Gods husbandry

AND these be the uses of this point, which every man must make for himself: now two things more follow, in regard of other men, with whom we live. For seeing Christs body hath in it some sound members, some rotten ⟨p. 100⟩(I mean his visible body), therefore must we be wary, in not trusting all that carry an appearance of goodness, and far from condemning all as hypocrites, because some prove so. First then, let the plain words of Christ in this text, advertise us to put away simple and foolish credulity, in taking all for that they seem; and putting our selves into the hands of a man, so soon as ever any good things appear in him.¹ Let us rather use all good discretion, and be reserved from men, until by long experience, we have gotten very good assurance of their sincerity. Our Saviour hath made himself a pattern to us of this prudent wariness, as well as of all other graces: for many believed in him,² as John tells us, with whom he trusted not himself, because he knew what was in man. We cannot tell particularly, as he could, what is in the hearts of all those, whose countenance is framed to goodness: but yet this we know in general, that much hollowness is in all, and that many are altogether hollow and guileful; wherefore till long continuance in goodness, till the evident demonstration of truth, and the clear shining of virtue, in the much and often denying of themselves, have verified and approved the soundness of mens hearts;³ we must hold our selves in such terms with them, that they may not have power to hurt us (through our over-speedy openness towards them), even though they should afterwards grow so naught, as to desire our hurt. I mean not, that any man should be bold to conclude against his brother, sure he but dissembleth, and I will not ⟨p. 101⟩trust him. Nay, we should fear to conceive so almost of any man: for even a true Christian may give shrewd signs sometimes of hollowness: but my meaning is, that we should think and hope the best, and be well persuaded of every man, whose outside giveth us cause of a good opinion; but yet so, as still to remember, that we are not able to search the heart, and that guile and hollowness may go very far, and therefore not to adventure too far upon them, in hope that they be such, as will never deceive us.