The first of them is, in this term, excluded from sound joy; the second is admitted to it, as well as the third or the fourth, yea therefore rather than the third by much, because it is sure in time to attain to the fourth: and it may well therefore constitute a distinct sort or degree to make up the number propounded at first,1 to wit,2 imperfecta, sed firma, or firma, sed non pura, non perfecta: *An imperfect Righteousness, but yet firm; or a firm and permanent Righteousness, though not yet pure and perfect: Since that the Grace of God begun here in the Hearts of his holy ones, though never so infirm and weak in it self, yet beings supported and upheld by the power of his Spirit, is sure never wholly or fully to fail: but as the light that the Moon receiveth from the Sun, though to our seeming but very little at first shortly after the change, as we term it, yet it increaseth more and more daily, till it come to the full; so shallt the light of Grace in Gods Children, thoughu but little, scarce sensible at the first either to others or themselves, yet it shall grow on till it come to it full growth; which when it hath once attained, (that which will not be in this life) it will never (herein contrary to the manner of the Moon) impair or abate again.
The first of them is, in this tearme, excluded from sound ioy; the second is admitted to it, as well as the third or the fourth, yea therefore rather than the third by much, because it is sure in time to attaine to the fourth: and it may well therefore constitute a distinct sort or degree to make vp the number propounded at first,1 to wit,2 imperfecta, sed firma, or firma, sed non pura, non perfecta: *An imperfect Righteousnesse, but yet firme; or a firme and permanent Righteousnesse, though not yet pure and perfect: Since that the Grace of God begun here in the Hearts of his holy ones, though neuer so infirme and weake in it selfe, yet beings supported and vpheld by the power of his Spirit, is sure neuer wholly or fully to faile: but as the light that the Moone receiueth from the Sunne, though to our seeming but very little at first shortly after the change, as we tearme it, yet it increaseth more and more daily, till it come to the full; so shallt the light of Grace in Gods Children, thoughu but little, scarce sensible at the first either to others or themselues, yet it shall grow on till it come to it full growth; which when it hath once attained, (that which will not be in this life) it will neuer (herein contrary to the manner of the Moone) impaire or abate againe.
- 1Sort 6.
- 2Firma, non perfecta.Firma, nō perfecta.
- *Philip. 3. 12. Cùm haec omnia desiderio affectus impleverit, non ex omni parte perfectus, sed perficiendus. Prosper. de vit. contempl. lib. 1. cap. 8.
- s1 Pet. 1. 5. Firmior est fides quam reponit po•itentia. Lactant. institut. l. 5. c. 13.
- tPr•v. 4. 18.
- uTanquam [Greek or Hebrew], ubi plus luminis quàm tenebrarum, sed [Greek or Hebrew], ubi pl' tenebrarū quàm luminis: uti distingu••t gra•••atici ad Homerum. Eu••th Odyss. […].Tanquam 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, ubi plus luminis quàm tenebrarum, sed 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, ubi pl' tenebrarū quàm luminis: uti distingu••t gra•••atici ad Homerum. Eu••th Odyss. 〈…〉.
