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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.
The difference is in the willingness to perform 1what is good, and to abstain from evil. To will is present with me, says the Apostle in that seventh Chapter: another act of provokements of conscience, may do what is good; but to will it, and to will it heartily with all the bent of the soul and the sway of it; he is not able to say he doth so, 1 Tim. 21. 9. The Law is not given to a righteous man, that is, he hath a Law of grace in him, that puts ⟨p. 212⟩him on to good without this law; as if he had said this law without might (as it were) be spared to this man, he being a law to himself, but it is given to the unrighteous, that is, he would do nothing without this, he hath not in himself a strong inclination to what is good, and averseness to evil, as the other hath, Rom. 7. 15. I hate the evil that I do; he hates the evil which the Law forbids, and longs after 3what the Law commands. The Law is put upon the wicked, as a restrainer to keep him in, he looks upon the Commandments, as chains and shackles; but a regenerate man looks on them, as upon girdles and garters, which gird up his loins and expedite his course the better. The Law confines a regenerate man to live in that element, where he would live; as if one should be confined to Paradise, where he would be, though there were no such law. But another man is confined by it to the place where he would not be; and to actions which he would not do; and therefore as S•ime•, when he was confined, he leapt over the hedge, comes over the pale, after profit and pleasure, and dies for it; the Law given to him he reckoneth as a Prison; therefore examine whether there be in thee such a constant inclination to walk in the ways of godliness, so as you could even be a law to your selves, if you are left to what the Lord hath wrought in you.