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…

To this I answer, the least measure of humiliation necessary, is that which makes a man believe ¹in Christ: viz. makes him to fly unto him, and to prize Christ above all things: as the Prodigal, he did not at the first go unto his father, but he considered of it, and when he sees no way to escape, then he saith, I will go unto my father; so a Christian that hath the least measure of humiliation and godly sorrow, it will make him to fly unto Christ; the least measure will give him such a sight of sin, and such a glimpse of glory, that he will prize it above all things, it will show him ⟨p. 201⟩that there is no way to escape hell, but by going unto Christ; that nothing will satisfy for sin, but the blood of Christ, nothing so excellent as grace and holiness is: it will tell him, that he that will be Christs Disciple, must do these two things. First, he must deny himself, he must renounce all trust and confidence in any thing for salvation without Christ: and he must deny all ability to work that which is good without the Spirit. Secondly, he must take up the cross, that is, he must suffer what God will have him, either in his name, or body, or goods; this is the last measure requisite, without which thou wilt not receive Christ; and thus much for this last question.

To this I answer, the least measure of humiliation necessary, is that which makes a man beleeve ¹in Christ: viz. makes him to flye unto him, and to prize Christ above all things: as the Prodigall, he did not at the first goe unto his father, but hee considered of it, and when hee sees no way to escape, then he saith, I will goe unto my father; so a Christian that hath the least measure of humiliation and godly sorrow, it will make him to flye unto Christ; the least measure will give him such a sight of sinne, and such a glimpse of glory, that hee will prize it above all things, it will shew him ⟨p. 201⟩that there is no way to escape hell, but by going unto Christ; that nothing will satisfie for sin, but the blood of Christ, nothing so excellent as grace and holinesse is: it will tell him, that he that will bee Christs Disciple, must doe these two things. First, he must deny himselfe, he must renounce all trust and confidence in any thing for salvation without Christ: and hee must deny all abilitie to worke that which is good without the Spirit. Secondly, he must take up the crosse, that is, he must suffer what God will have him, either in his name, or body, or goods; this is the last measure requisite, without which thou wilt not receive Christ; and thus much for this last question.