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

Secondly, consider whether there be in thee §2any alteration, and change: for in regeneration, there must be a corruption of sin, so that as seed in the ground, so sin in our souls, may decay, that the new man may be raised up, the spirit of God taking possession of our souls. Therefore the Evangelist John maketh this the first work of the¹ spirit, that it shall convince the world of sin: which is so needful, that without it Christ Jesus can never enter into the heart: for he promiseth to dwell only with them, that are humble in spirit, and contrite ⟨p. 164⟩²in heart, through the sight of their iniquities, and of Gods displeasure justly deserved by the same: and calleth those alone unto him that are weary, and heavy laden, groaning and sighing under³ the burden of their sins. Thus we see, that to be rebuked in our consciences in this sort, is the first work of the spirit, which is also wrought⁴ by degrees. For §1⁵first there is a great and general astonishment by reason of all those great and enormous sins that we have committed; and this doth strike us down, it doth terrify us, and hold us amazed wonderfully. §2⁶Then it dealeth with us more particularly: it bringeth us unto a special grief for special sins; it doth bereave us of our chief desires; and bringeth us out of conceit and liking with the best things that are in⁷ us: for then it doth display before us the vanity and darkness of our understanding, how unfit and unmeet we are to understand and conceive those things, which do above all other most concern us: §3