A09977:729
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 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. Gen. 31. I know all the labour thou hast done unto me. And what followed that? Why, God taught Jacob how to enlarge his wages, and so translated Labans substance to him. So Psa. 1. last. The meaning is, the Lord knows the way of the righteous, and therefore it doth prosper, and shall. And he knows the way of the wicked, and therefore they shall perish, Therefore it is enough to us, that he is present, and sees it, and knows it.
So it should bee a continuall incouragement to consider that GOD takes notice of all the good that we doe, as well as of the evill: Rev. 2. and 3. I know thy workes, thy labour and thy patience, I know thy sufferings; that is, when a man is miscalled, slandered, and evill spoken of, because he serves and feares God, because he is none of the worlds owne, and therefore it shewes forth its hatred in word, when it cannot in deed; (for malice must have some vent) yet I know thy sufferings, and let it bee inough that I know them and register them: there is not the least suffering but I take notice of it, and it shall bee