A10018:30
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
THE PILLAR AND GROUND Of TRUTH.THE PILLAR AND GROVND Of TRUTH.
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.
How oft have general Councils, been distracted into factions, leavened with malice, puffed up with pride, &c? and shall we say when their hearts and minds are thus corrupted, that their tongues are notwithstanding infallibly over-ruled, to pour forth nothing else but oracles? To say that at that instant there falls a spirit upon them to guide them with immediate revelation, is to approve the fanatical fancies of the Anabaptists; which they take on them to abhor; which notwithstanding if any do affirm, as some have been bold to do, they must consider, that the Prophets which were guided by such spirits, and had the truth inspired by visions, and immediate revelations, did never argue, discuss, or reason of the things they spake and wrote; but only did declare and manifest what was revealed; but in general Councils the truth is bolted out by reasonings to and fro, the conclusions many times disputed of, and strongly argued on both sides: now where the premisses are only probable, the conclusion cannot be infallible; for they are the cause of the conclusion, and there cannot be more in the effect than was formerly in the cause. This is sufficient to evince that though ⟨p. 11⟩general Councils, do not at all times defacto err (for we all acknowledge the great benefit of the four first general Councils) yet to say that de possibili they cannot, is utterly untrue.
How oft have generall Councels, beene distracted into factions, leavened with malice, puft up with pride, &c? and shall we say when their hearts and mindes are thus corrupted, that their tongues are notwithstanding infallibly ouer-ruled, to poure forth nothing else but oracles? To say that at that instant there fals a spirit upon them to guide them with immediate revelation, is to approve the fanaticall fancies of the Anabaptists; which they take on them to abhorre; which notwithstanding if anie doe affirme, as some have beene bold to doe, they must consider, that the Prophets which were guided by such spirits, and had the truth inspired by visions, and immediat revelations, did never argue, discusse, or reason of the things they spake and wrote; but only did declare and manifest what was revealed; but in generall Councels the truth is bolted out by reasonings to and fro, the conclusions many times disputed of, and strongly argued on both sides: now where the premisses are onely probable, the conclusion cannot bee infallible; for they are the cause of the conclusion, and there cannot be more in the effect than was formerly in the cause. This is sufficient to evince that though