A09977:573
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.
Besides, consider that he makes this Covenant as to sons, and not as to servants. To the servant the Master saith; Do my work faithfully, and thou shalt have thy wages, if not, I will turn thee out of my doors: but with his Son it is not so, he abideth in the house for ever; if he fall into sin, he corrects and nurtures him, but yet he keeps him in his house for ever.
Besides, consider that he makes this Covenant as to sonnes, and not as to servants. To the servant the Master saith; Doe my worke faithfully, and thou shalt have thy wages, if not, I will turne thee out of my dores: but with his Sonne it is not so, hee abideth in the house for ever; if he fall into sinne, hee corrects and nurtures him, but yet hee keepes him in his house for ever.
Answ. But what use is there of this Doctrine?
Object. There is this end for it; were it not for this Doctrine, thou couldest never love God with a sincere and perfect love: For I ask thee this question, canst thou love him with a perfect love, whom thou thinkest may sometime become thine enemy? It is a saying, Amare tanquam aliquando osurus, is the very poison of true friendship. But now, when thou knowest that God is knit to thee by an unchangeable bond, that he is a friend whom thou mayest build upon for ever, whom thou mayest trust: this makes thy heart to cleave to him, as Paul saith, I know whom I have trusted, this makes thy heart to fasten upon him, and there is no scruple of love, which would be, if there were a possibility of change.
Object. There is this end for it; were it not for this Doctrine, thou couldest never love God with a sincere and perfect love: For I aske thee this question, canst thou love him with a perfect love, whom thou thinkest may sometime become thine enemy? It is a saying, Amare tanquam aliquando osurus, is the very poyson of true friendship. But now, when thou knowest that God is knit to thee by an unchangeable bond, that hee is a friend whom thou maist build upon for ever, whom thou maist trust: this makes thy heart to cleave to him, as Paul saith, I know whom I have trusted, this makes thy heart to fasten upon him, and there is no scruple of love, which would be, if there were a possibility of change.