Gods husbandry

The point then is fully proved, needing indeed none other confirmation, then the continual experience of all Gods Saints agreeable to the Word of God. But for your better satisfaction in the matter, we will show you, both the cause why it is so, and the reason why it standeth better with the wisdom of God to appoint it so to be, rather then otherwise. For without all doubt, the Lord could give us perfection of sanctification in this life, if so it seemed good unto his wisdom. And the cause of it is,¹ our not being fully and perfectly united unto Christ Jesus our Head, from whom all graces are derived, as ⟨p. 68⟩water from the fountain. If we were conjoined to Christ in the highest degree of union, we should also be void of sin. For as in our uniting unto the first Adam, we did so wholly receive his corrupt image, that there remained no good thing in us: so in our uniting to the second Adam, we should so wholly be filled with his holy Image, as to have none evil abiding in us. But whilst we remain in this world, we have not a full possession of him, we are not so nearly united unto him. We are like a maid contracted, espoused, made sure to a man, which hath an infallible right into him, and hath received divers tokens, even rich tokens of love, to assure her of the marriage in due time, but is not yet married unto him, nor is put into the possession of his person and estate wholly and fully, as at the consummation of matrimony. And this also ariseth hence, that he is a glorious, incorruptible, immortal and spiritual Man; we are mortal, corruptible, mean, and natural men, and so weak, feeble and imperfect a thing, as a mortal unnatural man, though it may in some degree be joined unto so glorious a nature and person as that of Christs, (namely, in respect of a certain right and interest into him, and of the receiving of some first-fruits and benefits from him) yet cannot be admitted into a full, and whole, & perfect conjunction with him, namely, so far, as to see him as it is seen, and know him as it is known, and to be all in all with him.

The poynt then is fully proued, needing indeed none other confirmation, then the continuall experience of all Gods Saints agreeable to the Word of God. But for your better satisfaction in the matter, wee will shew you, both the cause why it is so, and the reason why it standeth better with the wisedome of God to appoynt it so to be, rather then otherwise. For without all doubt, the Lord could giue vs perfection of sanctification in this life, if so it seemed good vnto his wisedome. And the cause of it is,