3. Those that delight in Religion are often speaking of it; Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, Mal. 3.16. Where there is gratia infusa, it will be effusa. The words of a wise mans mouth are gracious, Eccles. 12.10. David delighting in Gods testimonies, would speak of them before Kings, Psalm 119.46. The Spouse delighting in her beloved, could not conceal her love, but breaks forth into most pathetical, and no less elegant expressions: My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand*, his head is as the most fine gold, &c. The disciples whose hearts were upon Christ, make him the whole subject of their discourse as they were going to Emmaus; Luke 24.19. The primitive Christians who were fired with love to God, did speak so much of heaven, and the Kingdom prepared, that the Emperor suspected they meant to take ⟨p. 30⟩his Kingdom from him; The words are (as one saith) the looking glass of the mind*, they show what is in the heart. Where there is spiritual delight, like new wine, it will have vent; Grace is poured into thy lips, Psalm 45.2. a man that is of the earth speaketh of the earth*, John 3.31. He can hardly speak three words, but two of them are about earth. His mouth, like the fish in the Gospel, is full of gold, Mat. 17.27. So where there is a delight in God, our tongues will be as the pen of a ready Writer*. This is a Scripture touch-stone to try mens hearts by. Alas, it shows how little they delight in God, because they are possessed with a dumb devil; they speak not the language of Canaan.
3. Those that delight in Religion are often speaking of it; Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, Mal. 3.16. Where there is gratia infusa, it will be effusa. The words of a wise mans mouth are gracious, Eccles. 12.10. David delighting in Gods testimonies, would speak of them before Kings, Psalme 119.46. The Spouse delighting in her beloved, could not conceal her love, but breaks forth into most pathetical, and no lesse elegant expressions: My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand*, his head is as the most fine gold, &c. The disciples whose hearts were upon Christ, make him the whole subject of their discourse as they were going to Emaus; Luke 24.19. The primitive Christians who were fired with love to God, did speak so much of heaven, and the Kingdom prepared, that the Emperour suspected they meant to take ⟨p. 30⟩his Kingdome from him; The words are (as one saith) the looking glasse of the minde*, they shew what is in the heart. Where there is spiritual delight, like new wine, it will have vent; Grace is poured into thy lips, Psalme 45.2. a man that is of the earth speaketh of the earth*, John 3.31. He can hardly speak three words, but two of them are about earth. His mouth, like the fish in the Gospel, is full of gold, Mat. 17.27. So where there is a delight in God, our tongues will be as the pen of a ready Writer*. This is a Scripture touch-stone to try mens hearts by. Alas, it shews how little they delight in God, because they are possessed with a dumb devil; they speak not the language of Canaan.
- *[Greek or Hebrew] The standard bearer〈non-Latin alphabet〉 The standard bearer
- *Verba sunt speculum mentis Bern.
- *[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- *Psal. 45.
