A09990:569
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.
The first is the witness of the blood; that is, when a man is humbled, when a man is broken with the spirit of bondage, then he begins to make out for a pardon: when he sees he is arrested, as it were, when he is shut up, as that phrase is used,1 Gal. 3. and sees what a debt is required of him, and he is not able to pay the least farthing, now he begins to look out for a surety, now he begins to hunger and thirst exceedingly after Christ, now he is not content only to watch with him, to serve him, and to obey him, but he is willing to part with his life, and all that he hath, upon that condition. Now when a man is in this case, then the Lord begins to show him the blood of his Son, he begins to open a little crevice of light, and to show him the New Testament in his blood that is, the New Testament confirmed in his blood, shed for many, for the remission of sins. I say, he begins then to look upon the promises, to consider such promises as these, Come to me, all ye that are weary, &c. and, If any man sin, we have an Advocate; and, Let whosoever will, come, and take of the waters of life freely; and, Go ⟨p. 168⟩and preach to every creature under heaven, and t•ll them, if they will believe, and take my So•ne, they shall be saved. I say, these are all promises made in the blood of Jesus Christ. now he begins to consider these promises, and he begins first to think, What? are these promises true? Yes, surely they are most true, they are confirmed wit• an oath, they are confirmed with the blood, with the death of the Testator: a mans Covenant, after it is once made, and the Testator is dead, Gal. 3. no man adds to it, or takes from it. Now when a man considers this, Are these the promises of the LORD? hath he confirmed them with an Oath? are they confirmed with the blood of the Testator? Certainly, they are most true, I cannot doubt of them: but then he begins to consider, As they are true, how fit are they for me? what is the goodness of them? They are also exceeding good, there is nothing in the world so excellent, so precious, so sweet, and so comfortable, as these promises be: I say, when he hath done these two, when the understanding says they are true, and believes them, and when the will saith they are good, and embraceth them, at that very instant, salvation is come to thy house, and to thy heat;