A92852:39
England's preservation or, a sermon discovering the only way to prevent destroying judgementsEngland's preservation or, a sermon discovering the onely way to prevent destroying judgements
England's preservation or, a sermon discovering the only way to prevent destroying judgements: preached to the Honourable House of Commons at their last solemn fast, being on May, 25. 1642. By Obadiah Sedgwick Bachelor in Divinity and minister of Coggeshall in Essex. Published by order of that house.England's preservation or, a sermon discovering the onely way to prevent destroying judgements: preached to the Honourable House of Commons at their last solemne fast, being on May, 25. 1642. By Obadiah Sedgwicke Batchelour in Divinity and minister of Coggeshall in Essex. Published by order of that house.
London: printed by R. B. for Samuel Gellibrand, 1642
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Lastly, Fallow ground is an hardened part of earth, extremely compacted by the influences of the sun and winds, and by its own native inclination; so that it is not an easy thing to sever it, and dispose it for a better use: just so is a natural, or sinful heart; It is so trodden, and seared & obdurated, partly by the frequent repetition of sinful acts, and partly by the intension of sinful delights, that it is not only defective of good, but also very active against it, unyielding, resisting, and fighting against all heavenly counsels and motions. The man is evil, and will be so, he is not good, nor will he be so, unless God by an insuperable virtue of his own spirit makes him to be so.
Lastly, Fallow ground is an hardned part of earth, extreamly compacted by the influences of the sun and windes, and by its owne native inclination; so that it is not an easie thing to sever it, and dispose it for a better use: just so is a naturall, or sinfull heart; It is so troden, and seared & obdurated, partly by the frequent repetition of sinful acts, and partly by the intension of sinfull delights, that it is not only defective of good, but also very active against it, unyeelding, resisting, and fighting against all heavenly counsels and motions. The man is evill, and will be so, he is not good, nor will he be so, unlesse God by an insuperable vertue of his own spirit makes him to be so.
We have found what the fallow ground is, let us in the next place inquire, what the breaking of it up 1is? Then the Fallow ground is broken up, when the Husbandman comes with his Plough, and enters that plough into it, deeply enters it, even into the Bowels of the ground, and then rents and tears it, and turns it upside down: Not in one Furrow, but in every Furrow, once, twice, perhaps thrice if need so requires.
We have found what the fallow ground is, let us in the next place inquire, what the breaking of it up 1is? Then the Fallow ground is broken up, when the Husbandman comes with his Plow, and enters that plow into it, deepely enters it, even into the Bowels of the ground, and then rents and teares it, and turns it upside downe: Not in one Furrow, but in every Furrow, once, twice, perhaps thrice if need so requires.