A55752:1167
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.
There is this reason from your selves, why you should seek the things o• Jesus Christ: because God hath commanded you so to do. You know this is the command, ⟨p. 376⟩Thou shalt love the Lord above all and thy neighbour as thy self. Christ is to be loved above all, above your selves. Now for the most part when we hear such a command as this; we look upon it as a legal precept, which only shows a man his sin, and to be as a Schoolmaster, a precept that no man can keep. But you must know that it is not so: for every command is to be kept by every regenerate man. It is said that not the least tittle of the Law shall perish, heaven and earth shall pass away first. The meaning is not that no man can be saved, nor no man is in Christ, but he that keeps every jot, and little of the Law: but we must endeavour to keep even the very least tittle of Gods commands with all our might:
There is this reason from your selves, why you should seeke the things o• Jesus Christ: because God hath commanded you so to do. You know this is the command, ⟨p. 376⟩Thou shalt love the Lord above all and thy neighbor as thy self. Christ is to be loved above all, above your selves. Now for the most part when we hear such a command as this; we look upon it as a legal precept, which onely shewes a man his sin, and to be as a Scholemaster, a precept that no man can keep. But you must know that it is not so: for every command is to be kept by every regenerate man. It is said that not the least tittle of the Law shall perish, heaven and earth shall passe away first. The meaning is not that no man can be saved, nor no man is in Christ, but he that keeps every jot, and little of the Law: but we must endeavour to keep even the very least tittle of Gods commands with all our might:
If God will not suffer the least command to pass, but you must bend your selves with all your strength to keep it, then this which is a main command to Love God above all, you must think you are bound to keep it, and every regenerate man doth keep it in some measure, he keeps it in sincerity, and truth with an upright heart, though he cannot rise to that degree, and height as he should do.