A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Carryeth on the general Exhortation, Labor to finde thy ſoul a fruitful garden unto Christ, &c.
BUt ſecondly,2. Labor to finde thy ſoul as a fruitful garden unto Chriſt. labor alſo to finde thy ſoul to be a fruitful garden unto Chriſt; for though the other do not depend upon this, but this upon the other, yet thou wilt hardly finde the other, till in ſome meaſure thou haſt found this: O 'tis a ſweet thing for the ſoul of a wilderneſs to be made a fruitful garden unto Chriſt! Marvelouſly is Chriſt delighted with it; he ſpeaking of the Spouſe, Cant. 7.7. thy breaſts, ſaith he, are like cluſters of the grapes, and row alſo ſhall thy breasts be as the cluſters of the vine, and the ſmell of thy noſe like apples: Oh! when believers hearts and breaſts are fruitful in holineſs unto Chriſt, how marvellouſly is he delighted? yea, then Chriſt delights … them alſo, ch. 6. v 11.12. Let us get up early (ſaith ſhe) to the vineyards, to ſee if the vine flouriſh, or the tender grape appear, or the pomgranate bud forth, there will I give thee my loves: O there Chriſt alſo manifeſts much love (his loves, that's all his love as 'twere) to the ſoul, when and where the ſoul brings forth fruit unto Chriſt; when Daniel was praying, then comes out the meſſage, O Daniel, greatly beloved: when the ſoul acts faith, or zeal, or any of the fruits of the ſpirit are budding forth, O then Chriſt takes great delight in it, and therefore he obſerves and watches the ſouls fruit; God could tell if Ephraim were but an empty vine; ſo Cant. 6.11. I went down (that's Chriſt) into the garden of nuts (when Chriſt takes a nut-tree out of the foreſt, and tranſplants it in his garden, makes a ſinner a convert, then he obſerves the fruit it brings forth) to ſee the fruit of the valley (that is of the poor, penitent, lowly, humble heart) and to ſee whether the vine flouriſhed, and the pomgranates budded; that is, whether this and that, and the other grace, faith and humility, and holineſs, &c. flouriſhed and brought forth unto him: Therefore as Chriſt in the forequoted place calls the fruit of his garden the Spouſes, ſo the Spouſe calls the fruit of her garden Chriſts; blow upon my garden, and let him eat his pleaſant fruits, Cant. 4.16. If thou would have evidence that Chriſt did in earth, and doth in heaven bring forth fruit unto thee, labor to finde that thine heart, thy lips, thy life, do all of them bring forth fruit unto Chriſt.
2. Labor to finde Chriſt unto thy ſoul a river of waters of life.Secondly, labor to finde Chriſt a river of waters of life unto thy ſoul, ſince thou haſt been hitherto moiſtureleſs, like a wilderneſs; when Iſrael was in the diſmal wilderneſs, where there was no water, Pſalm 78.15, 16. the Lord clave the rocks in the wilderneſs, and gave them drink as out of the great depths; he brought streams alſo out of the rock, and cauſed waters to run down like rivers: But whats this to me a ſinner? may the ſoul ſay, Why? the Apoſtle tells thee, this rock was Chriſt; theſe waters flowing out the rock, were ſtreams from Chriſt, 1 Cor. 10.4. They drank of that ſpiritual rock that followed th…, and that rock was Christ: Chriſt is that river, the ſtreams whereof make glad the poor bewildred ſoul.
There are three ſorts of ſtreams (which O that you could finde) flowing from the Lord Chriſt: 1.1. Stream of blood. Labor to finde the red ſtream of Chriſts blood, Chriſts ſatisfaction, and juſtification, and reconciliation purchaſed thereby; this is there, as in many other Scriptures, called Christs wine, I have drunk my wine: Haſt thou by faith ſeen this rock ſmitten by the Lords rod, and this red ſtream iſſuing out? Haſt thou ſeen Chriſts ſide lanced, and the blood ſtreaming forth for thy ſoul? Haſt thou ſeen this blood of the new Covenant poured forth for thee? Oh! how would this ſtream make thy ſoul glad?
Secondly,2. Stream of milk. Labor to finde the cryſtal ſtream of Chriſts Spirit; by the other the ſoul is counted righteous, by this it is made righteous: I know the ſincere heart deſires as truly this as the other; the other is the fountain open for ſin, that is the guilt, the curſe, the condemnation; this is a fountain open for uncleanneſs, that is the defilement and pollution, and both is for the houſe of David to waſh in; this is there, as in other places, called Chriſts milk; and to ſhew that Sanctification and Juſtification go hand in hand one with another, therefore ſaith Chriſt, I drunk my wine with my milk; though the wine be the firſt, yet is it not without milky ſtreams, but they go along with it: I cannot but imagine but that in the order of nature, Chriſt Juſtifies before he Sanctifieth, and yet I believe he never juſtifies; but therewith he ſanctifies, as here wine firſt, yet wine with milk, even both together ſo we have, Iſa. 55.1. the ſame order, and the ſame conjunction, Buy wine and milk without money and without price; that is, my merits and my ſpirit ſhall be both yours, if you cloſe with me, though you deſerve neither.
But thirdly, Labor to finde yet other ſtreams,3 Stream of honey. even honey ſtreams from Chriſt in the Ordinances; this is called as often by David before, ſo Cant. 5.1. Chriſts honey-comb and his honey: Haſt thou then found communion with Chriſt in prayer, hearing, reading, or the like, ſweet as honey, ſw…eter alſo then the honey-comb? Canſt thou ſay as the ſpouſe of Chriſt, Cant. 4.13. His lips are like lilies (even like lilies) dropping ſweet ſmelling myrrhe? Have thoſe ſweet ſtreams from Chriſts mouth flown down thus upon thy ſoul? ſurely ſuch floods cannot chooſe but make thee joyful in the houſe of prayer.
2. To finde thy ſoul a watered garden to Chriſt.Now ſecondly, Labor to finde thy ſoul a watered garden unto Chriſt: The ſoul was in the wilderneſs, Cant. 4.8. and ſhe becomes a garden, ver. 12. and in this garden there are both ſprings and fountains, though both ſhut up and ſealed; thats for Chriſts uſe they are reſerved, who alone is found worthy to open the ſeals.
1. The fountain of thine h…ad.Firſt, Then let the fountains of thine head be opened unto Chriſt, the ſtreams of thy lips, of thine eyes, thy words, thy tears, the working of thy brains, let them all ſtream forth towards the Lord Chriſt; ſay as the prophet, O that mine head were fountains, and mine eyes rivers of tears! Jer. 9.1. let it be with thee as with David, Rivers of tears run down mine eyes, becauſe men keep not thy law, Pſalm 119.136. O that all our heads and eyes were as rivers ſtreaming towards Chriſt, and Chriſt onelyonly! O that our brains might work more after, and more for Chriſt! We were as a moiſtureleſs wilderneſs before; let us even in this ſenſe become a watered garden now, Iſa. 58.11.
2. Of thine heart.Secondly, Let the fountains of thine heart be opened unto Chriſt: If God have ſhed his love abroad in thine heart, ſhed now thy love abroad into Gods heart: We were as a wilderneſs, we could ſcarce pour out words before God before, let us now, Pſalm 62.8. pour out our hearts before God, let all our affections, deſire, fear, love, joy, &c. ſtream forth towards God: Thus David poured out his ſoul within him, Pſalm. 42.4.
3. Of thy life3 Let the fountains of thy life ſtream forth towards Chriſt, as the fountain both of Chriſts life and death to boot did flow out unto thee, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, let all the ſtreams of your lives run into the channel of his glory. According to this threefold counſel, you have mention of a threefold breaking out of waters in the ſpouſe, Cant. 4.15. A founta…n of gardens (there's one ſort) a ſpring of living waters (there's another ſort) and ſtreams from Lebanon, there's a third ſort, that is, if I miſtake not, one in the head, another in the heart, a third in the converſation. The fountain of the head waters the garden of the affections, the ſpring of the heart enliveneth the fountains of the head, knowledge would otherwiſe be a dead water; and now from both together, to wit, head and heart, there are ſtreams from Lebanon, that is, Knowledge and Grace flow forth as ſtreams into the converſation: You may therefore obſerve comfortably, that as Chriſt had ſpoken high! before of the ſtreams that flow from himſelf to the ſoul, ſo ſpeaks he exceeding reſpectively of the ſtreams flowing forth from the ſoul towards him: Hear what he ſaith of the fountains of the head, Thy lips, O my Spouſe, drop as the honey-comb, honey and milk are under thy tongue, Cant. 4 11. milk and honey dropping, are the prayers and praiſes of his ſaints unto him: Hear what he ſaith of the fountains of the heart, Cant. 4.10. How much better is thy love then wine? and as for the ſtreams of her life, her ſelf, Cant. 8.2. I would cauſe thee to drink of ſpiced wine, of the juyce of my pomgranates.
Thirdly, If thy condition be ſolitary and companionleſs,3. Labor to get Chriſts company. like a wilderneſs, labor to finde Chriſt a companion for thy ſoul, and thy ſoul in ſome ſort fit company for Chriſt.
Firſt, If ever thy ſoul come from the wilderneſs, our Text ſaith, it muſt be by getting Chriſt to be thy companion: You have Chriſt offering his company to the poor ſoul in the wilderneſs, Cant. 4.8. Come with me from Lebanon, the lions den, &c. and over again, as if this ſhould en…ice her, with me from Lebanon, my Spouſe with me from Lebanon: ſo ſhe inticeth him, Cant. 7.11. let us go forth; and verſe 12. let us get up early: He proffers her his own company, ſhe him her company: Oh! who would not go along with Chriſt? You have again the ſoul laboring to get Chriſts company, and when ſhe hath got it, ſhe will not part with him: You have her ſeeking him, and following him, Cant. 3.1, 2. and when ſhe hath found him, verſe 4. ſhe holds him, and keeps his company, and will not let him go; ſhe could not reſt till ſhe had got his company, and having gotten it, ſhe can leſs reſt when ſhe hath loſt it, Cant. 5.6. I opened, and my beloved had withdrawn himſelf and was gone, 2. Labor to finde the ſoul company for Chriſts.and my ſoul failed.
Secondly, Labor to finde thy ſoul as company for Chriſt and for God, that thou mayeſt be able to ſay as they, 1 John 1.3. Truly our fellowſhip is with the Father, and with his Son Jeſus: ſhall I tell you, you cannot more deſire Chriſts company, then Chriſt doth yours, Cant. 2.10. Riſe up my love, my fair one, and come away; and verſe 13. riſe up my fair one, and come way; yea, as if he longed for her company: O my dove, let me ſee thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, for thy countenance is comely, verſe 14. O what a happy change is this? amongſt lions before wandring in the wilderneſs, Cant. 3 6. with 4, 8. with Chriſt now lodging in the villages,4. Labor to finde Chriſt as a ſpread table unto thy ſoul. Cant. 7.11.
Fourthly, Since thou haſt been ſo long in a deſolate and proviſionleſs wilderneſs, ſo that thy ſoul hath been as a waſted carkaſe there: O labor now to finde Chriſt a Gardenbar quet-houſe, a ſpread table unto thy ſoul! I know ſome poor unbelieving ſoul will be ready to judge its condition ſo deſolate, as not to think it poſsible that God ſhould ſupply; and to ſay as the Iſraelites, Pſalm. 78.19. Can God furniſh a table in the wilderneſs? but that Text tells you, that they ſpeak againſt God in ſo ſaying. Alas! here's a ſtrong miſtake; the poor creature thinks it humility, and thinks he onelyonly ſpeaks againſt himſelf, when he cries out, Oh! my ſoul is ſo poor and deſtitute, and ſo like to Pharaoh's lean kine, that I can never think that it can be furniſhed: Alas! thou art deceived, thou ſpeakſt againſt God; 'tis Gods work to furniſh a table for thy ſoul in this wilderneſs, and I would have you to know, that all the proviſion that Chriſt gathers in to himſelf, and hath in himſelf, it is to bid you welcome, with Cant. 2.4. He brought me into his banqueting-houſe; and what doth he ſay then, I am come into my garden, I have gathered mine honey-comb with mine honey, 2. Labor to finde thy ſoul as a ſpread table unto Chriſt.&c. eat O friends, drink, yea drink abundantly: O beloved! (all his banquettings are for his friends, neither is he nigardly to his beloved) Can. 5.1.
Secondly, Labor to finde thy ſoul as a ſpread table unto Jeſus Chriſt; Friends, 'tis not onelyonly as meat and drink unto Chriſt to do his Fathers will himſelf, as himſelf ſaith, but it is meat and drink to him to ſee you do it alſo, Cant. 6.2, 3. My beloved is gone down to feed in the gardens (that is) amidſt the ſervices or his people, and he feedeth amongst the lilies, that is, amongſt the Saints; therefore ſaith the Spouſe, Let my beloved come into his garden, and let him eat, Cant. 4.16. yea, ſo much is Chriſt delighted with ſuch food, as that he will rather bid himſelf to the ſouls table, then fail to be a gueſt, Rev. 3.20. Behold, I ſtand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open unto me, I will come in to him, and ſup with him.
Fifthly,5. Finde Chriſt a way out of the wilderneſs. If thou haſt been in a wayleſs wilderneſs thus long, labor to finde Chriſt a way for thy ſoul to walk in, John 14.6. I am the way, no man cometh to the Father but by me; but of this more afterward.
Secondly,2. Thy ſoul a way for Chriſt to walk in. Labor alſo to finde thy ſoul a way for Jeſus Chriſt to walk in; this was the Spouſes great deſire, Cant. 4.16. O, ſaith ſhe, awake north winde, and blow ſouth, and raiſe up my spices; and all to fit her for the incoming of her beloved into her garden: Oh! happy, happy is that ſoul, that having been a wilderneſs before, becomes a garden of walks unto Jeſus Chriſt now.
Sixthly, If thou haſt been as a waſte wilderneſs,6. Finde Chriſt huſbanded for thy ſoul. and in a waſte wilderneſs hitherto; O labor to finde Chriſt Jeſus huſbanded for thy ſoul! ſaith Chriſt, John 15.1. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman: It ſeems Jeſus Chriſt is husbanded, and I'le tell you how; God ſuffered the plowers to plow long furrows upon his back, Pſalm 129.3. yea, Chriſt was willing to be husbanded, inſomuch as the Lord himſelf ſeems unto me to ſtand admiring at Chriſt, when he ſees him ſo husbanded, and willing to be ſo dreſt, Iſa 63.1. Who is this that comes from Edom, with died garments from Boſrah? it was Chriſt, and how comes he to be red in his apparel? Why? he trod the wine-preſs alone, verſe 3. this, if you reſpect his vengeance towards his enemies, mentioned verſe 4. may be underſtood as it is expreſſed, actively; but if you will reſpect the coming of the year of his redeemed, mentioned alſo, verſe 4. it muſt be underſtood paſſively, and ſo this expreſſion is, but paralel to Iſa. 53.4. he trod the wine-preſs, that is, he was bruiſed in the wine-preſs, bruiſed for our iniquities: This is clear, if Chriſt be a vine, and ſo husbanded in the yard; if this vine bring forth, and its fruit be husbanded in the preſs, both are for the poor ſouls advantage.
2. Labor to be husbanded for Chriſt.Secondly, Labor if thou haſt been a waſte wilderneſs unto Chriſt thus long, now to become unto him a well-husbanded garden all thy days.
Remarkable is that paſſage unto me, Cant. 8.11. Solomon had a vineyard, and he let it out to keepers, and every one for the fruit thereof, was to bring a hundred pieces of ſilver: If the ſoul be husbanded, it is for Chriſt; Chriſt muſt have the rent, yea, and the ſoul will give it him too, Cant. 8.12. Thou, O Solomon, (that's Chriſt) ſhalt have a thouſand, and the keepers of the fruit (that's Chriſts faithful Miniſters) ſhall have two hundred. O that I could now hear you cry out unto Chriſt, as the Spouſe doth, verſe 13. Thou that dwelleſt in the gardens, the companions hearken unto thy voice, cauſe me to hear it: Friends, this is Chriſts voice which is hearkned unto by Chriſts companions, even this which you hear this day; you dwell in the wilderneſs, but Chriſt dwells in the gardens, wherefore he calls you out of the wilderneſs to come unto him, yea, he call; you from the wilderneſs to become unto him as a garden; the Lord cauſe you to hear it.