The true Christians love of the unseen Christ, or, A discourse chiefly tending to…

how empty, and vain, and thorny are these things? don't wast thy time, weary thy self for very vanity, don't prick and wound thy self with these things any more. What aileth thee O my Soul, that thou art so backward to the Love of Christ? is it because thou canst not see Christ with the Eyes of thy Body? thou shalt see him with those Eyes hereafter, when he comes in his Glory, & thy body is raised and repaired, and fitted to bear such a sight; thou canst not see the Wind, but thou hearest it's noise, and feelest it's blasts; and dost thou not hear Christ's voice in his Word? dost thou not ⟨p. 133⟩feel the breathings of his Spirit in his Ordinances. Thou art invisible thy self O my Soul, and art thou so drenched in flesh, that visible objects shall have more Power to draw down thy heart, than this most glorious object (though now invisible) shall have power to draw up thy Heart? dost thou question and doubt of his love to thee? and doth this damp and discourage thy Affection? whose Image is this which is engraven upon thee? is it not the Image of Christ? what writing is that upon thy Heart? is it not Gods Law written by Christs Spirit? whose deckings and adornings hast thou got about thee? what Beauty is this which is put upon thee? is it not Christs comeliness? where hadst thou those Bracelets, that Ring, those Jewels, that chain of Graces? are they not Christ's love-tokens which he hath given thee? and yet wilt thou doubt of his love? if thou feelest corruption strong, yet dost thou not perceive some Grace? although it be weak? hast thou not some love to Christ, although it be low? are not thy desires chiefly after him, which evidence that thy chief love is to him? and is it so with any but such whom Christ doth love? doth not Christ love first? and yet wilt thou question his love? banish then thy fears, silence thy doubts O my Soul, rouse up thy self and ⟨p. 134⟩climb •p by the Jacobs ladder which is let down to thee from Heaven, and settle thy love upon Jesus Christ and those things which are above, where Christ sits at the Right hand of God. Such retired Contemplations of Christ, and Soliloquies and pleadings with your own Souls when alone by your selves, will tend exceedingly to the promotion of your love unto Christ.

how empty, and vain, and thorny are these things? don't wast thy time, weary thy self for very vanity, don't prick and wound thy self with these things any more. What aileth thee O my Soul, that thou art so backward to the Love of Christ? is it because thou canst not see Christ with the Eyes of thy Body? thou shalt see him with those Eyes hereafter, when he comes in his Glory, & thy body is raised and repaired, and sitted to bear such a sight; thou can'st not see the Wind, but thou hearest it's noise, and feelest it's blasts; and dost thou not hear Christ's voice in his Word? dost thou not