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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20536	Ten sermons tending chiefely to the fitting of men for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper VVherein amongst many other holy instructions: the doctrines of sound repentance and humiliation, and of Gods speciall fauours vnto penitent sinners, and worthy communicants are largely and effectually handled. The six first, by I. Dod. The foure last, by R. Cleauer. Whereunto is annexed, a plaine and learned metaphrase on the epistle to the Collossians, written by a godly and iudicious preacher. There is also set before the sermons, a short dialogue of preparation: containing the chiefe points that concerne the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper, taken for the most part, out of the sermons following: and collected into a method for the benefit and ease of those that desire direction in this matter.	Dod, John, 1549?-1645.; Cleaver, Robert, 1561 or 2-ca. 1625. aut; Winston, John, fl. 1614-1634.	1610 (1610)	STC 6945; ESTC S114601	221,900	292

according to the goodnes of their cause but rather abusing their authoritie to the hurt of the good and to the maintenance of the bad in their lewd and sinfull practises If honest men had neuer so good a cause and neuer so good a conscience yet if they brought them no bribes they were likely to goe by the worst and if sinnefull and wretched persons had neuer so ill a cause yet if they presented them with great gifts they should carie it from all others Now the Prophets purpose being to bring these men to repentance hee saith Seeke iudgement that is Search diligently what ought to bee done according to your places and when you know it see that that you practise it Whence ariseth this point that It is a note of true repentance Doct. 5 and of an honest and sincere heart to discharge the duties that belong vnto vs in our places and callings For looke what is here said of Magistrates Euerie one must doe his owne dutie and men of higher places that if they would manifest the soundnesse of their repentance and the vprightnesse of their hearts they should leaue off their oppression and fall to equall dealing betwixt man and man the like holds in all other callings and among men of all sorts and degrees to wit that they put to their vtmost endeauour to finde out what are the works of that vocation wherein God hath set them and accordingly to doe the same reforming the speciall things wherein they haue faulted heretofore This Iob sets downe as a marke that hee was no hypocrite though his friends iniuriously charged him to be such a one because hee was carefull of those good duties that did pertaine to him in his place both as hee was a Magistrate and as hee was a rich man in both which respects hee shewed all good faithfulnes for as hee was a Magistrate hee saith I releeued the poore that cried and him that had none to helpe him Iob 29.12 The blessing of him that was readie to perish came vpon mee and I caused the widowes heart to reioice I put on iustice and it couered mee my iudgement was a robe and a crowne c. Neither would hee shift off matters to ease himselfe and to free himselfe from paines and troubles but saith hee If I knew not the cause I would search it out diligently and though the pray were in their hands nay as it were in the mouthes of those that were strong and fierce as Lyons Yet he saith that hee would breake theiawes of the vnrighteous man and plucke the pray out of his teeth Hee would aduenture himselfe for the innocent in a righteous cause though it were with as great danger as for a man to pull the pray out of the iawes of some hungrie and sauage wild beast that would be ready to deuoure any that should come neere him Then as hee was a rich man Iob. 29. Iob 31.16 hee sheweth that hee disposed his wealth to that end which God had appointed I was saith hee a father vnto the poore I restrained him not of his desire nor caused the eies of the widowe to faile I did not eate my morsels alone but the fatherlesse did eate thereof And from his youth hee grew vp with mee as with a father c. I sawe none perish for want of clothing nor any poore without couering but their loines blessed me because they were warmed with the fleece of my sheepe Further that this faithfulnesse in a mans owne calling is a notable testimony of an honest heart and of a good conscience it appeareth by the speech of our Sauiour where he approueth himselfe and his actions vnto his father saying Father Iohn 17.4 I haue glorified thee on the earth how prooues hee that I haue finished the worke which thou gauest me to doe Many times men set vpon workes which God neuer commanded them to doe but which their owne flesh and Satan bade them do or if they begin to goe about good workes that the Lord commandeth they doe not goe thorow with the same as Christ Iesus did and therefore they neither bring glorie to Gods name nor comfort vnto themselues by that which they doe but this is it indeed that will stand men in steede when they shall come to make their accounts before the Lords iudgement seate if they can truely say Lord I haue done the worke that thou didst appoint mee I haue beene exercised in those businesses and affaires which thou diddest enioyne me haue gone thorow with the same So when the Lord Christ Iesus would commend a worthy seruant what is the commendation that hee hath giuen him Matth. 25. that hee hath faithfully imploied those talents and gifts that his master committed vnto his trust 1. Cor. 4.2 vnto his best aduantage And this as the Apostle speaketh is required of disposers that euerie one be found faithfull That is that they discharge euery one the duties that pertaine vnto them in their places withall due care and conscionable regard This serues for the iust reproofe of those that make some shew of Christianitie Vse 1 and would faine goe vnder the name and number of sound professors of the Gospell and yet are most vnfaithfull in their owne charges Many are good neighbours abroad but bad gonernors at home They can aduise others for the best but they haue no care at all to order their owne families in the feare of God Many husbands are kind and courteous abroad but churlish and vnmercifull to their yoke-fellowes and to their Children and seruants at home Many wiues will seeme religious who yet are not helps in their familie obedient to their husbands fearing to offend them nor seeking in all good and lawfull things to content and please them Such masters and husbands and wiues can haue little comfort of their faithfulnesse when they faile most in those things wherein the power of godlinesse should most shew it selfe namely in discharging a good conscience where they are tied so to doe by the neerest and strongest bonds And this is a great fault in diuers seruants who when they haue gotten a little knowledge of religon and can discourse of some points thereof begin to thinke that then they haue a dispensation to be idle and slothfull headstrong and masterfull testie and impatient when they are told of their faults and the like Oh this is a wofull vse that they make of their reading and hearing the word of God Titus 2.9.10 if they had well obserued that which most concernes them they should haue found that the Lord commandeth seruants to please their masters in all things not answering againe and to shew all good faithfulnesse that they may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things Ephes 6.5 And againe Seruants bee obedient vnto them that are your masters according to the flesh with feare and trembling in singlenes of your hearts as vnto Christ And no lesse effectuall

both them and their counsels for all their deepe reaches God can ouerreach them and his iudgements shall ouertake and ouerthrowe them Agreeable to this is the place of Iob where it is said Iob 20.1 that when wickednesse is sweet to a man and he hides it vnder his tongue and fauours it c. then his meate shall bee turned into the gall of Aspes c. There that holy man of God sheweth that when any one is a fauourer and a hider of sinne euery thing that should be for his good shall turne to his hurt his ordinarie foode his wealth and substance and in a word whatsoeuer otherwise might bee comfortable vnto him all shall goe crosse with him nothing shall bee prospered and blessed vnto him These places doe in part manifest vnto vs the danger of this cloaking of sinne what miserie it brings what happinesse it depriues vs of yet besides those there are reasons that may more cleerely euict and prooue that it must needes bee so for 1 First the causes of this hiding of sin are naught Reasons which are these following The causes of hiding of sin 1 The first is the loue of iniquitie for sinne is of that nature Loue of it that it will neuer tarie but where it is loued and much made of it is such a guest as rough intertainment would driue away in a short time And that such doe loue it it is very euident in that former place of Iob where it said that first wickenesse is sweet Iob. 20.12 and then they hide it Looke what appetite and eager desire any one that hath a sweet tooth can possibly haue after pleasant meates and dainty dishes the same or greater haue they after sinne the loue whereof must needes be odious because it is Gods vtter enemie and therefore the hiding of it must needes bee dangerous 2 A second cause of this is hypocrisie that men would faine seem better then they are and therefore they hide that which is in them indeed Hypocrisie make shew of that innocencie which they are farre from this was the cause that made Dauid to dissemble and cloake his great offence in the matter of Vriah as the holy Ghost testifieth in the booke of the Kings 1. King 15.3.5 where it is said that Abijams heart was not perfect with the Lord his God as the heart of Dauid his Father who did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and turned from nothing that hee commanded him all the daies of his life to wit of set purpose and against his conscience with any allowance and approbation saue onely in the matter of Vriah the Hittite as if hee should haue said therein indeede hee was false-hearted and that was the reason why he was so long ere hee acknowledged his grieuous sinne and why he fell to deuising of naughtie shifts for the couering of his wickednesse which brought him little prosperitie nay so farre was hee from gaining any thing by it that euen one yeeres cloaking of sinne procured him many soare and grieuous troubles inward and outward for many yeeres together Thus we see the causes are bad to wit loue of sinne and damnable Hypocrisie 2 Neither are the effects any better for whosoeuer doth thus couer his sinnes The il effects 1 First It hindereth praier Psal 66.18 he cannot pray for saith Dauid If Iregard wickednesse in my heart God will not heare mee Sinnes acknowledged and bewailed quicken vs to praier but sinnes allowed and maintained vtterly disable vs for praier for they make a separation betwixt God and vs. 2 Secondly such a one can haue no benefit by the Sacrament Isa 59.2 It keepes vs from benefiting by the Sacrament Iohn 13.27 as we see by Iudas who being a cunning hypocrite and a hider of mischeuous plots against his master whereas hee was diuelish enough before he was wholly possest by Satan after the eating of the Passeouer and the receiuing of the Lords Supper for so the Euangelist testifieth that after the sop as also after the others Sacrament ministred at that same meale Satan entered into him meaning more fully then euer before the like may bee said of Simon Magus Act. 8.20 c. 3 Thirdly the word is altogether vnprofitable vnto such Or by the word it 's choaked in the heart that is corrupted with sinne it is euen like pure seede cast into a filthie sincke There we see both by the causes and effects how hurtfull a thing this hiding of sin is and how it stands in the way of all true prosperitie to keepe the same from comming vnto vs. But against this it may be obiected Obiection that it seemes to bee vntrue that those that entertaine and nourish sinne in their soules shall not prosper for none prosper more then such they commit hainous and scandalous euils and boast of them and yet haue the world at will and more then their hearts can wish And on the contrarie Dauid saith Psalm 73. When I declare my paine and am sorie for my sinne then mine enemies are aliue and are mightie c. But for the satisfying of this doubt we wust know Psal 38.18 that howsoeuer these vngodly ones hold vp their heads and prosper Answer Prospering in euill courses a sore plague of God and bring many of their purposes to passe yet none are more wretched and miserable then they There is no more certaine signe of Gods heauie displeasure then for one to thriue in his vngodly courses That child whom the father loues hee will correct betime and so dealt God with Dauid There were many greater offenders then hee in Israel and yet none was so much scourged because none was so well beloued But for one to escape the rodde and to be still further giuen vp to his owne hearts lust to commit sinne with greedines this is the most heauie stroake and fearefull iudgement that can possible fall vpon any man Rom. 2. for by this meanes hee still heapeth vp wrath against the day of wrath and the declaration of the iust vengeance of God vpon all vnrighteous and vnholy persons when the Lord shall pay him home at full for all his cuill thoughts words and workes Since then it is plaine Vse 1 that hiding of our transgressions stops vp the passage against all true prosperity Sorts reproued this makes for the reproofe of foure sorts of men that offend in this point namely 1 First of those that are altogether blinded with ignorance and know not sinne Ignorant persons nor the disserences of sinne which are greater which lesser For till the Lord informe men by his word and spirit they can neuer see these things neuer discerne betwixt good and euil nor betwixt euil and euill which is more or lesse offensiue For it is light that discouers darkenesse and therefore they being destitute of the true vnderstanding of the word and so consequently of the spirit

a few teares ouer him and so the meditation of the seuerall sufferings of Christ and of Gods gracious promises made vnto vs in and through him should cause our hearts to be dissolued into teares 4 Fourthly we must as often as fit occasion is offered goe vnto the house of mourning Make vse of others crosses where we may be put in minde of our wofull estate by reason of our wicked nature and sinnefull cariage in violating the Lords holy precepts and commandements and this is commended as the parte of a godly wise man by Salomon in Ecclesiastes where it is said Eccles 7.6 The heart of wise men is the house of mourning but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth And the reason why this is a part of wisdome is rendred in the 4. verse It is better to goe to the house of mourning then to the house of feasting because this is the end of all men and the liuing shall lay it to his heart And if others chastisements should affect vs Of our owne much more should Gods correcting hand vpon our selues mooue vs and and when he smiteth vs wee should ioyne with him and take his part and smite our owne hearts and then if Gods stroakes on others or on our selues doe make vs mourne for our rebellious behauiour against the Lord happie and blessed are wee for so saith the Prophet Blessed is the man O Lord Psal 94.12 whom thou chastisest and teachest in thy Law and our Sauiour also Blessed are those that mourne Mat. 5.4 c. therefore when we finde our selues inclined to heauines in respect of any outward scourge that lieth on vs or on our friends let vs take hold of the occasion and turne the course of our griefe another way which if we can attaine vnto and make our sin to be our greatest sorrowe Christ Iesus shall bee our greatest ioy and wee being mourners of Sion shall be comforted in due season our iniquities shall be remoued as a cloud and scatered as a miste and wee receiued into euerlasting fauour Thirdly Vse 3 this is for the singular comfort of Gods children What though they haue been like the people of Sodome and of Gomorrah and haue liued like beasts all their life long yet is there hope that they shall not be cast off nay if they can once beginne to rinse and purge their hearts though their sinnes haue beene neuer so horrible and odious and abominable they may be assured of the free and ful pardon of them al neither need they make any doubt at all hereof for if such kind of sinners might not attaine to this it were in vaine for the Lord to exhort them to repentance but wee see heere that though these Iewes had receiued many blessings heard many instructions and threatnings out of the word and felt many corrections from Gods owne hand and nothing would driue them from their accustomed course of rebellion yet notwithstanding all this if now at last they would grieue their hearts in good earnest and not passe ouer the matter with some sleight mourning for so farre wicked Saul went when Dauid had told him of his fault in pursuing him that was innocent but striue for a soaking and working sorrow if I say they would labour for this the Lord offers them mercie so that they should foorthwith bee disburdened of the guilt and freed from the punishment of all their former wickednesse For when sinne is once cast out of the heart God hath no quarell against the partie and it can neuer lurk there long except it be fedde with excuses and allowance It neuer stickes so close nor cleaues so fast but godly sorrow will make a separation betwixt it and the soule Note and crush the very head thereof That giueth life and roote vnto it and makes it grow and bring foorth abundance of fruite when wee loue it and can say somwhat for it but if we do not nourish it in our souls but ba nish it thence we shall bee accepted whatsoeuer our life hath formerly beene for as God will neuer sprinckle the blood of his owne sonne vpon a carnall and proud and prophane heart so hee will neuer denie to giue the merits of his sonne vnto an heauie and sorrowfull and contrite spirit Take away the euill of your workes from before mine eies As if hee should haue said hitherto you haue but dissembled in the duties performed by you which hollownesse of yours though men could not so well see and discerne yet the Lords eies haue been and are still cast vpon your doubling and halting and false dealing and therefore if you would haue him to looke fauourably vpon you take away from his sight that which causeth him to frowne vpon you not onely your euill workes for so hypocrits may doe but the euill of your good works for heere wee must vnderstand God did not aime at the subuersion and ouerthrow of the former duties of religion but wisheth them to doe the same workes of pietie still but in a better sort then they were wont to doe them whence this doctrine offereth it selfe for our learning that A Christian must not onely doe good things Doctr. 2 Good things must be done in a good maner but must doe them in a good manner otherwise God may and will reiect the works and confound the doers of them This people here had many ontward obseruations as doth appeare from verse 12. to the 16. Yet because their seruices were not performed in faith and loue God did vtterly abhorre and detest them They would keepe the Sabbaths and frequent the solemne assemblies but they would learne nothing at all though their bodies were there their hearts were not there but either about their busines in the familie or their affaires and dealings in the world thinking how to reuenge such or such an iniurie how to releeue themselues in such or such a necessitie or the like or perchance worse matters They would make long praiers but their hearts were full of wrath and their minds full of doubting and so in other exercises of religion still they mingled their owne corruption in so much that God could haue no liking of them Such were the Scribes and Pharisies also who vsed to preach to giue much almes to pray and fast often and had a verie smoth outside for so much Christ grants them that they were painted Sepulchres faire to behold and looke vpon and graues so couered ouer with greensward that one might walke ouer them againe and againe and yet neuer perceiue any rotten bones therein Notwithstanding all this the vengeance of God is denounced against none more often and earnestly by our Sauiour then against that kinde of people as appeareth plainely in the Gospell Mat. 23. And why because they tooke not away the euill of their works for which cause the Lord Iesus tels them Luke 16.15 Yee are they which iustifie your selues before men but

God knowes your hearts for that which is highly esteemed among men is abominable in the sight of God And the like the Prophet Isaiah laieth vnto the Iewes charge elswhere Isa 29.13 saying This people come neere vnto me with their mouth and bonour mee with their lips but haue remooued their heart farre from mee Hee blameth them not for that they came not to Church or that they refused to make an outward semblance and shew of worshipping him either in word or deed for herein they were verie forward but for that they brought a lame sacrifice or rather a dead carkasse presenting before God the outward man but not caring to bring before him the inward man which hee chiefely regardeth and looketh after and without which the other is of no reckning with him but is esteemed to bee a vaine and sinnefull worship And the same detestation of such hypocriticall seruing of him the Lord sheweth in an other place of this Prophecie Where first hee declareth what kinde of worshippers he requireth and delighteth in Isa 66.2.3 To him will I looke sath hee euen to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my words Thus ought all to bee disposed and affected that expect any fauour from the Lord that because hee is so holie and mightie and glorious they must come with feare and trembling through a sight and feeling of their owne basenesse and vnworthinesse Which if they striue to doe the Lord promiseth that hee will looke vpon them with a mercifull and gracious eie Then in the next verse hee setteth downe what account he maketh of ceremonious worshippers that contented themselues with offering oblations of bullocks and sheepe c. thinking that God was beholding to them for the same they trembled not at the word neither were sorrowfull nor heauie hearted for their sinnes yet because they were at coste and charges to serue God in sacrifices and incense they thought themselues as good as the best but the Lord sheweth there that he condemneth and abhorreth them and their oblations saying hee that offereth a sacrifice and doth not offer himselfe it 's all one as if hee were a murderer for to that effect are the words He that killeth a bullocke is as if hee slew a man verse 3. and hee that sacrificeth a sheepe as if hee cut off a dogs necke which was then an vncleane beast and reiected amongst others by the Leuiticall law he that offereth an oblation as if hee offered swines blood which was likewise forbidden at that time and counted an abomination to be offered to the Lord. And as for their incense and bowing downe in Gods house he sheweth that it is as if they bowed to an Idole and blessed it it was as hateful and lothsome in Gods eies as the most vile and monstrous Idolatrie that was For hee required of them in those outward oblations that they should haue spirituall affections Note without which the other were so farre from pleasing him that they grieuously prouoked him Hee that did bring a beast to bee killed was thereby to professe before the Priest that hee deserued for his transgressions to bee killed himselfe Now when hee could stand by and see the beast slaine with a bold face and a senselesse heart not trembling at the consideration of his owne wretched deserts the Lord professeth that he will neuer looke with a pittifull eye vpon such an one but esteeme him as a notorious malefactor and punish him accordingly and that he was of power so to doe he maketh it euident in that place by this vers 1.2.4 that his hand had formed the heauens and fashioned all the wonderfull works that are on the earth And they were not so wittie to deceiue the Lord as hee was wise and mightie both to hunt them out and to execute strange and fearefull iudgements vpon them Besides these places there are reasons to confirme this Doctrine for Reasons 1 1. First God doth as strictly command the manner of our obedience as the matter of it and lookes as much that it should be well performed as that it bee performed Hee enioynes the Minister not onely to preach true and sound doctrine but to deuide the word aright and to apply it wisely and fitly giuing euery one their portion in due season Hee commandeth the people not onely to come to the Sermon for so the wickedest may doe but to come with a good and honest heart Hee biddeth vs not onely to pray but to pray in the holy Ghost as Iude speaketh and to pray feruently as Iames saith Iam. 3.16 The praier of the righteous auaileth much if it be feruent And so for all other duties hee would haue vs to be carefull how wee doe them as well as that we doe them Secondly God is a spirit Iohn 4.14 and therefore will bee worshipped not in outward ceremonie alone but in spirit and truth giue him the best words that may bee if we doe not giue him our hearts all is nothing worth Iudas dealt best with Christ of all the disciples in appearance for when all shrunke from him hee stucke to him came and bowed himselfe before him saluted and kissed him Who would not say now had he not been priuie to Iudas his heart that he was the true and faithfull friend aboue all the rest that would shew himselfe thus friendly in the time of aduersitie Yet the swords and staues of those that apprehended Christ were not so odious vnto him as was Iudas his kisse that betraied him because hee had an ill and corrupt minde and a treacherous and false heart in that which he did And such are the seruices of all hypocrites euen Iudas his kisses and therefore they shall bee requited with Iudas his reward except they reforme their hearts and amend their works This makes for the great reproofe Vse 1 not onely of grosse sinners and of hollow-hearted diffemblers but euen of those that haue some sparckles of grace in their hearts nay of the best that liue vpon the face of the earth for none can say hee is innocent in this point but at one time or other in one dutie or other hee hath failed more or lesse if not in the matter yet in the manner of performing the same This will bee more euidently seene in the particulars and therefore my purpose is to speake of 4. kinds of works namely Of the workes 1 Of religion 2 Of loue and mercie 3 Of our ordinarie callings 4 Of recreation And first to giue instance in the exercises of religion Works of religion Euils of hearing who can cleare himselfe therein For if men come vnto Sermons and offer vnto the Lord their bodily presence doe not the most thinke they haue acquited themselues well Albeit in the meane while they bee altogether negligent in making preparation for this worke by searching their soules to cast out the leauen of corruption which wil hinder the powerfull operation of