A09965:356
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 hearing of the voice of the Son of God works a quick sense, in the hearts of those that hear it, which the outward voice doth not: and this follows the former. Let knowledge be particular, it works quick sense. Heb. 4.11. the word is called lively in operation: now life consists in quickness, and motion; the voice of Christ speaking effectually breeds quickness. Sola individua agunt et sentiunt, A knife in general cuts nothing, the particular knife cuts. To know in general you are sinners, have corrupt natures, offend in many things, works nothing; it is the reflection on your particular sins that works, this makes men tremble. Act. 2.36.37. Peter having told the Jews that they had crucified Christ, that pricked them at the heart. As it is of sins, so is it of comforts, particular comforts only work. ⟨p. 153⟩If one can say, I am thus and thus, then comfort follows: so particular threatenings make men sensible. When God said to Adam, Hast thou not eaten of the tree whereof I said thou shouldest not eat? this made him fear.1 The word doth breed a quick sense: they who have not this true voice sounding to them, (Isaiah. 6.9.) In hearing they do not hear, and seeing they do not see; their hearts are fat, their ears heavy, and their eyes shut. Rom. 11.8. God hath given them the spirit of slumber; that is, when as men hear his voice in a common manner, they are as a man in a slumber: it stirs them not: their hearts are fat; that is, they are senseless: for fat is without sense. The property of them that hear in an ineffectual manner is this; they have a spirit of slumber, they are as one hearing a tale, when as his mind is otherwhere. If the things propounded were natural, they would hear them well enough; but they are spiritual, therefore they are dull of hearing them.
Secondly, this hearing of the voyce of the Sonne of God workes a quicke sence, in the hearts of those that heare it, which the outward voyce doth not: and this followes the former. Let knowledge be particular, it workes quicke sence.