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

Beloved, live upon this. I spake ⟨p. 136⟩before of the love of Christ. Here is the love of God the Father, who is content to be a Father, even in our sinful condition. If God be a Father ¹to us, as to Christ, then let not our hearts be discouraged in afflictions, persecutions, temptations. God was a Father to Christ in his desertion. God leaveth us to our selves sometimes, and we fear his love. Did not he leave his own Son upon the Cross, ²My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? & yet he ceased not to be a Father.

1. 1Comfort in afflictions.
2. 2Mat. 27. 46

For persecution of enemies, was not Christs whole life filled up with persecution, and yet a Son? For temptations, thou art tempted, and thinkest thou art none of Gods Children. Satan did tempt our blessed Saviour, that he might be a merciful Saviour, and know how to succour thee in times of temptation: therefore be not discouraged, say not, when thou art deserted, persecuted, afflicted, ¹tempted, God is not thy Father; for by that reason, thou mayest argue, God was none of Christs Father, God was Christs Father, notwithstanding his desertion for a time, and ⟨p. 137⟩notwithstanding his afflictions in the world, his persecutions of all sorts of men, and notwithstanding his temptations, God was his Father still. This we must observe, Father is not a relation to day, and none to morrow. It is an eternal relation. Dum percutis pater es, Dum Castigas, pater es, saith Augustine, while thou strikest us, thou art our Father, whilst thou correctest us, thou art our Father. Parents are tender to their weakest and sick Children, and God is most tender of all to them that be weak. Go tell Peter, And therefore never be out of conceit of God, or Christ, we cannot be in a condition wherein, on any sound grounds, we may run from God.