The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

2. Entanglement; as the Israelites were in the Wilderness, they knew not what to do, nor which way to take one step, but only as God went before them: as he took them by the hand, and taught them to go; God bringeth them into a lost condition: they know not what to do, nor which way to take, nor what course to pitch upon: and yet in this Wilderness state, God doth commonly stir up such gracious dispositions of soul in them, as himself is exceedingly delighted withal: hence he doth peculiarly call this time, a Time of Love, which he remembereth with much delight. All the time of the Saints walking with him, he taketh not greater delight in a soul, when it cometh to its highest peace and fullest assurance, then when it is seeking after him in its Wilderness Entanglement. So he expresseth it Jerem: 2. 2. Thus saith the Lord, I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the Love of thine Espousals, when thou wentest after me in the Wilderness, in a land that was not sown. And what he here affirmeth, holds proportion therewithal. The Time of their being in the Wilderness, was the Time of their Espousals; and so it is here, the Time of the Lords Betrothing the Soul to himself: the Wooing words whereby he doth it, being intimated in the next verse. For,

2. Intanglement; as the Israelites were in the Wildernesse, they knew not what to doe, nor which way to take one step, but only as God went before them: as he took them by the hand, and taught them to goe; God bringeth them into a lost condition: they know not what to doe, nor which way to take, nor what course to pitch upon: and yet in this Wildernesse state, God doth commonly stirre up such gracious dispositions of soule in them, as himselfe is exceedingly delighted withall: hence he doth peculiarly call this time, a Time of Love, which he remembreth with much delight. All the time of the Saints walking with him, he taketh not greater delight in a soule, when it cometh to its highest peace and fullest assurance, then when it is seeking after him in its Wildernesse Intanglement. So he expresseth it Ierem: 2. 2. Thus saith the Lord, I remember thee, the kindnesse of thy youth, the Love of thine Espousals, when thou wentest after mee in the Wildernesse, in a land that was not sowen. And what he here affirmeth, holds proportion therewithall. The Time of their being in the Wildernesse, was the Time of their Espousals; and so it is here, the Time of the Lords Betrothing the Soule to himselfe: the Wooing words whereby he doth it, being intimated in the next verse. For,