Therefore, as when the Lord sends frost, though it make us shake, and we have a hard time of it, yet no man riseth up in passion and saith, I had rather dye, and be out of the world, than live in such a season; No, men know that a frosty season, is a ⟨p. 234⟩wholesome season, and they know Summer will come and make amends. So when we are in the Winter of affliction, let us not be impatient nor unquiet; let us not think that the frost will ruin and undo us. Though Ice be upon every water, though Icicles hang upon every twig, do not think this will be at all for your undoing, it may be much for your bettering. Cold weather doth good as well as hot; and if we should have all hot, and no cold, it might be very ill, very bad to us; therefore be not troubled at the cold, nor afraid of ice and frost, they will not hurt you, unless you hurt your selves, by your impatience under them. And when 'tis coldest, you may warm your selves at the fire or Sun-shine of this hope, that ere long the weather will be warmer. As Athanasius said of the trouble given the Church by that Apostate Julian, It is but a Cloud, it will soon be over; so may I say, according to the allusion in this Text, its but a Winters frost, Summer will come: This should be the comfort of all that fear God in a day of evil feared or felt. When Christ (Mat. 24.32, 33.) had foretold the signs of his coming, he said, Learn a Parable of the Fig-tree, when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that Summer is nigh: So likewise, ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door. As when we shall see those dreadful appearances, which are the fore-runners of Christ coming, so when we shall feel any chilling frosts of affliction, then we may know that Summer is at hand; when the night is darkest, the light is nearest; when Winter is hardest, a thawing Sun leading in the Spring is approaching towards us.
Therefore, as when the Lord sends frost, though it make us shake, and we have a hard time of it, yet no man riseth up in passion and saith, I had rather dye, and be out of the world, than live in such a season; No, men know that a frosty season, is a ⟨p. 234⟩wholesome season, and they know Summer will come and make amends. So when we are in the Winter of affliction, let us not be impatient nor unquiet; let us not think that the frost will ruine and undo us. Though Ice be upon every water, though Icicles hang upon every twig, do not think this will be at all for your undoing, it may be much for your bettering. Cold weather doth good as well as hot; and if we should have all hot, and no cold, it might be very ill, very bad to us; therefore be not troubled at the cold, nor afraid of ice and frost, they will not hurt you, unless you hurt your selves, by your impatience under them. And when 'tis coldest, you may warme your selves at the fire or Sun-shine of this hope, that ere long the weather will be warmer. As Athanasius said of the trouble given the Church by that Apostate Julian, It is but a Cloud, it will soon be over; so may I say, according to the allusion in this Text, its but a Winters frost, Summer will come: This should be the comfort of all that fear God in a day of evil feared or felt. When Christ (Mat. 24.32, 33.) had soretold the signs of his coming, he said, Learn a Parable of the Fig-tree, when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that Summer is nigh: So likewise, ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door. As when we shall see those dreadful appearances, which are the fore-runners of Christ coming, so when we shall feel any chilling frosts of affliction, then we may know that Summer is at hand; when the night is darkest, the light is nearest; when Winter is hardest, a thawing Sun leading in the Spring is approaching towards us.