A09990:337
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.
So, my Beloved, it is not the having impurities in the heart, that makes the heart imperfect, (that is the Conclusion I grow to) but it is the suffering of them to be mingled, even with the inward frame of the heart.
Thus you shall find, if you would know the true difference between a pure and perfect, and an impure and unperfect heart, it stands only in this; he that hath a pure heart, there is in him a cleansing, and purifying, a segregating disposition, that casts out whatsoever evil comes, though it be continually rising, yet still he casts it out, though he be still falling into some sin, yet still he is repenting, though many times he be mired, yet still he washeth himself again, he cannot endure it, he doth not, as the swine, delight in it; but he hath another, a contrary disposition, he still cleanseth himself from it: That I take to be the meaning of that, Math. 15. where it is said, That, which comes from within the man, as adultery, fornication, &c. they defile the man. The meaning is this, when sin riseth in a man from day to day, if he cherish sin, and entertain it, and suffer sins to dwell, and abide in his heart quietly, without disturbance, if he suffer them to be sodden in, as it were, now they defile the heart, But if sins arise in the heart, and he continually resist them, he continually cast them forth, he continually cleanseth, & purifieth himself from them, such a man is not defiled with them, not is his mind defiled, not his conscience defiled; but notwithstanding this continual Ebullition of evils (that I may so ⟨p. 223⟩call it) he is a man of a pure heart, and perfect with God, and that, I say, is one of the expressions of pureness.
Thus you shall finde, if you would know the true difference betweene a pure and perfect, and an impure and vnperfect heart, it stands onely in this; he that hath a pure heart, there is in him a clensing, and purifying, a segregating disposition, that casts out whatsoever evill comes, though it be continually rising, yet still hee casts it out, though he be still falling into some finne, yet still he is repenting, though many times he be myred, yet still he washeth himselfe againe, he cannot endure it, he doth not, as the swyne, delight in it; but he hath another, a contrary disposition, he still clenseth himselfe from it: That I take to be the meaning of that,