Two Treatises, Treatise 1 · Section 25 – Section 26
SECT. 25.
THere remaines yet one maine queſtion, 2To what end then are Gods precepts S… exhortations?and doubt to be reſolved, and ſo wee will conclude: … things be thus, why the… doth God command an… exhort us to that which … not in our power to per… forme? This queſtion is ne… needleſſe, ſeeing from ſuc… exhortations & command in Scripture: 1 Commo… Chriſtians doe gather … bility in us to keep all Gods commandments. 2. The needfulneſſe of this queſtion.The Lutherans and others would conclude univerſall grace, and the like poſſibility, to doe or not to do the things commanded and exhorted …unto, ſeeing ſuch commāds and exhortations are made to all, (eſpecially in the Church,) in common to good and bad. 3 Both they in part, and chiefely Papiſts would hence eſtabliſh (beſides the other) freedome of will, which we hitherto have overthrowne.
I anſwer then in particu…ar to the doubt propounded: The anſwer. 1 Our ſtrength now is not to be meaſured by Gods commandements.Three things; firſt …wee muſt not meaſure our ſtrength by Gods commādnents, ſo much wee may …nd muſt learne out of Scripture; God commands us to love him, ſaying: Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart & with all thy ſoule, Mat. 22.37.and with all thy minde. So alſo wee may read in Deut. Deut. 30.6.6.5. Yet the ſame Lord tells us alſo, that hee himſelfe muſt firſt Circumciſe our hearts to love him Saying by Moſes: The Lord thy God will circumciſe thine heart, and the heart of thy Seed, to love the Lord thy Ge… with all thine heart and wif… all thy ſeule, that thou ma… live. And to the like effect are all thoſe places named concerning Faith, remiſſ… of ſin, Repentance, new ob… dience, Perſeverance, yea… humility; all which God requires at our hands, yea and exhorts us unto; yet as we… have ſeene, See Sect. 9, 10, 11, 12 13, 14.we worke no… theſe, but God by his effectuall grace, and according to his promiſe, worketh them in us. So to ſpecifie …it, and to ſhew it in ſome of theſe more expreſſy, Chriſt ſaith: Come unto mee all yee that labour; yet the ſame mouth ſaith: Mat. 11.28.No man …an come unto mee, Iohn 6.44.except the Father which hath ſent mee draw him. So God bids us …urne: Turne ye even unto me …ith all your heart &c. Ioel 2.12.Yet …aith Ephraim: Ier. 31.18.Turne thou …e, & I ſhall bee turned. And …he Church, Lament. 5.21. …urne thou us unto thee O …ord, and we ſhall bee turned; …nd in very deed wee can…ot ſuſpirare, ſigh for ſin, …nleſſe God doe firſt in pi…are, inſpire and breathe it …, Rom. 8.26. God muſt …auſe his winde to blow, & breath into us the Spirit of Life) before theſe waters (of repētant teares) doe flow. Pſal. 147.18So againe: Learne to doe well. Iſa. 1.17. and Ia. 2.12. So doe as they, &c. And here: Happy are ye if y… doe them. And yet ſaith our Saviour Chriſt: Without me ye can doe nothing. Iohn 15.6.And ſo for knowledge David ſpeaketh thus: 1 Chrs. 28.9And thou Solomon my Son, know thou the God of thy Father &c. And here: If we know theſe things, &c. …at. 11.27And yet ſaith Chriſt: No man knoweth the Father ſave the ſon, and hee to whenſoever the Son will reveal… him. And John 6.46.
SECT. 26.
SEcondly, 2Gods precepts and exhortations are grounded on his promiſe.ſuch Exhortations and Precepts have their foundation & ground, not on our naturall power, but on Gods promiſes, as is ſaid, 1 Theſ. 5.23, 24.and on the new Covenant. So, the very God of peace ſanctifie you wholly; and I pray God, your whole ſpirit and ſoule and body, bee preſerved blameleſſe unto the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt; then it followes: Faithfull is he that calleth you, who will alſo doe it. Phil. 2.12. 13.So worke out your owne Salvation with feare and trembling; For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to doe of his good pleaſure. So, Waſh yee, make yee cleane, Iſa. 1.16. Ezek. 36.2…ſaith God by his Prophet Iſa. But by his Prophet Ezekiel: I will ſprinkle Water upon you, and yee ſhall be cleane; and I will clenſe you. So, walke before me, Gen. 17.1. Ezek 36.27 Rom. 6.12.14.an bee thou perfect. And, I wild cauſe you to walke in my ſtatutes. Laſtly, Let not ſinne reigne in your mortall bodies. And, Rom. 6.12.14.ſinne ſhall not reigne or have Dominion over you, &c. Rom. 6.12.14.