The third thing is a question; Why GOD should suffer the soul to be thus annoyed by the flesh; saying, He could have made man again in Christ, as he made Adam in Paradise, and so have utterly abolished the flesh?1 For answer hereunto, three things may be said. First, that we are bound with all thankfulness to praise God for that grace he hath given us in Christ, though it be not full perfect; and so ought not to reason with GOD, why he gave us not more grace; and the rather, because we look for a time, when we shall be more happy in that respect, than ever Adam was: and besides, though grace given us, be imperfect, in respect of degree, and so, less than Adam's was; yet it is perfect, in respect of continuance: and so it is better than Adam's. Thirdly, there may be divers reasons assigned, why GOD did suffer the flesh to remain in us after calling, for a time, that is, while we war in this world: for,
1. It shows the greatness of God's power, that can keep us, notwithstanding such continual danger we are in.
2. By this conflict, divers graces of the Spirit are raised up and exercised, which else were of ⟨p. 465⟩little use; as, godly sorrow, poverty of spirit, desire of death, and faith also hath much employment about this combat.
3. By this combat, all the graces of God's Spirit are proved to be right, and not counterfeit in the true Christians: for, no man can constantly bear arms against the flesh, but he is a new creature. This combat, then, serves for the trial of the gifts and graces of Christians.
4. By this combat, we are cured of the horrible disease of self-love & pride in our selves, and made more to love God, and trust in him; as knowing, that we deserve no favour at his hand, nor can be strong in our own might.
5. It is equal we should war, before we triumph; that we should fight in the battles on earth, before we reign in heaven.
The third thing is a question; Why GOD should suffer the soule to be thus annoyed by the flesh; saying, He could haue made man again in Christ, as he made Adam in Paradise, and so haue vtterly abolished the flesh?1 For answer heerunto, three things may be said. First, that we are bound with all thankfulness to praise God for that grace he hath giuen vs in Christ, though it bee not full perfect; and so ought not to reason with GOD, why he gaue vs not more grace; and the rather, because wee look for a time, when wee shall bee more happy in that respect, than euer Adam was: and besides, though grace giuen vs, bee imperfect, in respect of degree, and so, lesse than Adam's was; yet it is perfect, in respect of continuance: and so it is better than Adam's. Thirdly, there may be diuers reasons assigned, why GOD did suffer the flesh to remain in vs after calling, for a time, that is, while wee warre in this world: for,
1. It shewes the greatnes of God's power, that can keep vs, notwithstanding such continual danger we are in.
2. By this conflict, diuers graces of the Spirit are raised vp and exercised, which else were of ⟨p. 465⟩little vse; as, godly sorrow, pouerty of spirit, desire of death, and faith also hath much imployment about this combate.
3. By this combate, all the graces of God's Spirit are proued to be right, and not counterfet in the true Christians: for, no man can constantly beare armes against the flesh, but hee is a new creature. This combate, then, serues for the triall of the gifts and graces of Christians.
4. By this combate, wee are cured of the horrible disease of self-loue & pride in our selues, and made more to loue God, and trust in him; as knowing, that we deserue no fauour at his hand, nor can be strong in our owne might.
5. It is equall we should war, before we triumph; that wee should fight in the battels on earth, before we raign in heauen.
- 1Why God doth suffer this war.
