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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 secondly, withal labour to make sins present, 1though long since committed; look on them as if they were newly done: for though our sins be great, yet if we apprehend them and view at a distance, and a great way off, they move us not: which is the reason why men are not more affected ⟨p. 105⟩with the thought of death, in their health, which yet is one of the greatest evils, and so apprehended by us when we come to die: the reason is, because it is then conceived to be a far off, and so men are not moved with it. Thus it is in our apprehension of sins also: the distance makes them seem small; there is not a near conjunction and application of the object and the affection, they are not brought nigh, but men look upon sins long since past as small, whereas in truth sins long since committed are the same in themselves and in the sight of God they were when first committed; and therefore should be the same to thee. So a man that hath committed a treason twenty years ago, may be executed for it now: and therefore Josephs brethren remembered their sin as fresh, though long before committed, as if they had then committed it: their affliction revived in their consciences, and made it as present: but we usually look on sins past as none of ours. Job saith, that the LORD made him possess the sins of his youth: he possessed them, that is, looked on them as his own. What is the reason why to men in jeopardy, as in a storm at Sea and in the time of sickness their sins then appear so terrible and fearful? they apprehend them as present. Now that which God doth by affliction, let us labour to get done by meditation, and by faith to look on them as present; turn that end of the optic glass which will bring them near to thee, labour to have a true Judgement of their greatness, and that they are the same, for therein lies true humiliation, when the Judgement is rightly convinced ⟨p. 106⟩to esteem them the greatest evil, though it be not accompanied with so violent and turbulent a sorrow.
And secondly, withall labour to make sins present, 1though long since committed; looke on them as if they were newly done: for though our sinnes bee great, yet if we apprehend them and view at a distance, and a great way off, they move us not: which is the reason why men are not more affected