Minist. As it is in the strait seas, the water ebbs and flows, so is it in the godly: in them as long as they live in this world according to their own feeling, there is an access & recess of the spirit. Otherwhiles they be troubled with deadness and dullness of heart, as David was, who prayed to the Lord,1 to quicke• him according to his loving kindness, that he may keep the testimonies of his mouth: And in another place he saith, that Gods promises quickened him. Which could not be, unless he had been troubled with great dullness of heart. Again, sometimes the spirit of God quite withdraweth is self to their feeling: as it was in David.2 In the day of my trouble (saith he) I sought the Lord, and my soul refused ⟨p. 673⟩comfort. I did think upon god and was troubled, I prayed and my spirit was full of anguish: Again, Will the Lord absent himself for ever? and will he show no more favour? hath God forgotten to be merciful? &c. 3The Church in the Canticles complaineth of this: In my bed I sought him by night whom my soul loved: I sought him, but I found him not. 4And again, My well beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my heart was affectioned towards him: I rose up to open to my well beloved, and my hands did drop down myrrh, my fingers pure myrrh upon the handles of the bar, I opened to my well beloved: but my well beloved was gone and past, mine heart was gone when he did speak; I •ought him, but I could not find him, I called but he answered me not. 5Contrariwise, God at some other times sheds abroad his love most abundantly in the hearts of the faithful;6 and Christ lieth between the breasts of his Church, as a posy of myrrh giving a strong smell.
Minist. As it is in the strait seas, the water ebs and flowes, so is it in the godly: in them as long as they liue in this worlde according to their owne feeling, there is an accesse & recesse of the spirit. Otherwhiles they be troubled with deadnes and dulnes of heart, as Dauid was, who praied to the Lord,1 to quicke• him according to his louing kindnes, that he may keepe the testimonies of his mouth: And in another place he saith, that Gods promises quickened him. Which could not be, vnles he had beene troubled with great dulnes of heart. Againe, sometimes the spirit of God quite withdraweth is selfe to their feeling: as it was in Dauid.2 In the day of my trouble (saith he) I sought the Lord, and my soule refused ⟨p. 673⟩comfort. I did think vpon god and was troubled, I praied and my spirit was ful of anguish: Againe, Will the Lord absent himselfe for euer? and will he shewe no more fauour? hath God forgotten to be mercifull? &c. 3The Church in the Canticles complaineth of this: In my bed I sought him by night whome my soule loued: I sought him, but I found him not. 4And againe, My wellbeloued put in his hand by the hole of the doore, and my heart was affectioned towards him: I rose vp to open to my welbeloued, and my hands did drop down mirrhe, my fingers pure mirrhe vpon the handles of the barre, I opened to my welbeloued: but my welbeloued was gone and past, mine heart was gone when he did speake; I •ought him, but I could not finde him, I called but he answered me not. 5Contrariwise, God at some other times sheds abroad his loue most aboundantly in the hearts of the faithfull;6 and Christ lieth betweene the breasts of his Church, as a posie of myrrhe giuing a strong smell.
- 1Psa. 119.88. Psal. 119.5.
- 2Psal. 77.2.3. 3.•.
- 3Cant. 3.1.
- 4Ca. 5.4,5,6.
- 5Rom. 5.5.
- 6Cant. 1. 13.
