A09977:332
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.
Use 6 Again, if God be thus full, then consider why he hath laid such a commandment on thee,1 to do such and such things. It is for himself? no, for thy righteousness, thy keeping of his Law reacheth not to him. What is it for, then? Surely it is for thy self, and for thy good. If for thee he hath commanded, and every commandment is for thy wealth; then consider what reason ⟨p. 128⟩thou hast to walk in his ways; he saith, as kind parents to their children, when they exhort them to good courses, it will be for your own good; and if you do it not, it will be for your hurt: as it is said of the Sabbath, It was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath; that is, God appointed the Sabbath for mans advantage, he would be undone else; he would grow wild, and forget God: and as it is said of the Sabbath, so it is true of every Commandment; therefore that is put to every Commandment; The Commandment, which I command you for your wealth, Is••••. 36. 17.2 that is, when ever I command you any thing, it is not for mine own sake, not, that I might be served and worshipped, (though that is joined with it) but it is for your profit, whatsoever I command. This then should stir us up to go about holy duties willingly, after another manner than we do. No man will serve himself unwillingly, (though, it may be, he will other men.) Now, all the Commandments of God do tend to our own advantage: for to that end hath he appointed them. Keep the Commandments and live in them: you live in them, as fire doth by wood, and the creatures by their food. If a man did consider this, he would do this in another manner; we go about our own business with intention, because it is our own; so if we were persuaded, that what God did command, it were for our own good, you would do it in all diligence; you would not only go, but run the ways of his Commandments; you would not only take heaven, ⟨p. 129⟩but you would take […] with violence, and with all your might and strength, you would do whatsoever he commands, for it is for your own profit, and not for his.