A Scripture-Map of the Wilderness of Sin, Treatise · Part 4 · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. A removall of remaining prejudices.
THirdly, As to Chriſts wooing-diſcourſe.3ly, As to Chriſts wooing diſcourſe in general. He ſpeaks Conviction inſtead of Complement in the generall, and his particular Terms in his Diſcourſe, are altogether croſſe to fleſh and bloud. I ſhall endeavour to remove theſe prejudices, and to make you acknowledge the lovelineſſe of this kinde of Chriſts Diſcourſe, and theſe termes in ſpeciall. And
Chriſts Convictions.Firſt, As to Chriſts Convictions, theſe three Ingredients ſufficiently ſweeten that bitter Cup. They are Wiſe, Affectionate, and Conſolatory.
1. They are wiſe, therefore lovely.Firſt, The ſharpeſt of Chriſts wooing-convictions are altogether lovely, becauſe altogether w…ſe. Heare what the wiſe man ſaith, of wiſe Convictions, Prov. 25.12. As an Earing of Gold, and an Ornament of fine Gold, ſo is a wiſe reproofe. Now if I can but prove, what I hope you dare not deny, viz. That Chriſts Convictions are wiſe Convictions; what can be more ſutable for a ſuiter, to beſtow on her that he intends to eſpouſe, then Earings of Gold, and Ornaments of fine gold? Well then may theſe paſſe for Chriſts dear love Tokens in his firſt wooing. Wiſe reproofs are from riches of grace, and are themſelves a rich preſent, too rich for any to deſpiſe: in this Caſe, that ſoule that you may call Coy, God will call no leſſe then Scerner, Prov. 15.12. A ſcorner loveth not him that reproveth him. If Chriſts Convictions be not lovely to thee, it is not becauſ they are poor Tokens, but becauſ thou art a proud perſon, and a ſcorner. And whatſoever heart dare ſcorne the riches of Chriſts wooing Convictions, that heart would ſcorne even his Marriage-Conſolations. Yea, God will account thee a fool, as well as a ſcorner, Prov. 9.8. Reprove a wiſe man and he will love thee. He that is wiſe enough rightly to eſtimate theſe Convictions in his judgement, will highly eſteem them in his affections. He that knowes them, will undoubtedly love them; I meane, that knowes the valew of them. The wiſe will ſay, Let Chriſt reprove me, and it ſhall be an excellent oyle that ſhall not break mine Head, Pſal. 141.5.
Now to convince you of the wiſdome of Chriſts Convictions. Conſider the ſeaſonableneſſe and ſutableneſſe of them.
For 1. They are ſeaſonable.Firſt, A wiſe Conviction is that which is in ſeaſon, which Solomon calls, Golden Apples in ſilver Pictures, Prov. 25.11. concluding ſeaſonable reproof, to be wiſe reproof, verſe 12. This was Abigaels renowned wiſdome, when David was juſt a ruining her whole Family, had not ſhe by gracious reproofe ſtopt his fury, taking that ſeaſon, when by her preſent his paſſion was allayed, and how lovely was it to David? 1 Sam. 25.32, 33. David was wiſe, and therefore this word was an Earing of gold unto him. The ſame woman, with the ſame wiſdome, defers her Conviction as to her Husband till the fitteſt ſeaſon, ver. 37. Till the wine was gone out of him; but he was a Nabal, a fool, and his heart was dead as a ſtone. Now ſuch ſeaſonable Convictions, are Chriſts Convictions: when ſoules are neare ruining themſelves and others, in ſtrikes the Spirit, and reproves of ſin, of righteouſneſs and judgement, at the beſt ſeaſon: When Saul was neare Damaſcus, the intended bloody ſtage of his perſecuting madneſſe, then, juſt then in comes a wooing word of Conviction, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? Act. 9.3, 4. Who of you can ſpeake of Chriſts Convictions, but muſt remember that Chriſt took the beſt ſeaſon; to ſay unto you, Soul, Soul, why refuſeſt, reſiſteſt, rejecteſt thou me? Thou maiſt wonder that Chriſt ſhould ſend ſuch a word, to ſtop thee at ſuch a time, in ſuch a ſeaſon.
2ly,2ly. Suitable. As the wiſdome of Conviction lies in chooſing a fit Seaſon, ſo a fit frame of Spirit, fit words, fit matter; I ſay, fit to perſwade, not to provoke; to ſoften, not to incenſe, and ſo to harden. As, ſirs, if you be never ſo good, and the parties you reprove never ſo bad, your Reproofs cannot be acceptable, if they approve not of you, that are reproved by you. Now this I can ſay, to prove theſe Reproofes of Chriſt lovely, That Chriſt rather manageth his wooing Convictions in a pleading, than upbraiding way: Chriſt upbraids not but when unbeliefe rejects him; and puts him away: and for this indeed he will upbraid his very Diſciples, even after Marriage, Mar. 16.14. Although he be ſlow enough hereunto, as is to bee marked from Mat. 11.20. He began to upbraid them, becauſe they believed not; but in other caſes, He upbraideth no man, Jam. 5.1. But like as he pleaded with the Fathers of old, ſo will he plead with ſoules, Ezek. 20 36. A Chapter full of ſuch pleading you have, Ezek. 18. And ſee how it cloſeth, verſe 31.32. Why will you dye? I would not have it ſo, ſaith God, wherefore return, and live ye. Verily ſuch language from the mouth of a gracious God to wretched ſinners, might melt an heart of hardeſt ſtone. Chriſt might upbraide us into Hell, and yet when his words are ſharpeſt, as Jer. 3. afore quoted, they are but to plead us into his own boſome. Chriſt delights not to taunt us for our ſin, but to humble us under, and to rid us of our ſin.
2ly, They are loving, and therefore lovely.2ly, As they are wiſe, ſo winning, they are loving, and therefore lovely Convictions. They are pleadings managed by wiſdome, full fraight of affection: no queſtion Joſephs Convictions ſat ſad upon his Brethrens ſpirits, when they were ſtruck speechleſſe, and could not anſwer him a word, Gen. 45.3. I am Joſeph whom ye ſold, verſe 4. There's the Conviction. I am Jeſus whom ye have ſold for ſin, for luſt, for vanity, for the world. Yea, but Joſeph vents his owne affections, and breaks out into weeping upon them, verſe 15. and that gives vent unto their utterance, for after that (ſaith the Text) his Brethren talked with him, that is, When they ſaw how affectionate his Convictions were. Now this is our Joſephs, our Jeſus his manner; O ſweet Convictions, when moſt bitter, becauſe ſweetned by his moſt bitter teares. If Jeſus convince Jeruſalem, his eyes ſhall ſpeak it, as well as his lips, Luk. 19.41. He beheld the City, and wept over it, ſaying, if thou hadſt known, &c. 'Tis that makes theſe Reproofes ſo rich a preſent, becauſe Chriſts teares are ſuch precious Pearls.
3ly, They are conſolatory, therefore lovely.3ly, Chriſts Convictions are lovely, becauſe conſolatory. As ſoon as ever Chriſt hath made you weep, he will ſmile that you may rejoyce. That paſſage is to be remarked, Ioh, 16.7. I will ſend the Comforter; and how is that amplified? ver. 8. He ſhall convince. You uſe to wrap up your bitter Pills in ſweet outſides, Sugar, Sirrups, &c. But Chriſt doth otherwiſe, he puts the moſt bitter outmoſt. You have ſome Nuts, that have hard ſhells, that muſt be broken, and then you come at a bitter peeling, and under that lyes the ſweet Kernel. Our hearts are thoſe hard ſhels, Chriſt breaks theſe, and then we come at Convictions, theſe are bitter peeles, but under theſe lye Conſolations: Oh! thoſe are ſweet Kernels. I am Joſeph whom you ſold; 'twas a cutting word, Gen. 45.4. Now therefore be not grieved, for God did ſend me before you to preſerve your life: there's a curing word for't, ver. 5. We cannot think that Joſeph did forbid them, to grieve for their ſin: but to grieve inordiately, or diſtractedly. I am Jeſus whom you abuſed: Oh! there's a killing Conviction: but be not grieved to deſpair, for I was ſold to death, that I might preſerve your life, and ſent to Heaven through perſecution, that I might prepare a place for you: Oh! that word will revive you. If Chriſt allure into the wilderneſſe of Conviction, making you as Joſephs Brethren, at a loſs in your ſelves, that you ſhall not know what to ananſwer: know, that he can furniſh a delicious Table in this Wilderneſſe, and there speak comfortably unto you, Hoſ. 2.14. Now then if you be ſo ſcornful, or unwiſe, as to hate to be reproved, though Chriſt convince ſo cordially, ſo comfortingly, and have Adders ears unto theſe Charmings, charm he never ſo wiſely; take your Courſe, pleaſe your ſelves: the world will paint, when Chriſt will be as Fullers ſoap to waſh your lying beauty from you: the world will flatter, and dare deceive; Note.Chriſt your ſuiter will not, his ſpokeſman dare not. But know whereever you make your choice, you muſt have bitter as well as ſweet: Chriſts is a bitter-ſweet, the world is a ſweet-bitter: Chriſts wormwood is firſt taſted, the beſt wine is kept for the laſt, The Worlds, Satans, Sins diſcourſe are lyes, folly, flattery, &c. though theſe be ſweet in thy mouth, and thou hide them under thy tongue, yet ſhall thy meat in thy bowels be turned, and prove the gall of Aſps within thee, Job 20.12, 14. Thus much to perſwade you into love with Chriſts wooing Convictions. But now more particularly.In particular, The termes of Chriſts diſcourſe are alſo lovely termes. The firſt, viz. Your leaving Fathers houſe. 1. Its reaſonable.
Secondly, I ſhall endeavour to repreſent the lovelineſs of thoſe wooing termes of Chriſts diſcourſe whereof I ſpake.
The firſt whereof is this, You muſt forget your own people, and forſake your Fathers houſe, if you marry me, ſaith Chriſt; unto which prejudice I anſwer, 'tis no more then reaſonable, nay, 'tis no more then is profitable.
Firſt. 'Tis no more then reaſonable. Except you miſtake Chriſts meaning, for Chriſt doth not require you to forſake naturall Relations, any farther then they forſake and perſwade you to forſake Chriſt: This is clear, for ſaith the Text in the next words, Pſal. 45.11. He is thy Lord, and worſhip thou him. If they hinder thee herein, herein thou muſt hate them, be they Father, Mother, Siſter, Brother, Wife, Childe, who they will, elſe thou canſt not marry Chriſt. Now this is no more then what Reaſon, and the very Law of Nature obligeth you in, to your carnal and civil Husbands, Gen. 2.24. Therefore ſhall a man leave Father and Mother, and cleave to his wife, and ſo on the other hand. What, leave loving them? Yes, leave loving them better then his Wife, or her Husband. Leave them, rather than by them be perſwaded to leave one another. And ſurely if any Husband in the world may righteouſly ſay, Hearken O daughter, and leave thy Fathers houſe; Chriſt may ſay ſo, who is the moſt tranſcendent deſerver of our whole affection negative, and poſitive, our leaving love, and cleaving love, with all the conſequences and expreſſions of the moſt intimate and entire affections.
2ly, Its profitable.Secondly, It is no more then is profitable. You may object: Alas! I would marry Chriſt if I durſt, but my Father is carnal, and an enemy to the match, and now if I ſhould take your counſell, and own Chriſt, my Father would take away my portion, and diſown me: and as for that Son of man, your ſelfe have ſaid, that he hath not an hole on Earth where to lay his head, and where will he then finde a pillow to lay mine upon. I anſwer, You cannot loſe by leaving for Chriſt. If thou have a Father, and a Fathers houſe which thou forſakeſt for Chriſt, Chriſt hath a Father, and a Fathers houſe, where there are breads enough, for ſo runnes the Greek foreign, the expreſſion is redundant, to ſhew that the proviſions are abundant, Luk. 15.17. And Beds enough, ſo ſaith the Text, Io. 14.2. And if it had not been ſo, Chriſt would have told you before he had taken you out of the warme boſome of your Father or Mother; but becauſe it is ſo, He is gone to prepare a place for you, and will come again and receive you to himſelf, that where he is made welcome, you may be alſo, verſe 3. The fewer friends you have for Chriſt, the more you have in Chriſt.
A ſecond is this, If you will marry Chriſt,The 2d. viz. You muſt look for ſorrows. you muſt look for many a ſad and mourning day. This is an hard ſaying to fleſh and blood, but Grace can gladly heare it. We muſt be ſorrowfull, nay (as he ſaid of dying) bleſſed be God that we ſhall be ſorrowful. 'Tis but for a time; yea, it is a good time, and in order to a better time, as being it ſelfe a ſeeds-time.
1. You ſhall be ſorrowful, but not for eternity, But 1. 'Tis but for a time.(which muſt be their portion that go without the Bridegroom to eternity) but for a time called an hour, compared to the pangs of a woman, and then (as hers) your ſorrow ſhal be turned to joy: Chriſt will ſee you again, and your heart ſhall rejoyce, Joh. 16.20, 21, 22. Sorrowes during you, and your induring ſorrow may be for a night, or ſo, and then over againe, for in his favour is life, Pſal. 30.5.
2ly, Yea, and even this time is a good time,2ly, Yea, and this is a good time. better than the vain mans beſt time: yea, and ſuch as perhaps thou wilt learne to account one of thine own beſt times. Experience hath taught the Worldling to ſay, Rainy weather is good, becauſe it is growing weather; and hath it not taught you to ſay, bleſſed are they that mourn? Hee that had experience of joyes and ſorrowes, as much as any man, and as much wiſdome to give verdict, hath told us, Eccle. 7.3. Sorrow is better then laughter, for by the ſorrow of the Countenance, the heart is made better.
3ly, Its a good time in order to a better, viz a ſeeds time.3ly, Yea, and it is a good time in order to a better time, for it is a Seeds time. Sow now, and reap afterwards: Sow tears for a ſmall moment, and gather everlaſting mercies: Travell for an hour, and rejoyce with joy, that none can take from you. A little Seed brings a rich Crop: light afflictions for a moment, a farre more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Moment any ſorrowes, eternal joyes, light afflictions, an exceeding weighty glory. You Husbandmen ſet your hand to Gods plough, learn to ſow this ſeed; turn to Pſal. 126.5, 6. They that ſow in tears, ſhall reap in joy: He that goes forth weeping, bearing precious ſeed, ſhall doubtleſs come again rejoycing, bringing his Sheaves with him. Who can deſire greater aſſurance, or ſurer advantage?
The 3d. You muſt draw in Chriſts yoak, and carry his burthen: But 1. 'Tis light and eaſie.A third is, If you will marry Chriſt, you muſt draw in his yoak, and beare his burthen daily. Oh! but it is
1. But an eaſie Yoak, and light burthen, Mat. 11.29. 'Tis upon the matter, but as if one ſhould ſay to his ſweet heart, If you will have me, you muſt bear a burthen, and carry a Chaine continually for my ſake; the Chaine is this Neck-chain of Pearl, the burthen, this Earing of gold. What one experienced and true Chriſtian is there of you, that would willingly be lightned of any one, even of the heavieſt links in all Chriſts Chain? ſurely to carry Chriſts burthen, is to ſhare in Chriſts glory. The burthen that Chriſts Spouſe carries, is glory all within, and Gold of Ophir without: and now how much is ſhe hurt? ſee Pſal. 45.9, 13.
But ſecondly, And if there be any tyring weight in it,2ly, The heavy parts of them will Chriſt bear for thee. he engageth himſelfe to beare it for thee. I cannot apprehend, that it is the advantage that Chriſt lookes to take by our work, ſo much as the delight he takes in our Company. For, upon the matter, we doe but as it were hold the Candle, whileſt he doth the work: we ſet our hand to the plough, but its he that drives it. The wife of youth muſt be where the Husband is, becauſe he delights in her Company, though many times her helpe may rather hinder, and make more work, then put forward that that is: Though Chriſt knowes we know not how to doe any thing (for alas we know not how to ſpeak as we ſhould, Rom. 8.26. much leſſe to worke as we ſhould) yet will he have us ſet our hands to every thing: but now read Iſai. 26.12. Thou haſt wrought our works in us, there's a word of experience. Read Phil. 2.13. It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do, there's a word of Doctrine, as a ground to ſuch experience. Read Heb. 13.20. The God of peace make you perfect in every good work, working in you, &c. Here's a prayer bottom'd upon ſuch a word of Doctrin, and ſeconded ever, if put up in faith, by ſuch Experience. So then what of the Yoak and Burthen, is bountiful and glorious ſhalt thou beare; and what of it is difficult, and too hard and heavy for thee will Chriſt bear: Therefore it is ſaid of the Spirit foreign, Bez. reads ſublevat, i. e. Not onelyonly doth the ſpirit helps us, but (as it were) bears with us over againſt us, and ſo lightneth our burthen, (for ſo the Metaphor taken from men that lift together at a weight ſignifies) as well as ſtrengthens our weakneſſe.