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Corruption of Nature, left even in the most Regene∣rate Men to humble them. [ 1280]
GOd hath so ordered it in Nature, that Creatures of the greatest excellency, should have some manifest deformity,* 1.1 Whether it be in Birds or Beasts; A∣mong birds, the Peacock, a bird of the gayest feathers, yet it hath the foulest feet; The Swan, a bird of the whitest feathers, yet of the blackest skin; The Eagle, a bird of the quickest sight, and of the highest flight, yet the most ravenous among birds; And among Beasts, the Lion, the goodliest of all the woods, yet the most fierce and cruel; The Fox, most subtle, yet a Creature of the foulest smell: Thus God hath ordered it even amongst the Creatures irrationall; and thus it is with his own People in respect of Grace, though they have many excellent endowments and guifts, yet he suffers some corruptions of Nature in them, to humble them; So that Humiltty,* 1.2 the best of Graces, comes from the worst root, our Sin; And Pride, the worst of sinnes comes from the best root, our Grace, which caused that saying of Mr. Fox the Martyrologist, That his Graces hurt him more then his sins, mean∣ing, That many times he was proud of his guifts, but humbled by reason of his sinnes and natural infirmities.