A09977:418
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 Again, not only we are subject to motion, but the things that we have to do with, they are subject to motion, and pass away, and therefore they seem long to us: for time, you know is nothing else but the measure of motion; and therefore where there is motion, there is time, and no while else. Now to us that are in motion, and to the things that we have to do with, a thousand years are a thousand years; but in God there is no motion, nor flux; and therefore a thousand ⟨p. 170⟩years with him, are but as one day: God is neither in motion himself, nor are other things as in motion to him; but we are moved, and the things we have to do with, are moved; and if either, there must be motion, for if the ship moves: though the waters stand still; or if the waters move, though the ship stand still, there is motion; but God stands still, and all things stand still to him likewise. Do not wonder therefore that the Churches lye so long in misery, that the injuries of the Saints are so long unrevenged, do not accuse God, do not mistake him, do not think amiss of him, do not think that he is forgetful, and doth not remember, that he is slack, and doth not regard, that he cannot, or will not help. Beloved, it is not so; you shall see the very same use made of it, 2 Pet. 3. if you compare vers. 4, and 8, 9. together:1 In the latter days there shall come scoffers, &c. saying, where is the promise of his coming? for since the Fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the creation, vers. 8, 9. But be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The LORD is not slack concerning his promise (as some men count slackness) but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. It is not slackness in God: For (saith the Apostle) a thousand years with him are as one day. We think it a great matter, that the Church should lye so long, and cry, How long LORD! and yet no remedy, saith the Apostle, think not ⟨p. 171⟩much at it; For a thousand years with him are but as one day.