A55754:446
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
Christ's Fullness, and Man's Emptiness, &c.Christ's Fulnesse, and Man's Emptinesse, &c.
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.
If there be a fullness in Christ, then what though there be a fullness 1of sin and guilt in us, yet there is a fullness of Grace in him able to remove it, and take it away. A fullness of mercy to receive our Supplications, a fullness of merit to make an Atonement for our foulest sins, a fullness of Favour to prevail with his Father in any requests. If therefore there be a fullness of grace in Christ, as there is, be not discouraged, though thy sins abound, yet his Grace abounds much more, they cannot be so out of measure sinful, as he is out of measure merciful. Remember but the two Metaphors used in Scripture, I will scatter your sins as a mist, and they shall be drowned in the bottom of the Sea. Now the Sun by reason of its great force can scatter the thickest mist, aswell as the least vapour: The Sea by reason of its great Vastness can drown mountains, aswell as molehills; So Christ by reason of that Vast Fullness of Grace which is in him, is as able, yea as forward and willing to forgive the greatest sins aswell as the least, I say as forward and willing for mercy, though it be a quality in us, yet it is a nature in God: Now what is natural, there is no unwillingness or weariness in doing that, as the eye is not weary with seeing, nor the ear weary with hearing; Therefore though our sins be never so great and many, yet if this condition be observed, that we ⟨p. 8⟩lie in no known sin, that we have a full and resolute purpose, God bearing witness to our consciences, not to do the least evil, nor omit the least good, in a word that we make our hearts perfect to God in all things, for without this condition there is no remission of sins. But if this condition be observed, I say that although our sins be never so great any many, yet they are not gone beyond the price which hath been paid for them, nor beyond the Grace of him with whom we have to do, for there is a fullness in him.
If there be a fulnesse in Christ, then what though there be a fulnes 1of sin and guilt in us, yet there is a fulnes of Grace in him able to remove it, and take it away. A fulnes of mercy to receive our Supplications, a fulnes of merit to make an Attonement for our foulest sins, a fulnes of Favour to prevaile with his Father in any requests. If therefore there be a fulnes of grace in Christ, as there is, be not discouraged, though thy sins abound, yet his Grace abounds much more, they cannot be so out of measure sinful, as he is out of measure merciful. Remember but the two Metaphors used in Scripture, I wil scatter your sins as a mist, and they shal be drowned in the bottom of the Sea. Now the Sun by reason of its great force can scatter the thickest mist, aswel as the least vapour: The Sea by reason of its great Vastnes can drowne mountaines, aswel as molehils; So Christ by reason of that Vast Fulnes of Grace which is in him, is as able, yea as forward and willing to forgive the greatest sins aswel as the least, I say as forward and willing for mercy, though it be a quality in us, yet it is a nature in God: Now what is natural, there is no unwillingnesse or wearinesse in doing that, as the eye is not weary with seeing, nor the eare weary with hearing; Therefore though our sins be never so great and many, yet if this condition be observed, that wee