A09990:400
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.
Thirdly;1 Wisdom to the perfect, is such a wisdom, as enables him to distinguish of things that differ, he is able to discern between good and evil, as you shall see an expression of it, Heb. •. but strong meat belongs to those that are perfect; (for so it ought to be translated, and so it is in the Original) the old Translation, by reason of custom, and the new, by reason of use, but neither is so full as the Original, by reason of habit, in respect that they ha•e their senses exercised to discern both good and evil: that is, he that hath this true wisdom, he hath such a distinguishing faculty, that, as the taste discerns of meat, or as a man that is accustomed to taste Wine, can easily discern between good and bad, so, (not by mere custom, as other men have it, but) by a certain wisdom that is infused into you, you are able to discern between good and evil, even as the senses do; (for that is the scope of the place;)2 As the senses discern between colour and colour, between taste and taste, so there is an ability in those that are perfect, to discern between good and evil: so that, take such a man to whom this wisdom is revealed, you shall find such an aptness in him to discern between good and evil, that is, he knows ⟨p. 33⟩the voice of the shepherd, he knows and discerns between that which is good, and between that which is counterfeit; he knows moral goods and evils, what is to be chosen, and what to be refused; this he knows, such a distinguishing faculty he hath, this is proper to those that are perfect; the like you shall have expressed,3 Rom. 12. be renewed in the Spirit of your mind, that you may discern the good will of God: that is, that you may distinguish between the good will that is truly perfect, and that which is not his will: This property will follow a mind that is renewed, he will be able to discern what another cannot.
Thirdly;1