A09990:593
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.
(for the seal is put to it for that very purpose, that when you see the Bread and Wine, you might think of these seals, as signs of the Covenant) you have Gods own Word, besides, as you have his Word, that the rain shall no more drown the Earth, God hath set ⟨p. 195⟩his Bow in the Cloud, that when he looks, he may remember the Covenant: so likewise, you shall sprinkle the door posts with the blood of the Lamb, that when the destroying Angel shall come and see the blood, he may pass you over: beloved, after the same manner, for the same end, God hath appointed the Sacrament, now when you receive those elements of Bread and Wine, Take, eat, this is my body; and drink, this is my blood, which was shed for you, and for many: you may go to God upon the same ground, and say to him, Lord, thou hast made a Covenant with me, to forgive me, to receive me to thy mercy; Lord, these are the seals of thy Covenant, that if thou forget them, thou hast said, that if we do but show thee those signs, (for it is the seal that God himself hath put to it) thou wilt remember thy Covenant, & make it good: therefore is is an exceeding great confirming to you, when you look upon them, when you may say to the Lord, Lord, here is thy seal, that thy self hath put, I beseech thee, look upon it, and remember thy Covenant that thou hast made. And as we should do thus for the promises of Justification, so for the promises of Sanctification: suppose there be a strong lust hang upon thee, an hereditary disease, a lust that is natural to thee, that thou thinkest thou shalt never be able to overcome, yet God hath promised to break the dominion of every sin, that he will crucify the flesh, with the affections of it, that he will sanctify thee throughout. Beloved, ⟨p. 296⟩you must believe those promises of Sanctification, as well as of Justification: for certainly, where the Scripture hath a mouth to speak, faith hath an ear to hear, and a hand to receive: therefore when you grapple with a strong lust, go to the Lord, and say to him, I am not able to keep this Commandment, I feel this temptation is too strong for me, I find such strong natural inclinations, that I am not able to out-wrestle;
(for the seale is put to it for that very purpose, that when you see the Bread and Wine, you might thinke of these seales, as signes of the Couenant) you haue Gods owne Word, besides, as you haue his Word, that the raine shall no more drowne the Earth, God hath set