Ch1p.2..Sect ·3 L9oking unto Jefiu: Book. IV. 32 I might fuffer for us, and lh~ So:1ne of God that he might facisfie divine jufl:ice : he was God a,nd, man in one perfon, that we might be one with him, membrrs of hit body, awd ofht.·_fl£jh, and of · hu bones; he was borne of the Virgin, that there might be a Ep'J.s.• 0 fpiri~ual conc~ption and birth of Chrifr in our Virgin-hearts ; or J • he was conceived and borne that we might conceive the grace of chriil: in our hearts, and bring it forth in our ltvcs; what ? are not thefe.defirable things? never teli me of thy prefent enjoyments, for never was.01riil: fo enjoyed in this life, ~ut thou hail: caufe to defire yet more of{hrifr; It i~ worth thy obfervation, that [piritual defires after Chrift, do 11eitlm lo.1d, nor cloy the lmu·r, but rather open, ar~d enlarge it for more and more; who was better acquainted with God then c7v!ofe;? and yet who was more importunate to know him better? I befeech thee /hew me thy glory: and ~ho was more acquainted with Chrift then Paul? Exod•B• dJ, and yet who was more import'.lnate to be with him nearer? I Phil. I ·""3• dejirc to betlijfolved, and to borith Chrifl, further, and further union with Chriil: : and communion with Chrifr are moil: deGrab~e things, and are not thefe the fmits ofh'is incarnation? the effects of his hypoil:atical, perfonal ur.ion.? more and more peace, and love, and reconciJiation betwixt God and us are defirable things; and are not thefe the fruits of Chrifl:s birth, the effetts of his budding out of the earth, was it not then that righteoufnefJe look.§d de_wn from hr!tven? that mercy and truth met together, •and righte~ oitfneffe and pev.ce kjjfed each other? an higher degree of holinelfe, fanttincation, likenelfe to God and Cbriil: are defirable th1ngs. and are not thefe the fruits of his circumcifion, and prefentatioJ to the Lord .? the dfeCl:s of all thofe confequents that follow after his birth ? come, ,foul, and frir up thy defires; true de fires are not wavering and dull, but refolute and full of quicknelfe; , obferve how the aature of true d.cfires in Scripture is fet forth by the moft pathetical and il:rong fimilitudes of htmger, find thirft, and thofe not common neither, but by the panting of a l)red Har._t after the rivers of water.r,and by the gaping ofdry ground afm fome feafonable jhower.r. 0 then how is it that the palfages of thy defires are fo narrow, and almoil: fhut up? nay,' how is it that thy velfels are {o full of contrary qualities, that there is fcarce , any roome in thy foul for {hriil:, and all his traine? ,will not the de!ires of the Patriarchs witneife againll: thee? how c1 yed they T t . • after ' . .. .
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