The zealous Christian taking heavenThe zealovs Christian taking heaven

2. There is the most holy importunity in a man, when he lives under the clearest apprehension, and assurance of Gods love ¹in Christ. Psal. 42. 4. When I remembered these things, I pour out my soul in me: when he remembered, and considered the marks and tokens of Gods grace in him, and love to him, this made him importunate. A Christian may be compared to a Marigold, which while the Sun shines upon it, opens it self, but afterwards shuts. Christians, when the Sun of Gods favour shines upon them, their souls are enlarged, their affections inflamed towards God; but when God hides his face, they are troubled, their hearts are straitened, and they cannot pray as they used to do. It is said of the Nightingale, that when she thinks any one is near, she sings more sweetly then when she is alone in the wood. The soul, when it sees that God is near it, and that his favour is towards it, then it sings most sweetly, then it prays most fervently; but when the love of God is clouded, and the soul left as it were alone; then the affections flag, and grow remiss in prayer.

2. There is the most holy importunity in a man, when he lives under the clearest apprehension, and assurance of Gods love ¹in Christ. Psal. 42. 4. When I remembred these things, I poure out my soule in me: when he remembered, and considered the marks and tokens of Gods grace in him, and love to hm, this made him importunate. A Christian may be compared to a Marigold, which while the Sun shines upon it, opens it selfe, but afterwards shuts. Christians, when the Sun of Gods favour shines upon them, their soules are inlarged, their affections inflamed towards God; but when God hides his face, they are troubled, their hearts are straitned, and they cannot pray as they used to doe. It is said of the Nightingale, that when she thinks any one is neere, she sings more sweetly then when she is alone in the wood. The soule, when it sees that God is neare it, and that his favour is towards it, then it sings most sweetly, then it prayes most fervently; but when the love of God is clouded, and the soule left as it were alone; then the affections flag, and grow remisse in prayer.