The divine life in three treatises

5. Lastly consider, that God doth purposely provide you hard entertainment in the world, and cause every creature to deny you the pleasure and satisfaction which you desire, that so you may have none to walk with but himself, with any heart-settling comfort and content. If you see not enough in him to allure ⟨p. 288⟩you to himself, you shall feel enough in the world to drive you to him: If his Love and Goodness will not serve alone to make him your pleasure, and hold you to him in the best, and most excellent way (of Love) at least the storms and troubles that are abroad shall show you a Necessity of keeping close to God; and the Love of your selves shall help you to do that, which was not done by the attraction of his Love alone. If you will put him to it, to send out his command to every creature, to cross and vex you, and disappoint all your expectations from it, that so he may force you to remember your Father and your home, deny not then but it is long of your selves that you were not saved in an easier way. Would you wish God to make that condition pleasant to you, which he seeth you take too much pleasure in already (or seek and desire it, at least?) When as it is the pleasantness of the Creature that is your danger, and which detaineth your thoughts and affections from himself? If you could but learn to walk with him, and to take up your pleasure in his Love appearing to you in his Creatures, and to make their sweetness a means to your apprehension of the sweetness of his favour, and of the everlasting joys, then you might say the Creature doth you good; and then it's like you might be permitted to possess and use it for such pleasure. The jealous God will watch your hearts, though you watch them not; and he will make you know that he seeth which way they run out from him, and what Creature it is that is minded and delighted in while he is neglected, as if he were unsuitable, and scarce desirable. And you must never look that he should long permit you those prohibited delights, or let you alone in those idolatrous inclinations: If he Love you, he will cure that Carnal Love, and recover your Love to himself that hath deserved it. If he intend▪ not your salvation, he may let you go, and try again whether the Creature will prove better to you than himself: But you cannot think that he will thus let go his Children that must live with him for ever.

5. LAstly consider, that God doth purposely provide you hard entertainment in the world, and cause every creature to deny you the pleasure and satisfaction which you desire, that so you may have none to walk with but himself, with any heart-setling comfort and content. If you see not enough in him to allure