Golden Sands, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Of the expences which Free grace is at in maintaining of the Saints.
THe fourth channell through which the riches of Grace run unto the Saints, is its expence in maintaining of them. Conſider at what a rate they live, how Princelike they are, as well in their breeding as in their birth.
Firſt, for their apparel, how ſumptuous is it? Grace cloth's them all with cloth of gold, foreign In recamat is. Ar. Mon. Cum phrygianis. Jun. foreign Auri ocellaturis vel polymitis aureis induta. Ar. Mont. Fundis aureis veſtita. Jun.yea with wrought gold, and rayment of needle-work. Pſal. 45.13, 14. Wrought gold ſuppoſeth ſomething richer then gold alone; as if embroydered over with pearle, or enouched with diamonds, as ſome Criticks would ſeem to underſtand from the Originall word, which is tranſlated All glorious within; foreignas if it came from that word, which ſometimes ſignify's a precious ſtone cut with angles. M. Ainſworth thus, Her clothing is of purled works of gold, in embroideries ſhe ſhall be led, &c. ſuch purled works, (ſaith he) or ſuch grounds, and cloſures of gold, as precious ſtones are ſet in, Exo. 28.11, 14. But what ever it be, we ſee 'tis very brave, for what more can be ſaid even of a Kings roabes, then that as they are moſt rich in their ſtuffe, ſo moſt coſtly is their make, by the very phraſes here uſed, viz. needle-work and wrought gold, what leſſe can we underſtand, then the very curioſity of skill, and the excellency of contrivement by the finger of grace it ſelfe, in ornifying the ſuits which the Saints weare. Ezek. 16.7, 10,—13. Thou art come to excellent ornaments, ſaith he of his beloved Church, I clothed thee with broydered work, I girded thee about with fine linnen, and I covered thee with ſilk, I decked thee alſo with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thine hands, and a chaine on thy neck, and I put a jewel on thy forehead, and ear rings in thine eares; thus waſt thou decked with gold and ſilver, and thy rayment was of fine linnen and ſilk, and broydered work. How aptly may this be applyed to our ſenſe in hand, at leaſt wiſe by way of alluſion? for as rich parents that have goodly children which they dearly love, are wont to put comely garments upon their backs, and bedeck them with rings, jewels, bracelets, with chains of pearl and diamonds, the better to ſet off theſe fondlings of theirs, to the eye of all beholders; eſpecially if in the way of preferment, if it be wooing time, and they have hopes of good matches for them: even ſo doth Grace with her darlings, ſet them off with beſt advantage, with all their finery and jewels on them. And good reaſon too; for now is the time of their preferment, and of their growing acquainted with that great Heire of glory which they muſt one day marry. Jeſus Chriſt go's brave himſelf, as 'tis meet he ſhould, for he is the Prince of heaven, Heb. 1.13. girt about the paps with a golden girdle, Mar. 9.2, 3. He was transfigured before them, and his raiment became ſhining, even white as ſnow: like unto Princes, with whom the maner was to be clad in white, Eſth. 8.15. The very ſervants which attend Princes weare gorgeous apparell, Luk. 7.25. how much more then the favourites; yea, the Royall Conſorts themſelves, who are wont to live in their Soveraign's armes? Though the Sonne lov's all that the Father recommend's to him, none ſo well, and which is yet more, none elſe; yet he is of a curious eye, and muſt be pleaſed. He lov's to ſee his beloved ones handſome in their attire, becauſe 'tis them his heart is ſet upon, and which he hath choſen unto him ſelfe as an eternal object of his affections & ſweet embraces. How was he taken at the ſight of his Spouſe, when ſhe appeared to him with her chain about her neck? Cant. 4.9. Thou haſt raviſhed my heart, my ſiſter, my ſpouſe, thou haſt raviſhed my heart with one of thine eyes, with the chaine of thy necke. Mark the expreſſion, 'tis not, with one of thine eyes only, but the chaine of thy neck alſo. Is the perſon of Heſter ſet apart for the pleaſure and delight of the King? Then ſhe muſt have ornaments and perfumes accordingly, though it be at the King's own coſt. And verily herein, if Ahaſuerus was not, yet Iſaac was a type of Chriſt, when hee ſent jewels of gold, earerings and bracelets to his Rebecca, Gen. 24.22. yet whatever 'tis that even Chriſt himſelfe either ſend's or bring's in this kinde, to his eſpouſed Saints, 'tis from the hand and at the coſt of Grace, her purſe find's all. And becauſe Grace will be ſure, that the clothing and very dreſſe of the Saints, ſhall in all points be pleaſing to the eye of Chriſt, therefore 'tis all ſpun of the very ſame threed, cut out of the very ſame piece, made up in the very ſame ſhape & faſhion, that his owne garments are. Rev. 19.7. The marriage of the Lambe is come, and his wife hath made her ſelfe ready, (viz. in preparation for this marriage day) and to her was granted that ſhe ſhould be arrayed in fine linnen, clean and white, for the fine linnen is the righteouſneſſe of Saints: Which righteouſneſſe of Saints, what is it elſe, but the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt? thoſe garments of his that ſmell of myrrhe, aloes and caſsia, Pſal. 45.8. theſe are the Saints robes, ſtately and rich indeed, the verdure of whoſe beauty and glory, that it might for ever keep freſh & new without the leaſt ſtaine and ſpot upon it, therefore grace hath waſhed them in ſuch a laſting die, that can never out, viz. the blood of the Lambe, Rev. 7.14. Well therefore may the Church ſing as ſhee doth, I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord, my ſoule ſhall be joyfull in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of ſalvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteouſneſſe, as a Bridegroome decketh himſelfe with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth her ſelf with her jewels, Eſay 61.10.
Secondly, as the Saints go gorgeouſly at the Coſt of Grace, ſo they eat delicately, and live high. Anſwerable to their garbe is their dyet. Their very bread is the bread of Heaven. Joh. 6.51. I am the living bread which came downe from Heaven. Food for Angels, yea, and better then any they have, for Angels have not the body and blood of Jeſus Chriſt to feed upon, as the Saints have. We find in the ſong of Moſes, Deut. 33.14. that it was reckoned among the priviledges of the Jewes, that they did eat of the fat of the kidneys of wheate, as they had ſweet Manna in the wilderneſſe, ſo they had pure manchet in Canaan, and in both of them repreſentative of this living bread from Heaven: ſuch a bread as ſerv's not only for the Saints neceſsity, but for their delight. And if the very bread of the Saints be ſo dainty, what ſhall we thinke of their other viands? of the fatneſſe which they meet with in God's houſe? Pſal. 36.8. The fat things full of marrow, Eſay 25.6. We read of Aſher, that out of him, as his bread ſhall be fat; ſo he ſhall yeeld royall daintyes. Gen. 49.20. we may here well allude to it. 'Tis worth the obſerving, Pſal. 37.3, 4. what a ſignificant terme is uſed, and in what connexion. v. 3. ſaith he, Truſt in the Lord and verily thou ſhalt be fed, foreign Paſcere fide. Jun. i. ex fide vive.i. e. thou needſt take no care for proviſions to live upon Or as M Ainſworth read's it feed on Faith, i.e. nouriſh thy ſelfe and live by it; for the juſt man liveth by his faith. Habak. 2.4. and then marke what follow's, Delight thy ſelfe alſo in the Lord. v. 4. The word is exceeding Emphaticall, foreign (as ſome will have it) from foreign pi…ſuit, placentas propriè.delight thy ſelfe in the Lord, that is, ſatiate thy ſelf, pleaſe thy pallat, be filled with an holy gluttony, be as the hungry ſenſualiſt is at the ſweet-meats and made diſhes that are before him. Such a kind of pleaſure 'twas that the heart of David fed upon, when he uttered thoſe words, oh taſt and ſee how good, or how ſweet, the Lord is! Pſal. 34.8. a ſpeech which we know is uſall to the next that ſi 's by: when a man meet's with ſome excellent diſh wch he looked not for. And ſuch diſhes do the Saints meal upon continually. The very water that they drink, is it not out of ſprings that bubble up eternall life? Joh. 4.10. What then are their wines? yea, and their ſtreames of honey, with the milke of the flowing breaſts they ſuck? as their bread (we heard) is of the fat of the kidneys of wheat, ſo their wines are the pure blood of the grape, to allude againe to that in Deuter. 32.14. yea, and over and above their wines are ſpiced, mingled wines; not only brew'd out of Chriſts blood, but alſo ſweetned with the ſugar of his love, mingled with bowels of compaſſion. Wines upon the lees, well refined, that are vigorous, ſparkling & ful of revivement; they ſay burnt wine is a cordiall, 'tis true of this wine of the Saints, wch is heated with the flames of divine love; therefore well may it paſſe for a Royall wine, as thoſe wines were, which we read of, in Eſth 1.7. ſee and compare, Deuter. 32.14. Prov. 9.2. Eſay 25.6. Their honey, it is of the ſweeteſt and pureſt ſtraine, honey out of the rock, viz. the rock Chriſt Jeſus, ſucked immediately from thence, Deut. 32.13. and from the honey-combe of the Goſpel, the bleſſed word of grace, which is ſweeter then the honey and the honey combe, Pſal. 19.10. Their milke is ſincere, full of creame, battening and nouriſhing, ſuch as giv's both preſent ſatisfaction, and future growth. Eſay 66.11. That ye may milk out and be ſatisfied with the breaſts of her conſolations. 1 Pet. 2.2. As new borne babes deſire the ſincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. All theſe with what ever other proviſions the hand of Grace miniſters unto the Saints, are miniſtred to them in … plentifulneſſe, equall to their variety. Prov. 9.2. She furniſheth her table with full feaſts, Eſay. 25.6. with ſtore and great abundance, that the eaters may be abundantly ſatisfied, and drink as freely as out of rivers Pſa. 36.8. They ſhall be abundantly ſatisfied with the fatneſſe of thy houſe, and thou ſhalt make them drink of the rivers of thy pleaſures. Grace deal's not with a ſparing hand, but liberally, and with hearty welcome. Eate oh friends, drink, yea drink abundantly oh beloved, Can. 5.1. drink drunk, foreign Inebriate. Ar. Mon. Inebriamini. Jun.as the word imports, be you filled with an holy exceſſe, as is intimated Epheſ. 5.18. When Ahaſuerus made a feaſt for his Nobles, 'twas of long continuance, and according to the ſtate of the King, Eſth. 1.7. Grace doth ſo likewiſe; the very fragments of her board would feed thouſands. Mat. 14.20. And they did all eate and were ſatisfied, and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. How many ſweet meales might be made of the Saints leavings? time was when the very crums under Grace her table, gave a full meale to a daughter of Canaan, Mat. 15.27.
Thirdly, the habitation of the Saints, the very houſing which Grace hath built o're their heads, in the ſumptuouſneſſe thereof, is no whit inferiour to their garbe and diet. They ſit in heavenly places with Chriſt Jeſus. Eph. 2.6. And hath made us ſit together in heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus. Their habitation is on high, even within the ſecret of the Almighty, Pſal. 91.1. Lord thou haſt been our dwelling-place in all generations, Pſal. 90.1. As if he had ſaid, when we have had no hole to put our heads in, no rocks to run unto, no towers to be ſafe in; we have found both a ſafe and glorious habitation with-thee, in the very ſecret of thy pavilion; thou haſt admitted us even there where thou ſitteſt in moſt magnificent ſtate, and where onelyonly thou giveſt acceſſe to the friends of thy heart. Oh how glorious a palace have they, who thus dwell in God? yet 'tis a priviledge, common even to the meaneſt Saint, ſuch as ſcarce have cottages in this world. While their bodies lodge but in houſes of clay, yet even then their nobler part, viz. their mind and ſpirit inhabit's higher. They have buildings in another world, (which alſo they dwell in at preſent, (though here below) ſo bright and ſhining, that even Angels are dazled to behold them. For our converſation is in heaven, ſaith the Apoſtle, Philip. 3.20. and in an higher part of heaven then ever the Angels attained unto, even neerer God. The very firſt ſtone laid in the Saints buildings, how precious is it? 1 Pet. 2.6. He is the chief corner ſtone, elect and precious. 1 Cor. 3.12. Other foundation can no man lay, then that which is laid, Jeſus Chriſt. And anſwerable to the foundation is the whole ſtructure, all poliſhed from top to bottome, moſt goodly to behold, ſo that the very ſpectators that paſſe by, Zach. 4.7. being filled with admiration at the luſtre of it, lift up their ſhouts, and cry, Grace, grace unto it. So that all thoſe faire colours, foundations of Saphirs, windows of Agats, gates of carbuncles, with borders of all pleaſant ſtones, mentioned Eſay 54.11, 12. with all other the like expreſſions, are uſed but as metaphors, the more lively to ſet it out. And as this habitation of the Saints, which Free-grace at her owne proper coſt and charge hath raiſed for them, is moſt richly built; ſo it is an huge and vaſt thing, and ſo in that ſenſe as ſtately & magnificent as in the other. For the Saints are all children of the ſame wombe, & they love each other dearly, ſo dearly, that they will never by their good will be apart or dwell aſunder. Now Grace lov's to ſee ſuch a diſpoſition in them, and therefore to ſuit it accordingly, ſhe hath made one houſe big enough to hold them all, that they may be all under one roofe. So far & wide doth this glorious edifice enlarge it ſelfe (having multitudes of roomes to ſpare in it for new commers) that it grow's into a City, and that a mighty one; a city as big as a Kingdome. Heb. 11.16. He hath prepared for them a City. Mat. 25.34. Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you. Prepared, it intimat's a kind of extraordinary thoughtfulneſſe for the building of it; that the materials, the faſhion of it, and all that belongs to it might be ſumptuous. As David ſpeaks, 1 Chro. 29.2, 3. Moreover, ſaith he, becauſe I have ſet my affection to the houſe of my God, I have prepared with all my might, gold, ſilver, onyx ſtones, and ſtones to be ſet, gliſtering ſtones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious ſtones, &c. ſo Grace did, when ſhe built Heaven for the Saints, ſhe knew who were to dwell there one day, and therefore ſhe ſpar's neither coſt nor art; ſhe provid's her gold and precious ſtones to build with, pearles ſo fair and goodly, that the mighty gates of the City, each of them, were but of one entire pearle; and the very ſtreets thereof paved with no worſe then pure gold, as bright as tranſparent glaſſe, Rev. 21.21. But this is not all, for that the hous ſhold ſtuffe and furniture might be ſuitable to the building: the very ſpoones and diſhes, yea, the candleſticks and ſnuffers, (and that but in the type onelyonly) are all of pure gold, Exod. 25.38. And if theſe ſo rich, what then may we judge of the more Noble utenſils, of the veſſels of honour, and the hangings wherewith the rooms are furniſhed?
Fourthly, free-grace, which thus cloth's, feed's, and houſeth the Saints in glory and ſtate, is not ſparing to them any other way, ſhe put's ſtore of money into their purſes alſo. Parents that love their children, and are at great expences with them otherwiſe, are not wont to pinch them in this reſpect; but make allowance to them with ſuch a free and liberal hand, that abhorring baſeneſſe, they may carry it out with a generous and worthy ſpirit. The ſame rule free-grace obſerveth alſo, never let's the Saints want money, no not the pooreſt of them; ſhe ſtor's them with good gold and ſilver, ſee elſe, Job 22.23, 24, 25. If thou returne to the Almighty, then ſhalt thou lay up gold as duſt, and the gold of Ophir as the ſtones of the brookes; yea the Almighty ſhall be thy moſt choiſe gold, foreign Lectiſſinū aurum tuum.(ſo Junius read's it) and thou ſhalt have plenty of ſilver. So that the Saints know no want, no not the meaneſt, or youngeſt of them; they all have enough, as well in their Nonage as in their full age. They are rich in faith, Jam. 2.5. rich in good works, 1 Tim. 6.18. rich in precious promiſes, 1 Pet. 1.4. rich in the ſaving knowledge of the word of life, which dwel's in them richly, foreign.Col. 3.16. Their money is currant in heaven, though few will receive it for good coyne in this world.
Fiftly, agreeable to theſe things are all the reſt. The very attendants upon the Saints, how high and noble are they? a traine ſo glorious, that even greateſt Emperours may veile unto: for Angels wait on them. Heb. 1.12. Are they not all miniſtring ſpirits, ſent forth to miniſter unto them, who ſhall be heires of ſalvation?
Doth it pleaſe the Saints at any time to ride out, and take a proſpect abroad in the company of that Royall lover which Grace hath eſpouſed them unto? Behold, his owne charret is ready for them, with all the equipage thereof. Cant. 3.9, 10. King Solomon made himſelfe a charret of the wood of Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof of ſilver, the bottome thereof of gold, the covering thereof of purple, the midſt thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jeruſalem.
To all this, what riches of Grace goe? beſides thoſe incident experces that occaſionally ariſe; for as 'tis in a great family, if there be many ſicke in it, or lye hurt or wounded, weake and diſeaſed, eſpecially if they be the prime peeces, the beſt beloveds, the deare children, and thoſe whoſe lives are moſt deſireable on all ſides; what coſt is ſpared? Nay what coſt is not moſt induſtriouſly improved, and that all the wayes that can be imagined, for the recovery of them? no Chirurgery, Phyſicke, choiſe proviſions, moſt helpfull attendants neglected, night or day; how many a rich man hath beggar'd himſelfe in coſtly remedies on his owne crazy body? or upon the body of his deare wife or child? Bezar ſtones, diſſolv'd gold magiſteriall pearle, with a thouſand ſuch like precious ingredients have beene as common things, in ſuch caſes as theſe are. And juſt ſo it is among the Saints, how many of them often lye thus, ſick and wounded, weake and feeble under the hand of Grace? alwayes ailing ſomething, either heads ake, or hearts ake, this member is wounded, and that is out of joynt; the eyes are ſore, the ſtomack's ill, the ſpirits faint, of one or other of them continually: nothing but complaining among them, and crying out for playſters, for cordials, for ſome good thing, this or that which they may be able to digeſt: all theſe free-grace hath the care and the charge of; whoſe very looking to, with the remedies that are apply'd, amount's to full as much, if not to much more, then all the disburſments upon the others that are more healthfull. When free grace com's among her wounded patients in her Chriſt's hoſpitall; ſhe com's, with no common ſalves; no balmes are applyed by her hand, but the very balmes of Heaven; no others can ſerve the turne, to worke the cares that ſhe mean's to make. No cordials of her adminiſtring, but what have beene prepared by her owne hand and skill, in her owne Apothecaries ſhop, and applyed at the ſole direction of the great Phyſition of ſoules, JESVS CHRITT.
Now lay all together, the loſſes, the forgivings, the ranſomes, the expences of Grace in behalfe of the Saints: conſider but how much it is all theſe wayes out of purſe, and then ſpeak what you thinke of the riches of it.
But yet all this is nothing to what may be farther ſaid, in conſideration of the moſt ineſtimable worth of thoſe rich & precious things, which free grace may be ſaid to beſtow upon the Saints, more properly by way of gift. A view whereof (as in one treaſury where all ly's) wee ſhall take, by conſidering the love of God, and that kind heart of his, which his owne ſtrong and moſt deare affection hath ſo abundantly filled with ſweeteſt inclinations towards, and moſt glorious intentions concerning the Saints.
Which moſt precious and glorious love, that it may the more cleerly ſhine out unto us; it will be neceſſary to open the meaning of thoſe words, Eph. 2.7. In his kindneſſe towards us, through Chriſt Jeſus. Where occaſion will be given to make this double enquiry.
Firſt, what the greatneſſe of Gods love is to the Saints, as they ſtand, in a kind of ſingle relation to himſelf, from thoſe words, in his kindneſſe towards us.
Secondly, what the greatneſſe of his love is to the ſame Saints, as they ſtand in a double relation, viz. both to himſelfe, and to his Sonne, and how that love wrought from all eternity in behalfe of the Saints, while 1. it gave the Saints to Chriſt, and 2. gave Chriſt to them, from thoſe words, through Jeſus Chriſt.
A ſpeculation moſt ineffably delightful; which, it was no marvaile that the Angels ſhould ſo much deſire to peep into,foreign Propenſo collo vel in clinato capite introſpicere. ſtooping down, as the Apoſtle ſpeak's, in alluſion to the Cherubims over the Mercy-ſeat, that they might pry into the depths of this glorious myſterie, viz. the myſterie of this love. Of which, if God permit, I ſhall ſpeak in the next part by it ſelfe.
FINIS.
ERRATA.
PAg. 33. line 10. for head read heale. Pag. 48. margent read foreign.
End of the text · John Batchiler, Golden Sands (1647)