A Golden Chain

Again, ofttimes this trial serves to quicken and revive the hidden graces of the heart, that men may be thankful for them, and feel an increase of them in the heart. The good husbandman cuts the branches of the Vine, not that he hath a purpose to destroy them,¹ but to make them bear more fruit. In the Can ticles when Christ left his spouse, then she riseth out of her bed, she opens the door,² her hands drop myrrh on the bar of the door: then further she seeks & calls for him, and praiseth him more then ever before. David testifieth the like of himself:³ In my prosperity I said I shall never be moved, &c. but thou didst hide thy fa•e and I was troubled. Then cried I to thee, O Lord, & prayed to my Lord. Lastly, men that live in the Church, being for a time left of God, become so impenitent as that they must be given up to Satan; yet for no other cause, but that the flesh may be killed,⁴ and the spirit made alive in the day of the Lord.

Againe, ofttimes this triall serues to quicken and reuiue the hidden graces of the heart, that men may be thankefull for them, and feele an increase of thē in the heart. The good husbandmā cuts the branches of the Vine, not that he hath a purpose to destroy them,¹ but to make them beare more fruit. In the Cā ticles when Christ left his spouse, then shee riseth out of her bed, shee opens the doore,² her hands drop mirrhe on the barre of the doore: then further she seekes & calls for him, and praiseth him more then euer before. Dauid testifieth the like of himselfe:³ In my prosperitie I said I shall neuer be mooued, &c. but thou didst hide thy fa•e and I was troubled. Then cried I to thee, O Lord, & praied to my Lord. Lastly, men that liue in the Church, beeing for a time left of God, become so impenitent as that they must be giuen vp to Sathan; yet for no other cause, but that the flesh may be killed,