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

2 Secondly, is it so that the greatest sinners are the veriest fools? then here is matter of singular consolation for Gods servants, that are vilified and contemned, and accounted silly and simple, even for this, that they carefully decline from the ways of sinners, though in show never so pleasant and profitable: and conscionable, walk in the paths of righteousness, though never so rough and dangerous: let vain men speak their pleasure of them, and count and call them the fools of the world, yet God esteemeth and speaketh otherwise of them. It is no marvel that the world ⟨p. 19⟩judgeth them fools, for with them the doctrine of the Gospel (unto which the godly endeavour to conform themselves and their courses) is accounted foolishness. But as wisdom is justified of her children, whatsoever men think or speak of it, so are the children of wisdom justified by the infinitely wise God, whatsoever slanderous and reproachful imputations carnal men do lay upon them: he saith that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Prou. 1.7. and that those that obey his commandments are the only wise people under the Sun. Deut. 4.6.

2 Secondly, is it so that the greatest sinners are the veriest fooles? then here is matter of singular consolation for Gods seruants, that are vilified and contemned, and accounted sillie and simple, euen for this, that they carefully decline from the waies of sinners, though in shew neuer so pleasant and profitable: and conscionable, walke in the paths of righteousnesse, though neuer so rough and dangerous: let vaine men speake their pleasure of them, and count and call them the fooles of the world, yet God esteemeth and speaketh otherwise of them. It is no maruell that the world ⟨p. 19⟩iudgeth them fooles, for with them the doctrine of the Gospell (vnto which the godly endeuour to conforme themselues and their courses) is accounted foolishnes. But as wisedome is iustified of her children, whatsoeuer men thinke or speake of it, so are the children of wisedome iustified by the infinitely wise God, whatsoeuer slanderous and reproachfull imputations carnall men doe lay vpon them: he saith that the feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome.