Heautonaparnumenos

Were not this to make God as tyrannical as Pharaoh, to set us a task and afford us no Straw to do it? or as Austere as that Master, that looked to reap where be never sowed? No,¹ I have showed thee, O Man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee, says God by His Prophet. And the Wise man asks the question (thereby leaving every Fool, as without all answer, ²so without all excuse:) Wherefore is there a Price in the band of a fool, to get Wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? ³Does not our Saviour tell us, in more places then one, that every man is habens, that is, ha's the grace of God, as well he from whom it was taken, as he to whom more was given? I'm sure, He says, every Servant had his Talent and Pound, as well he that laid it up, ⁴as he that improved it double. If that be not enough, He tells us, He looks for mens service proportionable to His Grace and their abilities; for much where he bestows much; for little where little: And where there is none at all (as sometimes possibly it happens) He will accept of the Will for the Deed. In one place the Apostle tells us,⁵ God accepts every one according to that he hath, not according to that he hath not. In another, That no man is tempted above that he is able, and the like. All which shows us the Truth of,⁶ what God Himself told St. Paul in his Extremity, His Grace, His Strength, ⁷that He ⟨p. 30⟩affords us, is sufficient for us; as also that of Basil the G. in his [Greek or Hebrew],⁸ where speaking of Christ, in the person of that Compassionate Father meeting his Prodigal Son returning, he confidently affirms, [Greek or Hebrew]. If we do but seriously will and resolve to return (as we may, though not as of our selves) God will prevent and meet us.