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To the READER.

Chriſtian Reader,

IT is well known from the Experience of those who are walking in the Paths of Life towards the promised Land, that it is through many Tribulations that they must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  The Way thither is strait and narrow, the Difficulties many, and the Passengers few; and these few endures a great Fight of Affliction, in opposing and wrestling against spiritual Adversaries, especially indwelling Sin, which is the worst of all their Enemies, so that they must take the Kingdom of Heaven by Violence.  Holiness is the King's High-way to Happiness, Isa. 35.8: And an High-way shall be there, and a Way, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness, the unclean shall not pass over: But it shall be for those the Way-faring Men.  These Way-faring Men, that walks in this strait streight Way of Holiness, are only such as are born of the Water and the Spirit, and are new Creatures in Christ Jesus, John 3.5. 2 Cor. 5.17. who are dead indeed unto Sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ, Rom. 6.11. who walks by Faith, 2 Cor. 5.7 lives by Faith, Gal. 2.20. and have their Fruit unto Holiness, Rom. 6.22. and are denied to themselves, Matt. 16.24. And seeks to be found in Christ, not through their own Righteousness, which is of the Law: But through the Faith of Christ, the Righteousness which is of God by Faith, Phil. 3.9.  These, and these only who are acquainted with these things, are walking in {3} the Paths of Life; and all who are Strangers to these Things are walking in the Paths of Destruction, be their Profession of moral honesty what it will.  And these who teach so much, as a Possibility of obtaining Salvation by moral Seriousness, or Self-righteousness, they do utterly subvert the very Foundation of the true Christian Faith.  Jesus Christ alone saves his People from their Sins; neither is there Salvation in any other; for there is none other Name given among Men, whereby we must be saved, Matt. 1.21. Acts 4.12.  I wish People were so wise in Time, as to take heed what they hear, Mark 6.24. And cease to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the Words of Knowledge, Prov. 19.17.  But leaving this, I shall, in a few words, give my Advice to such as are pursued by the Justice of God, as the Avenger of Blood under the Law, pursued the Man-slayer to the City of Refuge, who are resolved to flee in, under Christ's Shadow, for Shelter and Refuge from the Wrath of God, that is pursuing all Sinners, who are not reconciled to God through the Merits and Intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And, First. As Preparations for your Journey towards Emmanuel's Land, it is necessary,  1. That ye think on your former Ways, examine, search and try yourselves, that ye may know your own Condition, Psalm 119.57. 2 Cor. 13.5. Consider that ye are fallen by your Iniquities, and have destroyed your selves, and that your Help is in the Lord, Hos. 14.1. Hos. 13.9.   2. Confess Sin freely, and forsake it, Prov. 28.13. Psalm 32.5.  For Sin is a heavy Burden, Psalm 38.4.  And therefore you cannot move swiftly in your heavenly Course, till ye lay aside and forsake all Sin, especially that Sin that doth easily beset {4} you, That is, the Sin that your Heart is most inclined into, Heb. 12.1.   3. Join true saving Faith, and unfeigned Repentance together, not as meritorious Works that can save you; but as Duties required to evidence your Willingness to be saved, in the Way, and by the Means of his own Appointment, who hath called you thereunto, Acts 16.31. Acts 3.19.   4. Count the Cost before ye build, and consider your Strength before ye fight, Luke 14.28,31.  That so by finding out your own Emptiness and Weakness, ye may see the Necessity of going out of yourselves, and relying upon him, in whom all Fullness consists, that so your Emptiness may be supplied from his Fulness, his Strength made perfect in your Weakness, and his Grace may be every Way sufficient for you, 2 Cor. 12.9.   5. Do all that ye do to the Glory of God, 1 Cor. 10.31.

Secondly, When ye take your Journey to fly in under Christ's Shadow, do it hastily, Psalm 119.60. Stay not long in the Place of breaking forth of Children, Hos. 13.13. but press forward, and run so, that ye may obtain the Prize of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. 9.24. Phil. 3.14.  And because ye will find many Enemies in your Way, ye must do as they did in Nehemiah's time, who wrought with the one Hand, and held a Weapon in the other, Neh. 4.17. when ye run, ye must also fight, and make good Use of all the spiritual Armour prescribed by the Holy Ghost, Eph. 6.13-18.  And in all your Combats and Conflicts with your spiritual Enemies, beware of these four Things,   1. When ye are put to the worse, and wounded, beware of making yourselves your own Physicians; plaister not your Sores with your own Righteousness: But {5} always in such a Case, put this Resolution in Practice, Hos. 6.1, "Come and let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn and he will heal us, he hath smitten, and he will bind us up."   2. If your Strength be weakened, and your Deliverance long delayed, yet do not faint and weary, but possess your Souls in Patience, and wait upon the Lord, who giveth Power to the Faint, and Increase of Strength to them that have no Might, and he will enable you to run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint. Isa. 40.29,31.   3. Imagine not that the Way to Glory is all made up of Comforts: For these who are seeking the Way to Zion with their Faces thitherward, they weep as they go, they sow in Tears, they mourn now; but when at the End of their Journey, they reap in Joy, and are for ever comforted, Jer. 50.4,5. Psalm 126.5. Matt. 5.4.   4. Above all Things beware of Backsliding either in Heart or in Practice: For the Backslidden in Heart shall be filled with his own Ways, they that look back are not fit for the Kingdom of Heaven: For the Lord hath no Pleasure in them, Prov. 14.14. Luke 9.62. Heb. 10.38. But he that endureth to the End shall be saved, Matt. 10.22; 24.13.

Thirdly, When ye are safely arrived at the blessed Harbour of Rest, The Lord Jesus Christ, and have got your Souls sheltered by Faith under his Shadow, and finds his Fruit sweet to your Taste; when he brings you to his Banqueting House, and makes Love his Banner over you; when he makes you drink of the spiced Wine, and the Juice of his Pomegranates; when he makes you eat and drink abundantly of the fat Things thats full of Marrow, of Wines well refined on the Lees; when he dandles you {6} upon his Knees, puts you in his Bosom, and gently leads you in his Ways; when he takes you up to the Top of Mount Pisgah, gives you a Sight of the promised Land, and satiates your Soul with the first ripe Fruit thereof; when he deals thus with you, then be sure to study these Things.   1. Give God all the Glory, and say, not unto us Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give Glory, for thy Mercy, Psalm 115.1.   2. Give him kindly Entertainment, hold him fast, and refuse to let him go, Canticles 3.4.   3. Abstain from all Appearance of Evil, and grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the Day of Redemption, Eph. 4.30.   4. When Iniquity prevails against you, be sure to have such a Witnessing in your Heart against it, as will testify, that ye allow not of the Evil ye do, Rom. 7.15.   5. Renew your Repentance as oft as ye Sin: For if ye confess your Sins, he is faithful and just to forgive you all your Sins, and to cleanse you from all Unrighteousness, 1 John 1.9.   6. When he chastiseth you for Sin, either by Affliction or Desertion, justify him, acknowledge that he afflicts in Faithfulness, less than your Iniquities deserve, Psalm 119.75. Ezra 9.13.  Search and try your Ways, and turn again to the Lord, that his Anger may be turned away, and he may comfort you, Lam. 3.40. Isa. 12.1.   7. Be denied to Sense, learn to live by Faith: For the Just lives by Faith, Hab. 2.4. Gal. 3.11. Heb. 10.38.  Expect nothing but Ups and Downs, Sun-shine and dark Eclipses, till once your Feet stand within the Gates of the New Jerusalem, and then the Lord shall be your everlasting Light, and the Days of your Mourning shall {7} be ended, Isa. 60.20.   To detain you no longer from perusing the Sermon itself, I must only tell you that the Author was a Minister of the Gospel in the Time of Scotland's purest Reformation: When the Cloud covered our Tent the Glory of the Lord filled his Temple, his Footsteps dropped Fatness, and his Presence was found in the Assembly of his Saints.  He lived till our unhappy Deformation began, and faithfully witnessed against, and opposed the same.   For 1. When in the Year 1650, the Church and State of covenanted Scotland, contrary to their solemn Covenants, Vows, and Engagements made to the Most High God, concluded to send Commissioners to Breda, to close a Treaty with, bring home, and invest with the Regal Power, that vile abominable profane Monster, the Head of Malignants Charles II, Mr. Adam Kae was the only one Minister in all Scotland, who foresaw and foretold the Miseries that would follow thereupon, and gave faithful Testimony against it.   2. When in Consequence of setting up the Head of Malignants upon the Throne, as Supreme Magistrate, a pretended General Assembly of Covenant-breakers, held at Edinburgh and St. Andrews, in the Year 1651, concluded to bring Malignants (justly excluded by Covenants, and faithful Acts and Laws of Church and State) again into Places of Power and Trust in Judicatories and Armies, he was one of these who faithfully witnessed, and protested against the sad Course of Covenant-breaking.  

As for the Sermon, it is both spiritual and practical; and therefore I expect it will be acceptable to such as have their Senses exercised in spiritual Things.

That the Lord God, who is a Sun and a {8} Shield, who gives Grace and Glory, and withholds nothing that's good from them that walks uprightly, may unite the Reader's Heart to himself, that he may fear him continually, sit down under his Shadow with great Delight, find his Fruit sweet to his Taste, be satisfied with the Fatness of his House, and drink of the Rivers of his Pleasures; and at the End of his Warfare here, inherit the Kingdom that is pure and undefiled, that fadeth not away; where there is Fulness of Joy, and Pleasures for evermore, Is the Desire of him who is, Christian Reader, thy Soul's Well-wisher   W. W.

THeſe are the Words of Christ's Spouse, when she shewed the Fruits and sweet Effects that she enjoyed with, and from him, by her coming to him, as if she had said, good Cause have I to commend my Husband Christ, before all others in the World; for my Soul's Advantage and Good, and for my Soul's Refreshment and Comfort that I have with him, and from him.  So, while she enjoys this Benefit, she says, I sat down under his Shadow with great Delight, that is, I came to {9} him, and he was a Shadow of Rest, of Protection, of Comfort, and of Consolation unto me.  And here we have,  First, The Way and Manner how she enjoyed this Benefit; it was by sitting down under his Shadow.  And then  2dly. We have the sweet Effect that followed it, His Fruit was sweet to my Taste, that is, his Gifts and Graces were sweet, and Soul-refreshing to my Taste. Now, as for the Person, in these Words, who enjoyed this Benefit, it is the Spouse or Church of Christ.  And the Doctrine arising from the Words, is this, That Jesus Christ, he is, and will be a Shadow to all them that will come, and sit down under his Shadow.  For Proof of this, read Psalm 57.1, In the Shadow of thy Wings will I make my Refuge.  Here David was glad to come, and sit down under his Shadow, Isa. 4.6, And there shall be a Tabernacle for a Shadow in the Day Time from the Heat, and for a Place of Refuge, and for a Covert from Storm and from Rain. It is Christ that is there spoken of, that is, such a Shadow, Refuge, and Covert to Believers; as you may also see in Isa. 25.4, For thou hast been a Strength to the Poor, a Strength to the Needy in his Distress, a Refuge from the Storm, a Shadow from the Heat, when the Blast of the terrible Ones is as a Storm against the Wall.  Thus we have it proved that Jesus Christ will be a Shadow to all that will come and sit down under his Shadow. Now to know what Use a Shadow is for:  1. A Shadow is for Rest, and a retiring Place.  2. A Shadow is for Defence and Protection.  3. A Shadow is for Delight and Pleasure.

1. Christ is a Shadow of Rest and a retiring Place to all that comes to him, and sits down under his Shadow; for they get {10} true Rest in him, Matt. 11.28, Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you Rest.  A Believer when he comes to Christ, he finds Rest to his Soul, from these Things:
   1. He finds Rest from the Guilt of Sin, which doth defile the Conscience, and makes the Conscience, being awakened, to terrify and condemn the Soul. Now Christ, at such a Time, is a Rest to the Soul, and says, Soul since thou hast come to me, as to a Rest, I will give thee Rest, Son or Daughter be of good Cheer, for I will give thee Rest from the Guilt of thy Sin.
   2. The Believer by coming to Christ and sitting down under his Shadow, finds Rest from the Punishment of Sin, that is, from all the Evils that follows on the Soul for Sin, both in this Life, and that which is to come. When God is pursuing the Soul both with temporal and spiritual Punishments, and the Soul flees in to Christ for Rest, then Christ says to the Soul, since thou art come to me as to a Rest, there is no Condemnation for thee, Rom. 8.1, There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
   3. Christ is a Rest or a Shadow to the Believer from the Dominion and Tyranny of Sin, which rests on the soul, when Sin is tyrannizing in the Soul, the Soul goes to Christ, and says, “alas Sin will undo me! alas Sin will be my Ruin! alas Sin will have my Life!” then Christ comes to the Soul, and says, since thou art come to me, thou shalt find Rest, I will free thee from the Tyranny of Sin; Sin shall not undo thee, it shall not ruin thee nor yet thy Life.
   4. The Believer finds Rest in Christ from the Filthiness of Sin. The Soul cries out, not only am I pursued with the Guilt of Sin, with the Punishment of Sin, and with the Dominion and Tyranny of {11} Sin; but also I am pursued with the Filthiness of my Sins; I am so filthy with Sin, says the Soul, that I dare not look God in the Face, I dare not look the Saints in the Face, and I dare not look my self in the Face.  Then Christ comes to the Soul, and says, Soul if thou be come really to me, I will wash thee and cleanse thee from all thy Sins, and then thou shalt have Rest.
   If ye would have Rest from these four Things that are pursuing you Night and Day, go to Christ, and sit down under his Shadow, and he will give you Rest.
2. Christ is a Shadow for Defence and Protection in Times of Trouble and Affliction: if ye will come to him, and sit down under his Shadow, he will be a Defence and Protection to you, especially in these three Ways.
   1. Sometimes he will protect, defend, and keep you altogether free from these Evils and Calamities that he brings upon others, that they shall not hurt your Souls, as you may see, Psalm 91.7, A Thousand shall fall at thy Side, and Ten Thousand at thy right Hand: But it shall not come nigh thee.
   2. Sometimes he will be a Defence and Protection to you in, and under your Trouble, as in Isa. 43.2, "When thou passest through the Waters, I will be with thee, and through the Rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the Fire thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the Flame kindle upon thee." That is, although thou be casten into the deep Waters, and hot Furnace of Afflictions, yet I will be present with thee, and defend thee so, that thou shalt neither drown nor burn.
   3. Christ is a sure Defence and Protection always to Believers at the last, by delivering them out of all their Troubles, Psalm 34.19, Many are the Afflictions of the {12} Righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all:
   Therefore if ye would have Christ to be a Shadow of Defence and Protection to you, come to him, and sit down under his Shadow, and he will not disappoint you.
3. Jesus Christ is a Shadow for Delight and Pleasure to Believers; therefore the Spouse says here, I sat down under his Shadow with great Delight, and his Fruit was sweet to my Taste.  The Soul that comes to Christ, and sits down under his Shadow, finds Christ comforting it at all Times; but especially at these four Times.
   1. The Soul finds Christ comforting it in the Time of its greatest and deepest Humiliation, when it's casten down under the Sense of Sin, and Wrath of God that is due to it for Sin, when the Soul is, as it were Sun-burnt with the Wrath of God, and deeply humbled for Iniquity; then Christ comes to the Soul, and says, Since thou art come to me, and I have found thee humbled for thy Sin, I will have Pity on thee, I will give thee Rest, who comes to me with a humbled and broken Heart for Sin; I will comfort thee, and not forsake thee, Isa. 41.17, When the Poor and Needy seek Water—and their Tongue faileth with Thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
   2. The Soul finds Christ comforting it in the Time of its greatest Temptations, when the Soul is sorely assaulted by Satan and its own Heart, tempted to Sin, Unbelief, and Doubting, then Christ comes to the Soul, and says, for its Encouragement and Strengthening, Rev. 2.17, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna, and will give him a white Stone, and in the Stone a new Name written which no Man knoweth, {13} saving he that receiveth it."
   3. The Soul finds Christ comforting it in the Time of its greatest Desertion, when Christ hides his Face, when the Soul misseth Christ, and cannot find him, when Desertion is at the darkest, and the Soul runs to and fro like Noah's Dove seeking Rest, but cannot find it; then presently Christ cometh to the Soul, and says, Thou hast been seeking me, and now I am come to thee: And then the Soul will say, as in Canticles 3.4, I found him whom my Soul loveth, I held him, and would not let him go.
   4. The soul finds Christ comforting it in the Time of its saddest and sorest outward Afflictions, Troubles, Losses, and Crosses, as the three Children found him in the Fire, Dan. 3.24,25; And as Daniel found him in the Lion's Den, Dan. 6.22.

Now we shall come to the Application.  And the first Use of the Doctrine is an Use of Information.  Is it so that Jesus Christ is, and will be a Shadow to all them that will come and sit down under his Shadow?  Then,

1. This lets us see, that all God's People have very great Need to come to him, and to sit down under his shadow. Would ye have Christ to be a Shadow of Rest to retire to, a Shadow of Defence, and a Shadow of Delight and Pleasure, then come and shelter yourselves under his Shadow; and as David said, Psalm 73.28, It is good for me to draw near to God. So say ye, it is good for me to draw near to Christ, and to sit under his Shadow.
2. It lets us see that Christ is most willing, and well-pleased that we come unto him; and therefore he invites and commands us to come, and sit down under his Shadow, as in Isa. 26.20, "Come my People, enter thou into thy Chambers, and shut thy Doors about thee, hide thyself as it were for a {14} little Moment, until the Indignation be overpast." And Matt. 11.28, "Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you Rest."  O! Come then, and sit down under his Shadow; for I say, ye are both invited and commanded to come, and if ye come, he will give you Rest.
3. It lets us see, that all these who are come to Christ, and are sitting under his shadow, are safe and secure. Prov. 18.10, "The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower, the Righteous runneth into it, and is safe."  That is, the Lord himself is in stead of a strong Tower, and the Soul that is fled to him, and is sitting under his Shadow, is so safe, that he may defy the Devil, and all his Instruments, and say with the Apostle, Rom. 8.31, If God be for us, who can be against us? So when Satan comes, he may say, I defy thee black-mouth'd Satan, my Shadow will save me; for he is betwixt me and thee.
4. This lets us see the miserable and lamentable Case and Condition that all People are in, who are not come to Christ, and sitten down under his Shadow. For,
   1. They want [lack] Christ to be a shadow and Rest to them from the Guilt of Sin.
   2. They want Christ to be a Shadow of Defence to them from the Punishment of Sin.
   3. They want Christ to be a Shadow to them from the Dominion of Sin.  And
   4. They want Christ to be a Shadow to them from the Filthiness of Sin.
   In the evil Time they have none to protect them; and in the Time of their deepest Humiliation, sorest Temptations, darkest Desertions, and saddest Afflictions and Troubles, they want [lack] Christ to comfort them.
5. This lets us see, that since Jesus Christ is, and will be a Shadow to all that will come and sit down under his Shadow; that we will never be well till we {15} come and sit down under his Shadow; for till then, it will fare with us as it fared with Noah's Dove, she could get no Rest for the Sole of her Foot till she came in to the Ark again; so we will never get Rest, nor be truly well and happy till we come and sit down under Christ's Shadow: But when we come to him, we shall be well.  O! then come and sit down under Christ's Shadow, and delay it not.
6. This lets us see that all these People who are come, and sitten down under Christ's Shadow should endeavour to keep him, and keep under his Shadow; therefore leave him not, turn not your Backs on him, neither provoke him to remove his Shadow from you: But let your Desire, with the Spouse, be as in Canticles 2.17, Until the Day break and the Shadows flee away, turn my Beloved, and be thou like a Roe or a young Hart upon the Mountains of Bether.  As if she had said, Lord I have chosen thee for my Husband, therefore I desire thee to abide with me, and keep me under thy Shadow.  So any of you that hath made a Profession of Christ, turn not your Back upon him, but keep under his Shadow.

The second Use of this Doctrine is an Use of Exhortation.  Is it so, that Jesus Christ is, and will be a Shadow to all that will come to him, and sit down under his Shadow; then this serves to exhort you all to come to him, and to sit down under his Shadow, according to his Invitation, Isa. 26.20, "Come my People, enter thou into thy Chambers, and shut thy Doors about thee, hide thyself as it were for a little Moment, until the Indignation be overpast."  Matt. 11.28, "Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you Rest."  That is, come to me, and sit under my Shadow, and I will both {16} protect you, and give you Rest.  But you may say, What shall People do, who are not yet come and sitten down under Christ's Shadow? In Answer to this Question, I shall,  1. Give you some Motives to encourage you to come and sit down under his Shadow.  2. I shall lay out the Manner and Way how ye should come and sit down under his Shadow.  3. I shall lay down some Means to help you to come and sit down under his Shadow.  And,

1. The Motives to encourage you to come and sit down under Christ's Shadow, are these,
   1. If ye come to Christ, he is ready to receive you and to give you present Help, Psalm 46.1, God is our Refuge and strength, a very present Help in Trouble: So Christ, he is a very present Shadow to all them that will come and sit down under his Shadow.  He is now standing in the Arbour Door, in the Shadow House, with open Heart and Hands, saying, Come ye that cannot get Rest from Sin, ye that cannot get Protection and Defence against sin, and ye that cannot get Comfort and Consolation because of Sin, come to me, and if ye will come, I make you sure I will not cast you out.  There was never a Soul that came to Christ that he sent Comfortless away; blame not Christ, if ye want [lack] him; for he is inviting you to come and sit down under his Shadow. Ye need not say, we dare not come, except we were more holy, more righteous, and better disposed; No, no, I say, come to Christ, but bring no Wages with you; renounce your own Righteousness, and he will love you freely.  He will be a Shadow to you, not because ye are whole, but because ye are sick; not because ye have Rest, but that ye may have Rest from all your Opposers. And if ye will sit down under his Shadow, he {17} will make out that to you, Hosea 14.7, They that dwell under his Shadow shall return, they shall revive as the Corn, and grow as the Vine, the Scent thereof shall be as the Wine of Lebanon.
   2. If ye come to Christ and sit down under his Shadow, ye shall have his Presence, go where ye will; for he is in every where present, and in every Place to be found of them that seek him in Sincerity and Truth. Isa. 43.2, "When thou passest through the Waters I will be with thee, and through the Rivers, they shall not overflow thee: When thou walkest through the Fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the Flame kindle upon thee."  That is; go where thou wilt, or be in what condition thou wilt, I shall be a Shadow to thee: If thou be cast into Prison, or into Banishment, into the Waters, or into the Fires for my Sake, or whatever Affliction thou be in, I shall be there present with thee, and waiting on thee.
   3. If ye come to Christ, and sit down under his Shadow, ye shall find both strength and security in him, Prov. 18.10, "The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower, the Righteous runneth into it, and is safe": So if ye be once under his Shadow, ye may defy the Devil and all his Instruments, for your Shadow will secure you against them all.
   4. If ye come to Christ, and sit down under his Shadow, ye shall find much ravishing comfort to your Souls: I say, there is no such sweetness, no such ravishing Delight to be found in any Thing, as there is to be found, by sitting under Christ's pleasant Shadow: Therefore the Spouse cries out, I sat down under his Shadow with great Delight and his Fruit was sweet to my Taste.  O! If ye knew the Joy, comfort, and consolation that they have who are sitting under Christ's Shadow, and what Heaven and Earth they enjoy, ye would never rest till ye came and sat down under his Shadow: it would be your Exercise Day and Night to be in Christ, if ye knew the sweetness of the Joy that his People enjoys under his Shadow.
   5. If ye come to Christ and sit down under his Shadow, ye shall find him a constant and unchangeable Shadow {18} to your Souls, Heb 13.6, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  He will never leave the Soul that comes and sits down under his Shadow.  O! then, let the consideration of these Motives move you to come speedily, and sit down under his Shadow.
2. As to the Way and Manner how ye should come to Christ, and sit down under his Shadow, take it in these few Particulars.
   1. Come presently and speedily without any Delay, Isa. 55.6, Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.  Zech. 8.21, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of Hosts; I will go also. Christ hath been standing in his Garden Door these many Years waiting upon us, and bidding us come and sit down under his Shadow. He hath long knocked at our Doors for Entrance; but we know not how long he shall continue knocking. O! then come speedily, give Ear to his Voice, and close with his Offers.
   2. Come with a Resolution to overcome all Lets, Hindrances, and Obstructions, Luke 9.23, "If any Man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross daily, and follow me."  If thou say, I cannot come; for this is in my Way, and that is in my Way: I say unto thee, if thou resolve not to overcome all Lets, Impediments, and Hindrances, thou wilt never come to Christ: For thou must be content to follow him through Well and Wo; and if thou do so, thou shalt find that Christ is well worthy of the following.
   3. Come with a vehement Desire to enjoy Jesus Christ only for himself, and not for his Benefits.  Many seeks after, and comes to Christ, not for himself, but for some Thing that they expect with him: But thou must have a pure Heart, and a Resolution to enjoy Christ only for himself.  Therefore the Spouse says here, I sat down under his Shadow with great Delight, and his Fruit was sweet to my Taste. That is, I desired Christ vehemently, and nothing but Christ alone.  Seek Christ only for himself, and ye shall get enough with him; for they who have the Fountain, have the Streams also; and they {19} who have the Mine, have the Gold that is in the Mine; and they who have the Sun, have the Beams also. And if ye seek Christ only for himself, and nothing else, ye may be sure that ye shall get wonderful Riches with him, even Grace in Time, and Glory to Eternity.
   4. Ye must come with a Resolution not to turn your Back on him: ye must deny your selves, and follow Christ constantly, not only through Good; but also through bad Report, through Well and Wo, come in the Way what will; ye must join yourselves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall never be forgotten, Jer. 50.5.  O Beloved come to him with a Resolution never to forsake him, nor turn your Back on him, come what will.
3. The third Thing is to lay down some Means to help you to come, and sit down under Christ's Shadow. And the Means are these:
   1. Labour to be truly and fully sensible of the miserable Condition that ye are in, until ye come and sit down under Christ's Shadow. For as we told you before, till ye come to Christ, and sit down under his Shadow, ye want [lack] a Shadow for retiring, for Protection, for Defence, and for Delight and Pleasure; that Soul that is not come, nor will not come and sit down under Christ's Shadow, is in a most miserable case and condition.  O then let the sense of your Sin and Misery be a Wing to help you to flee, and a Wind to drive you in unto Jesus Christ to seek Shelter under his Shadow.
   2. Come to Christ with fervent Prayer, joined with true Faith and Repentance: fervent Prayer joined with true Faith and Repentance can soon bring a Soul to Christ, yea, and set the Soul down at Christ's Elbow, if I may so say. O then flee to Christ by Prayer, and refuge yourselves under his Shadow, Psalm 57.1.
   3. Walk but a while with Christ, and keep all his Ordinances and Galleries, and ye shall find how sweet and pleasant it is to sit down under his Shadow.  David, who had Experience of this, said, O taste and see that the Lord is good, Psalm 34.8.  I cannot tell you how good he is, and what comfort, consolation, and joy they {20} have who walk with Christ Jesus in his Galleries; they may well say as the Spouse said, his Fruit was sweet to my Taste.  O! then walk with Christ, and ye shall see and know that it is a sweet Life to live near Christ, and to be about his Hand.
   4. Labour to know more and more experimentally how empty, weak, bitter, and changeable all the Creatures are without Christ, and if ye will do this, ye will be made to say, I have tried all the creatures, and I have found them, from Experience, to be empty, weak, bitter, and changeable; therefore I will seek comfort no more in them, but will go and sit down under Christ's Shadow.
   5. Consider the happy condition that they are in who are sitting under Christ's Shadow; and I can say, if ye knew it, ye would not be long till ye came to Christ.  Will ye but see one Instance of it, Psalm 36.7,8,9, "How excellent is thy Loving Kindness O God, therefore the children of Men put their Trust under the Shadow of thy Wings; they shall be abundantly satisfied with the Fatness of thy House, and thou shalt make them drink of the River of thy Pleasures. For with thee is the Fountain of Life, in thy Light shall we see Light." You shall find all Things sufficient to make up and complete your Happiness by coming to Christ, and sitting down under his Shadow.

The Third Use of this Doctrine, is an Use of Trial and Examination.  Is it so, that Jesus Christ is, and will be a Shadow to all them that will come and sit down under his Shadow? Then try and examine, search and know yourselves, and see whether or not ye are sitting under Christ's Shadow.  But ye may say, How shall a Soul know whether it be sitting under Christ's Shadow or not?  I answer, Ye may know this by these Marks following:

1. If ye be come to Christ, and are sitting under his Shadow, ye will know the Manner and Way that ye were brought to Christ, whether the Law brought you or not.  Is there any here who dare say, and make it good, that the Law was their School-master that brought them to Christ? [Gal. 3.24.] {21} Or, that can say, that the Law wounded them, that the Law terrified them so, that they could get no Rest Day nor Night till they came to Christ, and sat down under his Shadow? If ye can say this, it is a Mark that ye are come to Christ; for Christ and his Graces will never be sweet till once the Law make Sin bitter to you.
2. If ye be come to Christ, and are sitting under his Shadow, ye will esteem, value, and prefer Jesus Christ above all Things whatsomever, and will say with the Spouse, Canticles 2.3, As the Apple Tree among the Trees of the Wood, so is my Beloved among the Sons.  If any of you be valuing, esteeming, and preferring Christ above all Things, it is a Mark that ye are come to Christ, and are sitting under his Shadow.
3. If ye be come to Christ, and are sitting under his Shadow, ye will be mourning and sorrowing that ye were so long in coming, and sitting under his Shadow; ye will be saying, Alas Lord! What have I been doing these many Years in following Sin and Satan, O! that I had come sooner, and woe is me that I have been so long in coming, and sitting down under Christ's Shadow. Is there any of you ever brought to this Pass yet? If it be so, it is a Mark that ye are come to Christ, and are sitting under his Shadow.
4. If ye be come to Christ, and are sitting under his Shadow, then ye will be inviting and alluring others to come with you. If the Husband be come, he will invite the Wife to come with him; if the Parents be come, they will invite the Children to come with them; if the Masters be come, they will invite the Servants to come with them: So every one will invite and allure another, that they may come and sit down under Christ's Shadow altogether. Now, who among you are inviting and alluring others to come and sit down under Christ's Shadow with you? If any of you be doing so, it is a Token that ye are come to Christ, and are sitting under his Shadow.
5. If ye be come to Christ, and are sitting under his Shadow, ye will find so much joy, comfort, and consolation in him, that it will overcome and swallow up all your Afflictions.  They that are under Christ's Shadow, they {22} have outward Afflictions; but they value them little or nothing, because the Joy of the Lord is their Strength; and Christ bids them be of good cheer, because he hath overcome the World for them, John 16.33.  So if ye be rejoicing in the Lord, and undervaluing all outward Tribulations, it is a Mark that ye are come to Christ, and are sitting under his Shadow.
6. If ye be come to Christ, and are sitting under his Shadow, then ye will be loath above all things to turn your Back on him when[ever] ye please. For these who turns their Back on Christ when they please, it is a sign that they were never really under Christ's Shadow: They who have found Christ in a right Way, will be loath to turn their Back on him when they please, they will rather do as the Spouse did, Canticles 3.4, I found him whom my Soul loveth, I held him and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my Mother's House, and into the Chambers of her that conceived me.  A Soul under Christ's Shadow will say to him as Elisha said to Elijah, 2 Kings 2.4, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy Soul liveth, I will not leave thee."  And as Ruth said to Naomi, Ruth 1.16, "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge."  Come Well, come Woe, says the Soul to Christ, I will never leave thee, we shall never shed [part] again; but we shall live and die together, For nothing present nor to come shall separate me from the Love of God which is in Jesus Christ my Lord, Rom. 8.38,39.  Now if ye be cleaving close to Christ, and resolving through his Grace never to turn your Back on him, it is a Mark that ye are come to him, and are sitting under his Shadow.

The Fourth Use of this Doctrine, is an Use of Reproof.  Is it so, that Jesus Christ is, and will be a Shadow to all such as will come and sit down under his Shadow; then this Use serves to reprove all those People who are not come, nor will come, and sit down under Christ's Shadow:  But they are crying {23} out with the Wicked, Job 21.14, Depart from us, for we desire not the Knowledge of thy Ways. What is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what Profit should we have if we pray unto him, And Mal. 3.14, It is vain to serve God.  Now is there any here that is not come, nor will not come and sit down under Christ's Shadow, but is still mocking at his Invitations? I say, Woe is you, and Woe, Woe shall be to you that are doing so: For I assure you, there are four Times that such as are not come, nor will not come to Christ, shall repent it. 

1. In the Time of outward Afflictions, Losses, Crosses, Sickness, and Trouble, ye who will not come, and sit under Christ's Shadow, what will become of you when Afflictions comes? For ye will not find Christ then to be a Shadow of Rest, or Comfort, of Delight and Pleasure to you; but he will accomplish upon you what he hath threatened, Prov. 1.24,25,26, "Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my Hand, and no Man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my Counsel, and would none of my Reproof: I also will laugh at your Calamity, I will mock when your Fear cometh."
2. In the Time of inward Afflictions, when God shall awaken your guilty Conscience, and give you a Sight and Sense of your Sin, and a Sight and Sense of the Wrath of God that is due to you for Sin:  I say, he will not be a Shadow to you then, who refuses his Calls and Invitations now, and will not come to him, and sit down under his Shadow.
3. In the Time when Satan and you shall encounter and fight together, when Satan is letten loose upon you; what will become of you then, who will not come now, and sit down under Christ's Shadow.
4. In the time of your Death: For, as at Death they who are come to Christ, and are sitting under his Shadow shall be blessed, Rev. 14.13, Blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord. And though they walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, they need fear no Ill. Psalm 23.4. But on the contrary, ye who will not come to Christ and sit down under his Shadow, ye shall die cursed, and the Devil will say to you, as he said to Saul, 1 Sam. 28.19, "To Morrow shalt thou and thy Sons be with me," or this Night thou and I shall be together in Hell there to abide eternally. Then as the Message of Death comes to take away your Life, so the Devil comes to take away your Soul to an {24} Eternity of Woe and Misery.  O! then, as ye would escape this Misery, come speedily to Christ, and sit down under Christ's Shadow.

The Fifth Use of this Doctrine, is an Use of Comfort and Consolation.  Is it so, that Jesus Christ is, and will be a Shadow to all those who will come and sit down under his Shadow: then this serves for the Comfort and Consolation of all God's People, who can make it good, that they are come to Christ and are sitting under his Shadow.  Is there any here who can make it good that they are come to Christ, and are sitting under his Shadow? If it be so, then may ye be glad and rejoice in the Lord; for as Christ hath been a Shadow to you in the Time past and present, so he will be a Shadow to you to the End of your Time; he will not withdraw his Shadow from you, and this ye may assure yourselves of, from these Grounds and Reasons.

1. The Father hath sent him to be a Shadow to you as long as ye are here-away, Isa. 61.1, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me, to preach good Tidings to the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and the Opening of the Prison to them that are bound; and them that he thus loves (to do these Things for) he loves to the End. [John 13.1.]
2. He will not withdraw his Shadow, because he knows your weak, restless, comfortless Condition without him; he knows ye dow not want [can not lack] him, therefore he will not forsake you.
3. He will not withdraw his Shadow  because he would have you more and more acquainted with him, that ye may thereby speak from Experience, when ye commend his Sweetness, and the Pleasure that is to be found in him, to others.
4. He will not withdraw his Shadow from you, because he will have you to be Helps to encourage and bring in others to sit down under his Shadow:

And therefore, for these Reasons; and because his Love is unchangeable, and his Covenant stands sure, he will not withdraw his Shadow from you.

Now the Lord help you all to come to him, while he is inviting and commanding you to come, that so ye may sit down under his Shadow with great Delight, and find his Fruit sweet to your Taste.  And to this God, who is of Power to persuade you to come to him, be Praise, Honour, and Glory for now and ever.  Amen.

FINIS.