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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. › DoctrineTHE GOLDEN SCEPTER. › Doctrine
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.
Be careful to distinguish wisely between grace in thee, and thy self of thy self; and that will be 1a means to humble thee. As Paul in 2 Cor. 12. 11. Not I, but the grace of God in me. Put the case the LORD hath beautified us with many graces and gifts above others; thou must not exalt thy self above others; we must look upon our selves as of our selves, to be the same men still. Can the wall 2say, it hath brought forth the beams that the Sun hath cast upon it? the wall is the same: so if God hath shined upon thee, and left others in darkness, art thou the better of thy self? shall the pen boast it self, because it hath written a fair Epistle? who made it? who put ink into it, guided it? the glory ⟨p. 131⟩belongs not to the pen, but to the writer. What though God hath used thee in some great work, and not others? the praise is his, not thine: We praise not the Trumpet, but him that sounds it. Non laudamus tubam, sed tubicinem. Paul was a better Trumpet than ten thousand others, and yet he saith, I am nothing. The smoke a dusky and obscure vapour climbs up into the light, as if it were better than pure air. Many exalt themselves above their brethren, for gifts and outward things which are but the trappings, and make not the difference between man and man; as if a man were the taller, because he stands on a hill, or a man had a better body, because he had a better suit on: thou art the same man still. We are not to be proud, no not of any Graces, much less of outward things.
Be carefull to distinguish wisely betweene grace in thee, and thy selfe of thy selfe; and that will bee 1a meanes to humble thee. As Paul in 2 Cor. 12. 11. Not I, but the grace of God in mee. Put the case the LORD hath beautified us with many graces and gifts above others; thou must not exalt thy selfe above others; wee must looke upon our selves as of our selves, to bee the same men still. Can the wall