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THere is a great and manifest difference betweene the first moti∣ons of the Iron to the Magnetick Poles, and all the latter that arise from the first. For at the first touching and drawing, the Iron is rather a Pati∣ent than an Agent; the
Iron indeed is drawne, being untoucht, but approacheth softly and slowly, unwillingly, as it were by violence. Be∣fore the contract, either no friendship at all pas∣seth betweene the Iron and the Loadstone, no respective verticity, or pronenesse to turne to the Poles, or it is so weake, and as it were so soundly asleepe, that it can scarce be perceived by the senses; which be∣ing once stirred up and awakened by the Load∣stones, coupling with it, and breathing upon it, runs of its owne accord, and very speedily, at the command, and as it were
at the least call of the Loadstone. A greater and more manifest diffe∣rence there is, betweene those Arts and motions which go before, and accompany our conver∣sion, and those which follow it, as the fruits and effects thereof; for in those precedent Arts, our will behaves it selfe in an hostile and passive manner: all familiarity with God is not only laid asleepe in us, but al∣so quite dead; neither were we only estranged from him, but also alto∣gether averse, and his e∣nemies, hatefull, and ha∣ting God; but in these slips and sins which are
committed after our conversion, some like things happens to us, as doth to the dust of Iron, long burnt in the fire, or defiled with filth, or cor∣rupted with rust; for the clammy inward moi∣sture of the Iron is cor∣rupted by these, and the strength of it diminished, which as in a sicke bo∣dy is with more difficul∣ty raised up by the Load∣stone; such Iron is hard∣ly drawne by it, neither can it be done in such a distance, nor with such a speedy pace: Now the very same thing hap∣pens to Apostata's, those that sin unto death, and against the holy
Ghost, as to the same I∣ron dust strongly and vehemently burnt in a close Furnace of rever∣beration, where the flame is beaten backe, and so is turn'd into Cro∣cus Martis, as some call it, or calcin'd in red powder, whose inclina∣tion to turne, is renewed by no power of the Loadstone, nor can be revoked by any In∣chantments, as being wholly and utterly de∣formed; So it is impossi∣ble that those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the hea∣venly gift, and were made partakers of the holy Ghost, and have
tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them againe to repentance.