A09990:413
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, as the word signifieth in the Original, when a man is filled with the Commandment, even as the sail of a Ship is filled with wind, so when a man finds this disposition in himself, that the principal motive, that which sets him awork upon all occasions, is some Commandment from God, and not self-respects, it is an argument that he is perfect, that he is filled with the will of the Lord: otherwise, he would stand still as a Ship, when the Sails have no wind to drive them: this is an argument of perfectness and integrity of heart.1 The like expression you shall find Psal. 119. 6. then I shall not be confounded, saith David, when I have respect (mark the phrase; for it is the phrase that he chooseth to express his sincerity by) when I have respect to thy Commandments. That is, saith he, the time was, and it is so with other men, that when a Commandment of GOD comes, they little heed it, they little regard it: if other motives come, which propound honour, credit, and advancement, and profit to themselves, those things they respect; but, saith he, herein is my sincerity seen, and upon that ground I desire I may not be confounded, that ⟨p. 44⟩I have now respect to thy Commandments: even as you see, a man that hath some princip all friend, that he regards above all the world besides, it may be, when many others come and speak to him, and make suite to him to have something done, he regards them not; but, if such a friend speaks, he hath respect to him: or, as a servant, if another man bid him go, and bid him do, he stands still; but, if his Masters command come once, he goes about it presently: for he hath respect unto him: this is Davids meaning: for, saith he, LORD, I have respect to thy Commandments; other things move me not so much; but, if any Commandment come from thee, I have respect unto it, and I presently go and execute it: and in this regard he is said to be a man after Gods own heart, 2as we see in Act. 13. 22. I have found, saith the Lord, a man after mine own heart: that is, a man of a sincere, of an upright heart, a man in whose heart is integrity and sincerity, a man without guile, and he proves it by this, saith he, He will do whatsoever I will: that is, if my will be known to him, that will he do, that is the motive that leads him, that is the thing that stirs him upon all occasions: