A09990:577
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 thou shalt find this follow upon it, likewise; if thou have the spirit of Adoption, it will set thee a work, to cleanse thy self, as, 2. Cor. 7. 1. see a notable place for this purpose; saith he, if you have such promises, that ⟨p. 176⟩is, the promises of grace, and of forgiveness, and of the pardon of sin, if you have applied them indeed by the spirit of Adoption, then you will cleanse your selves from all pollution of fl•sh and spirit. So, beloved, by this thou mayest know whether thou hast the spirit of adoption, whether thou hast applied the Covenant of Grace, and the promises of it, indeed, and in good earnest; this will certainly follow, thou wilt cleanse thy self: but if thou find now, that thou wallowest in thy lusts, in thy filthiness, that thou art not yet washed from thy sins, and from thy swinish nature, be assured thou hast not yet applied the promises, thou hast not yet the spirit of Adoption, be assured, if thou hast any hope, it is not a true and lively hope, it is but a false and dead hope: for, if it were a true and a lively hope, 1 Joh. 3. it would set thee awork to purge thy self, and therefore Heb. 10. 22. you see the difference there, between the assurance of faith, and of presumption, Draw near in assurance of faith: What then? having your hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and your bodies washed in pure water. If it be assurance of faith, it hath always this following with it, the heart is sprinkled from an evil conscience; but if it be a presumptuous, a false assurance, upon false grounds, there follows no such cleansing, no such watchfulness. Beloved, this is a sure rule that will not deceive you you, those that have but false flashes of comfort, they grow secure after them, these ⟨p. 177⟩breed carelessness, they are more bold to commit sin, they walk loosely, and are apt and •eady to say, I doubt not but it shall be well enough with me; but those that have assurance indeed, it makes them much more diligent, and solicitous, and careful to please the Ld in all things; for it is as a feast to them, when Christ leads them into his Cellar, as it were, and makes a mans heart glad with Flagons of Wine, that is, with the consolations of the Spirit;