A68877:145
Gods husbandry
Gods husbandry: the first part. Tending to show the difference betwixt the hypocrite and the true-hearted Christian. As it was delivered in certain sermons, and is now published by William Whately, preacher of the Word of God in Banbury in OxfordshireGods husbandry: the first part. Tending to shew the difference betwixt the hypocrite and the true-hearted Christian. As it was deliuered in certaine sermons, and is now published by William Whately, preacher of the Word of God in Banbury in Oxfordsheire
London: printed by Bernard Alsop and Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1622
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Let us acquaint you with the moving cause thereof,1 which must be the love of God in Christ, according as our Saviour himself assureth us, saying; If ye love me keep my commandments. In like manner the Apostle telling us, that faith must work by love;2 and saying of himself, that the love of God constrained him to preach the Gospel: for thus did he judge, that seeing one died for all, therefore all were dead; and that he dyed for all, that they which live, should hereafter live, not to themselves, but to him that dyed for them. The holy Ghost at what time it incorporateth the Christian into Christs body, and maketh him a true branch of this Vine, doth ground in his soul a settled and firm persuasion, of the unspeakable love of God unto him, in Christ his Mediator. And though he have not always a sense of this love, yet the persuasion ⟨p. 117⟩of it, doth always take such deep root in him, that it evidently shows it self, in drawing his soul to be one with God, making his heart still to hang towards him, and to be affected with great good will unto him. Now love is an affection, that tendeth to unite the things loved; and because there can be none union betwixt the Creature and the Creator, unless the Creature do even resign and yield up his will to Gods will, to be carried, moved, and guided by it: hence it is, that the soul loving God, must needs subject its will unto him; and therefore be careful to know and do his will, because it is his will, that he should so endeavour to know and do. And so is the Christian heart allured forward to obedience: for we love God, because he loved us first,3 faith the Apostle; and then must our love needs bring forth this obedience. And this thing is of so absolute necessity, in the point of good living, that without it, no seeming goodness can be acceptable unto GOD.4 For so we have the Apostle plainly affirming unto us, that though a man give his body to be burned; and though he give all his substance to the poor, yet if he have not love, all is of no worth or reckoning. Whatsoever therefore doth not arise out of his fountain, and grow from this root, it is not to be called fruit, unless you will mean rotten and worm caten fruit.