Two treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat…Tvvo treatises· I. Of the nature and practise of repentance. II. Of the combat…

First of all by it we learn what is the estate of a christian man in this life. A christian is not one ⟨p. 94⟩that is free from all evil cogitations, from rebellious inclinations & motions of will & affections, from all manner of slips in his life & conversation: for such an one is a mere devise of mans brain & not to be found upon earth. But indeed he is the sound christian that feeling himself laden with the corruptions of his vile & rebellious nature, bewails them from his hart, & with might and main fights against them by the grace of gods spirit. Again here is overthrown the popish opinion of merit & justification by works of grace, on this manner. Such as the cause of works is, such are works themselves. The cause of works in man, is the mind, will, & affections sanctified: in which, the flesh & the spirit are mixed together, as hath bin showed before. Therefore works of grace, even the best of them are mixed works, partly holy & partly sinful. whereby it is evident to a man that hath but common sense, that they are not answerable to the righteousness of the law: & that therefore, they can neither merit life, or any way justify a man before God. If any reply, that good works are the works of Gods spirit, & for that cause perfectly righteous: I answer, it is true indeed, they come from the holy ghost that can not sin, but not only or immediately. For they come ⟨p. 95⟩also from the corrupt mind and will of man, and in that respect become sinful, as sweet water issuing out of a pure fountain, is by a filthy channel made corrupt.

First of all by it we learn what is the estate of a christian man in this life. A christiā is not one ⟨p. 94⟩that is free frō al evil cogitations, frō rebellious inclinations & motiōs of will & affections, frō all maner of slips in his life & cōversation: for such an one is a mere deuise of mans brain & not to be found upō earth. But indeed he is the sound christiā that feeling himselfe laden with the corruptions of his vile & rebellious nature, bewailes them frō his hart, & with might and main fights against them by the grace of gods spirit. Againe here is ouerthrown the popish opinion of merit & iustificatiō by workes of grace, on this manner. Such as the cause of works is, such are works thēselves. The cause of works in man, is the mind, will, & affectiōs sanctified: in which, the flesh & the spirit are mixt togither, as hath bin shewed before. Therfore works of grace, euen the best of them are mixt works, partly holy & partly sinfull. wherby it is euidēt to a man that hath but cōmon sense, that they are not answerable to the righteousnes of the law: & that therfore, they can neither merit life, or any way iustify a mā before God. If any reply, that good works are the works of Gods spirit, & for that cause perfitly righteous: I answer, it is true indeed, they come frō the holy ghost that can not sin, but not only or immediatly. For they come