A09990:345
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 Integrity of the subject, that is the heart of a man,1 that I call the subject; The Integrity of the object I call the Commandments, when he hath respect to all of them; The Integrity of the ⟨p. 229⟩means I call that, which brings the heart, and the Commandment together; that is, the use of all holy ordinances, and the abstinence from all occasions, that may draw us another way. So now he is a perfect man with God that first hath a whole heart; that is, such a heart whereof every part, and faculty is sanctified; There is no part of it, but it is seasoned with grace, there is no wheel in all the soul, but it is turned the right way, according to that 1 Thes. 5. He is sanctified throughout, in body, soul, and spirit. I say, when a man shall find every thing within him ready to praise the Lord, and to look toward the Lord, all that is within him. There is not any thing within him, of which he can say, the bent of it is another way. I say, such a man hath an integrity of heart: Another man, you shall find it thus alway with him, that, though in many things he wish well, and hath a good meaning, and good purposes, yet there is something, or other, hath stolen away something in his heart, something within him is not right, it may be in his fear, he cannot say he fears God, and nothing else: for there are many things that he fears more then God, so he cannot say of his love to God, that that is right, it may be, it is misplaced, though many other things may be right in him, he loves riches, he loves credit, he loves reputation, he loves his ease, and convenience, his practise, and employment; So that, if God and these should come in competition, he would be ready to violate his conscience towards him, rather then to part with ⟨p. 228⟩[…] ⟨p. 229⟩[…] ⟨p. 230⟩these: And so his grief, that is not principally for sin, there is somewhat, or other, that you shall find him failing in, there is not an integrity in the subject.