wee haue too marke. Now forasmuch as in the first too Timothie he
sayeth also, that he himself both is, and ought too scrue vs all for a loo∣king
glasse, let vs learne too apply the same vntoo vs.
And first of al, whatsoeuer wee aske of God, let vs vnderstand that
the same must issew vntoo vs from the welspring of his only mercie and
free bountie, too the end wee should forget all selfdeseruing. For it is
the next way too shet vs out of the doore, when wee come vntoo God,
if wee imagin too bring aught of our selues. Mark that for one poynt.
And secondly to amend all distrust, let vs hope that God will doo more
than all our wits can conceiue. For it is not in vs too measure his
infinite power: and therfore whatsoeuer he hath giuen vs alreadye, let
vs think ••ur selues beholden too his goodnesse for it, let vs doo him
homage for it, and let vs yeeld him the prayse of it, as meete is wee
should. And so yee see, that the thing which wee haue too gather vppon
Saint Paules example, is, that we must with al humilitie besech God
too worke so in vs by his owne mere grace, as his name may bee glori∣fied
therby, bicause there is no deseruing to be foūd in vs. Also let vs be
out of dout, that his power passeth all our capacitie, so as wee may
euery way giue him place and enterance, and not shet him out from vs
through our vnbeleef. ••nowe wee once that? Hath God shewed vs
his mercie and power, and made vs too feele them by experience? Let
vs put them in vre to the vttermost of our power, and let vs not seeke to
deface his glorie, vnder colour that he hath made vs more excellent
than others, as though wee had deserued aught of our selues, but let
vs yeeld him his dew, and that which ought too bee his peculiar
owne.
And herewithall, too continue his matter, he addeth, that this
grace was giuen too him, (euen) too him the least of all the Saincts.
This serueth too expound that which hee had sayd concerning the gift
of grace. Now heruppon wee haue too mark, that if wee intend too
yeeld God that which wee owe him, wee must be vtterly abaced in our
selues. For so long as men fall too parting of staks with God, and
will needs bee somwhat of themselues: it is all one as if they would
set themselues ageinst God, and bee their owne keruers. Too bee
short, God neuer hath his full right, except wee be rid quyte and cleane
of all. Thefore a man cannot discerne how Saint Paule hild al things
of Gods mere grace and free gift, but by considering his (former)
slendernesse, that is too say, by considering what manner a one he had