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Graces of the Spirit to be held fast in the midst of temporall losses. [ 1353]
AS it is with a Man in a wrack at Sea, when all is cast over-boord, the Victuals that feed him, the cloaths that should keep him warm, yet he swims to the shoare with his life in his hand; Or as it is with a valiant Standard-bearer, that carries the banner in the time of battel, if he sees all lost, he wraps the banner about his body, and chooseth rather to dye in that as his winding-sheet, then let any man take it from him, or spoyl him of it; he will hold that fast, though he lose his life with it. Thus Iob in all his troubles is said to hold fast his Integrity, Chap. 2. vers. 4. And so must all of us do,* 1.1 hold our spiri∣tuals, whatsoever becomes of temporals: When Wife and Children, and Friends, and liberty, and life and all's going, say unto peace of Conscience, to Innocency and Integrity, as Iacob said to the Angel, (whether they be those Summer-graces of Prosperity, as Joy and Thanksgiving;* 1.2 or the Winter-graces of Adversity, as Patience and Perseverance; or the grace of Humility that is al∣waies in season) We will not let ye go; For indeed there is no blessing with∣out them: There's not a Man upon the face of the Earth, but if he be of an Heavenly temper and spiritual resolution, will in the greatest storm, in the hot∣test assault, wrap himself round about with his Integrity, and will not let it go, till he go along with it.