A20534:19
A remedy against private contentions A godly and fruitful sermon on James, 4.1. &c.…A remedy against priuat contentions A godly and fruitfull sermon on Iames, 4.1. &c.…
A remedy against private contentions A godly and fruitful sermon on James, 4.1. &c. Wherein is at large discovered the hatefulness, and perniciousness of private jars and contentions, with manifold remedies against the same. By Mr. John Dod.A remedy against priuat contentions A godly and fruitfull sermon on Iames, 4.1. &c. Wherin is at large discouered the hatefulnes, and perniciousnesse of priuate iars and contentions, with manifold remedies against the same. By Mr. Iohn Dod.
London: printed by Humphrey Lownes for Thomas Man, 1614London: printed by Humfrey Lownes for Thomas Man, 1614
A REMEDY AGAINST Private Contentions.A REMEDIE AGAINST Priuate Contentions.
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.
Objection. But here they would reply again, (as hypocrisy makes men full of shifting) and say, you charge us that we do not pray: that is not so, I have prayed again and again, and yet am never the better. Answer. Indeed (saith he) Ye ask, and yet ye receive not: and why? Because ye ask amiss. As if he had said, if ye speed not in prayer, it is certain all is not well in your prayers: for that is a key to open Gods treasury; neither is his ear •uer shut against the faithful supplications of his servants: and hereby doth it appear that you ask amiss, in that ye ask, That ye might consume it upon your lusts. They would not be so absurd, as to say so to God, Lord give me this, that I may bestow it upon my lusts: but that was their purpose & intent; which is evident by this, that the scope and drift of their petitions was for earthly things: if they were sick, oh how earnest would they be for wealth! if in debt, what importunity would they use to get out it of? and so for other the like matters: but why did they ask these worldly things? Even for worldly respects: not to serve God better, but to serve themselves: they desired health, that they might pursue their commodities, or follow their pleasures and delights: they asked wealth, to the intent they might hold up their heads with the best, that they might have larger maintenance, that they might better their apparel, and their diet, &c.
Obiection. But here they would reply again, (as hypocrisie makes men full of shifting) and say, you charge vs that wee doe not pray: that is not so, I haue prayed againe and againe, and yet am neuer the better. Answer. Indeed (saith hee) Yee aske, and yet ye receiue not: and why? Because ye aske amisse. As if he had said, if ye speede not in prayer, it is certaine all is not well in your prayers: for that is a key to open Gods treasurie; neither is his eare •uer shut against the faithfull supplications of his seruants: and hereby doth it appeare that you aske amiss, in that ye aske, That ye might consume it vpon your lusts. They would not be so absurd, as to say so to God, Lord giue me this, that I may bestow it vpon my lusts: but that was their purpose & intent; which is euident by this, that the scope and drift of their petitions vvas for earthly things: if they were sicke, oh how earnest would they be for wealth! if in debt, what importunitie vvould they vse to get out it of? and so for other the like matters: but why did they aske these worldly things? Euen for worldly respects: not to serue God better, but to serue themselues: they desired health, that they might pursue their commodities, or follow their pleasures and delights: they asked wealth, to the intent they might hold vp their heads with the best, that they might haue larger maintenance, that they might better their apparell, and their diet, &c.