A09981:28
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.
There is a great difference between knowing Spiritual things,1 and knowing them after a right manner; a carnal man knoweth them, but not in a right manner, not in a spiritual manner. And hence is that of the Apostle, Tit. 1. 16. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate: The word which there is translated reprobate, is [Greek or Hebrew]; signifying, unable to judge. Indeed in the general they may understand and like the things that are of God, but come to particular circumstances, that crosseth them; they, as a Divine says of them, love veritatem lucentem, non redarguentem; they wholly dislike particulars, because they bring them to hic et nunc, to particulars. In the abstract they love holiness, but not as it is applied to particulars, as it convinces them of their particular sins. Hence it is that godly men are most hated of them that come nearest to them in show, because they bring light home to them, and discover their acerrima proximorumodiv, their inward and bosom hatred of their neighbours: It is as much as if one should bring a Torch to one that is a doing some unlawful thing, some deed of darkness, he would wish him further off: their lives shine as lights, and therefore giving good examples by a shining and godly conversation, which is contrary to the life of the ungodly and hypocritical ones, they cannot choose but hate them: and as all wicked ⟨p. 9⟩men hate them, so especially those that are nighest unto them in show; because that their life doth not only shine unto them, and lay open their vileness, but scorch them also; and therefore they being occupied about the works of darkness, wish them as far off as they can: So that hence we see, with an approving judgement, not any save those which are quickened, can understand spiritual things.
There is a great difference betweene knowing Spirituall things,1 and knowing them after a right manner; a carnall man knoweth them, but not in a right manner, not in a spirituall manner. And hence is that of the Apostle, Tit. 1. 16