The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax

First therefore for the ¹great consolation of poor and weak Christians, let them know, that a spark ⟨p. 258⟩from heaven though kindled under green wood that sobs and smokes, yet it will consume all at last, Love once kindled is strong as death, much water cannot ²quench it, and therefore it is called a vehement flame, or flame of GOD, kindled in the heart by the Holy Ghost. That little that is in us, is fed wth an everlasting spring. As the fire that came down from heaven in Elijah his time, licked up all the water, to show that it came from GOD, so will this fire spend all our corruption, no affliction without, or corruption within shall quench it. In the ⟨p. 259⟩morning we see oft clouds gather about the Sun, as if they would hide it, but the Sun wasteth them by little and little, till it come to its full strength. At the first, fears and doubts hinder the breaking out of this fire, until at length it gets above them all, and CHRIST prevails; and then he backs his own graces in us. Grace conquers us first, and we by it conquer all things else, whether it be corruptions within us, or temptations without us.

First therefore for the ¹great consolatiō of poore and weake Christians, let them know, that a sparke ⟨p. 258⟩frō heavē though kindled under greene wood that sobbes and smoakes, yet it will consume all at last, Love once kindled is strong as death, much water cannot ²quench it, and therefore it is called a vehemēt flame, or flame of GOD, kindled in the heart by the Holy Ghost. That little that is in us, is fed wth an everlasting spring. As the fire that came downe from heaven in Elias his time, licked up all the water, to shew that it came from GOD, so will this fire spend all our corruption, no afflictiō without, or corruption within shall quench it. In the