Speculum theologiæ in Christo, or, A view of some divine truths which are either…

The habits of Grace may be considered merely in themselves, or in their dependence. In themselves ⟨p. 288⟩they are but defectible creatures, and might totally fail; their being is not from themselves, no more is their duration; in their dependence they cannot possibly fail, because they are supported by somewhat greater than themselves. Remarkable is the difference between the case of Adam and that of believers; in Adam, one act of sin expelled perfect holiness; so that upon the fall, there was not left in him so much as the least relic of sanctity, or spark of spiritual life: he, and after him, all his posterity became spiritually dead in sin, not in part only; for then the new-creature should be new but in part; but totally, every thing in fallen man wants quickening. But in believers, not one, not many sins are able to drive out the principles of Grace, though those principles are imperfect in themselves, and dwell together with much inherent corruption, yet are they not driven out: and the reason of this difference is, Adam had the stock of holiness in his own hands; but the graces of the believers depend upon somewhat greater than themselves. Now touching this Dependence, I shall lay down three or four things:

The habits of Grace may be considered meerly in themselves, or in their dependence. In themselves ⟨p. 288⟩they are but defectible creatures, and might totally fail; their being is not from themselves, no more is their duration; in their dependance they cannot possibly fail, because they are supported by somewhat greater than themselves. Remarkable is the difference between the case of Adam and that of believers; in Adam, one act of sin expelled perfect holiness; so that upon the fall, there was not left in him so much as the least relick of sanctity, or spark of spiritual life: he, and after him, all his posterity became spiritually dead in sin, not in part only; for then the new-creature should be new but in part; but totally, every thing in fallen man wants quickening. But in believers, not one, not many sins are able to drive out the principles of Grace, though those principles are imperfect in themselves, and dwell together with much inherent corruption, yet are they not driven out: and the reason of this difference is, Adam had the stock of holiness in his own hands; but the graces of the believers depend upon somewhat greater than themselves. Now touching this Dependence, I shall lay down three or four things: