If in the Church of the First-born Christians in the earthly Jerusalem, the Band of Charity was so strict, that 'tis said, the Multitude of Believers were of one Heart, and one Soul; How much more intimate and inseparable is the Union of the Saints in Jerusalem above, where every one loves another as himself? 'Tis recorded of Alexander, that entering with Hephestion his Favourite, into the Pavilion ⟨p. 324⟩of the Mother of Darius, then his Prisoner, she bowed to the Favourite, as having a greater appearance of Majesty, thinking him to be Alexander: But advised of her Error, she humbly begged his Pardon. To whom the generous King replied,1 You did not err, Mother, this is also Alexander. Such was their Affection, that whoever was taken of them, the other was taken in him; the less ascending in the greater, without degrading the greater in the less. This is a Copy of the holy Love of the Blessed; but with the same difference, as between the Description of a Star with a Coal, and its Beauty in its proper Aspect. And where all is Love, all is Delight. The Act it self is its own Reward. As that benign and pleasant Affection is enlarged with respect to the Object, and its degrees, such is the complacence and delight that results from it. In that blessed Society there is a constant receiving and returning of Love and Joy. And that double exercise of the Saints, in the perfect circle of Love, is like the pleasant labour of the Bees, who all the day are flying to the Gardens, and returning to their Hives, and all their Art is in ⟨p. 325⟩extracting the purest Spirits from fragrant Flowers, and making sweet Honey. O how do they rejoice and triumph in the Happiness of one another? With what an unimaginable tenderness do they embrace? What Reciprocations of Endearments are between them? O their ravishing Conversation, and sweet Intercourse! for their Presence together in Heaven is not a silent Show. In the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah talked with Christ: We may understand a little of it, by the sensible complacence that is among sincere Friends here. In pure Amity there is a threefold Union: a Union of Resemblance, that is the principle of it; likeness causes Love: a Union of Affection, that is its Essence; 'tis said of Jonathan, that incomparable Friend, his Soul was knit with the Soul of David, and he loved him as his own Soul:
If in the Church of the First-born Christians in the earthly Jerusalem, the Band of Charity was so strict, that 'tis said, the Multitude of Believers were of one Heart, and one Soul; How much more intimate and inseparable is the Union of the Saints in Jerusalem above, where every one loves another as himself? 'Tis recorded of Alexander, that entring with Hephestion his Favorite, into the Pavilion ⟨p. 324⟩of the Mother of Darius, then his Prisoner, she bowed to the Favorite, as having a greater appearance of Majesty, thinking him to be Alexander: But advised of her Error, she humbly begg'd his Pardon. To whom the generous King replied,1 You did not err, Mother, this is also Alexander. Such was their Affection, that whoever was taken of them, the other was taken in him; the less ascending in the greater, without degrading the greater in the less. This is a Copy of the holy Love of the Blessed; but with the same difference, as between the Description of a Star with a Coal, and its Beauty in its proper Aspect. And where all is Love, all is Delight. The Act it self is its own Reward. As that benign and pleasant Affection is enlarged with respect to the Object, and its degrees, such is the complacence and delight that results from it. In that blessed Society there is a constant receiving and returning of Love and Joy. And that double exercise of the Saints, in the perfect circle of Love, is like the pleasant labour of the Bees, who all the day are flying to the Gardens, and returning to their Hives, and all their Art is in ⟨p. 325⟩extracting the purest Spirits from fragrant Flowers, and making sweet Honey. O how do they rejoice and triumph in the Happiness of one another? With what an unimaginable tenderness do they embrace? What Reciprocations of Endearments are between them? O their ravishing Conversation, and sweet Entercourse! for their Presence together in Heaven is not a silent Show. In the Transfiguration, Moses and Elias talk'd with Christ: We may understand a little of it, by the sensible complacence that is among sincere Friends here. In pure Amity there is a threefold Union: a Union of Resemblance, that is the principle of it; likeness causes Love: a Union of Affection, that is its Essence; 'tis said of Jonathan, that incomparable Friend, his Soul was knit with the Soul of David, and he loved him as his own Soul:
- 1Non errâsti Mater, nam hic Alexander est. Curt. lib. 3.
