A55752:649
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.
Well, the use of this in a word is, To put us in mind 1of our duty, and to quicken us, that we may all remember what person we sustain, what we have to do, for what ⟨p. 218⟩end we come into the world, and to do it: for that which the Apostle saith here to Timothy, we have all need to have it repeated to us, and to be put in mind of it upon every occasion. Now be strong to do this, and this; for all the actions of a mans life are divided into these two main heads: Either they are such actions as are bestowed in 2gathering strength; as when we pray, & keep the Sabaoth, and read and are occupied in holy duties, now our business is to gather strength. But now there are other actions that stand in converse, in doing the business and works of our calling; when we are to grapple with troubles and temptations, when we fall upon change of our estate, &c. these are times of spending and not of gathering, these are times to use strength: now we must be as careful to use our strength as to gather it, we must be as careful to stir up our strength, as the Apostle saith to Timothy, Thou my Son be strong in the Lord, we must stir up our strength. I say, we have need to be called upon, for you must not think that the Lord doth all. It is true, he puts life in us, but when we have life once, then we may move and stir our selves: he kindles the sacrifice from heaven at first, but when the sacrifice is kindled, when you have got fire, you must keep it alive, and blow it up, and put fuel to it. Therefore Jude 20. build up, Edify your 3selves. It is true, the Lord first lays the foundation: he first lays us upon the corner stone, he begins the building, but when it is begun, we must not think that it belongs only to the Minister to build us up, or to the Lord to build us up, but we must edify our selves: that is, we must still be adding to the building, now one stone, and then another: so we have the building of grace going up in our hearts, this should stir us up to use our strength.
Well, the use of this in a word is, To put us in mind