is;ss:I.18. 328 z 3 4 ltom.[s,a7. ials of filch as prof(ffc du- s co God fo unebut denie RComnebtarie von the profeffethnot that theefes of Godarepure , beholding all things, trying the hearts and reines: w all profeffe that his waies are iuft, that he cannot abideto behold iniquitie, neithercandoe otherwife then punifh finne wherefoeuer he findeth it : and yet in our praEtife we renounce all this profeffion, for we can finnein the darke, as ifthe darkenes, and the day were not both alikeunto htn: ifwe can auoidmans eye,we are cock- lure. Nay, we line profanely in his fight,and againfl his iul ice we flatter our felues with promif'es of peace. s. We profeffe that God is our Fa_ rber,and therein acknowledge not onely his generali prouidence ouerall things, difpofing,nourifhing, and preferuing all lining creatures ; but hisparticular prouidence towards our felues: But yet indeedwe denie him fo to be ; for eueryman fpendeth out himfelfe in fhifring and fhuf- fling for himfelfe, as if he hadno father in heauen to care for him, which is thepraátife of a meere worldling. Othersdepend not on him for their maintenance,but leane on the rokcn reed oftheirowne labour, witte, cunning, diligence: many moe vpon vnlawfull, and indireEt meanes ofgaine, byextortion, vfurie, deceit, falfe waights, andmeafures. O- thers when the leall iniurie is offered them, murmur for the prefent, and lay vp for time to come reuenge, and malice, as though there were no God to order their matters, or to commit vengeancevnto. Thus God is profeffed a Father, hut whereis his honour? Others will haue God their Father, but cannot abide his children : others profeffe they feare him as a Father , but come to their deeds , they feare man much more then God : for let a man threaten, efpecially hauing power, they quake and crouch ; but let God threaten, they briflle as if they would bid him bac- teli. 3. We profeffe that God itfaithfull, true cf his word, :did his word the truth it (elfe ; and yet hardly are we brought to beleeue God onhis word, or further then we fee him: his promifes flay not our hearts, but when we haue them inourhands:his threatnings terrifievs not,but whë we bane.them inour eies : the Pallor may pipe , but people followe rio dance: let fuck call backe what they haue maid, as hauing laid too much, except they would beleeue more. 4. We profeffe in word that God isorieywife, that his word is our wiledome, and theonely rule of all his worfhipandour wales ; yet how many iland vpon old cuflomes, examples ofmen, naturall reafon, hu- mane lawes, and thofe of reflraint or tollerätion in matters dire&Iy a- gainfl theword ? and many haue better waiesof their owne, then any we can teach them. And as we profeflè there things of God , fo we profeffe as much in wordof our felues,wherin the general! pradlife of men is not foan(we- rable.
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