Old Mr. Dod's sayings

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.

XXVII. Three things do concur to the making up of the Sin against the Holy Ghost. 1. Light in the Mind. 2. Malice in the Heart. 3. The Insensibleness of the sin. He that fears he hath committed it, hath not committed it.

XXVII. Three things do concurr to the making up of the Sin against the Holy Ghost. 1. Light in the Mind. 2. Malice in the Heart. 3. The Insensibleness of the sin. He that fears he hath committed it, hath not committed it.

XXVIII. The reason why many are not wrought upon, that live under powerful Means of Grace, when many that live at a great distance, and come seldom under a powerful Preacher, are wrought upon by it; He used to give by this similitude: As in a Market-Town, the Towns-people matter not so much for Market-wares, as they that live in the Country, they come to buy, and must and will have what they want, what ever they pay for it; whereas they that live in the Town, think they may buy at any time, and so neglect buying at present; and at the last, oftentimes they are disappointed.

XXIX. To persuade us not to return railing for railing, he would say, That if a Dog barked at a Sheep, a Sheep will not bark at a Dog.

XXIX. To perswade us not to return railing for railing, he would say, That if a Dog barked at a Sheep, a Sheep will not bark at a Dog.

XXX. Four Arguments against immoderate Cares for earthly things, that we might not dishonour or deny God, he observed out of Mat. 6. 1. 'Tis needless. 2. 'Tis Brutish. 3. 'Tis Bootless. 4. 'Tis Heathenish. 1. Needless, What need we care, and God too? Vers. 30, 31, 32. Our heavenly Father knows we have need of these things, and he bids us be careful for nothing, but cast our cares on him who careth for us. 2. 'Tis Brutish, nay more than Brutish, v. 26. Consider the fowls of the air, and ravens that he feeds, they toil not. 3. It is Bootless, and to no purpose: v. 27. Which of you by taking thought, can add one cubit to his stature, or penny to his estate? 4. It is Heathenish; After all these things the Gentiles seek, v. 32.

XXX. Four Arguments against immoderate Cares for earthly things, that we might not dishonour or deny God, he observed out of Mat. 6. 1. 'Tis needless. 2. 'Tis Brutish. 3. 'Tis Bootless. 4. 'Tis Heathenish. 1. Needless, What need we care, and God too? Vers. 30, 31, 32. Our heavenly Father knows we have need of these things, and he bids us be careful for nothing, but cast our cares on him who careth for us. 2. 'Tis Brutish, nay more than Brutish, v. 26. Consisider the fowls of the air, and ravens that he feeds, they toyl not. 3. It is Bootless, and to no purpose: v. 27. Which of you by taking thought, can add one cubit to his stature, or peny to his estate? 4. It is Heathenish; After all these things the Gentiles seek, v. 32.

XXXI. Many in the world take their Saintship upon trust, and trade in the duties of Religion, with the credit they have gained from others Opinions: They believe themselves to be Christians, because others hope them to be such; and so zealously trade in duties that lie outmost, to keep their Credit; but never look for a stock of solid Grace within; and this undoes many.

XXXII. As we read of daily bread, so of a daily cross, Luk. 9. 23. which we are bid to take, not to make: We need not make Crosses for our selves, as we are too prone to do; but let God make them for us: Crosses being made in Heaven best fit the Saints backs; and we must not lay them down, till they and we lie down together.

XXXIII. It was a notable saying of a holy man, Quench Hell, and burn Heaven, yet I will love and fear my God.

XXXIV. It is not crying out upon the Devil, nor declaiming against Sin in Prayer or Discourse, but fighting with the Devil, and mortifying our Lusts, that God chiefly looks upon.

XXXIV. It is not crying out upon the Devil, nor declaiming against Sin in Prayer or Discourse, but fighting with the Devil, and mortifyings our Lusts, that God chiefly looks upon.

XXXV. The empty Professor disappoints Two at once. 1. The World, who seeing his Leaves, expects Fruit, but finds none. 2. Himself, who thinks to reach Heaven, but falls short of it.

XXXVI. The only way for a distressed Soul that cannot fasten on former Comforts, by reason of future Backslidings, and so questions all his former evidences, is, To renew his Repentance, as if he had never believed.

XXXVI. The only way for a distressed Soul that cannot fasten on former Comforts, by reason of future Backshdings, and so questions all his former evidences, is, To renew his Repentance, as if he had never believed.

XXXVII. Some are apt to think, if they are in such a Family, under such a Minister, out of such Temptations, the Devil would not meddle with them as he doth: But such should know, That so long as his old Friend is alive within, He will be knocking at the door without.

XXXVIII. The seeds were sown so deep in the Nature of the Devil, and the Saint, that they will never be rooted out, till the Devil cease to be Devil, and Sin to be Sin, and the Saint to be a Saint.