We have need to have Christ's Spirit to help ns to know what good is in us. And indeed a Christian should not only examine his heart for the evil that is in him, to be humbled ; but what good there is, that he may joy and be thankful. And since Christ accepts the very fii'st fruits, the earnest, and delights in them, we should know what he delights in, that we may go boldly to him; considering that it is not of ourselves, but of Christ, whatso- ever is graciously good. Therefore we ought to know our own graces ; for Christ, when he will have us comfortable indeed, will discover to us what cause we have to rejoice, and shew us what is the work of his own Spirit, and our right to all comfort.
And so, for others, we should not only joy in ourselves, and in our own condition and lot ; but also in the happy condition of every good Christian. There is joy in heaven at the conversion of one sinner, Luke xv. 10. God the Father joys to have a new son ; God the Son to see the fruit of his own redemption, that one is pulled out of the state of damnation ; and God the Holy Ghost, that he hath a new temple to dwell in ; the angels, that they have a new charge to look to, that they had not before, to join with them to praise God. So there is joy in heaven; the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, with the angels, joy at it ; and all true-hearted Christians joy in the graces one of another.
Reasons. For, 1. God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost have glory by it; and 2, the church hath comfort by the increase of a saint. 3. The prayer of a Christian adds new strength to the church. What a happy condition is it when God's glory, the chm'ch's comfort and strength, and our own joy, meet together. So that we should all take notice of the grace of God in others.
We ought to take notice of the works of God in creation and providence, when we see plants, stars, and such Hke, or else we dishonour God. What then should we do for his gifts and graces in his children, that are above these in dignity? should we not take notice of what is graciously good, and praise God for it ? Thus they did for Paul's conversion, ' they glorified God.' For when they saw that Paul of a wolf was become not only a sheep, but a shepherd and leader of God's flock, they glorified God, Gal. i. 24.
So the believing Jews, when the Gentiles were converted, ' they glorified God, that he had taken the Gentiles to be his garden and people,' Acts xi. 18. When Paul and others had planted the gospel, and God gave the increase, the godly Jews rejoiced at that good. So, we that are Gentiles, should re- joice to hear of the conversion of the Jews, and pray for it ; for then there will be a general joy when that is. Want of joy shews want of grace.
Cant. V. l.J * eat, o friends ; drink.' 31
There is not a surer character of a Satanical and Cainish disposition, than to look on the graces of God's children with a malignant eye : as Cain, who hated his brother, because his works were better than his, 1 John iii. 12. Those that deprave* the gi-aces of God in others, and cloud them with dis- graces, that they may not shine, and will not have the sweet ointment of their good names to spread, but cast dead flies into it, shew that they are of his disposition that is the accuser of the brethren. It is a sign of the child of the devil. All that have grace in them, are of Chi-ist's and of the angels' disposition. They joy at the conversion and growth of any Chris- tians. Here, such as they, are st3'led friends and beloved ; and indeed none but friends and beloved can love as Christ loves, and dehght as .Christ delights.
THE THIRD SERMON.
I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse : I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey: I have drunk my wine with my milk ; eat 0 friends ; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved ! I sleep, but my heart wdketh, &c. — Cant. v. 1, 2.
It hath been shewed how Christ and the church were feasting together. She entreated his company ' to come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits.' He, according to her desire, was come ; and not only feasted on the chm'ch's provision, but also brought more with him, Ckrist taking walks in his garden, that is, his chm-ch, and eveiy particular soul, which is as a sweet paradise for him to delight in, is much refreshed ; and in witness of acceptance brings increase. A\Tiat greater encouragement can we wish, than that we, being by natm-e as the earth, since the fall, accursed, should be the soil of Chiist's delight, planted and watered by him ; and that what we yield should be so well taken of him. We ai-e under so gracious a covenant that aU our services are accepted ; not only om- honey, but honey- comb ; not only our wine, but our milk ; our weak services as well as our strong ; because the Spu-it which we have fi*om him sweeteneth all. As in nature there is one common influence from heaven, but yet variety of flowers, violets, roses, gilUflowers, spices, all sweet in their several kind, with a different kind of sweetness : so all graces have their beginning from the common influence of Christ's Spirit, though they differ one from an- other; and are all accepted of the ' Father of Hghts,' from whence they come, James i. 17. Christ wonders at his own gi-ace, ' 0 woman, great is thy faith,' Matt. xv. 28 ; and Cant. iii. 6, ' Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankin- cense, Avith all powders of the merchant ?'