A09990:582
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, all this he may do, yet he never receives the spirit of bondage again, that is, he never comes to this, to be to God, as a servant is to a hard Master, but alway this persuasion is in him, that God is his Father, and still he hath the affection of a son, and still he hath that opinion, that God is his Father, that affection never wears out of him, he never comes again to look on God, as the Thief looks on the Judge, he never comes to be such a stranger to the Lord, so as to fly from him: for the spirit ⟨p. 182⟩of bondage is nothing but this, when it makes a man to fear the Lord, and to tremble at him exceedingly, as a man doth at the wrath of a Judge, that thinks he will condemn him; though he may in his extremity say, Lord, why hast thou forsaken me? yet there goes a secret spirit of Adoption, that never leaves him altogether, although there be some mixture with this, to awaken him, and to quicken him, and to cause him to come home to Christ: for that is the end. Still as a man is brought home by the spirit of bondage at the first; so, my beloved, when a man steps out from Christ, and begins to grow wanton, when he will r•nne out from the LORD JESUS, and will not keep close, the Lord sends the same Spirit again to bring him in; the Spirit doth its work again; but as he was never wholly out, so he never hath the full work of the spirit of bondage. So, you see, this is the 2. means to know whether we be in the Covenant.
I say, all this he may doe, yet hee neuer receiues the spirit of bondage againe, that is, hee neuer comes to this, to be to God, as a seruant is to a hard Master, but alway this perswasion is in him, that God is his Father, and still hee hath the affection of a sonne, and still he hath that opinion, that God is his Father, that aff•ction neuer weares out of him, he neuer comes againe to looke on God, as the Thiefe lookes on the Iudge, hee neuer comes to be such a stranger to the Lord, so as to flye from him: for the spirit ⟨p. 182⟩of bondage is nothing but this, when it makes a man to feare the Lord, and to tremble at him exceedingly, as a man doth at the wrath of a Iudge, that thinkes hee will condemne him; though he may in his extremity say, Lord, why hast thou forsaken mee? yet there goes a secret spirit of Adoption, that neuer leaues him altogether, although there be some mixture with this, to awaken him, and to quicken him, and to cause him to come home to Christ: for that is the end. Still as a man is brought home by the spirit of bondage at the first; so, my beloued, when a man steps out from Christ, and beginnes to grow wanton, when hee will rnne out from the LORD IESVS, and will not keepe close, the Lord sends the same Spirit againe to bring him in; the Spirit doth its worke againe; but as hee was neuer wholly out, so he neuer hath the full worke of the spirit of bondage. So, you see, this is the 2. meanes to know whether we bee in the Couenant.