A sight (one sight) of Jesus Christ doth more ravish and overcome a soul, then all the reports that can be made of him; the tongue of men and Angels cannot set him forth so lively and lovely as a poor soul finds him. Who can believe honey to ⟨p. 70⟩be so sweet, as he that hath tasted it knows it to be? the daughters of Jerusalem wonder at the daughter of Zion, when sick of love, and say, What is thy beloved, more then another beloved? Why so fond? Oh says the soul, his mouth is most sweet, yea, he is all desires —altogether lovely; this is my beloved, this, Oh this is my beloved. When poor creatures come to know him as by himself made known to them in his beauty, they then say as John 4.42. we believe not because of thy saying, for we our selves have heard him, and know (assuredly) that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world; yea, they say as the Queen of Sheba said of, and unto Solomon, 1 Kings 10.5. (Oh Lord) for indeed a greater then Solomon is here, and therefore let me say, Oh Lord) since I saw thy wisdom, and the house that thou hast built, and the meat of thy Table, and the ⟨p. 71⟩sitting of thy servants, and the attendants of thy Ministers, and their apparel, &c. there is no more spirit in me—to say the rest. Ah 'twas a true report that I heard of thee, when I (poor I) was in mine own (self) Country, but I believed not the words, till I came, (oh happy coming) and mine eyes (oh blest eyes) had seen it: and behold the half was not, no not the half was told me; thou exceedest, abundantly exceedest the report which I heard. Happy thy men! happy thy servants, which stand continually before thee, to hear thy wisdom, which is able to make wise unto salvation! Blessed be the Lord thy God which delighteth in thee (in thee is he well pleased) to set thee on the throne of Israel, whom he loved for ever. Oh Lord saith the soul, help me to give, but what? Silver and Gold? Alas, what's an hundred and twenty talents of Gold? and of Spices ⟨p. 72⟩very great store? and precious stones, though as many as the sand of the Sea? No, Lord, 'tis mine heart, such as 'tis, that I would bestow, for indeed thou hast ravished me with one of thine eyes: Take it, Lord, 'tis wholly thine, Oh that not a vain thought might lodge in it any more; shall it be thus, Lord? then awake my glory, and thou my soul, and all that is within me praise the Lord, and bless his holy name.
A sight (one sight) of Jesus Christ doth more ravish and overcome a soul, then all the reports that can be made of him; the tongue of men and Angels cannot set him forth so lively and lovely as a poor soul findes him. Who can believe honey to ⟨p. 70⟩be so sweet, as he that hath tasted it knows it to be? the daughters of Jerusalem wonder at the daughter of Sion, when sick of love, and say, What is thy beloved, more then another beloved? Why so fond? Oh sayes the soul, his mouth is most sweet, yea, he is all desires —althogether lovely; this is my beloved, this, Oh this is my beloved. When poor creatures come to know him as by himself made known to them in his beauty, they then say as John 4.42. we believe not because of thy saying, for we our selves have heard him, and know (assuredly) that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world; yea, they say as the Queen of Sheba said of, and unto Solomon, 1 Kings 10.5. (Oh Lord) for indeed a greater then Solomon is here, and therefore let me say, Oh Lord) since I saw thy wisdome, and the house that thou hast built, and the meat of thy Table, and the ⟨p. 71⟩sitting of thy servants, and the attendants of thy Ministers, and their apparel, &c. there is no more spirit in me—to say the rest. Ah 'twas a true report that I heard of thee, when I (poor I) was in mine own (self) Countrey, but I believed not the words, till I came, (oh happy coming) and mine eyes (oh blest eyes) had seen it: and behold the half was not, no not the half was told me; thou exceedest, abundantly exceedest the report which I heard. Happy thy men! happy thy servants, which stand continually before thee, to hear thy wisdome, which is able to make wise unto salvation! Blessed be the Lord thy God which delighteth in thee (in thee is he well pleased) to set thee on the throne of Israel, whom he loved for ever. Oh Lord saith the soul, help me to give, but what? Silver and Gold? Alas, what's an hundred and twenty talents of Gold? and of Spices ⟨p. 72⟩very great store? and precious stones, though as many as the sand of the Sea? No, Lord, 'tis mine heart, such as 'tis, that I would bestow, for indeed thou hast ravish'd me with one of thine eyes: Take it, Lord, 'tis wholly thine, Oh that not a vain thought might lodge in it any more; shall it be thus, Lord? then awake my glory, and thou my soul, and all that is within me praise the Lord, and blesse his holy name.
