The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, Treatise 2 · Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX A fourth and fifth Direction, concerning the uſe of our Evidences.
4. BE much in the Actings of Love and Thankfulneſs.
1 Love. Coolings of affection on our part towards God, God cannot bear. It were an unnatural & monſtrous ingratitude at ſuch a time to flag in our love, when we are under the fulleſt and moſt enlarged enjoyments of his love to us. Then (if ever) when Gods countenance ſhines upon us, will it make our faces reflect the ſame ſmiling beams of love upon him again.
Surely, ſuch enjoyments act much beneath themſelves, if they produce not a love ſtronger then death it ſelf. If the Saints of God uſe to love God, (and 'tis their duty ſo to do) even then when he breaketh them in the place of Dragons, and covereth them with the ſhadow Pſal. 44. 19.of death: if when he will not vouchſafe them one ſmile upon their ſouls, will not ſpeak one good word to their aking hearts, but all they ſee from him is ghaſtly frowns, and all they fear from him is chiding and thunder: How much more may we think it reaſonable and juſt, they ſhould do ſo, when he ſpreads his own banner of love over them, when he brings them into the Banquetting Cant. 2. 4.houſe, when he layes his left hand under their heads, and his right hand embraceth them, Cant. 8. 3. 1. 2when he kiſſeth them with the kiſses of his mouth and paves all thoſe Chariots of Ordinances and Duties, wherein he conveyes himſelf to them, and them to himſelfe, with love?
And Cant. 3. 10.therefore if at ſuch a time your love kindle not beyond the ordinary proportion, you cannot but provoke him to with-draw in diſpleaſure. See what one cold entertainment of a viſiting Chriſt coſt the Church, Cant. 5. I opened to my Beloved, but my Beloved had with-drawne himſelf, and was gone. His love was hot in the viſit, but hers was too cold that gave him ſuch an entertainment; and therefore when ſhe opened at laſt, he was gone. v. 6. And then when the Scene was changed, and the viſit fell out to be on her part, he ſerved her in the ſame faſhion, he would not be within, She ſought him, but ſhe found him not.
(2) Thankfulneſſe. I cannot imagine, if a ſoul were to wiſh a good thing on this ſide heaven, and have it, what it could deſire like ſpiritual Aſſurance of Gods love. It is as near of kin to heaven it ſelf, as poſſibly can be. It is a kind of beatifical viſion, proportioned to the capacity of a mortal creature. And certainly the more we are admitted to the life of heaven, in happineſs, the more near we ought to come to the life of heaven in thankfulneſs. Becauſe an heavenly life is a life of the greateſt fruit ion, therefore it is a life of greateſt thankfulneſs. To receive extraordinary mercies with an ordinary ſpirit, a ſpirit not warmed into extraordinary ſenſibleneſs of it, and thankfulneſs for it, is among the greateſt provocations of God the giver of them that can be.
Diſcoveries of Gods love have uſed to non-plus the utmoſt abilities of a thankful heart, Pſal. 116. 11, 12. What ſhall I render (ſaith David) to the Lord for all his benefits towards me? And then is thankfulneſſe greateſt, when (like the peace of God which occaſions it) it paſſeth all underſtanding.
5 Let love and thankfulneſs carry you on with delight in all the wayes of Duty and obedience. The truth is, this is the proper uſe of divine diſcoveries. Why doth the father ſmile upon, and make much of his child? is it not that he may be thereby encouraged to dutifulneſs and obedience? Why doth the Sun ſhine upon the earth, except to make it fruitful? Upon theſe termes the Church is engaged to run after Chriſt, Cant. 1. 2. 3, 4. If Chriſt draw with Ointments and kiſſes, the fragrant allurements, and temptations of his love, 'tis an addition of ſtrength and agility to a poor crippled ſoul. Now if Chriſt find that you receive his favours, but reject his commands; that his countenance is delightful, and his embraces welcom to you, but his Commandments troubleſom, and his yoak intolerable, (eſpecially conſidering that he affords you thoſe refreſhments that they may oyl the wheeles of your ſpirits, and make them goe the more nimbly in his wayes,) Is it not juſt with him to with-draw the encouragements, and leave you notwithſtanding to your tasks of duty, to toile in the brick-kilns, and work out your very hearts in an uncomfortable drudgery, without the leaſt refreſhment at all to quicken your ſpirits thereunto? Theſe are the terms upon which God will manifeſt himſelf ſo to his people, as to dwel and abide with them, John 14. 21, 23. If a man love me, he will keep my words. And my Father will love him, and we will come to him. So it may be (will a ſoul ſay) but how long will he ſtay when he comes? Why? the next words ſhew, We will make our abode with him; We will dwel with him for continuance. That expreſſion of our Saviour Chriſts, ſeems a ſtrange expreſſion, When ye have done all thoſe things which are commanded you, ſay, we are unprofitable ſervants; why? Becauſe we have done but what was our duty. As if it were to be the complaint of a Saint, that he can do no more for God then he ſhould.