A09977:243
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 Those, that brought any special help, and comfort to the lives of men; as they that did invent useful Arts, as Bacchus, Ceres, Vulcan, Aesculapius; and also they worshipped the creatures themselves, as the Sun, and Moon, and Oxen, and the like.
2 Those, that brought any speciall helpe, and comfort to the lives of men; as they that did invent usefull Arts, as Bacchus, Ceres, Vulcan, Aesculapius; and also they worshipped the creatures themselves, as the Sunne, and Moone, and Oxen, and the like.
3 They worshipped for god, that which was stronger than themselves; therefore Tully saith, we build a Temple to Fevers, to Diseases, because ⟨p. 90⟩they were stronger than they, they could kill men when they did seize upon them: so they did build a Temple to Fortune. Now to translate this to our selves, see if we have not the same ground with us; see if the things that have any excellency amongst men; if the things that are profitable to us, and things that exceed us in strength, and over-power us, whether they are not ready to be set up as gods; when men spend themselves upon their pleasure, and are afraid of men, what is this, but to set up another god? We do the same, though not in the same manner that the Heathens did. Now, for the worshipping the creatures; we are not to do it: there is no creature in the world that can do either good or hurt, as it was said of Idols. But when our affections are so inordinately carried to them, we set them up for gods, though we observe it not. It is Gods prerogative royal, and it belongs only to him, to do good or evil; whatsoever is either good or evil, he is the Author of it; he makes mens lives comfortable, or uncomfortable, at his pleasure; for he disposeth of things, giving them, and taking them from whom he will. Therefore, why is he forgotten? and why do men join other things with him? so far, as men see not the vanity of all things, and so far, as their affections are taken up with these outward things, so much Idolatry there is in their hearts. Therefore you must take heed that you give not Gods glory to another.