A09990:350
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 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 ⟨p. 233⟩straight rule; that is, the way of Gods Commandments is the rule that thou wilt walk by: Therefore if thou find this in thy heart, that there are devices, and plottings, and windings, and turning ways, that thou projectest to thy self to bring any end to pass, now thou goest not by a straight rule, but by a leaden Lesbian rule, by a bended rule: whereas a right man, his eye is still upon the rule, he considers not this, and this I will bring to pass; but he considers with himself, what is the rule I ought to walk by; As indeed every man hath some certain rule, and principle in his heart, and all the actions that he doth, proceed from those secret rules, though himself take no notice of them. Now this is planted in the heart of an upright man, that still he goes by a straight rule, though he could desire many things might be brought to pass, yet if the rule will not hold, he will not seek it. This you shall find