25 This he confirmeth by the testimony of Bernard, who saith, that in studying the benefit of God, upon the soul, he findeth two things, as it were contrary. If I behold saith he, the soul it self, as it is in it self, and of it self, I can say nothing more truly of it, than that it is utterly brought to naught: it is loaden with sin, covered with darkness, entangled with deceitful enticements, itching with lusts, subject to passions, filled with illusions, alway inclined to evil, bent to all kind of vices, finally full of shame and confusion.1 Now if all the very righteousness of it being looked upon, by the light of the trueth, be found like a cloth stained with flowers, then what shall the unrighteousness thereof be accounted: If the light that is in us,2 be darkness, how great shall the very darkness be? What then? man is mad unto vanity, is brought to naught and is nothing: But how is he nothing whom God doth magnify?3 how is he nothing towards whom Gods heart is set? brethren let us take heart again. Though we be nothing in our own hearts, ⟨image 112⟩peradventure there may somewhat of us lye hidden in the hart of God. O Father of mercies, O Father of the miserable, how doest thou set thy heart toward us? for thy hart is where thy treasure is: But how are we thy treasure that are nothing? All nations are so before thee, as if they were not, they shall be reputed as nothing. Even before thee, not within thee: so in the judgement of thy trueth, but not in the affection of thy pity. Thou callest those things that are not, as though they were. Therefore both they are not, because thou callest those things that are not, and also they are, because thou callest them: for though they are not in respect of themselves, yet with thee they are according as Paul saith,4 not of the works of righteousness, but of him that calleth.
25 This hée confirmeth by the testimony of Bernard, who saith, that in studiyng the benifit of God, vpō the soule, he findeth two thinges, as it were contrary. If I behold sayth he, the soule it selfe, as it is in it selfe, and of it selfe, I can say nothing more truely of it, than that it is vtterly brought to naught: it is loaden with sin, couered with darkenes, entangled wc deceitful entisemēts, itching with lusts, subiect to passiōs, filled with illusions, alway enclined to euil, bent to all kind of vices, finally full of shame and confusion.1 Now if all the very righteousnesse of it béeing looked vppon, by the light of the trueth, bée found like a cloth stayned with floures, thē what shall the vnrighteousnes therof be accompted: If the light yt is in vs,2 be darknes, how great shal ye very darknes be? What then? man is mad vnto vanitie, is brought to naught and is nothing: But howe is he nothing whome God doth magnifie?3 how is he nothing towards whom Gods heart is set? brethren let vs take heart againe. Though wée bée nothing in our owne hearts, ⟨image 112⟩peraduenture there may somewhat of vs lye hidden in the hart of God. O Father of mercyes, O Father of the miserable, howe doest thou set thy heart toward vs? for thy hart is where thy treasure is: But howe are we thy treasure that are nothing? All nations are so before thée, as if they were not, they shall be reputed as nothing. Euen before thée, not within thée: so in ye iudgement of thy trueth, but not in the affection of thy pittie. Thou callest those thinges that are not, as though they were. Therefore both they are not, because thou callest those things that are not, and also they are, because thou callest them: for though they are not in respect of themselues, yet with thée they are according as Paule sayth,4 not of the workes of righteousnesse, but of him that calleth.
- 1Isaiah. 64.•Esai. 64.•
- 2Mat. 6.•3
- 3Barn. in H•nai. 5. of the dedication of the Temple.
- 4Rom. 9.12
