A14992:150
A care-cloth
A care-cloth: or a treatise of the cumbers and troubles of marriage intended to advise them that may, to shun them; that may not, well and patiently to bear them. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God in Banbury, in Oxfordshire.A care-cloth: or a treatise of the cumbers and troubles of marriage intended to aduise them that may, to shun them; that may not, well and patiently to beare them. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God in Banbury, in Oxfordshire.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1624
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
that is to say, in healing the sores and diseases of our souls.
that is to say, in healing the sores and diseases of our soules.
4. Thirdly,1 the man that applies the work of mortification aright, shall attain certain freedom from foul, gross and scandalous sins. A sanctified man may assuredly promise to himself (upon his constant and diligent endeavours, to abate and hold under his sinful affections and dispositions) to be (for his whole life long) so kept and sustained by God, that he shall not rush into any loathsome, palpable, disgraceful, soul-wasting wickedness. We are never overtaken with those kind of evils, but upon our very palpable carelessness of mortifying the deeds of our flesh. Whilst we do that, that ⟨p. 115⟩God bidsvs, to slay sin, he holds it under, according to his promise, and it hath not dominion over us, neither doth reign in our mortal bodies; so that we are sure enough, that sin shall not bring forth the fruits of shame and reproach unto us, until we begin to be remiss in following Gods directions, to purge out the old leaven. And, Oh, what a benefit is this, to escape those blemishes and stains, wherewith many of Gods children (perhaps also of greater strength then ones self) do defile and disgrace themselves? What a privilege is it to be so supported, that never in all his life, he shall run into any witting, enormous, & presumptuous crime, after God hath called him to the knowledge of his truth? What an ease and comfort, to live always free from those blows and strokes of our spiritual enemy, wherewith some of Gods people are wounded almost to death? Doubtless, the remembrance of such foils, doth bring so much shame and sorrow to the hearts, and often blushing and paleness both (successively) to the cheeks of divers of Gods people, that they now account freedom from such blots, a thing of more worth, then all the riches and honour in the World, and wish with all their souls, that they had taken any pains, and suffered any misery outward, to have been delivered from such inward wretchedness? Why should we not be wise before-hand now? and by labour, win to our selves the comfort of having prevented that, which if once we should feel, we shall wish (but