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 use of this should teach us not to delude ¹our selves in the matter of afflictions; in afflictions we are ready to conclude, because our afflictions ⟨p. 270⟩are greater then others, that therefore we are greater sinners; but here you see the contrary, the greatest sinners are not always outwardly the greatest afflicted, for God uses a great deal of difference in afflictions, some he afflicts young, he takes them when they are green; others he lets them go a long on the score, till they be old, yet he will meet with all at last, either sooner, or latter; therefore think not that thou art a greater sinner, or that thy sins are greater then other mens are, or that God loves thee less, because of thy outward afflictions: remember what the Lord said unto the Jews. Luk. 13. 2. 3. Think not, saith he, that the Galileans on whom the Tower of ²Siloam fell, were greater sinners then you, or others sinners: think not because judgement was in that manner inflicted upon them, that they were greater sinners: or that their sins were greater, and did exceed others: but except you repent, ye shall all likewise perish; I will meet with you, and you shall know that your sins are as great as theirs was; and so look upon every sin that God hath punished, presently, and the sin is as great still, as ever it was: as for example the sin of lying. Acts 5. Ananias and Sapphira they lied, and you see what a judgement was inflicted upon them, because ³they had lied to the holy Ghost: even against that light which the holy Ghost had revealed unto them, and yet you must know that a lye is not the sin of the holy Ghost; for any regenerate man, that is in the covenant, may through ⟨p. 271⟩infirmity speak an untruth, and yet not sin the sin against the holy Ghost; but I say, the sin of lying is now as great as ever it was, and he that inflicted that judgement upon them, may inflict the like upon thee: yet you must know that this sin is not greater then other sins; but because men might take heed of this sin for the time to come, he made them examples. Again in