A09977:583
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
Sermon 14: THE FOURTEENTH SERMON.Sermon 14: THE FOVRTEENTH SERMON.
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.
First, you know, that in other things there is an unchangeable Decree,1 as there is an unalterable Decree concerning the time of mens death, and yet no man for this doth cease to eat, or to take Physic: so there is an unchangeable Decree concerning the success of every business under the Sun, yet we do not forbear to take counsel, and to use the best means to bring our enterprises to pass: And so there is an unchangeable Decree concerning the salvation of men, concerning giving grace, or denying grace to them; and you can no more take an argument from hence, to give over endeavours, than you can in the former.
First, you know, that in other things there is an unchangeable Decree,1 as there is an unalterable Decree concerning the time of mens death, and yet no man for this doth cease to eate, or to take Physicke: so there is an unchangeable Decree concerning the successe of every businesse under the Sunne, yet wee doe not forbeare to take counsell, and to use the best meanes to bring our enterprises to passe: And so there is an unchangeable Decree concerning the salvation of men, concerning giving grace, or denying grace to them; and you can no more take an argument from hence, to give over endeavours, than you can in the former.
- 1That the unchangeableness of Gods Decrees takes not away endeavours.That the unchangeablenes of Gods Decrees takes not away endeavours.
2. Though there be an unchangeable Decree past upon men, when GOD hath rejected them, and GOD will not alter it; yet this Decree is kept secret, and no man knows it: therefore there is a door of hope opened, to stir up men to endeavour. Indeed if the Decree were made known, and revealed to us, then it were in vain, then there were no place for endeavours: but seeing it is not so, therefore there is place for hope, and for endeavours which arise from hope.