Old Mr. Dod's sayings

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 Sins lye heavy, Crosses lye light: and contrary, Where Crosses lye heavy, Sins lye light.

XIV. Four things we may learn from Children. 1. They take no unnecessary care. 2. They sleep without malice. 3. They are content with their condition. 4. They are humble; the child of a King will play with the child of a Beggar.

XV. There is no Affliction so small, but we should sink under it, if God upheld not; and there is no Sin so great, but we should commit it, if God restrained not.

XVI. If we be railed on, or reviled, or injuriously dealt withal by friend or foe, we should be more troubled for the sin against God, than for the offence done to our selves.

XVI. If we be railed on, or reviled, or injuriously dealt withall by friend or foe, we should be more troubled for the sin against God, than for the offence done to our selves.

XVII. A Godly man is like a Sheep, every place is the better for him where he comes. A wicked Man is like a Goat, every place is the worse for him; He leaves a stinking savour behind him.

XVIII. Sanctified Afflictions are spiritual Promotions, and are far better for a Christian, than all the Silver and Gold in the world; being that the trial of our Faith is much more precious than of Gold that perisheth, 1 Pet. 1. 6.

XVIII. Sanctified Afflictions are spiritual Promotions, and are far better for a Christian, than all the Silver and Gold in the world; being that the tryal of our Faith is much more precious than of Gold that perisheth, 1 Pet. 1. 6.

XIX. Directions for the Lords day. Make the Sabbath the Market-day for thy Soul. Lose not one hour, but be either Praying, Conferring, or Meditating; think not thy own thoughts; let every day have its duties; turn the Sermon heard, into matter of Prayer: Instruction into Petition, Reproof into Confession, Consolation into Thanksgiving: Think much of the Sermon heard, and make something of it all the week long.

XX. Directions for every day. First, For morning. Every morning presuppose, 1. I must dye. 2. I may dye ere night. 3. Whither will my Soul go, to Heaven or to Hell? Secondly, For Night. Every Night ask thy Soul these Questions. 1. Have I twice this day humbled my self before God in private? 2. How did I pray? in Faith and Love? 3. What have my thoughts been this day? 4. What have I been in my place and calling? 5. What have I been in company? Did I speak of good things? or did I hear, and with Mary lay up? 6. If God with the morning renewed Mercies, was I thankful? 7. If the day afforded me matter of sorrow, did I fret? or did I lye in the dust before God? 8. When you have done, where you have been failing, confess it with sorrow; the less work you will have to do when death comes. Thus every night reckon right with thy God. This hath been my daily course, and shall be my practice till I dye.

XXI. What we win by Prayer, we shall wear with comfort.

XXII. There is a twofold Assurance: 1. A Sun-shine. 2. A Moon-shine Assurance. The first is that full Assurance in Heb. 10. 22. The Moon-shine is that of the Word, to the which we do well that we take heed, 1 Thess. 1. 5. 2 Pet. 1. 18. The first is given but to few, and that but seldom; and that either upon some great duty to be performed, or some new condition of life to be entered into, or upon some great Sufferings to be undergone, of which one saith, The hours it comes is but seldom, and the stay of it is short. The second is that we must trust to, A relying upon the sure Word of God, by the Faith of Adherence, when we want the other, the Spirit of full Assurance.

XXII. There is a twofold Assurance: 1. A Sun-shine. 2. A Moon-shine Assurance. The first is that full Assurance in Heb. 10. 22. The Moon-shine is that of the Word, to the which we do well that we take heed, 1 Thess. 1. 5. 2 Pet. 1. 18. The first is given but to few, and that but seldom; and that either upon some great duty to be performed, or some new condition of life to be entred into, or upon some great Sufferings to be undergone, of which one saith, The hours it comes is but seldom, and the stay of it is short. The second is that we must trust to, A relying upon the sure Word of God, by the Faith of Adherence, when we want the other, the Spirit of full Assurance.

XXIII. For the comfort of Gods people, he observed out of the 129 Psalm, That though the wicked were the Plowers of the righteous, and would plough deep, make long furrows, and even plough their hearts out, if they could; yet the righteous Lord that sits in Heaven, laughs at them, and cuts their Cords, and they then can plough no more.

XXIII. For the comfort of Gods people, he observed out of the 129 Psalm, That though the wicked were the Plowers of the righteous, and would plow deep, make long furrows, and even plow their hearts out, if they could; yet the righteous Lord that sits in Heaven, laughs at them, and cuts their Cords, and they then can plow no more.

XXIV. In case of Persecutions, and other Sufferings, Gods people should seriously consider these four things: 1. God wills them and sends them: Now God's will is a perfect Rule of Righteousness, and what God doth, is so well done, that it could not be better done. 2. There is need of them, or else we should not have them. 3. Their number, measure and continuance, is determined by God, they are but for a moment, and last but for a few days, Rev. 2. 10. not too heavy, too many, or too long, as the Devil would have them; nor too few, too short, or too light, as our corrupt Natures would have them. 4. Their end is a weight of Glory, and the Crown that attends them, everlasting, 2 Cor. 4. 17.

XXV. Three things make a man count himself happy here below: 1. To have a good Estate. 2. To have it in a good Place. 3. By good Neighbours. Now these Three, they that die in the Lord, eminently enjoy. 1. Their heavenly Inheritance is Great; Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard the like, 1 Cor. 2. 9. 2. 'Tis in a good Place, 2 Cor. 5. 1. Heaven, which is a House made for them, and made by God, and therefore must needs be good. 3. By good Neighbours; God, Christ, the Spirit, Angels, and Saints. Adam had a good Inheritance, and in a good Place; but he had an evil Neighbour of the Devil, that troubled him, and marred all: But there's no ill Neighbours in Heaven.