A09990:408
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.
that is, they had an eye to themselves, that themselves might be exalted in what they did, that they might be heard, that they might be seen: and so Jehu; though he were employed in an honourable service, and he did it diligently, which was to avenge the quarrel of God against the House of Ahab, and so did it, that he went through with his work, yet he had an eye upon himself all the while: Come and see (saith he) my Zeal for the Lord of Hosts, &c. as if he should say, indeed, I do all this for God; but he secretly intimates in the speech, before he was aware, that it was the appearance and preeminence of himself, that he might have the praise of the zeal and diligence that he showed in the work, he exalted himself. Look upon the Saints now, and you shall see a quite contrary disposition. John Baptist takes this resolution to himself, saith he, let me even decrease, that is my condition, I am content to do so, and let Jesus Christ increase; so he be exalted and honoured, I am content to decrease, I am content to wither in my honour and reputation ⟨p. 38⟩which I have had, so the Lord may receive advantage by it: So likewise Pauls is an excellent example,1 2 Cor. 4. 5. saith he, I do not preach my self, but the Lord Jesus, and my self your servant for his sake. I do not preach my self; the meaning is this; saith he, in my preaching, my aim is not that I might set forth my self, that men might look on me, on my wi•, on my learning, on my eloquence; no, saith he, I desire that I might be concealed, as it were, that I might be obscured and hidden in the World, and that Jesus christ might only appear, that he might be seen, that those that hear me, may have their thoughts and affections carried to him alone; I am but a spokesman, but the friend of the Bridegroom, I would have your affections bestowed on him, therefore I set out him altogether; for his sake I am your servant, and I carry my self as a servant, that still my Master may have honour. This Paul did, and thus he exalted the Lord. And so Moses, when the Spirit of God was poured upon many of the people, that they grew up to some ripeness of gifts, and so seemed to be more equal with him, Moses seemed to be obscured by this means, in the opinion of Joshua, who comes and tells him, Dost thou not see what these men do?