A09977:627
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.
First, Labour to get strong reasons for what you resolve on. The want of this was the cause of the mutability of the second ground. It wanted depth of earth: that is, the seed was good, and the earth was good, but it was not deep enough, and the strength of the Sun caused it to wither away. So when we shall have good purposes and resolutions, and they have not root enough, that is, when he hath not well examined the thing, so as to be fully convinced of the thing that he undertakes, he is apt to be inconstant in it. And this was the reason of Eves inconstancy, because she considered not the bottom that she was built upon. On the other side, the Woman of Canaan when she had fixed her faith upon a good ground, she would not be beaten off: though she could not answer the objection, yet she would not be plucked off. Thou art the Messiah, and therefore thou ⟨p. 120⟩wilt show mercy: and then she had need of mercy, for her daughter was sick, and weak, and therefore she would not be driven off, she would take no denial. So is it with all our resolutions when they have this depth of earth. Therefore the best way is, to consider, and forecast the worst. So our Saviour counselleth to suspect the worst: How canst thou that hast but two hundred, go against him that hath a thousand, so is it in this case. When you shall undertake a good course, and you go out but with weak reasons: if Satan or a lust come and object stronger reasons, this will make thee give out. Therefore the best way is to forecast the worst, and to outbid the Devil in every temptation. Therefore when he shall come and say, that thou shalt have favour with men, say to him that the favour of GOD is better; if he shall tell thee of riches, and wealth, say that thou shalt have a treasure in heaven: if he say to thee that thou shalt have rest and pleasure in sin, say to him, that the peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost, is far beyond that rest, and pleasure, whatsoever it be: So in all the temptations one the other hand, it is good to ponder them well, that we may be able to outbid him therein. Whatsoever he doth object, it is one of these two: either some good that thou shalt have, or some evil. Now consider, that as the love and favour of GOD, is a greater good then all the world can give thee: So his wrath is a greater ⟨p. 121⟩evil, than any the world can do to thee.