A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

5. The most eminent degree of our love to God, is Ecstasy and Ravishment; we need not go down to the Legends of the Philistines to sharpen our incentives to the love of God. I could over-match what can be said with truth of Ignatius, and Xaverius, with several (whom many of you knew) whose unparalleled humility hid them from observation; whose communion with God was often overwhelming; but I forbear. Take a Scripture instance of this kind of love, ⟨p. 29⟩compare but these three passages in the Song of Songs, Cant. 2 5. I am sick of love; This is upon Christ's first overcoming discovery of himself. Cant. 5.8. I charge you O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am sick of love. This charge is from her spiritual languishment, through earnest desire of reconciliation, after some negligence and carelessness in duty. Cant. 8.6. This is when she hath had the highest communion with God, that an imperfect state affords, when she was as it were, upon the threshold of glory; and then she saith, love is strong as death, q.d. I shall dye unless thou grant my desire, or let me dye that my desire may be granted; Jealousy is cruel as the grave; that as the grave is never satisfied, so neither will my love without the utmost enjoyments of thy self: The coals thereof are coals of fire, which have a most vehement heat; my love burns up my corruptions, shines in holiness, and mounts upwards in heavenly-mindedness; many waters cannot quench it: the waters of afflictions are but as Oil to the fire. If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. She scorns all things that would force, or flatter her, out of her love to Christ. Now if you except against this as spoken of love to Christ, and not of love to God essentially, to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I readily answer, we cannot see God lovely but in Christ. If any will be so curious as to assert they look upon Christ himself as but a means to bring them to God, it is God Essentially, Father, Son, and Holy-Ghost, when Christ shall have given up his Mediatory Kingdom^(l)