A09977:589
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.
The best way in this Doctrine of the unchangeableness of Gods decree of election, is this: It ⟨p. 96⟩is good to consider in what manner it is delivered in the Scripture, and to what purpose, and to make that use of it, and then thou shalt be sure not to abuse it. As for example; to what end, and for what occasion is this Doctrine of election delivered? You shall find that it is on this occasion. Rom. 9.18, 19. When many of the Jews did not come in, to whom did belong the covenant, and the laws, and the testimonies, this was an objection that was made against the Doctrine of the Gospel; what was the reason that the Jews did not come in, and that his own people were not wrought upon? To answer this objection, the Apostle tells them, that it was not against Gods good will, he was able to do it, if it was his pleasure, but, saith he, some hath he chosen, and some not; some he loves, and some he hates; some he hath mercy upon, and some he hardens. So that the scope of the Doctrine is, that God might be magnified, that no objection might be made against the almighty power of GOD, that he was not able to bring them in, that men might not say that they have resisted his will: and the Apostle reveals it for that purpose, that men might be answered. So that such Doctrines as this, you must consider for what end they are revealed. As for this Doctrine of Gods unchangeableness, what is the end, why it is revealed? You shall see in Numb. 23.19. He is not as man that he should repent: Therefore I have blessed Israel, and he shall be blessed. The end is, to show ⟨p. 97⟩that his favour is an unchangeable favour: So he hath cursed Saul, and he shall be cursed, 1 Sam. 15.29. his decrees are unalterable. As it is Jam. 1.17. GOD is good, and cannot be otherwise, therefore he can tempt no man. Out of all these places it is apparent, that the use of this Doctrine is, that we might tremble at his judgements, and that we might rejoice in his favour with joy unspeakable and glorious: In a word, that men might know the excellency of the Almighty, and might know and magnify GOD, because constancy and unchangeableness is a property of wisdom. This being the end why it is revealed, it ought to be applied only to this use: as to come to particulars, which before we did not mention. When we hear that GOD rejected Saul, and will not repent of it, and the Jews, &c.