A09977:547
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.
Because wheresoever there is any change,1 there must be some vanity and imperfection; that all the creatures are subject to change, it ariseth from hence, that they are subject to some imperfection. Now that which is most perfect, cannot be subject to change; because in every change, either there is some perfection added that before was wanting, or else something is taken away which before was enjoyed. Now neither of these can befall our GOD, who is most perfect, nothing can be added or taken away from him; for if any thing could, he were not perfect: whence it must needs follow, that he is unchangeable.
Because wheresoever there is any change,1 there must be some vanity and imperfection; that all the creatures are subject to change, it ariseth from hence, that they are subject to some imperfection. Now that which is most perfect, cannot be subject to change; because in every change, either there is some perfection added that before was wanting, or else something is taken away which before was enjoyed. Now neither of these can befall our GOD, who is most perfect, nothing can be added or taken away from him; for if any thing could, he were not perfect: whence it must needes follow, that he is unchangeable.
- 1Reas. 1.
Whatsoever is changeable must be in a possibility either to receive some new being,1 or some other being that it had not before, either in substance or in circumstance, or else it cannot be changeable: now that which is capable of no new being in any respect, nor other being in no circumstance, or accident, cannot be changed. Now GOD is exceeding full of being, as the sea is of water, and the Sun of light, that is, he hath all the degrees and extensions of being in him: therefore he is not in possibility of receiving any other being, than he hath; he is not subject to receive any other being, for substance, and no other being for quantity, and