The Love-jealous Eye that is over us surveying and searching out the evil as well as the good in all the circumstances of things appertaining to us was most kind and friendly to foretell us all that might prolong or prevent the making good what is contained and shut up in the Promise of the new Covenant.

O the sweet, gentle reproofs of the Spirit! how acceptable be they when they drive forward and will not let us rest or lodge on this side the Mount of Olives but call up to mind who it is that thereupon doth stand, echoing and crying,

"O my Dove, what is the cause of thy demur? Didst thou not engage that thou wouldst fit out my Bride and make her ready that her Bridegroom might be out of all suspicion? But her delay makes me conclude she is loathe to take too abrupt a leave from the Moabitish Land, fearing to displease them as if her eye was still hankering after some reward from this harlotry vagrant. All of which is included under the curse and therefore cannot to my Spouse make any addition of blessing, but will seek to despoil her from her greater, more weighty, and eminent riches with her true honours.  All these subtle pretenses are given by her providing to gratify the outward man's exigencies who alone hath need of all these things.

"Which smooth arguments have deluded multitudes, engulfing them deep into an irrecoverable pit of Perdition. Of which common Snare, O ye that are called and culled out to live upon another fount and spring, take good heed: it is for such as you thereof to be aware. It is for you not to be caught here, but still to go to Jacob’s Lot; observe therefore, and diligently enquire when you are to depart out of Babylon and when the set-time is that your Laban’s service shall expire.

"Now My charge unto you is that when I, your Jesus, expressly alarm you to take your leave of all and from all      things and to make a quick dispatch after Me, that you linger not out your time with so many "taking of leaves" and long salutes whereby to express so hard a coming-away from this evil world.  For My Spirit will hide nothing from Me but doth give a true account how your mind and will stands towards Me. He is that impartial Spirit of Truth Who on both sides is faithful, Who does as well take of yours and shew to Me, as of Mine to you. He cannot and will not make any force without the free consent of your own will nor treat with you any otherwise than by Love’s entreaties and those many considerable advantages set before your true spiritual eye which, in this Light of the Anointed One, ye may spy without defraud or hindrance.

"And as for thee, Shulamite, what thinkest thou? Art thy God and Me more disgust than when My Spirit bringeth this report to My ear that thou canst  not yet give full credit to thy Espoused Lord and Husband without wavering? My Spirit tells me that Love is not grown so perfect yet in thee as to cast out every questioning thought which makes thee so oft in jeopardy. O couldst thou but undoubtedly believe in My Faithfulness and highly great and all-sufficient responsibility to answer to all whatever relates to thee as thou standest in thy exiled state.

"I say, if in this persuasion My Spirit could thee fix, thou wouldst openly decry down the beast and his great benefactor who doth sit on him to give rewards out of the false, pernicious Magic cup; and thou wouldst only look to thy own Eternal Dowry, from the Hand of her who is all over clothed with Strength, Glory, and Majesty, thereby to cover those who are lodged in the Bridegroom’s Heart.

"True it is, ye have not only witnessed a good confession with your Lips but have also in some degree given the sealing proof by bringing out the first ripe Fruits. O know ye, who are My garden plants, for what end are all My golden dews to you conveyed through My Spirit? Are they not that ye may see this fruitful Tree of Life [inwardly] within your own Lebanon, to spring both for Food and Healing?  Whereto ye wouldst be brought by that Spirit and Power, which is in mine Elect who are given by the Father to be joint-sharers with Me in the third great and blessed lot of pure Breath and Heat from the Everlasting Deity."

Even so to us, my God. do then this infuse richly according to thy Word.