EpifileofS. Patti toTitus. CHAp.z.I j. Vert. rc. Vise thepure,all things arepure but vnte diem rhr re 281 . defiledand vnbeleeuing,nethiHg is purebut cuestheir minds and confciences are defiled. The connexion ofchefe words with the former is not eafie tobe Peen, volette we conceive the words proceeding in that properfeule which we haue giuen ofthem ; and then this verte will affoard a reafonof the for- mer. For the Apofile hauing called there Cretians from attending to Iewifh fables, and commandements of men; that is, fuch fabulous do; urines as ßi11 would keepe life in the ceremonial) differences of dales, and meats,perfons,and garments,(feeing now all that partitionwall was broken dowse) he draweth a reafon from that libertiewhich now is ob- tained for Chriftians,vnto whom nownothingwas common or vnclean, but might be purely vfedof them, who haue their hearts purified in e69- '.pcar.as. my the truth. And this reafon isenlarged by oppofing the contrarie in a ftrnilitude of the like, Toth: imp trenothing ispure: not onely outward things , but their cheife and eminent inward parts are defiled , whether we confider the rheericall parr, that is, themiede andvnderßanding, fo asthey can neither apprehend, conceiue,nor judge of the truthpropoun- ded : or thepraéticall facultie, ( included in the confcience) feeing this dtpendethupon she former, itmull alfobe polluted: the which twofa- culties,if they be deprauedand vitiated, that is, ifthe vnderßanding be blinded; and-the confcience led by ruchablind guide, how"ean it be but the whole n an fhould finke dowus in the puddle ofall impious impurity? That is the fcope; the fcnfe and meaning followeth. To the pure, all things arepitre,] In this former braunchof the verte three generoll póints are to be conudeted. a. Who are meant by pure perfoes. z. How.all things are pure or impure. 3. How all things are pure to the pure. Toanfwer the firßqueßion, we mull findeout what puritie both for wt,o tue pure kind and degree is here meant. All puritie is either in the fountaine, or perlons. thence derived. The former is the moll fimple, perfet, and immeafura- blepuritie in the creator : the latter is fonte darke image , and fhadowe ofthe formerin the creature, according to the meafure of it , fo long a- biding with it as it cleaueth vnto him, or he vitro ir. The former is not meant, but the latter which is ofreafonable creatures , either angels or ' nten , differing indeede in degree according to their capaci tie : hut not . herein, thatbefore the fall of either, it was a puritie mutable in them both. But to drawe toour Apoßles lubie&, thispuritie is not now con- (Meted in the Angels,but inman:Neither is it that puritie which we had inour innocencie : for though thenwe were purer then the Nazarites of Ierufalem¡who . were power then the/now ,and whiter then themilke: yet L=4.73. S 4 by
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