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.
Chap. LV.
Of the corruption of nature,
and of the efficacy of divine grace.
1. O Lord, my God, who hast created me to thy own image and likeness, grant me this grace, which thou hast declared to be so great, and so necessary to salvation; that I may overcome my wicked nature, which draws to sin and perdition: