Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Again, he extracts good out of evil. Carnal men see nothing in affliction but a lump of sorrow, but the believer knows that there is a blessing in it, the sharpness of it may let out his corruption, the suddenness of it may alarm his spiritual watch, the bitterness of it may wean him from the breast of the creature, the weight of it may try the back of his faith and patience; it is no longer mere trouble, but made out into fans to unchaff him of his vanity, into furnaces to resin his golden graces, into moulds to cast him into the image of a meek suffering Christ, into spiritual wings to elevate the soul in devotions and heavenly affections towards the everlasting rest which is above: much of the love and faithfulness; of God is to be seen in it, which made Munster sick of the pestilence, to show the ulcers and plague-tokens on his arm ut armillas & preciosas Christi gemmas, as the bracelets and rich jewels of Christ; such noble extractions ⟨p. 194⟩can faith make out of sore afflictions, as if they were the only love-tokens to seal up a son of God; according to that old saying, Qui excipitur à numero flagellatorum, excipitur à numero siliorum.

Again, he extracts good out of evil. Carnal men see nothing in affliction but a lump of sorrow, but the believer knows that there is a blessing in it, the sharpness of it may let out his corruption, the suddenness of it may alarum his spiritual watch, the bitterness of it may wean him from the breast of the creature, the weight of it may try the back of his faith and patience; it is no longer meer trouble, but made out into fans to unchaff him of his vanity, into furnaces to resine his golden graces, into moulds to cast him into the image of a meek suffering Christ, into spiritual wings to elevate the soul in devotions and heavenly affections towards the everlasting rest which is above: much of the love and faithfulness; of God is to be seen in it, which made Munster sick of the pestilence, to shew the ulcers and plague-tokens on his arm ut armillas & preciosas Christi gemmas, as the bracelets and rich jewels of Christ; such noble extractions ⟨p. 194⟩can faith make out of sore afflictions, as if they were the only love-tokens to feal up a son of God; according to that old saying, Qui excipitur à numero flagellatorum, excipitur à numero siliorum.