A20536:765
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.
Seeing religion is such an incomparable treasure, Use. 2 it should instruct us in the second place to have the means in due estimation, whereby we may be made truly religious, by which our minds that are blind, may be enlightened, our hearts of crooked may be made straight, of proud may be made humble, and of fraudulent may be made true and faithful. And those means are the Word, the Sacrament, Prayer, and the like, which are the steps whereby we must ascend unto this honourable estate: for it is as possible for men to make stairs to climb up unto the sky, as for us without these, to ascend unto heaven, by any devices of our own framing.
Seing religion is such an incomparable treasure, Vse. 2 it should instruct vs in the second place to haue the meanes in due estimation, whereby we may be made truly religious, by which our mindes that are blind, may be inlightned, our hearts of crooked may be made straight, of proud may be made humble, and of fraudulent may be made true and faithfull. And those meanes are the Word, the Sacrament, Prayer, and the like, which are the steps whereby we must ascend vnto this honorable estate: for it is as possible for men to make stayres to climbe vp vnto the sky, as for vs without these, to ascend vnto heauen, by any deuices of our owne framing.
The word is the key that must open hell gates, to set us at liberty from the bonds of sin, of Satan, and of death; and to unlock heaven gates, that we may have entrance into glory: in which respect it is, that Christ saith unto Peter, that he would give unto him (and consequently to all Ministers of the Gospel) the keys of the kingdom of heaven, that is the dispensation of the word, which maketh the way unto heavenly open to all such as by faith receive the same into their hearts. So that we should not come unto the means with a base conceit, or light estimation ⟨p. 11⟩thereof, but with a large & ample desire and expectation of taking benefit thereby. If men can once espy a way how they may rise in the world, either to great wealth or promotion, they will be most industrious and laborious in that course, they will refuse no pains in seeds time, though the weather be unseasonable and cold, and their work every way troublesome: but they will put themselves to it with all care and industry, in hope (though it be but an uncertain hope) of bettering their estate. So those that live by fairs and markets, will nor fail one of them ordinarily, neither heat nor cold, wind nor rain, nor any the like impediments shall hinder them from pursuing their commodity; and why then should we be negligent, and play the sluggards while our seeds-time lasteth, & the Lord biddeth us plough up the fallow ground of our hearts that he may sow therein the seed of life, which will never fail to yield us a plentiful harvest, if we can wait upon him for the same? And why should we be slack and careless when our chief market days and fair days come, and not rather set our hearts and endeavours to seek after those things, which all that seek shall find, and being found, will make us men for ever.