A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 5 The first reason taken from the excellency of this exercise.

Which examples, that we may imitate, let us consider the reasons which may persuade us unto it. The first whereof, is the excellency of this holy exercise, which advanceth us unto high and heavenly privileges. For it increaseth our sweet communion with God, the chief Goodness, in whose fruition consisteth all our happiness, and giveth us admittance into his presence, and liberty to talk and confer with him, as with our friend, about all things which concern his glory and our own salvation. It exalteth our minds and souls above the highest pitch of worldly things, and causeth us, even whilst we are upon earth, to have our conversation in heaven. It causeth us, whilst we carry about with us this body of flesh, to be heavenly minded, and partakers of the Divine nature, whilst by this near society and familiarity, it maketh us like unto God, with whom we converse in holiness and happiness. It entereth us into the first de grees of the heavenly joys, and as our state of mortality will bear, it imparteth unto us some first beginnings of the vision and fruition of God, and enableth us (with Moses) to discern, as we are capable, some small glimpses of his glory. And as his face did shine, when he had conversed with God in his bodily presence; so our souls do shine in purity, brightness, and glory, by coming near unto him, and entertaining with him this spiritual communion. And as the wax, which is yellow in its own nature, by lying long in the beams of the Sun, changeth the colour, and attaineth unto a Virgin-like whiteness and purity; so we, who with the Spouse in the Canticles, are brown and black through natural infirmities, do become more bright and beautiful, whilst conversing with our Bridegroom Christ in this near familiarity, the beams of his love and favour do shine upon us.

Which examples, that wee may imitate, let vs consider the reasons which may perswade vs vnto it. The first whereof, is the excellency of this holy exercise, which aduanceth vs vnto high and heauenly priuiledges. For it increaseth our sweet communion with God, the chiefe Goodnesse, in whose fruition consisteth all our happinesse, and giueth vs admittance into his presence, and liberty to talke and conferre with him, as with our friend, about all things which concerne his glory and our owne saluation. It exalteth our mindes and soules aboue the highest pitch of worldly things, and causeth vs, euen whilest we are vpon earth, to haue our conuersation in heauen. It causeth vs, whilest we carry about with vs this body of flesh, to be heauenly minded, and partakers of the Diuine nature, whilst by this neere society and familiarity, it maketh vs like vnto God, with whom wee conuerse in holinesse and happinesse. It entreth vs into the first de grees of the heauenly ioyes, and as our state of mortality will beare, it imparteth vnto vs some first beginnings of the vision and fruition of God, and inableth vs (with Moses) to discerne, as we are capeable, some small glimpses of his glory. And as his face did shine, when hee had conuersed with God in his bodily presence; so our soules doe shine in purity, brightnesse, and glory, by comming neere vnto him, and entertaining with him this spirituall communion. And as the waxe, which is yellow in its owne nature, by lying long in the beames of the Sunne, changeth the colour, and attaineth vnto a Virgin-like whitenesse and purity; so wee, who with the Spouse in the Canticles, are browne and blacke through naturall infirmities, doe become more bright and beautifull, whilest conuersing with our Bridegroome Christ in this neere familiarity, the beames of his loue and fauour doe shine vpon vs.