A03064:507
A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…
A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the second, the life of faith. ... By John Ball.A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the second, the life of faith. ... By Iohn Ball.
London: printed by William Stansby for Edward Brewster, 1631
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Eighthly, In the most forcible tempests which the enemy raiseth against us, when to present sense and feeling all sight and hope of the grace and goodness of God in Jesus Christ is lost, faith tells the heart, that a calm is at hand. When the strength of the enemy is wasted, and his provision decayed, that he hath no hope to continue the siege long, he will make one or two furious assaults against the place before his departure, intending to win the horse or lose the spurs,1 as the Proverb goeth: so it is with Satan, his rage is greatest, when his time is shortest. Even as the darkness is greatest a little before day: so the grand pieces which the Devil keeps in store, until ⟨p. 309⟩the case be desperate, be with the claps they give, and mists they send forth, messengers of his retiring, and our deliverance which is before the door.2 The last temptation wherewith Satan set upon Christ was the most furious, and when he could not prevail thereby, he departed from him for a season. The Lord knows well the malice of Satan, and the weakness of his children: his fury to devour, and their frailty to stand long in the encounter: therefore he will not suffer that roaring Lion above measure to discharge upon them. This faith assures of,3 and persuades quietly to wait for.
Eightly, In the most forcible tempests which the enemy raiseth against vs, when to present sence and feeling all sight and hope of the grace and goodnesse of God in Iesus Christ is lost, faith tels the heart, that a calme is at hand. When the strength of the enemy is wasted, and his prouision decayed, that he hath no hope to continue the siege long, hee will make one or two furious assaults against the place before his departure, intending to winne the horse or lose the spurres,1 as the Prouerbe goeth: so it is with Satan, his rage is greatest, when his time is shortest. Euen as the darknesse is greatest a little before day: so the grand pieces which the Deuill keepes in store, vntill ⟨p. 309⟩