A09990:609
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.
Beloved, if you do but take any piece of ⟨p. 211⟩this word, and stay upon it, as the Bee doth upon the Flower, and will not off till you have got somewhat out of it; if you be still digging in this Mine, here is enough, it is a large, it is a deep Mine, this would make you rich in knowledge, and if you be rich in knowledge, it will make you rich in grace likewise: it is the expression that is used,1 1 Cor. 1. Therefore be assured of this, we have many businesses to do in this world, and every man bestows himself on something, he spends his time, and placeth his intentions some where: now there is nothing in the world that you can bestow it so profitably on, as to get n•w light daily; get new truths: if a man gather knowledge of other things, they are but trifles; and yet that is a thousand times beyond the gathering of wealth, but yet that is nothing to the other knowledge, it is beggarly, and impotent, and poor, as the Apostle saith: for the things themselves are poor. Is there any thing in the world can help a man to happiness to any purpose? if the things cannot do it, the knowledge cannot be better then the thing. I say, the best natural thing you can do is to gather wisdom, that will serve for this present life, but to get that wisdom that will build you up in grace, that will make you strong in CHRIST, that is far more to be chosen; remember that which Solomon saith, that it is above Pearls, and that is not enough to express it; but, saith he, go through all ⟨p. 212⟩the precious things in the world, it goes beyond them; Why? because it exceedingly increaseth grace; And what is the profit of it? It makes God to set a high esteem of you, it makes the mighty God, who is able only to do thee good, to delight in thee, it makes him ready to do thee much good; which I gather out of that Heb. 8. saith the LORD there, When I took your Fathers by the hand, and led them out of Egypt, saith he they broke my Covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the LORD; mark it, but I will make another kind of Covenant with you. Now, by the rule of contraries, these men had little knowledge, and by that means, they had no strength, and therefore they broke the Covenant of the LORD, and therefore the Lord regarded them not, but cast them away, as you refuse things: