A09990:365
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.
He that keeps the Commandments, keeps his own soul, but he that despi•eth his wa•, shall dye for it: That is, he that keeps the Commandments every way, that looks to all the Commandments, and every particle of them, and sees how far they reach, as they are particles of the Commandment.
He that keepes the Commandements, keepes his owne soule, but he that despi•eth his wa•, shall dye for it: That is, he that keepes the Commandements every way, that lookes to all the Commandements, and every particle of them, and sees how farre they reach, as they are particles of the Commandement.
The Commandment saith, thou shalt not kill, to be angry with thy brother, to admit an inward distemper of malice and envy in thy hear• ▪ this small thing, though it be but a transient passion, yet thou must make a special conscience of it. And so, thou shalt not commit adultery; That is the main of the Commandment, yet, if thou have an adulterous eye, an adulterous tongue, or adulterous thoughts in thee, these are the touches of uncleanness, the tinctures of it, I say, except thou makest conscience of these, and keep the command thus far in this extent, and thus exactly, thou dost not keep thine own soul, but he that thus keeps the Commandment▪ keeps his soul, ⟨p. 244⟩for, saith he, he that despiseth his way, that is the word I mean to urge, he shall dye for it; that is, he that thinks thus with himself; Alas, these are poor, and small things, they are things of little moment, and therefore he despiseth them; Well, saith he, he that despiseth the least thing, he that despiseth any of his ways; that is, the least particle of any Commandment, you see what he saith, he doth not say, he shall be afflicted for it, but he shall dye for it. Therefore I pronounce this out of that place as well as the rest, that he that despiseth any of his ways, any part of Gods Commandment, seem the duty to be of never so little moment, unless he repent, and amend, he shall dye for it; for now thou despisest some of thy ways: Beloved, a godly man, though he fail much, yet this is an inseparable property of a perfect heart, still he hath an eye upon every thing, he doth not despise the least of his ways, the least steppe, the least particle, the least tincture of the Commandment, but he hath respect to all.