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The Kingdome of heauen is ressembled to a man that sowed good seede in his fielde. Matt. 13.
CONSIDER that the Kingdome of heauen, or rather the Kinge of heauen, our Sauiour Iesus Christ, is compared to a good seeds man: for he it is indeede who sowed the seeds
of heauen in the hartes of his faithfull, as well by baptismall grace (which of sterille and vnprofitable that we were, makes vs the fruitfull field of Christ) as by his ho∣ly word, and heauenly inspirations, by which that field is continually watered and brings out pure wheate fitt for the heauenly granaries, if through want of vigilancie we permitt it not to be ouer∣sowen by the enemye.
[Affection.] By that excellent heauenly seede of baptismall grace, my soule, we were made the sonns of God; the heyres of God: the brothers of Christ, the co∣heires of Christ. This is a grace of prefe∣rence, and is not giuen to all. Let our acknowledgements be for euer as peculiar as is the fauour, we were without our owne labour, made the domestikes of that royall house, before we had yet the sense to know it. And haue we not since had the knowledge of his blessed will and pleasure by his holy word, and frequent inspiratiōs? Iet not that holy seede, my soule, be de∣stroyed in vs by our sloth and negligence.
CONSIDER that like as the field of mans harte hade for euer remay∣ned barren, had not this good seede bene sowed in it; so would this good seede pro∣duce noe fruite without mans cooperatiō. It is by the grace of God we are that which we are, as well as S. Paule; yet was not Gods grace voyde in him: but he labou∣red more abundantly: and so ought we: because he that made vs without vs, saith S. Augustine, will not saue vs without our owne consent and concurrence. It is man that must worke his owne saluation, yet not he principally, but Gods grace with him, which makes him freely and profitably worke what ere he workes.
[Affection.] Alas, my soule, it was Gods free mercy which raysed vs from our losse Without his grace we had remayned vn∣profitable for euer. It was Gods meere mercy that we were not consumed. It was in vaine to haue hoped to haue rysen be∣fore that light which is Christ Iesus. And in vaine too will that heauenly light haue shined vpon vs, vnlesse we putt our hand to the worke, and walke in the light while
we haue it: for howeuer it is most true that God workes in vs both the will and per∣formance: it is true too, that we are sa∣ued because we will, nor vnlesse we will shall we euer be saued. Compelle then, ô deare Lord, our rebellious wills, by thy victorious grace, to the due obseruance of thy lawe and good pleasure.