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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.
But again, I add further, there is an unskilfulness in going about this duty: many times when we are not fit, we think to make our selves fitter, by spending time in thoughts, and meditations before, which I deny not but they may be profitable, but yet this I will propound to you ⟨p. 35⟩that the best way to fit our selves to this duty, 1when we find an indisposition unto it, is, not to stay till we have prepared our selves by meditation, but to fall presently upon the duty, (I will give you the reason of it) because, though a preparation is required for the performance of eves rie spiritual duty, yet, the remote preparation is that which is intended, and meant, when we say we must prepare: for, if we speak of that which is immediate, the very doing of the duty is the first preparation to it. For example, if a man were to run a race, if he were to do any bodily 2exercise, there must be strength of body, he must be fed well, that he may have ability, but the use of the very exercise it self, the very particular act, that is of the same kind with the exercise, is the best to fit him for it▪ so in this duty of prayer, it is true, to be strong in the inward man, to have much knowledge, to have much grace, makes a man able, and fit for the duty; but, if you speak of the immediate preparation for it, I say, the best way to prepare us, is the very duty it self; as all actions, of the same kind, increase the habits, so prayer makes us fit for prayer; and that is a rule, the way to godliness is in the compass 3of godliness it self, that is, the way to grow in any grace is the exercise of that grace.
But againe, I adde further, there is an vnskilfulnesse in going about this dutie: many times when we are not fit, we thinke to make our selues fitter, by spending time in thoughts, and meditations before, which I denie not but they may be profitable, but yet this I will propound to you ⟨p. 35⟩that the best way to fit our selues to this duty,