Let us learn this heavenly wisdom, to advantage ourselves this way, by improving all good opportunities whatsoever whereby we may learn ; for God works by outward means. Good company and good discourse, these breed excellent thoughts. As, therefore, we love our souls, take all ad- vantages wherein the Spirit of God works. We shall find incredible fruit thereof, more than we would believe. But to come to the question.
1. See here, first of all, in this question the blessed success of the church's inquiry after Christ in the daughters of Jerusalem after they heard the large explications of the excellencies of Christ, especially by the chm'ch, whom they had a good conceit of, for they call her ' the fairest among women.'
And seeing, likewise, the confidence of the church, she stands to it, * This is my beloved ; ' yea, also, eagerness in the church to seek after him, they would seek him with her. So that where these meet, a large unfold- iag of the truth of God, and that by persons that are known to be good, well accepted, and conceited of, and where there is a large demonstration of real affection, and the things are spoken of with confidence, as knowing what they say; the word, I say, so managed, it is never without wondrous success.
(1.) For in the course of reason, what can I have to say, considering
Cant. VI. l.J ' WHITHER is thy beloved gone ?' 167
the party who speaks is an excellent person ? He is wiser and holier than I ; he takes to heart these things ; and shall not I affect that which those that have better parts and graces do ?
(2.) Then, withal, I see not only excellent persons do it, but I see how earnest they are. Surely there is some matter in it; for persons so holy, so wise, and gracious to be so earnest, sui'ely either they are to blame, or I am too dull and too dead ; but I have most cause to suspect myself.
(3.) And to see them carried with a spirit of confidence, as if they were well enough advised when they deliver this, ' This is my beloved,' in particular, and then to shut up all in general, ' This is my beloved, and this is my friend ;' I say, when there is gi-ace and life in the heart, and earnestness with con- fidence, this, together with the explication of the heavenly excellencies of Christ and of religion, it hath admirable success. . As here in the church, ' the fairest among women,' the ' daughters of Jerusalem,' seeing the church was so earnest, confident, and so large in the explication of the excellencies of Christ, see how it works. It draws out this question with resolution. They join with the church in seeking Christ, ' "VVhither is thy beloved gone, 0 thou fairest among women ? whither is thy beloved turned aside ? that we may seek him with thee.' Where by the way observe, as the church before doubles it, ' This is my beloved, and this is my friend,' so they answer with a double question, * "VVhither is thy beloved gone ? whither is he turned aside ? 0 thou fairest among women,' &c. From this appellation note,
2. If we would be happy instruments to convert others, being con- verted ourselves, labour to be such as the icorld may think to be good and gracious. ' 0 thou fairest among women,' fair in the robes of Christ took* out of his wardrobe. All the beauty and ornaments that the church hath she hath from Chi'ist. Let us labour to be such as the world may conceit are good persons. We say of physicians, when the patient hath a good conceit of them, the cure is half wrought. So the doctrine is half per- suaded when there is a good conceit of the speaker.
3. Again, labour to he earnest. If we would kindle others, we must be wanned oui'selves ; if we would make others weep, we must weep ourselves. Naturalists could obsei-ve this. The church spake this with large expres- sions, indeed, more than can be expressed. Let us labour to be deeply affected with what we speak, and speak with confidence as if we knew what we spoke, as the apostle John doth, in the beginning of his epistle, to bring others to be better persuaded of his doctrine. He afiirmeth ' that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with these our eyes, which we have looked upon, and these hands of ours have handled of the word of life' he delivered to them, 1 John i. 1.
For when we are confident from spiritual experience, it is wonderful how we shall be instraments of God to gain upon others. So Peter. ' We fol- lowed not,' says he, ' deceivable fables, when we opened unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but with our ejes, we saw his majesty,' 2 Pet. i. 16.
Do not think it belongs only to the ministry. There is an art of conver- sion that belongs to every one that is a grown Christian, to wdn others.
' Whither is thy beloved gone, 0 thou fairest among women?'