The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

But who can conceive Christs love to his Spouse? Thou art all fair my love, thou hast ravished my heart, my Sister, my Spouse: How fair is thy love my Sister, my Spouse! Cant. 4.8, 9, 10. The nearest affinity is Spouse, and the nearest consanguinity is Sister; to show that his affection is like that of the nearest relations. If this be not enough, Reader, he loveth thee as himself, nay above himself; he did, as it were, hate himself out of love to thee. He denied himself, displeased himself, and gave himself to be buffeted, scourged, condemned, wracked, crucified, and to be a sacrifice for thy sins. Well, is it possible for thee to read of this infinite love without love! When wood hath been laid a sunning, it takes fire presently: Hast not thou been so fitted by the warm hot beams of this Sun, that now upon the very thoughts of Christ, thou art all in a flame! Truly it would be as great a miracle for thee to be in such a furnace of love, and not fired with love to him, as for the three Worthies in Daniel to be ⟨p. 315⟩in the midst of the fiery furnace and not burnt. Christ loved thee so unspeakably as thou hast read, as a servant, as a friend, as a brother, as a child, as a wife, as himself, nay above himself, & all this when thou wast a sinner, without strength, yea his enemy (which threefold gradation the holy Ghost taketh special notice of, Rom. 5.6, 8, 10.) and wilt thou ever give him cause to complain of thee, as Paul of his Corinthians, the more I love, the less I am beloved! Love him dearly, love him entirely, love him above all, love him more then all; say with the Spouse, Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love; and with holy Bradford, sprinkle thy trencher, thy food with tears, that thou canst love so loving and so lovely a Saviour no more.

But who can conceive Christs love to his Spouse? Thou art all fair my love, thou hast ravished my heart, my Sister, my Spouse: How fair is thy love my Sister, my Spouse! Cant. 4.8, 9, 10. The nearest affinity is Spouse, and the nearest consanguinity is Sister; to shew that his affection is like that of the nearest relations. If this be not enough, Reader, he loveth thee as himself, nay above himself; he did, as it were, hate himself out of love to thee. He denied himself, displeased himself, and gave himself to be buffeted, scourged, condemned, wracked, crucified, and to be a sacrifice for thy sins. Well, is it possible for thee to read of this infinite love without love! When wood hath been laid a sunning, it takes fire presently: Hast not thou been so fitted by the warm hot beams of this Sun, that now upon the very thoughts of Christ, thou art all in a flame! Truly it would be as great a miracle for thee to be in such a furnace of love, and not fired with love to him, as for the three Worthies in Daniel to be