A09977:651
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.
And so men that are grown up, if they have estate enough, they leave the high and honourable calling of the Ministry; the reason is, because they overvalue these outward things: whereas, if a man had, a great mind, nothing would be great to him.
And so men that are growne vp, if they have estate inough, they leave the high and honorable calling of the Ministery; the reason is, because they overvalue these outward things: whereas, if a man had, a great mind, nothing would bee great to him.
Hence also it is, that men are so stirred with variety of conditions; when prosperity comes, it shakes them one way; when crosses and adversity comes, it troubles them on the other side: and what is the reason, but because they seem great to them: which appears from hence, because they stir up great affections. Therefore the way, to walk even in both conditions, is, to get this greatness of mind: for it is the weakness of mind, which causeth a ⟨p. 132⟩man to be over affected with these things, to rejoice too much in the one, and to be too much affected with the other. Even as, we see, a weak eye, as the eyes of Owls and Bats, cannot endure a great light; and a weak brain cannot bear strong drink: but a strong eye, as the eye of an Eagle, can endure the greatest light; so a strong mind, it will endure great grace and disgrace, with the same temper, it will bear all well enough, it knows how to want and how to abound; because he hath a great and a strong mind: whereas others have their eyes dazzled, and their brains made giddy as it were with the favour or loss of great men.
Hence also it is, that men are so stirred with variety of conditions; when prosperity comes, it shakes them one way; when crosses and adversity comes, it troubles them on the otherside: and what is the reason, but because they seeme great to them: which appeares from hence, because they stirre vp great affections. Therefore the way, to walke even in both conditions, is, to get this greatnesse of mind: for it is the weakenesse of minde, which causeth a