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, for any man to think that he may have excuse for sins because he is in ¹such or such a condition except they be sins of infirmity, he is a fool, he never knew for what end he came into the world; (for example) Is thy condition greater then others? art thou richer or more honourable, or wise, or more beautiful or strong then others are? thou hast the greater cause to serve God, and be humble, and that for these reasons.

To this I answer, for any man to thinke that hee may have excuse for sinnes because hee is in ¹such or such a condition except they bee sinnes of infirmity, hee is a foole, hee never knew for what end hee came into the world; (for example) Is thy condition greater then others? art thou richer or more honourable, or wise, or more beautifull or strong then others are? thou hast the greater cause to serve God, and bee humble, and that for these reasons.

1. 1Answ.

First, because you have more accounts to make up then others have; and again, you have more ¹wages then others have, and therefore you are more inexcusable, if you be negligent and careless: where much is given, there much shall be required: you are bound with greater bonds, and therefore ⟨p. 225⟩your forfeits are much greater if you break with God: if a Master give great wages unto his servant, it will be but a vain excuse, a false reasoning, if he should thence conclude, that therefore he may be more careless then others; nay rather he should conclude the contrary, that because my Master doth thus and thus for me, therefore I ought to be more careful and diligent then others: and if it be thus before men, how can you imagine that this will excuse you before God.