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 means to get the spirit is to believe, ¹and the best means to get faith is to be conscionable and constant in hearing the Word preached; the preaching of the Word, is a means to get the spirit, and therefore the Apostle saith, received you the Spirit by the works of the Law, or else by faith preached? Gal. 3. You may know whether ²you have the spirit or no by this, examine whether you have gotten faith by the preaching of the Word, our Saviour saith, that the tree is known by ⟨p. 174⟩³his fruit: the branch cannot bear fruit, except it receive virtue and strength from the root; so if we get not faith in Christ, and be joined with him, we shall never get the spirit: therefore if you would get the spirit, you must get faith: for faith is the knitting and drawing grace, it will draw the spirit into the soul, and it will knit him fast unto the soul, that he can never depart away from it: faith will recover the Spirit if it seem to want his power of working in the soul, it will return him if he seem to depart away, it will enlarge the heart if the spirit be scanted in it, it will widen the narrow bottle of your hearts; and you know what Christ said unto the woman in the Gospel, So be it unto thee according unto thy faith; therefore if you would get the spirit, you must get faith in your hearts, if you would get a large measure of the spirit, then get a large measure of faith: for what is the reason that men thrive not in the spirit, but because they thrive not in faith.

The second means to get the spirit is to beleeve, ¹and the best meanes to get faith is to be conscionable and constant in hearing the Word preached; the preaching of the Word, is a meanes to get the spirit, and therefore the Apostle saith, received you the Spirit by the workes of the Law, or else by faith preached? Gal. 3. You may know whether