Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the moral law and the covenants, from the…Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the morall law and the covenants, from the…

WE have already positively and plainly (so far as we conceived necessary) declared and proved the truth about the power and ability of a man by Nature to do that which is good: now it remaineth we should antidote against those Objections that do militate against this truth, and that indeed with much show of reason; for never have men been more witty, then when they have undertaken to be the patrons of Nature. But Austin well called it vitreum acumen: the more it glitters, the easier it's broken. The Heathens are very obstinate in propugning mans power. Only sluggards need Gods help, Ignavis opus est auxilio divino, saith Seneca the Tragedian; and so the other Seneca: It is the gist of the gods that we live, but our own doing that we live well, Deorum quidem munus esse quòd vivimus, nostrum verò quòd been sancteque vivimus: and that of Tully is very arrogant, lib. 3. de nat. deorum, Quia sibi quisque virtutem acquirit, neminem è sapientibus unquam de ea gratias Deo egisse: and (saith he) We are praised for our virtue; which could not be, if it were the gift of God, and not of our selves. But how different are the holy men in the Scripture, from these wise men of the world, who when they have been enabled by God to do any good thing, have not taken the glory of it to themselves? And, as Joab did about Rabbah, when he had taken it, sent to David to come and take all the glory; so do they say, Not I, but the grace of God,