A09977:728
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.
So he knows thy thoughts for good afar off: therefore though a child of God may be cut off in some undiscovered sin, when he hath not actually repented, yet GOD forgives it him, because he knows what he would do, if he had time to repent, and should come to discover it: and therefore GOD judgeth him accordingly: and likewise if we have begun any good work, if we be cut off before we have finished it, yet remember, that GOD knows what we would do. And seeing he doth this, we should learn, exceedingly to fear before him, to ponder our own thoughts and speeches, seeing GOD himself takes notice fo them.
So hee knowes thy thoughts for good afarre off: therefore though a child of God may bee cut off in some undiscovered sinne, when hee hath not actually repented, yet GOD forgives it him, because he knowes what he would doe, if he had time to repent, and should come to discover it: and therefore GOD judgeth him accordingly: and likewise if wee have begun any good worke, if we be cut off before we have finished it, yet remember, that GOD knowes what wee would doe. And seing hee doth this, we should learne, exceedingly to feare before him, to ponder our owne thoughts and speeches, seing GOD himselfe takes notice fo them.
So it should be a continual encouragement to consider that GOD takes notice of all the good that we do, as well as of the evil: Rev. 2. and 3. I know thy works, thy labour and thy patience, I know thy sufferings; that is, when a man is miscalled, slandered, and evil spoken of, because he serves and fears God, because he is none of the worlds own, and therefore it shows forth its hatred in word, when it cannot in deed; (for malice must have some vent) yet I know thy sufferings, and let it be enough that I know them and register them: there is not the least suffering but I take notice of it, and it shall be ⟨p. 173⟩rewarded. Again, men take much pains, and no man regards it; yet God takes notice of their labour, and their pains, and not of their works only, but their labour in doing them, and sees what ends they put upon all. Again, men put up injuries, and suffer much wrong, yet saith the Lord, I know thy patience &c. What is said of this may be said of all other good actions. And it is a great honour to the Lord, that we are content with this, that he alone knows it. And so we may be well enough; for his knowledge will bring in a sure fruit with it, as he saith to Jacob.