A09965:566
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.
2 Though he be in Christ, yet he must examine himself, whether he be particularly prepared, quickened, and fitted; whether his heart be put into such a trance of grace, or fashioned so as it ought to be, when he comes to the immediate performance of such a duty as that is. Now because I handle this point, but only for this particular occasion, I will not enter into such a manner of handling of it, as I was wont to do at other times, but only take up so much of it as may serve for the present occasion; Therefore because I say this to you: That except a man be in Christ, he ought not to take any privilege to himself: we will, First exhort every man to consider whether he be in Christ: for this is the present question which any […] heart would ask, when he hears this […]; Why, if all the privileges be […] upon my being in Christ, my main […] to examine whether I be in Christ or no. […] because a man may be in Christ and yet […] by some interveniall sin, by […] disposition of mind and heart, that may […] on him, from the actual enjoying of the present fruit and benefit of that privilege which belongs to him: therefore we will first give you rules to examine your selves whether you be in Christ or no. It is very useful to all that now are to receive, or at any other time; its useful you know too, not only upon such an occasion as this, but upon all occasions; and therefore a point, […] ⟨p. 277⟩that men magnify so much, I say, there was a time when they were exceeding good: but sin hath blowed upon them, it hath blasted the beauty and vigour of them, so that now when the Lord looks upon them, this is the sentence that is pronounced of them, you know, in Eccl. 1.14. They are all vanity and vexation of spirit. Consider if thou be able to look on all these things (even the best things the world hath) as things being but mere vanity; things wherein the Lord sowed not mens happiness, and therefore thou canst not think to reap it there. If you mark but the expression the wise man useth in […] saith he; All things under the Sun are but […] there is a reason contained in those […] are but vanity; for waters you […] not higher than the […] carry not any thing higher than […]; so all the creatures that be […] be but under the Sun, […] ascend to that happiness […] the Sun, nor carry you to that […] is above, for happiness is […], laid up in Heaven.