Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from several texts of Scripture, opened and applied. 1.…Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from severall texts of Scripture, opened and applyed. 1.…

Thou wouldest have come in and supped with me after the noonshine of the Gospel, with thine own banquet. But, alas, there was no room for thee, because I desired first to feast it out with the base guests of sinful lusts, before I would give thee entertainment. The cause hath been in my self, that I have not been better acquainted with thee, and so, that I have not loved thee. O wretched soul that I am, who shall deliver me from being an enemy to my self! I have bowed my knees to the Father ⟨p. 93⟩of thee, the Lord Jesus, that he would grant to me, according to the riches of his glory, that I may have his assistance to empty my self of all my wicked guests, that thou mayest come into me, and I may have the better list and leisure to contemplate thy glory, and be grounded in thy love, O my blessed Lord Jesus. Could I but get this, my gains would be unspeakable. Whatsoever thou commandest would be sweet, because I love thee. If I could give thee my heart, thou wouldst give it better to me again: for no unclean thing can come out of thy hands. But (O my desired love) I have denied thee; therefore, I deny my self. I have rejected thee; therefore, I reject my self. Do with me as thou wilt, only first love me, and let me answer thee with love again. And why should not I be confident to be heard in this, seeing thou (my love) sittest at the right hand of God making request for me. Speak thou the word, and thy poor servant shall love thee. Say to my soul, My Father hath heard thy prayer, and then, I will love thee dearly. My Lord Jesus, if I love thee, I live: If I love thee not, I perish under a fearful curse for evermore. And shall it be thus with me, O thou that wilt not the death of poor sinners, who pant after thee? No, no, thy merits and intercession have prevailed with my God. I find the filth of domineering sin, in some measure, washed from the windows of my soul, that the beams of thy glory may pierce it, and draw my love after thee. Now do I begin to be sick of love, and earnestly desire thy ⟨p. 94⟩company here, by grace, and hereafter by glory. I love to hear thee speak (let me hear thy voice for it is sweet) and to speak to others of thee, and thy beauties. Thou hast made me something willing to do, and to suffer any thing for thee, Lord perfect this good work.

Thou wouldest have come in and supped with me after the noonshine of the Gospel, with thine owne banquet. But, alas, there was no roome for thee, because I desired first to feast it out with the base guests of sinfull lusts, before I would give thee entertainement. The cause hath been in my selfe, that I have not beene better acquainted with thee, and so, that I have not loved thee. O wretched soule that I am, who shall deliver me from being an enemy to my self! I have bowed my knees to the Father