The Usefulness and Excellency of Christ, Section 7
SECT. 7.
Comfort for Gods carefull people.
3. THis point may serve to cheare 3. This serves to comfort, and to cheere up Gods people.up all Gods people, that their deare Saviour is thus pleased to compare himselfe to a Rose: For as roses are able to comfort the very heart, and to *Tho. Hill in his art of gardening, p. 88.rejoice the bloud: so Christ must needs be very comfortable too, yea transcendently more.
1. I say Christ must needs be much more comfortable, refreshing, and reviving, and that in a twofold respect:
Respect 1 For 1. as roses doe * refresh and coole mens bodies in hit diseases • and b R…sa r…f…ig…at. D…oscor. l. 1. c 112. de medica materia. Id. c. 113.sweats, and allay the heate: So Christ is able to allay the burning heate of hell fire, though you should feele it sweating, as it were, in your very soul, as he sweat bloud himselfe in the anguish of his soule, Luke 22. 44. to deliver us from the horror and fire of hell, and to make us glad.
Respect. 2 2. As roses doe revive men when they are taken with dead palsies: So c Petr. Andr. Mattbiol. in Di…scor. l. 1. c. 112.Christ will restore his to life againe, Ioh. 6. 54. Who so eateth my flesh, and drinketh my bloud, hath everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
2. I affirme that Christ is transcendently more comfortable then a rose. For as much as every dD…orys. A…eopag.excellency and goodnesse which is in any creature, is is still after a more excellent manner in the Creator.
And here that you may see this transcendency, as much as I am able to make you see it, I pray you take notice of these following disproportions.
Dispro∣portion. 1 1. Sometimes, I meane in the winter there is not a fresh rose to be seen nor to be had in all the fields of eI say our land, because about Carthage there are fresh roses all the winter long, as Petr. Andr. Matth. in l. 1. Diosc. c. 112. affirmeth it.our land, if one would give never so much for any to smell to it; but Christ is ever to be found, and never wanting unto those that seeke him, neither winter nor summer, that is, in adversity as well as in prosperity, yea, most of all, and chiefly then, Esa. 43. 1, 2. and therefore how much more comfortable must he needs be then all roses?
Dispro∣portion. 2 2. And though also other corruptible roses may be had and used, yet can they not administer comfort unto us at all times, even whilest we have them, how ever …ey may exhilarate the heart at some times; but Christ as he is alwaies to be found in a time of need, so is he alwaies able to comfort us in a time of need, Heb. 4. 16.
Dispro∣portion. 3 3. When other roses doe yet comfort the heart, alas how cold and weak is that comfort, being not able to penetrate and reach to the soule? For the operation of roses is but physicall, and not metaphysicall, corporall, and not spirituall; but Christ the rose of Sharon comforteth the very soule of a man, as you may see, Psal. 103. 3. where David communs with his soul, saying; Who healeth all thy diseases, mark, all thy diseases, O my soule; and in Esa. 66. 13. where God (and so consequently Christ also, who is God) promiseth us most graciously, that he will comfort us; as one whom his mother comforteth, marke, as a fQuae amore lib…ros in sinu nutriens omnem superat charitatem. H…ymo in locmother who most affectionately comforteth the very soule of her childe, whereas the rose doth but comfort the body; and therefore how ravishing and how great must needs be that comfortablenesse, which is in the Lord Christ; the comforts of a mother we know are exceeding great and sweet, and doe a childe more good then honey or sugar. And such are Christs; nay, I dare say as infinitely greater as himselfe, being an infinite God, is infinitely greater in compassion then any mother. See Esa. 49. 15. Can a woman forget her sucking childe, that she should not have compassion on the son of her wombe, yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee.
Dispro∣portion. 4 4. And though roses do sometimes revive men, being faint, yet can they not take away the sting of death it selfe; nor comfort us after death, though many doe bestrow the dead with roses; but Christ can doe both:
1. He can, nay he hath taken away the sting of death; as it is written, O death I will be thy plague, O grave I Hos. 13. 14.will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes, or though comfort be now hid from mine eyes, saith the *Lyra in loc.Prophet, for the Hebrew is Nocham, which signifieth comfort as well as repentance; and therefore it is so translated both by Saint Ierome, and Doctor Luther. And hence it was that Bainham, that blessed Martyr, uttered those most comfortable words in the midst of the fire, * O ye papists, behold you M Foxe.looke for miracles, and here you may see a miracle; for in this fire I feele no more paine, then if I were in a bed of Downe, but it is unto me as a bed of roses. This he speakes when his legs and armes were halfe burnt.
2. But especially after death Christ doth comfort the precious soules of his, giving unto them the crowne of life, Rev. 2. 10. and comforting them in Abrahams bosome, Luke 16. 25. which is a place of blisse and everlasting wealth, and of gCyril. Alex, hom pasc. 11unexpected delights, even hOrigen Dial. 2 contra Marcion.heaven it selfe.
Dispro∣portion. 5 5 Other roses can doe us no good in losses and reproaches, and in other externall afflictions, though they may comfort our heatts in some diseases; but Christ can and doth solace his then too, as you may read, Acts 5. 4. 1. how the blessed Apostles did even rejoyce, when they were most reproachfully used, and shamefully beaten, because they were worthy to suffer shame for Christs name. So Heb. 10. 34. you may note how those beleeving Hebrewes did even joyfully endure the spoiling of their goods. The like is reported of Paulinus Bishop of Nola, that having lost all, at the taking of Nola, he uttered these words: Let me not be afflicted and vexed, O Lord, for gold or silver, for thou art all in all unto me; and of the people of iAug. de Civ. Dei, l. 1 c. 10.Merindol, that when they saw their houses burnt before their eyes, they rejoyced at it greatly, being k M. Foxe in his Acts and Monuments.honoured so highly, as to suffer that losse for Christ his sake, who inabled and caused them so to doe.
Obiect. 1 If any of you that are held to be of the number of Gods people shall object, that say you can find no such comfortablenesse in Christ, as is spoken of here.
Answ. I answer, That such as are held to be of the number of Gods people, are of two sorts:
1. Some are Christians in shew: 2. some in deed.
The former are such as have a form 1. Christiās in shew.of godlinesse, and deny the power thereof, loving their pleasures, sports, lusts, pride, money, friends, or belly more then God, 2 Tim. 3. 4. Now if some of you be such, then never complaine or wonder, that you can find no such comfortablenesse in Christ; for you are dead like the widow. 1 Tim. 5. 6. which living in pleasures is dead while she liveth: and as the * Angell of the Rev. 3. 1.Church of Sardis: So you have a name that you live, being called Professors of the Gospell, but you are dead. Now though one should even fill the mouth of a dead corps, and cover it all over with roses; yet can that same take no comfort in them, because it selfe is void of life; So you, what comfort can you take in Christ, the rose of Sharon, though we doe even fill your eares with the preaching of Christ, seeing that you be dead and destitute of the life of Christ; and that Christ himselfe hath said, that whosoever loveth father and mother more then him, is not worthy of him; and that he that loveth sonne or daughter more then him, is not worthy of him, Matt. 10. 37. Whereupon it followeth, that all you who love worse things then father and mother, sonne or daughter, even base and filthy lusts, and bosome sinnes, more then Christ, must needs be unworthy also of Christ himselfe, and so consequently of the comforts of Christ, which he never can or will throw away and bestow on such unworthy hypocrites, and selfe-lovers as you are, who have nothing but a meer forme and shadow of piety without any substance or reality; and therefore my advise and counsell is, that you do labour for the power and life of godlinesse, and prefer the love of Christ before all things, if you desire to finde that comfortablenesse, which is in Christ, or else never look for it.
2. As for Christians indeed, they 2. Christiās indeed.are of 2. sorts againe: 1. some somewhat carelesse, 2. others very carefull.
1. Some are somewhat carelesse, 1. Carelesse Christians.sometimes I meane: 1. of their dyet, wherein they doe not keep a golden meane; and 2. of their apparell, wherein they shew too much conformity to the monstrous fashions of this world; and 3. of their sleep, wherein they take up too much time; and 4. of their worldly cares, unto which they give too much way; and 5. of their company, which they doe not so distinguish, as to avoid those which are most dangerous enemies to their poore soules; and 6. of their duties, which they doe not so heedfully performe, as they ought, daily prayer I meane, and holy meditations, and deep humiliations for daily sins, and continuall applyings of Christ, and the like. Such carelesse Christians were the Corinthians once, 2 Cor. 7. 11.as the Apostle implyeth, when he saith; Behold this selfe same thing that you sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulnesse it wrought in you, saith he, to shew that there was none such in them before, and that they did not grieve so before. Now if some of you that cannot find so much comfortablenesse in Christ, as was spoken of here, be such, then never wonder at it: for what comfort can a man take in roses, if he will not take the paines to fetch them, or to apply them; or if he be asleep, how can he smell them, though his chambers were full of roses? well may others that wake, be refreshed with the sent of them, and take delight in them; but he cannot, so long as he sleepeth: So you that are so carelesse, what comfort can ye take or find in Christ, as long as you will not take the paines, to draw what comfort you can from Christ in that carefull manner, as you ought? yea, are in a manner asleep, in that you be so drowsie, dead, dull, backward, and carelesse in the doing of your duties; and doe so seldome humble and afflict your soules for your manifold exorbitancies, slips, failings, and grievous sins. God comforteth those that are cast downe, saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 7. 6. but you are not so dejected; and therefore, * Tamē quod divinas consolationes non habemus, aut rarius sentimus, nos in culpa sumus; quia cōpunctionē cordis non quaerimus. Tho à Kempis, de Imit. Christi, l. 1. c. 21.what wonder is it to heare that you are not comforted: So that I for my part doe not intend to cast away the precious comforts of Christ upon you, that are so carelesse, preaching comfort to Gods people; for you are not capable of comfort in this case, and we ministers wrong both our selves, and you too, when we doe promiscuously pronounce, and preach comfort to Gods people: For then you carelesse ones, perswading your selves to be Gods people as you may be, doe snatch at such comforts, and apply them, though you doe not feele them, nor indeed are then fit for them; and therefore, I must and will distinguish between you that are carelesse, and those that are carefull, telling you that you for your part, being so secure and undejected, you may not, nor must not looke for any sensible comforts from Jesus Christ, the rose of Sharon, as long as you are, and shall be so carelesly disposed.
But secondly, as for those that are 2. Carefull ones.carefull among us of every thing, and humble themselves much continually, and are dejected, and yet find or feele no comfort for the present, they must not therefore be disheartened, because that he which should comfort them, is farre from them as they conceive; for they may take comfort in this, that either,
1. They have in times past sate downe under Christs shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to their taste, that is, that they have tasted of the sweet comforts of Christ, wherewith he is wont to refresh young beginners, especially in their minority, and in the infancy of their conversion, Cant. 2. 3.
2. Or if they have not yet been made partakers of the sweet consolations that are in Christ, they may comfort themselves in this, that such comforts belong to them, and that in the *That is, When you shall have most need of it; either when the spirit would faile else without it. Esa. 57. 16. Or against some great affliction approaching, or some great encounter with the world for the name of Christ. Goodwin in his returne of prayers, p. 152.Lords good time they shall feele them, as he who upon a great stoppage, not being able to smell roses, may and shall smell them in time, when that stoppage is gone. For so it is written, Esa. 54. 6, 7, 8. the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken, and grieved in spirit; and a wife of youth when thou wast forsaken, saith thy God: for a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee; but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer: But when it will be, that he tels us not, but keepeth it to himselfe; and therefore you must live by faith, you that complaine of the want of comfort, and stay upon God, even in the want of comfort, as a man, who in the want of bodily strength stayeth himselfe upon a staffe; for so saith God, Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darknesse, and hath no light, Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God, Esa. 50. 10. the *Esa 50. 10originall foreignis, let him leane upon his God, as baculus sic appellatus quod illi homo innitatur.upon a staffe, which will be a comfort to him for the present, by a gracious supportation of him in the want of comfort, and in the end by a most sweet and sensible distillation of comfort into his sad and pensive soule, as it is written: Thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me, Psal. 23. 4. that is, as *Chrys. in loc.one of the Ancient expounds that place; thy Christ (who is my rod and my staffe, in that he came in the old age of the world) doth comfort me as a staffe, (which is a comfort and supporter to old age.) Where note by the way, that A Note. Christ is a staffe to comfort old age, that is, such as wait with old Simeon for the consolation of Israell, Luke 2. 25. and make not too much hast to have comfort by and by; and hence it is, that some of the most eminent Saints of God felt most comfort a little before their departure, in the very last age and end of their dayes; heare their owne words.
Deare wife, *Ier. Burroughes in his Grac. spirit, p. 77. allea…g…th this speech.said M. Sanders, that Fore in his Acts and Monuments, p. 1361.blessed Martyr, riches I have none to leave behind me; but that treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is to hungry consciences, whereof I feele a part, I bequeath unto you. I am merry, and I trust I shall be merry, maugre all the devils in hell.
And when *Edward Ba…sh…w, in the life and death of M Bolton, p. 34.Oecolampadius lay sick, and his friends did aske him whether the light did not offend him, he clapt his hands on his breast, and said, Hic sat lucis est, here is light enough, meaning comfort enough.
So * blessed M. Bolton said to some of his parish that came to visit him when he lay a dying: I am by the wonderfull mercies of God as full of comfort as my heart can hold, and feele nothing in my soule but Christ, &c.
Ob. 2 If you shall reply, that you feare you shall never feele the like comfort in Christ, because these men were so eminent, and you so pestred with a number of corruptions, which you cannot master yet to your content.
Solut. I answer, 1. That they also were subject to infirmities as we are; for we may not thinke that they were holier then Elias, who was a man subject to like passions as we are, Iames 5. 17. and therefore why may not you feele some true comfort too at last, though not so much as they.
2. That indeed sin allowed or too much yeelded unto, keeps off comfort; but you that are carefull Christians (for to such I speake here) doe not so.
Ob. 3 If you say you feare you doe;
Solut. I answer: doe not you build upon needlesse and groundlesse feares, but examine your hearts, and they will tell you, that you doe what you can to purifie your selves, and to avoid sinne, and all the occasions of it, shutting the very windowes on high, your eyes, and stopping the fountaines of sinne below in the heart, by a holy and carefull watching over your owne hearts, thoughts, and motions, even as God himselfe did then stop the fountaines of the deep, and the windowes of heaven, when he would dry up the floud, Gen. 8. 3.
And therefore what should let you, why you should not cheare up your hearts with the serious consideration of this most comfortable doctrine that I have delivered unto you, touching the most sweet and comfortable rose of Sharon?
Ob. 4 Will you say that you meet with so many troubles, crosses, afflictions, reproaches, calamities, losses, and the like, that you cannot bee cheerfull?
Solut. Then I answer, that all these things should not shake nor move you so as to make you refuse comfort, and to walke sadly and dejectedly, to the great disheartening and discouraging of others, and the hurting of your owne soules, whom you torture more then needeth by a number of selfe created vexations and troubles, which by your pensivenesse and heavinesse you draw upon them: for,
Ground. 1 1. All your afflictions of what sort, Heb. 12. 11, 12.kind or degree so ever they be, what are they but purgations to take away sin? When God opened the windowes of heaven, and powred downe seas of water, even immeasurably and most dreadfully, downe went all stately towers, and lofty buildings, and sumptuous monuments; but as the waters rose, so the Arke rose higher and higher still, and was so much nearer heaven: So when God sendeth flouds, and seas of troubles, downe goeth our pride, security, carnality, impurity, and a number of aspiring and rising corruptions; and in stead thereof Christ rises, and the poore soule rises, like unto the Arke, ever higher and higher, sleighting and despising the world. Like that woman cloathed with the Sun (whereby we may understand Christ with his crosse and afflictions, as hot as the Sun) is said to have the Moon, that is, all sublunary earthly things under her feet, Rev. 12. 1.
Ground. 2 2. They are but like those charets and waggons, which Ioseph sent for Iacob, Gen. 45. 27. for as they revived Iacob, and brought him neare unto Ioseph: so do afflictions revive and quicken us, being dead and dull, and bring us nearer unto Christ, who is our Ioseph, then we were before. See 1 Pet. 1. 7, 8.
Ground. 3 3. As Iacob made his sonne Ioseph a coat of divers colours, because he loved him best, Gen. 37. 3. so Christ bestowes such various and sundry afflictions, like a coat of many colours, upon those whom he loveth best. See Rev. 3. 19. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten; and therefore I say, they are but signes of his dearest love.
Ground. 4 4. But last of all, Christ himself the rose of sharon, I dare say is more sweet then all your inward or outward troubles can be bitter, for he is as a sweet rose among all such thornes, or thorn-like afflictions; and he sweetens them, though other roses cannot so sweeten the thornes among which they grow: even as that Tree did sweeten the bitter waters of Meriba, which otherwise no body could drinke, Exod. 15. 25. for he assures us, that how ever we speed here and may be entertained in this world, we shall rejoyce in him, and live with him in glory at the last, as you have heard that he will quicken us as a rose, and revive us after death, which is more then a rose can doe: So as that needs we must gaine infinitely more by Christ then we can possibly lose by him.
And therefore as you take delight in a rose, though it be among thorns, so take comfort and joy in Christ, though he be a rose among thornes, that is, surrounded with a number of pricking, piercing, and heart-cutting vexations If one should rob you of all that you possesse, and you were made sure at the same time of an orient Jewell in a sure and a safe place, more worth a thousand times then all that you lost, I suppose you would not be so foolish, as to take on, and to vexe your selves about your losse; but rather rejoice at so rare a Jewell, whose prize doth so farre surmount the worth of all your other goods, which are nothing at all comparable to so precious a Jewell. And did not I assure you but now of Christ, the rose of Sharon, whose prize is above rubies and precious stones, and whom yee can never lose againe after ye have made him once your owne? and therefore I hope you will not be so foolish again hereafter, as to grieve immoderately at any afflictions or losses of goods or good name by wrongs or revilings; but rather rejoyce in Christ, who being that *Mat. 17. 45, 46.pearle of inestimable prize▪ is better then a thousand livings, and ten thousand earthly contentments, and millions of gold; and sweeter then all the pleasures, all the friends, husbāds, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers sisters, &c. in the world, for they are many times rather bitter then sweet, and doe more grieve then relieve us; but he is ever sweet, and is ready even then, when they or any other thing doth crosse us most, sweetly to comfort us, being altogether as sweet and comfortable as a rose, nay much more, as hath been largely shewed already.