A68877:242
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.
Understand then, that there are three things that will help even the man that hath been hitherto but an Hypocrite, to lament and mourn for his hypocrisy.
Vnderstand then, that there are three things that will helpe euen the man that hath been hitherto but an Hypocrite, to lament and mourne for his hypocrisie.
The first is,1 to lay open before his mind in some settled and serious meditation, the infiniteness of that evil which shall surely come upon him for his hypocrisy, unless by lamenting it he do prevent the same. Put thy self in mind of the certainty of thy being damned if thou continue an Hypocrite, and of the intolerableness of the punishment of damnation. Say, O how inevitable (but by repentance, whereof sorrow is a necessary companion) and how extreme is the peril wherein I stand! If I cast not out this guile out of mine heart, it will certainly keep me out of heaven; if I keep it still in my soul, it will surely cast me down to hell. I must, I must of necessity, (because of the truth of God that hath said it, and his justice that hates this sin) be damned everlastingly, and for ever fry in those unquenchable flames (which none can suffer without being swallowed up of their torment) unless I be changed, and of an Hypocrite as I have bin, become sound at heart. This cannot be without bewailing mine unsoundness: and ah then shall I not bewail it? Tell thy self again, and again, and many times, in what excessive danger thy soul standeth, of being for ever tormented with the intolerable sense of Gods anger (a thousand times more scalding then the worst fire that can be made of any artificial matter) unless by lamenting thou prevail against thy sin; and this will help thee to lament thy sin: Muster up all the threats and menaces of Gods Word against hypocrisy, and against Hypocrites, ⟨p. 51⟩and laying them close to thine own soul, say, Upon me shall all these be fulfilled, if by mourning I free not my self from them. Faith in Gods threats will make the heart ache and prick; and much pressing them upon a mans soul, and considering the author and firmness of them, will cause them to be believed: and so thou hast one way of melting thy self.