And we need blowing : our spirits will be becalmed else, and stand at a stay ; and Satan will be sure by himself, and such as are his bellows, to blow up the seeds of sinful lusts in us. For there are two spiiits in the church, the one always blowing against the other. Therefore, the best had need to be stirred up ; otherwise, with Moses, Exod. xvii. 12, their hands will be ready to fall down, and abate in their afiection. Therefore we need blowing —
1. In regard of our natural inability.
10 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON I.
2. In regard of our dulness and heaviness, cleaving to nature occasionally.
3. In regard of contrary winds from without.
Satan hath his bellows filled with his spirit, that hinders the work of grace all they can ; so that we need not only Christ's blowing, but also his stopping other contrary winds, that they blow not, Rev. vii. 1.
4. In regard of the estate and condition of the new Covenant, wherein all beginning, growth, and ending, is from grace, and nothing but grace.
5. Because old grace, without a fresh supply, will not hold against new crosses and temptations.
Use. Therefore when Christ di'aws, let us run after him ; when he blows, let us open unto him. It may be the last blast that ever we shall have from him. And let us set upon duties with this encouragement, that Christ wiU blow upon us, not only to prevent us, but also to maintain his own graces in us. But 0 ! where is this stirring up of ourselves, and one another, upon these grounds !
Quest. But, ivhy is the church compared to a garden ?
Alls. Christ herein takes all manner of terms to express himself and the state of the church, as it is to him, to shew us that wheresoever we are, we may have occasion of heavenly thoughts, to raise up our thoughts to higher matters. His chm'ch is his * temple,' when we are in the temple ; it is a ' field' when we are there ; a ' garden,' if we walk in a garden. It is also a ' spouse' and a ' sister,' &c. But more particularly the church is resembled to a garden.
1. Because a garden is taken out of the common waste ground, to he appro- priated to a more jmrticular tise. So the church of Chi'ist is taken out of the wilderness of this waste world, to a particular use. It is in respect of the rest, as Goshen to Egypt, Exod. ix. 26, wherein light was, when all else was in darlmess. And indeed wherein doth the church differ from other grounds, but that Christ hath taken it in ? It is the same soil as other grounds are ; but, he dresseth and fits it to bear spices and herbs.
2. In a garden nothing comes up naturally of itself, but as it is planted and set. So nothing is good in the heart, but as it is planted and set by the heavenl}^ husbandman, John xv. 4 ; and Mat. xv. 3. We need not sow the wilderness, for the seeds of weeds prosper naturally. The earth is a mother to weeds, but a stepmother to herbs. So weeds and passions grow too rank naturally, but nothing grows in the church of itself, but as it is set by the hand of Christ, who is the author, dresser, and pruner of his garden.
3. Again, in a garden nothing uses to be planted but ivhat is iiseful and delightful. So there is no gi-ace in the heart of a Christian, but it is useftd, as occasion serves, both to God and man.
4. Further, in a garden there are variety of flowers and sjuces, especially in those hot countries. So in a Christian, there is somewhat of every grace. As some cannot hear of a curious flower, but they will have it in their garden, so a Christian cannot hear of any grace but he labours to obtain it. They labour for graces for all seasons, and occasions. They have for pros- perity, temperance and sobriety ; for adversity, patience and hope to sus- tain them. For those that are above them, they have respect and obedience ; and for those under them, suitable usage in all conditions of Christianity. For the Spirit of God in them is a seminary of spiritual good things. As in the corruption of nature, before the Spirit of God came to us, there was the seminary of all ill weeds in us, so when there is a new quaUty and new principles put in us, therewith comes the seeds of all graces.
Cant. IV. 16.] ' blow upon jiy garden.' 11
5. Again, of all other places, tve most delight in our gardens to walk there and take our pleasure, and take care thereof, for fencing, weeding, watering, and planting. So Christ's chief care and delight is for his church. He walks in the naidst of the ' seven golden candlesticks,' Rev. ii. 1 ; and if he defend and protect States, it is that they may be a harbour to his church.
6. And then again, as in gardens there had wont to h?iN& fountains and streams xchich nm through their gardens, (as paradise had four streams which ran through it); so the church is Christ's paradise ; and his Spirit is a spring in the midst of it, to refresh the souls of his upon all their faintings, and so the soul of a Christian becomes as a watered garden.