A09990:298
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.
Now we will briefly make some use of it, and the uses shall be but these two, according to this similitude, and the agreement of this walking with a Christian life.
Now we will briefly make some vse of it, and the vses shall be but these two, a•cording to this similitude, and the agreement of this walking with a Christian life.
If a Christian life be of this nature,1 that it is like a walk in a Journey, that every act is a steppe, then, my Beloved, it should stir us up to consider seriously, what business we have in hand, for what purpose we came into the world, namely, to go a Journey, not to sit still, not to be idle, we are to travail a part of this Journey every day, and therefore the first thing we are to do, is to choose a right way: you must know therefore, that there are many thousands (it is the common condition of men in the Church) that think they are in a right way, and so go on in it without examination, whereas you must know this, that every man by nature is set in a wrong way as soon as he comes into the world, wherein he travails, as in a way that leads to destruction; so that, till a man begin to see his error, till he begin to come seriously to consider, this is not the way I should follow, and to choose a contrary, No man travails towards heaven, no man is in Cu•su, as we say, no man is in this Journey till then. David saith, he chose the way of Gods commandments; that is; there must be a choice: for this must be a special consideration, no man hath this without choice, and not only so, that is not only meant, to take it into consideration, that is natural, but then a man is said to choose, when he pitcheth upon it, when his resolution is fixed, when he determines ⟨p. 194⟩upon this way. Therefore, when you hear that there is such a walk, make that use of it, choose the way of Gods Commandments. To choose; that is, willingly to take that way, to go it resolutely, to swear within himself, as David saith, I have sworn that I will serve thee, and walk in thy way. I say, this we should bring our heart to, and you shall know it by this, whether you do so or no: A man, that chooseth a way, that resolves to go that way, if he be out of it at any time, and be told, Sir you are out of the way, he is glad of the admonition, he is willing to go in to it again: So that, I say, thou mayest know, whether thou choosest the way of Gods commandments, what dost thou when any suggestion comes from the holy Ghost, that tells thee, this duty ought to be done, this sin ought to be abstained from, art thou obedient to it?