The Sincere Convert

First,¹ because it's natural to a man out of Christ to do so. Adam and all his posterity was to be saved by his doing,² Do this and live, work and here is the wages; win life and wear it: Hence all his posterity seeks to this day to be saved by doing; like father, like son. Now to come out of all duties truly to a Christ, hath not so much as a coat in innocent, much less corrupted nature; hence men seek to themselves: now as it is with a bankrupt, when his stock is spent and his estate cracked, before he will turn Prentice, or live upon another, he will turn Peddler of small wares, and so follow his old trade with a less stock: so men naturally follow their ⟨p. 243⟩old trade of doing, and hope to get their living that way: and hence men having no experience of trading with Christ by faith, live of themselves. Sampson, when all his strength was lost, would go to shake himself as at other times; so when mens strength is lost, and God and grace is lost, yet men will go and try how they can live by shifts and working for themselves still.

First,¹ because it's naturall to a man out of Christ to doe so. Adam and all his posterity was to be saved by his doing,² Doe this and live, worke and here is the wages; winne life and weare it: Hence all his posteritie seekes to this day to be saved by doing; like father, like sonne. Now to come out of all duties truely to a Christ, hath not so much as a coate in innocent, much lesse corrupted nature; hence men seek to themselves: now as it is with a bankrupt, when his stocke is spent and his estate crackt, before he will turne Prentice, or live upon another, hee will turne Pedler of small wares, and so follow his old trade with a lesse stocke: so men naturally follow their ⟨p. 243⟩old trade of doing, and hope to get their living that way: and hence men having no experience of trading with Christ by faith, live of themselves. Sampson, when all his strength was lost, would goe to shake himselfe as at other times; so when mens strength is lost, and God and grace is lost, yet men will goe and try how they can live by shifts and working for themselves still.