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…

One said, that hell is like to be full of good purposes, but heaven of good works. If a bare Intention would serve, Gods Church on earth would be fuller of Saints, and his Court in heaven fuller of souls. Ignorance and Sloth adulterating, bring forth this lank brood, this abortive embryon, Purpose. Such a man is like an ill debtor, who will not pay God his due of devotion till he is old: and then he cannot pay for want of (time & money) space and grace to repent. We make (in these days) our purposes like our Eves, and our performances like the holy-days: servants work hard upon the Eves, that they may ⟨p. 151⟩have the more liberty to play upon the Holidays: so we are earnest, and labour hard on our purposes; but are idle and play upon our performances. But Resolution without action, is a golden couch to a leaden Jewell.

One sayd, that hell is like to bee full of good purposes, but heauen of good workes. If a bare Intention would serue, Gods Church on earth would bee fuller of Saints, and his Court in heauen fuller of soules. Ignorance and Sloth adulterating, bring forth this lanke brood, this abortiue embrion, Purpose. Such a man is like an ill debtor, who will not pay God his due of deuotion till hee is old: and then hee cannot pay for want of (time & mony) space and grace to repent. We make (in these daies) our purposes like our Eeues, and our performances like the holy-daies: seruants work hard vpō the Eeues, that they may ⟨p. 151⟩haue the more liberty to play vpon the Holydayes: so we are earnest, and labour hard on our purposes; but are idle and play vpon our performances. But Resolution without action, is a golden couch to a leaden Iewell.

2. The second round of this Ladder is Preparation. Some there are that will prepare, & almost set themselves in a readiness for their journey to heaven; yet never set one steppe forward. Preparation is indeed as necessary, as the door is to the house: but as idle, if there be no house to the door. It may (as John the Baptist did for Christ) prepare the way of the Lord into our hearts: and it may be as vaite, as the Apothecaries Beast,