A Heavenly Treatise On The Divine Love Of Christ

John Preston D.D. (1587–1628) was a Reformed, English puritan minister, and master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. It is clear that his heart was firmly set on the propagation of the Calvinistic theology; his posthumous works (edited by Richard Sibbes, John Davenport, Thomas Ball, and partly by Thomas Goodwin, D.D.) are a storehouse of such sentiments. How much do you love Jesus Christ? Is your love true or manufactured? Such questions rub Christians the wrong way since it calls into question whether or not one has true love to the Savior Jesus Christ. Preston not only questions how one loves Christ, but shows both how one might love Christ sincerely, as well as the accursed state of those who do not love the Lord Jesus at all, or in a hypocritical manner. His text is 1 Cor. 16:22 “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema, maranatha." He shows how to love Christ, reasons to love Christ, who Christ is as the one we ought to love, and consequences for not loving him as we should; both as a Christian, and as the result of not being converted. This is not a scan or facsimile, has been updated in modern English for easy reading and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

John Preston (1587 - 1628) was born at Upper Heyford in the Parish of Bugbrook, Northamptonshire, and is the author of at least 23 books.You will find his writings are Christ-centered and touching. It's all about love!

TREATISE ON THE LOVE OF GOD SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES — A Catholic Classic! — Includes Over 600 Active Linked Endnotes — Includes an Active Index, Table of Contents and Layered NCX Navigation — Includes Illustrations by Gustave Dore Publisher: Available in Paperback: ISBN-13: 978-1-78379-449-2 This Treatise which I now present you, may be in some way serviceable to you, and that in it you will meet with many wholesome considerations which you would not elsewhere so easily find. We all look towards the glory of holy love. My intention is only to represent simply and naively, without art, still more without false colors, the history of the birth, progress, decay, operations, properties, advantages and excellences of divine love. PUBLISHER: CATHOLIC WAY PUBLISHING

THE following Treatise presents, at first sight, considerable difficulties. They do not arise from any defect in the Saint’s mode of expression, but are inherent in his subject and manner of treatment, “going deep down into the roots” of the Love of God. Thus he speaks in his Preface, and continues: “The first four books, and some chapters of the others might doubtless have been omitted without disadvantage to such souls as seek only the practice of holy love. . . . I have been forced to say many things which will appear more obscure than they are. The depths of science are always somewhat hard to sound.” But he tells us that the state of the minds of his age required this deeper treatment; and whatever may be thought as to the best way of presenting modern religious teaching to an age so ignorant, so shallow and so unthinking as is our own with regard to spiritual truths, there can be no question that this masterpiece of the chief doctor of ascetic theology must not be brought down to our level, but that we must raise ourselves towards it. Aeterna Press

Treatise on the Love of God is a manual intended to help believers strengthen their devotion to God. De Sales describes his project by saying, "it is truly my intention to represent simply and naïvely, without art, still more without false colours, the history of the birth, progress, decay, operations, properties, advantages and excellences of divine love." The Treatise is divided into twelve books. The first four books explain the nature of the human soul and provide the history of divine love. Book Five explores the two principle exercises of love, namely, sacred complacency and benevolence. Books Six and Seven discuss the importance of practicing love through prayer, while Books Eight and Nine express the importance of submitting to God's will. The final three books are devoted to exploring the practical importance of God's holy love in our lives. De Sales' Treatise is a captivating depiction of love.

Revelations of Divine Love is a religious text written by Julian of Norwich. It consists of a series of mystical visions the writer had whilst seriously ill.