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

Then he goeth on and telleth us, that after the Lord hath showed this mercy unto his Church, He will seek to destroy all nations that come against Jerusalem; that is, all the enemies that do oppose themselves unto his people, and endeavour to hinder his good work in them, and for them. Now when it is said that he will seek to destroy them, the meaning is, that as he hath a resolution to overthrow them, so he will provide means whereby it shall be effected.

Then hee goeth on and telleth vs, that after the Lord hath shewed this mercy vnto his Church, He will seeke to destroy all nations that come against Ierusalem; that is, all the enemies that doe oppose themselues vnto his people, and endeauour to hinder his good worke in them, and for them. Now when it is said that hee will seeke to destroy them, the meaning is, that as hee hath a resolution to ouerthrow them, so he will prouide meanes whereby it shall be effected.

Then further in the tenth verse he setteth down the means how his people would be brought to such excellency. I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace, &c. Signifying that he would vouchsafe unto his Church under the Gospel a more plentiful ⟨p. 3⟩measure of his Spirit, that as, they should have more excellent, and clear, and powerful means; so they should find a greater blessing upon the use of those means; that whereas under the law, they had but drops of grace, distilling easily and by little and little, now they should have whole buckets full, as it were; yea whole floods of grace poured down upon all sorts of Gods servants. By the Spirit of grace, is meant the Spirit of adoption, and of regeneration; so called, both because it is given out of Gods free grace and favour, as also because it worketh grace and goodness in all such as are endued therewith: this Spirit is further described by a special effect, viz. that it is a Spirit of prayers. Till such time as men are made partakers hereof, they may use many words of prayer, but they are altogether idle and vain; fruits of their flesh, and not of their faith; such as they have great cause to be humbled for, and no reason at all to be comforted in: but when once they have this Spirit put into their hearts, they can call upon the Lord in an acceptable and comfortable manner.