A09990:302
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.
And if you object now;1 why, but is it necessary that a man must think upon every action what his end is, when a man is busy in his study, when he is busy in his trade, when he is busied in his particular ⟨p. 196⟩cal•ing, is it necessary that every particular action should be looked upon, that he should have this actual thought, whither doth this step tend?
And if you object now;1 why, but is it necessary that a man must thinke vpon every action what his end is, when a man is busie in his studie, when he is busie in his trade, when he is busied in his particular ⟨p. 196⟩cal•ing, is it necessary that every particular action should be looked vpon, that he should haue this actuall thought, whither doth this step tend?
- 1Ob.
I answer;1 Beloved, it is not necessary, that it should be done upon every action, but that it should be so far done, as is necessary, to keep us in the right way, even as, you see, it is in a journey, when a man resolves to go from one town to another, he chinks not every steppe he takes, I am going to such a town: for, by virtue of his first intention he takes these steppes: so that the mark and the aim that he hath, is the cause of every step, though he think not of it, every step he takes: So in the actions that we do, I say, if the aim be right, though we think not upon every action we do, yet it is done by virtue of it, and so God accepts of it. As, we see, an Arrow, when it flies to the mark, or a Bowl, when it runs, there is not a new putting on, but by virtue of the first strength, by which it was thrown out, or by which it was shot, it passeth, and goes on towards the mark, so it is in a mans life: by virtue of the first aim that a man hath, though he think not of it, upon every particular occasion, his heart goes on, he travails towards the mark: therefore, I say, it is no necessary in every action. Notwithstanding, it is necessary that it be very frequently done: because we are so ready to go out of the way. There is a straight way, that God hath chalked out to us, and we are ready, ever and anon, to turn out, we have still some bias, or other, upon us, that draws us out from that way.