Secondly, in that these elements are consecrated and exhibited for confirmation of our Faith, we thence see how the Church hath hera degrees of faith, herb measure the spirit, herc deficiencies of grace, her languishings, ebbings, imperfections, her decays, blemishes and falls, which makes her stand in need of beingd perfected, builded,e rooted, establishedf in faith and righteousness,g all things under the middle region are subject to Winds, Thunders, Tempests, the continual uncertainties of boisterous whether, whereas in the Heavens there is a perfect uniform serenity, and calmness: so when a Christian comes once to his own Country unto Heaven, he then comes unto an estate of peace, and security,a to be filled with the fullness of GOD, where thieves do not break through nor steal, where neither flesh nor Satan have any admission, no storms of temptation, No Ship-wrack of conscience,9 but where all things are spiritual,10 and peaceable. But in this Earth, where Satan hath power to go from place to place toa compass the World, to raise his tempests ⟨p. 152⟩against the Church even theb Waves of ungodly men, can have no safety from any danger, which either his subtlety can contrive, or his malice provoke, or his power execute, or his instruments further, and therefore we are here subject to more or fewer degrees of faintness in our Faith according as our strength, to resist the common adversary is less or greater. As in the natural, so in the mystical Body, though all the parts do in common partake of life, yet one is more vital then another, the Heart, and Head, then the Hands, and Feet, yea the same part is at one time more active, and quick then at others. One while overgrown with humours, and stiffened with distempers, another while free, expedite, and able for the discharge of any vital office. And this is that which drives us to a necessity of recovering our strength, and making up our breaches by this holy Sacrament, which should likewise tell us in what humble esteem we ought to have our perfectest endowments, they being all subject to their failings, and decays.
Secondly, in that these elements are consecrated and exhibited for confirmation of our Faith, wee thence see how the Church hath hera degrees of faith, herb measure the spirit, herc deficiencyes of grace, her languishings, ebbings, imperfections, her decayes, blemishes and fals, which makes her stand in neede of beingd perfected, builded,e rooted, establishedf in faith and righteousnes,g all things under the middle region are subject to Winds, Thunders, Tempests, the continuall uncertainties of boysterous wheather, whereas in the Heavens there is a perfect uniforme serenity, and calmenes: so when a Christian comes once to his owne Countrey unto Heaven, he then comes unto an estate of peace, and security,a to be filled with the fulnes of GOD, where theeves do not breake thorowgh nor steale, where neither flesh nor Satan have any admission, noe stormes of temptation, No Ship-wrack of conscience,9 but where all things are spirituall,10 and peaceable. But in this Earth, where Satan hath power to goe from place to place toa compasse the World, to raise his tempests ⟨p. 152⟩against the Church even theb Waves of ungodly men, can have no safety from any danger, which eyther his subtelty can contrive, or his malice provoke, or his power execute, or his instruments further, and therefore wee are here subject to more or fewer degrees of faintnes in our Faith according as our strength, to resist the common adversary is lesse or greater. As in the naturall, so in the mysticall Body, though all the parts doe in common pertake of life, yet one is more vitall then another, the Heart, and Head, then the Hands, and Feete, yea the same part is at one time more active, and quick then at others. One while overgrowne with humors, and stiffned with distempers, another while free, expedite, and able for the discharge of any vitall office. And this is that which drives us to a necessity of recovering our strength, and making up our breaches by this holy Sacrament, which should likewise tell us in what humble esteeme wee ought to have our perfectest endowments, they being all subject to their faylings, and decaies.
- a1 Thess. 3. 10. Luke 17. 5. Rom. 1. 19.
- b1 John 1. 161 Iohn 1. 16
- cPhil. 1. 19
- dEphes. 4 12▪ 13.
- eColos 2. 6. 7.
- fEphes 4. 15 1 Pet. 2 2.
- gPars superior m•ndi•t ordinatior nec in nubem capitur nec in tempestatem imp•l•tur, n•c ve•satur in turbinem omni tumultu […], in••rio•a ful•• •ant: Senec• de ira l. 3. c. 6. minims rerum discord•a versat. Pacem summa tene•t. Lucam.Pars superior m•ndi•t ordinatior nec in nubem capitur nec in tempestatem imp•l•tur, n•c vesatur in turbinem omni tumultu , inrioa ful ant: Senec de ira l. 3. c. 6. inims rerum discorda versat. Pacem summa tenet. Lucam.
