Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

What is required to fatting vert ties andgoodwor(es. 57 let at libertie, he that imbraceth vertue that thereby he may I'rctio grata be had in honor,is read ie to abandon itand become vitious, Pincio r parcia when it will (sand with his credit:he that is faithful) for hire, fides. Senec.in will for hire become treacherous: but he that intertaincth Agamema. vertue in pictie and dutie towards God, will condantly per- x88. feuerein it, when all worldly refpe&sdifcouragehim, be- caufe the foundation is immoueable, and cannot beouer- thtowne.Andhereof it is that the lead grainesofvertue ioy- ned with godlines, arc iudly preferred before the greater meafure, and higher degree which is fettered from it; be- caufe it is both conflant and vnchangeable,and alto is conti- nually irhgrowth, whereas the other is fubiecct to decline and variifh,when the fuel! thcreoffaileth. To which purpofe,one faith, that although that venue beneuerfa much praifed ,lbhich Aqua. deci- beingfestered from true godlinell?,-doth tendto the advancement stir. Uei.lib.ç. ofinen unto the glorie of the urorld; yet it is not to be compared C51'.19. to the fmallell beginnings of venue in the Saints, all whafe hope is firmely feated in the graceandmercie ofthe true God. Secondly,they mud arife from true charitie and vnfained Secef. . loue of God, and our neighbours for Gods fake: neither is 4rveri s there any good fruit which fpringeth not from the roote of mug arife from charitie,as AuguThim fpeaketh.And thisthe Apofile maketh troe rharitie. the ground-worke ofall obedience, where he faith, that the Lib -de fpí; icu end oftheCommandementis lame out ofa pure heart, andagoad r:Tmrf .. confcience,and faith vnfained..in the fame refpeé he faith,tha.t loge is the fulfilling of the law, becaufe it is the fountaine of Rom.13.8. all dutie towards God and man; which who fo hach fpring- ing in him : from him liThe and flow the fireames ofall obe- dience;but ifthe fountainefaile,then the dreames are quick- ly dried vp: neither is there any other venueor dutie accep- table toGod,or of any worth and excellencie, vnlefl'eit be ioyned with this charitie, as the Apofile doth fhew at large. With this agreeth the faying ofBernard, Charitie (faith he) r.Cor.r,. is the root ofall vertuet, without which, whatfoeoeer we do it loth Bernard. de not profit vs, &c. And a little after; there carnallconcupifcence modo bené r i. raigneth,where thereis no place todiuinech,tritie, &c. And a- uendi, feria, gaine, fo great is the vertfie ofcharitie,that where it is wanting, all other verities are had to vain.. Thirdly,.