And as an edder, a toad, or a snake is
hated of man, (not for the evil that it hath done, but for the poison
that is in it and hurt which it cannot but do) So are we hated of God
for that natural poison which is conceived and born with us, before
we do any outward evil. And as the evil, which a venomous worm doeth,
maketh it not a serpent: but be cause it is a venomous worm.
Therefore doeth it evil and poisoneth. And as the fruit maketh not
the tree evil: but because it is an evil tree, therefore bringeth it
forth evil furit, when the season of fruit is. Even so do not our
evil deeds make us evil: but because that of nature we are evil,
therefore we both think and do evil, and are under vengeance, under
the law, convicted to eternal damnation by the law, and are contrary
to the will of God in all our will, and in all things consent to the
will of the land.
By grace (that is to say by favour) we are plucked out of Adam
the ground of all evil, and grafted in Christ the root of all
goodness. In Christ God loved us his elect and chosen, before the
world began, and referred us unto the knowledge of his son and of his
holy gospell, and when the gospell is preached to us he openeth our
hearts, and giveth us grace to believe and putteth the spirit of
Christ in us, and we know him as our father most merciful, and
consent to the law, and love it inwardly in our heart, and desire to
fulfill it, and sorrow because we cannot, which will (sin we of
frailty never so much) is sufficient till more strength be given us,
the blood of Christ hath made satisfaction for the rest: the blood of
Christ hath obtained all things for us of God.
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