The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…

4. By affliction and sickness God exerciseth his Children, and the Graces which he bestoweth upon them. He refineth and trieth their faith, as the Goldsmith doth his Gold in the^* Furnace, to make it shine more glistering and bright; he stirreth us up to pray more diligently and zealously, and proveth what patience we have learned all this while in his ^†School. The like Experience he maketh of our Hope, Love, and all the rest of our Christian Virtues: which without this Trial, would rust like Iron unexercised, or corrupt like standing Waters, that either have no current, or else are not^a poured from Vessel to Vessel; whose taste remaineth, and whose scent is not changed. And rather than a Man should keep still the scent of his corrupt Nature to damnation; who would not wish to be changed from state to state, by crosses and sickness to salvation? For as the Camomile which is trodden, groweth best, and smelleth most fragrant; and as the Fish is sweetest that lives in the saltest Waters, so those Souls ⟨p. 381⟩are most precious unto Christ, who are most exercised and afflicted with his Cross.

4. By affliction and sickness God exerciseth his Children, and the Graces which he bestoweth upon them. He refineth and tryeth their faith, as the Goldsmith doth his Gold in the^* Furnace, to make it shine more glistering and bright; he stirreth us up to pray more diligently and zealously, and proveth what patience we have learned all this while in his ^†School. The like Experience he maketh of our Hope, Love, and all the rest of our Christian Vertues: which without this Trial, would rust like Iron unexercised, or corrupt like standing Waters, that either have no current, or else are not^a poured from Vessel to Vessel; whose taste remaineth, and whose scent is not changed. And rather than a Man should keep still the scent of his corrupt Nature to damnation; who would not wish to be changed from state to state, by crosses and sickness to salvation? For as the Camomile which is todden, groweth best, and smelleth most fragrant; and as the Fish is sweetest that lives in the saltest Waters, so those Souls