Even so it is in this spiritual estate, the soul is sick, and not dead, faith is assailed, but not overcome; and if in patience the finishing of this secret work which passeth all conceit and capacity of man be attended, these bu ning fevers of temptations shall appear to be flaked and cooled by the mercy and grace of Christ, and that spark of faith which now lieth hid and over-whelmed with ⟨p. 193⟩heaps of temptations, to break forth again: And as nature after a perfect crisis dischargeth herself, to the recovery of former health: so shall all doubts and fears and terrors be removed, and strength of faith restored with such supply, as it shall be able to make evident proof what secret virtue lay hid, and yet not idle in all this uncomfortable plight. Again, as in outward senses we see sometimes, and feel, and hear, when we do not perceive it: so we may also have faith, and not always have the sensible perceiving thereof. Yea, such as most hunger and thirst after righteousness, and are poor in spirit and broken in heart, as they doubt and fear in every action lest God be dishonoured by their conversation, so are they jealous of their precious faith, lest it be not in such measure as they desire, or in truth be none at all: wherein they may easily be deceived, first, in the discerning, then in the measure and portion. For when the inward feeling thereof doth not answer their desire and the actions proceeding there-from do not satisfy their thirst of righteousness, whereby relief may rise to the nourishment of faith, and the satisfying of that holy appetite; they are discouraged and entangled with spiritual cares, from which a more advised consideration agreeable to Gods Word might easily deliver them. And touching the portion, it is a fault to measure the excellency of faith and power thereof, partly by quantity and unseasonable fruits, (so to call them) and not by virtue, kind plantation, sovereignty, and seasonable fruit: which error in temptation the distressed are apt to run into, and so to trouble themselves without cause. Men look not that Corn should spring in harvest, or be ripe in spring; that trees should bud or bear fruit in winter: because it •s not the season for such things.
Euen so it is in this spirituall estate, the soule is sicke, and not dead, faith is assailed, but not ouercome; and if in patience the fin•shing of this secret worke which passeth all conceit and capacitie of man bee attended, these bu ning feauers of temptations shall appeare to bee flaked and cooled by the mercie and grace of Christ, and that sparke of faith which now lieth hid and ouer-whelmed with ⟨p. 193⟩heapes of temptations, to breake forth againe: And as nature after a perfect crise dischargeth herselfe, to the recouery of former health: so shall all doubts and feares and terrours be remoued, and strength of faith restored with such supply, as it shall bee able to make euident proofe what secret vertue lay hid, and yet not idle in all this vncomfortable plight. Againe, as in outward sences we see sometimes, and feele, and heare, when wee doe not perceiue it: so we may also haue faith, and not alwayes haue the sensible perceiuing thereof. Yea, such as most hunger and thirst after righteousnesse, and are poore in spirit and broken in heart, as they doubt and feare in euery action lest God bee dishonoured by their conuersation, so are they iealous of their precious faith, lest it bee not in such measure as they desire, or in truth be none at all: wherein they may easily bee deceiued, first, in the discerning, then in the measure and portion. For when the inward feeling thereof doth not answere their desire and the actions proceeding there-from doe not satisfie their thirst of righteousnesse, whereby reliefe may rise to the nourishment of faith, and the satisfying of that holy appetite; they are discouraged and intangled with spirituall cares, from which a more aduiced consideration agreeable to Gods Word might easily deliuer them. And touching the portion, it is a fault to measure the excellencie of faith and power thereof, partly by quantitie and vnseasonable fruits, (so to call them) and not by vertue, kind plantation, soueraignetie, and seasonable fruit: which errour in temptation the distressed are apt to runne into, and so to trouble themselues without cause. Men looke not that Corne should spring in haruest, or be ripe in spring; that trees should bud or beare fruit in winter: because it •s not the season for such things.
