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SECT. VI. Of Loving Jesus in that respect.
6. LEt us love Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our salvation for us during his Life. Now what is Love but a motion of the Appetite, by which the Soul unites it self to what seems fair unto it? And if so, O what a lovely Object is the Life of Christ? who can read over his Life, who can think over his worthiness, both in his per∣son, relations, actions, and several administrations, and not love him with a singular love? That which set the Daughters of Jerusalem in a posture of seeking after Christ, was that Description of Christ, which the Spouse made of him; My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousands, his head is as the most fine Gold, his Locks are bushy and black as a Raven; his eyes are as the eyes of Dov••s, by the Rivers of water, washed with milk, and finely set, his cheeks are as a bed of Spices, and sweet flowers; his lips like Lillies dropping sweet smelling myrrhe, &c. By these are intimated unto us the govern∣ment of Christ, the unsearchable counsels of Christ, the pure nature of Christ, with∣out any impurity or uncleanness; the gracious promises of Christ, the soul saving in∣structions of Christ, the holy actions and just administrations of Christ, the tender af∣fections, and amiable smilings of Christ, the gracious, inward and wonderful work∣ings of Christ; so that he is altogether lovely, or he is composed of loves; from top to toe there is nothing in Christ, but 'tis most fair and beautiful, lovely and desirable— Now as this Description enflamed the Daughters of Jerusalem; so to act our loves to∣wards the Lord Jesus Christ, take we a copy of the Record of the Spirit in Scriptures; see what they say of Christ; this was his own advice, Search the Scriptures, for—they are they which testifie of me.
O my soul, much hath been said to perswade thee to Faith; and if now thou believ∣est thy part in those several actings of Christ, why let thy Faith take thee by the hand, and lead thee from one step to another; from his Baptism to his Temptations; from his Temptations to his Manifestations; and so on: Is not here fewel enough for Love to feed upon? Canst thou read the history of Love (for such is the history of Christ's Life) and not be all on a flame? Come, read again! there is nothing in Christ but 'tis lovely, winning, and drawing; as,—
1. When he saw thee full of filth, he goes down into the waters of Baptism, that he might prepare a way for the cleansing of thy defiled and polluted soul.
2. When he saw the Devil ready to swallow thee up, or by his baits to draw and drag thy soul down to hell, he himself enters into the List with the Devil, and he over∣comes him, that thou mightest overcome, and triumph with Christ in his Glo∣ry.
3. When he saw thee in danger of death through thy own unbelief, for (except thou sawest in his hands the print of the nails, and put thy finger into the print of the nails; ex∣cept thou hadst clear manifestations of Christ even to thine own sense, thou wouldest not believe) he condescends so far to succour thy weakness, as to manifest himself by several witnesses; three in heaven, and three on earth: yea, he multiplies his three on earth to thousands of thousands; so many were the signes witnessing Christ, that the Disciple which testified of them, could say, If they should be written every one, the world could not contain the Books that should be written.
4. When he saw the buying and selling in the Temple, yea, making Merchandize of the Temple it self, I mean of thy Soul, which is the Temple of the holy Ghost; he steps in to whip out those Buyers and Sellers, those Lusts and Corruptions: O (cries he) will you sell away your souls for Trash? O what is a man profitted though he gain the whole world, and lose his own Soul?
5. When he saw thee like the horse and mule, more brutish than any man, not having the understanding of a man; thou neither learnedst wisdom, nor hadst the knowledge of the most holy; he came with his instructions, adding line unto line, and precept on precept, teaching and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom; and sealing his truths with many Mira∣cles, that thou maist believe, and in believing thou mightest have life through his Name: and Oh! what is this but to make thee wise unto salvation?
6. When he saw thee a sinner of the Gentiles, a stranger from the common-wealth of