A20529:116
Four godly and fruitful sermons two preached at Drayton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…Foure godlie and fruitful sermons two preached at Draiton in Oxford-shire, at a fast,…
Four godly and fruitful sermons two preached at Drayton in Oxford-shire, at a fast, enjoined by authority, by occasion of the pestilence then dangerously dispersed. Likewise two other sermons on the twelfth Psalm. Whereunto is annexed a brief tract of zeal. / By I. Dod. R. Cleaver.Foure godlie and fruitful sermons two preached at Draiton in Oxford-shire, at a fast, enioyned by authoritie, by occasion of the pestilence then dangerously dispearsed. Likewise two other sermons on the twelfth Psalme. VVhereunto is annexed a briefe tract of zeale. / By I. Dod. R. Cleauer.
London: printed by T.C. for William Welbie, 1611
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This we see proved in this text, where God dealeth with David as a father with his own son: First, letting him choose his own rod, when of necessity he must be corrected:1 Secondly, he giveth him warning before hand, that the plague might not overtake him on a sudden, which would wonderfully have discomforted him: Thirdly, he telleth him how long it should continue, so that he was sure three days would be the longest. Which serveth first for singular comfort unto Gods children that do bewail their sins,2 and pass sentence upon themselves as well as they can: if they go through with that work, the Lord will give them a comfortable and speedy deliverance: or if it be requisite that they should feel Gods hand upon them or theirs in any more grievous manner, yet the Lord will deal with them in some sort as he did here with David: for first they shall have warning thereof before hand, and so be better prepared and armed for it. And further, if they strive to humble their hearts before the Lord, though they have not the choice of their particular scourge, yet it shall be as well with them in effect: for although at first they think the rod very smart, and every blow two, yet when they are grown to be stronger men in Christ, they shall be driven to confess, that if they had chosen their own rods, there could have ⟨p. 33⟩been none in the world so fit for them as those wherewith the Lord hath scourged them: So that they shall be able not only to say with the Prophet, It is good for me that I have been afflicted; but good for me that I was whipped with these and these rods, yea and that I received thus many strokes from the Lords merciful hand, No cross could have been invented to do me more good, then poverty, or disgrace, or ill neighbours, or any the like, according as Gods servants are severally tried. If God should have put it to Abraham's and Jacobs choice, they would rather have parted with any outward thing, then with their children, that were as dear unto them as their life:
This we see proued in this text, where God dealeth with Dauid as a father with his owne sonne: First, letting him chuse his owne rod, when of necessitie he must be corrected:1