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…

The second difference is in the beginning and ending of that strength: it hath another Alpha ¹and Omega: for the strength of the spiritual man is wrought by the Spirit and Word of God; as thus, the principles of religion being taught him out of Gods Word, hence there is a spiritual strength conveyed into the soul, for I say, no man can receive the spirit of this spiritual strength, but by the Gospel, therefore consider what the goodness ⟨p. 84⟩is that you have, and how you came by it, whether it came by the Gospel or no, if it did you shall know it by these particulars. First, examine whether ever you were humbled: that is, ²examine whether by the preaching of the law, you have had such a sight of sin, that hath broken your hearts; if thus in the first place you came by it, it is a sign that it is the true strength, for this is the first work of the Spirit, when it comes to change the heart of a Christian, and to make him a new Creature; First, throughly to humble him; Secondly, examine whether there hath followed a comfortable assurance of Gods love in ³Christ, which hath not only wrought Joy and comfort against the former fear, but also a longing desire after Christ, and holiness, therefore if the holiness that is in you be throughly wrought, it doth proceed from the Spirit, for this orderly proceeding of the Spirit doth make it manifest, but as for the natural strength, it hath not such a beginning, it is not wholly wrought by the Word, it may be he hath been a little humbled and comforted by the Word, but it is not throughly and soundly wrought by the same Word: but is a mere habitual strength of nature picked out of observations and examples. Again as the spiritual strength hath a different beginning, so it hath a different end: the end of them are as far (if not further) differing as their beginnings: for as the holiness that is in a Holy Man, ariseth from a higher Well-head, so it leads a man to a more nobler ⟨p. 85⟩end then the natural strength: for the end of the spiritual mans strength is Gods glory, that he may yield better obedience unto God, that he may keep truth with him and keep in with him that he may have more familiarity with him and more confidence and boldness in prayer; in a word, that he may be fit for every good work: