A10018:208
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.
so I say to every man that fails in any particular, and allows himself to lie in any particular sin that he will ⟨p. 101⟩have his liberty in, I say, hath not God said, thou shalt not do this as well as that, and if thou doest one duty to God out of love and respect to him, or if thou didst abstain from any sin because he forbids thee, doth not he forbid thee that as well as this, and he hath commanded thee this duty as well as the other, why doest thou not perform all then? A little leak will sink and drown a Ship as well as a great breach; one disease will take 1away the life as well as many; so one sin, one failing in this exactness of conversation is enough to destroy us, it is enough to put us out of a right condition in Gods sight, therefore learn to walk exactly, beware of byways, which though it may be hidden from the eyes of men, yet God knows it that sees in secret; for that is a common course: Men do as wandering stars which are carried about with the rest of the Heavens, and yet they 2creep back by a contrary way, which is their own proper motion; so it is the custom of men to do as others do for the outside, to come to Church, to abstain from gross sins, to live civilly, to deal justly with men in their common course, but they have a proper course of their own. Labour to be exact, take heed, know that God observes you, and know this, that that hath been the practice of the Saints, it is not a thing impossible to be done, we must not set upon it as upon a thing that ⟨p. 102⟩3none can reach to, look on Moses, see his manner of walking, when God commanded him to go with all that he had out of Egypt, he would not leave so much as a hoof behind him, he would do it exactly; look on Paul, he knew nothing by himself, that is, he kept a clear conscience in all things, though he were not thereby justified; look on Samuel and his walking, he calls the people to him, and saith to them, what have I done amiss? whom have I wronged? Whose ox or whose ass have I taken?
so I say to euery man that failes in any particular, and allowes himselfe to lie in any particular sinne that he will