Of Communion with God, Part 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Of the Way and Manner whereby the Saints hold Communion with the Lord Christ, us to personall Grace: The Conjugall Relation between Christ and the Saints Cant. 2. 16. Isa. 54. 5. &c. Cant. 3. 11. opened. The way of communion in Conjugall Relation. Hos: 3. 3. Cant. 1. 15. on the part of Christ. on the part of the Saints.
THe next thing that comes under consideration, is, the Way whereby we hold communion with the Lord Christ, §. 1 in respect of that personall Grace whereof we have spoken. Now this the Scripture manifests to be by the way of a conjugall Relation: He is married unto us, and we unto him; which spirituall Relation is attended with suitable conjugall affections. And this gives us fellowship with him, as to his personall excellencies.
This the Spouse expresseth Cant: 2. v. 16. My beloved is mine, and I am his. He is mine, I possesse him, I have interest in him, as §. 2 my Head, and my Husband: and I am his, possessed of him, owned by him, given up unto him, and that as to my beloved in a Conjugall Relation.
So Isa: 54. v. 5. Thy maker is thine Husband (the Lord of hosts is his name) and thy Redeemer the holy one of Israel, the God of the whole Earth shall he be called This is yeelded as the Reason, why the Church shall not be ashamed nor confounded, in the middest of her Troubles and Trialls, shee is married unto her Maker, and her Redeemer is her Husband. And Isa. ch: 61. 10. setting out the mutuall Glory of Christ and his Church in their walking together, he saith it is, as a Bridegroome decketh himselfe with ornaments, and as a Bride adorneth her selfe with Jewells: such is their condition, because such is their Relation: which he also farther expresseth ch. 62. v. 5 As the Bridegroome rejoyceth over the Bride, so shall thy God rejoyce over thee. As it is with such persons in the day of their Espousalls, in the day of the Gladnesse of their hearts, so is it with Christ and his Saints in this Relation: He is a Husband to them, providing that it may be with them, according to the state and condition whereinto he hath taken them.
To this purpose we have his faithfull engagement Hos. ch. §. 3 2. v. 19, 20. I will (saith he) betroth thee unto me for ever, yea I will betroth thee unto mee in Righteousnesse, and in Judgement, and in loving kindnesse, and in mercies, I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulnesse. And it is the main designe of the Ministry of the Gospell to prevaile with men to give up themselves unto the Lord Christ, as he reveales his kindnesse in this engagement. Hence Paul tells the Corinthians, 1 Epist. ch. 11. v. 2. that he had espoused them unto one Husband, that he might present them as a Chast virgin unto Christ. This he had prevailed upon them for, by the preaching of the Gospell, that they should give up themselves as a Virgin, unto him who had betrothed them to himselfe, as an Husband,
And this is a Relation wherein the Lord Jesus is exceedingly §. 4 delighted; and inviteth others to behold him in this his Glory. Cant. 3. 11. Go forth (saith he) O ye Daughters of Ierusalem, and behold King Solomon with the Crowne wherewith his Mother Crowned him, in the day of his Espousalls, and in the day of the Gladnesse of his heart. Hee calls forth the daughters of Jerusalem, all sorts of Professors to consider him in the condition of betrothing and espousing his Church unto himselfe: moreover he tels them that they shall find on him two things eminently upon this account.
1. Honour; it is the day of his Corenation, and his spouse is the Crowne, wherewith he is crowned. For as Christ is a Diademe of beauty, and a Crowne of Glory unto Syon, Isaiah, ch. 18. v. 5. So Syon also is a Diadem, and a Crowne unto him, Isa. ch. 62. v. 3. Christ makes this Relation with his Saints to be his Glory and his Honour. 2. Delight: The day of his Espousalls, of taking poore sinfull soules into his bosome, is the day of the gladnesse of his heart. John was but the friend of the Bridegroome, that stood and heard his voyce, when he was taking his Bride unto himselfe, and he rejoyced greatly, Ioh: ch. 3. v. 29. how much more then must be the joy and gladnesse of the Bridegroome himselfe, even that which is expressed Zeph. ch. 3. v. 14. He rejoyceth with Ioy, he joys with singing.
It is the gladnesse of the heart of Christ, the joy of his soule, §. 5 to take poor sinners into this Relation with himselfe. He rejoysed in the thoughts of it from Eternity, Prov. 8. 31. And alwaies expresseth the greatest willingnesse to undergoe the hard task required thereunto, Psal. 40. 7, 8. Heb. 10. 7, 8. yea he was pained as a Woman in travaile, untill he had accomplished it, Luk. 12. 5. because he loved his Church he gave himselfe for it, Ephes, 5. 26. despising the shame, and enduring the Crosse, Heb. 12. 2. that he might enjoy his Bride; that he might be for her, and shee for him, and not for another: Hos. 3. 3. This is his joy, when he is thus crowned by his Mother. It is believers that are mother, and brother of this Solomon: Math: 12. 49. 50. They crowne him in the day of his espousalls, giving themselves to him, and becoming his glory: 2 Cor. 8. 23.
Thus he sets out his whole Communion with his Church under §. 5 this Allusion: and that most frequently. The time of his taking the Church unto himselfe, is the day of his marriage, and the Church is his bride, his Wife, Revel. chap. 19. v. 7, 8. The entertainment he makes for his Saints, is a Wedding Supper. Math. ch. 22. v. 3. The Graces of his Church, are the Ornaments of his Queene, Psal. 45. v. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. And the Fellowship he hath with his Saints, is as that which those who are mutually beloved in a Conjugall Relation do hold. Cant. 1. Hence Paul in describing these two, makes suddain and insensible Transitions from one to the other: Ephes. chap. 5. from v. 22. unto v. 32. concluding the whole with an Application unto Christ and the Church.
It is now to be enquired in the next place, how it is that we §. 6 hold communion with the person of Christ, in respect of Conjugall Relations and affections, and wherein this doth consist. Now herein there are some things that are common unto Christ and the Saints, and some things that are peculiar to each of them, as the Nature of this Relation doth require. The whole may be reduced unto these two heads.
1. A Mutuall Resignation of themselves one to the other.
2. Mutuall Consequentiall Conjugall Affections.
1. There is a mutual Resignation or making over of their Persons one to another. This is the first Act of Communion, as to the §. 7 personall Grace of Christ. Christ makes himselfe over to the Soule to be his, as to all the love, care, and tendernesse of an husband; and the soule gives up it selfe wholly unto the Lord Christ, to be his, as to all loving, tender obedience. And herein is the main of Christs & the Saints Espousals. This in the Prophet is set out under a parable of himselfe and an Harlot, Hos. 3. 3. Thou shalt abide for me (saith he unto her) thou shalt not be for another, and I will be for thee. Poor Harlot saith the Lord Christ, I have bought thee unto my selfe with the price of mine own Blood, and now this is that which we will consent unto, I WILL BE FOR THEE, and THOU SHALT BE FOR MEE, and not for another.
1. Christ gives himselfe to the Soule with all his Excellencys, §. 8 Righteousnesse, Preciousnesse, Graces and Eminencys, to be its Saviour, Head, and Husband, for ever to dwell with it, in this holy Relation. He lookes upon the soules of his Saints, likes them well, counts them faire, and beautifull, because he hath made them so. Cat. 1. 15. Behold thou art faire my Companion, behold thou art faire, thou hast Doves Eys. Let others think what they please, Christ redoubles it that the Soules of his Saints are very beautifull, even perfect through his Comelinesse which he puts upon them, Ezek. 15. v. 14. behold thou art faire, thou art faire; particularly that their Spirituall Light is very Excellent and Glorious, like the Eys of a Dove, tender, discerning, cleare and shining. Therefore Repetit non citra foreign en tu puchra es: Mercer.he addes that Patheticall wish of the Enjoyment of this his spouse: chap. 2. 14. O my dove (saith he) that art in the clefis of the Rocke, in the secret places of the staires, let me heare thy voyce, let me see thy countenance, for sweet is thy voice and thy Countenance is comely. Do not hide thy selfe as one that flies to the clefts of the Rocks, be not dejected as one that hides her selfe behind the staires, & is afraid to come forth to the Company that enquires for her? let not thy spirit be cast down at the weakenesse of thy supplications, let me yet heare thy sighs and groanes, thy breathings and pantings to me, they are very sweet, very delightfull: and thy spirituall countenance, thy appearance in heavenly things, is comely and delightfull unto me. Neither doth he leave her thus, but chap. 4. 8. presseth her hard to a closer with him in this conjugall bond. Come with me from Lebanon (my spouse) with me from Lebanon, look from the top of Amana, from the the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the Lyons dens, and the mountaines of the Leopards. Thou art in a wandring condition, (as the Israelites of old) among Lyons and Leopards, sins and troubles? come from thence unto me, and I will give thee refreshment Math. 11. 27. upon this Invitation the spouse boldly concludes, chap. 7. 10. that the desire of Christ is towards her: that he doth indeed love her, and ayme at taking her unto this fellowship with himselfee So in carrying on this union, Christ freely besto weth himself. upon the Soule. Precious and excellent as he is, he becometh ours. He makes himselfe to be so, and with him, all his Graces. Hence saith the spouse my Beloved is mine: in all that he is, he is mine. Because he is Righteousnesse, hIs. 45. 24, 25he is the Lord Our Righteousnesse: Jer. ch. 23. v. 6. Because he is the Wisedome of God, and the power of God, he is made unto us Wisedome &c. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Thus the Branch of the Lord is beautifull and glorious, and the fruite of the Earth is excellent, and comely to them that are escaped of Israel. Isa. 4. v. 2. This is the first thing on the part of Christ, the free donation and bestowing of himselfe upon us to be our Christ, our beloved, as to all the Ends and Purposes of Love, Mercy, Grace, and Glory, whereunto in his Mediation he is designed, in a marriage Covenant, never to be broken. This is the Summe of what is intended. The Lord Jesus Christ fitted and prepared by the Accomplishment and furniture of his Person as Mediatour, and the large purchase of Grace and Glory which he hath made, to be an Husband to his Saints, his Church, tenders himselfe in the Promises of the Gospell to them in all his desireablenesse, convinces them of his goodwill towards them, and his alsufficiency for a supply of their wants, and upon their consent to accept of him, which is all he requires or expects at their hands, he ingageth himselfe in a marriage Covenant to be theirs for ever.
2. On the part of the Saints? It is their free, willing consent §. 9 to receive, embrace, and submit unto the Lord Jesus, as their Husband, Lord and Saviour, to abide with him, subject their soules unto him; and to be ruled by him for ever.
Now this in the soule, is either initiall, or the Solemne Consent at the first entrance of Union, or Consequentiall, in renewed Acts of Consent all our dayes. I speake of it especially in this latter sense, wherein it is proper unto Communion, not in the former, wherein it primarily intendeth Union.
There are two things that compleat this selfe Resignation of the soule.
1. The liking of Christ for his Excellency, Grace and suitablenesse, §. 10 farre above all other beloveds whatever, preferring him in the Judgement andmind above them all. In the place above mentioned; Can. 5 9, 10. the Spouse being earnestly pressed by Professors at large, to give in her thoughts concerning the Excellency of her beloved in comparison of other Endearements, Answereth expressly, that he is the chiefest of ten thousand, yea v. 16. altogether lovely: infinitely beyond comparison with the choysest created good or Endearement imaginable. The soule takes a view of all that is in the world, the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the pride of Life, and sees it all to be vanity, that the world passeth away and the Lust thereof 1 Joh. chap. 2. v. 16, 17. these beloveds are no way to be compared unto him. It views also Legall Righteousnesse, blamelessnesse before men, uprightnesse of Conversation, Dutys upon conviction, and concludes of all as Paul doth Phil. 3. v. 8. Doubtlesse I count all these things losse for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. So also doth the Church (Hos. ch. 14. v. 3, 4.) reject all appearing Assistances whatever, as goodly as Ashur, as promising as Idols, that God alone may be preferred. And this is the soules entrance into conjugall Communion with Jesus Christ as to Personall Grace, the constant preferring him above all Pretenders to its Affections, counting all Losse and dung in comparison of him. Beloved Peace, beloved naturall Relations, beloved Wisedome and learning, beloved Righteousnesse, beloved dutys, all losse compared with Christ.
2. The accepting of Christ by the Will, as its only Husband, Lord and Saviour. This is called receiving of Christ Joh. ch. 1. §. 11 v. 12. and is not intended only for that Solemne Act whereby at first entrance we close with him, but also for the constant frame of the soule in abiding with him, and owning of him, as such: When the soule consents to take Christ on his own termes, to Rom. 9. 31. 32 20. 3, 4.save him in his own way, and says, Lord, I would have had thee and Salvation in my way, that it might have been partly of mine endeavours, and as it were by the workes of the Law, I am now willing to receive thee and to be saved in thy way, meerly by Grace: and though I would have walked according to my own mind, yet now I wholly give up my selfe to be ruled by thy Spirit, for in thee have I Righteousnesse and strength, in thee Isa. 45. 24.am I justifyed and do glory then doth it cary on Communion with Christ as to the Grace of his Person. This it is to receive the Lord Jesus in his comelinesse and Eminency. Let Believers exercise their Hearts abundantly unto this thing. This is choyce Communion with the Son Jesus Christ. Let us receive him in all his Excellencys as he bestowes himselfe upon us. Be frequent in thoughts of faith, comparing him with other Beloveds; Sin, World, Legall Righteousnesse, and preferring him before them, counting them all Losse and Dung in comparison of him. And let our soules be perswaded of his Sincerity and willingnesse in giving himselfe, in all that he is, as Mediatour, unto us, to be ours; And let our Hearts give up themselves unto him; let us tell him, that we will be for him and not for another; Let him know it from us, he delights to heare it, yea he says, sweet is our voice, and our Countenance is comely, and we shall not faile in the Issue of sweet Refreshment with him.