A09990:584
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.
But there is a second knowledge, that which Christ teacheth as he is a Prophet, when he teacheth a man so to know sin,1 and every thing else, that withal, the lust, the dominion of sin is dissolved by that knowledge; that this knowledge circumciseth the heart, it cuts off those lusts that did cleave to us before. If thou find this effect of thy knowledge, now Jesus Christ hath taught thee this knowledge. You know, The old man is corrupt, Ephes. 4. 22. through lusts, that come from error, and the new man is renewed through holiness, that comes from truth. There are certain lusts in the old man, that proceed from error: now those ⟨p. 184⟩lusts we see what they are, Job. 2. all lusts are referred to those three heads, the lusts of the eye, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life. Now if thou wouldest know whether Christ hath taught thee or no, whether thou hast this evidence of being in the Covenant with him, consider whether the truth be so far taught thee, that these lusts are dissolved by it; for Jesus Christ came into the world to dissolve lusts; as the lusts arise from error, so they are dissolved by truth: Beloved, the root from which every lust grows, is some error, some mistake; well, take away the foundation of it, and the lust dyes. Now, when Christ •eaches the •ight knowledge, when he reveals his truth to us, as a Prophet▪ he takes away the root, the bottom and foundation of a lust, and when the foundation is taken away, the work of the Devil is dissolved in us, it falls to the ground.
But there is a second knowledge, that which Christ teacheth as hee is a Prophet, when hee teacheth a man so to know sinne,1 and euery thing else, that withall, the lust, the dominion of sinne is dissolued by that knowledge; that this knowledge circumciseth the heart, it cuts off those lusts that did cleaue to vs before. If thou finde this effect of thy knowledge, now Iesus Christ hath taught thee this knowledge. You know, The old man is corrupt,