Would God that we would here--to the shame of our cold affection
toward God, in return for such fervent love and inestimable
kindness of God toward us--would God we would, I say, but consider
what hot affection many of these fleshly lovers have borne and
daily bear to those upon whom they dote. How many of them have not
stinted to jeopard their lives, and how many have willingly lost
their lives indeed, without any great kindness showed them
before--and afterward, you know, they could nothing win! But it
contented and satisfied their minds that by their death their lover
should clearly see how faithfully they loved. The delight thereof,
imprinted in their fancy, not only assuaged their pain but also,
they thought, outweighed it all. Of these affections, with the
wonderful dolorous effects following upon them, not only old
written stories, but beside that experience, I think, in every
country, Christian and heathen both, giveth us proof enough. And is
it not then a wonderful shame for us, for the dread of temporal
death, to forsake our Saviour who willingly suffered so painful
death rather than forsake us? Considering that, beside that, he
shall for our suffering so highly reward us with everlasting
wealth. Oh, if he who is content to die for his love, of whom he
looketh afterward for no reward, and yet by his death goeth from
her, might by his death be sure to come to her and ever after in
delight and pleasure to dwell with her--such a love would not stint
here to die for her twice! And what cold lovers are we then unto
God, if, rather than die for him once, we will refuse him and
forsake him forever--him who both died for us before, and hath also
provided that, if we die here for him, we shall in heaven
everlastingly both live and also reign with him! For as St.
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