A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

The slothful man is justly condemned, who had rather starve in Summer for lack of ⟨p. 272⟩bread, then plough in winter because of the cold: We censure him that had rather go lame and crooked as long as he liveth, then be at a little pain to move an aching joint. He is worthily accounted improvident, who neglecting to gather in his writings, or sue out fine and recovery, will hazard the loss of his whole inheritance. My folly hath exceeded herein, who to live in peace and quiet with sin, have impoverished my soul, in•paired my stock of grace, wounded my conscience, deprived my self of many rich privileges of grace, which I might have enjoyed, weakened my title to mine everlasting inheritance, and been contented to creep feebly towards the heavenly Canaan; thinking it better to keep where I was with quiet, then to make my condition, by still dealing with my self too too restless. The sluggards shameless excuse hath fearfully bewitched me; Better is an handful with ease, ¹then both hands full with travel and vexation of Spirit. The more excellent the inheritance I hope for is, the more detestable is my sluggishness and folly, that I have not earnestly sought to make it sure unto my self, and entered possession thereof so far as in this life is given of grace.

The slothfull man is iustly condemned, who had rather starue in Summer for lacke of ⟨p. 272⟩bread, then plough in winter because of the cold: Wee censure him that had rather go lame and crooked as long as hee liueth, then bee at a little paine to moue an aking ioynt. He is worthily accounted improuident, who neglecting to gather in his writings, or sue out fine and recouerie, will h•zard the losse of his whole inheritance. My folly hath exceeded herein, who to liue in peace and quiet with sinne, haue impouerished my soule, in•paired my stocke of grace, wounded my conscience, depriued my selfe of many rich priuiledges of grace, which I might haue enioyed, weakened my title to mine euerlasting inheritance, and beene contented to creepe feebly towards the heauenly Canaan; thinking it better to keepe where I was with quiet, then to make my condition, by still dealing with my selfe too too restlesse. The sluggards shamelesse excuse hath fearefully bewitched me; Better is an handfull with ease,