This we may also see both by natural and civill reason: we see the more general and contagious a disease is, the greater care we use to watch over our health; and the greater mercy of God we count it if we be not infected with the rest: and shall we not judge the same in spiritual and more heavenly matters, that the more hot sin groweth to be, and like to overrun all, shall we not grow the more zealous of the salvation of our souls, and think it the rarer grace of God, if we being subject to the common sins are preserved from them? In civill matters do we not see, that now deceit in buying and selling, unfaithfulness in bargaining is so great, every man is circumspect to discern ill dealings, every man almost is become a lawyer, no man is ignorant of the common shifts of the world; yet this maketh not men therefore to give over their deeds, but they make their deeds more sure: neither doth deceitful dealing keep them the more from markets and fairs, but men are more careful in their bargaining. Do we love the Church then, though there be so many corruptions of religion, and so many corruptions of manners? Let us be more ⟨p. 516⟩afraid of our selves, and more careful of the word, and heedy in our lives, than we have been: let us listen to the word, before the Lord hath sealed up the prophecy, least the wicked prevail, and the just man make himself a pray. Now is the time to repent, it may be that the Lord will mitigate his judgements, when they fall, & will make his punishment particular and easier. For then we truly fear the public judgements of God, when we fear the cause of them in our selves, when we carry not for the height of sin, but submit our selves with reverence to all means of true religion and godly life, and speedily judge our selves for not looking to the least occasion of sin, watching over our souls, that we become not remiss, or with looser conscience of prayer, the word, sacraments, or discipline. And as it is a secret judgement of God to pass from one sin to another, without any remorse of conscience, until we come to the contempt of the word: so it is a special grace of God to be grieved with sin in the beginning.
This we may also see both by naturall and ciuill reason: we see the more generall and contagious a disease is, the greater care we vse to watch ouer our health; and the greater mercie of God we count it if we be not infected with the rest: and shall wee not iudge the same in spirituall and more heauenly matters, that the more hot sinne groweth to bee, and like to ouerrun all, shall wee not grow the more zealous of the saluation of our soules, and thinke it the rarer grace of God, if wee being subiect to the common sinnes are preserued from them? In ciuill matters doe wee not see, that now deceite in buying and selling, vnfaithfulnes in bargaining is so great, euery mā is circumspect to discerne ill dealings, euery man almost is become a lawyer, no man is ignorant of the common shifts of the world; yet this maketh not men therefore to giue ouer their deedes, but they make their deedes more sure: neither doth deceitfull dealing keepe them the more from markets and faires, but men are more carefull in their bargayning. Do we loue the Church thē, though there be so many corruptions of religion, and so many corruptions of manners? Let vs be more ⟨p. 516⟩afraide of our selues, and more carefull of the word, and heedie in our liues, than wee haue beene: let vs listen to the word, before the Lord hath sealed vp the prophecie, least the wicked preuaile, and the iust man make himselfe a pray. Now is the time to repent, it may bee that the Lord will mitigate his iudgements, when they fal, & wil make his punishment particular and easier. For then we truly feare the publike iudgements of God, when wee feare the cause of them in our selues, when we carrie not for the height of sinne, but submit our selues with reuerence to all meanes of true religion and godly life, and speedily iudge our selues for not looking to the least occasion of sinne, watching ouer our soules, that we become not remisse, or with looser conscience of prayer, the word, sacraments, or discipline. And as it is a secret iudgement of God to passe from one sinne to another, without any remorse of conscience, vntill wee come to the contempt of the word: so it is a speciall grace of God to be grieued with sinne in the beginning.
