Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

3. The Love of Delight, in spiritual Communion with them. All the Attractives of human Conversation, Wit, Mirth, Sweetness of Behaviour, and wise Discourse, cannot make any Society so dear and pleasant to one that is a Lover of Holiness, as the Communion of Saints. David, whose Breast was very sensible of the tender Affections of Love and Joy, tells us, That the Saints in the Earth, the Excellent, ¹were the chief Object of his Delight. And consequent to this, there is a cordial Sympathy with them in their Joys and Sorrows, being Members of the same Body, and having an ⟨p. 112⟩Interest in all their Good or Evil. 'Tis observable, when the Holy Spirit describes the sweetest human Comforts that are the present Reward of the godly Man, the Enjoyment of his Estate in the dear Society of his Wife and Children, there is a Promise annexed, that sweetens all the rest, That he shall see the Good of Jerusalem, and Peace ²upon Israel. Without this all Temporal Comforts are mixed with bitter Displeasure to him. There is an eminent Instance of this in Nehemiah, whom all the Pleasures of the ³Persian Court could not satisfy, whilst Jerusalem was desolately miserable.

3. The Love of Delight, in spiritual Communion with them. All the Attractives of human Conversation, Wit, Mirth, Sweetness of Behaviour, and wise Discourse, cannot make any Society so dear and pleasant to one that is a Lover of Holiness, as the Communion of Saints. David, whose Breast was very sensible of the tender Affections of Love and Joy, tells us, That the Saints in the Earth, the Excellent, ¹were the chief Object of his Delight. And consequent to this, there is a cordial Sympathy with them in their Joys and Sorrows, being Members of the same Body, and having an ⟨p. 112⟩Interest in all their Good or Evil. 'Tis observable, when the Holy Spirit describes the sweetest human Comforts that are the present Reward of the godly Man, the Enjoyment of his Estate in the dear Society of his Wife and Children, there is a Promise annex'd, that sweetens all the rest, That he shall see the Good of Jerusalem, and Peace