A20529:207
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,1 this is for instruction, that seeing by how much less help we have from men, so much the more we shall have from God; therefore we should deal earnestly with the Lord in our distresses, and wrestle with him as Jacob did,2 when his brother Esau came with four hundred men against him: he was unable to encounter him, and therefore he encountereth the Lord himself by prayers and tears; and that which was his refuge, must be ours, and then we shall have peace and safety: if once we can lay hand-fast on God, (as we may in our houses, in our chambers, in our beds, in the night, or in the day) then our case is good, we shall be protected from all the violent rage of the wicked; so that none of the sons of violence shall be able to touch us for our hurt: and therefore herein let us take comfort, that though men forsake us, and our nearest ⟨p. 64⟩friends reject us, yet the Lord will gather us up,3 and provide sufficiently for us, as he did for David: neither can mens persuasions withdraw his compassion from us, nor mens threatenings terrify him from relieving of us, For there is not a godly man left, &c.
Secondly,1 this is for instruction, that seeing by how much lesse helpe we haue from men, so much the more we shall haue from God; therefore we should deale earnestly with the Lord in our distresses, and wrestle with him as Iacob did,2 when his brother Esau came with foure hundred men against him: hee was vnable to encounter him, and therefore hee encountreth the Lord himselfe by prayers and teares; and that which was his refuge, must bee ours, and then wee shall haue peace and safetie: if once wee can lay hand-fast on God, (as wee may in our houses, in our chambers, in our beds, in the night, or in the day) then our case is good, wee shall be protected from all the violent rage of the wicked; so that none of the sonnes of violence shal be able to touch vs for our hurt: and therefore herein let vs take comfort, that though men forsake vs, and our neerest