A09990:272
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.
Abraham when he was put on the hardest task, to leave his Country, and his Father's house, he was persuaded that God would be with him, & would bless him: for God had made him a promise to do it, it was easy then to perform it, but afterwards, when he began to shrink, and to doubt of this, that God might fail him, that he would not be God All-sufficient to him, as when he went down into Egypt, he denied Sarah to be his wife, what was the cause of this sin? but because he was afraid, the God could not defend him. And so David, how many hard tasks went he through, with all cheerfulness, and constancy? but when he began to fail of this persuasion, that God was able to deliver him from Saul, and to bring him into the Kingdom, then he begins to step out from that duty, and way of obedience, that he should have walked in, to fly to Achis, &c. Therefore the way, I say, to make our hearts perfect with ⟨p. 180⟩God, is to increase this persuasion of Gods All-sufficiency. Now this we should do especially at these times, when we are to receive the Sacrament: for what is the Sacrament, but the seal of the Covenant, on both parts? It is the seal of the Covenant, on Gods part, he promiseth to be All-sufficient, and the Sacrament seals this to you; when it is said to you, take, and eat, this is my body, the meaning is this, Jesus Christ gives himself, and God the Father gives him, and saith, take him; That is; Take Christ, with all his: it is certain, he is a husband, that is All-sufficient, he is a field that is full of treasure, and so you must think with your selves, when you come to receive the Sacrament, that Jesus Christ himself, is given to you; That is; Jesus Christ, with all his riches, and treasure, with all his benefits, and privileges. Now, when you have taken Christ, as it is a free gift, then consider all those particular benefits, labour to dig that field, and to see all the variety of treasures in it, you shall find that there is nothing that you can desire, but you shall find it in him, you shall find an All-sufficiency in him, both for this life, and for the life to come.
Abraham when he was put on the hardest taske, to leaue his Countrey, and his Fathres house, he was perswaded that God would be with him, & would blesse him: for God had made him a promise to doe it, it was easie then to performe it, but afterwards, when he began to shrinke, and to doubt of this, that God might fayle him, that he would not be God All-sufficient to him, as when he went downe into Egypt, he denied Sarah to be his wife, what was the cause of this sinne? but because he was afraid, the God could not defend him. And so David, how many hard taskes went he through, with all chearefulnesse, and constancie? but when he began to fayle of this perswasion, that God was able to deliver him from Saul, and to bring him into the Kingdome, then he beginnes to step out from that dutie, and way of obedience, that he should haue walked in, to flie to Achis, &c. Therefore the way, I say, to make our hearts perfect with