A68877:168
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.
but it is the attentive marking and observing the Word (out of a good opinion of it, and an honourable esteem, as a saving instrument appointed of God to make men ⟨p. 142⟩holy) which we prescribe unto you as a means of changing your barrenness into fruitfulness; by the lips of his faithful servants, will Jesus Christ drop virtue into the hearts of those, that come to seek it there. But
but it is the attentiue marking and obseruing the Word (out of a good opinion of it, and an honourable esteeme, as a sauing instrument appointed of God to make men ⟨p. 142⟩holy) which we prescribe vnto you as a meanes of changing your barrennesse into fruitfulnesse; by the lips of his faithfull seruants, will Iesus Christ drop vertue into the hearts of those, that come to seeke it there. But
Thirdly,1 after hearing and reading, you must meditate and consider of that which you have heard, you must apply it to your selves, you must try your selves by it, you must duly consider, whether you perform the things which it declareth unto you, yea or no; and if you have been failing, provoke your selves to more carefulness; you must urge your selves to give credit unto the promises and threats, and to say within your selves, this good or evil, shall surely be performed unto me accordingly. And so mighty is the Word of God, that if it be thus hidden in the heart, it shall surely purge the heart, & make it good; if it be engrafted in the soul, it is able to save the soul; if it be covered with earth, it will bring forth a crop; neither is any branch so barren and unfruitful, but by thus applying the Word to it self in private meditation, it shall by little and little be made fruitful. But many men do want the power of the Word, because they content themselves barely to read or hear the Word; or if they mark it a little for the present, they esteem-that sufficient, never taking care to go alone, and lay it fast unto their own hearts. Take knowledge (I pray you brethren) of the true cause, why the Word of God doth not profit the most of your souls: you come hither to hear it, perhaps also you give some reasonable heed to it, and can