1. If it proceed merely from a natural,1 ⟨p. 148⟩not a sinful defect. If weak gifts proceed from sinful defects, it argues grace is but weak, as if it proceeds from negligence, from sloth, from carelessness to attend upon Ordinances, from idleness in not reading, in not meditating, in not praying, not using holy conference, then grace decays with gifts, these are sinful defects; but now if gifts proceed merely from natural defects, as a man of a shallow capacity, of a slow speech, of a bad memory, of a weakly body, that either through sickness or old age the body is weakened, in that there are natural decays in the body, because the putting forth of gifts depends upon the temperature and disposition of the body. As it is with an instrument of music that is out of tune, it make• no melody though the instrument be good: So a body out of tune, hath not that use of, or putting out of gifts. As it is with an old Preacher, his gifts may decay when he is an old man, that he may not have such freedom of speech, such clearness of judgement, such strength of memory; as the body decays, the gift of Elocution will decay, and his memory may decay, that he may not be so ready in delivering the Word, but yet he may have as great ability in preaching, yea more experience, more solid judgement, and more clear understanding in the mysteries of the Gospel, then a young man can have: so it is with Christians, their gifts may decay, as the temper of the body decays; as it is with a ⟨p. 149⟩Musician, when he is a young man his joints being more pliable, plays more nimbly and melodiously upon an instrument of music, but when he comes to be an old man he cannot play so nimbly and melodiously, his joints being stiff, but yet he hath more skill then a young man hath. When this doth not proceed from sinful defects, but from natural defects, then may a mans grace be strong, though his gifts and parts be weak.
1. If it proceed meerly from a naturall,1 ⟨p. 148⟩not a sinfull defect. If weak gifts proceed from sinfull defects, it argues grace is but weak, as if it proceeds from negligence, from sloth, from carelesnesse to attend upon Ordinances, from idlenesse in not reading, in not meditating, in not praying, not using holy conference, then grace decayes with gifts, these are sinful defects; but now if gifts proceed meerly from naturall defects, as a man of a shallow capacity, of a slow speech, of a bad memory, of a weakly body, that either through sicknesse or old age the body is weakned, in that there are natural decayes in the body, because the putting forth of gifts depends upon the temperature and disposition of the body. As it is with an instrument of musick that is out of tune, it make• no melody though the instrument be good: So a body out of tune, hath not that use of, or putting out of gifts. As it is with an old Preacher, his gifts may decay when he is an old man, that he may not have such freedom of speech, such clearnesse of judgement, such strength of memory; as the body decayes, the gift of Elocution wil decay, and his memory may decay, that he may not be so ready in delivering the Word, but yet he may have as great ability in preaching, yea more experience, more solid judgement, and more clear understanding in the mysteries of the Gospel, then a young man can have: so it is with Christians, their gifts may decay, as the temper of the body decayes; as it is with a ⟨p. 149⟩Musician, when he is a young man his joints being more plyable, playes more nimbly and melodiously upon an instrument of musick, but when he comes to be an old man he cannot play so nimbly and melodiously, his joynts being stiffe, but yet he hath more skill then a young man hath. When this doth not proceed from sinful defects, but from natural defects, then may a mans grace be strong, though his gifts and parts be weak.
- 1Case 1.
