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The Intercourses of Divine Love Betwixt Christ and His Church · John Collinges

The Intercourses of Divine Love Betwixt Christ and His Church, Sermon 47

Sermon XLVII.

Canticles 1. 9.

I have compared thee (O my Love!) to a company of Horſes in Pharaoh's Chariots.

I Have done with the Anſwer of the bleſſed Lover to his Spouſe's Petition; ſhe prayed him to let her know where he fed, where he made his Flock to reſt at Noon. How in her ſtate and circumſtances of Affliction ſhe might enjoy the fulleſt and ſweeteſt communion with him. He hath directed her to go her way by the footſteps of the Flock, to feed her Kids by the Shepherds Tents. But he hath not finiſhed his Diſcourſe. 'Tis ſeldom that Chriſt in his Anſwers to his Peoples Prayers, giveth them ſtrict and bare meaſure; it is ordinarily preſſed down, and running over. He goes on,

I have compared thee (O my Love!) to a company of Horſes in Pharaoh's Chariots. Upon a view of other Tranſlations, I find little or no difference; what is, is moſtly about terms. The word which we tranſlate Love, the LXX tranſlate foreign, My Neighbour; others, My Kinſwoman. The word which we tranſlate a company of Horſes, the LXX, and thoſe who follow them (the Syriack and Arabick) tranſlate my Mare. Pagnine, Montanus, the Vulgar Latine, and our Tranſlation read it, a company, or my company of Horſes. We will ſhortly inquire the ſenſe of thoſe two terms. The firſt word which we tranſlate My Love, cometh from the Hebrew root foreign which in its primary ſignification, ſignifieth to feed as a Shepherd feedeth his Flock. In a ſecondary ſenſe it ſignifieth, To aſſociate, to ſhew ones ſelf a companion to another, or a friend, becauſe Shepherds uſe to aſſociate together; thence foreign which is a Subſtantive in the Feminine Form, uſed both in this verſe, and again, v. 15. chap. 4 1, 7. ch. 2. 2. 10. 13. ch. 5. 2. ſignifieth one who doth intimately aſſociate him or her ſelf with another, ſo may be tranſlated by, My Friends, my Love, or My Companions or any other term of like ſignification. It is not material which.

For the other term foreign, the queſtion is, Whether it ſhould be tranſlated My Mare, or my company of Horſes, the Original word foreign, ſignifieth an Horſe; thence cometh foreign, in the Feminine Form, which is the word uſed here. I think that in the Feminine Form, it is only uſed in this Text, ſo that it is difficult to determine which is the trueſt Tranſlation, My Mare, or My Horſe, or My company of Horſes, or a Mare, an Horſe, a company of Horſes, foreign, is often uſed, to ſignifie a ſingle Horſe, Pſal. 32. 9. A company of Horſes, Exod. 14. 9. It is alſo as hard to determine whether it ſhould be read, My company of Horſes, or a company; for though the Affix often hath the force of the Pronoun of the firſt Perſon, yet it is ſometimes added Paragogically; ſo Pagnine and Mercer determine it here, and juſtifie it from the like uſage of it, Lam. 1. 1. Iſa. 1. 21. Beſides that, the following words, in Pharaoh's Chariots, would make one think it ſhould not be tranſlated My Company, but A Company. In the words is, 1. A very amicable Compellation; My Friend, My Love, My Aſſociate. 2. A Compariſon; where is, 1. The Perſon comparing, I have likened. 2. The Perſon compared, thee. 3. The Thing to which ſhe is compared, Horſes, A company of Horſes in Pharaoh's Chariots. The Text affords us two Propoſitions.

1 Prop. The Believing Soul is Chriſt's Aſſociate, or Companion, his intimate Friend.

2 Prop. That Chriſt hath likened ſuch a Soul to a company of Horſes in Pharaoh's Chariots.

I ſhall begin with the firſt of theſe; The Believing Soul is Chriſt's Love, his Friend, his Fellow, or intimate Aſſociate. The word ſignifieth▪all theſe. There is a great dearineſs, and friendly fellowſhip betwixt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and the Spouſe; whether by the Spouſe, we underſtand the Believing Soul, or the Church, which is made up of ſuch Souls. The word almoſt in this Form, from the ſame root, is tranſlated fellow, Judg. 11. 37. I and my fellows, Pſal. 45. 14. The Virgins her Companions. He had before called her the faireſt amongſt Women, v. 8. to ſhew his value and eſtimate of her; he here calls her his Love, his Friend, his Fellow, or Companion. It is a very ſweet meditation, a pleaſant voice ſurely, to hear him whom God calleth his fellow, and who thought it no robbery to be equal with the Father, ſtooping to Duſt and Aſhes, and to the Worms of the Earth, and calling them his Love, his Friends, his Fellows. Surely it is good for us to ſtand here a little, and underſtand the ſignificancy and meaning of this expreſſion, inquiring,

1. How Chriſt approveth himſelf his Spouſes Companion and Fellow.

2. How he (who knoweth not how to complement like vain man) by his influence upon, and by his Communion with his Church, and with the Believer, declares her to be indeed his Love, and himſelf to be her near and moſt intimate friend.

1. Chriſt hath made himſelf our Fellow, by his taking of our Nature upon him. He was from all Eternity God the Father's Fellow; God himſelf calleth him ſo, Zech. 13. 7. Awake O Shepherd! Awake O Sword againſt the Shepherd, and againſt the man that is my Fellow! Chriſt applieth that Text to himſelf, Mat. 26. 31. The wiſe man telleth us, Prov. 8. 30. that from Eternity, He was by him, as one brought up with him, and was daily his delight. And the Apoſtle tells us, he thought it no robbery to be equal with the Father. By his Incarnation he made himſelf our Fellow, Heb. 2. 14. Foraſmuch as the Children were partakers of fleſh and blood, he alſo took part with them, And v. 11. Both he who ſanctifieth, and thoſe who are ſanctified, are all of one, wherefore he is not aſhamed to call them Brethren. But I ſhall not inſiſt on this, which amounteth to no more than a Fellowſhip in one and the ſame common Nature; and thus, though there be this peculiar in it, that it was for the Spouſe's ſake, that he took upon him Humane Nature, (for I take that to be a Romantick Fancy, for which there is neither any Scripture, or found Reaſon, That if the World had not been to have been Redeemed, yet God would have ſent his Son to be Incarnate;) yet in this ſenſe he is in a ſenſe a Fellow to all the Sons and Daughters of Men. I ſhall therefore paſs over this, and come to ſhew you how Chriſt approveth himſelf as a Fellow or Companion to all thoſe who are true Believers.

You read in holy Writ, of Fellow-Citizens, and Fellow-Heirs, Eph. 2. 19. Eph. 3. 6. of Fellow-helpers, and fellow-labourers, 2 Cor. 8. 23. 1 Theſ. 3. 2. of fellow priſoners, and fellow ſouldiers, Col. 4. 10. Philemon 23. Phil. 2. 25. I think under one of theſe Heads, I may reduce whatſoever I need ſay for the opening of this Notion.

1. Chriſt is with his Saints a Fellow-Citizen in the City of their God. The City of God ſignifieth either the Church of God, or Heaven. Take it in either Notion, Chriſt is our Fellow-Citizen; he is the Head of the Church, Believers are the Members. The Head of the Body, and the other Members, make up but one Body; they are fellow-members of the ſame Body. The Mayor of your City, thô the moſt dignified Citizen, yet is a Fellow-Citizen. The Saints are all Fellow-Citizens, Eph. 3. 6. Chriſt, though their Head, is their Fellow-Citizen; he calls them Brethren, Heb. 2. 11, 12. ſaying, I will declare thy Name unto my Brethren; in the midſt of the Church, I will ſing praiſe unto thee. Do Fellow-Citizens dwell in a City compacted together? Chriſt dwells in his Church: He walks in the midſt of the Golden Candleſticks: He dwelleth in the Believing Soul; his dwelling-place is in Zion, in his holy Mountain, Zech. 2. 11. I will dwell in the midſt of thee. He ſaith, He will make his abode with the Soul that loveth him, and keepeth his Commandments; I in you, and you in me, ſaith he, Joh. 15. He dwelleth in their hearts by Faith, Eph. 3. 17. His Spirit dwells in them, Rom. 8. 9. But the Notion of a Fellow-Citizen ſpeaketh more than Cohabitation: A Partnerſhip in the ſame Rights and Priviledges. So doth a Co-heirſhip ſpeak a Partnerſhip in the ſame Enjoyments. Thus Chriſt is their Fellow-Citizen, their Fellow-Heir; they are Partners with Chriſt in the ſame Priviledges, in the ſame Enjoyments. Of his fulneſs they receive grace for grace. And for the New Jeruſalem, the City of God which is above, he hath willed them a Partnerſhip with him in his glory, Joh. 17. 22. And the glory which thou haſt given me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one. Only there is this obſervable difference, Fellow-Citizens, and Fellow-Heirs amongſt men, are Notions which denote an equality in Priviledges and Enjoyments, but not ſo between Chriſt and us. They are Heirs of the ſame Grace with Chriſt, 1 Joh. 16. Of his fulneſs they receive grace for grace: But with this difference; the People of God have the Spirit given by meaſure to them. To him the Spirit is not given by meaſure, Joh. 3. 34. The People of God have different meaſures, they have different meaſures of Faith, Rom. 12. 3. There is a meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt, Eph. 4. 13. This they ought to aim at, but none in this life attains it; they are Heirs of the ſame glory with Chriſt, Joh. 17. 22. but not of the ſame degrees of glory. His glory ſhall be the glory of the Sun; their's but as the glory of the Stars; they ſhall be where he is; they ſhall Reign with him, but in the Throne he ſhall be greater than they are; his glory ſhall be an excelling glory. The Apoſtle calls them Heirs and Co-heirs with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 8. 17. In this ſenſe the Lord approveth himſelf their Companion, their Fellow.

2. Chriſt and his Spouſe are fellow-ſervants, fellows in the ſame work. What is the work of Believers, but to glorifie God? This is their great buſineſs. Whether (ſaith the Apoſtle) you eat, or drink, or whatſoever you do, let all be done to the glory of God. What was the work of Chriſt while he was upon the Earth? Joh. 17. 4. I have glorified thee on the Earth, I have finiſhed the work thou gaveſt me to do: Chriſt and his Diſciples have in the general one and the ſame work, to glorifie God. Though, if we come to ſpeak of the particular actions by which God is glorified by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and by the Believer, there is a great deal of difference. Chriſt glorified his Father by performance of the acts of our Redemption, according to his Fathers Will, we by thoſe good works which he hath commanded; yet in the general ſcope, viz. the glorifying of God, and the more general mean by which this general End is attained, viz. obedience to the Will of God, they are both the ſame; Chriſt glorified his Father, by obedience to his Will: The Child of God glorifieth God by obedience to his Will; both of them glorified God by the praedication of his Name, by praiſing him, &c. Chriſt took upon him the form of a Servant, and became obedient, Phil. 2. 7, 8. The Child of God is by Birth a Servant, and by Covenant a Servant; (there is that difference betwixt them) but they are both Servants, both obedient to the Will of God, and both by that obedience ſerve the great End of glorifying God, which juſtifieth the Notion, though the Acts of their obedience differ according to their ſeveral ſpheres and ſtations. In a great Family you know they are all fellow-ſervants, though ſome of them have a more, ſome a leſs noble Imployment.

3. Chriſt is their Fellow-worker, their Fellow-helper, not only with reference to the Father, as they both work to the ſame End, and by the ſame general Means, viz. obedience to the Will of God, but as he worketh in them, and excites their habits of grace, and ſtrengtheneth them in the exerciſe of them, Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me, Phil. 4. 13. Without me you can do nothing, Joh. 15. 3. His Spirit helpeth our infirmities, Rom. 8. 26. foreign, it lifts over againſt them. The Child of God, without the preſence and aſſiſtance of Chriſt, cannot pray a prayer, nor hear a Sermon, nor perform any ſpiritual duty; ſo as that Chriſt is not only to the Believer a Fellow labourer, and Fellowſervant, doing the ſame work that they do, or at leaſt having done the ſame work, but he is their Fellow-helper as to all their own ſpiritual Motions and Actions.

4. You in holy Scripture read of a Fellow-Priſoner, Ariſtarchus, and Epaphras, are both of them called Paul's Fellow-priſoners, Coloſſ. 4. 14. You read alſo of a Fellow-Souldier, Philip. 2. v. 25. Philemon 2. This Notion ſignifieth one that is a Partner and Fellow to another in Conflicts, Combates, &c. a common Partnerſhip in hazards and ſufferings. In this ſenſe our Lord properly calleth his Spouſe (the Believing Soul) his Fellow. He fought and overcame the ſame Enemies with whom they daily fight. The Chriſtian hath three great Enemies; the World, the Fleſh, and the Devil. It is true, Chriſt had none of the ſecond to incounter; he was born without ſin; he lived without ſin; he had no body of death. But yet he had to die for our ſins; all our ſins were ſet in Battel Array againſt him; they were thoſe which nailed him to the Croſs, but he conquered, and declared his Conqueſt, by his Reſurrection from the dead. The World is our Enemy, one of thoſe Enemies againſt which we are to maintain the Spiritual Fight. It was alſo his Enemy, he fought againſt it, and overcame it, Joh. 16. 33.—Be of good cheer, I have overcome the World. The Devil is another of our great Enemies, againſt whom we are commanded to put on the whole Armour of God, Chriſt overcame him alſo, Heb. 2. 14, 15. Through death he deſtroyed him who had the power of death, even the Devil. And the ſame Apoſtle in the ſame Epiſtle tells us, that he was therefore tempted, that he might be able to ſuccour thoſe that are tempted. The Apoſtle mentioneth Chriſt in this Notion, when he calleth him, The Captain of our Salvation. It is long ſince that he let his People know by his Prophet Iſaiah, that In all their afflictions he was afflicted. He took himſelf concerned in the perſecution of his Church, and therefore calleth from Heaven, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me. Indeed it is not eaſie to determine what kind of Sympathy the moſt perfect Nature of Chriſt is capable of, but that he is their Fellow-ſufferer, the Scripture plainly determineth. Thus you ſee, that it is not in a complement that Jeſus Chriſt ſpeaking to his Saints, ſpeaks to them in this dialect, Thou that art my Fellow.

But our Tranſlation reads it, O my Love; and the word, as I before ſhewed you, is alſo ſo tranſlated properly enough. A Friend hath this name in the Hebrew, becauſe he is alwaies the companion and aſſociate of his correlated Friend. Hence we tranſlate it, My Loves, and conformably to this our Lord ſpeaketh, Joh. 15. 14. You are my Friends, if you do whatſoever I have commanded you. And again, v. 15. Henceforth I call you not Servants, I call you Friends. Let us a little inquire how Chriſt approveth himſelf a Believers Friend. Friendſhip ſpeaketh 4 things.

1. Love. 2. Free and ingenuous love. 3. Mutual, and reciprocal Love. 4. Mutual communion and converſe each with other. 1. It Speaketh Love. Amicus ab amando. This is ſo obvious to every one that either underſtandeth any thing of the Revelation or Hiſtory of holy, Writ, that it will need very few words to demonſtrate. Beſides the frequent friendly compellations which Chriſt hath given his People, whoſo conſidereth his conjuction with his Father in the Eternal Purpoſes for their Salvation, and all thoſe means by which they are made meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light; his concern in the Eternal Covenant of Redemption and of Grace, in which he became a Surety for them; his taking upon him humane Nature, walking up and down in our fleſh, Dying upon the Croſs for us ſinners; his reſurrection from the dead for their juſtification; his aſcending up into Heaven, and giving Gifts unto men, Paſtors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints; his ſending his Spirit to convince the World of ſin, righteouſneſs and Judgment; his daily influence upon his People, ſtrengthening, quickening, and comforting of them; his being their advocate with the Father, in caſe both of Sins and duties; his paſſionate expreſſions while he was on the Earth for the converſion of Souls; his intreating them by his Miniſters, as his Embaſſadors, that they would be reconciled to God; the charge that he hath given the World againſt offending them; his declarations of his coming to judge the World, to render tribulation to them that trouble them, and to them Reſt and Peace: I ſay he that conſidereth any of theſe things, much leſs, all of them together, muſt ſay that he loved them with an Everlaſting, unchangeable Love; alone ſuted to all the neceſſities of his poor Creatures, and that he hath willed them good ſutable to all their Evils.

2. Secondly, Friendſhip ſpeaketh free and ingenuous Love. Not the Love of a Child to a Father which is Natural, & to which he is obliged by a filial duty becauſe of his Fathers care of, and proviſion for him; not the Love of a Servant, which is purchaſed by a kind uſage, and dependance. A friend loveth freely. The Love of true Friends, is ordinarily an inaccountable thing. They love one another, and can hardly give one another an account of it, further than a goodneſs, and excellency, a ſuitableneſs, and likeneſs which they diſcern, or at leaſt think they ſee each in other. Chriſts Love to us is free. He healeth our backſlidings and loveth us freely. He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy. The reciprocal Love of the believing Soul is not ſo free and ſo ingenuous, as is his beloveds love to him. Yet it is thus far ingenuous, that it is not only for that the Soul hath from Chriſt, but for that goodneſs, and excellency which it diſcerneth in Chriſt; this we had before, Becauſe of the Savour of thy good Ointments, therefore do the Virgins Love thee.

3. Love properly doth not make a friend unleſs it be mutual, and reciprocal. Indeed in a large ſenſe, a man may be ſaid to be a friend to his Enemy: That is, to wiſh well to him, and to do him ſome kind Offices. But this is not friendſhip. All Friendſhip, implyeth a reciprocation of Love. Chriſt Loves the believer, and every true believer loveth Chriſt. So they are Friends, in the ſtricteſt, and moſt proper ſenſe. Indeed there is a great difference which is well expreſſed by one of the Caſuiſts thus: We will good to him, but weTolet. in Caſ. …. 4. c. 8. do not beſtow that good upon him, which we will him: But he while he willeth good to us, alſo giveth us that good which he, willeth, and by his loving us maketh us good, and lovely. But every Child of God truly loveth Chriſt; truly I ſay, that is, ſincerely though not with that kind or degree of Love with which Chriſt loveth him. Lord (ſaith Peter) thou that knoweſt all things, knoweſt that I Love thee. And If any man Loves not the Lord Jeſus (ſaith the Apoſtle) let him be Anathema Maranatha.

4. Laſtly, Love of friendſhip alwaies ſpeaketh Communion betwixt the two Lovers. We are bound to Love our Enemies, and in every good man there is ſuch a Love, even to thoſe that hate them; but this is no Love of friendſhip, for the Precept of Love to Enemies, obligeth onelyonly againſt malice and private Revenge, and to common Offices of kindneſs, it doth not oblige to intimacy, or to any near fellowſhip, and Communion with them. We are ſo far obliged to Love our Enemies, as to bear no malice againſt them, to take no private Revenge upon them, to be ready to do any acts of kindneſs for their Souls, and any common offices of love. But I ſay we are not by it obliged to make them our intimates nor to keep any fellowſhip or communion with them. But in a Love of friendſhip, there is alwaies Communion, or a mutual Communication of the Parties loving each to others. Chriſt gives this account of his love of friendſhip to his diſciples, John 15. 15. Henceforth I call you not Servants, for the Servant knoweth not what his Lord doth, but I have called you Friends, for all things I have heard of my Father I have made known to you. Chriſt Communicates himſelf to believers, to ſuch as are his diſciples indeed, he is in them, they in him, and he is daily Communicating of his life, and ſtrength to them, for, John 15. 4. Without him, they can do nothing. They are daily communicating themſelves unto him, making a ſecret ſurrender to him, of their hearts, their wills, their affections. Communicating their wants and deſires to him by Prayer, &c. Thus I have juſtified the notion of Chriſts Love, his friend, his Companion, to be agreeable, to what the Scripture revealeth concerning Chriſt, and the believing Soul.

Uſe 1.This in the firſt place leadeth us into a juſt admiration, of the Divine Love, and condeſcenſion. Who is this that calleth from Heaven to Earth, to the Worms of the Earth, and ſpeaketh in this language, My Love! My Friend! My Fellow! Is it not he who is the Eternal Son of God, God over all bleſſed for ever, he to whom there is none like, and beſides whom there is no God? He whom God calleth his fellow, and who thought it no robbery to be equal with the Father. And to whom doth he ſpeak? Is it not to thoſe who muſt ſay to corruption, thou art my Mother, and to the Worms, you are my brethren and my Siſters? To thoſe whoſe Fathers are Amorites, and whoſe Mothers are Hittites, who by nature are dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, unclean Children of unclean Parents. Will the Lord Love ſuch Ethioptans, as we are by nature? Such Enemies, as we have ſhewed our ſelves by practice? Will the Lord make himſelf a companion to the creature, that is but as the duſt of his feet? What manner of Love and condeſcenſion is this? For him whom the Eternal Father hath proclaimed to be his Son, and that Son in whom he is well pleaſed in whom the Lord hath ſet up his reſt, he whom Kings and Prophets deſired to ſee, whom Angels and glorified Saints adore, to whom the Father hath given a name above every name, he who hath Heaven for his throne, the Earth for his footſtool, and the utmoſt ends of the Earth for his poſſeſſion to ſay to us, My Love, My Friend, My Companion? Certainly theſe terms ought to raviſh our hearts, and to affect them with in expreſſible admiration; and to whom doth he ſay thus? Is it only to the Glories and beauties of the World? To the Emperors, Rings, Princes and Nobles thereof? No; he ſaith thus to every believer, even the meaneſt that treadeth upon the Earth, to the moſt poor, diſtreſſed, afflicted creature, to Job that ſits upon a dunghill ſcraping himſelf with a potſheard, to Lazarus that lyeth at the rich mans gate full of ſores, and begging bread, while the Dogs lick his ſores, to the pooreſt believer living in the meaneſt and dirtieſt Gottage, to thoſe whom the World revileth, ſlighteth, ſcorneth, to thoſe who have ſpit in his face, and abuſed his patience, and deſpiſed his goodneſs, that have hardened their hearts againſt him, grieved his holy Spirit. Yet having repented of theſe things and being turned to him, to theſe he calleth, to theſe he ſaith, My Love, My Friends, My Companions! He upbraideth them not for their former miſcarriages, to theſe he becometh a fellow Priſoner, in theſe he becomes a fellow helper, theſe ſhall be joint heirs with him. Hear O Heavens! be aſtoniſhed O Earth, never was Love like this, never ſuch matchleſs Love. Let all our Souls ſwallow up themſelves in this gulph of unfathomable Love, and while we are ſinking let us cry out, O the height, and depth, and length, and breadth of the Love of God in Jeſus Chriſt, It is a condeſcenſion beyond the graſp of our faith. The greatneſs of it cauſeth in us a difficulty to believe it. Who is a God like our God, a Saviour a Redeemer, an Huſband like our Saviour, our Redeemer our Spiritual Husband? When they told David, that he ſhould have Michal the Daughter of Saul to Wife, and perſuaded him to it; Seemeth it to you (ſaith he) a ſmall thing to be a Son-in-law to a King? If there be any of you not affected with this Love, this tranſcendent Love, give me leave to ſpeak to you in the language of David; Seemeth it to you a ſmall thing, to be the beloved, the friends, the companions of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt? Ah! That I could ſend you away this day, admiring the divine Love, that he ſhould take the fellowſhip of our nature upon him, that he ſhould make us his fellow Citizens, admit us to a fellowſhip with him both in grace here, and in glory hereafter, that he ſhould be our Companion in tribulation, our Companion in labour, and follow Soldier. But I leave this to be further improved by you in your more private meditations.

Uſe 2.2. Secondly, This notion is of wonderful uſe to relieve, and comfort the People of God under all their preſent afflictions or fears of greater. The face of things as to Gods People hath been a long time gathering blackneſs and there is this day a great blackneſs. Priſons in the Primitive times were more the habitations of Gods People then Palaces, God grant we may not ſee them to be ſo again; we have been ſo uſed to beds of Feathers & Down, that the thoughts of a bed of ſtraw make us ſhrink, ſo wedded to our own Country, that a ſtrange land appeareth to us a ſtrange thing. The Providence of God looketh as if it were preparing Priſons, and Fetters, and baniſhments for his People and the hearts of Gods People are every where as ſad as the times. What a wonderful comfort and relief to the People of God at ſuch a time is it for them, to hear the Lord Jeſus Chriſt calling them his Companions. His Companions in tribulation, and to call himſelf their fellow Souldier and fellow Priſoner. There are a great many arguments with which the ſuffering Servants of God may be relieved; Fear none of thoſe things which thou ſhalt ſuffer (ſaid the Angel to the Church at Smyrna) Behold the Devil ſhall caſt ſome of you into Priſon, that you may be tryed, and you ſhall have tribulation that you might be tryed, and you ſhall have tribulation for ten days, Rev. 2. 10. There are ſeveral arguments, 1. It is the Devil that caſt Saints into Priſon. He doth it by men as his inſtruments, but he filleth them with their rage and malice, 2. It is that they may be tryed. God permits it, the Devil could have no power againſt▪ a believer more then againſt Chriſt, if God did not permit it. The Devil and his inſtruments deſign is to ruin and to deſtroy them, Gods end is to try them. 3. It ſhall be but a tribulation for ten days, a ſhort time. The rod of the wicked ſhall not always reſt upon the lot of the righteous. Well, but how ſhall they hold out theſe ten days? See Iſaiah. 43. 1, 2. Thus ſaith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Iſrael, Fear not, for I have Redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. When thou paſſeſt through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they ſhall not overflow thee. When thou walkeſt through the fires thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee. In the ten days of tribulation, the Child of God ſhall not be alone, he that Redeemed them, will be with them. This was made good to the three Children in the fiery fornace in Babylon, Dan. 3. 24. Did not we caſt three men bound into the midſt of the fire? (ſaith Nebuchadnezzar) lo I ſee four men looſe walking in the middeſt of the fire, and they have no hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. He was with Daniel, Daniel 9. 22. With Paul and Sil…s, Acts. 16. They could never elſe have ſang in the Priſon at midnight. Let the People of God lift up their heads as Moſes, ſeeing him who is inviſible. Only take the caution of Peter, 1. Pet, 4. Let none of you ſuffer as a Murderer, or as a Thief, or as an Evil doer, or as a buſy body in other, mens matters. But if any man ſuffer as a Chriſtian, let him not be aſhamed, but let him glorify God one this behalf. Let men look that they ſuffer for righteouſneſs ſake, that is, to avoid ſinning againſt God, (all ſuch ſuffering is for righteouſneſs ſake) then they ſhall never be alone. Saul, Saul why (ſaith Chriſt) perſecuteſt thou me, calling out of Heaven to Paul, when he was in his full carreer of perſecution of the Church. No man can expect, that Chriſt ſhould be a companion to him in his tribulation while he ſuffereth meetly for his ſtomach, or out of humour, much leſs if he ſuffereth for doing that which is plainly ſinful and which he ought not to have done, but if he ſuffereth to avoid ſin againſt God, to keep himſelf unſpotted from the World, as he is made a partaker of Chriſts ſufferings, ſo Chriſt will be a partaker of his ſufferings, his Companion in ſuffering, and whenſoever Chriſts glory ſhall be revealed, he ſhall be glad with exceeding joy. It is a marvelous ſweet notion to ſuffering Chriſtians, to hear that Jeſus Chriſt is, and will be their Companion in ſufferings; fear not therefore Chriſtians! in deſpight of evil men, and evil times, to keep a good Conſcience, but Jam. 1. 2. Count it all joy, when you fall into diverſe temptations. A good Conſcience was yet never in Priſon alone. Nor will this be ſtrange to us if we conſider, that even death it ſelf, though it makes Soul and Body part Company, yet it doth not make Chriſt and a believer part Company. Our Bodies ſhall be raiſed from the Grave, by the Spirit of Chriſt dwelling in us, Rom. 8. 11. There are two great arguments amongſt others to comfort the People of God in all their noons of Afflictions, 1. That even then they are Chriſts fellows. They then are in the fellowſhip of his death, Phil. 4. 10, 11. They ſuffer with him, Rom. 8. 17. They are made conformable to his death, Chriſt is magnified in their body. They make up what is lacking in the ſufferings of Chriſt, 2. That Chriſt will then be their fellow; it is to the Spouſe at Noon, that he ſaith here, O My Love, My Fellow! &c. When the World is ſpitting their Venom, ſhewing their utmoſt Malice and hatred, even then Chriſt is calling to them and ſaying, My Love. When the World is caſting them out as Peſtilent fellows, then is Chriſt ſaying unto them, My Companions! Then will he be with them, and manifeſt himſelf as a friendly Companion to them.

In the third place, How ſhould this raiſe up the hearts of Chriſtians above all diſcouragements, as to hard and difficult duties. O ſaith a Chriſtian. This is an hard ſaying, who can hear it, a difficult duty, how ſhall I ever perform it? how ſhall I ever get up my heart to it? Put to thy hand Chriſtian, thou canſt do nothing of thy ſelf, but thou mayeſt do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth thee, what cannot Chriſt and thou do together? I live, ſaith Paul, Gal. 2. 20. yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the fleſh, I live by the faith of the Son of God. Remember Chriſt hath called thee fellow, and why? Becauſe he is thy fellow helper in duty as well as thy fellow Priſoner, and fellow Souldier in all thy ſufferings. Only do not like a Sluggard, lye down, and ſtand ſtill, and cry, there is a lion in the way. Iſa. 41. 10. (Saith God) Fear not, for I am with thee, be not diſmayed, for I am thy God, I will ſtrengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee, with the right hand of my righteouſneſs, v. 13. I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, ſaying unto thee, fear not, for I will help thee. It is Chriſtians great fault, they pore upon themſelves, and diſcourage themſelves from their own natural impotencies and inſufficiencies, and do not conſider that their fruit is found in Chriſt, and all their ſtrength alſo laid up and found in him, and to be derived from him.

Uſe 4.Fourthly, Doth Chriſt ſay to us, My Love? And ſhall not we ſay to him, My Beloved! ſhall not we Love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and compleat this Love of friendſhip? It is ſaid that when Chriſt was going with his diſciples to Emaus their hearts burn'd within them, while they heard him talking by the way. Have not your hearts burned within you, while you have heard Jeſus Chriſt ſpeaking to you in this dialect? My, Love, My Fellow, If you Love them that Love you (ſaith our Lord, Matth. 5.) What reward have you? even the Publicans do ſo. O Love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt all you his Saints, for he loveth you, and that too with the greateſt, and moſt unmeaſurable love.

Uſe 5.Is Chriſt our Companion? let us not grudg then to be his Companions, and let us behave our ſelves towards him as towards a Companion, and ſuch a Companion. This learneth us ſeveral things.

1. It learneth us what is our conſtant work and duty, viz! To Glorify God by doing the work which God hath given us to do, by manifeſting his name to thoſe whom God hath given us. This was Chriſts work, he went up and down doing good, ſaith the Evangeliſt. This was Chriſts work, this ſhould be our work, we ſhould be thinking every morning, how ſhould I glorify Chriſt this day? How may I ſhew my ſelf this day a Companion in labour to my great Lord and Maſter? this we cannot do by making our ſelves Companions of fools, nor meer Companions of worldly men, but by being the Companions of thoſe that fear the Lord.

2. It learneth us our duty, to be couragious, valiant in fight, ſtriving againſt ſin, confident of Victory over all our Spiritual Enemies. Of theſe I have ſpake before. We ſhould alſo in conſideration of this uſe Chriſt as our Companion, and behave our ſelves towards him as to our Companion, and as to ſuch a Companion, as he is. I ſhall direct in that in two or three particulars, 1. Be no Companion to Chriſts Enemies. David ſaith, Pſal. 119. 63. I am a Companion of all them that fear thee, Pſal. 119. 63. Solomon telleth us, That a Companion of fools ſhall be deſtroyed Prov. 13. 20. Who thoſe fools are you may read, 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. Revel. 21. 8. All ſuch as ſhall never enter into the Kingdom of God, ſuch as ſhall be deſtroyed in the lake that burns with fire, and brimſtone, are fools with a witneſs. No Companion to theſe can ſhew himſelf a Companion to Jeſus Chriſt: Solomon ſaith, Prov. 28. 7. A Companion of riotous men ſhameth his Father. He that is a Companion, an ordinary Company, to looſe and profane men, Drunkards, Swearers, Blaſphemers, profane Swearers, and curſers, and profeſſeth to be a Companion of Chriſt ſhameth Chriſt to whom he pretendeth to be a Companion. Have no fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſs, Eph. 5. 11. If you have ſee what the ſame Apoſtle ſaith, 2 Cor. 6. 14. What fellowſhip can righteouſneſs and light have with you? The Gentleman abhorreth his Miſtriſs that makes herſelf a Companion to ever Tapſter and Porter. 2. Be you much in company with Chriſt. Fellows, and lovers uſe to be ſo, they are never well but when they are ſo. Frequent Communion with God, is like the frequent meetings, and converſes of lovers, which ripen things apace for the wedding day. The Soul that is much with Chriſt in Soliloquies and meditations, much in Prayer, ripeneth apace for glory, for the great marriage of the Lamb. Much communion with God, hath theſe two eminent advantages. God is by it much indeared to the Soul and the Soul is again reciprocally much endeared to God by it.

2. When thou art in communion with Chriſt be not Idle. A man may be in his ſtudy, and do nothing of moment; a Child may truant in the School: Domitian, may be killing flyes in his Councel-Chamber. A Soul may loſe that time that it pretends to ſpend with Chriſt. Spend this hallowed part of your time, as Lovers, and Companions uſe to do.

1. In imparting your ſecrets unto Chriſt: Your ſecret wants, doubts, fears, deſires, not concealing your moſt ſecret thoughts from the Lord.

2. In wooing of your beloved: Begging his love and favour, crying out to him with the Spouſe, Let him kiſs me with the kiſſes of his mouth. Draw me, and we will run after thee. Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth! where thou feedeſt, where thou makeſt thy flocks to reſt at Noon.

3. In mutual embraces: The embraces of faith and love. I held him (ſaith the Spouſe) and would not let him go. Put the hand of faith about the neck of your beloved, it is a Chain from which he cannot, from which he will not get looſe. But I have dwelt long enough upon the compellation in the Text, [my Love or my Fellow] I ſhould now come to the matter of my text, I have compared thee to a company of Horſes in Pharaoh's Chariots. But of that hereafter.