A09990:434
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.
and such an expression you shall find,1 2 Pet. 3. 5. This they willingly know not, (mark) that the heavens were of old, &c. He speaks there of certain Atheists, that were mockers, and despisers, that were ready to say, Where is the promise of his coming? do not all things continue alike, since the time of the Fathers? The Apostle answers them thus; saith he, they have truth in them, there is light enough, GOD hath borne witness to himself in their own consciences; there are many things that they ⟨p. 62⟩might object against these temptations of Atheism: but, saith he, they willingly will not know them; that is, they will not take them into consideration; as if he should say, their will, because they will not be troubled, because they will live loosely, it suffers them not to understand, and to enquire into these things, that they might know them; these things they willingly know not. So, beloved, it is an argument that the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of the truth hath not a perfect work, when there is something that a man willingly will not know, when a man shall wink with his eyes, as it is said, Mat. 13. 15. 2They wink with their eyes, that they might not understand with their hearts, and be converted, that I should heal them. They wink with their eyes; that is, when the light shines to them, they will not see it; when the conscience suggests something, when there is somewhat intimated, and whispered to the hearts of men, their will runs a loose course; therefore they will not suffer their understandings to be informed, they will not see all the light: whereas a man whose heart is perfect, if the light begin to appear, if he see it through a crevice, he opens the windows of his soul, and lets it in, even into every corner of it; and the ground is, because his heart is sound, he desires to make his heart perfect, he is not willing to spare it in any thing, he desires not there should be any exempt place in his heart, or in his life, or any of his ⟨p. 63⟩courses; for he sees,