Affections.
HE vsed this triall of his affections; as of anger, griefe, ioy, or such like, in this manner: If by them he was made lesse fit to pray; more vnable to do the good he should, lesse carefull to auoid sin; then he thought* 1.1 his affection carnall and euill, and not of God: but when his anger, loue, grief, and other affectiōs prouoked him more to pray, and made him fitter to do good, then he thought his affections to be sent from God, as a blessing vnto him.
2 God sheweth vs often in our affections, what we may doe in our outward actions.
3 Some labour more for knowledge, lesse for affection: some more for affection, lesse* 1.2 for knowledge: some busie themselues in Church-discipline, and are slender sighted in their priuie corruptions: some be diligent to espie things in others abroad, and negligent to trie themselues at home: but it is good to match both together.
4 Rare good things are pleasant, but by vse they are lesse esteemed: and rare euill things are fearefull, but by vse they become lesse grieuous. This comes to passe, because we rather bring with vs naturall affections, of ioy, and sorrow, and feare, than spirituall* 1.3 meditations, which are onely of the true ioy and sorrow.
5 We must euer learne to suspect our owne opinion and affection, when the case any* 1.4 thing concerneth vs.
6 He said, that when for some causes naturall affection deceiued him: yet the ordi∣nance of God caused him to doe duties.
7 He thought it not good at table to be extraordinarie either in ioy or sorrow, vnlesse it were for some special cause: but rather it were conuenient, priuately to a godly friend or before the Lord to powre out our hearts, and after the example of Ioseph to make our af∣fections knowne as little in companie as may be.