The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

¹First. There is a seed of grace within them, which though for a while it lieth asleep, yet at last will put forth it self. He cannot sin, because the seed abideth in him, 1 Joh. 3. As the spirits of Wine will at last work out all poison. So that as a man, who hath reason in him, may be taught what he knew not, when a brute beast cannot, because there is the seed of Reason upon which the teacher doth work. So it's here; in a godly man there is the principle of grace, and this spark will at last take fire, though for the present it be much overwhelmed.

¹First. There is a seed of grace within them, which though for a while it lieth asleep, yet at last will put forth it self. He cannot sinne, because the seed abideth in him, 1 Joh. 3. As the spirits of Wine will at last work out all poison. So that as a man, who hath reason in him, may be taught what he knew not, when a bruit beast cannot, because there is the seed of Reason upon which the teacher doth work. So it's here; in a godly man there is the principle of grace, and this spark will at last take fire, though for the present it be much overwhelmed.

1. 1How a godly man erring, differeth from a wicked man.

Secondly, The godly, though plunged into some damnable error, yet are under a Promise to recover them, which will certainly take effect. As Moses exposed to the water, had his Mothers eye upon him to see he should not be drowned; so though a godly man be plunged deep in evil ways, yet there is Gods eye and Gods hand ready to deliver him. If it were possible, they should deceive the very ⟨p. 121⟩Elect,