A09990:507
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.
Thirdly,1 it is by faith: because nothing else can answer the Covenant, but faith: you see, the Covenant is not a Commandment, Do this, and live, but the Covenant is a promise, ⟨p. 119⟩I will give thee, It runs all upon promises, I will give thee a seed, and in that seed thou shalt be blessed. I will give thee this good Land, &c. so that the Covenant of Grace stands on GODS part all in promises: Now you know that it is faith that answers the promise: for the promise is to believed; if the Covenant had stood in precepts, and Commandments, and rules of the Law, then it must have been answered by works, and obedience, and therefore it could not be by obedience: for that holds not proportion, there is not agreement between them; but since the Covenant consists of promises, that must needs be by believing, and not by works.
Thirdly,1 it is by faith: because nothing else can answer the Couenant, but faith: you see, the Couenant is not a Commandement, Doe this, and liue, but the Couenant is a promise, ⟨p. 119⟩I will giue thee, It runnes all vpon promises, I will giue thee a seed, and in that seede thou shalt bee blessed. I will giue thee this good Land, &c. so that the Couenant of Grace stands on GODS part all in promises: Now you know that it is faith that answers the promise: for the promise is to beleeued; if the Couenant had stood in precepts, and Commandements, and rules of the Law, then it must haue beene answered by workes, and obedience, and therefore it could not be by obedience: for that holds not proportion, there is not agreement betweene them; but since the Couenant consists of promises, that must needes bee by beleeuing, and not by workes.
- 13. Reason.