Four godly and fruitful sermons two preached at Drayton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…Foure godlie and fruitful sermons two preached at Draiton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…

Which rule discovereth the corruptness of their zeal, whether close hypocrites, or weak Christians, who are led on merely by the examples of good men, whom they affect, much to like of, and earnestly to stand for such things, as they perceive them in their practise to observe, and to make conscience of: and if there be but a word spoken against any of the things that they have taken a liking of, they are marvellously stirred with indignation thereat, and grow passionate and vehement against the parties, though they have never so good a meaning in that which they speak: Yet let them be urged to prove out of the word the necessity of those duties which they so earnestly press, they can say little or nothing to the purpose for them; and so grow many times either to dislike and forsake all if they be hypocrites, or at least to be discouraged, and to be at a stand, if they be weaklings in Christ Jesus. And whence proceed these inconveniences but from this, that they are zealous for things that in themselves, and unto others are good and holy, but not thoroughly discerned of them to be of that nature: the consideration whereof, should make us to sit sure in matters of godliness, not building upon the example of good men, but upon the truth of the good word of God, and then our foundation shall never fail us.

Which rule discouereth the corruptnes of their zeale, whether close hypocrites, or weake Christians, who are led on meerely by the examples of good men, whome they affect, much to like of, and earnestly to stand fot such things, as they perceiue them in their practise to obserue, and to make conscience of: and if there be but a word spoken against any of the things that they haue taken a liking of, they are maruellously stirred with indignation thereat, and grow passionate and vehement against the parties, though they haue neuer so good a meaning in that which they speake: Yet let them bee vrged to prooue out of the word the necessitie of those duties which they so earnestly presse, they can say little or nothing to the purpose for them; and so grow manie times either to dislike and forsake all if they bee hypocrites, or at least to bee discouraged, and to bee at a stand, if they be weaklings in Christ Iesus. And whence proceed these inconueniences but from this, that they are zealous for things that in themselues, and vnto others are good and holie, but not thoroughly discerned of them to bee of that nature: the consideration whereof, should make vs to sit sure in matters of godlinesse, not building vpon the example of good men, but vpon the truth of the good word of God, and then our foundation shall neuer faile vs.