A20536:563
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.
So far as any man hath a love unto iniquity, and an intent of committing iniquity, he is tainted with hypocrisy, and doth pollute and defile every good thing that he meddleth withal, and so can have no benefit, but much hurt therefrom.
So far as any man hath a loue vnto iniquity, and an intent of committing iniquitie, he is tainted with hypocrisie, and doth pollute and defile euery good thing that he medleth withall, and so can haue no benefit, but much hurt therefrom.
If then we would have God to meet us in mercy, we must meet him in sincerity: and if we would have him to come unto us in goodness, we must draw near unto him in uprightness. Agreeable to this point is, that exhortation to the Hebrews, Let us draw near with a true heart, in assurance of faith, 1sprinkled in our hearts from an evil conscience, and washed in our bodies with pure water. As if he should have said; except you come fitted and prepared with a heart void of guile and deceit, as good not come at all: For God will be so far from giving countenance, or comfort unto such, that he will assuredly plague them for their fraud and falsehood that they have used with him. This we may plainly see in that which befell the ill grounds: there are three sorts of them mentioned, ⟨p. 121⟩(all professors) that came to the word of life, and yet had no benefit by it: and therefore by a necessary consequent, Note. they could reap as little fruit by the Sacrament. For the word must give life and strength, before the Sacrament can nourish and increase the same. What was the reason why they profited not? because they came not with a good and honest heart, 2as the fourth sort of hearers did, who received instruction, and comfort, and the power of godliness, by the conscionable hearing of the word. But what is that good and honest heart which they are commended for? it is a heart, that doth fully purpose to do well, though it fail much in that which it performeth: that resolveth before hand to avoid the evil that shall be reproved, and to do the good duties that shall be commanded, and to believe and rest upon the promises that shall be pronounced, as far as God shall give ability, &c. Now wheresoever there is such a ready inclination unto goodness, there will be a bringing forth of fruit; though not in all alike, yet every one will do somewhat: and God will acknowledge them for good ground, and honest-hearted Christians, that yield him but thirty fold, as well as those that yield him sixty fold, or an hundred fold: for a less measure of fruitfulness, is an argument of truth, as well as a greater measure, and therefore shall be respected and rewarded: but as for those that have naughty and deceitful hearts, they shall go away, as bad, or worse then they came: