§. 65. Again, this jealousy of our own weakness will make us the more careful, as to shun all occasions, whereby we may be endangered; so, because it is not in our power ever to avoid them, ⟨p. 100⟩to use diligently all good means, whereby we may be supported and strengthened against them. To which purpose our Saviour joineth watching and prayer together, as rthere, so selsewhere: as also this Apostles oft couple them the one with the other. uNo man, saith one of the Ancients, is enabled by God, that is not enfeebled first in himself. And no marvel; For so long as we find our selves (as we suppose) strong enough to stand alone on our own legs of our selves, we think scorn to use crutches, or to be supported by others: so long as we think our selves wise enough and able to wade well enough through with our affairs, xwe regard not to take advice or to seek help and aid from others: So here, so long as we misdoubt not our own weakness, as we are over-forward to presume upon our own strength, so we are over-backward and careless of using those means whereby we might attain true strength indeed. And on the other side, the more conscious men are to themselves of their own wants, the more diligent are they wont to be in resorting to those by whom their wants may be supplied: and the more suspicious we are of our own infirmity and weakness, the more careful will we be daily and hourly to repair unto him, who alone is able to confirm and strengthen us, yea who is able so yto enable us notwithstanding our weakness, that zhis power and might shall appear in us amidst our feebleness, and aour very infirmity shall make much for his glory. And ⟨p. 101⟩surely, bIn this kind, as one well saith, it is more behovefull for a man to be somewhat too fearful and heedy, then to be a little too confident and fool-hardy: to take notice of his own weakness, that he may become strong, then while he thinketh himself strong in his own conceit, to prove weak. In regard whereof also the Wise man, as we said formerly, not unworthily pronounceth him chappy, that continually standeth in fear: as dafraid, though he may seem to stand fast and firm, lest through infirmity he should chance to fall.
§. 65. Againe, this iealousie of our owne weaknesse will make vs the more carefull, as to shun all occasions, whereby we may bee endangered; so, because it is not in our power euer to auoid them, ⟨p. 100⟩to vse diligently all good meanes, whereby wee may be supported and strengthened against them. To which purpose our Sauiour ioyneth watching and praier together, as rthere, so selsewhere: as also this Apostles oft couple them the one with the other. uNo man, saith one of the Auncients, is enabled by God, that is not enfeebled first in himselfe. And no maruell; For so long as wee finde our selues (as wee suppose) strong enough to stand alone on our owne legs of our selues, wee thinke scorne to vse crutches, or to be supported by others: so long as wee thinke our selues wise enough and able to wade well enough thorow with our affaires, xwee regard not to take aduice or to seeke helpe and aid from others: So here, so long as we misdoubt not our owne weaknesse, as we are ouer-forward to presume vpon our owne strength, so we are ouer-backward and carelesse of vsing those meanes whereby we might attaine true strength indeed. And on the other side, the more conscious men are to themselues of their owne wants, the more diligent are they wont to be in resorting to those by whom their wants may bee supplied: and the more suspitious wee are of our owne infirmity and weaknesse, the more carefull will we be daily and hourely to repaire vnto him, who alone is able to confirme and strengthen vs, yea who is able so yto enable vs notwithstanding our weaknesse, that zhis power and might shall appeare in vs amids our feeblenesse, and aour very infirmity shall make much for his glory. And ⟨p. 101⟩surely, b
- rMatth. 26. 41.
- sLuke 21. 36.
- tEphes. 6. 18. 1 Pet. 4. 7.
- uMultos impedit à firmitate praesumptio firmitatis. Nemo à Deo fit fir•, nisi qui se à seipso sentit infirmum. Infirmatus est in se, ut firmus secret in te. Non firmaretur, si non infirmaretur, ut abs te in te perficeretur. Aug. de verb. Dom. 13.Multos impedit à firmitate praesumptio firmitatis. Nemo à Deo fit fir•, nisi qui se à seipso sentit infirmum. Infirmatus est in se, vt firmus secret in te. Non firmaretur, si non infirmaretur, vt abs te in te perficeretur. Aug. de verb. Dom. 13.
- xConsilij satis est in me mihi. - Arachne apud Ovid. met. l. 6.Consilij satis est in me mihi. - Arachne apud Ouid. met. l. 6.
- y2 Tim. 4. 17.
- z2 Cor. 12 9, 10.
- a2 Cor. 4. 7.
- bIn hac part expedit plus benè timere, quàm malè fidere. Et utilius est, infirmum se homo cognoscat, ut fortis existat, quàm fortis videri velit, & infirmus emergat. Autor de singular. cleric. Sed & Tertull. de cultu foem. Utilius si speremus nos posse delinquere. Sperando enim timebimus, timendo cavebimus, cavendo salui erimus. Qui securus agit, non est sollicitus, non possidet tutam & firmam securitatem: at qui sollicitus est, is rerè poterit esse securus.In hac parte expedit plus benè timere, quàm malè fidere. Et vtilius est, infirmum se homo cognoscat, vt fortis existat, quàm fortis videri velit, & infirmus emergat. Autor de singular. cleric. Sed & Tertull. de cultu foem. Vtilius si speremus nos posse delinquere. Sperando enim timebimus, timendo cauebimus, cauendo salui erimus. Qui securus agit, non est sollicitus, non possidet tutam & firmam securitatem: at qui sollicitus est, is rerè poterit esse securus.
