A09965:280
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.
Those who spend their time in sports, in gaming, in business, in serving wealth and honour, in moral discourses, in Histories, in hearing and telling of news,1 as the Athenians did: these are dead men, they do not live: As we say of Trees, that if they bring not forth fruit, they are dead; so what ever men do if they bring not forth fruit, if they glorify not God, they are dead. See what a price is put into your hands, see what ye have done, and mend whiles ye may; bestow not your price amiss. There are many Talents, yet none like this of life: ⟨p. 101⟩take therefore the Apostles exhortation, Gal. 6. While ye have time do good: life is but an acting, ye then live when ye are doing good▪ We see how many men fall from the Tree of life, as leaves in Autumn; the candle of this life is quickly blown out: have therefore a better life in store, be not always building, never inhabiting, always beginning, never finishing; Stultitiae semper incipit vivere; folly always begins to live: It is the fault of most men, they are always beginning, and never go on. L•t us take therefore the Apostles counsel, 1 Pet. 4.3. Think it sufficient that we have walked formerly, as we have done; the time which remains, let us reckon it precious, and bestow it to better purpose.
Those who spend their time in sports, in gaming, in businesse, in serving wealth and honour, in morall discourses, in Histories, in hearing and telling of newes,1 as the Athenians did: these are dead men, they doe not live: As we say of Trees, that if they bring not forth fruit, they are dead; so what ever men doe if they bring not forth fruit, if they glorifie not God, they are dead. See what a price is put into your hands, see what yee have done, and mend whiles yee may; bestow not your price amisse. There are many Talents, yet none like this of life: ⟨p. 101⟩