* • Syrian.' — Ed.
134 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON XIII.
kindled, Luke xxlv. 32. For, nest to heaven itself, our meeting together here, it is a kind of paradise. The greatest pleasure in the world is to meet with those here whom we shall ever live with in heaven. Those who are good should not spend such opportunities fruitlessly.
And to this end, labour for the graces of the communion of saints; for there is such a state. We believe it as an article of our creed. How shall we approve ourselves to be such as have interest unto the communion of saints, unless we have spirits able to communicate good to others ? pitiful and loving spirits, that we may speak a word in due season.
What a world of precious time is spent in idle conversing, as if the time were a burden, and no improvement to be made of the good parts of others. Sometimes, though we know that which we ask of others as well as they do, yet notwithstanding good speeches will di'aw us to know it better, by giving occasion to speak more of it, wherewith the Spirit works more effectually and imprints it deeper, so that it shall be a more rooted know- ledge .than before ; for that doth good that is graciously Ivnown, and that is graciously known that the Spirit seals upon our souls. Perhaps the know- ledge I have is not yet sealed sufficiently ; it is not rooted by conference. Though I hear the same things again, yet I may hear them in a fresh manner, and so I may have it sealed deeper than before. Experience finds these things to be true.
Again, ice should labour here to have our hearts inquisitive. The heathen man accounted it a gi'ace in his scholar, and a sign that he would prove hopeful, because he was full of questions. Christians should be inquisitive of the ways of righteousness ; inquisitive of the right path which leads to heaven ; how to carry themselves in private, in their families ; how in all estates ; inquisitive of the excellency of Christ. ' What is thy beloved more than another beloved ? ' Questions end usually in resolutions ; for the soul will not rest but in satisfaction. Rest is the happiness of the soul, as it were. When a question is moved, it will not be quiet till it have satisfaction. Therefore doubting at the first, breeds resolution at the last. It is good therefore to raise questions of the practice of all neces- sary points ; and to improve the good parts and gifts of others that we converse with, to give satisfaction. What an excellent improve- ment is this of communion and company, when nothing troubles our spirit, but we may have satisfaction from others upon our proposing it. Perhaps God hath laid up in the parts of others, satisfaction to our souls ; and hath so determined that we shall be .perplexed and vexed with scruples, tiU we have recourse to some whom he hath appointed to be helpful to us in this kind. Many go mourning a gi'eat part of their days in a kind of sullenness this way, because that they do not open their estate to others. You see here the contrary practice of the church. She doubles the question : 'What is thy beloved more than another beloved, 0 thoufairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us ?
TBE FOURTEENTH SERMON.
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, 0 thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest amonq ten thousand. — Cant. V. 9, 10.
The last time we met we left the church sick of love ; which strange affec-
Cant. V. 9, 10.] * what is thy beloved ? ' 135
tion in her, together with her passionate charge to the daughters of Jerusalem, moved them to make this question unto her, ' What is thy be- loved more than another beloved,' &c. To be in love is much ; to conceal it is grievous ; to vent it with such fervency and passion breeds astonish- ment in these younger Christians, who wonder what that is which can so draw away the church's love, and run away with her aftections. They knew no such excellencies of the person the church so admired, and therefore they double the question unto her, ' What is thy beloved?' &c. ' what is thy beloved ? ' &c. Whereby we see the excellency of the soul which aspires still towards perfection ; not resting in any state inferior to the most ex- cellent. Therefore also is the church's sickness of love here, who desires a nearer union and communion with Christ than she at this time had.
For there are degrees of spiritual languishing. Till ice be in heaven we are always under some degree of this sickness of lore ; though the soul have more communion at one time than at another. Yea, the angels are under this wish to see Christ, together with his church, in full perfection. So that until we be in heaven, where shall be a perfect reunion of soul and body, and of all the members of the church together, there is a kind of sickness attending upon the church and a languishing.