68 Obienianaagitint the ofuronceofour eleaiononfixereL. tion and defperation, zealewith coldneffeand dulnes in re- ligion, the ioy in the holy Ghoft with horror and feare of Gods anger, the curie ofthe law and condemnation ; and fometimes the one,fometiniies the other hath the vpperhand, both in the meane time retaining, their nature andproper- ties, although (as wee fay) re9niyJisgradtbm, not exercifing them in that meafure and degree, as they doe when they hauevió'orie and giue the other the foile.For txample,when in Tome grieuous aflliuion, the hatred ofGod doth aifault the loueofGod in our hearts, and doth fo foilc and wound it, that wee can fcarfe difcerne-that it breatheth or retaineth life, yet notwithflanding the loue ofGod euenat that in.. Rant is notturned into hatred, nor receiuethanyproperties : thereof, but Rill retaineth his owne nature and properties, which againe cleerely appeare and flew themfelues when theconflié is ended. The likemay be laid ofour hope,zeale, ioy in the holyGhoit, and other graces, when they aremolt foiled by the corruption of the flefh, which fight againft them, fo as they cannot poffibly exercife their owne a6tions and fun&ions,yet do they not receiue any carnali properties, norloofeanyoftheir owne, but retaine 11i1,'theiross'ñena- ture, which againemanifef{eth it (elfe when the affault is eri- ded. Euen as firecouered ouer with afhes retaineth Rill his owne nature oflight and heate, though then by reafon of theafhes the light be notfeene, nor the heatefelt; but when the afhes are remoued and newmatteradded vnto it, then it fhineth andburnethandheateth as much as it didbefore : fo when thegracesofGods fpirit are couered (as it were)vnder theafhesofour corruption, they arenot difcerned by their properties and effe&s ; but whé the corruptionsare remoued byvertue ofGods fpirit, and thegraces nourifhedwith hea- ringofthe word, prayer,holy conferences, and fuch like fpi- rítuaIl exercifes, as it were with new matter added vnto them,then doe they againe thine in their brightneffe,andex- ercife their wonted flrength in all goodduties toGod and our neighbour. And as it is with all other graces,fo altowith faith, which is often affaulted with doubting and infidelitie, and fome- times
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=