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SECT. VI. Of Loving in Jesus in that Respect.
6. LEt us love Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in his resurection; surely if we hope in Christ, and believe in Christ, we cannot but love Christ; if Christ's resurrection be our justification, and so the ground both of our hope and faith, how should we but love him, who hath done such great things for us? she that had much forgiven her, loved much; and if by vertue of Christ's resurrection we are Justified from all our sins, how should we but love him much? but that I may let down some cords of Love, whereby to draw our loves to Christ in this respect, let us consider thus.—
Love is a motion of the appetite, by which the mind unites it self to that which seems good to it. You may object that Christ is absent, how then should our souls be u∣nited to him? but if we consider that objects, though absent, may be united to the powers by their species and images, as well as by their true beings, we may then be said truly to love Christ as raised, though he be absent from us; come then, stir up thy appetite, bring into thy imagination the Idea of Christ as in his resurrection; present him to thy affection of Love, in that very form wherein he appeared to his Disciples; as gazing upon the dusty beauty of flesh, kindleth the fire of carnal love, so this gazing on Christ, and on the passages of Christ in his resurrection will kindle this spiritual love in thy soul: Draw near then, and behold him; Is he not white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousands? is not his head as the most fine gold? are not his locks bushy, and black as a raven? are not his eyes as the eyes of doves by the rivers of water, washed with milk, and fitly set? are not his cheeks as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers? thus I might go on from top to toe? but that thou mayst not only see his glo∣ry and beauty wherein he arose, but that thou mayest hear his voyce; doth he not call on thee, as sometimes he did on Mary, on Thomas, on Peter, or on the twelve? As the Angel said to the woman, remember how he spake, when he was yet in Galilee: so say I to thee, remember how he spake while he was yet on earth; surely his lips like Lillyes dropped sweet smelling myrrhe. As thus. —
1. In his apparition to Mary, Jesus saith unto her, woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? were not these kind words? and hast not thou had the like appari∣tion? hast not thou heard the like sweet words from Jesus Christ? how often hath thy heart sobbed and fighed out complaints, O where is he whom my soul lov∣eth? I charge you O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him I am sick of love? And then was not Christ seen in the mount? was not thy extremity his opportunity to do thee good? did not he bespeak thy comforts with these words, Sweet soul, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? what wouldst thou have that I can give thee? And what dost thou want that I can give thee? If any thing in heaven or earth will make thee happy, it is all thy own; wouldst thou have pardon? thou shalt have it, I freely forgive thee all the debt; wouldst thou have my self? Why, behold I am thine, thy friend, thy Lord, thy husband, thy head, thy God. Were not these thy Lords reviving words? were not these melting, healing, ravishing, quickening, pas∣sages of Christ his love?
2. In his Apparition to the ten, Jesus stood in the midst, and saith unto them, peace be unto you. Lo here more words of love: in the midst of their trouble Christ stands in the midst, speaking peace to their souls; and hath not Christ done the like to thee? hast thou not many and many a time bin lapt into troubles, that thou knewest not which way to turn thee? hast thou not felt the contradictions of men, raylings of Rabshecka's? and hast thou not sometimes shut the doors upon thee for fear of such Jews? and then, even then, hath not Christ come to thy spirit with an olive branch of peace? saying to thy restless soul, peace, and be still? hath he not wrought wonders in the sea of thy restless thoughts? hath he not made a calm; and more then so, hath he not filled thee with joy and peace in believing? hath he not sent thee away from thy prayers and complaints with a piece of heaven in thy soul? so that thou wast for∣ced to conclude.
In his Apparition to the Eleven, Jesus saith to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and