A09965:434
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.
Fourthly, know it by the contrary; If the duties of Prayer and the like do weaken the desire, then it is Carnal; but if they strengthen it, so that you go on with boldness and security, it comes from the Spirit.
Fourthly, know it by the contrary; If the duties of Prayer and the like doe weaken the desire, then it is Carnall; but if they strengthen it, so that you goe on with boldnesse and security, it comes from the Spirit.
Fifthly, know, if there be some self-respect that doth carry you, so far ye go and no farther: that respect being taken away, ye end. Do you it in secret and constantly; even then when ye are sequestered from all other respects, and have nothing else but Gods glory to stir you up to do it? If the heart be just, we do it when we have no other end in it. Are ye angry with your selves, when ye neglect Gods business? Are ye angry with a Son, because he neglects God, or is it because of his looseness and dissoluteness; because he takes ill courses, and would waste your estates? Many men are zealous for sins against themselves, for sins that prejudice themselves: As Ministers are angry with such as rob the Church, and have Impropriations, and sometimes deservedly too; but when the Pulpit rings of nothing but this, it is a sign that it is only out of Self-respect. So the people cry out of the Ministers Covetousness, but it is out of self-respect, because they are loath to give them that which is their due. John was zealous for God; but it was with an eye and respect to the Kingdom. So Hosea, 7.14. The people fasted and assembled themselves together, but it was but for ⟨p. 204⟩Corn and Wine: take away our respects, we are cold; these are desires that should be denied.
Fifthly, know, if there be some selfe-respect that doth carry you, so farre yee goe and no farther: that respect being taken away, ye end. Doe you it in secret and constantly; even then when ye are sequestred from all other respects, and have nothing else but Gods glory to stirre you up to doe it? If the heart be iust, wee doe it when we have no other end in it. Are yee angry with your selves, when ye neglect Gods businesse? Are ye angry with a Sonne, because he neglects God, or is it because of his loosenesse and dissolutenesse; because hee takes ill courses, and would waste your estates? Many men are zealous for sinnes against themselves, for sinnes that preiudice themselves: As Ministers are angry with such as rob the Church, and have Impropriations, and sometimes deservedly too; but when the Pulpit rings of nothing but this, it is a signe that it is onely out of Selfe-respect. So the people cry out of the Ministers Covetousnesse, but it is out of selfe-respect, because they are loath to give them that which is their due. Iohn was zealous for God; but it was with an eye and respect to the Kingdome. So