Gods husbandry

Now seeing the Lord did principally aim at his own glory, in giving salvation unto men; it is most agreeable to reason, that he should in such sort bring them unto salvation, as may most manifest the riches of his mercy, the glory whereof he doth most affect and seek in that work: and it is a more clear demonstration of mercy, to give them salvation, through the justification which is by faith in Christ, notwithstanding that themselves remain very weak, feeble, imperfect, sinful, and unable to perform exact obedience to his Law, then if he should at the first moment of their regeneration, free them wholly from all weakness, and after a life spent in all fullness of obedience, and in perfect freedom from sin, crown them in the end with eternal glory: for such unspotted holiness of life might carry a show of claiming life for the dignity thereof, but the guiltiness of manifold weaknesses doth stop the mouth of every man before the Lord, and forceth all that have any wit in their heads, and feeling in their hearts, to acknowledge that they are freely saved by his grace, and that of his own will, not by the works which they had done.

Now seeing the Lord did principally aime at his owne glory, in giuing saluation vnto men; it is most agreeable to reason, that he should in such sort bring them vnto saluation, as may most manifest the riches of his mercy, the glory whereof he doth most affect and seeke in that worke: and it is a more cleere demonstration of mercy, to giue them saluation, through the iustification which is by faith in Christ, notwithstanding that themselues remaine very weake, feeble, imperfect, sinfull, and vnable to performe exact obedience to his Law, then if he should at the first moment of their regeneration, free them wholly from all weaknesse, and after a life spent in all fulnesse of obedience, and in perfect freedome from sinne, crowne them in the end with eternall glory: for such vnspotted holinesse of life might carry a shew of claiming life for the dignity thereof, but the guiltinesse of manifold weaknesses doth stop the mouth of euery man before the Lord, and forceth all that haue any wit in their heads, and feeling in their hearts, to acknowledge that they are freely saued by his grace, and that of his owne will, not by the workes which they had done.