The Mystery of the Marriage Song, Exposition · Verse 5
Verſ. 5. Thine arrows are ſharp in the heart the Kings enemies; whereby the people founder thee.
In this verſe, the powerful ſucceſs and effects of Chriſt kingdom are further repreſented, and he deſcribed a… Warriour or Archer, having his Bowe and arrows rea… bent and prepared to ſhoot at his enemies. This m… refer to the laſt times, when he will execute his fi… wrath upon the Antichriſtian party, who are the great enemies to his Kingly office and prerogative. But thou he meet with ſtrong oppoſition in ſetting up his Kingdom and that from ſeveral parties and Interests, all con… tring in oppoſing his Intereſt; yet ſhall he prevail. The people ſhall fall under him. Yet for all this, and in deſp… of them all, have I ſet my King upon my holy hill of S… Pſal. 2.6.
In the firſt place, we may no…e,I. Obſerv. Chriſt & his people meet with great oppoſition.
That Chriſt and his inſtruments, who endeavour to propagate and advance his Kingdom, will meet with great enemies, and much oppoſition.
Who art thou, O great mountain, before Zeru…ba… Zech. 4.7.Christ hath two ſorts of enemies. Temple-work is not carried on, but with m… difficulty and oppoſition. Our King Chriſt hath his enemies, and they are of two ſorts.
Firſt, 1. Open,His open enemies, that will even dare him to face; whoſe malice and cruelty againſt him and his … Lambs, appear in their very foreheads. Such were … tiochus Epiphanes, and many of the Romane Emperor who were the firſt bloody Beaſt mentioned Rev. 13.…. whom the devil raiſed up againſt Chriſt and his Sain.
Secondly, 2. Seecret enemies.Chriſt hath his ſecret underhand-enemies. who whilſt they profeſs love and ſubjection to him, do what they can in a ſubtil manner to ſupplant his People, Truth and Intereſt. This is the nature of the ſecond Beast which cometh out of the earth, and hath two horns like a Lamb, Rev. 13 11. who with his adherents pretend to be of a Lamb-like diſpoſition, humble, meek, innocent, and mortified ſouls; and to do what they do, for the glory of Chriſt, for holy Church, for Ʋniformity, and againſt Errour, Schiſm, &c. Now theſe ſecret ſubtil enemies, are the moſt dangerous. Such be thoſe among us, who have fine ſmoothe language, but yet they will not have Chriſt to reign in righteouſneſs, leſt their Diana or worldly intereſt go down. Oh, this ſelf-intereſt makes …nen to be at enmity with the glorious deſigne of Chriſt.
Hence let us draw two Corollaries.
Corol. 1 Firſt, The Lords faithful ones, who are employed in his work, ſhould not deſpond, though they meet with many Tobiahs and Sanballats, crafty and ſubtil, and withal ſtrong and potent enemies, who would cauſe the work to ceaſe: They are not ſo much our enemies, as the enemies of our King; and the greater, and ſtronger, and more ſubtil they be, the more it maketh for the glory of Chriſt to diſappoint them: as when Caeſar overcame Pompey, that great and prudent Captain, it did exceedingly increaſe his fame and honour in the world. The work of the Temple muſt and ſhall be finiſhed, to the terrour of our enemies, Nehem. 6.16. For it is the work of God, and not of man.
Corol. 2 Secondly, This diſcovers the corruption and malice of the heart of man. Well might the Apoſtle ſay, that the wiſdom of the fleſh is enmity againſt God, Rom. 8.7. If Chriſt ſet but up his Kingdom, and reign in truth and righteouſneſs, then Heathens, Papiſts, Turks, Gog and Magog, Formal Proteſtants, looſe Opinioniſts, ſelf-ſeeking Chriſtians, all of them will joyn with Satan, and the powers of darkneſs, in oppoſing this bleſſed Kingdom. Herod and Pilate will ſhake hands and be friends, againſt the holy Childe Jeſus, Luk. 23.12. Acts 4.27.
Again, whereas they are ſaid to be the Kings Enemies;
Obſerve,
That to be an enemy to Chriſt in his kingly office and dignity, II. Obſerv. 'Tis a great evil to oppoſe Chriſts Kingly Office.doth exceedingly provoke the Lord to wrath.
Uſe. What cauſe, then, have we to bewail before the Lord the preſent poſture of the inhabitants of theſe Nation who will not have the Lord to reign over them, and govern them by his Laws? Nay, are there not many th… pretend to much acquaintance with Chriſt, who yet … far enough from ſubmitting to him in his Kingly Office ſo as to let him wholly diſpoſe of their outward honour dignities, and concernments for his glory? they ſeem truſt him with their ſouls; but alas, in the management of outward and civil things and employments, they ha… recourſe chiefly to their own wit, policie, invention, as the kingdom of Chriſt had nothing to do therewith.
Let us go on: [Thine arrows are ſharp:] (That is) the Word of thy Kingdom, which is ſharper then any two edged ſword, piercing even to the dividing aſunder ſoul and ſpirit, Heb. 4.12. The words and judgment of God are his Arrows: ſo Pſal. 64.4. Deut. 32.1 whereby he woundeth and deſtroyeth the kingdom Sin, Satan, and Antichriſt; and ſubdueth the nation of the world to himſelf. See Rev. 19.15.
Obſerve therefore,
That Chriſt, the King of kings, III. Obſer. Chriſt is a moſt excellent archer.and Lord of lords, (as is ſtiled, Rev. 17.14. Rev. 19.16.) is a moſt excellent arc… who hits the mark whenſoever he ſhooteth, Rev. 6.2, 3.
There is no ſtanding before him, if he bend his bow… and ſhoot the arrows of his wrath: The people ſhall fa… under him. The ten horns which are ten Kings, Rev. 1.14. ſhall make war againſt the Lamb; but he ſhall over come them, though there be but a few faithful and choſe ones with him: and for the implacable enemies of the Church, they ſhall be ſlain with the ſword of him the ſits upon the horſe; which ſword proceedeth out of … mouth, Rev. 19.21.
Again, [Thine arrows are ſharp in the heart of the King… enemies] Other Archers can onelyonly wound the bo… but Chriſt, who is King of Spirits, Numb. 16.22. pierceth the heart with his arrows.
Hence obſerve,
That ſuch as draw not near to Chriſt with their hearts and ſpirits, IV. Obſer. Chriſt ſhoots the keen arrows of his wrath into the conſcience.he both can and will ſend the ſharp and keen arrows of his wrath into their conſciences: So that they ſhall be forced to fall under him, and bow down before him, Pſal. 2.9. The arrows of the Lord are like the ſwords of Saul and Jonathan, which did execution, and returned not empty, 2 Sam. 1.22. His bowe of ſteel ſhall ſtrike his enemies thorow: The gliſtring ſword cometh out of their gall, and terrors are upon them, Job 20.24, 25.
The civil Magiſtrate commands onelyonly the outward man, and the things relating thereto. But Chriſt being God as well as man, ſearcheth the hearts, and weigheth the ſpirits of men, Joh. 2.25. Prov. 16.2.Chriſt ou… ſpirit. King ſpecially regards the ſpirits of men. He is the great King, the ſupreme Magiſtrate, before whom the hearts and inward parts of men are anatomized and cut up: yea, all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him, with whom we have to do, Heb. 4.12, 13. This King doth ſpecially regard the ſpirits of men, as is demonſtrated in the following particulars.
First, He chiefly requires heart-worſhip,1. He requires ſpirit worſhip. and ſpirit-ſervice and obedience; without which, bodily worſhip profiteth not, 1 Tim. 4.8. he will be worſhipped in ſpirit, Joh. 4.24. Phil. 3.3. Not after the oldneſs of the letter, but after the newneſs of the ſpirit, Rom. 7.6.
Secondly, By and from him,2. By him we have ſpiritual bleſſings. we have ſpiritual and ſoul-bleſſings, which are the choiceſt bleſſings, Eph. 1.3. The heart is comforted, Hoſ. 2.14. and the inward man ſtrengthned, by and through him, Eph. 3.16, 7. he hath communion eſpecially with the ſpirits of his people, 2 Tim. 4.22. None can ſpeak peace to the broken heart, but he: Iſa. 61.1. nor will the wounded ſoul be at reſt, till he creale the fruit of the lips peace, peace, Iſa. 57.19.3. He furni… ſhethus with ſpiritual weapons.
Thirdly, He exerciſeth his ſubjects in a ſpiritual warfare, and furniſheth them with ſpiritual weapons and armour, to guard and fortifie their ſpirits, Eph. 6.11, &c.
Fourthly, Spirit-defilements, and heart-pollutions,4. Spirit-pollutions are moſt odiou… to him. as ſecret atheiſm, pride, ſelf-love, hereſie, idolatry, unbelief, hypocriſie, vain thoughts, and contemplative wickedneſs, are moſt abominable and loathſom to this ſpiritual King, as appears in the dreadful fall of the evil Ange… … who are not corporal, but ſpiritual wickedneſſes, Eph. 6.1… There is not onelyonly the filthineſs of the fleſh, but alſo … filthineſs of the ſpirit, 2 Cor. 7.1.
Fifthly, 5. He gives up the obſtinate ſinner to ſpiritual deluſions, as the moſt dreadful.He giveth up obſtinate ſinners to ſpiritual judgements and deluſions, Iſa. 6.9. Rom. 1.24. as namely, hardneſs of heart, blindneſs of minde, ſearedneſs … conſcience, 1 Tim. 4.2.
If men impriſon the light, and hold the truth in u… righteouſneſs, Rom. 1.18. and receive not the Goſpel … love, 2 Theſſ. 2.11, 12. the Lord will ſend forth an ev… ſpirit, which ſhall poſſeſs them, 1 King. 22.21, 22, 23. The Law of God, which is holy and ſpiritual, Rom 7.12, … (and which is not aboliſhed, but eſtabliſhed in and … Chriſt, Rom. 3.31.) doth, 1. Not onelyonly condemn outward groſs acts, but inward luſt and concupiſcenc…. 2. It requires not onelyonly outward, but alſo (and th… chiefly) inward, heart-righteouſneſs and holineſs. And 3. It inflicts not onelyonly torments upon the body, b… ſcourgeth and laſheth the ſpirit and inward man, and the ſometimes of the elect themſelves, at leaſt to their ſ… and feeling; the ſharp arrows of the Lord ſtick faſt … them, Job 6.4. Pſal. 38.2, 3. If the Lord pour but a d… of wrath into the conſcience, it will cauſe more angui… and horrour then all outward afflictions; witneſs po… Spira, and others. If thy wrath (O Lord) be but kindle a little, bleſſed are they that put their truſt in thee, Pſal. 2.12.
Uſe. 1 Firſt, then, Let this be a warning to the hypocrite, wh… brings before the Lord onelyonly a lip-worſhip, when … heart is far from him. Aſſure thy ſelf, O hypocrite, that the Lord will finde thee out, and unmask thee: even th… Lord, whoſe arrows are ſharp in the hearts of his enemie… will come as refiners fire, and will ſearch Jeruſalem as with candles, Zeph. 1.12. Out of Sion, a fire ſhall devour before him, Pſal. 50.2, 3. Wo to the hypocrite in that day; h… great hope & confidence ſhall periſh, Job 8.13, 14. he ſhall not be able to ſtand before God, Job 13.16. When th… Maſter of the feaſt came, the gueſt that wanted the wedding-garment had not a word to ſay for himſelf, but was …echleſs, Matth. 22.12. Oh let us look after ſincerity … heart, and truth in the inward parts. We may de…ve the moſt diſcerning Chriſtians; but there is no dal…ing with him, whoſe eyes are as a flame of fire, Rev. 1.14. …d who pryes into the ſecret corners of the heart. The …umphing of the wicked is ſhort, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment, though his excellencie mount … to the heavens, yet he ſhall vaniſh away as a dream, …b 20.5, 6, 7, 8.
Uſe. 2 Secondly, It may inform us, that thoſe keen arrows of …od which pierce the heart and ſoul, are the ſharpeſt and …oſt dreadful of any; none like them. The ſpirit of a …n will bear his infirmity; but if the ſpirit and conſcience be wounded, who can bear it? Prov. 18.14. Heart… agues are the greateſt: all the other plagues and judgments which fell on Pharaoh and his people, came far …ort of that plague which was upon their hearts. Thus is alſo with the poor Jews at this day; the deſtruction their City and Temple, all the judgements and terrible …ings which have befallen that Nation, by ſword, fa…ine, peſtilence, are not near ſo ſad and dreadful, as their ſoul-plagues and deluſions; when notwithſtanding … the judgements of the Lord, yet the hearts of men are …ut up in blindneſs and obſtinate impenitencie and un…lief: or when men proſper in a wicked courſe, and their …arts are lifted up, and they bleſs themſelves, and put …ay the evil day far from them, Amos 6.3. According their paſture, ſo are they filled, and their heart is exalt…; therefore they forget the Lord, Hoſ. 13.6.
Uſe. 3 Laſtly, Will the Lord ſend his ſharp arrows into the …arts of his enemies? Then ſearch and look into your …arts betimes. Will you ſtill ſtand it out ſtubbornly againſt Chriſt? Ah poor S…s! The time will come, that the …arts of the ſtouteſt among you, ſhall fail, and even ſink thin you, through unſpeakable horrour and deſpair. …here is no contending with the Almighty, Job 40.2. With …m is terrible majeſtie, Job 37.22. Out of Chriſt, he is a …ſuming fire, Heb. 12.29. The Lord ſends his plagues …on the heart, Exod. 9.14. threatnings, curſes, terrours, ſoul-plagues, one upon the neck of another, Deut. 28.…, 17, &c. So that there is no remedy, but you muſt …eld the Bucklers: and let me tell you in the name of the Lord, that if you do not now reflect, and lay… hands upon your hearts, crying out, O miſerable that I am, what have I done? yet the time will … that you ſhall do it, when alas it will be too late. … 1.24, 25, 26. Oh what diſmal thoughts, what dre… ſelf-reflections, what unſpeakable horrours will … thy ſoul, when it departs out of the body! Thy ſhall have pain, and thy ſoul within thee ſhall mo… Job 14.22. And thou ſhalt ſay, How have I hated in…ction, and my heart deſpiſed reproof; and have not ob… the voice of my Teachers, nor inclined mine ear to … that inſtructed me? Prov. 5.11, 12, 13. Let us there take heed in time to our ſpirits, whilſt it is called to and before the evil day come upon us.