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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.
This way of idleness is usual amongst men, and misspending time is counted no sin, if a man have enough living but to maintain him. But consider how vehement the Apostle is against all such, 2 Thes. 3. from the sixth to the thirteenth, speaking of the same persons, I command you brethren in the 1Name of the LORD JESUS, that you withdraw your selves from every brother that walks disorderly, &c. he gives it not from himself, but it is a command from Christ: and besides he says, he that walks idly walks inordinately, that is, besides his rule, which is to be painful in his calling; therefore he is like a soldier out of his rank, a member out of joint; yea saith the Apostle,, let him not eat. He names a punishment in nature suitable to it; as if ⟨p. 200⟩he had said, nature hath taught you so much, it is a rule ingrafted in nature; and therefore you see drones cast out of the hive, and you see stones and all things that lie still continually, that they eat not as beasts do, this is a mother sin, it was the sin of Sodom. Solomon often toucheth upon the sluggard, and speaks against him. As there may be a way of wickedness by being idle, so by minding our earthly business too much; against such the 2Apostle speaks, Phil. 3. 19. minding earthly things: whose end is damnation; minding, that is, being so content that they mind it continually; whereas men should be so conversant in the world, and use it, as if they used it not: buy and marry, as if they married 3not; let it be a by-business, do it as if you did it not, and be so diligent in them, as that the main of our intentions be reserved for better things, as getting of grace, &c. otherwise we forget the main errand for which we came into the world, to make our calling and election sure, and intend that which we should do, but by the by. This is a fault even amongst Gods people in part, as we may see in Martha, who troubled her self about many things, but Mary left all to hear Christ preach; and Christ upon that occasion teacheth us, that he makes the better choice, that takes more time from his calling to bestow on better things. Mark the reasons which Christ useth, why Mary chose the better part. First, because this alone is needful, that one thing necessary. There are many worldly things required to make up our content.