Theconnerfion ofa 'inner won- drousdiffi ult in regardofman. PatlionSonday: Ser. 36. 57; knifeThat belike the bolls before theAltar. Saint Jerome faith, That he did Prophe- ticallydecypherthe time ofthenewLaw, wherein the black-fouted Caldrons, fhouldbee fo bright and beautiful!, that they fhould ferue for flagons full of flowres,andbolls ofTweet and pretious odours . Efy treatingof the facilitie wherewith God doth worke this change andalteration , draweth his compari- fon froma littlecloud, which a contrary wind taketh, and makes it difappeare in amoment, I'hallpat awaythy tranfrefions like a aloud, andthyfnnes as a myf1. Ec- clefiaflicuscompares it vnto yce, which the Sunne no fooner Ihines vpon but it is melted , Thyftnnes 'hallmelt away44 theyce inthefaireweather. Dauidborrow- eth his comparifun froma frozen Torrent , fetvpon bya furious South-weft wind, and letting loofe tholewaters,caufeth them to leapeout of their beds. For your fvuft andyceare the watersfetters whichkeepe them clofeprifoners, Hi- bermsvinctelirfoluta,faith Nazianzene.Andwalecompede vinelam,faithHoraceof the riuer Iberus. But all thefe compariföns are too largeand fpatious in refpeet ofGods leaft breath,which inan inftantdothbanifh finne fromour breafts, and inricheth it with grace. The third, Thatin regardof Man , it is athingofgreat difficulty; efpecial- ly, ifthe fqule fiend bathgot the mafterieand poffeflionof our will. When a manbath hyred a houfefor terme of life, with the likingandconfent ofit's ow- ner,for toput fuck a oneout,we mull necefTarilyhaue the abfolutePop and po- weroftheking, we muff haue his authority to turne himout. Thediuellhauing taken a long leafe of the houle of thy foule , with thy good liking and confent, thoumutt haue Gods abfolute powerroeieet him and thrufthint out: Not that thediuell is fo powerfull as formmake him howbeit the Scripture tearmeth him, Vecrlem concludentem, a ftrong bolt which goes athwart a doore; and Serpentem tortuofum, a winding ferpent which clawes himfelfe vp clofe,and vponthe leaft aduantagetakes hold (like the Cuttle-fifh) with his clawes ; but becaufe God,howbeit hecan doe whatfoeuerhe will, is nowand then content to giue him leaue toworke vpon ourwill. Thisdifficultre is fomewhat themore increafed, in regard that Mary (Afag- dalenwas awoman, which is the Hyerogliph ofweakenes, There be three things (faithSalomon) bidden fromme, yea fourethat Iknownot. The Hebrew letter faith, Three orfoure things are too hardforme. TheHebrew renders the word, .fdmirabi- les. TheSeuentie, Impoßibiles,Impoflible for him toknow. On the one fide,be- caufethey are wreathingand winding tooand fro; on theother, becaufethey leaue no ligneor printbehind thé: theone is ofan Eagle in theaire;the other of aSerpent vpona [tone; the third,ofa (hipin themidi ofthe fear and the fourth, ofayoungman in his youth (being fo mutable a creature, and fo full of foolifh longings.)Euen fuch isthe wayofanadulterous woman, Which eatethandwipeth her mouth,andfaith,ihauenot done ill. Whena woman is greedy in deuouringgood morfells in fecretbehind the doore, andwipingher lips, tells the worldThehath faftedandeaten nothing all that day;when thee commits folly in acorner, and boafts her felfe in publike tobehoneff,faying, There isnot that woman lining that hues more honeffly than I doe; the diuell hauingtakenfuch pofleffion of her foule, it is adefperate peece ofbufrnefle. Allthefe circumuiancesofdifflcultie, and manymore whichweeomit to let downe,are tobe found in this (torie. But in thofe things thattovs feeme impof= frble, God is wontto (hew his wifedome andhis power, Great it theLord, and great is hispower. And as a Phyfitioti (faith Saint Aúquffine) doth takepleafure fometimes to light vponan incurable infirmitie, not fomuch for his gaineas his fame Zachar.r 4, The itillifica= tionofa fin- ner,fet out by diuers apt G- militudes. Efay 44. Ficlef.;. r t. Prow.30. Woman the hieroglyphike ofweaknes. l'rom.3o. f
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