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 use of this stands thus; If the Spirit be the only means to strengthen the inward man, then ¹it will follow that whosoever hath not the holy Ghost hath not this strength, and whatsoever strength a man may seem to have unto himself, if it proceed not from the Spirit, it is no true strength, but a false and counterfeit strength: for a man may thus argue, from the cause unto the effect: the true cause of strength must needs bring forth strong effects, and on the contrary that which is not the cause of strength, cannot bring forth the effects of strength: so I may reason, that no natural strength can bring forth the ⟨p. 133⟩strength of the inward man, because it wants the ground of all strength which is the Spirit: and therefore you may have a flash or a seeming power of strength, such as the Virgins had, Matth. 25. ²that seemed to be strong in the inward man, but it was but a feigned strength because they had not the Spirit: it is the Spirit that must give you assurance of salvation and happiness. And I have chosen this point especially in regard of the present occasion, the receiving of the Sacrament, before which you are especially to examine your selves whether you have this or no, which if you have not, then you have neither strength in the inward man, nor any right or interest unto Christ: For I may well follow the Apostles rule, that they that are Christs have the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2. 10. The Spirit searcheth the deep things of God, which he hath revealed ³unto us by his Spirit: Ephes. 1. 13. You were ⁴sealed with the Spirit of promise, Rom. 8. 11. That they should be raised by the Spirit that dwelleth in