A20536:751
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.
1 First a good estimation: so that it may well be said, §1that the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: 1and that of all other, they are the most glorious people, that have the Spirit of grace and of glory dwelling in their hearts. For they are precious in Gods sight, as being his chief treasure: precious in the eyes of his people, precious in the account of the Angels: yea reverent in the sight of the very wicked, who esteem them to be honest men, and dare trust them before any other many times, with their goods, with their children, and their portions, yea and with their souls also. For when they are in any extremity, lying upon their death beds, or the like, oh then they cry out, Send for such a Preacher: send for this or that good man or woman: now their prayers and their speeches might do me good, which heretofore I have rejected, or lightly esteemed: and then none is to be compared to them, none to be sought unto in respect of them. Note. And when they labour to disgrace and vilify them, by terming them dissemblers and hypocrites, even then against their wills, they highly commend them; for it is in effect, as if they should say: These men pretend they have many virtues in them, or at the least, I would not have men think, that they are so good and godly, as they seem to be: If they be, then they must needs be an excellent people indeed: (for their is none that hath any civility in him, but he will acknowledge that it is a good thing to hear, and ⟨p. 6⟩read, and confer, and to spend much time in prayer, as Gods servants do; but they cry out, that they do not these things well, nor with a good heart. Now if Christians consciences do bear them witness, that they do perform these duties in uprightness, then they have the testimony of ungodly men themselves on their sides: and till they can disprove the soundness of our hearts, they must, whether they will or not, justify our behaviour. Thus we see how godliness winneth us a good estimation.2
1 First a good estimation: so that it may well be said, §1that the righteous is more excellent than his neighbor: