An Imaginary Carpenter

“Peter Martyr sets forth the holiness of God, by this comparison: — ‘Take a carpenter when he hath chalked and drawn his line, theft he goes and chops the timber. Sometimes he chops right, and sometimes amiss. Why? Because he hath an outward rule, a line outside of hiinself accordifig to which he cuts the tifjiber. But if you could suppose a carpenter that could never chop amiss, but his hand shotild be his lijie ajid rule; if he had such a?i equal poise and touch of his hand, that his very stroke is a rule to itself the?i he could not err. By this plant and homely comparison he did set forth the holiness of God and the creature. The holiness of the creature is a rule without us, therefore sometimes we chop and miss; but Gods holiness is his inward rule, it is his nature, he can do nothing a?niss.” This is an instructive simile, and may be carried further. Sanctification is a renewal of the heart, which creates such a rule within us. The Holy Spirit works in us, according to our measure, a law of our nature, so that it cannot sin because it is born of God; for, after all, it is the nature of the man which determines the nature of his deeds. The fruit is according to the tree. The evil of our life arises from the living evil within. If we could be perfect, we should act perfectly. Hence the man himself is first to be looked to.

Lord, purge us, yea, make us new creatures in Christ Jesus, that out of us good may come because thou hast made us good.