The excellency of a gracious spirit Delivered in a treatise upon the 14. of…The excellency of a gracious spirit Deliuered in a treatise upon the 14. of…

It is a very full expression that S. Bernard hath to this purpose, in two or three words; Oh what a mercy were it, continually to enjoy that ¹which he saith! Oh Lord, saith he, I never go away from thee without ⟨p. 299⟩thee: he means, he never leaves off duty, till he gets the presence of God, and so carries the Lord along with him. Oh how often do we go from God without God! we think it enough that we have been before him in holy duties, though indeed we still abide strangers to him & he to us. How often doth God send us empty away from his presence, which we should account a sore and grievous affliction? But here's the misery, we are not sensible of this; if we have our desires in the creature, we are quieted and satisfied: whereas if our hearts were fully after the Lord as they ought, when we are before him, we should cry to him, as Moses in another case, Exod. 33. Except thy presence go with me, Lord send me not hence.

It is a very full expression that S. Bernard hath to this purpose, in two or three words; Oh what a mercy were it, continually to enjoy that ¹which he saith! Oh Lord, saith he, I never goe away from thee without ⟨p. 299⟩thee: he meanes, he never leaves off duty, till hee gets the presence of God, and so carries the Lord along with him. Oh how often doe we goe from God without God! we thinke it enough that we have beene before him in holy duties, though indeed we still abide strangers to him & he to us. How often doth God send us empty away from his presence, which we should account a sore and grievous affliction? But here's the misery, we are not sensible of this; if wee have our desires in the creature, we are quieted and satisfied: whereas if our hearts were fully after the Lord as they ought, when wee are before him, wee should crie to him, as Moses in another case, Exod. 33. Except thy presence goe with mee, Lord send mee not hence.