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

But (will some say) if this be required of all true Christians, Object. who can say that he is such an one? for few or none have attained to such deep and piercing grief.

But (will some say) if this bee required of all true Christians, Obiect. who can say that hee is such an one? for few or none haue attained to such deepe and piercing griefe.

Indeed it is true for the most part, Answ. yet not generally: for some have been as throughly wounded with sorrow for their heinous transgressions, as any man hath bin for his child's death, or as they were for Josiahs death: and as for others that have not been altogether so deeply plunged in grief and anguish, they take up that in continuance, which they wanted in present passion. Natural mourning is ordinarily more violent, as we may observe in Davids mourning for Absalom, who cried out in the bitterness of his heart, so that the people might hear him: but godly lamentation is more lasting and durable. So that the one may be well compared to a land flood, which maketh a great show and noise for the time, but come a week after, and there will be little appearance thereof: and the other, to wit godly sorrow, may be likened to a still and constant rain, which entereth more deeply into the ground, and remaineth longer, and doth more good a great deal, then a sudden, violent, and tempestuous shower. ⟨p. 48⟩and herein let these be judges, who are endued with the Spirit of God, and are acquainted with the ways of God; and let them speak, who have had the greatest crosses, and have been even drunken with wormwood, as the Prophet speaketh: let them (I say) speak and testify for the clearing of this point, whether many of their great troubles be not in a sort forgotten, in regard of any present grief that they conceive for them; and whether the sins of their youth do not more constantly vex and torment them, then all the afflictions of their youth do. And if it be so, then may it well be concluded, that their sorrow for sin is greatest, though it be not always so boisterous and bitter for the present: and therefore seeing it is a thing that may be attained unto, let us use all good means and helps whereby we may be furthered therein. See the means in that Sermon on