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

Use. 1 Which serveth for the great terror of sundry graceless persons, who being rebuked for their sins, will confess that indeed they have their faults and infirmities; but did not the Son of God die (say they) to redeem us from the same? He did so indeed, if you belong unto him; and will you crucify him again by your wretched and sinful behaviour? Did Christ weep and cry, and sweat drops of blood for sin: and will you make no better use thereof, then to turn the grace of God into wantonness, and to take your swing in sinning, because Christ hath made himself an offering for the same? You proclaim unto all the world, that you are not led by the Spirit of grace, and that you have not a lively faith in the merits of the Son of God; for if you were a true believer, you would be so far from continuing ⟨p. 42⟩in sin, because Christ hath redeemed you by his blood, that you would therefore abhor it and eschew it, because it cost him so deer. Even as one that hath any sparkle of civility in him, if his friend have endured great tortures to free him from the imputation of treason, or have been at great charges to deliver him being cast in prison for debt, will walk more circumspectly and advisedly all the days of his life; and will be so far from adventuring upon those bad courses again, that he will be so much more careful to avoid them, by how much more pains and cost his friends have been at for his redeeming.

Vse. 1 Which serueth for the great terrour of sundry gracelesse persons, who being rebuked for their sinnes, will confesse that indeede they haue their faultes and infirmities; but did not the Sonne of God die (say they) to redeeme vs from the same? He did so indeed, if you belong vnto him; and will you crucifie him againe by your wretched and sinfull behauiour? Did Christ weepe and cry, and sweate droppes of bloud for sinne: and will you make no better vse thereof, then to turne the grace of God into wantonnesse, and to take your swinge in sinning, because Christ hath made himselfe an offering for the same? You proclaime vnto all the world, that you are not ledde by the Spirit of grace, and that you haue not a liuely faith in the merites of the Sonne of God; for if you were a true beleeuer, you would be so farre from continuing ⟨p. 42⟩in sinne, because Christ hath redeemed you by his bloud, that you would therefore abhorre it and eschue it, because it cost him so deere. Euen as one that hath any sparkle of ciuilitie in him, if his friend haue endured great tortures to free him from the imputation of treason, or haue bene at great charges to deliuer him being cast in prison for debt, will walke more circumspectly and aduisedly all the daies of his life; and will be so farre from aduenturing vpon those bad courses againe, that he wil be so much more careful to auoide thē, by how much more paines and cost his friends haue bene at for his redeeming.