Old Mr. Dod's sayings

Old Mr DOD's Sayings.

I. Nothing can hurt us but Sin; and that shall not hurt us, if we can repent of it. And nothing can do us good but the Love and Favour of God in Christ; and that we shall have, if we seek it.

I. NOthing can hurt us but Sin; and that shall not hurt us, if we can repent of it. And nothing can do us good but the Love and Favour of God in Christ; and that we shall have, if we seek it.

II. No man is in a sad condition, but he that hath a hard heart, and cannot pray.

III. So much Sin, so much Sorrow; so much Holiness, so much Happiness.

IV. Make thy Sin thy greatest Sorrow; so shall thy Sorrow never hurt thee. Make Jesus Christ thy greatest Joy, so shalt thou never want Joy.

V. A man that hath the Spirit of Prayer, hath more than if he had all the World.

VI. Two things he commended to a Married Couple, Cares and Strifes: For the first, Let your Cares be, which shall please God most: For your Strifes, let them be, which shall love one another best: So will your Cares and Strifes be to purpose; so will all needless Cares and Strifes vanish.

VII. If you be in a Married estate, know and believe it, though you might have had a better, or richer Wife, or Husband; yet sure enough you could never have had a fitter; because it was so appointed by God in Heaven, before it could be accomplished here on Earth; and therefore, though mutual love be not performed to thee, yet do thou thy part in obedience to God, and thou shalt be sure to have comfort in the end, though God exercise thee with Chastisement for a time.

VIII. There are no Afflictions or Miseries befall us, but by Gods appointment; and cannot hurt us, but must needs do us good, if we be Gods Children. But first, be sure you mix not Sin with them, for that only makes them bitter. Secondly, Look not at the Rod, but at him that smiteth; for that causeth fretting and fainting both.

IX. If thou desirest to be assured, thy sins be forgiven thee, labour to forgive Injuries and Offences done unto thee, according to that in Mat. 6.14, 15. Four things consider to this end: 1. Christ's Example, who forgave, and prayed for his Enemies. 2. Christ's Command, When ye pray, forgive, if ye have ought against any man. 3. Christ's Promise, If ye forgive, ye shall be forgiven. 4. Christ's Threatening, If ye forgive not, ye shall not be forgiven.

IX. If thou desirest to be assured, thy sins be forgiven thee, labour to forgive Injuries and Offences done unto thee, according to that in Mat. 6.14, 15. Four things consider to this end: 1. Christ's Example, who forgave, and prayed for his Enemies. 2. Christ's Command, When ye pray, forgive, if ye have ought against any man. 3. Christ's Promise, If ye forgive, ye shall be forgiven. 4. Christ's Threatning, If ye forgive not, ye shall not be forgiven.

X. In all Miseries and Distresses, 'tis best wisdom to go to that Friend that is most near, most willing, and most able to help; such a Friend is God.

XI. He would often say, He had no reason to complain of his Crosses, being they were but the bitter fruit of his Sins.

XII. Where Sin lies heavy, Crosses lie light; and contrary, Where Crosses lie heavy, Sins lie light.