Epífl'!cofS. Pawlto ritta. Vfe. s. Let all men learne hence to be humbled'vnder that vile e- (tate of our nature, by which we are not onely laden with limple igno- rance, but euen oppreffed with affe&ed contumacie againli it ; fuch as our Sauiour chargeth vpon the Iewes,Ioh.8. and fuch as brcaketh out in many of our people, who not feldome in hearing vs teach them the truth ofGod,fayasthelewesof Chril, whocanhearehim? Alas, how farce better were it with vs, tohaue been heathenor infidels, and neuer haue heard of Iefus Chrift, that our ignorance had becne Cripple and invinci- ble, then fuch Chrifiians as aboundnot only with ignorance,bur loch as the Apolle fpeaketh of, Rom.1.24. which is caufedofthehankies ofheart which tr in them. s. Hence maywe ceafe towonder,why fo fewobey theGolpel, why after fomuch teaching,there is fo little fruit, fo little knowledge, fo lit- tle turning to God; becau(e thedegree ofcorruption ofmind,is beyond bare ignorance;as to affent to the word is a further degree ofgrace then bareknowledge. The Minifrermay hale and puIi,but vnleiTe theFather draw, none come to the Sonne, loch is the contumacie and lubbornnes of mars hearts naturally, that no curie can terrific, nor promife affea it: and this was it whichmade Chrils own minilrievnprofirable to the Iewes, as we reade, Ioh,8. Let hearers and !indents of the Scripture la- bour and pray for the fanEtification ofmind, & the fpirit renewing their inner man: without which theymay heare, and Judie, andreade, but as the Eunuch, without vnderf}anding for want of guide. Without this teacher our report {hall not be belecued, nor without this finger ofGod !hall the acme ofGodbe rcuealed. A found of words may be heard,and the report oftruthmay be fo flrong, as to winne ackowledgement of it felfe, but faith (hall not be founded,nor louequickned,norhope confir- med, nor that change wrought, without which thou {halt continue a ca- Miler fill, yea froward, and anencmie to God, and his truth. 3. Ifwe be fuch as are called out ofthis elate, towhotne God hath givenhearts to beleeue, agent, and obey the truth ; let vs not depriue God ofhis glorie, but acknowledginghis gifr,giue him thehonour due vnto him, for herais an exceeding great power of God put forth, ifit be giuen thee tQbeleeue: the worke of faith is a worke of great powcr: ice 2.Theff. 1.11. Deceived,] Out of this third degree of' corruptionof miede , wee learne, That before men bebrought vnto Chril, they infinitely erre, and their whole lifç is but awandring fromGod and his wales. For, r. Chft is the way, the truth, and the life, and therefore co bee our of Chtil, is to be out ofthe way that tendeth to life, a. Our felues by out finne are cal into the darke night, and haue not the leaf glimpfe of Sun, Pp 4 Moone, CHAP.3e3 boa tob.ósa Before menbee brought co Chri(t,'heir whole life it but atvavdring From the wales of God. Bear I 3
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