A09965:606
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.
You know love is an uniting affection, therefore this is the definition of it▪ It is a desire of union with that it loves. Now when thou comest to receive the Sacrament, or to pray, or put up any special request, when thou comest to have to do with God, to make use of ⟨p. 315⟩any privilege thou hast in Christ, thy chief business is to intend this faith & love, at such a time to draw thee nearer, to make the union perfect.
You know love is an uniting affection, therefore this is the definition of it▪ It is a desire of union with that it loves. Now when thou comest to receive the Sacrament, or to pray, or put up any special request, when thou comest to have to do with God, to make use of ⟨p. 315⟩any priviledge thou hast in Christ, thy chiefe busines is to intend this faith & love, at such a time to draw thee neerer, to make the union perfect.
You will say, how is this increased and how is it intended?1
- 1Quest.
1I answer; Two ways in the Sacrament, one way is the very repetition, the very renewing the covenant, the very doing it over again, the resolution of taking him, (for there is a mutual covenant, you know, between Christ and us,) it is confirmed to us in the Sacrament, he confirms his, and we confirm ours, as the friendship between Jonathan & David was increased by the renewing of the covenant, or else why was it repeated? The very repetition of the act intends the habit, the habit is increased by the repetition of the act, though it were no more; so the renewing of the covenant exerciseth thy faith, it sets a work thy faith and thy love, when thou comest to receive the Sacrament, the very intention is increased but this is not all. There is another thing in the Sacrament that much increaseth it, and that is a thing I would have you chiefly to take notice of; That is the very Sacrament it self, the elements of bread and wine delivered to thee, with the very words of the minister, Take and eat, this is my body,