A20529:145
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.
He goeth as far beyond earthly parents, as God is better then man. They, when they are provoked, do oftentimes cease to be merciful: but God, when he is most incensed, is perfectly favourable; and when he is driven to chastise his children, he is exceeding moderate. Which is lively expressed, Hos. 11. 8. where the Lord speaketh in this manner:1 How shall I give thee up Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee Israel? How shall I make ⟨p. 46⟩thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? As if he should have told them, You have deserved to be utterly destroyed, as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Cities near adjoining: but my compassion that I bear towards you will not suffer me to do it: Mine heart is turned within me: my repentings are rolled together. Man repents after he hath done amiss, but God before, so that he can never do amiss: and therefore to manifest his infinite goodness, and care for their preservation, he addeth, verse 9. I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return to destroy Ephraim; and the reason is added, for I am God, and not man: and therefore though a man (if he were so provoked,) would have done his best utterly to have spoiled them, yet the Lord would not enter into their City, viz. for that end, but deal graciously with them, notwithstanding all their offences.
He goeth as farre beyond earthly parents, as God is better then man. They, when they are prouoked, doe oftentimes cease to be mercifull: but God, when he is most incensed, is perfectly fauourable; and when he is driuen to chastise his children, he is exceeding moderate. Which is liuely expressed, Hos. 11. 8. where the Lord speaketh in this manner:1 How shall I giue thee vp Ephraim? How shall I deliuer thee Israel? How shall I make ⟨p. 46⟩thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? As if he should haue told them, You haue deserued to be vtterly destroied, as Sedome and Gomorrah, and the Cities neere adioining: but my compassion that I beare towards you will not suffer mee to doe it: Mine heart is turned within me: my repentings are rowied together. Man repents after hee hath done amisse, but God before, so that hee can neuer doe amisse: and therefore to manifest his infinite goodnes, and care for their preseruation, hee addeth, verse 9. I will not execute the fiercenesse of my wrath: I will not returne to destroy Ephraim; and the reason is added, for I am God, and not man: and therefore though a man (if hee were so prouoked,) would haue done his best vtterly to haue spoiled them, yet the Lord would not enter into their Citie, viz. for that end, but deale gratiously with them, notwithstanding all their offences.