A20540:116
Three godly and fruitful sermons; the two first preached by Master John DodThree godlie and fruitful sermons; the two first preached by Maister Iohn Dod
Three godly and fruitful sermons; the two first preached by Master John Dod: the last by Master Robert Cleaver. Whereunto are annexed, five propositions, or points of doctrine, comprehended in three other sermons, by the same authorThree godlie and fruitful sermons; the two first preached by Maister Iohn Dod: the last by Maister Robert Cleauer. Whereunto are annexed, fiue propositions, or points of doctrine, comprehended in three other sermons, by the same author
London: printed by N. Okes and F. Kingston for William Welby, 1610
THE FIRST SERMON, UPON the twelfth of Zechariah.THE FIRST SERMON, VPON the twelfth of Zechariah.
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.
Secondly, there is no man or woman but hath some sin or other, which is not meet for them to acknowledge before their nearest friends, because such is the corruption of their nature, they will be ready to think the worse of the party. The most loving and wife husband that is, if his wife should discover unto him all her thoughts and ill affections, would entertain somewhat a harder conceit of her than before he did; and therefore God would have many sinful cogitations and motions laid open only unto himself, who is infinitely ⟨p. 53⟩merciful and pitiful; and not unto any creature in the world beside.
Secondly, there is no man or woman but hath some sinne or other, which is not meete for them to acknowledge before their nearest friends, because such is the corruption of their nature, they will be ready to thinke the worse of the party. The most louing and wife husband that is, if his wife should discouer vnto him all her thoughts and ill affections, would entertaine somewhat a harder conceite of her than before he did; and therfore God would haue many sinfull cogitations and motions laid open onely vnto himselfe, who is infinitely ⟨p. 53⟩mercifull and pittifull; and not vnto any creature in the world beside.
Use 1 This doctrine serveth for the just reproof of many professors, who are all in the Church, and nothing in the family; or if they have prayer and reading of the Scriptures twice a day public with their whole family, they imagine that they have gone as far as they need to do; though they never throughout the whole week perform any service unto the Lord in secret; never conscionably meditate on the word; never earnestly bewail and confess their hidden corruptions; never fervently cry unto the Lord for the saving graces of his holy Spirit; nor perform any such duty apart, as all Christians are bound to do. Such kind of persons may assure themselves, that their hearts are not right with God, and that they are not led by the Spirit of grace, which draws those in whom it reigneth, unto the performance of good duties apart, as well as with company: in their closets, in their chambers, in the fields, or in some such private places or other, as well as in the Church, or with the whole society where they live.