A09977:551
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.
If you observe it among the creatures,1 you shall find, that all change ariseth from one of these two things; either from something without, or else from some disposition within the creature: But in God there can be no change in either of these respects. Not from any thing without him, because he is the first and supreme being, therefore there is no being before him, that he should borrow any thing of; neither is there any being above him, or stronger than he, that should make any impression upon him. Again, not from any thing within him; for when there is in any creature any change that ariseth from a principle within, there must needs be something to move, and to be moved; something to act and to suffer in the creature, else there can be no change: as mans body is subject to change, because there be divers principles within, of which something doth act, and something doth suffer, and so the body is subject to change, and moulders away: but in God there are not two things, there is not in him something to act, and something to suffer, and therefore he is not made up of such principles, as can admit any change within him. So then the conclusion stands sure, that he can admit ⟨p. 76⟩of no change or variation within or without him: and so needs must be unchangeable.
If you observe it among the creatures,1 you shall find, that all change ariseth from one of these two things; either from something without, or else from some disposition within the creature: But in God there can be no change in either of these respects. Not from any thing without him, because he is the first and supreme being, therefore there is no being before him, that he should borrow any thing of; neither is there any being above him, or stronger than he, that should make any impression upon him. Againe, not from any thing within him; for when there is in any creature any change that ariseth from a principle within, there must needes be something to move, and to be moved; something to act and to suffer in the creature, else there can be no change: as mans body is subject to change, because there be divers principles within, of which something doth act, and something doth suffer, and so the body is subject to change, and moulders away: but in God there are not two things, there is not in him something to act, and something to suffer, and therefore he is not made up of such principles, as can admit any change within him. So then the conclusion stands sure, that hee can admit