The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in several treatisesThe dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in severall treatises

So the first love of the Creator to the Creature; his bosom-thoughts,¹ they are most precious. Oh! these take the heart; these are the fullest, these are his freest thoughts towards us, 2 Tim. 1.9.

1. 1Amor Dei non invenit, sed facit amore dignos. Bern.

All the World stood before him, from the first man to the last. And why he should choose us,¹ and pass by others; others finer pieces of Clay than we are: others of greater parts, greater abilities: which if it had pleased God to have conquered to himself, might have brought him far more glory, done him more service. Here was only his free mercy. There was no ground to make him choose us, before he loved us: but there is some ground to cause him to love us, now he hath chosen us. We are his, and his by free choice, chosen and singled out of a world of men. And therefore will he love us.

All the World stood before him, from the first man to the last. And why hee should chuse us,¹ and pass by others; others finer peeces of Clay than wee are: others of greater parts, greater abilities: which if it had pleased God to have conquered to himself, might have brought him far more glory, done him more service. Here was only his free mercy. There was no ground to make him chuse us, before hee loved us: but there is some ground to cause him to love us, now hee hath chosen us. Wee are his, and his by free choice, chosen and singled out of a world of men. And therefore will hee love us.

1. 1Non quia nos delexerimus Deum, sed quia ipse prior dilexit nos, denique dilexit, etiam non existentes, sed & resistentes, juxta Pauli testimonium, quoniam cum adhuc inimici essemus reconciliati sumus […] Deo, per mortem Christi filii ejus. Bern. in Cant. [Greek or Hebrew].