Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

It was so in all ages, and at this day many a good man, many times, of great spirit, worth, and understanding, sits obscurely in a very low room, and is kept under in mean estate by the worlds oppressions, because he dare not displease God, or enlarge his conscience proportionably to the vast gulf of the times corruptions. This is the very true reason why folly is set in so great excellency, and sincerity seated in the low place: why so many servants are on horseback, and so many Princes walking as servants on the ground. Sith therefore the Christian is happily restrained by the checks and tenderness of a good conscience, from all unwarrantable means, and unconscionable courses of getting; though his bowels be most compassionate, his heart heated with true charity, and his desires enlarged to do good unto all, and all the good he can; yet he is many times kept short, by reason of his short pittance, from those outward real expressions, and effects of ⟨p. 285⟩charity, to which his tender-hearted zealous affection is inwardly, truly inflamed; and from those more bountiful effusions and liberalities, which rich worldlings may, out of the tithe, nay, the thousandth part of their ill gotten goods, plentifully perform.

It was so in all ages, and at this day many a good man, many times, of great spirit, worth, and vnderstanding, sits obscurely in a very low roome, and is kept vnder in meane estate by the worlds oppressions, because he dare not displease God, or enlarge his conscience proportionably to the vast gulfe of the times corruptions. This is the very true reason why folly is set in so great excellency, and sinceritie seated in the low place: why so many seruants are on horsebacke, and so many Princes walking as seruants on the ground. Sith therefore the Christian is happily restrained by the checks and tendernesse of a good conscience, from all vnwarrantable meanes, and vnconscionable courses of getting; though his bowels bee most compassionate, his heart heated with true charitie, and his desires enlarged to doe good vnto all, and all the good he can; yet he is many times kept short, by reason of his short pittance, from those outward reall expressions, and effects of ⟨p. 285⟩charitie, to which his tender-hearted zealous affection is inwardly, truely inflamed; and from those more bountifull effusions and liberalities, which rich worldlings may, out of the tythe, nay, the thousandth part of their ill gotten goods, plentifully performe.