A09990:501
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.
Now for the Condition that God required of Abraham, 1it was this, Thou shalt believe this, thou shalt believe that such a Messiah shall be sent into the World: Art thou able to believe this, Abraham? He answers, Yes. Well, saith the Lord, I will put thee to the trial, I will see whether thou canst believe this, or no; and, withal, I will give thee a sign or evidence that I am able to perform it: saith he, I will give thee a Son: It is true, thou art as a dead man, thou art almost a hundred years old, and the womb of Sarah is dead: I will promise thee a Son, art thou able to believe it? Again, thou seest the Land of Canaan, thou hast not one foot in it, I will give this land from the length and breadth of it, for thy possession: Art thou able to believe this? saith the Text, ⟨p. 112⟩Abraham did believe, and God accounted that faith of his for righteousness; that is, he accepted him for it: for that faith he reckoned him a man fit to make a Covenant with all, he accounted him a righteous person; that is, he was willing to enter into Covenant with him, because he believed him. Beloved, this was not directly the believing of the Messiah, (he did not intend the Messiah) but it was the believing that he should have a son. You see, the Text is plain, Gen. 15. when God had said to Abraham, that he would be his exceeding great reward, saith Abraham, I go childless, and the Steward of my house will be my heir. Saith the LORD to him, Verse 4. This man shall not be thine heir, but one that shall come out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. Go look upon the Stars, if thou be able to number them, then thou shalt number the seed that thou▪ shalt have. Saith the Text, Verse 6. Abraham believed, and he accounted that to him for righteousness So likewise he adds, in the Verses following, again he said, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this Land to inherit it. So, my beloved, this was the promise.
Now for the Condition that God required of Abraham, 1it was this, Thou shalt beleeue this, thou shalt beleeue that such a Mesiah shall be sent into the World: Art thou able to beleeue this, Abraham? He answers, Yes. Well, saith the Lord, I will put thee to the tryall, I will see whether thou canst beleeue this, or no; and, withall, I will giue thee a signe or euidence that I am able to performe it: saith he, I will giue thee a Sonne: It is true, thou art as a dead man, thou art almost a hundred yeeres old, and the wombe of Sarah is dead: I will promise thee a Sonne, art thou able to beleeue it? Againe, thou seest the Land of Canaan, thou hast not one foot in it, I will giue this land from the length and breadth of it, for thy possession: Art thou able to beleeue this? saith the Text,