A09999:204
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.
The first is, That, if we do use means, we use those that are right; for, if you trust God, and 1depend upon him, you will not step out to any inordinate means, nor use lawful means in an inordinate manner: If you do so, it is an argument your prayers are of no value in your own esteem, you do not rest on God; for, if you did, you would not use other means, then he hath appointed.
The first is, That, if wee doe vse meanes, wee vse those that are right; for, if you trust God, and 1depend vpon him, you will not step out to anie inordinate meanes, nor vse lawfull meanes in an inordinate manner: If you doe so, it is an argument your praiers are of no value in your owne esteeme, you doe not rest on God; for, if you did, you would not vse other meanes, then hee hath appointed.
- 11 Caution.
Secondly, though you use the means, and 1pray both, yet you must so use the means, that your confidence be in your prayers: for it is one thing to use the means, and it is another thing to have confidence in them. And therefore we say to you in this case, that you must do as he 2that useth the light of the Sun; he so useth the light, that he hath an eye upon the Sun from whom that light co•nes; for, he knows, that if the Sun were set, the light would be gone. Or as he that takes water in a Cistern, or River, he 3so takes it, as that he hath an eye to the fountain, he knows if the fountain were stopped, the River would be quickly dried up: So you should think with your selves, if I use any means, any creature, any instrument to bring things to pass, mine eye must be upon God: for all the help that we have from the creature, it is but as a beam to the help that comes from God himself. And therefore you must do, in this case, as Physicians are wont to do, they put many