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

2. Having driven this to some issue, the soul applieth it self to the promises of the Covenant wherein Christ is most graciously exhibited unto it: Considers one, ponders another, to find a taste of him. It considers diligently if it can see the delightful Countenance & favour of Christ in them or no: but now, if (as it often falls out,) the soul finds nothing but the carcass, but the bare letter in the promise: if it come to it as to the grave of Christ, of which it may be said, (not in it self, but in respect of the seeking soul) he is risen he is not here, this amazes the soul and it knows not what to do. As a man that hath a Jewell of great price having no occasion to use it, lays it aside as he supposes in a safe place; in an agony and extremity of want going to seek for his Jewell, he finds it not in the place he expected, and is filled with amazement, and knows not what to do: so is it with this pearl of the Gospel; after a man hath sold all that he hath for it, and enjoyed it for a season, then to have it missing at a time of need, it must needs perplex him. So was it with the Spouse here, I sought him (saith she) but I found him not; A thing which not seldom befalls us in our Communion with Christ.

2. Having driven this to some issue, the soule applyeth it selfe to the promises of the Covenant wherein Christ is most gratiously exhibited unto it: Considers one, ponders another, to find a tast of him. It considers dilligently if it can see the delightfull Countenance & favour of Christ in them or no: but now, if (as it often falls out,) the soule finds nothing but the carkasse, but the bare letter in the promise: if it come to it as to the grave of Christ, of which it may be sayd, (not in it self, but in respect of the seeking soule) he is risen he is not here, this amazes the soule and it knows not what to do. As a man that hath a Jewell of great price having no occasion to use it, lays it aside as he supposes in a safe place; in an agony and extremity of want going to seek for his Jewell, he finds it not in the place he expected, and is filled with amazement, and knows not what to doe: so is it with this pearle of the Gospell; after a man hath sold all that he hath for it, and enjoyed it for a season, then to have it missing at a time of need, it must needs perplex him. So was it with the Spouse here, I sought him (saith shee) but I found him not; A thing which not seldome befalls us in our Communion with Christ.