118 I Gracefor Grace) Or the overflowings of ImitatingNature : andlove in a Supesiour is of a Similita- ting Nature. Now therefore, if there be love between Chrift and a Chrittiar4 theymutt needs be very like; and love there is : Chrift loves the Saints above all the world ; and the Saints love Chrift above all the world. Only Chriits love exceeds : for when the Spoufe fpeakSof Chrift in the Canticles, fhe cals Him, My beloved, in the Concrete : but when He fpeaks of her, He cals her rig love my dove, in the Abftralt. jefus Chrift had loving thoughts towards the Saints before the world was : as ye reade in the 8. of the Proverbs, and the 29, verfe. Saies witdomi(and fo Chrift) there : When He gave to the Sea His Decree, that the waters jbould notpafi His Commandement : when He app,inted thefoun- dations of the earth : 7ben I was by Him, as one brought up with Him : Iwas daily His delight (verfe the 31.) Rejoycing in the habitablepart ofHis earth : andmy delights were with the fans of men. jefus Chrift was then in the bofom of His Father, He had enough to take up His heart with full delight; and yet notwith tianding, before the Saints were, His love was towards them ' and His delight was in them : Surely, if He loved them fomuch before they had a being, when they have a being, He will exercife, and put forth that old, and ancient love of His in more abundance towards them. NA) hen a man loves aMaid, or a Virgin : While the is in her fathers houfe, fhe is let a part for him : but now afterward, when fhe leaves her fathers houfe, and all her kindred, that the may only cleave unto him ; then his heart indrawn out more : How am I ingaged (faies he) to love this wo- man, that hath left all the world to come unto me. So therew as love in Chrift towards the Saintswhile they were but let a part for Him in Gods Decree: but now when they thall leave their fathers houfe for Him, will He not then de- light in them See what is laid in the45. Pfalm : Hearken, 0daughter, (at the xo. verfe)and confider, and incline thine ear : forget afro thineown people, and thyfathers houfe : So Pall the Kinggreatly,defire, (or delight) iv thy beauty. But de- light in them, and love them he cannot ; unlefs they be like
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=