A09990:397
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.
I answer;1 You shall know whether the wisdom you have be such as belongs to perfect men,2 or no, by these four things, which I will deliver distinctly unto you.
I answer;1 You shall know whether the w•sdome you haue bee such as belongs to perfect men,2 or no, by these foure things, which I will deliuer distinctly vnto you.
- 1Ans.
- 2Four Marks whereby to know this wisdom.Foure Markes whereby to know this wisdome.
First,1 you shall find this, that, when this knowledge is discovered •o a man, it exceedingly humbles him, all other knowledge doth not ⟨p. 30⟩so, it rather puffs him up: But this brings a man exceedingly out of conceit with himself, it makes him to stand amazed at himself; that is the property of this wisdom, which shows it self to the perfect: and the reason is, because it is a sanctified discovering wisdom; a wisdom, which that Spirit that gives it, enables him to make this use of, that he useth it as a Lanthorn to his feet, as a light to discover the crookedness of his ways, to find out the defects, to which he is subject, both in his heart and in his conversation; therefore this wisdom discovers him, and opens him to himself; whereas all the knowledge of any natural man, or that any hypocrite hath in `the World besides, opens him not to himself properly, but rather lifts him up, he useth it to reprove others, he useth it for other purposes, he holds it as a light to other mens feet, he makes not this use of it, to search the inside of his own heart, he searcheth not every defect and cranny of his soul with it, and he finds not out himself what he is. Therefore, you see, as soon as they have been enlightened with this wisdom, (Paul and others) how they were confounded in themselves, how unworthily they thought of themselves: that is the property of this wisdom, first to humble.