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

The more speedily we judge our selves, Doct. 7 the more mercifully the Lord will deal with us.¹

The more speedily we iudge our selues, Doct. 7 the more mercifully the Lord will deale with vs.¹

1. 1Speedy judging of our selves procures favour.Speedy iudging of our selues procures fauour.

This we see proved in this text, where God dealeth with David as a father with his own son: First, letting him choose his own rod, when of necessity he must be corrected: Secondly, ¹he giveth him warning before hand, that the plague might not overtake him on a sudden, which would wonderfully have discomforted him: Thirdly, he telleth him how long it should continue, so that he was sure three days would be the longest. Which serveth first for singular comfort unto Gods children that do bewail their sins, Use. 1 and pass sentence upon themselves as well as they can: if they go through with that work, the Lord will give them a comfortable and speedy deliverance: or if it be requisite that they should feel Gods hand upon them or theirs in any more grievous manner, yet the Lord will deal with them in some sort as he did here with David: for first they shall have warning thereof before hand, and so be better prepared and armed for it. And further, if they strive to humble their hearts before the Lord, though they have not the choice of their particular scourge, yet it shall be as well with them in effect: for although at first they think the rod very smart, and every blow two, yet when they are grown to be stronger men in Christ, they shall be driven to confess, that if they had chosen their own rods, there could have ⟨p. 33⟩