A09990:578
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.
I say, it quickens him, and makes him zealous, and ready to every good work, when he hath once tasted of this Wine, his case is like Elihuds, he cannot hold in, but he must break forth into good works, into holiness of life. A man walks in the strength of such a testimony of the Spirit for many days, for so many years, so far it is from making a man remiss in the ways of God.
I say, it quickens him, and makes him zealous, and ready to euery good worke, when he hath once tasted of this Wine, his case is like Elihuds, he cannot hold in, but hee must breake forth into good workes, into holinesse of life. A man walkes in the strength of such a testimony of the Spirit for many dayes, for so many yeeres, so farre it is from making a man remisse in the wayes of God.
Fourthly,1 that which accompanies it, is peace, and Joy, Rom. 15. 13. the Apostle prays that they may be filled with peace and i•y, through believing; as if he should say, if you believe once indeed, joy will follow; and therefore you know it is called the joy of the Holy Ghost, that is, when once a man receives this witness of the Spirit, there follows a wondrous quiet, and peaceableness, and calmness in the heart. Beloved, it is with every son of Adam, as it was with Adam; when he had lost the Image of GOD, there followed trouble and horror in his conscience, till that Image was ⟨p. 178⟩recovered, his heart was never fully at peace, but as soon as that was recovered, the heart recovers the former joy that Adam had, that former quiet, and peace, and comfort, that Adam had in that innocency, he hath it in a measure: So, when the LORD returns again to a mans spirit; that it is his returning, and no delusion, I say, there ariseth a certain peace in the soul, and a joy that no worldly man ever tasted of that they never understood, nor knew the meaning of; a certain peace, and joy that goes beyond all worldly joy whatsoever, that which David called the sining of Gods countenance,