A09990:387
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.
but this is their property, They look to themselves, that they lose not the things they have wrought, but that they may receive a full reward: For still they are apt to fall back from the degree they have attained: And, again, the sinful lusts they thought they had mortified are ready to return: now he that is perfect, is thus minded, he not only aims at the utmost, but from day to day, he makes up the defects that he finds in his heart, and again, labours to bring down and to mortify those lusts that are renewed, and begin to gather a new strength, and to bud forth again; this is their property: so, I say, if thou ⟨p. 20⟩wouldest know it, mark what thy aim is, whether thou aim at the utmost degree of holiness, or whether thou set limits to they self; and likewise, whether thy constant course be, to make thy heart perfect with GOD, from day to day, and to walk exactly with him; whether thou be careful to husband thy time, that thou mayest have leisure to do it: for, my beloved, a man cannot do a thing exactly, except he have time to do it in: And therefore. Ephes. 5.1 Walk exactly, not as foolish, b•t as wise, redeeming the time: As if he should say, if you would walk exactly, redeem the time, it is your wisdom; for else you lose all your labour: walk exactly, and not as fools; for else you had as good do nothing at all; be so far wise, that you do not lose the things you work; and to do this, redeem the time, that you may have leisure to do it: I say, consider, whether yo• be willing so to husband time, to gain so much leisure from your other calling and affairs, that you can spend time to search your hearts, in trying your ways, in setting all things straight within you, that you may walk perfectly with GOD from day to day. So much for this property likewise; So many as are perfect, le• them be like minded.
but this is their property, They looke to themselues, that they lose not the things they haue wrought, but that they may receiue a full reward: For still they are apt to fall backe from the degree they haue attained: And, againe, the sinfull lusts they thought they had mortified are ready to returne: now he that is perfect, is thus minded, hee not onely aymes at the vtmost, but from day to day, hee makes vp the defects that he findes in his heart, and againe, labours to bring downe and to mortifie those lusts that are renewed, and begin to gather a new strength, and to bud forth againe; this is their property: so, I say, if thou