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

Having thus set forth the greatness of their sorrow, he cometh in the next place to express the soundness thereof: The land shall bewail every family apart, &c. Not in the public assemblies alone, where the tears of one may draw on the tears of another, and so their mourning be either ⟨p. 6⟩natural for company, or hypocritical for vain glory: but he saith, that every family should weep apart, and in private; yea not only the several families, but particular persons, yea those that were most nearly linked together, viz. the husband and the wife, should be separated in this work of humiliation, and not content themselves to pray and bewail their sins one with another, but take some time each of them to perform this duty in secret; and if they that are so inward one with another should lament apart, much more others, that are further off one from another.

Hauing thus set forth the greatnesse of their sorrow, he commeth in the next place to expresse the soundnesse thereof: The land shall bewaile euery family apart, &c. Not in the publicke assemblies alone, where the teares of one may draw on the teares of another, and so their mourning be either ⟨p. 6⟩naturall for company, or hypocriticall for vaine glory: but he saith, that euery family should weepe apart, and in priuate; yea not onely the seuerall families, but particular persons, yea those that were most neerely lincked together, viz. the husband and the wife, should bee separated in this worke of humiliation, and not content themselues to pray and bewaile their sinnes one with another, but take some time each of them to performe this dutie in secret; and if they that are so inward one with another should lament apart, much more others, that are further off one from another.

By the house of David is meant (as was before showed) the excellenter sort of Christians; and the like is signified by the house of Nathan, who was the son of David, of whom Christ came: (for the family of Solomon was wholly extinguished.) By the house of Levi, is meant the ordinary sort of the Levites; and as for the family of Shimei, it was one of the principal families of Levi. Whence we may observe, that all families without exception are tied to this work, and ought jointly and severally to perform the same. None are so good but they must weep for their sins in secret, and pray for the continuance & increase of their goodness: and as it is not needless for the best, so neither is it bootless for the meanest, but whosoever doth so, shall have a fountain of grace opened unto him, whereby all his iniquities shall be washed away.