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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. › 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.
Somewhat is now to be said, even to those 1whom before we excluded; for the end of our preaching is not to shut them for ever out. If the LORD will be merciful to our sins, if we be ⟨p. 273⟩humbled; there is an open door for those that are without, a ground, to exhort them to come in. Come, and welcome. God is exceeding merciful, and ready to forgive, and receive you. If any thing will draw men in, they are the promises of mercy; the Hue and Cry makes the Thief to fly away the faster.
Somewhat is now to bee said, even to those 1whom before wee excluded; for the end of our preaching is not to shut them for ever out. If the LORD will bee mercyfull to our sinnes, if wee be ⟨p. 273⟩humbled; there is an open dore for those that are without, a ground, to exhort them to come in. Come, and welcome. God is exceeding mercifull, and ready to forgive, and receive you. If any thing will draw men in, they are the promises of mercy; the Hue and Cry makes the Thiefe to flye away the faster.
- 1Use. 3 Exhortation to be humbled.Vse. 3 Exhortation to be humbled.
The Proclamation of pardon brings the Rebels in, and what greater motive can we use than this, that whatever your sins are or have been, never so great in themselves and aggravated with never so many circumstances, yet if you will come in and humble your selves, and turn to God, God will be merciful to you. No matter what thy sins have been: all the matter is, what thy humility is, what thy resolutions to confess and forsake thy sins are; thy have not gone beyond that price which hath been paid for them: And God will not only pardon their sins but also leave a blessing behind. If you indeed should come thus to any man whom you have offended, he would say, what are you not ashamed to come to me having wronged me thus, to look me in the face? not to ask forgiveness only, but to ask such a kindness, such a favour at my hands also? how could you have the face to do it? But the Lord, he never gives that answer, for he is not as man,