A20529:152
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.
Secondly, in the time of the pestilence the adversaries §2of Religion have not such matter of insultation, as when wars are hot in the Land: for then they would triumph in this or the like manner: Now these forward men shall pay for it: down they shall all the sort of them: they were wont to brag that God would be their buckler and their shield; their refuge, and their strong tower of defence: but what will become of them now? thus would they insult over Gods chosen, in the time of war: but in the time of this sickness, they themselves are exceedingly afraid, & even at their wits end, (knowing that hell and destruction gape for them, whensoever death taketh hold of them:) whereas Christians are quiet, and full of peace & joy in the holy Ghost, knowing that if they die, they shall go from earth to heaven, from a place of misery, to a palace of glory.
Secondly, in the time of the pestilence the aduersaries §2of Religion haue not such matter of insultation, as when warres are hote in the Land: for then they would triumph in this or the like manner: Now these forward men shall pay for it: downe they shall all the sorte of them: they were wont to brag that God would be their buckler and their shield; their refuge, and their strong tower of defence: but what will become of them now? thus would they insult ouer Gods chosen, in the time of warre: but in the time of this sicknes, they themselues are exceedingly afraid, & euen at their wits ende, (knowing that hell and destruction gape for them, whensoeuer death taketh hold of them:) whereas Christians are quiet, and full of peace & ioy in the holy Ghost, knowing that if they die, they shall go from earth to heauen, from a place of miserie, to a palace of glorie.
Thirdly, this is a marvellous great mercy, that there doth still remain the face of a Church, that the Gospel §3is preached, the Sacraments administered, & the profession of the truth openly maintained: whereas if there were a foreign invasion, or a civill mutiny & insurrection, the usual course of the ministry, and of the exercises of religion, would be stopped, which now is not only tolerated, but commanded.