immortal, for that there is not the appearance of corruptibleness
in it, or likelihood of decay.

This is general knowledge, and this is common among the saints,
at leastwise in the notion of it. Though I confess, it is hard in
time of temptation, practically to hold fast the soul to all these
things. But, as I have said already, this love of Christ must be
such, because love in the root of it, is essential to his nature,
as also I have proved now, as is the root, such are the branches;
and as is the spring, such are the streams, unless the channels
in which those streams do run, should be corrupted, and so defile
it; but I know no channels through which this love of Christ is
conveyed unto us, but those made in his side, his hands, and his
feet, &c. Or those gracious promises that dropped like honey from
his holy lips, in the day of his love, in which he spake them:
and seeing his love is conveyed to us, as through those channels,
and so by the conduit of the holy and blessed spirit of God, to
our hearts, it cannot be that it should hitherto be corrupted. I
know the cisterns, to wit, our hearts, into which it is conveyed,
are unclean, and may take away much, through the damp that they
may put upon it, of the native savour and sweetness thereof. I
know also, that there are those that tread down, and muddy those
streams with their feet (Eze 34:18,19); but yet neither the love
nor the channels in which it runs, should bear the blame of this.
And I hope those that are saints indeed, will not only be preserved
to eternal life, but nourished with this that is incorruptible
unto the day of Christ. I told you before, that in the hour of
temptation, it will be hard for the soul to hold fast to these
things; that is, to the true definition of this love; for then,
or at such seasons, it will not be admitted that the love of