Gods husbandry

Reformation is another part of repentance, and here we will show, how much the hypocrite may reach unto,¹ and wherein he is defective. An hypocrite may reform divers things that are amiss in him, and that at the preaching of the Word, and by means of the exhortations which he heareth in a Sermon: but herein he faileth, that in some one or other thing, he must be held excused. He brooks not the generality of that little large word (all), you kill him when you press upon him that universal exhortation,² Cast away from you all your transgressions. O no! this he cannot do: some one or two faults are (as it were) darlings unto him; his soul is in love with them, and he must be dispensed ⟨p. 55⟩with, he cannot leave them. In any thing else he will be ruled by God: but in such a thing he must needs crave pardon, though it be a sin; he hopes it is not so great, but that he may be borne withal therein: for alack he cannot live unless he do it, or so forth. The hypocrite hath evermore some hand or foot that he will not cut off; some eye that he will not pull out, and fling from him; some dearly beloved sin, some most precious evil, some most sweet or gainful offence, that he cannot tell which way in the world to forgo; and therefore loves not to hear of amending it, would not be reproved for it, would not be called upon to forsake it, would not think of it, but would turn away his thoughts from it, and would fain have his conscience also forbear to urge him in that matter.³ He keeps some one or other wickedness under his tongue, as a most dainty morsel, which he cannot find in his heart to spit out. But now the true godly man desireth, and purposeth in all things to please God; he hath respect (as David speaketh) to all Gods commandments, without picking or choosing: he takes the whole Law as it lieth before him, and frameth his will to bow and bend which way soever God will have it: whatsoever thing he knows to be a duty, that he resolveth to do, without any further excepting or cavilling; and whatsoever he knoweth to be a sin, that he determineth to cast from him, what ever it be, & what ever may follow thereupon.

Reformation is another part of repentance, and here we will shew, how much the hypocrite may reach vnto,