A10024:152
Sins overthrow
Sins overthrow: or, A godly and learned treatise of mortification Wherein is excellently handled; first, the general doctrine of mortification: and then particularly, how to mortify fornication. Uncleanness. Evil concupiscence. Inordinate affection. and, covetousness. All being the substance of several sermons upon Colos. III. V. Mortify therefore your members, &c. Delivered by that late faithful preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, master of Emanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns-Inn.Sins overthrow: or, A godly and learned treatise of mortification Wherein is excellently handled; first, the generall doctrine of mortification: and then particularly, how to mortifie fornication. Vncleannes. Evill concupiscence. Inordinate affection. and, covetousnes. All being the substance of severall sermons upon Colos. III. V. Mortifie therefore your members, &c. Delivered by that late faithfull preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majestie, master of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes-Inne.
London: printed by I. Beale and Augustine Mathewes for Andrew Crooke, 1633
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 thing to be considered, is, That there is 1nothing in the world that less beseemeth a Christian man or woman, especially one that professeth Religion, than earthly mindedness; for this cause an unregenerate man is compared to a Swine, because all his delight is to paddle in the world, and to be wallowing in it, as in his proper place; for what would you have a Swine to do, but to delight in things that are agreeable unto his nature? But for a man that professeth Religion, to fall from his Religion unto profaneness, and to the love of the world, this is most odious unto God, this God hates with a deadly hatred, this is a despising of God, and a trampling under foot the blood of Christ: It is nothing for a profane man that hath not given his name unto Christ, to lye wallowing in the world, and to go from one sin to another; it is, as it were, but the putting off one garment 2to put on another, which is not unseemly; or the pulling of a ring off one finger to put it on to another, wherein seems no undecency; so the sins of profane men seem not to be unseemly in regard of the persons from whence they come; for there is no ⟨p. 60⟩other things, at leastwise better things, to be expected from them: but for one that hath professed Christ, after long profession to fall greedily unto the world, this is unbeseeming a Christian man; other things are contrary unto grace, but this forsaking of the world is suitable unto grace. For a covetous man that is profane, there is no contrariety in that, it is suitable unto his disposition, but for any man that hath tasted of heavenly mysteries, as the Apostle saith, Heb. 6. 6. to fall away into 3a swinish disposition, as to covetousness, or pride, he shall hardly be renewed by repentance; that is, he will hardly scrape off that blot of relapse: nay, many times the Lord meets with such by great judgements; as Solomon in his youth how did he maintain Religion, yet in his age how fearfully did he fall into idolatry? Asa being young, honours God in his youth, yet he fell away in his age, & the holy Ghost hath branded him with three fearful sins: and so Ahaziah, he fell away from God to idolatry, and in his sickness sent to witches to help him: how unanswerable were the ends of these to their beginnings; therefore take heed of Apostasy.