A09990:276
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.
When the Lord saith to Abraham, I am All-sufficient; therefore walk perfectly before me, it is as if he had said, Abraham, I mean to be a good Master to thee, I mean to give thee sufficient wages, thou shalt want nothing thou needest; now be thou careful to do thy work, be not idle, ⟨p. 182⟩sit not still, but be working (for that is intimated by walking) to walk is still to be acting in some thing, still to be working, to be in employment, and not sit still, so that this is intimated to us, when he saith, walk before me, that the whole course of this life is like a Journey from one place to another. And again, every particular action, is like so may steps taken to that Journeys end, and (mark it, I say) look what the rounds are in a Ladder, that go from the bottom to the top, look what the paces in a Journey are, so many paces go to make up the Journey, so doth every particular act go to make up that Christian course that every man is to fulfil: so then, as every step a man takes, tends to some scope, or other, either East, or West, or North, or South, in general and in particular, to some particular place, near some City, some Town, or some Room, so every action in a mans life, it either tends in general to East, or West, that is; to good or evil, it tends to the service of God, or to the service of Satan, and, likewise, in particular, it tends either to this good duty, or to avoid this particular sin, to this or that particular service of God, of Satan, or of our selves, every action we do.
When the Lord saith to Abraham, I am All-sufficient; therefore walke perfectly before me, it is as if he had said, Abraham, I meane to be a good Maister to thee, I meane to giue thee sufficient wages, thou shalt want nothing thou needest; now be thou carefull to doe thy worke, be not idle, ⟨p. 182⟩sit not still, but be working (for that is intimated by walking) to walke is still to be acting in some thing, still to be working, to be in employment, and not sit still, so that this is intimated to vs, when he sayth, walke before me, that the whole course of this life is like a Iourney from one place to another. And againe, every particular action, is like so may steps taken to that Iourneys end, and (marke it, I say) looke what the rounds are in a Ladder, that goe from the bottom to the top, looke what the paces in a Iourney are, so many paces goe to make vp the Iourney, so doth every particular act go to make vp that Christian course that every man is to fulfill: so then, as every step a man takes, tends to some scope, or other, either East, or West, or North, or South, in generall and in particular, to some particular place, neare some Cittie, some Towne, or some Roome, so every action in a mans life, it either tends in generall to East, or West, that is; to good or evill, it tends to the service of God, or to the service of Sathan, and, likewise, in particular, it tends either to this good dutie, or to avoyde this particular sinne, to this or that particular service of God, of Sathan, or of our selues, every action we doe.