A care-cloth

3. My Brethren, this war whereinto you are entered, must last for term of life. The flesh and Spirit can never be reconciled, there is no thinking of any peace, but that which will be worse then dishonourable, even damnable; and a sure war, is much rather to be chosen, then an unsure peace, much more then a peace, which will be surely mischievous. Now by how much the war will prove of longer continuance, by so much had you need to put on more strength, that you may endure; and a great part of your strength must grow from your comforts in your good beginnings. Wherefore now, let every true mortified man (according to the riddle that Samson once propounded to his companions) fetch sweetness out of the strong, and meat out of the eater; let them find an Honey-comb in the carcass of the Lyon which they have slain, and go eating; let them, I mean, take great consolation in the sight of their happy proceedings in this heavenly work.

3. My Brethren, this warre whereinto you are entred, must last for terme of life. The flesh and Spirit can neuer bee reconciled, there is no thinking of any peace, but that which will bee worse then dishonourable, euen damnable; and a sure warre, is much rather to be chosen, then an vnsure peace, much more then a peace, which will be surely mischieuous. Now by how much the warre will prooue of longer continuance, by so much had you need to put on more strength, that you may endure; and a great part of your strength must grow from your comforts in your good beginnings. Wherfore now, let euerie true mortified man (according to the riddle that Samson once propounded to his companions) fetch sweetnesse out of the strong, and meate out of the eater; let them find an Honie-combe in the carcasse of the Lyon which they haue slaine, and goe eating; let them, I meane, take great consolation in the sight of their happie proceedings in this heauenly worke.

4. There be some Worthies of Israel, that have lifted up their spears against many hundreds ⟨p. 183⟩(as it were) and left them all dead in the place: the hearts of such do not much need to be wished to take comfort. The content they find, in perceiving the strength of sin so much abated in them, is unspeakable. David was no more full of joy, when he saw Goliath come tumbling to the ground, then are their souls, when they look upon this slaughter, that God hath enabled them to make among their lusts. No man is able to set forth in words, the joy that grows to a man, who is hard set to by a cruel enemy, (of whom he looks for nothing but death, unless he prevent it by giving death) when he sees him fall down wounded, and gasping for breath. O, with what a countenance and cheer, did Jael run to meet Barak, and to bring him to the sight of dead Sisera? Surely the content of a spiritual man, in his spiritual victories, when now his sins are even breathing their last (as I may so speak) is no whit less; yea, it is much more solid, then that of such a conqueror. Those that have happily passed the brunt of this battle, and have their enemies in the flight, rather then the conflict, are (and have cause to be) the cheerfullest of all men, they be like soldiers pursuing their foes with that joyful shout of victory, victory in their mouths, and they enjoy the comfort of their former labour with much thankfulness.