Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

It Medicine be necessary, so is Affliction, which is Spiritual Physic for our peccant Humours. Affliction is the way which Christ hath sanctified by going in it himself to the Throne of Glory; and Believers must follow him whithersoever he goes. Innocency it self suffering, lumps of dust and sin cannot but do so. He drinking up the full cup of Wrath, well may we take a few drops of it; especially seeing our sufferings are sweetened by his; and his Heaven will be ours at last, where the light momentany sufferings shall be remunerated with an eternal weight of hyperbolical Glory. Luther saith of himself, That looking on the Sufferings of Christ, he counted his own as nothing. And St. Bernard makes Christ, Et speculum Patiendi & pretium Patientis, both a glass of Patience, and a reward of the Patient. Now we are tossing and toiling at Sea, but the port of Bliss is within ken, and anon we shall be there: In the interim we may taste Heaven in the Joys of the holy Spirit, which sheds abroad the Love of God in our Hearts, and so gives us Praemium ante praemium, a lesser Heaven before a greater. Saint Paul saith, [Greek or Hebrew], I superabound or overflow in joy in all our tribulations, 2 Cor. 7.4. Philip Landgrave of Hesse being asked, How he could endure his long tedious Imprisonment under the ⟨p. 322⟩Emperor Charles the fifth? professed, See Divinas Martyrum Consolations sensisse; That be felt the Divine Consolations of Martyrs. The gracious Presence of God is able to sweeten Prisons, Eghten Chains, and make fire and water passable to Believers. Such things as these well digested by Faith will make us keep a holy silence under all the Will of God.

It Medicine be necessary, so is Affliction, which is Spiritual Physick for our peceant Humours. Affliction is the way which Christ hath sanctified by going in it himself to the Throne of Glory; and Believers must follow him whithersoever he goes. Innocency it self suffering, lumps of dust and sin cannot but do so. He drinking up the full cup of Wrath, well may we take a few drops of it; especially seeing our sufferings are sweetned by his; and his Heaven will be ours at last, where the light momentany sufferings shall be remunerated with an eternal weight of hyperbolical Glory. Luther saith of himself, That looking on the Susserings of Christ, he counted his own as nothing. And St. Bernard makes Christ, Et speculum Patiendi & pretium Patientis, both a glass of Patience, and a reward of the Patient. Now we are tossing and toyling at Sea, but the port of Bliss is within ken, and anon we shall be there: In the interim we may tasie Heaven in the Joys of the holy Spirit, which sheds abroad the Love of God in our Hearts, and so gives us Praemium ante praemium, a lesser Heaven before a greater. Saint Paul saith, , I superabound or overflow in joy in all our tribulations,