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

1. She tells you how she came to him; she found him: What ways and by what means, is not expressed. It often so falls out in our Communion with Christ; when private and public means fail, and the soul hath nothing left but waiting silently & walking humbly, Christ appears, that his so doing may be evidently of Grace. Let us not at any time give over in this condition. When all ways are past, the summer and harvest are gone without relief, when neither bed nor watchmen can assist; let us wait a little, and we shall see the salvation of God. Christ honours his immediate absolute actings sometimes; though ordinarily he crowns his ordinances. Christ often manifests himself immediately, and out of Ordinances, to them that wait for him in them. That he will do so to them that despise them, I know not. Though he will meet men unexpectedly in his way; yet he will not meet them at all out of it. Let us wait as he hath appointed; let him appear as he pleaseth. How she deals with him when found; is nextly declared. She held him, and would not let him go, &c. They are all expressions of the greatest Joy and delight imaginable. The sum is, having at length come once more to an enjoyment of sweet Communion with Christ, the soul lays fast hold on him by faith, ([Greek or Hebrew], to hold fast is an act of faith) refuses to part with him any more in vehemency of love; tries to keep him in ordinances, in the house of its mother, the Church of God, and so uses all means for the confirming of the mutual love between Christ and her: All the expressions all the allusions used, evidencing delight to the utmost capacity of the soul. Should I pursue all the Instances and Testimonies that are given hereunto in that one book of the Song of Solomon, I must enter upon an exposition of the greatest part of it, which is not my present business. Let the hearts of the Saints that are acquainted with these things; be allowed to make the close. What is it they long for? they rejoice in? What is it that satisfies them to the utmost, and gives sweet complacency to their spirits in every condition? what is it whose loss they fear, whose absence they cannot ⟨p. 149⟩bear? is it not this their beloved, and He alone?

1. Shee tells you how shee came to him; she found him: What ways and by what meanes, is not expressed. It often so falls out in our Communion with Christ; when private and publique meanes faile, and the soule hath nothing left but waiting silently & walking humbly, Christ appeares, that his so doing may be evidently of Grace. Let us not at any time give over in this condition. When all ways are past, the summer and harvest are gone without reliefe, when neither bed nor watchmen can assist; let us waite a little, and we shall see the salvation of God. Christ honours his immediate absolute actings sometimes; though ordinarily he crowns his ordinances. Christ often manifests himselfe immediately, and out of Ordinances, to them that wayte for him in them. That he will do so to them that despise them, I know not. Though he will meet men unexpectedly in his way; yet he will not meet them at all out of it. Let us waite as he hath appointed; let him appeare as he pleaseth. How she deales with him when found; is nextly declared. Shee held him, and would not let him goe, &c. They are all expressions of the greatest Joy and delight imaginable. The summe is, having at length come once more to an enjoyment of sweet Communion with Christ, the soule lays fast hold on him by faith, (, to hold fast is an act of faith) refuses to part with him any more in vehemency of love; tryes to keep him in ordinances, in the house of its mother, the Church of God, and so uses all meanes for the confirming of the mutuall love between Christ and her: All the expressions all the allusions used, evidencing delight to the utmost capacity of the soule. Should I pursue all the Instances and Testimonies that are given hereunto in that one booke of the Song of Solomon, I must enter upon an exposition of the greatest part of it, which is not my present businesse. Let the hearts of the Saints that are acquainted with these things; be allowed to make the close. What is it they long for? they rejoyce in? What is it that satisfies them to the utmost, and gives sweet complacency to their spirits in every condition? what is it whose losse they feare, whose absence they cannot