A09990:132
The new covenantThe nevv covenant
The new covenant, or the saints portion A treatise unfolding the all-sufficiency of God, and mans uprightness, and the covenant of grace. delivered in fourteen sermons upon Gen. 17. 1. 2. Whereunto are adjoined four sermons upon Eccles. 9.1. 2. 11. 12. By the late faithful and worthy minister of Jesus Christ John Preston. Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns Inn.The nevv covenant, or the saints portion A treatise vnfolding the all-sufficiencie of God, and mans uprightnes, and the covenant of grace. delivered in fourteene sermons vpon Gen. 17. 1. 2. Wherevnto are adioyned foure sermons vpon Eccles. 9.1. 2. 11. 12. By the late faithfull and worthie minister of Iesus Christ Iohn Preston. Dr. in Divinitie, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiestie, maister of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed by I. Dawson for Nicolas Bourne, 1629
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.
doth it not cost him much, when he will do his own works, and will not leave it to the Lord to work it for him?
doth it not cost him much, when he will doe his owne works, and will not leaue it to the Lord to worke it for him?
Jacob, 1you know, what it cost him, when he made hast to get the blessing by a wrong way, how many years exile, how much pain, and separation from his friends? And so Saul, it cost him the loss of his Kingdom, for making hast when he offered sacrifice, and did break the Commandments of God, because the people were dispersed; And so of the rest. And therefore, Beloved, what if there be nothing besides (for that is the case I press) suppose you were in such a strait, that there is no more but the Lord to rest on, yet, if you be content to trust in him alone, he will do it, as he did for David; if you will needs indent, and bargain with him, then, I say, it may be, you shall have the thing you would have, but you had better be without it; as we see in Math. 20. when the workmen would not be content with the All-sufficiency of God (as we see in that Parable) but would make a bargain with the Lord, we will not serve thee, say they, except thou wilt give us so much wages, if thou wilt, we will do it; so he bargained with every man for a penny a day; ⟨p. 89⟩Go then, saith he, and work in my Vineyard, and thou shalt have a Penny; Well, when he comes to pay them, he gives them their Penny: they thought that was not enough, but they murmured against him;2 saith the Lord, did you not bargain with me for a Penny? The meaning of it is this, it doth most concern the labourers in Gods Vineyard, but it is appliable to all others. They will not work for the Lord, they will not reckon him All-sufficient, but they will have wages, they will bargain with him to have a Penny. That is; One to have a Benefice to maintain him; another will work for him, if he may have fame, and credit, and esteem; Another will work for him, if he may have some great place. Saith the Lord, I will give thee that Penny, thou shalt work in my Vineyard; I but when a man hath it, (mark it) he murmurs, why? for when the end of the day comes he sees that preferment, that riches, that credit, are but empty things, they are but small things when he is to go into another world, there is nothing left for him, he is naked and destitute, it is but a Penny, and therefore he murmurs and complains. That is; He sees now that it was but a poor bargain that he made; But, saith the Lord, thou wouldst needs bargain with me for a Penny, and thou hast it.