A09990:356
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 again, a man that saith thus with himself, I will not loose my practise, I will not loose my employments, I will not loose my trade, I will not loose my dealing with my Customers; this is my Plough, this is it, that maintains both me and mine, though I suffer many things, yea this is that I cannot bear, it would break me asunder, ⟨p. 238⟩&c. I say, let any man say thus in his heart (I do but give you Instances, that you may understand what I would say) such a man will deal unsoundly, and imperfectly, when he is put to it, let it be any thing in the world, I will not stand to give further instances. Let a man examine himself, and think what is near, and dear unto him, except he be inwardly willing to part with it, that he can say, if any of the ways of God fall cross with this; If I be any whit hazarded in the keeping of a good conscience, by keeping this, I will part with it: I say, except thou canst say this, it is certain thou hast a rotten heart; And the like I may say for suffering; If a man say, such a great mans favour I will not loose, my making, or my marring depends upon it, if there be any such case, be it what it will be, thou art an unsound hearted man; and that is the meaning of that; If any man will be my Disciple, he must deny himself, and take up his daily Cross: As if he should say, if a man will not deny himself, in every thing, if he will not take up every Cross (he may take up to himself a profession to be a Disciple, he may make as many pretences, and shows, as he will, to be my Disciple, but a true and a genuine Disciple he cannot be) he cannot be my Disciple, except he deny himself in every thing, and take up every Cross, and therefore let a man examine himself in that, whether he be thus prepared to part with every thing, if thou wilt be perfect, saith the Lord (that is the place I •ake it from) then sell all that thou hast, that was ⟨p. 239⟩the trial, he was put to, and it is a trial by which you shall judge of your selves.
So againe, a man that saith thus with himselfe, I will not loose my practise, I will not loose my imployments, I will not loose my trade, I will not loose my dealing with my Customers; this is my Plowe, this is it, that maintaines both mee and mine, though I suffer many things, ye this is that I cannot beare, it would breake me asunder,