A09990:270
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.
The Use of it,1 in brief, is that we should labour to be persuaded of this truth,2 and apply it to make use of it, upon every occasion: when any command is presented unto us, when any thing is to be done, run to this principle, to be persuaded of Gods All-sufficiency, that shall help thee to do every duty, that shall preserve thee from ⟨p. 177⟩every sin: for example, God hath commanded us to deny our selves in our profit, in our credit, and our pleasures; and many times it comes that we are to perform this duty in particular cases, consider seriously then of the strength of this principle, that God is All-sufficient; it will make thee able to do the duty throughly. What though thou be a looser in thy credit? if God be All-sufficient, he is able to make it up. What though thou be a looser in thy profit, as Amaziah was? is not he able to give thee fourscore talents, saith the Prophet to him? What though thou be a looser in thy pleasures, that thou loose, or want the pleasures of sin for a season; is not he able to make it up with peace of conscience, and joy in the holy Ghost? And so again; We are commanded to take up our daily cross, and not to take base & sinful courses to avoid crosses, and troubles, and afflictions, when we meet with them in right and straight ways, and surely, the way to perform this duty is to be persuaded of Gods All-sufficiency, let a man think that God is able to defend and carry him out, that he is able to keep him in the time of those sufferings, that it is he that keeps the keys of the prison door, that opens, and shuts, when he pleaseth, it is he that makes whole, and makes sick; the issues of life and death, belong to him: Every mans judgement, though he seek the face of the Ruler, yet it is from hi•: let men consider, that it is not the creature that inflicts any cross, or affliction, or punishment upon us, but it is he that doth it by the creature, and that will ⟨p. 178⟩enable a man to bear any cross, to pass through all variety of conditions, and not to divert from a straight way, but to go through the storm when he meets with it.