A09977:725
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.
1Sixthly, If God be every where present, then he is present to observe all the sins that thou committest, and to observe all the good that thou doest. Then make this use of it: that the presence of the Lord should be a restraint to keep thee from sinning, on the one hand, and it should encourage thee on the other hand to abound in every good work.2 Therefore a man should say thus with himself: I dare not do this, because God is present, he stands by and looks on. It was Josephs reason to his Mistress. Though we be alone, yet God is present, and beholds it: And how can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God, As if he should say; though we see him not, yet he is present, and sees it, and knows it. And not only say, I dare not do it, but thou shouldest say, I dare not so much as think it: for he beholds the thoughts. You shall see an excellent place for this, if you compare Job. 31. verse: 1. and 4. together, it is one continued speech. I have made a covenant with mine eyes: why then should I think upon a maid? Doth not he see my ways and count all my steps? As if he should say; I durst not give so much as give liberty to my thoughts, because he beheld all my ways. it is a question which those that fear God have been wont to ask; How shall I do to be rid of such and such thoughts, that haunt me continually? I would very fain be rid of them. This is an excellent ⟨p. 169⟩way: to consider that GOD himself stands by and knows all thy thoughts, and takes notice of them. As put this case; Suppose a wise and godly man should stand by and take notice of all thy base thoughts, that pass through thy heart, wouldest thou not be ashamed of thy self? If thy body were made a glass, and men should see all thy thoughts through it, wouldst thou not be ashamed of them, and careful in them, as we are of our actions now before men? Now to consider that the Lord beholds them, to consider that he sees every thought, (the least whereof is no light matter,) this would be a means to restrain thee. Nay consider, that the Lord doth not only behold them, but he ponders all thy actions, to give thee the fruit of them: so that God doth not stand by as a mere looker on, but he takes such notice of all thy thoughts, that pass through thy heart, and all thy vain words, that he weighs them, as it were.