The doctrine & directions but more especially the practice and behaviour of a man…The doctrine & directions but more especially the practice and behavior of a man…

5. He that welcomes Christ truly, covets a nearer union with Christ: Love is of a linking and gluing nature, and will carry the soul with some kind of strength and earnestness, to enjoy full possession and fellowship of the thing that is loved; it cannot have enough of it: Nothing (saith the soul) but Christ, still I desire more of that mercy, and holiness, and grace, and love in Christ Jesus: As it is with parties that have lived long together in one house, and their affections are linked together in way of marriage, they will ever desire to be talking together, and to be drawing on the marriage; so the soul that loves Christ Jesus, and hath his holy affection kindled, and his spirit enlarged therein; when the Lord hath let in some glimpse of his love, he thinks the hour sweet when he prayed to the Lord Christ, he thinks the Lords-day sweet, wherein God revealed, by the power of his holy Ordinances, any of that rich grace and mercy of his: it is admirable to see how the heart will be delighted to recover the time and place, and means, when and where the Lord did reveal it; Oh this is good (saith the soul) Oh that I might ever be thus cleared and refreshed! Or as the spouse contracted, thinks every day a year, till she enjoy her beloved, and take satisfaction to her soul in him: So the soul that hath been truly humbled, and enlightened, and is now contracted to Christ Jesus, Oh when will that day be (saith it) that I shall ever be with my Jesus! he takes hold of every word he hears, every promise that reveals any thing of Christ, But oh! when will that day be, that I shall ¹ever be with Christ, and be full of his fullness for ever?

5. He that welcomes Christ truly, covets a neerer union with Christ: Love is of a linking and gluing nature, and will carry the soul with some kinde of strength and earnestness, to enjoy full possession and fellowship of the thing that is loved; it cannot have enough of it: Nothing (saith the soul) but Christ, still I desire more of that mercy, and holiness, and grace, and love in Christ Jesus: As it is with parties that have lived long together in one house, and their affections are linkt together in way of marriage, they will ever desire to be talking together, and to be drawing on the marriage; so the soul that loves Christ Jesus, and hath his holy affection kindled, and his spirit enlarged therein; when the Lord hath let in some glimpse of his love, he thinks the hour sweet when he prayed to the Lord Christ, he thinks the Lords-day sweet, wherein God revealed, by the power of his holy Ordinances, any of that rich grace and mercy of his: it is admirable to see how the heart will be delighted to recover the time and place, and means, when and where the Lord did reveal it; Oh this is good (saith the soul) Oh that I might ever be thus cleared and refreshed! Or as the spouse contracted, thinks every day a year, till she enjoy her beloved, and take satisfaction to her soul in him: So the soul that hath been truly humbled, and enlightened, and is now contracted to Christ Jesus, Oh when will that day be (saith it) that I shall ever be with my Jesus! he takes hold of every word he hears, every promise that reveals any thing of Christ, But oh! when will that day be, that I shall