Remains of that reverend and learned divine, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in…Remaines of that reverend and learned divine, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in…

There is therefore a twofold strength: First, there is a natural strength: Secondly, there is a supernatural strength. First, I say there is a natural strength, and this is when a man is naturally ¹strong either in the parts of his body, or in the gifts of his mind: as for example a strong memory in a man, that is a natural strength; and so other qualities of the mind: so likewise when a man is strong in the parts of his body, as in his arms or legs or neck, these are natural strengths, but this is not the strength, that is here meant. Secondly, ²there is a supernatural strength, and this is twofold, the first is a supernatural strength, which is received from the evil spirit, that is, when Satan ³shall join with the spirit of a man to do evil, ⟨p. 68⟩then he adds a supernatural strength, and so makes him to do more or suffer more then otherwise by nature he is able to do: with this spirit are all the enemies of the Church strengthened withal. Paul himself before he was converted was thus strengthened: and so was he that killed the French King, he had more then a natural strength to undergo all those torments, and not to shrink at them: but this is not the strength here meant; but there is (2.) a supernatural strength, and this is that strength which comes from the ⁴sanctifying spirit whereby a Christian is able to do more then naturally he could do, and this is the strength, that is here meant in this place, and with this strength all the Saints are strengthened withal. This was the strength that Elijah, Stephen, John Baptist, and the Apostles had: this made them speak boldly in the name of Christ.

There is therefore a twofold strength: First, there is a naturall strength: Secondly, there is a supernaturall strength. First, I say there is a naturall strength, and this is when a man is naturally ¹strong either in the parts of his body, or in the gifts of his mind: as for example a strong memory in a man, that is a naturall strength; and so other qualities of the mind: so likewise when a man is strong in the parts of his body, as in his armes or legges or necke, these are naturall strengthes, but this is not the strength, that is here meant. Secondly,