A09990:241
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.
And, lastly; Look but upon a house, or a family;1 if there be not a providence, it will quickly be dissolved; there is not any family, but it will be so; and therefore, there is a need of government also in the great family of the world: and if there be a government, it must needs be by him: for by man it cannot be governed: for the preservation of every thing is in the unity of it, and therefore, you see, any thing that is divided, that is the dissolution of it, as when the soul is divided from the body, and when the body is divided from it self; So, likewise, in a family, or in a Common-wealth, when it is divided, look how far it goes from unity, so near it comes to perishing, and the more peace, and unity, the more safety. Now, if there were not one guider of all these, if there should be many guiders, there would be different streams, there would be divers well-heads, and if there were divers principles of things, that swerve this way, and that way, there would be a division in the ⟨p. 161⟩nature of things, there would not be a unity, and by consequence, it would be the destruction of them. And therefore, of necessity, first there must be a government, or else how could the family stand; and if there be a government, it must not be by man; and if it be not by man, it must be by one that is God.
And, lastly; Looke but vpon a house, or a family;1 if there be not a providence, it will quickly be dissolved; there is not any family, but it will be so; and therefore, there is a neede of government also in the great family of the world: and if there be a government, it must needs be by him: for by man it cannot be governed: for the preservation of every thing is in the vnitie of it, and therefore, you see, any thing that is divided, that is the dissolution of it, as when the soule is divided from the body, and when the body is divided from it selfe; So, likewise, in a family, or in a Common-wealth, when it is divided, looke how farre it goes from vnitie, so neere it comes to perishing, and the more peace, and vnitie, the more safetie. Now, if there were not one guider of all these, if there should be many guiders, there would be different streames, there would be divers well-heads, and if there were divers principles of things, that swerue this way, and that way, there would be a division in the