A09965:386
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.
The fifth means to hear profitably, is to prize the Word and the voice of Christ speaking to the heart: pray earnestly for it that ye may seek it earnestly at Gods hands, beseech him to speak to your hearts: your hearing is nothing without this: it is the great shepherd of the flock that must feed you. It is the Spirit that must teach you.1 Therefore when as you come to hear, pray earnestly to God to speak unto you by his Spirit. It is the Spirit that quickeneth. Joh. 6.63. the Word is spiritual, and we are carnal▪ therefore we must pray for the Spirit to help us for to hear: the Spirit is not bestowed without prayer. Act. 1.14.15. God promised to give his Spirit to his Apostles, ⟨p. 180⟩yet they continued long in prayers ere he gave it them. Luk. 11.13. God gives not his Spirit but to such as ask it, to such as continue praying, asking and knocking. David prays to God; to open his eyes that he might see the wonders of his Law:2 Men may hear the Word, yet God opens not their eyes without seeking to him. God speaks unto you by his Ministers. Paul and Apollos are yours; we are the Ministers of God,3 for your sakes, for your service. If God open the door of utterance, it is not for our sakes but yours, that you might seek the Word at our mouths and believe. Act. 14.1. a great company of Jews and Gentiles believed by hearing the Word preached, and receiving of it: The world receives not the Spirit, because they seek it not, Joh. 14 17. We in preaching, can do nothing; it is the Spirit that must do it.