The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

How wouldst thou judge of the like resolution? If the Husbandman should say, when I have spent my pains, and cost in breaking up, and preparing the Earth, and casting in my Seed; if the Sun shine not, and the rain fall not in season; if the influences of Heaven be suspended, if God withhold his blessing: or if an evading enemy anticipate my Harvest; all I do, and expend, is to no purpose; and God hath not ascertained me of the contrary, by express promise; 'tis as good therefore sit still. Censure, and answer him, and thy self both together.

How would'st thou judge of the like resolution? If the Husbandman should say, when I have spent my pains, and cost in breaking up, and preparing the Earth, and casting in my Seed; if the Sun shine not, and the rain fall not in season; if the influences of Heaven be suspended, if God withhold his blessing: or if an evading enemy anticipate my Harvest; all I do, and expend, is to no purpose; and God hath not ascertain'd me of the contrarie, by expresse promise; 'tis as good therefore sit still. Censure, and answer him, and thy self both together.

But thou wilt yet,¹ it may be, say, that though all this may be possibly true; yet thou canst not, all this while, be convinced of any need, so earnestly to •u•ie thy self about this affair. For God is wont to surprise soul by preventing acts of Grace, to be found of them that sought him not, to break in by an irresistible power, which he least thought of. And to goal to anticipate his grace, were to detract from the […], and so from the glory of it.

But thou wilt yet,¹ it may be, say, that though all this may be possibly true; yet thou canst not, all this while, be convinc't of any need, so earnestly to •u•ie thy self about this affair. For God is wont to surprise soule by preventing acts of Grace, to be found of them that sought him not, to break in by an irristible power, which he least thought of. And to goal to anticipate his grace, were to detract from the , and so from the glory of it.