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

First, let us in our hearts the weapon of God, ¹even the sword of the spirit, whereby our hearts may be wounded, as often as need requireth: for unregenerate persons wanting that weapon, will rather defend, then smite themselves when they have offended, and every child of God hath somewhat of old Adam in him, in ⟨p. 6⟩which regard he must be more careful to use the sword of the spirit, for the piercing of his heart when any sin is committed by him: ²withal praying for the spirit of grace which will convince the conscience when it is guilty, so that it shall have nothing to say in defence of it self, but very much for the condemnation of it self: as is evident Ezec. ³36.27. whereby we may observe, that when God hath given his spirit unto his elect, and (as it is in Jeremiah. ⁴31 33.) withal written his laws in their hearts, then they shall remember their own wicked ways, and their deeds that were not good, and shall judge themselves worthy to have been destroyed for their iniquities, & for their abominations. What is the reason they should pass such a heavy sentence upon themselves? one would think they should rather rejoice now, & allow of themselves and of their works? so they do rejoice at, and approve of themselves and their works, so far as they are spiritual: but they proclaim war against themselves and their works so far as either they are or have been carnal and sinful, and that because the word of God, and the spirit of God do bear sway in their hearts: they are at utter defiance with their pride and hypocrisy, and all wretched lusts that fight against their souls: being never so much tormented with those sins, as when they have attained to a great measure of humility, and of sincerity. He that is most lowly is ever most vexed with his pride, and he that is most upright and true hearted, is most of all troubled with the guilefulness and deceitfulness of his own heart, because the word and the spirit working together do cause him both more clearly to see, and more throughly to hate those corruptions, than ever he did before he had attained to that measure of grace.