A09977:574
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.
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.
Besides, what makes a man to depart from his profession? Because he thinks to get a better portion: but when thou hast this portion sure; Christ, and heaven sure, why shouldest thou let it go. Heb. 10.23.1