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 fourth motive, to persuade you to strengthen ¹the inward man, is, because a man is that which he is, in the inward man, a man without the inward man, is but as a scabbard without a sword, that is, worth nothing, and therefore the wise man saith, That the righteous man is more excellent then his neighbour, the excellency wherein he doth exceed him, is in the inward man: and therefore Christ in the Canticles, when he would set forth the excellency of his Spouse, he saith, That she was fairer then the daughters of men, she is fairer in regard that she is stronger in the inward man, ⟨p. 103⟩she is all glorious within, Psal. 45. 13. that is, the ²holy man doth as far exceed the natural man in beauty, as pearls exceed pebble stones, or gold brass, or silver copper. I know any man doth desire to be in some excellency, I say, it is a property in nature to seek out some excellency: then is it not the best wisdom to seek it in the best things in the inward man? Now as there is means to be rich in the outward man, so there is means to be rich in the inward man; therefore I beseech you, use the means that you may be rich in grace and holiness, Prov. 30. 29, 30. the Wise mans speech ³there, may serve to set forth the excellency of that man, that is strong in the inward man: there are 4. things, saith he, that are excellent, a Lion, a He Goat, a Grey-hound, and a King, before whom there is no standing. So he that is strong in the inward man: First, he is as a Lion, that is, he is strong in grace: Secondly, he is as a Grey hound, that is, he is swift in the performance of all holy duties: Thirdly, he is as a He Goat, profitable to God and the Church. Fourthly, he is as a King, to rule and over-rule his base affections and lusts. Every spiritual man is a King, because he bears rule in the soul, but it is not so with a wicked man, his lusts rule him: he is a slave and not a king, and therefore the Apostle saith, Let not sin reign in your bodies, to obey it in the lusts thereof. If it