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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 this first work of humiliation is wrought 1by the Law and the curse thereof; which says in his hearing, Cursed be he that abides not in all things to do them.
And this first worke of humiliation is wrought 1by the Law and the curse thereof; which sayes in his hearing, Cursed be he that abides not in all things to doe them.
- 11 It is wrought by the Law.
By the Law I say, which is the rule of righteousness, whereof all particular rules are branches; and by the threatenings thereof, which are all branches of that great curse. The one being as the lightning to discover sin, the other like the thunder-bolt that strikes the heart with fear of Gods Judgements: the one is like the Indictment, the other as the Sentence of the Judge. I put both these together, because both go to humble a man. The Law is like the Taskmasters of Egypt, that commanded the Israelites to 1do the work, but gave them no straw; so the Law tells us, this and this is to be done, and binds us to do it, but gives us no strength, and so thereby discovers our sinfulness and unability to any good: and then as the task-masters did beat them that failed of their tale, so comes the curse and strikes them dead, that continue not in all things to do the Law; and these two put together work this Legal humiliation: 2neither by the Law is meant only those ten words spoken in Horeb, but together with the explanation ⟨p. 80⟩of them, as we find them expounded in the Prophets and the whole Scriptures: so that by the Law is meant that rectitude which the whole Scripture doth require. Now therefore when the Scriptures are laid to our hearts, the rectitude of the Scriptures is compared with the crookedness of our hearts and lives, and thereby we come to see how that the least sin is forbidden, and that the least duty must not be omitted, and that we must give an account for every idle word, and every lustful thought and motion in the heart; as S. Paul when humbled, saw lust to be sin; and then we come to see withal the curse due to the lease: This humbleth a man.