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…

Secondly, consider the consequence, that is, look to the thing that follows the Spirit where ¹it comes: for where the Spirit comes, it works a thorough change in the soul; I call it not a bare change, but a thorough change; for as there may ⟨p. 147⟩be a glistering show of something that is like gold, and yet no gold: so there may be a cessation from sin, and a change from sin, but not truly or thoroughly, and so not at all; for what will it avail Herod, to forsake some sin, and like John ²well in some things, if he will not forsake all, and like John in the reproof of all: in like manner, what if you change your opinions of some sins, what if you esteem some sins to be sins indeed; if you have not the like opinion of all, whatsoever you think of your selves, as yet you never had the Spirit: therefore if you would know whether you have the sanctifying Spirit or no in you, then examine, whether there be a thorough change wrought in you, that is, whether you do not only esteem every sin to be sin, but also what spiritual life you find in you, I say, you shall know whether the holy Spirit be in you by this, if you find your own spirit dead in you, and Christs Spirit quick and lively in you; and this you shall know also by your affections; if you have other affections both to God and Christ, to holiness & to the Saints than you had before, it is certain you have the Spirit; for this is that which follows the Spirit, for when the sanctifying Spirit comes into the heart of a Christian, it works another kind of love in a man, then a man naturally hath; and again, it makes a man to live another kind of life then he did before, thus it was with Paul, in Galath. 2. 20. Thus I live, yet not I but Christ in me, that is, there ³is a proportion and likeness, between the life of a ⟨p. 148⟩Christian and Christ, that is, when the Spirit enters into the heart, then it begins to put off the old man, and to put on the new man; it will put off its own spirit and strength to good, and put on Christs wholly: yet mistake me not, I say not, that the substance of the soul is changed, for the soul in substance is the same as it was before: but here is the difference, when the Spirit comes, it puts new qualities and habits into it, alters and changes the disposition of it, gives it that sense which before it felt not, and that sight which before it saw not.