A09990:306
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.
The second is,1 there is a straightness in this way, there is no way that leads to any place, but it is straight: for, if it were crooked, it would not lead to that place. So that every walk, every certain walk is straight, so are the ways of Gods ⟨p. 200⟩Commandments, they are straight; now straight is a relative word; that is, it is between two extremes, as we say, it is straight, when a line runs between two points, and goes not out, from either of them, that we call straightness, if there be any exorbitation of the line, now it is not straight but crooked, now the way is said to be straight in regard of these two terms. A man indeed goes from misery to happiness, and the ways of Gods Commandments, are the straight ways that lead to that; if you walk crooked in the way, you step out to one of the two extremes; that is; you step out from the way that leads to happiness, you step out to some trouble, to some mischief, to some evil, to some punishment, when you step out from the way of Gods Commandments. So that that is to be observed, that this is a straight way; And therefore, seeing this leads straight to happiness, every declination is a stepping out to misery. You have reason to take it; for it is the shortest way, that is one condition: you have two motives to take this way.
The second is,1 there is a straightnesse in this way, there is no way that leads to any place, but it is straight: for, if it were crooked, it would not lead to that place. So that every walke, every certaine walke is straight, so are the wayes of Gods ⟨p. 200⟩Commandements, they are straight; now straight is a relatiue word; that is, it is betweene two extreames, as we say, it is straight, when a lyne runs betweene two points, and goes not out, from either of them, that we call straightnes, if there be any exorbitation of the lyne, now it is not straight but crooked, now the way is said to be straight in regard of these two termes. A man indeede goes from misery to happinesse, and the wayes of Gods Commandements, are the straight wayes that lead to that; if you walke crooked in the way, you step out to one of the two extreames; that is; you step out from the way that leads to happinesse, you step out to some trouble, to some mischiefe, to some evill, to some punishment, when you step out from the way of Gods Commandements. So that that is to be observed, that this is a straight way; And therefore, seeing this leads straight to happinesse, every declination is a stepping out to misery. You haue reason to take it; for it is the shortest way, that is one condition: you haue two motiues to take this way.