A09977:661
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.
Secondly, so likewise there is a rise for it in this regard, because he is able to defend us, and protect us, and bear us out against all opposition. You see that men look great, because they have got great men or Princes to bear themselves upon. But when men consider that they have the great God on their side, to bear themselves upon, why should not they have great minds? Thus Moses, Hebr. 11. regarded ⟨p. 139⟩not the wrath of the King, because he did see that GOD that was invisible: that is, when he considered GOD in his greatness, the King and his wrath were nothing to him. So that the way to get this magnanimity, is, to believe that GOD is our GOD: and according to the greatness of a mans faith, such will be this greatness and magnanimity of mind that we commend to you. Saul, when he was a King, had a new heart, and a new spirit, because when he believed in earnest that he was a King, he looked upon things after another manner; he had other thoughts and other affections than he had before: and so would any man else, if he were advanced from a mean estate to a kingdom. And, if we did believe that we were the sons of the great God of heaven and earth, we would have great minds; therefore the stronger our faith is, the greater our mind is. Only this is to be added; that this faith must not be in the habit only in thee, but it must be exercised and renewed continually: there must not be only [Greek or Hebrew], but [Greek or Hebrew], the actual use of it. And were that which GOD said to Abraham, (I am thy exceeding great reward,) were this beheld of any of us, that GOD is so great, and that this greatness is our exceeding great reward, then all other rewards would seem but small things. You shall see what David did upon this ground, in Psal. 27.1. The Lord is my light, and my salvation, whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? See, here are two ⟨p. 140⟩things: First, he considers that GOD is his; He is my salvation. Secondly, he considers the greatness, and strength and power of God; and from thence he draws this conclusion, whom shall I fear? For in thee do I trust; that is, in this power and greatness of GOD, and the interest that I have in him.