A09997:337
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…
Remains of that reverend and learned divine, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, master of Emanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns-Inn Containing three excellent treatises, namely, Judas's repentance. The saints spiritual strength. Pauls conversion.Remaines of that reverend and learned divine, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majesty, master of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes-Inne Containing three excellent treatises, namely, Iudas's repentance. The saints spirituall strength. Pauls conversion.
London: printed by John Beale for Andrew Crooke, 1634
THE SAINTS SPIRITUAL STRENGTH.THE SAINTS SPIRITVALL STRENGTH.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The fourth way whereby the Spirit strengthens 1grace in the soul, is, by giving efficacy and power unto the means of growth, which is a special means for the strengthening of the inward man, for as he sets up the building, and furnisheth the rooms, and gives power unto the soul to use them, so that which makes all these effectual, is this, when he gives power and efficacy unto the means that are for the strengthening of the inward man: now you know that the Word is the only means to work new habits, and qualities in us, to call us and beget us unto Christ. And if the Spirit should not add this unto it: namely, efficacy, it would never beget us unto Christ: therefore this is the means to make all effectual, it gives a blessing unto the means of grace; the Word alone without the Spirit, is as I told you, but as a scabbard without a sword, or a sword without a hand, that will do no good though you should stand in never so much need, therefore the Apostle joins them together, Act. 20. 32. he calls it the Word of his grace, that is, the spirit must 2work grace by it, or else the Word will nothing avail you. Again, prayer is a means to strengthen the inward man, but if the Spirit be nor joined with it, it is nothing worth, and therefore the holy Ghost saith, pray in the holy Ghost, that is, if you pray not by the power of the holy ⟨p. 132⟩Ghost, you will never obtain grace or sanctification. The Spirit is unto the means of grace, as rain is unto the plants; rain makes plants to thrive and grow, so the spirit makes the inward man to grow in holiness: therefore it is the promise that God makes unto his Church in the Scripture, that he will pour water upon the dry ground. The heart that before was barren in grace and holiness, shall now spring up in holiness, and grow strong in the inward man, and this shall be when I shall pour my Spirit upon them, therefore you see how the Spirit doth strengthen grace in the soul, by building and setting up the building of grace in the soul, and then by furnishing the rooms with new habits, and qualities of grace, and then by giving power unto the soul to use those habits to good, and then by giving a blessing unto all the means of grace.