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…

I answer, It is more then thou knowest, and that for this reason, because repentance is Gods gift, every ⟨p. 276⟩¹very time when it is renewed; if it be then his gift, and in his power, then it is not thine, nor in thy power to repent: in Joh. 3. 8. the wind bloweth where it listeth; and it is certain, when we have once past limits modestiae, we are in praecipitio: we cannot stay our selves till we come unto the bottom of the hill, except God stays us: David and Solomon, thought they could have gone so far, that they might have reclaimed themselves, but they were deceived; if thou cannot keep thy soul pure before thou hast committed sin, how wilt thou do to cast it out, when it is once in? every sin hardeneth the heart, and weakeneth the strength of the inward man.

I answer, It is more then thou knowst, and that for this reason, because repentance is Gods gift, every ⟨p. 276⟩¹very time when it is renewed; if it be then his gift, and in his power, then it is not thine, nor in thy power to repent: in Ioh. 3. 8. the winde bloweth where it listeth; and it is certaine, when wee have once past limites modestiae, wee are in praecipitio: wee cannot stay our selves till wee come unto the bottome of the hill, except God stayes us: David and Salomon, thought they could have gone so farre, that they might have reclaymed themselves, but they were deceived; if thou cannot keepe thy soule pure before thou hast committed sinne, how wilt thou doe to cast it out, when it is once in? every sinne hardeneth the heart, and weakeneth the strength of the inward man.

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