A09965:164
Four godly and learned treatises Entitled, I. A remedy against covetousness. II. An elegant…Foure godly and learned treatises Intituled, I. A remedy against covetousnesse. II. An elegant…
Four godly and learned treatises Entitled, I. A remedy against covetousness. II. An elegant and lively description of spiritual death and life. III. The doctrine of self-denial. IV. Upon the sacrament of the Lords Supper. Delivered in sundry sermons, by that late famous preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory, John Preston, Doctor of Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty; master of Emanuel College, and sometime preacher of Lincolns Inn.Foure godly and learned treatises Intituled, I. A remedy against covetousnesse. II. An elegant and lively description of spirituall death and life. III. The doctrine of selfe-deniall. IV. Vpon the sacrament of the Lords Supper. Delivered in sundry sermons, by that late famous preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory, Iohn Preston, Doctor of Divinitie, chaplaine in ordinarie to his Majestie; master of Emanuel Colledge, and sometime preacher of Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed by Thomas for Michael Sparke, 1633
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1To this I answer, that though all sin be a mere privation, yet it is in an operative subject, and thence it comes to pass that sin is fruitful in evil works. As for example, take an Horse and put out his eyes, as long as he stands still there is no error; but if he begins to run once, he runs amiss, and the longer he runs, the further he is out of the way wherein he should go; and all this because he wants his eyes, which should direct him: So it is with sin, though in its self it be but a mere privation, yet it is seated in the soul, which is always active: Anima nunquam otiosa; The goodness that should enlighten it is taken away, and there is a positive evil quality put into it, that leads us on to evil.
1To this I answer, that though all sinne be a meere privation, yet it is in an operative subject, and thence it comes to passe that sinne is fruitfull in evill workes. As for example, take an Horse and put out his eyes, as long as hee stands still there is no error; but if he begins to runne once, he runnes amisse, and the longer hee runnes, the further hee is out of the way wherein he should goe; and all this because he wants his eyes, which should direct him: So it is with sinne, though in its selfe it be but a meere privation, yet it is seated in the soule, which is alwayes active: Anima nunquam otiosa; The goodnesse that should inlighten it is taken away, and there is a positive evill qualitie put into it, that leades us on to evill.
- 1Answ.
Consider farther whence this death proceeds, the original of it, is the understanding & mind of man, which is primū vivens, & ultimum ⟨p. 56⟩moriens. That which lives first and dies last. The cause of life is the understanding enlightened to see the truth; when the affections are right, and the understanding straight, then we live; when it is darkened, all goes out of order.