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, in the abundance of outward things there is no true contentedness: Neither in the want of them, where the strength of the inward man is, is there cause of dejectedness. This we shall see in Adam and Paul: Adam though he was lord of all things, and had the rule of all the creatures yet when he was weak in the inward man, what joy had he, nay what fear had he not, when he hid himself in the Garden? Again, look upon Paul in the want of these outward things, he is not dejected at all, as in Acts 16. 25. it is said, that when Paul and Silas were in prison in the stocks, the prison rung ¹for joy: now what was the reason of it, but this because they were strong in the inward man? And therefore you see that all true joy is that which comes from grace within, and when you rejoice in that, your rejoicing is good, you stand then upon a good bottom! Alas, you think to have contentment in your riches, but you will be fooled by them: they will deceive you, if you build upon them you will build without a foundation, and ⟨p. 99⟩go upon another mans legs: now were it not far better for you to get legs of your own, and build upon a sure foundation? and this you shall do if you will strengthen the inward man. Again consider, that if you do not strengthen the inward man, you will have wicked thoughts in your hearts and evil actions in your hands; were it not better to be strong in the inward man and to have holiness, and grace in the heart? Let this therefore move you to strengthen the inward man, because your comfort lies most in the inward man: Thus much for the first motive.

Againe, in the abundance of outward things there is no true contentednesse: Neither in the want of them, where the strength of the inward man is, is there cause of dejectednesse. This we shall see in Adam and Paul: Adam though hee was lord of all things, and had the rule of all the creatures yet when hee was weake in the inward man, what joy had hee, nay what feare had he not, when he hid himselfe in the Garden? Againe, looke upon Paul in the want of these outward things, he is not dejected at all, as in Acts 16. 25. it is said, that when Paul and Silas were in prison in the stockes, the prison rung