A55752:1168
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.
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.
Now I say, it is not only a command, but it is best for every man to deny himself, and not to seek his own things, partly because his good is contained in God more then in himself, and so he shall provide better for himself in self-denial, by seeking God then by looking directly to his own matters. The being of the beams (you know) are in the Sun more then in themselves. So is every mans good contained in God from whom it floweth, even as the beam doth from the Sun. A man shall provide better for himself in seeking Gods glory then in looking immediately to his own preservation. Therefore you shall find, Deut. 10. 13. This is that the Lord thy God requires of thee that thou keep his commandments 1that he hath given thee for thy wealth. Mark it, the commands of God are given for our advantage. Whensoever a man is a looser by keeping any command, ⟨p. 377⟩though it appear so, he is not so indeed, for every command is for our wealth. So I say it is best for us, partly because our good is contained in God.
Now I say, it is not onely a command, but it is best for every man to deny himself, and not to seek his own things, partly because his good is contained in God more then in himself, and so he shall provide better for himself in self-denial, by seeking God then by looking directly to his own matters. The beeing of the beams (you know) are in the Sun more then in themselves. So is every mans good contained in God from whom it floweth, even as the beam doth from the Sun. A man shall provide better for himself in seeking Gods glory then in looking immediately to his own preservation. Therefore you shall find,