for whilst a man is frozen and starved for cold, he is numbed, and as it were without life▪ but being brought to the fire, he is h•tt, he is revived, he is cheered, and then becometh active & nimble. ⟨p. 154⟩These are the properties of fire, and these do in some manner sort, resemble and shadow out unto us the works and effects of the spirit: for first of all, when the spirit of God seizeth upon a man, and entereth into his soul, then it beginneth to burn to wast and consume in him, those things that will be wasted: after this sort evil affections, noisome lusts, & other stubble which is in man, by the spirit of God are consumed and burned. Secondly, it doth purge us from gross sins, and daily more and more doth purify us, that we may be a clean and holy vessel and Temple for him to rest and dwell in. Thirdly, it is a shining lamp, ever burning and continually giving light unto us, in that way which we have to walk. And lastly, it doth set us on heat, and inflameth us with a zeal of Gods glory, with a care of our duty, and with a love of all mankind: yea, withal it putteth life and lust into us, to walk in that good way which it doth lead us, and to do all those good works which may glorify God, or be commodious unto men. Thus we see what likelihood there is between the spirit and fire, for which cause the spirit in the scripture is compared unto fire: nay it is sometimes called fire: for John saith. That our Saviour Christ should baptise with the holy ghost, & with ⟨p. 155⟩fire: that is, with the holy ghost, which is like unto the fire: Therefore, as truly and as certainly as we may say that there is fire, where we see straw and such like things consumed, or gold and silver finely purged, or great light in dark places, or great heat in bodies that were numbed before; even so truly we may say, and so certainly we may persuade our selves, that the spirit of God is in us, when we see our corruption consumed, our souls purged from the dross of sin, our hearts enlightened and made hot in walking, and working according to that light. The second question to be considered is,1 whether that man which hath once tasted of the spirit, may loose it, and have it quenched in him. To this it may be said, that because the spirit of God cometh to, and worketh in divers men, diversely, in diverse measures:
for whilest a man is frozen and starued for colde, hee is numbde, and as it were without life▪ but being broughtto the fire, he is h•tt, he is reuiued, he is cheared, and then becometh actiue & nimble. ⟨p. 154⟩These are the properties of fire, and these doe in some manner sort, resemble and shadowe out vnto vs the workes and effectes of the spirite: for first of all, when the spirit of God seaseth vpon a man, and entreth into his soule, then it beginneth to burne to wast and consume in him, those things that will be wasted: after this sort euill affections, noysome lustes, & other stuble which is in man, by the spirite of God are consumed and burned. Secondly, it doth purge vs from grosse sinnes, and daily more and more doth purifie vs, that we may be a cleane and holy vessell and Temple for him to rest and dwell in. Thirdly, it is a shining lampe, euer burning and continually giuing light vnto vs, in that way which we haue to walke. And lastly, it doth set vs on heate, and inflameth vs with a zeale of Gods glorie, with a care of our duety, and with a loue of all mankinde: yea, withall it putteth life and lust into vs, to walke in that good way which it doth leade vs, and to doe all those good workes which may glorifie God, or be commodious vnto men. Thus we see what likelihoode there is betweene the •pirite and fire, for which cause the spirite in the scripture is compared vnto fire: nay it is sometimes called fire: for Iohn saith. That our Sauiour Christ shoulde baptise with the holy ghost, & with ⟨p. 155⟩fire: that is, with the holy ghost, which is like vnto the fire: Therefore, as truely and as certainly as we may say that there is fire, where we see strawe and such like thinges consumed, or golde and siluer finely purged, or great light in darke places, or great heate in bodies that were nummed before; euen so truely wee may say, and so certainly we may perswade our selues, that the spirit of God is in vs, when we see our coruption consumed, our soules purged from the drosse of sinne, our heartes in•ightened and made hot in walking, and working according to that light. The second question to be considered is,1 whether that man which hath once tasted of the spirite, may loose it, and haue it quenched in him. To this it may be saide, that because the spirite of God commeth to, and worketh in diuers men, diuerselie, in diuerse measures:
- 1The second Question.The secōd Question.
