A09990:296
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.
I answer;1 there is a certain sagacity that God gives to a man, by which he finds out this way: for though the way be plain in it se•fe, yet, my Beloved, it is not so […] every man, it is hard to find out this […] way. These steppes of Gods ⟨p. 192⟩Commandments, I say, it is hard to find them out, except there be a particular gift given him even as you see, there is a gift given to the dog to find out the hare, to follow her steppes, there is a certain sagacity given to that Creature, that another wants, by which it follows the steppes of the hare, which way soever she goes: (I may use it for a similitude, a far-off expression) So, I say, there is a sagacity given to the Saints, a certain new quality, that others want, by which they are able to find out the steppes of Gods way; so that they are able to tract him: When they are at a loss, they will not run on upon a false sent; but cast about, (as sometimes they loose God, sometimes they know not which way they must follow him.) This gift we must labour to have. Therefore David prays so oft that God would teach him the•e ways, that he would make his way plain before him, that he would direct him, &c. As acknowledging that he was not able of himself to find it out, except God had guided him, and directed him to it.
I answer;1 there is a certaine •agacitie that God giues to a man, by which he findes out this way: for though the way be pl•ine in it se•fe, yet, my Beloved, it is not so 〈…〉 every man, it is hard to find out this 〈…〉 way. These steppes of Gods ⟨p. 192⟩Commandements, I say, it is hard to finde them out, except there be a particular gift given him even as you see, there is a gift given to the dogge to finde out the hare, to follow her steppes, there is a certaine sagacitie given to that Creature, that another wants, by which it followes the steppes of the hare, which way soever she goes: (I may vse it for a similitude, a farre-off expression) So, I say, there is a sagacitie given to the Saints, a certaine new qualitie, that others want, by which they are able to finde out the steppes of Gods way; so that they are able to tract him: When they are at a losse, they will not run on vopon a false sent; but cast about, (as sometimes they loose God, sometimes they know not which way they must follow him.) This gift we must labour to haue. Therefore David prayes so oft that God would teach him thee wayes, that he would make his way plaine before him, that he would direct him, &c. As acknowledging that he was not able of himselfe to finde it out, except God had guided him, and directed him to it.