Twelfthly, and lastly, You are to improve your Graces, because souls truly gracious, have a power to do good. I do not say that a man in his natural estate (though Arminians do) hath power in himself to do supernatural acts, as to believe in God, to love God, and the like, &c. for I think a Toad may as well spit cordials, as a natural man do supernatural actions: nor I do not say that all the Grace we have is not from God, nor that man in his natural estate is not dead Godward, and Christ-ward, and holiness-ward, and heavenward: But this I say, that souls truly gracious have a power to do good. 'Tis sad to think how many professors do excuse their negligence, by pretending an Inability to do good, or by 1sitting down discouraged, as having in their hands no power at all; what can we do, say they, If the Lord do not breath upon us, as at first conversion? we can do nothing. I think in my very Conscience, that this is one reason of much of that slightness, neglect, and omission of duties, that is among professors in these days. So that God may complain as he doth in the 64 of Isa. 7. There is no man that stirreth up himself to take hold of me, they are as men asleep, that sit still and do nothing. But certainly they that are truly united to Christ, are not acted as dead stocks, as if every time and moment of their acting God-wards, and holiness-ward, they received new life from the Spirit of Christ, as at first conversion they did, and I am confident for want of the knowledge and due consideration ⟨p. 183⟩of this truth, many professors take such liberty to themselves, as to live in the neglect of many precious duties of Godliness, for which first or last they will pay dear. But remembering that 'tis not a flood of words, but weighty arguments that convinces and persuades the souls and consciences of men. I shall give you four reasons to demonstrate, That Believers have a power to do good; and the first is this.
Twelfthly, and lastly, You are to improve your Graces, because soules truly gratious, have a power to doe good. I doe not say that a man in his naturall estate (though Arminians doe) hath power in himselfe to doe supernaturall acts, as to beleeve in God, to love God, and the like, &c. for I thinke a Toad may as well spitt cordialls, as a naturall man doe supernaturall actions: nor I doe not say that all the Grace wee have is not from God, nor that man in his naturall estate is not dead Godward, and Christ-ward, and holynesse-ward, and heavenward: But this I say, that soules truly gratious have a power to doe good. 'Tis sad to think how many professors doe excuse their negligence, by pretending an Inability to doe good, or by 1sitting downe discouraged, as having in their hands no power at all; what can we doe, say they, If the Lord doe not breath upon us, as at first conversion? we can doe nothing. I thinke in my very Conscience, that this is one reason of much of that slightnesse, neglect, and omission of duties, that is among professors in these dayes. So that God may complaine as he doth in the 64 of Isa. 7. There is no man that stirreth up himselfe to take hold of mee, they are as men asleepe, that sit still and doe nothing. But certainly they that are truly united to Christ, are not acted as dead stocks, as if every time and moment of their acting God-wards, and holynesse-ward, they received new life from the Spirit of Christ, as at first conversion they did, and I am confident for want of the knowledge and due consideration ⟨p. 183⟩of this truth, many professors take such libertie to themselves, as to live in the neglect of many precious duties of Godlinesse, for which first or last they will pay deare. But remembring that 'tis not a flood of words, but weighty arguments that convinces and perswades the soules and consciences of men. I shall give you foure reasons to demonstrate, That Beleevers have a power to doe good; and the first is this.
- 1When Charles Largius had excited Lipsius to the study of true wisdom, my mind is to it, said Li•sius, and then he fa•s to •ishing; what said Langius, •rt thou purposing when •hou shouldest be doing. Just. Lip de Constan. l. 2. 5.When Charles Largius had excited Lipsius to the study of tru• wisedom, my mind is to it, said Li•sius, and then he fa•s to •ishing; what said Langius, •rt thou pur•osing when •hou shouldest be doing. Just. Lip de Constan. l. 2. 5.
