A10024:39
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.
We call Mortification a turning of the heart; the 1heart by nature is backward from God; that is, it ⟨p. 6⟩minds and affects nothing but that which is contrary to God, it is wholly disposed to earthly things; now Mortification alters and changes the heart, turning it from earthly to heavenly things; even as a river that is stopped in its usual course is now turned another way; so Mortification stops the passage of sin in the soul, turning the faculties, the stream of the soul, another way: the soul was earthly disposed, the mind, the will, and affections were wholly carried after earthly things, but now there is a new disposition wrought in the soul, the mind and affections are wholly set upon earthly things; before he was for the world how he might satisfy his lusts, but now his heart is for grace, justification, remission of sins, and reconciliation. Here then, seeing Mortification is a slaying of sin, and that many do deceive themselves in the matter of Mortification, who think that sin is mortified when it is not; and contrariwise, others think they have not mortified sin, that is, they have not given a deadly wound unto sin, because they still feel rebellious lusts in their hearts; therefore for the better explaining of this point of Mortification I will propound two Questions: the first shall be, for the discovering of hypocrites; and the second shall be, for the comforting of weak Christians.
Wee call Mortification a turning of the heart; the 1heart by nature is backward from God; that is, it ⟨p. 6⟩minds and affects nothing but that which is contrary to God, it is wholly disposed to earthly things; now Mortification alters and changes the heart, turning it from earthly to heavenly things; even as a river that is stopt in its usuall course is now turned another way; so Mortification stops the passage of sinne in the soule, turning the faculties, the streame of the soule, another way: the soule was earthly disposed, the mind, the will, and affections were wholly carried after earthly things, but now there is a new disposition wrought in the soule, the minde and affections are wholly set upon earthly things; before he was for the world how hee might satisfie his lusts, but now his heart is for grace, justification, remission of sinnes, and reconciliation. Here then, seeing Mortification is a slaying of sinne, and that many doe deceive themselves in the matter of Mortification, who thinke that sinne is mortified when it is not; and contrariwise, others thinke they have not mortified sinne, that is, they have not given a deadly wound unto sinne, because they still feele rebellious lusts intheir hearts; therefore for the better explaining of this point of Mortification I will propound two Questions: the first shall be, for the discovering of hypocrites; and the second shall be, for the comforting of weake Christians.