A09990:520
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
Part › Sermon 12: THE TWELFTH SERMON.Part › Sermon 12: THE TVVELFTH SERMON.
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, we may know many things, but it is a hard thing to know as we ought to know. It is said of an unregenerate man, 2 Cor. 8. He knows nothing as he ought to know. For example, thou mayst know sin, and know it most exactly, but if this do not work upon thy heart, if the sin lye not exceeding heavy upon thee, if it breed not in thee godly sorrow, for it, if it doth not amaze thee, as it were, with the filthiness and vileness of it, it is, because thou dost not yet know it, as thou oughtest to know it: And how shall a man do then? Go to CHRIST, he is the Prophet, that is, he teacheth a man to see things so, that his heart, his will and affections shall likewise be moved with it: You are to consider the Covenant when you go to the LORD; and therefore that man that saith, I can look upon my sin with dry eyes, I can look upon it, and never be affected with it, this is because he is taught but with the teaching of men; he must remember that this is a part of the Covenant, and God hath bound himself by an Oath to perform it. Jesus Christ, as he is a Prophet, God hath sent him to teach thee all things belonging to salvation, and so to teach thee, that thou shalt be in a right manner affected with it. And so likewise put the case thou know God, thou seest him in his attributes, thou hearest him often described, and art able to describe him to others, but for all this, thou findest not thy heart affectioned towards him, thou seest not that excellency ⟨p. 131⟩and beauty that is in him, so that thy heart is not enamoured with him, thou canst not say thou lovest him with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, What wilt thou do in this case? Go to Christ the Prophet, and beseech him that he would teach thee to know the LORD, this is his promise; if thou pray to him, and he do not do it, urge him with this, it is a part of his Covenant, that he hath confirmed by Oath, and must do it, and, beloved, be assured of this, if we seek, and be earnest with him, he will teach us to know the Lord, and to know him so, that we shall love him with all our soul, and with all our strength. The like may I say of any thing else;
Beloued, we may know many things, but it is a hard thing to know as we ought to know. It is said of an vnregenerate man, 2 Cor. 8. Hee knowes nothing as hee ought to know. For example, thou mayst know sinne, and know it most exactly, but if this doe not worke vpon thy heart, if the sinne lye not exceeding heauy vpon thee, if it breed not in thee godly sorrow, for it, if it doth not amaze thee, as it were, with the filthinesse and vilenesse of it, it is, because thou dost not yet know it, as thou oughtest to know it: And how shall a man doe then? Goe to CHRIST, hee is the Prophet, that is, hee teacheth a man to see things so, that his heart, his will and affections shall likewise be moued with it: You are to consider the Couenant when you goe to the LORD; and therefore that man that saith, I can looke vpon my sinne with dry eyes, I can looke vpon it, and neuer be affected with it, this is because he is taught but with the teaching of men; hee must remember that this is a part of the Couenant, and God hath bound himselfe by an Oath to performe it. Iesus Christ, as he is a Prophet, God hath sent him to teach thee all things belonging to saluation, and so to teach thee, that thou shalt be in a right manner affected with it. And so likewise put the case thou know God, thou seest him in his attributes, thou hearest him often described, and art able to describe him to others, but for all this, thou findest not thy heart affectioned towards him, thou seest not that excellency