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Of the Sweetness of God's Love.

2. What will not be pleasant to the taste unto him who hath a true relish for Thee?

And to him that hath no relish for Thee, what can be pleasant?

But the wise men of the world, and they also who relish the things of the flesh, have not Thy wisdom; for in the former is found much vanity, and in the latter death.

But they that follow Thee in contempt of worldly things, and mortification of the flesh, are known to be truly wise; for they are brought over from vanity to truth, from the flesh to the spirit.

These relish God; and what good soever is found in creatures, they wholly refer unto the praise of their Maker.

Great, however, yea, very great is the difference between the sweetness of the Creator and of the creature, of eternity and of time, of light uncreated and of light that receiveth its light therefrom.

3. O everlasting Light, surpassing all created lights, dart the beams of Thy brightness from above, to pierce the most inward parts of my heart.

Purify, rejoice, enlighten and enliven my spirit with the powers thereof, that I may cleave unto Thee with abundance of joy.

O when will that blessed and desired hour come, that Thou mayest satisfy me with Thy presence, and be unto me all in all.

So long as this is not granted me, I shall not have perfect joy.

Still alas! the old man doth live in me: he is not wholly crucified, he is not perfectly dead.