The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 2 · Chapter 18 – Chapter 19
CHAP. XVIII.
Shews that Christ will not tarry when once his time is come; and the folly of such whose work is then to do; and that the blessedness of Saints consists in immediate communion with Christ.
SECT. I.
THe coming of Christ, we have heard is set forth first from the time of it, viz. just then when the foolish went to buy: Could not the Lord so patient and long suffering, tarry a little while longer for them? especially seeing they went not about any sinful work, but were using the means to get that grace now which their vessels were empty of before? No, but the Lord deals with all men, especially that live under the means; as he did with these foolish Virgins.
That as God is long-suffering towards men,Observation. whiles through ignorance of their spiritual wants and security of heart they have no hearts to use the means for supply. So if once his time of forbearance be slept out, he will not tarry one moment longer; even when men are most diligent in the use of means for spiritual supplies; when Christ hath a heart to help, many people have none either to see their wants, or seek for help; when men have hearts thus to do, then Christ hath none, because his time of tarrying is out; when men are worst and most secure, Christs door is open to them many times; when men are best and indeed awakened, Christs heart and door is shut against them, as it was here; for what are the best endeavors of foolish Virgins? what excellency is there in them, that the Lord of glory should stay their leisure, after long neglect of himself, and loss of precious time?
SECT. II.
BE sure you sleep not out the day time of Grace;Use especially you.
1. That know you want oyl in your vessels, and Grace in your hearts, and mercy to your souls, and think I would not die yet for a world.
2. You that being asleep with these foolish Virgins, dream you are rich, and want nothing, and would be half offended with them that should tell you to your face, or bat think in their hearts that you have no grace, when indeed you are poor and empty, and naked;—Take heed you give not that answer to time that tarries for you, and unto Christ that waits upon you, as Felix to Paul, when his heart trembled to hear of judgement to come; I will speak with you at a more conv…ent season; The Lord hath not left Churches without examples of the terrour of Christs patience in this kind, who upon their beds of distresse have lamented before men; Oh my time is out, Call time again, call tim…again; and who have besought it of God with tears, as he did the blessing, and cryed out, What Lord, wilt not give me one houre, one day more! and so like men sinking have ca…ch'd hold on any thing to save them, whiles others have stood upon the shoar lamenting of them, the Lord be merciful to them; this may be your case, that neither your tears nor blood can purchase a moments time.
Look to it that your vessel be not found empty at the coming of the Lord; it is a dying time in this Countrey, and the Lord hath taken away some, and those that were ready are gone into the Marriage. Consider of it that faith, that grace which you think you have now, may prove but chaffe and stubble when it comes to be tryed in the fire of the Lords coming; the best man will fi…de all l…ttle enough; then be sure you misse not of it now: Do not think I will pray, and seek then, and I hope to finde, though thou art secure now; think of this point, When did Christ come and shut the door, but when the Virgins went out to buy? but woe, woe to thy dead heart; some here present shall seek Christ, and not finde him, but shall dye in their sins; till arrows are in your hearts, you will not cry.
SECT. III.
THat after long profession of godlinesse,Observ. 2. it is a piece of foolishnesse to have any thing then to do but to dye, and so to give welcome to the Lord Jesus: These Virgins when they were to dye, were then to buy; when they were to receive Christ, were then to seek for oyle in their Vessels, that so they might be ready to receive Christ; but of this hereafter.
Oh their sad condition that have all to seek yet!Use 1.
Be not ever seeking,Use 2. never find…ng; but so seeking, as that when you dye, you may say, Com… Lord, I am ready!
SECT. IV.
ly. THis Coming of Christ is set fo…th from the different entertainment of the Virgins, and Christs different carriage toward them.
1. For his entertainment to the wise Virgins; that is set down to be an entring or admittance into marriage, fellowship, communion and joy with the Lord Jesus; which …s amplified
First, From the Antecedent (not cause) of it, and that is their readinesse.
Secondly, The Consequent of this their Communion, the Doo… was shut.
That the last end, and full blessednesse of all the Elect espoused here to Christ, it consists in immediate communion with Jesus Christ alone.
What becomes of these Wise Virgins? they enter into near comm…ion and fellowship with the Bridegroom Jesus Christ. What becomes of the souls of all the Elect when they are separated from the body, and from this World? the spirit returns to God that gave it; so the soul returns to Chris… that bought it. When this World shall be burnt up, what will become of the souls and bodies of the Elect, when there shall be no more Sun to shine, nor Kingdom to rule, nor Creatures to comfort? they shall ascend from the clouds up into the marriage-chamber of the Son of God, and be for ever with the Lord, and the Lord alone; and this is their blessednesse, &c. Blessednesse, yea, the last and only blessednesse, even of heaven it self.
Iohn 17. 23. There are variety of creatures here, and in every one there is drop't some sweet; but the Lords end is to make his people perfect in one; how is that? God in Christ communicating all his goodnesse to his Son, and so living in him, then Christ communicates all his own and Fathers love and goodnesse unto them, and so lives in them, and now they are in him, and so made perfect in one; as those that are thirsty for a time, are refreshed with some drops, or waters running in their Channels, at last they come to the wellhead, where they partake of all together.
1 Thes. 5. 10. This is the end of Christs death, that we might live together with him; not live only from him, but live with him, and together with him; in beginnings here, hereafter fully.
SECT. V.
BEcause God the Father hath laid up all his glory most abundantly in Christ. Reas. 1.Col. 2. 3. Treasures of wisdome; it shines in the face of Christ. 2 Cor. 4. 5, 6. and all our glory also. Luk. 2. 32. Glory of his people Israel. Psal. 29. 19. In his Temple he uttereth all his glory; in the world, there it sparkles in every creature, and the heavens declare it; but there is but some, and that common to all tongues and languages; but in this Temple, the Lord Jesus especially, there all the Fathers glory is uttered, and himself doth utter it. Treasures are such things where there are
1. Precious things.
2. Abundance of them.
3. Hidden, not open to all.
4. They are sure and safe there, for their owners to take and enrich themselves withall; so it is in Christ, there is first, precious things; all Gods preciousnesse, and all our precious things; our life, our peace, our joy, our strength, &c. and secondly, abundance of them; thirdly, hid from the world, and unknown in part to the Saints; fourthly, but sure there for their owners, and Christ is the treasure of all these treasures, which are infinite as God himself is; now if all our glory, and the glory of God be in Christ; then as privation of, and separation from this glory is the last and only misery; so conjunction to, and communion with, and fruition of this glory, must be the last and great happinesse of the Elect. I would convince any carnal heart by this Argument; Didst ever finde any comfort from any creature? that comfort is not from it, but from the Lord by it; for creatures are but as cold water, all their warmth is from the fire; now there is but a little of the sweetnesse of God, because creatures can hold but little, it is so narrow a vessel; but in the Lord Jesus all the goodnesse of God is gathered together there, which is scattered in several creatures here; nay, not fin…te, but infinite goodnesse and glory; therefore this is our blessednesse.
In regard of God the Fathers exce…ding great love, Reas. 2.and the purpose of God to manifest it to the sons of men; this is the nature of love, when one is in a blessed condition himself, he will labour to bring those it loves to that condition; now the blessednesse of God lies in fellowship with his son, Prov. 8. 30. Now God the Father loves them dearly, and would have all the world to know that he doth so, and hence brings them at last into the same fellowship with himself in his son; Iohn 17. 23. That the world may know thou hast loved me; the Father out of his infinite love commu…icates himself to Christ, and his fellowship is with the Father; all know this is a dear love; in mean while love to his Saints is unknown; they and the wicked share all alike; and the Saints have the least portion and worst part many times; so that men cannot see by any outward thing any more love to them, than unto others; the time will come that they shall be made perfect in one, as near the Lord as can be, that the world may know this love, &c.
When Abso…om had slain his brother, and fled from his father, it is said, 2 Sam. 13. 39. that the s…ul of David longed, or was consumed to go forth to him; David might have said, I will never look after him more; so might the Lord have said to us; or if he l…ved, he might never have manifested it (as David) but the Lord must shew his love, &c.
Because this is the end of all the prayers and endeavours, Reas. 3.and all the workings of the Saints in this World: Suppose all glory be in Christ; let a thing be never so good, but if a man hath no desires after it, hath no mind to it, it would not be blessednesse to him; but this is the end of all the prayers, duties of the Saints, if at last they may be with the Lord, Phil. 3. 8, 9. Joh. 4. 14. He shall never thirst, their desires are taken off from other things, …ut only their hearts are to this. If there be any pillow the Lord lets them sleep upon in this world, they shall finde it hard at last, and arise with a Kings head and heart, and say, Oh here is not my rest; the best entertainment this world can give, hath ever somewhat mixt with it, that makes the people of God say, Oh that I might be with the Lord!
SECT. VI.
Quest. SH…ll not the happinesse of the Saints partly lie in fellowship with …he Sai…s?
Answ. 1. True, but this is but a consequent to the former; as separ…tion from God is …he substance of misery in hell, but other things follow upon it; viz. communion with Reprobates and Divels; so here we have first communio… with Christ, here is the substance of our blessednesse; then this is acciden…al… and follows upon that; viz. the communion with the Saints, which is exceeding sweet.
2. That good we shall have in communion with Saints, is not from themselves, but Christ in them; as 2 Thess. 1. 10. Christ shalls be admired in all his Saints; so Christ shall …hen in his Saints and Angels; it is the light of the Sun that shines in the Stars, and they shall do nothing but set out the praises of Christ.
Quest. But what blessednesse is there in this, seeing it is in one thing only? when a man is s…k or poor, can grace refresh him, can he live by that? (thus many carnal hearts think.)
Answ. 1. The Lord shall then take away all fleshly appetites or desires; for then our bodies shall be spiritual bodies; in this life sometimes God takes away the stomack, when he takes away food. Christ forgot his wearinesse, because he had other bread to eat.
2. It is therefore blessednesse, because it is in one; there is
First, Trouble in seeking and fetching our comfort out of many things.
2. Unsatisfiednesse, because one thing can give no more than it hath; now all things in this one thing are there together; the sweet of all creatures, all Ordinances, nay, variety of unknown mercies, (Prov. 8. 21.) shall center here in Christ Jesus.
SECT. VII.
OF marvellous Consolation to the Saints of God: Now you have many wants,Use 1. many sorrows, many temptations, many sins, many cares and fears of livelihood; but the time will shortly come when you shall be with the Lord alone in communion with him, and so out of the crowd and presse of troubles, and temptations, and sins, and evils in this world; that as he himself is above all these, so shall you. Iohn 14. 1, 2, 3. Their hearts were grieved for the losse of Christ; I will come to you, and take you to my self, that where I am, there you may be also; sometimes outward losses and fears trouble thee; sometimes absence of Christ from thee troubles thee; hear what the Lord saith, L…t not your hearts be troubled; for the Lord will take you to himself again, John 16. 22. Christ tells them, I will see you again, and your hearts shall rejoyce; what if he had said, I will come down from heaven to you again? I tell you the Lord will do so to you, but that he is in a better place preparing i… for you, and doing better things for you; but he sees you for the present, and you shall be with him at last.
The Apostle prays that they might know what is the inheritance of the Saints; so I desire of the Lord for you, that you may know what it is to have communion with Christ alone; oh see your blessednesse, &c.
SECT. VIII.
1. This Communion it shall be by sight, not chiefly by faith, as it is in this world: Many go many Miles to the supposed Sepulchre of Christ, and account their time, though superstitiously, yet happily spent; oh but what will it be to see the Lord himself, not as he was here in his abasement, but in all his glory, brighter than ten thousand Suns! now we see, 1 Cor. 13. as in a glasse where we see the glory of God in the face of Christ; but then we shall know as we are known; as a childe knows not the father, but at ripe years it doth; but as Philip said to Nathanael, who said, Can any good come out of Nazareth? so can any such mercy come from heaven? come and see him of whom all the Prophets have spoken of; so then the Father and Spirit, and Saints and Angels will say, oh come in and see him of whom all the Prophets have written; come and behold him that hath shed his dearest blood for thee, that hath taken thought and care for thee night and day; that hath been all thy life in…erceding for thee; Revel. 22. 4. There you shall see his face.
2. This com…union it shall be spiritual and inward wi…h t…e soul and conscience; suppose the soul should be with Christ, and not have spiritual communion with him, what were it the better! as many …ad when Christ was here in this world, that eat and drank in his presence, and yet are now shut out: Oh no! the glory, beauty, goodness of Christ is not to be seen with bodily eyes, nor tasted, nor handled with ou… carkasses; and hence Angels though in heaven with Christ's person, yet look to the Gospel, to hear, see, and enjoy the spiritual excellencies of the Lord; hence Simeon when he had Christ in his arms, yet now desires to depart, because he should then come near him into his spiritual commun…on; Oh this the soul shall have, inward light, love, peace, &c. it is Christ's great love to live with the soul; but so to live with them that are his own, as to live in them; Oh this is exceeding love, for Christ to live in one that was a dunghil: It comforted the Disciples when he went away, I will end you the comforter; Oh but what a blessedness wi… this be, to be with him, and the comforter in us also?
3. It shall be a f…ll and perfect communion, communicating himself out to the utmost ext…nt of the capacities of his people; for here we have spiritual communion, but we see but little and know little, and receive but little, the first fruits and tastes of what we shall drink; but there fully. 2 Thess. 1. 9. They shall be separa…e from the Lord and glory of his p…we…, i. e. as much as ever the Lord is able to fill or load the soul withal, a crown of glory as weighty as ever it can bear, it wraps up the heart sometimes; the soul lies down confounded before the Lord; Oh that ever the Lord should here look upon such a one so vile! much more then shall there be wonderment; he will set open all his treasury; Oh come take thy fill of love! there he shall poure out all his heart, &c.
4. It shall be an exceeding familiar communion: When Christ was here on the earth, we know how familiar he was with his poor Disciples; how one leaned on his bre…, could come to him, speak to him, &c. (Oh brethren) much more shall it be then, Ioh. 21. 17. …ouch me not, I am not asc…nded … as if he should say, Oh then there shall be sweet embracing, as Ioseph that … …ver the neck of Benjamin; Oh the spiritual embracings there! the Lord and Christ will say, I love thee dearly.
5. It shall be an everlasting uninterrupted communion; We have here communion with other creatures, but they as passengers will leave us; we have also communion with Christ, but it is interrupted; many clouds come between us and him; but then it sha…l be everlasting without any interruption. … …hess. 4.ul…. We shall e…er be wi…h the Lord; hence comes comfort; infinite is the glory of the Lord, we cannot see it nor enjoy it in a short time, we have no leisure here, no… time enough to see it; hence we shall be to …eternity behold…g and enjoying of it.
6. A … most sweet …, Psa. 16. ult. filling the h…art with … of glory ▪ much more than feeling. And Three things make it so.
SECT. IX.
First, IT will be after many troubles, labors, and conflicts here in this world; there's not a godly he…rt but hath his burden, if not of misery, yet of sin; if not from flesh and blood, yet from …ell; and he fears also (it may be) that he shall never come to heaven; now hence this communion must be the more joyful, as Iacob that thought he should never see Ioseph; and as Isa. 9. 2, 3. those that divide the spoils, and reap the harvest; then there shall be an answer to all thy… doubts, &c.
Secondly, It will be thus because this communion shall be chiefly in sucking ou… the sweet of all Gods love, past, present, and to come, Ephes. 4. 9. Psal. 24. 6. Love from a friend is sweet, but from a God sweeter; it doth us good to think of their love, their honor and respect to us, much more the Lords; Oh this will like wine, chear the heart, that as the damned shall suck the fierce wrath of God, Oh it shall sting them; so this è contra, we shall see all his bowels open.
Thirdly, The Lord Christ himself shall rejoyce over the soul, and so all Saints with him, Luk. 10. 21. And the soul shall see this, and all Saints rejoyce in its communion. Oh consider this and comfort your hearts with this all ye people of the Lord! I only say as Ioseph dying, God will surely visit you when I am dead, Gen. ult. 24. So when thou art dying the Lord will surely visit thee with his presence, and you shall surely be with him. You have been praying for this, and hearing, and now and then you taste a little, but think it is too good to be true; yet if Christ be blessed, thou shalt at last, thou shalt not miss (though thou finde but little of him here, and walk in the dark) of being with him for ever; God hides his face from some of you, and you mourn, though the world rejoyceth; but happy art thou, for thy mourning shall be turned into joy.
SECT. X.
TO mourn for our strangeness now to Iesus Christ,Use 2. and our distances from the Lord Iesus, may not the Lord take up that speech as to Philip, Have I been so long with thee, and hast thou not known me? So hath Christ been so long with thee, and shalt thou be for ever with him, and yet dost not know him?
There are five things that are ever conjoyned with a near communion with Christ.
First, Knowledge of him; Alas, how little do we conceive of the Lord?
Secondly, Perswasion of his love and faithfulness; Alas, we have little assurance of him, Psal. 9.
Thirdly, Love to his fellowship; and the more in it the soul is, the more desirous it is of it: Oh but the weariness of being with him that we ha…e! no o…ner are we with him now than needs must; but hereafter it shall be otherwise.
Fourthly, Likeness to him in his vertues, as Moses comes shining down; a man imitates them whose fellowship he loves in all their imitable excellencies. Alas, how unlike to him now are we, to what shall be?
Fifthly, A daily opening of, and bemoaning daily evils to him; Oh it easeth the heart; if a man is gone from his friend, yet troubles will fetch him in again; but we pour not out our souls thus to him; hence he poures not out his blood into our souls to heal us; Oh may not we take up that complaint of Agur, Prov. 30. that we are more foolish than any man! speaking of Christ; Oh therefore mourn for it; David, when God hid his face for a little time, was troubled.
It was the complaint of the Prophet of evil men, That in their eyes, he was rej…cted and despised, and we hid our faces from him. Let the world do so, will you do so also? it should not trouble so much that he hides his face from you, as that you have from him.
When David turned aside to Bathsh…ba, the Prophet comes and tells him, I ano…nted thee King, and d…l…vered thee out of the hands of Saul, and gave the… thy Masters Wives, and more also; now wherefore hast thou despised the Lord? the sword shall not depart; Oh (saith he) I have sinned against the Lord; so say I to you: if the Lord had never made known himself to thee, it had been another matter; but the Lord hath delivered thy soul from hell, thy eyes from tears; the Lord hath anointed thee to partake of the glory of Christ, the Lord hath given himself to thee, and saith Suck my blood, take my life, and more I would have given; and hast thou looked after Baths…eba, other l…vers, and despise the Lord? Oh say I have sinn…d, and mourn for it, 2 Sam. 12. 9.
There are two evils in this. 1. Forsaking thy own good, nay blessedn…ss, Ionah 2. 8. own mercies.
2. It is despising the Lord and his f…llowsh…p for other things, base things; that whereas you shall be for ever beholding of him hereafter, yet you should proclaim him not to be worth looking on now.
Object. But I would have fellowship with the Lord, and he will not.
Answ. First, Never did any desire thy fellowship so much as the Lord when he wants it.
Secondly, Nor love it, and glad of it when he had it.
Thirdly, Nor mourn and lament more when he wants it, as Ier. 2. 2, 5. God pleads for it.
Fourthly, he calls to the heavens, 2 Ier. 10, 11. Did ever nation deal thus with Idols! If this will not break thine heart for strangeness, I know not what will do it: It is your sin that breaks off communion, not the Lords unwillingness.
SECT. XI.
HEnce see the exceeding great worth and excellency of Iesus Christ; and learn hence to esteem a right of him;Use 3. there is no blessedness in the fruition of all the creatures together; good there is, but no… blessedness; or if there were, yet it lies in many things; no one…hing, no… twenty blessings can make blessed; and it is but a broken blessedness in divers pieces; or if there were a kind of blessedness to be found in one, yet it is not a lasting blessedness, it is so but for a time, and so the loss of it at last will trouble us more than the having of it for a time.
But as he saith, I… him is light and no darkness; blessedness, and no misery; peace, and no trouble; fulness and no want; beauty, glory, and no blemish; life, and no death; pure, dear, infinite love, and no anger; and it is in him alone, Psal. 148. 13. His name alone is excellent; all our glory and the glory of God also is met together in him, all things i… one thing; whatever good there is in other things, it is borrowed from him; base, begga…ly things; but the fulness and plenty of all is in the Lord, so that we shall not need to cumber our selves about unnecessary things; we need not a candle when the sun shines: and our last blessedness is here; when every thing else will make them wings to hasten from us, this will continue and last; when all our vessels we are tossed in here are sunk, and where our entertainment hath been very good, yet the shore sinks not, it is above over-whelmings; here alone we are fast.
However the world sees not this, because their blessedness lies in preserving themselves by creatures, from feeling that misery which lies upon them now, as also because they shall never share in it; yet the Saints have been exceedingly taken with this that David accounted them blessed that might dwell in his Courts in this world; Solomon was blessed that might but wait at wisdoms gates, and so be ready to be received when they be opened; Abraham rejoyced to see Christ's day afar off; Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ great riches; what did he then esteem of the presence of Christ here! but what i… glory …
Think of this, you that say you cannot finde in your hearts to esteem of the Lord Jesus; especially let him be precious to you, you espoused of the Lord; for others may say he is precious, but I shall never enter into this fellowship: No, no, but you shall, but he will take you to fellowship with himself: It was a great favor to Moses, Exod. 24. 1, 2. when others might come towards the Lord, yet Moses alone might only come near; and he was in the Mount alone with God; so that the Lord should let others come towards him; but that you alone above many thousands in the world may be suffered to draw near to him, this should make the Lord precious to you at least. Lev. 13. 46. The Leper was to dwell alone without; the Lord might have dealt so with thee; but when thou wert vile indeed, and most vile, nay when thou didst separate thy self from thy self, then for the Lord to come near thee, and (as if thou couldst never be near enough) to manifest himself to thee forever in glory! When David found out Me…hibosheth (saith he) What am I … dead dog that I should sit at the Kings table! 2 Sam. 9. 7, 8. It was a great favor to Christ himself, that when rejected of men, yet that he was chosen of God and precious, and taken up to him; it may be thou thinkest thy self unworthy of fellowship of any man, and men do, or men man reject thee; yet for the Lord now to receive thee, it is much; but whereas thou wert not only rejected of men, but of God also, Isa. 54. 6. now for Christ to take thee to him; that as he lies in the Fathers bosom, because thou couldst not for sin immediately lye there, he should lay thee in his bosom, and say, Father love this soul as thou hast loved me: Besides, the Father took Christ because he had worth; but for Christ to take thee when thou hadst no worthiness! for one to take dross and prize it when others cast it away, it is much; it is no wonder if pearls be so esteemed of, but for dirt to be prized! Oh therefore let the Lord be precious, and his fellowship precious to thee, seeing thou and thy fellowship is so to him.
Object. But I cannot believe it, why should the Lord do so?
Answ. It is hard to believe it when we look upon our own vileness; but consider the reason why the Lord doth this; it is not because he loves any for fleshly respects as we do; but
First, Because of his own grace and glory; the Believer is infinitely beloved of him, without moving him thereunto; and hence if his grace be exceeding dear, and his glory dear to him, thou art so to him.
Secondly, Christ loves not first because men are holy, but that he may make them so.
Thirdly, He loves because the father loves them.
SECT. XII.
HEnce learn to be content with the Lord alone, Heb. 4. 9. there is a rest; hence labor to enter into it; so if he will have rest and blessedness hereafter, that you shall be content and for ever glad in him and with him alone; Oh labor to possess this blessedness now: You are in your worst condition now, your best is behind; shall the blessedness of thy best condition, not be blessedness in thy worst cond…tion unto thee? shall that which satisfies thy soul in heaven, not satisfie thy soul here. Mos…s, Deut. 32. 10. reckons this as the happiness of Israel, (viz.) That God alone did lead them when they were in a wilderness, a land of drought, and pits, and wants, and the shadow of death; so Christ now.
Solomon reckons it as one part of his folly, madness and vanity, when he forsook the Lord in his degenerate condition, Ec…les. 2. 3. that he gave up his heart to vanit…y, and to wisdom also; as if that was not sufficient alone.
Men are not contented with the Lord alone; Solomon as you heard, was gone, whom God appeared twice unto; Davids heart was sorely assaulted, P…al. 73. untill he wen… into the sanctuary of God, and then, saith he, whom have I in earth but thee? but as for others they are far from this; and hence come the many murmurings and sinkings of heart; why do not men sink and drown? because they are not in the ark or ship, and stay there alone; so it is here, Psal. 16. 4. their sorrows … multiplied, &c.
SECT. XIII.
LAbor for this contentedness in spirit, in four cases especially, wherein the heart is apt to withdraw from the Lord;
First, In case the Lord takes away the dearest, nay, all outward blessings from us; men can …ub it out with quietness of spirit, when some of their money loose in their pockets is lost; but when their jewels are lost, their dearest blessings singled out, Wife, Husband, Children, then as Ionah, the soul is almost angry with God, when his gourd is smitten: 1 Thess. 4. 13. without hopes; again some can rub this out till they come to part with all; when some of our boughs are cut and branches lopt, we can be content; but to have ou… top boughs cut off, and to strike at the root too, that we should remain as w… thered …ry trees, this can hardly be born: Men can be content to follow Christ, if they may carry something on their backs beside the cross; some can endure …ny thing but poverty, because covetous; others any thing but disgrace, beca…e proud; if some thing or many things be cast over-board in a storm, men can be sometimes contented therewith, if something escapes; but when there is a w…a…k of all, now to be content is as hard as to walk upon the waters; Israel when they be fed and led by God, all was still; but when they want bread and water, then they murmure, and also ques…ion, Exod. 17. 7. Is God among us now? And truly it would break ones heart to see what sinkings of heart there be among us (the fruits of ex…ream pride and Christlesness) and what vexations men are to themselves, that men are become devils to themselves, their own torme…tors; what cares, fears, griefs, losses, decays, that their heads are dawled, and their memories lost, and their hearts sunk, and their count…na… ces al…ered, and the Ordinances comfortless, and themselves heartless, and pining away in their iniqui…es, because of outward sorrows: Oh consider, either thou shalt shortly be with the Lord, or not; if not, there is cause of …ourning: Oh to go home and see Abraham, Isaac, and Iac…b in Gods Kingdom, and thy self shot out, it were a lamentable thing indeed; but if it be otherwise with thee, Oh consider thou shalt be happy enough without these things in heaven; and therefore though these things be lost, thou shalt not lose one jot of thy happiness: A man that is blessed with …lessedness it self, and yet sunk, either should say Christ is not blessedness, or else recover.
Object. Oh but though I have lost my estate, yet that doth not so much trouble me, as to have lost friends and their love!
An…w. And what if thou hadst lost thy life, and thy body were rent from thy soul, if that goes to the Lord! Heb. 11. They were …awn asunder. It may be thy heart hath gone from Christ; Oh therefore re…! for it may be this is Gods end; and methinks this should make you content with any cross, thou art not near enough to the Lord; Oh therefore you poor Saints, be not in heaviness by many temptations; the Lord doth it to try your fai…h; can you be content with him alone? It was Iustin Martyrs speech, Nothing else to care for.
Secondly, In case the Lord makes outward peace and blessings to abound upon you, set not now your hearts upon these things; sometimes when miseries abound, and there is wracks of all, now the soul is glad to stand upon the rock to save its life, Psal. 78. 35. When he smote them, they then remembre… God was their rock; but when the Lord begins to fill the soul with outward blessings, it is then exceeding hard not to lodge them in the Lords own room and habitation for himself, and the Lord is forgotten and fo…saken also, Jet. 2. 1, 2, 4, 5.
But when these things are removed, or with you continued, yet let your hearts still be kept for the Lord; for if these things were necessary, you should have them in heaven; but there is no need of them there, but only of the Lord. Psal. 17. ult. It was Davids prayer that he might be delivered from the men who had their portion in this world; but I shall behold thy face, and therewith be satisfied when I awake; i. e. Some outward troubles now made him heavy, that he slept the sleep of death, saith Calvin, but then he should be satisfied; it was Davids argument to prove his faith, Psal. 16. The Lord is the portion of my lot and cup; not his crown nor kingdom; 1 Cor. 7. 30. Paul mixes this with his counsels, use the world as if you used it not, possess as if you possessed not, for the fashion of it passeth away. The love of Christ sweetens these things; nay, the sweet of them is Christs; he lets into them his love and his sweetness, &c. Oh the peace that comes by this means, when a no outward evil detracts, and no outward good thing adds to your blessedness! It is so in it self; Oh that it were so indeed unto you, Psal. 23.
Thirdly, In case the soul comforts it self in hopes and desires after good things to come in this world; for sometimes that which fills the heart, is not things present; a man findes a bottom here, but he looks for things to come, and so lancheth out his heart in the deep, lets the rains of his heart go strongly after things to come, and so the Lord alone doth not quiet him; many mens blessedness here is imaginary, and chiefly because of that which is to come.
Oh consider when it will be found to be blessedness to enjoy the Lord alone, without hope or desire of any good else to come; thy soul shall say, Let me ever see and love this God, and none else. It was the sweet affection of Paul, I desire much to be with Christ; he did not desire these things, no not body nor life; nothing else but to be with him; and that not faintly but earnestly, 2 Cor. 5. 1. because he was now absent from the Lord; Oh the sinful lusts of men… men think themselves miserable if they be not satisfied; and they are not satisfied because Christ is not enough alone. Oh but know it, he will be so shortly, soul-satisfying blessedness to his people: And this I add, the way to have all desires satisfied, is, to joy in Christ alone, Psal. 37. 5.
Fourthly, In case of all spiritual wants; for this troubles the heart above any other thing; thou sayst thou hast such wants and such sins; Oh but remember this, thou shalt have thy fill of him hereafter; he is absent now, but thou shalt be with him; he hides his face now, but he will arise upon thee and never set more, and will supply all thy wants. Thus the Apostle perswades to love the Scriptures, though they gave but a little light, and they were in darkness, until this day-star arose; so then all darkness shall be abolished; so the Saints complain, If a Son, why so unlike Christ? yet remember When he appears we shall be like him, 1 Iohn 3. 2. Col. 1. 3.
Object. But these things are to come, how can I be content now?
Answ. 1. Carnal hearts feed themselves chiefly with hopes, and false hopes of base things to come; why will not you now with this? Rom. 5. 2, 3. we rejoyce in hope, and live by hope.
2. Faith makes things absent present, Heb. 11. 13. They saw the promises afar off, and were perswaded and embraced them; so do you, and the Lord in them here, but the fruition and possession of those things promised is more.
3. Though there is not perfect and full fruition of the Lord here, yet it is in part here, which gives unknown sweetness, Revel. 21. 23. They need not the Sun, but the Lamb is the light of that Temple, P…al. 23. ult.
4. What though the Lord keeps thee short, yet for his sake be content whiles he keeps thee in want; there is not a cross but the Lord saith, …or my sake bear it; nor a denial of any mercy, nor a putting by any prayer, but Christ saith, For my sake be content with it, as they Psal. 44. 22. and be content a little while; glory is not yet ready for thee, nor thou for it; now let this prevail with you; be content to be afflicted, buffetted, forsaken; q…iering the heart with this, I shall one day be with the Lord; Christ was thus for thee.
And as for you that never had heart to receive Christ yet; oh that this thing might make your hearts come off from all creatures to him; Isa. 55. 3. Why spend you your mony for no bread, and for that which satisfies not, and for that which continues not; what though thou lose by parting with thy lusts, al… comforts, friends, favor of men, gain? thou shalt find all these in him; lose him, and thou canst not finde these in them: Oh but this you will not come to; but yet remember, Psal. 81. 11. Heb. 5. 9. and therefore is there any soul here that as Hannah was praying for a Child, so you for Christ alone? I offer thee Christ; in the name of the Lord take him; thou canst not exalt Christ more by any act than by taking him; and therefore, as hers, so let thy heart go home quietted, mourn no more, and let it ever bear up thy heart, as the ark above all waters, that thou art shipt safe in him.
SECT. XIV.
OH therefore be as near the Lord Jesus now a… you can be in this world;Use 5. be as much alone with him as you can; there will be a very near conjuction and communion between you and Christ another day; and herein alone lyes your blessedness; you are yet in your race, and absent from home; yet be as near home, and reaching after the price of your high calling; when David could not come to the Temple, yet his heart was as near it as it could; he would be coming after it, and accounting them happy that might be near, even the very Swallows. That is the nature of love, Where it cannot go, it will creep; it will be as near the thing beloved as it can: So here.
The Saints when they were cast from the Temple, when they could not go to it, yet they would look towards, and pray towards it; Daniel did it though he died for it; Ionah, though discouraged, and thought he should never come there, but be cast out of Gods …ight.
Iacob and Ioseph, though they might have had honorable burial elsewhere, yet such was not only their faith in the promise, but their love to the Land of promise, where they knew God intended his presence, that their very bones must lie there, Heb. 11. 22. when they could not live there, their very carkasses shall lie there.
'This was the power of the timo…ous faith of Ioseph and Nicodemus (when they had lost the life of Christ, and Christ was departed) yet they loved and begged the dead body of Jesus; so though you have neglected the Lord, yet now be as near the Lord as you can; Christ himself when he was to depart from his people, yet he would be as near to his as he could; hence he sends the Comforter; Oh so be you towards him! I know his love to us exceeds ours to him; but there is no reason why it should, for we are vile; there is reason ours should exceed, for he is worthy; this is the honor of the Saints, To be a people near to him; as it is the curse, and shame, and misery of all the world to be far from him.
Mens hearts lie further out from Christ than we are aware of; some stars seem to be within a hands breadth of the moon, when they are indeed far off, because of our weakness not able to judge of things at that distance; so it is with many; nay many of Gods own people are far off, or not near enough to the Lord: And hence come
First, All afflictions for the most part; why are they sent but to fetch you in from your strayings? hence Psal. 23. 4. the rod of God comforted David.
Secondly, Hence comes your sleeping in your strayings from God; as Ionah that went away from the presence of the Lord, and the Lord let him alone for a time; I know there are daily strayings; but to lie and live in them not lamented, this argues your hearts are gone, and lie out from the Lord, at least, for a time.
SECT. XV.
Quest. HOw should we be near unto the Lord?
Answ. In Four particulars.
First, Be near to him in his Providences; the Lord is exceeding near to all men thus, Act. 17. 27, 28. in him we live and move, as the beam is in the Sun, so as he may be felt; it is wonderful to think how near the Lord is to men, not only by the immediateness of his vertue, but of his person; yet they are far from the Lord, and men are to seek for him; hence vers. 30, 31. he perswades unto that, especially to be near God, not only as a Creator, but as a Mediator, by whom the affairs of all the family in heaven and earth are ordered.
Oh therefore seek him till you come so near as to see him and find him hete; David saw this really, and that in times of peace, when he had far pastures and full cups, Psal. 23. he saw the Lord as his Shepherd; Ioh. 10. 1. who is known of his, feeding, leading, restoring, comforting by rods, adhering to him in the valley of the shadow of death; and then for outward things, furnishing his table, annointing his head, giving necessities and superfluities; he looked not only on second causes, but saw God as really doing all these, as carnal men see second causes doing these: Nay, he so sees the Lord, as that he falls a wondering; and indeed the Lord is never seen in his Providences till then; as Manoah saw the Angel do wondrously, Judg. 13. 19. Psal. 139. 14. Marvellous are thy works, vers. 17, 18. How precious are thy thoughts … he saw from the Lords works, and gathered an idea of the thoughts of God; so should we; and hence when he did awake he was still with th… Lord; the first thing that appeared was the Lord, Psal. 73. 23, 24, 25.
To the beasts the Lord is near, but they cannot reflect upon their own actions, much less upon the Lord; The Heathens may see we are Gods off-spring, and see God as a Creator at some times; but let them that profess Christ, see and finde out Christ as Media…or; as Moses that desired to see the Lord passing by him, whom he had seen a little before; truly the Lord not only passeth by you, but is with you proclaiming his name by the voyce of his Providence toward you, patience, pity, love, truth, wisdom; and yet truly this is very difficult and hard to see.
SECT. XVI.
MEn see not Jesus Christ, First, Because second causes seem to work all; this estate my friends gave me, or my labor got me; this house the Carpenter built for me, these provisions my money bought for me; and so the creatureslike broad leaves hide the boughs of the glory of God in Christ on which they grow, and are opake and dense, and not transparent, through which the soul may see the glory of God abroad.
Secondly, Because men have so many businesses and cares that they cannot have leasure really to see the Lord.
Thirdly, Because there is a malice in all mens hearts naturally which suffocates all that which may be known of him, Rom. 1. 28. They delighted not, to retain God in their knowledge; the works of God grow vile and sordid through their commonness to them.
Fourthly, Because men can live well enough without him; hence like a childe at nurse, that forgets friends and home, because it is well enough without them; thus mens minds are not fed with the thoughts of him, Ier. 2. 6.
Fifthly, Because Nature never heard of a Mediator governing; all their lives, and comforts, and all; they see not all given them by the Almighty hand of Christ, who hath all power given hi… in heaven and earth, and who must reign not only friends till they are gathered, but over his enemies also till they are subdued, and to question this is to question Christ's sitting at Gods right hand. He is owner of all, and dispose… of all to the least growth of thy stature, and the most careless fall of the least hair; to do not only the greatest, but the meanest offices of love for thee.
You say indeed you believe all is from Christ; oh but you see it not; come near therefore and see the Lord, Deut. 8. 9. they were forty years a learning that Man lives not by bread, nor is warmed by cloaths, &c. and though they had mar…ellous wondrous works, yet Deut. 29. To this day the Lord hath not given you eyes to see.
Oh therefore labor to see who it is that nurses you, gu…des you, tends you, leads you, teacheth you, lays you down, and takes you up, and let the works of Christ raise up your minds, to the thoughts of Christ in heaven, remembring thee in his Kingdom of glory, who might forget thee; and the poorer and smaller the mercy is, the more do thou wonder that he should therein be a servant unto thee; see all blessings growing upon this tree, seated in the midst of Gods Paradise, Rev. 22. 3, 4. though thou layest thy head with Iacob upon stones, and sorrows, yet see this ladder of the Lords provi…ence towards thee; common blessings sometimes descending, sometimes taken ou… of thy hand and ascending, and the Angels of God with thee, ministring to thee; but the Lord at the top of them; the Lord his care, his love, in all; and let not this be a dream, but a reality to you. It is a wonderful sin to be thus unmindful of Christ.
1. Because hence all whor…g from Christ ariseth, Hos. 2. 8. Iudg. 2. 12. especially in times of peace.
2. Hence the Lord is forced to hedge your w…y with thorns, and to bring you to extremily of troubles that you may see the Lord, Isa. 41. 17, 18. nay sometime to bring ruine, Isa. 5. 12, 13.
And tru…y as it is a great sin, so it is a very great shame, Isa. 1. 2. The ox knows his owner… is the Lord the owner of you, and do you not know him? when he comes by you, and to you, provides for you? It is a worse thing, saith Chyso…om, to b… compar…d …o a beast than to be so. To let many days and streams of goodness pass by you, and yet not to take any not…ce, and still to be so far from the Lord: I know in heaven this is perfected, and then comes acknowledgement of the Son of God; but here you may be near him; I think unless the Lord did descend in cloudy pillars, and of fire, some men would never see him.
SECT. XVII.
Secondly, BE near him in his promises; for Christ is near to us here also, Rom. 10. 8. the word of faith is nigh thee; so that you need not ascend to bring C…rist down from heaven, &c. When Parents are dead and gone, children w…ll then search out their last Will and Testament, and preserve that, and keep that near them.
Christ draws near to his people, 1. In his Promises, according to his thoughts of them.
2. In his performances, joyning the soul immediately to himself, and filling it with himself; this we cannot enjoy yet, the Lord laies it up in his promise, which they have in liew of the performance: Oh draw near not to words and syllables, but to the Lord there, apprehend him there; as it is with the Attributes of God, his Glory cannot be comprehended by us; hence he manifests himself there according to our capacity, God manifesting himself severally; so in promises we cannot comprehend Christ as yet; hence Christ manifests himself in his glory, in several promises; Oh embrace him there; Heb. 11. 9, 'Tis not said that Abraham and Iacob were heirs of Canaan, but heirs of the promise, and Sarah first received her son in the promise; so do you em…ra…e Christ in the womb and bowels of the promises; we live by faith in this life; and hence all our enjoyment of Christ is first in the promise.
First, Labour to draw near unto, and enjoy the Lord Jesus by the Promise.
Secondly, Labour to enjoy him in the Promise.
First, By the promise or by means of it; all that which the Lord conveys to his, is not by mee… providence but by promise, Psal. 25. 10. He was free before their calling, but now he hath bound himself by an eternal covenant, to be all, and do all for them, Gen. 17. 1. So that the Saints may and should bring all their empty pitchers to the wells of the promise, Isa. 12. 3. and draw out of tho…e breasts, …, and get Christ Jesus Spirit in your hearts by them; now some think the Promise is not theirs, hence they go not thither for spiritual refreshments, or at least, they let other things come by providence, especially common blessings, without going to the promise for their daily bread, or looking to the promise out of whose bowels they are begot, Heb. 13. 5, 6. the Apostle there sends them to the promise. Or else they use not the means, or faint in the use of it; whereby they come to enjoy the Lord by his promise, and that is restless wrestling with Christ by prayer for it, Gen. 32. 12. Thou saidst I will surely do thee good; He might have said, I have a promise, what need I pray? or he might have said, I had a promise of safe convoy, but now I see the Lord is coming out to br…ak it; and so he might have perished; yet he prays, and wrestles, acknowledging himself unworthy of all the truth, &c. So N…h. 1. 8. Men have so little of Christ because so little of the Spirit of Prayer, pressing Gods promise; thou hast a barren, empty, weak heart, because the promise is not improved as it should be.
Secondly, Labour to enjoy him in the Promise; sometimes the soul hath a Promise fair, and seeks and finds not; now the heart goes on to seek, but is exceeding unbelieving, or sad and troubled whiles it doth not feel; and unthankful also, and accounts it self miserable whiles it wants, and so doth not glory in the Lord, and his fulness, which is his in the Promise, unless he feels the good come from the promise, like a man that doth not account himself rich while he hath it in his treasure, a most safe and sure place where it is kept for him, unless he gets a little out of it into his pockets; and fears he shall be slain with thirst, though he stands by the Spring and that be full, if his dish be empty; oh this is vile, Heb. 11. 13. These received not the promise, i. e. things promised, yet saw them, believed, and embraced them i. e. in the promise. You say you are sinful and born down by your distempers, and base, and poor; I say you have power, victory over all sin and misery, and have eternal glory already in the promise; only here is thy wound, you think you want it because you have it not out of the promise, though you have it in the swadling clouts of the promise lapt up there; and by means of this sinful distemper of heart you partake not of Christ, because you apprehend not your exceeding great riches in the promise, 2 Pet. 1. 2. 2 Sam. 23. 4. God made an everlasting Covenant, this is all his desire; sweet was Davids spirit. 2 Sam. 7. 22. Who is like to thee, when he had no accomplishment of the promise; Oh so do you say. Heb. 6. 17. The Lord hath appointed we should have strong consolation by promise and oath, not by dreams; it was the complaint of Christ, unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe; so you call in question, like Thomas, unless you feel; Oh close with the Promise, keep it as most precious; and then Psal. 25. 10. He saith not to them that keep their covenants or their feelings, but his covenant as their portion, and get the Lord to undertake to keep it for them, and so make sure.
SECT. XVIII.
3. LAbor to be near the Lord in all his Ordinances also, both privately and publickly, for there is his presence, Ezek. ult. ult. Psal. 26. 8. he not only loved Christ's presence, but the place where it was; it was an argument of his integrity. Psal. 102. 13. They did love the dust of Sion; never think there is a time of mercy till then.
First, Be with him in secret as oft as you can, prayer, meditation, daily calling your hearts to an account; time hath been that you have been so when in affliction, or at first conversion; but now twenty hindrances; and now you cannot only neglect, but think you have reason so to do; there have been tears, and prayers, and thoughts, and pressings hard after the Lord, but now no words, nor groans; you women have children to suck, and families to tend; you servants love your sleep rather than the bosom of Christ; and though Conscience cry out against you for it, yet you hope to be better one day, and so you grow strangers to Christ, and no publick Ordinances profit, because private duties are neglected, and thy heart like the sluggards garden is andressed; is this to be as near the Lord as you can? no, if the Lord oves you, look for the death of thy Husband, Wife or Childe shortly; look for terrors, and then you shall account it an honor, if you may but once more speak to the Lord.
Secondly, Be with him, and as near him as you can in all publick Ordinances, and not only to have them (which some care not greatly for, because they see no glory in them, unless glorified souls should come out of heaven to be members, and Moses and Elias to build tabernacles here, and …o be Elders) but come through them, look beyond them to the Lord; look at them as empty and weak, unless the Lord fill, and be powerful in them; David did enjoy God secretly, yet there was more in publick; hence Psal. 63. 2. The Saints are a generation of Seekers, Psal. 63. My soul followeth hard afteh thee; mercy and truth follows you many times when you forsake it, Psal. 23. ult. much more when you cleave to it: Hezekiah's frame of heart, Isa. 38. ult. is imitable; Act. 1. Christ promised to send the Comforter; wait at Ierusalem, as there they did in prayer, and at last the Lord came.
You have forsaken all for Ordinances; and now you have them, you despise them; I con…ess they are meer outsides, yet the Lord is there; there is a glory which wi…e men can see in Christ in the mange….
SECT. XIX.
Fourthly, LAbor by thy desires to be … him, Rev. 22. 20. So desire as to wait for thy change all thy life, look for it, 1 The…. 1. ult.
1. Christ's desire is that thou wert with him, when thou art ready, and when thy work is done; Oh let this make thee to desire it also.
2. If you cannot keep your hearts from vain hopes, and foolish and noyso… lusts, without desiring him, do not then desire to be with him; for you may desire communion with lusts and Christ.
Object. But death is terrible, and separation from him bitter?
Answ. Long for him therefore to come and then take thee, and see thou desire nothing but him… rebuke thy … llingness of not being with him. If Christ was on earth, you would hazard your lives to get unto him; much more herein.
Obj. But what will become of Gods name?
Answ. Let the Lord alone for that; w…les thou livest en…avour to the utmost; but its appointed for thee a little season only to be here, and be willing the Lord should honor himself also by others as well as by thee.
Object. What will become of my wife and children?
Answ. Who regarded thee in thy blood? when thou livest, they are thine; but then the Lords.
Desire to be with him, this will support your hearts in all your changes of this ….
SECT. XX.
Vse 6. YOu that never received Christ, now do it.
Object. Yes, I have.
Answ. No, you have not so received him, as to let all go for him. Why so? because he alone will be blessedness, but he is not so to thee; Oh therefore let all go now; you must part with Christ, or all these things. Which will you do? If with Christ, you cannot finde him in these things; but if you part with these things, then you shall finde them all in him.
Object. But he will have none of me?
Answ. 1. He cries down thy laying out money for what is not Bread.
2. He promises to give thee to drink, now, and hereafter.