A09977:584
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.
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.
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 knowes it: therefore there is a dore of hope opened, to stirre up men to endeavour. Indeed if the Decree were made knowne, and revealed to us, then it were in vaine, 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.
These things being premised, we will now ⟨p. 93⟩come to a particular answer of this objection.
First, that if thou doest pray, thou shalt change GOD and his carriage toward thee, though he be unchangeable. For if a man be rejected as Saul was, and as the Jews were, and as those in Rom. 1. who were given up to a reprobate mind; if he be so rejected, he is not able to pray, or repent, or to seek to GOD or to desire to go about in good earnest to seek any change of life: for if he were able to do it, he was sure to speed. Therefore if thou doest pray in truth, thou shalt prevail, thou art sure to have mercy at his hand; for it is a great sign that he hath not given thee over, that no such unchangeable decree is past against thee: therefore it is no doctrine of discouragement. Indeed it is a doctrine of great terror to those, whose hearts do not tremble at it, that let such a doctrine slide a way as water doth off a stone, and not sink into their hearts at all: but to a man that saith, I would repent, and pray, and change the course of my life, if there were any hope; I can say this to thee, that if thou doest pray thou shalt be accepted; for GOD hath styled himself, that he is a GOD hearing prayers; and except he were changeable, he must needs be ready to hear thee, if thou seekest to him: For the Lord is unchangeable in his promises, & thou shalt find him unchangeable towards thee: but to a man that will not pray, that is set upon evil, and will not be wrought upon, to such a man this is a fearful and a terrible doctrine.