yea, though she endure much loathsomeness and trouble with it, yet in the morning when she riseth she loveth it never the less, but dandleth it, playeth with it, smileth and laugheth upon it: so the God of all mercies, whose love towards us far passeth the love of mothers, though we grieve him with our infirmities continually, yet loveth us nevertheless, and is content to put up all, to forget and forgive all; for he is a most constant lover. Where he once sets and settles his love, he loveth most constantly, nothing can alter him, nothing can remove him. Even as a Father, when his ⟨p. 418⟩little child catcheth a fall, breaketh his shins, and hurteth his face, is so far from being offended or displeased with him therefore, that he doth pity him and bemoan him, seeking remedies for his hurt: so our merciful Father is so far off from being angry and displeased with us for some slips and falls, that he doth the more pity us, and lament our case. Even as a loving, and wise husband, although his wife have many infirmities, yet being assured she loves him dearly, and that her heart is with him, he is well content to wink at all her faults, to hide them, to bear with them; yea, and to make nothing of them; loving her no whit the less for them: so our dear husband and Spouse, Christ Jesus, because he knoweth we love him, and that he hath our hearts, is content to bear with all our infirmities, and to make light of them. For this cause it is that he saith to his Spouse in the Canticles, though she was black and full of infirmities, Behold thou art all fair, 1my Love: Behold, thou art fair: thou art all fair, my Love: there is no spot in thee. Mark, that he calleth his Church fair, all fair, and without spot; not because she was so in her self, but because she was made so in ⟨p. 419⟩him: and assuredly the eternal God, beholding her in his Son, doth so esteem and account of her. For, as he that beholdeth any thing through a red glass, doth take it to be red, as is the colour of the glass: so God the Father, beholding us in his Son, doth take us to be of the same nature and quality that he is; that is, perfectly righteous. For this cause it is that he loveth us, and setteth his heart upon us, and will not be removed from us.
yea, though shee endure much lothsomenesse and trouble with it, yet in the morning when shee riseth shee loveth it never the lesse, but dandleth it, playeth with it, smileth and laugheth upon it: so the God of all mercies, whose love towards us farre passeth the love of mothers, though we grieve him with our infirmities continually, yet loveth us neverthelesse, and is content to put up all, to forget and forgive all; for hee is a most constant lover. Where he once sets and settles his love, hee loveth most constantly, nothing can alter him, nothing can remove him. Even as a Father, when his ⟨p. 418⟩little childe catcheth a fall, breaketh his shinnes, and hurteth his face, is so farre from beeing offended or displeased with him therefore, that hee doth pity him and bemoane him, seeking remedies for his hurt: so our mercifull Father is so farre off from being angry and displeased with us for some slips and falls, that hee doth the more pitie us, and lament our case. Even as a loving, and wise husband, although his wife have many infirmities, yet being assured shee loves him dearly, and that her heart is with him, hee is well content to winke at all her faults, to hide them, to beare with them; yea, and to make nothing of them; loving her no whit the lesse for them: so our deare husband and Spouse, Christ Iesus, because hee knoweth wee love him, and that hee hath our hearts, is content to beare with all our infirmities, and to make light of them. For this cause it is that hee saith to his Spouse in the Canticles, though shee was black and full of infirmities, Behold thou art all faire, 1my Love: Behold, thou art faire: thou art all faire, my Love: there is no spot in thee. Mark, that hee calleth his Church faire, all faire, and without spot; not because shee was so in her selfe, but because shee was made so in ⟨p. 419⟩him: and assuredly the eternall God, beholding her in his Sonne, doth so esteeme and account of her. For, as hee that beholdeth any thing through a red glasse, doth take it to be red, as is the colour of the glasse: so God the Father, beholding us in his Sonne, doth take us to be of the same nature and quality that hee is; that is, perfectly righteous. For this cause it is that hee loveth us, and setteth his heart upon us, and will not be removeed from us.
- 1C•nt. 4 1, 7.
