A20529:147
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.
Again, earthly parents, when they have laid on stripes, cannot take them off again: when they see their children weeping, and grieving, and humbling themselves in good earnest for their offences, they wish (but all in vain) that their pain were over, & the smart removed: but as the Lord woundeth, so can he heal; as he cast Job down,1 so could he raise him up again: and whatsoever our distresses be, if we can humble our selves, and cry unto the Lord, he is able and ready to relieve and to deliver us. In which regard, we should be most willing, if we must needs he corrected, to yield up our selves into his hands. For there is no comparison betwixt the compassions of men, which are finite, and of Gods, who is infinite.
Againe, earthly parents, when they haue layde on stripes, cannot take them off againe: when they see their children weeping, and grieuing, and humbling themselues in good earnest for their offences, they wish (but all in vaine) that their paine were ouer, & the smart remooued: but as the Lord woundeth, so can he heale; as hee cast Iob downe,1 so could he raise him vpagaine: and whatsoeuer our distresses be, if wee can humble our selues, and crie vnto the Lord, hee is able and readie to relieue and to deliuervs. In which regard, wee should be most willing, if we must needs he corrected, to yeeld vp our selues into his hands. For there is no comparison betwixt the compassions of men, which are finite, and of Gods, who is infinite.
Which may serve to discover unto us their folly that are so far from submitting themselves to Gods chastisements, that they cannot endure his rebukes. Let any man of God admonish them, and they are ready to fly in his face. What hath he to do with me? (say they) let him meddle with his own matters. I will not take it at his hands: with many bitter speeches of that kind, which argue in them great distemper and vexation of mind. And let a man tell them in never so great love, that if they do not amend, their sins will abroad to their disgrace: their friends will grieve at them, their adversaries will reproach them, and all cry shame upon them; yet they will be no whit pacified, but rather enraged against the admonisher, not caring what be thought or spoken against them, so Christians may not reprove them.