Use. Instruction, that forasmuch as we may know that we shall lose our labour in seeking any sinful helps, that Gods displeasure will be increased, our misery increased, our guiltiness increased, and every thing increased that may increase our sorrow and torment, that therefore henceforth we deceive our selves no more, in expecting help at that which altogether turneth to our hurt. We would all stand as firm, and as impregnable castles, but we make a quick sand our foundation, and mud walls our stone work, and stubble and reeds our strongest timber. It would grow to a large volume if we should relate the several kinds of sins whereby we have sought to serve our own turns, as falsehood in word by lying, falsehood in deed by stealing, and deceitfulness of divers sorts, flattery, covetousness, cruelty, hypocrisy, running to witches: and what not? But many volumes are not able to contain the particular facts whereof we stand guilty, only Gods book, and that of our own conscience are capacious enough for them. And therefore it is time for us to pull down our own ruinous building, lest it fall down upon our heads, and make us fall down to destruction. For though it be too slight, and as weak as a cobweb to be a covert over us, yet it is very heavy, and as weighty as a mountain to press us under it. Let us seriously consider, that whatsoever is offensive to God cannot be defensive for us, and that which doth bring any peril to the soul, can never possibly bring safety to state or body. Away then from our own devices, from all fleshly and unlawful means of help, and let us run with speed to him that never failed to succour any that unfeignedly sought help at his hands. And this may be our encouragement hereunto, that we go not unsent, nor come unbidden. His own will, his own word calleth upon us with many promises for that purpose: If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, and thou shalt put iniquity far from thy tabernacle. The Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. When others are cast down, thou shalt say, I am lifted up: and God shall save the humble person: Job. 22. 23. 25. 29.
Vse. Instruction, that forasmuch as we may know that we shall lose our labour in seeking any sinfull helpes, that Gods displeasure will be increased, our miserie increased, our guiltinesse increased, and euery thing increased that may increase our sorow and torment, that therefore henceforth we deceiue our selues no more, in expecting helpe at that which altogether turneth to our hurt. We would all stand as firme, and as impregnable castles, but wee make a quicke sand our foundation, and mudde walles our stone worke, and stubble and reedes our strongest timber. It would grow to a large volume if we should relate the seuerall kindes of sinnes whereby we haue sought to serue our owne turnes, as falsehood in word by lying, falsehood in deed by stealing, and deceitfulnes of diuers sorts, flatterie, couetousnes, crueltie, hypocrisie, running to witches: and what not? But many volumes are not able to containe the particular facts whereof wee stand guiltie, only Gods book, and that of our own conscience are capacious enough for them. And therefore it is time for vs to pull downe our owne ruinous building, lest it fall downe vpon our heads, and make vs fall downe to destruction. For though it bee too slight, and as weake as a cobweb to bee a couert ouer vs, yet it is very heauie, and as weightie as a mountaine to presse vs vnder it. Let vs seriously consider, that whatsoeuer is offensiue to God cannot be defensiue for vs, and that which doth bring any perill to the soule, can neuer possibly bring safetie to state or bodie. Away then from our own deuices, from all fleshly and vnlawful meanes of helpe, and let vs runne with speede to him that neuer failed to succour any that vnfainedly sought helpe at his hands. And this may be our incouragement hereunto, that wee goe not vnsent, nor come vnbidden. His owne will, his owne word calleth vpon vs with many promises for that purpose: If thou returne to the Almightie, thou shalt be built vp, and thou shalt put iniquitie farre from thy tabernacle. The Almightie shall be thy defence, and thou shalt haue plentie of siluer. When others are cast downe, thou shalt say, I am lifted vp: and God shall saue the humble person: Iob. 22. 23. 25. 29.
