Gods husbandry

the hypocrite neglecteth the thus pondering and musing of the Word, and taking experience of the efficacy of it in himself; and so, soon withereth or is choked up. The house that hath a foundation will stand in strong blasts, the tree that is deeply rooted, will not easily be blown up, but want of root and foundation causeth the house to tumble, and the tree to be blown up, This difference, though it be a certain difference, yet is not so manifest, till ⟨p. 43⟩the days of tribulation come, or till some trial be made by some means. For often the true Christian is much more molested with tentations of doubting about the truth of the Word (as the holy man was that said,¹ I have washed mine hands in innocency in vain), than the hypocrite. For Satan knowing that the dissembler doth but dissemble (as no doubt he can well enough tell where he reigneth and ruleth) is not so busy to disquiet his thoughts; yea verily if he have any doubtings, he lets them go as they came, because he buildeth not his hopes and happiness upon the truth of this doctrine. But the true Christian, as having laid (as it were) the wager of all his bliss upon the truth of the Gospel, is exceedingly vexed and discontented with these doubting thoughts: even abhorring himself, and ashamed of himself, that in so evident and excellent truths, he should find any aptness to make any question. And this also Satan perceiving, doth strive to molest him continually with such doubtings, and with the stirring up of many objections, which he cannot tell which way better to answer, than by loathing them, and being much discontented at their rising in him. So that I say, the strength and firmness of the upright persons assent, above the dissemblers, is not so evident till the day of trial: but then it most manifestly discovereth it self. For the one will by no means be turned from embracing and following the believed truth, because he believeth it steadfastly, being rooted in faith; the other quickly gives over following it, because he believed it ⟨p. 44⟩faintly, having taken little pains to feel his assent unto it, with much strength of assurance, gotten by much continuance of meditation about it. Thus the winds and waves must show where is a foundation to others; but he that is founded, may know that he is founded, by the labour he doth bestow in digging deep to lay the foundation;