3. Familiar love-visits. When God makes sad visits to the disquieting of Conscience, and the breaking of our peace; yet even then the Soul, under trouble of Conscience, would not change its spiritual trouble for the best of the worlds peace, no not for its former peace, with which 'twas so well pleased before conversion; the Soul that loves God cannot construe that to be a visit ⟨p. 39⟩which others count so. The Soul never goes to God as we go to visit those we care not for, that we are glad at their being from home, so the visit be but paid, we care not. Pray compare some passages in that Song of loves; one while you have the Spouse enquiring of Christ(r); Tell me (O thou whom my soul loveth) where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy Companions, q. d. Tell me, O Lord, my love and life, where I may have both instruction, and protection in an hour of trouble; lest through thy absence I be seduced by those that only pretend to love thee. Christ gives a present answer, and quickly after returns an invitation. O my dove (s)that art in the clefts of the Rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely, q. d. O my mourning dove, that darest not stir out of thy secret place, stir up thy faith, hold up thy face with comfort, let me hear thy prayers and praises; though others censure them, I esteem them; though others count thee deformed, thou art in my eyes beautiful. Here's something of affection, but see more(t), Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits, q. d. O my Lord, what I have from thee, I return to thee; accept I beseech thee the fruits of obedience, and praise. Christ presently accepts the invitation(u), I am come into my Garden, my Sister, my Spouse, I have gathered my Myrrh, with my Spices, I have eaten my Honey-comb with my honey; I have drunk up my Wine with my Milk: eat O friends, drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved. q. d. Thou shalt no sooner ask, than be answered; I accept thy graces, and duties, thy bitter repentance, and thy fragrant holiness, they are most sweet to me, notwithstanding their imperfections;
3. Familiar love-visits. When God makes sad visits to the disquieting of Conscience, and the breaking of our peace; yet even then the Soul, under trouble of Conscience, would not change its spiritual trouble for the best of the worlds peace, no not for its former peace, with which 'twas so well pleas'd before conversion; the Soul that loves God cannot construe that to be a visit ⟨p. 39⟩which others count so. The Soul never goes to God as we go to visit those we care not for, that we are glad at their being from home, so the visit be but pay'd, we care not. Pray compare some passages in that Song of loves; one while you have the Spouse enquiring of Christ(r); Tell me (O thou whom my soul loveth) where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy Companions, q. d. Tell me, O Lord, my love and life, where I may have both instruction, and protection in an hour of trouble; lest through thy absence I be seduced by those that only pretend to love thee. Christ gives a present answer, and quickly after returns an invitation. O my dove (s)that art in the clefts of the Rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely, q. d. O my mourning dove, that darest not stir out of thy secret place, stir up thy faith, hold up thy face with comfort, let me hear thy prayers and praises; though others censure them, I esteem them; though others count thee deformed, thou art in my eyes beautiful. Here's something of affection, but see more(t), Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits, q. d. O my Lord, what I have from thee, I return to thee; accept I beseech thee the fruits of obedience, and praise. Christ presently accepts the invitation(u), I am come into my Garden, my Sister, my Spouse, I have gathered my Myrrh, with my Spices, I have eaten my Honey-comb with my honey; I have drunk up my Wine with my Milk: eat O friends, drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved. q. d. Thou shalt no sooner ask, than be answer'd; I accept thy graces, and duties, thy bitter repentance, and thy fragrant holiness, they are most sweet to me, notwithstanding their imperfections;
- (r)Cant. 1.7.
- (s)Cant. 2.14.
- (t)Cant. 4.16.
- (u)Cant. 5.1.
