A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…

1. They are capable of the habits and gifts of grace from their first Conception, Luke 1.15. he was sanctified from his Mothers womb, and the reason is, as soon as capable of sin, capable of grace.

2. They are capable of the acts of grace, as soon as they are capable of the use of reason; yea Grace is subject to work more silently than Reason, though there be no act of grace, but it is from reason, yea they are capable of exercising grace and reason with it, sooner then we discern it, even as soon as they can discern their Natural Father, so soon may they discern God to be their Father; you see Children sooner than they can well use reason, they content themselves much with looking on the light, and Looking glasses, and other toys; so these little Children, something they have in their hearts which pleaseth them, though they know not what it is, and as you can still a Child sometimes by some gesture, so can God refresh the spirit of a Child by some silent consolation which pleaseth the Child, though it cannot express it, but so soon as they begin to know their Natural Parents, so soon they begin to know God their Father; nay, no object so easily known as God, seeing he infuseth some light into all, especially to know that there is a God, and if the Holy Ghost strike in, they may discern that he is their Father.

2. They are capable of the acts of grace, as soon as they are capable of the use of reason; yea Grace is subject to work more silently than Reason, though there be no act of grace, but it is from reason, yea they are capable of exercising grace and reason with it, sooner then we discern it, even as soon as they can discern their Naturall Father, so soon may they discern God to be their Father; you see Children sooner than they can well use reason, they content themselves much with looking on the light, and Looking glasses, and other toyes; so these little Children, something they have in their hearts which pleaseth them, though they know not what it is, and as you can still a Childe sometimes by some gesture, so can God refresh the spirit of a Childe by some silent consolation which pleaseth the Childe, though it cannot expesse it, but so soon as they begin to know their Naturall Parents, so soon they begin to know God their Father; nay, no object so easily known as God, seeing he infuseth some light into all, especially to know that there is a God, and if the Holy Ghost strike in, they may discern that he is their Father.