A28620:2158
The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in several treatisesThe dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in severall treatises
The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in several treatises ... : never before published / by Samuel Bolton ...The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in severall treatises ... : never before published / by Samuel Bolton ...
London: printed by Robert Ibbitson for Thomas Parkhurst, 1657
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. In time of Desertion; when it may be, our Evidences be hid in the dark; the soul is in a mist, and cannot read its own Faith. The Glass can give no reflex, except the Sun give light: Nor a mans Graces appear to comfort him; except God shine upon them. As the Moon and Stars, so our Graces do shine with a borrowed Light. And unless God do shine secretly into our hearts; irradiate, and give light unto our Graces: though they bee in esse; in being in the heart: yet not in cognosci, in the apprehension they will not appear at all to comfort us.
3. In time of Desertion; when it may bee, our Evidences bee hid in the dark; the soul is in a mist, and cannot read its own Faith. The Glass can give no reflex, except the Sun give light: Nor a mans Graces appear to comfort him; except God shine upon them. As the Moon and Stars, so our Graces do shine with a borrowed Light. And unlesse God do shine secretly into our hearts; irradiate, and give light unto our Graces: though they bee in esse; in being in the heart: yet not in cognosci, in the apprehension they will not appear at all to comfort us.
In these cases, the work is Difficult. But what then! Things must not be left for Difficulties; because they be beset with Difficulties. Difficulties must not put us off from Trial, but put us on to try more throughly. He who saith, there is a Lion in the way, is not fit for Heaven. They that feared the Giants were not fit for Canaan. It is a sign of a base and degenerate spirit to desist in the pursuit of a good way, because of Difficulties. Though it be difficult, yet it is possible. A thing it is that hath been attained in all ages of the World. Others of Gods people have known, and so mayest thou.
In these cases, the work is Difficult. But what then! Things must not bee left for Difficulties; because they bee beset with Difficulties. Difficulties must not put us off from Tryal, but put us on to try more throughly. Hee who saith, there is a Lion in the way, is not fit for Heaven. They that feared the Giants were not fit for Canaan. It is a sign of a base and degenerate spirit to desist in the pursuit of a good way, because of Difficulties. Though it bee difficult, yet it is possible. A thing it is that hath been attained in all ages of the World. Others of Gods people have known, and so mayest thou.