Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

1. It is exceeding acceptable unto God even our Father, that we should thus hold Communion with him in his Love; that he §. 11 may be received into our Souls, as one full of Love, tenderness and kindness towards us. Flesh and Blood is apt to have very hard thoughts of him; to think he is always angry, yea implacable: that it is not for poor creatures to draw nigh to him: that nothing in the World is more desirable then never to come into his presence, or (as they say) where he hath any thing to do. ^mWho amongst us shall dwell with that devouring fire, who amongst us shall inhabit with those everlasting burnings? say the sinners in Zion: and ⁿI knew thou wast an austere man, saith the evil Servant in the Gospel. Now there is not any thing more grievous to the Lord, nor more subservient to the design of Satan upon the Soul, then such thoughts as these. Satan claps his hands (if I may so say) when he can take up the Soul with such thoughts of God: he hath enough, all that he doth desire. This hath been his design, and way from the beginning. The ^ofirst blood, that Murderer shed, was by this means. He leads our first Parents into hard thoughts of God. hath God said so? hath he threatened you with death? he knows well enough, it will be better with you: with this Engine did ⟨p. 35⟩he batter, and overthrow all mankind in ^pone: and being mindful of his ancient conquest, he readily useth the same weapons wherewith then, he so successfully contended. Now it is exceeding Grievous to the Spirit of God, to be so slandered in the hearts of those whom he dearly loves. How doth he expostulate this with Zion? What iniquity g ^qhave you seen in me? saith he, have I been a Wilderness unto you, or a Land of darkness? ^rZion hath said the Lord hath forgotten me, and my God hath forsaken me? but can a mother &c. The Lord takes nothing worse at the hands of his, then such hard thoughts of him, knowing full well what fruit this bitter Root is like to bear: what Alienation of Heart, what drawings back, what unbelief, and Tergiversations in our walking with him? How unwilling is a Child to come into the presence of an angry Father? Consider then this in the first place: Receiving of the Father as he holds out, Love to the soul, gives him the Honour he aims at, and is exceeding acceptable unto him. He often sets it out in an eminent manner that it may be so received.