Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from several texts of Scripture, opened and applied. 1.…Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from severall texts of Scripture, opened and applyed. 1.…

First of all, if thou dost more than nature: see ¹that thou beest not the same man thou wast, that thou standest not up in the same troupe thou didst; if thou dost, thou hast no more but the form of godliness in thee; for if thou hadst, it would turn thy nature, and add wings unto thee, making thee soar higher than nature: I am able through Christ that strengthens me, and that, not to do some things, but all things. He says not, I do purpose or desire, but, I am able to do all things; &c. Those therefore that are able to stand against some lusts that are against their dispositions, but not against all, are weak, and have not this power in them. It may be thou art able to serve God when thou art poor, but what art thou when the world comes in upon thee? thou art able to abstain from sins by nature, but godliness (as we say of Physic) helps when nature fails: and as a natural man with his sight sees far, but with an Optic glass sees further; so when nature falls short, Art helps: as though by nature a man may measure or count, yet if he comes to a large piece of ground, or a great sum, Art is required: so though thou mayest do many things by nature, yet when godliness ⟨p. 19⟩comes, it helps out in things wherein nature fails: as Sampson could do many ordinary things by his own strength; but when he came to take down or carry away the gates of a City, and to pull down an house, it is still said, The spirit of the Lord came upon him, the Lord went with him; and even so it is here.

First of all, if thou dost more than nature: see ¹that thou beest not the same man thou wast, that thou standest not up in the same troupe thou didst; if thou dost, thou hast no more but the forme of godlinesse in thee; for if thou hadst, it would turne thy nature, and add wings unto thee, making thee soare higher than nature: I am able through Christ that strengthens me, and that, not to doe some things, but all things. He sayes not, I doe purpose or desire, but, I am able to doe all things; &c. Those therefore that are able to stand against some lusts that are against their dispositions, but not against all, are weake, and have not this power in them. It may be thou art able to serve God when thou art poore, but what art thou when the world comes in upon thee? thou art able to abstaine from sinnes by nature, but godlinesse (as wee say of Physick) helps when nature failes: and as a naturall man with his sight sees farre, but with an Optick glasse sees further; so when nature falls short, Art helps: as though by nature a man may measure or count, yet if he comes to a large piece of ground, or a great summe, Art is required: so though thou mayest doe many things by nature, yet when godlinesse