a choice and apreciousfpirit. $econdly, ftrong to overcome firong corruptions. Thirdly , firong to bear firongafili. etions. For the lirfi, it is not every tempta- tion that can prevaile with thrfe; lit- tle t,ings will drawweak childifh fpi- rits ; but fuch temptations as others know ncthow to refift , thefe can ftand before them, andgo on inptheir way, without any alteration of fpirit by them; though they live in themiddeft of temptations,yet theyareable tokeep themieives unfpotted 5 like the three Children, who walked. in the fire , and yet the fmell of the fire came not upon them , nor their garments; or like the childrenofifael, waking on the dry land lately , and the feas oneach fide of them: theyare afhamedtocomplainof temptations to (xcufe themfelves by their temptations t for whereforehath the work of Godbeen fo mighty upon their fpirits , but to firengthen them againfi temptations e many temprati- ons which others think to be firong, they fcarcc take notice of ; fo farce are their fpirits above them. Luther
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