A09971:91
Grace to the humble· As preparations to receive the Sacrament. Preached
Grace to the humble· As preparations to receive the Sacrament. Preached by the late famous preacher John Preston, Doctor of Divinity, and chaplain in ordinary to his Mtie. Master of Immanuel College, and sometimes preacher in Lincolns-Inn.Grace to the humble· As preparations to receive the Sacrament. Preached by the late famous preacher Iohn Preston, Doctor of Divinity, and chaplen in ordinary to his Mtie. Master of Immanuel Colledge, and sometimes preacher in Lincolnes-Inne.
London: printed by Tho. Cotes for Michael Sparke Junior, 1639London: printed by Tho. Cotes for Michael Sparke Iunior, 1639
Sermon 5: GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. The fifth SERMON.Sermon 5: GRACE TO THE HVMBLE. The fifth SERMO•.
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.
Consider it comparatively and it is difficult, if we compare Religion with other things; as take other things whereto our natures are agreeable, there is a difficulty in them if they be excellent as manual arts they are hard. A man must serve apprenticeship of seven years, and labour very hard; and so in liberal sciences, to get sciences ⟨p. 97⟩is a difficult thing, there is much labour to get much wisdom in these arts, there is much trouble and grief of the flesh: Now Religion is an art above all, much more harder then all these, and much more difficult.
Consider it comparatively and it is difficult, if wee compare Religion with other things; as take other things whereto our natures are agreeable, there is a difficultie in them if they be excellent as manuall arts they are hard. A man must serve apprentiship of seaven yeares, and labour very hard; and so in liberall sciences, to get sciences ⟨p. 97⟩is a difficult thing, there is much labour to get much wisedome in these artes, there is much trouble and griefe of the flesh: Now Religion is an art above all, much more harder then all these, and much more difficult.
The variety of employments §5a Christian is occupied in, shows that the way is difficult, a Christian must be content to do every thing, and to suffer any thing, he must learn to be in low estate and high estate, to be in riches and poverty, he must learn to want and to abound, now to do all this is difficult; may be a man cares not for poverty, ⟨p. 98⟩when he hath riches, but when riches do increase he sets his mind upon them readily: Its hard for him to resist, the world coming upon him, and though he can do this let pass riches too, yet it may be in a matter of praise, he can be content to have praise, and seek it where he should not, and if not so, yet disgrace again and an ill report that is a hard thing to bear, or again it may be he can bear ill report, yet he hath some thing which he doth desire much, and he cannot leave that, some delight that is connatural to him, some lust that is dear to him, therefore to keep a mans