352 I-- T_h~!h~e/eflof~~nt~_oufa~~· _' S :a R . XVI.\thofe excellenc1es that are fcattered in them are united. In innocency we knew God, and in him we had knowledgeofthe creature ~. but now we are faine tohelpour felves from the knowledge of the creature to rife to theknowledge ofGod. His he4J is 1t1 fine gold. That nothing A little in generall, fee the bo.ldneffe and can Ji]hearten laroendfe of the Churchei affections who the Church ftom1 . 0 h . . ' commendi71g ' . though {he .ad been Ill tntreated by the WAtt h. cbrift. men and others,yet is fhe not difheartened for •dl this~no J fbe goes on,and fets out particular com– mendations of her BeloYed, Where lov~ hath arty fl:rength, no water can quench it. You fee the Church here found but cold entertainJUent from the Wt~tchmen and others that fhould have been better. Her. in~a~JJe.. Nay, She was in defertion, yet the was not ferttont tliftotl- difcouraged, nay not from the defertion that rage l:er notChrifi: left her in~ but fhe feeks after him whom her foule loved. Oh this is thefigne of a true fan· Cl:ified foule toucht from Heaven, never to give over feekingof Chrill, norJettingout his prai– fes, filo· though it thinks it fdfenot belovedof C hrift. Aske fuch ones, doe you love God, his Children, and his Word ~ Oh you fhallhave themelequent, no wordsare enough to fet out · their atfeetions. N.ta(on of the And this is one reafon, which we may note firif lfees ea· ., by the way., why God plants in his children,at gerne e. their tirO: converfion a fweet love,which we call I thejtr.ft love, that when defertions come, they m3y . . -
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