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works, 'to faith and calling upon God; where

• Hitherto we have heard what we are of ourselves; very sinful, wretched, and damnable. Again, we have heard how that of ourselves, and by ourselves, we are not able either to think a good thought, or work a good deed, so that we can find in ourselves no hope of salvation, but rather whatsoever maketh unto our destruction. Hom. ii. 2.

It is the Holy Ghost, and no other thing that doth quicken the minds of men; stirring up good and godly motions in their hearts, which are agreeable to the will and commandment of God; such as otherwise of their own crooked and perverse nature they should never have. Hom. xxviii. 1.

Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves, &c. Coll. for the second Sunday in Lent.

Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the Spirit to think and do always such things as be rightful; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for the ninth Sunday after Trinity.

d The first coming unto God is through faith. Hom. iv. 1. The spring head of justification is the mercy of God, which is conveyed to us by Christ, and is offered to us by the Gospel, and received of us by faith as with a hand. Nowell, p. 73.

Q. Dost thou think that this faith is a quality of nature, or the gift of God? A. Faith is the gift of God, and a singular and excellent gift. For both our wits are too gross and dull to conceive and understand the wisdom of God, whose fountains are opened by faith, and our hearts are more apt either to dis

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Tit. iii. 5. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John iii. 5. For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke xiii. 24. It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Rom. ix. 16. Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? 1 Cor. iv. 7. If by grace then it is no more of works. Rom. xi. 6. Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of

righteousness. Wherefore? because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. Rom. ix. 31, 32.

d A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. John iii. 27. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? Rom. x. 14, 15. The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Tit. ii. 11. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glo

fore we have no power to do good works, plea

trust, or to wrongful and corrupt trust in ourselves, or in other creatures, than to true trust in God. But God instructing us with his word and lightening our minds with his Holy Spirit, maketh us apt to learn those things that otherwise would be far from entering into the dull capacity of our wits; and sealing the promises of salvation on our souls, he so informeth us that we are most surely persuaded of the truth of them. These things the apostles understanding, do pray to the Lord to increase their faith. Nowell, p. 76.

By faith given us of God we embrace the promise of God's mercy, and of the remission of our sins. Hom. iii. 3.

True and lively faith in the merits of Jesus Christ is not ours, but by God's working in us. Hom. iii. 1.

eSuch was the frailty of mankind after his fall, such was his weakness and imbecility; that he could not walk uprightly in God's commandments, though he would never so fain, but daily and hourly fell from his bounden duty, offending the Lord his God divers ways, to the great increase of his condemnation. Hom. xxv. 2.

rious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4, 6. I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. John xiv. 6. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth. James i. 17, 18. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as God gave to every man. I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 1 Cor. iii. 5, 6. Then opened he their understand ing, that they might understand the scriptures. Luke xxiv. 45. And the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. Acts xi. 21. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. 1 John v. 1. We are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 1 Cor. iii. 9. This is the

work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John vi. 29. Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Matt. xvi. 17. It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance. Matt. xiii. 11, 12. Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Phil. i. 29. God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Eph. ii. 4, 5, 8. It is of faith that it might be by grace. Rom. iv. 16. Through the faith of the operation of God. Col. ii. 12.

e Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil. Jer. xiii. 23. They that are in the flesh cannot please God. Rom. viii. 8. O Lord, I know that the way of man is not

sant and acceptable to God, 'without the grace

Of ourselves we be crab-trees, that can bring forth no apples. We be of ourselves of such earth, as can but bring forth weeds. Our fruits be declared in the fifth chapter to the Galatians. We have neither faith, charity, hope, patience, chastity, nor any thing else that good is, but of God; and therefore these virtues be called there, "the fruits of the Holy Ghost," and not the fruits of man. Hom. ii. 2.

O God, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because, through the weakness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments, we may please thee both in will and deed, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for the first Sunday after Trinity.

f All good things come down unto us from above, from the Father of light. Jesus Christ, his Son and our Saviour, is the mean by whom we receive his liberal goodness. In the power and virtue of the Holy Ghost we be made meet and able to receive his gifts and graces. Hom. xxix. 1.

In the power and virtue of the Holy Ghost, resteth all wisdom and all ability to know God and to please him. In his power shall we have sufficient ability to know our duty to God; in him shall we be comforted and encouraged to walk in our duty; in him shall we be meet vessels to receive the grace of Almighty God: for it is he that purgeth and purifieth the mind by his secret working. He only is present every where by his invisible power and containeth all things in his dominion. He lighteneth the heart to conceive worthy thoughts to Almighty God. He only ministereth spiritual strength to the powers of our soul and body. To hold the way, which God hath prepared for us to walk rightly in our journey, we must acknowlege that it is in the power of his Spirit, which helpeth our infirmity. If any gift we have wherewith we may work to the glory of God, and profit of our neighbour; all is wrought by his own and self-same Spirit. If any wisdom we have it is

in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jer. x. 23. Without me ye can do nothing. John xv. 5. They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. To be carnally-minded is death. Rom. viii. 5, 6. Without faith it is impossible to please him. Heb. xi. 6.

f To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 1 Cor. viii. 6.

No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him-except it were given unto him of my Father. John vi. 44, 65. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. Jer. xxxi. 3. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love. Hosea xi. 4. Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Zech. iv. 6. From me is

of God by Christ preventing us, that we may

not of ourselves; we cannot glory therein, as begun of ourselves; but we ought to glory in God, from whom it came to us. xxix. 3.

Hom.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed. Second Coll. for Evening Service. My good child, know this, thou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the commandments of God, and to serve him, without his special grace, which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent prayer. Catechism.

O God, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness. Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity.

Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for the twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity:

For it is the Holy Ghost, and no other thing, that doth quicken the minds of men; stirring up good and godly motions in their hearts, which are agreeable to the will and commandment of God; such as otherwise of their own crooked and perverse nature they should never have.-As for the works of the Spirit, the fruits of faith, charitable and godly motions, if he have any at all in him, they proceed only of the Holy Ghost; who is the only worker of our sanctification, and maketh us new men in Christ Jesus. Such is the power of the Holy Ghost to regenerate men, and as it were to bring them forth anew, so that they shall be nothing like the men that they were before. Neither doth he think it sufficient inwardly to work the spiritual and new birth of man, unless he do also dwell and abide in him. Hom. xxviii. 1.

thy fruit found. Hosea xiv. 8.
Ye are dead, and your life is hid
with Christ in God. Col. iii. 3. For
it is God which worketh in you,
both to will and to do of his good
pleasure. Phil. ii. 13. We are his
workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus unto good works, which God
hath before ordained that we should
walk in them. Eph. ii. 10.
people have I formed for myself.
Isa. xliii. 21. In Christ Jesus nei-
ther circumcision availeth ay
thing nor uncircumcision, but a
new creature. Gal.. vi. 15. And
that ye put on the new man, which
after God is created in righteousness
and true holiness. Eph. iv. 24.

This

The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deut. xxx. 6. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh. That they may walk in my statutes, &c. Ezra xi. 19, 20. xxxvi. 25-29. I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for Thy people shall be willing in ever, for the good of them, and of the day of thy power. Ps. cx. 4.. their children after them: and I

have a good will, and "working with us when we' have that good will.

Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you this office and administration, to serve God for the promoting of his glory, and the edifying of his people? Ordination Service.

Ye cannot have a mind and will thereto of yourselves; for that will and ability is given of God alone, therefore ye ought, and have need, to pray earnestly for his Holy Spirit. Ordination Service.

Let us throughout our whole lives confess all good things to come from God, of what name or nature soever they be, not of corruptible things only, but much more of all spiritual graces behoveable for our soul, without whose goodness no man is called to faith, or staid therein. Hom. xxix. 2.

St. Paul confesseth faith plainly to be God's gift, saying, "Faith is the gift of God." Eph. ii. 8. And again St. Peter saith, "It is of God's power that ye be kept through faith to salvation." 1 Pet. i. 5. It is of the goodness of God that we falter not in our hope unto him. It is verily God's work in us, the charity wherewith we love our brethren. If after our fall we repent, it is by him that we repent, which reacheth forth his merciful hand to raise us up. If we have any will to rise, it is. he that preventeth our will, and disposeth us thereto. If after contrition we feel our consciences at peace with God through

will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Jer. xxxi. 33. xxxii. 39, 40. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Rom. viii. 2. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. Tit. ii. 14. The last Adam was made a quickening Spirit. 2 Cor. xv, 45. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Ps. li. 10. It is the Spirit that quickeneth. John vi. 63. The Spirit giveth life, 2 Cor. iii. 6. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 1 Cor. xii. 7.

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have

it more abundantly. John x. 10. As sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ. Rom. V. 21. By whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Rom. v. 2, 20. Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. Isa. xxvi. 12. He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John iii. 21. Not that we are sufficient to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God. 2 Cor. iii. 5. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor. xii. 9. Looking unto Jesus, the

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