There are many evils in us that we would reform,1 but we have not been humbled for them, for our ceremonies, and subjection to* false Government of the Church, Who hath bin humbled for these things, as sin? We reform them as things inconvenient,3 but not being humbled for them as sin, the very roots of these things are in the hearts of many, so as if times should change, a distinction would serve their turn to come and submit to them again, so that we sow before we plough.4 I find in Jer. 4. 3. you have this exhortation even in termiminis, That, They must plough up the fallow-ground of their hearts (only expressed a little further) They must not sow among thorns. They must not think to mingle that which is good with that which is evil, it may be a few good seeds are brought into a business, yea, but there is a great deal of evil. My Brethren, take heed of being deceived that way; many though they do not intend to deceive you, yet they may deceive you by mixing some good things with a great many evil, and therefore examine things. But I note this place in Jeremiah the rather from the consideration of the time of Jeremiahs Prophecy. ⟨p. 468⟩You shall find that the time of Jeremiahs Prophecy was in Josiahs time. Now the time of Josiah was a time of great reformation, there was very much reformation in his time, yea, but saith Jeremia•, What though you did reform, what though you do many things, you sow among thorns, you do not plough up the ground, you are not humbled, the roots of your sin are not got out of you, and therefore though there be a great deal of ill stuff that seems to be cast out, and many good things are set upon in the Worship of God that was not formerly, yet you must plough, plough up your fallow grounds. The holy Ghost joining of them together, Sow Righteousness, and plough up your fallow ground.
There are many evils in us that we would reform,1 but we have not been humbled for them, for our ceremonies, and subjection to* false Government of the Church, Who hath bin humbled for these things, as sin? We reform them as things inconvenient,3 but not being humbled for them as sin, the very roots of these things are in the hearts of many, so as if times should change, a distinction would serve their turn to come and submit to them again, so that we sow before we plow.4 I find in Jer. 4. 3. you have this exhortation even in termiminis, That, They must plow up the fallow-ground of their hearts (only exprest a little further) They must not sow among thorns. They must not think to mingle that which is good with that which is evil, it may be a few good seeds are brought into a business, yea, but there is a great deal of evil. My Brethren, take heed of being deceived that way; many though they do not intend to deceive you, yet they may deceive you by mixing some good things with a great many evil, and therefore examin things. But I note this place in Jeremiah the rather from the consideration of the time of Jeremiahs Prophesie. ⟨p. 468⟩You shall find that the time of Jeremiahs Prophesie was in Josiahs time. Now the time of Josiah was a time of great reformation, there was very much reformation in his time, yea, but saith Jeremia•, What though you did reform, what though you do many things, you sow among thorns, you do not plow up the ground, you are not humbled, the roots of your sin are not got out of you, and therefore though there be a great deal of ill stuff that seems to be cast out, and many good things are set upon in the Worship of God that was not formerly, yet you must plow, plow up your fallow grounds. The holy Gost joyning of them together, Sow Righteousness, and plow up your fallow ground.
- 1See Nath. Rogers's letter out of New-England concerning this point.
- *Subjection is either passive and involuntary; or active and willing. Again, Government may be false essentially and of it self, or per accidents and by reason of some adjuncts. Lastly some things are such as the corruptions of them, may be sooner discerned by a conscientious eye: others such as, by reason of their similitude to Divine Institution or practice, and their Antiquity and Prescription, cannot so soon, if at all, be certainly concluded evil; see Mr. John Cottons Letter in New-England to Mr. Williams, printed London 1643. for Benjamin Allen in Popes-head-Alley.Subjection is either passive and involuntary; or active and willing. Again, Government may be false essentially and of it self, or per accidents and by reason of some adjuncts. Lastly some things are such as the corruptions of them, may be sooner discerned by a consciencious eye: others such as, by reason of their similitude to Divine Institution or practice, and their Antiquity and Prescription, cannot so soon, if at all, be certainly concluded evil; see Mr. John Cottons Letter in New-England to Mr. Williams, printed London 1643. for Benjamin Allen in Popes-head-Alley.
- 3Printed in Lond. for Christoph. Meredith in Pauls-yard.
- 4Jer. 4. 3.
