The Godly Man's Picture

But though grace lives with so much difficulty, as the infant that struggles for breath, yet being born of God it is immortal, grace conflicting with corruption, is like a Ship tossed and beaten with the waves, yet it weathers out the storm, and at last gets to the desired Haven. If grace should expire, how could this Text be verified, The smoking flax he will not quench.

But though grace lives with so much difficulty, as the infant that struggles for breath, yet being born of God it is immortal, grace conflicting with corruption, is like a Ship tossed and beaten with the waves, yet it weathers out the storm, and at last gets to the desired Haven. If grace should expire, how could this Text be verified, The smoaking flax he will not quench.

Quest. But whence is it, that grace, even the least degree of it, should not be quenched?

Answ. It is from the mighty operation of ⟨p. 337⟩the Holy Ghost; the Spirit of God, who is origo originans, doth continually excite and quicken grace in the heart: He is every day at work in a believer; he pours in oil, and keeps the Lamp of Grace burning: Grace is compared to a river of life, Joh. 7. 38. The river of grace can never be dried up, for the Spirit of God is the Spring which feeds it.

Answ. It is from the mighty operation of ⟨p. 337⟩the Holy Ghost; the Spirit of God, who is origo originans, doth continually excite and quicken grace in the heart: He is every day at work in a believer; he powres in oyl, and keeps the Lamp of Grace burning: Grace is compared to a river of life,