The Saints Delight, Discourse – Errata

The Saints Delight · Discourse – Errata

p. 327CHRISTS LOVELINES.

CANT. 5.16.

Yea, he is altogether lovely.

IN this book (which is a Divine Epithalamium or Marriage-Song) are all the ſtrains of holy love ſet forth in the pureſt allegories and metaphors, ſuch as do repreſent that dear affection and union between Chriſt, and his Church. The Text is nothing elſe but the breathing forth of the Spouſes love to Chriſt, He is p. 328altogether lovely, in the verſes precedent ſhe had made her ſacred Panegyricks, and had been ſetting Chriſt forth in his ſpiritual embroidery.

V. 10 He is white and ruddy, v. 10. This denotes the excellency of complexion **Perfecta pulchritudo ſita eſt in ſuavitate caloris, & harmonia membrorum. Plato; in him is a mixture of the pureſt colours; he is of unſpotted beauty.

—Niveo natat ignis in ore purpureus—

The chiefest among ten thouſand. The Hebrew word is foreign. The Standard-Bearer among ten thouſand **foreign ſignificat vexillum erigere, ſeu inſignire.; The Standard is a Warlike Enſign, and he who did bear the Standard in antient times, was the moſt eminent perſon in the Army; ſo Chriſt is the moſt glorious Perſon of renown, the Standard Bearer; According to that Iſa 11.10. He ſhall stand for an Enſigne of the People.

p. 329V. 11 His head is as the moſt fine Gold, ver. 11 **Aurum obryzum, Vatabl.. Kings have crowns of Gold, Chriſt is deſcribed with an head of Gold. The Hebrew word foreign ſignifies, Shining Gold, or ſparkling **Caput ejus veſtitum lapidibus pretioſis, ſive gemmis aureo diademati internextis. Co. de lap.. To ſet forth the infinite reſplendency of Chriſts Beauty, tis of that ſparkling luſtre, that the Angels are fain to wear a vail.

V. 12 His eyes are as the eyes of Doves, ver 12. foreignChriſt is deſcribed with eyes like a flame of fire, Rev. 1.14. ſo indeed he hath to the wicked; He is a conſuming fire; but to his Children he hath Doves eyes; which are the embleme of meekneſs; he hath eyes dropping tears of love and compaſſion.

V. 13 His Cheeks are as a bed of Spices ver. 1 3. There is an Aromatick perfume comes from him to refreſh a fainting ſoul. Some Expoſitors underſtand this Bed of p. 330Spices to be meant of the fragrancy of his vertues, which are in Scripture compared to ſweet ointments.

Thus the Spouſe goes on deciphering Chriſts Beauty; at laſt being in an holy rapture of ſpirit, She windes up all with this Epiphonema, or paſſionate ſtrain of affection, His mouth is moſt ſweet, yea he is altogether lovely.

His mouth is moſt ſweet; The Caldee paraphraſeth it, the words of his Palate are ſweet as honey; in the Hebrew it is foreign His mouth is Sweetneſſes. That mouth muſt needs be ſweet which hath the words of eternal life **John 6.68.John 6:68. That mouth muſt needs be ſweet, a kiſs of whoſe lips can make death ſweet to a Believer: well might the Spouſe ſay, Let him kiſs me with the kiſſes of his mouth, Cant. 1.2.

p. 331— Dulcior hyblaeo cujus fl…it ore venuſtas Nectare,Boch. Antuerpienſ.

concinnuſque lepos—

Yea, he is altogether lovely, **I…ſunt ei omnia pretioſiſſima & ſplendi diſſima, Junius.as if the Spouſe had ſaid, what do I go to ſet Chriſt forth in his ſeveral parts, his Head of Gold, his Eyes like doves, his hands as Gold rings ſet with the Beryll, his Belly as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires, &c. alas, What is all this that I have been ſpeaking of Chriſt? how barren is my invention, how dull are my expreſſions, what ever I have ſaid of him falls infinitely ſhort of his worth, but this I affirm, he is altogether lovely **foreign, Sept. Chriſti ſpecies eximia Gr-Nyſſen.

The word in the originall is foreign he is all made up of loves and delights **In ſe continet eminenter omne quod eſt expetibile. Lap., ipſe totus deſideria, he is all that may excite deſire. So Hierome and Ambroſe render it; he is compoſed of ſweetneſs, and p. 332amiableneſs, Dici mus de cedro quam pulcher viſu, quam fragrans cortice, quam dulcis medulla interiori, illum totum eſſe ſaccharum, ſic ſponſa de Chriſto, Ghiſlerus.ſo Gregory Nyſſen.

The text you ſee containes a glorious and magnificent deſcription of Chriſt; He is altogether lovely. Behold here a ſpring full of the water of life, and whoſoever brings his veſſel hither, a heart fit to receive this water, may be refreſhed, as the woman of Samaria coming to Jacobs Well, for Chriſt is here. The text is a ſacred Cabinet which contains in it, firſt the Jewel, Chriſt, in this word He; ſecondly, the Price of this Jewel, altogether lovely.

Doctr. The truth reſulting from the Words is this, That Jeſus Chriſt is infinitely and ſuperlatively lovely.

He is the moſt amazing, and delightful object; the very name of Jeſus Chriſt is as a pretious ointment poured forth. Tis ſaid that the Letters of this Name were p. 333found engraven upon Ignatius his heart; Jeſus Chriſt is in every Believers heart, Col. 1.23. Chriſt in you; and nothing can do better there, for he is altogether lovely.

This whole book of the Canticles is beſpangled with the praiſes of Chriſt. Homer might praiſe Achilles, It Epitaph Nepot.Hierom might commend Nepotian, but who can ſet forth Chriſts praiſe? all that I can ſay, will be no more then the dark ſhadow in the Picture; and yet it will be ſo much as may repreſent him very lovely. That Chriſt is thus tranſcendantly lovely will appear four manner of waies.

By

1. Titles.

2. Types.

3. Reſemblances.

4. Demonſtrations.

1. By Titles, 1. By Titles.which are ſo many jewels hung upon his crown; p. 334he is called, The deſire of all Nations, Hag. 2.7. The Prince of peace, Iſa. 9.7. The holy one of God, Acts 2.27. Elect, pretious, 1 Pet. 2.6. Theſe are lovely Titles.

2. 2. By Types.By Types; he was prefigured by ſuch Types, as were very lovely, and theſe Types were either of perſons or things.

1. 1. Type.Chriſt was typified by perſons moſt lovely. I will name but three.

1. He was prefigured and typified by Moſes. He was a perſon of Renown in Iſrael, whom the Lord knew face to face, Deut. 34.10. Moſes did type out Chriſt in four things;

1. In his Natural beauty, he was a goodly child, Exod. 2.2. Joſephus faith Moſes was ſo fair, that he drew the eyes of all to him, and that thoſe who had ſeen him were ſo amazed at his beauty, and did ſeed upon it with ſuch p. 335delight, that they were unwilling to look off again **foreign, Joſephus.. And herein he was a Type of Chriſtin whom are all ſparkling beauties to be found; he is foreign altogether lovely.

2. Moſes was a Type of Chriſt in his Education; he was bred up a while at Court, and (as Joſephus ſaith) Pharaohs Daughter ſet a Crown of Gold upon his Head; but leaving the Court he went and lived in the Land of Midian, Exod. 2.15. ſo Chriſt left the Royal Court of Heaven to come and live in the World.

3. Moſes was a type of Chriſt in his Office; he was a Prophet, Deut. 34.10. and there aroſe not a Prophet ſince in Iſrael like unto Moſes. He acquainted Iſrael with the mind of God, he gave them the two Tables of the Law. So Jeſus Chriſt is a Prophet, Luke 24.19. he reveals to his people p. 336the myſteries of ſalvation, He unſeals the Book of Gods decree **Ideo angelus dictus ob officium propheticum. Tertul., and makes known his Will, Rev. 5.5. He is counted worthy of more glory then Moſes, Heb. 3.3.

4. Moſes vvas a Type of Chriſt in his Noble Acts; 11. he was a Deliverer of the people from the Egyptian furnace, he vvas a temporal Saviour. So Jeſus Chriſt, his Name foreign ſignifies a Saviour Mat. 1.21. He ſhall ſave his people from their ſinnes.

22. Moſes vvas an interceſſor for Iſrael and turned avvay the Wrath of God from them, Num. 14. foreign.So Chriſt is the Saints Advocate, Rom. 8.34. Who alſo maketh interceſſion for us.

2. Chriſt vvas typified by David.

1. David vvas a King, So is Chriſt adorned vvith Regall povver, he is a King to govern his people, Revel. 15.3. and to p. 337conquer his enemies, Pſal. 110.1.2. David was a man after Gods own heart. This did prefigure Chriſt in whom God was well pleaſed, Mat. 3.17.

33. Chriſt was typified by Solomon. 1. In his Name foreign, which ſignifies peaceable; ſo Chriſt is call'd the Prince of peace, Iſa. 9.7. This the Angels proclaim'd at his incarnation, Luke 2.14. Peace on earth; all his wars tend to peace; he gives that peace which paſſeth all underſtanding **foreign. Ignat.. 2. Solomon typified Chriſt in his government: His was a moſt flouriſhing Kingdom, 2 Chr. 9.22. King Solomon, paſſed all the Kings of the earth in riches; ſo Chriſts Kingdome is very glorious, all his ſubjects are made Kings; he reigns in heaven and earth, and of his Kingdome is no end. 3. Solomon typified Chriſt in his Wiſdome; he was the Oracle of his age, 1 King. 4.31. He was wiſer than all p. 338men **foreign. Joſeph. antiq. l. 8.. So Chriſt received the unction from his Father; he had a ſpirit of wiſdom and holineſſe poured upon him without meaſure, John 3.34 Iſa. 11.2. Behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Thus Jeſus Chriſt was prefigured by thoſe perſons who were moſt lovely.

22. Chriſt was typified by Things moſt lovely. I will inſtance only in five. Type. 1 1. Chriſt was typified by the pillar of cloud and fire, which was Iſraels guide and conduct in the Wilderneſſe, Exod. 13.21. **Erat columna corpus quoddam ex acre condenſato mirum in modum à Deo preparatum ad uſam Iſraeliticum in cremo. Tornielli Annal.This did typifie Chriſt our pillar of cloud, who guides our feet into the way of peace, Luke 1.79. The cloud was unerring, for God was in it; ſuch is Chriſt, who is the way, and the truth, John 14.6. How lovely is this pillar to behold?

p. 339Type. 2 2. By the Manna. This pointed at Chriſt. He is like the Manna in three things.

1. The figure of Manna was circular, Exod. 16.14. There lay a ſmall round thing, &c. The circle is a figure of perfection; this typed out Chriſt in whom is all perfection.

2. Cibus paratus.The Manna was a meat prepared for Iſrael in an extraordinary manner; ſo the Hebrew word (from whence Manna ſeems to be derived **foreign) ſignifies to prepare. Manna was a meat cook'd and dreſſed in heaven; God himſelf prepared it, and then ſerv'd it in; Thus Jeſus Chriſt was like Manna, he was prepared and ſet apart by his Father to the bleſſed work of mediatorſhip, Heb. 10.5. Abody haſt thou prepared me

3. The Jewiſh Rabbins ſay, Manna ſuited it ſelf to every ones pallat; whatever he deſired, that he found in Manna; ſo Jeſus Chriſt p. 340ſuits himſelf to every Chriſtians condition; he is full of quickning, ſtrengthning, comforting vertue **Amaritu dines mundi dulces reddit. Auſtin., What fools are they that preferre the earthly mammon before this heavenly Manna!

Type. 3 3. By the mercy-ſeat which was a ſacred embleme or hyeroglyphick repreſenting the mercy of God to his people; there the Lord did give forth his Oracles and anſwers of peace to his people, Exod. 25.22. There will I meet thee, and I will commune with thee, &c. This mercy-ſeat was a type of Chriſt **Cyrill de incarnat unigen. Greg. hom. 6. ſup. Ezek. Rupertus.; in, and thorough whom God is appeaſed towards us. Therefore he is called foreign, a Propitiation, Rom. 3.25. O how lovely is this mercy-ſeat! We could not ſpeak to God in prayer, nor would he commune with us, were it not for this bleſſed propitiatory. The Hebrew word for mercy-ſeat **foreign, ſignifies a Covering, to ſhew that in Chriſt the p. 341ſinnes of beleevers are covered.

Type. 4 4. Chriſt was prefigured by the brazen Serpent, Numb. 21.9. The brazen Serpent reſembled Chriſt two wayes. 1. It was made like a Serpent, but it was no real Serpent; ſo Chriſt was in the likeneſſe of ſinful fleſh, Rom. 8.3. but he was not a ſinner; he was made ſin, but he knew no ſinne. Chriſt was as void of ſinne, as the brazen Serpent was of a ſting.

2. Qui iſtam Scrpentem metallinum intuerentur à Serpentum morſibus ſanati fuerunt; ita qui Chriſtum fide contemplantur, &c. Toſtat. Paradox. 4.When the people of Iſrael were ſtung by the fiery Serpents, v. 6. then whoſoever did look upon the brazen Serpent were cured. Thus when ſinne ſtings the ſouls of men (for it is a Serpent with five ſtings, it ſtings men with guilt, ſhame, horror of conſcience, death, the curſe of God.) Now Chriſt that brazen Serpent being looked upon with a penitent beleeving eye, Zach. 12.10. cures theſe p. 342deadly ſtings. **Joh. 3.15John 3:15Oh how lovely is this brazen Serpent! many of the Jews (ſaith Toſtatus) worſhipped the Serpent of braſſe; let us in our hearts adore this brazen Serpent the Lord Jeſus.

Type. 5 5. Chriſt was typified by Noahs Ark, which ſaved Noah and his family from the flood. Thus when the wrath of God, as a deluge, overflows the wicked, Chriſt is the Ark in which the beleever ſailes above thoſe bloody waves, and is preſerved from drowning. And is not the Lord Jeſus lovely? all theſe types did but ſerve to ſhadow forth the divine excellencies of Chriſt, and render him amiable in our eyes.

33. By reſem. blances.That Chriſt is thus lovely, appears by thoſe things to which the Scripture doth reſemble him. He is compared to things moſt illuſtrious. There are ſeven lovely reſemblances of Chriſt in Scripture,

p. 34311. He is reſembled to a Roſe, Cant. 2.1. I am the Roſe of Sharon **i. e. Roſa odoratiſſima; ut illa quae in locis apricis Florent. Junius.. The Roſe is Regina florum; the Queen of flowers: 'tis moſt delicious for colour and ſcent; to ſhew that fragrant perfume which Chriſt ſends forth. All Roſes, though beautiful, have their prickles; only the Roſe of Sharon excepted; ſo ſweet is this Roſe of Paradiſe, that it makes us become a ſweet ſavour to God, Epheſ. 1.6. This Roſe is ſemper vivens, it never loſeth its colour or fragrancy, and is it not very lovely?

22. Chriſt is reſembled to a Vine, John 15.1. The Vine (as Pliny ſaith) is the nobleſt of plants; to this is Chriſt compared. Oh what lovely cluſters grow upon this Vine! the fruits of Juſtification, Sanctification, &c. Theſe bunches of grapes hang upon the Lord Jeſus. We are beholding to this Vine, Hoſ. 14.8. From me is thy fruit found **Qui viret in foliis, venit à radicibus humor.; p. 344nay, Chriſt excels the Vine. For, 1. Though there be many things in the Vine tree beſides the fruit uſeful, the leaves, the gumme, the aſhes of the Vine **Pliny.; yet the wood of the Vine is unuſeful, Ezek. 15.3. Will men take a pin of it to hang any veſſel thereon? now herein Chriſt is more lovely than the Vine-tree; There is nothing in Chriſt but is uſeful. We have need of his humane nature; we have need of his divine nature; we have need of his offices, influences, priviledges; there is nothing in this Vine we can be without. Oh how bleſſed are the branches of this Vine. The Virgin Mary was ſaved, not by bearing the Vine, but by being ingraffed into the Vine.

33. Chriſt is reſembled to a cornerstone, 1 Pet. 2.6. and that in two reſpects 1 The whole weight of the building lies upon the corner-ſtone; ſo the weight of our ſalvation p. 345lies upon Chriſt **Dicitur Chriſtus lapis ecclafiae angularis, quia eſt primarium ac principale ejus fundamentum, Eſtius, 1 Cor. 3.11, 12.2. The corner-ſtone doth unite and knit together both parts of the building; ſo when God and man were at variance, Chriſt, as the corner-ſtone did unite them together, yea, and did ceament them with his own blood. Oh how lovely and precious is this ſtone?

44. He is reſembled to a Rock, 1 Cor. 10.3. That Rock was Chriſt **i.e. Metanym: per petram ſignificatur. Eſtius.. He is a Rock in a threefold ſenſe. 1. He is a Rock for offence. The Rock breaks the waves; the Church being built upon Chriſt, all the adverſaries that come againſt her are like a ſhip coming full ſaile againſt a Rock. 2. A Rock for defence; the Dove hides in the rock, Cant. 2.14. O my Dove in the clifts of the Rock. Chriſts wounds are the clifts of the Rock where the beleeving ſoul, This Dove hides it ſelf. 3. A Rock for comfort; and that two wayes, 1. The rock is a ſcreene to ſhade off p. 346the heat; ſo Chriſt is called, Iſa. 32.2. a ſhadow from the heat; he ſhades a poor ſinner from the ſcorchings of Gods wrath. 2. Honey came out of the Rock, Iſa. 32.13. He made him to ſuck hony out of the Rock, and oyle out of the flinty Rock. The honey of the promiſes, and the oyle of gladneſſe comes out of this bleſſed rock.

55. Chriſt is compared to a river in a dry ground, Iſa. 32.2. When by nature we are as a ſcorched heath, dry and barren, Chriſt ſends forth the ſacred influences of his Blood and Spirit, making us like the fields of Sharon, full of moiſture and fertility, and are not theſe ſilver ſtreams lovely?

66. Chriſt is reſembled to a Rich treaſury. Riches are lovely in mens eyes **Gratius aurum quàm ſolem intuemur. Auſtin., Epheſ. 3.8. The unſearchable riches of Chriſt; the Angels can never dig to the bottom of this golden Mine. Chriſt hath the true monopoly, p. 347becauſe he hath thoſe riches as are no where elſe to be found. The riches of his merit, the riches of his Spirit. Chriſt hath a partnerſhip with the Father, John 16.15. All that the Father hath are mine: He is crowned with the Riches of the Deity. Alexander regarded not the Kingdome of Macedonia, when he heard of the riches of India; a Chriſtian will in a manner deſpiſe all other riches when he hath Chriſts Riches, Philip. 3.8.

77. Chriſt is reſembled to a beautiful Robe **Rom. 13.Rom 13, Iſa. 61.10. He hath covered me with the robe of righteouſneſse. Hierom interprets it of Chriſt: His righteouſneſſe is a lovely Robe; no Robe of gold, or Ermyn wherewith Kings are inveſted is ſo honourable as this: in this robe we ſhine as Angels in Gods eyes; The High-Prieſts glorious veſtments **Voluit Deus pluſquàm angelicum in Chriſto ſplendorem iſtis veſtibus oftendere. Willet.; Exod. 28.2. the Mitre, the Robe, p. 348the Ephod of Gold, and the breaſtplate of precious ſtones, did all but ſerve to ſet out the beautiful garment of Chriſts righteouſneſſe wherewith a beleever is adorned. Thus Chriſt appeares lovely in theſe ſeveral reſemblances, which can but faintly ſhadow out his beauty.

44. Chriſts lovelineſſe appears by demonſtrations; theſe two in particular. He is lovely

1. In himſelf.

2. In the account of others.

He is lovely in himſelfe, and that five manner of wayes. 1Intrinfice.1. He is lovely in his perſon; and that, 11. As he is man, Pſal. 45.2. Thou art fairer than the children of men. The Hebrew word foreign is emphatical in the forme **Pulchruiſti prae filiis hominum Pagnin. Ar. Montanus., it denotes excellency of beauty: For though it be ſaid he hath no comelineſſe, Iſa. 53.2. that was in regard of his afflictions, which p. 349did ſo disfigure, and as it were draw a vaile over his glory, yet certainly the perſon of Chriſt was incomparably faire, as Hierome and Chryſoſtome obſerve; and if his body on earth was ſo beautiful, what is it now in heaven? The Apoſtle calls it foreign, a glorious body, Phil. 3.21. If Chriſt can make a Lily of the field more beautiful than Solomon in all his glory, how faire is he himſelf? how white is that Lily which grows in Paradiſe?

22. Chriſts perſon is lovely as he is God-man **foreign. Chryſoſt de ſancta Trin.. He may not unfitly be compared to Jacobs ladder, Gen. 28.12. which reached from earth to heaven; Chriſts humane nature which was the foot of the ladder, ſtood upon the earth; his divine nature, which was the top of the ladder, reached to heaven. The Arrians and Socinians deny his Godhead, p. 350as the Valentians do his manhood **foreign. Ignat. Ep. ad Antioch.. If the God-head be in him he muſt needs be God, but the God-head ſhines in him, Col. 2.9. In him dwells foreign, All the fulneſſe of the God-head **Non dicit foreign ſed foreign quod diſcrimen contra Eutichianos notatu dignum. Beza.; and to confirme us in this truth, let us conſult with thoſe Scriptures which do clearly aſſert his Godhead, 1 Cor. 8.6. To us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and one Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by whom are all things, and Phil. 2.6. who being in the form of God; Baſil lib. 1. Cont. Eunom.which is as much (ſaith Baſil) as to exiſt in the eſſence of God, 1 Tim. 3.16. God was manifest in the fleſh, and 1 John 5.20. We are in him that is true, even in his ſonne Jeſus Christ, foreign, THIS IS THE TRUE GOD **foreign. Ignat.. Beſides theſe teſtimonies p. 351of Scripture which do expreſſely aſſert the God-head of Chriſt, it may be clearly demonſtrated by thoſe incommunicable properties belonging to the Deity which are aſcribed to Chriſt, and are the flowers of his Crown.

As, 1. Omnipotency **Juſtin. Martyr. Orat. 1. ad Graec., Heb. 1.3.

2. Omniſciency. Mark 2.8.

3. Ubiquity, Mat. 28.20.

4. Power of ſealing pardons, Mat. 9.6.

5. The miſſion of the holy Ghoſt, John 16.7.

6. Coequality with God the Father, Phil. 2.6. both in power, John 5.19, 21. and dignitie, John 5.23.

Thus we ſee his God-head proved; and as he is God-man, he is altogether lovely. He is the very p. 352picture of his fathers glory. Therefore he is called the expreſſe image, and character of his perſon, **foreign.Heb. 1.3. The very effigies and print of Gods face is ſeen in Chriſt, the glory of Gods wiſdome, holineſſe, mercy doth moſt tranſparently ſhine forth in him. Thus his perſon is lovelie.

22. Chriſt is lovely in his diſpoſition. A good nature is able to render deformity it ſelf lovely. Chriſt is lovely, not only in his complexion, but in his diſpoſition; He is of a loving and merciful diſpoſition, and in this ſenſe may be called deliciae humani Generis **Titus Veſpaſ.. It is reported of Marcus Aurelius the Emperour, that he was of a moſt affable winning temper, given to clemency, and every day he would ſet one houre apart to hear the cauſes of the poor. Thus Jeſus Chriſt is of a moſt ſweet diſpoſition **foreign. Macar., He will not alwayes chide, Pſalme 103.9. He is inclinable to p. 353ſhew mercy to the penitent. He delights in mercy, Micah 7.18. He envites ſinners to come to him, Mat. 11.28. he begs of them that they would be ſaved, 2 Cor. 5.20. he knocks at their hearts by his Spirit, till his head be fill'd with dew, and his locks with the drops of the night, Rev. 3.20. If any poor ſoul accepts of his offer, and doth ariſe, and go to him, how doth Chriſt welcome him **foreign. Macarius.. Chriſt makes the Feaſt, Luke 15.23. and the Angels make the muſick, verſe 7. But if men will not receive the tenders of grace, Chriſt grieves, Mark 3.5. He is like a Judge that paſſeth the ſentence with teares in his eyes, Luke 19.42. And when he came nigh the City, he wept. Ah ſinners, I come p. 354to ſave you, but you put away ſalvation from you **Acts 13.Acts 13. I come with healing under my wings, but you bolt out your Phyſician; I would have you but open your hearts to receive me, and I will open heaven to receive you, but you will rather ſtay with your ſinnes and die, than come to me and live, Pſalme 81.11. Iſrael would none of me. Well ſinners, I will weep at your Funerals; Oh how lovely is Chriſt in his diſpoſition! he comes with his ſuppling oyle to poure into ſinners wounds; He would faine break their hearts with his mercies, He labours to overcome their evil with his good.

33. Chriſt is lovely in his ſufferings; when he did make expiation for our ſins **1 Pet. 2.241 Pet 2:24; but what, lovely in his ſufferings? lovely when he was buffeted, ſpit upon, beſmeared with blood? O yes, he was moſt lovely upon the croſſe **Rubore ſui ſanguinis nos candidos effecit. Ghiſlerus., becauſe then he ſhewed moſt love to us; He bled love at every p. 355veine; His drops of blood were love-drops. The more bloody, the more lovely **Quanto pro me vilior, tanto mibi charior. Aug.. The more Chriſt endured for us, the more deare he ought to be to us. Oſorius writing of the ſufferings of Chriſt, ſaith, Gal. 6.14Gal 6:14that the crown of thornes bored his head with ſeventy two wounds **Doles domine non tua vulnera ſed mea. Ambroſe. Quid dicamin crucem tollere? Tully.; and Tully when he comes to ſpeak of the death of the Croſſe, ſhews his rhetorique beſt by an Apoſiopeſis, or ſilence; what ſhall I ſay of this death? Though a great Orator, he wanted words to expreſſe it.

Nor did Chriſt only endure paine in his body, but agony in his ſoul. He conflicted with the wrath of God; which he could never have done, if he had not been more than a man. We reade that the Altar of wood was overlaid with braſse, that ſo the fire on the Altar might not conſume the wood, Exod. 27.1, 2. This Altar was a type of Ieſus Chriſt. The humane nature of Chriſt, which was p. 356as the wood, was covered with the divine nature, which was like the braſse, elſe the fire of Gods wrath had conſumed it; and all this Chriſt ſuffered was nostra vice, in our stead **foreign. Ignat., Iſa. 53.5. We eat the ſoure Grape, and his teeth were ſet on edge: We climbed the tree, we ſtole the forbidden fruit, and Chriſt goes up the ladder of the Croſſe and dies. Oh how lovely ought a bleeding Savior **Pendet anima, & dulcia poma de ligno decerpit Bern. de Floribus.to be in our eys? Let us weare this bleſſed crucifix alwayes in our heart **Inſpice vulnera pendentis, ſanguinem morientis, caput habet inclinatum ad oſculandum, cor apertum ad diligendum, brachia extenia ad amplexandum, totum corpus expoſitum ad redimendum; haec quanta ſint, cogitate, haec in ſtatera veſtri cordis appendite, ut totus vobis figatur in corde, qui totus pro nobis fixus fuit in Cruce. Aug. lib. de Virgin.. Crux Chriſti clavis paradiſi. The Croſs of Chriſt ſaith Damaſcen, is the golden key that opens Paradiſe to us. How beautiful is Chriſt upon the Croſſe: The ruddineſſe of his blood took away the redneſſe of our guilt. How lovely are thoſe wounds which p. 357wounded the red Dragon; When this bleſſed rock was ſmitten, water came out of it to cleanſe us, and blood to cheare us, 1 John 5.6. When Chriſt was on the Croſſe (ſaith Bernard) jam fuit vitis amputata. Now the Vine was cut, and ſalvation came to us in the blood of the Vine; Oh how lovely is this bleeding Vine! Chriſts Crucifixion is our Coronation **Haec une medela corrofit illas quae in immenſum exereverant cicatrices, & vim ſuam concupiſcentiarum perdidit corruptela, & deleta damnationis conſcriptione, novis literis aſſignata eſt & reſtituta libertas; privilegio dato, charta indulgentiae figillo plaga lateralis firmata Cyprian. de Paſſ. Chriſti..

4. Chriſt is lovely in his Graces **Chriſtus. Candidus, quia multifaria virtute dealbatus. Hierom, Anſelm, Rupertus, Abbas.; his graces as a divine embroydery did beſpangle and ſet him off in the eyes of the world. Grace was not in Chriſt as a quality, but eſſence; as light is intrinſecal to the Sun, and is of the eſſence of it. Chriſt did open a box of precious perfume, p. 358and becauſe of the ſavors of his oyntments the Virgins love him **Cant. 1.2.Song 1:2; In Chriſt there was a conſtellation of all the graces **foreign. Chryſoſt. in P…. 45.; how did he ſhine in Wiſdom **Iſaiah 11.7.Isa 11:7, Humility, Zeal, heavenly mindedneſſe; and which did not a little adorne him, HIS MEEKNESSE **Matth. 11.29.Matt 11:29. How lovely was Chriſt in this grace!

1. He came into the world Meek, Mat. 21.5. Behold thy King cometh meek. He came not with a Sword, or Scepter in his hand, but with an Olive-branch of peace in his mouth, He preached tydings of peace. Though he was the Lion of Judah, yet he was the Lamb of God.

2. When he was in the world, he was a patterne of meekneſſe, 1 Pet. 2.23. When he was reviled, he reviled not againe. He left his Fathers boſome (that hive of ſweetneſſe) to p. 359come and live here; and truely, he exchanged his pallace for a dung-hill; how oft was he called a friend of ſinners, nay, he was charged to have a devil, but ſee how mildly he anſwers; (This Dove had no gall) John 8.49. I have not a Devil, but I honour my Father. All his words were ſteept is honey.

3. When be was going out of the world, he ſhewed unparallel'd meekneſſe. He prays for his enemies. Father forgive them, Luke 23.34. When the ſouldiers came to take him by force, one would have thought h… ſhould have called for fire from heaven, as the man of God did, 2 Kings 1.10. but behold, Grace was oured into his lips **Pſal. 45.2Ps 45:2; ſee what a mill anſwer he gives, enough to have mde the hardeſt heart relent, Matt. 26.55. Are ye come out as againſta thief, with ſwords and staves to tke me? What wrong (I pray) hae I done you? What have p. 360I ſtolen from the world, but their ſinnes? What have I robb'd them of, but the wrath of God? Oh the mildneſſe of this Saviour! ſurely had not the ſouldiers hearts been very hard **O duri, & indurati quos non emollit tanta flamma manſuetudinis! Bern. in Cant. Ser. 20.(for in the whole ſtory of Chriſts paſſion, I do not reade of one ſouldier converted; there was a thief indeed converted, but no ſouldier) Chriſts meekneſe would have melted them into teares of repentance. When he was led away to be crucified, he went as a Lamb to the ſlaughter **foreign, &c, He opened no his mouth, Iſa. 53.7. He opened he ſides, but not his mouth in repinins; and was not Chriſt lovely in his meekneſſe? No wonder the holy Ghiſt deſcended upon him in the likeneſſe of a Dove; not a Lion, or Eale, but a Dove, Vita Chriſti in terris diſciplina morum. Aug. de vera. rel.which is the emblen of meekneſſe.

55. Chriſt is lovely in h… converſation. What was ſaid of Saul and Jonathan, 2 Sam. 1.23. They were p. 361lovely in their lives; is much more true of Chriſt. His life (ſaith Chryſoſtome) was purer than the Sunnebeames. All the Ethicks of Ariſtotle, all the wiſdome of Greece could never ſo deſcribe vertue as it was lively pourtrayed out in Chriſts holy example. His life was a faire copy; never did any one write without blotting beſides Chriſt; he is call'd a Lamb without ſpot, 1 Pet. 1.19. foreign.His lips did never ſpeak a word amiſſe. Luke 4.22. All bare him witneſſe, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. Thus were his lips like Lilies, dropping pure myrrh, Cant. 5.13. His foot did never tread a ſtep awry. He who was a way to others, did never go out of the way himſelf. He was ſo pure that no tentation could faſten upon him. Tentation to Chriſt was like the throwing a bur upon a chryſtal glaſſe, which will not ſtick, but glides off. The Prince of this world p. 362cometh and hath nothing in me, John 14.30. There was no powder for the devils fire to take. What was Chriſts whole life but a pattern of good works! He went about doing good, Act. 10.38. He was either anointing the blinde, or healing the ſick, or raiſing the dead; either preaching, or working miracles. Thus he was altogether lovelie.

22. EſtimativeChriſt is lovely in the account of others. Three wayes.

1He is lovely,

1. To God his Father,

2. To the Saints,

3. To the Angels,

1. Chriſt is lovely to God his Father. God is infinitely taken with him. Chriſt is called the Roſe of Sharon, and how doth God delight to ſmell to this Roſe **Mat. 3. ult foreign. Signif. vel. In illo bene ſentire; quē ſenſum ſectatur. Iraeneus. Vel refert ad propenſum in Deo patre affectum. Grot.Matt 3! Iſa 42.1. My elect in whom my ſoul delights. Surely if there be lovelineſſe enough in p. 363Chriſt to delight the heart of God, there may well be enough in him to delight us. Chriſt is the centre where all the lines of his Fathers love do meet,

22. Chriſt is love in the account and eſteem of his Saints, 2 Theſ. 1.10. He ſhall be admired of all them that beleeve. He is admired now, and he ſhall be more admired of them. Well may the Saints admire to ſee Chriſt ſitting in the bright Robe of their fleſh above the Angels in glory. Well may they admire to ſee their nature united with the Deity. O how lovely and beautiful is this ſight! Well may Chriſt be admired of his Saints.

33. Chriſt is lovely in the eſteeme of the Angels **Ipſe candi-ruber, quia Angelos quoſque ad ſui excitat deſiderium. Ca…iodore. They adore him, Heb. 1.6. And let all the Angels of God worſhip him. The Cherubims which did repreſent the Angels, are painted with their faces looking upwards, to ſhew, that the Angels in p. 364heaven all are ſtill looking upward, as admiring, and being raviſhed with the amazing beauties of Jeſus Chriſt.

Uſe. 1 Uſe 1. Information. And it hath three Branches.1. Bran.

1. Behold here as in a Scriptureglaſſe the tranſcendent excellencies of the Lord Jeſus, He is altogether lovely **Si de placenta mellea aut ſaccharea, ſi de fructu ſapidiſſimo v. g. de ficu, quae nulles habet acinos, ſed tota eſt edilis & delicata, dicimus, haec placenta tota irritat orexin, ſi de vino ſuaviſſimo, falerno, cretico, moſcatellato dicimus hoc vinum ſumme eſt, deſiderabile; quid dicemus de Chriſto, qui omne deſiderium non tantum ſatiat ſed longe ſuperat? Corn. d. Lap., here is a faire proſpect ſet before us. I wonder not that Paul, that Seraphique Saint, defired to know nothing, ſave Jeſus Chriſt*, 1 Cor. 2.2. What would he know more? He is altogether lovely; No wonder the Apoſtles left all and followed him, Mat. 19.27. had I the tongue of Angels I could never ſet forth Chriſt in all his lively and lovely colours. Beſides what hath been ſaid, take a further view of Chriſts lovely excellencies in three particulars.

p. 3651. He is our light. Light is a glorious creature, Eccleſ. 11.7. Truly the light is ſweet; The light puls off the vaile, and draws aſide the dark curtaines of the night, making every thing appear in its freſh colours. Thus Jeſus Chriſt is lovely; foreign.He is call'd that true light, John 1.9. and the bright morning ſtar, Rev. 22.16. when the ſoul is benighted with ignorance, Chriſt is the morning-ſtar that enlightens it. He is the Sunne of righteouſneſſe, Mal. 4.2. **i. e. tanquamradiis juſtitiae ſuae perfundens electos Tremel.This Sun of righteouſneſſe is more glorious than that in the Firmament, 1. The Sunne in the firmament riſeth and ſets, but the Sun of righteouſneſſe, when it once riſeth upon the ſoule in converſion, never ſets finally upon him; it may pull in its beames, when the clouds of our ſin come between, but it comes out of the cloud again, (as it did to David) it never ſets finally. 2. The Sunne in the Firmament only ſhines upon us, but the p. 366Sunne of righteouſneſſe ſhines within us, Gal. 1.16. but when it pleaſed God to reveale his Sonne in me. The Sunne in the Firmament ſhines only upon our faces, but the Sunne of righteouſneſſe ſhines in our hearts, 2 Cor. 4.6. God hath ſhined in our hearts: How ſweet are theſe beames! 3. The Sunne in the Firmament ſhines only in the day-time, but the Sun of righteouſneſſe ſhines in the night. In the night of deſertion, and affliction this Sunne ſhines; Pſalme 112.4. Ʋnto the upright there ariſeth light in darkneſse. Oh how lovely is this Sun of righteouſneſſe! by the bright beames of this Sunne we ſee God. **foreign. Theodoret. in ſecund. Ep. ad Cor..

22. Chriſt is our food. He is not only lovely to the eye, but to the taste, Iohn 6.55. My fleſh is p. 367meat indeed. This is Princely fare; Accedis ad Chriſtum non carne ſed corde, edis Chriſtum non dente ſed fide Auſt.it was never prepared for the Angels, but for us. 'Tis lovely feeding here; Al the rarities of heaven are ſerv'd in in this diſh.

And my blood is drink indeed; This blood is better than wine. 1. Wine may be taken in exceſſe; Noah took too much of the Grape; but it is otherwiſe with the wine of Chriſts blood; there is no feare of exceſſe here. Though a drop be ſweet, yet the more we drink, the better; the deeper, the ſweeter! Drink yea, drink abundantly Obeloved, Cant. 5.1. Exceſſe here makes us ſober **Hac ebrietas ſobrios reddit! 2. Wine, though it cheares the heart, yet at ſome times, if it be taken, it may be hurtful; give wine in a Feaver and it is as bad as poiſon. But this wine of Chriſts blood is beſt in a Feaver. When the heart burns as hot as hell in the ſenſe of Gods wrath, and is, as it were, in a ſpiritual Agony and Feaver; now a drop p. 368of Chriſts blood doth allay the inflammation, and ſweetly refreſheth the ſoul, 'tis lovely drinking at this fountaine.

33. Chriſt is our life, Col. 3.4. When Chriſt who is our life ſhall appeare. Life is ſweet; life makes every thing comfortable. In this the Devil ſaid true, Skin for skin, yea all that a man hath will he give for his life, Job 2.3. A man will caſt the plate and jewels overboard to ſave his life; he will loſe a legge or an arme, to preſerve the vital parts—Vt ſerves vitam ferrum patieris, & ignem.—Is life lovely, and is not Chriſt who is our life lovely? He was typified by the the tree of life in the Garden, Gen. 2.9. That tree was Symbolical (as Auſtin ſaith) it was a pledg and ſigne of life, if man had continued in obedience. It was certainly a lovely tree, but it was only a type of Chriſt, who is called foreign, The tree of life, Rev. p. 3692.7. This tree of life the Lord Jeſus is a better tree than that which grew in Paradiſe; Adams tree in Paradiſe might preſerve life, but it could not prevent death; there was dying for all that; but this tree of life, Jeſus Chriſt, prevents death, John 11.26. Whoſoever beleeveth in me ſhall never die; that is, not die the ſecond death, Rev. 2.14. This bleſſed tree is an antidote againſt death. If there were a tree to be found in the world that could preſerve men from dying, how farre would they go on pilgrimage? What vaſt ſums of money would they give for one leaf of that tree? ſuch a tree is Chriſt, he will keep you from dying, and is not this tree very lovely? In particular, there is a threefold life flows from Jeſus Chriſt. 1. The life of grace, Joh. 1.16. Of his fulneſs have we all received, and grace for grace. This life is gemma aeternitatis; a bud of eternity, tis a life purchaſed for us by Chriſts death. p. 3702. The life of comfort, which is the creame of life, John 16.22. Your heart ſhall rejoyce. This is an holy jubilation of Spirit; ſo ſweet and raviſhing is this joy, that if David, when he had loſt his joy, had loſt alſo his crown, and God had put the queſtion to him, which of theſe two he would have reſtored, David would have ſaid, Lord, reſtore unto me the joy of thy ſalvation, Pſal. 51.12. Rather my comfort, than my Crown. 'Tis Hilary Tearm with a Chriſtian while theſe joys laſt. 3. The life of glory, John 17.22. This is the moſt noble life; this is to live the life of Angels, nay to live the life of God; 'Tis the higheſt elevation, and perfection of the reaſonable creature, and may we not cry out with Chryſoſtom foreign; What more lovely than Chriſt, from whom theſe golden ſtreams of life flow? Oh that all this might make p. 371him amiable in our eyes!

What ſhould we admire? what ſhould we rejoyce in, but Chriſt? Chriſts beauty, like his coat, is w… ven without ſeame. We read of Abſalom, 2 Sam. 14.25. In all Iſrael there was none to be ſo praiſed as Abſalom for his beauty, from the ſole of his foot, even to the crown of his head, there was no blemiſh in him. This may be farre more truly applied to Chriſt. He is the mirrour of beauty; the map of perfection, the Paradiſe of delight. He is the crown of the Goſpel; if the Goſpel be the field, Chriſt is the pearl hid in this field; If the Goſpel be the Ring, Chriſt is the Diamond in this Ring. He is the glory of heaven, Rev. 21.23. The Lamb is the light thereof. Well might Saint Paul account all things droſſe and dung for Chriſt Phil. 3.8.

2. Branch. 2. Bran. Inform.If Chriſt be altogether lovely, it ſhews us the true reaſon p. 372why men do not embrace Chriſt, namely, becauſe they are ignorant of his beauty. A blinde man doth not admire the colours in a rainebowe; when the God of this world hath blinded mens eyes, they ſee not any excellency in Chriſt **foreign. Mac.; therefore they cry out as here the Watchmen did, What is thy beloved more than another beloved? verſ. 9. Men admire not this Sunne, becauſe the cloud of their ignorance comes between. Chriſt is a treaſure, but an hid treaſure; he is fairer than the children of men, **Infoelix homo qui ſcit caetera omnia, Chriſtum autem neſcit. Auſtin.but to a natural perſon he is like Moſes with a vaile upon his face. The men of the world ſee not the ſtupendious beauty of Chriſt. He doth not want worth, but they want eyes. Oh unhappy man (ſaith Austin) who knoweſt all things elſe but Chriſt; thy knowledge will but ſerve to light thee to hell.

Queſt. Queſt. But you will ſay to me, p. 373What, not know Chriſt? I hope we are better bred than ſo; hath Chriſt been preached ſo long in our ſtreetes, and not know him?

Anſw. 1 Anſw. 1. I wiſh there were not many perſons groſſely ignorant of Chriſt, who underſtand nothing of his perſon, offices priviledges; A Reverend Divine told me, that not long ſince, he went to viſit a neighbour of his Pariſh lying on his death-bed, a man fourſcore yeares of age, one that came frequently to Church, and queſtioning with him what ſinne was, he ſaid he knew not, and what Chriſt was, he told him he knew not; but ſaith the Miniſter to him, if thou doeſt not know Chriſt, how doeſt thou think to go to heaven? his anſwer was this, If I cannot get to heaven, then I muſt ſtay by the way; Oh groſſe ignorance **foreign! Balaams aſſe ſpake better ſenſe to the Prophet, Numb. 22.28.

p. 374That people have been very ignorant of Jeſus Chriſt, appeares by this, becauſe they have been ſo inclinable to errour, ſo greedy to drink in every new opinion aſſoone as the Devil hath ſet it abroach.

Anſw. 2 But my ſecond anſwer is this, whereas you ſay, can we be ignorant of Chriſt in this broad day-light of the Goſpel? I ſay, a man may have excellent notions of Chriſt, and may be able to make an elegant diſcourſe of him, and yet not know him ſavingly. Though he be not groſſely ignorant of Chriſt, yet he may be ſpiritualy ignorant. There is a threefold defect in the knowledg of moſt.

It is a ſpeculation without

Conviction.

Affection.

Operation.

1It is a ſpeculation without conviction. Men are not thoroughly convinced p. 375of the excellencies of Chriſt; John 16.8. and when he (that is the holy Ghoſt) comes, foreign he ſhall convince the world of ſinne.

Strange! was not Chriſt in the world? had not he made many Sermons about ſin? it is true, he had, but the Jews were not yet convinced of it, therefore he ſhall ſend his Spirit to convince them. And of righrighteouſneſſe] why? had not Chriſt told them that there was no righteouſneſſe to be found but in him, that they could graff their hopes of ſalvation upon no-other ſtock beſides? yes, they had heard Chriſt ſay ſo, but they were not yet convinced; therefore the Spirit ſhall come and convince them. Hence I gather, that men may have a ſpeculation of Chriſt, yet be ignorant of him, that is, not know him convincingly; and that they have not a convincing knowledge, is clear; for were they convinced in their conſcience of the p. 376lovely excellencies of Chriſt, would they value a luſt or trifle, would they with Judas, prefer thirty pieces of ſilver before him?

22. It is a ſpeculation without affection; men have notions of Chriſt, but are not warmed with love to Chriſt. Their knowledg is like the Moon, it hath light in it, but no heat. True knowledge of Chriſt is like fire to the yce, it melts it into water; ſo this knowledge melts the ſinner into teares of love. I do the hypocrite no wrong to tell him he beares no true affection to Jeſus Chriſt. There is a great deale of difference between the knowledge that the priſoner hath of the Judge, and the knowledge that the childe hath of the parent. The priſoner knows the Judge, but hath no affection at all to his perſon, his knowledge is joyn'd with fear and hatred; but the childes knowledge of his parent p. 377is joyn'd with affection, he loves to be in his preſence. The hypocrite knows Chriſt as the priſoner doth the Judge, or as the devils knew him, Mark 1.24. with a knowledge of horrour and amazement, whereas true knowledge is filial; The affections are drawn forth in an inflamed manner after him. The Apoſtle hath an elegant expreſſion to ſet forth the nature of true knowledge, he calls it foreign, the ſavour of knowledge, 2 Cor. 2.14. as a man taſtes a ſavory ſweetneſſe in his meat. Hypocrites have no taſte.

33. It is a ſpeculation without operation. The knowledge that hypocrites have of Chriſt hath no ſaving influence upon them, it doth not make them more holy; it is one thing to have a notion of Chriſt, another thing to fetch vertue from Chriſt. The knowledge of hypocrites p. 378is ſcientia infrugifera, a dead, barren knowledge **2 Pet. 1.82 Pet 1:8; it brings not forth the childe of obedience. There is a great deal of difference between a Scholar that ſtudies phyſick for the theory and notion, that he may have the rules of it lying before him, and one that ſtudies Phyſick to practiſe; hypocrites are not practitioners; they are all head, no feet, they walk not in Chriſt, Col. 2.6. Their knowledge is informing, but not transforming, it doth not make them a jot the better, it leaves not a ſpiritual tincture of holineſſe behinde: The flux of blood runnes ſtill, and ſuch a knowledge is no better than ignorance, 1 John 2.4. He that ſaith, I know him, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. A man may have a knowledge of ſpeculation, and be no better than a Devil. And this is the reaſon why men do not embrace Chriſt who is infinitely lovely, becauſe p. 379they know not his worth; though they are not groſſely ignorant of Chriſt, yet they are ſpiritually ignorant. To this day the vaile is upon their heart.

3. Branch, 3. Bran. Inform.If Jeſus Chriſt be ſo lovely, it ſhewes us the miſery of a man out of Chriſt

1. That lives without Chriſt.

2. That dies without Chriſt.

11. Behold his miſery that lives without Chriſt. He is very deformed and unlovely; for all lovelineſſe flows from Chriſt. A ſinner in the ſtate of nature is like an infant tumbling in its blood, Ezek. 16.6. Thou wert in thy blood. The Leper in the Law was but the ſad emblem of a ſinner. 1. **Lev. 13.Lev 13The Leper was to live alone, as being unworthy to come into the congregation of the holy. 2. The Leper did wear three marks p. 380to be known by, his garments torne, his head bare, his mouth covered. 3. He was to cry unclean, unclean. This ſpirituall leproſie is upon every Chriſtleſſe ſinner. Therefore a man in a ſtate of unregeneracy is in Scripture compar'd to things moſt unlovely and unbeautiful. To a dog, Revel. 22.15. a ſwine **foreign., 2 Pet. 2.22. a Viper, Mat. 3.7. **Homines à bono deficientes, humanam quoque amiſere naturam; evenit igitur, ut, quem vitiis transformatum videas, hominem aeſtimare non poſſis. Alienarum opum ereptor, lupo ſimilem dixeris; Ferox, & in quietus cani aut leoni parem; inſidiator, fraudibus ſurripuiſſe gaudens, vulpeculis exaequetur; pavidus, & fugax, cervus habeatur; immundis libidinibus ſe immergens, porcae comparetur; ita fit ut peccans, vertatur in belluam. Boetius lib. 4. proſa. 3.a Devil, Joh. 6.70. a ſinners heart is a poyſoned ſpring; 'Tis like a piece of muddy ground which defiles the pureſt water that runnes thorough it. The Heathen had this kinde of notion ingraffed into them, for (as Authours report) they had their ſtone pots of water ſet at the doores of their Temple, where they uſed to waſh before they went p. 381to ſacrifice; a ſinner is blinde, Rev. 3.17. and the more blinde, becauſe he thinks he ſees. He is dead **foreign? Chryſoſt. ad Pop. Anticch.; and though he may be decked with ſome moral vertues, this is but like ſtrowing flowers upon a dead corps **Non vivit homo qui ſuperbia inflatur, qui caeteris inſicitur peſtibus, quia hoc non eſt vivere, &c. Bern. in Serm 1. de Apoſtol., Epheſ. 2.1. dead things have no beauty in them; a ſinner out of Chriſt is a filthy excrementitious creature **Job 15.16Job 15:16, he runs nothing but dregs, he is hell epitomized. There's no part of him ſound, —Totum pro vulnere corpus. The man who had his running iſſue in his fleſh, Levit. 15.2. was but a type of a ſinner who hath the plague-ſores of ſinne running upon him, 1 King. 8.38. Oh how ghaſtly and deformed is every Chriſtleſſe ſoul! God loathes him, Zach. 11.8. My ſoul loathed them. So abominable and unſavory is a ſinner, that God ſtands afar p. 382off, Pſalme 138.6. He will not come near the ſtench of him. The ſinner is ſo deformed and diſeaſed, that when he comes to be converted, the firſt thing he doth, is to loath himſelf, Ezek. 36.31. Ye ſhall loath your ſelves in your own ſight for your iniquities. Thus unlovely is every perſon out of Chriſt. If he brags of his goodneſſe, it is becauſe he never yet look'd his face in the glaſs of Gods Word, that would diſcover his ſpots and blemiſhes.

22. Behold his miſery that dies without Chriſt. Though Jeſus Chriſt be ſo infinitely beautiful, the ſinner ſhall ſee none of his beauty. Chriſt will put a vaile upon his face, as Moſes did when his face ſhined, Exod. 34.33. Nay, that is not all; though Chriſt be ſo lovely in himſelf, yet to an ungodly ſinner he will be terrible to behold. A wicked man ſhall ſee nothing in Chriſt that p. 383is lovely. The Sunne of righteouſneſſe will be eclipſed to him, his beauty will be changed into fury. The Lamb will be turned to a Lion. Chriſts viſage will ſtrike the heart of a ſinner with horrour and amazement. King Ahaſhuerus was pleaſant to Queen-Eſther to behold, when he held forth the golden Scepter, but how dreadful was his viſage to Haman, when he aroſe from the banquet of wine in his wrath, Eſther 7.7. His look did carry death in its face: So, though Chriſt be ſo lovely in himſelf, and full of ſmiling beauty to his Saints, yet to thoſe who reject him, and die in their ſins, O how gaſtly and affrighting will his look be? His eyes will be as a flame of fire, Revel. 1.14. Chriſt is repreſented with a bewe, and a crown, Rev. 6.2. Give me leave to allude. Chriſt will appeare to the Saints with a crown, very lovely, and glorious to behold, but to p. 384the wicked he will appeare with his bowe, to ſhoot at them with the arrows of his indignation. We read, Pſalme 97.2. clouds and darkneſſe are round about him. To beleevers Chriſt will ſhine forth with his rays of Majeſty and beauty, but to the wicked he will cover himſelf with a cloud of diſpleaſure; This will be the hell of hell to the damned, they ſhall be ſhut out from a ſight of Chriſts glory, and ſhall behol donly a ſight of his wrath. They ſhall cry to the mountains to cover them from the face of him that ſits on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, Rev. 6.16. The humane nature of Chriſt, Hierom.(ſaith Hierom) will be as terrible to a ſinner as the ſight of hell fire.

Uſe 2 Uſe 2. Exhortation, 1. Branch. If Chriſt be ſo infinitely lovely, Exhort. 1. Bran.then let us labour to get a part in Chriſt, that the curſed deformity of our nature may be taken away, and the p. 385beſpangled beauties of holineſſe may ſhine in us. 'Tis little comfort for the ſoul to ſay, Chriſt is altogether lovely, unleſſe it can alſo ſay, My beloved is mine, Cant. 2.16. Ignatius cared not what befel him ſo he had Chriſt **foreign. Ignat. Epiſt. 12. ad Rom.. Clear the intereſt. The ground of priviledge is union. There are (ſaith Bernard) many Chriſtians who have nothing of Chriſt in them **Sine Chriſto Chriſtiani. Bern.. Oh labour to be made one with Chriſt, to have Chriſt not only in thy Bible, but in thy heart **foreign.; renounce thy own beauty, all thy parts, moralities, duties, theſe are a rotten bough to hold by, Phil 3.9. That I may be found in him not having mine own righteouſneſſe. When Augustus Caeſar deſired the Senate of Rome to joyn ſome with him in Conſul-ſhip, The Senate anſwered that they held it p. 386a great diſparagement to him to joyne any Conſul with him; **Sueton. in vit. Aug. Caeſ.So Jeſus Chriſt takes it as a great diſparagement to him, to joyne our Duties in equipage with his Merits. O ſinner caſt away thy beggars rags, that thou mayeſt put on Chriſts lovely robes. I would not take thee off from duty, but from confidence in duty; Noahs Dove might make uſe of her wings to flie, but ſhe did not truſt to her wings, but to the Ark. A man makes uſe of his feet to go over a bridge, but he truſts to the bridge for ſafety; Chriſtians while they walk with the feet of obedience, muſt truſt to Chriſt as the bridge to lead them over the devouring ſea of hell; in ſhort, if thou wouldſt get an intereſt in Chriſt, rely on Chriſt by faith, and reſigne up thy ſelf to Chriſt by ſervice. A beleever with one hand receives Chriſt, with the other hand gives up himſelf to Chriſt. Chriſt p. 387ſaith to a beleever, with my body, yea with my blood I thee endow, and a beleever ſaith to Chriſt, with my ſoule I thee worſhip. Oh Chriſtian part with all for a part in this lovely Saviour.

2. Branch. 2. Bran.If Chriſt be thus full of ſparkling beauties, then fall in love with this lovely object; and with the Spouſe, be ſick of love to Chriſt. Beauty doth draw love. Miniſters are Paranymphi, friends of the bride groom. This day I come a wooing for your love. Love him who is ſo lovely. Let Chriſt lie as a bundle of myrrhe, alwayes between your breaſts. If any man love not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, let him be Anathema Mara-natha, 1 Cor. 16.22. Love (ſaith Chryſostome) is the diamond that only the Queen weares, viz. The gracious ſoul. Oh that all theſe ſurpaſſing beauties of Chriſt might kindle a flame of divine love in Chriſtians hearts. Chriſt is maxime diligibilis (as the Schoolmen p. 388ſpeak) he is the very extract and quinteſcence of beauty, he is a whole Paradiſe of delight **foreign. Macar. hom. 31.. He is the flower of Sharon enriched with orient colours and perſum'd with the ſweeteſt ſavour; Oh wear this flower, not in your boſome, but in your heart, and be alwayes ſmelling to it; and ſhew your love to this lovely Saviour.

1. By the degrees of it.

2. By the effects of it.

11. By the degrees of it. Love him above all other things **Minus te amat qui aliquid tecum amat. Aug.; let him carry away the crown and the glory from the creature, 1. Love him pluſquam tuos, more than thy relations, Matth. 10.37. He that loveth father and mother more than me, is not worthy of me. Nay, our love to relations p. 389muſt be hatred in iin compariſon of our love to Chriſt, Luke 14.26. Great is our love to relations. The creatures void of reaſon teach naturall affection; the young ſtork feeds the damme, and helps to carry her when ſhe is old and can hardly flie. **Ciconiae parentes ſenio confectos nutriunt & volando feſſos juvant. Pliny Ariſtot. Unde foreign.Children ſhould exceed, and out-flie the ſtork in affection. There is a ſtory in the French Academy of a daughter, who when her father was condemned to die by famine, ſhe made meanes to get to him, and gave him ſuck with her own breaſts, which being made known, ſhe obtained his pardon; But Chriſt muſt be dearer to us than all; He muſt weigh heavier than relations in the ballance of our affections; for, He is altogether lovely. If parents lie as a ſtumbling-block in our way to Chriſt, if they either come in competition with Chriſt, p. 390or ſtand in oppoſition againſt Chriſt, here odium in ſuos is pietas in Deum **Hierom., We muſt either leap over them, or tread upon them.

2. Love Chriſt pluſquam tua, more than thy Eſtate. Gold is but ſhining duſt, though it may be lovely, yet it is not altogether lovely. 1. Gold is worſe than thy ſelfe, it is of an earthly extract. If thou loveſt any thing, love ſomething which is better than thy ſelfe; and that onelyonly is Chriſt, who is altogether lovely. 2. Riches availe not in the day of wrath, Proverbs 11.4. Riches are no life guard to defend us from divine fury; but how lovely is Chriſt who can ſcreene off the fire of Gods wrath from thee; Oh then love him more than theſe periſhable things **Non ſatis magni à nobis fit Chriſtus, niſi tanti aeſtimemus ut reliqua omnia quae homines reddere ſolent bonorabiles prae hoc uihili putemus. Davenant.. Chriſts gleanings are better than the p. 391worlds Vintage. Be not like Noahs Raven, which when it had found a carrion to feed on, cared not for returning home to the Ark. He that loſeth all for Chriſt, ſhall finde all in **Qui omnia propter Chriſtum dimiſerit, omnia inveniat in Chriſto. Hierom. ad Paulin.Chriſt.

3. Love Chriſt pluſquam te, more than thy Life, Revel. 12.11. They loved not their lives to the death. They carried their ſufferings as enſignes of their glory. They had pangs of love ſtronger than the pangs of death. Did the Curtii die for the Romans, the Codri for the Athenians, and ſhall not we be willing to lay downe our lives for Chriſt who is ſo infinitly lovely?

22. Shew your love to this lovely Saviour by the Effects of love.

1. 1. Fruit of love.The firſt of love is deſire p. 392of converſe **Pſ. 42.2.Ps 42:2. Love is a tranſporting of the affections; Lovers deſire to be often talking and converſing together before the Marriage day. Chriſt converſeth with the ſoule by his Spirit, and the ſoul converſeth with him by prayer, and meditation. The ſoule that loves Chriſt, deſires to be much in his preſence. He loves the Ordinances, he thinks it is good lying in the way where Chriſt paſſeth by. Ordinances are vehicula ſalutis. The chariots of ſalvation. Chriſt rides into the Beleevers heart in theſe chariots. Ordinances are convivium pinguium, the feaſt of fat things, Iſa. 25.6. The ſoule feaſts with Chriſt here, Cant. 2.4. He brought me to the banquetting houſe, &c. In the Hebrew it is ad domum vini **foreign. He brought me to the houſe of wine. Word, Prayer, p. 393Sacraments are to a Chriſtian The houſe of wine. Here, often Chriſt turnes the water of teares into of wine. How lovely is this houſe wine! The Ordinances are the lattice where Chriſt looks forth and ſhewes his ſmiling face to his Saints. Chriſts parents found him in the Temple, Luke 2 46. The ſoul that loves Chriſt, deſires conference with him in the Temple.

2. 2. Fruit of love.Where there is love to Chriſt, there is ſympathy. Friends that love do grieve and rejoyce together. They have ſympathizing ſpirits. Homer deſcribing Agamemnons griefe when he was forced to ſacrifice his daughter Iphigenia brings in all his friends weeping with him, and accompanying him to the ſacrifice in mourning. And I remember Ariſtotle p. 394in his Rhetorique ſpends almoſt a whole chapter upon this, proving a ſympathy among friends. **foreign. Ar…ſt. Rhet.Lovers grieve together: Thus if we love Chriſt, we ſhall grieve for thoſe things that grieve him, Pſalme 119.158. I beheld the tranſgreſſors, and was grieved. We ſhall grieve to ſee truth bleeding, Heretiques increaſing.—Victa jacet pietas **Ovid.—We ſhall grieve to ſee tolleration ſetting up its Maſt and Top-ſaile, and multitudes ſailing in this ſhip to Hell. Tolleration is the grave of Reformation. It was a charge drawn up againſt the Angel of Pergamos, that he had them there, (neſtling and brooding,) who held the doctrine of Balaam, Revel. 2.14. by tolleration we adopt other mens ſinnes, and make them our p. 395own. I pray God this doth not haſten Englands Funerals. He who loves Chriſt will lay theſe things to heart.

3. 3. Fruit of love.He who loves Chriſt will endeavour to preſerve his memory. Friends that beare reſpect will preſerve the memory of thoſe perſons they love, by keeping their pictures, letters, love-tokens; ſometimes by preſerving their monuments. Herein Artemiſia Queen of Caria ſhewed an act of ſingular love to her husband Mauſolus, for he being dead, ſhe cauſed his body to be reduced to aſhes, and to be mingled in her drink every day, ſo making her body a living Tomb to hold her dead huſband. Thus the ſoule that loves Chriſt will be often eating his body and drinking his blood in p. 396the Sacrament, that he may remember Chriſts death till he come. They that live without Sacraments ſhew plainly that they have no love to Chriſt, becauſe thee do not deſire to preſerve his memory among them.

4. 4. Fruit of love.He that beares love to Chriſt, this lovely object, will not entertaine any other Lovers; What have I to do any more with idols? Hoſea 14.8. The Hebrew word is with ſorrowes **foreign: Indeed ſinne raiſeth a tempeſt of ſorrow in the ſoule, and he that is eſpouſed to Chriſt hath now changed his judgement, thoſe ſinnes he before looked upon as Lovers, now he looks upon as ſorrowes. He that loves Chriſt can look a tentation in the face and turne his back upon it **Poſſe peccare & nolle, nobile eſt. Ambr.. When Cyrus would have tempted p. 397the chaſte wife of Tygranes, ſhe took no notice of him, (though a King) ſhe had a husband at home; When ſinne like Mercuries rod with a ſnake about it, would winde it ſelfe ſubtilly into the ſoule, he that loves Chriſt dares not give it entertainment, he ſaith all the rooms are taken up already for Chriſt, and a better ghueſt cannot come, for He is altogether lovelie.

3. Branch. 3. Bran.If Chriſt be ſo lovelie in himſelf, then you that profeſſe Chriſt, labour to render him lovely in the eyes of others. And that two wayes.

11. By commending him, and telling others of his beauty, that they may admire him. So the Spouſe in this Chapter labours p. 398to pourtray and ſet him forth in his glory. My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefe among ten thouſand. Tell others that Chriſt is all marrow, all ſweetneſſe. He is the richeſt jewel in the cabinet of Heaven: Set up the trophies of his honour; triumph in his praiſes, that you may tempt others to fall in love with his perſon. The tongue is the Organ of praiſe; 'Tis pity the Organs are ſo oft out of tune, in murmuring and complaining; Oh let theſe Organs be ſtill going, let our tongues ſing forth the praiſes of him who is altogether lovely. Daughters of the blood Royal have the pictures of Kings brought to them, and by ſeeing the pictures, they fall in love with their perſons, and are marryed to them; By our commendations p. 399of Chriſt, we ſhould ſo paint out Chriſt to others, and draw his picture, that when they ſee his picture they may fall in love with him, and the match may be preſently ſtruck up.

22. Render Chriſt lovely in the eyes of others by adorning his Goſpel, and walking worthy of Chriſt, Coloſ. 1.10. It is an honour to a Maſter to have good ſervants, and how doth it proclaime Chriſt to be lovely, and glorious, when they that profeſſe him are eminent for piety, 1 Peter 2.9? Chriſt appeares lovely in the holy lives of his people.

Brethren, there are ſome perſons among us whoſe ſcandalous impieties masked over with Religion, hath made Chriſt appeare p. 400unlovely in the eyes of others; it is enough to make men afraid to have any thing to do with Chriſt. As if he did abet men in their ſinne, or at leaſt connive at them. The blood of ſome will not make reparation for the injury which their teares have done to Chriſt. I have read of certaine images which on the out-ſide were covered with gold and pearle reſembling Jupiter and Neptune **Lucian.; but within nothing but ſpiders and cobwebs; and have not we many who have been covered with the gold and pearle of profeſſion reſembling the Saints of the moſt high, but within (as Chriſt ſaith) full of all uncleanneſse, Matthew 23.27? inſomuch that we may ſee the ſpiders creeping out of them; O that all who profeſſe the Name of Chriſt might dedepart p. 401from iniquity, 2 Tim. 2.19. that they might ſet a Crown of honor upon the head of Chriſt, & make him appear lovely in the eyes of others.

Uſe ult. Uſe 3. Conſolat.Here is comfort to them who are by faith married to Chriſt; this is their glorious priviledge, Chriſts beauty and lovelineſſe ſhall be put upon them; They ſhall ſhine by his beames; This is (as learned Davenant ſaith) caput honoris, the apex and crown of honour; the Saints ſhall not only behold Chriſts glory, but be transform'd into it, 1 John 3.2. We ſhall be like him; that is, irradiated and enameld with his glory. Chriſt is compar'd to the beautiful Lily **Lilium flos emnium gratiſſimucob ui… veum candorem. Guadal… penſ…s., Cant. 1.2. His Lily-whiteneſſe ſhall be put upon his Saints. A glorified ſoul ſhall be a perfect mirrour, or chryſtal, where the beauty of Chriſt ſhall be tranſparent. Moſes married a blackamore, but he could not make her faire; p. 402but whomſoever Chriſt marries, he alters their complexion, he makes them altogether lovely. Other beauty cauſeth pride, —Fastus ineſt pulchris— but no ſuch worm breeds in heaven. The Saints in glory ſhal admire their own beauty, **foreign. Gr. Nazian.but not grow proud of it. Other beauty is ſoon loſt. The eye weeps to ſee its ſurrowed browes, the cheeks bluſh at their own paleneſſe.

Nec ſemper violae, nec ſemper lilia florent,

Et riget amiſſis ſpina relicta roſis **Ovid..

But this is a never-fading beauty; age cannot wither it; it retaines its gloſſineſſe, the white and vermilion mixed together to all eternity. Think of this, O ye Saints, who mourn now for your ſinnes, and bewaile your ſpiritual deformities (you are comely, yet black) remember, by vertue of your union with Chriſt you ſhall be glorious creatures; then ſhall your cloathing be of wrought p. 403gold, then ſhall you be brought unto the King in rayment of needlework, Pſal. 45.Ps 45and you ſhall hear Chriſt pronounce that bleſſed word, Cant. 4.7. Thou art all faire my love, and there is no ſpot in thee.

Printed for Ralph Smith at the Bible in Corn-hill.

Loves entercourſe between the Lamb and his Bride, Chriſt and his Church. Or a clear Explication and Application of the Song of Solomon. By Will. Guild. D.D.

FINIS.

ERRATA.

FOr Mediation. pag. 71. line 12. read meditation. for medulo, p. 304 marg. r. modulo. for iſunt. p. 331. marg. r. inſunt. for foreign p. 338. marg. r. foreign. for Iſa. 32.13. p. 346. l. 5. r. Deut. 32.13. for love p. 363. l. 6 r. lovely. for foreign p. 366. marg. r. foreign. In the Sermon upon Pſal. 37.37. p. 2. for praemit r. premit. for foreign p. 38. r. foreign.