The Saints Amity with God in Christ, Discourse · Part 1 · Book 1 · Chapter 10 · Section 4
SECT. 4. The Friends of Chriſt ſhould reſerve for him their ſpiritually conjugal, choiceſt, and beſt Affections.
4.4. Advice for Chriſt's friends to loge him in their choiceſt Affections. ANother Admonition, and Advice to the friends of Chriſt, is, that they would entertain, and loge Chriſt in their choiceſt and beſt Affections. Affection mixed with prudence, and Fidelitie, is the Spirit, and Soul of Friendſhip. And the more rational, ſpiritual, pure, and Efficacious our Affections are; the more ſolid, refined, permanent, and influential wil our Friendſhip be. Such therefore as wil live up, and fulfil to the Dignitie of their profeſſed Amitie with Chriſt, muſt labor after the moſt refined, and elevated Affections, that may be, for him. Oh! what pitie is it, that whoriſh Lovers, and Idol-friends ſhould ſhare in that conjugal Affection, which is due to Chriſt? Alas! what folie is it, to divide that little narrow piece of Love, which is not enough for the beſt beloved Chriſt, among baſtard Lovers; which are ſo far from giving ſatisfaction, as that the more we embrace them, the more they ſting us? Chriſt expects nothing from us, more than our Love, and nothing leſſe wil he accept. As Chriſt gives his friends a conjugal pledge, namely the Earneſt of his Spirit; ſo he expects from them a conjugal Love. Mariage-love is indiviſible, it wil not ſerve for two corrivals: Chriſt muſt loge his alone there. He that enters into a covenant of conjugal Amitie with Chriſt, muſt bid Adieu to al other Lovers: Chriſt wil have Integritie, and Honeſtie or nothing: And therefore uſually he Wooes, and Elects his friends in the furnace of Affliction; he allures them into a Wildernes of many Difficulties, Tentations, and Deſertions, there to win, and gain their Affections entirely to himſelf, as Hoſ. 2.14, 15. The Friends of Chriſt are not, neither can they be Maſters of two predominant Loves; and therefore Chriſt muſt be their Althings, or he is nothing to them. Alas! how little do the friends of Chriſt owe to the flattering, or frowning World? Is not a good look too much for Idol-friends, who would take up Chriſt's room, in our Affections, over his Head? Woe, woe to him, who hath ſuch a friend as Chriſt is, and yet wants Affection for him! Can our Affections ſleep ſecurely, or find ſatisfaction any where, but in Chriſt's boſome? What gain we by ſpending our Affection's on this ſmoking World, but vapors, and ſick dreams, inſtead of eaſe, and content? Fie, fie, that whoriſh Idols ſhould poſſeſſe our conjugal Affection, due to ſo good a friend as Chriſt is! Oh! what curſ… Affection is that, which ſtreameth towards any other Lover but Chriſt? How much ſhould the friends of Chriſt diſdain, that any thing but their Lord, ſhould touch thei… ſpiritual conjugal Affections? What an holy Ambition ſhould they have, of entertaining Chriſt, and none but Chriſt, in their choiceſt Affections? How greatly ſhould they ſcorne al ſecret dalliances, with an Adulterous World? But to deſcend to particulars.
(1.)1. Conjugal Love to Chriſt. The firſt and main Affection, which the Friends of Chriſt ſhould entertain him with, is a conjugal love. Love, as it fulfils the Law, ſo alſo Amitie with Chriſt. And the more Diſcrete, Solid, Spiritual, Virgin, Equal, Intimate, Paſſionate, Commenſurate, and Transformative our Love to Chriſt is; the more Raiſed, Wel-grounded, Conjugal, Permanent, Noble, and Operative wil our friendſhip with Chriſt be. The Friends of Chriſt ought to caſt their choiceſt Love into no mould, but Chriſt's; that ſo it may be for him, and for none other. Thus the Spouſe, Cant. 2.7. My Love. Pathetically: Cant. 2.7.as if ſhe had ſaid, him on whom al my conjugal love centers; the delight of mine eyes, the joy of mine heart, the Ocean, into which al my little love ſtreams; mine only Love. So much is implied: for Abſtracts ſpeak Formes, and Eſſences. The friends of Chriſt muſt give him their virgin Love; the Elixir, Eſſences, and Spirits of their Love. A green, young love may not ſuffice for Chriſt: he muſt have the flour, and vigor of our Love. That little narrow ſpark of Divine Love, which was inſpired, and breathed by Chriſt, into the Hearts of his Friends, muſt reſpire or breath forth, live, and inhabit no where, but in the boſome of Chriſt. Alas! where ſhould the ſtream emtie it ſelf, but in the Ocean, whence it received its firſt emanation? Oh! what pitie is it, that ſo much of our Love ſhould paſſe by Chriſt, and terminate on Idol-lovers? Who is the Proprietor of our Love, but Chriſt, and Chriſt alone? where is there an object adequate to the Saints love, but Chriſt? where are there ſuch raviſhing Beauties, ſuch delicious Suavities, ſuch ſurpaſſing excellences, ſuch Tranſcendent glories, to feed our Love with al, as in Chriſt? Can we then put our conjugal-love into better hands than Chriſt's? Is it not natural to love, to ſpend its choiceſt ſpirits, and vigor on the faireſt, and moſt amiable object? Is it not ſad, that Chriſt ſhould have ſo much Beautie, Sweetnes, Excellence for his friends; and yet they ſhould have ſo little Love for him? Alas! Alas! that clay-Gods, that Time-Idols, that beautiful ſhadows, and gilded Nothings ſhould run away with ſo much of our love, and ſo little of it be reſerved for Chriſt. Oh! what folie is it to have an oblique, and ſquint-regard to skin-deep Beauties, and golden dreams, when as there is ſuch ſubſtantial Amiablenes in Chriſt? O the prodigious madnes of thoſe, who find love for pleaſing toyes, for beautiful vanities, for fai… nothings; and yet can find no love for Chriſt, the beſt beloved! Certainly, a little creature-love is enough, or too much, but much, yea, the moſt Chriſt-love is too little for the friends of Chriſt, who have eſpouſed him for their Husband. What is Heaven, if this be not Heaven, to lye under the beatifick viſion, Love, and Fruition of Chriſt? And who injoy more of Heaven upon earth, than ſuch whoſe hearts are moſt transformed into, and raviſhed with the fiducial Contemplation, Admiration, and Love of Chriſt? Spiritual, pure, and paſſionate Love to Chriſt, gives the friends of Chriſt a poſſeſſion of himſelf; yea a ſecret, and efficacious Transformation into the Image of Chriſt. For the Heart ſilently ſteals into, and becomes one with, what it ſtrongly loves. Love the world greatly, and thine heart wil ſoon become worldly: Love Chriſt greatly, and thine heart wil grow up, and be gradually transformed into the Image of Chriſt-Such a Soverain, and Efformative virtue hath Love, eſpecially that of Friendſhip, if it be in any eminent, predominant degree. O then Love, Love, Love Chriſt much!
(2.)2. Deſires after Chriſt. Another Affection, which the friends of Chriſt ought to be much in the exercice of towards Chriſt, is conjugal deſire after him.fI… om…i diligente cauſatur deſideri…m ut u…iatur ſuo dilecto ia quantum poſſib…le eſt Aquin. Contra Gent. l. 3. c. 153. Deſire is the firſt-borne of Love; the feet of the ſoul, whereby it goes forth to meet its beloved. And, undoutedly, none live, and aci more as friends of Chriſt, than ſuch as are poſſeſſed with the ſtrongeſt deſires after him. O! how pleaſing is it to Chriſt, to ſee his friends ful of loveſick deſires, and longings after himſelf? Chriſt cannot be long abſent from ſuch as are ſick at heart, and pained with deſires after him. Thus it was with the love-ſick Spouſe, Can. 2.5, 6.Cant. 2.5.gO what would I give to have a bed made to my wearied ſoul in Chriſt's boſome! I would friſt Heaven for many years, to have my fil of Jeſus in this life. I cannot tel you what ſweet pain, and delightſome torments are in Chriſt's love, &c. Rutherf. L. For I am ſick of love; and what follows? V. 6. His left hand is under mine Head, and his right hand embraccth me. She no ſooner longs for him, but feels his embracements; yea, he longs for her, as much, or infinitely more, than ſhe longs for him. Oh! what a pleaſing pain is it, to be pained with deſires after Chriſt? what a ſweet, living death is it, to die with longings after him? O! what monſtrous unkindnes is it, that Chriſt ſhould long after his friends, and yet they not long after him? O hunger and thirſt after Chriſt! hunger after his Grace, thirſt after Chriſt's Love, and the ſenſe of it; hunger after his perſon; yea, hunger and thirſt after Spiritual hunger, and thirſt after Chriſt: there is a young Heaven in Hunger, and Thirſt after Chriſt. None injoy more of Chriſt, at leaſt of his ſpiritual and gracious preſence, than ſuch as have moſt infinite thirſts, and longings of ſoul after him. Get as near Chriſt as thou mayeſt, by thy Deſires: if they cannot run, let them creep towards Chriſt: never leave, 'til thine Heart be chained, and fettered to Chriſt by deſires, if not by more ſenſible Fruition. Thus it was with the Spouſe, Cant. 3.3.Cant. 3.3. Him. Saw ye him whom my ſoul loveth] Saw ye Him? There is a great Emphaſe, and Efficace in this manner of ſpeech:hVis max ima eſt in co dicendi genere: nam Relativum fine Antecedente eſt maximè Emphaticum. Sanctius. in loc. Here is a Relative [Him] without an Antecedent; which argues the force and Stength of her deſires: She thought al the World knew whom ſhe meant, and deſired after: her deſires are ſo ardent, as that they wil not permit her to expreſſe his Name: al that ſhe can ſay, is, Saw ye Him? &c. Him; what Him doth ſhe mean? Muſt the Watch-men needs underſtand her broken language? Yes; her deſires were ſo preſſing, as that ſhe had not leiſure to ſay more than this, ſaw ye him, whom my ſoul loveth? The like affectionate deſires after Chriſt, we find in Marie, Joh 20.15. Sir, If thou haſtborne him hence, Joh. 20.15.tel me where thou haſt laid him, and I wil take him away. Here is nothing but Him, and Him, and Him: her deſires after Chriſt were ſo vehement, as that ſhe had not time to expreſſe whom ſhe meant: ſhe ſaies, tel me where thou haſt laid him, and I wil take him away. Alas poor woman, the ſtrength of her deſires made her excede the bounds of rational diſcourſe. Surely, nothing that is dutie ſeems impoſſible, or burthenſome to affectionate deſires after Chriſt. The ſtronger our deſires after Chriſt are, the Stronger, and more invincible wil our Amitie with him be.
(3.)3. Grief for Chriſt's Abſence. Again, the friends of Chriſt ſhould labor after a more conjugal grief for, and bitter ſenſe of Chriſt's Abſence; eſpecially for, and of ſin the cauſe thereof. The friends of Chriſt, when they have not the ſweet ſenſe of a felt, and injoyed Chriſt, they ought to have the bitter ſenſe of an Abſent, diſpleaſed Chriſt. A true conjugal friend of Chriſt knows no wounds, no pains, no torments, like thoſe of an angry, withdrawen Chriſt:iTo love Chriſt and to want him wants little of Hel. Ruth. Death, and Hel to him conſiſts in ſeparation, and diſtance from Chriſt: The ſenſe of loſſe to him is worſe than the ſenſe of pain: Yea, it is his greateſt pain, that he hath loſt his beſt friend: he ſees al the curſes, and Plagues of God wrapt up in the loſſe of Chriſt.Cant. 5.6. So it was with the Spouſe, Cant. 5.6. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himſelf, and was gone: my ſoul failed when he ſpake, &c. My ſoul failed: Chriſt's Parting farewel put his Spouſe into a fainting, ſwooning, dying fit: Her heart was gone, when her Lord was gone: when he left her, ſhe left her ſelf: her ſpirits evaporated. Oh! what languiſhments; what ſwoonings, and failures of ſpirits, ſhould the friends of Chriſt have, when he bids Adieu to them; eſpecially, if their ſin be the cauſe of his Departure from them? Should they not be greatly afflicted in Spirit, that Chriſt's withdrawment from them, was occaſioned by the withdrawment of their Hearts from Chriſt? What ſhould wound, and grieve them, if not this, that they have wounded, and grieved their beſt friend, and ſo made him, at leaſt ſeemingly, to turne againſt them as an enemie? Can there be a worſe Hel, on this ſide Hel, to the friends of Chriſt, than this, that their departure from Chriſt, has made him depart from them, and leave them under a wildernes-condition of many Tentations, Deſertions, Difficulties, &c? O mourne, mourne, for Chriſt's Abſence, and for ſin, the cauſe thereof, as the worſt Hel.
(4.)4. Lively Hopes of Chriſts Returne. As the friends of Chriſt ſhould maintain a deep, bitter ſenſe of, and grief for Chriſt's Abſence, ſo ought they, no leſſe, to keep up a wel-grounded lively Hope of his Returne. Hope is, according to the Scripture ſtile, the Anchor of the ſoul, Heb. 6.19. if this fail, Heb. 6.19.how ſoon wil the Heart fail, and ſink down into the Gulf of deſpair. In times of Deſertion Satan, and our own unbelieving Hearts make many black lies, and raiſe many ſlanders on Chriſt; therefore if Hope dies, al dies. Wel-grounded Hope is a ſeed of Heaven: it is a good Prophet, which alwaies Prophecies glad tidings of Chriſt's Returne. Yea, take a friend of Chriſt in his loweſt ebbe of comfort, and darkeſt miſt of Deſertion, and Tentation, yet even then he hath ſome inſenſible, negative Hopes; ſo that he dares not ſay peremtorily, Chriſt wil never returne: or, if he ſay it, 'tis but in a fit of Ʋnbelief; and therefore he ſoon recollects himſelf again, and cannot but cheriſh ſome ſecret hopes; which, though not perceptible, or ſenſible, yet he wil not part with them for a thouſand worlds. Thus it was with Jonah, ch. 2. v. 4. Though I ſaid,Jonah… 2.4. I am caſt out of thy ſight, yet I wil look towards thine holy Temple. Jonah, in the Whales bellie, caſt a wiſt eye of Hope towards the Temple, the Symbol of Chriſt, which kept up his ſoul from ſinking, when his bodie was ſunk unto the bottome of the Sea. Thence ſaith David, Pſ. 119.81.Pſal. 119.81. my ſoul fainteth for thy ſalvation; but I hope in thy word. He had long expected ſalvation, and ſhould have given up al for loſt, had he not hoped in God's word of Promiſe: Chriſt breathes in a word of Promiſe into his Heart, and he breaths forth freſh, and lively hopes every day into Chriſt's boſome. The friends of Chriſt muſt remember, that the Cable to which the Anchor of their Hope is faſtened, is not their own mutable, ambulatorie wil, or the fallible word of men, but the immutable Oath, and infallible word of the eternal God; who is Veracitie it ſelf, Heb. 6.17, 18. Oh! what a ſtrong Foundation, what an immobile Rock is here, for our Hopes to anchor on? How may our Hopes leap, and dance on this rock, and bid defiance to Hel it ſelf? Satan's main work is to role the friends of Chriſt off this their rock; and their main buſines is, to caſt the Anchor of their Hope daily on Chriſt, the Rock of Ages. And this is matter of eternal encouragement to the real friends of Chriſt, that albeit their Hopes are faint, feeble, and variable; yet the Foundation, on which they anchor, is ſtrong and immutable: whereas the falſe friend of Chriſt may have ſtrong hopes, or rather preſumtions; yet he hath only a variable, fleeting, ſandy foundation, namely, his own fooliſh heart, and carnal confidences.
(5.)5. Joy, and Complacence in Chriſt. Another Affection, wherewith the friends of Chriſt ought to entertain him, is Joy, complacence, and delight. When Chriſt infuſeth himſelf into the hearts of his friends, and gives them any taſt of his ſatisfying ſweetneſſes, and excellences; how ſhould they yield up themſelves to Chriſt, yea loſe themſelves in him?kEſt amicitiae proprium, qu…d al…quis in praeſentia amici delectetur, & in eo conſolationem contra omnes anxietates inveniat. Aquin. Gent. contra l. 4. c. 24. Is it not a proprietie of friendſhip, that a man ſolace himſelf in the preſence of his friend; and find conſolation in him againſt al Anxieties? Hence, is it not the cuſtome, for men under al their griefs, and diſcomfitures, to have recourſe unto their friends for comfort? Thus the friends of Chriſt muſt make his preſence the Spring, and Matter of their Conſolation and Joy: As nothing ſhould be ſo bitter to them, as Chriſt's departure; ſo nothing ſo ſweet, and joyous as his Returne. As Chriſt's Abſence makes up their Hel, ſo his preſence muſt make up the Heaven of his friends. Chriſt wil not, cannot have his abode long in that heart, where any Idol-friend is more priſed than himſelf. Chriſt is the Element, wherein his friends ought to live, and breath, and bath themſelves, in ſoul-ſatisfying delights. Chriſt is ſuch a Regal friend, as that he expects a Throne al alone, in the complacence of his friends: He allows them to ſpend ſome looſe Affections on Inferior friends, provided that they reſerve their higheſt complacence, and delight for himſelf, their beſt beloved. This muſt be made over, without Reverſion and Reſerve, to Chriſt.Cant. 2.3. Thus the Spouſe, Cant. 2.3. I ſate down under his ſhadow with great delight; and his fruit was ſweet to my taſt. She ſoon taſted the ſweetnes, and felt the raviſhing delights of a preſent, embraced Chriſt. Thence it follows, v. 4. He brought me to the banquetting houſe, and his banner over me was love.
(6.)6. Godly Fear. The friends of Chriſt ſhould labor after as great a meſure, as may be, of Holy Fear towards Chriſt: their joy in Chriſt's preſence ought to be mixed with Godly fear, and holy Tremblement of heart, leſt Chriſt ſhould be diſpleaſed. We find theſe two, ſeemingly oppoſite, Affections in conjunction, Pſal. 2.11. ſerve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling. This is an excellent combination, when ſpiritual joy, and Godly fear are joined together. Oh! what a lively character of ſincere friendſhip is this, when the heart is filled with Raptures of Joy in Chriſt's preſence, and yet, at the very ſame time, under an holy Tremblement, and fear of diſpleaſing Chriſt, or doing any thing unworthy of friendſhip with him? This ſeems implied in that Evangelick promiſe touching backſliding Iſrael, Hoſ. 3.5.Hoſ. 3.5. And ſhal fear the Lord and his Goodnes, in the latter dayes. The falſe friends of Chriſt are ſaid to fear the Lord and his Lions, or Judgements; but to fear the Lord and his goodnes, or mercies, this is peculiar to the real friend of Chriſt; who hath never greater Tremblements of heart, godly fear, and ſelf-jelouſie leſt he ſhould diſpleaſe Chriſt, than when he lies under the moſt warme beams, and Influences of Chriſt's preſence. This is a Myſterie that falſe friends are not skil'd in.
(7.)7. Zele for Chriſt. The Friends of Chriſt ſhould Endeavor after a burning, flaming zele for Chriſt. Zele, in its largeſt notion, is but the Fermentation, Ebullition, or boiling up of al the Affections: But in its ſtrict ſenſe, it imports a Spiritual Fervor, or heat of Affection, againſt whatever may oppoſe any deſired Good. As to our preſent caſe, conjugal zele for Chriſt, implies a fervent, boiling Indignation againſt whatever may oppoſe the Name, Honor, Intereſt, Glorie, and Exaltation of Chriſt. The friends of Chriſt ought to burne with a maſculine zele for al the concernes of their Lord. Thus it was with David, Pſal. 119.139. My zele, Pſal. 119.139, 158.hath conſumed me, becauſe mine enemies have forgotten thy words.] Conſumed me, or quite drunk up my ſpirits, eaten up my bowels, diſpirited my Soul. So flaming was his zele. The like v. 158. I beheld the Tranſgreſſors, and was grieved: becauſe they kept not thy word] and was grieved. kforeign tedio afficit.foreign ſignifies, was wearied, burdened, or tired out. Nothing was ſo burdenſome, tireſome, and irkſome to David's ſpirit, as to ſee profane ſinners live in profeſſed diſobedience to God's Word: Such an heroick zele poſſeſſed his Heart. Such a generous Zele ſhould al the friends of Chriſt labor after.