A09965:330
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.
First, it gives a reality to the privileges of life, and makes you see they are privileges indeed: therefore is it that ye act the duties of this life, because ye believe that God is such a God, that ye have such privileges, that ye are heirs of all things. If ye think that God is such a one as he is, in wisdom, power, and mercy; if ye intend, and mind the privileges of this life, then will you live the life of grace: If ye doubt, and question with Atheists, whether these things be but dreams, then ye intend them not and live not this life. He that believes saith, let me have God sure: the other saith, let me have that I touch and feel; but the imaginary things consisting in faith and hope I care not for. The more ye believe these things, the more ye are occupied about them.
First, it gives a reality to the priviledges of life, and makes you see they are priviledges indeed: therefore is it that yee act the duties of this life, because ye beleeve that God is such a God, that ye have such priviledges, that yee are heirs of all things. If yee thinke that God is such a one as he is, in wisedome, power, and mercy; if ye intend, and minde the priviledges of this life, then will you live the life of grace: If ye doubt, and question with Atheists, whether these things be but dreames, then ye intend them not and live not this life. He that beleeves saith, let me have God sure: the other saith, let me have that I touch and feele; but the imaginary things consisting in faith and hope I care not for. The more ye beleeve these things, the more ye are occupied about them.
Secondly, faith draws you on to action: and this life is but the acting of the duties of new obedience. Faith and persuasion further other things: as if one be persuaded that ⟨p. 138⟩such a thing will hurt him, it produceth an action of the will, abstinence: if a man be persuaded that he shall dye without the Physician, he sends for him. So in all other actions, persuasion is that which sets a man on work. So in spiritual actions, if we are persuaded that such a sin committed will not make our bodies sick but our souls, we will not do it; if we are persuaded our souls shall fare the better if we do such a thing, this make us to do it: being persuaded we shall have a recompense of reward, it produceth action, and the more action the more life.