A55748:226
The mystical match between Christ and his churchThe mysticall match between Christ and his church
The mystical match between Christ and his church by the late learned and reverend divine, John Preston ... The leading sermon to that treatise of his called The churches marriage.The mysticall match between Christ and his church by the late learned and reverend divine, John Preston ... The leading sermon to that treatise of his called The churches marriage.
London: printed for Francis Eaglesfield, 1648
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.
If you object, that there are some things which 1a man may do animi causâ; so the Apostle says, he would not for his mind sake. I answer, you must even do these things by rule. Tis true that a man may have in his choice to do a thing, or not to do a thing; for then a thing is indifferent: yet there is a rule to be looked to in these things, viz. That Christ hath given a man this liberty: so men should order their speeches by rule; not to be vain at any time, not in the least word. But you will say, this is a bondage. Answer: no, but it is for thy benefit; for the more thou walkest 2by rule, the more peace shall be upon thee. It is observable, 9. Isaiah, 7. that these two things are put together; Of the increase of his government, and of his peace there shall be no end: to this end, to show that as his government increaseth in mens hearts and is enlarged, so as a man is made more subject to him, so also peace increaseth. In those that are most subject, there is most peace: and therefore he is called the Prince of peace; for where he rules as a Prince, there is that peace which he, as a mighty Prince, is able to procure to you. And to this purpose is that copulation of being a Head and a Saviour in the Text, as I have observed before: if any man goeth from out of his government, he shall find thorns, unquietness, and restlessness of spirit: if they walk by the rule, they shall have perfect peace, perfect mercies: if you walk unevenly with ⟨p. 93⟩him, he will walk unevenly with you.
If you object, that there are some things which 1a man may doe animi causâ; so the Apostle sayes, he would not for his mind sake. I answer, you must even doe these things by rule. Tis true that a man may have in his choice to doe a thing, or not to doe a thing; for then a thing is indifferent: yet there is a rule to be lookt to in these things, viz. That Christ hath given a man this liberty: so men should order their speeches by rule; not to be vaine at any time, not in the least word. But you will say, this is a bondage. Answer: no, but it is for thy benefit; for the more thou walkst 2