A55754:387
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.
First, because the form is most easy, but the 1power is a matter of more difficulty: for the former it doth not call upon a man to cut off his right hand, to pluck out his right eye, and to deny himself in things nearest and dearest unto him, as the power doth; for it requires a man should take pains in good duties, and go through them, not to omit or slight the least of them in the least measure that may be, or to lie in known sins; and farther, it requires a man should do this from day to day, and that when it crosses the flesh most: this is an hard saying, and caused many that they would no longer abide with Christ; they were willing to obey the form, but not the power.
First, because the forme is most easie, but the 1power is a matter of more difficulty: for the former it doth not call upon a man to cut off his right hand, to pluck out his right eye, and to denie himselfe in things nearest and dearest unto him, as the power doth; for it requires a man should take paines in good duties, and goe through them, not to omit or slight the least of them in the least measure that may be, or to lie in knowne sinnes; and farther, it requires a man should doe this from day to day, and that when it crosses the flesh most: this is an hard saying, and caused many that they would no longer abide with Christ; they were willing to obey the forme, but not the power.
- 1Reasons why many men have but the form.Reasons why many men have but the forme.
Secondly, because this power breeds hatred and opposition in the world, and the world will cross it again: now then, when a man may retain the form, and hold in with the world, a man may be of the world still, and the world will love his own: whereas the power makes men Antipodes to all the world; this makes many care for no more but the form. Fit for this purpose is that place, Wisd. 2. 12. where the ungodly say of the righteous on this wise. These mens lives are contrary to ours, and their doings reprove our thoughts, therefore let us oppress them: