492 Chap. 3 i. An Expojition upon the Boolte of J o a. Verf.zt prevalency of divine helpe. Then Grace is mighty in us, or as the Apoftie fpeakes ( Col. I. 29. )worketlïin to mightily, whenwe are weakeas to thofe finfuli workes, for which we have the grea- reft eyther natural orcivili power.Paul could fay (z Cor.13 8.) 1can doe nothingagaina the truth, butfor the truth. Tautcould have let his wits againft the truth, and plaid the Sophifter as welt as any other man; but he had no heart to doe any thing againft the truth. This is an infallible argument, not only of the truth but ofthe ftrength ofgrace (z john 3. 9.) He that la borne of God cannot fin ( why not ?) not becaufe he bath not a naturall power, not becaufe he bath no civil! power, not becaufe he path no cord cuption fairing fin, not becaufe he bath no temptationprovoking, him to fin, not becaufe ñe alwayes wants opportunity to fin; He that is barn of God,hath molt of thefe advantages to fin always, and he fometimes bath all of them, fo that, none ofthefe are the proper reafons why. he cannot commitfin. The true reafon is,be- caufe his heart is turnedand fet another way, or becaufe (as that Scripture expreffeth the reafon) the feedof god remaineth in him. When a Godly man bath as much power and opportunity as o- thers to fin yet he doth not fin as others, becaufe the power of gracenot only reftrainsand fupercedes,but changeth andaltereth . the powers ofNature. We fiaouldalwayes doe the fame things,if we were alwayes the fame men.We fhould all do alike,ifwe were all alike. How glorious is that grace ofGod in man, which gives. him a power not to fin , how much foever it is in his power to fin : And [till the gloryof that grace is the greater in keepingus from finning, by how much our power to fin is greater for a Magiftrate who teeth (as 706 did) his heipe in the gate to of lien the fatherleffe , or fubvert any man in his caufe, and yet not to lift up a hand or a finger, not tocontribute the lealì appearance: ofhis power todoe it, but (as.doubtleffe Yob alfo.did ) to contri. bute all his power againft it, This is Juftice in Triumph. Further For as much as yob faith,, that he law hie helps in the, gate. Obferve.. C..Men in great power and place cannot want helpe to carry, thorow theme ff *mint; and oppre f qe &ions , if they doe but dej re it. When, .r
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