Use. 2 Here again for matter of judgement, you have a difference between the state of nature,1 and the state of grace, I mean of innocent nature, for in Adam we had a standing in our §1selves, being trusted with our own good, but now under the second Covenant, under the second Adam, Christ Jesus, we have many graces to fit us for Heaven, and many good works we do, but all the fruit we have and ⟨p. 407⟩yield is from God. So that now this is a grand difference, Adam as it were had the keeping of his own happiness locked up in himself, but we have our happiness, graces, and whatsoever is good for us shut up in Christ, as the Spring and Fountain, which is the reason of the perpetual stability and permanent condition of Gods children, once his and ever his. And put the case we want this or that help, yet this prejudiceth not the perpetuity of the condition of Gods children, because those graces which come immediately from Gods Spirit, may be conveyed sometimes without means, as well as with them. Therefore whatsoever decay is in the branches that are grafted into this noble Vine Christ Jesus, in whom we bare all the fruit we bear; yet notwithstanding there is life everlasting for us in the root, which is by little and little distilled into us. The leaves may fall, outward things may decay, but there is life alway in the root of a Christian, because he is in Christ, and hath his fruit from him: he cannot want fruit, no more then Christ can want influence and vigour.2 Which shows us the excellent state of a Christian under the new Covenant of grace, that now we fetch all out of our selves, and it is happy for us that we do so. For without Christ we can do nothing, as without the soul the body can do nothing, so without the Spirit of Christ, we can do nothing, from him is all. This is the reason why we must not trust to any grace in our selves ⟨p. 408⟩that comes from us, because grace comes from God in Christ, trust God the Spring whence it comes, whose the fruit is, God the Father in Christ, from whom all fullness comes, and is derived unto us: or else we make but an Idol of grace, if we trust too much to grace, look to the Spring whence all comes to us: From me is thy fruit found.
Vse. 2 Heere againe for matter of judgement, you have a difference betweene the state of nature,1 and the state of grace, I meane of innocent nature, for in Adam wee had a standing in our §1selves, being trusted with our owne good, but now under the second Covenant, under the second Adam, Christ Jesus, we have many graces to fit us for Heaven, and many good works we doe, but all the fruit wee have and ⟨p. 407⟩yeeld is from God. So that now this is a grand difference, Adam as it were had the keeping of his owne happinesse locked up in himselfe, but we have our happinesse, graces, and whatsoever is good for us shut up in Christ, as the Spring and Fountaine, which is the reason of the perpetuall stability and permanent condition of Gods children, once his and ever his. And put the case we want this or that helpe, yet this prejudiceth not the perpetuity of the condition of Gods children, because those graces which come immediately from Gods Spirit, may be conveyed sometimes without meanes, as well as with them. Therefore whatsoever decay is in the branches that are grafted into this noble Vine Christ Jesus, in whom we bare all the fruit we beare; yet notwithstanding there is life everlasting for us in the roote, which is by little and little distilled into us. The leaves may fall, outward things may decay, but there is life alway in the roote of a Christian, because he is in Christ, and hath his fruit from him: he cannot want fruit, no more then Christ can want influence and vigor.2 Which shewes us the excellent state of a Christian under the new Covenant of grace, that now we fetch all out of our selves, and it is happy for us that we doe so. For without Christ wee can doe nothing, as without the soule the body can doe nothing, so without the Spirit of Christ, we can doe nothing, from him is all. This is the reason why we must not trust to any grace in our selves ⟨p. 408⟩that comes from us, because grace comes from God in Christ, trust God the Spring whence it comes, whose the fruit is, God the Father in Christ, from whom all fulnesse comes, and is derived unto us: or else wee make but an Idoll of grace, if we trust too much to grace, looke to the Spring whence all comes to us: From me is thy fruit found.
- 1For Information of judgement.
- 2John. 15.5.Iohn. 15.5.
