Gods husbandry

But moreover,¹ the Lord doth make the devil himself an unwilling instrument of pruning his servants, by means of those fierce tentations wherewith he doth mightily assault them. Even Satan's violent buffetings are, by Gods goodness, turned into most excellent purgations. When the devil is let loose upon a Christian man, (as the shepherds dog upon the sheep) and with fury and craft strives to bring him to utter despair, making him believe, that the very pit of hell it self stands gaping before him, ready to swallow him up; or when he doth work mightily upon his sinful affections, with a kind of excessive violence, haling him to the practice of those detestable sins which his soul hateth, and making none end to lye at him with unceasing and vehement solicitations to commit such and such foul deeds: Oh this cuts, this woundeth, this vexeth and tormenteth; this sets them on praying, on weeping, on crying, on bleeding; this doth so shame him and disgrace him to himself; this makes him so far out of love and conceit with himself, and so extremely vile and odious in his own eyes, that he thinks no name nor usage bad enough for himself; this also maketh him, with a blushing and confounded face, and with a most dejected and a broken spirit, to ⟨p. 115⟩run and cry unto the Lord his God for help and strength. Thus the more Satan striveth to stir corruption, the better it is purged, (for stirred it must be, before it can be purged) and by his tentations being brought to see and feel a number of corruptions, which else we would never see and feel; we find his sinful malice, by Gods goodness, made an excellent furtherance to our cleansing of our selves.

But moreouer,¹ the Lord doth make the diuell himselfe an vnwilling instrument of pruning his seruants, by meanes of those fierce tentations wherewith hee doth mightily assault them. Euen Satans violent buffettings are, by Gods goodnesse, turned into most excellent purgations. When the diuell is let loose vpon a Christian man, (as the shepheards dog vpon the sheepe) and with fury and craft striues to bring him to vtter despaire, making him beleeue, that the very pit of hell it selfe stands gaping before him, ready to swallow him vp; or when he doth worke mightily vpon his sinfull affections, with a kind of excessiue violence, haling him to the practice of those detestable sinnes which his soule hateth, and making none end to lye at him with vncessant and vehement sollicitations to commit such and such foule deeds: Oh this cuts, this woundeth, this vexeth and tormenteth; this sets them on praying, on weeping, on crying, on bleeding; this doth so shame him and disgrace him to himselfe; this makes him so farre out of loue and conceit with himselfe, and so extremely vile and odious in his owne eyes, that he thinkes no name nor vsage bad enough for himselfe; this also maketh him, with a blushing and confounded face, and with a most deiected and a broken spirit, to ⟨p. 115⟩runne and cry vnto the Lord his God for helpe and strength. Thus the more Satan striueth to stirre corruption, the better it is purged, (for stirred it must bee, before it can bee purged) and by his tentations being brought to see and feele a number of corruptions, which else we would neuer see and feele; wee finde his sinfull malice, by Gods goodnesse, made an excellent furtherance to our cleansing of our selues.

1. 12. Satans bitter tentations.

And not only so,¹ but in the third and last place, our own sins, faults and slips, do become instruments of our making clean from sin, even as a man doth better scour his foul hands, having first smeared them with some foul thing that helpeth more to rub off the foulness that cleaveth fast unto the skin: not that the Children do, or may at any time of purpose commit sin to this end, (for it is quite besides, and against the nature of them to bring forth this effect; yea every sin is apt to leave, as a filthy spot behind the committing of it, a greater proneness to commit it then before) but that the Lord doth please divers times to give them over to be foiled of their own sinful lusts, that by smarting for them, they may be more humbled under them, and made more careful to see and resist them afterwards. Thus Peters fall before the high Priests servants, was a means to make him a better, (that is to say, a more humble and self-contemning man) for his whole life after; and in a sense a man may well term it, an happy fault for him. And so the Prophet Davids ⟨p. 116⟩heinous and presumptuous sin did excellently prune him, by helping to abate that conceit of himself, which the great prosperity of a rich and flourishing kingdom had wrought in him. So we may say of many a Christian man, that he would never have been good, if some of his actions had not been stark naught; and had not the Lord given him over to the committing of such and such gross sins, he would never, to any purpose, have been convinced of sin, and so never have been cleansed of it. We think not our selves subject to all manner of evils, we make no great matter of the lower degrees of sin, and so grow slithy, and fashionable, and dead in our confessions, because we think we have nothing worth speaking of, to reckon for before the Lord. Hence the Lord is provoked to give us up unto our selves, that by some notable foil, or soils, we may be made to know what is in us, and so be enforced to set about the cleansing of our selves, with much more care and earnestness then otherwise we would have done. So have you heard the Lords means of purging. Know also the manner of doing it:² and that is to be conceived of thus: First, he doth it by degrees; secondly, by making a mans self a voluntary worker of it.

And not onely so,¹ but in the third and last place, our owne sinnes, faults and slips, doe become instruments of our making cleane from sinne, euen as a man doth better scowre his foule hands, hauing first smeared them with some foule thing that helpeth more to rub off the foulenes that cleaueth fast vnto the skinne: not that the Children doe, or may at any time of purpose commit sinne to this end, (for it is quite besides, and against the nature of them to bring forth this effect; yea euery sinne is apt to leaue, as a filthy spot behind the committing of it, a greater pronenesse to commit it then before) but that the Lord doth please diuers times to giue them ouer to be foyled of their owne sinfull lusts, that by smarting for them, they may bee more humbled vnder them, and made more carefull to see and resist them afterwards. Thus Peters fall before the high Priests seruants, was a meanes to make him a better, (that is to say, a more humble and selfe-contemning man) for his whole life after; and in a sence a man may well tearme it, an happy fault for him. And so the Prophet Dauids ⟨p. 116⟩hainous and presumptuous sinne did excellently prune him, by helping to abate that conceit of himselfe, which the great prosperity of a rich and flourishing kingdome had wrought in him. So wee may say of many a Christian man, that hee would neuer haue been good, if some of his actions had not been starke naught; and had not the Lord giuen him ouer to the committing of such and such grosse sinnes, hee would neuer, to any purpose, haue been conuinced of sinne, and so neuer haue been cleansed of it. Wee thinke not our selues subiect to all manner of euils, we make no great matter of the lower degrees of sinne, and so grow slithy, and fashionable, and dead in our confessions, because we thinke wee haue nothing worth speaking of, to reckon for before the Lord. Hence the Lord is prouoked to giue vs vp vnto our selues, that by some notable foyle, or soyles, we may be made to know what is in vs, and so be inforced to set about the cleansing of our selues, with much more care and earnestnesse then otherwise we would haue done. So haue you heard the Lords meanes of purging. Know also the manner of doing it:² and that is to bee conceiued of thus: First, he doth it by degrees; secondly, by making a mans selfe a voluntary worker of it.

1. 13. Their own slips and faults.3. Their owne slips and faults.
2. 2The manner of weakening sin: 1. By small degrees.

The Lord doth at once, in one act within himself, justify perfectly each believer, fully acquitting him of all sin whatsoever, through the imputation of Christs perfect righteousness unto him, though this be manifested unto his ⟨p. 117⟩soul by degrees, as he doth particularly seek the sight of it, upon occasion of his particular sins: but sanctification is not wrought in an instant; yea, it is effected by little and little, some now, some then, as a sore is healed by laying on of one plaster to day, which draweth out some corruption, and makes the wound or ulcer less filthy, and another to morrow, another next day, whereby it groweth less and less filthy, and less deep, and less wide. For indeed, such an extreme change from the utter foulness of corrupted nature, to perfect holiness, cannot possibly be wrought in an instant, unless the Lord himself should please even immediately, and more then miraculously to work it, which it seemeth not good unto him to do. Hence it is, that having ordained to purge us by means, (and namely those that you heard of before) he performeth it in such manner as sorteth to the nature of the means; alone this is to be noted, that still the change of Gods servants from sin to holiness, is made more apparent, by making the corruptions more felt, as they be more healed, contrary to that which falleth out in bodily sores. For if a mans hand be wounded, the nearer it is to healing, the less pain he feels with it, and the less troublesome it is to him: but if the soul be wounded with any corruption; for example, with pride, or worldliness, or the like, the more it is cleansed from him, and the lesser degrees of it remain in him, the more troublesome and offensive will those remnants prove unto his soul, so ⟨p. 118⟩that the little pride and worldliness that remaineth behind unhealed, will vex him more then the greater quantity of those vices did when they were less healed. Evermore sins prove most tedious and cumbersome, when a man hath attained a greater perfection of strength against them. For the soul, the more holy it is, the more it hateth unholiness, and the more sensible it must needs be of the thing that it more hateth. A man in his utter unregeneracy is dead in sin, so that he doth not feel it at all to be burdensome unto him;

The Lord doth at once, in one act within himselfe, iustifie perfectly each beleeuer, fully acquitting him of all sinne whatsoeuer, through the imputation of Christs perfect righteousnes vnto him, though this bee manifested vnto his ⟨p. 117⟩soule by degrees, as he doth particularly seeke the sight of it, vpon occasion of his particular sinnes: but sanctification is not wrought in an instant; yea, it is effected by little and little, some now, some then, as a sore is healed by laying on of one plaister to day, which draweth out some corruption, and makes the wound or vlcer lesse filthy, and another to morrow, another next day, wherby it groweth lesse and lesse filthy, and lesse deep, and lesse wide. For indeed, such an extreme change from the vtter foulenesse of corrupted nature, to perfect holinesse, cannot possibly bee wrought in an instant, vnlesse the Lord himselfe should please euen immediately, and more then miraculously to worke it, which it seemeth not good vnto him to doe. Hence it is, that hauing ordained to purge vs by meanes, (and namely those that you heard of before) hee performeth it in such manner as sorteth to the nature of the meanes; alone this is to bee noted, that still the change of Gods seruants from sinne to holinesse, is made more apparant, by making the corruptions more felt, as they be more healed, contrary to that which falleth out in bodily sores. For if a mans hand bee wounded, the neerer it is to healing, the lesse paine he feeles with it, and the lesse troublesome it is to him: but if the soule bee wounded with any corruption; for example, with pride, or worldlinesse, or the like, the more it is cleansed from him, and the lesser degrees of it remaine in him, the more troublesome and offensiue will those remnants proue vnto his soule, so ⟨p. 118⟩that the little pride and worldlinesse that remaineth behind vnhealed, will vex him more then the greater quantity of those vices did when they were lesse healed. Euermore sinnes prooue most tedious and cumbersome, when a man hath attained a greater perfection of strength against them. For the soule, the more holy it is, the more it hateth vnholinesse, and the more sensible it must needs be of the thing that it more hateth. A man in his vtter vnregeneracy is dead in sinne, so that he doth not feele it at all to bee burthensome vnto him;

But as this help against sin doth come by small degrees,¹ so likewise it cometh unto them by a sweet and gentle manner of working, God drawing and alluring their wills, and moving them to become willing instruments of purging themselves, according to the words of the Prophet, Wash you, make you clean: and again, Wash thine heart, O Jerusalem: and again, Make you a new heart: and so faith Saint John, He that hath this hope, purgeth himself. The Lord doth not ⟨p. 119⟩make a Christian man good, as it were, in despite of his heart, and whether he will or no, but doth work in him a desire of goodness, and inclineth his will to wish and pursue it, and stirreth up in him a detestation of sin, and turneth away his will from it, and so is he a fellow-worker with God to his own cleansing, when the Lord hath once breathed the breath of a new life in him. By his own crying, striving, labouring, praying, resolving, resisting, opposing, he gets the victory against his sins, and becomes more then a conqueror. The Lord will not beat down the sins of his people, as sometimes he did the Canaanites with hailstones, without any help of their own, that they should, without fighting, come after alone to the spoil: but they must fight against their fleshly lusts, and must work with God, as it is said that Jonathan did, and so God doth subdue their enemies under them, by working in them a resolution, care and endeavour to vanquish them, and stirring them up to meditate, pray, cry, and use the spiritual weapons of this holy warfare. And thus doth the Lord purge the branches in this Vine.

But as this helpe against sinne doth come by small degrees,¹ so likewise it commeth vnto them by a sweet and gentle manner of working, God drawing and alluring their wills, and mouing them to become willing instruments of purging themselues, according to the words of the Prophet, Wash you, make you cleane: and againe, Wash thine heart, O Ierusalem: and againe, Make you a new heart: and so faith Saint Iohn, Hee that hath this hope, purgeth himselfe. The Lord doth not ⟨p. 119⟩make a Christian man good, as it were, in despight of his heart, and whether he will or no, but doth worke in him a desire of goodnesse, and inclineth his will to wish and pursue it, and stirreth vp in him a detestation of sinne, and turneth away his will from it, and so is he a fellow-worker with God to his owne cleansing, when the Lord hath once breathed the breath of a new life in him. By his owne crying, striuing, labouring, praying, resoluing, resisting, opposing, hee gets the victory against his sinnes, and becomes more then a conquerour. The Lord will not beate downe the sinnes of his people, as sometimes he did the Canaanites with hailestones, without any helpe of their owne, that they should, without fighting, come after alone to the spoyle: but they must fight against their fleshly lusts, and must worke with God, as it is said that Ionathan did, and so God doth subdue their enemies vnder them, by working in them a resolution, care and indeuour to vanquish them, and stirring them vp to meditate, pray, cry, and vse the spirituall weapons of this holy warfare. And thus doth the Lord purge the branches in this Vine.

1. 12. Gently, by making them willing instruments of it.

Now having sufficiently proved and cleared the point, we must make some use of it.

Now hauing sufficiently proued and cleered the poynt, we must make some vse of it.

CHAP. XIII. The first use of the point, to show their misery that are not pruned.

CHAP. XIII. The first vse of the poynt, to shew their misery that are not pruned.

First, Use 1 this point doth evidently discover the wretchedness of those men that find no pruning,¹ no growth of mortification at all, none abatement of their corruptions, no diminishing of their carnal lusts and disordered affections: but after much hearing of the Word of God, and a long formality of Religion, they remain still as wrathful and impatient, as lustful and unclean, as worldly and unjust, as voluptuous as vain glorious, and in other things as much disordered as ever they were. The Lord hath come near them in his Word, it hath not purged them; he hath come near them in afflictions, and lo, their dross will not be melted from them: nay, their sins seem to wax stronger and stronger, and their corruptions grow every day more heady and violent then other, and yet they see not this impairing of their souls, with grief and shame of heart, but rest themselves well satisfied in so miserable an estate.

FIrst, Vse 1 this poynt doth euidently difcouer the wretchednesse of those men that finde no pruning,¹ no growth of mortification at all, none abatement of their corruptions, no diminishing of their carnall lusts and disordered affections: but after much hearing of the Word of God, and a long formality of Religion, they remaine still as wrathfull and impatient, as lustfull and vncleane, as worldly and vniust, as voluptuous as vaine glorious, and in other things as much disordered as euer they were. The Lord hath come neere them in his Word, it hath not purged them; he hath come neere them in afflictions, and loe, their drosse will not bee melted from them: nay, their sinnes seeme to waxe stronger and stronger, and their corruptions grow euery day more heady and violent then other, and yet they see not this impairing of their soules, with griefe and shame of heart, but rest themselues well satisfied in so miserable an estate.

1. 1The misery of those whose sins do not abate, but rather increase.The misery of those whose sins doe not abate, but rather increase.

Brethren, there are not a few people inhabiting under the roof of Gods House the Church, with whom it fareth directly in this manner that I have described, to whom we have a dismal tidings to deliver, and that is this; that they be ⟨p. 121⟩not fruitful branches in Christ, because they want that which our Saviour Christ affirms, that every true branch obtaineth. Whatsoever person he is, that liveth a reputed member of the Church, frequenteth the ordinances of God, meeteth with divers sorrows and calamities, and thus hath a long while continued, and yet seeth no more sin in himself then before, is no more troubled at his sin then at first, gets no more power against his sin then at the beginning, but goes along still in a kind of settled civility of living to men-ward, and there resteth himself, neither perceiving, nor greatly caring to perceive any healing of privy pride, of secret guile, of deadness and coldness of spirit, of unbelief, of the love of earthly things, of wrath, of revengefulness, of other naughty lusts of his evil heart: let this man come hither, and out of this text of Scripture truly interpreted, truly applied, collect and gather a most fearful conclusion against his own soul, in this wise: Every fruitful branch in the Vine, that is, every true member of Christ, every sound-hearted Christian is purged, that is, healed and cleansed of the sinfulness and corruptions of his heart and life: but I, though I have been trained up in the bosom of the Church, and enjoyed all Gods ordinances, and have also tasted of some sourness too in my days, which should have helped to my reformation, have found no purging nor cleansing, am no whit helped against my sins of all sorts; wherefore I am not a fruitful branch, I am ⟨p. 122⟩not a true member of Christ, I am no sound-hearted Christian. Is not this a sound, certain, and infallible conclusion, that is so directly, plainly and truly inferred out of the words of our Saviour? And how then can you flatter your selves in vain, O all ye that are not cleansed of your iniquities? How can you make your selves believe you are good Christians? how can you promise to your selves remission of sins and salvation, and all other privileges of true Christians, and enjoy a kind of false content in a false hope of finding favour with God?

Brethren, there are not a few people inhabiting vnder the roofe of Gods House the Church, with whom it fareth directly in this manner that I haue described, to whom wee haue a dismall tidings to deliuer, and that is this; that they bee ⟨p. 121⟩not fruitfull branches in Christ, because they want that which our Sauiour Christ affirmes, that euery true branch obtaineth. Whatsoeuer person he is, that liueth a reputed member of the Church, frequenteth the ordinances of God, meeteth with diuers sorrowes and calamities, and thus hath a long while continued, and yet seeth no more sinne in himselfe then before, is no more troubled at his sinne then at first, gets no more power against his sinne then at the beginning, but goes along still in a kind of settled ciuility of liuing to men-ward, and there resteth himselfe, neither perceiuing, nor greatly caring to perceiue any healing of priuie pride, of secret guile, of deadnesse and coldnesse of spirit, of vnbeliefe, of the loue of earthly things, of wrath, of reuengefulnesse, of other naughty lusts of his euill heart: let this man come hither, and out of this text of Scripture truly interpreted, truly applyed, collect and gather a most fearefull conclusion against his owne soule, in this wise: Euery fruitfull branch in the Vine, that is, euery true member of Christ, euery sound-hearted Christian is purged, that is, healed and cleansed of the sinfulnesse and corruptions of his heart and life: but I, though I haue beene trained vp in the bosome of the Church, and inioyed all Gods ordinances, and haue also tasted of some sowrenesse too in my dayes, which should haue helped to my reformation, haue found no purging nor cleansing, am no whit helped against my sinnes of all sorts; wherefore I am not a fruitfull branch, I am ⟨p. 122⟩not a true member of Christ, I am no sound-hearted Christian. Is not this a sound, certaine, and infallible conclusion, that is so directly, plainly and truly inferred out of the words of our Sauiour? And how then can you flatter your selues in vaine, O all yee that are not cleansed of your iniquities? How can you make your selues beleeue you are good Christians? how can you promise to your selues remission of sinnes and saluation, and all other priuiledges of true Christians, and inioy a kind of false content in a false hope of finding fauour with God?

Doubtless it is true that Solomon saith, There is a generation that are clean in their own eyes, and yet are not purged from their filthiness. These persons that have no pruning, feel no need of pruning, and are most apt to brag of cleanness, by how much they are more uncleansed. But miserable is that man, whose best remedy against misery is this, that he will not see it. I pray you therefore, if you be branches destitute of pruning, that you would not suffer your self-love to hinder you from taking notice of your uncleansednesse, nor from a serious consideration of your misery following thence, in that it is most certainly concluded from this Scripture, that you be but Hypocrites at the best. And yet let not my weak Christian misconceive this point to his own needless and causeless vexation, concluding against himself, that if that be no true branch which wanteth pruning, then himself is doubtless in an hard case: for alack, divers of his corruptions are so far from being ⟨p. 123⟩purged from him, that they do rather gather strength, and prevail more and more within him. For doubtless it may befall even a true sanctified man,¹ to have some sins more violent and headstrong in him, after that he hath a long time continued in the profession of Christian Religion, then they were at the first, and the corruptions of his heart in some kind may discover themselves by much and often breaking forth, which informer time he was better able to keep, as we know it by record of holy writ, to have fallen out to David, Asa, and other of Gods faithful children.

Doubtlesse it is true that Salomon saith, There is a generation that are cleane in their owne eyes, and yet are not purged from their filthinesse. These persons that haue no pruning, feele no need of pruning, and are most apt to brag of cleannesse, by how much they are more vnclensed. But miserable is that man, whose best remedy against misery is this, that he will not see it. I pray you therefore, if you bee branches destitute of pruning, that you would not suffer your selfe-loue to hinder you from taking notice of your vncleansednesse, nor from a serious consideration of your misery following thence, in that it is most certainly concluded from this Scripture, that you be but Hypocrites at the best. And yet let not my weak Christian misconceiue this poynt to his owne needlesse and causelesse vexation, concluding against himselfe, that if that be no true branch which wanteth pruning, then himselfe is doubtlesse in an hard case: for alacke, diuers of his corruptions are so far from being ⟨p. 123⟩purged from him, that they doe rather gather strength, and preuaile more and more within him. For doubtlesse it may befall euen a true sanctified man,¹ to haue some sinnes more violent and headstrong in him, after that hee hath a long time continued in the profession of Christian Religion, then they were at the first, and the corruptions of his heart in some kind may discouer themselues by much and often breaking foorth, which informer time he was better able to keep, as wee know it by record of holy writ, to haue falne out to Dauid, Asa, and other of Gods faithfull children.

1. 1Some one or other corruption may grow more strong in a true Christian:

Far be it therefore from the heart of a Christian, to conclude he hath no soundness, because he finds some one or other disorder rather grow more mighty in him. This may be, and yet he enjoy the benefit of pruning, which God performeth to all true branches: if he see and feel the working of this corruption whatsoever, if he lament it, if he continue to strive against, and become vile in his own eyes because of it, this sin doth not rule in him; and this is the very pruning promised, which shall at length so far prevail, till that he himself do perceive a very sensible conquest over this lust.

Farre be it therefore from the heart of a Christian, to conclude he hath no soundnesse, because hee findes some one or other disorder rather grow more mighty in him. This may be, and yet he inioy the benefit of pruning, which God performeth to all true branches: if hee see and feele the working of this corruption whatsoeuer, if he lament it, if he continue to striue against, and become vile in his owne eyes because of it, this sin doth not rule in him; and this is the very pruning promised, which shall at length so far preuaile, till that he himselfe doe perceiue a very sensible conquest ouer this lust.

So long then as sins in general do decay,¹ and that one sin that lifteth up it self more then before, is seen, lamented, resisted, a man may, and must account himself a living branch. But the men whom I condemned as Hypocrites and dry branches, are those, which satisfying ⟨p. 124⟩themselves in a formal performance of outward exercises of piety, are quite destitute of the efficacy of them, for the subduing of sin, so that further then credit and natural respects do sway with them, they follow any sinful lust of their hearts, and yet feel not their misery in that behalf, but applaud themselves in their estate, all the while that they are free from such gross practices as would cast them into reproach and obloquy amongst men. A man professing Religion, and being thus uncleansed of his filthiness, is sure no better then a withering branch, which yet these kind of men will scarce ever be made to confess. Wherefore leaving them, we will make a second use of the point, to comfort all Gods Saints, that if they will not deny the good work of Gods grace in them, must needs confess, that the Lord hath mercifully vouchsafed to prune them.

So long then as sinnes in generall doe decay,¹ and that one sinne that lifteth vp it selfe more then before, is seene, lamented, resisted, a man may, and must account himselfe a liuing branch. But the men whom I condemned as Hypocrites and dry branches, are those, which satisfying ⟨p. 124⟩themselues in a formall performance of outward exercises of piety, are quite destitute of the efficacy of them, for the subduing of sinne, so that further then credit and naturall respects do sway with them, they follow any sinfull lust of their hearts, and yet feele not their misery in that behalfe, but applaud themselues in their estate, all the while that they are free from such grosse practices as would cast them into reproch and obloquie amongst men. A man professing Religion, and being thus vncleansed of his filthinesse, is sure no better then a withering branch, which yet these kind of men will scarce euer be made to confesse. Wherefore leauing them, wee will make a second vse of the poynt, to comfort all Gods Saints, that if they will not deny the good worke of Gods grace in them, must needs confesse, that the Lord hath mercifully vouchsafed to prune them.

1. 1But sin in general doth decay, and that sin is seen and lamented, and becomes matter of humiliation.But sinne in generall doth decay, and that sinne is seene and lamented, and becomes matter of humiliation.

CHAP. XIIII. The second use of the point, to comfort them that are pruned.

CHAP. XIIII. The second vse of the poynt, to comfort them that are pruned.

Hearken therefore, Use 2 all ye servants of God,¹ whom he hath pleased to purge and cleanse, and whiten, whose corruptions he hath much abated and subdued: hearken you, I say, and accept of that portion of comfort which the Lord doth allot you. Do you ⟨p. 125⟩not find in your selves that self-same operation of God, which our Saviour here doth appropriate to living branches? why then, collect a joyful assurance to your selves, that you are indeed true members of Christ, seeing that the Lord hath pleased to make you known for such, by doing that for you, which he doth perform for all true Christians, and only for them.

HEarken therefore, Vse 2 all ye seruants of God,¹ whom hee hath pleased to purge and cleanse, and whiten, whose corruptions hee hath much abated and subdued: hearken you, I say, and accept of that portion of comfort which the Lord doth allot you. Doe you ⟨p. 125⟩not finde in your selues that selfe-same operation of God, which our Sauiour heere doth appropriate to liuing branches? why then, collect a ioyfull assurance to your selues, that you are indeed true members of Christ, seeing that the Lord hath pleased to make you knowne for such, by doing that for you, which hee doth performe for all true Christians, and onely for them.

1. 1Comfort to them that find pruning.Comfort to them that finde pruning.

I confess that there is a kind of cleansing,¹ which is not from Gods sanctifying Spirit, such as hath bin found even in Heathen men, without the Church, and without Christ. This is such a leaving of some one or other outward gross sin as ariseth from age or misery, or other like natural causes: the heart, in the general disposition, still remaining the same; for a mans own rod may so beat him, as the common Proverb speaketh, that he may be forced from those evil practices which once he followed: as the unthrifty man, after he hath wasted his estate almost to the bottom, and perceiveth penury coming against him, may so far return to himself, as to cease to be riotous; and the thieves that hath been frighted once or twice with the narrow escape of hanging, may cease to give himself over to thievery; and the man whose age and bodily decay doth not serve the turn to perform his unchaste pleasures, may cease to follow harlots; and so in other like particulars. This departing from a few outward acts of evil, the heart remaining still empoisoned with the wonted inward disorders, or other as ⟨p. 126⟩bad, is not the cleansing which the Lord doth afford to the true branches of the Vine, neither may any man entitle himself to the comfort we have in hand, from such a maimed kind of reformation. But if any man do find himself cleansed in soul from the love and liking of all known evils proportionably, that what by the Word, what by afflictions, or such like means, he hath been made to take notice of more corruptions in himself, then ever before he thought to have been there, and seeing the same, to detest them, and abhor himself for them before God, craving his strength and power to reform them; and by craving strength, hath obtained at Gods hands, though not a total release from these corruptions, yet a great decay of them, and a far greater ability to leave them, then in former time: Let these men rejoice in the living God, and take this work of his Spirit in them, for an assured proof of their being truly engrafted into the body of Christ. Those that do mortify the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit, they shall live; those that are crucified together with Christ, shall reign with him, and having been made conformable to his death, shall also be made conformable to his glory.

I confesse that there is a kinde of cleansing,¹ which is not from Gods sanctifying Spirit, such as hath bin found euen in Heathen men, without the Church, and without Christ. This is such a leauing of some one or other outward grosse sin as ariseth from age or misery, or other like naturall causes: the heart, in the generall disposition, still remaining the same; for a mans owne rod may so beate him, as the common Prouerbe speaketh, that he may be forced from those euill practices which once he followed: as the vnthrifty man, after he hath wasted his estate almost to the bottome, and perceiueth penury comming against him, may so farre returne to himselfe, as to cease to bee riotous; and the theese that hath beene frighted once or twice with the narrow escape of hanging, may cease to giue himselfe ouer to theeuery; and the man whose age and bodily decay doth not serue the turne to performe his vnchaste pleasures, may cease to follow harlots; and so in other like particulars. This departing from a few outward acts of euill, the heart remaining still impoysoned with the wonted inward disorders, or other as ⟨p. 126⟩bad, is not the cleansing which the Lord doth afford to the true branches of the Vine, neither may any man intitle himselfe to the comfort wee haue in hand, from such a maimed kind of reformation. But if any man doe finde himselfe cleansed in soule from the loue and liking of all known euils proportionably, that what by the Word, what by afflictions, or such like meanes, hee hath been made to take notice of more corruptions in himselfe, then euer before he thought to haue beene there, and seeing the same, to detest them, and abhorre himselfe for them before God, crauing his strength and power to reforme them; and by crauing strength, hath obtained at Gods hands, though not a totall release from these corruptions, yet a great decay of them, and a farre greater ability to leaue them, then in former time: Let these men reioyce in the liuing God, and take this worke of his Spirit in them, for an assured proofe of their being truly ingraffed into the body of Christ. Those that doe mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit, they shall liue; those that are crucified together with Christ, shall raigne with him, and hauing beene made conformable to his death, shall also be made conformable to his glory.

1. 1A kind of cleansing may befall an unsanctified man.A kind of cleansing may befall an vnsanctified man.

Wherefore as Samson fed on the honey which he found in the carcass of the Lion that he had slain; so let all Gods people feed upon the comfort which grows unto them from the sins that they have overcome. For doubtless, nothing is more available to increase the work of mortification, then with joy ⟨p. 127⟩to look upon the good beginnings thereof, and comfortably to behold the dying of sin, that a man may say to himself, Lo now, mine inward and spiritual enemies are smitten down before me, and become like foes that are put to flight, and many of them slain in the chase. When a man looks into himself, and comparing himself with himself, finds, that by Gods grace, such and such evils do less prevail within him then they were wont; yea, that now the least motions of them are more hateful to him, then formerly some gross outward faultings therein; and that the inclinations of that kind which he feeleth in himself, are either fewer, or weaker, or both, that he sooner spieth, more heartily and inwardly lamenteth and condemneth, more carefully and diligently resisteth and opposeth them, at least is much more humbled and abased to himself by means of them, then formerly: This is to be pruned, and this is a true sign of a lively branch in the true Vine Christ Jesus. Neither let the people of God take less comfort in this pruning, because it is not total, nor all at once; but if they find it to go forward, though slowly and by small degrees, and to have been attained by their spiritual industry in the use of spiritual means: now let them clap their hands and triumph in God, saying, Through God I have done valiantly, for he hath trodden down mine enemies that rose up against me. We must not suffer our selves to be so much vexed with the remainders of our corruptions, as to deprive the Lord of the glory, ⟨p. 128⟩and our own souls of the comfort which we might reap from the beginning of their overthrow: but must make our selves exceeding glad of this their first falling before us, that so we may more assuredly conclude as they do concerning Haman, when he began to fall before Mordecai, that he should not prevail, but should surely fall quite before him. When we observe the fruits of our faith, as means to confirm our faith, and the good works of Gods grace, as arguments to assure us that we are received into the state of grace;

Wherefore as Samson fed on the honey which he found in the carkase of the Lion that hee had slaine; so let all Gods people feede vpon the comfort which growes vnto them from the sinnes that they haue ouercome. For doubtlesse, nothing is more auailable to increase the worke of mortification, then with ioy ⟨p. 127⟩to looke vpon the good beginnings thereof, and comfortably to behold the dying of sinne, that a man may say to himselfe, Loe now, mine inward and spirituall enemies are smitten downe before me, and become like foes that are put to flight, and many of them slaine in the chase. When a man lookes into himselfe, and comparing himselfe with himselfe, findes, that by Gods grace, such and such euils doe lesse preuaile within him then they were wont; yea, that now the least motions of them are more hatefull to him, then formerly some grosse outward faultings therein; and that the inclinations of that kind which hee feeleth in himselfe, are either fewer, or weaker, or both, that hee sooner spyeth, more heartily and inwardly lamenteth and condemneth, more carefully and diligently resisteth and opposeth them, at least is much more humbled and abased to himselfe by meanes of them, then formerly: This is to be pruned, and this is a true signe of a liuely branch in the true Vine Christ Iesus. Neither let the people of God take lesse comfort in this pruning, because it is not totall, nor all at once; but if they finde it to goe forward, though slowly and by small degrees, and to haue been attained by their spirituall industry in the vse of spirituall meanes: now let them clap their hands and triumph in God, saying, Through God I haue done valiantly, for he hath troden downe mine enemies that rose vp against me. We must not suffer our selues to be so much vexed with the remainders of our corruptions, as to depriue the Lord of the glory, ⟨p. 128⟩and our owne soules of the comfort which wee might reape from the beginning of their ouerthrow: but must make our selues exceeding glad of this their first falling before vs, that so we may more assuredly conclude as they doe concerning Haman, when he began to fall before Mordecai, that he should not preuaile, but should surely fall quite before him. When wee obserue the fruits of our faith, as meanes to confirme our faith, and the good workes of Gods grace, as arguments to assure vs that wee are receiued into the state of grace;