It Pfa1.4. Pfa1.6; . vla.I. Epheffans, Chap. I. V B R,a. countenance vpon them, L4m.2.4. Ro ..Pfa1.4.Thuswhen wewith him thathoe maybe in their lone, inwardly affected, holpen with the fruitsof their louc, andcurteoufly and kindely intreated, in re- gardof louing vfages, which is the fignification of their loue; for if God lhouldlouevs,ifkcfltouhi doevs good, and fhield vs from euill, yet Mouldheehide this from our fenfc and experience,igec could not haue this peace,which isnext mentioned. Now then,wee may better fee that this loueof God,isdotte all things to bedefaced; there is no lacke in this loue, no good thing fhall be wanting vnto vs, nay, if culls in cur tafle be good for vs,we (hall not want them; as the loueof a Parent maketh himwhen neede is, prouide bitter Phyfickeforhis childe, as well as other contentments:No euill Thal haue accefe ; no,,if things good in themfelues be harmefull for vs, they fhall not haue accelfe to vs; as the loue of a Parent layetha- way a Knife, whichis a good thing in it felfe, out of the reach of his child; for whom it were hurtful] : All things which to our finfe, and in themfelues are euill, this loue maketh them worketo our good: fthe skilfallArt of a Phylìtian may make of a poyfon- full Viper a wholefome Treacle ; no wonder if Gods gracious loue, turne euen thediuell himfelfe to become a helpefull inflrumenr,fet- ting forward our perfedtion, 2.Cor.12.9. In a word, it maketh a littleeftate great riches, curryelatecontentfull: A little thinggiuen asatoken of the Kings good will, doewe not prize it more then thrice the valewofthat,. which is nopledge of his faunae ? And when the lone of a finfull man is of fuck force, that many woman while thee may inioy it, feeleth not beggery it felfe not grievous: What aforce is therein the grace of God, while it is perceiued, to make vs finde no grieuance in greateft extremity ? Whereas without this, were a man in a Paradife of the earth; withall the good of ir, all were nothing. There are Noble men in the Tower, whomay ride their great Hodes, haue theirLadies, faredelicioufly, want not forwealth,yct becaufe they are out of the Kings fauour, no wife man would be in their coatcs, none efteemeth their flare happy : Howmuch more then are all thingsof no value; if they be polleffed without this fauour, of whichweintreatcr This grace is our life, it is better then life: As the Marigold openethwhen the Sunne fbinethover ir, and fhutteth when it is with- drawne; fo our life followeth this fauour ; wee are enlarged, if wee ferle t; if itbe hidden,, we are troubled. Finally, that which theKings fauourable afpe& doth in his Subie&,that which the Sunne and Dewe doe in the creatures of the earth, which they make to hnile in their manner; the like doth this grace, through all the world of fpirits, who feeie theinfluence of it. Whichdoth let vs fee their fearefull cflate, who walke in their naturall conditions, childrenof wrath, neuer ferking,ro be recon- ciled to God. If we Rand in mans debt, and in danger of the Law, we will compound the matter : If we are faulty towards fomegreat perfon,and out of fauour, O how will we turnecurry flone,and vie the mediationof all we can; to procure vs good will with them ? Here weareotherwife, and like thefe impudent adultereflis, we care
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=