A09965:284
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.
Thirdly, this life of grace is a prevailing life, swallowing up the other 2 Cor. 5.4. the Apostle ⟨p. 105⟩desired death: not to be unclothed, but to be clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life; that is, desiring death, I desire not to be deprived of the comforts of this life; then I were unwise: I would not put off my clothes, but to be clothed with a better suite; I desire a life to swallow up this life; not as a Gulf swallows that which is cast into it, or as fire swallows up the wood, by consuming it, but a life that swallows it up, as perfection swallows up imperfection, as the perfecting of a picture swallows up the rude draught, as perfect skill swallows up bungling, or as manhood swallows up childhood, not extinguishing it, but drowning or rather perfecting it that it is not seen. The life of grace being perfect, swallows up imperfection; he that lives the life of grace, hath the imperfections of this natural life swallowed up: For example; before we live this life▪ we magnify riches, honours, and Gewgaws; but the list of grace coming, we have other kinds of comforts then: as a man that is to be made a Prince, contemns the things he before admired. The weaknesses we are subject to, are swallowed up in this life: all sickness and trouble are swallowed up in this: so are all our frailties, and imperfections. This should teach us to set a high prize upon this life of grace; that we dye no more if we live it; that it is a life indeed, that it swallows up this other life; compare it ⟨p. 106⟩with other lives, it far excels them all: this therefore should move us to desire and seek it.
Thirdly, this life of grace is a prevailing life, swallowing up the other 2 Cor. 5.4. the Apostle ⟨p. 105⟩desired death: not to be uncloathed, but to be cloathed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life; that is, desiring death, I desire not to be deprived of the comforts of this life; then I were unwise: I would not put off my cloathes, but to be cloathed with a better suite; I desire a life to swallow up this life; not as a Gulfe swallowes that which is cast into it, or as fire swallowes up the wood, by consuming it, but a life that swallowes it up, as perfection swallowes up imperfection, as the perfecting of a picture swallowes up the rude draught, as perfect skill swallowes up bungling, or as manhood swallowes up childhood, not extinguishing it, but drowning or rather perfecting it that it is not seene. The life of grace being perfect, swallowes up imperfection; he that lives the life of grace, hath the imperfections of this naturall life swallowed up: For example; before wee live this life we magnifie riches, honours, and Gugaes; but the list of grace comming, wee have other kindes of comforts then: as a man that is to be made a Prince, contemnes the things hee before admired. The weakenesses we are subject to, are swallowed up in this life: al sicknesse and trouble ar swallowed up in this: so are all our frailties, and imperfections. This should teach us to set a high prize upon this life of grace; that we dye no more if we live it; that it is a life indeed, that it swallowes up this other life; compare it