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 sign, whereby you shall know ¹whether you judgements are rectified, is this, examine whether your passions be strong, for strong passions have weak affections unto good, when the passions of a man are strong, they weaken the understanding, they weaken the will, and the affections, as touching the truth, and therefore Paul in Acts 14. 15. when they would have made him a ⟨p. 116⟩²god, he cries out, We are men subject unto passions as you are, that is, full of weakness, as if he should say, your passion in this thing proves your weakness of judgement: therefore labour to have strong affections to good, for this strength in the affections, comes from the inward man. Again, the strength of the affections unto good, show the abiding of the Spirit in the soul, as 1 Sam. 11. 6. It is said, that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul, and he was angry: that is, his affections ³were strong for Gods glory. In Acts 4. 32. After that they were filled with the Holy Ghost ⁴they spake boldly: they had strong affections for Gods glory, and therefore the Spirit is compared unto fire and Oil: Fire, that burns and consumes, and Oil that mollifies and softens, so doth the Spirit. Therefore examine, whether you burn in the inward man: see whether you have strong affections to good; if you have, you are strong, if not, you are weak: and again, see what cheerfulness you have: examine whether your hearts are soft and tender, and pliable, then it is a sign that the Spirit is there: it is true, a strong man may have passion, but it is but now and then, it continues not, it is not always, yet so much passion as he hath, so much weakness there is in him: therefore labour to overcome your passions.

The second signe, whereby you shall know