The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of God

Answ. ¹All the faithful have all such graces as are absolutely necessary unto salvation, actually wrought in them. As a child borne of a woman hath all the parts of soul and body, so he that is borne again of God hath all the parts of a new man. No Saint wanteth any grace that may hinder his salvation, though he should instantly die. As for that measure which some want, it is not so great as can justly impeach the truth of grace: that grace which they have is true, though it may be weak: and their sanctification is sound, though imperfect. The perfecting of sanctification is not so great and powerful a work, as the first beginning of it. The most effectual & powerful work of Gods spirit in the faithful, is their very new birth, the first act of their conversion. For when a sinner is first converted, he is a new created: of nothing (I speak in regard of of our spiritual being) he is made something: of a man dead in sin, he is quickened, & hath spiritual life put into him. Now the growth in sanctification, is but a proceeding from one degree to another in the same kind: yea the very perfection of sanctification⟨p. 411⟩ is but an attaining to the highest step & degree of that which was begun before. It is therefore a more powerful work to beget a sinner to God, and to work his first conversion, then after he is regenerate and converted to perfect that good work which is begun. Whence it followeth that faithful Saints have more matter of rejoicing for the grace they have received, then of mourning for the grace they want.

Answ. ¹All the faithfull haue al such graces as are absolutely necessary vnto saluation, actually wrought in them. As a childe borne of a woman hath all the parts of soule and body, so he that is borne againe of God hath al the parts of a new man. No Saint wanteth any grace that may hinder his saluation, though he should instantly die. As for that measure which some want, it is not so great as can iustly impeach the truth of grace: that grace which they haue is true, though it may bee weake: and their sanctification is sound, though imperfect. The perfecting of sanctification is not so great and powerfull a worke, as the first beginning of it. The most effectuall & powerfull worke of Gods spirit in the faithfull, is their very new birth, the first act of their conuersion. For when a sinner is first conuerted, he is a new created: of nothing (I speake in regard of of our spirituall being) he is made something: of a man dead in sin, he is quickned, & hath spiritual life put into him. Now the growth in sanctification, is but a proceeding from one degree to another in the same kinde: yea the very perfection of sanctification