232 Chap. 38. an Expofition upon the BookofJo B. Verf. 30. things here below are uncertain, they may, yea, they mutt foot melt and pats away, from us, or we from them. Secondly , Ice and Fro(t, the cold feafon, of which the Text fpeakech, refembles a Rate of affliction andadve-lity ; that's Ice, that's F oR. As warm Sun-aline resembles a tiaceot profpericy, fo Cold and Froft a Rate of adverficy ; and fo it cloth in a four- fold refpect. Fira, Bccaúfe -Frogor Cold is unpleafant and piùching to the body, efpecially to weak and tender bodies. No chaftening, ( faith the Apohle, He6. t z. t t. ) f,r the prefentfeemetb (to J&tt eat is fence and fletli) to be joyous, but grievous , or (as the creek aria- ly) feemeth to be ofjoy butgrief. Secondly, Ice and FroR continue not , they arebut for a fea- fon, a Thaw will come. The aflliEted Rate of a godlyman is unpleafng, yet not falling , tobe lure not everlaRing. Though fome Frofts hold longer than others , yet none hold alwayes, Summer will come; and ufually where winter isfierce(, Sum- f eyl. Geog. mer, for a recompense, is pleafanrell. Our Modern Geographer having defcribed the fharpnefsof Winter inMufcovia, concludes thus ; Such is their Winter , neither is their Summer lefs miracu- lous. For the hugeSeas of Ice which in a manner covered the whole fsrfaceof the Country , are at firfi approach of the Sun fuddenly dffolved, thewaters quickly dried up , and the Earth -dreffeel in her Holy-day Apparel , fuch a mature growth of fruits , foci, f ou- rifhing of herbs , facto chirping of birds , as if it were aperpetual spring. And that the Church of Gódafter a fad and cold winter of affliaion is relieved by a tweet and comfortable furnmer of profperity , is let forth in the higheR Brains and moR beautiful 1owwres of divine Rhetorick by GhriR in that invitation to his Spoufe (Cant, z. z o, t I, r 7, 13.) My beloved fpake andAid un- to me, R fe up racy love, myfair one , and come away ; for lo, the winter is pafl , the rain is over and gone (that is, thy aflü&ions are ended , thy clouds offorrow, and thy tears are over-blown and wiped away, and now behold a fucceffion of better things, evenof whatfoeyer may call out thy joys,and renew thy comforts; for)the flowers appear on the earth , the timeof thefinging of birds is come; the voice of the turtle is heard inour land the figge -treeputted) forth her tender figges., and the Vines with the tender grape, givea good finch!, Here's a new face of things indeed.; wuac can be added
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