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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55754	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.	Preston, John, 1587-1628.; Preston, John, 1587-1628. Two treatises, viz. The Christian freedome, and The deformed forme of a formall profession.; Preston, John, 1587-1628. Plenitudo fontis, or, Christ's fulnesse and man's emptinesse.	1644 (1644)	Wing P3307A; ESTC R219005	93,300	192

containing 17 Sermons upon divers Texts 2. Foure Treatises viz. 1. A remedy against Covetousnes upon Coloss. 3. 5. 2. An Elegant and lively description of spiritual life death upon Iohn 5. 25. 3. The Doctrine of selfe deniall upon Luke 9. 23. 4. A Treatise of the Sacrament upon 1 Ioh. 5. 14. 3. The Saints daily Exercise or a a Treatise of Prayer upon 1 Thess. 5. 17. 4. The New Covenant in 14 Sermons upon Gen. 17. 1. 2. Vnto which is added 4 Sermons upon Eccles. 9. 1. 2. 11. 12. 5. The Saints Qualification containing viz. 1. A Treatise of Humiliation in 10 Sermons the first 9 upon Rom. 1. 18. The tenth Preached before the common house of Parliament upon Numb 25. 10. 11. 2. Of Sanctification or the New Creature in 9 Sermons upon 1 Cor. 5. 17. 3. Of Communion with Christ in the Sacrament in 3 Sermons upon 1 Corinth 10. 16. 6. The Doctrine of the Saints Infirmities upon 2 Chron. 30. 18. 19 20. 7. The Brestplate of Faith and Love containing 18 Sermons upon three severall Texts viz. Revel 1. 17. 1 Thes. 1. 3. Gal. 5. 6. 8. Five Sermons Preached before his Majestie viz. 1. The New Life upon 1. Ioh. 5 15. 2. A sensible demonstration of the Diety upon Esay 64. 4. 3. Of exact walking upō Eph. 5. 15. 4. The Pillar and ground of Truth upon 1 Tim. 3. 15. 5. Sam. Support of sorrowfull sinners upon 1 Sam. 12. 20. 21. 22. 9. Two Treatises of Mortification and Humiliation upon Col. 3. 5. Ephes. 2. 1 2 3. Together with the livelesse life A Treatise of Vivification 10. His Remaines containing 3. excellent Treatises viz. 1. Iudas's Repentance 2. The Saints Spirituall strength 3. Pauls Conversion 11. The Golden Scepter with the Churches Mariage being three Treatises in one volume 12. The Fulnesse of Christ upon Iohn 1. 16. 13. A Heavenly Treatise of the Divine Love of Christ in Five Sermons upon 1 Cor. 16. 22. THE CHARISTIAN FREEDOME OR THE CHARTER OF THE GOSPEL SHEWING THE PRIVILEDGE AND Prraeogative of the Saints by vertue of the Covenant ROM 6. 14. For sinne shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the law but under grace THese words are brought in thus the Apostle exhorts them not to sinne but to give their members as instruments unto righteousnesse and to move them to this hee tells them that sinne was not their Lord now as it was heretofore and that it shall have no more dominion over them and therefore he bids them strive against it and then he adds a reason of this because they were not under the law but under grace now Christ hath changed their hearts for while a man is under the Law sinne hath dominion over him it tells him what to doe but gives him no power to doe it but you have the grace of sanctification to change your hearts and enable you to every good word and work so that you delight in the Law after the inner man albeit you see another law in your members warring against the Law of your minde and bringing you into captivity to the law of sinne which is in your members as it is said Chap. 7. ver 23. Whence wee may learne That hee that is in the state of grace lyeth in no knowne sinne no sinne hath dominion over him Now sinne is said to have no Dominion over a man three manner of wayes viz. in regard 1. It hath no right to rule over him it is no more our Lord but is as a servant that hath no dominion but is said to offer violence to us as if the King of Spaine should rule over us hee hath no dominion over us 2. In regard it is not obeyed for there it hath dominion as a Prince may have right to a Kingdome yet if hee be not obeyed hee hath no dominion 3. In regard though it strive against us yet it never gets the victory for though it assault us yet if it get not the victory it hath no dominion over us this is proved by three Similitudes which must be explaned viz. First it was our Master and we its servants but now wee have changed our Master and are become the servants of righteousnesse ver 18. Secondly it is said that we were married to sin and it had dominion and command over us as the husband over the wife but now it is dead and there is a divorce betweene us and now wee are married to Christ and hee commands us and wee obey Thirdly it is said we are dead to sinne and alive to God ver 11. and therefore we cannot live in sinne for command a dead body to goe about a businesse and he cannot because he is dead Now the reasons of the point be these The first is taken from Christ wee are ingrafted into Christ and into his death and into the similitude of his resurrection verse 5. We are grafted as a graft into Christ and all the old sap is taken away and wee have new sap and bring forth new fruit and have no other because we grow in another tree and we live to God yet we may commit sinne though wee allow not our selves in it for they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lasts thereof if therefore there be any lust reigning in us we are not in Christ. Againe if any man be in Christ hee is a new creature and therfore he doth not wallow in his old sins so saith God I will give you a new heart and all things are become new and old things are done away therefore wee cannot lve in any knowne sinne Againe whosoever is in Christ hath received of his fulnesse and grace for grace in him we are able to doe all things and therefore if we cannot strive against old sinnes wee are not in Christ. Secondly because wee have the Spirit of God ruling in us and therefore we walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh now if we lye in any known sinne we have not the Spirit and therefore are not in the state of grace if any man have not the Spirit of grace he is not the Sonne of God now if he walk after the flesh hee hath not the Spirit for the Spirit gives him ability to strive against all sinnes Thirdly he is borne of God now he that is born of God sinneth not that is sinne ruleth not over him for a man is said to sinne that favours wickednesse and setteth his heart to sinne hee sinneth not because he is like God as a sonne is like his father and therefore a wicked man is like the devill because he is his Father and his wickednesse is in him and therefore the devill is called the father of the wicked and so every regenerate man hath all the righteousnesse of Christ though not in the same degree he hath perfect holinesse of parts though not of degrees now then he hath no member of Satan in him that is no

in our hearts than cold water can heat unlesse it had another principle Contend therefore and strive with the Lord for his Spirit which workes this love who hath declared also unto us your love in the Spirit Secondly desire the Lord to shew you himselfe that Iesus Christ would manifest himselfe unto you And this is the greatest meanes of all to worke love He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them is he that loveth me and hee shall be loved of the Father and I will love him and shew my selfe unto him when Christ shall shew himselfe to you when he shall open the clouds and let you see his beauty his glory Oh then you cannot but love him There is a great difference betwixt the Ministers shewing of you Christ and his excellencies and the Holy Ghosts Though wee could speake with the tongue of Angels yet it would be but as the dead letter to Christs shewing of himselfe When he shall shew you your ●ilenesse his excellency your sinfulnesse his holinesse your misesery his mercies you must needs love him Paul when he had revealed Christ what hee could to the Ephesians he prayes for them that God would give them the Spirit of wisdome and revelation Ephesians 1. 18. As who should say the labour is all lost if you should see no more than I preach You love not a man till you know him your selfe the Lord shewed himselfe to Moses David Paul which made them love him so much Goe therefore to the Lord and pray as Moses Lord shew mee thy glory and beg it earnestly at his hands and that which was done extraordinarily shall be done to thy soule That was but a shewing of the Lord by a right light which is done more or lesse to every one But this is an act of the Lord what shall I doe to it Consider what the Scripture sayes of him what the Saints say of him but most of all what he hath beene to thee See with what patience love and mercy hee hath carryed himselfe towards thee as when we converse with a man out of his severall actions we gather his disposition and so frame an Idea of him in our minde We must humble our selves labour to see our miserable conditions for that will bring love So Paul when he considered that hee was the worst of all it made him love more then them all So Mary when she conceived how unfit she was to conceive by the Holy Ghost she sung that song When we looke on our selves and see our owne sinnes and miseries our love to Christ will bee increased When a man shall have a true apprehension of himself and his misery and can expect nothing but death and damnation and then Christ should come and say no But hee shall live this wounds a mans heart with love Looke on your secret sinnes your relapses your misery by sinne and then on Christs comming with his mercies and favours and you cannot but love him I say looke on thy sinnes weigh them with their circumstances Thinke that after so many adulteries committed against Christ yet that he should say If you will come in yet will I receive you this might shake thee and melt thy heart He that loveth not th 〈…〉 Lord sees not his misery nor that good hee hath by him Strengthen thy faith for the stronger thy faith is the greater will thy love be A strong hand rids more worke then a weake Take a man excellent in all gifts whom thou much admirest yet if hee loved not thee thou wouldest not much care for such an one so though thou feest much excellency in Christ yet thou canst not love him unlesse thou hast a perswasion that he loves thee But how shall I know that he will love me hee hath made it knowne that he is thine and that he is willing to become thy familiar friend GOD hath given him in marriage to thee To us a child is borne to us a sonne is given And Christ himselfe hath shewne sufficiently his love unto thee He hath spent his bloud for thee yea he continually speakes to his Father in thy behalfe yea hee sues to thee for love he loves thee first and sues to thee as the man doth to the woman thou maist be perswaded therefore that he loves thee But I am not fit to be a Spouse to Christ. It is true and he knew that well enough Hee will take thee a Blackamoore and afterwards will put beauty on thee Ezekiel 36. 16. Stand not thou on thy unfitnesse when he is thy Su●or But it may be he stands thus and thus affected to such and such persons and how shall I know that the Lord loves mee and is willing to take mee I can say nothing to thee but this and that is sufficient thou hast his generall promise made to all Mark 16. Goe preach the Gospel to every creature There is a generall mandate given to Ministers to preach the promise to all and why wilt thou make exceptions where God hath made none and enterline his promises Wee are commanded to offer Christ to all every one that will come may come and drinke of this water of life freely The offer is generall though but some imbrace it But I want godly sorrow for my sinnes And this is required before we can receive Christ. Yet deceive not thy selfe the matter is not whether thy humiliation be more or lesse only come The promise is made to all that come they shall be refreshed Indeede thou wilt not come till thou art somewhat humbled Thou wilt not flye to the City of refuge till thou art pursued by the avenger of blood But if thou come at all God will fulfill his promise Sticke not so much on the degree of thy humiliation Take a man that hath committed high Treason for which he is condemned and brought to the place of execution ready to suffer but then there is a pardon offered him And take another guilty of the same fact but as yet not condemned and bring him a pardon he is even as joy full as the other for he saw his case was even as bad onely it was not so farre gone and he hath not lived so long in sorrow So some mens sinnes are grosser and their sorrow more violent other sinnes are lesse but yet such as they see them like to damne them they therefore are humbled as truly though not so violently Therefore though thou hast not had so much sorrow as others nor felt those terrours of the Almighty yet if thou hast so much as will bring thee to Christ and make thee sticke close unto him so as thou wouldest not leave him for any thing in the world it is enough thou shalt have him Why then stick you what hinders your faith The impediments must be on Gods part or on your part But it is not on Gods part for his promise is full and large most free

it doe not raigne in the Saints yet doth remaine and dwell in them for proofe whereof see this place of Scripture If any man thinketh saith Saint Iohn that he hath no sinne hee is a lyer and there is no truth in him The truth whereof will be seene in these things clearely 1. Because our knowledge is imperfect and therefore every grace is imperfect as our faith and so our love and therefore much sinne must be in a man in as much as his grace is not perfect 2. The flesh lusteth against the spirit therefore it is plaine there is sinne in us yea so much that often times it even captivateth us 3. Wee have in this life but the first-fruits of the spirit now when wee shall have it in fulnesse we shall have no more than enough therefore having now but the first-fruits of the spirit Mortification and Sanctification sinne is not wholly abolished in the Saints in this life but doth dwell in them The reasons hereof are 1. To humble us and to make us see what is in our hearts and to make us know that the Lord bringeth us to the holy Land therfore God sometimes left the Israelites to try them and so hee troubled Hezechiah to know what was in his heart and so he sent a Messenger of Satan to buffet S. Paul lest hee should be exalted above measure through aboundance of Revelations and so the Lord doth deale with every Saint 2. That Christ may be acknowledged for if wee had no sinne in us we should not acknowledge the benefits of his mediation so much as now wee doe All are shut up under sinne that he might have mercie upon all Rom. 3. 9. 11. 32. that is that it might be manifested and declared that they are saved meerely by the mercie of God in Christ as is said Rom. 3. 26. Otherwise wee should not rightly value our justification and sanctification but seeing him subduing pardoning our sinnes wee see what need we have of him how that we are lost without him 3. That wee might exercise our faith 1 Ioh. 3. 2. Wee are the sonnes of God but it doth not yet appeare what wee shall be c. So God hath hid his children under basenesse that their faith might be exercised for things we see we may easily beleeve but faith is of things not seene therefore God doth as men doe hide Jewels under base places where men would looke least for them wherefore wicked men stumble and are offended at this because they doe not beleeve it and therefore it is made an article of our faith that we need and beleeve the remission and forgivenesse of sinnes But let us apply it 1. This should teach us not to be discouraged for those infirmities that are in us for there are such in every Saint Sinne is a guest to evill men but a theefe to the godly which they would not have come in their hearts so it is one thing to weare a chaine as an ornament and another as a fetter to restraine them therefore the godly ought not to be discouraged but to assure themselves they are under grace 2. Wee must not censure men for the slips and falls wee see in them for wee must remember that sinne dwelleth in them we must not presently judge them to be hypocrites Be not many masters saith S. Iames that is censure him not for he standeth or falleth to his owne Master Rom 14. 4. 3. This should teach us to be watchfull and not to think our labour is at an end when we are in the state of grace for sinne still dwelleth in us and though we have the victory over sinne one day it will fight against us the next day as in a garden the weeds will grow because the roots are not quite plucked up and taken away so sinne is in us and therefore we must think it will fight against us and vex us and therefore I say let us renue our strength Now for this we must doe these two things First weaken sinne Secondly pray to God to make us watchfull And so I have also done with the second doctrine Againe from the latter part of these words or reason of the promise made unto them in the former part of this verse that sinne shall not have dominion over them because they are not under the Law but under grace I gather this conclusion viz. 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 sinne 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 their sinne is forgiven them this is proved from that Faith purifieth the heart and You repent and beleeve the Gospel Now the reasons hereof are these foure especially 1. Because it is the meanes to get the spirit without which no sinne is forgiven which commeth by faith for it is not recieved by the law for so saith the Apostle Received you the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith Gal. 3. 2. Secondly it is the way to make us beleeve the promises to make us beleeve that wee are transformed into a heavenly nature for when wee beleeve the promises are true that works love in us and love transformeth us into the divine nature without which no sinne is overcome Thirdly because hereby wee are able to resist the tentations which are either for the enjoying of good or fleeing of evill so that these promises propound more good than sinne can harme sinne threatned the losse of outward things but the promises propound eternall life which is better than all things else in the world Fourthly because we doe delight in God for when wee doe beleeve in God that our sinnes are forgiven us in Christ then we looke at God as on a mercifull Father and then wee cease to delight in the world and we begin to delight our selves in the Lord. The use hereof is first for direction to teach us the way how to heale a sinne and that is to get assurance that it is pardoned and forgiven for legall terrours doe not heale a sinne but it is faith that purifies the heart and purifying pacifies it As a Traytor will not come in when hee heares a proclamation out for his death but when he heares he shall live and be pardoned this makes him to come in so we when wee onely fix our eyes upon the legall terrours shall not heale our sinnes but when wee beleeve they are pardoned this heales them But sorrow and a broken heart are required for sinners to be assured of their forgivenesse This sorrow is not so much commanded but it is that whereby God prepareth his servants hearts to make them see what need they have of pardon and so they may ask pardon but

bee without this love to him Now wee come to the third thing the reasons why they are worthy to bee accursed unto the death that Love not the Lord Iesus This may seeme strange and harsh What then becomes of all unregenerated men The Apostle meanes sure such as continue in their not loving the Lord or such as have sinned against the holy Ghost But the former sence I take to bee the best neither is this any strange thing for it is one part of the Gospel There are two parts of the Gospel If you beleeve you shal be saved if you beleeve not you shal be damned Sometimes it is if you repent you shal be saved or if you doe not you shall perish so if you love you shal be saved if you love not you shal be accursed now why should hee pitch on such a frame of words to expresse their condition Because when Christ shall come and bee a suter to us when he shall woe us and offer himselfe to us and wee will have none of him then the Sonne waxes angry When he shall offer himselfe unto us and none will kisse him then hee waxes angry unto the death and they perish in the way The greatest love not answered turnes to the greatest hatred so when the Father sent to call them to the feast that were invited and they refused it this made him wrath when wee shall come to preach Christ to men when this light hid from the beginning of the world shall shine and you shall despise it and contemne it know that now is the axe laid to the roote of the tree God will beare it at your hands no longer Now if a man will not Love the Lord Iesus let him be had in execration yea let him bee accursed unto the death If a man did not keepe the Law he was to be cursed now there was a double keeping of the Law A Legall which answeres the exact rigour of the Law an Evangelicall which is an earnest endeavouring to keepe the Law and to make a mans heart as perfect as may be Now there being more mercy in this there is a greater curse on the breach of it Now Love is the fulfilling of the Law and not to love the Lord is not to keepe the Law and therefore the Curse follows it If a man love not the Lord Iesus it is because he loves something better than him It may be you love your Wealth more than Christ And are you not worthy to be cursed for it It may be you are lovers of pleasure more than of God and doth not this deserve a Curse It may bee you love the praise of men before that of God and is not this to bee accursed Adultery was punished with death and what punishment then is enough for the going a whoring from such a God after such vanties Againe Cursing belongs to Hypocrites Woe be unto you Seribes and Pharisees Hypocrites Matthew 23. Now what a man doth not out of love is done out of hypocrisie which is to doe the outward action without the inward affection as counterfeit gold hath the same stamp and colour with true gold But as wee cast away counterfeit silver and gold set it apart to destruction nayling them up that they may bee knowne so will God deale with such as serve him outwardly without this love to him Love is that which commands all in a man It is as the rudder to a shippe all followes love When a man love not the Lord all go's from him Now when the whole man shall go from the Lord is not such a one worthy to bee cursed yea to bee had in execration to the death If this love of the Lord be so necessary then see what a sinne it is what an execrable thing it is not to love the Lord and what you are to thinke of your selves if you love not the Lord. When Iesus Christ shall bee propounded unto men and this light is great but men do● resist it and not embrace the Lord when we see this we should have such a spirit as Paul for this was out of the abundance of his zeale wee should I say bee stirred against such with an holy indignation Act. 17. Doe not I hate those that hate thee Psal. 139. yea I hate them with a perfect hate This thou hast that thou hatest the workes of the Nicholaitans which thing also I hate Revelations 2. And this was a signe of Lots sincerity that his righteous soule was grieved and vexed with the uncleane conversation of the Sodomites 2 Peter 2. If you can see Christ scorned and re jected and his Word slighted and his bloud trampled on and you your selves are not moved with it you are not of Pauls spirit who speaking of some whose God was their belly whose glory was their shame of whom saith hee I have told you often and now tell you weeping that they are the enemies of the crosse of Christ Philip 3. Whence came this but out of the abundance of his love to Christ and mankinde I wish yee would all looke to your selves whether you are in this number or not of those that love not the Lord. This is such a sinne as the curse is doubled upon it And the punishment is but to shew the measure of the sinne Hee thunders not out his curse against him that opposeth the Lord or resisteth him but against him that loveth not the Lord. The Apostle as Moses gets him up to the Mount Ebal and whom doth he curse Even all such as love not the Lord Iesus This Doctrine throughly considered may let in a crevice of light to thee that now thou maist looke on thy selfe as on an execrable thing which God hates and thou maist see GOD even stretching out his power to confound thee yea thou maist see the Gospel cursing thee But what terrour is there in the preaching of the Gospel you will say O much more my Brethren than may bee expressed for the curse of the Law was not so peremptory though we have plaine words for it yet it was not without all condition But God sweares to this curse as if wee were thus cursed if wee would continue not to love him The Law is the proper instrument of humbling yet the Gospel humbles more for sinne is the matter of Humiliation And there bee sinnes against the Gospel yea greater sinnes than against the Law when thou hearest the curse of the Law Cursed be he that continueth not in every thing that is written in the booke of the Law to doe them Galathians 3. You will say you wil go to Christ he shall do it for you But when the Gospel curses such as love not Christ to whom will you goe to love God Another man cannot love for you And if you thinke this be too harsh let this verse sound oft in your eares If any man love not the Lord Iesus Christ let him be

grace in a higher measure Christ pitches on this note above all others It is farre easier to love a holy man then to love God For hee lives amongst us wee have him continually before our eyes Doe not say then you love such as are a farre off you care not for these But you will say I love them well enough doe you so Doe you delight then in their company Are you in your naturall element when you are among them This you will doe by a naturall instinct if you love the Lord Iesus Againe doe you hate sinne in all the same ground will cause you to hate sinne which moves you to love grace Doe you then hate sinne as in dislike and distate in regenerate men and their societie bee it never so pleasant so profitable But what would you have mee to hate men then no but hate their sinnes and love them with the love of pittie Let thy heart melt to consider their case and desire their good love them but so as it may stand with the love of the Lord Iesus Looke then to your selves and examine your selves by these markes see that you have this love if yee have it not you are among the number of these men which are to bee accursed unto death But I hope I deserve not so bad my nature I hope is not so vile as not to love the Lord Iesus Nay thou hatest him doe you not wish that there were no such Lord to come to judgement that thou mightest live as thou pleasest Couldest thou not wish that thou mightest ever here enjoy these pleasures and never come at him Now to wish that one were not what is it but to hate him Quem metuunt oderunt Wee say men hate him whom they stand in feare of Doe you then feare and quake at his comming surely then you are haters of God But I hope we are not haters of God Why this is not so ●●ra●ge The Apostle tels us that there were such as loved their pleasures more then God 2 Tim. 3. yea and that there were haters of God also Rom. 1. 30. And in the second commandement God ●hreatens such as hate him Exo. 20. and thou maiest bee one of them For if you cannot endure his Company if your heart rise against his image it is plaine you are a hater of God What you would make me out of love with my selfe What doe you preach damnation to me it may be all these signes are not in me Am I then so accursed Yes we doe preach damnation to all that are in such a case and wee are to threaten the curse And thus the Lord esteemes of thee and it were good that you thought so of your selves in time It is the Ministers dutie to seperate the precious from the vile to distinguish betweene men To shew you truely what your conditions are Therefore apply this Text unto your selves every one If I love not the Lord Iesus I am an accursed man yea to bee had in execration to the death which might make you loath your selves in dust and ashes It might make sinne alive in you and bring you to love this Iesus So endeth the second Sermon A HEAVENLY TREATISE OF THE DIVINE LOVE OF CHRIST Sermon II. BY IOHN PRESTON DD. Matt. 22. 37 38. This is the first and great Commandement thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart Psal. 31. 26. Love the Lord O allye his Saints LONDON Printed by Thomas Paine for Iohn Stafford 1640. A HEAVENLY TREATISE OF THE DIVINE LOVE OF CHRIST Sermon III. 1 Cor. 16. 22. If any man love not the Lord Iesus Christ let him be had in execration yea let him be accursed unto the death NOw because this love is so needfull we will adde more signes for the triall of your selves For we cannot be better occupied A sixt sig●e therefore is this hee that loves will bee apt to praise and speake well of that he loves and he will exceed in it yea he is very glad when he heares others speake well of it So if we did love the Lord we should be apt to speake will of him we would be much in the speech of him When the heart is full of this love of God in Christ out of that aboundance in thy heart thy mouth will speak But thou speakest but little of God and that little is brought in by company thou art cold in thy praising of him why thou doest not love him see in David a man that loved the Lord. How much was hee in the praising of him Nay he could not bee content to doe this alone but hee must have all creatures to praise him and to speake good of his Name Even as a servant that commends his Master invites others to serve him This love enlarges the heart and opens the mouth O Corinthians our hearts are enlarged towards you and our mouthes are opened 2 Corinthians 6. 11. This is an argument that our hearts are enlarged that we abound in love when our mouthes are opened So that thy heart is straightened towards God if thy mouth bee not open to his praises But I cannot speake as other men I am no scholler if I had elocution gifts learning I could thus speake This is no excush it is the nature of love to make men eloquent the passions make eloquent As we say Pectus facit eloquentes magna pars eloquentiae constra animo Are you hen apt to speake well of God But this you will say is but a small matter who doth not Oh yes wee are wanting in that manner of speaking of him which love requires We doe not speake of him with that affection that sensiblenesse that may enflame others to love him See the Spouse in the Canticles Oh saith she My love is fairer then ten thousands And thus will the soule that loves God doe It will tell of his mercies abroad It will speake good of his Name And that not as a duty onely but as a thing in which it takes especiall delight Love followes the judgement you cannot love the Lord but you will thinke well of him See then what thy speeches are concerning him see if thy heart doe nimbly indite and thy tongue bee as the penne of a readie Scribe Psalme 45. Consider whether you endeavour to doe any thing for Christ without expostulating and indenting with him Whether you are ready to doe all things freely to him without consulting with another about it Amicitia non est revocanda ad calculos A friend must not bee strict in taking his account for then hee plaies but the Huckster he doth but buy and sell. When thou art trying and expostulating then whether such a duty be necessary or no whether another will not serve the turne this is a signe thou dost want love A Minister that hath this love when he is to take a Living will not so much enquire what reward

blood and live and I cannot but love thee for that If I looke to mount Olivet I see thee ascending farre above all heavens and I cannot but love thee for that also Indeed in Tabor thou hadst visible glory but it soone vanished in the Garden and Golgotha thou hadst little visible beauty why I should desire thee and in Olivet thou wast quite carried out of my sight If then thou liest for mee no where else what hope have I to love thee O thou to be beloved of all Art thou not in the tents of the Sheperds Dost thou not walke in the midst of the golden Candlestickes Doest thou not dwell in the hearts of men by faith O let mee see thee here below in the Church in my selfe Let thy glory goe before me that I may love thee for ever and ever and be blessed in thee Thou hast a long time been manifested to me in thy natures offices and markes for me and these draw mee to love thee Thou hast beene crucified before my eyes and the vertues of it have beene cleared by the Ministery of the Word and Sacraments I have heard and seene the promises signes and seales of thy dearest love and these might allure me to love thee But O thou chiefest of ten thousand why hast thou kept thy selfe at such a distance why hast thou not been formed in me why hast thou not dwelt in me that I might see in thee the glories and vertues of thy life death resurrection ascension and to be sicke of love Thou hast stood and knockt at the doore of my unworthy heart for this end Thou wouldest have come in and supped with me after the noon-shine of the Gospel with thine owne banquet But alas there was no roome for thee because I desired first to feast it out with the base guests of sinfull lusts before I would give thee entertainement The cause hath been in my selfe that I have not beene better acquainted with thee and so that I have not loved thee O wretched soule that I am who shall deliver me from being an enemy to my self I have bowed my knees to the Father of thee the Lord Iesus that he would grant to me according to the riches of his glory that I may have his assistance to empty my selfe of all my wickedguests that thou mayest come into me and I may have the better list and leasure to contemplate thy glory and be grounded in thy love O my blessed Lord Iesus Could I but get this my gaines would be unspeakeable Whatsoever thou commandest would be sweet because I love thee If I could give thee my heart thou wouldst give it better to me againe for no uncleane thing can come out of thy hands But O my desired love I have denied thee therefore I deny my selfe I have rejected thee therefore I reject my selfe Doe with me as thou wilt onely first love me and let me answer thee with love againe And why should not I be confident to be heard in this seeing thou my love sittest at the right hand of God making request for me Speak thou the word and thy poore servant shall love thee Say to my soule My Father hath heard thy prayer and then I will love thee dearely My Lord Iesus if I love thee I live If I love thee not I perish under a fearefull curse for evermore And shall it be thus with me O thou that wilt not the death of poore sinners who pant after thee No no thy merits and intercession have prevailed with my God I finde the filth of domineering sinne in some measure washed from the windowes of my soule that the beames of thy glory may pierce it and draw my love after thee Now doe I begin to be sicke of love and earnestly desire thy company here by grace and hereafter by glory I love to heare thee speak let me heare thy voice for it is sweet and to speake to others of thee and thy beauties Thou hast made mee something willing to doe and to suffer any thing for thee Lord perfect this good worke If I see the meanest persons like thee in thy goodnesse My delight is in them I love them the better for thy sake I dare not wilfully anger thee and my soule is vexed with them that doe it Thus the pulses of my soule by thy blessing doe begin to beat after thee But alas when I consider how weake I am in thy love to thee my Saviour when I find a thousand things creep in betwixt thee home and steale my heart away from thee when I feele how easily I am diverted from thee and thy service what comfort can my poore soule have now O my Lord Iesus thou wilt not leave thy own worke suffer thy tender plant to wither away when thou hast sowed thy seed hast thou not prepared the former and latter raine Shall I not be able to doe this through him that loveth thee and me I may not run from thy love thou art my Lord. I dare not thou art my Iesus If thou live let me know thy love to me If I live let me feele my love to thee Oh shed it more in my heart that as in beleeving in thee my person is justified so in loving thee my faith may be justified and in having faith working by love I may so constantly walke in thy presence that with comfort I may sing with the Bride Come Lord Iesus come quickly Even so Amen FINIS TWO TREATISES VIZ. THE CHRISTIAN FREEDOME AND THE DEFORMED FORME OF A FORMALL PROFESSION By that late faithfull and worthy Minister of Iesus Christ JOHN PRESTON Doctor in Divinity Chaplaine in Ordinary to his Majestie Master of Emanuell Colledge in Cambridge and sometimes Preacher of Lincolnes Inne LONDON Printed by I. N. for Iohn Stafford and are to be sold at his Shop in Chancery-lane over against the Roules 1641. THE CHRISTIAN FREEDOME OR The Charter of the Gospel 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 applied Viz. 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 JOHN PRESTON Doctor in Divinity Chaplaine in Ordinary to his Majestie Master of Emanuell Colledge in Cambridge and sometimes Preacher of Lincolnes Inne ROM 6. 12. Let not sinne therefore raigne in your mortall bodies that you should obey it in the lusts thereof Printed 1641. The Names of Doctor IOHN PRESTON his severall Treatises 1. A Treatise of the Attributes of God

the sorrow commanded is that which followes beliefe for the more I beleeve the promises the more I shal grieve for displeasing him But what is the way to get assurance of the forgivenesse of our sinnes may some say I answer That that be done which is to be done on our part beleeved which God hath promised First The things to be done on our part are these 1. Confession plainely and truly we must confesse them to God and to man when we our selves cannot overcome them 2. Contrition which is when a man is not stubborne and resisteth Gods will and will please himselfe to get his heart broken and to say as S. Paul saith Lord what wilt thou have mee to doe and then we are subject to his will To him will I looke that is of a contrite heart 3. Desertion or forsaking of sinne for He that forsaketh not his sinnes shall not prosper which is when we having the like occasions yet will not give way to him but follow our owne lusts Secondly That that be beleeved which God hath promised and that is that as hee hath said He will forgive our sinnes upon such and such conditions so we beleeve it And to make us to doe this these motions may perswade us 1. Because he is mercifull in whose mercy there are three things all very materiall and moving 1. It is naturall to him hee is not weary of shewing mercy as the eye is not weary of seeing nor the eare of hearing no more is God in shewing mercie but in us it is not naturall but an infused quality and therefore wee are weary when men provoke us often 2. His mercy is infinite but in men it is not so therefore come within compasse of this quality and hee will exercise it for no sinne is beyond Gods mercy this keepeth us from despaire for though they be great yet God is able to forgive them As the raine watereth as well the great field as the little garden and as the Sunne shines as well on mountaines as on Molehills and as it disperseth the thick mist as well as the least thinne cloud so doth Gods mercy passe by great sinnes as well as little But if our sinnes be exceeding great aggravated with circumstances and often committed then we cannot imagine that God will forgive us This is answered by the Prophet Isaiah God is more mercifull than man can be sinfull he is more mercifull than we can imagine My thoughts are as much above your thoughts as the heaven is above the earth 3. We see much mercy in men and in the mother of a childe now it is but as a drop out of the ocean of Gods mercy but as a spark to the whole element of fire If you being evill can give good things to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father c. See what the Scripture saith I am mercifull forgiving iniquity transgression and sinne the first word signifies originall sinne the second actuall the third rebellion all which God can forgive Secondly because it is the end of Christs comming into the world now no man will doe any thing especially so great a matter as to kill himselfe for no end Christ then dyed for the forgivenesse of sinnes This S. Paul urgeth the end of Christs comming was to save sinners otherwise the crosse of Christ had beene of none effect and his mediation of no use if men did not commit sinnes or if God should not forgive them therefore God must needs be ready to forgive Thirdly because God beseecheth us to be reconciled unto him through Christ now if God doth this if wee seeke earnestly hee will heare us The Prodigall being willing to come home to his Father he met him and received him joyfully so doth God hee chargeth his Ministers to compell men to come in that is to preach Gods mercy that he will forgive their sinnes and therefore the most acceptable action to God is to bring a sinner to him Fourthly the charge laid on us to beleeve wee are charged on the paine of death to beleeve and therefore it is most profitable for us and most pleasing to him hee takes it wel at our hands that wee should beleeve and by the hand of faith lay hold on him which hee would not doe if he were not ready to forgive Fifthly from the examples of others let us see what God hath done for them and it will make us beleeve he forgave Manasses as well as Ioshua he pardoned Mary Magdalen as well as Elizabeth and Paul as well as Peter he hath forgiven the greatest sinnes as well as the least and he will also deale so with us Sixthly from the effects of it which are these 1. It glorifieth God much Abraham beleeved and glorified God much for the greater the sinner is the more honour is given to God as the Physitian hath the greatest glory by curing the greatest wound so God hath the greatest glory by forgiving the greatest sins which wound the soule even to death 2. It moveth us to love God the more Mary loved much because much was forgiven her 3. It mollifies the most it causeth them to relent and weepe much more This is plaine by that place where it is said that when God forgave the greatest sinnes then they mourned and lamented as in those Converts Act. 2. 37. 4. It purifies the heart for no man lookes to keepe his heart pure untill hee be assured of the forgivenesse of his sinnes for till then hee cannot looke on God as on a Father but on the contrary when the sinne is not forgiven God loseth the glory of being a Father and the glory of his truth and of his mercy and that hardens the heart from relenting Seventhly from the price which was payed and which no sinne can goe beyond indeed if Christ had payed but a finite price wee might feare that our sinnes should not be forgiven If a man were in debt two thousand pound and there were but one pay'd hee might be discouraged but when there is infinitely more pay'd than the debt is this should make us beleeve our sinnes are forgiven us whatsoever they be seeing they be all but finite Eighthly from the tenour of the Promises which proclaime that they that beleeve and repent and forsake their sinnes shall finde pardon for them as a King that proclaimes that all traytors and rebels shall be pardoned if they would lay downe their weapons Now Non est excipiendum ubi ●ex non excipit There is no exception to be made where the law makes none God faith yea therefore hath said and sworne it that he will forgive our sinnes that we may beleeve it But I have committed the sinne oft Yet God will forgive thee Though thou hast oft committed whoredome yet I will forgive thee if thou turne unto me saith the Lord by the Prophet of the house of Israel Ier. 3.

1. Hence then to make some use of it wee may learne not to deceive our selves to think we are in the state of grace when we are not for if wee did truly beleeve our sinnes are forgiven us wee would be healed but if we have the same lusts and keepe the same company which we did when wee were not changed it is a meere delusion whatsoever we say or think And thus much for the third point too there yet remaines one more wherewith wee will conclude the whole text and that we may draw from the contrary to what the Apostle here saith and indeed it is implyed though not exprest for if sin have no dominion over them that are not under the law but under grace then on the other side must it needs be as true That Whosoever is under the law sinne hath dominion over him that is Hee that refraineth sinne onely for feare of the law and of judgements sinne hath dominion over him this is the case of them that refraine sinning onely for feare and for the salvation of their soules or for educations sake which have beene brought up in good families or such as repent upon some amazement like the bulrushes which hang downe their heads onely while the shower lasts And that First because all such as are not under grace but under the law have not received the spirit which commeth by hearing the Gospell and no creature can change one creature into another as lead into gold or a Wolfe into a Lamb unlesse it be by Gods spirit Secondly to such Gods service is burthensome and violent motious last not long they are weary in clambering up an hill all naturall motions are swifter at the last than at the first but these are like the Israe it es who after a time would have returned into Aegypt againe Now then to end all with the time let us 1. Be exhorted not to abstaine from any sinne for feare of punishment but consider whether thou wouldest serve God for Gods sake although there were neither heaven nor hell it must be our meat and drink which men would doe though there were no punishment for the omission of it Blessed is hee that hungreth and thir steth after righteousnesse 2. Hence we may learne not to deferre repentance till death sicknesse crosses or age comes then it may be you would not sinne though with Balaam you had your house full of gold and silver for it 's not the abstinence from sinne that God loveth but the change of the heart Amaziahs heart was not right though he walked in all the wayes of David There are men that have made a covenant with hell and death but God will disanull that covenant or it will be but equivocall many have sworne in their sicknesse never to commit sinne again which afterward they have committed again with greedinesse many have dyed in the same without repentance 3. Labour to see your selves doing duties with as much love as you can and with as little feare because perfect love casteth out feare And so beloved I have given you a briefe survay of the severall points contained in this portion of holy Scripture wherefore if you know these things happy are yee if yee doe them FINIS 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 godlinesse necessary to salvation and that many have the forme but not the power thereof In handling whereof These three things are plainly and powerfully explained and applyed 1. What godlinesse is 2. What the power of it is 3. What be 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 JOHN PRESTON Doctor in Divinity Chaplaine in Ordinary to his Majestie Master of Emanuell Colledge in Cambridge and sometimes Preacher of Lincolnes Inne Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of Heaven but hee that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven Math. 7. 21. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the fatherlesse and widowes in their afflictions and to keepe himselfe unspotted of the world James 1. 27. Printed 1641. THE DEFORMED FORME OF A FORMALL PROFESSION 2 TIMOTHIE 3. 5. Having a forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof OUR Apostle S. Paul doth in these words give us a part of a description of wicked men in the latter times he bringeth them in by way of prevention or objection or answer to an objection as if some should wonder that there should be such kinde of persons in the Church as hee in the former verses had described Covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankfull unholy c. doe these live as the Church do's Doe these retaine the Sacraments and the like Yes saith the Apostle they doe wee cannot denie it only this They have a forme of godlinesse but c. So that the point of doctrine arising from hence doth plainly appeare even at the first sight to be this viz. That there is a powerfull godlinesse necessary to salvation and that many have but the forme not the power thereof Now there be three things to be explained in opening of this doctrine to shew 1. What godlinesse is 2. What the power thereof is 3. The reasons why many have no more but the form therof For the first that you may the better conceive what Godlinesse is I will first shew you what it is not First then it is not bare nature but that godlinesse which God requireth of all men is more then so God indeed hath commanded nature yea even corrupt nature to bring forth many fruits of godlinesse as much abstinence from pleasure much patience much temperance and such like which are all very beautifull in their owne Spheres but because they come not from God nor his Spirit of sanctification or because they have no respect of God therefore they are not godlinesse neither doth God regard them Secondly it is not the act of religion proceeding from selfe-love though offered to God in regard that men see that God is the governour of the world that he hath the keyes of heaven and earth and men may doe much to God for such respects using him as a bridge to get to heaven by making themselves their utmost ends and therefore this is not godlinesse but what is it then you will say Thirdly it is a divine grace infused into the soule by God whereby a man followes God loves him magnifies him sets him up in his heart above all and manifesteth this in his life and the whole course of it doing all for him and to him and it is thus wrought When the creature