The Dead Saint Speaking to Saints and Sinners Living, Treatise 2
A TREATISE OF THE LOVES OF CHRIST TO HIS SPOUSE.
CANT. 4.9.
Thou haſt raviſhed my heart, my Siſter, my Spouſe: Thou haſt raviſhed my heart with one of thine eyes; with one chain about thy neck.
A Text, which after wee have been ſome while in Heaven, wee ſhall bee able to underſtand.
Certainly none can ſpeak fully to this Text, but they who have the full injoyments of this Love.
But things that are not poſſible to bee expreſſed, are not totally to bee omitted; and therefore wee will lanch into the main Ocean. And when wee are not able to apprehend this love, let us caſt our ſelves in, and let it comprehend us.
Some things in the General wee premiſe.
1. For the Author, or Penman; it was Solomon inſpired by the Spirit of God.
2. For the Title of the Book; it is called The Song of Songs; or, a moſt excellent Song. So it is called for the excellency; and ſublimity. The doubling of the words declare the excellency. As when the Scripture ſpeaks of baſe things; by doubling the words they are more debaſed; as it was ſaid of Cham, Gen. 9.25. A ſervant of ſervants ſhall hee bee: that is, a vile ſlave. So when it ſpeaks of good things by doubling the words, it declares the excellency of the thing, Deut. 10.17. The Lord your God, is God of Gods, and Lord of Lords. Thus much for the Title.
3. As concerning the Matter; there is difference among Interpreters.
1. Aben-Ezra a Jewiſh Rabbin thinks it to bee an Hiſtory of the Church of God from Abraham to Chriſt.
2. Another thinks it to bee an Hyſtory of the Church from Chriſt, to the freedome of the Church by Conſtantine, a Roman Emperour, who lived in the beginning of the fourth Century.
3. Another makes it contain a prophetical Hyſtory of the condition of the Church from David to the end of the World. And divides the book into theſe two parts. The Church
1. Under the Law.
2. Under the Goſpel.
1. The Church under the Law, from David to the death of Chriſt, which is continued from the beginning of the Book, to the ſixth verſe of the fourth Chapter.
1. As it was from David to the Captivity; which ſaith hee, is contained in the firſt Chapter, and the two firſt verſes of the ſecond Chapter.
2. As it was in the Captivity, from the ſecond verſe of the ſecond Chapter, to the fifteenth verſe of the ſecond Chapter.
3. As it was after the Captivity, till the death of Chriſt, the abrogation of the Church under the Law; which continues from the fifteenth verſe of the ſecond Chapter, to the ſixth verſe of the fourth Chapter.
2. And from that, to the end of the Book is contained an Hyſtory of the Church Evangelical, till Chriſts ſecond comming. Of this mind is Brightman.
But to leave this, wee think (and with us goes the ſtream of Orthodox Interpreters) that the ſubject matter of this Book is a Parabolical Hyſtory of the mutual loves betwixt Chriſt, and his Church, ſet down under the perſons of the Bridegroom, and his Bride. And thus much of the Book in general. Wee will now draw neerer to our Text.
In the former Chapter we read, how the Church, the Spouſe of Chriſt doth declare her exceeding love to Chriſt, and her high appretiations of him, with her earneſt deſire to injoy him, whom her ſoul ſaw ſo precious, and that Chriſt might diſcover to her, how kindly hee took her affection.
In this Chapter hee doth again enter into a ſingular commendation of the excellency of the Church, declaring alſo his unfeigned love to her.
The whole Chapter contains theſe parts.
1. A ſingular commendation of the Church by Chriſt; which is ſet down allegorically from the firſt verſe to the fifth, and from the tenth to the fourteenth verſe.
2. A gracious profeſſion of Chriſts love to his Church, from the fifth verſe to the tenth.
3. The Churches reply, with Chriſts anſwer again to her, verſ. 15, 16, 17.
In the Churches reply; 1. A commendation of her head and Husband, verſ. 15.2. An earneſt deſire, of further communication of his Spirit, and communion with himſelf, verſ. 16.
In Chriſts anſwer there is contained a Promiſe of his gracious acceptation of ſuch fruits as the Church ſhall yeeld him, verſ. 17.
This verſe which I have read to you is a branch of the ſecond part. (ſcil.) The gracious profeſſion of Chriſt his love to his Church; of which, if I read no more than this verſe, wee ſee enough ſet down to aſtoniſh and amaze us all.
Thou haſt raviſhed my Heart, my Siſter, my Spouſe. Quid mirum, ſi regnum caelorum vim patitur, &c! What wonder if the Kingdome of Heaven ſuffer violence, when the King of Heaven himſelf ſuffers violence!
Chriſt doth here ſpeak in the manner of a Lover, whoſe heart is exceedingly raviſhed, and taken with the beauties, vertues, and graces of his Spouſe.
Give mee leave to explain the words, and wee come to Doctrin.
1. Thou haſt raviſhed.] What is meant by that? The expreſſion is great, that the God of Heaven ſhould bee ſo taken, even to raviſhment with his Church and people. And yet let mee tell you, the word ſpeaks more than any expreſſion can utter.
The word is in the Hebrew, foreign of which theſe interpretations.
1. Aben-Ezra tranſlates, rapuiſti animam meam: Thou haſt taken away, thou haſt ſtolne away my Heart, my Siſter, my Spouſe.
2. Rab. Sol. Traxiſti animam meam ad te: Thou haſt drawn my heart to thee.
3. Talmudici priſci. Copulaſti cor meum cum tuo: Thou haſt coupled my heart to thee; thou haſt One-ed my heart: as if hee ſhould ſay, thou haſt ſo joyned mee, as thou and I have but One heart.
4. Another, Vulneraſti cor meum: Thou haſt wounded my Heart, my Siſter, my Spouſe.
5. The ſeventy, They foreign, Excordiaſti, Eripuiſti cor meum: Thou haſt unhearted mee; thou haſt taken my heart from mee. And here our Tranſlators, Thou haſt raviſhed my Heart. All which laid together, they are mighty expreſſions, ſetting down, to wonder and amazement, the exceeding love of Christ to the Church.
Thou haſt raviſhed, wounded, ſtolne away, drawn my heart to thee.
2. My Siſter, my Spouſe.] Wee will joyn them both together: both are ſpoken of the ſame perſon, the Church of God, which Chriſt calls, foreign:
1. Siſter, Becauſe ſhee is the Daughter of his Father in Heaven, and fellow-heir of Glory with Chriſt.
2. Spouſe, Becauſe Chriſt had married himſelf unto her.
3. With one of thine eyes: with one chain of thy neck.] Not to poſtil on them.
1. With one of thine eyes; with one chain, i. e. with thy Graces, thy Wiſdome, and Knowledge, thy Faith, and other Graces: As if hee had ſaid; I need not to behold both thine eyes: the beauty of one of them is ſo great, it takes my heart. And I need not to behold all thine Ornaments: even one chain alone hath taken my heart, and drawn my heart to thee. Chriſt hath an high account of the leaſt of his peoples Graces.
Thus having explained the words, wee come to the concluſions. Thou haſt raviſhed my heart.]
Doct. 1 1. That the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt is exceedingly taken with his Church and people. Thou haſt raviſhed.
Doct. 2 2. That which doth ſo indear the Heart of Chriſt to them; that which takes the Heart of Christ, is the beauties and graces of his people.
Doct. 3 3. The leaſt Grace of his Church, doth greatly take the Heart of Chriſt. One Eye, one Chain.
Wee think hee cannot love us, wee are ſo weak in Grace: but it is his own, though never ſo weak, and hee can love; wee will fall upon the firſt of theſe.
Doct. 1 That the Heart of Jeſus chriſt is exceedingly taken with his Church and People. In the proſecution of this wee will ſhew,
1. What is meant by his Heart being taken.
2. Wee will ſhew that Chriſts Heart is thus taken.
3. Wee will ſhew upon what grounds his Heart is ſo much taken with his Church, and ſo come to apply.
For the firſt; What is meant by his Heart being taken?
And here I muſt tell you in the entrance, that wee cannot ſufficiently expreſs it. It is one of the higheſt expreſſions in the Book of God towards his Church, that the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt ſhould bee taken with his Church.
An expreſſion, which if wee but let lye upon our ſpirit, the weight thereof would ſink us; ſhall I ſay, hee doth dearly and entirely love us; nothing is too much to do, nothing is too great to ſuffer, nothing too much to give to us, hee doth exceedingly love us.
Shall I ſay, his heart doth exceedingly delight in us, his ſoul doth exceedingly rejoyce over us, above all the World.
Shall I ſay, wee are exceeding precious in his eyes, wee are choice in his eſteem, Iſa. 43.3, 4. ſuch as he will give the World for, ſuch as hee will give himſelf for, if hee can but gain us, hee eſteems hee hath riches enough, and reward enough for it.
Shall I ſay, his deſires are towards us, hee in a manner deſires no more than us; ſhall I ſay hee thinks himſelf happy in the injoyment of us, wee are reward enough for all his pains, and all his labour.
Why all this and more the Scripture ſaith, and all this is yet ſhort of this expreſſion, his Heart is taken with us.
This, the next particular will give us further inſight into.
2. That the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt is exceedingly taken, I may demonſtrate to you by diverſe arguments.
That which the thoughts are taken up withall, that the heart muſt needs bee taken withall.
This is plain, you know a man will buſie his thoughts about that which hee cares for: wouldeſt thou know what thou loveſt;Vis noſſe quod ames, attende quod cogites. Bern. ſee what thy thoughts are upon. As if hee had ſaid, there can bee no better character to diſcover what your hearts are taken withall, than to examine what your thoughts are moſt taken up withall; for what the thoughts are taken up withall, the heart is taken withall. Now the thoughts of Chriſt are exceedingly taken up with his Church and people. Wee are ever upon his thoughts.
There hath not been a moment from all eternity wherein wee have been out of the thoughts of Chriſt.
Before the World was; wee were on his thoughts, hee thought on us to everlaſting life, loved us with everlaſting love.
After wee had loſt our ſelves, wee were then on his thoughts, when hee interpoſed himſelf between God and us, to ſtay his wrath from us.
Before wee came into the World wee were on his thoughts, witneſs all the Scripture, in which are ſuch expreſſions of his heart to us. After hee came into the World, you ſee wee were the whole of his thoughts, wee lay ever upon his heart; you ſee by his doings, ſufferings, prayer for us. Read the 14, 15, 16, 17. of John. See how his thoughts were taken up with us, when hee was to leave us, what love hee ſhewed, what care hee expreſſed to us, what earneſt prayers hee put up to God for us; read Joh. 17.9. to the end of the chapter. Yea and what proviſion hee made for us, hee would not leave us comfortleſs, but ſend his Spirit to comfort us, to guide us.
And now hee is in Heaven, are not his thoughts on us? did hee not tell us hee went to prepare a place for us, hee went to do our work, to intercede for us, to plead for us.
The Church of Chriſt is never a moment off from the thoughts of Chriſt, Iſa. 49.15, 16. And therefore his Heart is exceedingly taken with his Church.
That which a man doth affectionately and indearedly love, that the heart is much taken withall, bee it Husband, bee it Wife, Child, the World, whatever.
Now Chriſt doth exceedingly love his Church, wee are ſaid to bee the dearly beloved of his ſoul, Jer. 12.7. and read here, hee loves us beyond all expreſſions, ſo God loved the World, Joh. 3.16. ſo Chriſt hee loves us beyond all conceptions, Epheſ. 3.19. it is a love which paſſeth knowledge.
In the former verſe the Apoſtle went about to meaſure this love, height, depth, breadth, length.
But hee found his line too ſhort, his meaſure would not reach, therefore hee concludes it a love beyond all knowledge.
A man may expreſs much love, but hee may conceive of more than hee can expreſs. Why this love of Chriſt is above all wee can conceive, above knowledge. It is an infinite love. It is, I ſay, an infinite love, which is more than if I ſhould lay all the bowels in the Creature together, &c.
A greater love than all. Witneſs what is done, ſuffered, and yet love above all. And therefore Chriſts Heart is exceedingly taken with his Church and People.
That which a man doth glad his heart with, and which hee rejoyces over, hee muſt needs bee taken with.
A man will not rejoyce over the injoyment of that hee loves not. The rich Fool rejoyced over his full Barns, but it was becauſe his heart was taken with his poſſeſſions.
Joy is a fruit of the hearts being taken with any thing; you rejoyce in your riches, Husbands, &c. in the poſſeſſion of what ever your heart loves. Now the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt doth exceedingly rejoyce over his Church and People; they are his by donation, God gave them to him; they are his by purchaſe, hee laid down his life for them; if wee lay down our life to compaſs a thing ſure wee rejoyce in it.
Wee are his Riches, wee his Treaſure, his Ammies, Ruhama's, and Hephzibah's, his precious ones, his People, his Spouſe; and therefore hee muſt needs rejoyce over us, Iſa. 62.4, 5. Thou ſhalt bee called Heph-zibah, for the Lord delighteth in thee: yea as the Bridegroom rejoyceth over the Bride, ſo ſhall thy God rejoyce over thee, Zeph. 3.17. The Lord will rejoyce over thee with Joy, hee will reſt in his love, hee will joy over thee with ſinging. And therefore ſeeing Chriſt doth rejoyce. Ergo is the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt exceedingly taken, &c.
That which a man doth delight to converſe withall, that his heart is taken withall.
Now Chriſt doth delight exceedingly to converſe with his Saints, hee loves to ſpeak to them, and hee loves to hear them ſpeak to him, Cant. 2.14. Oh my Dove, let mee ſee thy countenance, let mee hear thy voice, for thy countenance is comely, and thy voice is ſweet. When the Diſciples are talking of him, Chriſt joyns himſelf to them. Ergo is the Heart of Chriſt much taken.
When the two were going to Emmaus, Luk. 24.15. Chriſt comes and joynes with them, delights in their talk, Mal. 3.16. when Gods people were gathered together, the Lord hearkened and heard.
5. That which a man thinks nothing to dear for, nothing too much to give for, to do for, or ſuffer for, that the heart muſt needs bee taken withall.
But thus it was with Chriſt to his Church.
1. Hee ſuffered in his Body, thoſe ſpittings, buffetings, ſcourgings, &c. that was dear to him, which hee gave his heart bloud for.
2. Hee ſuffered in his ſoul even the wrath of God for her.
3. Hee emptied himſelf of his own glory, took upon him the form of a ſervant, with all our infirmities; penal, not culpable, as it is ſaid of Jacob, hee counted all his labours but little for Rachel, becauſe hee loved her, Gen. 29.20.
6. That which a mans ſoul is ſatisfied and contented withall in the injoyment of it, that a mans heart is taken withall.
If a mans heart were not taken with the love of a thing, hee would never think himſelf happy, never bee contented and ſatiſfied with the injoyment of it. Whereas on the contrary, where the ſoul is filled with ſatisfaction in the injoyment of it (what ever it bee) the heart is taken with it.
Now you ſhall ſee that the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt is fully ſatiſfied and contented with the injoyment of his Church, though it have coſt him ſo much pains, ſo much ſweat and bloud, yet the injoyment of it is reward enough to him. It is the reward which God promiſed him for his work, Pſal. 2.8. Ask of mee, and I will give thee the Heathen, &c. here, merit of mee, lay down thy life, and I will then give thee a Church, a People. And that which doth ſatisfie, Iſa. 53 11. Hee ſhall ſee of the travel of his ſoul and bee ſatisfied; hee ſhall ſee the fruit of his ſufferings in the ſaving of ſouls, and ſhall bee ſatisfied with it. It ſhall bee reward enough to him for all pains that ſouls are ſaved, Iſa. 62.11. his reward is with him, and his work before him, hee is the ſalvation of his people.
And this is that which ſome think is meant by the joy ſet before him, in Heb. 12.2. Who for the joy that was ſet before him, indured the Croſs, deſpiſed the ſhame.
Which Joy (ſaith an holy and learned Interpreter) is nothing elſe but the fruit of his ſufferings, the redemption and ſalvation of his Church and People, according to that in Iſa. 53.12. Therefore will the Lord divide him a portion with the great, and hee ſhall divide the ſpoil with the ſtrong, becauſe hee hath poured out his ſoul unto death.
And it is an Interpretation may bee backed.
Well then, ſeeing whatever the heart of man reſts ſatisfied in the injoyment of, the heart is taken withal.
And that Chriſt doth reſt ſatisfied in the injoyment of his Church and People, though it coſt ſo much to obtain it. Ergo needs muſt it follow that the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt is exceedingly taken.
That which a man is exceeding chary of, dear of, his heart muſt needs bee taken with, thoſe things which take our hearts, wee are exceeding dear and chary of them.
If it bee the World, Husband, Wife, Child, a man is exceeding chary of them. Deal gently with the young man Abſolom, 2 Sam. 18.5. his heart was taken with him, and hee was chary of him.
Now Chriſt is exceeding chary over his Church: Oh! it is dear to him, therefore hee gives charge to the World, touch not one of theſe, you touch the apple of mine eye, offend not one of theſe little ones, they are dear to mee, hee is chary over them.
Yea hee doth not only charge, but menace too, and threatens men if they ſhall hurt any of his little ones.
It had been better for you, that a Milſtone were tyed about your necks, and caſt into the middle of the Sea, than to offend any of theſe little ones.
Chriſt is exceeding chary over his Church and People, they are dear to him.
Take a taſte of it, Job. 18.8. when hee himſelf was in that Agony, and when hee ſuffered himſelf to bee hailed before the Judges, and to dye, yet you ſee how chary hee was over his Diſciples; why ſaith Chriſt, I am hee you ſeek for, if therefore you ſeek mee, let theſe go their way: As if hee had ſaid, I am hee whom you ſeek, and againſt whom your malice goes forth, do what you will with mee, but ſpare theſe, let theſe go (what have theſe done?) with Jonah, caſt mee into the Sea, that the ſtorm may ceaſe, nail mee on the Croſs, fling mee into the grave, do with mee what you will, that theſe may eſcape.
Oh! Chriſt muſt needs bee chary of them, when hee would put his back between his Church and the ſtripes, interpoſe his ſoul between the wrath of God and them.
Drink of that bitter cup that they might not taſte of it, bee wounded that they might bee healed, bear the curſe, that they might carry away the bleſſing, as there was no ſorrow to his ſorrow, ſo no love to his love, all loves are loſt, nay, ſeem hatred in compariſon of his.
Another place, John 7.9. to the 16. ſee there when he was to go from them, how chary hee was over them, he commends them to his Father, and deſines him to keep them whom hee had given him. As if hee had ſaid, Father they are mine, and I love them dearly, I have done much for them, but I will do more, therefore preſerve them, therefore keep them.
I am no more in the World, but theſe are in the World, holy Father, through thine own name keep thoſe whom thou haſt given mee; thus you ſee how chary Chriſt was over them. And therefore his heart is exceedingly taken with his Church.
Hee will keep them from trouble, hee will buy out their trouble with the troubles of the whole World, and their lives with the lives of thouſands; you have a place for this, Iſa. 43.3, 4. I gave Egypt for thy ranſome, I gave Ethiopia and Seba for thee: God will give whole Kingdomes for his Church to preſerve them from trouble. I have loved thee, therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. As if hee had ſaid, I ſtand not at it to give the heads of a thouſand men, the lives of ten thouſands to ſave thy life, to preſerve thee. The Ramme to ſave Iſaac, hee is chary of them; if not to keep them from trouble, yet to ſupport them in trouble.
Hee is chary of them, hee will deliver them out of trouble, hee will not ſuffer the rod of the wicked to reſt.
Though for a time, yet, &c. many are the troubles of the Righteous, but hee knows how to deliver his, and reſerve the wicked. If Chriſt do not deliver thee from trouble, yet hee will deliver thee in trouble; and at laſt hee will deliver thee out, who knows how to deliver his; when thou not, &c.
That which a man thinks all too little, nothing too much, too dear to beſtow upon, that the heart of a man is exceedingly taken withall.
Where all the expreſſions that a man can lay out, do ſtill fall ſhort of his affections to it, it is a ſign the heart is much taken with ſuch a thing.
When a man thinks not riches, nor labour, nor his bloud, his life too dear; this ſhews the heart is much taken with it.
Now the Church is ſo dear to Chriſt, that hee thinks nothing too dear, nothing too much for it.
It was not his bloud within his veins, nor his life within his breaſt, which hee counted too dear for her.
Hee can beſeem to beſtow any thing on her.
Hee will beſtow temporals on her,Dabit ſua quod non detinuit ſe. at leaſt ſo much as is neceſſary for her. All things neceſſary for life, godlineſs, if hee give himſelf, how much more all things? Rom. 8.32. will hee give the greater, and deny the leſs? no. That love which gave the greater, will not deny thee the leſs; if it were good for thee; ſo much hee hath ingaged himſelf by Covenant to give thee as to bear thy charge to Heaven, and then there is no want.
The Lions ſhall hunger and ſuffer want, &c. Hee beſtows Grace on thee; and Faith is more precious than Gold: Hee might beſtow out words on thee, and yet his heart never taken with thee. Dives had more wealth; uttered more eloquence, Saul more command, Agrippa more glorious apparel, than thoſe his heart is taken withall.
Hee may give Wealth to a Dives, Command to a Saul, Eloquence to a Herod.
But hee never beſtows Grace on any, but it is an evidence his heart is taken with a man.
As Abraham gave portions to the ſons of the Concubines, but Iſaac had the inheritance.
Hee will beſtow his Spirit on thee, to inlighten, renew, &c. Hee will beſtow himſelf on thee, the collectioner of all other bleſſings; God cannot extend his love further in giving, nor wee ours in deſiring. And that which a man beſtows himſelf upon muſt needs bee precious in his eyes. Chriſt doth beſtow himſelf on thee.
Who is the ſummum genus of gifts, the gift of gifts. The gift which doth intitle us to all other gifts, all is yours, if you bee Chriſts.
The gift which ſweetens and ſanctifies all other: Like the Unicorns horn takes away the venome and poiſon of all other. There is a curſe with all other gifts if Chriſt bee not given.
A curſe to your Gold, your Silver, your Proſperity, your Meat, Drink, Health, and Strength.
But where Chriſt is given, hee takes off the curſe, ſanctifies all; hee doth not only turn comforts into bleſſings, but croſſes into bleſſings.
A bleſſing in ſickneſs, in poverty, in death, &c. Chriſt beſtows himſelf upon his Church, hee doth paſs over himſelf, and all his by deed of gift, hee and all his is yours: As you and all yours are his; your ſins, and ſorrows all his.
And all his are yours; his merits, his Spirit. As Chriſt ſaid to the Father, ſo may yee to Chriſt; all thine is mine; his merit, cloathing, his bloud drink, fleſh meat. Hee is meat, drink, cloaths. Chriſt doth not ſtay here, but hee beſtows Heaven upon his Church. It is the Mannor houſe which hee hath reſerved for his Spouſe. Father, I will that thoſe whom thou haſt given mee, may bee where I am, &c. Joh. 17.24.
They are married together, and co-habitation is a marriage duty, &c.
As Ahaſuerus had two houſes for his Spouſes.
And therefore ſeeing Chriſt thinks nothing too dear to beſtow upon his Church: hence muſt needs follow; That the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt is exceedingly taken with his Church.
1. Thoſe which Chriſt hath made all things for, to ſerve for the good of them.
2. Thoſe whom hee hath prepared Glory for, Heaven for.
3. Thoſe which hee hath ſhed his bloud for, muſt needs bee dear to him, his Heart much taken with them.
If a King ſhould build a ſtately houſe, for one with whom hee would ſolace himſelf all his life; and ſhould at laſt give life too, you would think ſure hee loved him.
1. God made all for thee, the Sun, Moon, Stars, Creatures; all this frame of the World; ſure you are dear to him.
2. God prepared Heaven for thee, a place of Glory, Happineſs; where thou ſhouldeſt for ever injoy him, and ſolace thy ſelf with his love.
3. Chriſt ſhed his bloud for thee, which was more dear to him than ten thouſand Worlds. What is all the World, and ten thouſand Worlds in compariſon of one drop of his bloud? and therefore they whom hee ſhed his bloud for, muſt needs bee more dear to him than all the World; his Heart is taken with them.
Thus far now wee have gone in the breaking up the rich Cabinet of Chriſts Love, the ſent whereof hath cheared and revived us. Wee will now proceed to the further diſcoveries of it, and that is, to the third thing wee propounded, Why the Heart of Chriſt is ſo much taken with his Church and People.
Wee will but give you theſe three grounds, all which are taken not from us, but from himſelf, his own mercy. In brief, Either
From his own Grace to us, Amat Deus non aliundè hoc habet; ſed ipſe eſt undè amat; et ideô vehementius amat, quia non amorem tam habet, quam hoc eſt ipſe. Bern.Or
From his own Grace in us.
The firſt Ground or Reaſon, why the Heart of Chriſt is ſo taken, is,
1. Becauſe wee are his. Propriety you know is the great ground of love. Wee love our own; our own Husbands, Wives, Children: They are ours, wee have propriety in them. So here; wee are His; Hee hath propriety in us, and therefore loves us, Cant. 7.10.Cant. 7.10. The Spouſe makes the ſame argument. I am my Beloveds, and hee is mine: therefore his deſire is towards mee, therefore his heart is taken with mee; therefore his ſoul loves mee. And wee are his, in the deareſt and ſweeteſt relations.
1. Wee are his People, his ſubjects. Chriſt is the King of Saints, whoſe throne is in our hearts, and will brook no Rival: whoſe Scepter is his Word, and whoſe Word is our Law. Nay, leaſt this bee too little.
2. Wee are his Friends. Henceforth I call you not Servants, but Friends. Wee are his Friends and Favourites. Nay,
3. Wee are his Children, begotten again, and born again to everlaſting life, 1 Pet. 1.3, 4. Being born again, &c.
4. Wee are his Spouſe, ſuch as hee hath married to himſelf in faithfulneſs and truth, and ſuch as hee delights in.
5. Wee are his Members. The Church is his Body, his fulneſs, and every one Members in particular, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks.
6. Wee are his Jewels, his Treaſure, Mal. 3.7. In the day that I make up my Jewels, they ſhall bee mine. And therefore his heart muſt needs bee taken with us. Chriſt hath the ſame argument. Where the Treaſure is; there will the heart bee alſo. The Heart, and a mans Treaſure lye together. Now wee are his Jewels, his Treaſure, Ubi theſaurus tuus, ibi cor tuum. Bern.his Portion, his Inheritance; that which his Father left him; and hee muſt dearly earn it too. And therefore the Heart of Chriſt is exceedingly taken with his Church and People. So you ſee this is the firſt ground, why, becauſe wee are his, and his in the deareſt, neareſt, choiceſt of Relations.
To bee brief, wee are his theſe four wayes. Wee are his
1. By Choice.
2. By Purchaſe.
3. By Donation.
4. By Covenant.
1. Firſt, Wee are his By Choice. Hee ſet his heart on us from everlaſting, which was his firſt love, and that which hath carried God through all the expreſſions of his mercy towards us, to this day, even to admiration of Angels, and aſtoniſhment of men. Theſe were his primitive, his boſome-thoughts to us, his firſt love, which is moſt dear and precious. As the firſt love of the Creature to the Creator is moſt precious in Gods eſteem: the Virgin-love of the ſoul to God; thoſe affections the ſoul hath, when firſt enamoured with God. Therefore hee tells the Children of Iſrael: Hee remembred the time of her Eſpouſals, the kindneſs of her youth. That will not out of his mind, Jer. 2.2.
So the firſt love of the Creator to the Creature; his boſom-thoughts,Amor Dei non invenit, ſed facit amore dignos. Bern. they are moſt precious. Oh! theſe take the heart; theſe are the fulleſt, theſe are his freeſt thoughts towards us, 2 Tim. 1.9.
All the World ſtood before him, from the firſt man to the laſt. And why hee ſhould chuſe us,Non quia nos delexerimus Deum, ſed quia ipſe prior dilexit nos, denique dilexit, etiam non exiſtentes, ſed & reſiſtentes, juxta Pauli teſtimonium, quoniam cum adhuc inimici eſſemus reconciliati ſumus … Deo, per mortem Chriſti filii ejus. Bern. in Cant. foreign. and paſs by others; others finer peeces of Clay than wee are: others of greater parts, greater abilities: which if it had pleaſed God to have conquered to himſelf, might have brought him far more glory, done him more ſervice. Here was only his free mercy. There was no ground to make him chuſe us, before hee loved us: but there is ſome ground to cauſe him to love us, now hee hath choſen us. Wee are his, and his by free choice, choſen and ſingled out of a world of men. And therefore will hee love us.
2. Wee are his By Purchaſe. Hee hath bought us, and that at a dear rate, with the price of his own blood, Gal. 4.5. Chriſt was made under the Law, that hee might buy out thoſe, who were under the Law. Hence, 1 Cor. 6.20. You are bought with a price. And what was the price? It could not bee too little for the meanneſs of the commodity, not worth owning when hee had it. But it coſt him his deareſt Hearts-blood; as 1 Pet. 1.18. Wee were not redeemed with corruptible things, as ſilver and gold, but with the precious blood of Chriſt, as of a Lamb, without blemiſh, without ſpot. So then wee are his by Purchaſe; wee are the fruits of all his pains; of all his doings and ſufferings; wee are the commings in which Chriſt had for his Bloud; wee are his Purchaſe.
God did covenant and bargain with Chriſt, that if hee would lay down his life and bloud for a people, hee ſhould have them: which you ſee in Pſal. 2.8. Ask of mee, and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance, that is, ſaith one, merit of mee, lay down thy life and bloud, and thou ſhalt have a people: as you ſee in Iſa. 53.11, 12. Hee ſhall ſee of the travel of his ſoul.
That if hee would dye, wee ſhould live: if hee would bear the curſe, wee ſhould have the bleſſing. If hee would bear that wrath our ſins deſerved, and interpoſe himſelf between the Juſtice of God and us, the quarrel ſhould bee taken up; God would bee at peace. If hee would purchaſe us, hee ſhould injoy us. And Chriſt hee undertook this. Hee loved us; and ſeeing hee could not have us, except hee did buy us; and could not buy us, except hee gave his bloud for us, and as it were ſell himſelf to the juſtice of God, that hee might buy us out: Hee was content to do it. Hee redeemed us, not with ſilver or gold, &c. And now being purchaſed by him, his by Purchaſe, and ſo dear a Purchaſe; his heart muſt needs bee taken with us. Indeed hee bought us, becauſe hee loved us: and now hee loves us, becauſe hee hath bought us. If wee did lay down our bloud, our life for the purchaſe of a thing, and could after live to injoy it, how exceedingly would our hearts delight in it! Chriſt hath given his bloud, and laid down his life for the purchaſe of his Church and People; and hee lives to injoy his purchaſe; and therefore the Heart of Chriſt muſt needs bee taken with it.
Shall I tell you? You are all the delight which Chriſt hath in the World: Hee delights to ſee you, hee delights to bee with you; hee delights to converſe with you; and all the delights of Chriſt are taken up with you; hee hath nothing worth beholding but you, in the World.
3. Wee are his By Donation. God hath given us to him, Joh. 6.37. All that the Father hath given mee, ſhall come unto mee, Joh. 17.9, 11, 12. I pray not for the World, but for them whom thou haſt given mee. — Holy Father, keep through thy own name thoſe whom thou haſt given mee.
Wee were ſo bought, as yet wee were given: elſe where is Gods Mercy? and ſo given, as yet wee were bought: elſe where is his Justice? Gods armes are equal; in the length of the one, you have the meaſure of the other: and therefore hee did ſo expreſs his Mercy to man, as withall hee did preſerve his Justice. They were ſo given, as yet bought; and ſo bought as yet given.
And being his by Donation, God having made them over to Chriſt by Deed of Gift, being the full deſire of Chriſt, hence the Heart of Chriſt is taken with them.
4. Wee are his By Covenant, Ezek. 16.8. Then I entred into Covenant with thee, and thou becameſt mine. Chriſt became ours, wee his: Hee is our King, and wee his People hee is our Husband, and wee his Spouſe: hee hath given himſelf to us, and wee have re-given our ſelves to him: wee his delight, hee ours. And being his in Covenant, in mutual ſtipulation, and bargain, the Heart of Chriſt is taken with us.
2. Becauſe ſhee is adorned with his beauties. Shee is beautifull, Cant. 4.1. Cant. 6.4, 10.
There is a twofold beauty which Chriſt doth communicate to his Church, which makes the Church lovely in his eyes.
1. The beauties of his Righteouſneſs.
2. The beauties of his Holineſs and Graces.
But theſe are not communicated the ſame way.
The one is communicated to us
By Imputation.
The other
By Emanation, or Infuſion.
The one a Beauty,
Imparted.
The other,
Imputed.
1. Chriſt doth communicate to his Church his Imputed Beauty, then 2. His Righteouſneſs, wherewith hee cloaths our ſouls. Hence Hee is called Jehovah-our-Righteouſneſs. And is ſaid to bee made Wiſdome, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption. And wee to put on Chriſt.
Now this Righteouſneſſe Chriſt doth communicate to us by Imputation making it ours, as if we in our own perſons had wrought it. And it is as truly ours to ſave us, to juſtifie us, as it is his to glorifie him. And God looking upon us through Chriſt, and Chriſt looking upon us in himſelf, as cloathed with his Righteouſneſs, hee beholds us beautifull. Hee ſees no iniquity in Jacob, nor tranſgreſſion in Iſrael. Not but that there was iniquity in Jacob; but God did not ſee it; God looked on him as cloathed with the Righteouſneſſe of Chriſt, and ſo is ſaid, not to ſee it.
As the Sun ſhining through a red glaſſe upon a wall, the wall looks red: not that this colour is inherent in it; but relucent upon it: So God looking on us through Chriſt, doth behold us Righteous in his Righteouſneſs; not that this is inherent in us, or beheld in us; as the Papiſts charge us, but quoad gratioſum Dei conſpectum, wee are rather beheld in it.
I am not ignorant, there are ſome, beſides Papiſts, that deny the imputation of Chriſts Righteouſneſſe, and ſay too much with them,Iuſtitiam putatativam. Juſtitiam Chriſti imputari commentum eſt, and call this imputative Righteouſneſſe, an imaginary and fancied Righteouſneſſe.
I wiſh they would conſider that wee ſay.
Wee ſay there is a twofold Righteouſneſſe in Chriſt.
1. His eſſential and perſonal Righteouſneſs, as God.
2. His Mediatory Righteouſneſs, wrought as Mediator.
The firſt of theſe cannot bee imputed to us; it is eſſential, but the latter of theſe (Juſtitia Mediatoria) his Mediatory Righteouſneſs, or that Righteouſneſſe hee wrought for us as Mediator, whereby hee did ſubject himſelf to the Precepts, to the Penalties, Commands, and Curſes; anſwering both Gods vindictive and rewarding Juſtice; This is communicated to us, and made ours, by vertue of which wee ſtand recti in curia, juſtified in Gods ſight, which is the firſt beauty Christ adorns his Church withall.
2. A ſecond beauty wherewith Chriſt adorns his Church, and makes her lovely, is, The Beauties of his Graces; which may bee called the Beauties of Holineſs, and ſet forth to us by thoſe Bracelets, and chains, Ezek. 16.9. and here by one Chain, &c. which is communicated to us, by way of Infuſion, or Emanation, whereby Chriſt by his Spirit, doth derive from himſelf as the univerſal Principle, and common ſtock of Grace; Grace for Grace, according to that, Joh. 1.16. Of his fulneſs wee have all received Grace for Grace.
I know there are many interpretations of this. Chryſoſtome. The Goſpel for the Law, becauſe it follows, The Law came by Moſes.
Others, Gratiam, ſuper Gratiam, or Gratiam gratiae accumulatam, one grace to another, or abundance of Grace.
But this I conceive the meaning. For every Grace that is in Chriſt, there is ſome Grace communicated to us anſwerable to it, in ſome proportion. As the Child in Generation receives from the Parents member for member; or as the Paper from the Preſſe, letter for letter; or the Glaſſe from the face, image for image; or the Wax from the Seal, ſtamp for ſtamp: ſo wee from Chriſt, Grace for Grace.
There is no Grace in Chriſt appertaining to our ſanctification in general, which is not in ſome weak degree faſhioned in us. And hence the work of Grace and Regeneration is called a forming of Chriſt in the ſoul. And whiles wee behold him, wee are ſaid to bee changed into his likeneſſe, 2 Cor. 3.18. And wee are ſaid to have the ſame Spirit in us, that is in Chriſt, Rom. 8.9. If any man have not the Spirit of Chriſt, hee is none of his. And the ſame Mind is in us, that is in Chriſt, Phil. 2.6.
There is a baſtardly holineſs, a painted falſe beauty, which is ſpun out of our ſelves, wrought out of our own Principles, with which wee ſhall lye down with ſorrow at laſt. Sparkles of our own kindling.
But the true holineſſe flows from Chriſt, and is imparted from Chriſt to his Church, whereby ſhee is beautifull with his beauties, adorned with his Graces. And being thus, the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt muſt needs bee taken with her.
Thus you ſee the ſecond Reaſon, why the Heart of Chriſt is ſo much taken. Becauſe ſhee is adorned with his Beauties, cloathed with his Righteouſneſs, adorned and beautified with his Graces; which ingageth the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt.
Hee that loved us in our own blood, cannot chuſe but love us, as wee have his beauty put upon us; hee cannot but love himſelf, and delight in himſelf, where-ever hee doth behold himſelf: why theſe beauties are peeces of himſelf, part of his beauty, his rayes wherewith hee himſelf is adorned. And hee cannot look upon any ſoul cloathed with his Righteouſneſs, and beautified with his Graces, but his heart is exceedingly taken with them, Cant. 6.4, 5. Turn away thine eyes from mee, for they have overcome mee. Chriſt ſeems as not able to bear the view of ſuch a beauty. Turn away thine eyes, &c.
2. Becauſe they are the perſons, upon whom God intended to advance the great deſign of glorifying the Riches and Freeneſs of his Grace and Mercy.
Now thoſe whom God hath intended for ſo great purpoſes, as theſe are, which are the greateſt Purpoſes that ever came upon his heart, his heart muſt needs bee taken withall. You know the more glorious and excellent the End to which any thing ſerves, the more precious is that thing in our eyes. Now wee ſerve for no other End, but the expreſſion of his Mercy, the advancement of the Glory of his Free-Grace, which are Ends as high as himſelf, Purpoſes as great as himſelf.
And therefore God is not only taken with the expreſſion of it, but with the perſons upon whom hee doth expreſſe it. Therefore I ſay is the Heart of God ſo exceedingly taken with his Church.
Indeed God may ſingle out ſome men for the purpoſes of expreſſing the glory of his Power and Juſtice, the advancement of them; and yet God hate the men, as you ſee it plain in Pharaoh, who for this cauſe was ſet up to advance his Power. But God never ſingled out any to bee the ſubjects on whom hee doth intend to advance the Riches of his Grace and Mercy; but his Heart is exceedingly taken with them.
Thoſe, who ſerve to ſuch high purpoſes as theſe, and are deſigned to ſuch high ends as theſe; The advancement of the Glory of his Grace and Free-Mercy (which is the moſt precious attribute of God, and which ſome think is called his Glory, Exod. 33.18. Let mee ſee thy Glory,) and if the 19. verſe may interpret it, that Glory was his Mercy, and his Mercy his Glory; and therefore ſuch muſt needs bee precious in his eſteem.
Now his People are they, whom God hath ſingled out for theſe great purpoſes, for the Expreſſion of more Mercy, than wee can expreſs, nay, than wee can conceive, nay, than wee can beleeve at all times, but weakly at beſt.
And therefore the Heart of Jeſus Christ muſt needs bee taken with them.
My Brethren, If God had not ſingled out ſome to expreſs himſelf thus upon, God had not been known in the World; for there is nothing ſo much reveals God to bee God, as his Mercy and Grace.
And therefore God ſingled out a few upon whom hee would advance the riches of his Grace, that his Mercy, and in that himſelf might bee made known in the World.
As Paul ſaith of himſelf, 1 Tim. 1.16. that hee obtained Mercy, that hee might ſtand up a Pattern of all long-ſuffering. As if hee had ſaid. Wee ſhould not have known how patient God is, wee ſhould not have apprehended how long-ſuffering God is to ſinners, if hee had not had ſuch an example of patience, ſuch a pattern of all long-ſuffering, as I was: So wee ſhould not have known how Mercifull, how Good God is, if the choiceſt attribute of God had been loſt to us; like as if a great River had run under ground not diſcerned; if God had not ſingled out ſome, upon whom hee might have expreſſed the Riches of his Mercy.
And thoſe whom God doth intend to bee the ſubjects upon whom hee may advance ſo high deſigns, ſo great purpoſes, muſt needs bee exceeding precious to him.
My Brethren, you that are the People of God, are ſuch as hee hath intended to advance his Mercy, and Glory of Free-Grace upon; You are they hee ſent Chriſt to dye for, the greateſt work that ever was wrought in the World. You are they whom hee reared the fabrick of Heaven for. You are they in whom hee intends to delight, and with whom hee will ſolace himſelf for ever.
And God looks upon us now, not as wee are, but what he intends to make us. Hee ſees to the utmoſt of his deſign on you, to eternity, and loves you now with that love.
If God ſhould look upon us, as wee are, hee might ſee enough in us, to withdraw his heart from us: or if not, yet enough to cool and quench his affections towards us; being there is ſo much blackneſſe with our beauty, ſo much deformity with our comlineſſe, ſo much corruption with our Graces: Nay, ſo much blackneſſe, and ſo little beauty, and ſo much corruption, and ſo little Grace.
But hee looks upon us, not as wee are in our ſelves, but as wee are in Chriſt, and not what wee are for preſent, but what hee intends to make us in Chriſt. Hee looks to the end of his deſign, even to that which hee hath deſigned us to. — When wee ſhall bee preſented without ſpot or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing: holy, and without blemiſh, Epheſ. 5.27. — When wee ſhall bee ſatisfied with his likeneſs, Pſal. 17.15. — When wee ſhall bee foreign, like to the Angels; nay, like unto God, Glorious with his Glory, as now Gracious with his Grace.
And therefore God having intended us to ſuch high purpoſes, and looking upon us for preſent, what hee purpoſes to make us, and what hee hath deſigned us to; needs muſt the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt bee taken with us.
Thus having ſhewed you, what it is to have the Heart of Chriſt taken with the Church; and proved unto you that the Heart of Chriſt is thus taken with it; and given you the grounds and reaſons of it; I will now deſcend to application;
If ſo bee, that the Heart of Jeſus Chriſt be taken with his Church and People: Then from hence wee may deduce theſe Conſectaries.