A Body of Practical Divinity

6. The Sixth Visible Sign. He who loves God, weeps bitterly for his Absence. Mary comes weeping, they have taken away my Lord, John 20.2. One cries, my Health is gone, another my Estate is gone; but he who is a Lover of God, cries out, my God is gone, I cannot enjoy him whom I love. What can all Worldly Comforts do, when once God is absent? It is like a Funeral Banquet, where there is much Meat, but no Cheer, Job 30.28. I went Mourning without the Sun. If Rachel Mourned so for the loss of her Children, what Veil or Pencil can shadow out the Sorrow of that Christian, who hath lost God's sweet Presence? Such a Soul pours forth Floods of Tears, and while it is lamenting, seems to say thus to God, Lord, thou art in Heaven hearing the Melodious Songs and Triumphs of Angels; but I sit here in the Valley of Tears, weeping because thou art gone. O when wilt thou come to me and revive me with the Light of thy Countenance? Or, Lord if thou wilt not come to me, let me come to thee, where I shall have a perpetual Smile of thy Face in Heaven, and shall never more Complain, My Beloved hath withdrawn himself.

6. The Sixth Visible Sign. He who loves God, weeps bitterly for his Absence. Mary comes weeping, they have taken away my Lord, John 20.2. One cries, my Health is gone, another my Estate is gon; but he who is a Lover of God, cries out, my God is gone, I cannot enjoy him whom I love. What can all Worldly Comfors do, when once God is absent? It is like a Funeral Banquet, where there is much Meat, but no Chear, Iob 30.28. I went Mourning without the Sun. If Rachel Mourned so for the loss of her Children, what Vail or Pensil can shadow out the Sorrow of that Christian, who hath lost God's sweet Presence? Such a Soul pours forth Floods of Tears, and while it is lamenting, seems to say thus to God, Lord, thou art in Heaven hearing the Melodious Songs and Triumphs of Angels; but I sit here in the Vally of Tears, weeping because thou art gone. O when wilt thou come to me and revive me with the Light of thy Countenance? Or, Lord if thou wilt not come to me, let me come to thee, where I shall have a perpetual Smile of thy Face in Heaven, and shall never more Complain, My Beloved hath withdrawn himself.