~02 Meditation! mtd Dijcourfel AS unto the firft of thefe, ~ho what he cloth is fhppofed an act of Sovereign unaccountable Wtf dom, yet there are 'many holy ends of it, and confequently reafons for it. I fhall mention one only. He doth it to ff:ir us up in an eminent manner unto a diligent feerch and enquiry after him. VVoful floth and negligence are apt to prevail in us, in our meditations on heavenly things. Tho our hearts ·wake, (as the fpoufe fpeaks, Cant. ;. 2.) in a valuation of Chrift, his Love, and his Grace, yet ')JJe fleep, as unto the due exercife of Faith and Leve towards him. VVho is it that can juftifie himfelf herein? ·That can fay, my. heart is pure, I am clean from this fin ? Yea it is fo far otherwife with many of us, that he is for ever to be admired in his patience, that on the account of our unkindnefs and wofull negligence herein, he hath not only withdrawn himfelf at feafons, but that he bath not utterly departed from us. Now he knows that thofe with whom he hath been gracioufiy pr_efent, who have had views of his Glory, altho they have not valued the mercy and priviledg of it, as they ought, yet can they not bear a {enfe of his abfence, and his hiding himfelf from them. By this therefore will he awake them unto a diligent enquiry after him.Upon t~e difcovery of his abfence and fuch a diftance of his Glory from them as their faith cannot reach unto it, they become like the doves of the va!lep all ofthem mourning every oiJe for his iniquity,& do fiir up themfelves to.feek him early and with diligence, fee Hof.;. ; . So wherever the Spoufe intimates·this ')Vithdra1ving of Chrijffrom her, fue rmmediately gives an ac - (;OUnt of her reftlefs diligence and endeavours in ·' · , · · · · · ' , her· •
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