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 sixth question is this, seeing the object of godly sorrow is sin; whether there be any degrees ¹of this godly sorrow.

The sixt question is this, seeing the object of godly sorrow is sinne; whether there be any degrees ¹of this godly sorrow.

1. 16. Quest.

To this I answer, that howsoever sin is the chiefest cause of godly sorrow, yet notwithstanding ¹it admits of degrees, there are divers degrees according unto the apprehension of the thing conceived: some sorrow more, and some less according to the proportion of grace received, every one in one degree or other, but the cause in every one, is properly sin, but these degrees of sorrow proceed from a three-fold cause. First, because God will give more grace unto one, then unto another; where he doth intend to make a great building of grace, there he will lay a deep foundation of godly sorrow: and on the contrary, where he doth intend to bestow less grace, there a ⟨p. 200⟩lesser foundation will serve: as in a temporal building; no wise man will lay a great foundation to a little house, but will proportion it according to his building. Secondly, because he seems to love some above others, he expresses himself more unto some then unto others: now where God will express a large measure of love, there he will work a great measure of godly sorrow; as a father loves that child best that he beats most. Thirdly, because some have a greater measure of knowledge then others, some have received a greater measure of illumination then others: now there is nothing more forcible to make a man humble, then to be spiritually enlightened; so long as a man or woman doth not come unto the true knowledge of sin, and the excellencies that are in Christ and grace, he will never be humbled.