Gods husbandry

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,² and that so, as he includeth in it with himself, all the number of the Saints of God then living? and who shall come after and say, that himself, or such and such in his time, offend in nothing, or in few things, when, of all the Saints in the Apostles time, it is confessed by the holy Apostle, and the holy Spirit that guided him, not alone that they formerly have offended, but also that they ⟨p. 66⟩presently did offend in many things.³ Solomon also is plain, and saith, that there is no man which liveth, and sinneth not. If in the old Testament there were none which lived sinless; and under the new Testament they did all acknowledge themselves offenders in many things: I hope then it is plain enough, what hath been, and in all ages will be the state of good Christians, and true-hearted, even that they shall be troubled with sins, and with many sins. David saith also,⁴ by way of confession to God, Lord, who can know his errors? not alone confessing of himself, but of all, that they have not alone some errors, but many more then they can possibly come to the understanding of,⁵ in this life. Paul also tells us, that when he would do good, evil was present with him. And who can boast of freedom from this cumbersome presence of evil, if the Apostle himself could not?