A20536:576
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.
If we embrace the substance thereof willingly, and fail in the circumstances unwillingly, God will never lay it to our charge. Examples will prove this more fully unto us. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, (saith the Apostle James) and ye know what end God made with him. Now if we read over the book of Job, we shall find, that there was in him a great deal of passion and distemper: and that he held out but very weakly in a great part of the conflict: as when he cursed the day of his birth, & conceived hardly of the Lord, and was ready to dispute and reason the matter with him: showing much unwillingness to submit himself to those strokes which God had laid upon him: for which he was justly reproved both by Elihu and also by the Lords own mouth: yet because he held out in the substance of godliness, in the middest of all his woes and miseries, and at the beginning thereof, humbled himself, saying, Naked came I out of my mothers womb, 1and naked shall I return thither: the Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken it: blessed be the name of the Lord: as also afterward he used many good and holy speeches concerning his own ill deserts, and the righteousness of Gods proceeding, if he should deal in extremity of justice with him: and in the end acknowledged his fault and desired to lay his hand upon his mouth: because (I say) these good things were found in him, God passeth by his infirmities, and taketh notice of his patience, with high commendation thereof: Setting him forth as a pattern most worthy our imitation, when we are pressed down with the weight of adversity, as he was. For the Lord in his wisdom considered, that it was not through any stubbornness, or rebellious disposition that he brake out in that manner: but through the violence of his affliction, and temptations, and through the ignorance and indiscreet carriage of his friends, who dealt very uncharitably, and unmercifully with him. In like manner is Rahab commended, as one that ⟨p. 126⟩by reason of her faith and works perished not with them which obeyed not, 2when she had received the spies peaceably. Yet if we look into the story, we shall easily discern a great deal of infirmity in that very work of love & mercy, by which, she got the testimony of such a notable faith: for she bewrayed much unbelief in making a lie to preserve the spies in safety.