Gods husbandry

Again,¹ the sorrow and confession of hypocrites is likely put upon them by a kind of violence, they be even forced to it by some accident, so pressing them for the time, that they can neither will nor choose, as the common saying hath. This is evident in the fore-named examples. What made Ahab walk in sack-cloth with a soft pace? but because he was threatened, the ruin of all his household, and the utter subversion of all his posterity: a tidings that could scarce choose, but make the heart of any Grand-father to ache and melt within him. When did Pharaoh say, The Lord is righteous, I and my people are sinners? but when the plague lay so heavy upon him, and stuck so close unto him, that he knew not which way in the world to turn himself. And what made Saul break forth with tears, and say, I have sinned? but that David had then even gone beyond all his expectations quite and clean, and had utterly overcome him with kindness, by requiting his evil with good. So Judas confessed not his treason, till the very sparks of hell fire were all on a light flame within his soul; I mean, till the hideousness of a bitter and exasperated conscience did even furiously pursue him, and drive him to this too-late and bootless remedy. So the confession of hypocrites is wrested and extorted from them, even as that of a traitor by the torture of the rack; and his grief for his sin is a compelled grief, as that of a slave under the whip: but the true godly man, and faithful servant of Christ, doth voluntarily, and of his ⟨p. 53⟩own accord bring himself before the Lord in humble and sorrowful confessions (though no such violence be offered unto him), even out of a kindly work of grace, moving and inclining him still to desire to be at one with God. The child of God doth even long to be sorrowful for his sins; and when no cross, affliction, or tentation lies upon him, nor no other means of working him to grief is used; then he takes pains to rend his own heart, and out of a good will to God, and in a kind of comfortable and sweet sense of reconciliation with him, doth acknowledge his wickedness.

Againe,¹ the sorrow and confession of hypocrites is likely put vpon them by a kind of violence, they be euen forced to it by some accident, so pressing them for the time, that they can neither will nor chuse, as the common saying hath. This is euident in the fore-named examples. What made Ahab walke in sack-cloth with a soft pace? but because he was threatned, the ruine of all his household, and the vtter subuersion of all his posteritie: a tidings that could scarce chuse, but make the heart of any Grand-father to ake and melt within him. When did Pharaoh say, The Lord is righteous, I and my people are sinners? but when the plague lay so heauie vpon him, and stucke so close vnto him, that he knew not which way in the world to turne himselfe. And what made Saul breake forth with teares, and say, I haue sinned? but that Dauid had then euen gone beyond all his expectations quite and cleane, and had vtterly ouercome him with kindnesse, by requiting his euill with good. So Iudas confessed not his treason, till the very sparkes of hell fier were all on a light flame within his soule; I meane, till the hideousnesse of a bitter and exasperated conscience did euen furiously pursue him, and driue him to this too-late and bootelesse remedy. So the confession of hypocrites is wrested and extorted from them, euen as that of a traytor by the torture of the racke; and his griefe for his finne is a compelled griefe, as that of a slaue vnder the whip: but the true godly man, and faithfull seruant of Christ, doth voluntarily, and of his