A10018:173
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.
Before I come to the particular points which these words afford us, something we may gather from this particle Therefore: Therefore is a relative particle, it hath reference to that which went before, You are children of light, therefore walk exactly, not as fools but as wise: Therefore; that is, since you are the children of light, since you are those upon whom the Name of God is called, since you profess the fear of God, it behooves you to look to your selves that you walk exactly. In a table upon which a Picture is drawn, before the ⟨p. 75⟩1picture is drawn, the blemishes, and blots, and scratches upon it, are not observed: but when the picture is drawn, a little blot is observed in it: so it is with men in this case, a man before he be regenerate, before he is made a child of light, while he walks in darkness, while Gods Image is not drawn upon him, the sins that are in him are not 2much observed, because there is no great difference between his general carriage, and some particular failing: but when the Piece is drawn, that is, when Gods Image is stamped upon him, and renewed in him, then the infirmities, and sins, and failings that he falls into, every man is ready to observe them and mark them: and therefore we should in a special manner look to it, because our condition is altered, whereas before we were darkness, now we are light; whereas before we stood in the crowd, as it were among the rest of the people, now we are set upon the 3stage; every man marks what we do: nay, if we stand still and do nothing, it is observed; and if we do, and do that which is undecent, that is observed too: now when every one of our actions are observed, it behoves us to look the more what we do, to see that we walk exactly. This thing I will not press because it is common.
Before I come to the particular points which these words afford vs, something wee may gather from this particle Therefore: Therefore is a relatiue particle, it hath reference to that which went before, You are children of light, therefore walke exactly, not as fooles but as wise: Therefore; that is, since you are the children of light, since you are those vpon whom the Name of God is called, since you professe the feare of God, it behooues you to looke to your selues that you walke exactly. In a table vpon which a Picture is drawne, before the