58o a `Iaifer ggreenhams Readings thee. Though myfletiiYhonld pineaway, and I thould-confarne, yet am I perfwaded that thouwilt not forrakeuse, they goeaIn horing,and thoudeftroyef them ; but as for me, it is good that Itruf in-thee : that is, kt all the world fall from thee , yet I fee their end Sin'tite. ail' be fearefull, and therefore will bill trutt, and flay on thee. Markewhat word het ro trail oche vied) to paintforthmiftrull in God, hee calleth it to goes whoring; wee know what a in God. grieuous thing itis for a woman to prcftitute her kite toataude; lomonflrousathing it is to glue our -croft to any but to God. Wherefore wee mull fight againit the cor- ruptions of theworlde, not by the fightof reafon, but by looking into the glaffe ofGods word. Let vsfearch then,which be thepromifes of God,to (titre vsvp to doe good , which be his threatnings tomakevs afraide offinne,what examples wehaue ofgood men,that wee mayfollow them, what examplesof euillto amide them. For herebe the pidturesofgood men,here bethe bodyanatomiesof thegodly,here we may take delightinbeholding tile. Let vs dilèerne by the wordwho are true worthippers, who are Idolaters. Let vs looke what rules the LordBothgive in hisword,to know the truth,and in whom it is;to dif cerne and inwhom they be. Thenwee tliallfee,that this man is foundin religion , and careful! ofa good life,the Lord is his God: this man is voide oftruoknowledge, &break. eth the law ofthe Lord, therefore vndoubted ly God is farcefrom him . This man though his knowledge bevnperfcdt,yctlire loueth to learnethetruth , thisman is a good compa- nion for tne;that man is anvnbeleeuer,& trotted] not inklod,I willnot therefore meddle with him.Weil nowwehaue ksrned, that we neuer cleaue wholie voteGod,vntill all the corruptionsofthe worldbenot able todiónay vs, but rather beingflayed and eftabltfhed on theword ofGod we know aituredlie,thatthe Lord will not be amongthewicked. We haue bin taught that ifweewill truely beleeueiuGod,wee muff beleeuein him according to hisword,otherwife he is but an Idoli voto vs , or a falle God framedunto vs afterthe imaginations ofour owne hearts.And ifwee will trueliedifcerne betweene good menand euill,we muffnot iudgc then( by our owne reafon,tbe common opinion ofnien,oraecor- ding to theirprofperitie &aduerfttie : for fo the worldcannot perceiue whobeGods chit- dren,becaufe the wicked often flourifh,and Gods childrenare vexed: but wee mutt Idoke into the word and fee there, howGod fettethMiddle againft the wicked, and promifeth tobemareat hand tohis faints.* Tisismay commendvnto vs whata neceli'ary thingthe !tidy oftheScriptures is,which teach vs toknow God andhistrue worfhippers: forotherwife we thall iudgelieretikes to be trueworfnippers,and count wickedmen honelt. Vetfe t t 6. Stablífh maccording to thyfreepromife, that /mad hire, and let mee not be difäp= pointedo fminehope. HEre themanof Goddefireth, that the Lorde wouldkeepe him fa eand fare, and that bee would conflrmehlim and ftrengthen him inhis woad: wherewe keheprayyeeth for athing rbegodly of -,, mentioned before. Faithis not a lleepingthing , lying dead in vs, butit is quicheand is saki. :eniroabled fliedby the word. ForGods children doe nottobelecue, but that they areoften troubled with vvitbvnbe- vnbeleefe: ea,theLorde clothoften laft'erthem to fee in themfelues to (trine heft. Y , " again(} it. We feehere, how themanofGod felt forcewaueting inhimlelfe; he-wasnot alwayesin one eflate, his faithwas not cueratoneftéy, hisbrittle had fame viabeleefewith it, and beleeuinghe was afraidof himlelfe. Thuswe know,Godschildren are inch, as donotprefume, but they fu. fpeét themfelues, and thinke humblyof them (dues, which maketh them oftento pray,that they maybee confirmed topetfeuer. For when webegin to be feeure, and to thinke toowell dour felues, thenwecall offprayer, and lay after alltroll in Godswore, fo thatGod'calicdivs off for ourpride,andSathan isready to beguilevs. We mutt not then fatisfic our felues,ifweebciccue, but burfaithmull makevs rogrow in ream, and to bemore c atefull to pkafe, and moregrieued todifpleafeGod ; si e mull defileof God to havehis premifetconfirmedand ratified invs, be. caufewe are ina very lippericeli ate. For as a man walkingonalippery ice, andnothcedfull;q his
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