A09977:569
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.
But how shall I know it, you will say? Did you ever come to this, as to say, I am content to be divorced from, and to part with all things, with every lust, and to be content to follow him through all his ways, and to bear every cross? yet this is not enough; Did there follow hereupon a general change within thy heart, and a new heart, and a new spirit given thee? otherwise it is but lip-labour, a thought only that passeth through the mind, and therefore was never any such actual agreement between Christ and thee. But if there were any such change, then thou mayest comfort thy self; ⟨p. 86⟩for God is unchangeable, and this covenant, it is an everlasting covenant. Consider that it is every where called so: Isay 55.3. it is said to be an everlasting covenant, 1because it is founded upon the sure mercies of David: God gave Saul mercies as well as David, God tells him that he shall have the kingdom, if he will walk in his ways; but Saul started out of the ways of God, and so God performed his part, but yet the covenant was broke, because Saul performed not his part. And as it was with Saul, so it was with the people of Israel; because they broke the covenant on their parts, God also broke his. David started out of the way, as well as Saul: but they were sure mercies that were promised him, for it was an everlasting covenant of mercy. Therefore you must know this, that there is a twofold covenant: First, a single covenant, such as GOD makes with children when they are baptised, which is this; If you will believe and repent, and walk in my ways, you shall be saved: now if they break the condition, GOD is freed, he is not bound any further. Secondly, a double covenant, to perform both parts; which is this; If you will believe, and repent, you shall be saved, and, I will give you an heart, and you shall repent, and believe, and be saved; I began the work, and I will finish it: here is not only a covenant on Gods part, to be our Father, but on our parts also, as in the other; but GOD doth not only promise for his part, but makes a covenant to to enable us to perform the conditions ⟨p. 87⟩on our part: and therefore it is called a double covenant. And it is impossible that this covenant should be broken, for then GOD should break it himself, (for he is engaged for both parts);