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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	abraham_n	know_v	zion_n	52	3	8.7618	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20540	Three godlie and fruitful sermons; the two first preached by Maister Iohn Dod: the last by Maister Robert Cleauer. Whereunto are annexed, fiue propositions, or points of doctrine, comprehended in three other sermons, by the same author	Dod, John, 1549?-1645.; Cleaver, Robert, 1561 or 2-ca. 1625. aut	1610 (1610)	STC 6950; ESTC S117481	100,240	192

their hearts Oh little do such know what they do for now they grieue the Spirit of grace which doth moue them to turne vnto the Lord and do refuse to accept of his gracious offer of mercy and fauour and therefore it may be the Lord in his iustice wil deny them the like for euer also and suffer them to perish in their iniquities without any sense or feeling thereof at all Thirdly here is an instruction for vs that we should striue for this holy sorrow which will melt our heartes and refine our soules neither let vs content our selues with euery slender measure thereof but 〈…〉 our to bewaile our sinnes with a 〈◊〉 lamentation Such as is mentioned in this text viz. that we mourne as one would doe for the death of his first borne and as the Iewes did for Iosiah when he was slaine in the valley of Megiddo Obiect But will some say if this be required of all true Christians who can say that he is such an one for few or none haue attained to such deepe and piercing griefe Ans Indeed it is true for the most part yet not generally for some haue bene as throughly wounded with sorrow for their hainous transgressions as any man hath bene for his childs death or as they were for Iosiahs death and as for others that haue not bene altogether so deeply plunged in griefe and anguish they take vp that in continuance which they wanted in present passion Naturall mourning is ordinarily more violent as we may obserue in Dauids mourning for Absolon who cryed out in the bitternesse of his heart so that the people might heare him but godly lamentation is more lasting and durable So that the one may be well compared to a land-floud which maketh a great shew and noise for the time but come a weeke after and there will be little appearance thereof and the other to wit godly sorrow may be likened to a still and constant raine which entreth more deepely into the ground and remaineth longer and doth more good a great deale then a sudden violent and tempestuous shower and herein let these be iudg 〈…〉 who are endued with the Spirit of God and are acquainted with the waies of God and let them speake who haue had the greatest crosses and haue bene euen drunken with wormewood as the Prophet speaketh let them I say speake 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 griefe that they conceiue for them and whether the sinnes of their youth doe not more constantly vexe 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 bee not alwaies so boisterous and bitter for the present and therefore seeing it it is a thing that may be attained vnto let vs vse all good meanes and helpes wherby we may be furthered therein See the meanes in that Sermon on Isa 1. Vers 12. And the land shall bewaile euery family apart the family of the house of Dauid apart and their wiues apart From which words this doctrine may be gathered that Doct. 6 It is not sufficient for vs to be religious our Religion required in euery one in the family selues but our families also must be religious Not onely the heads and gouernours but the whole houshold must be addicted vnto Gods seruice And whosoeuer is religiously disposed in Gods house he will certainly take care for the planting of religion in his owne house This testimony the Lord giueth of Abraham I know saith he that Abraham will command his Gen. 18. 19. sonnes and his houshold that they keepe the way of the Lord to doe righteousnesse and iudgement And Ioshua protesteth and voweth that he and Ioshua 24 15. Psa 101. 5. 6. 7. his house should serue the Lord. And Dauid also that hee would not endure a wicked person neare him but if he knew any to be a vassall of the Diuell to be a slanderer a proud person a lyer or the like hee should not long remaine in his sight but he would soone thrust him out of his house and banish him from his presence And it standeth with reason that good men should deale thus for Reasons 1 First he that is a friend vnto God and truly loueth his honour himselfe will bee desirous that euery body else should bee affected in the like sort especially such as are neare vnto him Hee that carieth a loyall and louing heart towards his soueraigne will bee very vnwilling that traitours and professed enemies to his life and dignitie should haue entertainment vnder his roofe Secondly godly men doe well consider that those that are most faithfull vnto God will also shew themselues most faithfull vnto them they will not infect their children nor corrupt one another nor bee prodigall and wastfull nor blemish them and their families by raising vp slanders and spreading abroad false reports and tales tending to their reproach and disgrace They will also bee trusty and painfull in their places and callings euen when their gouernours are absent as well as when they are present as knowing that though they bee not by yet God is alwayes by who will call them to an account for all their workes Thirdly religious persons in a family will pray for their gouernours as also for themselues that they may haue good successe in their businesse and affaires and that is it which brings the blessing of God vpon a family euen as we see Potiphars house was blessed for Iosephs sake and Labans estate much bettered and his wealth exceedingly encreased for Iacobs sake Vse 1 Would wee then haue a testimony vnto our soules that we are led by Gods Spirit then let vs as many of vs as are gouernors of families take the way to haue piety grounded in their hearts that are about vs that so our houses may bee little Churches as diuers Christian families were in the Apostles time that God may bee serued and feared his word read heard and embraced his name priuately and publickly ininuocated and called vpon and all other seruices performed among vs which do appertaine vnto Christians If we be to plant an Orchard we will not take euery tree that growes by the high waies side but rather send farre and be at some charges to procure good trees than fill vp our grounds with crabbe-trees or the like how much more carefull should we bee of our house which is nearer of better vse then our orchard that it may be planted with such as truely feare the Lord that so the deaw of his blessing may continually descend vpon vs. Vse 2 Furthermore here is an instruction for seruants that they should learne to know their duty and be ready to ioyne with their gouernours in all godly and Christian exercises assuring themselues that none are in truth good seruants vnto men

discouraged albeit wicked sinners thinke and speake the worst of vs our goodnes not our badnes is the occasion thereof and therefore wee should be so farre from conceiuing the worse of our selues or of our works meerely in this respect that they go about to depraue and vilifie both vs and thē that we shuld haue a better opinion both of our own persons and actions as hoping that the Lord doth gratiously accept of the one and of the other because the vilest sinnes do most of all dislike them and seeke by all meanes to fasten infamie and disgrace vpon them Do we then trust in God do sinfull persons deride our simplicitie in that behalf and tell vs that we shall be ouerthrowne and neuer be long able to hold vp our heads let vs rest on the Lord still neuer be dismaied at their mischieuous and malicions speeches attempts against vs knowing and assuring our soules that they that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion that Psal 125. 1. cannot be remoued but standeth fast for euer FINIS The fourth Sermon Doct. 1 THey are the most miserable and wretched Those that rebell against God are the worst rebels rebels that are rebels against God Though it bee an offence verie grieuous and odious for a subiect to shew himself disloyall to his earthly Soueraigne yet this shall stand as a sure conclusion when heauen earth shall fall that the greatest Sinner is the greatest Traitor Hence it is that when the Prophet Samuel would set out the hainousnes of Sauls sinne in sparing Agag the King of the Amalekites and the best of the sheepe and oxen and of the things that should haue been destroyed hee compareth it with those crimes that were most hatefull and Exod. 22. 18. 20 most punishable by Gods law saying Rebellion to 1. Sam. 15. 22. wit against the Lord is as the sinne of witchcraft and transgression is wickednesse and Idolatrie and therefore Saul must needs be a notorious malefactor that was found guiltie thereof So likewise in the prophecy of Isaiah when the Lord would lay vpon the vnbeleeuing Iewes the most grieuous imputation that could bee for their renouncing and forsaking of him and their seeking vnto and relying vpon the King of Egypt for succour and protection he tearmeth them rebellious children Isai 30. 1. and rebellious people and in the same tearmes dealeth 9. Moses with the stiffenecked and peruerse Israelites Heare ye rebels saith he shall we bring you Numb 20. 10. water out of the rock as if more could not bee spoken for the shame and disgrace of impious persons then to brand them with the note of rebels against the Lord of heauen and earth But that this point may be yet more cleere and perspicuous let vs weigh these reasons that follow for the confirmation thereof Reasons 1 First the lawes that they breake which notwithstanding they are more strictly tied to obserue then any subiect in the world is the statutes Rom. 7. 12. of his Prince are most equal and iust and meet to be kept and therefore the presumptuous breach thereof must of necessitie argue the most indigne and vnworthie rebellion that can be imagined It was no small fault in the Israelites to renounce their alleageance to Rehoboam and to stand vp in armes against him being their lawfull King and Gouernour albeit hee threatned to impose vpon them rigorous and sharpe lawes to make his yoke 1. King 12. 14. more grieuous then his fathers so that whereas Salomon had chastised them with rods hee would correct them with scourges how hainous then is their offence that doe refuse to submit their necks vnto Gods yoke who is a more absolute King then euer any was or shall be to the end of the world whose lawes are perfitly good and righteous all of them tending not alone to his owne glorie but to the present and eternall benefit and comfort of such as doe obey the same Secondly those are the most vile traitors that doe rebell against their Soueraigne that hath bin very bountifull and gratious vnto them which was it that made Achitophels treacherie against Dauid more inhumane barbarous now what Kings fauours can stand in the ballance against Gods fauours which he vouchsafeth to the basest of the sonnes of men for he it is that giueth them life and being and al things in him they liue and Acts 17. moue and haue their subsistence and without him they could not continue to breathe so much as one houre nay nor one minute of an houre much lesse enioy the comfortable vse of any creature vnder the Sunne and therefore seeing the bounty and kindnesse of the Lord is so exceeding great their rebellion that doe lift vp themselues against him cast off the obedience of his lawes is of all men most worthie to be condemned and abhorred Thirdly their case doth hence appeare to bee very wofull and miserable that the punishment appointed for them is both very grieuous and withall vnauoidable First the grieuousnesse thereof is euident by this that whereas earthly Monarchs can proceed no further against the most notorious malefactors but to the torturing and killing of their bodies the confiscating of their lands and goods and the defaming of them and theirs for a season so that if there bee vnfained repentance in the parties offending as there was in the good thiefe on the crosse their soules may be saued and their names healed and both body and soule eternallie glorified it is otherwise with the great King of heauen who will plague those that are traitors against his Maiestie with al manner of iudgements in this life and when hee hath done with them here will call them to a reckoning againe at that great Assises at the last day and there expose them to perpetuall shame and infamie and inflict vpon their bodies and soules such torments as shall bee easelesse endlesse and remedilesse Secondly for the vnauoidablenes of these punishments wee must know that though rebels against worldly Princes when they haue cast thēselues into danger may by flying or hiding of themselues escape or if they bee apprehended make notable defences and apologies to serue their present purpose and so winde themselues out of troubles it is no boote to deale in that sort with the Lord for whither can they goe from his Psal 139. presence but hee will finde them out and what wittie and cunning deuices can they haue for the colouring of their treacherous practises but hee will descrie and discouer the same and that to their greater shame and punishment Which being Isaiah 29. so the vse shall be Vse 1 First for the conuicting of many to be notorious rebels that esteeme themselues as honest men as any in the countrey and wil defie him that shal charge them with treason what say they to this Doe they not vsually take the holie name of God in vaine Doe they not

yet did they wish to returne to their former Psal 106. bondage rather then to bee brought to such straits but notwithstanding the grieuousnes of this their sinne many now adaies come nothing behinde them for their eyes are so vpon their wants that the want of one thing which they do desire though it be but small doth more disquiet them then manifold blessings doe comfort them to make them thankfull But this discontentment wee must be armed against which we shall be if wee can receiue the fauour of God for it selfe though it come alone yea though trouble doe come therewith for hauing it wee haue all things and wanting it wee haue nothing Againe if wee haue it no miserie can make vs miserable and if wee haue it not in greatest prosperitie we are most miserable But the Israelites here dealt after a cleane contrarie manner for the want of bread in the wildernesse being but for their bodies did make thē to despise their great and wonderfull deliuerance out of Egypt which was vnto them a signe of their spirituall deliuerance And this is the nature of all worldlings they had rather forgo many spirituall benefits then one corporall commoditie they grieue more at the losing and reioyce more at the hauing of wealth then of godlinesse But to returne to the point in hand sith murmuring is so great a sinne it shall be profitable to consider of some remedies against it Remedies against murmuring Now for as much as impatiencie proceedeth from infidelitie the remedie thereof must bee fetched from faith in Gods mercies in the merits of Christ in the hope of the resurrection and in Gods fatherly prouidence First I say Gods rich mercie and fauourable dealing with vs being duly considered cannot but worke in vs patience for seeing that the Lord forbeareth vs and that when for the ripenes of our sinnes he might confound vs he doth rather heape blessings vpon vs this cannot but bridle vs from murmuring though all things fall not out according to our hearts desire Especially seeing that the Lord will deale with vs still as hee did with the Israelites that when ordinarie meanes failed had extraordinary prouision made for thē the cloudes giuing them bread and the rock water to teach vs that man liueth not by bread only as Moses applieth it Deut. 8. but by the word of God A second remedie is to haue a liuely faith in the worke of our redemption to wit the remission of our sinnes the imputation of Christ his righteousnes and inherent sanctification First then if we can stedfastly beleeue that God for Christ his sake hath freely forgiuen vs all our sinnes and giuen his sonne that in him we might be blessed we cannot but be assured that with him Rom. 8. he will giue vs all things For seeing sin which is the cause of all miserie is taken from vs wee may bee sure that no crosse shall euer hurt vs. Againe if wee could beleeue that as God doth lay our sins vpon Christ so he doth impute his righteousnes to vs how should we doubt of food or raiment c For by this meanes he is made our mercifull and louing father who is for power able and for will readie to helpe vs in all extremities And thus doth he abide for euer and is neuer changed To these two former must bee added the second part of our redemption namely the sanctification of the spirit which if we feele in our selues may bee a great helpe vnto vs against impatiencie for it is a greater thing to sanctifie a sinner then to worke wonders in nature Therefore if we can beleeue in our hearts that God is able to make of sinfull and wicked men iust and righteous of whoremongers chast persons c. and that he is able and willing to deliuer vs from all our corruptions be they neuer so strong by nature or custome if I say we can giue credit vnto this why should we euer doubt that he will faile vs in outward things Further if we can beleeue that God hath prepared a kingdome for vs and that he will raise vs vp at the last day in body and soule to enioy the same how can we but be assured that he will giue vs lesser matters euen the things of this life Another thing to stay our hearts vpon when murmuring doth assaile vs is faith in Gods prouidence which is either generall or particular The generall prouidence of God must be considered first in the creation of all things secondly in the preseruation of them Doe wee then beleeue that the Lord made all things of nothing and shall we doubt of his abilitie to prouide for vs When God created light before the Sun the Moone or the Stars and caused grasse Gen. 1. 3. to grow vpon the earth before there was either raine or dew to water it hee did thereby teach vs first that we should not put too much trust in them whilest we haue them and againe that rather then we should suffer hurt by the want of light grasse or other such things the Lord both could and would prouide for vs without them Yet now if we should not haue the Sun wee would think that light were taken from vs and if we wanted raine wee would soone thinke wee should neither haue grasse nor corne but the Lord hath ordained these meanes to serue his prouidence not for himselfe for without them he can easily help vs but for our weaknes who otherwise could not easily bee assured of his goodnesse Secondly we must beleeue that God preserueth all so that a sparrow doth not fall to the ground Matth. 10. without his prouidence and he hath a great care of beasts and fowles doth the Lord prouide for these Matth. 6. and will hee not prouide for man for whom these were made and are preserued Hereunto we must ioyne the particular prouidence of God Hath he made our bodies and will he not clothe vs hath he giuen vs life and will he not minister vnto vs foode for the sustaining thereof Hee could prouide for the Israelites in the barren wildernesse fortie yeeres together yea hee could preserue Moses and Elias fortie daies without any meate at all which euidently proueth that Gods blessing is all in all whether there be meanes or no meanes Dauid obserued by experience that the righteous seed of the righteous was neuer forsaken nor begged Psal 37. their bread and if wee could bee righteous as then many were wee should finde the same true in our owne experience as he did These things well considered will worke in vs a patient minde the properties whereof are First to be contented with whatsoeuer the Lord Properties of a patiēt mind Philip. 4. 11. sendeth alwaies acknowledging godlinesse to bee great riches for wee ought not to seeke great matters nor suffer our desires to be carried after high things for this did the Prophet Ieremie rebuke in Ieremy 45. 4. Baruck And Christ would haue vs to pray only for our daily bread which also was Iacobs prayer that Gen. 28. he might haue food and raiment wherewith the Apostle would haue vs to be content Let vs first seek the 1. Tim. 6. kingdome of heauen c. and then if the Lord giue plentie let vs be more thankfull and seruiceable if not his fauour is sufficient of it self and wee shall be Psalm 4. more comfortable with a little then others are in great abundance without that But if wee cannot rest in the fauour of God though wee want these outward things it is certain we do not truly esteem it neither haue wee at that time any comfortable assurance of the remission of our sinnes The second propertie of a patient minde is simply to giue vp it self vnto God and to commit it self into his hand waiting at all times for help frō him who only is the author of al goodnes yet neither prescribing the meanes nor appointing the time nor in any case indenting with him for the Lord will haue the disposition of his mercies free vnto himself to giue and bestow when and where and ho● it pleaseth him and as it may most make for his glorie and therefore wee must wholly resigne vp ou● selues vnto him Which if we can doe so mercifully doth God vse to deale that when wee least desire outward things then we shall haue them and whē we freely giue them vp to him he will giue them to vs againe Abraham gaue vnto the Lord Isaac his son which when the Lord did behold hee quickly gaue him his sonne againe and so will he deale with vs still The readiest way to retaine life goods c. is to yeeld them vp wholly into Gods hands not with this condition that he should giue thē to vs againe for that were to mock the Lord but without all care to haue them we must giue them to him being heartily well content for his glorie to forgoe them and then if they be good for vs we shall receiue thē againe if not we shall receiue some spirituall grace which shall better supplie the want of them Yea the infinite wisedom and mercy of God doth wonderfully appeare herein that sometimes he keepeth vs long without these things because that if we had them he seeth that we would abuse them and preferre them before spirituall blessings And sometime the Lord seeing our small regard of spirituall things will by the want of these outward things bring vs to make greater account of them that whē we can well want the one and highly esteeme the other we may haue both together FINIS