The Intercourses of Divine Love Betwixt Christ and His Church, Sermon 54
Sermon LIV.
Canticles 1. 13.
A bundle of Myrrh is my Beloved unto me, he ſhall lie all night betwixt my Breaſts.
I Proceed, in opening the bundle or bag, or box of Myrrh, which makes my Text give a fragrant ſmell. I have ſhewed that it is Chriſt, who is thus reſembled, and have propounded to ſhew you the aptneſs of the compariſon in five things: I am yet upon the 4th: He is to the believing Soul a bundle of Myrrh for ſweetneſs: I propoſed to open this in three particulars: ſhewing you, that Chriſt is ſo, 1. In his mediatory actions. 2. In his Spiritual influences. 3. In his Goſpel Inſtitutions, and Ordinances. I have done with the firſt and now proceed to the ſecond: To ſhew you the ſweetneſs of Chriſt to the believing Soul.
2. In his Spiritual influences. When he aſcended upon high (ſaith the Apoſtle, Eph. 4.) he gave gifts unto men: he gave gifts to his Church: his Ordinances. (Of thoſe the Apoſtle ſpeaks:) but he gives other gifts likewiſe, gifts even to the Rebellious, Pſal. 68. All theſe are ſummed up under one head: The gift of the Spirit. This is that which he calls the promiſe of the Father. He was the promiſe of the Father of old, Ezek. 36. 27. It was his promiſe, John 14. 16. I will pray the Father and he ſhall give you another foreign, Comforter, and he ſhall abide with you for ever: Even the Spirit of truth. He is ſent in Chriſts name. 26. v. he is called the Spirit of Chriſt: hence the influences of the Spirit are the influences of Chriſt. I ſhall inſtance in a ſixfold influence, of the Spirit of Chriſt, upon the Soul, as to all which he is a bundle of Myrrh to his beloved.
1. The firſt is his convincing influence, Joh. 16. 8. When he is come, he will reprove the World of ſin; In reſpect of this influence the Spirit of Chriſt is called the Spirit of bondage, Rom. 8. 15. They ſay of Myrrh, that in the gathering, it makes the hands of the gatherers exceeding bitter, but gathered, it becomes incomparably ſweet: Thus it is with the Lord Chriſt as to this influence of the Spirit upon us, the Soul, for the time that it is under this influence, is full of bitterneſs: but it turneth to an exceeding great ſweetneſs. The Book which St. John did Eat, was in the Mouth as ſweet as hony, but in the belly more bitter than wormwood. A fit emblem of ſin. The convictions of the Spirit of Chriſt are of a quite contrary nature, in the mouth they are as bitter as wormwood: but in the belly they are exceeding ſweet; the Soul in the hour of conviction, is exceedingly ſad, and troubled, but when convinced how it bleſſeth God, who was pleaſed to convince it of ſin? Like the woman, who in an hard labour is full of pain, and wiſheth ſhe had never bred a Child: but being once delivered forgets her pain, and remembers her throws with pleaſure.
2. A ſecond influence of the Spirit of Chriſt is Illumination. The Spirit is the Spirit of wiſdom and knowledge, Iſaiah 11. 2. It teacheth us all things, Joh. 14. 26. 1. Joh. 2. 27. That is, all things neceſſary to Salvation. The things which Eye hath not ſeen, nor Ear heard, nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive; even theſe things are revealed to us by the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10. Concerning the manner of the Spirits teaching, how conſiſtent with the teachings of Ordinances, and yet diſtinct from it, I have elſe where ſhewed you: my buſineſs now is to ſhew you that Chriſt in this influence is a bundle of Myrrh. Light is ſweet to the Eye (ſaith Solomon) knowledge is that about which the underſtanding (which is the Eye of the mind) is exerciſed, and is every whit as pleaſant unto the Soul as light is unto the bodily Eye. Now as all knowledge is ſweet to the Soul, ſo eſpecially the knowledge, 1. Of things hidden from others. 2. Of ſuch things as are of neareſt concernment to us: eſpecially, if the knowledge be certain.
1. I ſay, the knowledge of ſuch things as are hidden from others: ſuch knowledge we upon experience find to be very ſweet, and ſuch a knowledge the Spirit of Chriſt gives to the Soul. The Goſpel of Chriſt, is it ſelf called a myſtery, a thing hidden from ages, and hidden from the wiſe and prudent. This indeed is more generally revealed to all, but more eſpecially and fully, and clearly to the believing Souls. But further the Spirit of God reveals the ſecrets of God to the Souls of the Saints, 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10. Even the deep things of God, its particular election and the truth of its graces, &c. Now this knowledge is ſweet to the Soul.
2. The knowledge of ſuch things as are of neareſt concernment to us, is moſt ſweet. Such is the teaching of the Spirit it teacheth us to cry abba Father, it teacheth us to ſee the things that are freely given us of God. Add to this, that by how much any knowledge is more certain, by ſo much it is more ſweet, the underſtanding is not ſo pleaſed, with probable notions, as what is matter of demonſtration, and aſſured to the Soul; ſuch is the teaching of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2. 4. It teacheth by demonſtration, leaving no doubting in the Soul. This is a ſecond influence of the Spirit of Chriſt upon the Soul in reſpect of which he is a bundle of Myrrh unto the Soul.
3. A third influence of the Spirit of Chriſt, is its Sanctifying influence, Rom. 15. 16.—being Sanctified by the Holy Ghoſt: It is Chriſt that Sanctifieth, Heb. 2. 11. Sanctification is expreſſed under the Notion of being conformed to the Image of Chriſt. Now as to this influence of grace, Chriſt is a bundle of Myrrh to the believing Soul. The unbeliever hates holineſs, but the Child of God Loves it, and deſires further degrees of it, Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inward man (ſaith Paul, Rom. 7. 22.) He his highly pleaſed, when he finds the power of grace in his heart, overpowering luſts, and corruptions, and his Soul every day growing more and more like God, and like Chriſt, more full of Spiritual deſires, Spiritual affections, his heart more willing to deny it ſelf, to be under the plenary power, and Command of Jeſus Chriſt when he finds, that it is not he that liveth, but it is Chriſt that liveth in him; Chriſt in reſpect of this influence, is to the Souls of his Saints as a bundle of Myrrh.
4. A fourth influence of Chriſt upon the Soul, is his ſtrengthening influence, Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengtheneth me. He ſtrengtheneth the Soul, 1. In doing Spiritual duties. 2. In reſiſting Corruptions. 3. In ſuffering ſharpeſt trials. Rom. 8. 26.The Lord ſtood by me (ſaith Paul.) But it is not my preſent buſineſs, to diſcourſe either of the ſeveral ſorts of Spiritual ſtrengthening influences: Nor yet of the ways and methods, by and in which Chriſt meeteth the Soul with ſtrength, and Communicates ſtrength unto it. My work is only to ſhew you that this influence of his is as a bundle of Myrrh to the Soul. Now that Chriſt in this influence is exceeding ſweet to the Soul, needs no other proof, then the daily experience of the Souls of Gods People, how refreſhed do they riſe up from Prayer, when they have found the Spirit of Chriſt in it, helping their infirmities, with ſtrong cryes, and groans? It is ſaid of Hannah, 1 Sam. 1. That ſhe roſe up, and her Countenance was no more ſad. This was that which made the holy Martyrs take joyfully the ſpoiling of their goods, the burning of their bodies. And made them feel no more pain (to uſe the expreſſion of one of them) then if they had been upon a bed of Roſes. So that their Perſecutors curſed them, ſaying they had a delight to burn.
5, A fifth ſort of influences are the Quickening influences of the Spirit of Chriſt. I have formerly told you that the Scripture mentioneth a threefold quickening: All of them from Chriſt, and by the Spirit. 1. The quickening of the dead body, mentioned Rom. 8. 11. This will be as a bundle of Myrrh, exceeding ſweet when it comes, when in the reſurrection we ſhall be like Angels. And the thoughts of this are exceeding ſweet, while we live here. 2. The quickening of the dead Soul, mentioned Eph. 2. 1. This is exceeding ſweet to the Soul (when done;) Oh how pleaſant it is to a Soul to remember his converſion, the time, the Sermon when, and by which God was pleaſed at firſt to work upon it, and work a change in it. 3. The quickening of a dull Soul, labouring under any Spiritual deadneſs, heavineſs, or inactivity; of this David often Speaks, and prays for it, Pſal. 119. Quicken me in thy precepts, &c. The knockings and motions of the holy Spirit, are tireſome and tedious, and exceeding grievous to a carnal heart, they diſturb its ſweet ſleeps, in its bed of idelneſs, Security, and luſt, but they are exceeding ſweet to a gracious heart. The renewed Soul prays for them, thirſts after them, delights in them, and is never more pleaſed then when it feels itſelf moſt alarumed, and awakened, and ſpurred on by them.
6. The laſt ſort of influences are the comforting influences of Chriſt by his Spirit. The Spirit is called the comforter often, John ch. 14. & 16. It is a piece of its office, to ſeal, and to witneſs; It witneſſeth with our Spirits that we are the Children of God. It ſealeth us up to the day of Redemption. I ſhall not need ſtand to prove, that Chriſt in theſe is as a bundle of Myrrh; The very name comforter imports ſweetneſs, and is of it ſelf a bundle of Myrrh to the Soul. Now all our Conſolations come from Chriſt, Phil. 2. 1. 2 Cor. 1. 5. He was called the Conſolation of Iſrael. And the Jewiſh believers waited for him under that Notion, Luk. 2. 25. I have now opened to you the 2d thing, and ſhewed you how Chriſt in his influences is a bundle of Myrrh. One thing yet remains.
3. Chriſt in his Ordinances, and Goſpel Inſtitutions, is a bundle of Myrrh. Chriſt is in his Ordinances. We preach Chriſt crucified, (ſaith the Apoſtle) and we are Baptized into Chriſt, Rom. 6. And for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, 1 Cor. 10. 10. It is the Communion of the Body, and Blood of Chriſt. Chriſt in theſe is a bundle of Myrrh to the Souls of believers. But indeed, Chriſt in theſe is only ſweet upon the former account, viz. in reſpect of his influences, which he is pleaſed to convey in and through theſe Organs, and ſeparated from theſe, Ordinances ſignify little but burthen to the Soul. Ordinances are ſweet to the Soul two waies. 1. As God is pleaſed in, and by them actually to convey the influences of Chriſt, and his grace to the Soul. Thus they are only ſweet to the Soul, when it ſees the power and glory of God in his Sanctuary, 2. As they are under a divine appointment in order to that End. Thus Ordinances are ſweet to the gracious Soul, though at preſent, the Soul doth not meet with, and enjoy God in them: yet ſaith the Soul, they are thoſe appointments, wherein God hath ſaid he will be found, and inſtituted of God, in order to that end, and it may be my lot, as well as others, to meet with God in them, therefore the Soul prizeth them; how precious Ordinances (even thoſe which were carnal (as the Apoſtle calls them) under the Jewiſh Oeconomy) were to the Servants of God who lived in thoſe times, appears by the eminent inſtances of David in Pſal. 84. Pſal. 63. Pſal. 42, &c. The Pſalmiſt ſpeaks of the Body of Jews, Pſal. 84. v. 6. That they paſſed through the valley of Bacah and went from ſtrength to ſtrength, until they all appeared before God in Zion. And thus I have opened to you the fourth thing in this ſimilitude, ſhewing you how aptly Chriſt is compared to a bundle of Myrrh, viz. For ſweetneſs: but I alſo noted two things hinted in the term of bundle; a bundle, or bag notes a quantity of ſweets. 2. Men uſe to bind up things in bundles, for their better preſervation. Hence two things more.
5. Chriſt is a bundle of Myrrh. He is an heap of ſweetneſſes, exceeding ſweet to the gracious Soul. The Apoſtle ſaith, (Col. 2. 3.) That all the treaſures of wiſdom are in Chriſt. All the treaſures of Soul ſweetneſs are in Chriſt alſo. There are other things that are ſweet to the Worldling, and him that is a ſtranger to Chriſt. Stollen waters are ſweet to the Thief, Prov. 9. 17. The bread of deceit is ſweet to the deceiver, Prov. 20. 17. Luſt is ſweet to the unclean Perſon: yea and to the exterior ſenſes of a gracious Soul other things may be ſweet to the Child of God. But to the Soul of the Saint (conſidered as a Saint) nothing is ſweet but Chriſt, he is its bundle of Myrrh, all the pleaſure, and ſweetneſs, and delight that it hath in the World on this ſide of Heaven, is either in the meditation of Chriſt or application of him, fiducially, or aſſuredly; all his hopes of good are in Chriſt. Chriſt in him the hopes of glory. All his injoyments, which he valueth, are the enjoyments of Chriſt, and his grace, he is a bundle of Myrrh unto it.
6. Laſtly. Chriſt is to it as a bundle of Myrrh, In regard of of its great care and diligence to preſerve and keep alive its ſenſe, and enjoyments of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. The gracious Soul is very careful to keep its view of Chriſt. Obſerve the next words. He ſhall lye all night betwixt my breaſts (of which hereafter.) Obſerve again this Spouſes carriage, Cant. 3. 4. Upon her recovery of Chriſt when he had abſented himſelf, I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my Mothers houſe: into the Chamber, of her that conceived me. See alſo, Cant. 8. v. 1. The Soul that hath had any experiences of Chriſt and of the influences of his grace, binds them up as it were in a bundle. The memory of that Soul is the bag and the ſtring too. Thus the Pſalmiſt Pſal. 77. 5. I have conſidered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my Song in the night, v. 11. I will remember the works of the Lord, ſurely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate alſo of all thy works, and talk of all thy doings. And indeed this needeth no further proof then what my former diſcourſe hath given it, for it is very connatural to us, to be careful in the preſerving, and keeping …loſe, and ſafe whatſoever is precious to us. The Worldling ties up his mony in bags, and is very careful to keep ſafely what he hath got with care; the Lady keeps her perfumes, and Jewels ſafe; ſo doth the Scholar his Books; indeed ſo doth every one, whatſoever he accounteth ſweet and pretious: Now nothing being more ſweet and precious to the Soul then Jeſus Chriſt and his influences, it is as natural to him to indeavour the preſervation of them. But I have ſpake enough to the explication, and confirmation of the point.
Uſe 1.Have you heard, that Chriſt is to the Soul, as a bundle of Myrrh? How ſottiſh then is the generality of the World, that either deſpiſe, or neglect their intereſt in him. If ever a People deſpiſed their own mercies, and ſet light by the rock of their Salvation; If ever a People forſook the fountain of living Waters to dig up to themſelves ciſterns, broken ciſterns, that will hold no Water: Certainly thoſe are they who ſit under the tenders of Chriſt in the Goſpel, and yet do deſpite to the Covenant of grace, and neglect ſo great Salvation. Chriſt is calling aloud every day as in the fifth of this Song, v. 1. I am come unto my Garden, poor creatures! I have gathered my Myrrh with my Spice; I have eaten my Hony Comb with my Hony, I have drank my Wine with my Milk; Eat (O friends!) Drink, yea, drink abundantly O you beloved. Chriſt incarnate, crucified, aſcended up to Heaven, ſitting at Gods right Hand, is daily preached to poor creatures. And what is their language, other then that of the Prophet, Iſa. 53. 3. He hath no form, no comelineſs: There is no beauty that we ſhould deſire him? People that live in theſe lightſome parts of the World, dwell upon the mountain of Myrrh, upon the hill of frankincenſe (to uſe the expreſſion, Cant. 4. 6.) and yet how few are thoſe that look after and diſcern any ſweetneſs in Jeſus Chriſt? What is the reaſon? Are not theſe men rational perſons as well as believers? How comes it that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is as a bundle of Myrrh to a believing Soul, and not at all pretious unto others? I will aſſign a double reaſon.
1. The firſt is their want of Spiritual ſenſes. There are but few that have ſenſes exerciſed to diſcern between Good and Evil. Heb. 5. ult.) the Carnal man is ſaid to be dead in ſin, life and ſenſe go together, the dead man ſmells nothing. The Natural Soul is a dead Soul. He hath Natural ſenſes, he diſcerns the ſweetneſs of Hony to his taſt, Muſick to his Ear, fair and beautiful objects to his Eye, Perfumes to his Noſtrils, the ſweetneſs of notions to his underſtanding, but he diſcerns no ſweetneſs in ſpiritual things, he ſavours not the things of the Spirit.
2. But Secondly, His Noſtrils are choked with other Smells. The vitiated pallat taſts not the ſweetneſs of the beſt meat, the Noſtrils ſuffocated with ſtinks diſcern not the ſweetneſs of the beſt Perfumes; the Souls of unbelievers, are filled and ſuffocated with the ſmells of the World: One with the ſmell of unjuſt gain, Dulcis odor lucri, he cannot ſmell the ſweetneſs of Chriſt, who commands him to leave the gain of injuſtice, to diſtribute and give to the poor, to avoid covetouſneſs which is Idolatry; another is ſuffocated with the ſavour of Worldly buſineſs and imployments, he ſmells the ſmell of a field which the Lord hath bleſt, the ſmell of his Worldly buſineſs puts out the ſmell of Chriſts ſweetneſs, he is cumbred about many things, and he ſmells no ſweetneſs in the One thing neceſſary. A third hath his ſmell adulterated with ſordid luſts, the ſmell of a drunken cup, of a fordid wanton, ſpoils him for ſmelling this bundle of Myrrh, which is infinitely more ſweet. But give me leave to turn this complaint and reproof into an Exhortation.
Uſe 2.In the firſt place. O you fools, when will you be wiſe? You that are creatures of pleaſure, and are not ſatisfied without a ranſacking of the whole Creation for objects of delight, Turn in hither I beſeech you, and tell me if there be any ſweetneſs like this bundle of Myrrh. Your Eye engageth your Tongue to call the comely face ſweet; Alas! A fit of ſickneſs ſpoils the beauty of it, the Small-Pox ſpoileth that glory; how ever when death hath taken poſſeſſion of it, you ſee no more ſweetneſs in it. You hear the voice of a ſinging man or Woman, & you think it ſweet, but that voice will one day grow hoarſe, or you may be in a ſtate, that it will grate upon your Ears, and be offenſive to you. You ſmell a powder or perfume, and you muſt have it and wear it about you, becauſe it is ſweet: But what are all theſe to one Chriſt, who is ſweeteſt to the Soul in an evil day, who doth not refreſh the outward man ſo much as the inward man; whoſe ſweetneſs raviſheth every ſoul that is poſſeſſed of it, never corrupts nor decaies, nor ſaileth, Imagine all the lines of beauty, which adorn all ſublunary faces, to be brought into one face, that face muſt be very lovely: But all nothing to the face of Chriſt, in the Eye of a believing Soul. If you could rifle Arabia, and from all the ſweet Plants and Gums, and Spices, which abound there, diſtil one ſweet Water, or make one aromatical compound or perfume, that ſhould have in it united, whatſoever is ſcattered in them, of pleaſure to the ſenſes, they would all be nothing to one Sprig of this bundle of Myrrh, to one beam of Chriſts countenance, the leaſt breathings of his Love upon the Soul of his Saint.
Ob. Ah! But ſaies a poor Soul, you told us that Myrrh. Is not every ones portion, it only grows in Arabia, and every one there gets it not, you told us there was a ſeaſon in which it muſt be got, and if that were loſt, or if during the ſeaſon, due means were not uſed, People got no Gum; I am afraid my ſeaſon is gone, and know not what courſe to take to get it.
Sol. 1. What the Country of Arabia was for Myrrh, that is every place (where the Goſpel is preached) as to the gaining of Chriſt. It is true there are many Countries where the Goſpel of Chriſt is not preached, but England is a mountain of Myrrh, and it drops every day amongſt you.
2. I told you that in the Country where the Myrrh grew every one gathered it not: But I told you it was their own fault, either deſpiſing through ignorance, or through lazineſs neglecting their opportunity; in the Country where Chriſt is Preach'd, every one receives him not, but it is their own fault. I do not think it is true, in every ſenſe, that every man may be ſaved that will; This phraſe implies a power in our ſelves to Spiritual actions: but it is unqueſtionably true that if any Soul ſitting under the Goſpel periſh, it is becauſe it will not be ſaved. You will not come to me ſaith our Saviour, that you may have life.
3. I told you indeed that there is a ſeaſon, (as there was for gathering Myrrh) which if neglected, we get no ſhare in Chriſt. The fooliſh Virgins came when the gate was ſhut. Many ſhall ſeek and ſhall not enter. There is a ſeaſon of grace. And ſome Divines think that this ſeaſon is oft times finiſhed while our life yet laſteth, and the means of grace continue: Whether it be ſo or no I cannot determine; ſure I am, thou haſt no ſufficient reaſon to conclude thy ſeaſon paſt, whiles yet thy life laſts, and the means are continued, eſpecially if God yet at laſt give thee an heart to come unto Chriſt.
4. Doeſt thou ask what thou ſhouldeſt do? Remember what I told you, concerning the procuring of the dropping of Myrrh. 1. They made an inciſion into the tree. 2. They ſet ſomething to receive it. The inciſion is made already. The Souldiers made that when they pierced thy Saviours ſide.
There is nothing left for thee to do, but to open thy heart to receive thoſe influences of grace which freely drop from a crucified Chriſt: yea God muſt do that too. The truth is, thou haſt nothing to do more then to go up to the mountain of Myrrh, to wait upon God in his Ordinances, to ſit under Goſpel diſpenſations and to look up to Heaven for further grace. Only remember the full Soul loaths the Hony-Comb, the full diſh receives not the moſt precious liquor; and while thy Soul is full of the love of the World and love of luſts, it receives no Myrrh, while it is full of the love of pleaſures, wantonneſs, froth and idleneſs, it is like the riven diſh, that holds nothing. But to come to a concluſion,
Uſe 3.Is Chriſt to the Believers as a bundle of Myrrh? Then hear me O you Children of the moſt high! I will urge but two things upon you as an improvement of this Notion.
1. Ʋſe him as a bundle of Myrrh. I will preſs this in three things. 1. Be often taking the ſavour of him: The woman that hath a rare ſmelling flower, or perfume, wears it in her boſom ſhe ſuffers not the firſt to dye in her Garden, nor the latter to evaporate in her cabinet, but ſhe is often ſmelling of it. Oh that the Children of God would make as much uſe of Chriſt, that they would not let his ſweetneſs in a Goſpel ordinance evaporate into the Air, nor the ſweetneſs of his mediatory actions revealed in the Goſpel die in ſheets of Paper, but that they would ſtudy the Scriptures, meditate on the Word, think over Goſpel Sermons when they have heard them! Oh that they would wear, the remembrance of Chriſts actions upon their hearts every day, how ſweet would it be to their Souls? How pleaſant to their thoughts! the lazy ſtudent loſeth the ſweetneſs of thoſe thouſand notions, that are in his Books, becauſe he never reads his Books, nor ſpends time in ſtudying them: The negligent Chriſtian loſeth much of that infinite ſweetneſs that his Soul might have by reflecting upon the Goſpel ſtory, and Goſpel truths, for want of meditating upon them.
2. Be exceeding careful to preſerve the influences of Chriſt upon your Souls and your experiences of his love. Shall the woman bind up her ſweet flowers in a poſy, and the Lady carefully tye up her perfumes in bags and glaſſes, that they might not loſe their ſcent, and ſhe the ſweetneſs of them? And ſhall a Chriſtian poſſeſſed of the ſweet influences of grace, poſſeſſed of the preſence of Jeſus Chriſt do nothing to preſerve it. Say with the Spouſe here, he ſhall lodge all night betwixt my breaſts; do as the Spouſe, Cant. 3. When ſhe had found him whom her Soul loved, ſhe held him, ſhe would not let him go, till ſhe had carried him to her Mothers houſe, to the houſe of her that conceived her. Bind up your experiences of the Love of Chriſt in ſo many bundles, and do what in you lyes to preſerve his influences in the Vigour of them, would you know how you might preſerve them? There is no better way then for you to keep up in your Souls, an high value and eſteem of them; it is ordinarily for want of love, that the Beloved withdraws himſelf.
3. You are communicative, of your ſweet perfumes. The Lady cannot wear her ſtrong perfumes, but others whom ſhe cometh near will partake of her ſweetneſs. It is of the Nature of the perfume to ſeaſon the whole Air. She will hardly have a perfume, bat out of a deſire to have it taken notice of, ſhe will be holding it to the Noſtrils of others. Oh that you who are poſſeſſed of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, this bundle of Myrrh, would be as communicative of that alſo: That you would be commending Chriſt (as the Woman of Samaria did, John. 4.) to your Neighbours, Kindred, Children, Friends, Acquaintance, that they alſo might follow after him in the ſavour of his precious ointments. This is a piece of Chriſtians duty. When thou art converted (ſaith our Saviour to Peter) ſtrengthen thy Brethren. Thus to do good, and to diſtribute forget not, for with ſuch ſervice God is well pleaſed: But to come to a concluſion,
2. Is Chriſt to the believers a bundle of Myrrh? Let not them be as bundles of Nettles to him. The Bundle of Myrrh gives a pleaſant ſmell, cheereth the ſenſes. The bundle of Nettles Pricketh, and offendeth, and grieveth the Noſtrils; It is the Apoſtles exhortation Eph. 4. 30. Grieve not the holy Spirit by which you are ſealed to the day of redemption. The Exhortation is to holineſs of Converſation: The Argument is from the love of Chriſt to you. The love of God conſtraineth (ſaith the Apoſtle.) There are many arguments to preſs holineſs from, none ſo ingenuous, none ſo conſtraining to an ingenuous Soul, as the ſweetneſs of Jeſus Chriſt to it. It breaks the heart of an ingenuous Child to remember its frowardneſs to an indulgent Father, and a tender Mother. Love worketh much upon a good Nature. Study this Argument and the force of it upon your Souls to make you perfect holineſs in the Lords fear.