A09965:283
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.
Secondly, this life is a life indeed; as that that feeds it is meat indeed; the other is not so:1 look upon all the comforts of this present life, they are not such indeed; take wealth, pleasures, honours and the like; wealth is but a false treasure: Luke 16.11. it is called the unrighteous Mammon, the false treasure; (Et falsus Hector non est Hector:) in comparison of the true treasure it is nothing. Therefore Solomon, Pro. 23.5. speaking of riches saith; Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? these riches are nothing: So for honours, all praise among men is nothing, it is but vain-glory, and vain because it is empty and hath nothing in it: so the pleasures of this life are but sad pleasures, the heart is sad at the bottom: ⟨p. 104⟩the riches the comforts of this life, and only these are riches and comforts indeed: the actions of this life, are actions indeed. In eating and drinking there is sweetness, but when we feed on the promises by faith, then we taste sweetness indeed in them. One that is weary, being refreshed with sleep finds sweetness and ease; but it is another refreshing, that those find who have been weary and heavy laden with sin, 2and are n•w refreshed, this brings comfort to the soul. So to think of houses, wife, children, and lands; to consider all the actions that we have done under the Sun, and all that we have passed through, is pleasant: but to think of the privileges we have in Christ, that we are Sons of God, and heirs of Heaven, 3this is comfort indeed: especially to think of the good works we have done; what good prayers we have made, what good duties we have performed, these are actions indeed, and bring comfort indeed. All the actions of this life are actions indeed, this life is a life indeed; in death you shall find it so, that Christs body and blood are meat and drink indeed; that remission of sins, and peace of conscience, are comforts indeed, peace indeed; they are such now, though ye think not so; ye shall then know, that this life is life indeed.