A09990:605
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.
That you may see the ground of all this, there is no grace that any man hath, but it passeth in through the understanding: For example, What is the reason that any man loves GOD more then another, but because God is presented to his understanding in another manner then he is to another? he knows God better then others; and so for other graces. Why is one man patient, when another is not, but because his understanding is enlightened to judge otherwise of the evil he suffers, than another doth? he reckons them not so great and intolerable evils, he sees another hand of providence, he sees another end in it. And so, What is the reason one is temperate, and sober, and meek, when another is not, but because he hath another judgement of pleasures and delights? he looks upon them, as on things that are enemies to his soul, he sees a vanity and an emptiness in them, that another doth not; I say, all the grace that a man hath, it passeth through the understanding; and therefore if a man would be strong in grace, let him labour to get ⟨p. 208⟩much light, to get much truth, much knowledge in his mind: for certainly all the difference between Christians, the difference of stature between men in Christianity, the difference of degrees, as one man hath a higher degree of faith, and another a lower degree, it follows from hence, that one is more enlightened, he hath more knowledge, he hath more truth revealed to him, which truth carries grace with it.
That you may see the ground of all this, there is no grace that any man hath, but it passeth in through the vnderstanding: For example, What is the reason that any man loues GOD more then another, but because God is presented to his vnderstanding in another maner then he is to another? hee knowes God better then others; and so for other graces. Why is one man patient, when another is not, but because his vnderstanding is enlightned to iudge otherwise of the euill he suffers, than another doth? hee reckons them not so great and intolerable euils, he sees another hand of prouidence, hee sees another end in it. And so, What is the reason one is temperate, and sober, and meeke, when another is not, but because he hath another iudgement of pleasures and delights? he lookes vpon them, as on things that are enemies to his soule, he sees a vanity and an emptinesse in them, that another doth not; I say, all the grace that a man hath, it passeth through the vnderstanding; and therefore if a man would be strong in grace, let him labour to get ⟨p. 208⟩