A14992:186
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.
3.1 Thirdly, we must often call to mind the gracious promises that God hath made to those that leave sin, and the admirable comforts, that both here and hereafter, the God of truth hath undertaken to reward them withal, that for his sake deny themselves, and crucify their sinful lusts. Then shall we see, how vain and frivolous the pleasures and profits of sin are, and by tasting the fruit of holiness, should be well enabled, to despise the offers of sin. What comparison betwixt the good we get by doing evil, and the unspeakable Joy of the holy Ghost, and the immortal Joys of Heaven? What made Moses to set light by the honours and delights of Pharaohs Court; but that he considered the rebuke of Christ to be greater riches? What made Paul to count all dung, that he might win Christ; ⟨p. 147⟩but because he looked to the far most excellent weight of glory? We must not suffer our selves to be forgetful of the wonderful benefits, which the Lord will bestow upon us, if in obedience and love to him, we can be content to cast away our sinful lusts. He that forsaketh any profit, or credit, or comfort, for Christs sake, shall be rewarded an hundred fold. The man that refuseth to walk in the paths of the ungodly, shall be blessed upon earth, his soul shall dwell at ease, the Lord will deliver him out of the hands of his enemies, God will be a Sun and shield unto him, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. His heart shall delight it self in God, and he shall see the shining of the loving countenance of his Father. His soul shall be satisfied, as with marrow and fatness, and he shall become like a watered garden. If man forsake him, the Lord will stand for him; and though parents cast him off, yet God will gather him up: the Lord will cover his head in the day of battle, the Lord will feed him in the time of famine, the Lord will turn his bed in the time of his sickness, he shall see the face of God in righteousness, and when he awaketh, shall be satisfied with his Image. O how excellent is the loving kindness of God to them that wait upon him! they shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of his house, and he will make them to drink of the Rivers of his pleasure: he shall delight himself in the Lord, and God will give him the desires of his ⟨p. 148⟩heart.