A09970:584
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.
4 Again, dost thou not desire that there were ⟨p. 266⟩no God? Couldst thou not be content to live for ever in this world, so that thou were happy here, and so there were no hell? Couldst thou not be content that there were no heaven, no GOD, no Judge at the last? If every unregenerate man would examine himself, he should find this in himself. Now if any wish that such an one were not, that he were sublatus demedio, it is a sign he hates him: for that is the property of hatred, to desire the utter removal of the things hated.
4 Againe, dost thou not desire that there were ⟨p. 266⟩no God? Couldst thou not bee content to live for ever in this world, so that thou were happy here, and so there were no hell? Couldst thou not bee content that there were no heaven, no GOD, no Iudge at the last? If every unregenerate man would examine himselfe, he should finde this in himselfe. Now if any wish that such an one were not, that he were sublatus demedio, it is a signe he hates him: for that is the property of hatred, to desire the utter removall of the things hated.
5 Again, dost thou not lie in some sin which thou knowest is a sin? Now every man that lies in a sin, a known sin, feareth GOD as a Judge. Let him be a thief, and he will fear the Judge, and whom a man thus feareth, he hateth, Quem metuunt, oderunt, he that walks in darkness hates the light, and God who is the author of that light. Dost thou therefore live in some evil way or other, wherein thou dost allow thy self? thou hast no interest in these promises: only those that claim interest in the promises, who make conscience of all their ways, dare not omit the least duty, nor perform it slightly.
5 Againe, dost thou not lie in some sin which thou knowest is a sinne? Now every man that lies in a sinne, a knowne sinne, feareth GOD as a Iudge. Let him bee a thiefe, and he will feare the Iudge, and whom a man thus feareth, hee hateth, Quem metuunt, oderunt, he that walkes in darknesse hates the light, and God who is the author of that light. Dost thou therefore live in some evill way or other, wherein thou dost allow thy selfe? thou hast no interest in these promises: onely those that claime interest in the promises, who make conscience of all their wayes, dare not omit the least duty, nor performe it slightly.