A55752:1070
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...
London: printed by J.T., 1658
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.
To this I answer; First, my brethren, you must first 1gather sticks and make a fire, before you can warm your selves: you must first gather these and the like savoury meditations out of the Word of God, before you can find the strength and virtue of them upon your souls and consciences. It is an old report concerning the Phoenix (it is no matter for the truth of it, it concerns us not) when it is about to die, she gathers in Arabia, plenty of spices that are odouri erous, Calamus and the like, and the Sun sets fire on them, and the bird burns her self to ashes in the midst of the perfume: so my brethren, if in the days of peace and health we gather sweet meditations and considerations, out of the Word of God, we ⟨p. 344⟩shall find in the day of need the Holy Ghost will come, and set all on fire as it were; and so whensoever you offer your sacrifice to God, whether it be your life, or estate, or whatsoever, it will not only be a savour of a sweet smell in the nostrils of God, but in your own souls you will find it a sweet and comfortable thing to offer up your sacrifice in the midst of those strong and sweet perfumes.
To this I answer; First, my brethren, you must first 1gather sticks and make a fire, before you can warm your selves: you must first gather these and the like savoury meditations out of the Word of God, before you can find the strength and vertue of them upon your souls and consciences. It is an old report concerning the Phenix (it is no matter for the truth of it, it concerns us not) when it is about to die, she gathers in Arabia, plenty of spices that are odouri erous, Calamus and the like, and the Sun sets fire on them, and the bird burns her self to ashes in the midst of the perfume: so my brethren, if in the dayes of peace and health we gather sweet meditations and considerations, out of the Word of God, we ⟨p. 344⟩shall find in the day of need the Holy Ghost will come, and set all on fire as it were; and so whensoever you offer your sacrifice to God, whether it be your life, or estate, or whatsoever, it will not onely be a savour of a sweet smell in the nostrils of God, but in your own souls you will find it a sweet and comfortable thing to offer up your sacrifice in the midst of those strong and sweet perfumes.