Owen - BS1450 130st 093 1669

300 unbelief andYealoufie difiinguifhed. Pfal. t 30. he hath thofè that are more cogent than any other hath, to queCtion the promifes of Grace, Pardon, and forgivenefs ; and therefore the queftioning ofthem is not their fin, but their duty. But pretend what we will, this is fpeahing againft God, limiting of him, and that which is our keeping off from ftedfaftneff and Comfort. But now there may be a jealoufie in a Gracious heart con- cerning the love of ChrìJt, which is acceptable unto him, at leali which he is tender towards, that may be mistaken for this queftioning of thepromifes by Unbelief, and fo help to keep the foul in darkness and difconfolation, this thePure expreffeth in her felt, Cant. S. 6. Love it ffrong as death, jealoufie it bard ac the Grave, the Coals thereof are Coals of fire which hatb a molt vebementflame. Love is the foundation. The root ; but yet it bears that fruit which is bitter although it be wholfome ; that which fills the foul with great perplexities, and makes it cry out for a nearer andmore fecure admiffion into the prefence of Chrift. Set me, faith the Spoufe, of a Seal upon thy heart, as a ,teal upon thine Arms, for fealottfie it cruel as the Grave. I cannot bear this diftance from thee, thefe fears ofmy being difregardcd by thee. Set me a a feat on thy heart. Now thisßiritual jealoufie is the folícitoufncfs of the mind of a believer who bath a fincere love for Chrift, about the heart, affe6ion, and good will of Chrift towards it, arifing from a.confcioufnefs of its own unworthinefs to be beloved by him, or accepted withhim. Allcaufelefi jealoufie arifeth from a fecret fence and convi(ion of unworthinefs in the perfon in whom it is, and a high efteem of him that is the objeót of it; or concerning whore love and affeetion any one is Plot*. So it is with this#iritual jealoufie; the root of it is Love, tin- cere love, that cannot be quenched by waters, nor drowned by floods, v. 7. which nothing canutterly prevail againft, or over- come. This gives the foul high thoughts of the glorious Excel- lencies of Chrift, fills it with admiration of him ; thcfe are mixed with a due fenfe of its own bafenefi, vilenefs and unwor- thinefs to be owned by him, or accepted with him. Now if thefe thoughts on the one hand, and on the other be not di- eeeed, guided, and managedaright by faith, which alone cane thew

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