A09977:378
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.
6 Besides, if a man considers what it is that doth make things pleasant, and gives amabilitie to that, which is harsh in it self. Labour in it self is sweet to no man, unless there be something in it that sweetens it: now consider what that is, if in it thy eye is upon thy wealth, that comes by it; if thou studiest hard, and if thou preachest much, and it is for the praise of men, thou seekest thy self, and thy reward is in it; but if thou lookest up to the Lord, if thou doest it, because he sees it, and knows it, and that he may say; I know thy work and thy labour; it is a sign that thy end in it, was the Lord, and not thy self.
6 Besides, if a man considers what it is that doth make things pleasant, and gives amabilitie to that, which is harsh in it selfe. Labour in it selfe is sweet to no man, unlesse there be something in it that sweetens it: now consider what that is, if in it thy eye is upon thy wealth, that comes by it; if thou studiest hard, and if thou preachest much, and it is for the praise of men, thou seekest thy selfe, and thy reward is in it; but if thou lookest up to the Lord, if thou doest it, because he sees it, and knowes it, and that he may say; I know thy worke and thy labour; it is a signe that thy end in it, was the Lord, and not thy selfe.
7 From whence doest thou look for wages? from God or from men? Whence come those complaints of the unthankfulness of friends and pupils, and those we do good to? but because we look to men, and not to God. For if we did look to God for our reward, their thankfulness or unthankfulness would be of small moment to us: for doth the Nurse nurse the child for it own sake only? doth she look for reward from the child, or from the mother that putteth it to nurse; if you look for your reward from men; they are your end; but if you look for it from the Lord, their encouragements or discouragements will not much move you.
7 From whence doest thou looke for wages? from God or from men? Whence come those complaints of the unthankfulnesse of friends and pupils, and those we doe good to? but because we looke to men, and not to God. For if we did looke to God for our reward, their thankfulnesse or unthankfulnesse would be of small moment to us: for doth the Nurse nurse the childe for it own sake only? doth shee looke for reward from the child, or from the mother that putteth it to nurse; if you look for your reward from men; they are your end; but if you looke for it from the Lord, their encouragements or discouragements will not much move you.