The reason of this Apostasy is evident. oSeed, that is not deeply rooted in the earth, at the beginning of the year, springeth up; it is green and bringeth forth leaves and flowers, and (it may be) some kind of fruit too: when the heat of summer cometh, it parcheth the earth, and the corn wanting deep rooting, and therefore wanting moisture, withereth away. Gods word is like seed; which that it may bring forth fruit unto everlasting life, it must be first received of the ground: secondly, it must be rooted: the receiving of it, is when it pierceth to the heart, and the affections take hold of it. This rooting is of two sorts: the first is, when the word rooteth, but not with the residue of the affections. The second, is a deep and a lively kind of rooting of the word, when the word is received into ⟨p. 24⟩the mind and into the heart. The first kind of rooting of the word, befalleth to a reprobate, who understandeth, and rejoiceth in the promises of salvation, yet he doth not put any confidence in them: he cannot rest in them, he doth not rejoice that his name is written in the book of life, he doth not work out his salvation with fear & trembling. In a word, his heart is in part softened to rejoice at the preaching of the word of God: pyet his heart is not opened, as Lydias was: nor enlarged (as David saith) to embrace the trueth: but the elect, he receiveth the word. not only into his mind, least it should be only an imagination, but also it is deeply rooted in his heart. For
The reason of this Apostasie is euident. oSeede, that is not deepely rooted in the earth, at the beginning of the yeare, springeth vp; it is green and bringeth forth leaues and flowers, and (it may bee) some kinde of fruit too: when the heate of sommer commeth, it parcheth the earth, and the corne wanting deepe rooting, and therefore wanting moisture, withereth away. Gods word is like seede; which that it may bring forth fruit vnto euerlasting life, it must bee first receiued of the ground: secondly, it must be rooted: the receiuing of it, is when it pearceth to the heart, and the affections take holde of it. This rooting is of two sorts: the first is, when the word rooteth, but not with the residue of the affections. The second, is a deepe and a liuely kind of rooting of the word, when the word is receiued into ⟨p. 24⟩the minde and into the heart. The first kind of rooting of the word, befalleth to a reprobate, who vnderstandeth, and reioyceth in the promises of saluation, yet hee doth not put any confidence in them: he cannot rest in them, hee doth not reioice that his name is written in the booke of life, hee doth not worke out his saluation with feare & trembling. In a worde, his heart is in part softened to reioice at the preaching of the worde of God: pyet his heart is not opened, as Lydias was: nor inlarged (as Dauid saith) to imbrace the trueth: but the elect, hee receiueth the word. not only into his mind, least it should be onely an imagination, but also it is deeply rooted in his heart. For
- oMath. 13. 28.
- pAct. 16. 15 Psa. 119. 32
