A09965:340
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.
1I answer, when as God gives an ear, and speaks a voice for it to hear: He that hath an ear to hear, saith Christ, let him hear. We then hear,2 when as there is a listening and yielding disposition wrought within us: When as we preach, there are many that have hard hearts, and nothing for to soften them; therefore the word falls from them as rain from a stone: but if there be a man that God will choose, he fits his heart, and so he is persuaded. This is called the opening of ⟨p. 145⟩the understanding, Luk. 24.45. He opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. When we speak to men, we sow as it were upon fallow ground which will bear no Corn unless God plough it. Those that saw the miracles of the Loaves, esteemed them not, 3because their hearts were hardened. Ephe. 4.18. They are alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts, that is, they are not sensible of sin, and death, the word or the threatenings: when God takes away this hardness, they are fit to hearken; then comes light the beginning of life, which is the informing of the understanding, to judge righteous judgement. Those who have the life of Christ, if he speaks, it quickens them. It is the inward voice that quickens: seek therefore to God earnestly; that Christ would speak to your hearts: ye hear and are not quickened, because he speaks not. And thus much for this second point: that all in Christ are in a state of life.
1I answer, when as God gives an eare, and speakes a voyce for it to heare: He that hath an eare to heare, saith Christ, let him heare. Wee then heare,2 when as there is a listning and yeelding disposition wrought within us: When as wee preach, there are many that have hard hearts, and nothing for to soften them; therefore the word falls from them as raine from a stone: but if there be a man that God will chuse, he fits his heart, and so he is perswaded. This is called the opening of