Thirdly, To our acquaintance with God, is required an abiding with God. We reckon not our selves acquainted with any person upon the first meeting, or when there hath passed but a word or two between us; but it is supposed to acquaintance, that we have made a considerable stay with him; and have had frequent access to him. Thus it is between God and us: we must not only come to him, but abide with him, or else we shall never be acquainted with him, Joh. 8.13. If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my Disciples. So I say, if you return to God, and continue with God, then shall ye be acquainted with him indeed. Acquaintance, signifies not a bare Act, but a State or Habit. Now this is the difference between an Act and a State; that an Act is passing and is gone; but a State signifies an abiding and continuance. There may be a drawing nigh to God, without abiding and continuing with God, upon some deep Conviction, or strange providence, or eminent danger; as it is said, In their affliction, they will seek me early. ⟨p. 12⟩Yet they may soon forget and forsake God. This is but a seeming and practical approaching to God, a drawing nigh in appearance, when the heart is far from God: but that approaching to God which makes acquaintance with God, is abiding with him. Those that are acquainted with a spiritual life know these things what they are, and that they are the greatest realities in the world; they know that sometimes there is a greater nearness of their souls to God, they are sensible of the approaches of their heart to God; and of the withdrawing of their souls from God; they know what it is for the soul to feel the approaches of God, and his smiles sill their souls with unspeakable Comfort: And to feel God withdrawing from the soul, this clouds their joy, and makes them go mourning: They can tell you at such a time they were brought unto his Banqueting-house, and his Banner over them was Love: They can tell you at such time Christ came into his Garden to eat his pleasant Fruits; at such a time they heard the voice of their Beloved, saying, Open to me, my Sister, my Spouse, my Love, my Dove, my Undefiled. And when the soul hath neglected this knock of Christ to open to him, that then he hath withdrawn: I opened to my Beloved, but my Beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone.
Thirdly, To our acquaintance with God, is required an abiding with God. We reckon not our selves acquainted with any person upon the first meeting, or when there hath passed but a word or two between us; but it is supposed to acquaintance, that we have made a considerable stay with him; and have had frequent access to him. Thus it is between God and us: we must not only come to him, but abide with him, or else we shall never be acquainted with him, Joh. 8.13. If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my Disciples. So I say, if you return to God, and continue with God, then shall ye be acquainted with him indeed. Acquaintance, signifies not a bare Act, but a State or Habit. Now this is the difference between an Act and a State; that an Act is passing and is gone; but a State signifies an abiding and continuance. There may be a drawing nigh to God, without abiding and continuing with God, upon some deep Conviction, or strange providence, or eminent danger; as it is said, In their affliction, they will seek me early. ⟨p. 12⟩Yet they may soon forget and forsake God. This is but a seeming and practical approaching to God, a drawing nigh in appearance, when the heart is far from God: but that approaching to God which makes acquaintance with God, is abiding with him. Those that are acquainted with a spiritual life know these things what they are, and that they are the greatest realities in the world; they know that sometimes there is a greater nearness of their souls to God, they are sensible of the approaches of their heart to God; and of the withdrawing of their souls from God; they know what it is for the soul to feel the approaches of God, and his smiles sill their souls with unspeakable Comfort: And to feel God withdrawing from the soul, this clouds their joy, and makes them go mourning: They can tell you at such a time they were brought unto his Banquetting-house, and his Banner over them was Love: They can tell you at such time Christ came into his Garden to eat his pleasant Fruits; at such a time they heard the voice of their Beloved, saying, Open to me, my Sister, my Spouse, my Love, my Dove, my Ʋndefiled. And when the soul hath neglected this knock of Christ to open to him, that then he hath withdrawn: I opened to my Beloved, but my Beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone.
