A09990:376
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 words there used, are, the Lord tried Hezekiah, the Lord left him, that he might […] him, and know all that was in his heart: The like phrase is used of Peters falling, Satan desires to winnow thee, but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith do not fail: And, now mark it, when they do fall into any sin, it is to them as a trial to the Gold, and as a winnowing to the Corn; every sin, every temptation, every fall, though Satan intend to burn out the good metal, yet the issue still is this, they lose nothing by their falls, but their dross, the chaff is still winnowed out; every sin, they fall into, discovers that corruption that before they took no notice of; as Hezekiah knew not the pride, before, that was in his heart, but that action discovered it to him, so it was thereby cleansed and emptied forth: So likewise Peters cowardliness and fearfulness was discovered by that act, he knew it more, and therefore he was more watchful against it, he gathered more strength against it: so that this is the nature of the relapses of the Godly, that still they empty their hearts more and more of those sins that they fall into: again; ⟨p. 7⟩•he graces, to which they give a wound, still gather more strength; but with others it is not so, still they are weakened by their relapses, the good things, they seemed to have, are still lessened, and suffer diminution, till at length they be quite abolished, that is one difference.
the words there vsed, are, the Lord tryed Hezekiah, the Lord left him, that he might 〈…〉 him, and know all that was in his heart: The like phrase is vsed of Peters falling, Satan desires to winnow thee, but I haue prayed for thee, that thy faith doe not faile: And, now marke it, when they doe fall into any sinne, it is to them as a tryall to the Gold, and as a winnowing to the Corne; euery sinne, euery temptation, euery fall, though Satan intend to burne out the good mettall, yet the issue still is this, they lose nothing by their fals, but their drosse, the chaffe is still winnowed out; euery sinne, they fall into, discouers that corruption that before they tooke no nocice of; as Hezehiah knew not the pride, before, that was in his heart, but that action discouered it to him, so it was thereby cleansed and emptied forth: So likewise Peters cowardlinesse and fearefulnesse was discouered by that act, hee knew it more, and therefore he was more watchfull against it, hee gathered more strength against it: so that this is the nature of the relapses of the Godly, that still they empty their hearts more and more of those sinnes that they fall into: againe;