A68877:244
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.
To this add a second,1 and the effect shall follow without doubt, and that is, consider of the certainty of Gods accepting even thee also graciously in Christ Jesus, upon thy so mourning and confessing. The Lord of heaven is so good, say thou unto thy self, that even an Hypocrite, and my self the worst of Hypocrites, may be, and shall be accepted into favour, for all his gross dissembling, and frequent abusing of Gods goodness, and resisting of his Spirit. Hope of pardon will turn the hardest hardness into softness: I say, hope of pardon, well and firmly grounded upon the promise of the Word: for false and presumptuous hope, that beareth it self bold in the false application of the promise, looking for the benefit promised, without respecting the condition whereupon pardon is promised, doth rather add to the hardness of the heart, and make it more stony. Speak thus therefore unto thine own soul, and say; Well, for all I have been but an Hypocrite hitherto, yet I may be pardoned, and I may be saved, if I lament for mine hypocrisy; and therefore I will bewail it, and strive for that breaking of the heart with ⟨p. 52⟩grief, which will cause the Lord to bind it up with mercy and with comfort.
To this adde a second,1 and the effect shall follow without doubt, and that is, consider of the certainty of Gods accepting euen thee also graciously in Christ Iesus, vpon thy so mourning and confessing. The Lord of heauen is so good, say thou vnto thy selfe, that euen an Hypocrite, and my selfe the worst of Hypocrites, may be, and shal be accepted into fauour, for all his grosse dissembling, and frequent abusing of Gods goodnesse, and resisting of his Spirit. Hope of pardon will turne the hardest hardnesse into softnesse: I say, hope of pardon, well and firmely grounded vpon the promise of the Word: for false and presumptuous hope, that beareth it selfe bold in the false application of the promise, looking for the benefit promised, without respecting the condition whereupon pardon is promised, doth rather adde to the hardnesse of the heart, and make it more stony. Speake thus therefore vnto thine owne soule, and say; Well, for all I haue been but an Hypocrite hitherto, yet I may be pardoned, and I may bee saued, if I lament for mine hypocrisie; and therefore I will bewaile it, and striue for that breaking of the heart with