A09977:688
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 16 › Part 7 › The Jnfinitenesse of his presence, Or, His Jmmensity.
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.
Use 1 First, If God be every where present, so that he doth not do any thing by a mediate virtue or power,1 but he doth it by the presence of his essence, hence we gather: first, that he governs the world immediately. For though there be means used, yet he is present with those means. Other Kings must needs govern by Deputies and Viceroys; and inferior Magistrates of justice, because they cannot be every where: whence it comes to pass, that Kings may be good, and yet the people may be oppressed by their wicked instruments. But with the Lord it is not so: but he guides immediately, and being every where present, he needeth no Deputies, for he is not capable of information, as Kings are, but sees all with his own eyes, and hears all with his own ears. And again, he useth no Deputies: for the use of Deputies argues a defect, as the using of spectacles or crutches doth, if the eyes or legs were well and sound enough, a man would not use them; so a man would not write letters, or use ⟨p. 151⟩other means to do his business, but from a defect; he is not large enough to do his business immediately: But almighty God, he is every where present, and in his governing all things are done by his own Almighty power. Good Governors, may have wicked instruments, contrary to their minds, which they know not of, as Ely, and Samuel had: but in GODS Government it is not so; therefore learn from hence, not to complain of the iniquity of the times, or the injustice of men. It is true, that a kind mother may ignorantly put her child to a wicked Nurse, that will abuse it: but GOD never puts any of his children to Nurse, but he is present with them, his government is immediate. So that that which is said of David, he is a man after Gods own heart, it may be said of every King and Governor; they do, what God would have them to do, though it be for evil, as his was for good, they are men after Gods own heart. As it was in the killing of Jesus Christ, even that is said to be done by the determinate Counsel of God. And therefore let no man complain of his Governors: for God governs not by Deputies, but by himself. Therefore let no man say, that he hath an evil Master or Governor, but let him acknowledge, that whatsoever he hath from man, it is the work of the Almighty God, that is every where present:
Vse 1 First, If God be every where present, so that he doth not doe any thing by a mediate vertue or power,