A09970:94
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
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.
A digression (concerning Fasting) to the occasion.
There is a double manner of doing this duty, 1one wholly public, which should be from morning till night in public by the whole land, that all together might confess and humble themselves for the sins of it; which is more extraordinary. 2But secondly, as for these days which are kept from week to week thus, it is well ordered, that the time is so limited for these public exercises, as that there is time left for the private: for the 3business of particular humiliation goes forward better then; and these public exercises tend but to that end, and what is the means without the end be attained? that is, that every man should mourn apart: so Zach. 12. when it was a business of mourning, every 4family did it apart, and the wives apart: the wife and the husband are the nearest, and if any 5should be together, one would think they should; and yet they must be then apart: and the reason is, because nothing humbleth so much as particular ⟨p. 39⟩sins, those wound the heart, which in public are not so much confessed, but in general only; but when you are every one in private, then you may consider what your lusts, your actions have been, and the circumstances of them; then you may search your hearts and ways, look back and reflect upon your selves; and that is the main business and duties of these days. Some of you it may be, will say; I know not how to spend my time in private, when I am from the Church: but consider, hast thou not committed many sins? consider them, canst thou not speak and confess them? and say, Lord I confess I have fallen back into this again and again. But secondly when you