Book III. of J H $ U S C H R I s T. 261

Nature is eallly provoked ro Difcontent by hard Circumftances t Grace bears Wane and Poverty with Meeknefs and much Patience. Nature's Ends and De- flgns conftantly centre in her felf : but Grace consi- ders her Original^ and thinks that all fhould return thi- ther from whence at firft it came , arrogates nothing to it felf; is not affuming^ does not contend forPraife or Preference • i^ not dogmatical and peremptory in her own Opinions, but, in all fearches after Truth fubmits her own Reafon and Judgment, to the Irtcom- prehenfible Wifdom of God. Nature afFeds to be knowing, to underftand and penetrate the profoundeft and darkeft Myfteries, makes Oflentarion of all hec new Difcoveries, and pretends to Experiment and De- monftration ; labours to diftinguifli her felf, to be thought wifer than the reft of the World, and would be extolled and admired for all that is fpoken or writ-* ten, or done : Grace thinks it not advifable to lay ouc Time and Thought, upon new or unprofitable Curio- fities ,• but confiders, that the Ruin of Mankind is owing to that bufie Defirc of knowing what God thought fit to conceal from them ,• that this inquifitive pretending Temper is a Sprout from that old Root of Bitternefs ,• that Eftablifhcd Truths may be depended upon-, but new and fanciful Notions are almoft no fooner entertained, than they are difproved and ex* ploded again ; That Men (hould therefore check that vain Pleafure, which tickles their itching Minds upon thefe Occafions ; abandon Vain- glory, labour rather to conceal, than to publifh their Advantages ; and make .Ufefulnefs, and Virtue, and God's Honour, the only End of all their Knowledge and Studies. For to Him alone all Thanks and Praife muft of ncceffity be due, who gives Men all they have , of his own meer Motion and free Mercy.
And fuch is Grace : A Light fupericr to Nature/ which fhould dired and prelidc over it • the peculiar
S Gift
:^6^ jgPf tl^e limitation Book III.
Gift of God 5 thediftinguifhing Charaderof hisCho- fen ; the fure Pledge of everlafting Salvation ; for it raifes a Man's AfFedions from Earth to Heaven^ and changes him fromFlefli to Spirit. And, becaufe thefe two Principles are ad;ed by fuch different Motives, proceed in fuch different Methods, and purfue fuch differing Ends ,• therefore, in proportion as Nature is weakened and fubdued, the larger Meafures of Grace are imparted, the more Mens Virtues are improved, and the glorious Image of God renew'd in their Hearts, by holy and heavenly Difpofitions.
Chap. LX.
The Weahefs of Corrupt Nature^ and Efficacy of Drjr/^e Grace.
Difclple.'] '"T^Hou hail indeed, my God, created me Cen. i. 24. ^ i^ ^^"^y ^'^" Image after thy Likenefs, j.y^ . and commanded me to he holy ^ as thottthyfelf
~ / ' ^* art holy. O grant me, I befeechthec, that
Favour and Affiftance, which thy own Word hath taught me, is fo important, fo abfolutely neceffary i& Salvation^ that I may vanquifli my own Nature, wiiofe Inclinations are now fo degenerate, fo cor- rfrpfj that they have a ftrong and conftant tendency 'iiom. vii. to Sin and Death. For I feel and lament ,'.',, -^ Law of Sin in my Jiodj warring continually
hgainff the Law of my Mind^ drawing me to Compli- ance with the fieflily and fenfual Appetite, and difa- bling me from, any refolute Re/iftance againft its fa- tal Motions, except thy Divine Grace pour in frefh , Succours, and help me to fbnd in the Day of Battel. Lord, I have-need not only of thy Grace, but. of v-ery plentiful and powerful Communication,, of it,. tQ
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