A20529:210
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.
It much troubleth the souls of godly men, to see a small number of Christians. Hence proceedeth that lamentation of the Prophet Micah: Woe is me, for I am as the Summer gatherings, &c: 1or, I am in case, as in the destruction of the Summer fruits: as in Hosea it is said, The fishes of the Sea shall be gathered: that is, destroyed: and that this is the sense,2 it appeareth in the words following, when it is said, There is no cluster to eat: My soul desired the first ripe fruits: that is, I am as one that hath a fervent longing for them, and yet can get none of them; and what is the reason of this his lamentation? The good man (saith he) is perished out of the earth, and there is none righteous among men, &c. So that the effect of those words is thus much: that look how worldlings would grieve, if they should see their grapes and figs (which were special commodities in those countries) to fail, and their expectation that way to be utterly frustrate; so, and much more bitterly did the Prophet bewail the loss of good & righteous men. That was it also that did so pierce the heart of Elijah, Lord (saith he) the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, broken down thy Altars, 3& slain thy Prophets with the sword, and I only am left, and they seek my life, to take it away. Which loss of the Prophets was so grievous unto him, that he had no pleasure in his own life; and therefore he entreateth the Lord to take away his soul. 4In which regard when the Lord would comfort him, he useth a fit ⟨p. 65⟩remedy for his disease: for whereas his grief was that there were no godly men left, but all were declined to Idolatry, he telleth him that he had reserved to himself seven thousand, 5that had not bowed the knee unto Baal.
It much troubleth the soules of godly men, to see a small number of Christians. Hence proceedeth that lamentation of the Prophet Micah: Woe is me, for I am as the Summer gatherings, &c: