First, It acquaints a man with his emptiness of grace, the strength of his inbred corruptions, how deep they have eaten, how fast they stick, how unable he is to crucify his inordinate affections, or to repair the decayed Image of God in him, and that be is in woeful case, unless the Lord put to his helping hand. Faith in this act doth not properly work upon the promise, but prepares the heart thereunto. And sure it is a worthy lesson: for the serious thought of this matter is exceeding forcible to abase and humble him in his own eyes, and so wholly to drive him out of himself. For he perceiveth, he is as strongly bound by the tyranny of sin to perpetual slavery, as by the guilt of sin to the danger of condemnation. Could he get pardon for sin, what would this profit, so as he lieth still under the power and dominion of sin, from which he hath no ability to deliver his soul. If a man labour of some painful, loathsome incurable disease, though in many things he be advanced, this will pull down conceits of greatness: and when a Christian comes to see, how many dangerous, noisome, spiritual diseases he laboureth under, he is not lightly affected with it: no, he abhorreth himself, and crieth out,1 O miserable wretch that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death, how shall I be cured of these maladies. Hereby ⟨p. 249⟩also he is drawn in all his purposes and resolutions to deny himself, and to rely upon the power of the Lord, who only remains victorious. He purposeth, but through the might of God: which causeth earnest and hearty prayer to be strengthened unto, and established in that which is good. I will keep thy statutes: 2O forsake me not utterly. I have stuck unto thy Testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame. 3I will run the way of thy Commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart, Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end. 4Give me understanding and I shall keep thy Law, yea, I will observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments, for therein do I delight. Incline my heart to thy testimonies, 5and not to covetousness. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. Purposes thus grounded bring forth holy performances:
First, It acquaints a man with his emptinesse of grace, the strength of his inbred corruptions, how deepe they haue eaten, how fast they sticke, how vnable he is to crucifie his inordinate affections, or to repaire the decayed Image of God in him, and that be is in wofull case, vnlesse the Lord put to his helping hand. Faith in this act doth not properly worke vpon the promise, but prepares the heart thereunto. And sure it is a worthy lesson: for the serious thought of this matter is exceeding forcible to abase and humble him in his owne eyes, and so wholly to driue him out of himselfe. For hee perceiueth, hee is as strongly bound by the tyrannie of sinne to perpetuall slauerie, as by the guilt of sinne to the danger of condemnation. Could he get pardon for sinne, what would this profit, so as hee lieth still vnder the power and dominion of sinne, from which hee hath no abilitie to deliuer his soule. If a man labour of some painfull, loathsome incurable disease, though in many things hee bee aduanced, this will pull downe conceits of greatnesse: and when a Christian comes to see, how many dangerous, noysome, spirituall diseases he laboureth vnder, he is not lightly affected with it: no, he abhorreth himselfe, and crieth out,1 O miserable wretch that I am, who shall deliuer me from this body of death, how shall I bee cured of these maladies. Hereby ⟨p. 249⟩also he is drawne in all his purposes and r•solutions to denie himselfe, and to relie vpon the power of the Lord, who only remaynes victorious. Hee purposeth, but through the might of God: which causeth earnest and heartie prayer to bee strengthened vnto, and established in that which is good. I will keepe thy statutes: 2O forsake mee not vtterly. I haue stucke vnto thy Testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame. 3I will runne the way of thy Commandements, when thou shalt enlarge my heart, Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I shall keepe it vnto the end. 4Giue mee vnderstanding and I shall keepe thy Law, yea, I will obserue it with my whole heart. Make me to goe in the path of thy Commandements, for therein doe I delight. Incline my heart to thy testimonies, 5and not to couetousnesse. Hold vp my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. Purposes thus grounded bring forth holy performances:
- 1Rom 7 24.
- 2Psal 119.8.
- 3Psal. 119.32, 33.
- 4Verse 34.
- 5Verse 35. Psal. 17.5.
