A09990:239
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.
My Beloved, the serious setting of our selves to consider the providence of God, and his almighty power, will discover to us his All-sufficiency ⟨p. 159⟩more then any thing besides. In brief, consider this (to persuade you a little of the necessity of it, that you may be fully convinced of it, that every particular, and every common thing, must needs be guided by him,1 and directed by him; I would ask but this question) First, are not all §1made by him?2 you will grant that, that every Creature, even the smallest, are from him, there is no entity but from him: Certainly, then there is an end of it: for he made nothing but for some end; and, if there be an end of it, he must guide it, and lead it to the end, otherwise, he should leave the building imperfect, otherwise he should but begin a work, and leave it in the middle, otherwise the Creature should be lost, and perish, and that through a default of his. But there cannot be said to be any default, any want of goodness in him, in the great builder of things, and therefore, it must needs be •hat he guides every Creature under the Sun, even the smallest of the Creatures, he guides, and directs them to their ends. Providence is nothing else, but to guide, govern, & direct every Creature to their several ends, and businesses, to which he hath appointed them. Besides, how is it that you see things fitted one to another as they are? Is it not the providence of God? When you see the wheels of a Watch fitted one to another, when you see the sheath fitted to the sword, you say this is some Art, this is not by accident; Even so it is in nature, you see a fitting of one thing to another, in the body, in the Creatures, in every thing in all ⟨p. 160⟩the senses, in the Sun with the air, in the eye with the light and the colours, with the transparent medium.
My Beloved, the serious setting of our selues to consider the providence of God, and his almightie power, will discover to vs his All-sufficiencie