which unbelief in God, and too much trust in man, the Lord to clear the case before our eyes, putteth man from this preeminence in helping any longer, and taketh the prerogative of the stewardship wholly to himself, that they that will fetch, must of necessity fetch at his hands. To this trial the Lord doth join the confirmation of our Faith, as when he maketh us exiles and forlorn Pilgrims among men, that we might be entertained of him, as of a fostering Father, for that after he ministereth to us in distress greater comforts immediately by his spirit, then ever we tasted of, whilst in our prosperity he let us to be served mediately by men. How evident this is, the Martyrs of God can tell us by their writings, who when all men forsook them, when no man durst speak to them, when their friends stood aloof off from them, had greater feelings, more glorious joys, and sweeter meditations from the Lord himself,1 then ever they had in their life and liberty before. What loss then is it to be an exile in earth among men, and to be a Citizen in heaven among Angels? What hazard is it when in steed of father, mother, and brother, we are in league with the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost? who thinketh it not a sufficient supply in the eye of Faith to have the momentany imprisonment of the body recompensed with the most glorious liberty of the Saints and Angels? Let the Lord therefore send us by these means out of our strong hold in the means, seeing without some such working upon us, we would hardly give over our hold, for that, we are as proud beggars, who so long as they can have relief and maintenance at home, will never seek abroad. But how doth the Lord by this visitation further our mortification in us? Surely in withdrawing the Fuel and matter, wherewith before our natural corruption was more inflamed and made more foggy. ⟨p. 687⟩How many in prosperity shall we see complaining of lust burning them, of concupiscence intoxicating them, of anger fretting them; of glutton•e devouring them, of covetous cares consuming them, and that so strongly, as if there were no hope to be recovered?
which vnbeliefe in God, and too much trust in man, the Lord to cleere the case before our eyes, putteth man from this preheminence in helping any longer, and taketh the prerogatiue of the stewardship wholy to himselfe, that they that will fetch, must of necessitie fetch at his hands. To this triall the Lord doth ioyne the confirmation of our Faith, as when he maketh vs exiles and forlorne Pilgrimes among men, that we might be entertained of him, as of a fostering Father, for that after he ministreth to vs in distres greater comforts immediatly by his spirit, then euer we tasted of, whilest in our prosperitie he let vs to be serued mediatly by men. How euident this is, the Martyrs of God can tell vs by their writings, who when all men forsooke them, when no man durst speake to them, when their friendes stood aloofe off from them, had greater feelings, more glorious ioyes, and sweeter meditations from the Lorde himselfe,1 then euer they had in their life and libertie before. What losse then is it to bee an exile in earth among men, and to be a Citizen in heauen among Angels? What hazard is it when in steed of father, mother, and brother, wee are in league with the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost? who thinketh it not a sufficient supplie in the eye of Faith to haue the momentanie imprisonment of the bodie recompenced with the most glorious libertie of the Saints and Angels? Let the Lord therefore send vs by these meanes out of our strong hold in the meanes, seeing without some such working vpon vs, wee would hardlie giue ouer our holde, for that, wee are as proude beggars, who so long as they can haue reliefe and maintenance at home, will neuer seeke abroade. But how doth the Lorde by this visitation further our mortification in vs? Surely in withdrawing the Fewell and matter, wherewith before our naturall corruption was more enflamed and made more foggie. ⟨p. 687⟩How many in prosperitie shal we see complaining of lust burning them, of concupiscence intoxicating them, of anger fretting them; of glutton•e deuouring them, of couetous cares consuming them, and that so strongly, as if there were no hope to be recouered?
- 1Sweet joys and feelings under the cross.Sweet ioyes and feelings vnder the crosse.
