Ourt,ant of feelixTargueth not want of orth. 5 2g againe in their woonted`flrength; fo that this inference is no leffe falfe then the other, there is no fenfible appearance of there fan&ifying gifts and graces, and therefore they are quite loll and perifhed; for the graces themfeluesremaine, though for a time theyappeare not in their anionsand fruits. So in the time ofwinter the fruitfuil trees are fonipped with the cold frofts, and foweather-beaten with tempeflu ous ftormes that theyappeare naked andbare,not onlywith- out fruitebut alío leaues,fo asif wee (hall iudge according to fenfeandoutwardappearance,we fhould falfely conclude thatthey aredead ; forbyexperience weknow that they hue and fucke nourilhment out of the earth, euen when they are molt fpoiled of their fumier beautie ; and though they are toffedwith thewinds, yet hereby they are not hurt, but rather take deeper roote, and fo are made capable ofmore nouriíhment; and though theybe nipped with cold frofts, yethereby theyare not made barren nay rather hereby their wormes and cankers arekilled,and theyprepared and made fit to bring forth more fruit in the time of fumier, when thecomfortable fpring approcheth, and the fweet lhowers andwarme funne beames fall and defcend vpon them. And thus it is with the fpirituall graces in the poore Chriftian, in thewinter ofañ3i &ion, theyare nippedwith the cold frofts offeare and doubting, and weather-beaten with theboifle- rous blahs ofSatans tentations, fo as they feeme euen dead at the vene roote, ifwee Ihall iudge according to outward fenfeand appearance:but yet byexperience wee find that it is farre otherwife, for hereby they are not ouerturned though theybe fhaken, and this fhaking maketh them to take more deepe roote in godlineffe, and though they bee nipped and pinchedwith fearesand doubtings, yet they perishnot,onlie the canker-worme of pride, fond prefumption, and ielfe confidence is mortified andkilled; and they herebyarc pre- pared and fitted to bring forth more plentiful) fruitsofho- lineffe and righteoufneffe, when the fpring of true com- fort commeth, whereiw.the fweete fhowers ofGods holie fpirit diftil vponthem,and thewarme funfhine ofGods loue and fauour againe appearcth to them. Mm The
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