A09977:192
Life eternalLife eternall
Life eternal or, A treatise of the knowledge of the divine essence and attributes Delivered in XVIII. sermons. By the late faithful and worthy minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston, D. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns Inn.Life eternall or, A treatise of the knowledge of the divine essence and attributes Delivered in XVIII. sermons. By the late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, D. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Majestie, master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns Inne.
London: printed by Richard, 1631
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
it is the belief of these principles, that enables the Saints to do all this: you live by your faith in these principles, though you observe it not; for this is a thing that is to be marked to this purpose, that the opinions of men, their imaginations and thoughts, they all proceed from such notions, as lye more overly in their hearts, but their actions proceed from the strong settled notions and principles that are riveted in their inward heart. And therefore, observe the lives of men; such as their principles in them are, such are their actions: For as it is true, on the one side, where men believe, there they come to God; so it is true on the other side, if men be not grounded in these first principles, if they do not believe, they do not come to him; but go on unevenly in their ways, and forsake their profession.
it is the beleefe of these principles, that inables the Saints to doe all this: you live by your faith in these principles, though you observe it not; for this is a thing that is to be marked to this purpose, that the opinions of men, their imaginations and thoughts, they all proceed from such notions, as lye more overly in their hearts, but their actions proceed from the strong setled notions and principles that are riveted in their inward heart. And therefore, observe the lives of men; such as their principles in them are, such are their actions: For as it is true, on the one side, where men beleeve, there they come to God; so it is true on the otherside, if men be not grounded in these first principles, if they doe not beleeve, they doe not come to him; but goe on unevenly in their wayes, and forsake their profession.
Now, whence comes this uneven walking, this exorbitance of the wheels, but from the weakness of the main spring, that sets all on motion? because these are the first springs, that set all the rest on work. For, could a man be carried away by the praise of men, by the voice and breath of man, on the one side; or could he be discouraged by the scoffs of men on the other ⟨p. 67⟩side, if he did fully believe this principle? it is impossible he should, as Isaiah 52.