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CONSIDER, that the coming of the holy Ghost was preceded and ac∣compaigned with a suddaine sound (like to a great lowde, and vehement blast of wind) which came from heauen and filled the whole howse &c. Thus it is, that the
hand of the highest is wont to worke a hap∣pie change on the harts of men.
He powerfully thunders downe from heauen, and forces his passage through our deafe eares, by frequent; feruent, and redoubled inspirations: Rise vp thou that sleepest, and rise vp from the dead, and Christ will enlighten thee. And he cries so lowde, that howeuer we neglect; we cannot de∣ney that we heard his call,
[Affection.] Noe my Soule, we cannot de∣nie it: Hee hath preuented our harts with strange blessings. He hath often cried out with a lowd voice, and replenished the whole howse of our harts with this sound. I am thy saluation. I am thy exceeding great reward. Life is short and vncertaine, Eternity endlesse: God is iust and dreadfull: and who is able to liue in eternall flames? And the∣se words haue often clouen to our very hart rootes, and we haue found ourselues intrenched on euery side, and we haue had nothing to oppose against them, but certaine slow and sleepie delayes: behold I will shortly sett vpon such and such a good worke: or subdue such or such a vice which raignes in me, and shortly it shall be done; And yet, what is notorious, and
we cannot deney, with the Iewes, we stri∣ue to suppresse, and stifle the grace of the holy Ghost in our hartes; And yet are we still detayned, by verie toyes of toyes from concluding an absolute league of perfect friendshipp with the God of our hartes, who laies so close a seige to them.
CONSIDER that the holy Ghost had formerly appeared to the world in diuers formes. As at Christs Baptisme, in the forme of a Doue, to teach the follow∣ers of Christ, with what innocencie and candour, and with what foecunditie of good workes they are to behaue themsel∣ues. At his transfiguration, as a bright clowde, to intimate the shewres of hea∣uenly grace, which he plentifuly powres downe vpon vs, and the fatherly protection he pleaseth to take of vs. But this daie he appeares in firie tongues, signifying that he comes to establish legem igneam, a firie law, a law of loue and charitie, which were it practised, according at it is taught, it were able to set all the world on fire.
[Affection.] Though all thy approches, motions, inspirations, and apparitions (ô
diuine Spirit) be worthily euer most wel∣come to me: yet nothing comes so home to my harts desire, as these flames of fire which intimate a law of loue, and in that conquering name, ought to subdue all hartes: For what doth mans hart loue in∣deede, but loue? What chaine of gold, could euer so deliciously draw vs, as the chaines of humanitie and charitie; where beloued force, proues absolute freedome? Ardeam ex te totus ignis sancte. O holy fire let me be wholy burnt by thee. O fire which euer burnest, and art neuer extinguished, doe thou inflame me. O thou light which dost euer shine and art neuer darkened, doe thou enlighten me. O how my verie hart desires to be inflamed by thee How sweetly dost thou heate? how secreetlie dost thou shine? how delightfully dost thou burne?