⟨opon⟩ unto you; for hunger and thirſt being next ⟨to⟩ motion, are the two properties that begin firſt ⟨with⟩ life. So every thing that is new-born is ⟨lively⟩, and hath a ſtomach for meat and drink. O ⟨but⟩ ſay ye, I am many times in my ſoul even at ⟨death's⟩ door; I have neither faith nor feeling! I ⟨am⟩ even at this, God loves me not, and the well ⟨is⟩ not ordained for me at theſe times. Would ye ⟨fain⟩ be at the well? now in my mind ye cannot in away. The children of God, when at the ⟨loweſt⟩ ebb, even when faith, comfort, joy, love, ⟨and⟩ a diſpoſition to pray is away, is there not a ⟨longing⟩ for preſence. I ſpeak to the conſcience ⟨of⟩ God's child, lie not. No, David (Pſalm vi.) ⟨when⟩ he thought God ſtrake him in his wrath, ⟨was⟩ at, "How long Lord?" a cutted word; I think ⟨that⟩ he looked like a poor hungry beaſt, looking ⟨o'er⟩ the dyke, who would ſain have had a ⟨mouth-ful⟩; He was even going about to ſeek a ſlap to ⟨break⟩ o'er the dyke of his doubtings. And ſo it ⟨is⟩ with God's bairns under their thirſt for the well ⟨of⟩ life. See Cant. iii. when the kirk can get no ⟨sparing⟩ of Chriſt, and has no ſmell of him, and ⟨cannot⟩ find the print of his foot; yet ſhe is at this, "Saw ye him whom my ſoul loveth?" and chap. ii.⟨"⟩I charge you tell him, that I am ſick of love." ⟨then⟩ let me now ſpeak to weak ones, and I will ⟨tell⟩ you who are Chriſt's companions that drink ⟨with⟩ him, and ſhall get their heads and hearts full ⟨of⟩ the water of life; even the tender Chriſtian ⟨that⟩ is ay ſpeaking: the bairn in Chriſt's houſe ⟨that⟩ is moſt cumberſome, and makes moſt din for ⟨his⟩ meat, is the beſt bairn that Chriſt has; the ⟨bairn⟩ that is greeting ilk hour of the day for a piece ⟨and⟩ a drink: we ſay of ſuch a ſilly thing he fain ⟨would⟩ love. Ay the cumberſomer that Chriſt's bairns
