Two learned and godly sermons, preached by that reverend and zealous man M. Richard…Two learned and godly sermons, preached by that reuerende and zelous man M. Richard…

some springeth, and yet shortly withereth: some groweth up in the ear, and yet is stricken and blasted: and other some (at his good pleasure) come to a timely ripeness. In like manner, some trees are planted, and never take root: some take root, and yet not blossom: some blossom, & never bring forth fruit: and other some through his goodness do bring forth fruit in good season. If the Lord deal so with the plant and herb of the field, why may he not deal so with us, the sons of men? If we can not conceive the reason of this, we must hold our peace: for all the works of God are done in righteousness, and all our knowledge is unperfect, ⟨image 37⟩and therefore we must accuse our selves rather of ignorance, then the Lord of unrighteousness: nay, our selves do deal in like sort with those things which are under our hands. In Colleges, Fellows are first chosen to be probationers, and if they be then approved, they be made Fellows, otherwise not. If a man (being childless) do take unto him some friends child, to make him heir of all his goods, he will keep him upon liking; if his manners be honest, he shall be preferred, he may be set over all his family, and yet afterward for some fact, be cast off. Some other man taketh an other child for the same end, and maketh him heir in deed: Therefore we must think that it is righteous with the Lord to deal thus with us, seeing we are in his hand: and we must not be offended, though he call some, & do not enlighten them: and although ⟨image 38⟩he do not inlyght them, and do not continue them, and do of his great mercy continue some unto the end: let us rather see what use we may have of this doctrine. First, we must take heed that we never quench any grace, or gift that God bestoweth upon us. Secondly, we must labour to have greater measure of gifts: for the wicked may come to have some small gifts, and such may be quite taken away from us. Tastly, it doth put a plain difference between the godly, and the godless, between them that bear a show of holiness, and them that are the Lords holy ones: for the one endureth but a time, and the other lasteth for ever. Now if we require a further trial, whereby we may know whether we have received the spirit of God, which lasteth but for a time, and that which lasteth for ever with us:

some springeth, and yet shortly wythereth: some groweth vp in the eare, and yet is striken and blasted: and other some (at his good pleasure) come to a timely ripenesse. In lyke maner, some trees are planted, and neuer take roote: some take roote, and yet not blossome: some blossome, & neuer bring foorth fruite: and other some through his goodnesse do bring foorth fruite in good season. If the Lorde deale so with the plant and hearbe of the fielde, why may he not deale so with vs, the sonnes of men? If we can not conceaue the reason of this, we must holde our peace: for all the workes of God are done in righteousnesse, and all our knowledge is vnperfect,