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 motive to persuade you, is this, that this good you see in Christ is yours, if you ¹be his: now that which makes a man to love any thing that he hath property and right in, is this, because it is his own, and if you ask him wherefore he loves his wife, or his child, or his goods, he will answer, because they are mine own: so till a man make Christ his own, he will not love him above all things, but when he is once come to this, that Christ is his own, then he will prize Christ above all things, and love him above all things; (mine own) hath a great force, that is a part of my self; so when Christ is your own, when you have made Christ a part of your selves, then you will love him, and prize, and esteem of him, as you do of your selves: and you will as unwillingly part with him, as with the noblest member of your body; therefore examine your humiliation by your love: I say, not so much by the greatness of your humiliation, as by your love, the effect of it: examine your love by your prizing of Christ, and grace, and go through all the works of love, 1 Cor. 13. it is patient, it suffereth ⟨p. 249⟩²much, it envieth not, it seeks not his own: thus examine, whether you can patiently endure reproach, and shame, and disgrace for Christ; examine whether you can rather loose your right, then by getting of it, dishonour the Gospel: examine whether you do not murmur or repine at the prosperity of others, when your selves are in a meaner condition; examine whether you be gentle, meek, and easy to be entreated of your inferiors, or equals; if you can do these things, and that from this ground, because the love of God in Christ constrains you, it is a sign that you are truly humbled.

The second motive to perswade you, is this, that this good you see in Christ is yours, if you ¹be his: now that which makes a man to love any thing that he hath property and right in, is this, because it is his owne, and if you aske him wherefore he loves his wife, or his child, or his goods, hee will answer, because they are mine owne: so till a man make Christ his owne, he will not love him above all things, but when hee is once come to this, that Christ is his owne, then he will prize Christ above all things, and love him above all things; (mine owne) hath a great force, that is a part of my selfe; so when Christ is your owne, when you have made Christ a part of your selves, then you will love him, and prize, and esteeme of him, as you doe of your selves: and you will as unwillingly part with him, as with the noblest member of your body; therefore examine your humiliation by your love: I say, not so much by the greatnesse of your humiliation, as by your love, the effect of it: examine your love by your prizing of Christ, and grace, and goe through all the workes of love,