But you will say have we flesh in us which is backward and untoward, and therefore we cannot follow Christ so willingly. But as we say a Bear follows to the stake obtorto collo, against his will, and this is found in the Saints as it is said of Peter, when thou art old another shall stretch forth thine hand,1 and another shall gird thee, and lead thee whether thou wouldest not. Christ tells him there of his death, and that he should lead him whether he would ⟨p. 155⟩not, now Peter was a Martyr, and we cannot think but that he dyed and suffered Martyrdom willingly:2 but yet he should be led whether he would not, that is, whether his flesh would not: it is true the flesh cannot thus willingly follow Christ: therefore you must if you would follow Christ aright, find something in you, that you should follow Christ, with propensivenesse and willingly: to express this I have added these other words, with all your heart, we find expressed in the old Testament by three phrases, love the Lord with all your mind, with all your heart, and with all ⟨p. 134⟩§1your might, first, with all your mind, that is, your §2understanding; secondly, with all your heart, that is, §3your affections; thirdly with all your might, that is, with your executive power. We are to follow him with all our mind, and I rather use these three, because the word (follow) is applied to all these, some are said to be followers of such whose opinions they follow. As those that follow Aristotle and Ramus: So some are said to follow Paul, some Apollos, but we must follow Christ: thus we must follow his opinions his tenets, keep close to his word, that is, we should consider what Christ ⟨p. 131⟩said, what the Scripture saith, for otherwise it is no faith, for is fides fundatur in ore Dei; we must not take things on trust, we must not receive such a truth, because such a writer set it down; but we must see what warrant it hath in the word of God, otherwise we are not rooted in the faith, we are to have an estimation of orthodoxall fathers, but we are to fix our eyes on Christ. As for example the doctrine of justification, this you may learn out of writings, but you must see what footing it hath in the Scriptures, or else when our strong adversaries set upon us we ⟨p. 158⟩shall quickly be convinced: And again you must do it that when you preach the Word of God, you may have more authority:
But you will say have we flesh in us which is backward and untoward, and therefore wee cannot follow Christ so willingly. But as wee say a Beare followes to the stake obtorto collo, against his will, and this is found in the Saints as it is sayd of Peter, when thou art old another shall stretch forth thine hand,1 and ano•her shall gird thee, and leade thee whether thou wouldest not. Christ tells him there of his death, and that hee should leade him whether hee would ⟨p. 155⟩not, now Peter was a Martyr, and wee cannot thinke but that he dyed and suffered Martyrdome willingly:2 but yet hee should bee led whether he would not, that is, whether his flesh would not: it is true the flesh cannot thus willingly follow Christ: therefore you must if you would follow Christ aright, finde something in you, that you should follow Christ, with propensivenesse and willingly: to expresse this I have added these other words, with all your heart, wee finde expressed in the old Testament by three phrases, love the Lord with all your minde, with all your heart, and with all ⟨p. 134⟩§1your might, first, with all your minde, that is, your §2understanding; secondly, with all your heart, that is, §3your affections; thirdly with all your might, that is, with your executive power. Wee are to follow him with all our minde, and I rather use these three, because the word (follow) is applyed to all these, some are sayd to be followers of such whose opinions they follow. As those that follow Aristotle and Ramus: So some are sayd to follow Paul, some Apollos, but we must follow Christ: thus wee must follow his opinions his tenents, keepe close to his word, that is, wee should consider what Christ ⟨p. 131⟩sayd, what the Scripture saith, for otherwise it is no faith, for is fides fundatur in ore Dei; wee must not take things on trust, wee must not receive such a truth, because such a writer set it downe; but wee must see what warrant it hath in the word of God, otherwise we are not rooted in the faith, we are to have an estimation of orthodoxall fathers, but we are to fix our eyes on Christ. As for example the doctrine of justification, this you may learne out of writings, but you must see what footing it hath in the Scriptures, or else when our strong adversaries set upon us wee
- 1Joh. 21.18.Ioh. 21.18.
- 2Answ.
