Gods husbandry

then that he should bring upon himself eternal destruction? Again, the hypocrite abuseth the richest of all Gods benefits, his Word, his Sacraments, his Gospel, the blood of his Son, his tender of mercy, and the rest of those supernatural things that he hath to do with. He turneth the grace of God into wantonness, and like a very Swine, doth tread under foot the most precious pearl of Gods goodness in Christ; and must not an heavy vengeance therefore needs oppress him? Meat, drink, apparel, wit, strength, health, these be worthy gifts of God, and exceeding sinful is the abuse of them accounted in the sight of God, as reason there is that it should; and very heavy have the punishments been, that have lighted upon the abusers of such mercies. But these are common favours, every days benefits; the outcasts of the world have them, as well as those of Gods household. Only the Word of God, his holy Ordinances, the knowledge of himself, & of his Son, and of his Kingdom, and the offers of mercy to save them from hell; these are peculiar favours, highly-esteemed ⟨p. 16⟩kindnesses, specially bestowed upon those of his own family, with whom he pleaseth to be in Covenant. Now the hypocrite abuseth these, he perverteth these, he flatters himself in his sins for all these, and when God himself doth even as it were, come a wooing unto him, in all these ordinances, and beseech him to be reconciled to receive himself for an husband, his Kingdom for a dowry, and Heaven for a jointure, he will none of the bargain, unless he may have the liberty of enjoying his sins besides. O how great an indignity is here offered unto God? how shameful a repulse doth the Lord receive, and how undeserved a refusal? wherefore, by how much the mercies of God, that the dissembler abuseth, in continuing obstinate against them, are greater, by so much must God, in justice, needs increase the sharpness and strength of his blows against his soul.¹ Again, the hypocrite doth procure a number of mischiefs in the vine where he grows, which must needs occasion and hasten his cutting off. These discredit Religion, and cause it to be ill spoken of; these being of Gods family in show, do bring an ill name upon it, as once the spies did upon the land of Canaan.

then that hee should bring vpon himselfe eternall destruction? Againe, the hypocrite abuseth the richest of all Gods benefits, his Word, his Sacraments, his Gospell, the blood of his Son, his tender of mercy, and the rest of those supernaturall things that he hath to doe with. He turneth the grace of God into wantonnesse, and like a very Swine, doth tread vnder foot the most precious pearle of Gods goodnesse in Christ; and must not an heauy vengeance therefore needs oppresse him? Meate, drinke, apparell, wit, strength, health, these be worthy gifts of God, and exceeding sinfull is the abuse of them accounted in the sight of God, as reason there is that it should; and very heauy haue the punishments been, that haue lighted vpon the abusers of such mercies. But these are cōmon fauours, euery dayes benefits; the outcasts of the world haue them, as wel as those of Gods houshold. Only the Word of God, his holy Ordinances, the knowledge of himselfe, & of his Son, and of his Kingdome, and the offers of mercy to saue them from hell; these are peculiar fauours, highly-esteemed