The Soul's Conflict with Itself

God cares for no retainers, that will •ely we are his livery, but serve themselves. What hast thou to do to take his […] into thy mouth, and hatest to be refor•d? ¹Saul lived in the bosom of the Church, yet (being a cruel Tyrant) •hen he was in a desperate plunge, his •tward profession did him no good. •d therefore when he was environed •ith his enemies, he uttered this dole• complaint, God hath forsaken me, ²[…] the Philistines are upon me: A pity case; yet so will it be with all those […] rest in an outward profession, thinking ⟨p. 524⟩it enough to complement with God, when their hearts are not right within them. Such will at length be forced to cry, Sickness is upon me, death is upon me, hell is before me, and God hath forsaken me. I would none of God heretofore, Now God will have none of me. When David himself had offended God by numbering the people, then God counted him but plain David, Go and say to David, &c. whereas ³before when he purposed to build a Temple, then go tell my servant David. ⁴When the Israelites had set up an Idol, then God Fathers them on Moses, THY people which thou hast brought out of Egypt, ⁵he would not own them as at other times, then; they are MY people still whilst they keep covenant. No care, no present comfort in this near relation.

God cares for no retainers, that will •ely we are his livery, but serve themselves. What hast thou to doe to take his into thy mouth, and hatest to be reford?