CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Seventhly, The power of God doth keep us suaviter alliciendo, by putting strong consolations, and sweet delights in our soul, while we are doing his will. Nehem. 8.10. The joy of the Lord is your strength. We glory in tribulations, when we are filled with joy. As fear and unbelief make feeble knees and weak hands; so joy and heavenly delight doth strengthen and confirm the soul, What is that which makes Angels and Saints so inseparably adhere to God, and that to all eternity, never weary of him? Is it not the infinite joy and delight they have in God? So while God doth thus give us to taste and feel how good he is, while we have an experiment of the preciousness of Christ upon our hearts, we stand immovable like so many Rocks in the same place, though never so many waves beat on us.

Eighthly, Gods power keeps us from sin reprimendo, by repressing and curbing those relics of sin, which are within us; For from our own selves would arise such noisome lusts that would separate us from God; even as from the earth arise such black vapours, that hide the Sun from it. The Spirit of God therefore doth mortify the body of sin, keeps this root from sprouting forth, and is ready to crush the Cockatrice in her eggs.

Eighthly, Gods power keeps us from sinne reprimendo, by repressing and curbing those reliques of sinne, which are within us; For from our own selves would arise such noisome lusts that would separate us from God; even as from the earth arise such black vapours, that hide the Sunne from it. The Spirit of God therefore doth mortifie the body of sinne, keeps this root from sprouting forth, and is ready to crush the Cockatrice in her eggs.

Lastly, The power of God doth keep us arcendo, by driving away, and keeping of the devil from us. How strangely this roaring Lion is set upon us as a prey, appeareth by that of our Saviour,