How it is that Graces of the Spirit may at present seem to be lost. [ 1860]
AS in a Fire, the fewel may be quite burnt out, the flame abated and quite extinguished; but yet there still remains an heap of Coals on the hearth,* 1.1 and in them a good Fire, though all may seem to be quenched; And it is obvious to every eye,* 1.2 that the Sun doth not alwaies shine out in its lustre, a cloud may interpose, and so intercept its beams, yet for all that the body of it is in the Hea∣vens as the Fountain of all other light whatever: So it is that the Graces of the Spirit, such as Faith, Hope, Love,* 1.3 cannot be finally and totally extinguished in the Soul, when they are once wrought there by the Spirit, yet their lustre, their radiancy, their shine and flame may be clouded for some time; And so it comes to passe that though a Man cannot lose his hope, yet he may at present lose the comfort and confidence of his hope; though he cannot lose his Love, yet he may cool the heat and fervour of his Love; The flame of the Spirit, the feeling and sense of it may in the secondary causes thereof for a time be quenched, but yet the Spirit it self, and the Cardinal graces thereof remain still in their full glory and splendor.