-* 294 Of COMMUNION with pailion, and fuitably induftrious defire. Thus being difappointed at horn the fpoufe proceeds. But yet fee the event of this alfo ; the fought him but found him not. It doth fometimes fo fall out ; all will not do, they Ihall Peek him and not find him ; they faall not cone nigh him, let them that enjoy any thing of the pretence of Chrift, take heed what they do; if they provoke him to depart, if they loofe hito, it may coft them many a bitter enquiry before they find him again. When a foul, prays andme- ditates, fearches the promifes in private, when it with earnefnefs and dili- gence attends all ordinances in publick, and all to get one glimpfe of the face of Jefus Chrift, and all in vain, it is a fad condition. What now follows in this eftate? v. 3. The watchmen found me, &c. That thefe watchmen of the city of God are the watchmen and officers of the church, is confeffed, and it is of fad confederation that the holy ghoft doth fome- times in this book take notice of them on no good account, plainly chap. v. 7. they turn perfecutors. It was Luther's faying, Núnquampericlitatur reli- gie, nifi inter reverendigimos. Here they are of a more gentle temper, and feeing the poor difconfolate foul, they feem to take notice of her condition. It is the duty indeed of faithful watchmen to take notice of poor, troubled, deferted fouls, not to keep at a diflance, but to bewilling to afiìlt. And a truely preffed foul on the account of Chrift's abfenee cannot cover its love, but mutt be enquiring after him; Sawyou him whom my foul loveth 1 This is my condition i I have had fweet enjoyment of my blefed Jefus, he is now withdrawn from me; can you help me? can you guide me to my confolation? what acquaintance have you with him? when faw you him? how didhe manifeft himfelf to you, and wherein ? All thefe labourings in his abfence fufficiently difcover the foul's delight in the prefence ofChrift. Go one ftep farther to the difcovery that is made of him once again, and it will yet be more evident, v. ¢, q. It was but a little while that Ipafed from them, but Ifound him whom my foul loveth, I held him, and would not let himgo, until 1 had brought him into my mother's houfe, and into the chamber of her that conceivedme, Icharge ye, o ye daughters of Jerufa- kin, &c. She tells you how the carne to him; the found him, what ways and by what means, is not expreffed. It often fo falls out in our communion with Chrift ; when private and publick means fail, and the foul bath nothing - left but waiting fluently and walking humbly, Chrift appears, that his fo doing maybe evidentlyof grace. Letus not at any time give over in this condition. When all ways are pall, the fummer and harveft are gonewith- out relief, when neither bed nor watchmen can affift; let us wait a little, and we thall fee the falvation of God. Chrift honours his immediate ab- folute aftings fometimes; though ordinarily he crowns his ordinances. Chrift often manifetts himfelf immediately, and out of ordinances, to them that wait for him in them. That he will do fo to them that defpife them, Iknow not. Though he will meet men unexpe&edly in his way; yet he will not meet them at all out ofit. Let us wait as he hath appoint- ed; let him appear as he pleafeth. How the deals with him when found; is nextly declared. She held him, and would not let him go, &c. They are all expreffions of the greateft joy and delight imaginable. The km is, havingat length come once more to an enjoyment of fweet communi- on with Chrift, the foul lays fall hold on hint by faith (51elfr, to bold fall is an all of faith) refufes to part with him any more in vehemency of love; tries to keep hits in ordinances, in the houfe of its mother, the church of God, and fo ufes all means for the confirming of the mutual love between Chrift and her, all the exptefions, all the allufions ufed, evidencing
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