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 third rule; if you would have the means ¹effectual, then you must be constant in the use of the means, for what is the reason that there is so little thriving in grace, that men remain cripples in grace; but because they use means of growth, but by fits, and haltnesse, that is, they are not constant in a good course of life, they are still off and on the rule: sometimes the shot will be short, and other times they hit the mark: they come seldom unto the means, now and then they pray, and now and then they make use of the Communion of the Lord; this inconstancy joggles the faculty, and weakens the habit: and therefore it is unpossible that you should thrive in grace except you be constant: the Apostle James calls them ²unstable men, let these never think to receive strength in the inward man, till they come to more constancy in good. Therefore labour to be constant in prayer, constant in hearing, in meditation, in the Sacrament, in Conference, which if you be not, you will not grow strong in the inward man.

The third rule; if you would have the meanes ¹effectuall, then you must be constant in the use of the meanes, forwhat is the reason that there is so litle thriving in grace, that men remaine cripples in grace; but because they use meanes of growth, but by fits, and haltnesse, that is, they are not constant in a good course of life, they are still off and on the rule: sometimes the shot will bee short, and other times they hit the marke: they come seldome unto the meanes, now and then they pray, and now and then they make use of the Communion of the Lord; this inconstancy jogles the faculty, and weakens the habite: and therefore it is unpossible that you should thrive in grace except you be constant: the Apostle Iames cals them ²vnstable men, let these never thinke to receive strength in the inward man, till they come to more constancy in good. Therefore labour to be constant in prayer, constant in hearing, in meditation, in the Sacrament, in Conference, which if you bee not, you will not grow strong in the inward man.

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