The divine life in three treatises

Quest. 7. Is it not a contradiction to be happy in the fruition of God, and yet not to mind him, desire him, or seek him? How is it that the Soul can reach its Object, but by estimation, desire and seeking after it: And how should it enjoy it but by Loving it, and taking pleasure in it?

Quest. 8. While you seem but to wrangle against the Duty of believers, do you not plead against the comfort and happiness of believers? For surely the employment of the soul on God (and for him) is the health and pleasure of the soul; And to call away the soul from such employment, is to imprison it in the dungeon of this world, and to forbid us to smell to the sweetest flowers, and confine us to a sink or dunghill▪ and to forbid us to taste of the food of Angels, or of men, and to offer us Vinegar and Gall, or turn us over to feed with Swine. He that pleadeth that there is no such thing as real Holiness & Communion with God, doth plead in effect that there is no true felicity or delight for any of the Sons of men: And ⟨p. 212⟩how welcome should ungodly Atheists be unto mankind, that would for ever exclude them all from happiness, and make them believe they are all made to be remedilessly miserable?

Quest. 8. While you seem but to wrangle against the Duty of believers, do you not plead against the comfort and happiness of believers? For surely the employment of the soul on God (and for him) is the health and pleasure of the soul; And to call away the soul from such employment, is to imprison it in the dungeon of this world, and to forbid us to smell to the sweetest flowers, and confine us to a sink or dunghill▪ and to forbid us to tast of the food of Angels, or of men, and to offer us Vineger and Gall, or turn us over to feed with Swine. He that pleadeth that there is no such thing as real Holiness & Communion with God, doth plead in effect that there is no true felicity or delight for any of the Sons of men: And ⟨p. 212⟩