A09984:117
Mount Ebal, or A heavenly treatise of divine love Showing the equity and necessity…Mount Ebal, or A heavenly treatise of divine love Shewing the equity and necessity…
Mount Ebal, or A heavenly treatise of divine love Showing the equity and necessity of his being accursed that loves not the Lord Jesus Christ. Together with the motives means marks of our love towards him. By that late faithful and worthy divine, John Preston, Doctor in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns Inn.Mount Ebal, or A heavenly treatise of divine love Shewing the equity and necessity of his being accursed that loves not the Lord Iesus Christ. Together with the motives meanes markes of our love towards him. By that late faithfull and worthy divine, John Preston, Doctor in Divinitie, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majestie, master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed by Marmaduke for John Stafford, 1638London: printed by Marmaduke for Iohn Stafford, 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.
Secondly, by familiarity with him.
First, I say, by prevailing with God; so did Jacob, and the woman of Canaan, for considering that he hath condescended to their request; that he hath granted their suite, and heard their petition, and that in such a matter, as they are never able to make him any part of amends; as the ⟨p. 29⟩forgiveness of their sins; why, then they think that to love him, is one of the least things they can do for him, so Mary Magdalen loved much, because much was forgiven her.
First, I say, by prevailing with God; so did Iaacob, and the woman of Canaan, for considering that he hath condescended to their request; that he hath granted their suite, and heard their petition, and that in such a matter, as they are never able to make him any part of amends; as the ⟨p. 29⟩forgivenesse of their sinnes; why, then they thinke that to love him, is one of the least things they can doe for him, so Mary Magdalen loved much, because much was forgiven her.
Secondly, by familiarity with him, we have a saying, that nimium familiaritatis contemptum parit, that too much familiarity breeds contempt; and however amongst some men it may sometimes fall out so, yet its seldom seen amongst those that are intimate friends indeed; or say it should, yet I say, it never so comes to pass betwixt God and the faithful soul; but by how much the more familiar and frequent they are together, by so much the more fervent and indissoluble is their love: and this is most certain, that a man that is a stranger may with thee well, but cannot truly love thee, till he be acquainted with thee; so neither canst thou love the Lord as thou shouldst, so long as you are strangers one to another; and what brings us and the Lord better acquainted together, then prayer? wherein (as it were) thou talkest familiarly with God; even as a man talketh with his friend face to face: this is the first means.