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

Whosoever hath not this, though he be never so great in the world, he is altogether wretched and miserable, subject to the curse of God, and to continual vexations, and discontentments: and on the other side, whosoever hath this holy Spirit dwelling in his heart, is an happy and blessed man, though he be never so much dejected and cast down through outward afflictions and tribulations.

Whosoeuer hath not this, though he bee neuer so great in the world, hee is altogether wretched and miserable, subiect to the curse of God, and to continuall vexations, and discontentments: and on the other side, whosoeuer hath this holy Spirit dwelling in his heart, is an happy and blessed man, though hee be neuer so much deiected and cast downe through outward afflictions and tribulations.

This point is evident in the prophecy of Isaiah, ¹where it is showed, that so long as the Spirit of God is withheld from men, they have grievous ruins, and desperate decays among them, and they still go from ill to worse, being ill without, and ill within: but how long doth this continue? Until the Spirit be poured upon them from above. And what then? The wilderness shall become a fruitful field; That is, those men and women that were like a wilderness before, bringing forth nothing but brambles and briars, nothing but pride and worldliness, and such like fruits of the flesh, even those men and women shall be as a fruitful field, being beautified and adorned with the virtues of Christ, and with the graces of his Spirit; and not only so, but likewise enriched, with all good prosperity, which the Lord seeth needful for them.

This point is euident in the prophecy of Isaiah, ¹where it is shewed, that so long as the Spirit of God is withheld from men, they haue grieuous ruines, and desperate decaies among them, and they still go from ill to worse, being ill without, and ill within: but how long doth this continue? Vntill the Spirit bee powred vpon them from aboue. And what then? The wildernesse shall become a fruitfull field; That is, those men and women that were like a wildernesse before, bringing forth nothing but brambles and briars, nothing but pride and worldlinesse, and such like fruites of the flesh, euen those men and women shall be as a fruitfull field, being beautified and adorned with the vertues of Christ, and with the graces of his Spirit; and not onely so, but likewise enriched, with all good prosperity, which the Lord seeth needfull for them.