But here the choleric man will allege for himself, that he is hasty by nature Object. and therefore to be borne with. I answer, Answer. that we have not this nature by creation, for we were created according to Gods own image, who is slow to anger; but this corruption hath taken hold of us by reason of our original sin; and therefore we are not to excuse one sin by another, but rather earnestly to labour that this pollution may be washed away with the water of Gods spirit, who by his grace doth reform nature. For those who are regenerate by the holy Ghost, though naturally they be as ravenous and cruel as the Woolf and Leopard, they shall be made as mild and innocent as the Lamb and Kid: and though they be as fierce and furious as the Lion or Bear, they shall become as tame and gentle as the Cow or Calf, according to the Prophecy, Esa. 11. 6. 7. 1The Woolf shall lye with the Lamb, and the Leopard shall lye with the Kid; and the Calf and the Lyon & the fat beast together, ⟨p. 42⟩and a little child shall lead them, and the Bear shall feed with the Cow and their young ones shall lye together: not that regeneration doth take away nature and the affections, but because it doth partly subdue their violence and fury, and partly sanctifieth and reformeth them; so that whereas they were hurtful and and pernicious, now they are good and profitable to themselves and others, the quality and the object of them being altered. Their love which was immoderately set on the world and the pleasures of the flesh, is now fixed upon God, their neighbour, and spiritual things. Their ambitious hope which expected nothing but honours and riches now longeth after the presence of God and fullness of joy in the heavenly Jerusalem. Their timorous fear whereby they were restrained from doing good, and constrained to do that which was evil, because they would not displease men; is now a notable bridle to curb in their unlawful desires, and a sharp spur to prick them forward in the course of Godliness, because they would ⟨image 49⟩not offend God; and whereas before it was a corrupt fountain from which nothing did spring but polluted streams of sin, whose descent is into the deep gulf of eternal perdition, now it is become the Wellspring of life to make us avoid the snares of death, as it is, Pro. 14, 27.
But here the chollerick mā wil alleadge for himselfe, that he is hastie by nature Obiect. and therefore to be borne with. I answere, Answer. that wee haue not this nature by creation, for we were created according to Gods owne image, who is slowe to anger; but this corruption hath taken hould of vs by reason of our originall sinne; and therfore we are not to excuse one sinne by another, but rather earnestlie to labour that this pollution may be washed away with the water of Gods spirit, who by his grace doth reforme nature. For those who are regenerate by the holy Ghost, though naturallie they be as rauenous and cruell as the Woolfe and Leopard, they shalbe made as milde and innocent as the Lambe and Kid: and though they be as fierce and furious as the Lion or Beare, they shall become as tame and gentle as the Cowe or Calfe, according to the Prophecie, Esa. 11. 6. 7. 1The Woolfe shall lye with the Lambe, and the Leopard shall lye with the Kid; and the Calfe and the Lyon & the fatte beast togeather, ⟨p. 42⟩and a little childe shall leade them, and the Beare shall feede with the Cowe and their young ones shall lye togeather: not that regeneration doth take away nature and the affections, but because it doth partlie subdue their violence and furie, and partly sanctifieth and reformeth them; so that whereas they were hurtfull and and pernicious, now they are good and profitable to themselues and others, the qualitye and the obiect of them beeing altered. Their loue which vvas immoderately set on the world and the pleasures of the flesh, is now fixed vppon God, their neighbour, and spirituall things. Their ambitious hope vvhich expected nothing but honours and riches now longeth after the presence of God and fullnesse of ioy in the heauenly Ierusalem. Their timorous feare wherby they were restrained from doing good, and constrained to do that which was euill, because they would not displease men; is now a notable bridle to curbe in their vnlavvfull desires, and a sharpe spurre to prick them forvvarde in the course of Godlynesse, because they would ⟨image 49⟩not offend God; and whereas before it was a corrupt fountaine from which nothing did spring but polluted streams of sinne, whose descent is into the deepe gulph of eternall perdition, now it is become the Welspring of life to make vs auoide the snares of death, as it is, Pro. 14, 27.
- 1Isaiah. 11. 6. 7.Esay. 11. 6. 7.
