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…

[And astonished.] This is another effect of fear, or a further degree of it: he apprehends such a sight of the power of God, and of his own estate, that is, this light did so shine into his soul, that he was at a non-plus, not knowing what to do, or how to escape. Now there are three things that make an astonishment: First, if the danger ¹be sudden, for else it will not astonish, for that which is known before, will not cause astonishment. ²Secondly, if it be great, for a small evil will not astonish a man, but when a man apprehends ³a great evil present, then he is astonished at it. Thirdly, if it be inevitable: when a man is compassed about with it, that he cannot get out; there ⁴is no door to escape, but he must needs abide it, hence proceeds an astonishment: thus it was with Paul. It was sudden, a light shone; it was great for he persecuted Christ, for which he was strucken ⁵down; and it was inevitable, he saw no way to escape: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks, that is, it is in vain for thee Paul to set thy ⁶self against me and prevail, there will be no resisting without great danger: thus when he saw no way, by no shift to escape, then he was astonished. I might note many doctrines from the words, ⟨p. 182⟩but least I should be prevented in the main, I will therefore omit them, and come unto the proper point intended by the holy Ghost, which is this.

[And astonished.] This is another effect of feare, or a further degree of it: hee apprehends such a sight of the power of God, and of his owne estate, that is, this light did so shine into his soule, that hee was at a non-plus, not knowing what to doe, or how to escape. Now there are three things that make an astonishment: First, if the danger