A09990:431
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.
Beloved, this is a sign of an unsound heart, when faith shall go so far, when it shall enable a man to do many things, and yet for all this, it hath not its perfect work. We see the contrary in Abraham, 1Rom. 4. 19. ⟨p. 59⟩when he was put to it, when God had made him a promise, that he should be the Father of many Nations, saith the Text, he was not weak in the faith. The meaning is, he was not unsound, but was perfect in the faith. What did he do? How did that appear? Saith he, he went through, when the Lord came with such a promise, he considered not his own body, that was dead: for he was a hundred years old; nor he considered not the deadness of Sarahs womb: but (saith he) he belee•ned that he was able that had promised. This is given as an evidence of the truth of his faith; he made not a stand in such a difficult case: for he was not unsound, but he was perfect in the faith. So likewise, when he came to offer his son; here in the perfection of his faith was seen. And beloved, by this you may know whether your hearts be right; if you suffer every grace to have its perfect work, when your faith doth not pick and choose, and take here a promise, and leave there another; here to believe a threatening, another not to believe; here to take hold on a Commandment, to believe that this is the will of GOD, in another case not to believe: for so doing is a sign of an unsound heart.
Beloued, this is a signe of an vnsound heart, when faith shall goe so farre, when it shall inable a man to doe many things, and yet for all this, it hath not its perfect work. Wee see the contrary in Abraham, 1Rom. 4. 19. ⟨p. 59⟩when he was put to it, when God had made him a promise, that he should be the Father of many Nations, saith the Text, he was not weake in the faith. The meaning is, he was not vnsound, but was perfect in the faith. What did he doe? How did that appeare? Saith hee, hee went through, when the Lord came with such a promise, hee considered not his owne body, that was dead: for hee was a hundred yeeres old; nor he considered not the deadnesse of Sarahs wombe: but (saith he) he beleened that he was able that had promised. This is giuen as an euidence of the truth of his faith; he made not a stand in such a difficult case: for he was not vnsound, but hee was perfect in the faith. So likewise, when he came to offer his sonne; here in the perfection of his faith was seene. And beloued, by this you may know whether your hearts be right; if you suffer euery grace to haue its perfect worke, when your faith doth not picke and choose, and take heere a promise, and leaue there another; here to beleeue a threatning, another not to beleeue; here to take hold on a Commandement, to beleeue that this is the will of GOD, in another case not to beleeue: for so doing is a signe of an vnsound heart.