OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 143 and return a sense of his own love to them. He never will be, he never was, behind with any poor soul in returns of love. Those gracious and blessed promises which he hath made, of coming to them that believe in him, of making his abode with them, and of supping with them, all expressions ofa gracious presence and intimate communion, all depend on this duty. Where- fore, we may consider three things concerning these thoughts of Christ. (1.) That they are exceeding ac- ceptable to him, as the best pledge of our cordial af- fection. Cant. ii. 14. " 0 my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice ; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely." When a soul, through manifold discouragements and despondencies, withdraws, and as it were hides itself from him, he calleth to see a poor, weeping, blubbered face, and to hear a broken voice, that scarce goes be- yond sighs and groans. (2.) These thoughts are the only means, whereby we comply with the gracious in- timations of his love mentioned before. By them do we hear his knocking, know his voice, and open the door of our hearts to give him entrance, that he may abide and sup with us. Sometimes, indeed, the soul is surprised into acts of gracious communion with Christ. Cant. vi. 11. But they are not to be expect- ed, unless we abide in those ways and means which prepare and make our souls meet for the reception and entertainment of him. Wherefore, (3.) our want of experience in the power of this holy intercourse and communion with Christ, ariseth principally from our defect in this duty. I have known one, who, after a long profession of faith and holiness, fell into great darkness and distress, merely on this account, that he
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