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

Besides, there is a spirit of supplication in some measure, though he cannot make set discourses to God, yet he can in a sweet manner lay open his sorrow and grief to God, and leave them in his bosom. They be broken words perhaps; but God can pluck sense out of them. God knoweth the meaning of the sighing of his own spirit, though broken speeches. So that where there is any tongue for God in a man, there is a spirit of ⟨p. 144⟩prayer, there is not a strangeness of God to go altogether by; but the spirit hath a kind of acquaintance with God, and it goeth to God in a familiarity, and layeth forth grief, and putteth forth Petitions, in another manner then the World doth.

Again, a Christian in the worst condition; God not only shineth on him through the Cloud, but there is a spirit in him that sigheth, to go through all thick Clouds to God. There is a spirit of supplication, and of love in some degree, for that is promised. The spirit shall help our infirmities, when we know not how to pray: the intercourse and Communion ¹with God is never broken off, where there is any spirit of adoption. Therefore Jonah and David, and the rest, though they could not pray, yet they sighed to God, and would not leave him. If they could not embrace Christ, they would touch the hem of his garment. They will not yield to the stream altogether, but strive against it. And though they be carried away with the strength of the ⟨p. 145⟩stream, and see no goodness in themselves, yet they that be with them, shall see a spirit striving to another condition, then they are in. Something of Christs, something of Gods spirit there will be in them. And take them at the worst, they will appear better then the civil man, that thinks himself a glorious man, though he hath nothing, but for show and fashion, who would be in such a mans condition, without some brokenness of heart, some sighs?