1'he deceit fulnefje of Mans heart. 375 otobedience and holinefie , is made up in the truth and foundnefie thereof. Therefore Peter being al ked oft he ayaeafure of his love to Chrift lovefi thou me more than trefe anfwereth only concerning the truth ; being asked of the gpatftity, anfwereth only concerning the qualitie,Lord thou knorre ff that I love thee. For the quantity , is matters not fo much with thee; ne loves thee fo much as hee ought : but for the fincere quality, which is all in all With thee, as for that, I appeale to thy lelfe. Hence it is that where the Scripture fpeaketh ofperfe &ion , it is to be underftood of fincerity in the feeling of imper- fe &tion,and in an ear neft defiring, and alpiring after perfeftion. Thole that in one place are laid to bee perfeft,in another,by way ofexpoficion, are laid co be upright. 3 Where fincerity is, there God both covers and cures all other infirmities. As hypocrifie drow- neth many excellent graces, and caufeth God to take no notice of them 5 fo contrarily fincerity ma- ny groffe infirmities ; and by drawing the eye of God to it felfe, caufeth it to winke at them. How many infirmities lcaped from the good Prophet David ? his numbring the people, his conterfei- dng madneffe, his coliufion with L4chifh, his rafh anger, and furious Cwearing and vowing the death of Natal, and his unjuft dealing with good poore Ndephibojheth. Thefe things were finnes, yet (Inca-- tie was a vaile unto them. Betaule fincerity was not Co fhaken in his other finnes, as in his muncher and adultery : God that took tome Cpeciall notice of this Jail , would take none at all of the other. B b4 The ohn zá, q. Chron.iz.3. afterward, verte 38. AC
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