A09997:281
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…
Remains of that reverend and learned divine, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, master of Emanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns-Inn Containing three excellent treatises, namely, Judas's repentance. The saints spiritual strength. Pauls conversion.Remaines of that reverend and learned divine, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majesty, master of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes-Inne Containing three excellent treatises, namely, Iudas's repentance. The saints spirituall strength. Pauls conversion.
London: printed by John Beale for Andrew Crooke, 1634
THE SAINTS SPIRITUAL STRENGTH.THE SAINTS SPIRITVALL STRENGTH.
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.
1. Consider the excellency of the inward man that 1it will fit you for great employments; as for example, it will make you to see God in his holiness and to converse with God, & to have such a holy familiarity with Him, as will joy the soul: this will bring ⟨p. 77⟩you so acquainted with God, that you will be esteemed of him as one of his familiars: therefore this should persuade you to strengthen the inward man.
1. Cōsider the excellency of the inward man that 1it wil fit you for great imploymērs; as for example, it will make you to see God in his holinesse and to converse with God, & to have such a holy familiarity with Him, as will joy the soule: this will bring ⟨p. 77⟩you so acquainted with God, that you wil be esteemed of him as one of his familiars: therefore this shold perswade you to strengthen the inward man.
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Secondly consider, that you are to be made like 1unto the Image of God, if you will be saved; but this cannot be, except you strengthen the Inward man, and therefore the Apostle saith, 1 Pet. 1. As he that hath called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation: that is, seeing you are called unto such a high place, as to be the sons of God by grace, what a base thing is it for you to stoop unto base things? what a base thing were it that an Eagle should stoop at flies? And although it is unseemly in that creature, yet men do the like, and are not ashamed: men will stoop to the world, and will be any mans vassal, and be any thing what any would have them to be, if it may but enlarge their outward estate. But beloved there is a great loss and baseness in it: for what is Gold, or honour, or pleasure to Christ, grace, and holiness? In every thing wherein there is loss, it grieves and pains us: we grieve when we see Wheat given unto Hogs, which would be mans meat: we grieve when we set up a fair building, on which we have bestowed much cost and labour, and then to have Iim, and Chim to dwell therein, and not our selves: And if we be subject to grieve for these things, then how much more have we cause to grieve, when we see men give themselves unto their lusts, that is, they give their souls to be a harbour for their lusts, which ought to be a Temple