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and your lusts contest and struggle within you .
O'tis fadwhen your lusts master your light.
You fin not as the Heathens fin, who know not God; but when you fin, you must flight and put by the notices of your own consciences, and offer violence to your own convictions : And what sad work will this make in your souls ? How soon will it lay your consciences waste?
Secondly, Take heed that you rest not satisfied with that knowledge of Christ you have attained, but grow on towards perfection.
'Tis the pride and ignorance of many professors, when they have got a few raw and indigested notions, to swell with self-conceits of their excellent attainments : And 'tis the fin, even of the best of faints, when they fee (veritas in profundo)howdeepthe knowledge of Christ lies, and what pains they must take to dig for it, to throw by the shovel of duty, and cry, Dig we cannot.
To your work, Christians, to your work; let not your candle go out : Sequester yourselves to this study, look what intercourses, and correfpondences are betwixt the two worlds; what communion soever God and fouls maintain, it is in this way : Count all therefore but drofs in comparison of that excellency which is in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
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Sets forth CHRIST in his essential and primeval GLORY, PROV . viii. 30. Then was I by him, as one brought up with him : and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.
T HESE words are a part of that excellent commendation of wisdom, by which in this book Solomon intends two things ; first, Grace or holiness, Prov. iv. 7. " Wisdom is the " principal thing."
Secondly, Jesus Christ, thefountainofthat grace : and look as the former is renowned for its excellency,
Job xxviii. 14, 15. so the latter, in this context, wherein the Spirit of God describes the most blessed state of Jesus Christ, the wisdom of the Father, from those eternal delights he had with his Father, before his assumption of our nature : "Then
"was I by him," &c. that longEvumwas wholly swallowed up, and spent in unspeakable delights and pleasures,
Which
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delights were twofold, (1.) The Father and Son delighted one in another(from which delights the Spirit is not here excluded) without communicating that their joy to any other, for no creature did then exist save in the mind of God, verse 30.
(2) .
They delighted in the falvationofmen, in the prospect of that work, though not yet extant, verse 31. My present business lies in the former, viz. the mutual delights of the Father and Son, one with and in another ; the account whereof we have in the text : wherein confider, 1.The glorious condition of then on-incarnatedSonofGod, described by thepersonwithwhom his fellowship was, "Then
" was I by him," or with him; fo with him as never was any, in his verybosom, John i. 18. the only begotten Son was in the bosom of the Father ; an expression of the greatestdearness and intimacy in the world; as if he should fay, wrapt up in the very foul of his Father, embosomed in God.
2. This fellowship is illustrated by a metaphor, wherein the Lord will fstoop to our capacities, (as " One brought up with " him") the Hebrew word * Am in is sometimes rendered a cunning workman, or curious artist, as in Cant. vii. r. which is the fame word.
And indeed Christ shewed himself such an artist in the creation of the world; " For all things
וימא were made by him, andwithouthim there was nothing made, " that was made," John i. 3.
But Montanus, and others, render it nutricius ; and so Christ is here compared to a delightful child, sporting before its Father: the Hebrew root t
Shachak ,which ourtranflation renders "rejoicing be- " before him," signifies to laugh, play, or rejoice; fo that, look as parents delight to fee their children sporting before them, so did the Father delight in be holding this darling of his bosom.
3. This delight is farther amplified by the perpetuity, anduninterruptedness thereof; " I was day by day his delights, rejoi cingalways before kim"
These delights of the Father and "
Amin] Signifies a Skilful Artist ; he is pleased to assume this character, in order to shew men, that their conversion is not owing to any strength of their own, but is the work of this skilןימא
* ful Artist.
Brightman on Cant. i, 26.
†Ridere, to laugh, Shachak] ludere, to sport; lactari, to rejoice ; ἀνθρωποπάθως, after the manner of men; he compares himself to a pleasant child, standing before his father.
Luvat. on this place.
]Jom,Jom Meshacheketh]. Die, die Judens.
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the Son one in another, knew not a moment's interruption, or diminution : thus did these great and glorious persons mutually let forth their fullest pleasure and delight, each into the heart of other; they lay as it were imbosomed one in another, entertaining themselves with delights and pleasures ineffable, and unconceiveable.
Hence we observe, Doct. That the condition and state of Jesus Christ before his incarnation, was a state of highest and most unspeakable delight and pleasure, in the enjoyment of his Father.
John tells us, he was in thebesom of his Father * : to ly in the bosom is the posture of dearest love, John xiii. 23. " Now
" there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples " whom Jesus loved ;" but Christ did not lean upon the Father's bosom, as that disciple did on his, but lay in it : and therefore, in Isa. xliii. 1. the Father calls him, " Mine elect in whom
" my soul delighteth ;" which is † variously rendered ; the Septuagint, quemfufceptit, whom my soul takes, or wraps up : others, complacuit, one that highly pleases and delights my very
foul : and, 2 Cor. viii. 9. he is said, in this estate, wherein I am now describing him, to be rich : and, Phil. ii. 7. " To be equal
" with God, and to be in the form of God," (i. e.) to have all the glory and ensigns of the majesty of God; and the riches which he speaks of, was no less than all that God the Father hath, John xvi. 14. " All that the Father hath is mine :" and what he now hath in his exalted state, is the fame he had before his humiliation, John xvii. 5.
Now, to glimpse out (as we are able) the unspeakable felicity of that state of Christ, whilst he lay in that blessed bosom, I shall consider it three ways, negatively, positively, and comparatively.
1. Let us consider that state negatively, by removing from it all those degrees of a basement and sorrow which his incarnation brought him under; as,
First, He was not thenabased to the condition of a creature, * John i. 18. Here is insinuated, metaphorically, the intimate communion of the Son of God with the Father, which consists in e. ternal generation, in the strictest oneness or unity of nature, in the most ardent love, and in communication of the most secret affairs.
Glass.
† Hieron. Quem approbat, i. e. Whom my soul approves.
Pagninus & Montanus, Complacuit animae meae, i. e. One that highly delights my soul.
The Septuagint, Quemsusceptit anima mea, i, e. Whom myfoultakes or wraps up.
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The Fountain of Life. which was a low step indeed, and that which upon the matter undidhim in point of reputation; for by this (faith the apostle)
" he made himself of no reputation," Phil. ii. 7. it emptied him of his glory.
For God to be made man, is such an abafementasnone can express: but then not only to appear in true flesh, but also in the likeness offinful flesh, as,Rom . viii. 3. O what is this !
Secondly, Christ was not under the law in this estate. I confess 'twas nodifparagement toAdamin the stateofinnocency, to angels in their state of glory, to be under law to God; but it was anunconceivableabasement to the absoluteindependentbeing to come under law: yea, not only under the obedience, but also under the malediction and curse of the law, Gal. iv. 4.
"when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, "made of a woman,made under the law.
"But Thirdly, In this state he was not liable to any of those sorrowful consequents and attendants of that frailand feeble state of humanity,which he afterwards assumed, with the nature : As,
(1.)He was unacquainted with griefs: there wasnoforrowing or sighing in thatbosom where he lay, tho' afterwards he became "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief," Isa. liii. 3 .
" Amanofforrows," as if hehadbeenconstituted and made up of pure and unmixed sorrows ; every day conversing with griefs, as with his intimate companions and acquaintance. (2.)
He wasneverpinchedwith poverty and wants, while he continued in thatbosom, as he was afterwards, when he said, " The " foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the " sonofmanhathnotwhere to lay his head," Mat. viii. 20. Ah blessed Jesus! thou needst not tohavewantedaplace to have lainthinehead, hadst thou not left that bosom for my sake *.
(3.) He never underwent reproach and shame in thatbosom, there was nothing but glory andhonour reflected upon him by his Father, tho' afterwards he was despised, and rejected of men, Ifa. liii. 3. His Father never looked upon him without fmilesand love,delight and joy, tho' afterwards he become are- * He that was in the bosom of the Father ; an expression shewingthe intimate, close, and secret delight and love he had from the Father. How unspeakable is it, that he should deprive himself of the sense of it ? to put himself, as it were, out of heaven into hell ? this is deeper love thaneverwe can imagine or conceive : No wonder, the apostle calls it περισσεύων [periffeuon], and ὑπερπερισσεύων
[hyperperiffeuon] the unsearchable riches of grace; we are never able togo to the bottom of it, but still there is more grace and love behind. Mr. Anth. Burgess, left, in John xvii. p. 503 .
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proach of men, and despised of the people, Psalm. xxii. 6. (4) His holy heart was never offended with an impure suggestion or temptation of the Devil; all the while he lay in thatbosom of peace and love, he never knew what it was to be assaulted with temptations, to be besieged and battered uponbyunclean spirits, as he did afterwards, Mat. iv. 1. " Then was Jesus led up of the
Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil."
It was for our fakes that he submitted to those exercises of spirit,
" to be in all points tempted like as we are, that he mightbeunto us a merciful and faithful high priest," Heb . iv. 15.
(5.) He was never sensible of pains and tortures in foul or body, there were nofuch things in that blessed bosom where he lay, tho' af. terwards he groaned and sweat under them, Ifa. liii. 5.
The Lord embraced him from eternity, but never wounded him till he stood in our place and room.
(6.) There were no hidings or withdrawments of his Father from him; there was not a cloud from eternity upon the face of God, till Jesus Christ had left that bosom: It was a new thing to Christ to fee frowns in the face of his Father ; a new thing for him to cry, "My God,
" my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?" Matth. xxvii. 46.
(7.) There were never any impressions of his Father's wrath upon him, as there were afterwards : God never delivered such a bitter cup of wrath into his hands before, as that was Matth. xxvi . 39. Lastly, There was no death, to which he was subject, in that bosom.
All these things were new things to Christ : he was above them all, till for our fake she voluntarily subjected himself unto them. Thus you fee what that state was not.
2. Let us confider it positively, what it was, and guess by some particular considerations (for indeed we can but guess) at the glory of it : as, (1.) We cannot but conceive it to bea state of matchless happiness, if we consider the persons enjoying and delighting in each other : he was with God, John i. 1.
God, you know, is the fountain, ocean and centre, of all delights and joys ; Psal . xvi. 11. " Inthypresence is fulness of joy."
To be wrapt up in the soul and bosom of all delights, as Christ was, must needs be a state transcending apprehension ; to have the fountain of love and delight letting out itself so immediately, and fully, and everlastingly, upon this only begotten darling of his soul, so as it never did communicate itself to any; judge what a state of transcendent felicity this must be.
Great personshavegreat delights.
(2.) Or if we confider the intimacy, dearness, yea, oneness of those great persons one with another : the nearer the union, he sweeter the communion. Now Jesus Christ was not only
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near and dear to God,butone with him ; " I and my Father are one," John x. 30.: one in nature, will, love, and delight.
There is indeed a moral union offouls among men by love, but this was a natural oneness ; no child is so one with his father, no husband so one with the wife of his bosom, no friend so one with his friend, no foul so one with its body, as Jesus Christ and his Father were one . Owhat matchless delights must necessarily flow from such a blessed union !
(3.).Confider again the purity of that delight with which the blefssed Father and Son embraced each other ; the best Creature delights one in another, are mixed, debased, and allayed : if there be something ravishing and engaging, there is alsosomethingcloying anddistasting. The purer any delight is, the more excellent.
Now, there are no christal streams flowing so purely from the fountain, no beams of light so unmixed from the fun, as thelovesanddelights of theseholyand glorious persons were : the holy, holy, holy Father embraced the thrice holy Son with a most holy delight and love.
(4.) Confider the constancy of this delight: It was from everlasting, as in verse 23. and from eternity ; it never suffered one moment's interruption : The ever flowing fountain of God'sdelight and love never stopt its course, never ebbed; but ashe speaks in the text, " I was daily his delight, rejoicing al- " ways before him."
Once more, confider the fulness of that delight, the perfection of that pleasure; I was delights : So the word is in its original; not only plural, delights, all delights, but also in the abstract, delight itself : as afterwards from the abundance of his sorrows, he was stiled, a man of sorrow's ; fo here, from the fulness of his delights : as tho' you should say, even constitutedandmade up of pleasure and delight.
3. Once more, let us consider it comparatively, and this state will yet appear more glorious, comparing it with either the choicest delights thatone creature takes in another, or that God takes in the creature, or that the creatures takes in God : measure these immense delights betwixt the Father and his
Son, by either of these lines, and you shall find them infinitely short : For, ( 1.) Thơ' the delights that creatures take in each other, befometimes a great delight ; such wasJacob's delight in Benjamin, whose life is said to be bound up in the lad's life, a dear and high expression, Gen. xliv. 30. Such was that of Jonathan in David, whose soul was knitwith his soul, " and he
" loved him as his own soul," I Sam. xiii. 1. and such is the delight of one friend in another ; " there is a friend that is as a VOL. I.
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" man's own soul," Deut. xiii. 6. 4 yet all this is but creature. delight, and can in no particular equal the delights betwixt the Father and Son; for this is but a finite delight, according to the measure and abilities of creatures, but that is infinite, suitable to the infinite perfection of the divine being : this is always mixed, that perfectly pure.
(2.) Or if you compare it with the delight that God takes in the creatures ; it is confef fed that God takes great delight in some creatures. " The Lord
" takespleasureinhis faints,he rejoices over them with singing!
" and restethinhislove," Zeph. iii. 17. Ifa.lxii. 5. Butyetthere isa great difference betwixt his delight in creatures, and his delights in Christ ; for all his delight in the saints isfecondary, and for Christ's fake ; but his delights in Christ are primary, and for his own sake : we are accepted in the beloved, Eph . i. 6. he is beloved, and accepted for himself.
(3.) To conclude, compare it once more with the delights that the best of crea tures take in God, and Christ, and it must be confessed that is a choice delight, and a transcendent love, with which they love and delight in him ; * Psal. xxiii. 75. "Whom have I in hea- " ven but thee ? and on earth there is none that I desire besides
" thee."
What pangs of love, what raptures of delight did the spouse express to Christ ? " O thou whom my soul loveth !" But surely our delight in God is no perfect rule to measure hisde light in Christ by : for our love to God(at the best) is still imperfect; that's the burden and constant complaint of saints, but this is perfect: ours is inconstant, up and down, ebbing and flowing, but this is constant. So then, to conclude; the conditi on and state of Jesus Christ before his incarnation, was a state of highest and matchless delight, in the enjoyment of his Father.
The uses follow.
Use of Information .
Inference 1. What an astonishing act of love was this then, for the Father to give the delight, the darling of his soul, out ofhisverybosom,for poor sinners ! all tongues must needs pause and falter, that attempt the expression of his grace ; expressions being here swallowed up : "God to loved the world, that he
66 gave his onlybegottenSon,"John iii. 16. Here is afic with- * Amo te, Do mine, plufquam meos, plusquam mea, plusquam me, i. e. O Lord, I love thee above all my relations, above all that is mine, above myself.
Bern.
Suppose (faith one) there were a hell betwixt me and Christ, and Christ should fay, put in thy foot and come through, or thou shalt havenoneofme, wouldInotdo it ?
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The Fountain of Life . outaficut ; so loved them: how did he love them ? nay, here you must excuse the tongues of angels; which of us would deliver a child, the child of our delights, an only child, to death for the greatest inheritance in the world ? what tender parent can endure a parting pull with such a child ? when Hagarwas taking her last leave (as she thought) of her Immael,
Gen. xxi. 16. the text faith, " she went and fat her down over " against him, a good way off: for she said, Let me not seethe
" death of the Child. And she sat over-against him, and lift up " her voice, and wept:" though the were none of the best mothers, nor he the best of children,yet she could not give up the child. O it was hard to part ! what an outcry did David make, even for an Abfalom ! wishing he had died for him.
What a hole(as I may say) hath the death of some children made in the hearts of some parents, which will never be closed up in this world ? yet surely, never did any child lie so close to a parent's heart, as Christ did to his Father's ; and yet he willingly parts with him, though his only one, the Son of his delights, and that to death, a cursed death, for sinners, for the worst of sinners. Omiranda Dei philanthropia ! matchless love ! a love past finding out! Let all men therefore, in the business of their redemption, give equal glory to the Father with the Son, John v. 23. if the Father had not loved thee,he had never parted with such a Son for thee.
Infer. 2. From one wonder let your souls turn to another, for theyarenowinthe midstofwonders : adore, and be for ever astonished at the love of Jesus Christ to poor sinners ; that ever he should consent toleavesuchabosom, and the ineffabledelights that were there, for such poor worms as we are. Oh heights, depths, lengths, and breadths ofunmeasurable love ! O fee,
Rom v. 6, 7, 8. read, and wonder; how is the love of Christ commended in ravishing circumstances to poor sinners * ! You wouldbelothtoleaveacreature'sbosom, acomfortabledwelling, a fair estate for the best friend in the world; your souls are loth to leave their bodies, though they have no such great content there; but which of you, ifeveryou found by experience what
G2 * It is admirable that Christ should not only put himself out of comfort,but also from the enjoyment of that manifested glory and honour he might have retained to himself; for he prayeth here for that glory which he had with the Father from the beginning of the world : he had it in right, but not in poffefssion : he voluntarilydivested himself of that to accomplish our redemption.
Burgess on John xvii, 19.
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it is to be inthebosom ofGodbydivine communion, would be persuaded to leave such abosom for all the good that is in the world ? and yet Jesus Christ, who was embraced in that bosom after another manner than ever you were acquainted with, freely left it, and laid down the glory and riches he enjoyed there, for your fakes ; and as the Father loved him ; even so (believers) hath he loved you, John xvii. 22. What manner of love is this ! Who ever loved as Christ loves ? Who ever denied himself for Christ, as Christ denied himself for us ?
Infer. 3. Hence we are informed, That interest in Jesus Christ is the true way to all spiritual preferment in heaven. Do you covet to be in the heart, in the favour anddelightofGod ?
Get interest in Jesus Christ, and you shall presently be there.
What old Israel said of the children of his beloved Joseph, Thy children are my children; the fame God faith of all the dear children of Christ,Gen. xlviii. 5, 9.
You see among men, all things are carried by interest : persons rise in this world as they are befriended ; preferment goes by favour : So 'tis in heaven, persons are preferred according to their interest in the beloved,
Eph. i . 9. Christ is the great favourite in heaven : his image upon your fouls, and his name in your prayers, makes both ac. cepted with God.
Infer. 4. How worthy is Jesus Christ of all our love and de lights ?You see how infinitely the Father delighteth in him, how he ravishes the heart of God; and shall he nor ravish our hearts ?
I present you a Christ this day, able to ravish any foul that will but view and confider him. O that you did but see this
Jovely Lord Jesus Christ ! Then would you go home sick of love : furelyhe is a drawing Saviour, John xii. 32. Why do ye lavish away your precious affections upon vanity ? None but Christ is worthy of them when you spend your precious affections upon other objects, what is it but to dig for drosswith goldenmattocks ? The Lord direct our hearts into the love of Christ. O that our hearts, loves and delights did meet and concentre with the heart of God in this most blessed object ! O let him that left God's bosom for you, be embosomed by you, though yours be nothing to God's; he thatleftGod'sbosom for you, deserves yours .
Infer. 5. If Christ be the beloved darling of the Father's foul, think what a grievous and unfufferable thing it is to the heart of God, to fee his dear Son despised, flighted, and rejected by sinners : verily, there is nofuch cut to the heart of God in the whole world.
Unbelievers trample upon God's darling, tread underfoothimthateternallylay in his bosom,Heb. x. 29. Smite
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The Fountain of Life. the apple of his eye, and how God will bear this, that parable,
Mat. xxi. 37, to 40. will inform you; surely he will miserably destroy such wretched sinners.
Ifyouwould study to do God the greatest despight, there is none like this. What a dismal word is that ; 1 Cor. xvi. 22. " If any man love not our Lord
" Jesus Christ, let him beAnathema Maranatha," (i. e.) let the great curse of God lie upon that man till the Lord come.
sinners! you shall one day know the price of this fin ; you shall feel what it is to despise a Jesus, that is able to compel love from the hardest heart. O that you would flight him no more ! O that this day your hearts might fall in love with him! I tell you, if you would set your love to sale, none bids fo fair for it as Christ . 2. Use ofExhortation.J
1.To saints : If Christ layeternallyinthisbosomoflove, and yet was content to forsake and leave it for your sakes ; then,
(1.) Be you ready to forsake and leave all the comforts you have on earth for Christ : famousGalleacius left all for his enjoyment. Moses left all the glory of Eygpt : Peter, and the other apostles left all, Luke xviii. 28. But what have we to leave for Christ in comparison of what he left for us ? Surely Christ is the highest pattern of self-denial in the world. (2.) Let this confirm your faith in prayer: if he, that has such an interest in the heart of God, intercede with the Father for you, then never doubt of audience and acceptance with him; surely you shall be accepted through the beloved, Eph. i. 6. Christ was never de. niedany thing that he asked,John xi. 42. the Father hears him always ; though you are not worthy,Christ is, and he ever lives to make intercession for you, Heb. vii. 25 .
(3.) Let this encourage thy heart, O faint, in a dying hour, and not only make thee patient in death, but in a holy man per impatient till thou be gone ; for whither is thy soul now going, but to that bosom of love whence Christ came ? John xvii. 24. " Father, I will that they also whom thou haft given
" me, be with me where I am :"" and where is he, but in that bosom of glory and love where he lay before the world was ? verse 5. O then let every believer encourage his soul ; comfort yeone another with these words, I am leaving the bosomofa creature, I am going to the bosom of God.
2. To sinners, exhorting them to embrace the bosom son of God: Poor wretches !
Whatever you are, or have been ; whatever guilt or discouragement at present you lie under, embrace Christ, who is freely offered you, and you shall be as dear to God as the holiest and most eminent believer in the