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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
THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE. › Doctrine 4THE GOLDEN SCEPTER. › Doctrine 4
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.
and as he would not esteem the imputed righteousness of Christ, so nor inherent righteousness from him, whereby he should be enabled to turn from his evil ways; but when a man sees and knows what a heart he hath, how false, how full of sins, and empty of grace, and what strong lusts are there, then when he shall find the contrary graces wrought in him, he prizeth them highly, and Christ for them, because they are the precious gifts of Christ, for he knows and acknowledgeth they are the sole work of Christ, because in his nature dwelleth no good thing. And why else doth God after conversion suffer his people to fall into sin, and into variety of temptations, but that they might be more humbled still, and so know the worth of Christ herein?
and as he would not esteeme the imputed righteousnesse of Christ, so nor inherent righteousnesse from him, whereby he should be enabled to turne from his evill waies; but when a man sees and knowes what a heart he hath, how false, how full of sinnes, and empty of grace, and what strong lusts are there, then when he shall finde the contrary graces wrought in him, hee prizeth them highly, and Christ for them, because they are the pretious guifts of Christ, for he knowes and acknowledgeth they are the sole worke of Christ, because in his nature dwelleth no good thing. And why else doth God after conversion suffer his people to fall into sinne, and into variety of temptations, but that they might be more humbled still, and so know the worth of Christ herein?
It is required men should be humbled, because 1else they will not actually turn from their evil ways, nor be obedient to Christ in all things in ⟨p. 72⟩their lives. An unbroken heart is like an untamed horse, that will not endure the bridle, and be guided by it, like an untamed Heifer that will not go 2with the yoke; such a man that God may command him what he will, but he will do what he list: but when the heart is broken and humbled once, then as Saint Paul trembling said,