A09977:620
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.
Take a man that says he will amend his course, that intends to be diligent in his calling, and thinks not to turn to such evil courses, but to serve God with a perfect heart: observe now what is the reason that this man breaks his purposes, and falls off again; it is, because there is some strong lust, that comes like a gust of a contrary wind, and breaks him off from ⟨p. 117⟩his course. Therefore the first way is, to cleanse thy heart, if thou wilt be constant.
Take a man that sayes hee will amend his course, that intends to be diligent in his calling, and thinkes not to turne to such evill courses, but to serve God with a perfect heart: observe now what is the reason that this man breakes his purposes, and falls off againe; it is, because there is some strong lust, that comes like a gust of a contrary winde, and breakes him off from ⟨p. 117⟩his course. Therefore the first way is, to cleanse thy heart, if thou wilt be constant.
The second cause of unconstancy, is weakness; 1if a man were free from that inward corruption, yet weakness would make a man to be unconstant: so much weakness, so much unconstancy; and so much strength as a man hath, so much constancy he hath. For what is the reason that man is so fickle? Because the banks of his resolution are so weak to hold out against temptations when they assault him, & he gives over because he is not able to resist them. And this ground I take out of 1 Sam. 15.29. The strength of Israel will not repent, for he is not as man that he should repent. By repenting is meant a change: now you see the reason given why the Lord is not subject to change, he is the strength of Israel. For you shall always find in the Scripture, that such attributes are given to GOD, according to the nature of the work that he hath in hand: Now the reason why the Lord will not repent is, because he is strong.