53 Z Confolationsforfuchasdoe notfcele theirfaith. 111116.e. thoumua call to thy remembrance the times paff, in which thou hail by faith apprehendedGods loue,mercy,and good- neffe towards thee, andbrought forth the fruits ofthy faith in the workes ofholineffe, appertaining to Godsferuiceand the workes of ChriUian righteoufneffe, belonging to our brethren : for wee mayaffure our feiues,that ifeuer wee haue truely difcerned thefe graces ofGods fpirit by thefruits of fanólification in vs, they are not taken from vs, for the gifts Roma I.29 and calling ofGod are without repentance, as it is Rom. i T. 29., And wherehe bath begunnea good worke,therehe wil finial it and bring it to perfe6lion : as the Apo!ile fpeaketh áhil.i,6, Phil.r.6. Wee know that thewomanbeing with child,fee- lethno life nor motionofthe child diuers months together, after the time ofher conception, and after that (he bath felt it f+irre and moueoftentimes,there is an intermiffîon where- in the feeleth not themotion thrreofagood fpace together, andyet notwithflanding becaufe in former times fhe bath felt it, the is perfwaded that aliue child is in her, and com- fortably hopeth to haue happie trauaile. And thus it fareth with Gods children oftentimes, after that by the feed of the word, faith is begotten and conceiued in them, they fede no life, motion, nor vndoubted fignes thcreofa long while, and after that they haue the remiffion oftheir firmes and are reconciled vetoGod, they hauenot the feeling and fence of pardon and reconciliation diuers tnoneths, yea fometimes manyycares together, which the Lord in hiswitdome and mercydoth,that he may mooue them hereby vnto more fe- rious repentance, and carnally to hunger after a greater meafure offaith, carefully vfing the meanesordained for this purpofe; and that they may more efleeme and bee more thankfull for his inualuable benefits after that they haue full affurance ofthemn. And after they haue a feeling of faith andother frirituall graces by their motions an-d fruitg, oft- times againe theyare depriuedofit,either becaufe they haue wounded their confeiences by falling into forne knowne finne, or for that it pleafeth the Lord to cxercife their faith, and manifeti his power in their weakencffe, moouing them hereby todenie themfelues, and to reti wholly upon him, yeelding " 111111121
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