Thus you have heard, upon what weak props and ⟨p. 77⟩sandy foundations that confidence stands, and is built, which carnal men seem to lay hold upon with great bravery in times of trouble, and distress But the comfort which sweetly springs from that spirit, I speak of, supported, out of special favour, and interest, by the hand of God, All-sufficient, and the unconquerable calmness of a good conscience is grounded upon a Rock; upon which, tho the rain descends, the floods come, the winds blow, the tempests beat; yet it stands like Mount Zion, sure, sober, strong, lasting, impregnable. Nay, ait is of that heavenly metal, and divine temper, that it ordinarily gathers vigour and puissance from the worlds rage; and grows in strength and resolution together with the increase of all iniust oppositions: Persecutions, and resistance serve as a provocation, and seasoning to it's sweetness. It is not enforced, formal, artificial, affected, furious, desperate, misgrounded, ambitious, upon an humour, in the face only, only in hot blood, out of a vain-glorious pang, &c. Such may be found in Aliens, and resolute reprobates. It were nothing worthy, if strangers might meddle with it: If Men or Devils, or the whole World could take it from us; If it were sustained only by any created power, or arm of flesh. This Pearl that I praise, and persuade unto, is of an higher price, and more transcendent power, then any unregenerate Man can possibly compass, or comprehend. It hath for it's seat, a sanctified Soul; for the Fountain of it's refreshing, the Spirit of all comfort; for it's foundation, the favour of God; for it's Warrant, the promises of Amen, the faithful, and true Witness; for it's object, an immortal Crown; for it's continuance, the prayers of ⟨p. 78⟩all the Saints; for it's companions, inward peace, invincible courage, an holy security of mind; for it's end and perfection, fullness of joy, and pleasures at Gods right hand for evermore. In a word, this courageous comfort, and true nobleness of spirit, which dwells in the heart of the true-hearted Christian doth differ as much from, and as far surpasses all the groundless confidences of what carnal men, or religious counterfeits soever; as the real possession of gold, an imaginary dream of gold;
Thus you haue heard, upon what weake props and ⟨p. 77⟩sandy foundations that confidence stands, and is built, which carnall men seeme to lay hold upon with great bravery in times of trouble, and distresse But the comfort which sweetely springs from that spirit, I speake of, supported, out of speciall favour, and interest, by the hand of God, All-sufficient, and the unconquerable calmnesse of a good conscience is grounded upon a Rocke; upon which, tho the raine descends, the floods come, the windes blow, the tempests beate; yet it stands like Mount Zion, sure, sober, strong, lasting, impregnable. Nay, ait is of that heavenly metall, and divine temper, that it ordinarily gathers vigour and puissance from the worlds rage; and growes in strength and resolution together with the encrease of all iniust oppositions: Persecutions, and resistance serue as a provocation, and seasoning to it's sweetnesse. It is not enforced, formall, artificiall, affected, furious, desperate, misgrounded, ambitious, upon an humour, in the face onely, onely in hot blood, out of a vaine-glorious pang, &c. Such may bee found in Aliens, and resolute reprobates. It were nothing worthy, if strangers might meddle with it: If Men or Divels, or the whole World could take it from us; If it were sustained onely by any created power, or arme of flesh. This Pearle that I praise, and perswade unto, is of an higher price, and more transcendent power, then any unregenerate Man can possibly compasse, or comprehend. It hath for it's seate, a sanctified Soule; for the Fountaine of it's refreshing, the Spirit of all comfort; for it's foundation, the favour of God; for it's Warrant, the promises of Amen, the faithfull, and true Witnesse; for it's object, an immortall Crowne; for it's continuance, the prayers of ⟨p. 78⟩all the Saints; for it's companions, inward peace, invincible courage, an holy security of minde; for it's end and perfection, fulnesse of ioy, and pleasures at Gods right hand for evermore. In a word, this couragious comfort, and true noblenesse of spirit, which dwells in the heart of the true-hearted Christian doth differ as much from, and as farre surpasses all the groundlesse confidences of what carnall men, or religious counterfeits soever; as the reall possession of gold, an imaginary dreame of gold;
- aVir pius ex perinculis vires majors colligit. Eos non vis temporis, non Principis terror, non oratio, non invidia, nō metus, no accusator, non calummator, non bellumapertè inferens, non clandestinas insidias struens, non in speciem noster, non alienus, non aurun, hoc est, occultus tyrannus, per quem nunc multa sursum deorsumque, velut in talorum ludo sactantur, non verbo••m illecebrae, non minae, non diuturna & repetita exilia (solt enim honorum proscriptioni in eos propter magnas i•as divitias, quae in paupertate sitae sunt, nihil licuit) non aliud quidpiam absentium, aut praesertium, aut in expectation positorum extulit, aut adducere potu•t, ut detertores fierent—I•rmò contrà ex ipsis periculis vires maiores collegerunt, atque acriori animorum contention in pietatis studium & defensionem incubuerunt. Hu•• smodi enim v•m habet arumna pro Christi nomine suscepta, ut ardentiores amori faces subdat, utrisque in datmi magnitudine praestantibuo ad sequentia certamina quasi arrabonis cujusmodi vicem praebeat. Nazian. Orat. 34.Vir pius ex perīculis vires majores colligit. Eos non vis temporis, non Principis terror, non oratio, non invidia, nō metꝰ, no accusator, non calummator, non bellumapertè inferens, non clandestinas insidias struens, non in speciem noster, non alienus, non aurun, hoc est, occultus tyrannus, per quem nunc multa sursum deorsumque, velut in talorum ludo sactantur, non verbo••m illecebrae, non minae, non diuturna & repetita exilia (solt enim honorum proscriptioni in eos propter magnas i•as divitias, quae in paupertate sitae sunt, nihil licuit) non aliud quidpiam absentium, aut praesertium, aut in expecta•ione positorum extulit, aut adducere potu•t, ut detertores fierent—I•rmò contrà ex ipsis periculis vires maiores collegerunt, atque acriori animorum contentione in pietatis studium & defensionem incubuerunt. Hu•• smodi enim v•m habet arumna pro Christi nomine suscepta, ut ardentiores amori faces subdat, vtrisque in datmi magnitudine praestantibuo ad sequentia certamina quasi arrabonis cujusmodi vicem praebeat. Nazian. Orat. 34.
