The best match, or, The souls espousal to Christ opened and improved by Edward Pearse.

CHAP. VII. Which shews what manner of Husband Christ is, and how qualified for the endearing of him to Souls, and ren∣dering him desirable in a Conjugal-Relation.

WHat is thy Beloved more than ano∣ther Beloved, that thou dost so charge us? So the Daughters of Jerusalem spake unto the Spouse, Cant. 5.9. In like man∣ner may some say to me; Who, or what is this Christ, that you do so press us to an espousal with him? What is there in him to render him desirable to us? Who, or what is he? Truly I can't tell, nor could I, had I the tongue of Men and Angels; and I am almost afraid to speak of him, lest I should darken his Glory instead of displaying it: This I am sure of, He is (as one speaks of him) Earths Wonder, and Heavens Wonder both; and has all that in him, and that in infinite eminency and perfection, that should render him grateful and desirable to Souls

in a Conjugal-Relation: Look therefore up∣on him, and view him a little, and see if there be any thing you can desire in such a Relation, that is wanting in him. I'le lay this more fully before you in these following Particulars.

1. Are you for Dignity and Greatness? This goes far among men, and makes many a Match: for this, none like Christ, none so great, so glorious, so honourable as he: pray view him a little: As to his descent, He came forth from God, viz. by eternal Generation, and is the eternal Son of the Eternal Father, John 16.28. View him in his Person, and there you will see nothing but greatness; for he is no other than God-Man, and has all the excellencies of both Natures in one Person: He is Emmanuel, God with us, God in our Nature, Mat. 1.23. He is God, Heb. 1.8. The true God, John 5.20. The great God, Titus 2.13. The mighty God, Isa. 9.6. God over all, or the most high God, Rom. 9.5. God equal with the Father, having the same Di∣vine Essence,* 1.1 and Essential Perfections in him, that the Father hath in him, Phil. 2.6. He is the brightness of his Fa∣thers Glory, and the express Character of his Person; one, in whom the whole Majesty, Luster, and Glory of the Father shines forth; one, on whom the Father has engraven all his eter∣val Excellencies, Heb. 1.3. Some small

Beams and Rayes of God's Glory do shine forth in the Saints and Angels;* 1.2 but in Christ the Fulness, Lustre, and Brightness of it appears. View him in his Office and Relation, with the Dignity that even here he is advanced unto: He is a King, a great King, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Rev. 19.6. King of Saints, Rev. 15.3. King of Nations, Jer. 10.7. King of Glory, Psal. 24.7. He is the head of all Principalities and Powers; and 'tis their glory that they have such an Head, Col. 2.10. He is the Fellow of the Lord of Hosts, Zech. 13.7. He is the first∣born of God, higher than the Kings of the Earth, Psal. 89.27. He is set down at Gods own right hand in heavenly places, far above all Principalities, and Powers, and Might, and Dominion, Ephes. 1.20. He is made higher than the Heavens, Heb. 7.26. Among all Persons, and in all Things, whether in Hea∣ven or Earth, he has the preheminence, Col. 1.18. Such is his greatness, that the whole Creation is bound to perform Homage and Worship to him, the Angels themselves not excepted: Let all the Angels of God worship him, says the Father, Heb. 1.6. & Phil. 2.9, 10. God hath highly exalted him, and given him a Name above every Name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things on Earth, and things under the Earth; i. e. Angels as well as Men must per∣form

worship to him: And indeed, a refusal so to do, would turn Angels into Devils: He is to be loved, feared, believed on, obey∣ed, prayed unto, praised, admired, and de∣lighted in by all: He is to have equal honour from all with the Father; All must honour the Son, as they honour the Father, Joh. 5.23. What shall I say? He has the sovereign Lord∣ship and disposal both of Grace and Glory in his hand; The Son quickeneth whom he will, John 5.21. He sayes unto one, Live, and he lives; and to another, Live, and he lives, and the rest of the dead live not: He has the Keys of Death and Hell, Rev. 1.18. He has the Government of the whole World in his hand; His Kingdom ruleth over all, Psalm. 103.19. He is in full possession of a King∣dom over the whole Creation, all Judgment being committed to him, John 5.22. And O how glorious is he in the whole of it!

Glo∣rious in his Throne, which is at the right hand of God, Heb. 1.3. Glorious in his Commission, which is all power in Heaven and Earth, Matth. 28.18. Glorious in his Scepter, which is a Scepter of Righte∣ousness, Psal. 45.6. Glorious in his At∣tendants, ten thousand times ten thousand of his Holy Ones, even thousands of An∣gels, Dan. 7.10. Glorious in his way of Rule, full of Grace and sweetness towards his People, full of terror and majesty to∣wards his Enemies, his Arrows being sharp in their hearts, Psal. 45.5.

And as he governs all now, so he will judge all at last;

and all must stand or fall, live or die, be sa∣ved or damned for ever, according to what Sentence he shall pass upon them, Acts 17.31. Rom. 14.10. O how great is this Lord! and how worthy to be imbraced by us! O Sirs, will you deny so great, so glorious a Person, when he makes love to you? Should you see some great Prince wooing a Beggar in Rags upon the Dunghil, you would won∣der to see her slight him, and make him wait time after time upon her: Why there is an infinitely greater Person than the greatest of Kings, that wooes you and sollicites you for your love: And will you yet be shie of him, and make him wait? Will you refuse him? Then wonder at your own sordid ingrati∣tude.

II. Are you for Riches and Treasures? This swayes with most: for this none like Christ, he has Riches as well as Greatness to recommend him to you; Riches and Honour are with me, Prov. 8.18. Yea, and his Riches are the best sort; his are Spiritual Riches, Treasures in Heaven, Matth. 6.20. Riches of Life and Love, Peace and Pardon, Grace and Glory, Righteousness and Salva∣tion, Riches of Glory, and Riches in Glo∣ry: And O what poor things are the Riches of this World to these? His are true Riches, Luke 16.11. The riches of this World are but painted riches, his are substantial Riches; I will cause them that love me, to inherit Sub∣stance, Prov. 8.21. The riches of this World

are vain, they are not, Prov. 23.5. But the Riches of Christ have a reality in them; His are lasting and durable Riches; Riches and Honour are with me, yea durable Riches and Righteousness, Prov. 8.18. Worldly riches are perishing and uncertain things, 1 Tim. 6.17. Now we enjoy them, but all of a sud∣dain they are gone and disappear; but Christs are eternal Riches for an eternal Soul: And as his Riches are thus of the best sort, so he has great abundance of them; his Riches are boundless and unsearchable: To me (sayes Paul) it is given to preach the unsearchable Riches of Christ, Ephes. 3.8. He is Heir of all things, Heb. 1.2. All the Treasures of Heaven and Earth are his: He has all fulness dwelling in him, Col. 1.19 even all the ful∣ness of the God-head, whole God dwells in him; He has enough to supply all our wants, and to answer all our desires: Do we want Grace? He is full of Grace, John 1.14. Do we want Life? With him is the Fountain of Life, Psal. 36.9. Do we want Redemption, redemption from Sin, from Death, from Hell, from Wrath? With him is plenteous Redemp∣tion, Psal. 130.7. Do we want Peace? He gives peace; My Peace I give unto you, Joh. 14.27. Do we want Righteousness; He has fulfilled all Righteousness, he is become the Lord our Righteousness, Jer. 23.6. Now will you reject this rich Lord? You are poor, and miserable, and naked; and will you not embrace this Christ, tendering himself with all these Riches to you? O how justly then

will you perish for ever! O that there were some covetous Soul here this day, that would be taken with the Riches of Christ.

III. Are you for Bounty, for a noble and generous Spirit? That's desirable in such a Relation, and takes much with many, for this also, none like Christ: He is a bountiful Lord, of a noble and generous Spirit, as well as Rich: Many a Man has riches enough, but has a base, narrow, covetous Spirit; and so his Wife has little of them; but Christ has a noble, generous, bountiful heart: He is not only rich, but he is also willing to lay out all his Riches & Treasures upon his Spouses: All the Treasures of his Love and Grace, all the Treasures of his Righteousness and Con∣solation: He would have them abundantly filled, abundantly comforted, abundantly en∣riched for ever: What a generous Spirit to∣wards them does he express, Cant. 5.1. Eat, O Friends; Drink, yea drink abundantly, O Beloved: As if he should say, I have enough, infinitely enough for you, and I would have you to have enough, I would have you to have your Souls full of all Good: He would have them to have full Graces, full Joyes, full Comforts, and full Happiness for ever; These things speak I unto you, (sayes he) that your joy may be full, John 15.11. And again, Ask, that you may receive, that your joy may be full, John 16.24. He wills them like happiness with himself: Like love and em∣braces in the Fathers Bosom, Joh. 17.24, 26.

Like Grace and Holiness, John 17.22. O what a noble, generous, bountiful heart has this sweet Lord towards his Spouse! Soul, shall it not draw and allure thee to him? Nothing will satisfie him less than their par∣ticipating with him in his own blessedness: Soul, if thou rejectest this bountiful Lord, know, that he has Treasures of Wrath and Vengeance also, which he will plentifully pour out upon thee for ever.

IV. Are you for Wisdom and Knowledge? Wisdom and Knowledge render a person lovely and desirable; 'tis indeed one of a persons highest excellencies and perfections: for this also none like Christ; He is the Wis∣dom of God, and the Power of God, 1 Cor. 1.24. The infinite Wisdom of the Eternal God does shine forth in him and through him: Yea, in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge, Col. 2.3. Which may be understood Actively as well as Pas∣sively, he knowing all, as well as having all that is worth knowing in him; He is the only wise God, Jude 25. There is no true wisdom but in him, and there is no true wisdom to be had but by him and from him; he is of∣ten in Scripture called Wisdom, to note that infinite wisdom that is in him: He knows all Persons and all Things; he knows the Fa∣ther, and that, as he is known of him, Joh. 10.15. He knows the Mind and Will of the Father; hence said to be in his Bosom, which is the place of Secrets, as well as Love, Joh.

1.18. He knows all his Fathers Counsels and Decrees, which have been of old touch∣ing the Salvation and Damnation of Man: Hence we read of the Lambs Book of Life, and Names written therein, Rev. 13.8. He knows all the Works of God the Father; The Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him what∣soever he doth, John 5.20. He knows the Attributes and Perfections of God, and he only, Matth. 11.27. John 4.56. He knows the whole Word of God, being himself the Word, Joh. 1.1. 'Tis observed by one, that the Angels themselves do not know all the Word of God, but Christ does: And as he thus knows God, and the Things of God, so he also knows Man, and the Things of Man; He knows all men, and what is in them, John 2.24, 25. He knows the State, the Spirits, the Frames, the Thoughts, the Ends, the Counsels, the Wayes, the Wants, the Burthens, the Temptations of all: In a word, he is infinite in Wisdom and Counsel, and he knows perfectly, as how to promote his own Glory, so how to defend, save, and comfort his Spouses, and carry on their hap∣piness in the best way: O who would not have such an Husband! Soul, if thou reject him, know, that his Wisdom will fight a∣gainst thee; and he does know how to damn and destroy for ever.

V. Are you for Beauty? That takes with most; for this none like Christ: For Beauty and Comeliness, he infinitely surpasses both

Men and Angels. We read of Moses, that he was exceeding fair; and of David, that he was ruddy, and of a beautiful countenance; and Josephus reports of the one of them, that all that saw him, were amazed at, and ena∣moured on his beauty. O but what was their beauty to Christs? Were their beauty, and with theirs, the beauty of Men and Angels put together, it would all be nothing to the Beauty of Christ: Not so much as the light of a Farthing-Candle is to the light of the Sun at noon-day: He is Beautiful and Glo∣rious, Isa. 4.2. Was Moses fair? Christ is infinitely more fair: He is fairer than the Children of Men, Psal. 45.2. And had you an eye to behold his Beauty, you could not but be amazed at it, and enamoured on it: Was David ruddy, and of a beautiful Coun∣tenance? See what the Spouse says of Christ, Cant. 5.10. My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousand: which notes the perfection of his Beauty; and therefore she concludes all with this, (having spoken of the Beauty of his several parts) He is altoge∣ther lovely, vers. 16. or he is all loveliness: as if she should say, What do I do? there is no end of his beauty and amiableness; there is nothing in him but what is lovely, and there is nothing lovely but what is in him; neither is there any thing in the whole Crea∣tion, that has beauty and amiableness enough in it to be a shadow and resemblance of his beauty and amiableness. O fair Sun (sayes Rutherford) and fair Moon, and fair

Stars, and fair Flowers, and fair Roses, and fair Lillies; but O ten thousand thousand times fairer Lord Jesus! Alas, I have wronged him (sayes he) in making the comparison this way: O black Sun and Moon! but O fair Lord Jesus! O black Flowers, and black Lillies and Roses! but O fair, fair, ever fair Lord Jesus! O black Heaven! but O fair Christ! O black Angels! but O surpassingly fair Lord Jesus! In short, Divines observe that there is somewhat in Christ more amia∣ble than Salvation; and indeed there are those Heart-indearing Beauties, those Soul-ravishing excellencies in the person of this Beloved, that are unspeakably beyond Salva∣tion it self: He is the brightness, the lu∣stre, the shining forth of his Fathers Glory, Heb. 1.2. O who would not be ravished with, and enamoured on his Beauty? A small sight and report thereof set the Daugh∣ters of Jerusalem a seeking after him, Cant. 6.1. And shall it have no influence upon you to draw and allure you to him? Does one so fair and beautiful make love to such black and deformed Creatures as you and I are, and shall we refuse him? Shall we re∣ject this lovely Lord? O that his Beauty might enamour us!

VI. Are you for Love, as well as Love∣liness? for a sweet, kind, loving Dispositi∣on? This is desirable to all, for this also none like Christ: He is of a most sweet, loving, tender, affable Disposition: He in∣deed

is love it self, kindness it self,* 1.3 tenderness and com∣passion it self: God is love, 1 Joh. 4.16. His love to his Spouses has all dimensions, heights, breadths, depths, lengths in it; Yea, it passes Knowledg,* 1.4 Ephes. 3.18, 19. which shews the immensity and unmeasu∣rableness of his love; as if he should say of it, 'tis higher than Heaven, and deeper than the Sea; 'tis broader than the Orb of the Earth, and longer than all Time, during throughout Eternity; yea, and it passes Knowledge. There are two things which exceed our knowledge; our Sins, and Christs Love; the one is almost, the other is altoge∣ther boundless, and bottomless. Though a man has never so many accomplishments to commend him, yet if he be of a rough, crabbed, soure disposition, this renders him unacceptable for such a Relation: But to all his other perfections, Christ has this added, That he is infinitely loving as well as love∣ly, and of a most kind, tender disposition to his Spouses. Hence we read in Scripture of his Love, his Kindness, his Meekness, his Gentleness, and the like; all noting the ad∣mirable sweetness and amiableness of his Disposition: he wept over his very enemies, even them that finally refused him, Luk. 19.41, 42. Yea, he had a kindness for his Murtherers, and prayed for them, and that whilst they

were murthering of him; yea, and his Pray∣er carried many of them to Heaven, Luke 23.34. O what love, what kindness their must he have for his Spouses? He that has love for Enemies, and such love, what must he have for his Friends? 'Tis a sweet gloss which one of the Ancients has upon the place last quoted,* 1.5 Father forgive them, they know not what they do: This (sayes he) is a Word becoming the eternal Word, the Word of the eternal Father; he prayes not onely for his Per∣secutors and Reproachers, but even for his Murtherers, im∣proving all his interest in his Father for them; saying, in effect, Father I intreat thee, by that fatherly love thou hast for me, and by which we are one, hear me for these my Murtherers in forgiving of them, own the love of thy Son, that thou mayest pardon his enemies. O what kind∣ness does this argue? In a word, his love is as an Ocean, which has neither brim nor bottom; neither can he but be kind to his: The Law, indeed, of kindness (as 'tis said of the good Wife, Prov. 31.26.) is in his lips; yea, and in his heart and carriages too, all being full of love: Oh! that his love might draw you: Surely no love like his love, none so full, none so free, none so sweet, none so fruitful, none so ravishing, none so last∣ing; his love, where he loves, never fails,

nor can it ever be broken off; Who shall se∣parate us (sayes the Apostle) from the love of Christ? That is, nothing can separate us from his love, Neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor Things pre∣sent, nor Things to come, nor Heighth, nor Depth, nor any thing else can do it, Rom. 8. 35, 38, 39. And I think, sayes an Holy Man, his unchangable love hath said unto me, I defie thee to break me or change me: Oh sirs, experienced Souls will tell you, how sweet, and good, and rich Christ's love is: They will tell you, one sight, one taste of it, makes Heaven in the Soul; that 'tis better than Wine, Cant. 1.2. And will you reject him and his love too? Will you pour con∣tempt upon so much kindness? O how just∣ly then will you perish under his wrath? He has wrath in him, as well as love; wrath for Enemies, as well as love for his Spouses; and his wrath is as hot and terrible, as his love is sweet and comfortable; yea, his love will, if rejected by you, turn into wrath, and no wrath like that that is the result of abused love: Oh therefore close, close with Christ this day.

VII. Are you for a Person of esteem, one that is much valued and beloved? An inge∣nious Soul would desire this: and for this none like Christ: As there is none so kind and loving as he, so there is none so much valued and beloved as he: He is beloved by all whose love is worth the having; He is

highly valued and beloved by all the Saints both in Heaven and Earth; the Saints in Heaven they admire and adore him; 'tis a part of their happiness to love him, and de∣light in him for ever: and the Saints on Earth, they love and value him above all others whatever; he is the dearly Beloved of their Souls: How often does the Spouse call him her Beloved, and her Well-Beloved? And once and again, she declares her self sick of love to him; she is enamoured on him; he is indeed the desire of all Nations, Hag. 2.7. That is to say, He whom all the faithful in all Nations do love, desire, and delight in: Hence also that of the Apostle, to you that believe he is precious, 1 Pet. 2.7. The Saints love and value Christ above all their Natural or Creature-Enjoyments, above Father, and Mother, Husband, and Wife, and Children, and Houses, and Lands, and the like: So much is intimated Mat. 10.37. & 19.29. they love and value him above all their Spiritual Attainments, accounting them but Dung for Christ, Phil. 3.8. They love and value him above their lives, being ready to die for him, Acts 21.13. Rev. 12.11. Oh how dear is Christ to Saints? He is also highly valued and beloved by all the Holy Angels: He is the great object of their Love and Admirati∣on: Hence he is said to be seen of Angels, that is, to be beloved and delighted in by Angels, 1 Tim. 3.16. The blessed Angels do see that in Christ, which does enamour them on him, and fill them with love to

him, and delight in him; yea, which does fill them with perpetual admirings and ado∣rings of him, Rev. 5.12. Yea, which is more than all this, He is infinitely valued and beloved by God the Father also: The blessed God sees that in Christ that renders him infi∣nitely amiable and desireable in his Eye, and to his Soul; both as Son, and also as Media∣tor, he is even infinitely dear and precious to the Father: As he is the Son of God, the Son of the Father, as the Apostles expression is, so is he the Darling and Delight of the Fathers Soul, and was so from all eternity; so much he himself tells us, Prov. 8.30. So he is the infinite and eternal Favorite of the infinite and eternal Father; so he is one in essence with the Father, and accordingly must be infinitely dear to the Father: Hence he is said to be in the Fathers bosom,* 1.6 and as Son, he was so from eternity, John 1.18. Now the Bosom is the seat of Love, and his being in his Fathers Bosom, notes that strong, ardent, intimate love which the Father has for him; yea, even as Mediator the Father loves him, John 3.35. Yea, he loves him with a choice, a signal, and an eminent love, with a love of the highest strain, the choicest ex∣cellency, the sweetest influence; a love that has a stamp of special glory upon it: Hence he is called the Beloved, Ephes. 1.6. He hath

made us accepted in the Beloved,* 1.7 that is, in Christ, who is most dear to God: Hence God calls him his beloved Son, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, Mat. 3.17.* 1.8 Yea, he is called the Son of his Love; he hath translated us in∣to the Kingdom of his dear Son, the Greek is the Son of his Love, Col. 1.13. Yea, the Father proclaims him to be the de∣light of his Soul: Behold (saith he) my Ser∣vant whom I have chosen, mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth, Isa. 42.1. What shall I say? God loves himself in∣finitely,* 1.9 and next to himself he loves Christ and delights in him: 'tis true, he loves all the works of his hands as such, especially rational Crea∣tures; and among them, he has a peculiar love for his Saints and the Holy Angels, but he loves Christ unspeakably more than all: He indeed is first Beloved, and most Beloved, and best Beloved by him of all others.* 1.10 God, as the School-men ob∣serve, does love the very flesh or Humane Nature of Christ more than all the Angels: In a word, he loves him so, as that he is even ravished with him, and he can't but love all that are in him, or related by Covenant to him; and that though alto∣gether

unlovely in themselves. Now, Sirs, will you not love and embrace this beloved one, one that is thus valued and beloved by Saints, by Angels, and by God the Father? And let me say, one that is hated and despised by none but Devils and devilish ones: Soul, if thou reject him, whom all the Saints and Angels love, admire, and adore; then ne∣ver expect to live with them in the fruition of him, But reckon upon living with Devils and damned spirits in Hell for ever: If thou reject him whom the Father loves and de∣lights in, then expect to be rejected both by him and the Father for ever; but, Soul, ra∣ther be prevailed with to love him too.

VIII. Are you for Immortality, for one that lives for ever? This added to the rest is desirable; and for this none like Christ: Yea, none but Christ, he and he alone is a never-dying Husband; the best Husband here below is mortal, and may leave you in a moment; but Christ is immortal, he is the King immortal, eternal, 1 Tim. 1.17. and he only hath immortality, 1 Tim. 6.16. He, and he onely lives for evermore: Behold! I live for evermore, (sayes he) Rev. 1.18. He will never leave you in the desolate state of Widdow-hood; yea, not onely does he live for ever himself, but moreover he makes all his Spouses to live for ever too: So you find John 11.25, 26. I am the Resurrection and the Life, (sayes he) he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and

whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die. Oh what an Husband is this! an Hus∣band that lives for ever himself, and that makes his Spouses live for ever too; he gives all his Spouses such a life as never dies, an immortal life. In a word, close with him, and as he will live for ever, as thy Husband, so thou shalt live for ever as his Spouse: Oh who would not accept of such a Person? Soul, if thou receivest him, know, he lives for ever, to love thee, to comfort thee, to delight thee, to make thee happy in and with himself; but if thou rejectest him, know, that he lives for ever to punish thee, to inflict wrath and vengance upon thee, and to make thee compleatly miserable; but oh reject him not. Thus I have shewn you a little what an Husbund Christ is to his Spouses; and up∣on the whole, I would say to you as the Spouse did to the Daughters of Jerusalem, Cant. 5.16. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend; this is he that offers himself to your embraces, surely he is no mean, no de∣spicable Person, but one infinitely desireable. Now, what do you say? will you have him, or will you not? possibly this is the last ten∣der he will ever make of himself to you; possibly the Match must be made now or ne∣ver; therefore now close with him, accept him upon his own terms, who surely is wor∣thy of all acceptation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Qui in his Verbis clare assert aeternam Christs di∣vinitatem non videl, pror∣sus caecus est. Calv. in ••••cum.
• * 1.2

  Pater totam suam essenti∣am & majestatem filio a se ab aeterno genito, intimè quasi insculpserit, & se∣ipsum in filio quasi effigiâ∣rit, ut sit substantialis i∣mago ejus. Glas. Rh. Sac.
• * 1.3

  Deus est totus amor, totus amabilis, et totus amans nostri. Dix.
• * 1.4

  Mensuratione isthac, di∣lectionis illius immensura∣bilitatem & immensita∣tem indicat Apostolus. Glas. Rhet. Sac.
• * 1.5

  Pater ignosce illis. O Verbum summi Patris Verbo conveniens! orat non solum pro persequentibus & calumniantibus; sed eti∣am pro occidentibus: sed & Pater inquit, q. d. Per di∣lectionem Paternam qua unum sumus, supplico ti∣bi, ut exaudtas me pro his occisoribus meis, ignoscen∣do; agnosce Filii tui ami∣citiam ut inimicis ignos∣cas. Bern. de pass. Dom.
• * 1.6

  Tilius in sinu Patris est. 1. In aeterna generatione. 2. In arctissima unitate. 3. In ardentissima dilecti∣one. 4. In secretissimorum communicatione. Glass. Rhet. Sac.
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: i.e. in Filio sibi gratissimo & di∣lectissimo. Zanch.
• * 1.8

  Filius dilectionis, i.e. Fi∣lius dilectissimus. Daven in loc.
• * 1.9

  Omnia diligit Deus quae fecit, & inter ea magis di∣ligit creaturas rationales, & in illis eas amplius quae sunt membra unigenitisui, & multo magis ipsum su∣um unigenitum. Aug.
• * 1.10

  Naturam humanam as∣sumptam a Dei Verbo in Persona Christi, Deus plus amat quam omnes Ange∣los. Aqui.