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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.
1 In regard of the search made for sin, an upright 1hearted man, if there be any ambiguous case, in his whole life, he is willing to be informed to the full, to refer himself to the word and good men, for the finding out what is right; when himself doubts, he would be glad to be resolved, and ⟨p. 207⟩would love him that would do it. Lord try me (saith David) if there be any way of wickedness in me, which was a sign of the uprightness of his heart. When the heart is not sound, then a man is not willing to come to try all, as John 3. 20. 21. whence this 2difference is taken, Every man that doth truth, that is, up•ight hearted, comes to the light; but he that doth evil, hates the light. The one desires his deeds might be brought to the light, but the other hates it, because he would not have his deeds known: It is spoken of the Pharisees, who took it in scorn to have their uprightness questioned by our Saviour. And this is sincerity [Greek or Hebrew], as the Apostle calls it, when a man is willing to have all his actions brought to the Sun-beams, as that word implies, that if there be any flaw in them, they may be discovered and amended; he desires not that they may be kept in dark shops like bad ware, but brought to his view and discovery: therefore the upright de lights most in the company of those that are freest from his sin, they appear most beautiful in his eyes, and he loves a ministry that speaks to that particular; every one is desirous to hear evil spoken of his enemy, that sin is his greatest enemy; therefore you could not have done David a better turn, than Abigail and Nathan did to tell him of his fault, or a worse to Amaziah and Jeroboam, then 3the Prophets did, when they reproved them; he that would have a building down, is glad of those that come with pickaxes, but if he would have it stand, he cannot endure any body that should offer to meddle with it; so the strong holds of sin being ⟨p. 208⟩