A68877:304
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.
CHAP. XI. Containing the third point of doctrine, that God will prune the fruitful branches: that is, help true Christians against their corruptions.
CHAP. XI. Containing the third poynt of doctrine, that God will prune the fruitfull branches: that is, helpe true Christians against their corruptions.
And that you may the better enjoy, and not abuse this comfort, proceed we now to the third of those four points which we propounded to speak of: viz. Gods goodness in purging his servants. This pruning must needs import some act of God, which is the same to the soul of a Christian man, that cutting off the superfluities of the Vine-branches is to them; and this can be nothing else but the helping of them against their corruptions. For look what superfluity of leaves, twigs, or the like is to a branch, the same are corruptions of all sorts to the Christian man: and therefore pruning is the taking away, removing, strengthening them against these corruptions.
ANd that you may the better inioy, and not abuse this comfort, proceed we now to the third of those foure poynts which wee propounded to speake of: viz. Gods goodnesse in purging his seruants. This pruning must needs import some act of God, which is the same to the soule of a Christian man, that cutting off the superfluities of the Vine-branches is to them; and this can be nothing else but the helping of them against their corruptions. For looke what superfluity of leaues, twigs, or the like is to a branch, the same are corruptions of all sorts to the Christian man: and therefore pruning is the taking away, remouing, strengthening them against these corruptions.
Know then for a surety, that as a good and husbandly Gardener will take away from the Vine all out-shooting and over growing things, that might make it yield him less increase of Grapes: