This suit, and it's qualification, import, 1. That there should be much loving tenderness betwixt these that are in so near a relation as this, to be born of one mother, &c. 2. That mothers who bear children, and are fitted to give suck, should not decline that duty to their children, The giving of such being a duty no less natural, than bringing forth, where the Lord hath put no impediment to the contrary in the way. 3. It imports, that there are steps of access to Christ, and degrees of fellowship with him, beyond any thing that the most grown believers have attained: There is somewhat of this, even by the Bride to be wished for, that she hath not yet attained. 4. There ought to be no halting or sitting down, in any attainment of ⟨p. 421⟩nearness with Christ, till it be brought to that measure that no more can be enjoyed, and till it be at the utmost height that is possible to be attained. 5. To have sensible warmlinesse, and condescending familiarity from Christ, and confident freedom with him, is the believers great design; that is, to have him as a brother: And these two, to wit, confident freedom with Christ, and his warm condescending to them, go together; which the reasons following will clear. They are set down in seven motives, or advantages, which his being as a brother would bring along with it to her; and hereby it will be further cleared, what it is that is here intended. The 1. is hinted at in these words, when I should find thee without: when, is supplied, and the words read in the Original, I would find thee without: Now (saith she) I have sought thee often without, and have for a long time not found thee (as Chap. 3. 2, 3. and 5. 6, 7.) but if thou were thus familiar with me, I would have thy company every where, and think no shame of it. This suppons, 1. that Christ may be without, or at a distance, even with his own Sister and Spouse: The most sensible manifestations have interruptions. 2. When Christ is without, or at a distance, then the believer's work is to seek him till he find him; he loves not to be separate from Christ, and therefore he pants after his manifestations: An absent Christ, and a seeking, painful, diligent believer, should go together. 3. That where Christ is familiar, all interruptions of presence are easily superable, yea, more easily superable then to others, with whom he is not so familiar and intimate;
This suit, and it's qualification, import, 1. That there should be much loving tendernesse betwixt these that are in so neer a relation as this, to be born of one mother, &c. 2. That mothers who bear children, and are fitted to give suck, should not decline that duty to their children, The giving of such being a duty no lesse natural, than bringing forth, where the Lord hath put no impediment to the contrary in the way. 3. It imports, that there are steps of accesse to Christ, and degrees of fellowship with him, beyond any thing that the most grown believers have attained: There is somewhat of this, even by the Bride to be wished for, that she hath not yet attained. 4. There ought to be no haulting or sitting down, in any attainment of ⟨p. 421⟩neernesse with Christ, till it be brought to that measure that no more can be enjoyed, and till it be at the utmost height that is possible to be attained. 5. To have sensible warmlinesse, and condescending familiarity from Christ, and confident freedome with him, is the believers great design; that is, to have him as a brother: And these two, to wit, confident freedome with Christ, and his warm condescending to them, go together; which the reasons following will clear. They are set down in seven motives, or advantages, which his being as a brother would bring along with it to her; and hereby it will be further cleared, what it is that is here intended. The 1. is hinted at in these words, when I should find thee without: when, is supplied, and the words read in the Original, I would find thee without: Now (saith she) I have sought thee often without, and have for a long time not found thee (as Chap. 3. 2, 3. and 5. 6, 7.) but if thou were thus familiar with me, I would have thy company every where, and think no shame of it. This suppons, 1. that Christ may be without, or at a distance, even with his own Sister and Spouse: The most sensible manifestations have interruptions. 2. When Christ is without, or at a distance, then the believer's work is to seek him till he find him; he loves not to be separate from Christ, and therefore he pants after his manifestations: An absent Christ, and a seeking, painful, diligent believer, should go together. 3. That where Christ is familiar, all interruptions of presence are easily superable, yea, more easily superable then to others, with whom he is not so familiar and intimat;
