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

Then further, as touching their liberality which they so much stand upon, and boast of, ⟨p. 147⟩what matter of commendation can we find therein, seeing it tendeth only and wholly to the maintenance of Idolatry? to the furtherance of superstition? and to the setting up of themselves in the room and stead of Christ Jesus? Were not the idolatrous Israelites, before spoken of, every¹ whit as bountiful, yea more bountiful then they? What will they say to those that offered their sons and their daughters unto Moloch and such like abominable Idols? will that prove there was any soundness and uprightness in them? Indeed this much may be gathered from thence, that they had a great measure of love, which made them so bountiful. But what kind of love was it? a Christian and well-grounded love? nothing less, but a fleshly and devilish love, as is very apparent in this, that it made them so forward in performing the works of the flesh and of the devil. And the like may be said of Papists long and tedious pilgrimages, and their cruel and unnatural whipping of themselves, and other such bodily exercises; it is no marvel to see them undertake and undergo the same with all readiness and willingness, because they are things unwarrantable by the word, and consequently services of the flesh and not of God: And it is an easy matter for a man to spend his riches, his strength, yea and his blood also upon his wicked lusts, and ungodly affections.

Then further, as touching their liberalitie which they so much stand vpon, and boast of, ⟨p. 147⟩what matter of commendation can wee finde therein, seeing it tendeth onely and wholly to the maintenance of Idolatrie? to the furtherance of superstition? and to the setting vp of themselues in the roome and stead of Christ Iesus? Were not the idolatrous Israelites, before spoken of, euery¹ whit as bountiful, yea more bountiful then they? What will they say to those that offered their sons and their daughters vnto Moloch and such like abominable Idols? will that proue there was any soundnesse and vprightnesse in them? Indeede this much may bee gathered from thence, that they had a great measure of loue, which made them so bountifull. But what kinde of loue was it? a Christian and well-grounded loue? nothing lesse, but a fleshly and diuellish loue, as is very apparant in this, that it made them so forward in performing the workes of the flesh and of the diuell. And the like may be said of Papists long and tedious pilgrimages, and their cruell and vnnaturall whipping of themselues, and other such bodily exercises; it is no maruell to see them vndertake and vndergoe the same with all readinesse and willingnesse, because they are things vnwarrantable by the word, and consequently seruices of the flesh and not of God: And it is an easie matter for a man to spend his riches, his strength, yea and his blood also vpon his wicked lusts, and vngodly affections.