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

the Earth under your feet when it hath got on its best attire, when the fields are clothed with grass in the Spring, or enriched with corn in the summer; If you have seen the most pleasant Brooks and Streams, and Fountains of water, the most stately ⟨p. 218⟩Groves with lofty and broad shadowing Trees; the most flourishing Orchards, most richly laden with variety of the most delicious fruit; the most delightful Gardens with variety of the choicest Flowers casting forth the most fragrant smell; If you have seen all sorts of Birds, and fowls in the Air, All sorts of Beasts on the Earth, All sorts of fish in the Sea; If you have seen the most goodly men that ever were born; the fairest women, with the most sparkling beauty: What is the sight of all these things, and the most lovely objects that ever were visible to the eye of the body? the sight of all is but mean and contemptible and not worthy to be named in comparison with the sight of the Lord Jesus by the eye of the Soul; Whatever beauty and loveliness there is to be found in any, or in all visible Creatures, there is infinitely more beauty and loveliness in Jesus Christ; all visible beauty is but a shadow, in Christ there is substantial beauty; all visible beauty is fading, like the flower that soon withereth, like the leaf that soon fadeth, but in Christ there is permanent beauty; all visible beauty is inferior and mean, yea deformity compared with Christ's transcendent loveliness. There is no discovery to the eye of the ⟨p. 219⟩mind comparable to the discovery of Christ unto the eye of Faith; the light of Nature in the greatest improvement of it, is but a weak and dim light in comparison with the spiritual light of the knowledge of Christ; no light so clear and bright, no light so pure and sweet, as that which makes discovery of the Lord Jesus unto the Soul. This discovery of Christ doth dispel clouds from the Mind, and exhale lusts from the Heart; it doth brighten the understanding and cleanse the Affections; it doth warm the Heart with love, and fill the Heart with comfort; it quiets the Conscience and purifies it; it gives a most sweet peace and tranquillity to the spirit, and withal brings in such spiritual joy, as is unspeakable and full of Glory. O how then should you admire the Riches of the Grace, and Kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ unto you!

the Earth under your feet when it hath got on its best attire, when the fields are clothed with grass in the Spring, or enriched with corn in the summer; If you have seen the most pleasant Brooks and Streams, and Fountains of water, the most stately