Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v25550

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 11KB | 204 lines

25556
 #16 The church prays for the influences of the blessed Spirit,
 to make this garden fruitful. Graces in the soul are as spices
 in these gardens, that in them which is valuable and useful. The
 blessed Spirit, in his work upon the soul, is as the wind. There
 is the north wind of conviction, and the south wind of comfort.
 He stirs up good affections, and works in us both to will and to
 do that which is good. The church invites Christ. Let him have
 the honour of all the garden produces, and let us have the
 comfort of his acceptance of it. We can invite him to nothing
 but what is his own already. The believer can have no joy of the
 fruits, unless they redound some way or other to the glory of
 Christ. Let us then seek to keep separate from the world, as a
 garden enclosed, and to avoid conformity thereto.
25557
 * Christ's answer. (1) The disappointments of the church from
 her own folly. (2-8) The excellences of Christ. (9-16)

 #1 See how ready Christ is to accept the invitations of his
 people. What little good there is in us would be lost, if he did
 not preserve it to himself. He also invites his beloved people
 to eat and drink abundantly. The ordinances in which they honour
 him, are means of grace.

25558
 #2-8 Churches and believers, by carelessness and security,
 provoke Christ to withdraw. We ought to notice our spiritual
 slumbers and distempers. Christ knocks to awaken us, knocks by
 his word and Spirit, knocks by afflictions and by our
 consciences; thus, #Re 3:20|. When we are unmindful of Christ,
 still he thinks of us. Christ's love to us should engage ours to
 him, even in the most self-denying instances; and we only can be
 gainers by it. Careless souls put slights on Jesus Christ.
 Another could not be sent to open the door. Christ calls to us,
 but we have no mind, or pretend we have no strength, or we have
 no time, and think we may be excused. Making excuses is making
 light of Christ. Those put contempt upon Christ, who cannot find
 in their hearts to bear a cold blast, or to leave a warm bed for
 him. See the powerful influences of Divine grace. He put in his
 hand to unbolt the door, as one weary of waiting. This betokens
 a work of the Spirit upon the soul. The believer's rising above
 self-indulgence, seeking by prayer for the consolations of
 Christ, and to remove every hinderance to communion with him;
 these actings of the soul are represented by the hands dropping
 sweet-smelling myrrh upon the handles of the locks. But the
 Beloved was gone! By absenting himself, Christ will teach his
 people to value his gracious visits more highly. Observe, the
 soul still calls Christ her Beloved. Every desertion is not
 despair. Lord, I believe, though I must say, Lord, help my
 unbelief. His words melted me, yet, wretch that I was, I made
 excuses. The smothering and stifling of convictions will be very
 bitter to think of, when God opens our eyes. The soul went in
 pursuit of him; not only prayed, but used means, sought him in
 the ways wherein he used to be found. The watchmen wounded me.
 Some refer it to those who misapply the word to awakened
 consciences. The charge to the daughters of Jerusalem, seems to
 mean the distressed believer's desire of the prayers of the
 feeblest Christian. Awakened souls are more sensible of Christ's
 withdrawings than of any other trouble.
25565
 #9-16 Even those who have little acquaintance with Christ,
 cannot but see amiable beauty in others who bear his image.
 There are hopes of those who begin to inquire concerning Christ
 and his perfections. Christians, who are well acquainted with
 Christ themselves, should do all they can to make others know
 something of him. Divine glory makes him truly lovely in the
 eyes of all who are enlightened to discern spiritual things. He
 is white in the spotless innocence of his life, ruddy in the
 bleeding sufferings he went through at his death. This
 description of the person of the Beloved, would form, in the
 figurative language of those times, a portrait of beauty of
 person and of grace of manners; but the aptness of some of the
 allusions may not appear to us. He shall come to be glorified in
 his saints, and to be admired in all that believe. May his love
 constrain us to live to his glory.
25573
 * Inquiry where Christ must be sought. (1) Where Christ may be
 found. (2,3) Christ's commendations of the church. (4-10) The
 work of grace in the believer. (11-13)

 #1 Those made acquainted with the excellences of Christ, and the
 comfort of an interest in him, desire to know where they may
 meet him. Those who would find Christ, must seek him early and
 diligently.

25574
 #2,3 Christ's church is a garden, enclosed, and separated from
 the world; he takes care of it, delights in it, and visits it.
 Those who would find Christ, must attend him in his ordinances,
 the word, sacraments, and prayer. When Christ comes to his
 church, it is to entertain his friends. And to take believers to
 himself: he picks the lilies one by one; and at the great day he
 will send forth his angels to gather all his lilies, that he may
 be for ever admired in them. The death of a believer is not more
 than the owner of a garden plucking a favourite flower; and He
 will preserve it from withering, yea, cause it to flourish for
 ever, with increasing beauty. If our own hearts can witness for
 us that we are Christ's, question not his being ours, for the
 covenant never breaks on his side. It is the comfort of the
 church, that he feeds among the lilies, that he takes delight in
 his people.

25576
 #4-10 All the real excellence and holiness on earth centre in
 the church. Christ goes forth subduing his enemies, while his
 followers gain victories over the world, the flesh, and the
 devil. He shows the tenderness of a Redeemer, the delight he
 takes in his redeemed people, and the workings of his own grace
 in them. True believers alone can possess the beauty of
 holiness. And when their real character is known, it will be
 commended. Both the church and believers, at their first
 conversion, look forth as the morning, their light being small,
 but increasing. As to their sanctification, they are fair as the
 moon, deriving all their light, grace, and holiness from Christ;
 and as to justification, clear as the sun, clothed with Christ,
 the Sun of righteousness, and fighting the good fight of faith,
 under the banners of Christ, against all spiritual enemies.

25583
 #11-13 In retirement and in meditation the Christian character
 is formed and perfected. But not in the retirement of the idle,
 the self-indulgent, or the trifler. When the Christian is
 released from the discharge of his duties in life, the world has
 no attractions for him. His prayer is, that all things belonging
 to the Spirit may live and grow within him, and around him. Such
 are the interesting cares and employments of him whom the world
 wrongly deems unhappy, and lost to his true interests. In
 humility and self-abasement, the humble Christian would turn
 away from the sight of all; but the Lord delights to honour him.
 Chiefly, however, may the reference be to the ministering angels
 who shall be sent for the soul of the Christian. Their approach
 may startle, but the departing soul shall find the Lord its
 strength and its portion for ever. The church is called the
 Shulamite: the word signifies perfection and peace; not in
 herself, but in Christ, in whom she is complete, through his
 righteousness; and has peace, which he made for her through his
 blood, and gives unto her by his Spirit.
25586
 * The graces of the church. (1-9) The delight of the church in
 Christ. (10-13)

 #1-9 The similitudes here are different from what they were
 before, and in the original refer to glorious and splendid
 clothing. Such honour have all his saints; and having put on
 Christ, they are distinguished by their beautiful and glorious
 apparel. They adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all
 things. Consistent believers honour Christ, recommend the
 gospel, and convince and awaken sinners. The church resembles
 the stately and spreading palm; while her love for Christ, and
 the obedience resulting therefrom, are precious fruit of the
 true Vine. The King is held in the galleries. Christ takes
 delight in the assemblies and ordinances of his people; and
 admires the fruit of his grace in them. When applied to the
 church and to each faithful Christian, all this denotes that
 beauty of holiness, in which they shall be presented to their
 heavenly Bridegroom.

25595
 #10-13 The church, the believing soul, triumphs in its relation
 to Christ, and interest in him. She humbly desires communion
 with him. Let us walk together, that I may receive counsel,
 instruction, and comfort from thee; and may make known my wants
 and my grievances to thee, with freedom, and without
 interruption. Communion with Christ is what all that are made
 holy earnestly breathe after. And those who would converse with
 Christ, must go forth from the world. Wherever we are, we may
 keep up communion with God. Nor should we go where we cannot in
 faith ask him to go with us. Those who would go abroad with
 Christ, must begin early in the morning of their days; must
 begin every day with him, seek him early, seek him diligently. A
 gracious soul can reconcile itself to the poorest places, if it
 may have communion with God in them; but the most delightful
 fields will not satisfy, unless the Beloved is there. Let us not
 think to be satisfied with any earthly object. Our own souls are
 our vineyards; they should be planted with useful trees. We
 should often search whether we are fruitful in righteousness.
 Christ's presence will make the vine flourish, and the tender
 grapes appear, as the returning sun revives the gardens. If we
 can appeal to him, Thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I
 love thee; if his Spirit witness with our spirit, that our souls
 prosper, it is enough. And we must beg of him to search and try
 us, to discover us to ourselves. The fruits and exercises of
 graces are pleasant to the Lord Jesus. These must be laid up,
 and always ready; that by our bringing forth much fruit, he may
 be glorified. It is all from him, therefore it is fit it should
 be all for him.
25599
 * Desire for communion with Christ. (1-4) The vehemence of this
 desire. (5-7) The church pleads for others. (8-12) And prays for
 Christ's coming. (13,14)

 #1-4 The church wishes for the constant intimacy and freedom
 with the Lord Jesus that a sister has with a brother. That they
 might be as his brethren, which they are, when by grace they are
 made partakers of a Divine nature. Christ is become as our
 Brother; wherever we find him, let us be ready to own our
 relation to him, and affection for him, and not fear being
 despised for it. Is there in us an ardent wish to serve Christ
 more and better? What then have we laid up in store, to show our
 affection to the Beloved of our souls? What fruit unto holiness?
 The church charges all her children that they never provoke
 Christ to withdraw. We should reason with ourselves, when
 tempted to do what would grieve the Spirit.