Certain sermons, first preached, and after published at several times, by M. Thomas Gataker…Certaine sermons, first preached, and after published at severall times, by M. Thomas Gataker…

But more specially it is Winter with them at some time more than at others. As in times of affliction, desertion, temptation and persecution. That is the Winter that in theⁱ Canticles the Spirit specially speaketh of. And no marvel if joy and comfort be then oft-times ⟨p. 197⟩restrained with them; at least if they do not then so apparently offer themselves to outward view. Who would expect or require leaves or fruit ordinarily in Winter time from a tree? Not but that the Godly have even at such times also good ground even for great joy and much comfort; howsoever they see it not for the present: or but that they have many of them many times in many such cases,^k as much joy and comfort as ever:^l like the Palm-tree in that regard, that keepeth his green hew continually, and never casteth his leaf all the year long. But that then usually joy and comfort is somewhat obscured with the most, with weak ones especially, who yet when they are free from such fits, live as cheerfully, as joyfully, as comfortably as any.

But more specially it is Winter with them at some time more than at others. As in times of affliction, desertion, temptation and persecution. That is the Winter that in theⁱ Canticles the Spirit specially speaketh of. And no marvell if joy and comfort bee then oft-times ⟨p. 197⟩restrained with them; at least if they doe not then so apparently offer themselves to outward view. Who would expect or require leaves or fruit ordinarily in Winter time from a tree? Not but that the Godly have even at such times also good ground even for great joy and much comfort; howsoever they see it not for the present: or but that they have many of them many times in many such cases,^k as much joy and comfort as ever:^l