in the Soul of Ma1t. 37 the object to anfwer the vafinefs of its ca– pacity. So eager and violent a pailion cannot but ,fret and torn1ent the fpirit, where it finds not wherewith to fatis(y its cravings. And indeed fo- large and un– bounded is its nature,- that it 1nuft be cx– treinely pinched and firaitcned, when confined to any creature: nothing belo\v an infinite good c,an · afford it ro0n1 to fl:retch itfelf, and exert its vigour ·and ac1-i– vity. What is a little ikin deep beauty, or. fon1e fmall degrees of ·goodnefs, to n1atch or fatisfy a paffion that was n1ade for God; defigned to en1brace an infi nite good? No wonder lovers do fo hardly fuf– fer any rival, and do not defire tha~others ihould approve their paffion by in1itating it. They know the fcantinefs and narrownefs of the good which they love, that it can– not fuffice two·, being in effeCt too little for one. Hen~e love 'which is jlrong as death, occafioneth jea!oufy ·whi-ch is cruel .as the gra7.:e; the coals whereof are coals of fire which hath a 1nofi violent flame. But divine love bath no _mixture of this gall. · When once the foul is fixed on that fupreme and all-fufficient good, it finds fo n1uch perfeCtion ·and goodnefs, asCloth not only anfwer and fatis~"y its affecrion, but 1u.afier and overpower it too; it finds all its , D loYe
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=