A10018:143
Sermons preached before his MajestySermons preached before his Maiestie
Sermons preached before his Majesty; and upon other special occasions viz. 1 The pillar and ground of truth. 2 The new life. 3 A sensible demonstration of the Deity. 4 Exact walking. 5 Samuel's support of sorrowful sinners. 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.Sermons preached before his Maiestie; and vpon other speciall occasions viz. 1 The pillar and ground of truth. 2 The new life. 3 A sensible demonstration of the Deity. 4 Exact walking. 5 Samuels support of sorrowfull sinners. By the late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston Dr. in Diuinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty, master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed by Eliot's Court Press and R. Young for Leonard Greene of Cambridge, 1630
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 third observation is taken from those ⟨p. 71⟩effects that proceed from brute and unreasonable creatures, the Stork, the Swallow, and the Elephant, whose actions for the most part exceed their knowledge, & are beyond their strength; As for example: they aim at an end they know not, they go by a rule they understand not, they use the means that tend to such an end, and yet are ignorant of it; all which argues that they are guided by one, who both knows the journeys end to which they aim, and the way that leadeth to it. Even as when a man hath passed through a way full of many turnings, and at length comes to the right end, he will confess that some one hath ruled and guided him (through so many turnings) that knew the way: even so when we shall see these creatures do things, and that constantly, and yet know not what they do, it is an argument that they are led and guided by one that works all their works in them and for them. Whence the saying of the Schoolmen, Opus Naturae &c. the work of Nature is not the work of mere and bare Nature, but of the Author of Nature: and therefore as these actions are above their knowledge, so they are also above their ability; which you shall see in the art of the Spider, curiously spinning his web, and the providence of the Ant, providing in the Summer for Winter; in the wisdom of the Conies, that being a people not strong, yet they make their houses in the rocks. Now it is a sure rule, that wheresoever effects ⟨p. 72⟩are produced above the reach & ability of the cause, they alway import some higher Cause, whence they proceed; and therefore when we see such actions of wisdom and providence, done by the creature which have neither wisdom nor providence in them, they must needs proceed from some higher Cause that guideth them: even as you see in a fair writing, that is written by a new beginner, you will say surely it's the writing of him that guided his hand, rather than his own. If you should see a hundred arrows shot out of a thicket, and all these should hit the mark, though you see him not that shot them, you must needs say that they were shot by some skilful Archer: even so when you see the creatures that knew not the end they aim at, nor the means that conduced to that end;
The third observation is taken from those ⟨p. 71⟩