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

1. Christ gives himself to the Soul with all his Excellencies, §. 8 Righteousness, Preciousness, Graces and Eminences, to be its Saviour, Head, and Husband, for ever to dwell with it, in this holy Relation. He looks upon the souls of his Saints, likes them well, counts them fair, and beautiful, because he hath made them so. Cat. 1. 15. Behold thou art fair my Companion, behold thou art fair, thou hast Doves Eyes. Let others think what they please, Christ redoubles it that the Souls of his Saints are very beautiful, even perfect through his Comeliness which he puts upon them, Ezek. 15. v. 14. behold thou art fair, thou art fair; particularly that their Spiritual Light is very Excellent and Glorious, like the Eyes of a Dove, tender, discerning, clear and shining. Therefore ¹he adds that Pathetical wish of the Enjoyment of this his spouse: chap. 2. 14. O my dove (saith he) that art in the clefts of the Rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me hear thy voice, let me see thy countenance, for sweet is thy voice and thy Countenance is comely. Do not hide thy self as one that flies to the clefts of the Rocks, be not dejected as one that hides her self behind the stairs, & is afraid to come forth to the Company that enquires for her? let not thy spirit be cast down at the weakness of thy supplications, let me yet hear thy sighs and groans, thy breathings and pantings to me, they are very sweet, very delightful: and thy spiritual countenance, thy appearance in heavenly things, is comely and delightful unto me. Neither doth he leave her thus, but chap. 4. 8. presseth her hard to a closer with him in this conjugal bond. Come with me from Lebanon (my spouse) with me from Lebanon, look from the top of Amana, from the the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the Lyons dens, and the mountains of the Leopards. Thou art in a wandering condition, (as the Israelites of old) among Lyons and Leopards, sins and troubles? come from thence unto me, and I will give thee refreshment Math. 11. 27. upon this Invitation the spouse boldly concludes, chap. 7. 10. that the desire of Christ is towards her: that he doth indeed love ⟨p. 62⟩her, and aim at taking her unto this fellowship with himself So in carrying on this union, Christ freely bestoweth himself. upon the Soul. Precious and excellent as he is, he becometh ours.