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The golden sceptre held forth to the humble With the Churches dignityThe golden scepter held forth to the humble VVith the Churches dignitie
The golden sceptre held forth to the humble With the Churches dignity by her marriage. And the Churches duty in her carriage. In three treatises. The former delivered in sundry sermons in Cambridge, for the weekly fasts, 1625. The two latter in Lincolns Inn. By the late learned and reverend divine, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to His Majesty, Mr. of Emanuel College in Cambridge, and sometime preacher at Lincolns Inn.The golden scepter held forth to the humble VVith the Churches dignitie by her marriage. And the Churches dutie in her carriage. In three treatises. The former delivered in sundry sermons in Cambridge, for the weekely fasts, 1625. The two latter in Lincolnes Inne. By the late learned and reverend divine, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to His Maiesty, Mr. of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and somtime preacher at Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed by R. Badger for N. Bourne, 1638
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.
That which is said of Ministers, fullones animarum, fullers of mens souls, that is every man now to be himself, to wash out the stains of his heart, and to make his soul whiter, as it is, Dan. 11. and that will move GOD either not to bring afflictions, 1or to remove them: and therefore cleanse your hearts from all pollution of flesh and spirit, and know that to get stains of a deep dye out will cost a great deal of pains, you must scour till your souls ache again, and though it cause the skin to come off, and if you do the work your selves thus, and plough your own hearts, GOD shall not need to do it by afflictions; therefore do it, and give not over till you have done it, and have brought your hearts to be throughly humbled for them, for that is a great means to do it. What else is the meaning of that in James 4. Cleanse your hearts ye sinners, &c. but how should we do it, would some say? afflict 2your selves and mourn, and let your laughter be turned into mourning: be content to sit alone, get out of ⟨p. 41⟩company, and not to take your former liberties, and mourn and humble your selves, and do it constantly: for it is not bowing down the head for a day, which God regards; but let sorrow abide in your hearts; It is continuance that God regards: do it, and do it to purpose, for the want of this, is the reason of the coldness and remissness in our profession; namely, that we are not throughly and constantly humbled, it is the ground of every grace and the growth of it: What seed is sown in a heart broken in pieces, thrives and prospers, but all instructions falling upon an heart not broken will bring forth no fruit. If you were humbled, we should find wonderful fruit of our Ministry. Do this therefore but one day, and you will be the fitter for it the next: Sorrow should be as a spring that runs a long constantly from day to day. The sorrows of many are but as land-floods; and take heed that the continuance of this duty from week to week, make you not slacken your course herein, suffer not your hands to faint. When these duties are new, you are apt to do much; but when a while continued, to be perfunctory in them. And let not any man complain that he loseth a days work; for is there any work so necessary, as the salvation of the soul?