A55752:228
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.
Now the inward man will bear a mountain of affections, and reproaches, which will press and squeeze the outward man to powder. A sound heart will bear his infirmities, but a wounded conscience who can bear? That is if the inward man be weak, who can bear the burden of afflictions, and the like; but if the Inward man be strong then the will will bear a part, and the affections will bear a part with the Conscience, and so the burden will be the lighter; but if you be not strong in the Inward man, it is impossible that you should bear them, therefore let us not busy our selves about Phantasies and vain things that will stand us in no stead, but let us labour to strengthen the inward man.
Now the inward man will bear a mountain of affections, and reproaches, which will presse and squeise the outward man to powder. A sound heart will bear his infirmities, but a wounded conscience who can bear? That is if the inward man be weak, who can bear the burthen of afflictions, and the like; but if the Inward man be strong then the will will bear a part, and the affections will bear a part with the Conscience, and so the burthen will be the lighter; but if you be not strong in the Inward man, it is impossible that you should bear them, therefore let us not busie our selves about Phantasies and vain things that will stand us in no stead, but let us labour to strengthen the inward man.
The fourth Motive to persuade you to strengthen the inward 1man is, because a man is that which he is in the Inward man. A man without the Inward man is but a scabbard without the sword, that is worth nothing, and therefore the wise man saith, that The righteous man is more excellent then his neighbour, That is the excellency wherein he doth exceed him is the Inward man, and therefore Christ in the Canticles when he would set forth the excellency of his spouse, he saith that She was fairer then the daughters of men, That is she is fairer because she is more excellent to the inward man, she is All glorious within: Psa. 45.