Four Godly and Learned Treatises, Title page – Table of contents 1
FOVRE GODLY AND LEARNED TREATISES.
Intituled,
I. A Remedy against Covetousnesse.
II. An elegant and lively Description of Spirituall Death and Life.
III. The Doctrine of Selfe-deniall.
IV. VponUpon the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
DELIVERED In sundry Sermons, by that late famous Preacher, and worthy instrument of Gods glory, IOHN PRESTON, Doctor of Divinitie, Chaplaine in Ordinarie to his Majestie; Master of Emanuel Colledge, and sometime Preacher of Lincolnes Inne.
The third Edition.
Printed at London by T. C. for Michael Sparke, and are to be sold at the blue Bible in Greene Arbor. 1633.
A Summe of the chiefest points, contained in the Remedy against Covetousnesse.
COvetousnesse defined, and plainely shewed what it is.
page 1, and 30
Idolatry consisteth in three things.
p. 1
In what sence, covetousnesse is called idolatry.
p. 2·
To seeke▪ helpe and comfort from riches or any creature, and not from God alone, is vaine and sinfull.
ibid
Covetousnesse which is idolatry, is to be mortified.
p. 3 and 46
The uncertainety of riches.
p. 4, 5
Reasons why riches are uncertaine and vaine.
p. 6, 7
Men spend so much time in seeking after riches, and tryfles, that they have no time to serve God.
p. 8
The rich man, may not glory in his riches and wealth.
p. 9
God can give us comfort without riches.
p. 10
Having the creature onelyonly, without the love and favour of the Creator, wee have the huske with…out the graine, the shell without the kernell▪
ibid
All our sinnes proceede from overvaluing of the Creature.
p. 11
They that seeke their happinesse in riches and in worldly things, seeke it the wrong way.
p. 13
Happinesse sought and placed in God (with whom is no change) must needs be perpetuall.
p. 15
Whatsoever men can leave their children, without Gods blessing, is nothing worth.
p. 16
Blessings considered without thankfull reference to God, they cease to be blessings.
p. 17
Those that have but a small Cottage, are many times more happy than many rich men.
p. 19
Wee must judge of outward things not by sence and feeling, but by faith and rectified reason.
p. 20.21
The creature cannot yeeld us comfort without God.
p. 22
Riches come not alwayes by labour, nor comfort by riches.
p. 24
Though all causes concurre and meete together, yet (without God) the effect followes not.
p. 25
Future spirituall and eternall things, are not uncertaine,
p. 26
Every one is guilty of this sinne of Covetousnesse, more or lesse,
p. 27
To love or joy in riches, i… adulterous love and joy.
p. 28
Signes to know whether our love to the creature, be right or no.
28.29
Our affection or desire to riches, is inordinate in foure respects.
31
If we be soundly humbled, we confesse our selves, not onelyonly unworthy the least of Gods mercies, but worthy to be destroyed.
32
Riches and wealth may not be sought for by unlawfull meanes.
33
Our end and scope in seeking to get riches, must be, not to serve our selves, or our owne lusts, but to glorifie God withall.
33
Seeking for riches in a wrong manner, is inordinate in five particulars.
34
In what respects, riches are a blessing.
35
Men may lawfully desire riches, referring and submitting their wils to God.
36
There is a threefold necessity, wherein men may desire that which is necessary.
37
Reasons against desire of superfluity and excesse.
38.39.40
The end of mens callings is not to scrape and rake for riches and wealth.
41
Men may lawfully take care to increase their estate, observing the right rules in doing it.
44
When a man is to be accounted and holden for a covetous man.
45
Exhortation to mortifie this earthly member, Covetousnesse.
47
Effectuall meanes to roote Covetousnesse out of our hearts.
ibid