A divine herbal together with a forrest of thorns In five sermons. ... By…A divine herball together with a forrest of thornes In five sermons. ... By…

We have not sufficiently discharged our duties in being painful, unless we be profitable. Some will take no pains, unless the Devil set them on work. They must be their own carvers in their employment, or they will sit idle. But so a man may work and have no thanks for his labour. It is not then simply and only bringing forth, commends a ground, but bringing forth herbs.

We haue not sufficiently discharged our duties in being painfull, vnlesse wee be profitable. Some will take no paines, vnlesse the Diuell set them on worke. They must be their owne caruers in their imployment, or they will sit idle. But so a man may worke and haue no thankes for his labour. It is not then simply and onely bringing forth, commends a ground, but bringing forth herbes.

The fruit of Peters repentance is not to deny his Master no more; but to stand to him to the death. We think, if we forbear our wonted notorious sins, we are on the sudden excellent Christians. As if God were beholden to us, for not wounding his name with oaths; for not playing out Sabbaths; for not railing on his Gospel; for not oppressing his poor members: ⟨p. 46⟩when we neither relive the poor, nor obey the Gospel, nor hallow his Sabbaths, nor honour his name. Perhaps an Usurer when he hath gotten enough will cease that damned trade: now he is sure of heaven in a trice. Alas! how repents Zaccheus, if he restores not? Shall I go a step higher? If he give not liberally, and show compassion to the afflicted Saints? Perhaps an old Adulterer when his sap is grown to cinders, breaks off his uncleanness. When the envious looseth his object, he may suspend his malice. But where are the returned fruits of penitence, manifest and visible obedience? Say the weeds are gone, where be the herbs? To root up the weeds, is but the first step to heaven: and some are forty, threescore years taking this steppe. How long will it be ere their garden be set with good growing herbs? ¹But Curse ye Meroz, said the Angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the Inhabitants thereof: because they came not to the help of the Lord, (and that it might fully appear, that this curse came not on them, for taking part with Gods enemies and fighting against him; but only for denial of succour, the song doubles it) to the help of the Lord against the mighty.