Gods husbandry

so the former, out of his acquaintance with his own guilefulness, and the sight of his own badness and unworthiness, is ready to threaten himself oversharpely, and to charge himself eagerly (though wrongfully) that he is but an hypocrite. But now ye servants of God, consider that it is a fault to molest your selves with causeless accusations of your selves, or to be ignorant of the unspeakable favour ⟨p. 148⟩that God hath showed you, or to deny the blessed work of his good Spirit in you. Yea you are bound in conscience to acknowledge your own true-heartednes, and with hearty thanks unto God, & much cheerfulness in your selves, to approve your selves to him, and to your own consciences. I confess, that it is far more dangerous to hope then to fear without a cause: but yet the inconveniences of these false sears, are also very many & very great. When a man that is upright. doth not account himself so to be, he is unable to think comfortably of dying, and leaving this World; he is backward to prayer; he can hardly give thanks for any thing; he cannot long for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; he cannot so much delight himself in the contemplation of heaven; he cannot be so patient in affliction: he cannot be so abundant in godly speeches, to the edification of others, as else he might be. These fears therefore (though by God they be made profitable for the beating down of pride, and for the ferreting out of the relics of guile that remain in us) are yet (unless they be seasonably opposed & removed) very noisome and hurtful, & (like an East wind, cold and dry) do bite & nip the branches, and cause the grapes to grow, but few, and little, upon them. Wherefore you must be given to understand, that fruitfulness may well stand with the having many weaknesses, sins and corruptions; though not with the allowing, excusing, maintaining, extenuating, denying, and wilful winking at any. Thou hast manifold corruptions in thee, much pride, vain-glory, worldliness, lust, passion, revengefulness, ⟨p. 149⟩& twenty other like. But tell me; Dost thou see and feel these corruptions? Dost thou constantly observe the motions & risings of them with grief, dislike, detestation, & judging of thy self for them? Dost thou make opposition to them, by pressing on thine heart the promises, threats and precepts of the Word?

so the former, out of his acquaintance with his own guilesulnes, and the sight of his owne badnesse and vnworthinesse, is ready to threaten himselfe ouersharpely, and to charge himselfe eagerly (though wrongfully) that he is but an hypocrite. But now ye seruants of God, consider that it is a fault to molest your selues with causelesse accusations of your selues, or to be ignorant of the vnspeakeable fauour