Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ 1137] The least degree of true saving Faith, accepted by God.

SMoake is of the same nature with flame;* 1.1 For what is flame but smoake set on fire? The least spark of Fire, if cherished, will endeavour to rise above the ayr, as well as the greatest: So, a little Grace may be true Grace, as the filings of Gold are as good Gold (though nothing so much of it) as the whole wedge: A Reed shaken with the wind is taken for a thing very contemptible at the best, Matth. 11. 7. How much more when it is bruised? The wick of a Candle is little worth, and yet lesse when it comes to smoak, as yielding neither light nor heat, but onely stink and annoyance, such as men bear not with, but ••read out: So doth not God,* 1.2 who hath a singular sagacity, and can soon resent the least of provocations, yet the bruised Reed he will not break, and the smoaking Flax he will not quench; Nay, the very pantings, inquietations, and the unsatissiablenesse in the matter of Grace spring from the truth of Grace, and are such as God makes high esteem of.

Notes

• * 1.1

  J. Trap expo∣sit. on Matth.
• * 1.2

  Tarda s••let magnis rebus in••sse fides. Ovid. ep. 16.