A09990:246
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.
First, if a man believe that All-sufficiency that is in God, why doth he terminate his affections §1in the Creature? If there be nothing in the Creature, but emptiness, why do you love the Creature? why do you fear the Creature? why do you rejoice in the Creature immediately as you do? Beloved, if there be nothing in that, but all be in him, we should see through the Creature, we should look beyond it. It is that which is said of Shisack, 2 Chron. 12. he was but the vial, through which Gods wrath was poured upon Israel; so it was true of Cyrus, he was but the vial, through which Gods goodness was poured upon Israel. If you did look upon every man, upon every friend, and every enemy, upon every Creature, he is an instrument of good, or hurt to ⟨p. 164⟩you, but as an empty vial in it self, through which God pours either his goodness, and mercy, or else his wrath, it would cause you not to stick upon the Creature, not to wrangle with men, not to hate men, or to be angry with them: for that is but the vial: It would cause you again not to be proud of the friendship of men, not to be secure in them, not to trust in them, not to think your selves safe in them: for they are but vials, through which God pours his mercy, and goodness towards you. Consider whether you be able to do this. Look on David, when Naball sent him a rough answer, an untoward answer, he was exceedingly moved at it: When Shimei did the same, yea, and to his face, in a far greater measure, he was not moved, what was the reason of it, but, because when he looked to Naball, he forgot God, he saw not God setting Naball a-work to give such an answer, he looked not to Naball as a vial, but as if he had been the principal in the action in hand, and therefore he was ready to fly upon him with impatience (as you know how angry he was with him) but when Shimei did curse him, he had reason, he thought, to be quiet, and not in the other case: because he looked on Shimei as a vial: God (saith he) hath bid him do it, and therefore he goes to God, and not to Shimei.
First, if a man beleeue that All-sufficiencie that is in God, why doth he terminate his affections §1in the Creature? If there be nothing in the Creature, but emptines, why doe you loue the Creature? why doe you feare the Creature? why doe you reioyce in the Creature immediately as you doe? Beloved, if there be nothing in that, but all be in him, we should see through the Creature, we should looke beyond it. It is that which is said of Shisack,