A09977:268
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.
When you hear this name, I am that I am; that it is the Lords will to set limits to us. When the Lord came down from the Mount, he set limits to the people, and he gave this reason of it; I will not have them stand and gaze; so is it in this case, it is a dangerous thing to go too far; you know what did come to the Bethshemites, because they would be gazing: Remember that speech of God to Manoah; Why doest thou ask my name that is secret? There is something that is secret in God.
When you heare this name, I am that I am; that it is the Lords will to set limits to us. When the Lord came downe from the Mount, he set limits to the people, and he gave this reason of it; I will not have them stand and gaze; so is it in this case, it is a dangerous thing to goe too farre; you know what did come to the Bethshemites, because they would be gazing: Remember that speech of God to Manoah; Why doest thou aske my name that is secret? There is something that is secret in God.
Object. But, you will say; I would but see reason of things.
Answ. But thou must stay for this till mortality be put off; and in the mean while stand a far off, and look on God: And when thou seest the vast works of God, when thou seest him to span the winds in his fist, and measure the waters in the hollow of his hand, and to weigh the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance, &c. It is no great thing if thou art ignorant of his counsels. It is made an argument why we should not search into his secrets, Prov. 30.4.1 Who hath ascended up to heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the winds in his fist? who hath bounded the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, or what is his Sons name, if thou canst tell? As if he should say; it is impossible that this mighty Work-man, he that did all this, that thou shouldest know him, or know the ground of his counsels; you can see but his back-parts, you can see no more and live, and you need see no more, that you may live.