Question 9

THE ARGVMENT.

That God dooth noe man wrong, although hee require of man in his Lawe, that which hee is not able to performe: nay, that hee dooth iustly punish sin with punishmentes present and everlasting, both of soul and body, without any respect of age.

Doeth not God then deale injuriouslie with man, when hee requireth that of him in his Lawe, which he is not able to performe?

Not at al : for God so created man, that he was able to perfourm it: But man, intised by the Deuill^a , by his owne disobedience, depriued himselfe and all his posteritie of those giftes of God.^b

The vse.

The vse of this doctrine touching our inhabilitie to keepe the Law of God, is threefolde. 1. That we acknowledge our owne guiltines, and accuse our selues of falling from God: for God by this iust exaction will humble vs: for by commanding things impossible, he doeth not make men sinners but humble, that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be founde guiltie before God. 2. That we may defie the Deuil and his workes, by whose instigation and inticement, we were thrown downe into the bottomeles pit of these calamities, according vnto that saying, Resist the Diuell, and he will flye from you. 3. Seing our weaknes and inhability is such, that wee are not able to performe that, which God by very good right requireth at our hands, let vs pray the Lorde with Augustine, and say: Graunt O Lord, that which thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt: which was the godly prayer of that holy Father, not that hee hoped he was able to attaine vnto it in this life, but assuredlie in the life to come.^c