Ambrose - BT200 A42 1658

104 Book. II. L~oking unto tfeftiS. Cha_p.z.Setl:. 3 ------,------- ------------- , namele[e rich· man, cloathed in purple, and fine linnen , 11nd fa:. ' \ ringfnmptunuflJ every Jay; ay, but doft-not thou reply either in word or heart, would (hr•ft were mine , and then I had g~tlnore then he. Poor foule ., doft thou -not gafp on ely after Chrift , when thou feft:heft (as I may fay) the very deepeft breath -~ canrl thou read over the g~nerationofJefus the Sonne of God; the time whe~ he·was begotten, th~ -manner of his begetting • the ~utual kmdneffe and love ·ofhtm ·that begets, and ·of hi~ : that ts begotten? arid doft thou not pant, and breath, and gafp after Jefus at every period? canft t·hou read over Jefusnis acts and decrees in reference to thy fdf? canf\: >thou turn over thofe many leaves , in e.very of which is difcovered·thofe-everlafting loves ofGod-in his projects, counfels, foreknowtedge purpo(e, decree, covenant for thy fouies happineffe, and ar~ thou not ready at every d!fcov.ery to ling D11vids Pfalme , as the · he~trt panteth afi:er-the water-bro:Jk§s' fo panteth mJ foul after rhee 0 God; my fou!e_thirfteth for Cjod, for the living God, 0 when fba/l I come and appear before God ? 0 my foule , had.ft thou but thefe pantings, thirftings _ breathings after God and ·Chrift .~ thou mighteft comfortably conclude, thefe are the fruits ofGods Spirit, it is the Spirit of the Lord Jefus whio·h makp thofe jighes - and groanes in thee , ,which c11nnot be expref[ed. He and theefigh· together, one in another, and one after another, 0 therfore look,l~ok Hnto 'fefus, and figh, and delire after him. 3. We may and muft delire.afrer the full and utmofl: execution whereby God effectually workes .in time according to all his workings or decrees before time. God that purpofed and decreed ft'om all Eternity, .he will not have dune the full execution of that p~rpofe or decree till that afLer-Eternity, -in •that world without . end. Indeed fome part is a fulfilling now , but the maine, the great part is yet to come: why then as we fee the plot , let us' deGre after the full accompliibment, let us defire after that glory without end , to which we were predeftinated before the beginning. It was Paulsdejire to be diffolvetl,and to be with Chrijf. As men burthened , fo fl1oeld we deGre and groan after the enjoyment ofGod in t-he world to come. 0 my foule that thou were but caft into the Apoftles mould , that thy affecrions were but on the wing, . that they might take flight, and fteere their courfe towards heaven_, and thereupon .that thou mighteft fay; · . · yonJ

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=