A55752:694
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.
For even as a man may be very obsequious to another, and very observant of him, upon whom he depends, ⟨p. 235⟩from whom he looks for some good thing, or in whose power it is to do him mischief, and hurt. So when a man looks upon God as the great governor of the world, who is able to do him good or hurt; he may do many duties of his service and worship, he may be exact in the performance of many things, and yet for all this not make God his utmost end: but useth him only as a bridge to carry him over to his own end, which I say a man may naturally do. Therefore godliness is none of these three; not natural virtues, not moral virtues; no nor a great degree of the actions of Religion, which a man may perform, and yet not be truly godly. I say it is none of these, for in all these, the creature may be turned upon his own hinges; it may be moved out of its own principle, it may look to it self in all these; and see an excellency, and happiness in it self, within its own compass, within its own circle.
For even as a man may be very obsequious to another, and very observant of him, upon whom he depends, ⟨p. 235⟩from whom he looks for some good thing, or in whose power it is to do him mischief, and hurt. So when a man looks upon God as the great governour of the world, who is able to do him good or hurt; he may do many duties of his service and worship, he may be exact in the performance of many things, and yet for all this not make God his utmost end: but useth him onely as a bridge to carry him over to his own end, which I say a man may naturally do. Therefore godliness is none of these three; not natural vertues, not moral vertues; no nor a great degree of the actions of Religion, which a man may perform, and yet not be truly godly. I say it is none of these, for in all these, the creature may be turned upon his own hinges; it may be moved out of its own principle, it may look to it self in all these; and see an excellencie, and happiness in it self, within its own compass, within its own circle.