Gods husbandry

Thus this truth enforceth them, after much turning and winding, in effect to confess it, though the truth is, they would not have it seem so, for fear of a sore loss that might follow thence unto their Clergies kitchen and manger, I mean their living and pomp. But let them pass.

Thus this truth inforceth them, after much turning and winding, in effect to confesse it, though the truth is, they would not haue it seeme so, for feare of a sore losse that might follow thence vnto their Clergies kitchin and manger, I meane their liuing and pompe. But let them passe.

There is a second error of heretics,¹ (so they may well be called) no less dangerous, yea verily, I suppose much more dangerous then the former, of old condemned under the name of Puritans, from a conceited and imaginary purity, or absolute freedom from all sin, whereof they boasted, and now as the speech goes, revived in some parts of this Land. This is that the Saints ⟨p. 74⟩[…] ⟨p. 75⟩[…] ⟨p. 76⟩of God in this life may attain to such perfection, as not at all to commit any sin, (with such gay fancies they please to seed themselves, and their seduced followers) Now it is most certain, that these men are the most abominable and dissembling hypocrites in all the world, or else the most besotted and benumbed spirits: for their own whole carriage, and continual experience doth confute them, even to themselves, and yet they will not see themselves confuted. If ever any of you meet with any foolish Hypocrite, offering to tell you a tale of such perfection, that he hopes to get, or that he hath gotten, or that may be gotten by any in this life, as never to sin any more, never any more to need repentance: do no more but turn him to Saint Johns Epistle, and tell him, that he that saith he hath no sin, deceiveth himself, and the truth is not in him. Bid him consult with Solomon again, who propoundeth the question as of a thing impossible, Who can say, his heart is pure? and tell him again, that the same Solomon knew what he said, when he said, that there is a generation which is pure in their own eyes, but are not cleansed from their filthiness: and tell him, that those branches in Christ which need no pruning, are sure (like a branch overladen with Grapes) through the conceit of their much fruitfulness, broken off from him: for he saith, that every one remaining in him, needeth, and receiveth pruning; which were not needful, if he were faultless. And so leave the fond, deceived, and self-conceited