A09977:537
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.
That we might draw it to a little more particulars, you shall see an other expression of this, Ephes. 6.5. Servants be obedient to them that are your masters in the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart as unto Christ: that is, servants, take heed even with fear and trembling, that you admit not by and sinful respects in performing your duty, as there are many motives, as fear, hope, reward, and a necessity ⟨p. 66⟩to do it, but keep your hearts single that you may look only upon Christ and his commandment, and then you shall be faithful in your service; but if other respects mingle themselves with this simplicity, you will do but eye-service, you will do it in a double and dissembling manner, not plainly, and heartily, and simply. Therefore let us put in practise this simplicity upon all occasions, in all other things whatsoever. Rom. 12.8.1 He that distributeth let him do it in simplicity: that is, men are subject to by ends in their good works; as in giving alms, or showing a kindness to men, there may be many by-respects, as that they may make use of them hereafter or the like, but, saith he, keep you your hearts simple, to look upon GOD alone in them. So in conversing with men, when you profess love and kindness, you are subject to by ends in doing it, but they are commended, Act. 2.46. that they did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart: that is, what love they professed one to another, it was simple and plain, not double. Compare this place with that in 1 Pet. 1.22. Seeing you have purified your selves in obeying the truth through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren; see that ye love one another with a pure love fervently: that is, when there is nothing else, when the heart is simple and plain, when there is nothing but love, no mixture, no by ends in it. So likewise when you come to preach the Gospel, do it in simplicity of heart, that ⟨p. 67⟩