----- couraged when we find him abfent. IflH!l there SnJ..X. be any grace left moving us to that which is good:If we find the Spirit of God moving us to love the w0rd and<lrdmances, re call upon him \ byprayer, and tobe more~nfiant, certainlywe maygather there is ahidden,fecrer prefencehere that drawes us to thefe things; nay more thar the end 'Of this feeming forfaking and ftrangendfe is todraw us nearer ami nearer, and at length ro draw us into Heaven to himfelfe. Gods people .are gainers by all their loffes, ftronger by all theirweakneffes,and thebetter for all thei r croffes whatfoever they are. And you fl~all fi nd that the Spirit ofGod is more forceable in them afteraftrangeneffe, ro fiirre them up more eagerly after Chrift then before ; as here~he Church cloth for her eagerndfe, confiancy and inftantneife it groweth,as Chriftswithdrawing ofhim- ~~~w~. - Let us therefore learne hence how to judge vfl 1 ~ . of OUt felves, ifvve bG in adead hveldfe ftJte, H(!w to jutlge both in regard of comfort and of holy perfor~ O]l 7 felv_er in.a h h b b f ' aead lzvelelfo mances, w et . er we e eoatent to e o. If 1 eftatt, both in webe not contented, but make towards Chrilt ' regard of 'nm. more and more, it is a good figne that he bath ~~::+ora>~d ho{y c. r. k h h . 11 . r J' mancet, not 1ena en us~ t at ew1 come agame more glorioufly then ever before. As here we !hall fee after it was with the Church, he feemc ftrange, but it is todraw theChurch todifcover her affeetion, and to make her aihamed of her former unkindndfe, andeo fie furer andhold fatter then fhe did before, all ends in a mofi fwe<:>· communion. W ~ __ _____ , l J
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