419 / 808
VE
R.
16.
Ephefiana,
Chap.3.
403
but
wee mutt
grow from
ftr;ngth
to
/irength,
feeke
that
we may be
fitted
with ftrength for whatfoever
fliall
befall us.
A righteous
man
muff
be
like
a
tree
not
onely
growing, to beare more
fruir, but hee
And row
o
mutt alfo
grow to
more ftrength
:
As
a
tree at
firft,
is
fupported
initrengthin
and
hedged about ,
but
afterward waxeth able to beare any
wea-
him.
ther, the rubbing
of
Cattell,
any hardfhip
:
So
mutt we
feeke
to
be
ftrengthened
againft all affaults and
troubles whatfoever.
Wherefore
let
us feeke
ftrength
at
him
that
giveth plentifully
and
Yfo
z.
reproacheth
no
man
;
let
us
now
in
time
of
Peace prepare for warre;
let
us
grow
downe
in
our
owne ftrength
and
be acquainted with
our owne
fpirituall weakneffes, and
labour to fortifie where we
feele
molt danger
of
a
breach.
Doe
wee
not
feele
when
we
would
be
heft
occupied,
evil!
then molt prefentc when
we
would doe
good,
if
Gods
inward ftrength
fhould
not uphold,
we could not endure.
If
we have
affliétions
to
fuffer,we are white- livered,&
the lean word
of
a
wenches
mouth, would
make
us
ready to deny
Chritt
with
Peter.
And
as in
this
regard wee have need
:
So
how
can
we walke to
the
glory
of
God
if
we be
not refolute
and valorous
c
Doe
fuch fouldiers
credit their
Captaine
,
which will
faint
-
heartedly
fly
for any thing, and
leave a
man
on
the
plain
field,
rather then
fuffer
any
encombrance
f
Could
any mafter endure
to
be
fo
jaded with
a
fervant,
that
would
upon
the
leaft paine
or
hardfhip
Chow
him
a
paire
of
heeles
f
Wherefore
feeke
ftrength from God which
may make
us
couragious
in all
evill, not
give
in
though
we
feele
difficulties, great enmities againft
us.
Wee
fee
how lewd fervants
of
men have chofen to
live
no longer then
their matters
,
but
have
by
their owne handdyed betide them.
The
fubjelts of mortali
men
as
kings
will follow
them,
and at their plea
-
lure, fight
in
the
Cannons mouth,
and runne upon death valoroufly
:
What
a Ihame
is
it that we
fhould
not be refolute for our
God,
to en.
dure the
wont
that
can befall for his name
The
want
of
this
is
to bee
rebuked, this makethfome they cannot abide
to be
noted
as
men
more
ftriut,call
them Puritans, you
dafh
themout
of
countenance,
they
can-
not endure anydifpleafure
frommen.
O
Cowardife
!
O
naked
Chri-
flians, whom
a
little
Paper
fhot from
a
Potgunne
doth
difmay
and caufe
to
fhrink
from the colours oftheir
God!
But fome will
fay,
that the
longer
they
live ,
and
the more they o6jell.
feeke
ftrength, the
weaker
they grow
in
their owne
feeling.
But we mutt not be difmayed at
this,for
as
the
fhaking
of
the tree 'Inf.
maketh
afterward the tree become more
firmely
rooted
:
So
in
temp-
We
muff
not
Y
P
be
difmaid
at
tation and fuffering,
the
lhaking
of
us
Both lead us
to
greater
efta-
thefeeling
of
blifhment;
The
God
of
allgrace after
you
have
filtered
awhile,perfeéf
you; ,Per
fo.
confrme,
ffrengthenanditablifhyou.
Dof
a
You
fee
, who
it
is
that
worketh
in
we
thisftrength
whereby we
are
The
fpirit
of
confirmed, the
fpirit
of
God
;that
you
may be
firengthened with might
Good:rk
w
through his
fpirit.
It
is
therefore
called
the
fpirit
of
fortitude, the
fpirit
er wherewith
offirength,
the
fpirit
of
glory,
that
is,
of
glorious ftrength, this
is
the
wearcconfir-
office
of
the Spirit, fent
of God
to
this purpofe:
The
foule and fpirit
a
r;m.r..
of
r
Pet.4.,4.
4