If we behold our selves, & consider our own nakedness, we shall find, that by nature we are nothing else but the children of wrath. Who can call ⟨image 120⟩that clean, that is conceived of unclean seed? David saith Behold, I am conceived in sin, my sins have over gone my head, there is no health in my flesh. None that liveth shall be justified in thy sight, who can understand his faults? Cleanse me from my secret faults. Job saith, Verebar omnia opera mea, I stood in fear 1of all my works, knowing that thou wilt not judge me innocent. Again, The stars are unclean 2in his sight: How much more man a worm, even the son of man which is but a worm? In like sort saith Isaiah, We have all 3been as an unclean thing and all our righteousness is as filthy clouts, Our virtue, our holiness, our fasting, our prayers are filthy, when they come to his sight. We can not say, our heart is clean. We can not say, we have not sinned. God hath shut up all in unbelief, that he may have mercy upon all. That is borne of the flesh, is flesh. The spirit fighteth against the flesh, and the flesh against the spirit. Open shame belongeth to us, and to our fathers. Cursed is he that abideth not in all things that are written in the book of the law. And whosoever offendeth in one, is made guilty of all the commandments. When the miserable and wretched soul boasteth it self, saying, I am rich, and increased with goods & have need 4of nothing, the spirit of God maketh answer, ⟨image 120⟩Thou art wretched, and miserable, & poor, and blind, and naked. Thou hast nothing to put upon thee, to cover thy shame. I counsel thee to buy of me, gold tried by the fire, that thou mayest be made rich: & white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, & that thy filthy nakedness do not appear: and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. The same spirit in the Apostle, giveth this counsel, that we put on us Jesus Christ. Let him cover us with his body, and with his blood, as with a garment: his blood hath cleansed us from all our sins. He is the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. He is become unto us, wisdom, and righteousness, & sanctification, & redemption. S. Hierome saith S• merita nostra consideremus, desperandum 5est. If we weigh our own deservings, if we appear in our own apparel, we must despair.
If we beholde our selues, & consider our owne nakednes, we shall find, yt by nature we are nothing els but the childrē of wrath. Who can cal ⟨image 120⟩that cleane, that is conceiued of vncleane seede? Dauid saith Behold, I am conceiued in sinne, my sinnes haue ouer gone my head, there is no health in my flesh. Nōe that liueth shalbe iustified in thy sight, who can vnderstand his faults? Clense me from my secret fultes. Iob saith, Verebar omnia opera mea, I stood in feare 1of al my workes, knowing that thou wilt not iudge me innocēt. Again, The starres are vncleane 2in his sight: How much more man a worme, euen the sonne of man which is but a worme? In like sort saith Esaie, We haue al 3bene as an vncleane thing and all our righteousnes is as filthie cloutes, Our vertue, our holines, our fasting, our prayers are filthy, whē they come to his sight. Wee can not say, our heart is cleane. Wee can not say, wee haue not sinned. God hath shut vp al in vnbeliefe, that hee may haue mercie vppon all. That is borne of the flesh, is flesh. The sperit fighteth against the flesh, and the flesh against the spirit. Open shame belongeth to vs, and to our fathers. Cursed is hee that abideth not in al thinges that are writen in the booke of the law. And whosoeuer offendeth in one, is made guiltie of all the commaundementes. When the miserable and writched soule boasteth it selfe, sayinge, I am rich, and increased with goods & haue need 4of nothing, the spirit of God maketh answere, ⟨image 120⟩Thou art wretched, and miserable, & poore, and blinde, and naked. Thou hast nothing to put vpon thee, to couer thy shame. I counsell thee to buy of me, golde tried by the fire, that thou mayest be made rich: & white rayment, that thou mayest be clothed, & that thy filthy nakednes do not appeare: and anoint thine eies with eie salue, that thou mayest see. The same spirit in the Apostle, giueth this counsell, that wee put on vs Iesus Christ. Let him couer vs with his body, and with his blood, as with a garment: his blood hath clensed vs from al our sinnes. Hee is the lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of ye world. Hee is become vnto vs, wisdome, and righteousnes, & sanctification, & redemtion. S. Hierome saith S• merita nostra consideremus, desperandum
- 1Job. 9.Iob. 9.
- 2Job. 25.Iob. 25.
- 3Esa. 6, 4.
- 4•evel. 3.•euel. 3.
- 5Hier. in 64. Esa.
