A09990:363
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.
Again; saith he, the Pharisees would keep the great Commandments, the principal point, and part of every Commandment; but the particles of it, the nicer points of it, they would not keep. And, saith he, except your righteousness go beyond theirs, except you go further then theirs, you shall never be saved.
Againe; sayth he, the Pharisies would keepe the great Commandements, the principall poynt, and part of every Commandement; but the particles of it, the nicer poynts of it, they would not keepe. And, sayth he, except your righteousnesse goe beyond theirs, except you goe further then theirs, you shall never be saved.
Then the last is, that I named to you before, except you be perfect, &c. there must be such a latitude, for the extension of your perfection, though not for the intention, and degrees of it, as is in your heavenly Father, you cannot be saved ⟨p. 242⟩else. Therefore, if you say, this is a hard condition; Beloved, you must know this, that Jesus Christ hath given to all those that shall be saved grace for grace, that look as he requires perfection of obedience, in a latitude answerable to all the Commandments, to all the particles of them, even a perfection answerable to his own perfection; so he hath given us grace for grace, that is, he hath given us an inward ability of graces which answer every Commandment; he hath given us grace for grace, as the Father gives lim for lim, part for part, there is not a little finger, not a toe, but the Father gives it the Son, and the Son hath given it to us, Moses brought the Law, but grace comes by him; and when he would show what grace it is, it is grace of such a latitude, that it enables you to be holy, as he is holy in all manner of conversation, there is another expression like that to be perfect as &c. Therefore, my Beloved, if you would have the testimony of sincerity, and of perfection to your selves, take heed you neglect not the smallest things, I know how usually it is found fault with, when men are so curious to look to every m•ate (it is to be more nice then wise) it is too much straightness, and too much preciseness, and exactness: I beseech you, consider the ground, I will be hold to say this; that man that neglects the smallest thing, say it be vain speech upon the Sabbath day, say it be the neglect, or overly performance of prayer from day to day, though he will not omit the main duty; though it be […] vain speech; or