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…

If one should tell a man that such or such a benefit or legacy is befallen him, that would raise him unto great honour, though before he lived but in a mean condition, now if this man did but believe it, then surely he would rejoice. Truly so, if you did but believe that Christ, and grace, and salvation were so excellent, and that holiness and the strengthening of the inward man, would bring you unto so happy a condition and estate as to be the heirs of heaven, you would rejoice in Christ and grace only. Again, if you did believe that the Word of God is true, and that God is a just God: if the drunkard did but believe that drunkards shall be damned; or if the Adulterer did but believe that no adulterer should inherit the Kingdom of God & Christ; or if the profane person and the gamester, did but believe that they must give account for all their mis-spent time and idle words, and vain communication, they would not sport themselves in their sins as they do. Again, if men did but believe that God calls, whom and when he lists, and that many are called, but few are chosen, that is, here is a Church full, but it may be but a few of you shall be saved; I say, if men did but believe this, they would not surely defer their repentance, they would not put off the motions of the Spirit, but they would strike whilst the iron is hot, and grind whilst the wind blows, but men will not believe, and therefore ⟨p. 91⟩it is that they go on in sin as they do: It is not so for earthly things, men are easily brought to believe any promise of them: as for example, if one should come and tell a man of a commodity, which if he would but buy and lay by him, it would in a short time yield a hundred for one; oh how ready will men be, to buy such a commodity with the wise Merchant, Mat. 8. 44. They would sell all that ever they had to buy this: oh that men would be but thus wise for their souls: beloved I tell you this day of a commodity, the best, the richest, the profitablest commodity that ever was bought, even Christ and grace, and salvation; which if you will but lay out your stock of grace to buy him, you shall have him, that is, if you have but a desire to receive Christ, and lay him up in your hearts, I tell you it will yield you a hundred for one. Nay, Christ the commodity himself saith, in Mark 10.

If one should tell a man that such or such a benefit or legacie is befalne him, that would raise him unto great honour, though before hee lived but in a meane condition, now if this man did but beleeve it, then surely he would rejoyce. Truly so, if you did but beleeve that Christ, and grace, and salvation were so excellent, and that holinesse and the strengthning of the inward man, would bring you unto so happy a condition and estate as to be the heires of heaven, you would rejoyce in Christ and grace only. Againe, if you did beleeve that the Word of God is true, and that God is a just God: if the drunkard did but beleeve that drunkards shall be damned; or if the Adulterer did but beleeve that no adulterer should inherit the Kingdome of God & Christ; or if the prophane person and the gamester, did but beleeve that they must give account for all their mis-spent time and idle words, and vaine communication, they would not sport themselves in their sinnes as they doe. Againe, if men did but beleeve that God calles, whom and when he lists, and that many are called, but few are chosen, that is, here is a Church full, but it may be but a few of you shall be saved; I say, if men did but beleeve this, they would not surely deferre their repentance, they would not put off the motions of the Spirit, but they would strik whilest the iron is hot, and grinde whilest the wind blowes, but men will not beleeve, and therefore