A09977:773
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 Matth. 19.26. With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. It is a place worthy consideration. Saith our Saviour, It is impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven: why, say the Disciples, Who then can be saved? Indeed, saith Christ, it is impossible with men, but with God all things are possible. The meaning is this; when a man hath riches, that is, when the object is present and before him, a man cannot of himself but set his heart upon them; and when a mans heart is set upon them, no man in the world can wean his heart from those riches: what shall we do then? Why, saith he, the LORD hath an Almighty power, he is able to mortify ⟨p. 193⟩these lusts. We can no more do it, than a cable rope can go through the eye of a needle. Now that which is said of riches, may be said of any lust. Let an ambitious man have honour, or such an object suitable to a carnal mind, he cannot choose but set his heart upon it: now when that lust is set upon an object, a Camel may as well go through a needle, as he can loose his heart from these lusts: but yet the Lord can do it, With him all things are possible. And what the Apostle saith of the Jews, Rom. 11.23. The Lord can ingraft them in again, as bad as they be, though the wrath of GOD be gone over them to the utmost, yet GOD can do it: so is it true of thy self, and any one else, the Lord can, if he will; to him nothing is impossible. Think with your selves, that he that can draw such beautiful flowers out of so dry an earth, as you look upon in winter; though thou hast an heart as far from grace, as the flowers seem to be from coming forth in the midst of winter, yet he that can do so in nature, is able to do the like in grace also, as he did to Paul, and Mary Magdalen. Now consider what they would have been without his power: and by his power we may be as excellent as they. To confirm this, consider what a change grace hath wrought even among us: how many amongst us, that of proud have become humble, of fierce and cruel have become gentle; of loose, sober; of weak, strong, &c. Go therefore to him, believe this, and apply it: and it is ⟨p. 194⟩sure it shall be according to thy faith.