but did not desire Christ for himself, and therefore whatever gift he had, as he had a notable spirit of Prophecy, as the Spirit then came upon him, speaking of the marvellous blessings reserved for Gods people, yet notwithstanding he never sought Christ in any of them, and therefore though he might have some glimpse of the Vision of God, yet of Christ he had none; whereas there is no true Christian that doth most esteem the having of Christ, but doth not only seek Christ without respect of Loaves, or Money, or of a quiet Conscience in time of death, but ⟨p. 48⟩even in the very time of this life, when he seeks after the Ordinances of God in this life, there to live according to God, and to find pardon of sin and peace of conscience, and subduing of his lusts, and strength of grace, and power of godliness, yet even in seeking the very Ordinances of God (out of which these are not to be found) yet in seeking of these, he doth not so much seek these, or any blessing they do afford, as the finding Christ in them; the story is notable, and famous in, 2 Sam. 15.25, 26, 27. When David fled from Jerusalem, the Priests and Levites carried the Ark after him, and when David saw them overtake him with the Ark of Gods presence, in the enjoyment whereof stood the life of his life, the assurance of the pardon of his sin, the assurance and presence of Gods favour, strengthening of his spirit in grace, and subduing his lusts) yet saith he, Carry it back again to Jerusalem, if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back again, and show me both it and his habitation; but if he thus say, I have no delight in thee, behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good to him. He would not wrong himself, nor do the Church of God so much prejudice as to wrong God, and his Sacrifice, they were not to offer sacrifice elsewhere; nor could they find any solemn presence of God any where but there, there were they all to meet, and it was the place where God had put his name; and he considering that, he could not have the Ark with him, but Gods Name should be dishonoured, and the Church of God would find much prejudice with the loss of Gods Ark; and therefore rather then God should be dishonoured, and the people discouraged and prejudiced by the want of it, he would send it back again, and is content to loose outward blessings;
but did not desire Christ for himselfe, and therefore whatever gift he had, as he had a notable spirit of Prophesie, as the Spirit then came upon him, speaking of the marvellous blessings reserved for Gods people, yet notwithstanding he never sought Christ in any of them, and therefore though he might have some glimpse of the Vision of God, yet of Christ he had none; whereas there is no true Christian that doth most esteeme the having of Christ, but doth not only seeke Christ without respect of Loaves, or Money, or of a quiet Conscience in time of death, but ⟨p. 48⟩even in the very time of this life, when he seekes after the Ordinances of God in this life, there to live according to God, and to finde pardon of sinne and peace of conscience, and subduing of his lusts, and strength of grace, and power of godlinesse, yet even in seeking the very Ordinances of God (out of which these are not to be found) yet in seeking of these, he doth not so much seeke these, or any blessing they doe afford, as the finding Christ in them; the story is notable, and famous in, 2 Sam. 15.25, 26, 27. When David fled from Jerusalem, the Priests and Levites carried the Arke after him, and when David saw them overtake him with the Arke of Gods presence, in the enjoyment whereof stood the life of his life, the assurance of the pardon of his sinne, the assurance and presence of Gods favour, strengthening of his spirit in grace, and subduing his lusts) yet saith he, Carry it back againe to Jerusalem, if I shall finde favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me backe againe, and shew me both it and his habitation; but if he thus say, I have no delight in thee, behold, here am I, let him doe to me as seemeth good to him. He would not wrong himselfe, nor doe the Church of God so much prejudice as to wrong God, and his Sacrifice, they were not to offer sacrifice elsewhere; nor could they finde any solemne presence of God any where but there, there were they all to meet, and it was the place where God had put his name; and he considering that, he could not have the Arke with him, but Gods Name should be dishonoured, and the Church of God would finde much prejudice with the losse of Gods Arke; and therefore rather then God should be dishonoured, and the people discouraged and prejudiced by the want of it, he would send it back againe, and is content to loose outward blessings;
