A09990:348
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.
But how shall a man know that, whether he have done this?
But how shall a man know that, whether he haue done this?
So they hang, one upon another, that you may know the first by the second, and the second by ⟨p. 232⟩the third, you may know whether a man have an eye to every Commandment, if he use all the means, and abstain from all occasions of sin: for if thou do not this, pretend what thou wilt, thy heart is false; So much for this third.
So they hang, one vpon another, that you may know the first by the second, and the second by ⟨p. 232⟩the third, you may know whether a man haue an eye to every Commandement, if he vse all the meanes, and abstaine from all occasions of sinne: for if thou doe not this, pretend what thou wilt, thy heart is false; So much for this third.
The fourth Expression, that I find in Scripture, is uprightness, 1or straightness of heart: the word, in the original answers (Rectitudo) and an upright man, in the original is as much as (vir rectus) a straight man: Mark the way of the upright, and perfect man, his latter end is good, it is peace, Psal. 37. That is, of a straight man: So the straightness of the heart, if we can find what it is, we shall know what it is to have a perfect heart with God. Now the straightness of a man (for so I will rather express it) in the Concrete is seen in this, whether he hath straight & upright ends: An upright man you shall know by his aims, he hath a right end; the aim, and scope, and mark, that his eye is upon, is Gods glory, and his own salvation, to do, and suffer the will of God, whatsoever it is; that is, to be faithful, and diligent in his Calling, to be serviceable an profitable to others, these are the things that are in his heart, these are the right ends, and he is said to have a right heart, whose ends are right, that pitcheth upon right, and straight ends, and likewise, he that goes by a straight rule: for a right end never hath a crooked rule leading to it. But, if a man would know whether he hath a right end; thou shalt know it by this, there needs not any oblique way to lead to such an end, but thou wilt go by a