A09977:755
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.
Answ. The reason why GOD cannot do these things, is not because there is a restraint of his power, but because the things are not possible to be done; because he cannot make truth to be falsehood, or things that are, not to be; whatsoever implies a contradiction, he cannot do: and the reason is, because the things are not to be done: But in things simply possible, therein consists his omnipotence: as when it is not contrary to the nature of the thing, as when the predicate is not repugnant to the nature and essence of the subject; as a Lyon being a Lyon cannot be a man, this is a thing that cannot be done: therefore it is no impeachment to his omnipotence not to do it.
Answ. The reason why GOD cannot doe these things, is not because there is a restraint of his power, but because the things are not possible to be done; because he cannot make truth to be falshood, or things that are, not to be; whatsoever implies a contradiction, he cannot doe: and the reason is, because the things are not to be done: But in things simply possible, therein consists his omnipotence: as when it is not contrary to the nature of the thing, as when the praedicate is not repugnant to the nature and essence of the subject; as a Lyon being a Lyon cannot be a man, this is a thing that cannot be done: therefore it is no impeachment to his omnipotence not to doe it.
Object. 3 3. God cannot sin, GOD cannot deny himself, he cannot lye, &c.
Object. 3 3. God cannot sinne, GOD cannot deny himselfe, he cannot lye, &c.
Answ. We need not answer this: for even for this cause he is omnipotent, because he cannot do these things. As if I should say, the Sun is ⟨p. 183⟩