Compleat Christian duty. [ 1363]
IT was the speech of Mr. ••radford, That he could not leave a duty, till he had found communion with Christ in the duty,* 1.1 till he had brought his heart into a duty-frame; He could not leave Confession, till he had found his heart touch∣ed, broken and humbled for Sin; not Petition, till he had found his heart taken with the beauties of the things desired, and carried out after them; nor could he leave Thanksgiving,* 1.2 till he had found his Spirit enlarged, and his Soul quick∣ned in the return of praises; just like that of S. Bernard, who found God in every duty, and communion with him in every Prayer; This was true, sincere, compleat Christian duty. And thus it is, that the Soul taken with Christ, desires converses with him in prayer,* 1.3 in hearing, and meditation; And such too is the Genius of a Soul taken up with Christ, that duty doth not content it, if it find not Christ in the duty; so that if the end of a duty hath not left it on this side Christ, it hath left it so far short of true comfort.