A55752:548
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.
One is, that every man is to examine himself, that is, to try whether there be any grace in his heart or no, any ⟨p. 182⟩beginnings of grace: because if there be no grace, a man eats, and drinks his own damnation, or judgement to himself.
Another thing is, if there be any grace, then the end of the sacrament is for the confirmation, and the strengthening of this grace, and to build him up further: therefore we must consider how we should grow in that grace. This text will help us in both these. For in this inquisition whether there be any grace in our hearts or no, we must examine it by some characters of grace. Now the principal character is that it makes a man strong, grace give• a man power and strength, which is intimated in this. Thou therefore my son be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus.
Another thing is, if there be any grace, then the end of the sacrament is for the confirmation, and the strengthening of this grace, and to build him up further: therefore we must consider how we should grow in that grace. This text will help us in both these. For in this inquisition whether there be anygrace in our hearts or no, we must examine it by some characters of grace. Now the principal character is that it makes a man strong, grace give• a man power and strength, which is intimated in this. Thou therefore my son be strong in the grace which is in Christ Iesus.
And then for the growth of grace, the question is where we shall have it? Surely it is to be drawn out of the fountain, that is in Jesus Christ, be strong in grace, that is, the grace that we receive from Jesus Christ. Now we do not take it immediately from him, we do not come so near to the well-head: but we draw it by certain conduit-pipes: there are certain veins, and arteries, that convey this grace from Christ to the heart of a Christian, certain dugs by which we suck it from him, and those are the Lords Ordinances, the word, and sacraments. This text will give us opportunity of both these.