V E R. IO. Ephefiana,Chap.6. converfion, and being received though he had done no good works, he fhould be faved according to hope. And this error hath three things which occafion it. They conceive that works are partial! cau- fes ofour falvation,with mcrcy;becaufe the Scriptures ufe fuch condi- tionall fpeeches, Ifyou mortifie the deeds of the flefh, ye !hall live, &c. But thefe conditionsare fpoken to parties already now beleeving, and are conditions that follow, not caules going before an hhire of falvation. Ifwe fay to our children , Be good children, ply your books, you Thall bee myheire; who would gather, that going to fchoole is the caufe of inheritance e Secondly, they diflinguifh not betwixt that which helpethhope, and that whichereeteth it to hope, from that on which it dependeth in hoping : but thefe are far different. Ifthe flomach be well, that neither fumes nor diftillations trouble, theeye feethclearely: yet theeye doth not depend on the ftomach, as the meanesof feeing : fo ifthe confcience be not furcharged (fume not upaccufations, feares, &c.) the eye of the foule Teeth clearely whichwe may tearme hope ; Yet it doth not depend on the good- neffeof the confcience, as thecaufe why ithopeth. And hence it is, thattheyabufe Scripture , which thew the cheery hoping of a good confcience, as if they proved , that our hope expe teth as well by works as mercy to attaine that we looke for. Thirdly , they confider not, that thefe are fuch Theologicall verrues , as are appropriated to God, and areno way communicable with the creature. Why,youwill fay, love is fo too, yet we may love the creature : thankfulneffe, yet we may thank thecreature. 1.4nfro. It may bePaid we lovenot abfolutely, but in and for God, and after a fort love God in the creature,ashe loving us (fo farre ashis work) loveth himfelfe in us, but the reafon is not alikeof thefe : For, therefore we love the creature, and give thanks, becaufe there is in them matter of love, and thankfgiving ; but there is no matter to ground hope on in the creature. PM. io8. Give us help againfi trouble, forvaine is the helpofman. Pfal. 127. It is invain to rife early, &c. Pfal.146.3. There is no help in Princes. Why , may one fay; Hach not Godput verrue in creatures to doe thus , and thus; as in a hone to carry one, in a medicine to beak one c L.in fro. He hath, but yet the exercile ofthis power , hee keepeth in dependanceon himfelfe ; and cannot be further, then he plcaleth to put it forth. For till hee who is the LordofHoaftes beckon, fend forthhis word, as Pfal.107. and give them their moving, they can doe nothing.As,1 havepower to go ro fuch a place: yet God maketh mein it todepend onhis pleafure.lam.4.I will do this,&c.if Godwill. Nov the ufeof this helmet u; f rff , toflrengthenfaith ; which is the principal!, and firft thing in the new creature, as the helmet covereth the head of the body : but faith , you willfay , breedeth hope; yet hope is fuch a daughter, as is a ftaffe to her aged mother. Secondly, it doth repell thebattery of our daily diftreffes', and impreflions of defpaire. I had fainted , had I not looked to fee the goodneffe of the 797
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