Gods husbandry

The matter also wherein their devotions show themselves, will manifest whence they come: from truth,¹ or from guile. For the hypocrite, his greatest devotion (unless it be when superstition (like as a breeze doth the poor beast) doth prick him forward) is in duties that may be, and are done with a witness: as for those that are private, or rather secret, he is key-cold in them, at least usually, neither in truth, doth he trouble his Closet often with private meditations and prayers. Hence it is, that our Saviour correcting the mis-intended devotion of the Pharisees, doth confine them to their Closet, where God alone beholdeth and heareth: intimating, that they had little lust to pray in secret, where God that saw in secret should be their sole rewarder. So you may know if you dissemble yea or no. The dissembling man can preach well to others, he cannot digest what himself hath cooked, and preach it to himself in his privy meditations. He can pray when others stand by, but most times (unless he be whipped forward by a cross for a fit) he is tongue tied, and dumb-stricken in his chamber. So he loves to hear Sermons; and to repeat them in company; but he loveth not to get alone, and ⟨p. 69⟩concoct the Sermon in his own meditation, considering and remembering what he hath heard, and how it concerneth himself. But now, the true Christian is rather more vehement in private than in public prayers, and can much rather omit the calling upon God with others, than those secret and inward communications with God, wherein he may freely pour his whole soul forth unto the Lord: and he satisfieth not himself, in having heard the Sermon, unless he have chewed the cud, and considered if those things were so, and examined himself by that rule. He is constant also in private services, as well as public, and the most secret, as well as those that must have companions.

The matter also wherein their deuotions shew themselues, will manifest whence they come: from truth,¹ or from guile. For the hypocrite, his greatest deuotion (vnlesse it be when superstition (like as a bree doth the poore beast) doth pricke him forward) is in duties that may be, and are done with a witnesse: as for those that are priuate, or rather secret, he is key-cold in them, at least vsually, neither in truth, doth he trouble his Closet often with priuate meditations and prayers. Hence it is, that our Sauiour correcting the mis-intended deuotion of the Pharisies, doth confine them to their Closet, where God alone beholdeth and heareth: intimating, that they had little lust to pray in secret, where God that saw in secret should be their sole rewarder. So you may know if you dissemble yea or no. The dissembling man can preach well to others, hee cannot digest what himselfe hath cooked, and preach it to himselfe in his priuy meditations. He can pray when others stand by, but most times (vnlesse he be whipped forward by a crosse for a fit) he is tongue tied, and dumb-stricken in his chamber. So he loues to heare Sermons; and to repeate them in company; but he loueth not to get alone, and