Only from this entrance that hath been made into the description §. 17 of him with whom the Saints have Communion, some motives might be taken to stir us up thereunto, as also considerations to lay open the nakedness and insufficiency of all other ways and things, unto which men engage their thoughts and desires. Something may be now proposed. The daughters of Jerusalem, ordinary common Professors, having heard the spouse describing her beloved, Cant. 5. 4, 10. &c. instantly are stirred up to seek him together with her; chap 6. 1. Whither is thy beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with thee? what Paul says of them that crucified him, may be spoken of all that reject him, or refuse ⟨p. 56⟩communion with him. had they known him they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory: did men know him, were they acquainted in any measure with him, they would not so reject the Lord of Glory. Himself calls them simple ones, fools and scorners, that despise his gracious invitation, Prov. 1. 24. There is none despise Christ, but only they that know him not; whose eyes the God of this world hath blinded that they should not behold his glory; The souls of men do naturally seek something to rest and repose themselves upon; something to satiate and delight themselves withal, with which they hold communion; and there are two ways whereby men proceed in the pursuit of what they so aim at. Some set before them some certain end; perhaps, pleasure, profit, or, in Religion it self, acceptance with God; others seek after some end, but without any certainty, pleasing themselves now with one path, now with another; with various thoughts and ways, like them Isa. 57. 10. because something comes in by the life of the hand, they give not over though weary; in what condition soever you may be, either in greediness pursuing some certain end, be it secular or religious, or are wandering away in your own imaginations, wearying your selves in the largeness of your ways, compare a little what you aim at, or what you do, with what you have already heard of Jesus Christ; if any thing you design be like to him, if any thing you desire be equal to him, let him be rejected as one that hath neither form nor comeliness in him;
Only from this entrance that hath been made into the description §. 17 of him with whom the Saints have Communion, some motives might be taken to stirre us up thereunto, as also considerations to lay open the nakednesse and insufficiency of all other waies and things, unto which men ingage their thoughts and desires. Something may be now proposed. The daughters of Jerusalem, ordinary common Professors, having heard the spouse describing her beloved, Cant. 5. 4, 10. &c. instantly are stirred up to seeke him together with her; chap 6. 1. Whither is thy beloved turned aside, that we may seeke him with thee? what Paul saies of them that crucified him, may be spoken of all that reject him, or refuse ⟨p. 56⟩communion with him. had they known him they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory: did men know him, were they acquainted in any measure with him, they would not so reject the Lord of Glory. Himselfe calls them simple ones, fooles and scorners, that despise his gracious invitation, Prov. 1. 24. There is none despise Christ, but only they that know him not; whose eyes the God of this world hath blinded that they should not behold his glory; The soules of men do naturally seek something to rest and repose themselves upon; something to satiate and delight themselves withall, with which they hold communion; and there are two waies whereby men proceed in the pursuit of what they so ayme at. Some set before them some certain end; perhaps, pleasure, profit, or, in Religion it selfe, acceptance with God; others seeke after some end, but without any certainty, pleasing themselves now with one path, now with another; with various thoughts and waies, like them Isa. 57. 10. because something comes in by the life of the hand, they give not over though weary; in what condition soever you may be, either in greedinesse pursuing some certain end, be it secular or religious, or are wandring away in your own imaginations, wearying your selves in the largenesse of your wayes, compare a little what you ayme at, or what you doe, with what you have already heard of Jesus Christ; if any thing you designe be like to him, if any thing you desire be equall to him, let him be rejected as one that hath neither forme nor comelinesse in him;
