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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

must needs faile in the discerning and so also in the discouering and laying open of their corruptions and therefore faile of sound happinesse 2 Secondly this is for the reproofe of an other sort that are worse then the former Deniers of sinne who hauing the knowledge of sin doe yet denie their faults when they are told of them as Ananias Saphira did Acts 5. 1. King 5. and as Iehazi did when his master examined him Those sinnes that are smoothered and caried so closely God will manifest and discouer as openly as hee did theirs laying vpon the one the punishment of a sudden and strange death and on the other the leprosie of his flesh as a meanes to clense his soule 3 Heere are an other kinde of hiders to be condemned Disguilers of sinne that will not grosly denie the fact but will cloake it and disguise it and giue good names to foule faults Such are they that would haue their gaming and vnthriftines and cosonage to goe vnder the name of recreation and all their leaud meetings and abuse of the creatures of God and of the glorious and fearefull name of God vnder the title of good fellowship and meerie meetings c. And so for other notorious and greeuous sinnes which they paint ouer with faire colours but doe such prosper When they get a little monie Inconueniences that ensue on gaming do they not loose more in their soules then that comes to and doe they not bring vpon themselues hardnesse and profanenes of heart blindnesse and stupiditie of minde vnreadinesse and vnfitnes for any good thing vnwillingnes to reade heare meditate and conferre of holy things are they not afraid to come into Gods holie presence in praier to be in the company of such as will admonish or rebuke them to bee alone in the night at such times as the Lord doth waken their drousie consciences to say nothing of many foule braules and other hainous euils which doe vsually accompanie such exercises So others when they are passionate and distempered tell them of it their answer is readie What would you not haue a man angrie with sin Oh this is base hypocrisie and sinnefull disguising of your fault for tell mee you that can bee so eager against small offences in others when they concerne your selfe Note do you not beare with greater faults both in others and in your selfe when they doe more neerely touch the glorie of God your owne heart tel you that it is so and therefore neuer suffer your violent distempers and outrages to goe vnder the visard of zeale against sinne but let them goe for hatefull passions as they are Others wee shall finde that will terme their couetousnes frugalitte their pride in apparell comlines and decencie Hurt that comes by disguising of sin and the like all which persons little consider what great iniurie they doe to their soules this while for now the word cannot cure them of those sinnes which they would faine thinke though their hearts tell them otherwise to bee no sinnes they can neuer humble themselues by repentance for them and therefore they stand guiltie before Gods iudgement seate to answer for them besides all the hurt they shall in this life sustaine in regard of them 4 A fourth sort that come vnder this reproofe are such as therein shew themselues to be clokers of sinne Such as are negligent in searching out their sinnes that they doe not vse diligence to finde out their sinnes such as are partiall in dealing with their own soules and in searching to finde out their corruptions that are loth to dig too deepe throughly to ransack the lothsome corners of their hearts He that doth not his best endeuour to come to the sight of his secret sinnes is esteemed by God to be a hider of them and shall be destitute of that happinesse and comfort that otherwise hee might enioy Psalm 4.4 and therefore as Dauid exhorted his enemies for their good to examine their hearts vpon their beds that so they might desist from standing out against him so hee practised it himselfe for the good of his owne soule that hee might not long goe astray from the waies of the Lord. I haue considered my waies saith hee and turned my feete into thy testimonies Psal 119.59 Secondly Vse 2 this serues for our instruction if wee finde that we doe not prosper in the things of the Lord When wee prosper not fall to examination or of the world let vs examine if there be not some secrete sinne that is the cause of it One comes to the word preached and findes no helpe thereby against the corruptions vnto which he is inclined nor for the practise of good duties vnto which hee is slacke he cannot perceiue that there is wrought in him any great loue vnto the Saints to the ordinances of God or to the comming of Christ c. but he is dull and heauie when hee is at it and as dead and lumpish when he is gone from it Let him search and he shall finde that there lies in his heart some sin or other vnrepented or the gilt of some duties vnperformed the venome whereof doth so poison his conscience that the word of life can finde no place there for when the word comes to a pure heart it will enter speedily and worke effectually Another comes to the Sacrament and findes no benefite thereby Let him looke if there lurke not within him some hidden corruption that is the cause hereof for the Sacrament is mightie in operation if it be receiued with a pure and holy affection 1. Cor. 10. it is the very communion of the body and blood of Christ And therefore search and cast foorth that ill leauen that hath infected thy heart and hindered thee from the comfort of this excellent ordinance of God And the like may wee say for praier and any other of Gods ordinances Likewise for the things of the world doe we not prosper in our estate in our bodies in our children c. let vs make triall if there be not some wickednesse that hath countenance with vs. Note And if there be thence may wee bee sure comes all our woe they that will not greeue for sinne because it is sinne shall bee driuen to greeue for it by many sore troubles and they that are insensible of it when it is cōmitted shall be made sensible in the end by feeling it punished And this is a good vse that is made of the troubles of Gods Church in the Lamentations of Ieremie Wherefore say they is the liuing man sorowfull why doth hee turmoile and vexe himselfe Lamenta 3.39.40 man suffereth for his sinne what is the conclusion Let vs search and trie our waies and turne againe vnto the Lord c. Wee haue sinned Obiection and rebelled therefore thou hast not spared c. But we know no speciall sinne that should procure this hand of God against vs.

vs put away from vs that vnlouing dispositiō that is naturally ingrafted in euery mans heart and striue to get in our soules and to expresse in our liues a true loue and Christian affection And to the end wee may shew indeed that wee haue this excellent vertue in vs let vs practise these 2. rules 1 First Rules of charitie Matth. 18.35 if thou haue a grudge against any labour from thy heart to forgiue and for euer to forget whatsoeuer iniurie or indignitie hath been offered vnto thee 2 Secondly if thou thy selfe hast done wrong to any other seeke to vndoe it againe Many when they haue beene iniurious vnto their neighbours and reuenged themselues vpon them will bee ready to plead for themselues and say I am satisfied I hope I need not seeke reconciliation with him for I beare him no malice But haue you not giuen him cause of griefe Note haue not you spoken wordes that sticke in his stomacke and wound his heart if you haue goe and reconcile your selfe vnto your brother Math 5.23 else your sacrifice cannot be accepted though you haue nothing against him yet if hee haue somewhat against you the rule of loue requireth that you should seeke peace with him if hee will not seeke it of you The like might be said for singing of Psalmes Singing of Psalmes men will vse it for a fashion sake because they would not seeme to reiect any religious seruice But if they would haue any edification or consolation thereby they must sing with the heart as well as with the voice and make melody to the Lord as well as outwardly before men And as these and the like corruptions are to bee separated from the workes of pietie towards God so Secondly there are other euils to bee remoued from our workes of mercie and of loue towards men Workes of mercie As in the matter of almes if wee thinke to merit thereby as Papists doe or seeke vaine glorie thereby as Pharises doe wee put not away the euill of that worke and therefore God will reiect the work itselfe So for admonition and reproofe Admonition they are very necessarie to be giuen yet if men doe these duties in wrath and distemper they shall doe more hurt by their bitternesse and passion then they can possibly doe good by their admonition Thirdly concerning the workes of our ordinarie callings we must cast off those euils that vsually cleaue vnto them Workes of our callings as First for masters to touch that part immediately before mentioned The masters dutie as it concerneth them more particularly in their places it is their dutie to deale with their seruants by admonishing them and by reprouing them yea and if need bee by correcting them also Reproouing which is as necessarie for them as their meate and drinke but then they must beware of wrath and outrage of bitternes crueltie and do as the Lord doth here he telleth the Iewes that they were worse then bruit beasts and nothing inferiour to the Sodomites in sinne and impiety but how doth hee leaue them here Oh no he deales mercifully with them and shewes them how they may amend all for otherwise they would haue fretted or dispaired So must masters deale not minister a sharpe and biting reproofe and then fling away from their seruants in a passion for that were not to deale as a Surgeon that comes to heale but as a robber Note or a theefe that comes to kill that giue a gash or a wound and so away nay as wee must shew them their sickenesse so we must giue them a medicine tell them where they goe out of the way and direct them into the right way yea and beseech the Lord also of his owne mercie and goodnesse to guide and order them better hereafter for else our admonitions will doe them more hurt then good a great deale They will hate the reproouer and despise the reproofe but neuer leaue the fault reprooued And thence it is that there are so manie complaints neuer man or woman was troubled with such children or such seruants Why what is the matter Oh wee haue reprooued them and told them of their faults so often and so earnestly and yet there is no reformation nor amendment of any thing but looke backe to your selfe now and perhaps the greatest blame will lie vpon you You are still exhorting Note and still crying out against them for their misdemeanour but how is it not done in a passion to ease your selfe and not in compassion to helpe them you haue giuen them diuers biting and cutting speeches but how many feruent praiers haue you made for them in secret you haue often beene greeued and rebuked them and doe still chide them verie sharply for failing in your worke but how many teares haue you shedde for their failing in Gods seruice and their grieuous offences against his holie maiestie if you cannot bee thus spiritually affected nor affoord them your praiers as well as your rebukes you may spare a labour for any good that is likely to come of all that you doe Therefore let masters of families and parents and likewise husbands when they are to deale this way with their wiues be carefull to do this dutie in wisdome and moderation in loue and tender affection to the soules of the parties offending If the faults bee priuate let the admonition bee priuate if they be great bring strong arguments to conuince the offender and to beate downe his sinne but spare tart and bitter and reuiling speeches that will rather exasperate then worke any cure vpon them that are faultie and blame-worthie So for labouring in our vocations It 's good to rise earely and to goe to bed late Labour and to eate the bread of painefulnesse so that a moderation bee kept that masters and seruants bee not oppressed but then we must take heed that we labour not for couetousnes nor in desire of filthie lucre but in conscience and obedience to God Note for otherwise wee shall bee froward and distempered when things goe crosse with vs and luste after the world and dote vpon the vanities of the world when things goe well with vs. If we serue the world or our selues in the paines that we take we shall be vexed and disquieted with continuall discontentment and euer turmoyled tossed with some inordinate affection or otherwise if we can get aduantage by doing of wrong we shal not much sticke at it and if a commoditie lie in our way wee will bee sure our neighbour shall be a looser rather then our selues Whereas if wee aimed at Gods glorie in our dealings and affaires of this life wee would rather suffer wrong then doe wrong and helpe others then hurt them knowing that when we doe best we alwaies speede best And as masters must heerein looke to themselues so must seruants in their places they must beware of eie-seruice Seruants dutie for many there are who when

a great part of the Scripture Yes surely few were better instructed then he was yet he found such great blindnesse of minde and deceitfulnesse of heart still when he came to matters of practise that hee neuer ceaseth crying for more vnderstanding of heauenly things As also the wise man exhorteth to call for knowledge to seek her as siluer Prou. 2.3.4 and to search for her as for treasures That as couetous men neuer thinke they haue gold and siluer enough so Christians must neuer thinke they haue heauenly wisedome enough 1. Cor. 14.1 but still couet more and more after spirituall things 1 Heere are those sharpely to bee reproued Vse 1 and much to be condemned who are too too well conceited of themselues and of their owne wits that will bragge and boast that they are not so simple but they know well enough how to serue God and to doe the duties that pertaine to them in their families they haue not beene so many yeeres maried nor liued so long in the world but they know sufficiently without teaching what belongeth to the dutie of an husband of a father Note of a master and all other things that a Christian man should know These foolish men in saying thus doe little consider what they speake against themselues and how farre they discouer their own nakednesse hereby they make it apparant that they haue in them no Christianitie at all for what are they wiser then all the Prophets and righteous men that liued in ancient times they saw and acknowledged their great want of the vnderstanding of holy things and that not for modesties sake 1. Sam. 1.11.13.14 but they and others rued it and felt the smart of their defects that way How foulely was Eli ouertaken through ignorance in censuring condemning good Hannah for drunkennes when shee was powring out her soule before the Lord because shee moued her lips onely and vttered no words in his hearing but spake in her heart vnto God And the like might be said of many indiscreete speeches actions of the disciples of Christ before the resurrection and till they had receiued the spirit of vnderstanding in a more plentifull measure Want of wisdome And to come more particularly to our selues who hath that wisedome that he should haue to make his vse of prosperity or aduersitie to profit by Gods hand in mercie or in iudgement vpon our selues or others nay who hath attained to that soundnesse of iudgement as to vnderstand the Scriptures so well as hee should when hee readeth them or heareth them read by others or which is a farre easier matter to make a right vse of them in applying them to his own soule when they are plainely and soundly preached and expounded vnto him he that thinketh that hee knoweth any thing fully and perfectly in these matters let him be assured that hee knoweth nothing as yet Prouerb as hee ought to know and as for him that is wise in his owne conceite there is more hope of a foole then of him For a naturall foole though hee bee not capable of instruction and aduise yet by the whip may bee kept within some compasse Prouer. 27.22 but nothing will be auaileable with a conceited foole Though thou shouldest bray him in a morter as the wiseman speaketh among wheate braied with a p●stell yet will not his foolishnes depart from him you may sooner driue his soule out of his body then you can driue folly out of his soule This is for our instruction Vse 2 that if wee would carry the name of Christians and be such indeed then we must learne our dutie to the intent we may doe it and euery one striue principally to know what hee himselfe should bee Many labour to speake well and to haue words of discourse but let vs learne to doe well which if we endeuour to doe then Thirdly here is matter of great consolation for vs Vse 3 for hereby we may gather good assurance vnto our owne hearts of the soundnes of our repentance and conuersion vnto the Lord this beeing here in the text set downe as an infallible note of those that haue indeede turned from their euill waies to serue the liuing God that they learne to doe well Proposing of good questions Therefore they may take this for their comfort who are still proposing of good questions what they must doe and how they must do it by what meanes they may get out of this or that sinne and attaine to such or such a grace how they may be most profitable helpefull and comfortable to themselues and others this was the practise of the Publicans and fouldiers and of all sortes that were inwardlie touched in their consciences by the preaching of Iohn Baptist Luke 3. euery one of them came vnto him saying what must we do of the Gayler who when once he began to be humbled came trembling and fell downe before Paul and Silas saying Sirs Act. 16.29.30 what must I doe to be saued for howsoeuer Gods seruants haue learned for the most part what things in generall must be done yet still they haue many scruples and doubts in their consciences as whether such and such things come within the compasse of their callings what warrant there is for it in the word whether it may be done at such a time in such a place before with or amongst such persons what circumstances they must obserue in their proceeding what affection they must carie in the matter and the like For they finde such a Sea of hypocrisie and pride in their hearts that they thinke they are neuer sufficientlie furnished with wisdome and goodnesse for the performance of holy duties but are still icalous and suspicious of themselues lest they should be led aside with by-respects Howsoeuer such men and women thinke and speake hardlie of themselues and are still bewailing their manifold imperfections and failings in euery good exercise yet the Ministers of God Note finde that of all others they are the worthiest hearers and practisers and receiuers of the Sacrament Manie count them learned Christians that haue gotten such knowledge as that they can say much but they are in truth the best learned that haue obtained grace to doe much according to the exhortation of the Prophet in this place Learne to doe well Seeke iudgement Now because men will very easily shift off generall precepts hee contenteth not himselfe with the former exhortation but as hee had bidden them to doe well so here hee commeth to particulars and sheweth them wherein their chiefe and speciall care and endeauour should bee to doe well Seeke iudgement c. Hee had before charged them that their hands were full of blood and that their great men and men of authoritie were notable oppressors and spoilers of their brethren and neighbours that were meaner then themselues following after rewards and not iudgeing the fatherlesse and the widowe nor suffering them to haue equitie

be made truly religious by which our mindes that are blind may be inlightned our hearts of crooked may be made straight of proud may be made humble and of fraudulent may be made true and faithfull And those meanes are the Word the Sacrament Prayer and the like which are the steps whereby we must ascend vnto this honorable estate for it is as possible for men to make stayres to climbe vp vnto the sky as for vs without these to ascend vnto heauen by any deuices of our owne framing The word is the key that must open hell gates to set vs at liberty from the bonds of sinne of Sathan and of death and to vnlocke heauen gates that we may haue entrance into glory in which respect it is that Christ saith vnto Peter that he would giue vnto him and consequently to all Ministers of the Gospel the keyes of the kindom of heauen that is the dispensation of the word which maketh the way vnto heauen ly open to al such as by faith receiue the same into their hearts So that we shold not come vnto the means with a base cōceit or light estimation therof but with a large ample desire and expectation of taking benefit thereby If men can once espy a way how they may rise in the world either to great wealth or promotion they wil be most industrious and laborious in that course they will refuse no paines in seedes time though the weather be vnseasonable and cold and their worke euery way troublesome but they will put themselues to it with all care and industry in hope though it be but an vncertaine hope of bettering their estate So those that liue by faires and markets wil nor faile one of them ordinarily neither heate nor cold winde nor raine nor any the like impediments shal hinder them from pursuing their commodity and why then should we be negligent and play the sluggards while our seedes-time lasteth the Lord biddeth vs plough vp the fallow ground of our hearts that hee may sow therein the seede of life which will neuer faile to yeeld vs a plentiful haruest if we can waite vpon him for the same And why should we be slack and carelesse when our chiefe market daies and faire daies come and not rather set our hearts and endeuours to seeke after those things which all that seeke shall finde and being found will make vs men for euer This should be an encouragement vnto vs Vse 3 not to thinke any thing too much that we can doe or suffer in or for the profession of Christianity Oh but it is an hard matter may some say to fast and pray Obiect and mourne and grieue our hearts continually for our sins Difficulties in Christianity and when we haue done all to be derided and maligned persecuted and slaine for a good cause and besides all these to feele Gods hand scourging vs sometimes with pouerty and want sometimes with feares terrors sometimes with temptations and inward conflicts c. These things seeme very great and very tedious indeed Answ to flesh and bloud but in truth they are but small yea matters of nothing if we consider what is the vse of them and what wil be the end of them therefore let vs remember for our cōfort when wee are in this strait and difficult and vnpleasant way Note that wee are going to be installed into a kingdome and who is there that being offered a Baronrie or a Lordship yea though it be but a Farme if so be he will take the paines to come for it who is here I say that would take exception and say Alas the aire is clowdie and the weather vncertaine nay it begins to raine or haile or snow alreadie and therefore I will euen stay at home and neuer wet my foote for the matter Nay if there be but likelyhood of some smaller gaine the weather fowle and the waies deepe and themselues somewhat out of temper also yet they will aduenture to goe through all and rather ferry ouer than come short of that profit that is offered how much more then ought we to breake through all impediments and swallow vp all difficulties with the consideration of this that our iourney tendeth not to the getting of some small commoditie or to the purchasing of some worldly possessions or to the obtaining of any earthly preheminēce or preferment whatsoeuer but that we are trauelling towards our owne countrey where we shall receiue an inualüable and eternall crowne of glory And albeit we must passe through many rough and craggie and thornie waies and meete with sundry things that wil be very irksome and vnpleasant yet let vs account withall that we shall find many sweet comforts and ioyes vnspeakeable and glorious in the middest of our pilgrimage and in the end shall haue the fruition of that happines which will make amends for all And this was it that made the Apostle Paul so comfortable in the middest of al his sufferings Therefore we faint not saith he but though our outward man perish 2. Cor. 4.16 17 yet our inward man is renued daily For our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre most excellent and an eternall weight of Glory Where we may note that when he speaketh of the happinesse of another life he magnifieth the same exceedingly both for the worth of it for the continuance of it calling it a farre most excellent and eternall weight of glory To be excellent is much to be most excellent is farre more to be far most excellent is yet an higher degree but when he calleth it a farre most excellent and withal an eternall weight of glory it maketh a great addition vnto all the former and sheweth that it is inded an inconceiueable vnutterable happines that in the heauen wee shal enioy but one the other side hee counteth his affliction light and momentany because it passeth as it were in a thought and is a thing of nothing being laid in the ballance against the neuer-sading blisse that we shall shortly come vnto And as for that weight that is in the tributions of this life it is but as an heauy bagge of gold that will make the heart of the owner light in the very cariage of it and so much the more light by how much weightier it is And therefore by all these motiues we should perswade yea euen compell our soules vnto patience vnder the crosse of Christ and to perseuerance in the practise of all the duties of godlinesse a patterne of which patience we haue in the Hebrewes Who after the had receiued the light endured a great fight in afflictions Hebr. 10.33.34 Partly saith the Apostle while ye were made a gazing stocke both by reproches and afflictons and partly while ye became companions vnto them which were so tossed to and fro For both ye sorrowed with me for my bonds and suffered with ioy the spoyling of your goods

told Moses that if he would goe neare and heare what the Lord said and declare it vnto them they would heare and doe all that the Lord should say the Lord himselfe testified the equitie of their words Deut. 5.28.29 that They had well spoken all that they spake and wished that there were such an heart in them to feare him and to keepe all his commaundements alway that it might go well with thē and with their children after them Whereby we are informed what is acceptable vnto God and profitable for our selues namely entire obedience for our comfortable welfare and constant obedience for our continuall happinesse and to the same purpose tendeth that serious instigation 1 Cor. 15.58 of S. Paul to the Corinthians Therefore my beloued brethren be ye stedfast vnmoueable aboundant alwaies in the worke of the Lord for as much as ●e know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. First Reasons no vaine thing is commaunded but euery precept that he giueth is holy euery duty prescribed to vs is needful to be performed he requireth nothing but that which is good and iust and who can charge vs to do more than enough whiles we deale onely in that which is iust and good Secondly the Lord desireth to be serued with all due care and faithfulnesse can any man say I am before hand with him and I haue done more for his sake than he hath for mine doe we not receiue from him breath and being and life and liuing and preseruation and saluation it selfe and all things els 3 Thirdly our labour is not lost nor trauell mis-spent in yeelding obedience to him for he will reward it at the full and aboue all desert No man worketh for him without wages not a godly action not a godly word not a godly purpose not a godly motion of heart shall passe without pay and compensation Fourthly euery default and omission of well doing at euery time deserueth damnation and either shal be recompenced with the death of the sinner or hath bene already requited with the torments of Christ For confutation of the Papists Vse 1 Against Popish obseruations that little regarding the commaundements of God expect great matters for their deuotion and their outward inuentions and obseruations but who hath required those things at their hands the Lord commaundeth them to keepe his precepts otherwise they can expect no recompence from him but that may be said of all their inuented worship which was spoken of them that were so full of externall ceremonies as touch not tast not handle not in the Apostles time concerning all which he saith That they perish with the vsing Colos 2.22 seeing they are after the commandements and doctrines of man So soone as the worke is done the reward is gone Besides here may be confuted all their works of supererogation Against works of lup●r●●●gaton If God God command vs to obserue his law in perfection then what can there be left for them to performe beyond that which he commandeth Doth Christ bid vs say that when we haue done all that we can we are vnprofitable seruants and haue performed no more then our duties and will they be so audacious as to bragge of an ouerplus of well doing Is it possible for obedience to exceed the commandement or for ought to be any thing worth that is not done in obedience but to let them passe This is for our instruction Vse 2 hath God enioyned vs to obserue his precepts so exceeding carefully and diligently then let nothing draw vs therfrom no not in the least circumstance let vs esteeme nothing needlesse friuolous or superfluous that we haue a warrant for out of his word nor count those too wise that will stand resolutely vpon the same if the Lord require any thing though the world should gainesay it we be derided and abused for the doing of it yet let vs proceede still in the course of our obedience Sithence our maister doth require it as a due and it becommeth vs to yeeld it as a duty our hire is so great for the performance of the same which will also be inlarged as our integrity shal be increased the greater our faithfulnesse shal be found the more praise we shall obtaine accompanied proportionably withal other good blessings And let this be a motiue further to incite vs to such diligēce that the Lord is much displeased with remisnes and negligence sloathful persons are euery where reprehended in the Scriptures euen for being idle in humaine affaires and matters that concerne mens present estate much more then doe they deserue to be sharply reproued and also corrected for their carelessnesse in those holy works whereabout God setteth them he that doth not as much as he may in the seruices of God may looke to haue more stroakes from his hand and rebukes from his mouth than will be for his comfort THE EIGHT SERMON IOHN 6.26.27 Iesus answered them and said Verily verily I say vnto you ye seeke me not because ye saw the miracles but because ye ate of the loaues and were filled Labour not for the meate which perisheth but for the meate that endureth vnto euerlasting life which the Sonne of man shall giue vnto you for him hath God the Father sealed THe fleshly followers of our Lord Iesus Christ hauing bene miraculously relieued at his hand with corporall food once expect as much againe and not finding him in one place where it was likely he would haue bene they seeke him in another where without a miracle he could not be for the Sea was betweene them and ship they knew there was none left to transport him whereby they tooke occasion to demand of him when he came thither insinuating that they coniectured how he came thither euen by walking vpon the waters To these our Sauiour directeth the words of this text and others that follow not answering to their question how he came because it sauoured of adulation and was somewhat friuolous but discouering their purpose why they came and that was hypocriticall and carnall Now for the sence of the words where he layeth to their charge that they sought him not because they saw the miracle it is to be vnderstood that they apprehend not his diuine nature nor sought to know him as God and their redeemer by vertue of the miracle but onely hoped that he would worke another to feede their bodies againe and make them to fare well often And hauing reproued them he proceedeth to instruct them prescribing a more wise and profitable course for themselues and their soules and that is to preferre things that are euerlasting before those that are perishable momētany Not that he precisely forbiddeth to labour for foode and other maintenance but to labour couetously with too greedy a desire to labour immoderately with too great trauell to labour principally for that which is earthly and more remisly for that which is heauenly this is