The Revival of Grace, Part 2 · Chapter 5 · Section 3
CAP. V. Sect. 3. Chriſt Dying a Teſtator, Improves Deſires of Union to Chriſt, and Communion with him.
THERE is certainly as little doubt that Deſire after Union to Chriſt, and longing for intimate Communion with Chriſt, is needful and requiſite in every Communicant; as that the ſoul is not fit for either Union or Communion which deſireth them not; and I ſuppoſe thou art no Chriſtian if thou art ſo ignorant as to preſume on fitneſs, or to flatter thy ſelf into expectation of any ſpiritual Improvement by the uſe of the Sacrament without theſe Deſires and Longings of Soul after Chriſt: Fames optimum omdimentum.theſe Deſires are the ſoul's hungrings after Chriſt, and they add ſweetneſs to this Bread of Life. A man that hath loſt his ſtomach, who can taſt no ſweetneſs in the choiceſt food, is as fit to be a gueſt at a Royal feaſt, as a ſoul without deſires of Union to, and Communion with Chriſt, is fit to feaſt with the Lord at his table in the holy Sacrament. He that is the deſire of all nations, Hag. 2.9. will be ſought after, and found out by thoſe of every nation which deſire him. Thou who doſt not deſire him, doſt reject him and deſpiſe him, and hideſt thy face from him, as the Prophet Iſaiah, 53.2.3. hath ranked thee. And can rejecters of Chriſt be fit for communion with Chriſt? can deſpiſers of Chriſt Hope for a welcome entertainment with Chriſt? will he diſcloſe the ſecrets of his love to ſuch as hide their face from him? either thou muſt deſire him, or thou ſhalt never diſcern him or delight in him at a Sacrament. Chriſt is that carcaſs to which the ſoul, as the Eagle, gathers; but deſires are the wings which carry the ſoul to Chriſt. He deſires to draw us to himſelf, theſe deſires appear in this, that Chriſt doth lay open his excellency for us, and our need of him, and ſo attempts to raiſe our deſires, nay gives ſome ſtrength that we may deſire; If we either ſupinely neglect, or prophanely reject him, we ſhall be ſure to miſs and go without him. Luk. 14.24.Not one of the invited gueſts which put him off with an excuſe did taſte of the prepared feaſt. They deſire no ſuch feaſt, and Chriſt at laſt lets them know he expects better gueſts. Who ever will be a gueſt at the table of the Lord; muſt unfeignedly deſire an intereſs in the Lord, ſo as the Lord declares himſelf willing, and ready to admit his gueſts to a communicating and partaking of benefits by him. Now among many other habitudes, and relations he admits us as a Dying Teſtator admitteth Legatees to partake of the benefits bequeathed by will. And in this there lye many prevalent inducements or motives to quicken our deſires after the intereſs of a Legatee, in the Will of Chriſt the Teſtator. As
Sect. 1.
1. The goodneſs of thoſe gifts which Chriſt giveth by Will, theſe Legacies are not ſtained with the tincture of vice which would deflower the innocency of the mind, and render the perſon culpable; nor have they any tincture of unpleaſantneſs that might diſtate the ſoul. There is neither poiſon in them to kill, nor any gall in them to embitter; they neither diſtate, nor deſtroy. They are incomparable, ſpiritual, eternal goods which aſſimilate, and render our perſons like unto God in holineſs; goods which render our ſtate like to his in happineſs, in both which we are not ſtraitned by the narrowneſs of the gift, but by the narrowneſs of our natures; we might have more given, could we receive it; we are ſtraitned in our own ſelves, as the Apoſtle ſaid in another caſe. What the goodneſs of the gift is to allure and wooe us to deſire it, I ſhall not here repeat, but refer you to the foregoing ſect. ſect. 2. pag. 67. and ſeq. Hoping you are able to apply goodneſs (the object of your Hope) unto your deſires that it may be the object of them. He can do but litle that cannot deſire that were his poſſeſſion which is the Hope of every Chriſtian. I never knew any Hope which could not eaſily run out into deſires, eſpecially if attended with this.
Sect. 2.
2. A fair poſſibility of graſping our deſired good. I know a naked poſſibility makes Good the object of my deſire; I may deſire what I may obtain, but a fair poſſibility or promiſing probability commands my deſire.
Deſire, and a ſupine negligence is as culpable as a deſponding backwardneſs when ſuch an invitation awakeneth our diligence, and encouragerh our Hope. It was the poſſibility of the attempt which made blind Bartimaeus to cry, Mat. 10.47.this gave life to his deſire, and his deſire groweth as the poſſibility grew to a probability; his mind was quicker than his body, and he roſe the ſooner when he heard he was called for; the like motive prevail'd with the woman who had a bloody iſſue; it were no hard task to illuſtrate this farther, but I muſt deſcend to veiw what particular poſſibility there is of intereſſing the longing, deſiring heart. What fair promiſing liklyhood of ſatisfaction to our deſires after a portion and ſhare in the Legacies of Chriſt.
Now there are four things which clear up the poſſibility of thy ſucceſs, 4 Evidences of a poſſible ſucceſs.whoever thou art that doſt deſire and long after a ſhare in theſe great and good things.
1. 1. Others have ſucceeded.The ſucceſs of others who once were as unlikely as thou art; there is not one among the heires and Legatees, but at firſt was as far off, and as unlikely to ſpeed as thou. They were at as great diſtance from Chriſt, cared as little for him, ſaw as little of their need of him, were as ſecure in their poverty as thou art, and yet many ſuch have been admitted to a ſhare in the riches and goodneſs of theſe Legacies. And why ſhouldeſt thou bar thy ſelf? why ſhouldeſt thou not try with Hope, what others have tried and effected with ſucceſs? the deſire of perſons (as bad as thou art) have been granted when they have wiſhed, deſired, prayed for the ſanctifying, beautifying, pardoning ſaving gifts of this great Teſtator. O then wiſh heartily, deſire unfeignedly, pray fervently and thou ſhalt certainly ſpeed, for ſuch deſires have the promiſe.
2. Deſires, ſuch as we ſpeak of, 2. Such Deſire are heirs of the Promiſes.are the heirs of the promiſes. Chriſt hath engaged himſelf by promiſe to be their riches, their righteouſneſs, their happineſs, who thus deſire him; this the ſeeking which ſhall find; this the knocking which will at laſt prevail for admiſſion. Chriſt who ſeldom, or indeed never I think humoured the curioſity of any man's deſire, yet did graciouſly lay his journey by the Sycamore Tree that Zacheur might have what he deſired, a ſight of the Meſſiah, and that he might meet with ſalvation too; which I doubt not was part of his deſire mixt with a ſmall portion of curioſity. He would ſee the perſon of that wonderworker whoſe works beſpake a beleif that he was the Meſſiah, and this Meſſiah gave all that Zacheus deſired, and as much as he could Hope.
3. 3 Chriſt is very willing they ſhould ſucceed.The willingneſs of Chriſt to ſatisfy ſuch deſires evinceth the poſſibility of thine attaining an intereſs in his laſt Will. Never was any ſoul ſo willing to receive the Legacy as Chriſt is to give it; Chriſt gives the deſires after the Legacy, and then gives the Legacy to thoſe deſires; wert thou to treat with one who were hard to be intreated, thou couldſt have but a faint poſſibility. Now thou treateſt with one that is eaſy to be intreated, thou haſt fair probability to encourage thy deſires. Chriſt willingly came to ſeek thy good when thou didſt not deſire it; and ſurely he willingly, and readily will ſhew it, and cauſe thee to find it when thou deſireſt to ſeek it. He will be found of them that ſeek him, ſince he was ſo gracious as to be found of them that ſought him not.
4. 4. Chriſt delighteth to diſtribute his riches to Deſires.The delight which Chriſt taketh in dividing his riches among ſuch as thus deſire them, proves thou art within a poſſibility of getting a ſhare in them; he delights to give more than thou canſt delight to receive. The giving them pleaſeth him as much as the gifts can pleaſe thee. A Dying Friend never made his laſt Will, nor diſpoſed rich Legacies to his beſt beloved, and higheſt prized Friend with that delight which was in the heart of Chriſt towards ſuch as thou art (if thou deſireſt him) and it will now highly pleaſe him to give thee inveſtiture, and poſſeſſion of all that which he deſigned for the Deſiring ſoul. Now if Chriſt do delight to give what thou deſireſt to receive, mayeſt thou not rather triumph and glory in a certainty of receiving, than languiſh under the fears of impoſſibility to obtain them? what can reſtrain thee from doing what thou delighteſt in, and haſt power to do? or doſt thou think more hardly of Chriſt than thou wouldeſt have thy Friend think of thee? doſt thou who art but a ciſtern delight to ſatisfy the deſires, and to ſedate the thirſt of thy Friend, and will not the fountain, the ocean of goodneſs delight to ſatisfy thy deſires, and to cool, allay, and remove the heat of thoſe deſires which are the torture of the ſoul, until they are ſatisfied? Whileſt Chriſt is what he is, thy deſires have a poſſibility to animate them, and to draw thy ſoul into rational expectations of finding admiſſion with the reſt of thoſe who ſeek their treaſures in him. Theſe two grand primary, and choiceſt ingredients of what is deſireable, (goodneſs to ſatisfy our expectations, and poſſibility to encourage our endeavour) are we find in this project. Now there is a third external requiſite in that which is deſirable, and that is
Sect. 3.The Object of the Deſires, qua tale, is apprehended as abſent and diſtant. Dr. Reynolds of Paſſions. c. 16.
3. A partial abſence or diſtance of that poſſible good from the ſoul deſiring and purſuing it. What we deſire muſt not be too far diſtant leſt it ſeem impoſſibile; deſires are the wings of the ſoul by which it travels toward its reſt; if the journey ſeem too long the ſoul is liklieſt to ſit down, and ruſt in ſloth, and deſpair of attaining; if the good be preſent, and at no diſtance, deſires will change nature, and turn into enjoyment, and delight; or if any thing of the nature of deſire do remain, it expatiateth it ſelf in wiſhes and longing, not for the thing it ſelf (which is preſent, and enjoyed) but for the continuance, and abode of it. So then a mixture of theſe two, abſence from what is deſired, and nearneſs, or convenient neighbourhood of it to our induſtrious diligence, is the temperament of what is properly deſireable, or the object of our longings and deſires. Now this alſo may eaſily be diſcerned in this Will or Teſtament, which propoſeth, promiſeth, encourageth, and enſureth moſt excellently deſireable good, and in doing this it ſets them at convenient diſtance that our Deſire might do (as the Patriarchs Faith did in like caſe) ſee them afar off, foreign.be perſwaded of them, and embrace them. We are not kept wholly ſtrangers to theſe rich gifts, and Legacies, then we could not deſire them; but we have poſſeſſion of ſome part of them which feed's our deſires, which increaſeth our longings, as a ſpare diet doth both feed the body, and ſtrengthen appetite. It is reported of the Gauls, that they had no deſire to poſſeſs Italy until they had taſted the ſweet grapes of the Italian Vines; ſo ſoon as they had taſted, they ſtrongly deſire, ſuddenly reſolve, and vigorouſly attempt the conqueſt of it; ſo is it here, total abſence and ignorance quencheth our deſire, but a partial knowledg, and taſte enflameth it. They deſire more who have taſted any thing of Chriſt, and they long for full poſſeſſion of the whole inheritance who have found the advantage, joy and comfort of a ſmaller allowance. Juſt ſo it is here, Chriſtians have their preſent allowances both in juſtifying mercy, ſanctifying graces, and in refreſhing conſolations. But indeed, theſe are now ſmall to what they are to be hereafter. Theſe preſent disburſments are from Chriſt executour of his own will, as the disburſments of an executour entruſted with orphanes whoſe breeding muſt be paid for out of the improvement, but the Legacy muſt be paid into their owne hands at full age. Oh how doth ſuch one deſire, and long for theſe two things (1.) that he had greater interreſs in the affections and favour of ſuch an executour, and (2.) that his full age were accompliſht that he might have the full ſtate in his own hand. So doth the preſent enjoyment of Chriſt's allowance ſet the ſoul on deſireing more intereſs in Chriſt, that his allowance of grace, peace and comfort may be greater; And then, That which is abſent, (which indeed is far the grater and better part) that which the ſoul is fetching in by deſires, that (which it wiſheth becauſe it wanteth,) doth make it wiſh for that full age which alone ſhall receive the full, rich and glorious Legacies. Theſe are the common incentives of deſire which uſually prevail with us to wiſh and deſire. Theſe are to be found as much, nay more in theſe bequeathed gifts than in the beſt objects of natural, or meer moral, or unſanctified rational deſires. Are the objects of ſuch deſires thought to be good? yet are they not comparable in goodneſs with the gifts Chriſt bequeaths to us.
Are thoſe poſſible? and may they be attained? ſo are theſe: And ſomewhat more then poſſibile, they are fairly, and promiſingly probable.
Are thoſe well tempered with ſome preſent taſte and with a greater ſweetneſs to be delighted in for future? yet in this they infinitly fall ſhort of future ſweetneſs to be taſted in the gifts of Chriſt. And this brief compariſon of the different degrees of deſireableneſs in theſe different objects ſhould lead me to a larger diſcourſe of the tranſcendency of the one above the other, but I will content my ſelf to ſhew in as few words as poſſibly I can this one thing, viz. That whereas other men are content to deſire good upon the uncertainty of obtaining, or with perplexity in deſiring, and withall at laſt do poſſeſs with unſatisfied minds. The deſiers of the believing ſoul excelleth in all theſe.
1. In the certainty of obtaining a portion in the rich Legacies of Chriſt, he ſhall be ſure to have his portion in them who is ſure he doth deſire them for his portion. No ſoul ever deſired Chriſt ſo earneſtly as Chriſt doth deſire it; he is willinger to bring, than we are to be brought to glory. His willingneſs makes it certain; But I mention three things more;
1. The form of his Will and laſt Teſtament, which is ſo made, that there is room for all deſirous, longing ſoules, the Invitations, the Call, the perſwaſives, the promiſes, the commands of the Goſpel run ſo general, that he is no Chriſtian who knows not that there is room for the deſires of every believer; other mens wills framed, ſealed and publiſht, exclude all but thoſe which are mentioned in them. Chriſt's will is ſo framed, that thou, and I, and every hearty willing ſoul may enter our names for a Legacy, and receive it; and farther, though none elſe, yet
2. All the kindred of Chriſt are compriſed in his will, which kindred are not by naturall generation, but by gracious Adoption, and ſo it may be enlarged by new additions of new Friends. Thus thy hearty deſires will ſurely enroll thee among the kindred of Chriſt, ſo thou mayeſt certainly (if the fault be not thine own) be of the alliance, kindred and family of Chriſt, and as certainly be ſharer among others of the Legacies given by Chriſt, who laſtly hath left
3. Aſſets to pay every Legatee; he hath grace enough to make good the Legacies of grace; He hath merit enough to make good the Legacy of juſtification; he hath the fulneſs of the ſpirit of holineſs to ſatisfy the claim of every one who would perfect holineſs; he hath glory great enough, and crowns many enough to crown and glorify; and ſo to make good all his Legacies which concern the glorifying of believers. This is the certainty of thy future obtaining thy deſires, if thou doſt heartily deſire. And who would not pray, and ſtrive after thoſe deſires which ſhall certainly be ſo fullfilled? uncertainties awaken other mens deſires, and ſhall thy deſires oh Chriſtian! ſleep and dye when they have ſuch encouragements? nay farther yet.
2. Other deſires are attended with perplexing anxieties and cares. They grow among thorns, and pierce the very heart; it is not eaſy to diſcern whether they diſquiet moſt in the failure, and diſappointment at laſt; or in the ſolicitous longings of the heart whileſt they are expected; there is trouble more than enough in both the wracking deſire, and in the killing diſappointment: Now thy deſires (O chriſtian!) after a portion in theſe Legacies of Chriſt excel in theſe two things; firſt when they commence and turn into enjoyments, they do not diſappoint, and next, whileſt they are deſires, they afford and give ſome good meaſure of ſatisfaction to the ſoul. For they are deſires fixed upon a good which is in ſome degree already enjoyed; Chriſt and his benefits are ever enjoyed whileſt ſincerely deſired. Theſe meſſengers of the ſoul ſeeking for Chriſt are ſent by Chriſt himſelf who is with the ſoul, much as he was incognito with the Diſciples before he made himſelf known in breaking of bread. The ſoul deſireth Chriſt abſent, but theſe deſires are raiſed in the ſoul by Chriſt preſent. And as a Friend in a diſguiſe ſometime viſits and feaſteth with his Friend cheering, and comforting him, and minding him of his abſent Friend, and raiſing wiſhes and deſires after him as abſent (who indeed is preſent with him, and entertaineth him; ſo doth our bleſſed Lord ſatisfy the deſires of them that love him, and that long for him. He is enriched by Chriſt who truly deſireth the riches of Chriſt. Theſe the advantages of the Chriſtians deſires, oh then let out thy deſires, fear not to ſet thy ſoul in a longing fit for Chriſt whilſt thou longeſt thou ſhalt enjoy, and ere long thou ſhalt ſee how much thou hadſt of him all that time wherein thou thoughteſt thou hadſt no more of him than an empty deſire, or hungring wiſh for him: thy deſires are like the Mariners approaches to the ſpicy Iſlands; the ſweet and delicate odours aſſure them they are not far off and delight them untill they ſet foot upon the ſhore, ſo Chriſt aſſures and delights the deſirous ſoul; ſo Chriſt ſends abroad the ſweet perfumes of grace and glory. Theſe refreſh the ſoul untill its arrival where it ſhall live upon full ſatisfactions, which is a
3. Third excellency in which the believers deſires after theſe Legacies of Chriſt do exceed all the beſt deſires of other men, who muſt ever write over them, leſſe in hand than in Hope: —Minuit praeſentia famam.the believer on the contrary muſt write this as the motto of his poſſeſſed deſires, great in Hope, greater far in hand; or as the Queen of Sheba ſaid in another caſe, 1 King. 10.8It was a true report which I heard in my own land, but the one half of their glory was not told me. Theſe things which draw out the deſires of other men are like the Apples of Sodom, beautiful, and pleaſe the e…e at diſtance, but they moulder into aſhes when the hand gathers them, and they who feed on them, feed on aſhes. Such are honours, ſuch are pleaſures, ſuch are the riches of this world, and of men of this world fully uncertain when we purpoſe to ſeek them; fully vexatious whilſt we are ſeeking them, fulleſt of torment and diſappointment when they are graſped, and poſſeſſed; yet our deſires after them are paſſionate and earneſt, our contrivances to obtain them are ſolicitous, and ſecret, our purſuit vigorous and unwearied. But Chriſtian! here is honour, a crown bequeathed; here is joy, an eternal feaſt on the fruit of the true vine, in the Kingdom of thy heavenly Father; here are treaſures bequeath'd, an inheritance, a Kingdom, and all propoſed to thy deſires with tranſcendent advantages; they are certain that thou mayeſt purſue them with Hope; they do refreſh whileſt thou art purſuing that thou mayeſt not languiſh and faint; they ſatisfy fully and eternally, that thou mayeſt never repent thy labour. Look on theſe, and let them have but as much of thy deſire, as there is of deſireableneſs in them, above all other things, and then I am ſure thou wilt deſire them above all, and reſt in them after all. Awake! Awake! oh my ſoul! and before thou make thy approach to the Lord's table, look over the laſt Will and Teſtament of Chriſt thy Lord; ſee there is pardoning mercy to take away death which is the deſert of ſin; there is purifying mercy to take away the filth of ſin, to dry up the poiſonous fountain of ſin; there is pacifying mercy to take away inward diſtracting troubles; there is interceding mercy to procure acceptance of all the good thou doſt; there is preſerving mercy to keep thee from falling away and periſhing; there is crowning mercy to encourage thy expectations, and ſatisfy thy beſt and largeſt deſires. In a word, here is Chriſt's Spirit, his Righteouſneſs, his Kingdom with eternal life given by Will and laſt Teſtament, and all theſe tendered to thee as Chriſt's Miniſter tenders the body and blood of Chriſt to thee: all theſe things are delivered to thee in the copy of Chriſt's will, ſealed unto thee at the Sacrament; and thy deſires are now expected. Good things, and poſſible, yea certain, and enſured to thee, (if thou wilt but heartily deſire them.) Awake therefore a ſincere wiſh, a ſtrong longing after them that they might ſtatisfy thee. All theſe are thine if thou wilt be Chriſt's; oh then deſire he would unite thee to himſelf that thou may'ſt be one among them that are one with Chriſt; theſe ſhall be heirs to theſe great things; theſe muſt be of Chriſt's kindred and alliance; this alliance is not by natural conſanguinity, it is by a foederal covenant Union, and this Union is effected by us for our part by willingneſs and deſire; ſay then, art thou willing to loſe and miſs theſe great things? or doſt thou think them unworthy of thy deſire? or rather doſt thou not wiſh thou couldeſt deſire them? doſt thou not feel thy heart kindly bubling forth ſuch affectionate deſires as theſe after Chriſt? oh that I were of that happy family which are ſo bleſſed with Chriſt! oh that my name were written in the will! oh that there were a blank where I might ſecretly or openly write mine own name there, then I would as Jacob (yet without offence) ſteal a bleſſing! oh that there were ſome would ſhew me how I might imbody my ſelf with this houſhold and kindred! why now if ſuch deſires ſtir, behold here is a ſhort, but a ſure method: Longings and deſires after nearer Ʋnion and cloſer conjunction with Chriſt, heary deſires of communion with Chriſt will do this great work, and enſure this exceeding rich bleſſing to thee. Bleſſed are they who thus hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſs, for they ſhall be ſatisfyed. Thus renewed meditations on the common in centives of deſires, and renewed meditations on the peculiar, and extraordinary incentives of our deſires, in likely-hood can do no leſs than increaſe our deſires after this moſt deſireable Union to Chriſt.