Gods Husbandry, To the reader 2 – Sermon 2
TO THE COVRTEOVS READER.
I Make bold (good Reader) to preſent vntounto thy view, this ſecond part of Gods Husbandry, containing a few Sermons, which I preached vponupon the words of Chriſt, in the fifteenth of Saint Iohns Goſpell. My maine intention herein was, to helpe the people of God, againſt that miſerable ſinne of Hypocriſie, which in the former Treatiſe I ſought to diſcouer. Doubtleſſe all our paines, and all our preaching, is little enough, and too little, to make men ſee, and reforme ſo perillous, and withall ſo ſubtill a vice. This is a diſeaſe of ſo darke a working, as will hardly be diſcerned, vntill it be paſt cure. And though a man bee not ſo totally poſſeſſed and ouercome by it, as that he deſerue to bee called an Hypocrite, yet are the remainders of it (which abide in the moſt ſanctified hearts, as the Canaanites amongst the ſonnes of Abraham) exceeding troubleſome, and exceeding noyſome, calling for all diligence and labour to expell them. It is the daughter of ignorance and ſelfe-louelove, the mother of pride and ſelfe-conceitedneſſe, the ſiſter of vaine-glory and contention. It is, of all ſinnes, one of the moſt hideous, becauſe it damneth thoſe, that ſeeme to themſelues little leſſe then free from all other ſinnes. When the whole army of vices is fled before the face of vertue, and ſeemes to hauehave yeelded a full victory, then doth this vice (as it were by ſtratagems and deuices) vndermine victorious vertue, and rob it of the victory which it ſeemed to hauehave gotten. It is the refuge and hiding place of all other faults: neither can wee further preuaile againſt any corruption, then we preuaile againſt this: neither can any corruption further foyle vsus, then this doth lend it aide and ſuccour. This vice maketh thoſe things abominable in Gods ſight, which to menward ſeeme praiſeable, and cauſeth that heauen doth deteſt, what earth applauds. It comes to Church with men, and poyſons preaching, praying, hearing, reading, receiuing the Communion, and all the parts of Gods ſeruice. It is bold to creepe into the clozet alſo with ſome men, and doth many times corrupt their moſt retired deuotions. It maketh that the Lord accounts himſelfe but mocked, when men account themſelues to hauehave well worſhipped him. It turnes mercy, iuſtice, chaſtity, into vices after a ſort, and cauſeth that they be in true iudgement, but faire and guilded ſins. It marreth in one word, all good things, and changeth the not committing of ſinne, into a ſinne, and the performing of the moſt commendable duties, into very loathſome euill. A deuout Hypocrite, is little better then a profane Epicure, and a painted Sepulohre, is little different from a very dunghill. Happy ſhall that man be, that is carefull to ſpy out the working of this crooked and deceitfull vice in himſelfe, and that with earneſtneſſe, diligence, warineſſe, and conſtancy, doth ſtriue to chaſe it out of his owne heart. When the Ziphites, (wretched claw-backes as they were) came to waken Sauls ſleeping malice, by offering him their ſeruice to deliuer vp Dauid: the Story tels vsus, that he ſent them backe with this inſtruction, Goe and prepare yet, and know, and ſee his place, and where his haunt is, and who hath ſeene him there; for it is told me, that he dealeth very ſubtilly. See therefore, and take knowledge of all his lurking places, where hee hideth himſelfe, and come yee againe to me with the certainty, and I will goe with you; and it ſhall come to paſſe, if hee be in the Land, I will ſearch him throughout all the thouſands of Iudah. This was maliciouſly ſpoken by an enuious Prince, againſt his faithfull ſubiect and ſonne. But well were it with vsus, if wee could all make vſe of his words, in the purſuit of our hidden guile, and follow it as cloſe as euer Saul did follow Dauid, euen to ſeeke and ſearch, and ſpy out all its lurking places, and neuer ceaſe ſeeking, till we hauehave found it, nor fighting, till we hauehave vanquiſhed it, as one of the most dangerous of all our ſpirituall enemies, the very ſoule of the body of death, and that, that giueth life to all the reſt. I beſeech the liuing God for thee, Reader, that he will pleaſe to ſanctifie, as other meanes, ſo theſe my weake indeuours, (if thou pleaſe to make vſe of them) to helpe thee againſt this peſtilent fault. And I craue thy prayers for mee alſo, that my ſelfe may be able to practiſe what I hauehave taught theē, and that wofull thing befall me not, which Paul ſpeaketh of, vponupon another occaſion, that hauing preached to others, I my ſelfe ſhould be a reprobate. For this hatefull and banefull vice, the worst of vices, doth ſometimes ſtep into the Pulpit alſo, and cauſeth euen Miniſters to condemne themſelues in iudging others, becauſe they that iudge, doe the ſame things; and becauſe they lay heauy burthens vponupon other mens ſhoulders, and themſelues reſuſe to touch them, that is to ſay, are very earneſt exactors of good duties, and very ſlow performers. But from this moſt miſchieuous miſchiefe, the good Lord vouchſafe to deliuer me, and thee, and all his people: with which prayer, becauſe I cannot make a better, I commend thee, and my ſelfe to God, and reſt,
A well-willer to thy ſoules happineſſe, WILLIAM WHATELY.
THE CONTENTS.
CHAP. I.
Shewing the order of the words and poynts to bee handled. pag. 1
CHAP. II.
Shewing the certaine deſtruction of Hypocrites, and the degrees and meanes thereof. pag. 4
CHAP. III.
Shewing the reaſons of the deſtruction of Hypocrites. pag. 9
CHAP. III.
Containing the firſt vſe of the poynt: viz. The magnifying of Gods Iuſtice. pag. 19
CHAP. IIII.
Containing a ſecond vſe of the poynt: viz. A terrour vntounto all diſſemblers. pag. 27
CHAP. V.
Containing the third vſe: viz. An exhortation to the Hypocrite to come out of his hypocriſie. pag. 37
CHAP. VI.
Containing the ſecond Doctrine: viz. That the best branches hauehave need of pruning. pag. 64
CHAP. VII.
Containing the firſt vſe of the poynt, for the refutation of two errours: viz. The merit of works, and the conceit of perfection in this life. pag. 73
CHAP. VIII.
Containing a ſecond vſe of the poynt, ſtirring vp the ſeruants of God to an holy longing for death. pag. 78
CHAP. IX.
Containing the third vſe of the poynt: viz. An exhortation and direction how to keepe downe our corruptions, whileſt we liue. pag. 84
CHAP. X.
Containing the fourth and laſt vſe of the poynt, viz. A conſolation to the people of God againſt their vnallowed ſinnes. pag. 99
CHAP. XI.
Containing the third poynt of doctrine, that God will prune the fruitfull branches: that is, helpe true Chriſtians againſt their corruptions. pag. 104
CHAP. XII.
Shewing the meanes and manner of the Lords pruning. pag. 109
CHAP. XIII.
The firſt vſe of the poynt, to ſhew their miſery that are not pruned. pag. 120
CHAP. XIIII.
The ſecond vſe of the poynt, to comfort them that are pruned. pag. 124
CHAP. XV.
Containing the third vſe of the poynt, to incourage the Saints in ſtriuing againſt ſin, becauſe the Lord will help thē in this labor, and they ſhal ſurely preuaile. pag. 129
CHAP. XVI.
Containing the fourth poynt of doctrine, that the people of God muſt increaſe in fruitfulneſſe. pag. 132
CHAP. XVII.
Containing the firſt vſe of the laſt poynt: viz. A terrour to them that grow worſe. pag. 137
CHAP. XVIII.
Containing an exhortation to all true Chriſtians to increaſe in goodnes, & directions for that purpoſe. pag. 143
CHAP. XIX.
Containing a comfort to them that hauehave growne, and doe grow in goodneſſe. pag. 162
GODS HVSBANDRY, TENDING CHIEFLY TO THE REFORMING OF AN Hypocrite, and making him true-hearted.
Iohn 15.2.
EueryEvery branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away; and eueryevery branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth, that it may bring foorth more fruit.