A09990:173
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
Part › Sermon 4: THE FOURTH SERMON.Part › Sermon 4: THE FOVRTH SERMON.
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.
Because the believing of Gods All-sufficiency in forgiving our sins,1 increaseth our love, and our ⟨p. 116⟩Joy.2 It increaseth our love; for, when there is no scruple in our hearts of Gods love towards us, it makes our love more perfect towards him. It increaseth our joy also; because, when we have a full assurance of the forgiveness of our sins, that fills the heart with joy and peace in the holy Ghost. Now spiritual love eats out of the heart all carnal delights, all sinful lusts, and all inordinate love unto the creature, And so likewise, spiritual joy takes away the vigour of all carnal joy, and sinful delight: So, the more you see this All-sufficiency of God towards you in love, the more you are able to believe it, and the more it kills sin in you, the more it sanctifies you, and the more it draws you to God. Therefore this is to be considered, to help us against this objection, that there is a double fear;3 the one is that which keeps us from coming to God: The other is a fear that keeps us from going out from God. We are very apt to exceed in the first fear, And to come short in the second.4 Now, the fear that keeps us from coming in to God, is a fear that he is a fear that he is not ready to forgive, that he is not All-sufficient, that he hath not power enough of mercy to forgive our sins, and to heal our infirmities; this makes a man timorous and fearful; as a man is fearful to come near a Judge, to come near one that is terrible: Now the more this fear is taken away, the nearer we come, the nearer we draw in assurance of faith to him.
Because the beleeving of Gods All-sufficiencie in forgiving our sinnes,1 increaseth our loue, and our ⟨p. 116⟩Ioy.