A20536:671
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.
The party being thus taken, the Lord falleth to an examination of him, [Friend (saith he) how camest thou in hither?] that is, how darest thou come to the royal table of so glorious a King [and hast not one a wedding garment?] that is having no repentance for sin; no freedom from the guilt, or from the power of sin; nor any saving grace at all: how is it (I say) that thou shouldest presume to come into such a place and into such a presence, having made no better preparation?
The partie being thus taken, the Lord falleth to an examination of him, [Friend (saith he) how camest thou in hither?] that is, how darest thou come to the royall table of so glorious a King [and hast not one a wedding garment?] that is hauing no repentance for sinne; no freedome from the guilt, or from the power of sinne; nor any sauing grace at all: how is it (I say) that thou shouldest presume to come into such a place and into such a presence, hauing made no better preparation?
When God began thus to examine him in his own person, ⟨p. 155⟩it is said [he was speechless] having an ill cause and a guilty conscience, he had nothing to say for himself. Hereupon the Lord proceedeth to pass sentence upon him, which is done after the manner of earthly Judges. [Then said the King unto his servants] that is, unto the Angels, whose office it is, as to gather the good corn into Gods barn, so to bind the tars together in bundles, that they may be cast into hell fire; [bind him hand and foot] there must not be present execution, but he must be dealt with as a prisoner, whose hands are bound that he may not resist: and his feet that he may not run away; if either of them had been at liberty, he might have made some shift: but when God comes to proceed in judgement against men, he will strip them of all means, both of defence and of escaping. Further they are bid to [take him away] to wit, from having communion with God, with his Saints or Angels; he must be taken from the place and means of all comfort and peace, and happiness: and is that all? nay (saith God) [cast him into utter darkness] that is, into hell, a place of all misery and woe, which is implied by utter darkness: a fit punishment for such kind of persons; for seeing they are full of ignorance, and of spiritual darkness while they live, God hath provided that they shall have enough of it; they shall be cast into a place of utter darkness, where there shall be nothing but horror, and anguish. And yet if this were all, their state were the more tolerable: but this addeth unto the misery of the place, that they shall be very sensible of that misery: which is intimated, when it is said, [there shall be weeping] not such weeping as many times befalls men here, when the tears of their eyes abate the anguish of their hearts: but such weeping as is joined with [gnashing of the teeth] signifying that they should not only have sorrow and grief, but such as should be mingled with desperation, and with horrible vexation, and torture: not such as should be an ease unto their souls, but rather an addition unto their woe.