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…

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, ¹which he promised his Patient would help him of all diseases; but before morning it had eaten up it self. Preparation is a necessary antecedent to all great works, Amos 4.² Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. But a man may prepare meat, and not feed: prepare meat, and not eat. Preparation does well, if reparation follows. A man may climb both these rounds, and yet fall short of the true height of Repentance.

2. The second round of this Ladder is Preparation. Some there are that will prepare, & almost set themselues in a readinesse for their iourney to heauen; yet neuer set one steppe forward. Preparation is indeed as necessary, as the dore is to the house: but as idle, if there be no house to the dore. It may (as Iohn the Baptist did for Christ) prepare the way of the Lord into our hearts: and it may be as vaite, as the Apothecaries Beast, ¹which hee promised his Patient would helpe him of all diseases; but before morning it had eaten vp it selfe. Preparation is a necessary antecedent to all great workes, Amos 4.² Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. But a man may prepare meate, and not feede: prepare meate, and not eate. Prepaeration does well, if reparation followes. A man may climbe both these rounds, and yet fall short of the true height of Repentance.

1. 1Testia Pharmacopolae.
2. 2