i
T H E
HEAVENLY CONTEMPLATION.
FROM RASTER 9 SAINTS REST.
“Draw yet nearer, O my soul! with
thy most fervent love. Here is matter for
it to work hpon', something worth thy
lpving. O see what beauty presents itself!
Is not all the beauty in the world united
here? Is not all other beauty but defor
mity? DoisT tfrtrti now need to be persua
ded to love? Here is a feast forthfoe
eyes, and air the powers of thy soul: dbst
thbu need entreaties to feed upon? Canst
thou love a little shining earth, a walking
piece of clay? and eahst thou not ft/Ve-that
God, that Christ, that glory, which are so
truly and unmeasurably lovely? Thou
diinkt lover thy friend, bechube he loves
thee; and is the love pf a friend like’ the
love of Christ?^ Their weeping or bleed
ing for thee, does not ease thee, nor stay
the course of thy tears or blood; but the
tears and blood that fell from thy Lord,
have a sovereign, healing' virtue, O my
eoiil! if love deserves, and should' beget
*Iove, what incomprehensible love is here
before thee! Pour out all the store of thy
affections herer-and all is too little. O
that it were more! O that it were many
thousand timr'es more? Let him be first ser
ved, that served thee first. Let him have
the first-born and strength of thy soul,
who parted with strength, and life, and
lore for thee; G^niy soul! dost thou love
for excellency? Yonder is the region of
light; this is the land of darkness* Yon
der twinkling stars, that shining moon,
and radiant sun, are alt but lanterns, hung
out of tny Father’s house, to light thee
while thou walkest in this dark wofTd.
But how little dost thou- know1 the glory
and blessedness that ate within! Dost
thou love for suitableness? What per
rfoh more suitable than Christ? His God
head and humanity, his fulness and free
dess, his willingness and constancy, all
proclaim bin) thy most suitable friends
What state ihore suitable to' thy misery,
tharf merc5"? or to thy sin and pollution,
than honor and perfection?. What pla<fe
more suitable to thee' than heaven? Does
this vforfcl agr&e with thy desires? H^st
thou not had a sufficient trial of it, or do#
tliou love for interest and near relation?
Where hast thou better interest than in'
heaven, or nearer relation than there?
/ , “ Dost thour.kwe for acquaintance'
familiarity? Though thine eyes have never
seen thy Lord, yet thou hast heard hift
voice, received his benefits, and lived in’
his bosom. He taught thee to know thy
self and him; he opened thee that first?
window, through which thou sawest into
heaven. Hast thou forgotten since thy
heart was darelefcs and- he awakened, ify
hard and he softened it; stubborn and he
made it yield ; at peace, and he troubled
it; whore1 and he broke it; and broken,'
till he healed it again? Hast thow forgot-"
ten the times when he found thee in tears f
when he heard thy secret sighs and groans*
an*J left all to eohate- and eouifott thee?
when he took thfee, as it were, in his arms,
and asked thee, Poor soul, what ails'
thee? Dost thou weep, when T have
wept so much? Efe‘of good cheer; thy
wounds are saving, and not deadly; it is
I have made them, who raeair thee no
hurt.; though' f let out thy blood, I wilt
noUet out thy life. I remember his voice:
How gently did he take me up ! How
carefully did he dress rUy wounds ! Me
thinks I hear him stiff spying to me,
* Poor sinner,-thoiigh thou hast dealt un
kindly with me, and cast rae off, yet I
will not do so by thee. Though thou
hast" set light by me and all my mercies'*
yet they and myself are all thine. What;
wouldst thoti; have, that I can give thee?
And what dost thou want, that I dm-1,
not give theef If any thing I have wilt
give thee pleasure thou shaft have iti*