A09990:591
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.
No, my beloved, for the most part we are deceived, when we think it so near, it may fly away, so that thou shalt never have part in it. you see how God dealt with men in the first Covenant, I mean in the time of the Old Testament, you see, when they would not take the offer, how God sware in his wrath, that they should not enter into his rest; and I am f•lly persuaded, that in this New Testament, in these days of Grace, the Lord is much more quick and peremptory in rejecting men, and casting them off, the time is shorter, he will not wait so long as he was wont to do in those times, he will sooner swear in his wrath now that you shall not enter in to his rest; that I speak upon this ground, saith he, if the Lord would do this for the Law of Moses, how much more, if we neglect so great salvation, as was preached by the Son himself? as the mercy is much greater now in the new Covenant, then it was then, so the wrath and danger is greater in refusing: therefore when we consider what a hazard it is, my beloved, me thinks, the doubt, and the brittleness of this life, the unsearchableness, and certainty of Gods seasons, and times, that he hath put into his own power, the liberty of ⟨p. 193⟩the Spirit, that breatheth where and when it listeth, the exceeding danger that we precipitate our selves into, when we lose the opportunity once, me thinks these should move us to come in, and to take heed of refusing the offer at any time; those expressions you shall find so often in the Scripture, that God stands and knocks; that he waits, and stretcheth forth his hands; that he will gather us, as a hen gathereth her chickens; signify these two things to us: First, how exceeding ready God is to receive us, if we come in, while the acceptable time lasteth.
No, my beloued, for the most part wee are deceiued, when we thinke it so neere, it may flye away, so that thou shalt neuer haue part in it. you see how God dealt with men in the first Couenant, I meane in the time of the Old Testament, you see, when they would not take the offer, how God sware in his wrath, that they should not enter into his rest; and I am f•lly perswaded, that in this New Testament, in these dayes of Grace, the Lord is much more quicke and peremptory in reiecting men, and casting them off, the time is shorter, he will not wait so long as hee was wont to doe in those times, hee will sooner sweare in his wrath now that you shall not enter in to his rest; that I speake vpon this ground, saith hee, if the Lord would doe this for the Law of Moses, how much more, if wee neglect so great saluation, as was preached by the Sonne himselfe? as the mercy is much greater now in the new Couenant, then it was then, so the wrath and danger is greater in refusing: therefore when we consider what a hazard it is, my beloued, me thinkes, the doubt, and the brittlenesse of this life, the vnsearchablenes, and certainety of Gods seasons, and times, that hee hath put into his owne power, the liberty of