A09977:328
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.
1Again, if this be so, then consider the freeness ⟨p. 125⟩of his grace,2 in all the goodness which he bestows: for to have done any thing for a man before-hand, doth lessen the benefit bestowed. Now consider, that thou hast done nothing to the Lord; therefore labour to magnify the Lord, that hath bestowed it upon thee. For this cause the Lord will have justification by faith, and not by works, that he might be magnified: And so he will have sanctification, not by the power of the free-will, but by the infused grace of his Spirit, that no flesh might boast. It is the Lord that is full, it is he that gives it to thee, thou canst do nothing to him; Rom. 11.35, 36.3 Who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed him again; for of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, &c. As if he should say, the Lord out of his free grace had showed mercy to the Jews, (for of them he there speaks) they were wet, like Gideons fleece, when all the world was dry. Afterwards it pleased him to bedew the Gentiles, when the Israelites were dry; well, he hath done this, says Paul, and what hast thou to say to him? Did he any wrong? Is he not free? May not he do what he will? This is one use. Another is, that you should be content with his disposing; he owes nothing to any; for of him, and through him, and for him are all things; to him be glory for ever; Amen. Use 3
1Againe, if this be so, then consider the freenesse ⟨p. 125⟩of his grace,2 in all the goodnesse which hee bestowes: for to have done any thing for a man before-hand, doth lessen the benefit bestowed. Now consider, that thou hast done nothing to the Lord; therefore labour to magnifie the Lord, that hath bestowed it upon thee. For this cause the Lord will have justification by faith, and not by workes, that he might be magnified: And so he will have sanctification, not by the power of the free-will, but by the infused grace of his Spirit, that no flesh might boast. It is the Lord that is full, it is he that gives it to thee, thou canst doe nothing to him;