1God hath been pleased to choose us in their room, they being translated, he bears such a mind to us, as he did to them. Is it not then most just and equal that the same mind should be in us, that was in them towards God, that the faith of Abel, conversation of Enoch, uprightness of Noah, obedience of Abraham, meekness of Moses, courage of Joshua, devotion of David, repentance of Solomon, constancy of Daniel, love of John, such readiness to follow Christ as was in the Disciples, and other like properties in other favourites of God, may be in us, that so it may never repent the Lord that he hath cast his favour upon us, and made us his favourites. God still remains the same: the same in his essence, the same in his mind & affection to such as are so minded and affected towards him as his ancient favourites were. Wherefore though Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and other favourites be dead and gone, yet let their spirit appear to live in us: that, while we live, God may not want favourites on earth: but that we for the present may show that we have so set before us the life of our predecessors, as we become examples and patterns to our successors.
1God hath beene pleased to choose us in their roome, they being translated, hee beares such a mind to us, as he did to them. Is it not then most just and equall that the same mind should be in us, that was in them towards God, that the faith of Abel, conversation of Enoch, uprightnesse of Noah, obedience of Abraham, meeknesse of Moses, courage of Ioshuah, devotion of David, repentance of Salomon, constancy of Daniel, love of Iohn, such readinesse to follow Christ as was in the Disciples, and other like properties in other favourites of God, may be in us, that so it may never repent the Lord that he hath cast his favor upon us, and made us his favourites. God still remaines the same: the same in his essence, the same in his mind & affection to such as are so minded and affected towards him as his ancient favourites were. Wherefore though Abel, Henoch, Noah, Abraham, and other favourites be dead and gone, yet let their spirit appeare to live in us: that, while we live, God may not want favourites on earth: but that we for the present may shew that we have so set before us the life of our predecessors, as we become examples and patternes to our successors.
- 1Si voluntatem Dei nosse quisquam desideret▪ fiat amicus Dei Non autem quis quam •••citur amicus Dei, nisi purgatissimis moribus. Aug. cont, Manich. l. 2.
