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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 7THE GOLDEN SCEPTER. › Doctrine 7
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.
Where we see, that the first chain of our conversion is the opening of the eyes, the second chain is the opening of the heart, the third is to be converted and healed; and the two former will draw on the last: and because the Lord is resolved not to heal them, therefore their eyes must be shut up. But at conversion mens eyes are opened to see sin coming against them, even as an enemy with a sword in his hand, and to see the riches of the inheritance of the Saints, which neither the eyes of natural men have seen, nor their ears heard, nor their hearts understood. And then is a man turned from his evil ways, and not before. A man goes on in a course of sinning, as Balaam did in his way; he met an Angel with a drawn sword, but saw him not at the first: so soon as his eyes were opened, there needed no more persuasions to move him to turn: So a wicked man goes on in a way, wherein he runs upon the swords point, and he sees it not; but when his eyes are opened to see it, then he turns back, and when they are thus turning back, like Gehazi, 2 Kings 6. 15, 16, 17. who (seeing an army 1coming against him and his master Elisha) he cries out, Alas, what shall we do, if we go on? and Elisha answered, fear not: for they are more that be with us then they that be with them: and so Gehazi saw when ⟨p. 194⟩God opened his eyes: So do men when they set upon a new course, they meet with many oppositions and dangers in the way, which makes them cry, alas what shall we do? then God openeth their eyes, and they see also more with them then against them: they see the glorious privileges that they have, and the strength that they received from God: these things encourage them, that they go on resolutely, because that the latter are far greater than the former.
Where we see, that the first chaine of our conversion is the opening of the eyes, the second chaine is the opening of the heart, the third is to be converted and healed; and the two former will draw on the last: and because the Lord is resolved not to heale them, therfore their eyes must be shut up. But at conversion mens eyes are opened to see sin comming against them, even as an enemy with a sword in his hand, and to see the riches of the inheritance of the Saints, which neither the eys of natural men have seene, nor their eares heard, nor their hearts understood. And then is a man turned from his evill wayes, and not before. A man goes on in a course of sinning, as Balaam did in his way; he met an Angell with a drawne sword, but saw him not at the first: so soone as his eyes were opened, there needed no more perswasions to move him to turne: So a wicked man goes on in a way, wherein hee runnes upon the swords point, and he sees it not; but when his eyes are opened to see it, then hee turnes backe, and when they are thus turning back, like Gehazi,