Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133 .D76 C551 1608 v.1

63 2Comfortsfortheft :rhoPeandfeele their imperfcc`tiint; That our flis Lord to reieci and call vs out ofhis loue and fauour: for wee vvill í7Jí- nue are the. Lords children, andhec our gratious father:nowwe . the vs. co.'e- icfi at know that a louin g father will not reie& his child, becaufe. heisfacke, lame, or in mifcrable eflate, butrather he is more tender,ouer him, till hee be recoueredofhis infirmities : but what are our fìnnes but the &knefle, wounds andmiferie of the foule, with which wee are vexed and turmoiledwhilefl :yecontinue in this life ; andwill our heauenlie father,whofe loue inñnitelie furpaffeth the loue of the rnoli tender mo-- ther, cal} vs out ofhis fauour, bccaufe our foulesare fcke in finne,and molefled withmany miferies whichdoe accom- panie it ? It is impoflîble; efpeciallie conldering that wede- lire nothingmore than tobee curedofthefe difeafes, and to be rellored toperfe&health. The Lord is our heauenlyhuí bandman, and wee his husbandrie; nowwee know that the good husbandman Both not forfake his land, becaufe it bringeth foorth thornes and thifiles, but rather is fo-much the more diligent andpaineful inweeding and tilling it,that it maybe fitted for good feede and bringvnto himplentifull increafe;and fo the Lord«il not callvs off,becaufe wenatu- rallie bring foorth the weedcs and thifllcsof finne and corr. ruption,but inhis infinite louehe will with theoperationof his holy fpirit,plowvpthefallow grounds ofour hearts, and weed our corruptions, that fo wee may likegood ground, well husbanded, bring foorth the ripe fruites ofholineffe and rightcoufileflé Fourthlie, let vs confider that the Lord our God, who could eafilie ifit hadpleated him, haue throughlypurgedvs from all finne and corruption, and indued vs with perfe& rightcouf effe andholineffe, hash notwithflanding left re- maining invsfotne relikes offinne, andmanyimperfeóions inour lanaification,bothfor themanifeflation of his owne glarie,andforthe furthering ofour owneeternall faluation. For fira hereby it commeth to paffe, that the Lord bath the whole praife of Out faluation, feeing:hee faueth vs ofhis meere mercie, and not for our workes and worthineffe. Whereas ifour-righteoufneffe and fan&ification were per- fe&,we would bereadie tQ!harewithGod;afcribing part in the §;seY.9. The favi calife, the nrauifella- tion of Gods t CI*.

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