15. THE FIFTEENTH SERMON
THE FIFTEENTH SERMON My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.—Song of Solomon 5:10.
LOVE is such a boundless affection, that where it once breaks forth in praises upon a good foundation, it knows no measure; as we see here in the church, who being provoked and, as it were, exasperated by the ’daughters of Jerusalem’ to explain the excellency of him she had with so much affection incessantly sought after, that she might justify her choice (ere she descend into particulars), she breaks forth into this general description of her beloved; whereby she cuts off from all hopes of equalling him, ’My beloved is white and ruddy’ (exceeding fair), nay, ’the chief among ten thousand’ (none like him). She would not have us think she had bestowed her love but on the most excellent of all, ’the chief of ten thousand.’ Well were it for us that we could do so in our love, that we might be able to justify our choice; not to spend it on sinful, vain, and unprofitable things, which cause repentance and mourning in the conclusion, whereof the church here worthily cleareth herself; in that she had chosen ’the chief among ten thousand.’ And most justly did she place her affections upon so excellent an object, who was so full of ’all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the life of our life, in whom dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,’ Colossians 1:11; Colossians 1:19; in whom was a gracious mixture and compound of all heavenly graces; where greatness and goodness, justice and mercy, God and man, meet in one person. Such an one who breaks no ’bruised reed, nor quenches the smoking flax,’ Matthew 12:20, who refuses not sinners, but invites them unto him, offering to heal all and cure all who come unto him. He is a king indeed, John 18:37. But this also approves her choice; he rules all, commands all, judges all. What then can she want who hath such a friend, such a husband? whose government is so winning, mild, and merciful?
He is not such a monarch as loves to get authority by sternness, like ’Rehoboam, 1 Kings 12:12, but by those amiable graces of gentleness and love. All the excellencies of holiness, purity, and righteousness, are sweetly tempered with love and meekness in him. You may see, for instance, how he takes his disciples’ part against the Pharisees, and the poor woman’s that came to wash his feet and kissed them, against the Pharisee that had invited him to dinner, Luke 7:44. The church is a company of despised people, that are scorned of Pharisaical proud spirits; who perhaps have morality and strength of parts to praise them with. Now Christ takes part with the broken spirits, against all proud spirits. Howsoever he be gone to heaven (where he is full of majesty), yet he hath not forgotten his meekness nor changed his nature, with change of honour. He is now more honoured than he was, for ’he hath a name above all names, in heaven or in earth,’ Acts 4:12; yet he is pitiful still. ’Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?’ Acts 9:4. He makes the church’s case his own still. Together with beams of glory, there are bowels of pity in him, the same that he had here upon earth; which makes him so lovely to the truly brokenhearted, believing soul, ’My beloved is white and ruddy.’
He is set out likewise by comparing him with all others whatsoever, ’He is the chief of ten thousand;’ a certain number for an uncertain, that is, the chief among all. In all things Christ hath the pre-eminence. ’He is the first-born from the dead,’ Romans 8:29; ’he is the first-born of every creature,’ Colossians 1:15; he is the eldest brother; he is the chief among all. For all kings, priests, and prophets before were but types and shadows of him. He, the body, the truth, and the substance. And (as was shewed before) he is all three in one, king, priest, and prophet; the great doctor* and prophet of his church, that spake by all the former prophets, and speaks by his ministers to the end of the world. ’The angel of the covenant,’ that Λογὸς, the Word, that expresseth his Father’s breast; that as he came from the bosom of his Father, so lays open his counsel to mankind. It was he that spake by Noah, and preached by his Spirit to the souls that are now in prison, as Peter speaks, 1 Peter 3:19. So, ’he is the chief among all.’ But especially in regard of his righteousness; for which Paul ’accounted all dung and dross, to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, but the righteousness that is in Christ,’ Php 3:8; which is more than the righteousness of an angel, being the righteousness of God-man, and above all the righteousness of the law.
Quest. But what is this to us or to the church?
Ans. Yes; for his beauty and excellency is the church’s, because he is the church’s. ’My beloved is white and ruddy, and my beloved is the chief among ten thousand.’ It is the peculiar interest that the church hath in Christ that doth relish her spirit; excellency with propriety in him; ’I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.’ The more excellent the husband is, the more excellent is the wife. She only shines in his beams. Therefore it is the interest that we have in Christ that endears Christ to us. But to come to more particular application of it. Is Christ thus excellent, super-excellent, thus transcendently excellent, ’white and ruddy,’ the chief of ten thousand?’ This serves, 1. To draw those that are not yet in Christ unto him.
2. To comfort those that are in Christ.
Use 1. First, those that are not yet in Christ, not contracted to him, to draw them; what can prevail more than that which is in Christ? Beauty and excellencies, greatness and goodness. And indeed one main end of our calling, the ministry, is, to lay open and unfold the unsearchable riches of Christ; to dig up the mine, thereby to draw the affections of those that belong to God to Christ.
Use 2. But it is not enough to know that there are excellencies in Christ to draw us to him, but, there must be a sight of our misery; what beggars we are, and how indebted. Before we are in Christ we are not our own. The devil lays claim to us that we are his; death lays claim to us. We are under sin; we cannot satisfy one of a thousand; therefore this enforceth to make out to join with him that can discharge all our debts, answer all our suits, and non-suit Satan in the court of heaven. When once we are married to the Lord of heaven and earth, all is ours. We have a large charter, ’All things are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s,’ 1 Corinthians 3:22-23.
Quest. Why are all things ours?
Ans. Because we are married to Christ, who is Lord of all. It is the end of our calling to sue for a marriage between Christ and every soul. We are the friends of the bride, to bring the church to him; and the friends of the church, to bring Christ to them. It is the end of our ministry to bring the soul and Christ together; and let no debts, no sins hinder. For especially he invites such as are sensible of their sins. ’Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more,’ Romans 5:20. ’Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden,’ Matthew 11:28. And, ’he came to seek and to save that which was lost,’ Luke 19:10. He requires no more, but that we be sensible of our debts and miseries, which sense he works likewise by his Holy Spirit.
Use 3. Again, for those that have entertained Christ, let them see what an excellent gracious person they have entertained, who is ’the chief of ten thousand.’ The world thinks them a company of silly, mean people, that make choice of Christ, religion, the word, and such things; but there is a justification of their choice. They choose him that is ’the chief of ten thousand.’ ’Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,’ saith the spouse, ’for thy love is better than wine, nay, than life itself,’ Song of Solomon 1:2. A Christian must justify the choice that he hath made with Mary ’of the good part,’ Luke 10:42; against all those that shall disparage his choice. Let the world account Christians what they will; that they are a company of deluded, besotted persons, fools and madmen; the Christian is the only wise man. Wisdom is seen in choice especially; and here is the choice of that which is excellent and most excellent of all,’ the chief often thousand.’
Use 4. So also, we may see here the desperate and base folly of all whatsoever, save true Christians. What do they make choice of to join to? that which is base, the condemned world, vain, transitory things; and refuse Christ. Are they in their right wits who refuse a husband that is noble for birth, rich for estate, mighty for power, abundant in kindness and love itself, every way excellent, and take a base, ignoble, beggarly person? This is the choice of the world. God complains, ’Israel would none of me,’ &c., Psalms 81:11. What shall we judge therefore of those that will none of Christ when he woos and sues them; but prefer with Esau a ’mess of pottage,’ before their eternal birthright, Hebrews 12:16; with Adam, an apple before paradise; and with Judas, thirty pieces of silver before Christ himself. This is the state of many men. To be married to Christ is to take him for an husband; to be ruled by him in all things. Now when we prefer base commodities and contentments before peace of conscience and the enjoying of his love—what is it, but for pelf and commodity, thirty pieces of silver (perhaps for sixpence, a thing of nothing), to refuse Christ. Yet this is the condition of base worldlings that live by sense and not by faith. So then as it serves to comfort those that have made a true choice; so it serves to shew the madness and folly of all others, which one day will feel their hearts full of horror and confusion, and their faces of shame, when they shall think, What? hath Christ made such suit to my heart to win my love? hath he ordained a ministry for to bring me in? made such large promises? is he so excellent? and was this discovered to me, and yet would I none of him? what did I choose, and what did I leave? I left Christ with all his riches, and made choice of the ’pleasures and profits of sin, which are but for a season,’ Hebrews 11:25. When the conscience is once thoroughly awaked, this will torment it,—the punishment of loss, not of loss simply, as the loss of Christ and the loss of heaven, but the loss of Christ and of heaven so discovered and opened. Therefore there is no condition in the world so terrible as of those that live in the church, and hear those things of Christ crucified unfolded to them before their eyes. As Paul speaks of the ministry, it makes Christ’s cross so open to them as if he had been crucified before their eyes, Galatians 3:1. Yet notwithstanding [they] yield to their base heart’s desires and affections before these excellencies; which if they had a spirit of faith would draw their hearts to him.
Therefore let us consider how we hear those things. It concerns us nearly. On the one side we see what we get if we join with Christ; we have him and his. On the contrary, we lose him; and not only so, but we gain eternal misery, and perish eternally. O what baseness of mind possesseth us! Christ left all things in love to us, and we leave Christ for any paltry thing in the world; almost to please and content the humours of sinful men, to attain a few empty titles, to get a little wealth, enjoy a little pleasure. You see then the equity of that terrible commination* that you have, ’If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha,’ 1 Corinthians 16:22. Let him be accursed for ever that loves not the Lord Jesus Christ. If any man sin there is a remedy to discharge his sin in Jesus Christ, if he will marry him and take him; but when Christ is offered and we will have none of him, we sin against the gospel; and then there is no remedy; there is nothing but ’Anathema and Maran-atha.’ Therefore the most dangerous sins of all, are those against the light of the gospel; when yet we choose rather to live as we list, than to join ourselves to Christ. To this purpose, Hebrews 2, St Paul makes an use of the first chapter, wherein he sets out the excellency of Christ, whom the angels adore. He is so beautiful, so lovely that God the Father is in love with him, and pronounceth, ’This is my beloved Son,’ Matthew 3:17. In the beginning of the second chapter, ’Wherefore,’ saith he, ’how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation; for if they escaped not that despised Moses’ law, &c., how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?’ Hebrews 2:3. He says not, if we oppose Christ, but if we neglect him, if we do not love so great salvation; as 2 Thessalonians 1:8, it is said, ’Christ will come in flaming fire to take vengeance of all those that do not know God, and obey not the gospel of Christ,’ though they do not persecute it.
Use 1. Therefore this reproves all civil, moral persons that think they have riches enough. Not only debauched persons, but self-sufficient persons, that think they have any righteousness of their own. Let them know that ’Christ shall come in flaming fire, to take vengeance of such.’ This is the scope of the second psalm, which ye know sets out the excellency of Christ, ’I have set my king upon Zion,’ Psalms 2:6. God the Father there anoints Christ king of the church. To what end? ’That we should kiss the Son,’ kiss him with the kiss of subjection, as subjects do their prince; with the kiss of love, as the spouse doth her husband; and with the kiss of faith. But what if we do not kiss him, and subject ourselves to him, love him, and believe in him? ’If his wrath be once kindled, happy are all those that trust in him.’ He is a lamb, but such a one as can be angry. It is said, ’The kings and great persons of the world fly from the wrath of the Lamb,’ Revelation 6:16. He that is so sweet, mild, and gentle, if we join with him, on the contrary, if we come not unto him, we shall find the wrath of the Lamb a terrible wrath, which the greatest potentates in the world shall desire to be hid from. ’If his wrath be once kindled, blessed are all those that trust in him,’ and woe be to them that do not receive him.
Use 2. For us that profess ourselves to be in Christ, and to be joined to him that is thus excellent, let us make this use, to make him the rule of our choice in other things. In the choice of friends, choose such as are friends to Christ. Take heed of society with idolaters, or with profane, wretched persons. If you will be joined to Christ, and profess yourselves to be so, then let us join to none but those that we can enjoy and Christ too. So in marriage, let the rule of choice be the love of Christ. And likewise, let the measure of our respect to all things be the respect to Christ. Let us measure our love to wife and children, to kindred, friends, and to all creatures whatsoever, as it may stand with love to Christ. Obey in the Lord, marry in the Lord, do all things in the Lord, so as may stand with the love and allowance of the Lord, 1 Corinthians 7:39-40.
Use 3. Make also a use of direction, how to come to value Christ thus, as to keep an high esteem of him. For this follows infallibly and undeniably, if Christ be ’the chief of ten thousand,’ he must have the chief of our affections ’above ten thousand.’ For, as he is in excellency, he must have place in our hearts answerable thereunto; for then our souls are as they should be, when they judge of, and affect things as they are in themselves.
1. First, let us enter into a serious consideration of the need we have of Christ, of our misery without him, of our happiness if we be joined with him. The soul being thus convinced, the affections must needs follow the sanctified judgment.
What will come of it if Christ be set in the highest place in our heart? If we crown him there, and make him ’King of kings and Lord of lords,’ in a hearty submitting of all the affections of the soul to him? While the soul continues in that frame it cannot be drawn to sin, discomfort, and despair. The honours, pleasures, and profits that are got by base engagements to the humours of men, what are these to Christ? When the soul is rightly possessed of Christ and of his excellency, it disdains that anything should come in competition with him.
2. Again, it stands firm against all discouragements whatsoever: for it sets Christ against all, who is the ’chief of ten thousand.’ The soul in this case will set Christ against the anger and wrath of God, against Satan, and all our spiritual enemies. Christ is the angel of the covenant. Satan is a lion, a roaring lion; Christ the lion of the tribe of Judah. Satan a serpent, a dragon; but Christ, the true brazen serpent, the very looking upon whom will take away all the stings and fiery darts of Satan whatsoever. Wherefore it is said, 1 John 5:4, that faith is that that ’overcometh the world.’ How doth faith overcome the world? Because it overcomes all things in the world, as, on the right hand, pleasures and profits and honours, and on the left hand, threatenings, pains, losses, and disgraces, by setting Christ against all.
3. Again, if we would have a right judgment and esteem of Christ, let us labour to wean our affections as much as may be from other things. Fleshly hearts that have run so deeply into the world, and vanities of this present life, it is in a sort an extraordinary task for them to be drawn away and pulled from the world, as a child from a full breast, which they have sucked so long. Now, for sweet affections that are tender, it is an excellent advantage they have to consider betimes that there is that in religion and in the gospel which is worth their best and prime affections, the flower and marrow of them. Let them begin, with young Timothy, 2 Timothy 3:15, Daniel, and Joseph, to love Christ from their childhood. It is a desperate folly, on the other hand, to put off the regard of good things till after, when we shall be less fit, when the understanding will be darkened, and the affections blunted, when we shall not have that edge, nature being decayed, and the world having taken such possession of the soul that we shall not value this excellency. Therefore let us begin betimes to make up the marriage between Christ and the soul. No time, indeed, is too late, but it were to be wished that those that are young would be thus wise for their souls betimes.
4. Besides, if we would highly value Christ, beg of God a spirit that we may judge aright of our corruptions, for in what measure we can discern the height, and breadth, and depth of our corrupt nature, in that measure shall we judge of the height, and breadth, and depth of the excellency of Christ. The sweetest souls are the most humble souls. Those that love Christ most are those that have been stung most with the sense of their sins. Where sin most abounds in the sense and feeling of it, grace much more abounds in the sense and feeling of that, Romans 5:20. Did ever soul love Christ more than that woman that had so many devils cast out of her? Luke 8:2. And Paul, that had such great sins forgiven? Doth any man so love his creditor as he that hath much debt forgiven him? It is our Saviour Christ’s own reason. Therefore these two go always with the true church. 1. The true knowledge of the corruption of nature, and misery by reason of it; and 2. The true sense and feeling of it, with true and hearty sorrow for it, &c. In popery they slight original sin, that mother, breeding sin. Actual sins be venial, and many sins no sins. And therefore they esteem so slightly of Christ that they join saints, the pope, works and satisfaction with him. Because they know not the depth of the malady, how black sin is, what a cursed estate we are in by nature, they have slight, shallow, and weak conceits of sin. Therefore they have answerable weak and shallow conceits of Christ and of his righteousness and excellency. Therefore the conviction of our sins goeth before the conviction of righteousness in Christ, as it is said, ’The Holy Ghost shall convince the world of sin and then of righteousness,’ John 16:8. For except the soul be convinced of sin, and of ill in itself, it will never be truly convinced of good and of righteousness in Christ. The Passover was always eaten with sour herbs, because it should add a relish to the feast. So Christ, the true Passover, we never relish truly without sour herbs, the consideration of sin, with the desert of it. Christ savours otherwise to a man humbled for his sins than he doth to another man not touched therewith; otherwise to a poor man than he doth to a rich; otherwise to a man that the world goes not well on his side than to a prosperous man. One savoury discourse of Christ relisheth more to an afflicted soul than seven discourses with such as are drunk with prosperity, not having a brain strong enough to conceive, nor an appetite to relish heavenly things.
Therefore why do we murmur at the cross, when all is to recover our spiritual taste and relish? Solomon had lost his taste and relish of Christ. He never made his song of songs when he was in his idolatrous way, nor was so in love with Christ and his excellencies when he doted so much upon his wives. No; but when he had recovered his spirit’s taste and relish of heavenly things once, then made he the book of the preacher. When he had run through variety of things, and saw all to be nothing but vexation of spirit, and besides that vanity, then he passeth his verdict upon all things, that they were vanity. So it is with us, we can hardly prize Christ without some afflictions, some cross or other. Therefore here the church is fain to endure a spiritual desertion, to set an edge upon her affections. Now, when she is thus in her desertions, ’Christ is white and ruddy, the chief of ten thousand.’
We value more, and set a higher price on things in the want of them—such is our corruption—than in the enjoying of them. And if God remember us not with affliction, then let us afflict, humble, and judge ourselves; enter into our own souls, to view how we stand affected to Christ, to heaven, and to heavenly things. How do I relish and esteem them? If I have lost my esteem and valuing, where have I lost it? Consider in what sin, in what pleasure, in what company I lost it; and converse no more with such as dull our affections to heavenly things.
4. And let us make use likewise of our infirmities and sins to this purpose, to set an high price on the excellencies of Christ. We carry about us always infirmities and corruptions. What use shall we make of them? Not to trust to our own righteousness, which is ’as a defiled cloth,’ Isaiah 64:6, but fly to Christ’s righteousness, which is the righteousness of God-man, all being as dung and dross in regard of that. Often think with thyself, What am I? a poor sinful creature; but I have a righteousness in Christ that answers all. I am weak in myself, but Christ is strong, and I am strong in him. I am foolish in myself, but I am wise in him. What I want in myself I have in him. He is mine, and his righteousness is mine, which is the righteousness of God-man. Being clothed with this, I stand safe against conscience, hell, wrath, and whatsoever. Though I have daily experience of my sins, yet there is more righteousness in Christ, who is mine, and who is the chief of ten thousand, than there is sin in me. When thus we shall know Christ, then we shall know him to purpose.