the Croſs.
1. The Croſs is ſeparated from the Curſe. There is ſomething in this. To be able to ſay under the foreſt of afflictions, This ſcourge is no ſcorpion; this is no curſe, 'tis but a croſs. Our Lord bare both the croſs and the curſe together, and that made his cup ſo bitter; but now he hath divided them; the curſe he hath left upon ſinners, and laid only the naked croſs on his Saints. The croſſes of reprobate ſinners, are all curſes. Every affliction is a curſe; there's wrath in all their ſufferings, there's venome upon every arrow, there's vengeance in every dart, every rod is a Serpent to them. Thou that art of the number of Chriſts implacable enemies, when he comes to fall upon thee, and to grind thee under his hand, thou wouldeſt have a word of comfort to be ſpoken to thee in thy ſorrow; no, no, there's no comfort can bee ſpoken; thou mayſt ſay of every dart he ſmites thee with, This is ſent of God, to revenge himſelf upon me; The croſſes of the impenitent are all curſes: but the Saints curſes are all come to be but croſſes. Though men curſe, the Lord will not curſe; what-ever troubles come upon thee, though there be vinegar in them, yet there's no venome in them; though there be anguiſh in them, yet there's no wrath in them; though they be ill look'd, yet there's no ill will in them; they come upon no ill intent, nor ſhall have any evil iſſue. The ſmitings of the wicked are to thee, as the ſmitings of the righteous were to the Pſalmiſt, A precious balm, Pſal. 14.5. Let the righteous ſmite mee, it ſhall be a kindneſs; it ſhall be an excellent oyl; it ſhall not break mine head. And thou mayſt ſay, Let the wicked ſmite me; ſmite me with the tongue, with the fiſt of wickedneſs, or what they will, it ſhall not break mine head, much leſs mine heart; it ſhall be a kindneſs to me, an excellent oyl.
2. The Croſs is ſanctified to its ends. It hath many holy and excellent ends, and it ſhall proſper; it ſhall accompliſh its ends. The croſs is laid on the Saint, ſometimes to prove them; ſometimes to reprove them; to humble them, to purge them, &c. and what-ever its ſent to them for, it ſhall not return in vain. As the Word, ſo the rod, ſhall accompliſh that for which he pleaſes that ſent it. By this the iniquity of Jacob (ſhall) be purged.
3. The Croſs is proportioned to their needs and ſtrength. Jer. 30.11. I will correct thee in meaſure, but I will not leave thee altogether unpuniſhed. Juſt ſo much as will ſerve ſhall ſuffice; the wiſe Phyſician hath reſpect both to the need, and to the ſtrength of the Patient. Iſa. 57.16. I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; leſt the Spirit ſhould fail before me, and the ſouls which I have made. The Apoſtle tells the Saints, Heb. 10. that they have need of patience; and their experience tells them, they have need of ſomething to exerciſe their patience. And their needs are different; ſome are knotty pieces and need more; others are tender, and upon them leſs will ſerve. The ſtubborn Childe muſt have more ſtripes; the ſhaking of the rod will do more on ſome ſpirits, then the ſmart of it on others; but all need ſomething. Let him onelyonly that is without ſin, ſay, I have no need of ſhame and ſorrow. The Lord will neither over, nor under do; every one ſhall have his load and no more. No more than they can bear, and no leſs than their need requires. The Lord delights not in his childrens tears, he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men; but yet he had rather they cry then periſh. Wonder not Chriſtians, that your tender Lord puts you to pain, and that your pains are ſo ſharp and ſo many; Your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all theſe things. It's a mercy that he will chaſtiſe; you may put your corrections among your mercies. His breakings of you are his bleſſings, his woundings are your cures; and by your own, as by your Lords ſtripes you are healed. And when you ſhall review, and read over all his darker providences; and behold the wiſdome, tenderneſs, which is attempered with his ſeverities, evidenced in his laying on ſo much, and yet no more than was needful, you will then write down with the Pſalmiſt, Thou in very faithfulneſs haſt afflicted me.
O my Lord, let me not want thy ſtaff nor thy rod; neither a friend nor an enemy; neither a calm nor a ſtorm; neither food nor medicine; if my diſeaſe be too ſtrong for my Phyſick, let me have yet a ſtronger potion; if my wanton heart will not yet be tamed, put on more fetters, an heavier load; load upon load, weight upon weight, and till thou ſeeſt, let me never ſay, it is enough. Let me never be ſick of my remedy till I be cured of my diſeaſe. Let me rather ſuffer by the hand of a Devil, than periſh by the hand of a luſt. Spare not Lord, ceaſe not Lord, to ſmite thy ſervant, till thou haſt thereby ſmitten down all mine enemies. Peace? plenty? eaſe? what that I may have to ſpend upon my luſts? to wax wanton againſt my God? hanc pacem nolo.
Pain, trouble, want, any thing rather than peace, upon ſuch terms. Correct me O Lord, yet in judgment, but not in thy fury, leſt I be conſumed and brought to nothing.
4. The Croſs hath its ſpecial comforts, 2 Cor. 1.3,4,5,6,7.
Bleſſed be God even the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our ſelves are comforted of God. For as the ſufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our Conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt. And whether we be afflicted it is for your conſolation and ſalvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the ſame ſufferings which we alſo ſuffer; or whether we be comforted, it is for your conſolation and ſalvation: and our hope of you is ſtedfaſt, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the ſufferings, ſo ſhall ye be alſo of the conſolation.
The comforts of the Croſs are often the ſweeteſt and the fulleſt, that the Saints ever taſte on this ſide the crown. The firſt draught is often bitter; the green croſs is heavy, and 'tis neceſſary it ſhould be ſo. As 'tis with ſome medicinal waters, it works by its weight; it muſt be an heavy yoke that will tame an unruly neck; if it gall not, it will not heal; 'tis the ſmart of the rod that ſtills the Childe. Think not your burthens will lie eaſie, when firſt laid on, and think not much if they do not. The firſt conflict with temptations, may put you to an harder brunt then you are aware. It muſt be ſo that it may be for your good afterward. So my Phyſick will work, I am content it make me ſick. Tribulation worketh patience; that it cannot do, unleſs it pains. It is obſervable, that 'tis not ſaid, the croſs worketh patience, but the foreign the tribulation, the pinching of the croſs, or the pain the croſs puts us to; this is patience, a quiet bearing that pain, which the fleſh when touched puts us to. When we [feel] the thorns and the nails, when the iron enters into our [ſouls] when it pricks and ſmarts, then 'twill work. The green croſs is heavy; a priſon, or a wilderneſs, will look uncouth at the firſt; but when your Lord comes in, and viſits you, then the ſweet, the pleaſure comes: and the more frowns at the threſhold, the more kiſſes you may expect afterwards; Chriſt doth not always meet his Saints in the Porch; the Devils Parlour, the inner priſon is his banquetting houſe; the Dungeon his Wine-cellar; there they drink and are ſatisfied. The Stocks, and the Rack, are the organs that make them the ſweeteſt Muſick. Many a Saint hath been ſadly diſappointed at the firſt, hoping to meet with Chriſt at the door; but behold a dreadful fight; behold ſin lieth at the door; all his ſins, all that ever he did againſt Chriſt, all his unthankfulneſs, unfaithfulneſs, unkindneſs, rebellion againſt his Lord, ſtand forth and ſtare him in the face. Chriſtians, beware of ſin now: it will meet you in the day of adverſity, the croſs will tell you all that ever you did. I remember my faults this day; now I remember all my pleaſant things; my Sabbaths, my Ordinances, my Liberty, the dear ſociety I once enjoy'd; but trifled and waſted away; O my pride and my wantonneſs, my idleneſs, my earthlineſs, my hypocriſie, wherefore are you come thus to affright and torment me? Lord, whether am I come? O how dreadful is this place? Is this my priſon-entertainment? Are theſe my priſon-conſorts? O what an hard lodging am I like to have with ſuch companions? O the wormwood and the gall! a dark habitation, a bitter cup indeed is now given unto me. Is this the comfort of the croſs? are theſe the ſweets ſo much talked of? Yet be not diſmayed, as roughly as thou art handled at the door, 'tis better within; the Devil is going out in this ſtorm; thy ſins meet thee now, but 'tis only to ſhake hands and part; after this agony expect the Angels to come and miniſter to thee. Complain not if thou yet find no ſweet, thou haſt not drank deep enough; the next draught, the ſugar may come; in the next room thou maiſt meet thy Lord; and then tell me, if it be ſhort of all that hath been told thee.
But ſhall I give you a more particular view of ſome of the ſpecial comforts of the Croſs, or our ſufferings for Chriſt! I ſhall only firſt premiſe a word, to let you underſtand what I mean by the ſufferings of Chriſt. We then ſuffer for Chriſt, when we ſuffer for Chriſts Cauſe; when we ſuffer becauſe we will be Chriſtians, we will be holy and righteous; when we ſuffer becauſe we will not ſin; and when we ſuffer upon Chriſts Call, when he cuts out a croſs for us, and lays it on. Then Chriſt calls us to ſuffering, when he puts us to this choice, Either to ſuffer or to ſin; when our backs or our conſciences muſt ſuffer; when we muſt ſuffer, or he muſt ſuffer by us. If any man will be my Diſciple, let him take up [his] croſs. Chriſt is not, and Chriſtians muſt not be prodigal of their blood; their blood is his; their eſtates, their names, their liberties, are all his, and to him they muſt be accountable how they part with them. 'Tis not every croſs that thou canſt call [thy] croſs; we muſt not leave our way to ſeek a croſs; when Chriſt hath laid a croſs athwart a Chriſtians way that he ſhould go; and he muſt either make a ſtand, or turn aſide, or ſubmit his neck to it; Then he ſays, There is [thy] croſs, take it up and get thee on. Whatever croſs be before thee, if thou haſt a way open to avoid it without ſin, that's none of thy croſs, thou maiſt not take it up; or if thou doſt, thou wilt have no thanks for thy pains.
Chriſtians ſhould be wary here. Though it be an argument of a gracious ſpirit, to be alwayes of a ready and forward mind to ſuffer for Chriſt; and when he demands, Who will go with me? Who will bear my croſs? chearfully to anſwer, I will go Lord, let me bear it; yet ſhould we take heed, that as we hang not back, when he ſays, Go, ſo that we run not before he ſend us. Though it be an high honour to ſuffer for the Goſpel, yet no man taketh this honour upon himſelf, but he that is called of God. I would not go to a Priſon without a Mittimus from heaven, leſt if my ſuffering be of my ſelf, I be there left to ſhift for my ſelf. If Chriſt ſhould meet me in priſon or in baniſhment, and demand of me, What doſt thou here Elijah? Friend, how cameſt thou in hither? What ſhould I ſay, if I could not ſay this, Thou Lord, haſt brought me hither; my conſcience, my duty hath brought me in.
But underſtand me here with this caution; That when the Cauſe for the main is Chriſts, but the Call ſeems doubtful, yet when the ſufferer hath carefully enquired the mind of God, truly follows the dictates of conſcience, ſincerely deſigns the honour of Chriſt and his Goſpel, although he ſhould erre in ſome circumſtances of his caſe, and for fear of iniquity ſhould chuſe affliction, when poſſibly he might have avoided both; God will ſurely wink at his miſtakes, own his ſufferings, and greatly accept and reward his readineſs of mind.
Yet ſtill take heed of careleſs or wilful errors: take heed of preparing nails for thy own croſs; thorns, ſcourges, ſpears, for thine own head or heart. Take heed both how thou ſhunneſt, and how thou eſpouſeſt a ſuffering ſtate.
Go not in upon heedleſs miſtakes; go not in for good company, much leſs upon any carnal deſigns; let not thy pride, or oſtentacion, or the byaſs of any fleſhly reſpects lead thee into the houſe of correction, leſt thou find them the rods to laſh thee when thou art there.
Chriſtians conſider, if there be not ſometimes ſome uncomfortable miſcarriages in this matter; and whether it hath not been the lot of ſome of Chriſts (with how much juſtice or charity, let the Lord be Judge) to bee cenſured and reproached for unfaithful or for fearful, upon no other account but for walking by this rule, not to go to Priſon without a warrant, that is, not to caſt themſelves into a ſuffering ſtate, whilſt God hath left a way open to eſcape, without ſin. I confeſs the more dangerous, and the more ordinary errour is on the other hand; we are more apt (eſpecially when afflictions are more ſharp and bite in earneſt, and then will be the great trial) rather ſinfully to ſhift our ſelves of them, than unwarrantably to run our ſelves upon them; but yet let it be conſidered, whether there be not an errour on this hand alſo.
Its true where the cauſe is the ſame as to the main, different circumſtances may make that to be one mans ſin, which is another mans duty; yea, that may be a duty to the ſame man at one time, which (ſuppoſing him in differing circumſtances) might have been his ſin at another. And it is not ſeldome (through the unavoidable difference of our apprehenſions, and the difficultie of diſcerning our caſes) that Chriſtians equally careful to know and do the Will of God, when the caſe, and the circumſtances alſo are moſtly the ſame, do judge differently about their Call to ſuffering. Here let no man be ſo tyrannical to others, as to expect that they ſhould go croſs to their own, to comply with their brethrens, judgments, and conſciences. Let us not put one another on this unmerciful neceſſity, either to break our peace with God, or our Friends. Let it be ſufficient to us, faithfully to follow our own light, without judging or quarrelling with thoſe that are otherwiſe minded. Beware of bitterneſs. Be not cruel to conſciences; ſmite not with the tongue, nor let an evil thought ariſe in thine heart, upon any ſuch account as this. Thine arrows will recoyl, and fly back in thine own face. Blemiſh not thine own ſufferings by blaſting thy Brothers liberty. Let not the warineſs of ſome be condemned for cowardiſe, nor the forwardneſs of others for pride or hypocriſie; but let us bee clothed with humility, let us put on a ſpirit of ſelf-ſuſpition, and charity to our Brethren; and let this Chriſtian frame be the more ſtudiouſly maintained, by how much the more our differing practices according to the variety of our apprehenſions, ſeem to condemn each other, and ſo provoke to uncomfortable ſchiſms and contentions, and by how much the more pernicious ſuch ſchiſms are like to prove in the iſſue.
Theſe things premiſed, I ſhall now ſhew you what the ſpecial comforts of the croſs are. You may expect your ſuffering ſtate to be ſweetned with
1. A more plentiful diffuſion of ſpecial Grace. Grace is a comfort; 'tis never better with the Saints; then when that flouriſhes. The joy of the harveſt is howling to the joy of grace; he is not a Chriſtian, that cannot ſay, 'tis Summer, when theſe flowers appear in their beauty. Flouriſhing Faith and Love, have their glorious joys, 1 Pet. 1.8. The Springs of grace, are a reſurrection from the dead; and there's no ſuch ſpring as after a ſhower. Oh how green do the herbs then look; the withering flowers do then lift up the head; never ſo many ſtars appear, nor with ſuch luſtre, as in a froſty night; grind the ſpices, and their fragrancy flows out. Saints are never more Saints, than in the houſe of bondage, or the Land of their pilgrimage; our Winter-weather makes us warm at heart. As our outward man periſhes, our inward man is renewed day by day, 2 Cor. 4.16. Perſecution is the time of life. We are delivered to death for Jeſus ſake, that the life alſo of Jeſus might be manifeſt in our mortal fleſh, 2 Cor. 4.11. Decayed ſoul, comfort thine heart, the croſs comes, now thou ſhalt live; now thou ſhalt recover. This weakneſs will ſtrengthen the things that remain, and are ready to die. Now faith, and love, and patience, and courage that have ſo long hung the wing, now lift up the head; the day of your redemption draweth nigh; this night is your day of hope.
2. A more clear revelation of ſpecial Love. Loveſt thou me Lord? there's enough. Let me hear thy voice, let me ſee thy face.
Kiſs me with the kiſſes of thy mouth. Thy loving kindneſs is better than life; ſend forth thy light, and thy truth, let theſe tell me, thou loveſt me. Thy love-ſick Spouſe is ſick for love; O when wilt thou ſay, Thou knoweſt that I love thee? Why come up with me on the croſs; that withered tree bears more bloſſomes of love, than all the green trees of the field. The whole Goſpel is hung upon the croſs. Where our Lord hung, there's ſin nail'd, the curſe vacated, death vanquiſhed; pardon, peace, joy, glory, ſhewed forth in open ſight. There's love with all its tokens, go up and take. Fear not to be baptized with thy Lords Baptiſm, nor to drink of his cup; this cup alſo is the communion of the blood of Chriſt. Come with me into the wilderneſs, there will I ſpeak comfortably to thee. When thou moſt wanteſt it, where thou wilt moſt value it, there will I ſhew thee my loves.
Our Lord loves not to have love ſlighted; the full ſoul loathes the honey-comb; thou haſt yet too many Lovers to bid thy Lord welcome; he keeps his beſt Wine till all thine own be ſowred; then it will reliſh, and then thou ſhalt have it. His oyl is for thy wounds. The Childe never knows ſo much of the Parents heart, and bowels, as when 'tis ſick, or in diſtreſs; then every look is love; every word is pity and compaſſion. O the ſoundings of Chriſts bowels towards his ſwooning children; when thou knoweſt hatred, then look to know love. When thou art perſecuted, when thou art caſt out, and trodden under foot of men, then will he take thee in, and cheriſh thee.
3. A more full manifeſtation of glory, There's not a priſon into which the Saints are caſt, but hath a window into the palace. Calvary becomes a Tabor, where they have a ſight of their Lord in his glory. Golgotha becomes a Piſgah, where they may look over Jordan into the land of promiſe. Haſt thou known little of heaven? thou haſt not yet been in the deep.
Of Stephen the firſt Goſpel-Martyr its ſaid Acts 7.55. He looked up ſtedfaſtly into heaven, and ſaw the glory of God, and Jeſus ſtanding at the right hand of God. And Chap. 6.15. All that ſate in the Council, ſaw his face, as the face of an Angel. Such an admirable ſplendor and ſerenity in his countenance, as ſpake him rather an Angel then a man. O what an heaven was there within, that caſt out ſuch a divine luſtre on his face. His joy was too big for his heart, his face muſt have its ſhare; yea, his very adverſaries, at ſecond hand, beheld the glory of God.
He looked up and ſaw heaven opened. Looking down, he might ſee hell opened, all his tormentors about him; the jaws of death ready to devour and ſwallow him up; but looking up, he ſaw heaven opened, and Jeſus ſtanding at the right hand of God. O there he is, for whoſe ſake is all this. My beloved, my beloved is yonder. Behold the region of light, whither this dark tempeſt is waſting me; his hell and his heaven meets, but the light ſwallows up the dark. Hell ceaſes to be hell, where heaven appears to bee heaven. This is the portion of ſuffering Saints. When you read what's written of thoſe armies of Martyrs that have gone before; of their unſpeakable joys, their undaunted courage, their admirable boldneſs; of their chearing their friends, confounding their foes; their rejoycing in their ſtripes, ſinging in their ſtocks, leaping in their chains, boaſting of their bonds, kiſſing their ſtakes, embracing the flames, riding up in triumph in their chariots of fire, not repenting of their Faith, nor accepting of deliverance; what doth this ſpeak, but that their eyes, as well as their anchor, are within the vail, whither Chriſt their fore-runner is gone before them. Oh who would not be with them? who would fear ſufferings?
Soul, what art afraid of? whither art thou running? from what art thou hiding thy ſelf? what is thine eaſe, or thy liberty, or thy quiet? why ſo loth to looſe from this ſhore? lanch forth into the deep. Fear not tranſportation into thine houſe of bondage; when thou art once there, 'tis but look up, and thou art in Paradiſe.
Such are the ſufferings of Chriſt, This is the croſs of the Covenant.
4. In ſumme; as that which comprehends all the reſt, a more manifest exhibition of Chriſts ſpecial preſence, Jer. 30.11. I am with thee to ſave thee, Iſa. 43.2. When thou paſſeſt through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they ſhall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee. Through fire and water thou muſt go; we went through fire and water into a wealthy place; but whither ever thou goeſt, he will go with thee. When the buſh was on fire, the Lord was in the buſh; when the three children were in the furnace, the Son of God was there with them. Iſa. 63.9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted, he ſaved them by the Angel of his preſence; in his love, and his pity he redeemed them, and he bare them, and carried them all the dayes of old. Though all men forſook me, the Lord ſtood with me, and ſtrengthened me, 2 Tim. 4.16,17. The Saints ſhall never have this to charge upon the Lord, I was in priſon, and thou viſitedſt me not.
He is ever with them; to bear their burthens, and eaſe their ſhoulders; to plead their cauſe, and maintain their innocence; to waſh their ſtripes, to wipe off their tears, to heal their wounds, to bind up their broken bones, to revive their weary ſpirits; to perfume their priſons, to lighten their dungeons, to lead them in their wandrings, to converſe with them in their ſolitudes; to give down from above, in divine ſmiles, in illapſes of ſpiritual joys, aſſurances of deareſt love, tendereſt care, melting ſympathie, gracious acceptance, to give down from above what-ever is wanting beneath. In fine, to preſerve them from falling by the preſence of his Grace, till he preſent them faultleſs before the preſence of his Glory. O its good being with Chriſt any where.
Tell me, O thou whom my ſoul loveth, where thou feedeſt, and cauſeſt thy flocks to reſt at noon. Where thou feedeſt? yea, where thou [art,] whether feeding or faſting, whether rejoycing or mourning; where thou cauſeſt thy flocks to [reſt] at noon? yea and where thou ſuffereſt thy flocks to be ſcattered in the night. Where thy flocks are, thou art not far away; tell mee where thou feedeſt, tell mee where thou art. My beloved that feedeth among the lillies, feedeth ſometimes among the thorns. When his love is a lilly among thorns, there hee feedeth. Hee feedeth among the thorns; he feedeth with his ſheep, he feedeth with his Lambs where ever they feed; when darkneſs, and deſolation, and devils, and death feed upon them, even then he feedeth them, and takes his feeding with them.
O where ever my Lord is, there let my lot fall. Let me dwell amongſt the thorns, ſo my dwelling be with my Lord amongſt the lillies. Let me wander amongſt the mountains, whileſt he is with me telling all my wandrings. Let me be ſcourged, ſo he will waſh my ſtripes; let me weep, ſo he will wipe off my tears; I would not want wounds, whileſt I have ſuch oyl to pour in. Come all yee thieves and robbers, I fear you not, my dear Samaritan comes by; come yee bulls of Baſhan, yee boars of the foreſt, let my beloved kiſs mee with the kiſſes of his mouth, and I regard it not, though you kick me with the heel. O my Lord, bring me where thou feedeſt let me live in thy face, let me feel thy ſmiles upon my heart, let me love thee, tell me thou loveſt me, remembreſt, pittieſt, accepteſt, takeſt care for me, and then chuſe my condition, my dwelling and entertainment for me.
Fainting Chriſtian, lift up thine eyes, comfort thine heart; here's that thou feareſt and tormenteſt thy ſelf withall. Here is the inſide of that formidable croſs, the light ſide of thoſe dark clouds, the ſunny ſide of that ſhady thorny hedge that ſo wounds and afflicts thine heart. Fear not, bee ſtrong and of a good courage. Thou ſtill ſayeſt, woe is me I can find no ſuch thing; Ah, Lord God, doth he not ſpeak parables? O that I were aſſured it might be thus with me; why, art thou in Covenant? believe, and all is thine. I believe, and therefore have I ſpoken; believe, and thou ſhalt ſee the ſalvation of God; as ſure as the croſs is thine, all the comforts of the croſs are ſetled upon thee. Read over all the gracious words thou haſt before thine eyes; view over all the inſtances of ſuffering Saints that have gone before thee, on whom theſe good words have been made good; in conſpicuous increaſes of divine grace, in the ſignal diſcoveries of divine love, in the cleareſt and fulleſt revelation of divine glory, in the intimate ſenſe of the divine preſence; quickning, enlarging, encouraging, ſupporting their ſpirits, in the darkeſt dens, in the ſharpeſt conflicts, with reproaches, mockings, bonds, baniſhments, torments, and deaths; and know that all theſe things are written for thy learning, that thou through patience and comfort of the Scriptures maiſt have hope.
Read over, Iſa. 51. Hearken to mee yee that follow after righteouſneſs, yee that ſeek the Lord, look unto the Rock whence ye are hewen, and to the hole of the pit, whence ye are digged, for the Lord ſhall comfort Zion, hee will comfort all her wast places; hee will make her wilderneſſe like Eden, and all her deſarts like the Garden of the Lord, joy and gladneſs ſhall bee found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody, lift up your eyes to the Heavens, &c. Verſe 7, 8, 12, 13. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteouſneſs, the people in whoſe heart is my Law, fear yee not the reproach of men, neither bee ye afraid of their revilings, for the Moth ſhall eat them up like a Garment, and the worm ſhall eat them like wool, but my Righteouſneſs ſhall bee for ever, and my ſalvation from Generation to Generation. I even I, am hee that comforteth you, who art thou that thou ſhouldest bee afraid of a man that ſhall dye, and of the Son of man which ſhall bee made as graſs? and forgetteſt the Lord thy maker, that hath ſtretched forth the heavens, and layd the foundations of the earth; and haſt feared continually every day, becauſe of the fury of the oppreſſour, as if he were ready to deſtroy, and where is the fury of the oppreſſour. I even I am he, &c. [and where is the fury of the oppreſſour.] where is the fury of the oppreſſour? where is it not rather? is it not in the houſe, and in the field? is it not in the City, and in the Villages? is it not upon my Cattel, upon my Purſe, upon my body, upon my Children, upon my friends, where is not the fury of the oppreſſour? I, but when thou remembreſt the Lord thy maker, the Oath, the Promiſe, and Covenant of God; the Preſence, Protection and Comfort of thy God, when thou remembreſt this, then where is the fury of the Oppreſſour?