A68877:158
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.
CHAP. XVIII. Containing the third use.
CHAP. XVIII. Containing the third vse.
Thirdly,1 let all men be now exhorted to get this fruitfulness, by which they may approve themselves to be the true members of JESUS CHRIST. Men do many times delight to nourish in their Orchards, trees that bear no fruit, only for the comfort of their shade in hot seasons. It is not so with God, he likes not any tree that can do nothing else but yield a shadow: if you will find favour in his sight, you must be trees of righteousness, ⟨p. 136⟩you must be trees that yield some good fruit, and be not wholly barren. Learn I beseech you not to satisfy your selves with shows, with formalities, with bare leaves; but show your faith by the fruits, and let the grapes and figs, that may be gathered of you, testify for you before God, and your own consciences, that you be trees of Gods own planting. Content not your selves with a form of religion; applaud not your selves in your hearing and receiving, in your talking and seeming, and your outward good dealing: but, O let your lives, your whole lives, and the tenor of all your whole conversation be uniformly, constantly, and in all things conformable to the doctrine, and example of our Lord Jesus Christ; walk as he hath walked, and hath commanded you to walk. Let me urge upon you the words of John Baptist to the Pharisees (men that went for as devout holy and religious persons in their times, till Christ the heart-searcher came to deal with them, as any of you likely can be taken now); begin not, saith he, to say with your selves, we have Abraham to our father, but bring forth fruits worthy amendment of life. Satisfy not your selves, in having Abraham for your father, I mean in the external formalities of religion, but look to the course of your lives, and see that it be such, as may beseem repentance. Why will you loose your labour? why will you die, O house of Israel! why will you rest your selves in that, that will not profit? Labour now to lead a godly conversation in Christ Jesus; let the common stream and current