Taylor - Houston-Packer Collection BS2755 .T394 1619

Epifilcof S. Paul to Titus. CHAP. z-2 reth all things. In thefe two latter it refembleth Gods loue,which is both 3 5 7 conaanr, and clofeP to a man in the day ofhis trouble,neither taketh it the forfeit of our daily prouocations. V fe.By all this triall,both olde and youngmay feehow lure they arc Sipes rf ä and from foundoeffe in this grace, contenting themCelues eutin with a (ha- crackttouc. dowe ofit:for the moll of mens 1"OUeis grounded either vpon receit or hopeofbenefir,or vpon fie {h or flcfhly refpeéts, and is not begut:ne in nor for God, nor knit by the fpirit ofGod : the leali part of it is let vp- on the Saints that arevpon earth excelling in verrue : it generally deter- mineth it felfe in (elfe louing,and folle feeking,not feeking the thingsof others ,as wel as their own;or not feekiug and louing the foules ofmen, as well as their bodies; or refpeaing perlons, and not embracing the poore as well as the rich ; or not ble(fing their enemies as well as their friends :themoll loueof men is lip -loue, a femblance, a counterfeit, and fruitieffe loue, diuorled from inward beanie affe@ion or cite a va- nifhing and flirting loue,flinching in aduerfitie whenmoft ncede is; and readievpon the leali occa(on to be ouercome with cull!, and changed into bitter hatrcd:this crazie loue euery where argueth a riueu&crackt faith; fuch counterfeit loue is thedaughter of counterfeit faith, and vn- foundnes of loue is a fore token of vnioundnes of faith, and halting in réligion. ln patience: ] This thirdornament of Chriflian olde age is fitly by the fpirit of God added to the two former , as thepreferuatiueof both : Paaenee ne molt requifte vnto all Chriflians. For feeing this verste is nothing ccnatie for e- elfe , butawilling and contant faferingofhard andpaineful.' things ,for Chri- uc y Chrsßiaw. flianitie andhoneflies fake: and hitcher that atlli6lion followeth the faith- full, who {ludic to teilifie their loueof God in the loue of man, cuen as the (hallow followeth the bodie : neccffarily muli her that would hold out inChriflianitie get this grace tobeare off loch calamities , as fol- low vpon the keeping of faith and good confcience. z. No man can 2 haue either of the former that wanteth this : for theee three vertues arc like the three ;raceswhich Doe hand in hand , the former leading the latter , and this lati laying hold on both the former: fo as if any man would trie the foundne(leof the former, he cannot better doe it , then by the fequele of the latter : the foundnefîc of faith dilcouereth it felfc tin the foundnes of loue, and the foundnesof loue in a found patience: for as found faith is lolling , fo found loue is patient, and endureth all things, t. Cor. t3. 3. Euery Chriftian mua after a fpeciall manner re femble God herein, who is aGod ofpatience,yea patience it felfe.4.E- ueryChri(liao mull not oncly pofieffe his foule by it ; but by faith and !3 bf.:4 and, 1 patience inherit all thepromifes of God : vpholdi g Z Zimfelfe in his exp ta-

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