Secondly , The Dove is a Mournfull Bird ; So are the Doves of CHRIST Mourning , and in Tears , Zek. 16. They that Escape of them shall be like Doves of the Mountains ; Like Doves in the Valleys , all of them Mourning : Every one of them for their Iniquities . If ye be GODs Doves , ye will have manie a Sorrowfull Day in the World : There is Bloodie Weirs betwixt the Kirk and the World ; Keep the Dove from the Nest , and she Mourns without ; Keep the Kirk from CHRIST , and she will break her Heart .

Thirdly , She is not a Revengefull Bird , she has no other Armour against the Ravens and Vultures , but her Wings to flee away . GODs Childrens best Armour when they are wronged is , by Faith in Prayer to mount up to GOD ; They must be like CHRIST . He went out of the World with manie a Wrong , and they are not yet Revenged , his Blood is keeping to the Last Court Day . CHRIST sits with manie a Wrong in Heaven ; He has not gotten amends of these that Spate in his Face . Manie a time the Kirk and her Husband CHRIST will be here wronged , albeit it be seen betwixt them . Cant. 5. She shuts him to the Door , and lets him Lodge all Night in the Rainie Fields .

And then Fourthly , The Kirk is like a Dove Mourning without a Marrow ; for that Fowl cannot want a Marrow : If ye be GOD's Doves , Woe will ye be when your Marrow CHRIST flies away . She falls aswoon and her heart flies out of her when CHRIST flies away .

Fifthly , The Dove is an Innocent Harmless Bird . she cannot offend . So is the Kirk ; the Meek Spouse of CHRIST , will not Marrow with a Malicious House .

Sixthly , The Dove is a Silly , Weak , Tender Fowl , and if they be compared to the rest of the Birds , they are but counted the tenth of flying Fowls ; Surelie GODs Kirk in her Self is but a Weak Bird and Tender Woman , compared in Rev. 12. to a Woman with Child lately Delivered , and little betwixt her Death and her Life , if she be not Carefullie attended . A Christian is a Tender Thing ; an Jewel in the Hand of CHRIST . If He let us fall we are soon broken in pieces : We should pray that CHRIST may handle us softlie , and not let us be Tempted above our Strength . The Kirk is called , Micah 4. and 6. a Cripple Woman that goes onlie upon her one Side . So surelie we had need to come out of the Wilderness Leaning on our Beloved , Cant. 8. Chap.

Seventhly , And for their Number they are but an Handfull , Isaiah 1. The Tein or Remnant GODs Part is but the Tenth , and the Devil has all the Stock ; often GOD has one and the Devil nine ; Great need have we to labour to be of GODs tenth . My Dove that Dwells in the Holes of the Rock ; We need not to go far off to seek the Exposition of these Words , for CHRIST is the Rock upon which the Kirk is builded . Matthew 16. 28. Vpon this Rock will I Build my Church , says CHRIST . And Psalms 18. 2. The LORD is my Rock and Fortress . And GOD is also the Secret Place of the Stairs , where the Kirk hides her from the Storm . So David calls GOD his Secret Place , his Hiding Place . Psalms 32. 7. Thou art a Secret Place to me from Distress , Thou wilt Preserve me , Psalms 91. And because in all this Song we must ever hold up the Line and String of the Allegorie of Marriage , and consider the Kirk as the Spouse of CHRIST : The Rock is CHRIST in whom the Kirk dwells by Faith , and CHRIST dwells in her Heart , Ephesians 3. 17. Abide in Me , and I in you John 15. 4 : Abide in Me as Branches Imped into the Vine : Now the Imp is ingrafted in a cutted Stock ; CHRIST was Hagged , Hewed and Cutted on the Cross , the Stock wherein we are Ingrafted . So that the Holes of the Rock , may well be exponed ( as Bernard says ) to be the Wounds of CHRIST : So that the Meaning is , O O My Dove that by Faith has thy abode in the Wounds and the Holes made in the Hands and Sides of Crucified JESVS : Or , O my Dove that believes and that by Faith has thy abode in the Wounds and abides in CHRIST as an Imp ingrafted in a Tree , in CHRIST when Dead ; and so Man flee into CHRIST all Wounded , and Holled for thy Sin , flee into CHRIST thy Rock ; and so into GOD : Psalms 18. 2. Hence we see what a Saviour the Kirk believes in ; a Saviour that 's GOD and Man , as Man to be a Sufferer , and as GOD to be a Supporter , which there was great Necessitie of these Two Natures ; GOD would not seek Payment of our Debt off His Son as GOD ; for by the Law He could not answer , for He was the Creditor , and so could not be the Debtor : And therefore , for the better Understanding of this , I would have you with me to consider , how our Nature , and GODs Nature works to others hands in the Work of our Redemption . A Sinner cannot Dwell in CHRIST as GOD only . There is no Holes nor Chambers for a Sinner to Dwell in GOD ; and therefore CHRIST behoved to be Man , that we might find fair Chambers in the Wounds of JESVS , wherein the Doves of JESVS might Dwell ; And if He had been only Man , He could not have been an House upon a Rock , and so could not have born the Weight of all the Doves : For there be some Questions in the Work of our Redemption that onlie Man can answer . Man has sinned , and Man must Die , says GODs Justice , be it so says CHRIST . Man sinned , and I the Man CHRIST shall Die . ( 2. ) Man took on the Debt , therefore an other cannot pay for him ; Be it so says CHRIST , I the Man shall pay the Ransom . ( 3. ) Man behoved to make amends , because Man did the Fault : Let it be so said CHRIST , I the Man CHRIST shall make amends again .

Secondly , If CHRIST had not been our Rock , there had been no Dwelling in him , he would not have keeped Wind and Weather off us : Therefore the Divine Nature was a Pillar on which the Humane Nature did hing , and this is the Cause why CHRIST-man leans to the Divine Nature , as his Warrand in all that he does . For if ye will consider in this Work , there is Three Bargains , or Covenants to speak so .

First , GOD and Man bargained together , ye shall believe , that 's your Part. I shall give you Life Eternal , that 's my Part says GOD . Now Man dare not promise this of himself without CHRISTs Bond to Relieve him , that is to Enable him throw his Grace to believe .

Secondly , GOD Bargains with his Son , Isaiah 53. 10. Son , if Thou shall lay down Thy Life , Thou shall see Thy Seed , and Prolong Thy Days , and have many fair Children , Psalms 2. Ye shall have the Heathen to Serve You. Heb. 1. I will be Your Father , and Ye shall be My Son . CHRIST is content , but he cannot do this alone ; he must borrow Flesh and Blood from Man , and in it Suffer .

Thirdly , The Man CHRIST Bargains with the Divine Nature . The Humane Nature says , I Love Man , and I will Die for him : The Divine Nature says , now I shall hold Thee up under Thy Sufferings , and Thou shall overcome Death . The Man Christ without the Back-bond ( to speak so ) durst not for Ten Thousand Worlds have ventured to Yoak in the Fields with the Justice of GOD , and Death , and Hell , and Sin , and the Devil , except he had the Divine Nature in a Personal Union to bear him up under his Sufferings : Therefore CHRIST when he looks upon his Sufferings , looks also upon his Warrand , Isaiah 56. I gave My Back to the Smiters , and My Checks to them that pulled off the Hair . These be the Words of the Man CHRIST .

Now because it might have been said a Man will Suffer all that his alone ; But here he looks to his Warrand , Verse 7. and says , I have my Warrand with Me , The LORD GOD will help Me , I shall not be confounded . I have GODs Warrand who is united to Me in a Personal Union to bear Me up . Even Sick-like CHRIST goes down to the Grave , Psalms 16. 10. Thou wilt not leave My Soul in Hell , ( or the Grave , ) neither wilt Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see Corruption . As if Christ would say , I am sure LORD Thou will be as Good as Thy Word , and make Good Thy Bargain , and will Warrand Me against Death : See then how it goes ; The Man Christ takes Man by the Hand to bring him out from under GODs Wrath. So Beloved , Be Glad in such a Saviour , come all into the Rock , for God , Christ , and Man , all these Three are linked together as in a Chain , and Christ in the middle link of the Chain . Now let all the Kings of the Earth that boast of Fair Houses and Stately Palaces , come and see if they can compare with the Dove that Dwells in the Holes of the Rock . Nebuchadnezer said , Is not this Great Babylon that I have built , &c. Surely Men are to be rebuked that are carefull for Houses and settling in the World , and has no Assurance of this Lodging . Worldlings are but Ravens that big in the Wild Mountains . The Kirk is only at Home biging in Faith : These be indeed Dear Chambers , being built by Christ Himself . GOD has made Holes and Windows in Christ that his Doves may flee into , and make their Nest in his Heart . O Dear and Precious Dwelling ; The Lodging cost us Nothing , yet we are desired to Dwell in it . Now what is Christ's Petition ? Cause Me to hear thy Voice . It 's ordinary for Man to beg from GOD , for we be but his Beggars ; But it is a Miracle to see GOD beg at Man ; Yet here is the Potter begging from the Clay ; the Saviour seeking from Sinners . What is his Suit ? It must be some Great Thing ; it is even a Sight of his Bride ; He is even saying to her , my dear Spouse be kind to Me , let me see thy Face , be not Blaite and Wavering , be plain with me your Husband , tell me all your mind in Prayer , I delight to hear your lisping and hisping and speaking to me in Prayer : Ye may see all the Wooing comes on Christ's Side of it ; She cannot hold up her Face , or let one Love-blink on Christ , but as He commands her , and wakens her up ; She is a Soure Bride of her self , if she Laugh , it is He that makes her Rejoice by the Holy Spirit that is given to her , Romans 5. 5. She keeps her Chamber and is ashamed to go forth ; He bides her be kind and shew her Face . We cannot Love Him , while he first Love us , 1 John 4. 19. We run because he draws us , Canticles 1. 2. John 6. 44. We apprehend Christ , but we are first gripped of him , Philippians 3. 12. Beloved , there is great skill in wooing Christ , every Bride has not the gate of it , but he must teach us .

In all other Matches ye will find Two Things that are not here .

First , In other Matches the Bride makes some Wooing of her own sort ; but here Men cannot move , but as Christ's Spirit wooes in us , and teaches us . In other Contracts the Bride and her Friends are bound for their Part , the Bride has some Toocher of her own , or she may be an Heretrix , she may have all , and he Nothing : But here the Bridegroom in this Contract is obliged for all , he give his Name for himself and his Wife , Ezekel 36. 27. I will put My Spirit in you , and cause you to Walk in my Judgements . Here the Kirk has no Toocher of her own , and yet she has not the Good Manners to look up to her LORD , but as he commands and holds up her Head : All the Toocher is Christ's , and the Inheritance is Christs ; the Kirk has Nothing , he has the Houses , John 14. He has the Land , Romans 8. The Fine Gold , Revelation 3. and buys the Spousing Cloaths of the Religion that came in with her Saviour Christ , and that is the best Religion in the World ; for it gives most to GOD and least to Man . I will tell you who are meet for Christ , even these that are out of themselves , and lays all upon Christ . The best Schollars that Christ gets are Publicans and Sinners , Whores , Harlots , Blind , Lame , Criples , and such like , and such as feels themselves Sinners . Look how much ye trust in your selves , and rest upon the World , and Loves your Lusts , as far ye are from Christ ; and when ye are all out of your selves , and changed into GOD's Image from Glory to Glory , as by the Spirit of the LORD , 2 Corinthians 3 : 18 : then ye are meet for Christ , begging Poor Sinners are our LORDs Schollars . The Lintel-stone of our LORDs School-door is a Low-stone , ye must stoup Low and Lout ; Ye will be on your Knees with it or ye can win in ; Ye must be very humble , else that Stone will take your head and ding you back , and ye will not win in ; than be Fools that Christ may be your Wisdom , 1 Corinthians 1 : 30 : There is as much merit in Christ as will buy a Thousand Heavens . Now if our Wooer Christ were not Kind , and sought our Kindness , even Words of us , and brought the Love . Tokens , the Friendship betwixt Christ and us would soon wear out of Date , & grow Cold ; Christ ay blows at the Coal ere it wear out : Christ would win a Friend , yea a Foe to be kind to him ; He is ay thriping and claiming Kindness of us , as if he were the Beggar and the Poor-man , and we the King . O he claims Kindness to us . Then surely we need not think shame of our Friend . Would ye ken for whom Christ Died , and Payed , even for Dyvours , such as Swore themselves bare , and came out of Prison upon Caution , or a Cessiobonorum . Poor-men that has been upon the Dyvours-stone , and are far from Payment by the Dyvour-bill , when there is not a finger in all your hand fastened upon your self , then ye are meet for Christ : For who are better met and yoaked than a Poor Sick Dying-man and a skillfull Physician ; Who is better yoaked than a crying Begging-sinner and a Rich Christ ? But oh it is ofttimes not so ! for Christ would give us more nor we will receive : He scatters his Gold , we Proud Beggars will not bow our back , and lout down and gather : He would fain Sell , we will not Buy , so there will be no blocking . Let Me see thy Countenance . An Allusion to Israel that was to present themselves before the LORD Thrice a Year in the Tabernacle ; The meaning is , Walk before me . It is not enough that thou believe , and so dwell by Faith in the Holes of the Rock ; but thou must also shew thy Faith by Good Works and Prayers , and Worshipping of GOD . Christ loves not Professors that never wan or Love to Pray , and such as hates not the World : But you will see they are Believers by their Holy Living , Matthew 13 : The VVord of GOD is Seed sown that brings forth Thirty , Sixty , and an Hundred Fold ; Ilk Boll brings out Thirty ; Ilk Sermon , ilk Communion should bring out an Hundred Good VVorks ( Beloved ) GOD's Land is Set at an High-price ; he is a Master that will have all his own from his Tennents ; and as the Song says , Every one of GODs Sheep brings out Twins , Hebrews 7 : 8 : There is a Ground that drinks in Rain from Heaven , and yet brings forth Briers and Thorns , it is near a Curse : Bring forth Fruit , or else ye will make GOD say , my Curse , and GODs Mallison be upon thy Heart , thou hears much , and brings forth no Fruit : Therefore beware ( Beloved ) a Tree that once gets a dadd with GODs Ax , it will never do well again : Ye shall become like the Girdle , Jeremiah 13 : 17 : which he did hide at the River Euphrates ; it was profitable for nothing , it was marred , it shall never go about GODs Wast again . Beware then that ye be not Blasted Professors & Fruitless Christians ; but be ye always in his Sight : For there be some that comes never in GODs Sight , they are GODs Dyvours : They are aughting so much that they dar not come to GOD , and Compt and Pay , Outlaws and Borderers that comes not , or keeps not Christs Kingdom ; but runs like Wild Asses and Drumadaries up and down the Mountains , and snuffs up the Wind at their Pleasure : I compare their Life to those that rides Post . Many a Horse has Satan in his Stable ; and when these Out-laws has wearied their Greediness after Sin , and has gotten they know not what , they mount upon a Fresh-horse ; Some upon Pride , and they ride once out of GODs Sight , they run while they be in Hell in the end : For the Devil is upon the Horse and the Rider . GOD seeks Dear , and for his Money ye must give him more than Ten in the Hunder ; For Five Talents , he must have Ten again , he must have double Stock . Look what Grace ye receive by Weight , render to him his own in Weight and more : If his Gold want an Ounce , he will cast it to you again : For one Bolls sowing , ye must give him Thirty again : GOD would have his Servants ay keeping his Chamber , if they go their own length from him he misses them ; Ye must not be GODs Chamber-pages , and steal out of his Presence , and give the Devil a Baggadge-yoaking ; nay he must ay see your Face , and hear your Voice . There be many that would serve GOD , and be in Christs School ; but they are like Trowands that takes the Play , and runs to Play , sometimes with the World , and the Devil , and loves to sport themselves with the World and the Devil ; But GODs Schollars may not take the Play . Let me see thy Face . The Kirk might have said , Dear LORD , my Face ; Oh does Thou desire to see my Face , it is very Black , I am Sun-burnt , Sin hath made me deformed ; and for my Voice , it is both Harsh and Mistuned . What then says Christ ? I think not so my Dear Spouse ; I think it is a Fair Face ; I think ye have a Sweet Voice . It is Great Comfort for GODs Children when they rise many times off their Knees from Prayer with a woe heart , thinking , because they have no Heart , nor Feeling , nor Sence , that GOD is offended with their Prayers , and thinks little of their Works ; when as their Prayers , and Tears , and Works are accepted before GOD . Ye think nothing of one Tear , yet GOD puts it in his Bottle ; and nothing of one Sigh , but GOD gathers it in his Treasure . If GOD thought of us as the World does , and as we think of our Selves , oftentimes wofull would our Case be ; But GOD has not a Pleasanter Sight in the World , nor the Face of a Child of GOD : No Musick Delights Him more nor the Sighs and Tears , Complaints and Prayers of his Children . See ye not the Spirit of GOD bringing in Christ longing for a Sight of his Wife , longing for a Word of her , Proverbs 8. 31. Christ Rejoiceth and Sports , and Plays in the Habitable Parts of the Earth , and his Delight is with the Sons of Men . Ye will see more of this upon the last words of this Song .

Take us the Foxes . It 's a Speech of Christ to take the Kirk , to take , Convince , Censure , Rebuke , Cut off , and Excommunicat all Inordinate Livers and Offenders in the LORDs Vineyard , Ezekiel 13. 4. O Israel , thy Prophets are like Foxes in the Deserts . Jeremiah 12. 10. Many Pastors have Corrupted My Vineyard . O what can there be upon the Earth to make a Kirk Happy , But it is here . To hear a Kirk Sick of Love for Christ , and here Christ Sick of Love for his Kirk : Christs Left Hand is under Her Head , and His Right Hand doth Imbrace Her : She is His Fair One , His Love , His Dove , His Vndefiled : She Dwells in the Wounds of Her Lord by Faith . Yet for all this , His Kirk is a Vineyard that has many Foxes in it to Destroy the Vines . Then we see , so long as GOD hath a Vineyard , there will be Foxes in it to Destroy the Vines ; That is , Crafty-men , False-Teachers , Deceitfull-Workers , Transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ , 2 Corinthians 1. 13. Paul Planted a Church in Ephesus , Acts 20. 28. yet after his Departure , Grievous Wolves entred in not Sparing the Flock . Surely in this Life Marches are not redd betwixt GOD and the Devil ; The Devil Fyles the Score , and comes over the March upon GODs Bounds . Matthew 13. GOD Sows his Wheat , and the Devil steals up the Rigg , and with Hot-furr he Sows his Tares . 1 Kings 22. In Achab's Court there is never a Honest-Man till he be Tryed : The False-Knave and Truth are Door-Neighbours . 1 Kings 22. In Achab's Court there is an Honest-Man that tells the King the Truth ; But there is Four Hundred False-Knaves that says against him , and Poor-Man he must to Prison , and they get leave to keep the Court ; for the Thief is ever the Honest-Man till he be Tryed ; The False-Knave and the Truth are Door-Neighbours , and almost Twins born at one Time ; howbeit Truth be Eldest and First-born Isaiah Complains Chapter 46. Of Dumb Dogs that could never have enough . Jeremiah 10. He Complains of many Pastors that Corrupted the Vineyard . Ezekiel Complains of Foxes . Zachariah 11. Of Idol-Shepherds . Hymineus and Philetus spoke against Paul . The Sadducees in Christ's Days Denyed the Resurrection : And not only is there False Teachers in our Days , but in the Best Kirks were , and are many Foxes ; for all is not Fish that comes in the Net : And if ye be GODs Sheep , ye must not think to want Foxes to Nibble , and to Work under the Earth to Destroy you ; Ye may not look that Christ is Master of the Fields without Blood : Ye will not be long in Prosperity in the World . There be a Number of Foolish People wonders that GOD brings such a Good Husband that should not hold out the Foxes from his own Vineyard ; They would have a Christ of Gold , and a Kirk of Velvet , or of Fair White Paper ; They think Christ's Bride should be Clade in Purple and Scarlet as the Whore of Rome is , or does Wear .

I will shew you how Christ and his Kirk meets when the Bridegroom Wooed his Kirk ; Many a Black Stroak got He both of GOD and Man . He was the Vine , GOD and Man strake at him with Axes ; he Bought him Dear ; it cost him Blood ere he got her : And think ye she has Fair Weather when she Wooes him ? Nay , many a Cuffe gets she from the World ; This Fox , and that Fox pulls the Skin off her : She is hardly handled in this Wooing , there be Stroaks on both Sides : For fain would the Devil have the Contract Cancelled , and the Marriage going back . And let me speak to you that are GODs Young Vine , make you for it , the Foxes of the World will Peel the Bark off you ; If there be Grace in you , they will do what they can to eat it up in the bud ; Hold your hands about the Grace of GOD , be not Robbed ; And ye give them their Will , they would pull the Skin off your Face .

Secondly , Ye see Christ hath gotten out Letters of Caption against all his Foxes : Here is a Commission obtained in Christ's Court , that all that hurts Christ's Vineyard should be Apprehended and laid fast : But alas ! the Commissioners , the Pastors , the Judges over-sees them : But here a Comfort for you , who are the LORDs Vines , that are troubled with Foxes , I assure you , that the Kirk has Law against all her Enemies : Be not casten down , because the World Hates you ; Twenty six Hunder years syn Christ hath given out a Decreet against all his Enemies , and Yours , to take them . Here ye have Assurance ; Your Enemies are Rebels , and all of them under Caption , Psalms 110. 6. He shall fill the Places with Dead Bodies . He shall Wound the Head over them , even in many Countries . Ye that Complain of your Predominant Sin , and thinks ye are hardned with them ( for these be also Foxes that do Harm the LORDs Vineyard ) fight against them , for Christ has given out a Decreet against those that they shall be taken .

My Beloved is Mine . These be the Words of the Contract of Marriage ; For there is a Covenant betwixt Christ and his Kirk , Ezekiel 36. I will be Their GOD , and They shal be My People . But here an Doubt to be answered by these Words : It would seem Christ and his Kirk are Two Different Parties in the Contract ; Christ upon the one side , and the Kirk upon the other : Is not Christ upon the Kirks Side , and obliges for his Wife ? I Answer , Christ having Two Natures , has Two Contrary Considerations , and yet he is one Party , and we another , and so Promises to us Life Eternal ; and we Promise by his Grace to Believe .

Secondly , Christ is considered as Mediator , GOD and Man , and so he is upon our Side ; for the Promise is made to Him and His ; And he as Principal-Contractor binds for Us , and we are his Assigneys ; So Jesus skips betwixt both the Sides , because he is a Friend to both : But it is certain these very Words proves him to be on our Side of the Covenant , because our Beloved is Ours , and we are His ; He is our Mediator and Cautioner bound for Us . The very Words of the Covenant are spoken to Christ , Psalms 87. 27. I will make Him My First-born Higher then the Kings of the Earth : But he said , Verse 26. He shall cry to Me , Thou art My Father , My GOD , and the Rock of My Salvation : My Mercy will I keep for Him for evermore , and My Covenant shall stand Fast with Him . The Enemies of Grace would have Christ a GOD folding his Fingers , and a Looker on , and beholding Fair Play . Lyars , he is more than Half-play master . The Devil will not get his Name out of the Contract : And Beloved , see ye not but it is a Sweet Thing to have any thing to do with Christ . His Chaffe is better than other Mens Corn ; If ye have any fastning with Christ the Cause is Won ; Now hold you be Christ , it is a shame for him that ye fall out of the Covenant , because he is Cautioner ; as ye know , it is a shame for a Nobleman that his Poor Friend be cast in Prison for the Debt that he is obliged to pay : Christ is now obliged that He fullfill the Covenant , and make Good both your Part , and his Part : Boast not of your Selves , or of your own Strength ; be not Proud of your Selves , but ye shall have full Liberty to boast your Self of Christ , Crac enough of Christ ; be Proud of Christ's Merits , ye cannot erre there ; The Debt of Faith and Obedience that we are aughting to GOD now to speak so ) is not our Debt but Christs , and he is Cautioner for us : It were a shame that a Poor Friend should be Imprisoned for his Chiefs Debt , especially since he is a Rich-man and able to pay .

Now let us consider the Mutual Interest , Christ and the Kirk , has every one of another : He is Mine , and I am His ; He is my Husband , and I am His Wife ; He is my Head , and I am His Body ; He is my King , and I am His People ; He is my Rich Cautioner , and I am His Dyvour .

Now let us see what claim Christ has in the Kirk , and what claim the Kirk has in Christ . Now to hold upon the Comparison of this Song betwixt a Husband and a Wife ; for the Husband & the Wife has no Sundry Goods ; if he be a King , she is a Queen ; If he have a fair Inheritance , it is hers also , as long as he Lives ; If they Live ever together , it is ever hers : Then when she says , he is mine , I am his , CHRIST is mine , and I am his , and all his , his Flesh , and his Blood ; his Death and Merits ; his Glory ; his Kingdom ; his Court and Credit , and all is Mine ; and all Mine is His , my Soul and Body , my Sins , my Trouble , my Cross , they are all His . Christ and She is ( to speak so ) carded throw other , John 15. Abide in Me , and I in You : Cursed be he that says not Amen to that ; John 17. 21. That they also may be one , as Thou Father art in Me , and I in Thee , that they also may be one in Vs : I in them , and they in Me . But we will labour to Reduce them , the Particulars to a certain Number . There be these Things Common to us betwixt Christ and Us .

First , There is a Sibness of Nature betwixt Christ and us . There be Pawns given and received betwixt both Sides ; He has a Pawn of Ours , Our Flesh , and he took that Pawn with him to heaven , and he is never minded to give it again ; but we have as Good a Pawn of him , his Spirit ; We were of that Flesh and Blood . Hebrews 2. 14. Let us keep Christ's Pawn as long as he keeps Ours ; Let him not be to the fore with Us : Now he keeps our Pawn for ever ; He will never lay down our Flesh ; We are never minded to lose the Pawn , let him keep it for ever ; Long may he keep it : Let us keep his Spirit ; For it is not his Will to loose that Pawn ; Let him keep it for ever , Hebrews 4. 2. Christ would also be a Bairn and Partaker of Flesh and Blood . Would to GOD ye would all strive to get his Pawn , and to keep it well ; Seek his Spirit , and keep it well . Worldly Men , Ye have little claim to Jesus ; GOD help you , there is no Borrowing nor Lending betwixt You and Christ .

Secondly , Community ; We got all his Good , and he gets all our Ill , that 's a Good Cooss for Us ; He took our Curses , we took his Blessings ; He our Shame , We his Glory ; He our Sins , We his Righteousness : He is the Kirks , and the Kirk is Christs ; That Day GOD laid upon Christ , he was shifted our from under GODs Wrath , and GOD strook the Kirk's Head , to let the Members go free . When Christ was in blocking to buy his Kirk , he knew the Faults in the Wares ; he kend well enough that Curse of GOD , and Wrath of GOD , and Hell , and Sin , and many Ills followed the Kirk : Yet Christ wad not rew in time ; He said freely I will take her , and all the Ills that follow her , how beit she be Blind , Lame , yea , a Cursed Bride ; Yet I will make her my Wife . Would to GOD we could take Christ and all the faults that follow Him . There be Men that will not Cooss with Christ ; but will keep their Will , their Lust : GOD was about to strike Us , and had lifted ( to speak so ) his Wand to bring a Stroak of his Wrath upon Us ; and Christ came in , and held his Hand , and laid down himself , and bade his Father lay upon Him : Yea never saw such a Suiter as Christ , he prays Us to Cooss for the better ; He crys to you for GODs Sake give me your Dross , and ye shall get my Gold ; Give me your Sins , and I give you My Righteousness . Is it not an hard matter ? Men will not give their Ill to Christ , and transfer and give over their Sins to Christ . He says to you , Give Me your Lust that I may Crucifie it , and I will give you Love for it : Give Me your Anger , and I will give you My Zeal for it . Then make a Cooss and take him at his Word , ilk day be making New Blocks with Christ ; Deny your Folly , and give it to him to Crucifie ; And seek ye his Wisdom , you must do this ever while all Nature be away and done , and nothing in you but Grace .

Thirdly , There is a Community of Gifts and Graces betwixt Christ and Us . Not a Grace we get from GOD , but it comes throw Christ's hands to us : So that Christ keeps the Pawns betwixt GOD and Us : GOD gives Grace to his Kirk , but where is it ? It is in Jesus . Grace is laid in Pledge in the Hands of Jesus , and it was made a running over Fountain : For as we see in a Race , the Wages , or the Garland is not in the Hand of the Runners , but some Friends keeps the Staikes for both : So Christ keeps the Wage for the Father and Us . Christ indeed is the Fountain . John 1. 14 We beheld His Glory , as the Glory of the Only begotten Son . Some Friend keeps the Staikes for both ; There the Well running over , But for what End ? Verse 16. That out of His Fulness we might all Receive , even Grace for Grace . So GOD gives us Life Eternal . But who has this Life in Pledge ? Even Jesus Christ , 1 John 5. 11. And this is the Witness that GOD hath given us , even Eternal Life ; and this Life is in His Son ▪ LORD send us part of this consigned Grace . Again ye send not up a Sigh to GOD ; but first it must be laid down in the hand of him that keeps the Pawns , Revelation 8. 12. Be the Way I shall give the Vse with every Article of the Doctrine ; Try thy Light , try thy Grace , try thy Honour , and Credit , Riches , & all the Blessings that ye have ; The Silver , & the Gold , whether these Blessings be Impawned in Christ's Hand or ye get them ; If ye get them not in Christ , they are Unchristened Blessings , and they want the Fashion . Wo be to these Blessings that came never throw Christ's Holy Hands . Again , try your Prayers , Sighs and Desires , and your Service , if ye offer them to GOD in CHRIST : Many Unchristened Prayers goes to Heaven that are never Welcomed of GOD . Ye must take your Communion out of GODs Hand at the nearest ; but out of CHRIST's Hand there should be nothing done betwixt GOD and Us ; but CHRIST should be at it .

Fourthly , There is a Community of Sufferings betwixt CHRIST and Us . Poor would we be , if his Sufferings were not Ours ; and Wo would be our Case if his Sufferings were not Ours : But this Way it goes , he is that Apple Tree Excellent above all the Trees of the Forrest , and we do Rest under the Tree , now when the Shower of Rain falls , it lights first on the Tree , and the Stroak of it is broken , and it does not great Harm to these that are under the Tree . Ilk New Shot at the Kirk , lights first on the Head of Christ , and he breaks the Point of the Arrow . If ye be Ill-spoken off , so was He ; If ye be Hated of the World , so was He ; If your Blood be shed , & your Face Deformed , so was his fair Face Deformed & Marred , Isa. 52. 14. be content to Drink with Christ . Wo be to them that are not in Christ , and yet are in Trouble : The Arrow with the Sharp Point comes upon them , & goes to their Heart , & Slays them . Try if your Troubles be Christened-Troubles , that lights first upon CHRIST the Head , & then upon you as the Members . Try if by Faith ye have an Union with him . Now here by the way a Great Comfort in Trouble : Those that are Dear to you Dyes , & ye Mourn : Christ Mourned & Groaned in Spirit for Dead Lazarus : Ye Weep , so he Weeped . Are ye Poor , and ay at the Borrowing ; So was Christ at the Borrowing Trade all his Days : Should ye not then with Good Will Drink off the Cup that He Drank off before you ▪ when ye Murmure , and will not Drink Willingly , ye Refuse to Pledge Christ : But ye must Pledge Him , and Drink with GOD's Blessing , and with Joy , He will not Poyson you . They are none of Christ's Friends that will not Pledge Him , Matth. 20 : 21.