\ ., As_ong ofSolomon~ . , : 3 3~lvantage of the fweeteft palfag~ of our life /----• (l'r:!arriage) and the mo.fi delightfullaffed:ion · (Love)inthe fweetdl: ln:mnei· ofexpreffion(by aSong) he might carry up the foule to things of aheavenlynature. Wefeein Summer,thatone Simile. heate weakens another; andagreat light beil:~g near alittle one, drawes away and obfcures the flame of the other : fo it is when the affections Simil!. i are taken up_higher to theirfit 0 bjed:, they die unto all earthly things 1 whilft that heavenly flame confumes and .wafies all bafe affections rwoefpecia!t and eatthly ·defires. Amongil: other wayes of waye! ofrmrtitJII[ortification,therebe two remarkable: fictmon.• 1. By imbittering all earthly things unts UJ, whereby the Ajft[fionsaredeaded to them. 2 .Byfoewing mere noble,excellent,&fit objeUs. Thatthe foul iffuing more largely and firong · ly intothem,may be diverted,and fobydegrees die umo other things. The holy Spirit bath chofen this way in this S8ng, by elevating and railingour ajfe[fionsand love, to take it off from other things, that fo it might run in its right channell. Irispitty that a fweet fireame fl1ould notrathc=rrun into a gt~rdm, then intoa puddle. What aihame is it,that man having in him fi.1ch excellent affeCtions, as Love,Ioy ,Delight,fhould cleave to dnrtybafe things that are worfe than himfelfe, fo becomming debafed like them'! ThereforetheSpirit of God, out ofmercy and / pitty to man, would raife up his affeCtions, by'· taking comparifon from earthly things., leading \ to higher matters,that onely deferve Love,Ioy, B :z Delight, ------------~ -------
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