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…

I Presume, here is no Atheist to hear and deny;¹ The Gospel is the power of God to salvation. I hope here is no Libertine; if there be, let him hear also: It is the power of God to confusion. ⟨p. 2⟩It is a double-edged Sword, ²and gives, vel vitam, vel vindi•tam, either instruction, or destruction. It is Fire, that doth melt wax to repentance, and harden clay to vengeance. It is here a Rain or Dew falling on the ground of mans heart; causing one soil to be fertile in good works, another to abound with weeds of impiety: For it returneth not back to him that sent it, in vain. That it conveys grace to us, and returns our fruitful gratitude to God, is a high and happy mercy. That it offers grace to the wicked and by their corrupt natures occasions greater impiety, is a heavy but holy judgement.

I Presume, heere is no Atheist to heare and denie;¹ The Gospell is the power of God to saluation. I hope here is no Libertine; if there be, let him heare also: It is the power of God to confusion. ⟨p. 2⟩It is a double-edged Sword, ²and giues, vel vitam, vel vindi•tam, either instruction, or destruction. It is Fire, that doth melt waxe to repentance, and harden clay to vengeance. It is here a Raine or Deaw falling on the ground of mans heart; causing one soyle to bee fertile in good workes, another to abound with weedes of impiety: For it returneth not backe to him that sent it, in vaine. That it conuayes grace to vs, and returnes our fruitfull gratitude to God, is a high and happy mercy. That it offers grace to the wicked and by their corrupt natures occasions greater impietie, is a heauy but holy iudgement.

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