A55754:382
Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from several texts of Scripture, opened and applied. 1.…Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from severall texts of Scripture, opened and applyed. 1.…
Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from several texts of Scripture, opened and applied. 1. A heavenly [sic] treatise of the divine love of Christ. 2. The Christians freedom. 3. The deformed form of a formal profession. 4. Christs fullness, and mans emptiness. By John Preston, doctor in divinity, chaplain in ordinary to King James, Mr. of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Lincolns Inn.Sun-beams of gospel-light shining clearly from severall texts of Scripture, opened and applyed. 1. A heavemly [sic] treatise of the devine love of Christ. 2. The Christians freedome. 3. The deformed forme of a formall profession. 4. Christs fulnesse, and mans emptinesse. By John Preston, doctor in divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to King James, Mr. of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed for John Stafford, 1644
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.
Secondly, It is not true, but counterfeit, when it is like the true, but not the same, but wants some particular property that is to be found in the true; as that which is counterfeit Balsam, which is like the true, but wants the power of healing; and so likewise a counterfeit drug, and a counterfeit jewel, which wants that property which the true hath: and the want of this you shall find in the use, and in the wearing: As a rotten bow is found to be rotten when the arrow is drawn to the head; so if a mans godliness be counterfeit, and he unsound, it will be discovered in the wearing, or in some particular case, when he is put to it, or tried. A Jeweller will find out the property of a Jewell, but an ordinary man cannot do it, but by use & the wearing. To instance in some particular parts of godliness; the love of God, if it be true, hath these properties, that a man loves the brethren; for how canst thou love an immaterial holiness in God, if thou lovest not ⟨p. 5⟩that holiness which is stamped upon the creature like thy self? so likewise rectitude and uprightness of heart; try it by this property, which our Saviour Christ makes of it, gracious speeches; Christ saith, that that which is predominant in the heart, the mouth will be full of: so for keeping of the commandments, if in truth they have this property, that they be not grievous, they will do them with a natural delight, and inward willingness: so for taking of Christ by faith, every man believeth he doth so, but our Saviour Christ trieth it by this, Go sell all that thou hast, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: & so mayest thou try thy self when thou art put to it by loss of goods, or credit, or otherwise.
Secondly, It is not true, but counterfeit, when it is like the true, but not the same, but wants some particular property that is to be found in the true; as that which is counterfeit Balsame, which is like the true, but wants the power of healing; and so likewise a counterfeit drug, and a counterfeit jewel, which wants that property which the true hath: and the want of this you shall finde in the use, and in the wearing: As a rotten bow is found to be rotten when the arrow is drawne to the head; so if a mans godliness be counterfeit, and hee unsound, it will be discovered in the wearing, or in some particular case, when he is put to it, or tried. A Jeweller will finde out the property of a Jewell, but an ordinary man cannot doe it, but by use & the wearing. To instance in some particular parts of godliness; the love of God, if it be true, hath these properties, that a man loves the brethren; for how canst thou love an immateriall holinesse in God, if thou lovest not