Chap. LIV Of the Different Motions of Nature and Grace
1. Son, observe diligently the motions of nature and grace; for they move very opposite ways, and very subtilly; and can hardly be distinguished but by a spiritual man, and one that is internally illuminated.
All men indeed aim at good, and pretend to something of good in what they do and say; therefore, under the appearance of good many are deceived.
2. Nature is crafty, and draws away many, ensnares them and deceives them, and always intends herself for her end:
But grace walks with simplicity, declines from all shew of evil, offers no deceits, and does all things purely for God, in whom also she rests, as in her last end.
3. Nature is not willing to be mortified, or to be restrained, or to be overcome, or to be subject; neither will she of her own accord be brought under:
But grace studies the mortification of her own self, resists sensuality, seeks to be subject, covets to be overcome, aims not at following her own liberty, loves to be kept under discipline, and desires not to have the command over any one; but under God ever to live, stand, and be; and for God’s sake is ever ready humbly to bow down herself under all human creatures.
4. Nature labours for her own interest, and considers what gain she may reap from another:
But grace considers not what may be advantageous and profitable to herself; but rather what may be profitable to many.
5. Nature willingly receives honour and respect:
But grace faithfully attributes all honour and glory to God.
6. Nature is afraid of being put to shame and despised:
But grace is glad to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.
7. Nature loves idleness and bodily rest:
But grace cannot be idle, and willingly embraces labour.
8. Nature seeks to have things that are curious and fine, and does not care for things that are cheap and coarse:
But grace is pleased with that which is plain and humble, rejects not coarse things, nor refuses to be clad in old clothes.
9. Nature has regard to temporal things, rejoices at earthly gain, is troubled at losses, and is provoked at every slight injurious word:
But grace attends to things eternal, and cleaves not to those which pass with time; neither is she disturbed at the loss of things, nor exasperated with hard words; for she places her treasure and her joy in heaven, where nothing is lost.
10. Nature is covetous, and is more willing to take than to give; and loves to have things to herself:
But grace is bountiful and open-hearted, avoids selfishness, is contented with little, and judges it more happy to give than to receive. Acts xx.
11. Nature inclines to creatures, to her own flesh, to vanities, and to gadding abroad:
But grace draws to God, and virtues; renounces creatures, flies the world, hates the desires of the flesh, restrains wandering about, and is ashamed to appear in public.
12. Nature willingly receives exterior comfort: in which she may be sensibly delighted:
But grace seeks to be comforted in God alone, and beyond all things visible to be delighted in the Sovereign Good.
13. Nature doth all for her own lucre and interest; she can do nothing gratis, but hopes to gain sometime equal, or better, or praise or favour for her good deeds; and covets to have her actions and gifts much valued:
But grace seeks nothing temporal; nor requires any other recompence but God alone for her reward; nor desires any more of the necessaries of this life than may be serviceable for the obtaining of a happy eternity.
14. Nature rejoices in a multitude of friends and kindred; she glories in the nobility of her stock and descent; she fawns on them that are in power, flatters the rich, and applauds such as are like herself:
But grace loves even her enemies, and is not puffed up with having a great many friends, nor has any value for family or birth, unless when joined with greater virtue; she rather favours the poor than the rich; she has more compassion for the innocent than the powerful; she rejoices with him that loves the truth, and not with the deceitful; she ever exhorts the good to be zealous for better gifts, and to become like to the Son of God by the exercise of virtues.
15. Nature easily complains of want, and of trouble:
But grace bears poverty with constancy.
16. Nature turns all things to herself, and for herself she labours and disputes:
But grace refers all things to God, from whom all originally proceed; she attributes no good to herself, nor does she arrogantly presume of herself; she does not contend, nor prefer her own opinion to others; but in every sense and understanding she submits herself to the Eternal Wisdom, and to the divine examination.
17. Nature covets to know secrets, and to hear news; is willing to appear abroad, and to have the experience of many things by the senses; desires to be taken notice of, and to do such things as may procure praise and admiration:
But grace cares not for the hearing of news or curious things, because all this springs from the old corruption, since nothing is new or lasting upon earth:
She teaches therefore to restrain the senses, to avoid vain complacence and ostentation, humbly to hide those things which are worthy of praise and admiration; and from every thing, and in every knowledge, to seek the fruit of spiritual profit, and the praise and honour of God:
She desires not to have herself, or what belongs to her, extolled; but wishes that God may be blessed in his gifts, who bestows all out of mere love.
18. This grace is a supernatural light, and a certain special gift of God, and the proper mark of the elect, and pledge of eternal salvation, which elevates a man from the things of the earth to the love of heavenly things, and of carnal makes him spiritual:
By how much therefore the more nature is kept down and subdued, with so much the greater abundance grace is infused; and the inward man, by new visitations, is daily more reformed according to the image of God.