A09977:762
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. 1 To this I answer, that it is true, when any power is appointed and destinated to any act, it is so ⟨p. 186⟩far in vain, as it doth not attain to that end and act: as bread is appointed to nourish; if it doth not, it is not fit for the end to which it is made, and so in vain: I may say the same of every thing else. But that is not the end of Gods power, to bring forth any effect answerable to it self: for his power (to speak properly) hath no end, but all things are made for it. In other things, the cause is proportionable for its end: but he himself is the cause of all other things; all that he doth, is for himself; and therefore though he doth not produce any such effect, yet his power is infinite.
Answ. 1 To this I answer, that it is true, when any power is appointed and destinated to any act, it is so ⟨p. 186⟩farre in vaine, as it doth not attaine to that end and act: as bread is appointed to nourish; if it doth not, it is not fit for the end to which it is made, and so in vaine: I may say the same of every thing else. But that is not the end of Gods power, to bring forth any effect answerable to it selfe: for his power (to speake properly) hath no end, but all things are made for it. In other things, the cause is proportionable for its end: but he himselfe is the cause of all other things; all that he doth, is for himselfe; and therefore though hee doth not produce any such effect, yet his power is infinite.
Secondly, when there is a repugnancy in the nature of the thing, it is no shortening or limitation of his power. Now a creature, if it be a creature, must be finite: And the Lord can do what may be done: but to make a creature infinite, is a contradiction. And therefore if he do not do it, it is not because he cannot but because the thing it self cannot be done.
Secondly, when there is a repugnancy in the nature of the thing, it is no shortening or limitation of his power. Now a creature, if it be a creature, must be finite: And the Lord can doe what may be done: but to make a creature infinite, is a contradiction. And therefore if hee doe not doe it, it is not because hee cannot but because the thing it selfe cannot bee done.