512. Book. IV. . Looking unto :feftts. Chap. 5. £eel:.6 ----~ by experieP.ce; that his 7011k.! wm. eajie, and his burthen wm Matth. rx. %9'/ight. 9· When he faw the wretchedneffe of thy nature, and original pollution, he took upon him thy nature, and ~y this meanes ' took away thy original fin. . 0 here is the lovely object ! what ' is it but the abfo!ute holineffe and perfect purity of the J!ature of Chrift? this is the faireil: beauty that ever ,eye beheld, this is thet compendium of all glories; now if love be a motion and union of the appetite to what is lovely, how O!Ot)ldil: thou fl ame forth in loves upon the Lord Jefus Chrift? this is rendered as the reafon of tho{e fparklings, thou art fairer than the children of mm. 1 o. When he faw thee actually unclean, a tranfgreffor of the law in thought, word, and deed; then [aid he, loe,I come to doth] will 0 qod: and wherefore would he do Gods will,but meerly on thy behalfe ? 0 my foul, canft thou read over all thefe pa!fages oflove, and doft thou not yet cry out, 0 flay me, comfor·t me, fvr I aw fie~ of love ? can a man fiand by an hot and fiery furnace, and never be warmed? Oh for an heart in fome meafure anfwtra ble to theie loves ! Surely even good natures hate to be in debt for love; and is there·in thee (0 my foul) neither grace, nor ye t good nature? 0 God forbid! awake! awake thy ardent love towards the Lord Jefus ( hriH ! why thou art rock , and not flefh, if thou bceft not wounded with thefe heavenly darts ; Chriil: loves thee, is nQt that enough ? fervent affection is apt to draw love, where is little or no beauty; an'd excellent beauty is apt to draw the heart where there is no anfwer ofaffection at llll; but when thefe two'meet together,what breft can hold againfl: them? fee 0 my foul' bereis the fumme of all the particulars thou haft beard; Chl'ift loves thee and Chrifl is lovely; his heart is fet upon thee,- wbo is a thoufand times fairer than all the children ofmen; dorh not this doubh~ confideration like a mighty loadftone fnatch thy heart unto it , and almofi draw it forth of thy very breil: ? 0 fweet ~aviour, thou couldft fay even of thy poore Church, (though labouring under many imperfections) rhou haft ravi;'bed my he,q1·t my jifter, my Spoufe, thou hl1jl ravijhed miNe heart rvith cnr cj 1 him tyes , with one rh. ,i;;e ofth) neck._; how faire is thy love, my,ji.jler, my Spoufe? h1rw much better is thy lo'!le than wine, and the
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