Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

First I say, the spirit will bring joy into the soul, and ¹therefore in Saint John, saith Christ, he will lead you (speaking of the spirit) unto all truth. And saith the Apostle, The God of peace fill you with all Peace, and joy in believing. Now I make a difference between joy and comfort thus; joy is unto the soul as a wall is unto a City, that is, as the wall doth compass the City, and so is a defence unto it, and keeps out many enemies that other ways would destroy it: so doth joy, it walls and fences the soul: so as it keeps many dangers out that would ⟨p. 110⟩ruin it. The second effect is comfort, and this I call a bulwark, because a bulwark is of greater strength to beat off, and keep out any that shall besiege it, and make the Citizens more secure. So comfort is a Bulwark of the soul. That is; it strengthens the soul against the greatest temptations and trials, it maketh the soul secure resting upon Christ.

First I say, the spirit will bring joy into the soul, and ¹therefore in Saint Iohn, saith Christ, he will lead you (speaking of the spirit) unto all truth. And saith the Apostle, The God of peace fill you with all Peace, and joy in believing. Now I make a difference between joy and comfort thus; joy is unto the soul as a wall is unto a City, that is, as the wall doth compasse the City, and so is a defence unto it, and keepes out many enemies that other wayes would destroy it: so doth joy, it walls and fences the soul: so as it keepes many dangers out that would ⟨p. 110⟩ruine it. The second effect is comfort, and this I call a bulwark, because a bulwark is of greater strength to beat off, and keep out any that shall besiege it, and make the Citizens more secure. So comfort is a Bulwark of the soul. That is; it strengthens the soul against the greatest temptations and tryals, it maketh the soul secure resting upon Christ.

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