CHAP. VIII.
*OH that I might see thee (my Sauiour) clothed in flesh: Oh that thou which art my euerlasting husband, mightest also be my brother, in partaking the same humane nature with me; that so I fin∣ding thee below vpon earth, Page 77 might familiarly intertaine thee, and conuerse with thee, without the reproach of the world; yea, might be exalted in thy glory.
Then would I (tho I be now pent vp in the limits of Iudea) bring thee forth into the light,* and knowledge of the vniuer∣sall Church, whose daughter I am: and then and there, thou shouldest teach me how per∣fectly to serue & worship thee, & I shall gladly intertaine thee with a royall feast of the best graces that are in my holiest seruants; which I knowe thou wilt account better cheere, thē all the spiced cups, and pom∣granate wines in the world.
Page 78*Then shall I attaine to a neerer communion with him; and both his hands shall bee imployed to susteine, and re∣lieue me: yea, he shall comfort my head and my heart (my iudgement, and affections) with the liuely heat of his gra∣cious imbracements.
*I charge you (O all ye that professe any friendship to me) I charge yee deepely, as yee will auoyd my vttermost cen∣sures; take heed how ye vexe and disquiet my mercifull Sa∣uiour, and grieue his spirit: and doe not dare, by the least prouocation of him, to inter∣rupt his peace.
WHo is this,* that from the comfortless desertes of ignorance, of infidelity, of tri∣bulatiōs, ascendeth thus vp in∣to the glorious light & libertie of my chosen? relying her selfe wholly vpon her Sauiour, and solacing her selfe in him? Is it not my Church? it is she, whom I haue loued, & acknowledged of olde: for, euen vnder the •ree of offence, the forbid∣den fruit which thou tastedst to thy destruction, I raysed thee vp againe from death; Euen there, thy first mo∣ther conceiued thee; while by faith shee layd hold on Page 80 that blessed promise of the Gospel, whereby she, and her beleeuing seed were restored.
*ANd so haue thou me still (O my Sauiour) in a per∣petual and deare remēbrance: keepe me sure in thine heart, yea in thine armes, as that which thou holdest most pre∣cious; and let me neuer be re∣moued from thy loue; the least shew and danger whereof I cannot indure: for, this my spi∣rituall loue is exceeding pow∣erfull, and can no more be re∣sisted then death it selfe: & the ielous zeale which I haue for thee, and thy glory, consumes Page 81 me, euen like the Graue, and burnes mee vp like vnto the coales of some most vehemēt and extreame fire.
Yea, more then any fire;* for any flame yet may be quen∣ched with water: but al the wa∣ter of afflictions & terrors (yea whole streams of persecutiōs) cānot quench this loue: & for all tempting offers of wealth, of pleasures & honor, how ea∣sily are they all contemned for the loue of my Sauiour?
We haue yet a sister (as thou knowest O Sauiour) ordained through thy mercy to the same grace with me:* the vncalled Church of the Gentiles; small (as yet) of groth, through Page 82 the rareness of her conuerts, & destitute of the helpe of any outward ministery; whereby she might either bear, or nou∣rish children vnto thee: when she growes vnto her maturitie; and the mystery of calling her vniuersally to thee, shall be re∣uealed to the world, and her selfe; what course will it please thee to take with her?
*IF shee shall continue firme and constant, in the expecta∣tion of her promises, and the profession of that truth which shall bee reuealed; wee will beautifie and strengthen her, with further grace, and make Page 83 her a pure and costly palace, fit to entertaine my spirit: and if she will giue free passage & good entrance, to my word and grace; wee will make hir sure and safe from corrupti∣on, and reserue hir to immor∣talitie.
BEhoulde:* that condition vvhich thou requirest in the Church of the Gentiles, thou findest in me; I am thus firme and constant in my ex∣pectation, in my professi∣on: and that vvant thou fin∣dest in her of abilitie to nou∣rish her Children, by the breast of thy WORDE, is Page 82 〈1 page duplicate〉 Page 83 〈1 page duplicate〉 Page 84 not in mee; who haue abun∣dance both of nourishment & defence: vpon which my cō∣fession and plea, I found grace and peace in the eyes of my Sauiour; and receiued from him assurance of his euerla∣sting loue to me.
*MY Church is my Vine, & I am the owner, and hus∣bandman: our thrift and pro∣fit therof farre exceedeth the good husbandry of Salomon: he hath a rich vineyard indeed in a most fruitfull soyle; but he lets it forth to the hands of o∣thers, as not beeing able to keepe and dresse it himselfe: Page 85 and therefore he is faine to be content with the greatest part of the increase, not expecting the whole.
But my vine is euer before me,* I am with it to the end of the world, I reserue it in mine owne hands, and dresse it with mine owne labour: and ther∣fore if thou (O Salomon) canst receiue from thine, to the pro∣portion of a thousand, thy workemen and farmers vvill looke for the fift part to come vnto their share; wheras the gaine of my vineyard ariseth wholly, and onely, vnto my selfe.
Sith therefore such is my care of thee,* and ioy in thee Page 86 (O my Church; which cōsistest of the particular assemblies of men professing my name) see thou be diligent in declaring my will, & giuing holy coun∣selles to all thy fellow-mem∣bers: speake forth my prayse in the great congregations, (which al attend willingly vp∣on thee) and let me heare the voice of thy constant & faith∣full confession of mee before the world.
