Christ the fountain of lifeChrist the fountaine of life

73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee, or in earth in comparison of thee? he desires nothing more then him, neither peace of conscience, nor joy in the Holy ghost, nor any thing so chiefly, and principally as God; but if we have a longing affection after pardon of sin, and peace of conscience, and assurance of salvation, after subduing of lusts and growth in grace; these be blessed desires, and usually upright, and sincere, but there may be hypocrisy even in these very desires, and in using the means to attain these; for sometimes by this means we seek Christ, and him in his Ordinances, not so much for himself, as for the benefits we have by him, which is a spirit of harlotry; As in a woman that it may be hath a strong affection to match with such a man; but it is, but that he might pay ⟨p. 53⟩her debts, and that she might be well provided for, for the world, and that he might be avail, and a protector to her, these be lawful ends to aim at; but if it be only and chiefly for these ends, it is not true conjugal affection, for if another man could do this for her as well as he, she could make choice of another as well as of him, and she desires him, not for his, but for her own ends; And just so it is alike in this case, If a man desire the Lord Jesus Christ to this end, that he may have his sin pardoned, and be furnished with grace, though these be spiritual ends, yet so much as we prize the benefit above Christ, so much are we halting in the truth of our affection to him. If a woman in true conjugal affection, look at no more but at the very bare man,¹ if there be true love in her towards him, she is content to have him, though she have nothing else but his person; so if our hearts be truly set upon Christ we are content to have him, though we should never see good day with him; though we should never see peace of conscience with him, though no comfort of grace in him, yet would the soul say, that is truly affected to Christ, give me Christ, and I have enough, who, or what is there besides Christ? What is there? Why, there is variety of excellent graces: But whom have I in earth but thee? As if ye should put all other things in comparison against, or with Christ, they are nothing to him, then surely you have Christ.

73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee, or in earth in comparison of thee? he desires nothing more then him, neither peace of conscience, nor joy in the Holy ghost, nor any thing so cheifly, and principally as God; but if wee have a longing affection after pardon of sinne, and peace of conscience, and assurance of salvation, after subduing of lusts and growth in grace; these be blessed desires, and usually upright, and sincere, but there may be hypocrisie even in these very desires, and in using the meanes to attaine these; for sometimes by this meanes we seek Christ, and him in his Ordinances, not so much for himself, as for the benefits we have by him, which is a spirit of harlotry; As in a woman that it may bee hath a strong affection to match with such a man; but it is, but that hee might pay