A09990:540
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.
But how shall a man know whether this faith be right or no? for, you know, there is a false, dead, and counterfeit faith: if it be right, thou shalt find it to be of a working and lively nature, but many times we may be deceived in that. A woman many times thinks she is with child, but if she find no motion nor stirring, it is an argument she was deceived: So, when a man thinks that he hath faith in his heart, but yet he finds no life, no motion, no stirring, there is no work proceeding from his faith▪ it is an argument he was mistaken, he was deceived in it: for, if it be a right faith, it will work, there will be life and motion in it. As Abraham's faith, you see, it enabled him to do whatsoever GOD appointed him, to offer his son, to excommunicate Ismael, when GOD bid him cast him out, though he loved Ismael exceeding dearly, yet he did it, and did it readily; so, whatsoever God bade him do; here was a working faith.
But how shall a man know whether this faith be right or no? for, you know, there is a false, dead, and counterfeit faith: if it be right, thou shalt finde it to be of a working and liuely nature, but many times we may bee deceiued in that. A woman many times thinkes she is with childe, but if she finde no motion nor stirring, it is an argument she was deceiued: So, when a man thinkes that hee hath faith in his heart, but yet he finds no life, no motion, no stirring, there is no worke proceeding from his faith▪ it is an argument he was mistaken, hee was deceiued in it: for, if it be a right faith, it will worke, there will be life and motion in it. As Abrahams faith, you see, it enabled him to doe whatsoeuer GOD appointed him, to offer his sonne, to excommunicate Ismael, when GOD bid him cast him out, though hee loued Ismael exceeding dearely, yet he did it, and did it readily; so, whatsoeuer God bade him doe; here was a working faith.
But yet a little further, a man may be yet deceived in this, a mans faith may work, and an Hypocrite may do many works, if it be but bare working, a man may be deceived, and therefore this is added further, it works by love. Beloved, a man may do exceeding many duties, as you know, he may suffer Martyrdom, he may give all to the poor, he may be a very diligent Preacher of the Gospel: for Paul saith, I may speak with the tongue of men and Angels, I may give my goods to the poor,