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…

Eighthly, It makes heavenly minded in the use and possession of a prosperous estate. As it receiveth all earthly blessings from God as pledges of his special love, and part of their child's portion: so it windeth and pulleth up the soul to God again. Look what love-tokens are to link the hearts of well-willers, and bring them together, or to preserve, renew, and increase affection amongst friends; such force have the good things of this life to lift up the believing heart to commune with the Lord. And sure prosperity is the fittest season for heavenly contemplation: the less trouble lieth upon our state, the more liberty we have with freedom to think upon such things as concern our eternal inheritance. Besides, faith cannot savour earthly blessings, unless it taste his love, and feed upon his goodness in them. If being invited to a Nobleman's table, he be pleased to carve a bit upon our Trench•r, that is better then all the feast. The love of God giving us earthly things to enjoy, is that which giveth them the best relish. And if we taste the sweetness of his loving kindness in these things, we cannot but desire, and long to be refreshed with fuller communion with him.

Eightly, It makes heauenly minded in the vse and possession of a prospe•ous estate. As it receiueth all earthly blessings from God as pledges of his speciall loue, and part of their childes portion: so it windeth and pulleth vp the soule to God againe. Looke what loue-tokens are to linke the hearts of wel-willers, and bring them together, or to preserue, renew, and increase affection amongst friends; such force haue the good things of this life to lift vp the belieuing heart to commune with the Lord. And sure prosperitie is the fittest season for heauenly contemplation: the lesse trouble lieth vpon our state, the more libertie we haue with freedom to thinke vpon such things as concerne our ete•nall inheritance. Besides, faith cannot sauour earthly blessings, vnlesse it taste his loue, and feed vpon his goodnesse in them. If being inuited to a Noblemans table, hee be pleased to carue a bit vpon our Trench•r, that is better then all the feast. The loue of God giuing vs earthly things to enioy, is that which giueth them the best relish. And if we taste the sweetnesse of his louing kindnesse in these things, wee cannot but desire, and long to bee refreshed with fuller communion with him.