when we beexercifed with many andlongaffliCtions. yet by faith the patience of lob, and all holy Martyrs bath obtained ; but that fartemoll exce' lent weight ofglory, which 'Pauleying, counted his afflitlions (which to us wouldbave beene intolerable) light andmomentany,not worthy to benamed in comparifon : which made himnot cnely not weepe andbowie, but fing in the Dungeon,and reckon it a fpeciall favour and honour tobe counted, not onely a believer,but a fuffèrer for Chrifl,And even as wa- ters fall downe intovallies, not able toabide in grounds that lie high : fo the fenfeofthefe affliftions goeth away from tñindes that are lifted up infuchcontemplation. By i thefe and fuch like perfwafions, faith allures the heart willingly,freely, conflantly to refigne it felfe to thegood pleafure ofGod inall things. The fìft aet of faith, It teacheth wifedome to judgea- right of all affliEtions. Blefed is the man whom thou in flrutteff and teachell him out of thy law : fcil, wifely to confider ofafflidions of their nature, end, ufe, and iffue to them that feare God. Hee fhall ref, [orbe quiet] in the dayes of adverfity, Didwe not through falfèglaf- fes fee things otherwife then they are, they would not call us downe fo much as they doe. Want of heavenly wifedome, what voices doch it draw from us ? Even fuch as thefe ;. Were it any thing but this, Icould hope to re- ceive good from it. Whereas through the fpeftacles of faith we come to difcerne, that the things we fuller are moll fit todoe us good. For faith Leech not according to fenfe or outward appearance, but as thetruth is in Jefus Chriif, alwayes magnifying the wifdome and courfes of God, as belt and molt for our profit. The Spirit of wife- dome and underilanding, of judgement and counfell was powred uponChrifl;ofwhich Spiritwe partakeby faith, and fo are made wife toperceive thethings of God,and to judge aright of his dealings towards us. And from this proceeds willing= togiveour neckesto the yoke,when God is pleafed to put it on. Feare ofhurt isthat which makes us fhtunne the croffe,or goheartlefè under it:when Y 4 orce 327 z Cot;4,27, rhefftAtïof faith. Pra1,94 r z Verfe r3. Efay, r r.s.
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