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

¹I answer briefly; That God doth always begin to us, and is beforehand with us in all dealings with our selves. He giveth us many motions, and never withdraweth himself from us; but when he is despised, and slighted first: therefore let us take heed that we labour to answer Christs call, when he doth call. If we slight it, then in a judicious course, he ceaseth to speak further to us, if we slight his beginnings of revelations. There be many degrees and passages to faith and assurance; if we do not observe the beginning, how God begins to reveal himself to us by little and little, speaking to us by his spirit in our hearts when he ²begins; then in a spiritual judgement sometimes he leaves us to our selves. And therefore let us regard all the motions of the spirit, and all the speeches of the spirit of Christ; for ⟨p. 22⟩he begins by little and little, else our consciences will say afterward, we are not saved, because we would not be saved. We would not yield to all the passages of salvation; but when he was beforehand with us, and offered many sweet motions, yet we loved our sins better then our souls, and so repelled all. Therefore I beseech you do not refuse the sweet messages from Heaven, the gracious and sweet motions of the spirit of Christ, make much of them. God hath begun to you, be sure to answer. ³Learn it of Mary, when Christ began, she set not her heart and infidelity against it, but she opened her heart, and said, Rabboni; learn therefore the duty of spiritual obedience, when God speaks, speak Lord, for thy ⁴Servant heareth. Do not shut your ears to the motions of Gods blessed spirit, do not harden your hearts against his voice, but open your hearts as she did; Rabboni.

¹I answer briefly; That God doth alwayes begin to us, and is beforehand with us in all dealings with our selves. He giveth us many motions, and never withdraweth himself from us; but when he is despised, and slighted first: therefore let us take heed that we labour to answer Christs call, vvhen he doth call. If vve slight it, then in a judicious course, he ceaseth to speak further to us, if vve slight his beginnings of revelations. There be many degrees and passages to faith and assurance; if vve do not observe the beginning, hovv God begins to reveal himself to us by little and little, speaking to us by his spirit in our hearts vvhen he