Gods husbandry

Thus doing, we follow the example of the Apostle Paul, who when he was molested with a thorn in his flesh, (me thinks that should denote some troublesome corruption of his own heart, which is said to be given unto him: because even poison may be given in a receipt by the skilful Physician) did presently apply himself to God in prayer for the removal of it, and so was answered, that Gods grace should be sufficient for him. Wherefore neither let thy thoughts and first motions of thy soul pass away unobserved or unresisted: neither yet resist them alone in thine own strength, but spy them out speedily, and presently oppugn them, partly by setting on work the grace already received, partly by requiring a new supply of grace: and he that will make this practice familiar and easy to himself by use of doing, shall find by proof, the unspeakable good that will come of it to his soul.

Thus doing, wee follow the example of the Apostle Paul, who when he was molested with a thorne in his flesh, (me thinkes that should denote some troublesome corruption of his owne heart, which is said to be giuen vnto him: because euen poyson may be giuen in a receit by the skilfull Physician) did presently apply himselfe to God in prayer for the remouall of it, and so was answered, that Gods grace should bee sufficient for him. Wherefore neither let thy thoughts and first motions of thy soule passe away vnobserued or vnresisted: neither yet resist them alone in thine owne strength, but spy them out speedily, and presently oppugne them, partly by setting on worke the grace already receiued, partly by requiring a new supply of grace: and hee that will make this practice familiar and easie to himselfe by vse of doing, shall finde by proofe, the vnspeakeable good that will come of it to his soule.

Lastly,¹ the Christian man that would prevail against his corruptions, must deny to himself those things which being otherwise in themselves lawful, do yet become unto himself, through ⟨p. 96⟩his corruption, occasions of evil in any kind. For such is the sinfulness of mans evil heart, that even that which is not in it self sinful, may give an advantage to his sinfulness, and draw him to the committing of sin. These things when his experience hath discovered unto him, he must carefully shun and avoid, and not suffer his over-free use of his liberty to become a snare unto him. Divers exercises, sports, meetings, times, places, and other like there are, of which a man cannot say precisely that they be sins, yet they do so strongly work upon the naughtiness of the heart, that they do even tempt and draw the heart unto evil: these he that will not restrain himself from, shall never be able to keep himself unspotted of the world, but shall be, even with a kind of force & violence, haled to the committing of wickedness against his firmest resolution to the contrary. In using them, a man doth even lay himself open, & tempt lust and Satan to tempt him, and tempt the Lord of heaven through his unbridledness of heart, to deliver him up into the hands of tentation; and then how shall he choose but be vanquished and overcome thereof? Wherefore our Saviour tells us, that if our hand or foot offend us, we must cut them off and cast them from us; yea, if the very eye offend us, we must pull it out and fling it away. His meaning seemeth to be, not alone that all, even the dearest things that are sins, must be abandoned, but even also, that things which allure, provoke, and solicit us to sin, because