Part 248

_Direct._ XVII. Think oft, how delightful a life it would be to thee, if thou couldst but live in the love of God: and then the complacency will provoke desire, and desire will turn thy face towards God, till thou feel that thou lovest him.--The love of a friend hath its sweetness and delight: and when we love them, we feel such pleasure in our love, that we love to love them. How pleasant then would it be to love thy God!--O blessed, joyful life, if I could but love him as much as I desire to love him! How freely could I leave the ambitious, and the covetous, and the sensual, and voluptuous, to their doting, delusory, swinish love! How easily could I spare all earthly pleasures! How near should I come to the angelical life! Could I love God as I would love him, it would fill me with continual pleasure, and be the sweetest feast that a soul can have. How easily would it quench all carnal love! How far would it raise me above these transitory things! How much should I contemn them, and pity the wretches that know no better, and have their portion in this life! How readily should I obey, and how pleasant would obedience be! How sweet would all my meditations be, when every thought is full of love! How sweet would all my prayers be, when constraining love did bring me unto God, and indite and animate every word! How sweet would sacraments be, when my ascending, flaming love, should meet that wonderful, descending love which cometh from heaven to call me thither, and in living bread and spiritual wine is the nourishment and cordial of my soul! How sweet would all my speeches be, when love commanded them, and every word were full of love! How quiet would my conscience be, if it had never any of this accusation against me, to cast in my face, to my shame and confusion, that I am wanting in love to the blessed God! Oh could I but love God with such a powerful love as his love and goodness should command, I should no more question my sincerity, nor doubt any more of his love to me. How freely then should I acknowledge his grace, and how heartily should I give him thanks for my justification, sanctification, and adoption, which now I mention with doubt and fear! Oh how it would lift up my soul unto his praise, and make it my delight to speak good of his name! What a purifying fire would love be in my breast, to burn up my corruptions! It would endure nothing to enter or abide within me, that is contrary to the will and interest of my Lord; but hate every motion that tendeth to dishonour and displease him. It would fill my soul with so much of heaven, as would make me long to be in heaven, and make death welcome, which is now so terrible. Instead of these withdrawing, shrinking fears, I should desire to depart and to be with Christ, as being best of all. Oh how easily should I bear any burden of reproach, or loss, or want, when I thus loved God and were assured of his love! How light would the cross be! And how honourable and joyful would it seem, to be imprisoned, reviled, spit upon, and buffeted for the sake of Christ! How desirable would the flames of martyrdom seem, for the testifying of my love to him that loved me at dearer rates than I can love him! Lord, is there no more of this blessed life of love to be attained here on earth? When all the world reveals thy goodness; when thy Son hath come down to declare thy love, in so full and wonderful a manner; when thy word hath opened us a window into heaven, where afar off we may discern thy glory; yet, shall our hearts be clods, and ice? O pity this unkind, unnatural soul! this dead, insensible, disaffected soul! Teach me, by thy Spirit, the art of love! Love me, not only so as to convince me that I have abundant cause to love thee above all, but love me, so as to constrain me to it, by the magnetical, attractive power of thy goodness, and the insuperable operations of thy omnipotent love.