A09970:503
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.
Is it not a hard thing to keep watch and ward day and night against a spiritual enemy, to keep 1up the banks, against the Sea of lusts continually assaulting, and breaking in; to take up and to bear the daily cross without stooping, to carry the cup of prosperity without spilling, to climb the hill of good duties without fainting, to abstain from the waters of pleasure, when we are most thirsty, and they at hand, to go against the crowd without sweating, to be as an Owl among men, and to bear the shame (as it is said of Christ) who went out and suffered without the Gate, he bare the reproach; and to do all this continually? These are no easy things, and yet they must be done; men in this case are like unthrifts, who complain of poverty, and that they cannot thrive, and yet will take no pains. The sluggard will not pull his hand out of his bosom; and men are sluggards in matters of salvation. But to quicken you, consider that this is the main business you came into the world to do. And do you think that a little cast time spent upon it will be enough? Matth. 11. ⟨p. 231⟩13. It is said, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force, that is, he that would have the Kingdom of heaven must use violence to take it; violence must be offered to your appetites and unruly affections: he must keep them under, and that by violence; and again he must use violence in his prayers, and other holy duties, that is, he must wrestle and strive in them, and be fervent in them. There are some good duties to be done as it were with violence. Christ in that place shows, that when the preaching of the Gospel came, and the beauty of the Kingdom came to be opened to men, then they took it by violence. But who is so ravished now with those privileges, the hope of their calling, &c. that they should thus take it with violence, that is, spare no pains? Therefore stir up your selves, and consider what it will cost you. This concerns even those that profess the fear of the Lord. Look what anger and passion they have been subject to, they are subject to still; look what slackness they used in prayer, the same they use still; their ancient infirmities hang upon them still; they are found in the same path: the reason is, because they think a godly course an easy thing;