England Faithfully Watched, Lecture 30
Coloſſ. 1.18. He is the head of the body, the Church.
SOmethings have a generall glory: look upon a pearl when you will, where you will, and it ſhines and ſparkles upon you: ſo doth Chriſt. Chriſt is looked upon before, in reference to the world, here in reference to ſuch as are taken out of the world; in the former he is looked upon with reſpect to the creation, and here with reſpect to the Church, and in both admired, as great and glorious.
Chriſt wears a garment without ſeme, a generall glory, his working-day ſuit is all full of pearls. Conſider Chriſt under any notion in reference to this world, and you conſider him in his working ſuit, in his countrey cloaths, in his travelling apparell, and yet in this, ſhining; earth, heaven, the Church, is filled with his glory; he is head in the one, and in other.
Chriſt makes a ſimilitude between the worlds, between this and that above; there he is all fair, and ſo he is here; condition ſuits, as the ſunne goes in the ſame height: we and they above, can ſee nothing but a perfection in the ſunne that ſhines upon us, and no leſſe moves deſire amongſt us. Man hath an exact eye, though not an exact heart, he will ſee much, ere he will love a little. Things muſt be very clean, which you ſwallow; perſons muſt be very complete and without exception, which we ſet over us, whatever we be our ſelves, which are to move under them.
The ſunne ſhines in order to draw, and gain. Nature is full of art to cavill; unleſſe things have all glory, they have no glory; if there be any hole in the coat, love goes out, and gets gone there, but there is none in Chriſts. Criticks muſt be convinced, and then they will ſtand ſtill and conſider; perfection makes conviction in the moſt criticall ſpirit, and till the ſoul can tell no longer how to take exception at others, it will not begin to take exception at it ſelf.
Uſe. Sinners we proffer you gold that is tried, gold that hath no droſſe, gold that is all gold. Look upon Chriſt under any notion, and make exception againſt him if you can; look upon him in reference to his words, and he ſhines in them all: look upon Chriſt in reference to the old creation, in reference to the new creation, or in reference to heaven, and what can you except againſt him? nothing. Why do you not love Chriſt then? It muſt be becauſe you will not, or becauſe you cannot. Some perſons are convinced of the worth of Chriſt, yet maintain motion towards other things as dearer, and will do this: your will ſhall hang you, the thing which you love better then Chriſt, ſhall be the gallows. Stubborn hearts, find no compaſſion; Chriſt will plead for no man, that will not love him, although he know him, and have other encouragements to draw him on to him. My people would none of me, and I will none of them.
Perſons which are overmaſtered with a bad heart, and cannot do what they would, find mercy from the Lord, but others are let alone to live as they will, and die in their ſhame: complaining hearts, Chriſt is perfect in glory, would you love him? Chriſt ſhines in the world, and he ſhines in the Church, in the Church militant, and in the Church triumphant, he is great every where, would you love him? Yes. This is accepted. Chriſt accepts according to that you have, and out of this ſmoke ſhall come a flame. Holy deſires, is Chriſt conceived in the wombe of the ſoul, do but ſtay a little time, and thou wilt feel the babe leap in the wombe, doth it not now? O how ſtrongly doth that ſoul come to love Chriſt, which would love him, but cannot.