A20536:790
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.
A second mark is to have a continual increase in godliness: §2neither to wax worse, 1nor to stand at a stay, but still to strive to grow better and better, as the Apostle Paul testifieth that he himself did: I forget that which is behind, and endeavour my self to that which is before: and follow hard toward the mark, to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus And having showed what he did himself, he annexeth an exhortation also for us: 2Let us therefore as many as are perfect, (that is sincere, and void of gross hypocrisy) be thus minded. He was not as a vain foolish man, who running in a race will be ever and anon looking back how much ground he hath rid: but his eye was upon the mark, considering how much he had yet to run, how far off he was from perfection: and the same mind should be in us, and will be in as many of us, as are endued with the same spirit that Paul was. We must every day labour to abound more and more in all wisdom and in all godliness. 3If we prayed once a day in private, Note. and that somewhat coldly at the first, we must afterward pray twice or thrice, or oftener in a day, as occasion is offered, and that more fervently, and feelingly then we did in the beginning. If we did read and meditate more seldom, and with greater weakness and distraction at our first entrance into profession, in our proceeding, we must use those exercises, more frequently, and perform ⟨p. 19⟩them more seriously and cheerfully: and the like may be said for all other duties. Thus if we can labour to do, Note. and when we slip and so are stayed now and then in our race, yet if we recover our selves with speed, and set surer, and look better to our steps, and make more haste in our way then we did before: we must not be discouraged, though we find not so good a progress as were to be wished for: God will accept of our endeavour, and his spirit will bear us witness that we have a true heart, notwithstanding we come far short of that we should, and other of Gods Saints do attain unto. But on the contrary, if we stand at a stay, or start aside like a broken bow, and so turn back again unto folly, it is much to be suspected that we had never any soundness in us.