11. THE ELEVENTH SERMON
THE ELEVENTH SERMON
I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.—Song of Solomon 5:6-7. THE pride and security of the spouse provokes the Lord, her husband, oft to bring her very low, they being incompatible with Christ’s residence.
Pride is an affection contrary to his prerogative; for it sets up somewhat in the soul higher than God, the highest.
Security is a dull temper, or rather distemper, that makes the soul neglect her watch, and rely upon some outward privilege. Where this ill couple is entertained, there Christ useth to withdraw himself, even to the failing and fainting of the soul. The spouse is here in her fainting fit, yet she seeks after Christ. Still she gives not over. So Jonah, ’I am cast out of thy presence,’ says he, ’yet notwithstanding I will look toward thy holy temple,’ Jonah 2:4. And David, ’I said in my haste, I am cast out of thy sight; yet notwithstanding thou heardest the voice of my prayer,’ Psalms 31:22. He said it, but he said it in his haste. God’s children are surprised on the sudden to think they are cast away; but it is in haste, and so soon as may be, they recover themselves. ’I said it is my infirmity,’ said David, Psalms 77:10. It is but in a passion. Here then is the difference between the children of God and others in desertions; they arise, these lie still and despair. There is ’life in the substance of the oak,’ Isaiah 6:13, that makes it lift up its head above ground, though it be cut down to the stumps. Nay, we see further here, the church is not taken off for any discouragements, but her faith grows stronger, as the woman’s of Canaan did, Matthew 15:21, seq. The reason whereof is—1, faith looks to the promise, and to the nature of God, not to his present dealing. And then, 2. God, by a secret work of his Spirit, though he seem to be an enemy, yet notwithstanding draws his children nearer and nearer to him by such his dealing. All this strangeness is but to mortify some former lust, or consume some former dregs of security.
’I sought him, but I could not find him.’ Here one of the greatest discouragements of all other is, when prayer, which is left to the church as a salve for all sores, hath no answer. This is the complaint, but indeed an error, of the church; for Christ did hear the church, though he seemed to turn his back. But how shall we know that God hears our prayers?
First. Amongst many other things this is one. When he gives us inward peace, then he hears our prayers, for so is the connection, Php 4:6-7. Or secondly. If we find a spirit to pray still, a spirit to wait and to hold out, it is an argument that God either hath or will hear those prayers. And as it is an argument that God hears our prayers, so is it of the presence of Christ. For how could we pray but from his inward presence? Christ was now present, and more present with the church when he seemed not to be found of her, than he was when she was secure; for whence else comes this eagerness of desire, this spirit of prayer, this earnestness of seeking? ’I called, but he gave no answer,’ &c.
Directions how to carry ourselves in such an estate. How shall we carry ourselves when it falls out that our hearts fail of that we seek for, when we pray without success, and find not a present answer, or are in any such-like state of desertion.
1. We must believe against belief, as it were, ’hope against hope, and trust in God,’ Romans 4:18, howsoever he shews himself to us as an opposite.* It is no matter what his present dealing with his church and children here is; the nature of faith is to break through all opposition, to see the sun behind a cloud, nay, to see one contrary in another, life in death, a calm in a storm, &c., 1 Corinthians 6:8-9, seq.
2. Labour for an absolute dependence upon Christ, with a poverty of spirit in ourselves. This is the end of Christ’s withdrawing himself, to purge us of self-confidence and pride.
3. Stir up your graces. For as nature joining with physic helps it to work and carry away the malignant humours, so by the remainder of the Spirit that is in us, let us set all our graces on work until we have carried away that that offends and clogs the soul, and not sink under the burden. For this is a special time for the exercising of faith, hope, love, diligence, care, watchfulness, and such-like graces. And let us know for our comfort, that even this conflicting condition is a good estate. In a sick body it is a sign of life and health approaching when the humours are stirred, so as that a man complains that the physic works. So when we take to heart our present condition, though we fail and find not what we would, yet this will work to the subduing of corruption at length. It is a sign of future victory when we are discontent with our present ill estate. Grace will get the upper hand, as nature doth when the humours are disturbed.
4. Again, when we are in such a seeming forlorn estate, let us have recourse to former experience. What is the reason that God vouchsafes his children for the most part in the beginning of their conversion, in their first love, experience of his love to ravishment? It is, that afterwards they may have recourse to that love of God then felt, to support themselves, and withal to stir up endeavours, and hope; that finding it not so well with them now as formerly it hath been, by comparing state with state, desires may be stirred up to be as they were, or rather better, Hosea 2:7. And as the remembrance of former experiences serve to excite endeavour, so to stir up hope, I hope it shall be as it was, because God is immutable; I change, but Christ alters not. The inferior elementary world changes. Here is fair weather and foul, but the sun keeps his perpetual course. And as in the gloomiest day that ever was, there was light enough to make it day and to distinguish it from night, though the sun did not shine, so in the most disconsolate state of a Christian soul, there is light enough in the soul to shew that the Sun of righteousness is there, and that Christ hath shined upon the soul, that it is day with the soul, and not night, Psalms 112:4.
5. And learn when we are in this condition to wait God’s leisure, for he hath waited ours. It is for our good, to prepare us for further blessings, to mortify and subdue our corruptions, to enlarge the capacity of the soul, that the Lord absents himself. Therefore Bernard saith well, ’Tibi accidit,’ &c., ’Christ comes and goes away for our good.’ When he withdraws the sense of his love, the soul thereupon is stretched with desire, that it may be as it was in former time, in the days of old. Thus much for that. ’I sought, but could not find him: I called, but he gave me no answer.’
Obj. Here we must answer one objection before we leave the words. This seems to contradict other Scriptures, which promise that those that seek shall find, Matthew 7:7.
Ans. It is true they that seek shall find, but not presently. God’s times are the best and fittest. They that seek shall find, if they seek constantly with their whole heart in all the means. Some do not find, because they seek in one means and not in another. They seek Christ in reading and not in the ordinance of hearing, in private meditation, but not in the communion of saints. We must go through all means to seek Christ, not one must be left. Thus if we will seek him, undoubtedly he will make good his promise. Nay, in some sort, ’he is found before he is sought,’ for he is in our souls to stir up desire of seeking him. He prevents us with desires, and answers us in some sort before we pray, Isaiah 65:24. When he gives us a spirit of prayer, it is a pledge to us, that he means to answer us. Therefore it is a spiritual deceit when we think Christ is not in us, and we are neglected of him, because we have not all that we would have. Among many other deceits that Christians deceive themselves with in this kind, these be two.
1. That they judge grace by the quantity and not by the value and price of it; whereas the least measure of grace and comfort is to be esteemed, because it is an immortal seed cast into the soul by an immortal God, the Father of eternity,* Isaiah 9:6.
2. Another deceit is, that we judge of ourselves by sense and feeling, and not by faith.
’The watchman that went about the city found me, and smote me, and took away my veil from me.’ Here the poor church, after the setting down of her own exercise in her desertion, now sets out some outward ill dealing she met with, and that from those that should have been her greatest comforters. ’The watchmen that went about the city found me, they wounded me: the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.’
Thus we see how trouble follows trouble. ’One depth calls upon another.’ Inward desertion and outward affliction go many times together. The troubles of the church many times are like Job’s messengers. They come fast one upon another, because God means to perfect the work of grace in their hearts. All this is for their good. The sharper the winter the better the spring. Learn hence first of all therefore in general, That it is no easy thing to be a sound Christian. We see here, when the church had betrothed herself to Christ and entertained him into her garden, thereafter she falls into a state of security and sleep, whence Christ labours to rouse her up. Then she useth him unkindly. After which he withdraws himself, even so far that her heart fails her. Then, as if this were not enough, the watchmen that should have looked to her, ’they smite her, wound her, and take away her veil.’ See here the variety of the usage of the church and changes of a Christian; not long in one state, he is ebbing and flowing.
Therefore let none distaste the way of godliness for this, that it is such a state as is subject to change and variety, whereas carnal men are upon their lees and find no changes.
Obj. But you will say, All Christians are not thus tossed up and down, so deserted of God and persecuted of others.
Ans. I answer, indeed there is difference. Whence comes this difference? From God’s liberty. It is a mystery of the sanctuary, which no man in the world can give a reason of, why of Christians both equally beloved of God, some should have a fairer passage to heaven, others rougher and more rugged. It is a mystery hid in God’s breast. It is sufficient for us, if God will bring us any way to heaven, as the blessed apostle saith, ’if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead,’ Php 3:11; either through thick or thin, if God will bring me to heaven it is no matter. ’If I by any means.’
’The watchmen that went about the city smote me,’ &c. By the watchmen here are meant especially governors of state and church.
Why are they called watchmen?
It is a borrowed speech, taken from the custom of cities that are beleaguered. For policy’s sake they have watchmen to descry the danger they are liable unto. So magistrates be watchmen of the state. Ministers are the watchmen for souls, ’watching over our souls for good,’ Hebrews 13:17.
Quest. Why doth God use watchmen?
Ans. 1. Not for any defect of power in him, but for demonstration of his goodness. For he is the great watchman, who watcheth over our commonwealths, churches, and persons. He hath an eye that never sleeps. ’He that watcheth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps,’ Psalms 121:4. Yet notwithstanding he hath subordinate watchmen, not for defect of power, but for demonstration of goodness. He manifests his goodness in that he will use variety of subordinate watchers. And likewise to shew his power in using many instruments, and his care for us when he keeps us together with his own subordinate means. And in this that God hath set over us watchers, ministers especially, it implies that our souls are in danger. And indeed there is nothing in the world so beset as the soul of a poor Christian. Who hath so many and so bad enemies as a Christian? and amongst them all, the worst and greatest enemy he hath is nearest to him, and converseth daily with him, even himself. Therefore there must needs be watchmen to discover the deceits of Satan and his instruments, and of our own hearts; to discover the dangers of Jerusalem, and the errors and sins of the times wherein we live. The church is in danger, for God hath set watchmen. Now God and nature doth nothing in vain or needlessly.
Again, in that God takes such care for the soul, it shews the wondrous worth of it. Many arguments there be to shew that the soul is a precious thing. It was breathed by God at first. Christ gave his life to redeem it. But this is an especial one, that God hath ordained and established a ministry and watchmen over it. And as God hath set some watchmen over others, so hath he appointed every man to be a watchman to himself. He hath given every man a city to watch over, that is, his own estate and soul. Therefore let us not depend altogether on the watching of others. God hath planted a conscience in every [one] of us, and useth as others to our good, so our own care, wisdom, and foresight, these he elevateth and sanctifieth.
’The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me,’ &c.
Come we now to the carriage of these watchmen. Those that should have been defensive prove most offensive.
They smote the church and wounded her many ways, though it be not discovered here in particular. As (1.) with their ill and scandalous life; and (2.) sometimes with corrupt doctrine, and otherwhiles with bitter words; and (3.) their unjust censures, as we see in the story of the church, especially the Romish Church. They have excommunicated churches and princes. But not to speak of those synagogues of Satan, come we nearer home and we may see amongst ourselves sometimes those that are watchmen, and should be for encouragement, they smite and wound the church, and take away her veil, 3 John 1:10.
What is it to take away the veil?
You know, in the times of the Old Testament, a veil was that which covered women for modesty, to shew their subjection; and it was likewise an honourable ornament. ’They took away the veil,’ that is, that wherewith the church was covered. They took away that that made the church comely, and laid her open, and as it were naked.
Now both these ways the church’s veil is taken away by false and naughty watchmen.
1. As the veil is a token of subjection, when by their false doctrines they labour to draw people from Christ, and their subjection to him. The church is Christ’s spouse. The veil was a token of subjection. Now they that draw the people to themselves, as in popish churches, that desire to sit high in the consciences of people, and so make the church undutiful, ’they take away the veil of subjection,’ and so force Christ to punish the church, as we see in former ages.
2. As the veil is for honour and comeliness, so ’they take away the veil’ of the church, when they take away the credit and esteem of the church; when they lay open the infirmities and weaknesses of the church. This is strange that the watchmen should do this; yet notwithstanding oftentimes it falls out so that those that by place are watchmen, are the bitterest enemies of the church. Who were bitterer enemies of the poor church in Christ’s time than the scribes, pharisees, and priests? And so in the time of the prophets. Who were the greatest enemies the church had, but false priests and prophets?
Quest. What is the ground of this, that those men that by their standing should be encouragers, are rather dampers of the church’s zeal in pursuit of it?
Ans. There are many grounds of it.
Sometimes it falls out from a spirit of envy in them at the graces of God’s people, which are wanting in themselves. They would not have others better than themselves.
Sometimes from idleness, which makes them hate all such as provoke them to pains. They raise up the dignity of outward things too much, as we see in popery. They make everything to confer grace, as if they had a special virtue in them. But they neglect that wherewith God hath joined an efficacy, his own ordinances.
Use 1. This should teach us, to be in love with Christ’s government, and to see the vanity of all things here below, though they be never so excellent in their ordinance. Such is the poison of man’s heart, and the malice of Satan, that they turn the edge of the best things against the good of the church.
What is more excellent than magistracy? yet many times the point of sword is directed the wrong way. ’I have said ye are gods,’ Psalms 82:6. They should govern, as God himself would govern, and ask with themselves, Would God now, if he were a watchman of the state, do thus and thus? But I wish woeful experience did not witness the contrary. So ministers are Christ’s ambassadors, 2 Corinthians 5:20, and should carry themselves even as Christ would do. They should strengthen the feeble knees and bind up the broken hearted, nor* discourage; and not sew pillows under the armholes of wicked and carnal men, Ezekiel 13:18. But, alas! we see the edge of the ordinance is oftentimes turned another way by the corrupt, proud, unbroken hearts of men and the malice of Satan.
Use 2. Again, it should teach us not to think the worse of any for the disgraces of the times. The watchmen here take away the veil of the church, and her forwardness is disgraced by them. Take heed, therefore, we entertain not rash conceits of others upon the entertainment they find abroad in the world, or among those that have a standing in the church, for so we shall condemn Christ himself. How was he judged of the priests, scribes, and pharisees in his times? And this hath been the lot of the church in all ages. The true members thereof were called heretics and schismatics. The veil was taken off. It is the poisonful pride of man’s heart that, when it cannot raise itself by its own worth, it will endeavour to raise itself by the ruin of others’ credit through lying slanders. The devil was first a slanderer and liar, and then a murderer, John 8:44. He cannot murder without he slander first. The credit of the church must first be taken away, and then she is wounded. Otherwise, as it is a usual proverb, Those that kill a dog make the world believe that he was mad first; so they always first traduced the church to the world, and then persecuted her. Truth hath always a scratched face. Falsehood many times goes under better habits than its own, which God suffers, to exercise our skill and wisdom, that we might not depend upon the rash judgment of others, but might consider what grounds they have; not what men do, or whom they oppose, but from what cause, whether from a spirit of envy, idleness, jealousy, and pride, or from good grounds. Else, if Christ himself were on earth again, we should condemn him, as now men do the generation of the just, whom they smite and wound, and take away their veil from them.