Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

First, because grace changeth the nature of a man, when a mans nature is changed, that he doth naturally, ¹he doth it strongly. There is nothing so strong as the course of nature; you see it is hard to turn that: other things that are not natural, their course is easily altered; but to make a man another man, of a Lion to make him a Lamb; this grace can do, and nothing else. Now take all feigned and counterfeit things, they are feigned, and return quickly to their own nature again. You know gilded things last not long, the guilt weareth off; colours that are not wadded, they will not last, because they are but counterfeit, and counterfeit things abide not, they have no strength in them. Now grace, changing a ⟨p. 187⟩mans nature, it runs strongly, it makes a man able to do the things he is set on work to do, that is the first Reason.

First, because grace changeth the nature of a man, when a mans nature is changed, that he doth naturally, ¹he doth it strongly. There is nothing so strong as the course of nature; you see it is hard to turn that: other things that are not natural, their course is easily altered; but to make a man another man, of a Lion to make him a Lamb; this grace can do, and nothing else. Now take all feigned and counterfeit things, they are feigned, and return quickly to their own nature again. You know guilded things last not long, the guilt weareth off; colours that are not wadded, they will not last, because they are but counterfeit, and counterfeit things abide not, they have no strength in them. Now grace, changing a ⟨p. 187⟩mans nature, it runs strongly, it makes a man able to do the things he is set on work to do, that is the first Reason.

1. 1Reas. 1. Grace changeth mans nature.