A09970:318
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.
Therefore I will set down two conclusions to clear this to you, what use there may be made of rewards and threatenings.
Therefore I will set downe two conclusions to cleare this to you, what use there may be made of rewards and threatnings.
1 Conclusion, the propounding of, and the respect 1unto rewards and punishments, is a good beginning to draw us on, to seek the Lords face: they are a good introduction. A man that hath not as yet seen Gods face, the fear of hell may cause him to reflect on his own heart and ways, and to be sensible of the evil of them: and so the happiness of heaven may draw him on: but all this while he 2is but in beginning. A spouse that is considering with her self, whether she should marry such an husband or no, beginneth to consider at first, what she shall be without him, and what she shall have with him; she considers him perhaps as one that will pay all her debts, and make her honourable &c. and yet it may be, yet she considers not the man all this while, and yet these considerations are good preparatives to draw her on, to give entertainment to him, but after converse and acquaintance with the person, she likes the person himself so well, that she is content to have him; though she should have nothing with him; and so she gives her full and free consent to him, and the match comes to be made up between them out of true and sincere free love and liking: So it is here, men begin at first to consider ⟨p. 140⟩their own misery most, and that if they should apply themselves to other things as remedies, they should be still to seek, for there is a vanity in all things; and if to themselves, that they cannot help themselves in trouble: therefore they judge they must go to the mighty GOD, who is able to do more than all, to rid them out of misery: and they consider, that going to him they shall have heaven besides: and yet all this while they consider not the LORDS person: yet this consideration makes way, that GOD and we may meet and speak together; it brings our hearts to give way, that the LORD may come to us (that I may so speak, for before we are not to be spoken with) it causeth us to attend to him, to look upon him, to converse with him, to admit him as a suitor, and to be acquainted with him, and whilst we are thus conversing with him, GOD reveals himself; and then being come to the knowledge of him in himself by that his special light spoken of afore, we love him for himself; then we are willing to seek his presence, to seek him for our husband, though all other things were removed from him. And now the match is made, and not till now;