The Intercourses of Divine Love Betwixt Christ and His Church, Sermon 3
Sermon III.
Canticles 1. 2.
Let him kiſs me with the kiſſes of his mouth.
IT is the Spouſe that ſpeaketh; ſhe ſaith not, Let him embrace me, nor (as elſewhere) He ſhall lie all night betwixt my breaſts, but, Let him kiſs me.—Quid tam minimum & ſubmiſſum, quam oſculetur me (is De—Ponte his note upon the Text.) A kiſs is the leaſt token of conjugal love and affection. Hence obſerve,
Prop.The leaſt tokens of Chriſts ſpecial, diſtinguiſhing love are very deſirable to believing Souls.
The free Love of God ſhining out through Chriſt upon ſouls predeſtinated unto glory, in the pardoning of their ſins, the acceptation of their perſons, the renewing of their natures, in ſtrengthening, quickening, comforting influences of grace, is what we call the diſtinguiſhing Love of Chriſt, being not the effects of his Philanthropy, but his foreign; now the tokens of this are more or leſs, or may be ſo called;
1.According to the degree of their Emanation from Chriſt and the Spirit of Chriſt; Or,
2.According to our judgment and apprehenſion, or Eſtimation.
1. According to the degree of their Emanation. God, whoſe heart is at all times the ſame towards his people, yet is pleaſed gradually to diſcover it, and to manifeſt himſelf unto his people. As the Sun in the Firmament (whoſe Light in it ſelf is alwaies the ſame, and which hath alwaies the ſame ability and aptitude to illuminate the Air, and to refreſh the Earth with its Beams, yet) gives out its Light variouſly according to its poſition in the Firmament, or aſpect upon the Hemiſphere, its nearneſs to, or diſtance from the Object to be inlightened, or refreſhed, or as it is more or leſs hindered by the interpoſition of Clouds or Vapours; ſo doth the Sun of Righteouſneſs alſo diffuſe his Beams variouſly. Or, as indeed a prudent Father, though at all times his heart be full of love to his Children, yet in the diſcoveries and manifeſtations of it, he governeth himſelf by his own prudence relating to the Child's good, and with reſpect to the Child's behaviour and demeanour towards him: So though whom God loveth, he loveth with a great love, and to the end; yet as to the diſcoveries and manifeſtations of it, he governs himſelf by his own Infinite Wiſdom, and with a great reſpect, to his Peoples carriage and demeanour towards him. Hence it is, that though every Child of God, be beloved of God with the ſame ſpecial and diſtinguiſhing Love; yet every one lives not under the ſame manifeſtations and emanations of it: He ſheweth to ſome more, to ſome leſs, to ſome ſcarcely any, according to the Wiſdom of his Counſel, and the good pleaſure of his own will. One ſoul ſhall have juſt light enough to diſcern that the day is broke in his ſoul, that the Sun is ariſen with healing in his wings upon him; another ſhall hardly have ſo much light, as to diſcern that, but ſhall walk in the dark, and ſee no light. Another ſhall have the Sun of Righteouſneſs more fully ſhining upon him, and be able to ſay with Job, I know my Redeemer lives, and that I ſhall ſee him with theſe Eyes; and though Worms ſhall deſtroy this body, yet in my fleſh I ſhall ſee God: Or with Paul, Rom. 8. 38. I know, and am perſuaded, that neither life, nor death, nor any thing ſhall ſeparate me from the Love of God in Jeſus Chriſt. Yea the ſame ſoul ſhall ſometimes ſee its Beloved ſtanding as it were behind the wall, and looking in upon it through the Lattice; ſee him in a Glaſs darkly; another time it ſhall ſee him with a fuller ſight, as in the houſe with it, face to face. One while it ſhall only ſee as by a Wicket of hope open, and poſſibly but imperfectly open neither; another while its viſion ſhall be as it were of the Heavens opened, and Chriſt ſitting at the right hand of God, making interceſſion for it.
2. The more or leſs of ſpecial and diſtinguiſhing grace is often meaſured by the ſoul's apprehenſion, and particular fancy (which judgment poſſibly is not alwaies according to Truth, but yet ſuch as we ordinarily make.) Thus we commonly judge the comfortable reflections of Divine Love, to be the greateſt tokens of it. The ſweeteſt indeed they are, but poſſibly the ſtrengthening Influences of Divine Grace, by which the ſoul is inabled to perform its ſpiritual duties, and to fight the good fight both againſt motions to ſin from within, and temptations to ſin from without, may be no leſs manifeſtations of ſpecial and diſtinguiſhing grace. But take your meaſures how you will, the gracious ſoul valueth at an high rate the leaſt manifeſtations of ſuch grace as may evidence to it that it is beloved of God with a ſpecial and diſtinguiſhing love. I do not ſay the leaſt of theſe will ſatisfie ſuch a ſoul: That it will not, for the ſoul in which God hath cauſed by his Spirit a ſpiritual thirſt after himſelf, is continually crying out, Give, Give! The ſoul will not be ſatisfied, until in the Reſurrection it awakes with God's likeneſs; but in the mean time, the leaſt influences of this nature, will be to it very precious and deſirable.
The truth of this Propoſition will appear to you from the petitions of ſeveral of the Servants of God in holy Writ, more eminently thoſe which we read of concerning David, Pſal. 4. 6. There be many that ſay, Who will ſhew us any good? Lord (ſaith he) lift up the light of thy countenance upon me; and in the following words he declares, that it ſhould be more to him than the worldlings Harveſt or Vintage greater matter of gladneſs, than their increaſe of Corn, Wine, or Oil: And Pſal. 84. 9. he asks no more than that the Lord would look upon the face of his Anointed. What can be leſs than Beholding, and giving the ſoul a good look? The liberty that the Birds of the Air, the Swallow and the Sparrow had, to make their, Neſts about the Lord's Altars, one would think argued but a ſmall favour; yet David prefers their condition before his. One would think the Office of a Door-keeper in the Lord's Houſe, were but a ſmall preferment; yet David valueth it above a Manſion in the Tents of wickedneſs. The ſeveral expreſſions which David maketh uſe of in the Pſalms, to teſtifie his deſires after God, ſuch as Beholding, Looking upon him, Remembring him, &c. are all evident proofs of this. The Woman, Luk. 7. 38. counts it honour enough to ſit at Chriſt's feet, to waſh his feet with her tears, and then to wipe them with the hairs of her head. The Woman of Canaan is called a Dog, and contented with it, ſo ſhe may but lick up the Crumbs under her Maſter's Table. You read of another Woman that cried out; If I may but touch the Hem of his Garment. The Prophet Zechariah foretold of a time when men ſhould take hold of the Skirt of a Jew, ſaying, We will go with you, for we have heard God is with you. Any thing of Chriſt is precious to a ſoul that hath once taſted how good he is. Joſeph of Arimathea muſt have his dead body; and the Diſciples muſt run to the Sepulchre where he was laid. The People of God of old had a favour for the duſt of Zion, and the ſtones thereof. But much more precious muſt the leaſt emanations of that virtue be which is in him ſuited to the wants (the ſpiritual wants of poor ſouls. What can be leſs than a look, a ſmile, a word? yet we find theſe have been very precious to the People of God.
What can we think of leſs, than the hearing of a Prayer; yet David eſteemeth this ar an high rate, Pſal. 116. 1, 2. For this he profeſſeth his love to God, and his reſolution to call upon him ſo long as he lived. One would think that of all other Fellowſhip and Communion with Chriſt, a Fellowſhip with him in his Sufferings, were leaſt deſirable. St. Paul glorieth in this, and ſpeaks of it as a thing deſirable, Phil. 1. 10. ch. 3. 11. And we read of the Apoſtles praiſing God, that they were thought worthy to ſuffer for the Name of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. The ſame Spirit that was in all theſe Servants of God, is yet to be found in the ſouls of ſuch as have any acquaintance with, or relation to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. And indeed our reaſon will tell us, that it muſt be ſo, if we conſider but theſe following particulars, which will give you a reaſonable account of the truth of this Propoſition.
1.The leaſt token of ſpecial, diſtinguiſhing Grace, is of an infinitely ſweet and ſalvifick nature and evidence. There are common gifts of the Spirit of God, which indeed may be ſweet, and very grateful to a ſpiritual nature (ſuch are the gifts of Prayer and Prophecy, &c.) but yet are not of a ſaving nature, or evidence; a man may have them and periſh for ever; but it is not ſo with ſuch influences of the Spirit, as are tokens of ſpecial diſtinguiſhing love; ſpiritual gifts are to be coveted, becauſe of a ſubſerviency in them to ſpiritual and ſaving ends; but they are not of a ſaving nature, and have nothing of a ſaving evidence in them; but in the leaſt token of ſpecial diſtinguiſhing love, there is ſomething of an evidence for Salvation; the leaſt of it is of a ſaving nature: Faith, that is but as a grain of Muſtard ſeed, is as much ſaving, as the ſtrongeſt Faith is. The meaſures of our comforts much depend upon degrees of grace, but our Salvation doth not. Chriſt bids Zacheus go home, for that day Salvation was come to his houſe. Salvation cometh to the ſoul that hour in which the leaſt of ſpecial love ſhineth upon it; the leaſt of that brings Salvation, and conſequently is exceeding ſweet, and muſt be ſo, if you conſider this ſoul, as firſt ſeeking the Kingdom of God, allarumed with the ſpiritual ſenſe of its miſery by nature, its loſt and undone condition in Adam. This is the one thing that ſuch a ſoul ſeeks after, in compariſon with which, all other things are as droſs and dung to it. That it may diſcern it ſelf beloved of God, one of thoſe for whom Chriſt died, and whoſe ſins are waſhed away with his blood, for this it hath wept, and prayed, and reſolved to ſeek after it, and reſolved not to be ſilent.
2.There is no evidence of ſpecial Love, but is ſuited to ſome great ſpiritual want of the ſoul. Our ſouls are expoſed to a great variety of wants. All the tokens of God's ſpecial Love, are ſuited to ſome or other of theſe wants. Our ſouls are impotent and weak, both to the performance of ſpiritual duty, and to reſiſt our ſpiritual adverſary; to this want now ſtrengthening grace is ſuited. They are dull and heavy, and move heavily in ſpiritual duties; to this, quickening grace is ſuited. They are ſad and troubled for fear of God's wrath; to this conſolatory grace is ſuited. There is no influence of the ſpecial Love of God, but is ſuited to ſome ſpecial want or burden of our ſouls, and therefore the leaſt of them muſt be exceedingly deſirable, for ſo every thing is that ſuiteth our neceſſities, and ſo much the more as it ſuiteth ſome more ſpecial and eminent wants. If the Sun doth but ariſe upon the ſoul, it healeth, Mat. 4. 2. though it ſhineth not out in its fulleſt glory, if Chriſt ſpreadeth but a wing over it, there is healing in that wing. His very ſhadow gives delight to the ſoul, Cant. 2. 2. the leaſt of his fruit is pleaſant to its taſte. If (ſaith the woman) I can but touch the Hem of his Garment, I ſhall be whole.
3.Such is the purity of the Saints Love, that though they may have an Eye to the Recompence of Reward, which his Love brings; yet they love him for himſelf, who appears to their ſouls as Totus deſideria, altogether deſirable. It is his Love which their ſouls thirſt after; now the leaſt ſpecial token of Love ſheweth that he loves it, and his heart cleaveth to it. He that valueth the Love of his friend, regardeth not the quantum of the Token, but the nature of it; if it be of ſuch a nature as he doth not ordinarily give to any common friend; that is it which he eyeth. If a ſoul can ſee any thing which ſpeaketh its Lord joyned to it, cleaving unto it, this is it which makes it valuable. A diſcerning ſoul will take little joy in gifts of common providence, Riches, Honours, good Relations, common gifts. It may and will deſire theſe things while it is in the fleſh, as they fill up ſome emptineſſes in that our ſtate, but it can by no means be ſatisfied with theſe things. As Haman ſaid when he had been telling his Wife of his great preferments and honours; All this doth me no good, ſo long as I ſee Mordecay ſitting in the King's Gate; my Enemy is honoured and advanced as well as I: So it ſaith; The Lord hath given me riches, honour, &c. but all this doth me no good, ſo long as I ſee the haters of God enjoy as much of theſe things as I do; let me have ſome ſpecial token of4. God's Love. Let him kiſs me with the kiſſes of his mouth.
Fourthly, The Child of God knoweth, That the leaſt token of Chriſts ſpecial love, is more worth than all the world. There is no proport on betwixt a corp…ral and a ſpiritual good; betwixt what is ſutable to our fleſh, and to our wants in this life, and what is ſutable to our Souls, and neceſſary for us with reſpect to our eternal felicity. The Philoſopher could ſay, Animus cujuſque eſt quiſque. The mind of a Man is the Man. The Chriſtian knows that Anima cujuſque eſt quiſque. The Soul of a Man is the Man: What ſhall it profit a Man, if he ſhould gain the whole world, and loſe his own Soul? The ſenſual Man values his life above thoſe things that are only good, becauſe of their ſubſerviency to that. The rational man valueth his mind above his fleſh, and accordingly ſets a price upon knowledge and moral Virtue, above thoſe things that meerly gratify his ſenſe: The ſpiritual Man valueth his Soul, his Soul conſidered not only as a rational Being, but as a Spirit, an immortal Spirit, capable of the favour of God, and an union and fellowſhip with him; and ordain'd to an eternal exiſtence, not only above his body, which he knoweth is made up of duſt, moulded up into fleſh, and blood, and bones. but above his mind. It really is of more value, and he is made apprehenſive of it: hence he cannot but value the leaſt that tendeth to make that happy above any thing elſe whatſoever. Beſides, he knows himſelf created to an eternity, and believing that his reaſon teacheth him infinitely to prefer what is good for him, with reference to an happy exiſtence to eternity above any thing that can only ſerve him for the ſhort time he is to be clothed with fleſh, and to live in this world: This Election of the loves of Chriſt before all things elſe, and the value he puts upon the leaſt tokens, and manifeſtations of it, doth naturally and rationally follow his knowledge, convictions, and faith, and proceedeth upon the ſame reaſon, upon which any reaſonable creature valueth a greater and more comprehenſive good, above what is of an inferiour vertue, and more inſignificant.
Nor is this other than according to the workings of our Souls in5. other caſes towards Creatures which we have made the objects of our love. The good look, and ſmile of an Husband, a letter from him, a ſmall token (be it never ſo ſmall) how welcome, and acceptable is it to the Wife? The reaſon lies in her love to her Husbands Perſon. To you that believe (ſaith the Apoſtle) he is precious. It is impoſſible, indeed rationally impoſſible that a Soul ſhould believe, (take it in what ſenſe you will) but it muſt love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Take believing as it ſignifies no more than a firm, and ſteady aſſent to the propoſition of the word revealing Chriſt to us as he is the eternal Son of God, the brightneſs of his Fathers glory, the expreſs image of his Perſon, full of kindneſs to the Sons of Men, pitying them, taking a delight in them, willing to ſave them, and to communicate of his fulneſs to them, and to this end coming from Heaven to Earth, clothing himſelf with out fleſh, encompaſſing himſelf with creature infirmities, then dying upon the Croſs, that he might purchaſe us unto himſelf, &c. I ſay it is not poſſible, that a Soul ſhould firmly, and ſteadily aſſent and agree to theſe things, but he muſt love Chriſt. But if you take believing in the ſecond ſenſe, as it ſignifieth the Souls receiving of him as its Lord, and Saviour, its reſting and relying upon him, and truſting him with all its Spiritual and Eternal Concerns, it is impoſſible but that the Soul ſhould have a love for him above all created Objects, and having ſo, it cannot but naturally deſire to be mutually beloved, and be paſſionately deſirous of ſome evidences of it, and the leaſt evidences of the reciprocations of love on his part, who is ſo exceeding dear in the Eyes of the Soul, muſt needs be exceedingly deſirable to, and valuable by that Soul.
6.This is yet further advantaged from the conſideration of the exceeding low Opinion and Eſtimate which grace teacheth every ſoul upon whom it hath ſhined, to have, and make of it ſelf. The proud man valueth nothing but great things from his friend; nay he ſcarcely thinks any thing great enough for him to put any value upon. The reaſon lies in the high opinion which he hath of his own worth and merit; but the humble man puts a value upon the leaſt kindneſs; becauſe he hath a low and mean opinion of himſelf, ſo he looketh upon every thing as more than he could merit, or challenge. Naaman huffs when the Prophet ſends to him to go and waſh in the waters of Jordan, he expected the Prophet ſhould have come out and ſtroked him, and he thought the Waters of Abana and Parphar, were as wholſome as thoſe of Jordan were. The Centurion deſireth but a good word from Chriſt, when Chriſt ſpake of coming to his Houſe, Mat. 8. 8. Lord (ſaith he) I am not worthy thou ſhouldſt come under my roof. The Woman of Canaan knowing her ſelf to be a Dog, challengeth no more than Crums. Every gracious Soul is ſenſible that it deſerveth nothing but Hell and Wrath, this makes the leaſt tokens of Divine love highly valuable in its Eyes, who am I ſaid Elizabeth, that the Mother of my Lord ſhould come to me? who am I ſaith an humble Soul that the Lord ſhould look upon me, that the Sun of righteouſneſs ſhould ſhine ſo much as with one healing beam upon my Soul? Hence it valueth the leaſt tokens of ſpecial love. It valueth nothing leſs than that this proceedeth from its knowledge, and ſpiritual judgment of things that differ. It valueth the leaſt of this. This proceedeth partly from its knowledge, partly from that humility, with which it is clothed, as with a Garment.
7. Laſtly, This Soul knoweth that Chriſts Love will not terminate, and be bounded with little things. The leaſt tokens of diſtinguiſhing Love, are but the Earneſts of a greater bargain, they are but the firſt-fruits to a larger Harveſt. Thoſe that are planted in the houſe of the Lord ſhall flouriſh in the Courts of our God, Pſal. 92. 13. God at firſt gives the ſoul but a good hope, a glimpſe of his glory, but it ſhall go on from faith to faith, and ſtrength to ſtrength.
Uſe 1.Are the leaſt tokens of Chriſts diſtinguiſhing Love ſo valuable, ſo deſirable? what ſhould then his fulleſt and largeſt tokens be, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, which Eye hath not ſeen, Ear hath not heard, nor can it enter into the Heart of man to conceive? The Aſſurance of his Love: The Manifeſtations of himſelf to his Saints in glory? If it be ſo ſweet ſo deſirable, to ſee him in a glaſs darkly, what will it be to ſee him face to face. If his kiſſes be ſo deſirable, what will his imbraces be? If the Hem of his Garment be ſo full of vertue, and a touch of that ſo deſirable what is his long white Robe which is the white linnen of his Saints? If a good word, a good look be ſo good, what will it be to be ſet as a ſeal upon his Heart, and upon his arm. Surely that love will be as ſtrong as death, as the coales of that fire which ſend forth a vehement flame. Let this notion of truth, and the experience which any of your ſouls have had of the truth of it, kindle in you further flames of deſire after the further enjoyments of Chriſt in this life. Imperfect taſts of deſirable things uſe to do ſo in other things. Quo plus ſunt potae plus ſitiuntur aquae. Yet in all created goods there is ordinarily more in expectation, than fruition, but it is not ſo in Spiritual things. The Apoſtle prayeth for the Epheſians, That they might be able with all Saints to comprehend what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and heighth, and to know the love of Chriſt, which paſſeth knowledge, that they might be filled with all the fulneſs of God, Eph. 13. 18, 19. It is moſt certain that there are many holy, and gracious Souls, that want aſſurance, they may live, they may die without it, but that Soul hath nothing of grace, that doth not deſire it, that doth not thirſt and pant after it. 2. What will it be to be ever with the Lord! what an object of ſpiritual thirſt and deſire is a fulneſs of communion with our Lord in his Fathers Houſe, when we ſhall know as we are known, ſee Face to Face. How ſhould this fill all our hearts with deſires to be diſſolved, that we might be with Chriſt, which is beſt of all? The leaſt of Chriſt is good, but that full fruition is beſt. Let this diſcourſe leave ſome ſtrong pantings in your hearts; 1. After the aſſurance of Gods love. 2. After the further manifeſtations of Chriſts ſtrength to, and in your ſoul to inable you further to perfect holineſs in the fear of the Lord. 3. After the beatifical viſions of God in another life.
Uſe 2.Learn hence the great difference there is betwixt earthly, and ſpiritual objects of our deſires and delights. The worlds Crums are little valuable, tho ſome are fond of its Loaves. The good things of the world derive much of their value from the quantity of them, that it throws into our laps. The minimum quod ſic, the leaſt portions of the pleaſures, profits, or honours of it, have little of value in them, but the leaſt of Chriſt is exceeding precious; the things of the world affect not the Soul, or or its neceſſities, they are not certain pledges of greater meaſures, they will go but a little way, to fill the creatures emptineſſes, but it is otherwiſe with Spiritual bleſſings in and through Chriſt.
Uſe 3.Thirdly, You may from hence obſerve the difference betwixt the Hypocrites, and the Saints deſires after Chriſt. An Hypocrite may pretend ſome deſires after Chriſt, nay he may really deſire ſomething of his love, conſider Chriſt as a Saviour, as one that brings the Soul to life, and immortality; ſo he muſt neceſſarily be the object of the deſire of every man that hath any view of his own mortality, and that Eternal State to which man is ordained. Even Balaam ſaith, Oh that I might dye the death of the Righteous, that my latter end might he like his. But mark ye, theſe are the fulleſt manifeſtations of Divine Love, theſe are more than the kiſſes of his Mouth, but for thoſe tokens of love, which are below theſe, for ſuch manifeſtations of the love of Chriſt, as tend to the inabling of the Soul to ſerve and glorify God, by the ſubduing of Mans will to the will of God, the mortification of luſts, and corrupt affections, theſe are not at all valuable to a ſenſual man, not indeed to any but to the changed and renewed Soul. I do not know any one thing from which a Man may take better meaſure of himſelf, and a good Chriſtian may better diſtinguiſh himſelf from one that walketh in a vain ſhew, and meerly glorifieth in appearance than this:
To a good Chriſtian the leaſt of Chriſts diſtinguiſ…i…g love is exceeding precious, and more precious than the greateſt portions of the worlds goods. The workings of the Spirit of Chriſt within, and upon the Soul, ſubduing the will of Man to the will of God, mortifying our Members, and the deeds of the Body: Taking the affections off the Earth, and Earthly things, and fixing them on more ſublime, and ſpiritual objects; the giving of the Soul a good hope through grace, theſe are things which we uſually count ſome of the leaſt tokens of ſpecial, and diſtinguiſhing love. Really they are great things (nothing of Chriſt is little) but we judge ordinarily according to ſenſe) we ordinarily eſteem a ſenſe or aſſurance, or full perſuaſion of the love of God, a much greater thing than theſe. But now for a Soul to ſet an high price, and value upon theſe, to be more ſatisfied, more to triumph, and rejoice in the conqueſt of a luſt, the victory over a temptation, than in the conqueſt of all our Enemies: More to deſire that our hearts may be filled with love to God, deſires after God, delight in God, than to have our Barns filled with Corn, or our Purſes with Gold and Silver, this I take to be ſuch a difference between a Chriſtian indeed, and a Chriſtian in a meer Name, Title, and outward Profeſſion, as a Chriſtian may reſt in, when he is inquiring into his Soul for evidences of the truth of grace. Other manifeſtations of the love of God, may be deſired for our ſelves, and with a reſpect only to our ſelves, and the quiet relief and peace of our own Spirits; a Chriſtian can deſire theſe only for the glory of God. Try your ſelves therefore Chriſtians by this Touchſtone: An Hypocrite may deſire to know that his Sins are forgiven, and that God would not impute Sin to his Soul, or that he would impute a righteouſneſs without works; an Hypocrite may deſire to live with God in glory, but theſe leſſer tokens of love he valueth not.
Uſe 4.But alas! even the beſt of Gods People muſt I fear be here reproved, not for their no valuing of theſe kiſſes of Chriſt (that is incompetent with a Child of God) but for their not enough valuing of them, and being too paſſionate and unſatisfied for want of the comforting manifeſtations of Divine Love. I have before told you that theſe ſenſible manifeſtations of Divine Love are exceedingly deſirable, and there is no Child of God, but is concerned, to wiſh, to pray, to labour for them. But we muſt take heed that we be not like our little Children, whom we ſhall ſometimes ſee too much ſlighting, and undervaluing, and ready to throw away what good things they have, becauſe they want ſome particular thing, which they have a mind to, which it may be, we that are their Parents do not ſee ſo proper for them, eſpecially under their preſent circumſtances. It was lawful for Rachel to wiſh for, to pray for Children, but ſhe ſinned in ſaying to her Husband, give me Children, or elſe I die. Hannah was much in the ſame error, 1 Sam. 1. 8. weeping, not eating, and vexing her ſelf, becauſe ſhe had no Child, and in the mean time forgetting that God had given her an Husband, who was better to her than ten Sons. So it is lawful, nay the duty of a good Chriſtian to pray, to endeavour for the ſweeteſt and fulleſt manifeſtations of Gods love. But I have often thought, that though theſe be good things of a Spiritual nature, and ſo vaſtly differing from the good things of this life, yet in this they agree with them, that they muſt be asked with ſubmiſſion to the will of God, becauſe they are not de neceſſariis ad ſalutem, things that are neceſſary to life, and eternal Salvation, but ſuch which a Soul may want without any breach of Gods Covenant with the Soul. 2. But for a Soul not only too paſſionately to deſire theſe things, which ſpeaketh its not ſubmitting to the will of God in his not diſpenſing them to it, but to over-look, deny, or undervalue all the tokens for good, which it hath received from God, meerly becauſe it hath not theſe, and to conclude that it hath nothing of Chriſts love; this is certainly what doth no become a Chriſtian. Certainly a Chriſtian ought as much to value himſelf upon thoſe emanations of grace, by which he is inabled to ſerve and honour God, as upon thoſe by which his Soul is rendred more at eaſe, more refreſhed and comforted. Every kiſs of Chriſt, every meaſure of ſpecial diſtinguiſhing love is, and ought to be precious to a believing Soul.
Uſe 5.Let me in the laſt place bottom upon this diſcourſe a double word of exhortation,
1.The firſt reſpecting the Men of the world; thoſe I would perſuade to leave off their purſuit of their worldly and ſenſual ſatisfactions. I would ſpeak to them as one ſtanding this day in wiſdoms Porch, and crying after them in their hotteſt purſuits of the world, Come and turn your hearts hither, you that are ſimple ones, and void of underſtanding. I ſhall have a fairer opportunity to ſpeak to theſe, when I come to conſider the argument by which the Spouſe backeth her Petition. But alas, we had need make theſe cries often, you can ſee the world, and the gay and fine things therein precious, and run after them with a ſwift pace, but you can ſee no excellency in the kiſſes of Chriſt, nothing for which they ſhould be ſo deſired, when alas the world is but like a brave glaſs, which whole is of ſome value, but if broken in pieces, the ſmall pieces of it are worth nothing. Chriſt, his love is like a wedge of Gold, or like a moſt precious perfume, the leaſt particle, the leaſt drop of which hath its value; there is no emanation of his ſpecial loves, but is ſuted to the Souls wants, and to ſome eminent neceſſity, under which the Soul laboureth. Hear Solomon ſpeaking to you, Prov. 1. 22. How long you ſimple ones will you love ſimplicity?—And Fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Your reaſon tells you that a veſſel of Silver, or Gold is much preferrible to one of Earth, or Glaſs, and as for other reaſons, ſo for this (which you ordinarily ſay) break a veſſel of Earth and Glaſs, the pieces are worth nothing, but if one of thoſe more valuable mettals be broke, the leaſt pieces have their value. Why ſhould not the ſame reaſon inſtruct you, that Chriſts favour is to be prefer'd to all the world can afford you, a little of the world is not much valuable, a plentiful eſtate, the higheſt pitches of honour, a belly full of pleaſure, that indeed may appear deſirable; but the leaſt tokens of Chriſts love, the leaſt expreſſions of his favour are moſt valuable things. The kiſſes of the world are for the moſt part but Oſcula Iſcariotica, or Joabitica, like the kiſſes of Judas, who in order to the betraying of his Maſter firſt kiſſed him, or like the kiſs of Joab to Amaſa, who under pretence of kiſſing him, ſmote him under the fifth rib, and ſlew him. Chriſt's kiſſes are kiſſes of peace and reconciliation, of love, and favour.
2.Secondly. This notion calleth to all thoſe that are true Chriſtians, and that for three things.
1.For a due value of the leaſt tokens of Chriſts ſpecial, and diſtinguiſhing love, look narrowly to make up your judgment, whether what you take to be ſuch, be ſuch or no, and there you muſt take heed that you do not make concluſions from the gifts of common providence. No man can judge of the love or hatred of God to his Soul from any thing which befalls him in this life. No man can judge of any ſpecial love from Gods giving him a longer life, greater meaſures of health, a more plentiful eſtate, or any thing of this nature. God gives the worſt of men their portion in ſuch things as theſe. No nor …dly from common gifts, ſuch as thoſe of knowledge, utterance, &c. look therefore narrowly to make your judgment, and the ſureſt Judgment is from ſuch things, as more conform you to the nature, or will of God; but if you will find aliquid Chriſti, any thing which you can call Chriſts, or ſpeaks his diſtinguiſhing love, take heed of undervaluing that.
Secondly, It calls to you for the uſe of all means for proficiency, and growth in Grace: Such as hearing the Word, Prayer, the uſe of all the Ordinances of God, for in reaſon if the leaſt tokens of Chriſts ſpecial love be deſirable, greater manifeſtations of it are much more deſirable. Labour for more holineſs, more heavenly-mindedneſs, more ſubjection of your will to the will of God. Hath the Lord bleſſed you with a faith of adherence, a power given you from above to caſt your Souls upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt? Labour for faith of evidence, be like the Travellers to Zion (of which David ſpeaketh) Pſal. 84. that go from ſtrength to ſtrength, until they all appear before the Lord in Zion. It may be a good queſtion ſometimes to ſatisfy a troubled doubting Soul, what is the Minimum quod ſic, the loweſt degree or meaſure of ſaving grace, but it is an ill hearing from a lazy wanton Soul.
Laſtly, it calls loudly to us to thirſt after Heaven, where the believing Soul ſhall be the Lambs Wife, and follow him whitherſoever he goes, and be bleſſed with the cleareſt viſion, and the fulleſt imbraces of its beloved. Oh how pleaſant will the manſions of glory be to thoſe Souls, to whom the imperfect views that it hath had of Chriſt in this life have been ſo deſirable, while we are preſent in the Body, even Paul himſelf owneth himſelf abſent from the Lord. Now indeed we are the Sons of God, now we are in a capacity of his kiſſes, tokens of ſpecial love, ſufficient to uphold and refreſh our Souls, but there we ſhall be at the rivers of pleaſures, where there is not only pleaſure, but fulneſs of pleaſures, and that for evermore. O Bleſſed are they that ſhall be alwaies before the Throne of God, ſeeing their Redeemer with thoſe Eyes, and taking their fills of his love.