A68877:352
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.
Growth, you know, doth presuppose life,1 and that we must take for granted to be in all those that shall be fruitful hearers of this exhortation. And yielding a man to live with a spiritual life in Christ, the means of growth to his soul, may not unfitly be resembled to those that concern his body. The body will grow, if it be of a good constitution, and have a good stomach, good diet, and good digestion; so will the soul also: and therefore we will speak a word or two of each of these.
Growth, you know, doth presuppose life,1 and that wee must take for granted to bee in all those that shall be fruitfull hearers of this exhortation. And yeelding a man to liue with a spirituall life in Christ, the meanes of growth to his soule, may not vnfitly be resembled to those that concerne his body. The body will grow, if it be of a good constitution, and haue a good stomacke, good diet, and good digestion; so will the soule also: and therefore wee will speake a word or two of each of these.
- 1Means of growing.Meanes of growing.
First then, as the body,1 so the soul must enjoy the benefit of a good constitution. Now as the good constitution of the body consists in a right mixing together, and tempering of the four first and chief qualities; so the good constitution of the soul standeth in a right and due ordering of the principal faculties of the mind towards the different objects thereof: I mean, the judgement, the will, and the affections: when the judgement entertaineth an high and excellent esteem of God, and things divine, but a mean and base esteem of ones self, and all things earthly: when the will most vehemently and earnestly inclineth it self to God, the chief Good, and carefully withdraweth it self from feigned or inferior good things: when the affections are inflamed towards God and heaven, and cooled towards earth, and the things of the earth; This is a sweet and happy constitution of