A09977:777
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.
Besides, do we not hear this speech of man? when the times are bad, do not men say; oh, we shall never see better days? And when a man is in affliction, oh, he thinks this will never be altered: 'so if he be in prosperity, they think there will be no change. Whence comes this, but because we forget the Almighty power of GOD? If we thought that he could make such a change in a night, as he doth in the weather, as he did with Job, we should not be so dejected in case of adversity, and so lift up in case of prosperity.
Besides, doe wee not heare this speech of man? when the times are bad, doe not men say; oh, wee shall never see better dayes? And when a man is in affliction, oh, he thinkes this will never bee altered: 'so if he be in prosperity, they thinke there will bee no change. Whence comes this, but because we forget the Allmighty power of GOD? If wee thought that hee could make such a change in a night, as he doth in the weather, as he did with Iob, wee should not bee so dejected in case of adversity, and so lift up in case of prosperity.
Besides, men have not ordinarily more ability to believe, then the Israelites had which were GODS own people: yet consider, that these very men, that had seen all those great plagues, that the Lord brought upon the Egyptians, I therein mean, all his Almighty power; that saw his power in bringing them through the red sea, and giving them bread and water in the wilderness; ⟨p. 196⟩yet called his power into question, and said, that GOD could not bring them into the land of Canaan. Ye will find they did so, Psa: 78.41. They turned back, and limited the holy one of Israel. And said, he cannot do this and this: and why? because they have Cities walled up to heaven. That is the thing laid to their charge, They limited the holy one of Israel: that is, they remembered not that he had an unlimited power, but they thought, if the Cities had bin low, and the men had bin but ordinary men, he could have done it: but because they were so mighty men, and the Cities had such high walls; therefore they could not believe, that he could bring them in. Now if they did so, do you not think it is hard for you to do otherwise? Yea take him, that thinks he doth not doubt of the power of God, bring that man to a particular distress, and ye shall see him fail: (for it is one thing to have a thing in the notion, as for a man to think what he would do, if he were a Pilot, or a Captain; and an other thing to have it in the real managing, as when he is brought to fight:) so is it here. It is one thing to believe GODS Almighty power, and who doubts of it? But I ask you, if you have had a trial of your heart; if you have bin brought to an exigent. Do you find it so easy a thing, to believe in difficulties, as in facility?