THE ELEVENTH SEEMON.
I opened to my beloved ; but my beloved had xvithdraxcn himself, and was gone : my sold failed ivhen he spake : I sought him, but I could not find him ; I called him, but he gave me no answer. — Cant. Y. 6, 7.
The pride and security of the spouse provokes the Lord, her husband, oft to bring her very low, they being incompatible with Christ's residence.
Pride is an affection contrary to his prerogative ; for it sets up somewhat in the soul higher than God, the highest.
Security is a duU temper, or rather distemper, that makes the soul neglect her watch, and rely upon some outward privilege. A\Tiere this ill
116 ' BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XI.
couple is entertained, there Christ useth to withdraw himself, even to the faihng and fainting of the soul.
The spouse is here in her fainting fit, yet she seeks after Christ. Still she gives not over. So Jonah, ' I am cast out of thy presence,' says he, * yet notwithstanding I will look toward thy holy temple,' Jonah ii. 4. And David, ' I said in my haste, I am cast out of thy sight ; yet notwith- standing thou heardest the voice of my prayer,' Ps. xxxi. 22. He said it, but he said it in his haste. God's children are surprised on the sudden to think they are cast away ; but it is in haste, and so soon as may be, they recover themselves. ' I said it is my infirmity,' said David, Ps. Ixxvii. 10. It is but in a passion. Here then is the difierence between the children of God and others in desertions ; they arise, these lie still and despair. There is ' life in the substance of the oak,' Isa. vi. 13, that makes it lift up its head above ground, though it be cut down to the stumps. Nay, we see further here, the church is not taken ofi" for any discouragements, but her laith grows stronger, as the woman's of Canaan did. Mat. xv. 21, seq.
The reason whereof is — 1, faith looks to the promise, alid to the nature of God, not to his present dealing.
And then, 2. God, by a secret work of his Spirit, though he seem to be an enemj', yet notwithstanding draws his children nearer and nearer to him by such his' dealing. All this strangeness is but to mortify some former lust, or consume some former dregs of security.
' I sought him, but I could not find him.' Here one of the greatest discouragements of all other is, when prayer, which is left to the church as a salve for all sores, hath no answer. This is the complaint, but indeed an error, of the chui'ch ; for Christ did hear the church, though he seemed to turn his back.
But how shall we know that God hears our prayers ?
First. Amongst many other things this is one. When he gives us inward peace, then he hears our prayers, for so is the connection, Phil. iv. 6,7.
Or secojidhj. If w^e find a spirit to pray still, a spirit to wait and to hold out, it is an argument that God either hath or will hear those prayers.
And as it is an argument that God hears our prayers, so is it of the pre- sence of Christ. For how could we pray but from his inward presence ? Christ was now present, and more present with the church when he seemed not to be found of her, than he was when she was secure ; for whence else comes this eagerness of desire, this spirit of prayer, this earnestness of seeking? ' I called, but he gave no answer,' &c.
Directions how to carry ourselves in such an estate. How shall we cany ourselves when it falls out that our hearts fail of that we seek for, when we pray without success, and find not a present answer, or are in any such-like state of desertion.
1, We must believe against belief, as it were, ' hope against hope, and trust in God,' Ptom. iv. 18, howsoever he shews himself to us as an oppo- site.* It is no matter what his present dealing with his church and chil- dren here is ; the nature of fiiith is to break through all opposition, to see the sun behind a cloud, nay, to see one contrary in another, Ufe in death, a calm in a storm, &c., 1 Cor. vi. 8, 9, seq.
2. Labour for an absolute dependence tijjon Christ, with a 2'>overty of spirit m ourselves. This is the end of Christ's withdrawing himself, to purge us of self-confidence and pride.
* That is, ' opponent. — G.
CaNT.V. G,7.] ' I CALLED HIM, BUT HE GAVE ME NO ANSWER.' 117
3. Stir up your graces. For as nature joining with physic helps it to work and carry away the maHgnant humours, so by the remainder of the Spirit that is in us, let us set all our graces on work until we have carried away that that offends and clogs the soul, and not sink under the burden. For this is a special time for the exercising of faith, hope, love, diligence, care, watchfulness, and such-like graces.
And let us know for our comfort, that even this conflicting condition is a good estate. In a sick body it is a sign of life and health approaching when the humours are stirred, so as that a man complains that the physic works. So when we take to heart our present condition, though we fail and find not what we would, yet this will work to the subduing of corrap- tion at length. It is a sign of future victory when we are discontent with our present ill estate. Grace will get the upper hand, as nature doth when the humours are disturbed.