EpiflleofS.Paul to Titus. CHAP.2.134 whenprefumptionEt vngrounded confidence confoundeth the perron 487 that giueth themharbor. Doff thouhope then to be likeChriff when he appcareth? thou muff then refemble him in this life,beeing in thy mea- lurepure,holy,innocenr,meeke,louing,and obedient: profeffe hope without this conformitie voteChritl, it is but a pretence,ali is vufound and deceitfuU. 2. It not onely freeth from [cone , but frameth to obedience both 2 cheerefull and contiant : whereof wehaue a pregnant example inChril himfelfe, whomwe arecommanded to looke at for imitation : who for the toy that wasfet beforehint endured eh, crop, and defpifed the _thaw. Etcb.ts.,. Soalto are the Saints in their meafure looking to the coy before them inuincible,both in labours and Iuffrings:hope workes the will,it fetteth the hands andboldeth them toworke : it putteth a difference betweene tie workesof Chrifhansand ciuill men : they attempt Chritfian duties that their mailer may finde them well doing , and hold out alto in well doing; but thereundertake lightly duties , but in Come by-refpe& or o- ther;and wanting this hopeareoffand on;efpecially in diflîculties,they glue Via all ; whereas theChritfian , who bath the recompence of re- ward in his eye, canefteeme withMofes,the rebuke of Chri great ri tt 't''`d° che:. 3.Thishope takesh off our fierie edge and heat ofaffeáUons from the 3 world, and fetteth them aboue : it fixeth the eieupon things within the vaile,the glory of which dimmeand obfcureal the gloryofthe world:it caufeth retufall of thepleafure of finne for a feafon : it maketh creatures of Egypt feeme fmall, yeavile in a mans eie comparatiuely: the expecta- tionof this refurreCtion,maketh the mocks and contempts of the world to be contemned; yea fenrences ofdeath , nay executions lightly effee- med of : this hopehuh carried martyrs through fires,feares,lyons dens, teeth; and a thoufand kinds ofdeath, through all which they ha(lned to the fruition of the thing hoped for,in which onely they looked for fccu- ticieandcontentment. 4, It beeing the daughter of faith waxeth not wearie, but (fill vfeth 4 the heft meanes for the obtaining the thiag hoped. It is importunate with God by praier,for the comming of Chriil,and(as Ircoh)wraffleth withGod, when it hash nothingbut it felfe tofulïaine faith: yea and prenaileth with theCananitifh woman after many repulfes : they that haue thishope,pray for all themeaneswhich hallen this comming ; for the freepaffage oftheGofpel,the peaceof Ierufalem; thepurity of do- &rine, which themfelues loue andbeleeue, and propagate unto others by word and example, that fo farm as lyeth in them, thenumber may be cuery way accomplifh ed. And further,chey greiueand forrowc whena- Hh 3 nyl
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