A09999:114
The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole duty of prayer. Delivered in…The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole dutie of prayer. Delivered in…
The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole duty of prayer. Delivered in five sermons upon I Thess. 5.17. By the late faithful and worthy minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, Master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns Inn.The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole dutie of prayer. Delivered in fiue sermons vpon I Thess. 5.17. By the late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty, Master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed by W. Jones, 1629London: printed by W. Iones, 1629
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Consider again, when thou hast sought so earnestly to God, whether it be not to bestow it upon thy lusts, as the Apostle speaks, Jam. 4. 3. when thou hast a business to be performed, it may be, thou 1art earnest with God, but hast thou not an eye to thy own glory, to thine own praise and credit in it? when thou wast earnest for health, was it not that thou mightest live more deliciously? when thou desirest wealth, and success in thine enterprises, that tend to mend thy state, is it not out of some ambition? you know, that desire is condemned, if any man will be rich: is it not a desire of greatness? would you not be somebody in your place, and set up your house and family; such things indeed God bestows upon men, but to have our desires pitched upon them; and to pray in that sense for them, is amiss; and my rule for it is in the first to Timothy, the sixth chapter, the ninth verse: If any man will 2be rich, &c. that is, when a man desireth excessively, when he desireth more then food, and raiment convenient for him; now the natural affection is degenerate into a lust: for when ⟨p. 52⟩any affection exceeds, it ceaseth to be an affection, and begins to be a lust, and therefore where it is said, If any man will be rich &c. it is said after, it is a lust.
Consider againe, when thou hast sought so earnestly to God, whether it be not to bestow it vpō thy lusts, as the Apostle speakes, Iam. 4. 3. when thou hast a businesse to be performed, it may be, thou 1art earnest vvith God, but hast thou not an eye to thy owne glorie, to thine own praise and credit in it? when thou wast earnest for health, was it not that thou mightest liue more deliciously? when thou desirest vvealth, and successe in thine enterprizes, that tend to mend thy state, is it not out of some ambition? you know, that desire is condemned, if any man will be rich: is it not a desire of greatnesse? would you not bee somebodie in your place, and set vp your house and family; such things indeed God bestowes vpon men, but to haue our desires pitched vpon them; and to pray in that sense for them, is amisse; and my rule for it is in the first to Timothy, the sixt chapter, the ninth verse: If any man will