SERMON.

CANTICLES viii. 5.

Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her

Beloved?

SOME understand this of the Shulamite spoken of before. Others of some other spouse or church of Christ to arise after her, according to that promise of the waters that run from under the threshold of the temple towards the east, leading towards Arabia, Syria and Egypt; (Ezek. xlvii. 1.) but when we consider what went before, and the other like places, that charge, verse 4, seems to be the occasion of this question, namely, "I charge you, oh ye daughters of Jerusalem, that you stir not up, nor awake my Love till he please;" which words give occasion to this question; parallel to this you may see chapter iii. 5, 6, and chapter v. 8, 9, and chapter vi. 1. "Whither is thy Beloved gone, O thou fairest among women," &c.; as in those places the daughters of Jerusalem are brought in, inquiring after Christ the Beloved of the Spouse, so in the text they are brought in, admiring and inquiring concerning the spouse of Christ, saying, "Who is this that comes thus up out of the wilderness," &c. The question is put in the feminine gender, as if they should say, 'What woman is this?' and indeed they that should behold the coming of the Shulamite, viz. the return of the Jews, it will be a question worth the inquiring with admiration, and saying, 'Who is this?' and hence I conceive the question is concerning that spouse, that gave such a charge in verse 4, unto which Christ gives answer in the words following: "I raised thee up under the apple-tree," &c., although some take that answer to be the churches, to stir up Christ by prayer, which seems not so suitable; but my purpose is at present

to speak only to the former part of the verse, "Who is this that cometh up," &c.

For the meaning of the words, Who is this? it argues something extraordinary, which is matter of special observation and worthy of inquiry. "Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh?" Chap. iii. 6. "What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved," &c.? Ch. v. 9. "Whither is thy Beloved gone, O thou fairest among women?" Chap. vi. 1. It is one thing that shall be inquired into at the return of this church of the Jews, whence they come.

That cometh up out of the wilderness. A wilderness is a desolate place, a land not ploughed nor sowed; so it was to Israel when they came out of Egypt, then God proved them to see what was in their hearts. The wilderness is a land of drought, and the shadow of death, a land of fiery serpents and scorpions; a terrible wilderness God led his people through. (Deut. viii.) What can we expect to find in a wilderness? "What went ye out into the wilderness to see?" Matt. xi. 7. A wilderness is a place of temptation. "Then was Jesus led aside into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." Matt. iv. 1. Now the return of this

Shulamite to their own land is prophesied of, as a people brought out of the wilderness of the people and nations. "And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched-out arm, and with fury poured out, and I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face, like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God." Ezek. xx. 34-36. He will bring them through great afflictions and temptations to discover the rebels, and to cut them off, (verses 37, 38,) and the rest shall be accepted. (verses 40, 41.) With this agreeth the prophecy of Daniel. "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since the time there was a nation, even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." Dan. xii. 1. “And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountain, and mine elect shall inherit it. are they that forsake the Lord, therefore I will number you to the sword." Isa. lxv. 9, 11. In all these afflictions, trials, and miseries, wherein that people had formerly been, as in a vast howling wilderness, and in all those sad things that shall befal them, such as never were since it was a nation, this spouse shall come up from this wilderness, to the admiration of such as shall behold her. That led them through the deep as a horse in the

But ye

wilderness, that they should not stumble, as a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest; so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

Leaning upon her Beloved. What is the excellency of this spouse? She is leaning upon her beloved. The word leaning is derived from the Arabian tongue, from which word some conjecture that it should speak of a church from thence. It may be translated leaning or cleaving to, adjoining, associating herself; the Greek translates it, confirming or strengthening herself in her Beloved. Any of these words do well express her faith in Christ, her Beloved, being sensible of her distresses and wilderness-temptations. She dare not trust to any thing but her Beloved, as saith the apostle, We despaired in ourselves, that we might trust in the living God. Being sensible of her own weakness, she leans upon him, she adjoins and associates herself to him that can and will guide her through all difficulties. That he will make you perfect, strengthen, stablish and settle you. (1 Peter v. 10.) Herein the spouse comforts herself, leaning upon her Beloved.

To understand the description of this her Beloved upon whom she thus leans, consider,

1. Who is it but Jesus Christ, the head and husband of his church, who is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him, (Heb. vii. 25.); who is that firm Rock of Ages, that precious Corner Stone, that whosoever believeth on him shall never be confounded. (1 Peter iii. 6.)

2. Her Beloved is he that hath infinitely and most freely loved his church, and given himself for it to purify and cleanse it. (Eph. v. 25.) Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. (Rev. i. 5.) Who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal. ii. 20.) In these two, the all-sufficiency of Christ and his great and infinite love to her, is ground sufficient to lean upon him in all conditions; as the apostle saith, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him." 2 Tim. i. 2. In Christ are all things that make up a fullness of faith; his omniscience that knows all our needs and dangers, and how and when to supply; and his omnipotence whereby he is able to do it.

3. Faithfulness in his promises. He is the Amen, the true and faithful witness. Sarah believed, for she judged him faithful who had promised.

4. Compassion, or bowels of infinite compassions. His spouse is as the apple of his eye, therefore the Lord Jesus must needs be in every respect the most suitable object of faith, being so allsufficient, faithful, compassionate and loving; now, then, this is the Beloved of the spouse that came leaning on this her Beloved,

whose love did first draw her heart to love him again with a most ardent love. "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it." Cant. viii. 7. "Look thou upon me and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name." Ps. cxix. 132. "Consider how I love thy precepts : quicken me, O Lord, according to thy loving-kindness." Ps. cxix. 159. So that there is a further encouragement for the spouse to cleave to Christ Jesus, because she finds this love in her to be the fruit of his everlasting love to her. Now faith finding such an object, not only is persuaded that he is all-sufficient and willing to save, but the will chooseth him for its portion, cleaves to him and rests upon him for all safety and good, as its all in all, and gives up itself to be guided, ordered and disposed of in all conditions, as most safe and happy in his hands and dispose. Faith counts itself most safe in the arms of Christ. This is one effect of faith, for the soul to give up itself to Christ, to do as he will with it,-he may give what he will and take what he will; the soul is willing to part with any thing at the command of Christ,—willing to part with its dearest sins and lusts for Christ Jesus; so that a spouse of Christ, seeing the wisdom, faithfulness, power and love of the Lord Jesus, doth choose him for her portion, and give up herself to Christ, willing to be at his disposing, and willing to part with any thing for Christ. Here is her leaning upon her Beloved, and so she fears not any evil tidings.

Doctrine. It is a matter of much observation and admiration, to see a spouse of Christ coming out of a wilderness-condition, and leaning by faith firmly upon Christ as her Beloved.

Proof, that the excellency of the spouse of Christ is in leaning upon her Beloved, the eleventh chapter of Hebrews gives a cloud of witnesses. Abraham left his country by faith and offered up Isaac by faith; Noah prepares an ark by faith, others endured cruel mocking by faith. O the virtue and admirable effects of faith. You see in the wilderness how highly God approved of Caleb, who followed God fully when others spake evil of the good land. Caleb saith, They shall be meat for us; we are well able to overcome them. My servant Caleb, saith the Lord, he shall go in and his seed shall possess it. How highly the Lord approves of faith, you may see in the church of Philadelphia. (Rev. iii. 8-10.) He finds no fault with them, but commends them for keeping the word of his patience, and promises most safe protection when the hour of temptation overspreads the world. The centurion who had such faith as to say, speak but the word and my servant shall be healed; Christ highly commends that faith as not having found such, no not in Israel; so the woman of Cana, her faith Christ commends, and saith, Be it to thee even as thou wilt.

Reason 1. It is so, not only from the excellency of faith itself, but from the excellency of a tried faith: "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of Christ Jesus." 1 Pet. i. 7. "The words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." Ps. xii. 6. As the word is pure and precious, so is faith under wilderness-trials.

Reason 2. Because this leaning upon Christ in such a state, is an evidence of great love to Christ. This the Lord takes great notice of. "I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals when thou wentest after me in the wilderness." Jer. ii. 2.

Reason 3. Because it is a glorious thing to behold the love of God and Jesus Christ, to lead up such a spouse out of a wilderness; it causes that glory as is ascribed to God of old, as that one act at the Red Sea did. "Who is like unto thee, O Lord, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders." Ex. xv.

"He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness, he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye." Deut. xxxii. 10.

Use 1. Instruction. Here we may observe, and see the manner of God's dealing even with his most precious churches and people, even with this Shulamite, he brings her out of the wilderness; so the Lord did of old, when he brought his people out of Egypt. He brought them into the wilderness, and the Lord saw the mixed multitude amongst them, and that generation must be all worn out before he brought them into the promised land. In the wilderness, the Lord showed his wonderful works, feeding them with manna, and giving them water out of a rock ; there God proved them, to know what was in their hearts, and he found abundance of sin, and pride, and rebellion in them, and yet all was to do them good in the latter end. So when he brought them out of Babylon to Jerusalem, we read in Ezra and Nehemiah, what afflictions and opposition they met withal, of blastings, and mildews, and disappointments in their labours they were exercised withal, as may be seen in the prophecy of Haggai, and so it will be with this Shulamite, the church of the Jews, at their return; the Lord will bring them out of the wilderness of the people through many temptations and afflictions, and that wilderness-condition will seem to continue for a long time; if we compare Dan. xii. 11, it appears to be forty-five years, and so it hath been with the reformers that are come out of spiritual Babylon, in Scotland, Holland, and Geneva, and the rest, what bloody wars? what persecutions and trials of various kinds? nay, what soul is it that the Lord hath brought home to himself,