Observation 1. The intimacy of the Lord Jesus with his saints, and the delight he takes in them. He dwelleth with them, he dwelleth in them, — he takes them to the nearest union with himself possible: he in them, they in him, that they may be one. He hath made many an admirable change Avith us. He took our sin, and gives us his righteousness ; he took our nature, and gives us his Spirit. Neither is it a bare indwelling, — he thereby holds with us all acts of the choicest communion. " If," saith he, " any man hear my voice, and open to me, I will come in to him." And what then ? " I will sup with him, and he with me," Rev. iii. 20.
(1.) / will sup with him;" — I will delight and satisfy myself with him. Jesus Christ takes abundance of dehght and contentment in the hearts of his saints. When they are faithful, when they are fruit- ful, he is marvellously refreshed "with it. Hence is that prayer of the spouse, " Awake, O north wind ; and come, thou south ; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my Beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fiiiits," Cant. iv. 16. She would have the spices, the gi'aces she hath received, breathed on by a fresh gale of the Spirit, that they might yield a sweet savour. And why so? That her Beloved may have something for his entertain-
VOL. YIII. 20
30(5 THE BRANCH OF THE LORD
ment, — tliat he may come and sup, and eat of his pleasant fruits. A poor soul, that hath received Christ, hath not any desire so ferv^ent as that it may have something for the entertainment of him; that he who filled it when it was hungiy may not (as it were) be sent away empty. And the Lord Jesus is exceedingly taken with those refresh- ments. " The King is held in the galleries/' Cant. vii. 5. He is detained, yea, bound with delight ; — he knows not how to pass away. Therefore "he rests in his love," Zeph. iii. 17. He is exceedingly satiated in the delight he takes in his saints. Neither is this all, that when Christ comes he will sup with us, (though this be a great deal ; for what are we, that we should entertain our Lord?) but also, —
(2.) The saints sup with him: he provides choice refreshments for them also. When Christ comes in unto us, he will entertain a soul bounteously. He provides love for us. When the Spirit of Christ is bestowed on us, he sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts, Rom. v. 5. He sheds it abroad, — pours it out abundantly. Friends, love is a choice dainty: — -he that knows it not is a stranger to all spiritual banquets : — it is a choice dish in the feast of fat things that Christ prepareth. He provides " righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," for us. That [is] his kingdom, Rom. xiv. 17; and this kingdom of his is within us. Of such precious things as these doth Christ provide a supper for them with whom he dwells. If Christ be in you, more or less, you shall not want this entertainment. We are, indeed, sometimes like mad guests, that when meat is set on the table, cast it all do\\Ti, without tasting a morsel. When Christ hath prepared sweet and precious dainties for us, we cast them on the ground ; we throw away our peace, our joy, by folly and unbelief: but this makes not the truth of God of none effect.
Observation 2. Doth Christ dwell in us by his Spirit? — should we not be careful lest we grieve that Spirit of his? The Spirit of Christ is very tender. Did the saints continually consider this, that Christ dwells in them, — that he is grieved and troubled at all their unbelief, unruly passions, worldly desires, foolish imaginations, — surely they could not but be much more watchful over themselves than generally they are. He is refreshed when we walk with him, and hold fellow- ship with him. To turn aside from him, to hold fellowship with the world or flesh, — this gi'ieves him and burdens him. Oh, " grieve not the Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed to tlie day of redemption." And let me tell you, if you do, though he will not utterly depart from you, nor take his kindness away for evermore, yet he will do that which shall make your heart ache, your joints tremble, and break all your bones in pieces. For, —
(1.) He will depart from you as to all sense of his 'presence, that you shall have neither joy, nor comfort, nor peace. He will hide his
THE BEAUTY OF ZION. 307
face, and make you believe (as we say) that he is gone utterly from you. And this he will do, not for a day, or a night, or so, but for a great while together. You shall go to seek him, and you shall not find him; yea, beg and cry, and have no answer. Now all the world for one smile from Christ, for one impression of his presence upon my heart, — and all in vain. When the Spirit of Christ was thus departed from David, upon his miscarriage, as to the sense and joy of it, how doth he cry out, " Make me to hear the voice of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice!" Ps. li. 8. If thou valuest the presence of Christ at no greater rate but to jeopard it upon every occasion, thou may est haply go without the comfort of it all thy days. Examine yourselves, — is it not so with some of you? Have you not lost the sense of the presence of Christ by your folly and uneven w"alking? PerhajDS you value it not much, but go on as Samson with his hair cut, and think to do as at other times; but if the Philistines set upon thee, it will be sorrow and trouble; in every assault thou wilt find thyself a lost man; — sooner or later it will be bitterness to thee.