The divine life in three treatises

3. If God be with me I am not alone, for he is with me that Loveth me best.] The Love of all the friends on earth is nothing to his Love. O how plainly hath he declared that he loveth me, in the strange condescension, the sufferings, death, and intercession of his Son? What Love hath he declared in the communications of his Spirit, and the operations of his Grace, and the near relations into which he brought me? What Love hath he declared in in the course of his providences? in many and wonderful preservations and deliverances? in the conduct of his wisdom, and in a life of mercies? What Love appeareth in his precious promises, and the glorious provisions he hath made for me with himself to all eternity? O my Lord, I am ashamed that thy Love is so much lost; that it hath no better return from an unkind unthankful heart; that I am not more delighted in thee, and swallowed up in the contemplation of thy Love; I can contentedly let go the society and converse of all others, for the converse of some one bosom friend, that is dearer to me than they all, as Jonathan to David: And can I not much more be satisfied in thee alone, and let go all if I may continue with thee? My very Dog will gladly for sake all the Town, and all persons in the world, to follow me alone! And have I not yet found so much Love and Goodness in thee my dear and blessed God, as to be willing to ⟨p. 354⟩converse alone with thee? All men delight most in the company of those that Love them best: They choose not to converse with the Multitude when they look for solace and content, but with their dearest friends: And should any be so dear to me as God? O were not thy Love unworthily neglected by an unthankful heart, I should never be so unsatisfied in thee, but should take up, or seek my comforts in thee: I should then say, Whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee! Though not only my friends, but my flesh and heart themselves should fail me, it is thou that will still be the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever: it is good therefore for me to draw near to thee, how far soever I am from man: O let me there dwell where thou wilt not be strange, for thy loving kindness is better than life: instead of the multitude of my turmoiling thoughts, let me be taken up in the believing views of thy reconciled face, and in the glad attendance upon thy Grace:

3. If God be with me I am not alone, for he is with me that Loveth me best.] The Love of all the friends on earth is nothing to his Love. O how plainly hath he declared that he loveth me, in the strange condescention, the sufferings, death, and intercession of his Son? What Love hath he declared in the communications of his Spirit, and the operations of his Grace, and the near relations into which he brought me? What Love hath he declared in in the course of his providences? in many and wonderful preservations and deliverances? in the conduct of his wisdome, and in a life of mercies? What Love appeareth in his precious promises, and the glorious provisions he hath made for me with himself to all eternity? O my Lord, I am ashamed that thy Love is so much lost; that it hath no better return from an unkind unthankful heart; that I am not more delighted in thee, and swallowed up in the contemplation of thy Love; I can contentedly let go the society and converse of all others, for the converse of some one bosome friend, that is dearer to me than they all, as Jonathan to David: And can I not much more be satisfied in thee alone, and let go all if I may continue with thee? My very Dog will gladly for sake all the Town, and all persons in the world, to follow me alone! And have I not yet found so much Love and Goodness in thee my dear and blessed God, as to be willing to