A09965:408
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, GOD will not bind us to that which is simply impossible, therefore GOD will not have us not to seek our selves; yea he hath commanded us not to kill our selves, ⟨p. 192⟩and to love our neighbours as our selves; which show that a man may love himself.1
Secondly, GOD will not binde us to that which is simply impossible, therefore GOD will not have us not to seeke our selves; yea he hath commanded us not to kill our selves, ⟨p. 192⟩and to love our neighbours as our selves; whic• shew that a man may love himselfe.1
Thirdly, the motives used in Scripture, Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand: and Fear not him that can kill the body and do no more, 1but fear him that is able to cast both soul and body into Hell: show that a man may love himself. Wherefore we do not take away this self-love but rectify it; we do not dry up this stream, but turn it into it's right Channel: we extirpate not this plant, but guide it into the right way; as Musicians break not the strings, but rectify and tune them. Wherefore we affirm, that a man may and must seek himself so far as it is good for himself, and no farther: This religion doth, it rectifies our love, teacheth us to deny inordinate affections, and to serve God with a perfect heart. Before regeneration, a man seeks himself by doing things that are pleasant according to the flesh, he doth the thing he sees and handles. But a man that is sanctified, seeks his happiness in God, though he looseth his goods, his life, and all that he hath, his happiness is in God, he is resolved to do or suffer any thing for God.