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Show The Spbufe in her Wit:ter #t I. Againfl its orpn doubts and {rarr. 2 • .Againjl the worldr h.rred, reproach and fcorn. r. Again11 its own doNblf•nd foarr, We are too prone to ar· gue according to Gid<anr L". ic~, if the Lordbe "fl'itb me, "fl'by atlt I thur 1 concluding to Godr love or ha(red from our outward fiate in the war ld, and concluding Godr eftimJte of ur,from his tlealings ro" ards us. So hard a thing is it for us to Jearn that of. the A· pofil e, wham he hvetb hr chafteueth, and Jcourgeth ev<ry cbild whom be rrceivtth. The Wife-rr an tells us, that neither love nor hatred are to be cllnduded from hence, comfort therefore thy felfwith thefe words: It is true, my condition is very fad, the hand of the Lord is upon me as to my body, as to my Family, bur yet I may be dear in the Eyes ofChrifi for all this, I am bulfetted with Sat hans tern· ptarions, and my flare upon that account--is very fad; bttt yet 'tis not Sarhans malice can work me out of the heart of my Beloved. G_od hath forfaken me, I find not the flrengthenings, quickenings, comforrings of his Spirit as at other times: well, but yet I may be his Love, his fair one for all this. David was fo, and Chrill was fo,yet David cries out for himfelf,and in the.perfon ofChrifi, My God ! my God 1 why hall thou forfaken me? So that though a Winter, and the Rainy-weather of afllidions, defcrcions, temptatioos,& c.mly give a jutt·occafion to any Soul that fears the Lord to fearch and try his ways , and to confider their flares , yet there is from them no jufl ground of conclufion againll our [elves, &c. 2 • .Af!.ailtft aV the reproacher andfoornr of the World. This Do· d:rine atfordetb comfort to the people of God again II all other mens judgments and fayings concerning her, when the Lord· hath brought her into her Winter and Rainy-weather. It is an ordinary thing with men of the world to affli{l th• affli{led, though it be as far from Morality a:s Religion. When David is following .Abfolom, then Shimei curfeth ; when he was in bani!hment, then . they cry, where i1 tfiyGod b.come? The dogs that fawn upon a man in a Scarlet-coat, if ever he changeth it for a beggars-cloak, it is ten to one but they bark and grin at him. When Michaiab the Prophet is under a Cloud, then Zedtll,iab the falfe Prophet fmites him both with the hand, and tongue too. So doth Haua· . niab ferve Jeremiah. Two things you lhall obferve concerning the men of the world in the Spoufes winter, r. From her iVoHt· "•rd accidents, they 'oaclude her llate like the Barbarianr, who · would The spoilfl in her Wilmr Chrifi.rfoJr· 01/e. would needs perfuade their Brethren that Paul was a Murther~r becaufe a Viper clave to his hand. 2. That's the time when the_y let loofe their tongues againfl them: But be of good comfort Chrt· Hians! and let this comfort you; that at this time Chrifl owneth you as his love, hi~ ('ir one. The foundatio.n. of ,c?mfort lieth here That if Chnlhans be approvable to Chrdl, tts no matter . wha~ the world tbin~r and fays of them. It is true, it is the duty ofChrillians as much as they may without finning .againll God to lead a winning Converfation towards the moll of men if it be pollible to gain them : but if this cannot be, ( a~ it i~ very hard when it is a Winter-time with the Spoufe,) certainly tt ought to fatisfic them, that God defpifeth not the all!idions of his people. If the good- wife hath her Husbands love, and_ he Jt!dgeth he_r f1ir, it is no great matter for others.' Wttb me, fatth Samt PaHI, tt il a very fmaU thing that I jhoHid be judged of y.u, or of manr J udg· meut, I Cor. 4· 3 · in thelafl place, Let this mind you to tak_e heed of judging the 3• Vfo Servantto(God becartfo it i1 Winter with them, or determining a· gainll them, becaufe it is R_ainy-weather. It is ap irrational judg· ment, and an uncharitable Judgment ; Let Barbarzanr call Paul a Murtherer becaufe of a Viper cleaving to his hands, and the Jeri's conclude Chrifl a Malefad:or becaufe he is delivered to Pilate, and jeer both at him and his Father becaufe he hangs upon « Crofs. Take you heed of fo judging: It is not fuffering but !in-ning which fpoils the Spoufes beatHy. She that at prcfent is af-flided and rotred with Tempefls, may yet be fo precious in the Eyes of God, that he may again lay her Stones with fair colours, If. 54· n. and her foundations with Sa phi res. . Lafily, Is the Spoule in the time of her Winter Chrijlr Love and 2 • Branch. his fair one? How reafonable is it then that at that time and all times, Chrifl lhould be the objd1 of her love, and f•ir in her eyer, The perfon ofChrifl is ont of Otlr light, but he hath yet an intereft iu the world: His Glory,his Trutbr, hb W•p, they arc all pieces of Chrifi, and the world hath as much malice againlt them as it had againfl him, whofe image and fuperfcription thcfe things have. Oh! Let thefe things be pretious to you: be not alhamed to own rhe name of Chrifl, the Truths, the Ways of Clu ill, which way foever the winds blow,Rom. r. 16. I am nat a(hamed of the Gofpel ofGod, faith Saint Pa11l, 2 Tim. t. 16. The Apofilecommr;nderh Onefipborut, that be "fl'M Hot 4hamed of his ch•in: certainly if Chrilt Oo ~ |