The direction he gives in order to the helping of this, is in two words, 1. Rise. 2. Come away. Which says, that as she was now in a case of strangeness to Christ, so there was a necessity of rousing her self, and coming out of it; such a necessity as there ⟨p. 135⟩is for a straying wife to return to her husband. Now these words are a sweet call of a kind Husband, inviting to this return, and showing the remedy of straying, and estrangement from him. Rising imports, 1. One that is settled some way, in a condition opposite to walking and running. 2. A stirring up of themselves as unsatisfied therewith, and desirous to be out of it, with some endeavour to be up again: Declining from Christ puts souls still down, and holds them at under. Come away, holds forth a term from which she is to come, from that condition she was in, whatever it was, it was not good: Men are in no desirable condition, when Christ calls them. 2. A term to which she is to come, and that is Christ; it's to follow the Bridegroom; to get her brought to a nearer union and communion with him, is the great thing he aims at. 3. An act whereby she passeth from that she was, and turning her back on that, moves towards him, that she may thereby attain nearer union and fellowship with him. By both which, we conceive the exercise of faith in him, is mainly holden forth, 1. Because, saith is ordinarily in Scripture set forth by coming, Isa. 55. 1. Joh. 5. 40. Joh. 6. 35. and this expression suits well the act of saith. 2. Because it's the only mean of making up the distance betwixt him and us: Decay in the exercise of faith, and distance with Christ, go together; and the exercise of faith, and nearness with him, are also inseparable companions. This is the meaning then, why lies thou in this discouraged, decayed and comfortless condition? there is another, and a far better, to wit, a lively and comfortable condition allowed upon thee; Christ calls thee to exercise faith in him, for recovering of thy case. And this now is set down imperatively, by way of command, that we may know that believing in Christ, or keeping communion with him by faith, are not left to our option, but are laid on by a peremptory command, for necessitating us to the exercise of it, 1 Joh. 3. 23. as a thing most acceptable to him, with which he cannot be angry, nor will he call obedience thereunto presumption.
The direction he gives in order to the helping of this, is in two words, 1. Rise. 2. Come away. Which sayes, that as she was now in a case of strangenesse to Christ, so there was a necessity of rousing her self, and coming out of it; such a necessity as there ⟨p. 135⟩is for a straying wife to return to her husband. Now these words are a sweet call of a kind Husband, inviting to this return, and shewing the remedy of straying, and estrangement from him. Rising imports, 1. One that is setled some way, in a condition opposite to walking and running. 2. A stirring up of themselves as unsatisfied therewith, and desirous to be out of it, with some endeavour to be up again: Declining from Christ puts souls still down, and holds them at under. Come away, holds forth a term from which she is to come, from that condition she was in, whatever it was, it was not good: Men are in no desirable condition, when Christ calls them. 2. A term to which she is to come, and that is Christ; it's to follow the Bridegroom; to get her brought to a nearer union and communion with him, is the great thing he aimes at. 3. An act whereby she passeth from that she was, and turning her back on that, moves towards him, that she may thereby attain nearer union and fellowship with him. By both which, we conceive the exercise of faith in him, is mainly holden forth, 1. Because, saith is ordinarily in Scripture set forth by coming, Isa. 55. 1. Ioh. 5. 40. Ioh. 6. 35. and this expression suits well the act of saith. 2. Because it's the only mean of making up the distance betwixt him and us: Decay in the exercise of faith, and distance with Christ, go together; and the exercise of faith, and nearnesse with him, are also inseparable companions. This is the meaning then, why lyes thou in this discouraged, decayed and comfortlesse condition? there is another, and a far better, to wit, a lively and comfortable condition allowed upon thee; Christ calls thee to exercise faith in him, for recovering of thy case. And this now is set down imperatively, by way of command, that we may know that believing in Christ, or keeping communion with him by faith, are not left to our option, but are laid on by a peremptory command, for necessitating us to the exercise of it, 1 Ioh. 3. 23. as a thing most acceptable to him, with which he cannot be angry, nor will he call obedience thereunto presumption.
