The reason presseth for his guiding, with a great weight; For, why (saith she) should I be as one that turns aside, after the flocks of thy companions? In which, these things are implied, 1. That Christ may have companions, (not who are indeed so, but) such who •et themselves up equally beside him, and make it their design to have others to follow them, but do not follow Christ themselves; Thus Heretics, false Christs, Matth. 24. 23, 24. lusts, idols, or whatever is equalled or preferred to Christ, and not subjected to him, is made, as it were, his companion: sure, the scope shows, they were not friendly companions; but it speaks the nature of corrupt men, who are seducers, and the sin of seduced people, that the one seeks to themselves, and the other attributes to them, too much. 2. That these companions may have flocks, and many followers, even as our Lord Jesus hath, so Matth. 24. 23. 2 Pet. 2. 1, &c. 3. That Believers, if not by Christs care prevented, may go astray after some of these companions, and throng on in a way of error and defection with them. 4. That Believers will be afraid of this ill, and also sensible of their own propenseness to it. 5. It imports an abhorrency and indignation at that evil, of being carried away a whoring from Christ, Why (saith she) should I be, &c? 6. She accounts it a great mercy to be kept in Christ's way, and makes it a main piece of her prayer, that this may be granted to her as her mercy. 7. She exercises faith on Christ, and vents her requests by prayer to him, concerning every thing she wants; be wanting what will, she betakes her self to him for the obtaining of it. 8. Where there is a loathness to go astray, or fall in snares, it will stir up to serious wrestling with Christ to prevent it. 9. Hazard of sin to Believers (who are sensible of their inclination to go astray) and weakness to hold on in Gods way, is a great motive that being made use of in prayer, hath much weight for obtaining direction, and an hearing from Christ; as it is a notable spur to stir up to pray seriously, For (saith she) why should I be, &c? which speaketh forth her indignation against every wrong way, and her ⟨p. 88⟩expectation, that if any thing prevailed with him, that would; and so we will find her success in this suit, to follow in the next words.
The reason presseth for his guiding, with a great weight; For, why (saith she) should I be as one that turnes aside, after the flocks of thy companions? In which, these things are implyed, 1. That Christ may have companions, (not who are indeed so, but) such who •et themselves up equally beside him, and make it their design to have others to follow them, but do not follow Christ themselves; Thus Hereticks, false Christs, Matth. 24. 23, 24. lusts, idols, or whatever is equalled or preferred to Christ, and not subjected to him, is made, as it were, his companion: sure, the scope shews, they were not friendly companions; but it speaks the nature of corrupt men, who are seducers, and the sin of seduced people, that the one seeks to themselves, and the other attributes to them, too much. 2. That these companions may have flocks, and many followers, even as our Lord Jesus hath, so Matth. 24. 23. 2 Pet. 2. 1, &c. 3. That Believers, if not by Christs care prevented, may go astray after some of these companions, and throng on in a way of error and defection with them. 4. That Believers will be afraid of this ill, and also sensible of their own propensnesse to it. 5. It imports an abhorrency and indignation at that evil, of being carried away a whooring from Christ, Why (saith she) should I be, &c? 6. She accounts it a great mercy to be kept in Christ's way, and makes it a main piece of her prayer, that this may be granted to her as her mercy. 7. She exercises faith on Christ, and vents her requests by prayer to him, concerning every thing she wants; be wanting what will, she betakes her self to him for the obtaining of it. 8. Where there is a loathnesse to go astray, or fall in snares, it will stir up to serious wrestling with Christ to prevent it. 9. Hazard of sin to Believers (who are sensible of their inclination to go astray) and weaknesse to hold on in Gods way, is a great motive that being made use of in prayer, hath much weight for obtaining direction, and an hearing from Christ; as it is a notable spur to stir up to pray seriously, For (saith she) why should I be, &c? which speaketh forth her indignation against every wrong way, and her ⟨p. 88⟩expectation, that if any thing prevailed with him, that would; and so we will find her successe in this suit, to follow in the next words.
