A68877:258
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.
Let us now go forward to consider his Fatherly goodness towards the upright. Every branch that bringeth forth fruit, he purgeth or pruneth, that it may bring forth more fruit. It should seem then that they have need of purging, and therefore have some things amiss about them. For it were an idle labour, and a matter ⟨p. 65⟩deserving reproof and reproach in a gardener to be paring a branch that hath nothing about it, which would do more hurt then good: and surely the Lord of heaven need not to remove any thing from his branches, if he did not meet with some things evil & superfluous upon them.
LEt vs now goe forward to consider his Fatherly goodnes towards the vpright. Euery branch that bringeth forth fruit, he purgeth or pruneth, that it may bring forth more fruit. It should seeme then that they haue need of purging, and therefore haue some things amisse about them. For it were an idle labour, and a matter ⟨p. 65⟩deseruing reproofe and reproch in a gardener to be paring a branch that hath nothing about it, which would doe more hurt then good: and surely the Lord of heauen need not to remoue any thing from his branches, if he did not meet with some things euill & superfluous vpon them.
Know you then, Doct. 2 1that the most fruitful branch that grows upon this Vine, hath something in it that will require the use of a pruning knife, that is to say, the truest hearted Christian that ever was in this world hath had his faults, and whiles he liveth in this house of clay, shall have them. Even those boughs that are hanged with large clusters of ripe and pleasant Grapes, have yet some superfluous leaves, some out-growing sprigs, some dry and rotten twists, that were better away then there, and that cause the Grapes to be neither so many, nor fair, nor sweet as else they would be. Doth not Saint James tell us, that In many things we offend all? Lo the express plainness of this text: for there is great force in the words many, and we, and all; for who shall exempt himself from that confession, wherein Saint James himself found cause to bear a part,