A09990:187
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.
If the Lord be All-sufficient, 1why is it thus then with me? why do I want so many things which I have need of, and desire to have? If God be All-sufficient; why are there so many defects in my estate, in my health, this way and that way?
If the Lord be All-sufficient, 1why is it thus then with me? why doe I want so many things which I haue need of, and desire to haue? If God be All-sufficient; why are there so many defects in my estate, in my health, this way and that way?
- 1Ob.
To this,1 I answer. Thou must consider with thy self, if those desires of thine be not unnatural desires, whether they be not sinful desires; the Lord hath promised to be All-sufficient to the natural desires, to the right desires of the soul, but not to those that are unnatural,2 and inordinate. There is a double desire in the heart of man, as there is a double thirst: there is a natural thirst, you know,§1 which is easily satisfied with a little;3 there is an unnatural thirst, as the thirst of a dropsy man,§2 who desires exceeding much,4 and the more you give him, still the more he desires, and is never satisfied. So, it is with the soul; there is a natural healthful desire, which desires so much credit, and so much wealth, as is needful; there is, besides this, an unnatural desire of the soul, when a man doth long after abundance now, Beloved, do not look that the Lord should satisfy this, nay, the best way, in this case, is not to satisfy, but to take from our desires as we say of the