A10018:197
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.
First, in respect of a mans person, that he be clothed with all the graces of the spirit 1that there be none wanting, there must be a generality in that, and therefore in 2 Pet. 1. we see the graces are put together, Give all diligence that you join with virtue faith, with faith 2knowledge, with knowledge temperance, with temperance patience, &c. that is, as if he should say, a Christian must not be adorned with some graces of the spirit only, but he must have every one, he must be exact, he must have the whole clothing, the whole Image of God, for 3the Image of God is nothing else but the happy cluster of these graces: now put the case that any of these be wanting, then you shall see what a defect it will cause; if a man have faith, if he want virtue, that is, if his faith show not it self in works, if it be not a working virtual faith, what will his faith profit him. If he be zealous and ready to the work, if there be virtue in him, if he want knowledge to guide, and direct him, and turn him, he must needs err exceedingly; and therefore ⟨p. 92⟩he must join to virtue knowledge, if he have knowledge that he know what to do, if there do not come in the practice of other graces, if he be intemperate, it will lie as a blot upon him, there will be great inconcinnity in his carriage, if he have other virtues and want one; suppose if he be temperate, yet if he be an impatient man, this becomes not one of those upon whom Gods Name is called; it becomes a Christian to have his person adorned with every grace, because God requires so much beauty in him, in Cant. 4. 7. saith Christ to his 4Church, Thou art all fair my love, there is no spot in thee; that is, thou art adorned with all the graces of the spirit, there is not one wanting, for there is such a generality required, such is the beauty of a man in Christ, the whole frame of grace is in him: therefore Christ is said to work grace for grace, the meaning is, for every grace in himself, he hath stamped another in us; as the seal gives print for print, in the wax character for character, and as the father to