A70932:16
True gain, opened in a sermon preached at Pauls, Nov. 9. 1656
True gain, opened in a sermon preached at Pauls, Nov. 9. 1656 by Edward Reynolds, D.D.
London: printed by Tho. Ratcliffe for George Thomason, 1659
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.
The words of the Text contain the removal of ⟨p. 5⟩the second great scandal, which the Disciples might be apt to take at this doctrine of self denial. They hoped, as it may seem, to be great men in the world, and to enjoy the liberties and honours thereof; and now they are told that they must leave all to follow Christ. And least they should be offended, he assures them that if they should do otherwise, and for love of the world should forsake him, 1. They would lose their souls, which is better to them then all the rest of the world: 2. Having lost them, they would find nothing in all the world, able to redeem and recover them again.
The words of the Text contain the removal of ⟨p. 5⟩the second great scandal, which the Disciples might be apt to take at this doctrine of selfe denial. They hoped, as it may seem, to be great men in the world, and to enjoy the liberties and honours thereof; and now they are told that they must leave all to follow Christ. And least they should be offended, he assures them that if they should do otherwise, and for love of the world should forsake him, 1. They would lose their souls, which is better to them then all the rest of the world: 2. Having lost them, they would finde nothing in all the world, able to redeem and recover them again.
The words are set down by way of Interrogation, intimating a more vehement Negation, What shall it profit? That is, It shall not at all profit. It carrieth a kind of universal concession, and unquestionable truth in it, which no man can deny. Even they themselves who cast away their souls to gain the world, cannot, themselves being Judges, but confess, that it is an absurd thing to expect profit from any thing when the soul is lost, or to prefer all the world above a mans own eternal happiness. When a thing is exceeding manifest, the Scripture useth jo make men themselves, whom it would thereby reprove, the Judges of it. Judge in your selves, saith the Apostle, is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered,