3:.0 Chap. 23. An expolftion upon the R'ook.ofJ OB Verf. 3. node fires after him: Unbeleevers are alwayes at a lotte for God, they live without God in the world, fuch a life is a very death, but this is more deadly that they have no delires after God, that they makeno enquiry, no fearch after him. Though lob were at a lcofe for God, Ter his heart was full ofdelires to finde him ; and God (I may fay) is molt defireable toSaints while they are at a leffe for him. Thus the Spoufe (peaks (,Cant. 3. t.) By night on :my bed I fought him whonrmy foul Lveth,lfought him but Ifound him ;;or. But becaufe the found himnot, when the fought him, did the giveover locking him ? No, her delires of feeking and finding him were enflamed by her not finding him when the fought him ; as it follows in the fecond verfe, I mt rife now and goe about the City in the fisreets and in the broad wager, I will feeky him whom my foule loveth, Ifought him but Ifound him not. Thus her fecond labour in feekingof him was loft alto. But Both not this quite difcourage her, and kill her deliresafter him will the not now give over ieeking him . No not yet (ver. 3 ) The watch- men that goe about the Cityfound me,to whom 1 Paid, faw ye him whommy fcule loveth ? She is Rill enquiring and feeking, and at lafl the found (ver. 4.) It waybete little that I puffed from them but 1foundhim, whom' my foule loveth : I held him andwould not let himZo, &c. Many who envoy Chrift have not fuck thong de- fires after him as they who enjoy himnot , as it is with other mercies, fo with this, well is the highetl & chiefeft,the fumofall mercies, the EnjoymentofGod, our delires to him grow quicktr upon his ablence, andwe feldome prize his pretence as we ought, till he is departed or withdrawne from us. Againe, we may confider lab here in a very affliaed Conditi- on, what dotti henow ? O that I knew where I might fide him 1 Note, Fourthly; God is moftfweet to an offilledfoule. The pretenceof God is fweet, precious, and delicious to Saints at all times, but then fweeteft when they finde moti bitternefíe in the world. How pleafant is the love ofGod when we are fencible ofmans hatred?Some good men have fo much fweetnes and love in the world, that they cannot fowell relifh or tafte the fweetnes oldie tote of God; though indeed nothing argues the excellency
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