The Rise Race and Royalty of the Kingdom of God, Part 2 (4 of 5)

The Rise Race and Royalty of the Kingdom of God · Part 2 (4 of 5)

p. 382Jesus Christ goeth on in the Person of David. And this was yet a small thing in thy sight; O Lord God; thou hast spoken of thy Servants House for a great while to come, v. 19. This, O my Father, which thou hast wrought so wonderfully; these mighty Works, these Miracles of Divine Love, and Glory in my Person seem a small thing to thee. Thou hast spoken of my House, my Church, my Members, my Seed to reign with me in the same Kingdom of Glory to Eternity.

Then Jesus Christ raiseth this Love to the highest point of Admiration, to a state of transcendency above the capacity, and comprehension of all Humane Hearts, of all Created understandings. Is this the manner of Man, O Lord God! Is there any thing among Men, in the compass of the Creation, to which this Love can be likened, or with which it can be compared? Is there any where any Image, Figure, or Resemblance of such a design, such a work of Love, and Glory?

Thus Love is poured forth in the Person of the Lord Jesus, See now, how freely it is poured forth. According to thine own heart hast thou done all this, v. 21. Indeed he bringeth in first; For thy Words sake; for thy Promise; for thy Sons sake, thine Eternal Word, thine Essential Image, the Ground of thy Promise; the Subject of thy Love, and Design; the Pattern, and Model of thy Work. But this word springeth from that Root, to which all is ultimately referred; the Heart of God; According to thin… own Heart hast thou done all this.

The Heart of God is the Fountain of living Loves, which springeth up freely of its own accord to Eternal Joys, and Glories in the Person of Christ.

The Love of God in Christ receiveth its Beginning, Force, Form, Fashion, and Finishing from the Heart of the Father. All the Works of God are said in the Epistle to the Hebrews, to have been Finished from the Beginning of the World. All the Loves of God, all the Works of Divine Love manifested, and wrought in the Blessed Person of our Lord Jesus were finished from Eternity in the heart of his Father.

All Tides are from the Aestuation of the Sea. The Sea boyling up from its Bottom, as it riseth, and dilateth itself, poureth forth floods of Waters into all Rivers which run along in the Bosom of the Earth. The Heart of God is the great Sea of Love. This from its own Divine Heart, Height, and Fulness filleth all Spirits with its Heavenly Floods in the Bosom of Jesus Christ.

The Will in the Soul is said by a learned Man to be Amplitudo Intellectûs, the understanding in its full ext…nt.

The Love of God poured forth upon the Person of Christ, and upon all the Saints, upon all things …n him, is Amplitudo Cordis Divin…, the largeness of Gods Heart, the Heart of God in its full extent, and latitude. So David addeth in the same place, that God doth all this to shew his Greatness, the Greatness of his Heart; for he faith; This is to make thy Servant know; v. 21. p. 383To display thy self, to draw a perfect draught of thy self in the Person of Christ. In what? The next verse expresseth it. Wherefore thou art Great. v. 22.

James 1. 5. God is said to give to all men liberally, and to upbraid none. Love is implyed in the gift; Freedom in the liberality, and gentleness without reproach. The Person of Christ is signified in the universality; All Men. Christ is one among the rest of Men, Christ is the Fulness of Mankind. He took not upon him the Person, but the nature of man, unrestrained to any particular Person. His Humane Nature was not a Branch, or an Apple, but the Apple-Tree.

There are two expressions, which St. James maketh use of here to set forth the Freedom of Divine Love in the effusions of it.

1. He giveth Liberally. The Word in Greek is Simply, without any Reserve; without any Division of the Heart. Simplicity is Unity; The Intentness of the Mind upon One Thing. The heart of God, All the Thoughts of his heart, All the Powers of the Godhead, All the Divine Attributes are united, and intended upon This One Thing alone; Love poured forth on the Person of the Lord Jesus.

Simplicity is without Alteration, or Composition. The heart of God is single in this, Natural, unchangeable. This is the One Thing, the OnelyOnly Thing of God's heart. This is the S…mplicity of the Divine Operations from E…ernity to Eternity; The Effusion of Love in the Person of Christ▪ There may be many Shadows, many Vails; many Windings: But this is the Simplicity, the naked Face of the Divine Design, of the Divine Work from the Beginning to the End; as it lieth in the heart of God.

2. Upbraiding none To upbraid, is to object some Evil, as an Argument of withholding some Act of Love, or exercising some Act of Wrath. John. 1. 2. 9. Jesus Christ is called the Lamb, which taketh away (foreign, tollit, taketh up, beareth) the Sins of the World. When the Father was to pour forth his Love upon Christ he did not reproach him saying; Thou hast the Sins of all the World upon thee. Thou hast upon thee Millions of Whoredomes, Adulteries, Incests, Treasons, Witchcrafts, Murthers, Idolatries, Rebellious Blaspemies, Horrid Profanenesses, Apostasies, Spiritual wickednesses in Heavenly, Angelical, Divine Forms, the proper Sins of Devils. Thou hast many Davids, Amnons, Absaloms, Manassehs, Mary Magdalens, many Peters, many Judas's in thee; and comest thou to me for Love? How can I give thee my Love? Instead of this, when he is Baptized into that publick Ministry, in which he professedly beareth the Sins of all the World before Men and Angels, in which he beareth the Person of the greatest Sinners, that ever were in the open Eye of Heaven; Heaven openeth upon him, the God-Head descendeth upon him visibly in a living Form of Love, in the Form of a Dove; a voice cometh to him from the Father: This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

St. Paul saith; Love thinketh no Evil. Solomon saith; Love covereth All Sin. When the Father should express Love to Christ in the Person of a Sinner; p. 384he doth not object thy Unloveliness, thy Filth, thy want of Love, thy enmity; neither to deny Love, nor to make the manner of expressing love l…ss sweet, less lovely▪ No. As the Se…, when it floweth covereth all the Sand on the Shore round about, with Multitudes of deep Waters, so God, when he poureth forth his love in Jesus Christ drowneth Eternally the innumerable multitudes of thy Sins with mighty, and unfathomable Seas of Love, which never return to leave them naked, or bare to any Eye any more for ever.

God poureth forth his Love in Jesus Christ freely; that is. 1. Naturally. 2 Nakedly. 3. Indifferently.

1. God poureth forth his Love in Christ Naturally, Mat. 3. 17. This is my Beloved Son; in whom I am well pleased. Every Faculty, or Power is carried forth naturally to its proper object. Jesus Christ is the proper object of the Fathers Love.

The most perfect work of Nature in every thing is to bring forth its like. Then nothing so Naturally, so Powerfully attracteth love, so delighteth, a… this similitude doth. The most perfect, and perpetual Act of the Divine Nature in the Father is to bring forth the most perfect Image of himself in the Person of Christ; then to pour forth himself in all Divine Loves, and Pleasures into his Bosom.

Pleasure accompanieth all natural operations. Pleasure naturally drawet… every Spirit. Jesus Christ draweth the Heart of the Father, all his love entirely to himself; because the Father is pleased in him. He is the Rest, and Joy of his Father.

Three Things follow upon This …aturalness of the Father's Love in Christ, 1. Sweetness; 2. Force; 3. Duration.

1. Sweetness. That is ever Sweetest, which is most Natural. Live Honey is most esteemed; because it droppeth Naturally of its own accord from the Honey-Comb. Thou, who hungrest after the Love of God, lye down in the arms of thy Jesus. There Love will drop and fall from the Heart of the Father into the Mouth of thy Spirit, as Freely, as Naturally, as Sweetly, as … Live Honey from the H…ny-Comb.

2. Force. That, which is Natural, hath the Greatest Force in it. Every Natural Agent worketh to the utmost of its Power. Thou, who wantest Love be found in Jesus Christ. As the Sun every moment poureth forth All h… Beams from every part of him because he shineth Naturally: so will the Father pour forth himself in Millions of Loves from every Point of his Hear… of his Godhead; he will pour forth himself in All his Loves; he will po… forth himself All in Loves upon Thee in Jesus Christ. For the Father, as Naturally loveth in Jesus Christ; as the Sun-shineth.

3. Duration. Nothing violent, unnatural continueth. Psal. 30. 5. His ang… endureth but a moment. In his favour there is Life. Clouds, and Storms … not long. They are a violence upon the Air, and Praeternatural to it. Calm… p. 385Serenities and Clear Sunshines, are its Natural State. Clouds, and Storms of wrath are a Force upon the Divine Nature, Strange to it, a Disguise upon it. The Blessed Calms, Serenities, and Sun shines of Loves of Love are its proper State. Comfort thy self then, O afflicted Soul! The rain will be over; the storm will be pass't away. The sweet, and clear, the Golden, the Glorious smiles of Love will return after the Storm, and Rain. These will rest the Last in the Face of God, and upon thy Spirit. Wrath is but for a moment; at longest the moment of this Life, this Shadow, this short Dream of Lifes. The Truth of Life, the Perpetuity of Life, Eternity is for Love.

2. God poureth forth his Love in Christ Nakedly. John. 3. 34 God giveth him his Spirit without Measure. The Spirit is Love in a Living Person, in its Eternal Substance, in its Native Seat, in its Unlimited Freedom; as Light in the Sun. God saith to the Lord Jesus; I will not stand to measure out my Love to thee. Take it All. I will not give thee a Jewel out of my Cabinet; but my Cabinet of Jewels. I will not give thee an Apple of Love off from the Tree; but the Tree of Love, with all ripe, and pleasant Fruits of Love, hanging upon it. I will not give thee some Spice from the Island; but the Island of Spices, the Land of Loves, where they grow, and increase eternally. I will give thee the Infinite, Eternal Spirit of Love himself, where all the Treasures of Love …re without number, measure, or End.

The Face of Divine Love in Jesus Christ hath no Vail upon it, though …ever so thin; no Cloud upon it though never so fine: No. Its Love shineth …orth in Jesus Christ with a na…ed face; in its Strength, with all its Beauties, …ll its Sweetnesses.

Thou, who art weary, who art heavy laden with any Debt, any Burthen … Guilt, Sin, or Sorrow; come lay thy head upon this Pillow, the Naked …eart of God in the Naked Bosom of Jesus Christ. Here thou wilt sleep, and thy …eep will be sweet to thee; thou wilt forget thy Debts, and Cares; thou wilt … no weight, no burthen upon thee any more.

3. The Love of God poureth forth itself in Christ Indifferently, that is, 1. Without Distinction; 2. …ithout Condition.

1. The Love of God poureth forth itself in Christ without Distinction. John. … 16. God so loved the World, that he gave his onelyonly-begotten Son; that whoso…ver believeth in him, should not perish; but should have everlasting Life. Let … Sinners, let all the Souls of all Mankind hear this. All Persons, all States, … D…grees; the Persons of all Sinners, All States, and Degrees of Sin are A…e to the Love of God in Jesus Christ. It findeth no Distinctions. It maketh …ll Distinctions by its own Election, Descent, and Operation. It taketh away … Distinctions by putting the greatest Comeliness upon the most uncomely …rts; by pouring forth itself in the greatest Loveliness upon the unloveliest …arts; by being Infinite in the Effusion of itself upon Every Part of Christs …. The First Matter is said by learned men to be a Deep of Emptiness, and p. 386Darkness, a meer Possibility, a Pure Passiveness to all Forms of Things. Such Matter, such a Subject is every Soul to the Divine Love in Christ. Every Soul is in itself a great Deep covered with the Blackness of a Darkness. But it is to This Love a meer Possibility, a Pure Passiveness. It cannot actuate itself to a Complyance, or a Resistance. Love cometh to it, as its Form, infuseth itself into it, penetrateth thorow the whole Substance of it, filleth it in every Part. Love reigneth Powerfully over it, reigneth gloriously in it; maketh it a Kingdom of Love; maketh it a Lovely Queen to itself standing at its own right hand, reigning, and ruling together with itself in this New Kingdom of Love.

Rom. 5. 20. Where Sin abounded, there Grace hath abounded much more Seas, and rivers have their High-Water Marks. Thus far their Waters come, when they are highest, but no further. The Sea of Divine Love in the Bosom of Christ hath no High-Water Mark, no Bound; Thus far Love shall flow, thus high its pure and sweet Waves shall rise, to wash, to make white, to make new, to overflow, Sinners of such Circumstances; But beyond this no Love shall pass, to Sins of such aggravations, of so deep, and foul a Dye; to Sins against so much Light, so much Love; to Sins so often repeated after so many new Repentances, new Resolutions; to Sins so black, so bloody, No; The Love of God is without Distinction; to all Sins, and over all Sinners in Jesus Christ. If It maketh any Difference; It floweth first, It riseth highest there, where Sin hath most abounded; that there It may be most Glorified. The Love of God in Jesus Christ maketh the greatest Sinners its Patterns to all the World of Men, and Angels; Its Master-pieces to Eternity.

1 Tim. 1. 15. God had mercy on me the Chiefest of Sinners; that I might be an Ensample to all that shall believe in ages to come; saith St. Paul. The holy Apostle doth not speak vainly, when he calleth himself The Chief of Sinners he speaketh the truth in the Holy Ghost, and lyeth not. He setteth himself, as a Light on a high Watch-Tower, to all thorow all ages, that shall fa… upon Seas of Lust, in a dark Night of Ignorance, and Unbelief, exposed to Storms of Wrath. He inviteth them to make thither, there they shall be safe, they shall find rest, they shall find a Heven of Divine Love in the Bosom of Jesus Christ defended by the Rocks of Eternity, the Divine Attributes from every wind.

No Vessel will fear want of water there, where it seeth the greatest Ship of the greatest burthen, deepest loaden which draweth the greatest depth of waters, to sail safely. St. Paul being dead yet speaketh to the greatest Sinners in every age after this manner. Behold a Sea of Love, a Channel of Love the Love of God poured forth in the Bosom of Jesus Christ. My self the greatest Sinner deepest loaden with Sin, and Guilt, who draw the greatest depth of Love, have here found Love enough, unfathomable Love, on which I have bin carried safely, triumphantly unto that Flourishing Land of Glory, where now I feast continually with all Blessed Spirits in the midst of all Incorruptible p. 387Beauties, and Joyes. Let no sinner ever after me doubt to trust himself to this Channel, to put himself upon this Sea of Love in the Bosom of the Lord Jesus. Thus the Love of God poureth forth itself without Distinction in the Glorified Person of our Blessed Saviour.

2. The Father poureth forth his Love in Christ Indifferently, that is, Without Condition.

1. The Love of the Father dependeth upon no Conditions between himself, and his Son; the Father doth not say to Christ; I will pour forth my Love in thee for Sinners; but upon this Condition, that thou make thy Soul an offering for Sin; that thou satisfie my Justice and my Wrath; that thou take upon thee to make them capable of my Love, suitable to me in Holiness, and Spirituality. All, that the Lord Jesus hath done, or suffered is no Condition, but Consequent of the Father's Love. Love is the Sea: These are the many Springs, by which it variously boileth up, the many Streams, and Windings, in which it playeth with itself, as it runneth along in this Earthly Image, until it return into the Sea, itself again, from whence it came.

The Lord Jesus testifieth; The Words, which I speak, are not mine, but the Father's. He doth the Works.

It is the First, the Supreme Love itself, which shut up itself in Flesh, which was made Flesh; It is That Love, which weepeth bleedeth, dyeth; which hangeth upon the Cross, lieth in the Grave. It is that Love, which riseth again, maketh itself a Spirit, ascendeth up on high, taketh to itself Its First, and great Glory. It is that Love, which, as a Spirit, cometh to thee Invisibly, by day, and by Night; which is now with thee Invisibly, wooing thee in all Forms, in Its Blood, in Its Beauties, by all means working itself into thine heart. It is The Love of the Father, That Love, which is the OnelyOnly Father, which doth all the Works, which speaketh all the Words in the Person of the Lord Jesus.

It is the same Gold which is stampt in several pieces, with several Images, to make Crowns Angels, Twenty shilling Pieces. Coin, and Currant Money for Traffick. The Incarnation, Active Obedience, Sufferings, Resurrection, Intercession of the Lord Jesus; his Presence, his Powers, his Operations in the Spirit are All The same Gold, The same Divine Love in several Forms bearing several Figures, for Traffick, and Commerce between God, and the Creature. When thou presentest to God the Blood, the Glory, the Intercession, the Spiritual Operations▪ the Graces of the Lord Jesus; thou settest before him, his Love himself in various Manners, in various Mysteries. The OnelyOnly Coin, the OnelyOnly Currant Money, the OnelyOnly Means of Commerce in the Kingdom of Heaven, is Love, the First Supreme, Eternal Love, the Gold of Eternity, the most high, and most Glorious Unity in all varieties, stampt with all Figures.

2. The Father in giving his Love maketh no Condition with Sinners. He doth not say; I give thee my Love for that Sinner upon Condition that he be humbled, p. 388that he accept of my Love, that he believe in thee. The Gospel is a Covenant of Grace. The Covenant is All Love. The Covenant is Compleat in the Person of Christ, who is The Divine Love, Eternal Love in a Divine, Infinite, Eternal Person. I have given him, saith the Lord by the Prophet Esa…ah, for a Covenant to the Nati…ns.

All Preparations, Qualifications, Acceptations are not Conditions of This Love, but Infallible Consequents; not Causes, without which the Covenant hath no Force; but Irresistible, Immutable Effects of it.

By Grace ye are saved: Ephes. 2. The whole Work of our Salvation from the Begining to the End, from the first Design in Eternity to the last Act in Eternity is Pure Love.

Divine Love shineth in upon a Dark Spirit, Enlightneth, Awakneth, Convinceth it by Its own Heavenly Brightness. Divine Love burneth up, flameth in a Defiled, Dead heart, raiseth a Divine Life, and Sense in it, melteth it, consumeth its Dross, maketh it new.

The Love of the Father in the Bosom of the Lord Jesus is the Golden Mine, out of which a Saint is first taken: the Flaming Mint, where he is Melted, refined, made pure Gold, and stamp't with the Divine Image.

Rev. 1. 5. 6. He, saith St John of our Lord Jesus, hath loved us, and washed us in his own blood, and made us Kings, and Priests to God his Father. The Love of the Father in the heart of Christ is our onelyonly Fountain. All the Blood, which streameth from the Wounds of Christ to wash us, runneth down from this Fountain. This Love is the Costly Ointment running down upon all our Persons, anointing us for Priests, and Kings.

Poor Soul, which lyest in thy Sins, which lyest a Slave in Chains, at the bottom of a Dark, Deep, and Miry Dungeon. The Love of the Father in the Person of the Lord Jesus cometh to thee; It taketh thee into itself, as a Bath of most pretious Blood, in which It cleanseth thee from all thy filth, cherisheth all thy parts bringeth thee to thy self, to a Divine Beauty, to a Divine Warmth sense, and Life. This Love setteth itself, as a Priestly, and Kingly Crown upo… thy Head. It infuseth itself, as a Priestly, and Kingly Spirit, into thee. … changeth itself in thine Iron Chains into Bracelets of Gold upon thee; in th… Dungeon into a Temple, and Palace: It filleth thee, this Temple, this Palace round about thee with Its own clear, and Proper Appearance in the Glory … God. Thus it dwelleth with thee Eternally. Thus the Love of the Fathe… in the heart of Christ, softneth, enliveneth, washeth thee with Its own Blood maketh thee by itself, a Priest, and King to itself Eternally.

I have done with the first Property in the Effusion of Divine Love; Freedo…

Use. 1. The Gospel is compared to a Marriage-Feast for a King's Son. Go… the Father is The King: His Son is the Bridegroom: Eternal Love attende… with all The Lovelinesses, and Joys of That Love are The Feast. Thou, … Man, O Sinner, Thy Soul is invited to this Feast of Love, not onelyonly to … Guest, but The Beautiful, Blessed Bride.

p. 389The Ministers, the Angels, The Spirit of Love himself are sent forth, as E… bassadours, to bring thee to This Marriage.

1. Obj. Say not, I am Unworthy, Unlovely, in my Sins, and shame.

Answ. This Love is free. It seeketh not, but bringeth Loveliness along with it. This Love is itself The Wedding-Garment, and the Marriage-Crown. This Feast, as thou eatest, giveth thee strength, Beauty, and a Right to it. This Feast of Love maketh Its Guest. This Marriage of Love maketh a Bride.

Obj. 2. How can I leave my precious, and pleasant Things for This Love?

Answ. Canst thou not part with a single, dying Flower in thy hand for a Root of Flowers to set in thine heart, in thy Garden? The Love of God is The Root of all Precious and Pleasant Things in Eternity.

Canst thou not part with a Shadow for the Substance, a Picture for the Life, a Counterfeit for the Truth, a glass Diamond, or Pearl, for a right Diamond, the true Pearl? All thy Pleasant Things here are Shadows, Pictures, counterfeits; This Love is All Pleasantnesses, all Preciousnesses in their Substance, Life, Truth.

Obj. 3. I am weak. I shall dishonour This Love; I shall be disloyal to It. I shall return to my Lusts.

Ans. This Love requireth no Qualifications, but worketh all. Give up thy self to be the Creature of This Love. This Love will make Thee a Heavenly Bride to itself out of Nothing, out of Contrariety, Enmity, This Love will be both a new, a Divine Creation of Thee; and a Continual Preservation. This Preservation shall be a Continued Creation of Love. Resign thy self to This Love, which is the onelyonly Fountain of Life, and of all Loveliness.

Use. 2. Love again. Who planteth a Vine, and drinketh not of the Wine? The Father planteth Jesus Christ, his Love, his Vine in thy Soul. Let him drink of the Wine of thy Loves. Love thy God with the same Freedom, Simplicity, and Sweetness, with the Same Naturalness, Nakedness, and Force, with which he loveth Thee.

Use. 3. Love one another, as God loveth you. Pour forth all your Love into the Bosom of Christ. There let it run into the Bosom of every Saint, of every Creature. There love one another without Distinction, without Condition, Freely receive one another into, embrace one another in the Riches of the Grace, and Glory of Jesus Christ, as the Father receiveth, and embraceth you.

Use 4. Abide in the Love of the Father.

1. Abide in the Father's Love by Faith in the Lord Jesus. The Glorified Person of Christ is the Land of Life, the Land of Love; the Love of the Father is the Sweetness, and Fatness of this Land. Faith is the root of thy Soul in this Pleasant Land. By Faith thy Soul is vitally fixed in this Divine Soil, in the midst of all the Sweetnesses, and Pretious Sap of Divine Love. By Faith thou drawest the rich heart of this Glorious Earth the Love p. 390of The Father to thy self. Thou feedest upon It, nourishest thy self by It, and growest up to an Entire Tree of Love.

2. Abide in this Love by holiness. Holiness is the lovely Fruit, which springeth up out of the Love of the Father, and is Its Food. Holiness, is the Purity of the Spirit, by which the flame of heavenly Love liveth, and spreaded itself there. Holiness is the Spiritual Chastity of the Soul to her heavenly Bridegroom.

3. Abide in the Father's Love by keeping his Commandments. The Commands of the Father are Beams of Love, which he shooteth into our Bosoms. Obedience to them is the Reception of these Beams, and the Reflection of them back again into the Bosom of God.

Obedience is the Activity of Divine Love enlarging itself freely in our Souls. If it be contracted, or shut up, it goeth out.

4. Abide in the Father's Love by the Peace of your Spirits. Peace of Spirit is a Heavenly Calms, and Serenity, which freely receiveth, and preserveth entire the Beams, and Sunshine of Divine Love. Passions are Clouds and Storms, which cut off, and darken the Beams of Love. The Spirit of Love resteth not upon an Angry, or Melancholy Man.

5. Abide in the Father's Love by Spiritual Joy. Joy is Love flaming. One saith; that Laughter is the Dance of the Spirits, their freest Motion in Harmony; and that the Light of the Heavens, is the Laughter of Angels. Spiritual Joy is the Laughter of Divine Love, of the Eternal Spirit, which is Love, in our Spirits. True Joy is Eternal Love, the Eternal Spirit in Its Freest Motions, in Its fullest Harmony, and Complacency in our Spirits.

6. Abide in the Love of the Father by Heavenliness. The Presence of God in his Wrath is hell. The Presence of God in his Love is Heaven. Love is the Sunshine of the Godhead sweetning, and guilding all things round about it after a Divine Manner; as this Sun doth these Skies. So far, as thou abidest in a Heavenly Image of Things, where every Object is covered with an Immortal Pleasantness, and Glory; thou abidest in the Love of God.

7. Abide in the Father's Love by Spirituality. Love is an Union. The highest Love is the highest Unity, the Unity of the highest Spirit. In the Unity of this Spirit all things are Spirit of this Spirit. All Varieties in this Unity of the Spirit are Spirits, Divine, Eternal Spirits of this Supreme Spirit, in this Supreme Spirit; Supreme, Eternal Loves from the womb, in the Bosom of this Supreme Love. Abide in This Palace of Love, The Unity of the Spirit. Let this be thine Eternal habitation. Be continually here in the Sweet, and Blessed Society of Beautiful, Pure, Eternal Spirits; Living, Immortal Loves. Behold, Converse with all things within Thee, without Thee in these Forms. So shalt thou abide in the Love of the Father, as It is poured forth in the Glorified Person of the Lord Jesus. So This Love shall guide Thee, as thou walkest, into Fields of Light, and Divine Pleasures, into the Gardens of the Divine Nature. This Love shall talk with Thee, when Thou wakest, as Moses, and Elias talked with Jesus p. 391Christ, in the Transfiguration, of the Departure out of every other Image of things, into this Paradise of Love flowing with all the Joyes of Life, and Love in the heavenly Form of Christ. So This Love shall keep thee, when thou sleepest, as a Rich Canopy of Divine Substance over thy head; as a Guard of Immortal Sweetnesses round about Thee, as a heavenly Consort of Divine Spirit, Divine Loves, by their Musical Harmony continuing, and crowning thy sleep. I have done with the First Property of Divine Love, as It is poured forth in Christ, Freedom. I come to the Second, which is Purity.

2. Property in the Effusion of Divine Love, Purity. The Love of God is poured forth in Jesus Christ Purely. The Lord Jesus is said to be, the Brightness of the Glory of God; Hebr. 1. v. 2. Brightness is the Purest Light of Glory. The Prime Glory in God is his Grace, his Love. He doth all for the Praise of the Glory of his Grace, Ephes. 1. Jesus Christ in heaven, in thine heart, O Believer, is the purest Stream, the richest Flood of Divine Love; the Love of the Divine Nature in the Brightness of Its Glory.

We are taught; that this Light of the Sun, which we enjoy here below, is only a Shadow of that Light, which shineth in the Body of the Sun itself. The Sun in its highest Lustre is the Shadow of an Angel. The Highest, and Brightest Angel in his Purest Glories is no more, than a Shadow of our Glorified Jesus. He alone is the Brightness of Divine Glory without any Shade; the Purity of Divine Love without any Allay.

Love is Loveliness in Motion. As fine Gold melted into a Pure, and shining Stream: so is the Person of our Lord Jesus in Glory; the Godhead in the Purity & Perfection of all Its Lovelinesses melting itself into a most Pure & Precious Stream of Love, in which it runneth along, winding, turning, meeting, & sporting with itself from Bosom to Bosom, in the Father, the Son, and all the Saints.

O Broken-hearted Sinner, who …ittest in the Shadow of Death, who wanderest in a Wilderness, where there is no water, ready to dye for thirst; open thine Eyes, see this Pure Light of Divine Love, which shineth round about Thee, in the midst of Thee; see this Pure Stream of Divine Love, which runneth along before Thee, in that Wilderness thine heart; the Blessed Person of thy Saviour, which is this Pure Light, this Pure Stream of Divine Love which filleth All. Take in the Waters of this Stream; drink freely of it. Cast thy self into this Stream; let it cover Thee; let it roul Thee along with it; sport thy self in it.

There are Two Arguments of the Pure Effusion of Divine Love in Christ;

1 The heighth of Its Sweetness.

2 The Greatness of Its Virtue.

1 The Love of God in Christ sheweth Its Purity by The heighth of Its Sweetness. The Purest things are Sweetest. The Love of God in Christ is the Rose upon its Stalk, New-blown, in its Virgin-Freshness, and Sweetness. To be Carnally-minded is Death; to be Spiritually-minded is Life; saith St. Paul; Rom. 8. p. 392Impurity, Carnality is the Death of Love; dulleth, embaseth, embittereth it by Corrupting it. Purity, Spirituality is the Life of Love, heighteneth, and immortaliseth all its Sweetnesses, all its Pleasures.

The Sweetness of the Love of God in Christ is made up of Three Parts; 1. The Nearness of the Union; 2 The Firmness of the Union, 3 The Efficacy of the Union.

1 The Nearness of the Union is the First Part of the Sweetness in the Love of God poured forth in the Glorified Person of our Saviour. Love is an Union. Where Love is Sweetest; the Love-Union is Nearest. The Love of God in Christ bindeth up God, Christ, all the Saints immediately in the most naked, most warm Embraces of each other. It maketh them All up into One Beautiful Body; It melteth them All into One Blessed-Spirit of Divine Love.

The Bridegroom in the last of the Canticles expresseth his Love to his Bride after this manner: If she be a Door, we will inclose her with Cedar. Cedar Wood is Eminent for three Things: It is sweet, Beautiful, Incorruptible. Blessed art Thou, O Believer, the meanest of all Believers; who art a Door onelyonly in this heavenly Temple, Christ risen from the Dead; a Door, by which the Glories of the Godhead go in, and out between the Visible, and Invisible World. Thy Jesus by the Immediate Embraces of Divine Love incloseth, comprehendeth thy Person entirely with the Sweetness, Beauty, Immortality of his own Glorified Person.

The Soul in the Bosom of Christ lieth, as a Pleasant Island in a Sea of Love. The Sea bringeth to an Island Pleasure by its prospect, and by sayling upon it; Safety by inclosing it; Riches by Traffick unto all parts. Thus thou, O Saint, art seated in the midst of a vast Ocean of heavenly Love. This Oc…an of Love is thy Prospect on every side. Which way soever thou lockest, thou seest Waves of Love rolling, and tumbling one upon the neck of another; sometimes rising up, as high, as heaven, sometimes again falling, as low as He…l. All Storms are The Workings of this Lovely Sea of Love, and Delightful Entertainments to Thee, thou lanchest forth and sailest round about thy Island, which is thy self, upon this Sea of Love. These are thy Pleasures.

How safe art thou? How great, and impregnable is thy Strength? Nothing can come to thee but by a Sea of Love, Divine, Almighty, Eternal Love. Thou art inaccessible, but this way, by the Sea of Love. No vessels can pass upon this Sea, nothing can pass thorow it, but Divine Forms of Love; heavenly Angels, and Ministers of Love. Whatever other Form of things attempteth, This Blessed Ocean of the Father's Love poureth forth in Jesus Christ, is swallowed up by it, and never seen more.

Thou hast Tra…ick, and Commerce by this Sea of Love with all things holy, heavenly, Beautiful, and B…essed every where; with all Lands of Life, and Joy. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, thoughts and Affections into all Parts. Thou bringest home all the Precious, and Pleasant things of Heaven, and Earth; of Time, and Eternity: of God, and the Creature. Thou hast a Love-Union, p. 393and by this Love-Union, a Communion of Love with all the Treasures of the Godhead in the Sun, and in the Moon; in the Heavens above, and the Deep, which lieth below.

This is the Purity, the Sweetness of the Father's Love in Christ; the nearness of the Love-Union.

2. The Sweetness of the Love of God in Christ sheweth itself in the Firmness of the Union. What the Spouse of Christ saith of her self in the Canticles, that is the Language of this Love to the Soul in Jesus Christ; I took hold of him, I will not let him go. The Love of the Father hath taken hold of Thee, & will never let Thee go. St. Paul; Rom. 8. v. 35. maketh a Challenge; What shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Affliction? Danger? Sword? the Love-Union between God, and the Soul in Jesus Christ is so close, so fast; that the Point of the sharpest Sword cannot pierce between them; the subtilest Flame cannot divide between them. If it wound, or burn one, it must wound, and burn the other also. There is no Vein of Blood in the Body of Man, which hath not running along beneath it an Artery, a Vein of Spirits to preserve the Warmth, Motion, and Life of the Blood. There is no Vein of Divine Providence in the whole Life of a Saint; there is no Vein of Life or Death in the whole Person of a Saint, which hath not a Vein of Divine Love running along inseparably with it, to sweeten it, to give a Spiritual, a heavenly Tincture, of Life, Joy, and Glory to it.

To me to live is Christ, to dye is Gain; saith St. Paul; Philip 1. v. 21. There is nothing so Dividing, as Death. The Life of a Man is the Union between Soul, and Body. Death dissolveth this Union. The Life of a Saint is the Love. Union between his God, and Spirit in Christ, who is the Glorious head, and the Golden knot of this Union. Death maketh this Love-Union faster, and sweeter; more close, more clear, more compleat. D…ath is a Gain here.

The Death of a Saint is like the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. Without was a course Tent of Badgers Skin, exposed to the Injuries of all Weathers. This was seen by the Common Eye. But this was not the Tabernacle. This was onelyonly the Tent, the Covering upon the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle within, as it appeared to the Priest's Eye, which entred into it, was Silk, Silver, Gold, and Precious Stone; Fine Linnen, Scarlet, Crimson, Sky-Colour; Cherubims richly wrought. Be not deceived. That is not the Death of a Saint, That is not a Saint in Death, which appeareth outwardly to the Eye of Sense, so affrightful, so mournful, so dark, so deformed, so Dividing from all the Joyes of Life: No. This is the Covering onelyonly upon Death, to hide the sacred Mystery from common Eyes.

That, which is within, which presenteth itself all along to the Eye of a Saint, that entreth into this Death is indeed a Tabernacle of Immortal, of Divine Love with all rich, and pleasant Appearances wonderfully heightened; The Love-Union between God, and the Soul in Christ opening itself, taking p. 394the Soul entirely into itself, as into the true Heavens, where all things, which are seen are the highest Forms of Beauty in the highest Lights of Divine Glory; all things, that are heard, tasted or felt, the highest Joyes of the Divine Life with the most heightned Sweetnesses of Divine Love.

3 The Sweetness of Divine Love is manifested in its Efficacy, in its Sweetning Operations, as it is poured forth in the Lord Jesus. St. Paul saith; Philip: 3. l. We have our Conversation in Heaven, from whence we look for the Lord Jesus, who shall change these Vile Bodies (these Bodies of our humiliation, and make them like his own Glorious Body, according to that Power, by which he is able to subdue all things to himself. As the Flowers put forth, unfold all their Beau…ies send forth their several Sweetnesses to the Sun: so do all the Excellencies, Joyes and Glories of the Godhead display themselves to the Divine Love. God in the Presence of his Love is the highest, the Truest H… ven. This is the Heaven, which containeth, and hideth Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ cometh forth from this Heaven, as a Bridegroom from his Chamber he cometh forth in this Heaven, with this Heaven round about him; he maketh this Heaven, every where, as he cometh forth; as the Sun maketh a Glorious Sky. He boweth this Heaven, and cometh down upon It into the broken heart. To this broken heart he changeth the vilest, the Bitterest Image of things, the Body of its humiliation, the Body of this Darkness, and Death, in which it dwelleth here into the Likeness of his own most Glorious Body, the Body of the highest Heaven in its Brightness; the Pure, and clear Body of Divine Love. This Love of the Father is that Power, by which our Jesus subdueth all things to himself, that is, to the Brightness, and Sweetness of the Glory of this Love; to the Express, to the Naked Image of this Love in its own Divine Substance, in … own most Lovely Person. This is the transfiguring Efficacy of the Love of the God-Head poured forth in the Glorious Person of Christ, and making for him a Body of Divine Loves above all Heavens.

Rom. 8. 28, 29. St. Paul triumpheth after this manner: I am perswaded, th… neither Death, nor Life; neither Angels, Principalities, Powers, nor things present, no… things to come; nor heighth, nor Depth; nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord. The Love of God in Jesus Christ lineth, covereth all things transubstantiateth all things into the same Divine Love. St. Paul mentioneth the nearest things to us, the most intimate, the most Potent, the most Penetrating, the most Universal, the most comprehending, the most Transforming; Death, Life, Angels, things Present, to come, Depth, Heigh…h. What cometh nearer, what toucheth every Point of our whole Substance, and Being, than Death, Life, Angels? What more intimate to our hearts, and Spirits? If none of these can come between the Love of God in Jesus Christ, and our Persons: then all these by the Touch of this Love must be Tinctured, and changed into new Forms, into Essences of Love.

p. 395As Sugar is dissolved in a Glass of Wine; so Death Life, Angels, things Pres…nt, things to come, heighths, Depths, every other Creature in this Golden Cup of Divine Love, the Glorified Person of Christ, is dissolved into Love, becometh a Rich Love-Cordial to a fainting Spirit, making it to dance, and sing for Joy, when it was intended a deadly Poyson to it. The holy Apostle had said upon this Ground a little before: In all these things, Sword, Famine, Persecution, wee are more, than Conquerours. It is plain, how we are Conquerours. Captivity is carried Cuptive. Those Forms, and Powers of Darkness, of Death, which thought to captivate us, are themselves Captives to Eternal Life, and Love in the Lord Jesus. As Saul among the Prophets: so the Bitterest, the Blackest things, which assault the Spirit of a Saint, encompassed with this Love of the Father poured forth in Christ, uncloath themselves, and put on Amiable Shapes of Love, sing songs of Love, breath forth from every part of them the most Delightful Sweetness of Divine Love.

Thus this Love maketh us Conquerours. But what meaneth this; to be more, than Conquerours? Is there a Joy, or Glory above this of a Conquerour? Grace coming into Glory; Love Reigning after Suffering?

Is there any thing sweeter, any thing greater, than this Victory of Love?

Yes. St. Paul saith; when he was caught up into the Third heavens, into the Paradise there, he heard Words, which it is impossible to utter. This is The Paradise in the Third Heavens, the Love of God in the Glorified Person of Christ. This Love transformeth every thing, every Creature to this heavenly Paradise. Those blessed Souls, which by believing enter into this Paradise, hear Words of Love, Words of Joy, Words of Pleasure, of Glory from this Love, which it is impossible to utter, which are too sweet, too high, too ravishing to be exprest.

A holy Soul in This Paradise of Love feeleth a Joy far beyond that of Marriage, of Conquest, of Reigning, of Children, of any thing named in this World, or in that, which is to come.

Thus the Sweetness of Divine Love expresseth itself in its Sweet Efficacy.

Thus the Purity of Divine Love in Christ is manifest in its Sweetness.

2. The Love of God in Christ is most Pure, because it hath the greatest Virtue. Our Divines express hell after this manner. All Diseases, Pains, Griefs here are Evils by a Tincture onelyonly of Divine Wrath, a little Drop of Divine Wrath mingling itself with them. H…ll is Pure Wrath. Hell is the Abstract of Wrath; the Evil of all Diseases, Pains, and Griefs abstracted from them, and heightned to the utmost. So Jesus Christ bare all our Infirmities, and took our Griefs; though he was never sick.

On the Contrary, all the Good, all the Joyes in the Creature are a Weak Tincture of Divine Love. The Shadow of St. Peter as h… passed along, healed the sick. All the Sweetness and Pleasure in things here, is the Shadow onelyonly p. 396of Divine Love falling upon them. All the Joy in any heart here, is the Shadow onelyonly of Divine Love cast over it.

The Love of God is poured forth Purely in the Person of Christ. There Love is a Substance, no Accident. There Love is Infinite, being allayed, or limited by no mixture. Our Saviour in Glory is Divine Love in the Abstract.

It is a Weak Glance of Divine Love, like the Sunshine here below cast upon the Water, or a Looking-Glass, which maketh the Beauty, the Sweetness of all Colours, Figures, Motions in the Creature.

It is a remote Touch of Divine Love, like the Ends of the Sun-beams, reflected in a Burning-Glass, which maketh the Pleasantness, and Pleasant Properties of all Plants; the Lustre, Gracefulness, Virtue of all Precious Stones, and Pearls; the Joy of all Relations.

The Beauty, the Sweetness of all Colours, Features, Motions; the Pleasantness, the Pleasant Properties of all Plants; the Lustre, Gracefulness, Virtue, Life of all Precious Stones, Pearls, heavenly Bodies, heavenly Spirits; the Joyes of all Relations are contained Eminently, with an Infinite Enlargement, an Infinite heightning in this Divine Face, This Tree, Pearl, this Union, the Unity, the Purity of Eternal Love in our Glorified Jesus.

O Sinner; come, cast thy self freely into the Bosom of thy Saviour. Here thou fallest immediately into a Sea of Pure Love. Open thy Mouth wide, enlarge all thy Faculties to drink in the Sweetness of Pure Love pouring itself by Floods and Seas into thee. Feel the Transcendent virtue of Pure Love transforming thee, thy heart, thy Person into a rich, clear, and heavenly Pearl in this Sea,

O Saints! swim continually in this Sea of Pure Love, the Bosom of your Glorified Saviour. Feel the Transcendent Virtue of Pure Love dissolving you also into a Sea of pure Love, a Sea of Glass, and Fire; a Sea of Pure Chrystal, Divine Beauty without any Spot of Flesh, or Earth, Darkness, or Death; a Sea of Pure Chrystal shining, and burning with a Pure Flame of heavenly Joyes without any Smoak of Lusts, or Passions.

Obj. how is the Love of God Pure in Christ? Is there not in the Lord Jesus a mixture of Love, and Wrath? He saith of himself in one place; All Judgment is given to the Son of Man. He adjudgeth to Hell, and to Torments, as well as to Heaven, and to Joys.

Matt. 25. Jesus Christ is represented, as a King, upon the Throne, in Glory, in the Judgment of the last day, v 31. He maketh Separation between the Sheep, and Goats; v. 32. He setteth the Sheep at his Right hand, in the Place of Power, Honour, and Love. He setteth the Goats at his Left hand, on his Wrath-side, v. 33. He passeth the Sentence of Love upon One, inviting them, as Blessed Ones, to the Kingdom of Love prepared for them of the Father in Eternity; v. 34. He passeth a Sentence of Wrath upon the other, p. 397sending, them away with a Curse into the Hell fire with the Devils v. 40.

How is the Love of God poured forth Purely without mixture in Christ?

I shall give 3 Answers to this Objection; 1. A Concession; 2. A Distinction; 3. An Application.

1. Answ. A Concession. It is true Contrary things are spoken of Jesus Christ in this point.

We read; I judge no man; Moses, in whom you trust, he judgeth you;

The Son of Man came not to d…stroy Men's Lives. but to save them.

The Work, for which Christ came, is a Work of Love, of Light, of Life; not a Work of Wrath, and Death. Jesus Christ came to destroy the Works of the Devil. The Devil Is a Lyar, and a Murtherer from the Beginning. He is the Serpent, the Seed of Enmity. The Deceit of Sin, Death, Wrath are the Devil's Work. Jesus cometh full of Grace, and Truth; like the Sun full of sweet Light, and influences of Life to destroy the Deceits, to scatter into Nothing the Clouds, and black Shades of Sin, of Death, of Wrath; to make all a clear, and Lovely Sky over our heads, a Green, and Flowry Earth under out Feet. O the Delightfulness of Christ's Person, and of his Appearance!

We read again; I came not to send Peace, but a Sword, I came to Kindle a Fire. The Lord Iesus shall come in a Flame of Fire to render vengeance to all those, who know not God, and who have not believed our Gospel, 2 Thessal. v. 8. O the Dreadfulness of the Lord Jesus, and of his Appearance.

2. Answ. A Distinction. 2 Corin. 3. 13. You have Moses brought in with a Vail upon his Face You have the Effect of this Vail. There is a Blindness upon the Minds, upon the Notions, (foreign) of the Jews. The Children of Israel cannot see to the End of that, which is to be done away. They cannot see thorow; beyond the Shadowy Glory of the Vail to be taken off, to the Naked Glory of the Heavenly Face, which liveth, and is the same for ever. v. 13. 14.

There is the Interpetation of the Vail. The Vail upon the Face of Moses is a Vail upon the Hearts of the Israelites, v. 15.

The Vail is removed by the Turning of the heart to the Person of Christ, v. 16. The Person of Christ, and the Removal of the Vail are Both described, v. 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty. The Lord Jesus… in Glory is a Spirit, the Eternal Spirit. The Person of Christ was ever a Spirit, the Spirit, the same Yesterday, to Day, and for ever; even in that Day, when he was made Flesh in his humane Nature, this Spirit carrieth Liberty along with It; as the Sun doth the Light of the Day.

This Liberty of the Spirit answereth to that Removal of the Vail in the verse before. The Vail shall be taken away. It is significant Word, foreign, shall be taken away quite, all round about, on every side; from off the Whole Image of things, from off the Whole Person of Christ, from off the Whole Heart; the Compleat Person of the Lord Jesus in his Supream Glory, as the p. 398Supreme Spirit shall shine entirely in the whole Image of things, in the whole heart, in every Part, in every Point of Both.

The Close of all is the Blessed Effect of the Removal of the Vail, of the Free, and full Appearance of this Spirit, the Lord Jesus; A Liberty of Sight; A Liberty of Growth; a Liberty of Union, and Divine Communion. A Saint looketh forth with Op…n Face with an Open Eye in the Naked Glory of the Spiritual Man, having cast the Vail entirely off. He seeth the Glory of the Lord in the Naked Beauties of the Spirit himself compleatly unvailed. He seeth this Glory in the Unity of the same Spirit, as in a Looking-Glass; where Face answereth Face, where one is seen, as the Dear Image, and Reflection of the other. A Saint in the same moment seeth, and is changed into the Image which he seeth, as by one Spirit at once working Both. The Lord, the same Spirit in its Unity is the Root, the Eye, the Life, the Light, the Looking-Glass, the Glorious Face in the Looking-Glass to a Saint. Where this Spirit is, there is Liberty in that Heart. The Vail is taken off from it, when the Spirit existeth, and appeareth in it. There the Lord Jesus, and a Saint see each other; grow up together, in one Glory. We all, with open face, as in a Glass, beholding the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the same Image, from Glory to Glory; even as by the Spirit of the Lord, or, by the Lord, the Spirit. By this time, I believe, you see the Distinction, which I aim at. Jesus Christ with the Vail upon his Face is M…ses. M…ses unvailed is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ to the Vailed heart is Moses still. Moses to the Naked heart is the same Jesus from the Beginning. The Appearance of Jesus Christ according to the Letter, after the Flesh, is Christ with a Vail upon his Face, casting a Vail upon the heart. The Appearance of Jesus Christ, as the Spirit, the Lord of Glory, is Christ with his Vail cast off, taking the Vail off from the Heart; that Both may meet, see, embrace each other Nakedly, Immediately, at Liberty; in the Open Light of their Eternal Loves, and Beauties.

3. Answ. Applications.

1. Application Fear the Wrath of the Lamb. There is a Day, in which the Kings of the Earth, Great Men, Captains of Thousands shall cry to the Rocks, and to the Mountains to fall upon them, and hide them from the Wrath of the Lamb. When the Great Day of his Wrath cometh, who is able to stand? Rev. 6. v. 16, 17, 18.

Revel. 5. 6. 8. You read of a Lamb, who had bin slain, standing in the midst of the Throne of God, of the Four Living Creatures, of the 24. Elders, having seven Eyes, and seven Horns, which were the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the Earth. Behold the Lord Jesus risen from the Dead. He standeth in the m…dst of the Throne of God, of the Four Living Creatures, of the four, and Twenty Elders. He is the Center of All Glories; He filleth All; He uniteth All, and Compleateth All in his own Person; the Uncreated Glories of the God-Head; the Four-fold Fountain Glories of the Uncreated, and p. 399Created Natures in Union; The Manifold, and Multiplyed Glories of Those Fountains in the Person of every Saint from the Beginning to the End of things, having his Crown upon his Head; the Universal Kingdom of all Glories in himself; with which Kingdom he standeth out of the Person, and in the Person of the Lord Jesus, which Mysteriously, and Divinely involveth, and unfoldeth all in itself. For this reason they cast down their Crowns at his Fe…t.

This Jesus uniteth all States in himself, from the highest, the Sweetest Light of Life, to the Darkest, most Dismal Deep of Death. For he standeth in the midst of these Glories; as having bin slain, shewing all the Bloody, Baleful Forms of Death in the Triumph of Eternal Life.

This Lamb hath seven Eyes, and seven Horns, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the Earth. Seven is a Perfect Number, the Power of all Numbers, which multiply themselves endlesly by the Marriage of the Two First Numbers, Three, and Four, the Numbers of the Trinity upon the Throne, and the Four Living Creatures, most immediately to the Throne, and from thence spreading themselves thorow all things; being in the midst of the Throne, and round about the Throne on every side, Revel. 4. 6.

The seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the Earth, are the Holy Ghost, that one, Manifold, Infinite Spirit, which divideth Itself into Innumerable, flaming Tongues, Eyes, Horns; into all Forms of things according to its own Good Pleasure; ever Containing all within itself; ever filling all with itself.

See now the Lamb with seven Eyes, and seven Horns, seven Spirits sent forth into all the Earth. The Lamb is Jesus risen from the Dead; The Lord, the Spirit, who hath Innumerable, Living Lights of Glory in himself; Innumerable Living Springs of Light, and Glory; with which as with so many ever-waking Eyes he shineth, and seeth thorow all things; who hath innumerable Powers, Almighty Powers, Fountains of Power, as so many Horns, with which he ruleth, and reigneth in the midst of all things.

A Poet in a bright Night taken in a Wood by Robbers, which would kill him, said to them: As many stars, as shine in the Sky; so many Eyes now look upon you, and will be witnesses of this Murther.

O Sinner, who art hatching, who art practising any lust in the most secret corner of thine heart, or Closer; be awake, be aware. See the Lord Jesus with ten thousand, with a Numberless Number of Eyes; Shining, Flaming Eyes of Pure Glory looking forth full upon thee, from every point of the Walls, the Roof, the Floor, all things round about thee; from every point of thine own Heart, and all, that is within Thee. See the Lord Jesus with as many Horns of Divine Power from every Point of things running upon thee, to break Thee off from thy Lusts, or to break Thee in pieces.

O Saint, who mournest sitting in Darkness, Lying in Prison, encompassed with black thoughts, with Enemies Invisible, or Visible; be awake, be aware▪ See thy Jesus, thy King, thy Beloved with ten thousand, a Numberless Number p. 400of Eyes; sweetly-shining, sweetly-Flaming, Eyes of Pure Love, from every Point of the blackest Darkness, of the darkest Prison, of thy Darkest thoughts themselves looking forth upon Thee.

See him with as many Golden Horns of Divine Power from every part, from every side running upon thine Enemies, to ruine them to cast them down to the Ground, down to the bottom of the Pit, until they rise no more, whether they be things Visible, or Invisible.

See him with the same Innumerable Golden Horns from every part of things, from the thickest Darkness, round about thee running to Thee to raise Thee up, to set Thee on high upon the Rock of Eternity in the midst of the Throne of God.

Revel. 1. 14, The Eyes of the Lord Jesus are compared to a Flame of Fire.

A Spirit is all one Entire Eye, and full of Eyes. The Lord Jesus is the Supreme Spirit spreading himself thorow all things from the height of Heaven above to the Depth of Death, and Hell beneath.

The Firmament is not set so thick with Stars; as the Whole Earth, the whole-Creation, all things are set with the Eyes of the Lord Jesus. These Eyes are so many Suns of Love to the Flowers, the Wheat, the Gold, the Diamonds, to increase their Beauty, draw forth their Sweetness, ripen their Fruit, make them sparkle, and shine more pleasantly. But to Stubble, and Thorns; to Vanity, or Enmity, they are a flame of Fire, burning upon it, until it be consumed. O Fear the Wrath of the Lamb.

2. Application. Fear to look with a Vailed Heart upon the Vailed Face of the Lord Jesus. If thou seest the Shadow, the Letter of the Gospel; if thou seest the Vail, the Flesh of Christ; if thou seest not to the End of these, as things to be done away, if thou seest not thorow these, beyond these, the Lord, the Spirit, which is the Heavenly Body, and Substance to the Shadow; the Naked Face, the Naked, Unchangeable, Eternal Person of Christ, hid under the Vail: it is not Jesus Christ, but Moses, in whom thou trustest. Thou art not in the Arms of a Lovely, pleasant Bridegroom; but at the feet of a severe Judge.

This is the Law from Mount Sinai, which engendreth bondage, which trembleth, and shaketh for fear, where Thunders roar, and Lightnings fly abroad from the midst of a thick Darkness. This is not the Lord Jesus full of Grace, that Perfect Love, which casteth out fear; the Perfection of Beauty, on Mount Sion; which standeth firm for ever; which may be touched, kissed, and embraced. Take heed to thy self, O Temporary Believer; Thou Jew, thou Christian outwardly, in the Letter onelyonly. This is not the Sun of Righteousness, on which thou lookest; but the Cloud, which covereth the Sun. If the Eye of thy Spirit stay here, and pierce no further: out of this Cloud will come down upon thy head, a tempest, a Whirlwind, and Flames of Fire. The Vail is upon your Hearts, while the Gospel is read, even to this day.

p. 4013 Application Blessed art thou, who lookest with a Naked Heart upon the Naked Person of Christ. He who is fixed in the Letter, the Outward Form, the Flesh of the Eternal Word, is One of the People of the Jews, who stood below at the Foot of the Mountain, having in their Eye the Outside onelyonly of things. These saw nothing, but the Blackness of Darkness, and the Flashes of Lightning; these heard nothing, but the dreadful claps of Thunder.

He, who ascendeth, and entreth into the Truth the Spirit, is with Moses, within, upon the Top of the Mount. He talketh with God face to face, as a man talketh with his Friend. He seeth the Divine Light, and Calm of Eternity in the naked Person of the Lord Jesus. He receiveth the Language of Divine Love, the Musick of Eternity, with kisses of Love, immediately, from the Lips of the Lord Jesus. He feeleth the Fountain of Life, & all Joys flowing from the Heart of the Lord Jesus, running nakedly thorow his whole Body, and Spirit; being a better Feast, than that of all meats, and Drinks; filling him with Spirit, and pleasantness; cloathing him with a fresh Lustre, Beauty in a more excellent way.

The Lord Jesus saith of himself in the Gospel; I have a Baptism to be baptised with, and how am I streightned, till it be over. The Loves, the Lovelinesses, the Divine Life, the Delights, the Glories, the Lord Jesus, all the Treasures of the Eternal Word are streightned in the flesh of Christ; as the Beauties, and Sweetnesses of a Flower; the Fruits of a Tree are shut up, and imprisoned in the Seed. When the Lord Jesus by Death is baptised into a Divine Form and Glory, when he cometh forth, as A Spirit, as the Eternal Spirit having married the Humane Nature into One Heavenly Form, and Spirit, with itself: Now all the Treasures of Righteousness, Life, Immortality, Love, Joy; all the Treasures of the God-Head display themselves over the whole Person of Christ, entirely, nakedly, richly, to the Height of all their Beauties, and Sweetnesses, as Flowers full-blown in Spring; as Fruit-trees laden with ripe fruit in Autumn.

Who now can express the Joys, when a Naked Heart meeteth with its Naked Jesus? when both have cast off their Vails; One from his Face; The other from his Heart. It is the same Blessed hand of the Eternal Spirit, which taketh off the Vails, from Both, dropping Myrrhe, a heavenly Sweetness, Purity, and Immortality, as It taketh them off.

The Reflection of the Face of God upon the Face of Moses on the Mount cast a Divine Lustre, and Beauty, which remained upon it.

He came down into the midst of the People, bringing a Heaven in his Face along with him. But they could not bear the Brightness of this Naked Beauty. He therefore casteth a Vail upon his Face. So they remain in Darkness, their Minds are blinded; until Wrath cometh upon them to the uttermost.

This is an Example unto us; upon whom the Ends of all Fore-going Times, and Actions are come. Behold the Lord Jesus is gone up to the top of the Mount. He is ascended. He is Glorified with the Father, with that Glory, p. 402which he had with the Father before the World was. As a Spirit he cometh down again to us in the Shining Form of this Spiritual, Uncreated, Eternal Glory.

Wo to you, who cannot bear the Brightness of this Appearance, who cannot look stedfastly upon the Naked Face, the Naked Form of the Lord Jesus, this Spirit. To you he casteth a Vail over his Face; and as he casteth a Vail over his own Face; he casteth a Vail over your Hearts. To you now he cometh, as a Thief in the Night, bringing Darkness, and Doubt; Trouble, and Terrours; Confusion, Desolation, and Despair; spoiling you of all your Counterfeit Jewels, false hopes, false Joys, false Graces, false Christ.

But you, who love, and wait for this Appearan…e of your Lord, and Saviour, like Lightning shining from Heaven into your Hearts; you who with the single Eye of a Chast Spouse look to the Beloved Person of your Jesus in the simplicity of his Spiritual, and Divine Form; Blessed are you of the Lord Jesus. To you he cometh, as a Sun of Righteousness with healing in his Wings; Overspreading you with his warm, and Naked Beauties; Covering your Deformities; Curing your Maladies; Infusing new Cordials of Immortal Life, and Joy into your Hearts; Hatching you to Spirituality; raising you upon Silver Wings, and Golden Feathers to Heavenly Flights with himself.

To you he cometh Enlightning, enlivening, Transforming, Glorifying, Gathering you up into One Spirit, One Glory with himself.

Where this Spirit, the Lord Jesus is, there is Liberty of beholding, of enjoying the Lord Jesus nakedly, immediately, entirely, eternally; without any chain, clog, cloud, interposal, or interruption. There is Liberty of growing up into a Spirit out of All the Vails of Flesh: into One Spirit with him. O the Joys of a Naked Heart, when it meeteth with its Naked Saviour.

But, as it was with the Painter, who called to remove the Vail, that he might see the Picture; when their was a Vail onelyonly painted there. The Vail was all the Picture: so is it with the hypocrite, with the Temporary Believer. His Jesus, his Heaven is a Vail onelyonly; a Vail, like that of the Tabernacle, finely wrought with Pictures of Angels, of Heaven, of Jesus; but Keeping him for ever from the Face, the Bosom of Jesus the society of Angels, the Joys of Heaven, in the Outermost Darkness. His hope is a Spiders Web. The Poison of Death, and Hell are bred there.

I hear a Voice frequently in my Spirit saying to me; Cry. What shall I cry?

1. Cry; There was an Ark in which Noah, and his Family were safe from the Flood, which drowned the World. The onelyonly Ark in which Noah, the Believer, the Child of Rest shall be safe from the Flames, which are now ready to devour the World, is the Naked Person of Christ in the Invisibility, and Spirituality of his Divine, Eternal Form.

2. Cry; The Sound, and noise of the Hammers framing the Ark for Noah, p. 403preached the Righteousness of God, the Ruin of the World, very near. The Sound, and noise of the Lord Jesus, the Spirit of Life, the Spirit of Love, in his Naked Person, in his Naked Loves, and Lovelinesses growing up, forming himself in the Spirits of his Saints preaches now a Deluge of Destruction, Death, and Hell at the Door, ready to enter in; The Rest, and Righteousness of God in his Bosom alone, the Rest of God in his Loves; the Righteousness of God in his Loveliness.

3. Cry; As it was in the Days of Noah; so it will be now. The whole World will go on to eat, and Drink, to marry, and give in Marriage; to mock at this Preparation of an Ark; at these Discourses of, these Endeavours for the Spiritual Person of Christ in the Heavenly Image: for the Revelation of him in our Spirits; for the Retirement of our Persons into him. The whole World will go on in Sensuality, and Carnality, mocking at the Lord, this Spirit, the Ark; till the day that God open the Windows of Heaven from above, and break up the great Deep of Hell from below to cover them with, and swallow them up in Unquenchable Flames.

They say; that Seth foreseeing Two Destructions of the World prepared Two Pillars, upon which he engraved all Mysteries of Humane, and Divine Knowledge; One of Marble▪ to endure the Flood; the other of Brick, to continue in the Flames.

St Peter speaking of the Flood and the Ark addeth; The Like Figure, whereunto now saveth us, Baptism; not the washing away of the filth of the Flesh, but the Answer of a Good Conscience by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead.

The Lord Jesus counselleth the last Church, Laodicea, to buy of him Gold tried in the Fire. Gold tried in the Fire no more loseth any thing, or receiveth any harm in the Fire; but shineth more gloriously.

The Lord Jesus risen from the Dead, and become a Spirit, the Fountain of Life, is the Gold tried in the Fire of Death, and the Divine Wrath. An Ark of Wood saved Noah from the Waters.

Behold an Ark of pure Gold, a Spirit of Immortality, and Glory, which shineth with greatest Glory in the midst of the Everlasting Burnings. This is our Jesus, who saveth us from the Fire, which is already Kindled, and burneth upon the World, which will immediately raise itself to a Mighty, Irresistible Flame. Blessed are you, who enter into this Ark of Gold, and shut your selves up into It. Here you shall lie upon beds of Love, as in the Marriage-Chamber, in the Bosom of your Bridegroom, encompassed with Songs of Joy; while the Fire dreadfully devoureth all without, round about you. Then shall Worldly Christians, Hypocrites, Temporary Believers, all who have lived in the Lusts of the Flesh, or the Letter onelyonly of the Gospel take hold of, climb up upon the outside of the Ark, the outward Fleshly Form, and Appearances p. 404of the Eternal Word, the Lord Jesus. Then shall they too late cry to be taken into the Spirit, which alone is Truth, which alone hath Immortality. But they shall be rejected. They shall lose their hold, drop off into the flames, and perish there. I will conclude all with that Scripture; John, 14. v. 30. 31. When Jesus Christ perceived, that the hour, and Power of Darkness were now come upon him, he saith; The Prince of this World cometh; Arise, let us go hence. Thus saith the same Jesus now in the Hearts of his Beloved Ones, to his Spouse: The Prince of Darkness; The hour, and Power of Darkness, of dread, of Destruction, of the Devouring Fire cometh; Arise, let us go hence; out of the visible things of the Flesh, into the Invisibility of the Spirit; The Ark of Pure Gold, Paved with Loves.

3 Property; Plenty. This is the Third Property in the Effusion of Divine Love upon the Glorified Person of Christ. It is poured forth plentifully.

I will divide this Head by Streams flowing from it.

1. The Fulness of all Love is poured forth in Iesus Christ.

2. The Person of Christ is all Full of Love.

1. The Fulness of all Love is poured forth in Jesus Christ. We read; Colos. 1. 19. It pleased the Father, that all Fulness should dwell in him; that is, in Jesus Christ. All Fulness and so the Fulness of All Love had its Seat, its Bed in the Bosom of our Saviour. But the Pleasure, the Will of the Father, which is the Highest Pleasure, Pleasure in one, Substantial, most Perfect, Eternal Act, is the Well Spring which sendeth forth this Plenitude of Divine Love into Christ.

The Words lye so in Greek, that they may be properly rendred according to the rules of Grammar after this manner: All Fulness was well pleased to dwell in him. God is the Fulness, which filleth all in all. He alone is in any Place, in any Spirit, in any Creature Repletive, so as to fill it. God is Love. God then is the Fulness of all Love.

Nothing attracteth, and draweth so powerfully, as Pleasure doth. God, who is that Love, which is all Fulness, the Fulness of all; God, who is the Fulness of all Love poureth forth himself to the Full, to the last drop, if we may so speak of that Love, which hath neither First, nor last; Beginning, nor End; in the Lord Jesus. For in Christ he poureth forth himself with Pleasure, which is the highest of all Pleasures. The Effusion of Love is itself a Pleasure. Then the Beautiful and Blessed Person of the Lord Jesus is the most pleasant Channel, the most pleasant Seat, and Palace of Divine Love.

This Fulness of Divine Love in Christ shooteth forth itself into Three Branches;

1. Love in all States. 2. Love of all Kinds. 3. Love in all Degrees.

1. There is in Jesus Christ flowing forth from the Father a Fulness of Love in all States. There are Three States of Divine Love in our Blessed Saviour. There is 1. Preventing Love; 2. Assisting Love; 3. Finishing Love. Divine p. 405Love in Jesus Christ hath these Three States, and a glorious, transcendent, triumphant Fulness in every State.

1. There is in the Lord Jesus poured forth from the Father A Fulness of all Preventing Love. 2. Tim. 1. 9. St. Paul teacheth us that God hath saved us, not according to works, which we have done, but according to his own Purpose, and Grace given us in Christ, before the World was. Before thou hadst any thoughts of Love to Jesus Christ, before thou hadst any Being in This World, before the World was; there was a Love from the Father in Jesus Christ to Thee; to Thee, whoever thou art, that liftest up the Eye of thy Spirit, the Eye of Faith, to see thy true Self, thine own Person in this Dwelling-Place, this Palace of Divine Love, where thou hast bin hid. where thou hast had thine abode thorow all generations, from Eternity: Christ in the Glory of the Father, the heart of the Father in Christ.

This Preventing Love well understood, removeth Two Objections out of the way of many hearts to the Bosom of their Jesus.

Object. 1. Broken-hearted Sinners, distressed Souls frequently plead thus against themselves: We cannot think, that Jesus Christ hath any Love for us: because we cannot believe his Love.

Answ. Hear, O broken-hearted Sinners, O Distressed Souls, Hear, and believe. Jesus Christ hath in himself from his Father the Fulness of all Preventing Love. He beginneth to you in Love. He beginneth with you. He giveth you Faith to believe his Love. To you it is given to believe.

The Son of Man cometh, and giveth you an understanding to know the True God by his Proper Name of Love; 1. John. 5. 20. The Preventing Love of God in the Bosom of Christ cometh to Thee, poureth forth itself in thy Bosom, giveth Thee a new Eye to see the Divine Beauty; a new Ear to hear the heavenly Melody; a new heart to take in, rellish, and understand the Spiritual Sweetnesses, Fulnesses, Joys of this First Love, Love in its Fountain, in the Fountain of Eternity.

This New Wine of the Everlasting Kingdom giveth itself to Thee with a New Bottle, a New Spirit, which will take in, and hold this precious Liquour. Not one drop, of it shall ever fall besides this Bottle, or be spilt out of it.

Object. 2. But still thou poor, troubled, trembling Soul thinkest the glad Tydings of the Gospel, of Pure, Preventing Love too good to be true. Thus thou arguest against thy self, If I were but moderately evil, or morally good; if I could in any degree comply or close with Jesus Christ, when he offereth his Love, and himself to me: then might I have some hope, that I had some place in his heart. But, if the Lord Jesus himself should shine forth with the Sweetest Vision of Preventing Love in the midst of my Fleshlinesses, Filthinesses, hardnesses, Enmities; and should say to me, as the Angel to Mary; hail thou, that are greatly Beloved▪ Hail thou, that are freely Beloved: I should not onelyonly wonder at this Salutation; but believe it all to be a vain Dream of my deluded Fancy.

p. 406Answ. Let me tell Thee a Story. A beautiful Aegyptian Youth, when his Friends desired to take his Picture, desired them to take him up seven daies after his death, and then to take his Picture. Thou, the most defiled; the most deformed Sinner, wert once beautiful, once in the freshness, and flower of thy Youth, in Paradise. It is true; thou art now dead, dead of the most loathsom disease, dead by the most killing, and corrupting Death, dead in sin; Yet now, after that thou hast bin many years dead, Jesus Christ in his Glorified Person cometh like a Bridegroom from heaven, not onelyonly to take thy Picture but to take thy Person into the Arms of his Preventing Loves, to breath bis Preventing Loves into Thee, as a New Life, the Spring of a New Beauty, excelling that, which was lost by Thee in Paradise, incorruptible, that never fadeth, not passeth away.

Ladies and Queens have sometimes hatched Eggs in their Bosoms. Thy dead, deformed Person will thy Saviour hatch in the warm and naked Bosom of his Preventing Loves unto a Divine Life, that shall answer Love with Love, and flourish in the Loveliness of every Grace, every Glory, through thy New-born Soul, and body, according to their proper seasons.

Having known the Love of the Lord my Spirit laboureth, yet not my Spirit, but the Love of the Lord Jesus in my Spirit laboureth by all means to bring forth itself in the fresh, and full Sense of its First, its Free, its Preventing Sweetnesses, in your hearts; as a Spring of Living Waters in a dry, and barren Wilderness. But, as a tender Mother taketh a beloved Child, weak, and peevish; laieth it in her lap; poureth a Cordial down into its stomack: so will your Jesus do with you, O Grieved Spirits, who are weak, without strength; froward, & will not take in his Love. He will take you, lay you upon his knees, and pour this precious Cordial of his Preventing Loves into your Mouths. Then will it go right, and sweet down to the bottom of your heart; There it will become a Well springing up with pure, sweet, and plentiful Streams of every Spiritual Truth, Grace, Comfort, or Joy unto Eternal Life. This is The First State of Love in the Lord Jesus; Preventing Love.

2. There is in the Lord Jesus poured forth from the Father a Fulness of all Assisting Love. 2. Cor. 14. v. 7. 8. 9. St. Paul had a thorn in his Flesh, messengers of Satan sent to buffet him. He prayed thrice, that he might be delivered from them. He had this answer from the Lord: My Grace is sufficient for Thee. Many tender-hearted Saints, who feel their Lusts, as Thorns in their Flesh; who feel their Passions, as the Messengers of Satan, the Angels of the Dragon buffe…ing them; cry out frequently in the Agonies of Fear, and Grief; O this Lust! O this Thorn in my Flesh! Sure at last it will wound me so deeply to the heart, that it will let out the Life-blood of all faith, hope, grace, and comfort. O this Passion! O this Messenger of Satan! It will one day carry me back again into those Chains of Darkness, and that Bottomless Pit, out of which I seem to my self sometimes to have escaped. But, O Believer! tossed p. 407with the Tempests, be comforted. Fear none of these things. Look up continually to the Blessed Person of your dear Saviour lifted up into Glory in the midst of your Spirits. See the Father pouring forth himself into the Fulness, the Glorious Fulness of all Assisting Loves in his Bosom. Pray continually; and hear this Blessed voice from the Mouth of your Saviour continually sounding in your ears; My Assisting Loves are sufficient for Thee.

Obj. But some Soul, that wanteth Comfort, will say, When the Lord Jesus hath once by his Preventing Love planted a New Principle, and Habits of Grace in me, he now expecteth; that I should improve this Principle, and act these Graces. If I do this, and make use of that, which I have: I may comfortably look for his Assisting Love, and that more Grace should be still given me. But what New Loves can I promise my self to accompany me, and carry me on in my way; while I so ill requite the Lord Jesus for his First Loves, that I suffer his Gifts to lye unimproved, his Graces to lye unactive in me, hid in the Earth by my Sloth, or Sensuality?

Answ. I shall proceed in my answer to this Objection by Three Steps.

1 St…p. This Objection wrappeth up together in it something True, something False.

1. This is False; That the Assisting Love of the Lord Jesus dependeth upon our Emprovement of Grace already received from him. This is not True; No; by no means. Assisting Love is as free, as full, as absolute, as much all, as much alone in Carrying on the Work of Grace in us: as Preventing Love is in Beginning it. God hath poured forth in Christ the Fulness of all Assisting Love.

I am the Truth, the way, and the Life; saith our Saviour. Jesus Christ is the Truth, and the Life of all Grace in the way, as much, as in the Beginning, or End. Without me ye can do Nothing. Every Act of Grace, every thing in every Act of Grace, which distinguisheth it from a meer Non-Entity, from an Absolute Nothing; Every Degree of Spiritual Being in the whole Life of Grace with all the Exercises of it through the whole way from the Beginning to the End; is all alike, Immediately from Jesus Christ.

That, which is True in the Objection is this; the Emprovement of Spiritual Principles, the Exercise of our Graces are attended with Clearer Illuminations. Sweeter Enlargements, more Divine heighthnings of all heavenly Truths, Graces, and Consolations in us. On the other siide, when Faith is not acted, when holiness is neglected: Darkness, Decay, Distress, and Death dwell upon us. But these things are all entirely Consequences, and Effects; not Causes, or Attractives of Assisting Love The Assisting Love of our Lord Jesus is as the Sun, which by its Presence bringeth Light, Warmth, Fruitfulness, Life, Beauty, Pleasurealong with it. When it withdraweth itself, leaveth the Cold, hardness, Storms, Desolation of Winter behind it.

The Bridegroom chargeth the Virgins of Jerusalem, by the Roes, and Hinds p. 408of the Field, that they stir not up, nor awake his Love, until She please. Cant. 2. 7. The Angels of heaven, which are the Invisible Ministers, by whom all things move in the whole Order of Second Causes; are here understood according to the sense of some learned Divines, By the Virgins of Jerusalem. The Roes, and hinds of the Field are the Pleasant Loves, and Lovelinesses of the Eternal Spirit in the heavenly Person of Christ. The Law of the Eternal Beauties, and Loves of the Divine Nature lieth upon all things, upon all the Ministers, and Armies of God; that the Spouse of Christ be never laid to sleep, or awakened; but according to its own good pleasure, as it is One Spirit with the Lord Jesus by a knot of Everlasting Love, as a Queen at the Right hand of her King, set down in Heavenly Places with him, in him, upon the same Throne. When the Divine Principle, which is the Bride, and the Spiritual Man in a Saint retireth itself, and goeth to its rest: in this Night the Wild Beasts, Bruitish Lusts, Raging Passions come forth to prey upon the Natural Man covering it with filth, & wounds. But, when the Day spring ariseth from on high when the season cometh for this Man, this Heavenly Seed, & Bride to awake, to stir up her self, and come forth again; in this New Morning the Beasts return to their Den; Lusts, and Passions sink down into their own Principle, the Bottomless Pit, out of which they arose. But the Musick, to which the Spiritual Spouse moveth in these Retirements, and Returns, is the Love of the Spiritual Bridegroom, like the Silver Trumpets of the Sanctuary in the Wilderness to the Children of Israel, sounding a Retreat, and a Rest, or a March, and a Progress.