Seven godly and fruitful sermons. The six first preached by Master John DodSeuen godlie and fruitfull sermons. The six first preached by Master Iohn Dod

So for the grounds, what could the good ground say for it self for a time, which the ill grounds could not? They were all ploughed, they all received the seed, and brought it above ground, those that did least. Whence was the difference then? The bad grounds had not the stones digged out, nor the thorns grubbed up; and therefore the seed springing up in the one sort, when the parching heat came, withered away; and that in the other was choked by the thorns, and so came to nought: each of them failing when their trial came: whereas the good ground held out unto the end.

So for the grounds, what could the good ground say for it selfe for a time, which the ill grounds could not? They were all plowed, they all receiued the seede, and brought it aboue ground, those that did least. Whence was the difference then? The bad grounds had not the stones digged out, nor the thornes grubbed vp; and therefore the seede springing vp in the one sort, when the parching heat came, withered away; and that in the other was choaked by the thornes, and so came to nought: each of them failing when their triall came: whereas the good ground held out vnto the end.

Peter was a good house, Judas was an ill house; therefore when a storm came, though Peter lost a slate or two, as the best house may, yet the foundation and the side-walls stood firm: he wept bitterly for his sin, and craved pardon for it, and so all was repaired. But what of Judas? he stood indifferently well for a while: but at length when Christ rebuked him, he was full of wrath; and when the high Priests offered him money, he was ⟨p. 69⟩full of covetousness: and so thinking to gain more by selling of Christ, then by serving of him, he quite forsook his Master, and sought how to betray him to his most mortal adversaries.

Peter was a good house, Iudas was an ill house; therefore when a storme came, though Peter lost a slate or two, as the best house may, yet the foundation and the side-wals stood firme: he wept bitterly for his sinne, and craued pardon for it, and so all was repaired. But what of Iudas? he stood indifferently well for a while: but at length when Christ rebuked him, hee was full of wrath; and when the high Priests offered him money, he was