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,…

Now the reasons why the decay of Gods people is and should be such an heart-breaking unto the rest of the Saints, are these:

Now the reasons why the decay of Gods people is and should be such an heart-breaking vnto the rest of the Saints, are these:

First, because the glory of God is precious unto them,¹ which is much hindered and observed when his servants §1are diminished: for then there is less service done unto him in public and private: there are fewer prayers and praises offered up unto him, fewer religious exercises in use amongst men, and fewer works of mercy performed unto the needy and distressed. And if the decay of good soldiers and of loyal subjects in any ⟨p. 66⟩kingdom must needs be a matter of grief to those that love and seek the honour of their King; then can it not but go near the hearts of the godly, when they perceive the soldiers and subjects of Christ to go to wrack.

First, because the glory of God is precious vnto them,¹ which is much hindered and obserued when his seruants §1are diminished: for then there is lesse seruice done vnto him in publike and priuate: there are fewer praiers and praises offered vp vnto him, fewer religious exercises in vse amongst men, and fewer workes of mercy performed vnto the needie and distressed. And if the decay of good souldiers and of loyall subiects in any ⟨p. 66⟩kingdome must needs be a matter of griefe to those that loue and seeke the honour of their King; then can it not but goe neere the hearts of the godly, when they perceiue the souldiers and subiects of Christ to goe to wracke.