A55752:222
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.
Again in the abundance of outward things there is no true contentment, neither in the want of them; But where the strength of the Inward man is, there is no cause of dejectedness, this difference we shall see in Adam and Paul: Adam though he was Lord of all things, and had the rule of all the creatures; Yet when he was weak in the inward man, what joy had he? nay what fear had he when he hid himself in the garden? Again look upon Paul, who in the want of these outward things is not dejected at all, as in Acts 16. It is said that when Paul and 1Silas were in prison in the stocks, the prisoners sung for joy; Now what was the reason of it, but this, because they were strong in the Inward man, and therefore you see that all true peace is that which cometh from within, and when you rejoice in that, your rejoicing is good, that is you stand upon a good bottom. Alas you think to have contentment in your riches but you will be befooled, they will deceive you. If you build upon them, you will build without a foundation and go upon another mans legs. Now were it not far better for you to get legs of your own, and to build upon a sure foundation; And this you shall do if you strengthen the inward man.
Again in the abundance of outward things there is no true contentment, neither in the want of them; But where the strength of the Inward man is, there is no cause of dejectedness, this difference we shall see in Adam and Paul: Adam though he was Lord of all things, and had the rule of all the creatures; Yet when he was weak in the inward man, what joy had he? nay what fear had he when he hid himself in the garden? Again look upon Paul, who in the want of these outward things is not dejected at all, as in Acts 16. It is said that when Paul and 1Silas were in prison in the stocks, the prisoners sung for joy; Now what was the reason of it, but this, because they were strong in the Inward man, and therefore you see that all true peace is that which cometh from within, and when you rejoyce in that, your rejoycing is good, that is you stand upon a good bottom. Alas you think to have contentment in your riches but you will be befooled, they will deceive you. If you build upon them, you will build without a foundation and go upon another mans leggs. Now were it not far better for you to get leggs of your own, and to build upon a sure foundation; And this you shall do if you strengthen the inward man.