The Best Interest, Chapter 1 · Section 1 – Section 3
Sect. 1. Intereſt in Chriſt is a ground of comfort, under all the Troubles of Life, and againſt the Sorrows and Terrors of Death.
An inſtance of fetching comfort from Chriſt the Conſolation of Iſrael, under the Troubles and Sorrows both of Life and Death, we have in this Text conſidered in its Coherence with the Context. For opening whereof, conſider theſe three things.
1. The Diſtreſſes of the Spouſe, ſet forth in this, and the foregoing Chapter. To paſs over her inward troubles, ſet forth by her being ſick of love. Ch. 2.5. She met with anger and much hard uſage from her Mothers Children, that is, from thoſe that profeſſed the ſame Faith with her ſelf, Ch. 1. ver. 6. My Mothers Children were angry with me, they made me the Keeper of the Vineyards. Keeping the Vineyards was ſervile laborious work, which they uſed to employ the baſer ſort of People, and Strangers in. Iſa. 61.5. The Sons of the alien ſhall be your Plowmen, and your Vine-dreſſers. It was a burdenſome, as well as an ignominious employment, to work in Vineyards in thoſe hot Countries, The Labourers that were ſent to work in the Vineyard, complained that they had born the burden, and the heat of the day. Math. 20.1, 12, So that when the Spouſe of Chriſt ſaith, they made me the Keeper of the Vineyard, it implyeth that her Mothers Children laid heavy burdens upon her, dealt hardly and ignominiouſly with her, expoſed her to reproach and other ſufferings. She was greatly diſtreſſed by her Perſecutions which ſhe endured, which ſcorched like the Sun, when it ſhined at noon day, and made her black in the eye of the World. Chap. 1.7. I am black, becauſe the Sun hath looked upon me. Perſecutions ariſing for the word, are ſet out by the ſcorching of the Sun, As we may ſee in the parable of the ſeed that fell on the ſtony ground, which having no Root withered away, when the Sun was up and ſcorched it. Mat. 13.5, 6. Some ſet on ſtony places, where they had not much Earth—And when the Sun was up, they were ſcorched, and becauſe they had no Root, they withered away. This riſing and ſcorching of the Sun the Lord Jeſus interpreteth to be riſing of Tribulation and Perſecution for the words ſake. ver. 20.21. For when Tribulation or Perſecution ariſeth becauſe of the word, by and by he is offended. The Sun looking upon her, that is, her Perſecutions had made her black. I am black; what doth this blackneſs imply.
(1.) Her inward ſorrow and pain of heart, and diſtreſs of mind, ariſing from her troubles and perſecution. For great grief and ſorrow is frequently expreſſed by blackneſs. Job 30.27, 28, 29, 30. My Bowels boyled and reſted not: the days of affliction prevented me. I went mourning without the Sun— My skin is black upon me. Nah. 2.10. The heart melteth, and the knees ſmite together, and much pain is in all the Loyns, and the faces of them all gather blackneſs. The Prophet ſets out his great grief and aſtoniſhment of mind by his being black. Jer. 8.21. I am black, aſtoniſhment hath taken hold on me.
(2.) Her being expoſed to ſcorn and contempt, and deriſion, by reaſon of her manifold ſufferings and miſeries. Look not upon me, becauſe I am black— That is, look not upon me with a ſcornful eye, in a way of deriſion and contempt. It is the lot of the people of God, ſometimes to be made gazing ſtocks to the World. Heb. 10.33. Ye were made a gazing ſtock both by reproaches, and afflictions. This, Jobs portion when he was under great ſorrows, his Friends looked upon him with a ſcornful eye, and ſcoffed at him. Job. 16.20. My friends ſcorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
The Churches diſtreſſed condition is farther ſet forth, in her being reſembled to a Lilly among Thorns. Cant. 2.2. As the Lilly among Thorns, ſo is my love among Thorns. That is.
1. She was compaſſed with ſharp and grievous afflictions, which pierced her, as if ſhe had had ſo many Thorns run into her Fleſh. Sharp afflictions are ſet out by Thorns. Hoſ. 2.6. I will hedge up her way with Thorns.
2. She was beſet about with cruel adverſaries, that vexed and tortured her, as if ſhe had ſo many Thorns running into her ſide or eyes. It is uſual to ſet out the adverſaries of the Church by Thorns. 2 Sam. 23.6. But the Sons of Belial ſhall be all of them as Thorns. Now thoſe adverſaries of the Church are likened to Thorns.
(1.) Who are continually vexing and troubling the People of God. Num. 33.55. The inhabitants of the Land ſhall be pricks in your eyes, and Thorns in your ſides, and ſhall vex you in the Land wherein ye dwell. Ezek. 28 24. And there ſhall be no more a pricking brier, to any of the houſe of Iſrael, nor any grieving Thorn.
(2.) Thoſe enemies of the Church are likened to Thorns, that would rend and tear the People of God in pieces, if the Lord ſhould let them have their will of them. Thorns are of a rending tearing nature. Judg. 8.7. I will tear your Fleſh with Thorns of the Wilderneſs. Such kind of Thorns are the enemies of the Church, they would even rend and tear the Servants of God in pieces, if the Lord ſhould not deliver them out of their hands Pſal. 7.1, 2. Save me from all them that perſecute me, and deliver me, leaſt he tear my Soul like a Lion, renting it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. Pſ. 35.15. The abjects gathered themſelves together, and I knew it not, they did tear me, and ceaſed not.
Another expreſſion of the Churches diſtreſſes we have Chap. 2.15. Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes that ſpoil the Vines— She was moleſted with Foxes that ſpoyled the Vines. And what were theſe Foxes.
1. Falſe Prophets, that corrupted the Doctrine and Worſhip of the Church. Ezek. 13.4. O Iſrael, thy Prophets are like Foxes in the deſert. He doth not ſpeak of the true, but of the falſe Prophets, when he ſaith, thy Prophets are like Foxes.
2. The Foxes ſignifie ſubtle and bloody Perſecutors, who ſeek to ſhed the Blood of the Saints, and make havock of the Church, Luk. 13.31, 32. Herod will kill thee, and he ſaid unto them, go ye tell that Fox Herod is called a Fox, becauſe he ſought by ſubtlety to kill Chriſt. Theſe Foxes the Spouſe ſpeaks of, did ſpoil the Vines; ſuch a Fox was Saul before his Converſion. Act, 8.3. As for Saul he made havock of the Church, entering into every houſe, and haling men and women, he committed them to priſon.
2. The Spouſe of Chriſt being in this diſtreſſed and perſecuted condition, prayeth to Chriſt to teach, and tell her with what comforts he is wont to refreſh, and ſupport his people under their ſoreſt and hotteſt perſecutions. Chap. 1.7. Tell me (O thou whom my Soul loveth,) where thou feedeſt, where thou makeſt thy flock to reſt at noon. The noon is the hotteſt time of the day, ſignifieth the hotteſt perſecutions, when the rage of Perſecutors is at the heighth, then it is worthy our enquiry, where or how Chriſt comforts and ſupports his perſecuted Flock; His making his Flock to reſt at noon, ſignifieth the inward and ſpiritual comforts and refreſhments that Chriſt giveth his People in their greateſt troubles. Mat. 11.28, 29. Take my Yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye ſhall find reſt unto your Souls. That reſt which Chriſt gives his Flock, when they labour under Troubles and Temptations is reſt for their Souls. And as the Spouſe enquireth where and how Chriſt maketh his Flock to reſt at Noon, ſo in her diſtreſſed condition, ſhe cryeth out for comfort and ſupport. Stay me—comfort me— Ch. 2.5. Stay me with flaggons, comfort me with apples, for I am ſick of love. This being ſick of love implyeth.
(1.) The deferring of thoſe ſpiritual comforts and ſupports, that ſhe prayed, hoped and waited for. Prov. 13.12. Hope deferred maketh the heart ſick.
(2.) Her being ready to faint for want of the preſence of Chriſt, and the comforts of his Spirit. Sickneſs is attended with faintneſs. Dan. 8.27. I Daniel fainted and was ſick. Such as are ſick of love are oft times in a fainting condition. Pſal. 119.81. My Soul fainteth for thy Salvation, but I hope in thy word.
(3.) Her reſtleſs condition for want of the enjoyment of Chriſt. Sick perſons are very reſtleſs, when Job was ſick he was reſtleſs, and full of toſſings to and fro; what Solomon ſaith concerning a perſon whom God exerciſeth with many ſorrows. Eccl. 2.23. His heart taketh not reſt in the night. The ſame may be ſaid of one ſick of love, his heart takeeth not reſt, either in the night or the day, but is very unquiet as long as Chriſt hideth himſelf. Pſal. 30.7. Thou didſt hide thy face, and I was troubled.
3. We may conſider the grounds of the Spouſes Conſolations under theſe Troubles, and the hazard and danger of Death, and her inward Troubles occaſioned by her being ſick of love. I will only mention theſe two.
(1.) Her Intereſt in Chriſt; When ſhe was in her greateſt dangers and diſtreſſes, and wanted the preſence of Chriſt, ſhe quieted, comforted and encouraged her ſelf with this, that ſhe had an Intereſt in Chriſt. My beloved is mine, and I am his.
(2.) She found great Conſolation from her participation of the benefits of Chriſt. ver. 3. I ſat down under his ſhadow with great delight, and his Fruit was ſweet to my taſt.
From the Spouſes ſupporting and comforting her ſelf under her afflictions and perſecutions, when ſhe was in danger of her Life, with the conſideration of her intereſt in Chriſt, we may infer this Doctrine, which ſhall be the ſubject of my enſuing diſcourſe.
Doct. Intereſt in Chriſt is a ground of strong Conſolation, under all the troubles and perſecutions of this Life, and the dangers and approaches of Death.
When the Sun of perſecution is riſen upon us, and ſcorcheth vehemently, when we are become black, when our Mothers Children are angry with us, and deal hardly with us, when 'tis Noon, the hotteſt time of perſecution, when we are as a Lilly among Thorns, compaſſed about on every ſide with ſharp afflictions, in the midſt of adverſaries that are ready to rend and tear us in pieces, when we are ſick and faint, becauſe our hope is deferred and Chriſt abſents himſelf from us, when the Foxes are come out of their holes, that ſpoil the Vines, that thirſt after the blood of the Saints; at, then if we can ſay, My beloved is mine, and I am his, we have cauſe to be of good chear, for intereſt in Chriſt is a ground of ſtrong Conſolation, under all the troubles of this Life, how many and how great ſoever, and againſt the fears and terrors of Death; and this I ſhall prove by ſeveral inſtances. The Apoſtle Paul was a man that went through abundance of troubles and perſecutions as was ſhewen in part before, and I ſhall now farther ſhew you. He could go to no place, but he expected either to be put in Priſon, or to meet with ſome other affliction. Act. 20.23. The Holy Ghost witneſſeth in every City, ſaying, that bonds and afflictions abide me. He was troubled and perſecuted every where, and went in continual danger of his Life. 2 Cor. 4.8, 9, 11. We are troubled on every ſide—we are perplexed—perſecuted—caſt down but not deſtroyed— VVe are always delivered unto Death for Jeſus ſake. Another account of his ſufferings we have, 1 Cor. 4.9, 10, 11, 12.13. I think that God hath ſet forth us, the Apoſtles laſt, as appointed unto Death; For we are made a ſpectacle to the VVorld, and to Angels, and to Men; we are fools for Chriſts ſake—we are weak—we are deſpiſed— Even unto this preſent hour we both hunger and thirſt, and are naked and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place— we are made as the filth of the VVorld, and are the off ſcouring of all things unto this day. Now although the Apoſtle Paul met with abundance of afflictions and perſecutions, he was exceeding joyful in all his tribulations and as full of comfort as his heart could hold. 2 Cor. 7.4. I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. And whence was it that the Apoſtle Paul had ſuch exceeding joy in all his tribulations? It was in Chriſt, and from Chriſt, as he himſelf tells us. Phil. 3.3. VVe rejoyce in Chriſt Jeſus. Rom. 5.11. VVe joy in God through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. The Virgin Mary who was the Mother of Chriſt, met with ſore afflictions, which pierced her as if ſhe had a Sword run into her very Soul. Luke 2.35. Yea a ſword ſhall pierce through thine own Soul alſo. Some underſtand this as a foretelling, that ſhe ſhould ſuffer Death for Chriſt, and be ſlain with the Sword, others underſtood the words Metaphorically, that ſhe ſhould be expoſed to ſuch ſharp trials that ſhould pierce her, as if ſhe had a Sword run into her; for reproaches and many other afflictions, are like the piercings of a Sword. Pſal. 42.10. As with a ſword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me, while they ſay daily unto me, where is thy God. Prov. 12.18. There is that ſpeaketh like the piercings of a Sword — And the Virgin Mary's Conſolation under all her afflictions was, her intereſt in Chriſt, her intereſt in him, not ſo much as he was the Son of her Womb, as the Son of God, and the Saviour of her Soul. Luke 1.47, 48. And Mary ſaid, my Soul doth magnifie the Lord, and my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour. David found great Conſolation in his intereſt in Chriſt, and in God, under all his troubles and ſorrows, of which I might give many inſtances, but ſhall only mention that diſtreſs he was in at Ziglag. 1 Sam. 30.6. David was greatly diſtreſſed — But David encouraged himſelf in the Lord his God. Obſerve here the greatneſs of Davids diſtreſs; Ziglag his City of refuge, was invaded by the Amalekites, ſmitten and burnt with Fire; ver. 1. Davids Wives, and the Wives and Children of the men that were with him were taken Captives, and carried away by the enemies. ver. 2.3. All their Flocks alſo, and their Herds were carried away in a Triumphing manner, ſaying, This is Davids ſpoil. ver. 20. Davids diſtreſs was ſo great, That David and the People that were with him, lift up their voice and wept, till they had no more power to weep. ver. 4. And which added to his ſorrows was this, that he was now in danger of looſing, and that by the hands of thoſe that had fought for him to ſave his Life, they were ſo enraged againſt David, that they ſpake of ſtoning him to Death, and that was an aggravation of his affliction, that beſides his other loſſes, he was now like to looſe his Life, and that in a violent way, and that by the hand of his Friends. And David was greatly diſtreſſed for the People ſpake of ſtoning him. ver. 6. And what was his comfort and encouragement in this diſtreſs? it was his intereſt in God. But David encouraged himſelf in the Lord [his God.] And how doth the Lord become our God? it is in and through Jeſus Chriſt, that he becomes our God. 2 Cor. 5.19. That we may not only Triumph over all the troubles of this Life, but even over Death it ſelf, by virtue of our intereſt in Chriſt, is evident from 1 Cor. 15.55. O Death where is thy ſting, O Grave where is thy victory? the ſting of Death is ſin, and the ſtrength of ſin is the Law, but thuaks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. He ſpeaks in a Triumphing manner, as having no dread of Death, but having overcome the fear of Death, and the Grave; O Death where is thy ſting, O Grave where is thy victory? As if he ſhould have ſaid, we are not afraid of thee, O Death, or thee, O Grave: thou haſt loſt thy ſting, O Death, and thy victory O Grave. And what is the ground of this Triumph over Death, how came we by this victory? this Triumph is grounded upon an intereſt in Chriſt, this victory is given us of God, through Chriſt, as he is made ours; Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Sect. 2. What is meant by an intereſt in Chriſt. How Chriſt becomes ours: How we become Chriſts.
There is a ſpecial ſaving intereſt in Chriſt, as our Redeemer, which is when a man is made a partaker of Chriſt, united to Chriſt, and hath a real and actual right to all the ſaving benefits of Chriſt. Heb. 3.14. We are made partakers of Chriſt
How Chriſt becomes ours.
1. By the Fathers giving him to be a propitiation for our ſins, and Chriſts giving himſelf to die for our ſins. Joh. 3.16.
2. By an effectual calling. 1 Cor. 1.9.
3. By our recieving him. Joh. 1.12.
4. By our entring into Covenant with God. Iſa. 55.3.
How do we become Chriſts
1. By Donation of the Father. Joh. 17.6.
2. By Redemption. 1 Cor. 6.19, 20.
3. By the Spirits cauſing and enabling us to give our ſelves to him. 2 Cor. 8.5.
4. By virtue of the Covenant. Ezek. 16.8.
See the matters of this Section, in a Book of this Author, Entituled [Conſolation in Life and Death.]
Sect. 3. Several grounds of Conſolation againſt the troubles of Lsfe, and the fears and terrors of Death, ariſing from an intereſt in Chriſt.
1. Jeſus Chriſt hath fully, perfectly, and for ever reconciled unto God all that are his. Col. 1.19, 20.
2. Jeſus Chriſt hath obtained for all that are his a free, full perpetual pardon of all their ſins. 1 Cor. 15.3. 1 Joh. 3.5. Joh. 1.29.
Theſe and many other grounds, may be ſeen largely handled in the ſaid Treatiſe, by this Author, Entituled [Conſolation in Life and Death.]