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rweoiir`el
io»ragaint
tI,;
eoffurinceofeleEtionanfsr.erect.
not
prefently
difcerne
it
;
but
as
the
corne which
is caft
into,.:
the ground,
is
for
a
time couered and,
after
fpringeth
vp
the
blade,
and then
the
care
;
fo
faith
being
fowen
in
our
hearts,.,
which
firfi
like fallow grounds
are
plowed
vp,
and
as
it
were
harrowed
and
broken with the threatnings
of
the Iaw,
and
apprehenfion
of
Gods
anger
due vnto our finnes,doth
in
the
time
ofour
humiliation
andcontrition,
lie couered
fo
as
we
cannot
difcerne
it,'till
being
more and more watered
with
the water
ofthe
fpirit,and the heauenlypromifes
ofthe Gof-
pell, which
in
the preaching
ofthe
word, likefweete
dewes
and
pleafant
fhowers diflill
vpon
it
,
it
fendeth forth the
blade,
namely an
holy
defire
and
earnefl indeauour
to
ferue
God,
and afterwards
the fruite,
euen
a.
plentiful'
haruefl
in
gpdIinefhe
and righteoufnes
oflife.
And fecondly,fometime
after
that
faith
is
begun in
vs,and
wee
haue
feene
the
fruites
thereof
to
our
comfort,
it
is
after
hid
from
vs
againe, as
when either wee wound our
confci-
ence
by committing
fome
grieuous
fin
againfl
knowledge
wittinglyand
willingly, or
when
it
pleafeth the
Lord to
ex-
ercife
vs
in
the fpirituallconfli&
of
temptations;
for then
fometitnes
it
commeth
to
paffe
that
our faith
fora
time
lieth
hid_vnder
the
allies
ofour
corruptions;
and the cloud
ofour
firines,and
the apprehenfion
ofGods
anger,doth
fo
ouerfha-
dowethe eyes
ofour
vnderflanding,
that
we
cannot
difcerne
the
beames
ofGods
loue and
favour fhining vpon
vs; al-
though when
the
confliel
is
ended; our faith againe flameth
out
in
theloue
ofGod,and
zeale
ofhis
glorie,and
the
louing
countenance
of
the Lord fhineth
gracioufly vpon
vs
when
thefe cloudes
of
temptations
are
ouerpaft. And
therefore
though
wee
doe
not
certainly know our faith by the fruites
thereof,either
foone after our
conuerfion,
or in the time
of
temptation, yet
this
muff
not difcourage
vs,
becaufe thefe
are no fit
times
to iudge thereof:
onely
when
wee
want
this
knowledge
and
full affurance,
let
vs
vfe
all
good
meanes or-
dained
ofGod
that
we
may
attain
thereunto,if-we neuer had:
it;or
recouer and again
renue
it, ifafter
we haue once had it,
wee lofe
the
fenfe
and feeling thereof; either by
falling
into
..a
noes.
finnes,or
by.the:yiolenee_of Satans
temptations.
CHAP,.