This may serve to humble God's own people; though they have the meekness of the Dove, yet they have ⟨p. 129⟩aliquid serpentis, something of the evil evil of Serpent in them. Though the curse due to sin is taken away, yet the venom of this Serpent doth in part remain: They have much love of the World, much Unbelief much unmortified Passion. Among Christ's Disciples there was Pride and Emulation. Tho Christians have something of God's Spirit in them, yet they have something which is Serpentine. This Viper of sin will not be shaked off till death. Oh how may this humble the best of God's Saints. The Bishop of Alexandria when Egypt was converted to the Faith, destroyed all their Idols but one, that so looking upon that, they might see their folly, and abhor themselves for their Idolatry. So God suffers not sin to be perfectly abolished in this life, he leaves some corruption in the heart, Something of the Serpent, that his people may loath themselves in the dust. What need have Believers to drink Christ's ⟨p. 130⟩Blood in the Sacrament, which is the best antidote against the poison of the Soul.
This may serve to humble God's own people; though they have the meekness of the Dove, yet they have ⟨p. 129⟩aliquid serpentis, something of the evil evil of Serpent in them. Though the curse due to sin is taken away, yet the venome of this Serpent doth in part remain: They have much love of the World, much Unbelief much unmortified Passion. Among Christ's Disciples there was Pride and Emulation. Tho Christians have something of God's Spirit in them, yet they have something which is Serpentine. This Viper of sin will not be shaked off till death. Oh how may this humble the best of God's Saints. The Bishop of Alexandria when Egypt was converted to the Faith, destroyed all their Idols but one, that so looking upon that, they might see their folly, and abhor themselves for their Idolatry. So God suffers not sin to be perfectly abolished in this life, he leaves some corruption in the heart, Something of the Serpent, that his people may loath themselves in the dust. What need have Believers to drink Christ's ⟨p. 130⟩Blood in the Sacrament, which is the best antidote against the poyson of the Soul.
