A09977:514
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
Sermon 12: THE TWELFTH SERMON.Sermon 12: THE TVVELFTH SERMON.
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.
1I will conclude this with a reason out of the text, He is a being, I AM hath sent me unto you. If he be a being, then either the first or second being. A second being he cannot be, for then there should be some before him, and above him, upon which he should be dependent: but this cannot be; therefore he is absolutely the first being. Adam was the first man, but God only is the first absolute being. Now the first being was never in possibility to be: and therefore he is a pure act in regard of his essence. Again, there are no qualities springing from him; for if there were, they should have had sometimes no being; and so in possibility to be, and consequently have a beginning, and be a creature: Therefore there is neither Potentia substantialis, nor accidentalis in him, and so he must be purus actus, as the Schoolmen say; and ⟨p. 51⟩therefore he is most simple, without all composition. This I speak to scholars; for it is a mixed auditory: and therefore you must give me a little liberty.
1I will conclude this with a reason out of the text, He is a being, I AM hath sent mee unto you. If he be a being, then either the first or second being. A second being he cannot be, for then there should be some before him, and above him, upon which he should be dependent: but this cannot be; therefore hee is absolutely the first being. Adam was the first man, but God onely is the first absolute being. Now the first being was never in possibility to be: and therefore he is a pure act in regard of his essence. Againe, there are no qualities springing from him; for if there were, they should have had sometimes no being; and so in possibility to be, and consequently have a beginning, and be a creature: Therefore there is neither Potentia substantialis, nor accidentalis in him, and so hee must be purus actus, as the Schoolemen say; and ⟨p. 51⟩therefore he is most simple, without all composition. This I speake to schollers; for it is a mixt auditory: and therefore you must give mee a little liberty.
- 1Reas. 6.