A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

At first she seeks him upon her bed; by night upon my bed, I sought him whom my soul loveth, I sought him, but I found him not. She seems herein to have gone no further than desires; for she was in her bed, where she could do no more; and the issue is, she found him not; but doth she so satisfy her self, and lye still, waiting until he should come there unto her? no, she says, she will rise now and go about the City, in the streets, and in the broad ways, I will seek him whom my soul loveth. She resolves to put her self into the use of all means, whereby one may be sought that is wanting. In the City, Streets, and Fields, she would enquire after him. And the blessed success she had herein is reported, ⟨p. 368⟩vers. 4. She found him, she held him, she would not let him go. This then belongs unto the waiting of the soul. Diligence in the use of means, whereby God is pleased ordinarily to communicate a sense of pardon and forgiveness is a principal part of it. What these means are, is known. Prayer, Meditation, Reading, Hearing of the Word, Dispensation of the Sacraments, they are all appointed to this purpose; they are all means of communicating Love and Grace to the soul. Be not then heartless or slothful; up and be doing; attend with diligence to the Word of Grace; be fervent in prayer, assiduous in the use of all Ordinances of the Church, in one or other of thern, at one time or other thou wilt meet with him whom thy soul loveth; and God through him will speak peace unto thee.

At first she seeks him upon her bed; by night upon my bed, I sought him whom my soul loveth, I sought him, but I found him not. She seems herein to have gone no further than desires; for she was in her bed, where she could do no more; and the issue is, she found him not; but doth she so satisfie her self, and lye still, waiting until he should come there unto her? no, she sayes, she will rise now and go about the City, in the streets, and in the broad waies, I will seek him whom my soul loveth. She resolves to put her self into the use of all means, whereby one may be sought that is wanting. In the City, Streets, and Fields, she would enquire after him. And the blessed success she had herein is reported, ⟨p. 368⟩vers. 4. She found him, she held him, she would not let him go. This then belongs unto the waiting of the soul. Diligence in the use of means, whereby God is pleased ordinarily to communicate a sense of pardon and forgiveness is a principal part of it. What these means are, is known. Prayer, Meditation, Reading, Hearing of the Word, Dispensation of the Sacraments, they are all appointed to this purpose; they are all means of communicating Love and Grace to the soul. Be not then heartless or slothfull; up and be doing; attend with diligence to the Word of Grace; be fervent in prayer, assiduous in the use of all Ordinances of the Church, in one or other of thern, at one time or other thou wilt meet with him whom thy soul loveth; and God through him will speak peace unto thee.