The Glorious Epiphany with the Devout Christians Love, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. The Concluſion.
AND here I think it is beſt to put a period to this diſcourſe; which is already come to a competent length. For where can I leave you better than in the arms of our Lord; intirely reſolved into his will, and wiſhing to be united to him, and made one ſpirit with him, as much as he pleaſes? And yet how hard is it to ceaſe to deſire that happineſs, in its utmoſt perfection? How can we chuſe but ask him leave, at leaſt to repete that wiſh over again? The very thoughts of it make the raviſhed ſoul, thruſt it ſelf with the more ardent affection into the boſom of his love. They ſtir it up to ply him with new petitions, that he will draw it more ſtrongly after him, and knit it more cloſely to him; that he will inſpire it with more of his love, and, by perfecting his likeneſs in it, inſeparably unite it to himſelf.
O bleſſed Jeſus, ſurely thou wilt appear: I believe in due time thou wilt appear. I am fully perſwaded thou wilt not fail to make good thy word; of coming to fetch us to thy ſelf, and making us exceedingly more happy than now, in our moſt inlarged thoughts, we can conceive. I ſee, me thinks, the sky cleave, and the day break, and the Arch-angel, thy Harbinger, begin to look forth and thruſt his head out of the clouds: which makes my heart leap for joy; as if it would leave this world, and inſtantly go to meet thee, my infinitely Dearer Saviour.
For what ſplendor is there in Gold, Greg. Nyſſen. Orat. V. in Beatitud.that I ſhould deſire it? What brightneſs in pretious ſtones? What ornament in the moſt ſumptuous apparel, compared with that Good which our hope in thee ſuppoſes, and ſets before us? When thou who reigneſt over all creatures, ſhalt reveal thy ſelf to mankind, ſitting moſt magnificently upon a lofty Throne; when innumerable millions of Angels ſhall be ſeen about thee; and when the Kingdom of Heaven, which now is ſuch a ſecret, ſhall be ſet wide open before all our eyes.
O let the thoughts of the Trump of God, which ſhall then ſound, awaken my ſoul more powerfully, to lift up it ſelf to look for thee; and for that glorious ſight, thou wilt bleſs us withal, at thy appearing! O let the faith that is in thy heart grow daily more active, and work in me a moſt vigorous love of thee! And let my love be inlarged, till this heart be ſtretched to its utmoſt capacity; and thou, the infinite Good, ſtill fill and overflow it. For I am afraid thou ſhouldeſt come and find me unprepared for thee. I would not for all the world be found unready to meet thee; and unfit for the bleſſings thou wilt bring along with thee.
If an heart that deſires thee moſt paſſionately be of any worth; if thou canſt have any kind thoughts of a mind that prefers thee and thy love, above all other things; if to love thine appearing, far more than the moſt glorious condition wherein a man can poſſibly appear in mortal fleſh, can find any grace in thine eyes; behold then a ſoul that is able to ſay, through thy great goodneſs, that it moſt earneſtly longs for thee. See here an heart that deſires to be like thee; that had rather dye than diſpleaſe thee: and that will welcome thy coming with more joy, than a ſick man, wearied with the reſtleſſneſs of a long night, doth the morning light; or a Traveller doth his much deſired home; or a Virgin eſpouſed doth her long abſent Bridegroom, the dearly beloved of her ſoul.
It is thou, who haſt begot in me theſe longings. I have received all thou ſeeſt in me from thy gracious hands; which have made me, and faſhioned me; and made me unſatisfied in any thing, but thee, and thy love. O let not theſe pious longings alſo be unſatisfied. Let me not want the pleaſures from which I have turned mine eyes away here; and thoſe pleaſures too, which I look for ſo earneſtly, and promiſe my ſelf at thine appearing.
But let the ſame reaſon which moved thee to give me ſo much, incline thee to give me more. Let that mighty love which hath wrought in me deſires, bring me to the enjoyment. And after thou haſt pleaſed thy bounty, in making me receive as much as thou wilt in this preſent ſtate; let it be thy pleaſure to receive me to thee in a better: and by giving me all I would have, in the ſight I expect of thee, to leave no deſires remaining in me. Amen and Amen.
THE END.