A28620:900
The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in several treatisesThe dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in severall treatises
The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in several treatises ... : never before published / by Samuel Bolton ...The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in severall treatises ... : never before published / by Samuel Bolton ...
London: printed by Robert Ibbitson for Thomas Parkhurst, 1657
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A TREATISE OF THE LOVES OF CHRIST TO HIS SPOUSE. › Use of Examination.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
All love to Christ doth arise from discoveries and manifestations of Christ to the soul. Either from the discoveries of those beauties, those attractive excellencies that are in him, or with that, from the discovery of his heart and good will towards us.
Now blind men cannot discern of beauties; nor ignorant men of the beauties of Christ. Christ is to them as a Mine of Gold covered over with earth and rubbish: as a Bed of Pearl and Diamonds hid with an heap of sand: as a glorious Messiah under a contemptible outside. And wanting eyes to see through the Veil of his Flesh. through the bark and outside of his Humanity, they can behold no beauty in him. As Isaiah speaks of carnal men, Isa. 53.2. When you behold him, you see no beauty in him, that shall make him desired.
Now then, art thou one who knows Christ? did ever God reveal him to thee in a promise? what apparitions hath Christ made to thy soul? what manifestations? what discoveries that may evidence to thee, that thou knowest him?
There are four manifestations, or discoveries of Christ to the soul, which do exceedingly take the soul. Indeed every apparition of Christ doth take the heart: but at these times the heart is not only wooed and won, but overcome with his sweetness and glory.