A heavenly conference between Christ and Mary after His resurrection. Wherein the intimate familiarity,…

2. This word, it is a word of Relation, ¹it bindeth God to us, and us to God. We are to honour him as our Father. This one word is sufficient to express our duty to a Father, and that is a word of reverence; for it includeth a mixed affection of fear and love. And it is an affection of an inferior to a superior. He is great, ²therefore we ought to fear him. He is good, therefore we ought to love him. There is with him beams of Majesty, and bowels of compassion. As there is beams of Majesty, we ought to fear him as bowels of compassion, we ought to love him, so that fear and love mixed together, is the affection we owe to God, as our Father. If we tremble, and are afraid to go to him, we know not he is loving. If we go to him over boldly, and saucily, we forget that he is great: therefore we must think of his greatness, that we forget not his goodness. We must so think of his goodness, that we forget ⟨p. 121⟩not his greatness: therefore go boldly to him, with reverence to the Throne of Christ. In the word Father, there is more saving power then in ten thousand, it toucheth his very bowels, when a Child wanteth any thing, and is in distress, let it but say, Father, or Mother, and the bowels of the Parents yearn upon him. If God be our Father, go to him boldly; but with reverence, go with affiance to his bowels. Oh it is a persuasive word. What cannot we look for from that Majesty, that hath condescended to be called Father, and to be a Father to us in all our necessities? either we shall have what we want and lack, or else we shall have that which is better; he is a wise Father, he answereth not always according to our wills, but always according to our good. He seeth it is for our good, that we are not presently comforted. The Physician ³giveth a sharp potion. O I cannot endure, & the Chirurgeon lanceth, oh I cannot endure it; but the Chirurgeon knoweth it is not healing time: even so we would be presently taken off from under crosses; but God is a wise ⟨p. 122⟩Father, & knoweth how long it is fit for us to continue under the Cross.