A20536:436
Ten sermons tending chiefly to the fitting of men for the worthy receiving of…Ten sermons tending chiefely to the fitting of men for the worthy receiuing of…
Ten sermons tending chiefly to the fitting of men for the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper Wherein amongst many other holy instructions: the doctrines of sound repentance and humiliation, and of Gods special favours unto penitent sinners, and worthy communicants are largely and effectually handled. The six first, by I. Dod. The four last, by R. Cleaver. Whereunto is annexed, a plain and learned metaphrase on the epistle to the Colossians, written by a godly and judicious preacher. There is also set before the sermons, a short dialogue of preparation: containing the chief points that concern the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper, taken for the most part, out of the sermons following: and collected into a method for the benefit and ease of those that desire direction in this matter.Ten sermons tending chiefely to the fitting of men for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper VVherein amongst many other holy instructions: the doctrines of sound repentance and humiliation, and of Gods speciall fauours vnto penitent sinners, and worthy communicants are largely and effectually handled. The six first, by I. Dod. The foure last, by R. Cleauer. Whereunto is annexed, a plaine and learned metaphrase on the epistle to the Collossians, written by a godly and iudicious preacher. There is also set before the sermons, a short dialogue of preparation: containing the chiefe points that concerne the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper, taken for the most part, out of the sermons following: and collected into a method for the benefit and ease of those that desire direction in this matter.
London: printed by William Hall for Roger Jackson, 1610London: printed by William Hall for Roger Iackson, 1610
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.
And as in gaming, so in other pastimes (as they call them) they are so excessive in respect of time, that in steed of the right end of them (which is to quicken and revive the spirits, and to fit men for matters of greater importance) they pervert them to a quite contrary end, and make them means to weary and tire out themselves: so that they are for that day, utterly disabled for any work of religion, or of their callings.
And as in gaming, so in other pastimes (as they call them) they are so excessiue in respect of time, that in steed of the right end of them (which is to quicken and reuiue the spirits, and to fit men for matters of greater importance) they peruert them to a quite contrarie end, and make them meanes to wearie and tire out themselues: so that they are for that day, vtterly disabled for any worke of religion, or of their callings.
Yet it is strange to hear how those that carry the name and profession of Christianity, will shift off every wholesome admonition and rebuke that is brought against them, with this, what? will you not allow us recreation? but it might be demanded of many of them, to their shame, what is your vocation, that talk so much of recreation? what sore labour have you undertaken so to weary you, that you should stand in need of so much refreshing? In truth if things were well examined, we should find, that such make their sports to be ⟨p. 71⟩their vocation, (if they have any at all) not their recreation. For they do nothing else, or very little else, but eat and drink, and sleep, and play, and so consume their days, and spend the greatest part of their life like Epicures, that dream of no other happiness, but of following their delights, and giving themselves over to beastly voluptuousness and sensuality. And whereas recreation should be used only as physic, they make it their ordinary diet. If we should hear a man always inquiring after skilful Physicians, Note. and calling for nothing else but Physic, Physic; we would presently conclude, certainly this man hath a very sickly body: and what else can we think of those men, that are still following after vain delights, and in whose mouths there is nothing so usual, as recreation, recreation, what else (I say) can we think of them, but this, surely these men have very sickly souls. There is very little inward joy and spiritual contentment in that heart, where so much is sought for from these external things.