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Christ. In paradise there was waters, streams, the rivers of paradise, Gen. ii. 10 ; so there ' is a river that makes glad the city of God,' Ps. xlvi. 4, streams of grace and comfort that run through the church of God.
In the church we are as plants by the rivers of waters, that bring forth finiit in due season, as it is in Ps. i. 3, seq. Speaking of blessed men that live in the church, ' Blessed is the man that meditates in the word day and night,' that attends upon the ordinances. He is ' planted as a tree by the waters' side,' his leaf is alway green. What food to that food that is mi- nistered to us in the word, and sacraments — Christ himself to feed us to life eternal ! And what raiment to the raiment of justification ; for Christ to clothe these poor souls of ours, poor, naked, beggarly souls ! What riches to the riches of God's graces and comforts ! What strength to that that is in the church, to overcome our own corruptions and lusts ! What beauty to the image of God shining and stamped on his children ! What company so sweet, as those that we meet with in the earth, in good exercises, and that we shall live ever with in heaven ! What company to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and the angels, that we enjoy in the church! What discourse so sweet, as that of God, hearing him speak in his word, and us speaking to him by prayer, so that it is a resemblance of heaven upon earth, the church of God !
Therefore we should be in love with the beauty of God's temple and sanctuary. And the rather because all things now in this age of the church wherein we live are in a more glorious manner than in David's time. David when he saw the beauty of God's sanctuary, it was but in a shadow ; and when he looked upon the mercy-seat, then he did think of Christ, the true propitiatory, the true mercy-seat. When he looked on the high priest, he thought on Christ the true high priest. When he thought of Canaan, it put him in mind of heaven, whereof Canaan was a type. When he saw the sacrifices, he thought of the true sacrifice for our sins, Christ. When he thought of the oblations and incense, he thought of the sacrifice of thankfulness. "VMien he thought of the passover, he thought of Christ the true passover, whose blood is sprinkled on our souls, that the destroy- ing angel hath nothing to do with us. He saw all in shadows ; we see them naked. So our condition is more glorious in this latter age of the church, than it was in David's time. Therefore our desires should be more stirred up ; for instead of the shadow we have the substance. Then the Spirit was but dropped, but the Father hath poured out the Spirit since Christ's time. Then the pale of the church was straitened, now it is en- larged. Then there was but one church, the national church of the Jews. Then the service of God was wondrous burdensome, and chargeable, but it is not so now. So that there be many diflerences. All things are more lightsome and clear now than they were then. Therefore having many things to commend the frequenting of the congregation more than David had in his time, we should much more make this one thing our desire * to dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of om- hfe, to behold the beauty of the Lord.'
Quest. If this be so, that there is such a beauty in the house of God, then what shall we think of those that see no such beauty at all, that see no such delight and contentment in the house of God ?
A7hs. I answer, it is a discovery to them, if they would think of it, that theij have no spiritual senses at all ; as St Austin saith of men that com- plain, that they do not taste and relish these things. Surely, saith he, thou wantest a spiritual palate to taste these things. What do swine care
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for sweet marjoram or roses ? They care more for a dunghill or a puddle. ^Vhat do your base filthy swine in men's shape care for these things? They care more for pleasures and such things, that they may spend their lives as beasts. Now when we speak of the delights, and dainties, and excel- lencies of God's house, we speak to those that we wish, and we hope have spiritual senses answerable to these things. Every creature delights in its proper element. These things are the element of a Christian. Beetles delight in dirt, and swine in mire, the fish in the sea, man hath his element here, and spiritual things are the element of a Christian, so far as he is a Christian, and that is his ubi, the place that he delights in. I speak to such. They can make it good in some measure, that ' one day in the house of God is better than a thousand elsewhere,' Ps. Ixxxiv. 10, that one hour in the unfolding the sweet mysteries of salvation, it is worth twenty-four hours in other employment ; and they are so taken with the sweetness, that they are content that God should take them out of the world, in the un- folding of these sweet things. When they hear the promises of salvation opened, though by a poor weak man, yet when it is in the ministry, it so ravisheth their hearts, that they are content to go to heaven at the same time ; it so con\anceth them of the excellency of religion. I speak to such of the beauty of God.