A09965:476
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.
Forecast this therefore, lest going with 2000. you are met with 20000. and overcome, your resolutions being too weak.
Forecast this therefore, lest going with 2000. you are met with 20000. and overcome, your resolutions being too weake.
Secondly, if the ways of God are full of crosses and difficulty, then it is not the way to heaven that most men go▪ that common road of pleasure and jollity which most men tread in, is not the way: the true way is per diverticula, a by, a narrow way which few men follow. If we find our ways full of jollity, we have cause to suspect them, Luk. 6.21. Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall weep hereafter: ye that are full here, shall hunger hereafter: This looseness in following Christ is not the way. My brethren, if ye are going to any City, and ye are told before hand, that in the way to it, there are many narrow bridges, many brakes to go thorough; that there are many vagrants to devour you, many sirens ⟨p. 226⟩to allure you; if ye find no such thing, ye may well suspect that ye are out of the way; So if ye find no such opposition, no such crosses and difficulties, no such strong lusts in the way to heaven, it is a sign ye are out of the way: Whoever will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution: 1Paul tells Timothy here, that he hath known his persecutions and afflictions; and then he concludes, that Whoever in this present time, or in succeeding generations will live a holy life, must suffer for it: A man may suffer and do much for Christ; but Paul tells him, he must go further, and suffer persecution, for Christs sake and the Gospel.
Secondly, if the wayes of God are full of crosses and difficulty, then it is not the way to heaven that most men goe that common road of pleasure and jollity which most men treade in, is not the way: the true way is per diverticula, a by, a narrow way which few men follow. If we finde our waies full of jollity, wee have cause to suspect them,