Divine considerations treating of those things which are most profitable, most necessary and most perfect in our Christian profession by John Valdesso.

CONSID. C.

That the fruits which in Christians in the beginning of their Incorporation in Christ, seem to be of the spirit, are of the flesh.

SEeing by experience, that almost in all persons who accepting the Gospel come to be incor∣porated in Christ, in the beginning of their in∣corporation, there are found certain tasts, feelings, desires, vehemencies, and certain mysticall un∣derstandings of holy Scripture, of the Christian businesse, and certain tears, all which seem to be of the spirit, but are altogether of the Flesh, and as matter of the Flesh in time, dry up, and fall away. And willing to understand whence this proceeds, I have considered, that every one of them, who are incorporated in Christ, they are like unto a branch, which being cut from one tree is grafted into another. For as that branch would not produce the fruit which it

doth, if it were not grafted into that tree; though that first fruit be as it were altogether of the sap which it brought with it from the tree from whence it was cut: so the person incorporated in Christ would not have the tastes, feelings, ve∣hemencies, desires, or the understandings of Scripture, or the tears which he hath, if he were not incorporated in Christ; though these are as it were all Flesh, affection of the flesh, com∣placencie, and satisfaction of the flesh; which standing yet alive, and not able to satisfie nor please it self in carnall matters, pleaseth and sa∣tisfieth it self in spirituall matters. Whence I understand, that every one who comes to be in∣corporated in Christ, may rejoyce in those tastes, feelings, desires, vehemencies, understandings, and tears, inasmuch as they assure him, that he is incorporated in Christ; for he should not have any of these things, if he were not partaker of that incorporation. And I understand, that holding them for fruits of the flesh and not of the spirit, by the sap of that root of Adam, and not of that root of Christ, he ought to cast them away, and to cut them off, no wayes rest∣ing upon them, nor feeding himself with them. For that would befall him which befalls many persons, who feeding themselves with such meat, perswade themselves that they live in the spirit, when they live in the flesh. And I understand, that they ought to have intent, that there should

be nothing found in them, but that which is of the spirit, and of the root of Christ, in which he stands incorporated and engrafted holding for fruit of the root of Christ, humility, meek∣nesse, patience, the despising of himself, the de∣niall of his own proper will, the obedience to God, charity: for all these things were seen in Christ whilest he conversed corporally amongst men: and unto these doth God inspire us, and the spirit of Christ move us. And these shine out in them, who stand perfectly incorporated in Christ; and even those first unripe fruits redound to the glory of God, and to the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.