A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

The tenth sign is, when hearing the Word, we do not apply it unto our selves, to make use of it for our own good; but that it may lose its effect and have no operation in us, put it off and apply it unto others. O, this was a good lesson; would such an one had been here that he might have heard it. That was an effectual reproof for such a sin; would such an one had been present who is guilty of it. Wherein these secure Worldlings are only charitable, wishing better to their Neighbours then unto themselves; and sparing food from their famished Souls, that others wants may be supplied; if at least that may be called charity, which beginneth not at home; or he may be said to love his Neighbour, who never truly loved himself. Now what doth this argue but deep security, when as men have no sense of their own woeful estate, nor any desire to come out of it? What doth it show, but that their hearts are frozen in the dregs of sin, when like a stone wall they beat back all reproofs? What doth it prove, when being full of wounds and festered sores, from the head to the foot, they pull off and cast away the salves which are applied by the skilful Chirurgeon for their cure, thinking that they have no need of them; but that they are rotten in their corruption, and their sores gangrened, which maketh them secure and careless, because they have no sense of smart?

The tenth signe is, when hearing the Word, wee doe not apply it vnto our selues, to make vse of it for our owne good; but that it may lose its effect and haue no operation in vs, put it off and apply it vnto others. O, this was a good lesson; would such an one had beene here that he might haue heard it. That was an effectuall reproofe for such a sinne; would such an one had beene present who is guiltie of it. Wherein these secure Worldlings are onely charitable, wishing better to their Neighbours then vnto themselues; and sparing food from their famished Soules, that others wants may be supplyed; if at least that may be called charitie, which beginneth not at home; or he may be said to loue his Neighbour, who neuer truely loued himselfe. Now what doth this argue but deepe securitie, when as men haue no sense of their owne wofull estate, nor any desire to come out of it? What doth it shew, but that their hearts are frozen in the dregs of sinne, when like a stone wall they beate backe all reproofes? What doth it proue, when being full of wounds and festred sores, from the head to the foot, they pull off and cast away the salues which are applyed by the skilfull Chyrurgeon for their cure, thinking that they haue no need of them; but that they are rotten in their corruption, and their sores gangrened, which maketh them secure and carelesse, because they haue no sense of smart?