Four Godly and Fruitful Sermons, Title page – Points of doctrine
FOVRE GODLIE AND FRVITFVL SERMONS: TWO PREACHED AT DRAITON IN OXFORD-SHIRE, At a Fast, enioyned by authoritie, by occasion of the pestilence then dangerously dispearsed.
Likewise
TWO OTHER SERMONS ON the twelfth Psalme.
VVhereunto is annexed a briefe Tract of Zeale.
By
I. Dod.
R. Cleauer.
The second Edition inlarged.
LONDON Printed by TC. for WILLIAM WELBIE, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard, at the signe of the Swan. 1611.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE ANNE, LADY WAINTVVORTH, increase of all true honour and happinesse, &c.
RIght Honourable, may it please you to take in good worth my bold attempt, in presuming to recommend vntounto your fauourable patronage these Sermōs following. Your honours vndeserued respect of me, made me desirous to testifie my vnfained thankfulnesse: which I could not imagine how with greater conueniencie to expresse and manifest, then by taking hold of this present occasion; especially considering that your constant and more then ordinarie pains-taking to heare such holy instructions, is a sufficient argument to euince your louelove and liking of the matter therein comprised: and your good regard of the authors (well knowne vntounto me) gaue me occasion to thinke that their labours, in this sort offering themselues vntounto your eye, would be no lesse welcome than formerly they hauehave beene, being in another manner presented vntounto your eare.
Concerning the Tract of Zeale annexed to these Sermons, it is a collection of diuers rules which I heard & read touching that subiect, principally of such as were scattered heere and there in Maister R. Greenhams Workes: which being exceeding vsefull, I thought good to gather them into one (with an addition of sundrie proofes of Scripture) for the ease and helpe of those that are well affected, especially of such whose abilitie will not reach to the price of that great volume of M. Greenhams labours.
And thus humbly beseeching your Honour to pardon my boldnesse, and to beare with my manifold defects which shall be found in the penning of these Sermons, I recommend you to the gratious protection of the Almightie.
Your Honours according to my poore abilitie readie to be commanded, IOHN WINSTON.
THE POINTS OF DOCTRINE HANDLED IN THE SERMONS following.
SERMON I.
DOCT. I.
THe first steppe to true and sound repentance, is, to be wounded and disquieted in our hearts for sinne.
2 Lawfull things must be done lawfully, and good things in a good manner.
3 With confession of sinne, must be ioyned earnest requests for pardon thereof.
4 The more sinfull any one is, the more foolish he is.
5 It is a wonderfull hard thing, to take downe the pride of mans heart.
6 The more speedily we iudge our selues, the more mercifully the Lord will deale with vsus.
SERMON II.
DOCT. I.
SInne brings men into maruellous straits.
2. Gods seruants neuer find so great fauour as with God himselfe.
3 God maketh his iudgements, sutable to our sinnes.
4 When God sets in with his iudgements they shall be farre dispersed in a short time.
5 As God appointeth iudgements to be inflicted on his people, so he himselfe will see execution done.
6 A good man will lay a greater burden on himselfe then on another.
SERMON III.
DOCT. I.
ALthough humane helps and earthly friends do faile Gods-people, yet they are not helpelesse, nor hopelesse.
2 No outward thing comes neerer the hearts of Gods children, then the decay of good men.
3 Deceitfull friends, are worse then open foes.
SERMON IIII.
DOCT. I.
THe more skilfully and artificially any contriues his ill purposes, the more fearefull destruction shall fall vponupon him.
2 The more wicked men boast of their mischieuous intents, the neerer mischiefe is vntounto them.
3 No man hath the royaltie of his owne tongue, nor the ordering of his owne speech.
FINIS.