A Golden Chain

The wickedness of mans nature, and the depth of hypocrisy is such, that a man may and can easily transform himself into the counterfeit and resemblance of any grace of God. Therefore I put down here a certain note whereby the gifts of God may be discerned, namely, that they grow up and increase as the grain of Mustard-seed to a great tree, and bear fruit answerably. The grace in the heart is like the grain of Mustard-seed in two things. First it is small to see to at the beginning: secondly, after it is cast into the ground of the heart, it increaseth speedily, and spreads it self. Therefore, if a man at the first have but some little feeling of his wants, some weak and faint desire, some small obedience, he must not let this spark of grace go out: but these motions of the spirit must be increased by the use of the word, sacraments and prayer; and they must daily be stirred up by meditating, endeavouring, striving, asking, seeking, knocking. The master delivering his talents to his servants, saith unto them, occupy till I come: and not hide them in the earth, Math. 25.26. Paul useth an excellent speech to Timothy: I exhort thee to stir up the gift of God which is in thee, namely, as fire is stirred up by often blowing, and by putting to of wood, 2. Tim. 1.6. As for such motions of the heart that last for a week or month, and after vanish away, they are not to be regarded: and the Lord by the Prophet Hosea complaineth of them, saying, O Ephraim, thy righteousness is like the morning dew.

THe wickednesse of mans nature, and the depth of hypocrisie is such, that a man may and can easily transforme himselfe into the counterfeit and resemblance of any grace of God. Therefore I put downe here a certen note whereby the gifts of God may be discerned, namely, that they grow vp and increase as the graine of Musterd-seede to a great tree, and beare fruit answerably. The grace in the heart is like the grain of Musterd-seed in two things. First it is small to see to at the beginning: secondly, after it is cast into the ground of the heart, it increaseth speedily, and spreads it selfe. Therefore, if a man at the first haue but some little feeling of his wants, some weake and faint desire, some small obedience, he must not let this sparke of grace goe out: but these motions of the spirit must be encreased by the vse of the word, sacramēts and prayer; and they must daily be stirred vp by meditating, indeuouring, striuing, asking, seeking, knocking. The master deliuering his talents to his seruants, saith vnto them, occupie till I come: and not hide them in the earth,