A09981:117
A lifeless lifeA liveles life
A lifeless life: or, Mans spiritual death in sin Wherein is both learnedly and profitably handled these four doctrines the spiritual death in sin. The doctrine of humiliation. Mercy to be found in Christ. Continuance in sin, dangerous. Being the substance of several sermons upon Ephes. 2. 1,2,3. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins, &c. Whereunto is annexed a profitable sermon at Lincolns Inn, on Gen. XXII. XIV. Delivered by that late faithful preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, master of Emanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns-Inn.A liveles life: or, Mans spirituall death in sinne Wherein is both learnedly and profitably handled these foure doctrines the spirituall death in sinne. The doctrine of humiliation. Mercy to be found in Christ. Continuance in sinne, dangerous. Being the substance of severall sermons upon Ephes. 2. 1,2,3. And you hath he quickned, who were dead in trespasses and sins, &c. Whereunto is annexed a profitable sermon at Lincolnes Inne, on Gen. XXII. XIV. Delivered by that late faithful preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty, master of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes-Inne.
London: printed by I. Beale for Andrew Crooke, 1633
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.
That whosoever would be translated from death to life, must first apprehend himself to be a child of wrath: 1that is, he must see the face of God, as of an angry Judge, so far forth as it may drive him to Christ. So that a man cannot be saved until he hath not only a touch or two, but a true sense of sin, a deep apprehension of his sins, of death, and of damnation; for only to such are all the promises made, Christ is only sent to bind up the broken hearted: Christ came to call all that were heavy laden, and those only, those he will ease: Peace must be preached to none but those that moume in Zion. Therefore the Apostle saith, Gal. 4. 21. Tell me, ye that are under the Law, do ye not desire to hear the Law? Yea, the Law is said to be a Schoolmaster to drive men to Christ: that is, first there must be the Law before Christ can be had; for else, although we should Preach the Gospel, it would ⟨p. 45⟩be contemned: therefore Christ in his time gained only the poor; The poor receive the Gospel: that is, the poor in spirit. God will have his jewels of life and salvation to be esteemed, which we will never do until we see our misery, how that we are in the estate of death. As the deliverance out of Egypt would never have been so sweet, had they not been in extreme slavery and bondage first. God deals with us, as Princes do with their malefactors; first they bring their necks to the block, and then give them a pardon, for then they apprehending death, the pardon is the sweeter and more welcome and acceptable to them. Indeed if the question were made, what God could do in his absolute power; I know that God might convert us and not humble us if he would; he might say as he did in the Creation, Let it be, and it must be: he might come in a still voice only, without sending before a voice rending the rocks: he might use lightning and no thunder, but we speak of his ordinary course, wherein he will not; for none are saved but such as have not only a sight, but also a deep apprehension of their sins.
That whosoever would be translated from death to life, must first apprehend himselfe to bee a child of wrath: 1that is, he must see the face of God, as of an angry Iudge, so farre forth as it may drive him to Christ. So that a man cannot be saved untill hee hath not onely a touch or two, but a true sense of sinne, a deepe apprehension of his sinnes, of death, and of damnation; for onely to such are all the promises made, Christ is onely sent to binde up the broken hearted: Christ came to call all that were heavie laden, and those onely, those he will ease: Peace must be preached to none but those that moume in Sion. Therefore the Apostle saith,