Again, he sets down, to move the church the more to open to him, the inconveniences that he endured, ' My head is filled with dew,' &e. Wherein he shews what he sufiered, which sufferings are of two sorts : in himself ; in his ministers. In himself, and in his own blessed person, what did he endure ! What patience had he in enduring the refractory spirits of men, when he was here ! How many indignities did he digest f in his disciples after their conversion ! Towards his latter end, his head was not only filled with the drops, but his body filled with drops of blood. Drops of blood came from him, because of the anguish of his spirit, and the sense of God's wrath for our sins. Upon the cross, what did he endure there ! That sense of God's anger there, was only for our sins. ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' Mat. xxvii. 46. What should we speak of his going up and down doing good, preaching in his own person, setting whole nights apart for prayer ! And then for what he sufiers in his ministers. There he knocks, and saith, ' Open,' in them. And how was he used iB.the apostles that were after him, and in the ministers of the church ever since ! What have they endured ! for he put a spirit of patience upon them. And what indignities endured they in the primitive church, that were the publishers of the gospel ! Those sweet publishers * ' As,' deleted here.— G. t That is, ' bear.'— G.
Cant. Y. 2. J * open to sie, jiy sister.' 71
thereof, drawing men to open to Christ, were lulled for preaching. So cruel is the heart, that it offereth violence to them that love them most, that love their souls. And what greater love than the love of the soul ! Yet this is the Satanical temper and disposition of men's hearts. They hate those men most, that deal this way most truly and lovingly with them. It is not that the gospel is such an hard message. It is the word of reconciliation, and the word of life ; but the heart hates it, because it would draw men from their present condition ; and ' therefore condemna- tion is come into the world, in that men hate the Hght, because their works are evil,' John iii. 19. Is there anything truly and cordially hated but grace ? and are any persons heartily and cordially hated in the world so much as the promulgers and publishers of grace, and the professors of it ? because it upbraids most of all, and meddles with the corruptions of men, that are dearer to them than their own souls.
Now, what patience is there in Christ to suffer himself in his messengers, and his children to be thus used ! Nor it is not strange to say that Christ stands thus in his ministers ; for it is said, ' That Christ by his Spirit preached in the days of Noah, to the souls now in prison,' 1 Pet. iii. 19. Christ preached in Noah's time, before he was incarnate, much more doth he preach now. And as he was patient then to endure the old world, unto whom Noah preached a hundred and twenty years ; so he is patient now in his ministers to preach still by the same Spirit, even to us still, and yet the entertainment in many places is, as Paul complains, ' Though the more I love you, yet the less I am beloved of you,' 2 Cor. xii. 15.
Usel. Let these things move ?<s to be jMtient toirards God and Christ, if we be corrected in any Jdnd, considering that Chi-ist is so patient towards us, and to wait upon him with patience. How long hath he waited for our con- version ! How long doth he still wait for the thorough giving up of our souls to him ! Shall we think much, then, to wait a little while for him ?
Use 2. And let this Spirit of Christ strengthen us likeicise in our dealing with others, as to bear with evil men, and as it is, * to wait, if God will at any time give them repentance,' 2 Tim. ii. 25, 26. Neither may we be so short-spirited, that if we have not an answer, presently to give over. We should imitate Christ here. Never give over as long as God continues life with any advantage and opportunity to do good to any soul. Wait, if God at any time will give them grace. * Open to me, my sister, my love,' &c.
Use 3. Let this again work upon us, that our Saviour Christ here u-oidd thus set forth his love, and his patience in his love, in bearing with us thu?, under the resemblance of a silly suitor that comes afar ofl', and stands at the door, and knocks. That Christ should stoop thus in seeking the good of our souls, let this win and quicken our hearts with all readiness and thankfulness to receive him when he comes to work in our souls. Con- sidering that Christ hath such a care of us by himself, his ministers, and the motions of his Spirit, who joins with his ministry, let not us therefore be careless of our own souls, but let it move our hearts to melt to him. The motives may be seen more in the particular compellations. ' Open to me, my sister, my love,' &c.