A09990:319
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 Similitude was in the constancy, and continuedness. Now our second Consequence, or Corollary, we must draw from the second Similitude; between a Christian life, and a Journey from place to place: I say, it agrees with it in this, that they are constant, there is a continued tenor of actions in a Christian mans course: from whence, I •ay, we draw this: If it be ⟨p. 210⟩so, if there be this Similitude between them; why, then let no man Judge of himself, or of others, by a step, or two; let him not judge of himself, I say, by a few actions, but let a man consider, what his walk is; Walk before me, and be perfect: Let a man consider what the ordinary, and usual course of his life is: if you should do otherwise, my Beloved, you shall find it, it you judge a man by an action, or two, you shall see, the best of the Saints have been subject to divers fallings, you shall see, Noah drunk, and you shall see Lot committing incest, you shall see Moses speaking unadvisedly with his lips, you shall see David committing murder, and adultery, and making Uriah drunk, many such failings you shall see in all the Saints, you shall see Hezekiah boasting of his treasure, you shall see David numbering his people, &c. So that, if you judge of men by a few actions, and not by their constant course, you shall condemn the generation of the just.
The second Similitude was in the constancie, and continuednesse. Now our second Consequence, or Corollarie, we must draw from the second Similitude; betweene a Christian life, and a Iourney from place to place: I say, it agrees with it in this, that they are constant, there is a continued tenor of actions in a Christian mans course: from whence, I •ay, we draw this: If it be ⟨p. 210⟩so, if there be this Similitude betweene them; why, then let no man Iudge of himselfe, or of others, by a step, or two; let him not judge of himselfe, I say, by a few actions, but let a man consider, what his walke is; Walke before me, and be perfect: Let a man consider what the ordinary, and vsuall course of his life is: if you should doe otherwise, my Beloved, you shall finde it, it you judge a man by an action, or two, you shall see, the best of the Saints haue beene subject to divers fallings, you shall see, Noah drunke, and you shall see Lot committing incest, you shall see Moses speaking vnadvisedly with his lippes, you shall see David committing murther, and adulterie, and making Vriah drunke, many such faylings you shall see in all the Saints, you shall see Hezekiah boasting of his treasure, you shall see David numbring his people, &c. So that, if you judge of men by a few actions, and not by their constant course, you shall condemne the generation of the just.