Object. The Church earnestly desired and sought after Christ, yet found him not, Cant. 3. 1, to 4.

Answ. 1. She could neither have sought after him, nor desired him, except she had had him.

2. When she sought him, and said, She found him not, she means, I found him not in that measure of peace and comfort, and fellowship I desired, but yet she had him, for she said, She sought him whom her soul loved. Secondly, Such a soul as it thus highly prizeth, and desireth, and hungers ⟨p. 383⟩after Christ, so it debased it self; the more we esteem him the more we debase our s•lves, the more we love him the less we love our selves; when Christ once revealed himself to J•b, Job 40.3. What laid he? Behold Lord, I am vile see▪ Job 42.4, 5. No soul that highly prizeth and affecteth Christ, but the more he disaffects and loathes himself, as unmeet to come into the presence of Christ, Isa. 6.4, 5. Then said I, woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts, the more he sees Christ, the more he abhors himself, as an unclean and abominable thing, that if he could, he would go out of himself; this self-denial is the first principle in Christianity, Luke 9.23.

2. When she sought him, and said, She found him not, she means, I found him not in that measure of peace and comfort, and fellowship I desired, but yet she had him, for she said, She sought him whom her soul loved. Secondly, Such a soul as it thus highly prizeth, and desireth, and hungers ⟨p. 383⟩after Christ, so it debased it selfe; the more we esteem him the more we debase our s•lves, the more we love him the lesse we love our selves; when Christ once revealed himselfe to J•b, Job 40.3. What laid he? Behold Lord, I am vile see▪ Job 42.4, 5. No soul that highly prizeth and aff•cteth Christ, but the more he d•saffects and loaths himselfe, as unmeet to come into the presence of Christ, Isa. 6.4, 5. Then said I, woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts, the more he sees Christ, the more he abhors himselfe, as an unclean and abominable thing, that if he could, he would goe out of himselfe; this selfe-denyall is the first principle in Christianity, Luke 9.23.

4. We worship Christ in our lives, by our patience in suffering, if the Lord call us to suffer for him, when we can sit down quietly, and rest well contented to endure his good pleasure with patience, this is a principal part of Gods worship, 1 Sam. 3.18. It was a good testimony of Eli's sincerity, when he heard of a woeful judgement denounced against him, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth good in his eyes, we have the Lord for our Lord, when we give him leave to rule us as he pleaseth, and patiently submit our selves unto him in every thing, Job 1.21. an argument we have God for our God, otherwise how should we complain and murmur at the instruments? Psal. 39.9. Lam. 3.29. The Church complaining of her misery, tells us the frame of her Spirit, in such a time it is good to bear the yoke in our youth, she sits alone and keeps silence, Psal. 62.1, 2. Micah 7.7, 8. This is a solemn worship of Christ; if God call a man to suffer for his Name divers evils, he is so far from being ashamed of it, that it is his glory and rejoicing; if any man suffer as a Christian, let him rejoice in that behalf, when a man is thus framed to obedience in doing, and patience in suffering the will of God, such a soul is a true worshipper of Christ, and by worshipping him, we have him; if contrary, we look at Christ as no such excellent thing but are ashamed of him; if we can look at our selves as great men in the world, and scorn to seek and mourn after Christ, when we will not be under Christs yoke, but scorn to stoop to him in every thing, and by no means we will endure any hardship for him; why, then we do not worship Christ, and if we do not worship him, we have him not, and not having him we have no life.

4. We worship Christ in our lives, by our patience in suffering, if the Lord call us to suffer for him, when we can sit down quietly, and rest well contented to endure his good pleasure with patience, this is a principall part of Gods worship,

5. We are said to have Christ by purchase, this is expressed partly in that parable, Mat. 13.46. One way to have this Pearl, is to buy it, see Isa. 55.1, 2. Come and buy, yea without money; why, without money? Cant. 8.7. If a man should give all the treasure of his house for Christ, they would be greatly despised, Acts 8.19. when Simon Magus offered money, for the gift of the holy Ghost, Peter tells him, Thy money perish with thee, yet many times without parting with money we cannot have him, the holding fast of money oft-times looseth Christ; upon this ground the young man went without him, Mat. 19. 21, to 25. Upon the point of money Christ parted with the Pharisees, Luke 16.14.

5. We are said to have Christ by purchase, this is exprest partly in that parable, Mat. 13.46. One way to have this Pearl, is to buy it, see Isa. 55.1, 2. Come and buy, yea without money; why, without money? Cant. 8.7. If a man should give all the treasure of his house for Christ, they would be greatly dispised, Acts 8.19. when Simon Magus offered money, for the gift of the holy Ghost, Peter tells him, Thy money perish with thee, yet many times without parting with money we cannot have him, the holding fast of money oft-times looseth Christ; upon this ground the young man went without him, Mat. 19. 21, to 25. Upon the poynt of money Christ parted with the Pharisees,

In three cases money must be parted with, else you shall not purchase Christ.

First, When the Lord upon some special command requires it, as he did the young man expressly; now for him to stick for money, for want of parting with it, he lost Christ; upon the same point Ananias and Sapphira lost Christ, ⟨p. 384⟩because they kept back some of the price, Acts 5.1, 2, 3, 4. a fearful judgement felt on them, to show how dangerous it is to stand upon terms with Christ; in this case money must be parted withal.

First, When the Lord upon some speciall command requires it, as he did the young man expressely; now for him to stick for money, for want of parting with it, he lost Christ; upon the same point Ananias and Saphira lost Christ, ⟨p. 384⟩because they kept back some of the price, Acts 5.1, 2, 3, 4. a fearfull judgement felt on them, to shew how dangerous it is to stand upon tearms with Christ; in this case money must be parted withall.

Secondly, When in times of persecution, a man cannot have Christ with peace and purity, unless he be willing to part with all for him, as sometimes the market goes higher, sometimes lower, but at what rate soever it goes, a Christian is resolved to take Christ at the highest rate; sometimes unless a man be content to be spoiled of all his goods, he cannot have liberty of conscie ce: in this case set money, and goods, and lands, and all go, and suffer joyfully the spoiling of your goods, Heb. 10.34.

Secondly, When in times of persecution, a man cannot have Christ with peace and purity, unlesse he be willing to part with all for him, as sometimes the m•rket goes higher, sometimes lower, but at what rate soever it goes, a Christian is resolved to take Christ at the highest rate; sometimes unlesse a man be content to be spoyled of all his goods, he cannot have liberty of conscie ce: in this case set money, and goods, and lands, and all goe, and suffer joyfully the spoyling of your goods, Heb. 10.34.

Thirdly, When sometimes by laying out money, we may win Christ, as in case we want a good Ministry among us, and cannot have it unless we be willing to lay out money for obtaining the Gospel, and this he calls sowing to the spirit, Gal. 6.8. As a man by laying out money provides things needful for him, so when a man lays out for spiritual uses, he shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. In these three case money must be parted with, and yet if you think money can purchase Christ, you are not worthy of him.

Thirdly, When sometimes by laying out money, we may win Christ, as in case we want a good Ministry among us, and cannot have it unlesse we be willi•g to lay out money for obtaining the Gospel, and this he calls sowing to the spirit, Gal. 6.8. As a man by laying out money provides things needfull for him, so when a man layes out for spirituall uses, he shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. In these three case money must be parted with, and yet if you think money can purchase Christ, you are not worthy of him.

1. Christ must be purchased, by parting with all those strong lusts that keep us off from Christ, Isa. 55 7. v. 1. having bidden us buy without money, he tells us then what it is that we must lay out for Christ; why, Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, let him forg•e his secret and open sins, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will abundantly pardon, upon this point sundry have broken off from Christ; Jehu was carried with ambition to rule, and when he saw it would hazard his Kingdom to forsake his golden Calves, he would rather part with God, then with his Kingdom, 2 Kings 10.29, 30. and therefore he is said, Not to regard the Commandments of the Lord, and therefore because he cut short his reformation, and did it not fully, therefore v. 33. the Lord began to cut short Israel in his days, so tha• Hazael cut off many of the out parts of his Kingdom; if we cut short with God▪ God will cut short with us: so Herod heard John Baptist gladly and did many things, but when he would not cut off his lust of uncleanness, but rather cut off Johns head that reproved him, it's said he added this above all his other evils, that he shut up John in Prison; they that will not be cut off from their sinful lusts, they cut themselves short of mercy; Demas a forward Christian, yet the love of the world so prevailed with him, that he fell off from the Lord, and embraced this present world▪ if we would have Christ our lusts must be parted with, Judg. 10.10. to 16. the people were in great distress by their enemies, they come and cry unto God for help, God bids them go to the gods that they had chosen, to see if they would help them, I will deliver you no more, upon this they put away all their gods, and then the soul of the Lord was grieved for them, and he raised up a deliverer for them; when he saw they were willing to part with their gods for him, then God had compassion on them; so when men are willing to forgo their honourable and profitable sins, which stick as close to a man as his very heart, if God see men willing to rend out their dearest lusts for him; why, then Gods soul is grieved for them, Hos. 14.23. then the Church cries unto God, Take away our iniquities and receive us graciously; and that's not all, but they go about to reform their ways, Ashur shall not save us, neither will we ride upon Horses; Why then v. 4.

I will heal their back-slidings and love them freely; the like means Ephraim useth, v. 8. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with Idols? What saith God to this? I have heard him and observed him. When we begin to protest a solemn abandoning of all our corruptions, then God hears such a soul: many a soul cries hard for mercy, Take away all our iniquities, and receive us graciously, and God regards them not, but when we not only cry to God, but set to in earnest, to turn from all our evil ways, and say, What have I to do any more with Idols? Why then God hears and observes us: when we abandon all our lusts, then Christ shall suddenly come into his holy Temple.

I will heal their back-slidings and love them freely; the like means Ephraim useth, v. 8. Ephraim shall say, What have I to doe any more with Idols? What saith God to this? I have heard him and observed him. When we begin to protest a solemn abandoning of all our corruptions, then God hears such a soul: many a soul cryes hard for mercy, Take away all our iniquities, and receive us graciously, and God regards them not, but when we not onely cry to God, but set to in earnest, to turn from all our evill ways, and say, What have I to doe any more with Idols? Why then God hears and observes us: when we abandon all our lusts, then Christ shall suddenly come into his holy Temple.

2. We must purchase Christ sometimes, by parting with all confidence in his Ordinances; we may soon lose Christ, if we look for life in them, and not in Christ, not that we are to reject the Ordinances of God, but account them a great blessing, and earnestly desire them, Psal. 27.4. Psal. 84.10. but yet we should not put our trust in the Temple of the Lord, Jer. 7.3, 4. Part not with your fellowship in them, but yet trust not in them, Mat. 3.9. Rest not in the outward letter of any Ordinances, count all your best privileges, as dross and dung that you may win Christ, Phil. 3.8. Many that have lived under great means shall say at the last day, Lord thou hast eaten and drunken in our presence, and we have heard thee preach in our streets, but Christ shall say, Depart from me, I know you not, ye workers of iniquities: trust not therefore in often hearing, or in the great means you enjoy; for what is Paul, or Apollo? they are nothing, but it is God that giveth the increase, 1 Cor. 3.6, 7, 8.

2. We must purchase Christ sometimes, by parting with all confidence in his Ordinances; we may soon lose Christ, if we look for life in them, and not in Christ, not that we are to reject the Ordinances of God, but account them a great blessing, and earnestly desire them, Psal. 27.4. Psal. 84.10. but yet we should not put our trust in the Temple of the Lord, Jer. 7.3, 4. Part not with your fellowship in them, but yet trust not in them, Mat. 3.9. Rest not in the outward letter of any Ordinances, count all your best priviledges, as drosse and dung that you may win Christ,

2. Sometimes we must be content to part with the very Ordinances themselves: if we cannot enjoy the Ordinances of God in purity; without sin, let us part with them all, so when the Priests could not enjoy the liberty of their places in Jeroboam's days; except they would offer sacrifice in their course to the golden Calves, which were the Image of the Cherubims, they left all and came up to Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 11.14. where they might enjoy Gods Ordinances in purity, and as the Priests did, so did the people, vers. 16. as Christ wisheth them, Cant. 2.7, 8. which is spoken of Jeroboam's days; and so in case we cannot have the liberty of the Ordinances, without some impurity, which may defile the conscience, in this case part with all, for we come not to the Ordinance for the Ordinance sake, but for Christs sake; therefore if we cannot have them without sin, in this case part with them.

2. Sometimes we must be content to part with the very Ordinances themselves: if we cannot enjoy the Ordinances of God in purity; without sin, let us part with them all, so when the Priests could not enjoy the liberty of their places in Jeroboams dayes; except they would offer sacrifice in their course to the golden Calves, which were the Image of the Cherubims, they left all and came up to Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 11.14. where they might enjoy Gods Ordinances in purity, and as the Priests did, so did the people, vers. 16. as Christ wisheth them, Cant. 2.7, 8. which is spoken of Jeroboams dayes; and so in case we cannot have the liberty of the Ordinances, without some impurity, which may defile the conscience, in this case part with all, for we come not to the Ordinance for the Ordinance sake, but for Christs sake; therefore if we cannot have them without sin, in this case part with them.

4. We must part with all our good parts, and good gifts, and good natures for Christ, 1 Cor. 3.18. If any man seem wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be wise; we must lay aside all carnal wisdom and reasonings, and be content to be counted fools, that we may win Christ.

4. We must part with all our good parts, and good gifts, and good natures for Christ, 1 Cor. 3.18. If any man seem wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be wise; we must lay aside all carnall wisdome and reasonings, and be content to be counted fools, that we may win Christ.

2. We must part with all common graces, which commonly choke all hypocrites, who having received some common gifts and graces, they think they have part in Christ, or else he would not have vouchsafed them such graces, Matth. 7.21, 22. We see there they not only plead their privileges, but their gifts and graces, that they had prophesied in his Name, &c. and so trusting in them, they fell short of saving grace. And it is a wonder to think what a strange change a Spirit of Prophecy works, 1 Sam. 10.10. 1 Sam. 19.20. As in a Scholar, when a man hath been given to loose vain courses, yet when God begins to enlighten his mind, and to enlarge his affection, and comfort his soul; 'tis a wonder to think what a change it will work in a Scholar; so that now he will leave his old vain courses, and compose himself to more edification and spiritualness in his teachings: why; such a change works such a confidence in him, that he thinks all the Congregation may sooner perish then he; and if Ministers may be deceived upon those common gifts and graces, how much more may people be deceived? Herod's joy, and Jehues zeal, all these you may have and yet want Christ, a man may have these, and yet not prize Christ, not give up himself to him, he may still reserve some lust which he favours; therefore if thou hast such common graces, observe, in the midst of those, whether thou cleavest not to some lusts, for so Christ shall tell such at the last day, Depart from me ye workers of iniquities: if thou beest a worker of iniquity, all thy good gifts and parts will deceive thee in the end, but if in the midst of such gifts and graces, thou hast a care to keep thy heart clean, and doest favour no lust, and dost not place any confidence in these, but in Christ, thy case is safe; for this is a true rule: hypocrites though they have many good common gifts and graces, yet they are given up to some sinful way, by which the world shall know ⟨p. 386⟩what they are, by their fruits shall you know them. 3. We must part with all confidence, even in the saving graces of God, Spirit, trust not to them for justification, look not to be justified by them; if you think to be justified by your own works or graces, Christ shall profit you nothing, only by faith in Christ stands our justification,