Second, They are the graces of his Spirit. K we have anything that is good, all comes from the Spirit, which is fii'st in Christ om* husband, aid then in us. As the ointment was first poured on Aaron's head, Ps. cxxxiii. 2, and then ran doimi upon his rich gannents, so all comes fi'om Christ to us. St Paul calls the wife ' the glory of her husband,' 1 Cor. xi. 7, because, as in a glass, she resembleth the graces of her husband, who may see his own graces in her. So it is with Christ and the church. Face answereth to face, as Solomon saith in another case, Prov. xxvii. 19. Chi'ist sees his own face, beauty, glory, in his church ; she reflects his beams ; he looks in love upon her, and always with his looks conveys gi'ace and comfort ; and the chiu-ch doth reflect back again his grace. Therefore Christ loves but the reflection of his own gi'aces in his children, and therefore accepts them.
Third, His kindness is such as he takes all in good part. Christ is love and kindness itself. Why doth he give unto her the name of spouse and sister, but that he would be kind and loving, and that we should conceive so of him ? We see, then, the graces of Christ accepting of us and what we do in his strength. Both we ourselves are sacrifices, and what we oSer is a sacrifice acceptable to God, thi'ough him that oflered himself as a sacrifice of sweet smelling savour, fi-om which God smells a savour of rest. God accepts of Christ fii'st, and then of us, and what comes from us in him. We may boldly pray, as Ps. xx. 3, ' Lord, remember all our offerings, and accept all our sacrifices.' The blessed apostle St Paul doth will us ' to
28 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON II.
offer up ourselves,' Rom. xii. 1, a holy and acceptable sacrifice to God, ■when we are once in Christ. In the Old Testament we have divers mani- festations of this acceptation. He accepted the sacrifice of Abel, as it is thought, by fi^re from heaven, and so Elijah's sacrifice, and Solomon's, by fire, 1 Engs xviii. 38; 1 Chron, sxi. 26. So in the New Testament he shewed his acceptation of the disciples meeting together, by a mighty wind, and then filling them with the Holy Ghost, Acts ii. 3. But now the declaration of the acceptation of our persons, graces, and sacrifice that we offer to him, is most in peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost, and from a holy fire of love kindled by the Spirit, whereby our sacrifices are burned. In the incense of prayer, how many sweet spices are burned together by this fire of faith working by love ; as humility and patience in submitting to God's will, hope of a gracious answer, hoHness, love to others, &c.
Use 1. If so be that God accepts the performances and graces, especially the prayers of his children, let it be an argument to encourage us to be much %n all holy duties. It would dead the heart of any man to perform service where it should not be accepted, and the eye turned aside, not vouchsafing a gi'acious look upon it. This would be a killing of all comfortable endea- vours. But when all that is good is accepted, and what is amiss is par- doned, when a broken desire, a cup of cold water shall not go unrespected, nay, unrewarded, Mat. x. 42, what can we desire more ? It is infidehty which is dishonourable to God and uncomfortable to om'selves, that makes us so barren and cold in duties.
Use 2. Only let our care be to aijprove our hearts unto Christ. When our hearts are right, we cannot but think comfortably of Christ. Those that have offended some great persons are afraid, when they hear from them, because they think they are in a state displeasing to them. So a soul that is under the guilt of any sin is so far from thinking that God accepts of it, that it looks to hear nothing from him but some message of anger and displeasure. Bat one that preserves acquaintance, due distance, and respect to a great person, hears from him with comfort. Before he breaks open a letter, or sees anything, he supposes it comes fi'om a friend, one that loves him. So, as we would desfre to hear nothing but good news from heaven, and acceptation of all that we do, let us be careful to preserve ourselves in a good estate, or else our souls will tremble upon any discovery of God's wrath. The guilty conscience argues, what can God shew to me, being such a wretch ? The heart of such an one cannot but misgive, as, where peace is made, it will speak comfort. It is said of Daniel that he was a man of God's desires, Dan. ix. 28 ; x. 11, 19 ; and of St John, that Christ so loved him that he leaned on his breast, John xxi. 20. Every one cannot be a Daniel, nor one that leans on Christ's bosom. There are de- gi'ees of favour and love ; but there is no child of God but he is beloved and accepted of him in some degree. But something of this before in the former chapter.