Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ

WHAT is our Duty in this Case, is so fully expressed by the Spouse in the Canticles, as represents it plainly unto the Minds of Believers, who have any Experience of these things, Chap. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. By night on my Bed I sought him whom my Soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the City in the Streets, and in the broad ways, I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The Watch-men that go about the City found me, to whom I said, saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go. The like account she gives of her self, and of her Behaviour on the like Occasion, Chap. 5. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

THIS is the substance of what by this Example we are instructed unto. The Lord Christ is pleased sometimes to withdraw himself from the spiritual Experience of Believers; as unto any refreshing sense of his Love, or the fresh communications of consolatory Graces. Those who never had Experience of any such thing, who never had any refreshing communion with him, cannot be sensible of his Absence, they never were so of his Presence. But those whom he hath visited, to whom he hath given of his Loves, with whom he hath made his Abode, whom ⟨p. 53⟩he hath refreshed, relieved and comforted, in whom he hath lived in the Power of his Grace, they know what it is to be forsaken by him, though but for a moment. And their Trouble is increased, when they seek him with diligence in the wonted ways of obtaining his presence, and cannot find him. Our Duty in this case is, to persevere in our Enquiries after him in Prayer, Meditation, Mourning, Reading, and Hearing of the Word, in all Ordinances of Divine Worship, private and public, in diligent Obedience, until we find him, or he return unto us, as in former Days.

THIS is the substance of what by this Example we are instructed unto. The Lord Christ is pleased sometimes to withdraw himself from the spiritual Experience of Believers; as unto any refreshing sense of his Love, or the fresh communications of consolatory Graces. Those who never had Experience of any such thing, who never had any refreshing communion with him, cannot be sensible of his Absence, they never were so of his Presence. But those whom he hath visited, to whom he hath given of his Loves, with whom he hath made his Abode, whom