A09965:626
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.
1My Beloved, Its true, they were not heard for the particular, but yet I dare be bold to say, that David was heard at that time, though (I say) not in the particular; for though his Child was taken away, yet you may see the Lord gave him a Child of the same woman, with much more advantage; he gave him a Child that was legitimate, which this was not: he gave him a Child that exceeded for wisdom, Solomon was the Child that he had: So that the Lord did hear him, and gave him this answer, as if he had said to him, David I have heard thee, I know that thou art exceeding importunate; thou shalt not have this, but thou shalt have another Child which shall be better. And so he saith unto Paul 2 Cor. 12. Christ reveals this unto him; Paul (saith he) though I grant thee not this particular request, in the manner that thou wouldest have me, (To take away the prick of the flesh which thou art troubled with) thou shalt be a greater gainer by it, thou hadst better have it than want it; when ⟨p. 332⟩Paul understood that it was a medicine, and not a poison as he took it to be, he was content and resolved in it; And a man resolveth not except he be a gainer. He saw that Gods power was manifest in his weakness, and he saw himself humbled by it; and when he saw that God gained glory and himself humiliation by it, he was content to be denied in it; So I say, whosoever asketh findeth, you shall never find any example but that whosoever sought to the Lord as he ought, he was certainly heard, or else he had somewhat that was better granted to him instead of it. And this is the first reason that is used here.2 The second reason is this; What man among you, if his Son ask bread, will give him a stone; or if he ask a fish, will give him a serpent? if you then that are evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them which ask him? (saith he) you be not able to persuade your selves of this truth, because you know not the Father, for he dwells in light inaccessible, you are not acquainted with him, saith our Saviour: I will help you out with an argument that you better understand; even upon earth (saith he) take but a father here, a father that is ill (but the Lord is full of goodness;