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…

so though men oftentimes may seem to be humbled ⟨p. 251⟩by the Word, yet the truth is, they deceive themselves; the disease of their souls was never throughly healed, it may be some mercy skinned it over, and he thought he had been healed, but it breaks out again; he respects not the threatenings of the Word, but he goes unto evil company again, he will profane the Sabbath, and swear, and be drunk again; if it be thus with you, you were never truly humbled, for if you were, you would tremble at the Word: what shall we say, do you tremble at the Word, when you are no more moved at it, then the seats you sit on? we may preach the Law, and damnation, and spend our selves, and yet it will not work upon you this effect, as to humble you: but till then, never say that you are humbled, and by this therefore examine your selves.

so though men oftentimes may seeme to bee humbled ⟨p. 251⟩by the Word, yet the truth is, they deceive themselves; the disease of their soules was never throughly healed, it may be some mercy skin'd it over, and hee thought he had beene healed, but it breakes out againe; hee respects not the threatnings of the Word, but he goes unto evill company againe, he will prophane the Sabbath, and sweare, and be drunke againe; if it bee thus with you, you were never truely humbled, for if you were, you would tremble at the Word: what shall we say, doe you tremble at the Word, when you are no more mooved at it, then the seates you sit on? we may preach the Law, and damnation, and spend our selves, and yet it will not worke upon you this effect, as to humble you: but till then, never say that you are humbled, and by this therefore examine your selves.

The third Sign, whereby a man may know, ¹whether he be truly humbled or no, is this, examine how you stand affected to the Word, when it comes in the evidence of the Spirit, for as you are affected to the Word, so you are more or less humbled, if you feel a sweetness in the Word, a saving power in it, it is a sign, that you are truly humbled; and on the contrary, if the word be an unsavoury thing unto you, if you cannot love it alone for it self, it is a sign that you are not humbled: now in the word, there are two things; Meat, and Medicine.