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…

¹Tenthly, The faithful are the Lords vessels, which he useth to scour by temptations. True it is, that in the time of trial, the graces of the Spirit do not so much appear to the notice of the believing heart: but by the over-ruling providence of God, they serve for the increase of grace, as the truth teacheth, faith believeth, and experience can testify. Thus faith ministereth comfort in the most bitter agonies, if it be rightly used, and stirred up. But what if the child of God be brought so low, that he can discern no spark of faith, no fruit of grace, no mark of Gods love in himself? It is not to be doubted, but the servants of Christ through their weakness, are oft brought by extremity of temptation into woeful desolation, which yet the Lord doth wisely order for the glory of his Name, and the good of his dejected servants. And as in other things, so in this, that they cannot discern any fruit of the Spirit, wherewith through the mercy of God, they are comfortably replenished. For the blustering Tempests which the enemy raiseth against them, cause such disturbance in the soul, and fill the heart with such confusion, fear and terror, that for the present they are altogether unable to judge of their own estate. For when the Mind is over-clouded with the mists of Temptation, as the eye with the rising of dust; and the heart tossed too and fro with unquietness, as the waves of the Sea when the winds are boisterous; conscience by recoiling upon the soul cannot conceive, or give right notice of it true state and temper. Troubled water will not give back the reflection of the countenance: nor an afflicted Spirit the true disposition of the inner man. When the poor Christian makes search into himself, the temptation first puts forth it self, wherewith the heart is daunted, and thereupon concludeth, that no grace doth lodge or abide in him, because at first sight it doth not appear. Unto these may be added, that good men are sometimes pettishly disposed, ⟨p. 311⟩to cast away all they have as nothing, because they have not what they desire, or imagine others to enjoy: herein resembling little children, who for want of some small trifle that they desire, or some of their fellows have, throw away many things much more precious.

¹Tenthly, The faithfull are the Lords vessels, which he vseth to scoure by temptations. True it is, that in the time of triall, the graces of the Spirit doe not so much appeare to the notice of the belieuing heart: but by the ouer-ruling prouidence of God, they serue for the increase of grace, as the truth teacheth, faith belieueth, and experience can testifie. Thus faith ministreth comfort in the most bitter agonies, if it bee rightly vsed, and stirred vp. But what if the child of God be brought so low, that he can discerne no sparke of faith, no fruit of grace, no marke of Gods loue in himselfe? It is not to be doubted, but the seruants of Christ through their weaknes, are oft brought by extremity of temptation into wofull desolation, which yet the Lord doth wisely order for the glory of his Name, and the good of his deiected seruants. And as in other things, so in this, that they cannot discerne any fruit of the Spirit, wherewith through the mercy of God, they are comfortably replenished. For the blustering Tempests which the enemy raiseth against them, cause such disturbance in the soule, and fill the heart with such confusion, feare and terrour, that for the present they are altogether vnable to iudge of their owne estate. For when the Mind is ouer-clouded with the mists of Temptation, as the eye with the rising of dust; and the heart tossed too and fro with vnquietnesse, as the waues of the Sea when the winds are boisterous; conscience by recoiling vpon the soule cannot conceiue, or giue right notice of it true state and temper. Troubled water will not giue backe the reflection of the countenance: nor an afflicted Spirit the true disposition of the inner man. When the poore Christian makes search into himselfe, the temptation first puts forth it selfe, wherewith the heart is daunted, and thereupon concludeth, that no grace doth lodge or abide in him, because at first sight it doth not appeare. Vnto these may be added, that good men are sometimes pertishly disposed,