Conforts for thofewhofeependfeele tbeír imperfectons. 63 3 theworke ofour faluation unto our felues, and not whollie attribute it to Gods mercie and Chriíls oncly and all-fuffi- dent::merits : and therefore the Lord hath left in vs the re- likes of finne and manifold inlperfeóhons, that hereby it may appeare that we are not faued fór our owneworthincffe anddeferts,but ofhis:free grace and v-ndeferued loue. Secondly, hehath left in vs thefe relikes offinne and ma- nifold imperfe&ions, to theend that there might be conti- nual) matterand a fit obie&,wherein he might cxercife, and byexercifing manifefl, to the praife ofhis grace, his pati- ence, long fuffering, loue, goodneíl'e,and infinite mercie,in the pardoning and forgiuing ofthem; which would not fo plainelie appeare ifat once hec had indued vs with perfe&t righteoufneffe. Thirdly,that herebyhe might make way for the manife- 4,Seli.tI. ílationofhispower inour weakneffe and imperfections. IfThat ht might weewereperfeulie righteous and indued with all grace, it Jhevvhi: pow- were no wonder ifwee íhould withf}and Satans tempta raneur tions andget the vpper hand in the fpirituall combat; but feeing we are ofour felues finfull, exceeding weake and full ofall imperfeC,Iions,hereby is the infinite power ofGod manifefled;in that weare notwrthilanding enabled,towith- . ¡land Satanand all the power of hell which .oppofe :them- felues againfi vs, feeing nothing elfe could vphold filch feeble weakneffeagainíl fuch puiffant might. Of this the A- poille fpeaketh, 2.Cor 12.8.9. for hauing oftentimes be- sCor. 12.:9 9. fought the Lord to bee freed from the corruptions of his . flefh, he receiueth thisanfwere, that Godsgrace wasfrufficient for him,andthat his power: was made perTea through rvea+l eneffeò Fourthly,hereby theLord continuallyputteth vs inmind .Se`.i2.. ofhis mercie and manifoldbenefits,to the- end thatwe daily.rhathe might - tailingofthem,may alfadaily returne vntohim thanks and ßirrcVivp1©' praife. Ifhe fhould at oncefree vs from finne, and indue vs.contimuall with a full meafureofgrace and perfe&righteoufileffe, wee tbamkfu1ac1T ' ' . would Toonebe forgetftillofhis abundapt mercies; and this forgetfulneffe would-worke in vs vnthankfulneffe, and this vnthankfulneffe would make vs neglect his worfhipAnd fer- uic.e.And therfore he doth.not at once:inrich vs; but lets vs continua 1.Se 7.to. hat there might be aft obutl ofhas mercie andpa- tience.
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