item: #1 of 18 id: A09956 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: The deformed forme of a formall profession. Or, The description of a true and false christian either excusing, or accusing him, for his pious, or pretended conversation. Shewing that there is a powerfull godlynes necessary to salvation, and that many have but the forme, but not the power thereof. In handling whereof these three things are plainely and powerfully explained and applyed. what godlines is. what the power of it. what the reasons why some have but the forme thereof. together with the meanes, and marks, both how to attaine, and to try our selves whether we have the power thereof or not. By that late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ. Iohn Preston. Doctor in divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiestie, master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne. date: 1632 words: 7264 flesch: 55 summary: The people of Israel travelling to the land of Canaan , they saw the Citties walled to heaven , and that the Gyants were there , the sonnes of Anax , yet Ioshua biddeth them bee of good comfort , and feare not , for the Lord would fight for them , and deliver their adversaries into their hands , so though you see difficulties in the way to heaven , yet godlynes is a powerfull thing that will carrie you through all , therefore likewise the Apostle having prayed for the Ephesians that they might not faint at his tribulations for them , which was their glorie , but that they might be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man , to comprehend with all Saints the breadth , and length , and depth , and height , and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge , which because they might thinke they should never bee able to doe , hee addeth to him that is able to doe above all that wee can aske or thinke , according to the power that worketh in us , to him bee all glorie , as if hee should have said , GOD is able to doe it , and that by the power , which worketh in him : so suppose it bee to subdue some lusts of a flesh , a thing so hard as you think it will never be done , nay you conceive it to be a thing so improbable , as that you are ashamd to aske it , yet according to that power , which worketh in you , hee is able to doe above all wee aske or thinke , and therefore he prayeth , that theîr eyes may bee opened , that they may see the greatnesse of the power that wrought in them , and it was not that they might see and looke at it idly , but for the use to serve their turnes , that they laying holde of it , and using of it , might bee able to doe these things , which they desire should bee done , even such things to which a mans nature is as untoward , as water is to heate when their is none in it , onely as Christ said to Marie , Believe and you shall see the power of God , thou must go to God for it by faith , and God will shew it foorth unto you , and you shall have fruits of it , the end of faith is not onely to apply the promises of Iustification but for Sanctification also , as for example hee hath promised to baptize you with the Holy Ghost as with fire , that is , with zeale and other graces of the spirit , which must give them power and strength , and all that sinne might not raigne in their mortall bodies , goe to God then and urge him of his promise , and hee cannot deny you : When men therefore thinke to excuse them-selves by saying , I am not able to doe such a thing , what will you have mee to doe ? it is no excuse , for if they were but willing , it is all hee requireth of them , the power , that belongeth to God , which if men would but believe , and goe to him , hee would undoubtedly give it them . But you will say , doe you altogether condemne naturall , and morall vertues ? must they do nothing , yes you shal have this use of them , that they will helpe as winde to drive the ship , only it is godlynes is the rudder guides it , and aymes at the right haven , as for example , you are commanded to love your children , and your wives , you are bound to doe this , if you had no naturall affections in you , only having these affections in you , you doe it with more ease , els you must drive the ship with oares , wheras now the wind fills the sails & you do it with more facility , and ease , and so likewise you are bound to be patient and meek and you must be so , though your natures be not so , but if your natures be so , you may the more easily be so , yet so as godlienes must set the cōpasse , and steere the ship , morrall vertues are like good horses , that draw the Chariot , but godlynes is the Auriga , the Coachman without which take the most excellent things , that nature is capable of , if it be not guided by it , the Lord regards them not , for God regards nothing but that which drawes the creatures unto him , but now morall vertues makes us rest upon our owne bottoms , and so likewise all things whatsoever they bee that beautyfie the flesh , for God wil have no flesh to glorifie in it selfe , but let him that glories glory in the Lord , Nay I add more , take the graces of the spirit , wherewith God adornes his saints , as an husband doth his wife with jewels , if you magnyfie them you doe so much withdraw your hearts from God , therefore in heaven it is said there is neither , Sunne , nor Moone , now what is that ? there is no excellencie in any creature that is magnified there , but God is All in all , hee is Sunne and Moone , and therefore in the Revelation of Saint Iohn it is said , and said to their honour , it is made their worth that they give all to God glory & power be to our God for ever , they fal on their faces , throw down their crowns , though created glorious creatures , yet when the evill Angells began to reflect upon themselves , it was their ruine , they fell from GOD , for the creature of it selfe is like a glasse without a bottome , if it commeth to stand upon its owne bottome , it falls , and breakes , and so the Angells when they would stand of themselves , they fell downe to the lowest pitt , and therefore of all graces labour for emptying graces , as faith and love , for these give all unto God , nothing to mans selfe , and therefore they are the great graces in religion which you must chiefly labour for . keywords: bee; christ; doe; forme; god; godlynes; hee; man; nature; power; thou cache: A09956.xml plain text: A09956.txt item: #2 of 18 id: A09958 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: The doctrine of the saints infirmities Delivered in severall sermons by John Preston Doctor in Divinity, Mr. of Emanuel-Colledge in Cambridge. And late preacher of Lincolnes Inne. date: 1636 words: 24681 flesch: 68 summary: I the Lord have called thee , &c. Consider who it is that created the Heavens , the Earth , and the buds thereof ; that giveth breath , &c. is it not God ? now then suppose he findeth nothing in the nature of man , but an emptines of grace and holines , is it not he that made the heavens when there was none before , and then is not he able to create grace in a mans heart ? It hath pleased God , there should be extant divers monuments wherby the authors eminent abilities doe yet survive in the hearts and eesteeme of men : yet none expresse him more unto the life , then the piety & ver tue of those that grew up under him , he lives if they stand fast in the Lord. keywords: bee; christ; doe; doth; god; good; grace; hath; heart; hee; infirmities; infirmity; life; lord; man; men; shall; strength; thee; things; thou; time; wee cache: A09958.xml plain text: A09958.txt item: #3 of 18 id: A09963 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: An elegant and lively description of spirituall life and death Delivered in divers sermons in Lincolnes-Inne, November the 9.th, M.DCXXIII. vpon Iohn, 5.25. By Iohn Preston then Bachellor of Divinitie, and chaplaine in ordinarie to the Prince his Highnesse. date: 1632 words: 35145 flesch: 76 summary: But it will be objected : that in as much as we are commanded to doe things impossible , mans nature is destroyed , for man is a free creature . Take the understanding and faculties of reason , they sway not men , but the Ideaes , truthes and opinions that dwell in this understanding , sway men : There are three lives in man , there is the life of plants , of Beasts or sence , and the life of reason ; I may adde a fourth , and that is this spirituall life , which is an higher life of the soule ; Where there is an evill life , there is death , but where there is a good life , there is this spirituall life : See it in the effects , for these are but speculations . keywords: actions; answer; bee; christ; dead; death; doe; doth; god; good; grace; hath; hearts; hee; holy; knowledge; life; lives; living; man; men; saints; sinne; soule; spirit; things; voyce; wee; word; yee cache: A09963.xml plain text: A09963.txt item: #4 of 18 id: A09967 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: The fulnesse of Christ for vs A sermon preached at the court before King James of blessed memory. By Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majestie, Master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne. date: 1639 words: 8597 flesch: 77 summary: Why fulnesse is given to Christ. Therefore though our sinnes be never so great , and many ; yet ( if this condition be observed that we lie in no knowne sinne , that God bearing witnesse to our consciences , we have a full and resolute purpose not to doe the least evill , nor to omit the least good ; in a word , that we make our hearts perfect with God in all things ; for without this there is no remission of sinnes ) then they are not beyond the price that was paide for them , nor beyond the grace of him with whom we have to doe ; because there is fulnesse in him . keywords: christ; doe; fulnesse; god; grace; hath; man; men; prayer; selves; things; wee cache: A09967.xml plain text: A09967.txt item: #5 of 18 id: A09971 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: Grace to the humble· As preparations to receive the Sacrament. Preached by the late famous preacher Iohn Preston, Doctor of Divinity, and chaplen in ordinary to his Mtie. Master of Immanuel Colledge, and sometimes preacher in Lincolnes-Inne. date: 1639 words: 20657 flesch: 67 summary: It is good for a man to deny himselfe , for his life is more preserved in God then in himselfe , for else there were no reason for that commandement , love me more then thy selfe , and againe the perfection of every thing is in the end ; every thing is then perfect when it attaines its end ; now God is that end of every thing , and therefore of man , and man is to serve him though it bee with the losse of goods and losse of life , yea of life eternall ; for yet mans happinesse consists in the attaining of God his end , and so those places of Moses and Paul are to be expounded ; If thou willt not forgive them blot mee out of the booke of life , so it may bee to Gods glory . To bee throughly informed , to sift the things before you doe it is a signe of selfe denyall , it is ill halting before men , but God hee knoweth the Spirit , so the meaning of the flesh and mans conscience , Gods witnesse will finde us out . keywords: bee; christ; doe; flesh; follow; god; goe; good; hath; hee; himselfe; love; man; men; nature; selves; spirit; things; way; wayes; wee cache: A09971.xml plain text: A09971.txt item: #6 of 18 id: A09972 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: The lavv out lavved· Or, The charter of the Gospell shewing the priviledge and prerogative of the saints by vertue of the covenant Wherein these foure points of doctrine are properly observed, plainely proved, both by Scripture, and reason: and pithily applyed. Viz: doctrine 1 That he that is in the state of grace lyeth in no knowne sinne, no sinne hath dominion over him. 2 That sinne though it doth not raigne in the saints, yet it doth remaine and dwell in them. 3 That the way to overcome sinne, is to get assurance of the love, and grace, and favour of God, whereby it is forgiven them. 4 That whosoever is under the law, sinne hath dominion over him. By that late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ. Iohn Preston. Doctor in divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majestie, master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne. date: 1631 words: 5285 flesch: 66 summary: That the way to overcome sinne , is to get assurance of the love and grace of God , and that it is forgiven them , the reason why the Apostle promises them sin shall not have dominion over them , is because they are not under the law but under grace , that is , they had assurance of Gods love , and that it is forgiven them , this is proved from that faith purifieth the heart , and you repent and believe the gospell . 3 That the way to overcome sinne, is to get assurance of the love, and grace, and favour of God, whereby it is forgiven them. keywords: doe; dominion; god; grace; hath; hee; law; man; sinne cache: A09972.xml plain text: A09972.txt item: #7 of 18 id: A09981 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: A liveles life: or, Mans spirituall death in sinne Wherein is both learnedly and profitably handled these foure doctrines the spirituall death in sinne. The doctrine of humiliation. Mercy to be found in Christ. Continuance in sinne, dangerous. Being the substance of severall sermons upon Ephes. 2. 1,2,3. And you hath he quickned, who were dead in trespasses and sins, &c. Whereunto is annexed a profitable sermon at Lincolnes Inne, on Gen. XXII. XIV. Delivered by that late faithful preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty, master of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes-Inne. date: 1633 words: 36965 flesch: 75 summary: A man when he corrects his childe , he doth it unwillingly ; but when hee is fit for mercy , hee is glad to shew that : why so it is with the Lord , hee being willing to doe it , and exceeding able , for hee is a Physician that is able to heale the most dangerous diseases , and shall wee then doubt of the accomplishment ? It is a common fault amongst us to measure the Lord according to our selves ; and so when we see man cannot helpe us , we thinke that God cannot ; but he that can turne Winter into a Summer , can speedily turne our estates when we are fit for it : As a Physician that administers hard potions to his Patient , it is not because he cannot or will not give him pleasant things , but it is because his Patient is not fit for it ; for as soone as hee is fit for Cordials , hee most willingly gives them unto him : And as the Husbandman , hee is willing enough to sowe his seed in the earth , and would bee glad if the time were come ; I but hee knoweth if he so we it on the wilde waste ground it would be lost , and therfore he plowes it first , and againe too , yea thrice if it be needfull , and then having well fitted it , hee sowes his seed ; Even so it is with the Lord , hee first plowes the ground , he digges deepe into the hearts of men if it be needfull so to doe , but if a little plowing will serve , he never takes a deeper ; and if one will serve , he never gives a second ; and therefore when we are fit to receive the seed , mercy shall come in amaine amongst us , even as that which goes with wind and tide ; yea , it shall come as fast as our misery did , which though it comes headlong upon us as it did upon Nebuchadnezzar , yet how quickly did the Lord deliver him againe ? and so shall it , bee with us , because the Lord is delighted with mercy , therefore the Lord doth usually helpe in extremities , and not before ; for in the Mount will the Lord be seene . Thirdly , the Lord doth not deliver till the time of extremity , that we may know the vanity of the creature . And see that they are but as reeds that are empty : as for example , when a man is brought to some great straight , and sees that men will forsake him in it , as the Lord will cause them to doe when he will bring a man to a streight indeed , for then he will shew him that there is no helpe in man ; as when a man that is sicke , and so farre gone that no physicke will doe him good , but all Physicians have left him ; or when a man hath some great businesse in hand , and nothing that he hath will effect it ; and so likewise a man at Sea , when hee is in such a tempest that neither rowing nor any thing else will doe him good , then when men are in such cases , they come to see the vanity of the creature , and that all outward meanes will start aside like a broken bow ; for a broken bow being drawne but a little , will hold ; but if it bee drawne up to the head , then it breakes in the hand of him that handles it : Even so , when the creature is put to it , then the vanity of them is seene , and that they are but as hollow reeds that are empty , and so not bee trusted to . keywords: againe; bee; christ; dead; death; doe; doth; god; godly; gods; goe; good; hath; heart; hee; himselfe; humiliation; life; lord; man; men; nature; sinne; thee; things; thou; thy; time; wee cache: A09981.xml plain text: A09981.txt item: #8 of 18 id: A09984 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: Mount Ebal, or A heavenly treatise of divine love Shewing the equity and necessity of his being accursed that loves not the Lord Iesus Christ. Together with the motives meanes markes of our love towards him. By that late faithfull and worthy divine, John Preston, Doctor in Divinitie, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majestie, master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne. date: 1638 words: 14525 flesch: 65 summary: But now we must take Christ as an husband takes a wife , or a wife an husband , out of love to their persons , not to their portions , and then shall we be the better subject unto him ; but except we be first humbled ( as was before said ) for our sinnes , and consider in what neede thou standest of him , how that without him thou must perish ; till then ( I say ) Now if we love him , we will desire ( as was said but a little before ) to be joyned unto him , and to have his company , for how can that woman be said to love her husband that cares not for his company ; so how canst thou say thou lovest the Lord Iesus Christ when thou lovest not his society ? Againe , if we love him , we will be content to have him upon any condition ; for love is impulsive , the love of Christ constraines us ( as the Apostle speakes ) to doe what it desires ; yet , so as not against , but with our wills , which it inclines thereunto : now if we doe not finde these things in us , we doe not love the , &c. And therefore this Doctrine that he that loves him not is &c. it should teach us to consider our owne conditions , how we stand affected towards him , and whether we love him or not ; and wee shall know it for certaine whether we doe , or doe not , by examining our selves by these quaeries . keywords: againe; christ; doe; god; good; hath; iesus; lord; love; man; selfe; thee; things; thou; thy; wilt cache: A09984.xml plain text: A09984.txt item: #9 of 18 id: A09999 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole dutie of prayer. Delivered in fiue sermons vpon I Thess. 5.17. By the late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty, Master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne. date: 1629 words: 43712 flesch: 64 summary: What , if the Lord will haue thee call vpon him , though hee purpose to doe the thing , even for this end , that thou maist worship him ▪ for , what is it to worship the Lord ? you shall finde this vsuall in the old Testament , The people ●…owed themselues and worshipped , or , they 〈◊〉 vpon them 〈◊〉 and worshipped . Wee are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Text ▪ 〈◊〉 this duty of of prayer 〈◊〉 co●… ended to vs , and it is a commend from God himselfe delivered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be with our any great premises ▪ and reasons , and indeed , having therefore the more authority in it . keywords: bee; case; christ; day; doe; duty; faith; god; good; grace; hath; haue; heart; hee; himselfe; holy; lord; man; meanes; owne; prayer; simile; sinne; spirit; thing; thou; thy; time; vpon; vse; wee cache: A09999.xml plain text: A09999.txt item: #10 of 18 id: A10015 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: The saints submission and Sathans overthrow. Or, Sermons on James 4.7. By that faithfull and reverend divine, Iohn Preston, Doctor in divinitie, Chaplaine in ordinarie to his Majestie, Master of Emmanuel Colledge, sometime preacher of Lincolnes-Inne date: 1638 words: 20690 flesch: 72 summary: To make flesh our arme , is no more then to trust in some creature , grace is a creature created in man by the gracious worke of Gods spirit , therefore to trust in a mans own grace is to make flesh his arme . 131 1. By substracting the means God useth to bring men to himselfe . keywords: bee; christ; divell; doe; doth; god; gods; good; grace; hath; heart; hee; lusts; man; meanes; men; reason; satan; selves; sinne; spirit; things; wee; word; ● ● cache: A10015.xml plain text: A10015.txt item: #11 of 18 id: A10018 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: Sermons preached before his Maiestie; and vpon other speciall occasions viz. 1 The pillar and ground of truth. 2 The new life. 3 A sensible demonstration of the Deity. 4 Exact walking. 5 Samuels support of sorrowfull sinners. By the late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston Dr. in Diuinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty, master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne. date: 1630 words: 41035 flesch: 58 summary: And for Prayer , when you come to call vpon the Name of God , it is not the slight performance of the duty that God lookes for , it is another thing , hee takes your prayers by weight and not by number , therefore looke you doe it exactly ; so in receiuing the Sacrament , and all duties , I leaue it to your selues to consider particulars : and so for the duties of your Calling , to be diligent in them , to serue God and men in them with the fatnesse and sweetnesse of them : and so for sports and recreations , to be exact in them , and not to vse those that be vnlawfull , and those that bee lawfull , not to vse them excessiuely , but to vse them with limitations , and to put right ends vpon them ; and so in all businesse and conuersing with men , in all the turnings and passages of a mans life , looke that you walke exactly , that your obedience bee generall , otherwise that is a signe the heart is not changed , a man is not right borne till he come to walke exactly with God , till he be willing to performe euery duty , and willing to shunne euery sinne that hee knowes , euery thing that hath a tincture of sinne , if the heart be right there will be an antipathy betweene vs and whatsoeuer is called sinne ; otherwise what is the power of Religion , if wee onely doe duties that are facile and easie , to which wee haue no contrary disposition , it were an easie thing then to be religious , but herein is the power of Religion , to subdue euery affection , to subiect it , where there is a strong streame of a contrary disposition to turne the course of nature , to obey God when a man finds the greatest difficulties , in the time of temptation and triall to doe it , this is that which is necessary for vs , otherwise the truth is , wee serue the flesh and not God , saith Iames , Iam. 2. The same God that said thou shalt not murder , said also thou shalt not commit adultery ; so I say to euery man that failes in any particular , and allowes himselfe to lie in any particular sinne that he will haue his liberty in , I say , hath not God said , thou shalt not doe this as well as that , and if thou doest one duty to God out of loue and respect to him , or if thou didst abstaine from any sinne because he forbids thee , doth not he forbid thee that as well as this , and he hath commanded thee this duty as well as the other , why doest thou not performe all then ? First , because it takes away all alacrity , for what a man hath no hope to bring to passe , he will neuer goe about it ; so a scholler , if hee hath no hope to get learning , will giue ouer studying ; take hope away , and take away all endeuour , nay take away all desire , which is more , for what is out of a mans hope a man desires not , for obiects they worke when they lie neere the faculty , euen as fire neuer worketh till the fuell be nigh it , and the loadstone till the iron be put to it : things that are afar off , we haue little desire to : as now to instance ; the condition of Kings , though it be a thing most desireable , yet seldome men actually desire it because it is out of their hopes , and therefore when men are discouraged , as thinking they shall neuer haue such a lust mortified , they sit downe without all desire or endeuour : and so when men looke on the Lord as on a strict and seuere Iudge , it causeth strangenesse in them ; they will not come at him , but they will bee content with that liberty which they may enioy without him , as beggers when they see they cannot better their condition , content themselues with what they are , and that liberty which they doe enioy ; and so men being discouraged from going to God , they turne and rest on something else , for the heart will haue some liberty . keywords: actions; againe; bee; christ; church; dead; doe; doth; end; euery; feare; god; goe; good; grace; hath; haue; heart; hee; himselfe; life; lord; man; men; owne; people; reason; saith; sinne; things; thou; time; truth; vpon; walke; wee; world cache: A10018.xml plain text: A10018.txt item: #12 of 18 id: A10024 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: Sins overthrow: or, A godly and learned treatise of mortification Wherein is excellently handled; first, the generall doctrine of mortification: and then particularly, how to mortifie fornication. Vncleannes. Evill concupiscence. Inordinate affection. and, covetousnes. All being the substance of severall sermons upon Colos. III. V. Mortifie therefore your members, &c. Delivered by that late faithfull preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majestie, master of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes-Inne. date: 1633 words: 84230 flesch: 65 summary: Now seeing Mortification is so hard a worke , and yet a worke that of necessity must bee done : Men also be so hardly drawne to mortifie their lusts , which they account as a part of themselves , not to bee parted withall ; for Nature her selfe hath implanted this principle in them , Every man ought to love himselfe , what then should move any man to mortifie his lusts ? therefore for the better perswading of men unto this work , we will lay downe some motives to move every man to mortifie his corruptions . Therefore when you heare a man that hath rotten speeches in his mouth , say , that man grieves the Spirit ; for there is nothing so odious and contrary to men , as these are to the Spirit : and therefore if you would keepe the Spirit , then let your words be gracious , powdred with salt ; that is , with the grace of the Spirit proceeding from a sanctified heart : and as speeches , so all evill actions , in like manner , grieve the heart . keywords: affections; apostle; bee; christ; comfort; creature; desire; doe; doth; earthly; evill; god; gods; good; grace; great; hath; heart; heavenly; hee; himselfe; inordinate; know; labour; let; life; love; lusts; man; meanes; men; minded; mortification; mortifie; nature; reason; riches; saith; set; sinne; soule; spirit; spirituall; thee; things; thou; thy; use; way; wee; world cache: A10024.xml plain text: A10024.txt item: #13 of 18 id: A10027 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: A sermon of spirituall life and death Preached before the king, at White-Hal, Nouember, 1616 by the late faithfull minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, Dr. In Diuinity, chapplaine in ordinar[y] to his maiesty, Mr. of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Lincolnes Inne. date: 1630 words: 11186 flesch: 77 summary: A sermon of spirituall life and death Preached before the king, at White-Hal, Nouember, 1616 by the late faithfull minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, Dr. In Diuinity, chapplaine in ordinar[y] to his maiesty, Mr. of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Lincolnes Inne. A sermon of spirituall life and death Preached before the king, at White-Hal, Nouember, 1616 by the late faithfull minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, Dr. In Diuinity, chapplaine in ordinar[y] to his maiesty, keywords: bee; christ; dead; death; doe; god; good; grace; hath; haue; hee; life; liue; lord; man; men; saith; text; workes cache: A10027.xml plain text: A10027.txt item: #14 of 18 id: A10030 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: Three sermons vpon the sacrament of the Lords Supper. By the late faithfull and vvorthy minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majestie, master of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne date: 1631 words: 25887 flesch: 60 summary: For wee know life is nothing else but that joy that the heart hath , whereby it is nourished and fed as it were ; for life is not to have body and soule joyned together , to bee a living man , in that sence we usually take life ; for if that were life , then those in hell should not bee said to dye the death , for you know in hell there is a conjunction of soule and body , and yet men are not said to live there ; for it is death which is the punishment of sinne ; and indeed you shall finde that there is something a mans heart cleaves unto , wherein hee rejoyceth , which is the same with his life . Now because I handle this point , but onely for this particular occasion , I will not enter into such a manner of handling of it , as I was wont to doe at other times , but onely take up so much of it as may serve for the present occasion ; Therefore because I say this to you : That except a man bee in Christ , hee ought not to take any priviledge to himselfe : wee will , First exhort every man to consider whether hee be in Christ : for this is the present question which any mans heart would aske , when hee heares this propounded ; Why , if all the priviledges bee suspended upon my being in Christ , my maine businesse is to examine whether I be in Christ or no. keywords: aske; bee; christ; doe; god; hath; heart; hee; know; lord; man; new; prayer; saith; selfe; thee; thing; thinke; thou; thy; time; wee cache: A10030.xml plain text: A10030.txt item: #15 of 18 id: A55748 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: The mysticall match between Christ and his church by the late learned and reverend divine, John Preston ... The leading sermon to that treatise of his called The churches marriage. date: 1648 words: 45819 flesch: 74 summary: Christ will trye our patience , our faith , he will trye whether his Spouse will take his word or no , whether she will rest upon him , whether she will beleeve him : this is that , I say , that holds off many men , because they shall have nothing here , But therein they doe not looke upon the whole life of man ; wee looke but upon part ; wee onely care to provide for a short time here , and not for the whole life of man , which is eternall : and this is that which makes us to erre ; as the cause of all errour in all the actions of men , is because they looke upon some part of a businesse , and not upon all . so they would walke in him , being fully contented with him ; and let no man deceive you in Philosophie , that is , whereas men teach you excellent rules of morall Philosophy ; yet reckon not these as excellencies added to Christ , but abound you in faith in him , for we are compleat in him ; if any thing were wanting in him , then indeed we might seeke out to other things . keywords: bee; christ; doe; doth; god; goe; good; hath; head; heart; hee; himselfe; husband; iesus; lord; man; match; men; obedience; owne; selfe; spirit; subject; thee; thing; thinke; thou; thy; time; wee; word cache: A55748.xml plain text: A55748.txt item: #16 of 18 id: A55750 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: Plenitudo fontis, or, Christ's fulnesse and man's emptinesse a sermon / preached by Iohn Preston ... date: 1645 words: 8736 flesch: 69 summary: B●●now to keep close to the point in hand , this point sheweth the e●●or of Arminius and Pelagius , who ascribe the beginning preparations and ability of accepting grace to our own free will , although the complement to God . yet it is properly empty , because not full of that it should bee : even as we say a well is empty , though it be full of ayre , because it is not full of water which should be in it : for Emo●●nesse is not so much , Absontia Entitatis a●absenti● Entitatis debitae . keywords: christ; doe; fulnesse; god; grace; hath; iohn; man; men; selves; text; things; wil; ● ● cache: A55750.xml plain text: A55750.txt item: #17 of 18 id: A55751 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: The position of John Preston, Doctor in Divinity ... concerning the irresistiblenesse of converting grace date: 1654 words: 8320 flesch: 63 summary: On the other side , we say , that stocks and stones have no power to act , being acted ; but that men are free Agents , and therefore have a power by vertue of which they act , being acted by God , and therefore may be said truly to act , and turne themselves ; for the will being changed from evill unto good , and of unwilling made willing , hath in it selfe an inward principle of willing well ; from whence the dominion of its owne act , whereby it turnes unto God , may properly be given unto it ; for although the grace of God is the principle by which , yet the will of man is the principle which worketh all . Hee hath mercy on whom he will have mercy , and whom he will he hardeneth : which could not be truly said , if a man at his owne freedome and pleasure , allowing all the actions of God requisite to conversion , might receive the quickning grace of God in vaine , and make it void ( as Arminius speaks . ) And let it be observed from these words , That this mans repenting , and that mans hardening , is not only attributed to God alone , but the will and endeavours of man , is utterly excluded from having any part in this businesse . keywords: act; conversion; god; good; grace; hath; man; things cache: A55751.xml plain text: A55751.txt item: #18 of 18 id: A55754 author: Preston, John, 1587-1628. title: 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. date: 1644 words: 47954 flesch: 79 summary: Thirdly , because it is enough to serve a mans turne for his unregenerate ends : for men having a naturall conscience , whereof they must stop the mouth , and it being injudicious , and not able to judge of the power of godliness , they are satisfied with the forme : as when Children are wayward and wrangling , because wee know they are not judicious , we give them Nutts , not gold or silver to still them , and it serves their turnes as well ; so is it here in the naturall conscience , it doth judge the forme to be enough to carry a man to heaven ; and who would doe more than he needs must ? It may bee you love the praise of men , before that of God ; and is not this to bee accursed ? keywords: againe; bee; christ; death; doe; doth; faith; forme; god; goe; good; grace; hath; heart; hee; himselfe; iohn; law; life; lord; lord iesus; love; man; men; nature; owne; power; selfe; selves; sinne; spirit; thee; things; thou; thy; wee; world; yea cache: A55754.xml plain text: A55754.txt