Gods husbandry

I fear, I fear much, lest all be not well within me! And so searching, he findeth hollowness; finding, bewaileth it; bewailing, confesseth it; confessing, reformeth it; and reforming, is not overcome by it. Wherefore again and again I beseech you, let every man and woman consider diligently of himself; let him try and prove his estate by the notes which I have formerly set down, in as much plainness and perspicuity as I could. Say thou that hearest the Word of God this day, in which thou art taught, that the true Vine hath branches on it that be not true, as well as those that be true; what dost thou deem of thy self? Art thou an upright-hearted man, or a dissembler? Again, I demand of thee, what a kind of Christian thou accountest thy self? In name and show, and profession, thou art one of Christs members; but art thou so indeed and truth, or art thou not? Thine answer will like enough be this; That thou hopest thou art a true Christian. I say unto thee therefore, that it may fall out, thou couldst not so much as say, thou didst ⟨p. 76⟩hope so, if thou didst not answer rashly, and without all deliberation, because thou art an errand gross hypocrite, that dost know thy self (if thou wouldest confess it), but merely to counterfeit some outward show of goodness; whereas in thy secret conversation, and the unobserved parts of thy life, thou followest and likest wickedness well enough. And if it be so, suffer not thine heart to beguile thee any longer, and lay no claim to the name of a true Christian, which thy self dost well enough perceive, to be altogether unbecoming one of thy carriage. Come now, and grow to take notice of that monstrous gross guile, which thou canst not but feel within thy self,¹ if thou wilt but lay thine hand upon it. But if thou boast not so grossly, and so palpably hypocritical, but that it may be possible for thee to say deliberately, that thou hopest thou art a true Christian; yet I wish thee to take great heed, that thine hopes be not ill grounded: for many a man thinketh and hopeth, that he is upright, which in the end proveth himself otherwise, and looseth all his fair hopes; and so is fulfilled upon him that the Scripture affirmeth: the expectation of the wicked shall perish. But wilt thou know indeed what to say of thy self?

I feare, I feare much, lest all be not well within me! And so searching, he findeth hollownesse; finding, bewaileth it; bewailing, confesseth it; confessing, reformeth it; and reforming, is not ouercome by it. Wherefore againe and againe I beseech you, let euery man and woman consider diligently of himselfe; let him trie and prooue his estate by the notes which I haue formerly set downe, in as much plainenesse and perspicuitie as I could. Say thou that hearest the Word of God this day, in which thou art taught, that the true Vine hath branches on it that be not true, as well as those that be true; what dost thou deeme of thy selfe? Art thou an vpright-hearted man, or a dissembler? Againe, I demand of thee, what a kinde of Christian thou accountest thy selfe? In name and shew, and profession, thou art one of Christs members; but art thou so indeed and truth, or art thou not? Thine answer will like enough be this; That thou hopest thou art a true Christian. I say vnto thee therfore, that it may fall out, thou couldst not so much as say, thou didst