A10024:174
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 second Motive to move us to mortify these earthly members, is, because one earthly member, or the reigning of one sin in us, ties us fast from God, and bi•des us fast to the devil: now what matters it whether a man be tied with one chain, or twenty chains if he be tied fast; so what matters it whether he be tied with one sin, or many sins, if one keeps him from God: For as one grace, truly wrought by the Spirit, makes a man righteous; so one raging sin makes a man unrighteous. Men think that they may 1retain some sin, and yet be righteous; but I say, if thy heart be set upon any earthly thing, if it be but an immoderate care for these earthly things, or if it be but fear of such or such a man, which may seem to be but a small thing, that ties thee from God; I say, if you look unto such a man, if a matter of Conscience come before thee, and thou dare not do justice for fear of him, but will in this case rather break with God, it is a sign that there is no true grace in thee, thou art as yet earthly minded: but if thou be heavenly minded, thou wilt set thy resolution thus; This thing I know to be just and right, it is a matter of Conscience, though all the men in the world should be angry with me, yet I will do it. And therefore our Saviour saith, Except he deny himself, he cannot be my Disciple, Luk. 9. 23. that is, if he cast off all self-love of these outward things, so as he will not set his heart ⟨p. 73⟩2immoderately upon them. But it is now far otherwise with men, they will do as other men do; like the Planets, they will turn every way; and therefore it is impossible but Satan should catch these men, because they love to play with his bait: deceive not thy self, if thou forsake some, and do not forsake all, thou art as yet not heavenly minded: For a man may not be altogether covetous, and yet not renewed; he may not gripe so fast after the world as another, and yet not be depending upon God, such an one is but an earthly minded man: so a man may be religious a while, and he may deny himself either some sin, or else the company of wicked men, and yet when he comes but unto this, that he must deny himself in all his pleasures, here he stands at a stay, Gods grace and salvation and he parts, he will not buy it at so dear a rate as to lose his pleasure in these outward things.