A09990:600
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
Part › Sermon 14: THE FOURTEENTH SERMON.Part › Sermon 14: THE FOVRTEENTH SERMON.
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.
Whence we will only make this use,1 that, if we would have the benefit of the New Covenant, 2we must labour to get the knowledge of it; otherwise it is no advantage to you at all, that you are borne in the time of the New Covenant, in the time of the Gospel, except knowledge ⟨p. 201⟩abound, except you take the benefit of it, except you labour to understand the unsearchable riches of Christ, that are unfolded to us in the Covenant of Grace. What is the reason why the Apostle,3 Gal. 4. calls the Old Testament, those teachings that the people had then, impotent and beggarly rudiments? The reason is, because their knowledge was exceeding little, therefore it brought little profit to them, they were beggarly, they had little riches in them, and they were impotent, they could communicate little power, and strength, and efficacy to the inward man: On the other side now, the New Covenant is strong, and rich, and lively, and effectual; and the reason is, because there is more knowledge in it, we are taught to know GOD better, and to know the whole mystery of the Gospel better.
Whence wee will onely make this vse,1 that, if we would haue the benefit of the New Couenant, 2wee must labour to get the knowledge of it; otherwise it is no aduantage to you at all, that you are borne in the time of the New Couenant, in the time of the Gospell, except knowledge ⟨p. 201⟩abound, except you take the benefit of it, except you labour to vnderstand the vnsearchable riches of Christ, that are vnfoulded to vs in the Couenant of Grace. What is the reason why the Apostle,3