A09970:91
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 2THE GOLDEN SCEPTER. › Doctrine 2
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.
Learn hence not to be discouraged whatsoever thy case be, whether thou hast been afflicted in 1name by reproaches, so as thou thinkest, thou shalt never get thy credit again; or in body by diseases, that thou shalt never have thy health again, or in soul by doubts, that thou art in such an estate that thou shalt never be raised again, remember the exceeding great kindness of the Lord, and know whatsoever thine afflictions be, he is able easily to scatter them: this I speak, because as men in ⟨p. 33⟩prosperity do think, it will always continue, and tomorrow will be as to day, and much more abundant; so in affliction, that it will never be otherwise. What unfaithfulness is this! are not all times in Gods hands? as David says Psalm. 31. he that alters the 2weather, he that turns the Winter into Summer: It is a storm now, and half an hour after the Sun shines; all in the weather, so such alterations is God able to make in mens estates: and comfort thy self with this, it shall lie no longer on thee, then there is need, the plaster shall not lie a jot longer than the sore is a healing. If it were sooner healed, it would fall off sooner; but then it shall fall off alone; though sorrow be in the evening, yet joy shall come in 3the morning; because the anger of God never lasteth but for a while; and the reason is given Mica 7. 8. 4for mercy pleaseth him: take him always when he is angry with his children, and there is but a short brunt of it, his constant course is otherwise, for mercy pleaseth him: now that which a man delights in he will be doing long, he can hardly be taken off from it: as if it grieved him to do otherwise: when therefore it is long I say, it is per accidens, as when thy heart is harder than ordinary; for some are more stubborn than others. Ah, but thou wilt 5say, this of mine is a great affliction, and I know not how it should be helped, unless the LORD should work miracles. It may be it is so; and indeed