Thirdly, we know that water is of the nature of his first Spring. So likewise, for that our regeneration is never accomplished nor fully perfect here on earth, but there is continual battle between the flesh and the Spirit, gand there remaineth I say great and gross darkness in our understanding, hand likewise great rebellions in iour ⟨image 58⟩flesh. It followeth then that the best works which may proceed from the perfectest man in the world, if they were straitly examined, they should be found none otherwise but de••lynge the graces of GOD, like as we see a clear running water which is of it self pure, is defiled and polluted by running through some vile or filthy place. Wherefore David said that no living creature is found just before GOD by his kworks. Also Saint Paul cried▪ out and said, lI do not the good which I would do, and the evil that I would not do, that do I. O miserable man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death? Behold how the Saints of God teach us to speak of our best works, in stead to use this word meriting and of merits. Notwithstanding we confess the goodness of our GOD to be so great that in considering his Children, not in themselves, ⟨p. 56⟩but in Jesus Christ his well-beloved Son, with whom they be united and joined by Faith: and also regarding the fruits of his Graces, not as they be polluted by our infirmities and weakness, but because they be as it were proceeded or issued from him, he doth accept them and allow them, yea, even so far as to recompense them mas well in this life by many blessings both temporal and Spiritual n(as is declared in the similitude of the Talents) as also in this celestial kingdom according to his good pleasure, not because it is dew to our works, oas though we deserved them, but by his pure grace and mercy only, according as God said in his Law, p not that he will pay their merits as dew to those which love him and keep his commandments, but that he will show mercy9 to them.
Thirdelye, wée knowe that water is of the nature of his firste Spryng. So lykewise, for that oure regeneration is neuer accomplyshed nor fullye perfecte here on earthe, but there is continuall battayle betwéene the fleshe and the Spirite, gand there remayneth I saye greate and grosse darckenesse in oure vnderstandynge, hand lykewyse greate rebellyones in ioure ⟨image 58⟩fleshe. It followeth then that the beste workes whiche maye proceede from the perfectest man in the worlde, if they were strayghtlie examined, they shoulde bee founde none otherwise but de••lynge the graces of GOD, lyke as wee see a cleare running water whiche is of it selfe pure, is defyled and polluted by runninge throughe some vyle or filthie place. Wherefore Dauid sayde that no lyuinge creature is founde iuste before GOD by his kworkes. Also Sainte Paule cryed▪ out and saide, lI doo not the good whiche I woulde doo, and the euyll that I woulde not doo, that doo I. O miserable man that I am, who shall deliuer mée from this boddie of death? Beholde howe the Saintes of God teache vs to speake of our beste workes, in steade to vse this woorde meriting and of merites. Notwithstandinge wee confesse the goodnesse of our GOD to be so great that in consideringe his Chyldren, not in themselues, ⟨p. 56⟩but in Iesus Christe his welbeloued Sonne, with whome they be vnited and ioygned by Faith: and also regardinge the fruites of his Graces, not as they be polluted by our infirmities and weaknesse, but because they be as it were procéeded or issued from him, he doth accepte them and allowe them, yea, euen so farre as to recompence them mas well in this lyfe by many blessynges bothe temporall and Spirituall n(as is declared in the symmilitude of the Talentes) as also in this celestyall kingdome accordinge to his good pleasure, not because it is dewe to our workes,
- gGala. 5. d
- h1. Cor. 13
- iRom. 7. •.
- kpsal. 143. a
- lRom. 7. d
- mGene. 15. a Math. 5. b &. 10. d. 2. John. cGene. 15. a Math. 5. b &. 10. d. 2. Iohn. c
- nMath. 19. d 1. Tim. 4. c Math. 25. b
- oRom. 4. 2.
- 9Exod. 20. b
