A09977:237
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.
2 When we can go no whither else. So that look to any time or place, and consider that all other gods they are but vanity. For, look upon the world, and the creatures, and they have no bottom to stand on, they have no state to hold by. Therefore, let this teach us to cleave to him without separation: look upon every side, as David did, to the right hand, and to the left, and you shall see that there was no other god. Only here the soul hath sure footing; therefore say, that if the dissolution of all things should come, as death and martyrdom, (as we know not how soon they may) yet God shall be our God, we will forsake ⟨p. 87⟩all to follow him. Consider the present time of the Church, consider how soon the times may come upon us, when we shall be put to it; for now things are in praecipitio; hasting down to the bottom of the hill; and we know not how near we are to that hour of temptation, spoken of in the Revelations; when it shall be as it was in Isaiah's time, 2 Chron. 15.6.1 Nation shall rise against Nation. These times are growing, and gathering strength more and more; therefore let us strengthen our faith, and prepare for a trial. Hitherto religion and peace have walked together in one path; but when they shall go in different paths, it will appear then, whose servants we are. So when the times of trial come, it will be a great matter to have this principle laid. If you should come to suffer death, and to lose your lives, it will be a great matter, to be rooted and grounded in the faith: for there is a great difference between those that have much earth, and between those that are not well rooted, that have not received this anointing, that teacheth us these things.
2 When we can goe no whither else. So that looke to any time or place, and consider that all other gods they are but vanitie. For, looke upon the world, and the creatures, and they have no bottom to stand on, they have no state to hold by. Therfore, let this teach us to cleave to him without separation: looke upon every side, as David did, to the right hand, and to the left, and you shall see that there was no other god. Only here the soule hath sure footing; therefore say, that if the dissolution of all things should come, as death and martyrdome, (as wee know not how soone they may) yet God shall be our God, we will forsake