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…

Often.

GOD hath respect to our infirmities, and sends us a plentiful rain. One shower will not make us fruitful; it must come oft upon us. Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi, sed saepe cadendo. The rain dints the hard stone, not by violence, but by oft-falling drops. Line must be added to line: here a little and there a little. God could pour a whole flood on us at once: but mans understanding Is like a vial, narrow at the top: Not capable of more, then drop by drop, Says the Poet. If much were poured at once, a great deal would fall besides, and be spilt. Like children, we must be fed by spoonfuls, according to the capacity of our weak natures. It is ⟨p. 20⟩not an abundant rain falling at once, that makes the plants grow; but kindly and frequent showers. One sermon in a year contents some throughly; and God is highly beholding to them, if they will sit out that waking. You desire your fields, your gardens, your plants to be often watered; your souls will grow well enough with one raining. How happy would man be, if he were as wise for his soul, as he is for his body! Some there are, that would hear often, may be too often; till edification turn to tedification; and get themselves a multitude of Teachers; but they will do nothing. You shall have them run ten miles to a Sermon; but not steppe to their own doors with a morsel of bread to a poor brother. They wish well to the cause of Christ, but they will do nothing for it worth God-a-mercy. The world is full of good wishes: but heaven only full of good works. Others would have this Rain fall often, so it be such as they desire it. Such a cloud must give it, and it must be begotten in thunder; faction and innovation.¹ Till Evangelium Christi fit evangelium hominis; aut quod peius est, Diaboli. Till the Gospel of Christ be made mans Gospel, or which is worse, the devils, If the rain, as it falls, do not smell of Novelty, it shall fall besides them. They regard not so much heaven whence it comes, as who brings it. I have read of two, that meeting at a Tavem,