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…

Again as there are kinds of weakness, so there are degrees of weakness. As touching that kind of weakness that follows upon a relapse, (to speak of this first,) there are two degrees of this. First, sensible: Secondly, unsensible. First, I say, ¹sensible, and that is when the understanding is ²good, but the will and affections are desperately ³wicked: the understanding, I say, is good in regard ⟨p. 72⟩of the good it knows, whereby the weakness that is in our wills and affections becomes sensible unto us. Secondly, there is a weakness, unsensible, and that is such as cannot be felt, and ⁴this is when men change their opinions of sin, when they have thought otherwise of it then now they do: as for example; before, they thought every sin a great sin, but now little or none at all: Now as touching that weakness, which follows upon the new birth, there are two degrees likewise of this; the first is general, the second particular: The first is a general weakness, and that is when the Judgement, will, and affections are ⁵all weak. When a man is weak in all the whole parts of the soul: The second degree, is a particular weakness, and that is when a man is generally ⁶strong and yet weak in some parts; as for example, a ship may be strongly built or generally strong, and yet having a leak in it cannot be said to be strong in all parts, because it hath that leak; that is a weakness in one part of it: so the soul may be generally strong, and yet weak in some particular: therefore a man must take heed of all particular weaknesses. Now by way of opposition unto these weaknesses you may conceive of inward strength. But to come unto the reasons wherefore we should strengthen the Inward man; and they are these.

Againe as there are kinds of weakenesse, so there are degrees of weakenesse. As touching that kind of weakenesse that followes upon a relapse, (to speake of this first,) there are two degrees of this. First, sensible: Secondly, unsensible. First, I say,